What Did Jesus Do?
“...and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6..17
There is good reason for the Church to be “militant,” she is engaged in a fierce battle. Nonetheless, she must consider carefully the weapons she employs on behalf of the kingdom. The whole armor of God consists of entirely defensive arms, with the exception of the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), and prayer in the Spirit (see Ephesians 6.18). As prayer in the Spirit consists exclusively of language inspired by God it is not unlike the sword of the Spirit itself. We might even say that if Scripture is the sword, then prayer is a dagger particularly useful for close combat with the enemy.
Lately, I have grown increasingly troubled by the desire of some who believe themselves to be a part of the Body of Christ to take up other arms, specifically, to wage war with arms which God has not given to Church, but rather to the government (see Romans 13.1-5). The Son arms his disciples with the sword of the Spirit, the Father arms the state with the “sword.” While I defend the constitutional right of citizens to bear arms, I find it disturbing to hear of bands of citizens arming, and then styling themselves as some sort of “Christian” militia. It was a year ago that the FBI rounded up members of such an armed group in a series of raids in three different states. I will put it plainly, there is absolutely nothing Christian about those who take up the sword with the intent of wielding it offensively. Repeating what I said in the first paragraph, the offensive weapons of the Church are the Word of God and prayer in the Spirit.
Why write about this a year after the FBI raids against the so-called Christian militia? Well, the conditions which give rise to such a militant mindset have not gone away, which leads me to believe that groups of self-styled “Christian” warriors are still around. What bother me most of all in this is that all this arming is taking place while the Church appears to be doing little or nothing with the weapons Christ has given to her. There is a dreadful famine of the Word, and a general apathy towards prayer, which I cannot understand, except to say that the devil has been effective in neutralizing no small part of the Body of Christ. The truth is, the Church will neither defend herself, much less advance the kingdom, by wielding the sword, which Jesus told his followers to put up (see Matthew 26.52), but only by her zealous employment of the weapons given to her by the Father—the Word of God and prayer in the Spirit.
If it is time for a “call to arms,” as it were, to be issued to the Church, and I certainly believe it is, then her pastors and ministers, her elders and deacons, her missionaries and teachers, should be calling her to the Word and to prayer, and themselves should be leading in the effort. The Lord himself did abide in the Word, and persevered in prayer. The Church, his bride, must do no less.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Jesus Disappointed Sin Spotters
What Did Jesus Do?
“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents,
but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
John 9.3
It was obvious to the disciples, in spite of the logs in their own eyes, that a speck of sin had to be the reason for a man having been born blind. The question was, and perhaps this is what the logs prevented them from seeing, “Who sinned?” (John 9.2) The reply of Jesus must have confused, and disappointed, the sin spotters among the disciples, for the Lord was quite clear in stating that the man's disability had nothing at all to do with either his sin, or his parents'.
Today's descendants of those Sin Spotters of old still delight in looking for sin, in others. And they take no small pleasure in wagging their fingers at people and prophesying, “God will get you for that!” Though it is absolutely true that sin always has its (negative) consequences, The Father does not indulge in any sort of “Gotcha!” games with us. While Sin Spotters take, well, there's no other way to put it, sinful enjoyment from the judgment and condemnation of others, the works of God are all about grace and forgiveness and mercy.
For some reason, my hunch is that it's their own sin nature, Sin Spotters like to point out who is lost in the darkness, with a shake of their heads and a click or two of the tongue. In sharp and direct contrast, Jesus, the Son, was sent by the Father to be the Light of the Word (John 9.5), whose chief objective was to glorify his Father by leading people out of the darkness. And there is perhaps no better biblical illustration of this than what Jesus did for the man born blind.
With no reference whatsoever to sin, the Lord simply made up a sort of poultice of his own spit mixed with some dirt, and anointed the eyes of the bind man (John 9.6). The man then needed only to obey the Lord's instructions to go and wash in the pool of Siloam to receive his sight. When the man had performed what Jesus had commanded, he came back seeing! (John 9.7)
While many were astonished by what had happened, a few were incensed. The incensed were not the Sin Spotters, they were, as we pointed out above, confused and disappointed. The ones who were outraged by what had happened were the Sabbath Sheriffs, reckoners of righteousness who were not about to let anyone, even God, work on the seventh day! (John 9.16a) We will take up with the Sabbath Sheriffs another day.
For now, we would all do well to consider that Jesus did not indulge in sin spotting, and likewise refrain from concerning ourselves with the sins others until we have confessed to the Lord all the sins of the one we see in the mirror. Unless we do this, the logs in our eyes will condemn us to remain in darkness where we cannot be part of the works the Father is still doing through the Son by the Holy Spirit. With our own eyes freed of impediment, the Lord may yet use us to lead others into the light. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents,
but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
John 9.3
It was obvious to the disciples, in spite of the logs in their own eyes, that a speck of sin had to be the reason for a man having been born blind. The question was, and perhaps this is what the logs prevented them from seeing, “Who sinned?” (John 9.2) The reply of Jesus must have confused, and disappointed, the sin spotters among the disciples, for the Lord was quite clear in stating that the man's disability had nothing at all to do with either his sin, or his parents'.
Today's descendants of those Sin Spotters of old still delight in looking for sin, in others. And they take no small pleasure in wagging their fingers at people and prophesying, “God will get you for that!” Though it is absolutely true that sin always has its (negative) consequences, The Father does not indulge in any sort of “Gotcha!” games with us. While Sin Spotters take, well, there's no other way to put it, sinful enjoyment from the judgment and condemnation of others, the works of God are all about grace and forgiveness and mercy.
For some reason, my hunch is that it's their own sin nature, Sin Spotters like to point out who is lost in the darkness, with a shake of their heads and a click or two of the tongue. In sharp and direct contrast, Jesus, the Son, was sent by the Father to be the Light of the Word (John 9.5), whose chief objective was to glorify his Father by leading people out of the darkness. And there is perhaps no better biblical illustration of this than what Jesus did for the man born blind.
With no reference whatsoever to sin, the Lord simply made up a sort of poultice of his own spit mixed with some dirt, and anointed the eyes of the bind man (John 9.6). The man then needed only to obey the Lord's instructions to go and wash in the pool of Siloam to receive his sight. When the man had performed what Jesus had commanded, he came back seeing! (John 9.7)
While many were astonished by what had happened, a few were incensed. The incensed were not the Sin Spotters, they were, as we pointed out above, confused and disappointed. The ones who were outraged by what had happened were the Sabbath Sheriffs, reckoners of righteousness who were not about to let anyone, even God, work on the seventh day! (John 9.16a) We will take up with the Sabbath Sheriffs another day.
For now, we would all do well to consider that Jesus did not indulge in sin spotting, and likewise refrain from concerning ourselves with the sins others until we have confessed to the Lord all the sins of the one we see in the mirror. Unless we do this, the logs in our eyes will condemn us to remain in darkness where we cannot be part of the works the Father is still doing through the Son by the Holy Spirit. With our own eyes freed of impediment, the Lord may yet use us to lead others into the light. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Jesus Let His Name Speak For Him
What Did Jesus Do?
“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me...”
John 8.54
Some names speak for themselves. Consider, “Bond. James Bond.” Enough said. “John, Paul, George, and Ringo.” No further explanation necessary. “Endicott Peabody” Endicott Peabody??? Well, if you were from Massachusetts you'd know who Endicott Peabody was. Sometimes, when folks want to check out our credentials, they would be justified if we tried to impress them simply with our name. Nor would a crowd typically credit anyone who blows his or her own horn. The crowd in Jerusalem in fact charged Jesus with building himself up (John 8.53), but Jesus was not in the practice of glorifying himself, he left it to the Father to glorify him (John 8.54).
At the heart of this particular confrontation was the discrepancy between Abraham's joyful response to seeing the day of the Lord, and how those who claimed to be Abraham's descendants responded to Jesus by rejecting him (John 8.56). In fairness, it did somewhat stretch credulity to believe that a young man, barely thirty, could have been around in the day of Israel's patriarch more than a thousand years earlier. Rather than argue the point with his critics, Jesus let his name—the name which the Father shared with him, and by which the Father glorified the Son—speak for him, “I am.” THAT name needed no elaboration or explanation to Israel. I Am was the God of the Covenant who had delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, presented the law to the people through Moses, raised up judges, anointed kings, and called prophets. Yet, somehow, in spite of all that history, though the crowed said of I Am, “He is our God,” the Son could honestly say that they did not know the Father (John 8.55).
Everyone in Jerusalem would have affirmed that I Am had been around in Abraham's day, had been around since Adam's day for that matter. I Am was the one true God who had no beginning and no end. But Jesus, why there were likely some Galileans present in Jerusalem who could probably remember the day Joseph and Mary arrived in Nazareth with their little baby boy. Were they such fools as to believe that he had been alive in the time of the Patriarchs? Again, Jesus didn't argue, he let his name speak for him, I Am.
But, when the people you are speaking to reverence the name of I Am so highly that they won't even dare pronounce it, it is a dangerous thing to not only name the name, but claim the name. That Jesus was able to hide himself from the angry mob was due in part to the fact that he could well have anticipated that they would be tempted to pick up rocks to stone him to death (John 8.59). Jesus may have let his name do the talking, but he was quick to let his feet do the walking, and removed himself from the potentially deadly situation, for his time had not yet come.
Today there is a pervasive ignorance about salvation history, and the persons and works of the Triune God of the Bible. It is not nearly enough to simply let the name(s) of God speak to peoples who do not know the Father. For not knowing the Father prevents people from knowing the Son. And if someone knows neither the Father nor the Son, they have certainly not made the acquaintance of the Holy Spirit. So it is necessary for the Church to not merely speak the name of I Am, but to teach all that God, the three-in-one, has revealed about himself in his Word. We do know from his Word that there is a day coming when the name of Jesus will be upon every tongue (see Philippians 2.9-11), and there will then be no need for anything more to be said.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me...”
John 8.54
Some names speak for themselves. Consider, “Bond. James Bond.” Enough said. “John, Paul, George, and Ringo.” No further explanation necessary. “Endicott Peabody” Endicott Peabody??? Well, if you were from Massachusetts you'd know who Endicott Peabody was. Sometimes, when folks want to check out our credentials, they would be justified if we tried to impress them simply with our name. Nor would a crowd typically credit anyone who blows his or her own horn. The crowd in Jerusalem in fact charged Jesus with building himself up (John 8.53), but Jesus was not in the practice of glorifying himself, he left it to the Father to glorify him (John 8.54).
At the heart of this particular confrontation was the discrepancy between Abraham's joyful response to seeing the day of the Lord, and how those who claimed to be Abraham's descendants responded to Jesus by rejecting him (John 8.56). In fairness, it did somewhat stretch credulity to believe that a young man, barely thirty, could have been around in the day of Israel's patriarch more than a thousand years earlier. Rather than argue the point with his critics, Jesus let his name—the name which the Father shared with him, and by which the Father glorified the Son—speak for him, “I am.” THAT name needed no elaboration or explanation to Israel. I Am was the God of the Covenant who had delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, presented the law to the people through Moses, raised up judges, anointed kings, and called prophets. Yet, somehow, in spite of all that history, though the crowed said of I Am, “He is our God,” the Son could honestly say that they did not know the Father (John 8.55).
Everyone in Jerusalem would have affirmed that I Am had been around in Abraham's day, had been around since Adam's day for that matter. I Am was the one true God who had no beginning and no end. But Jesus, why there were likely some Galileans present in Jerusalem who could probably remember the day Joseph and Mary arrived in Nazareth with their little baby boy. Were they such fools as to believe that he had been alive in the time of the Patriarchs? Again, Jesus didn't argue, he let his name speak for him, I Am.
But, when the people you are speaking to reverence the name of I Am so highly that they won't even dare pronounce it, it is a dangerous thing to not only name the name, but claim the name. That Jesus was able to hide himself from the angry mob was due in part to the fact that he could well have anticipated that they would be tempted to pick up rocks to stone him to death (John 8.59). Jesus may have let his name do the talking, but he was quick to let his feet do the walking, and removed himself from the potentially deadly situation, for his time had not yet come.
Today there is a pervasive ignorance about salvation history, and the persons and works of the Triune God of the Bible. It is not nearly enough to simply let the name(s) of God speak to peoples who do not know the Father. For not knowing the Father prevents people from knowing the Son. And if someone knows neither the Father nor the Son, they have certainly not made the acquaintance of the Holy Spirit. So it is necessary for the Church to not merely speak the name of I Am, but to teach all that God, the three-in-one, has revealed about himself in his Word. We do know from his Word that there is a day coming when the name of Jesus will be upon every tongue (see Philippians 2.9-11), and there will then be no need for anything more to be said.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Jesus Addressed A Select Audience
What Did Jesus Do?
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God.”
John 8.47
The oft-repeated claims made by our cell phone carrier on national television to the contrary, there are two places within a mile of our home where we lose the signal. That's right, we are literally surrounded by “dead zones.” When your cell phone screen shows “Dropped Signal” it is annoying, but that annoyance is nothing at all compared to the what happens to those who do not hear the words of God. When one is cut off from God's “signal” one is headed for a dreadful and eternal “dead zone.” Make no mistake, everyone will eventually hear God. But some will not hear him before the Judgment, and then what they hear will be terrible. What determines who can hear and who can't? Well, it depends on the answer to the age old question, “Who's your daddy?”
The children of God hear him just fine. But children not of God, all they can hear is lies. Since God speaks nothing but the truth, the children of the devil, the father of lies, cannot bear to hear the words of God (John 8.43). You see, when Jesus confronted the crowd in the Temple in Jerusalem, he addressed a select audience, only those of God, all the Father's children, could truly hear him. The words of the Lord are still intended for a select audience. This does not mean that we carefully herd God's flock into sanctuaries and lock the doors barring all others. There are still plenty of lost sheep to be found and brought in. The Word needs to be proclaimed far and wide, so that all may be given the opportunity to hear. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to give hearing to all the children the Father calls and claims through the Son.
Many who are in the “audience” will simply shrug and turn away, for the Gospel makes no sense at all to them. Others, not unlike many in the Jerusalem crowd, will respond with a rage that does not stop short of shedding blood. For those who hate the truth are driven by the devil, their “father,” who has been a murderer from the beginning, to do whatever he desires, even to commit the most heinous acts (John 8.44).
If you don't believe that the truth is under violent assault today, consider that in a growing number of places a pastor can be charged and jailed for “hate speech” simply for reading and proclaiming the Word of God. Do you think those “peace loving” children of Allah want to blow themselves, and us, up because they hear the truth and love God? The Father does not want his children to die for him, he sent the Son to die for his children. It's the devil who doesn't care about his children's lives.
The children of the devil? Well, because they still hate the truth and refuse to hear it, they still hate the Father, and the Son, and all the Father's children. For their part, the children of the Father are called to love and not to hate, and this love is to be extended even to the children of the devil. Being a child of God is a far more difficult calling than being a son or daughter of the devil.
For, even as Jesus spoke to all, in order to address a select audience, and thus fell into the hands of those who would do the will of the devil, so the Father requires that his children today speak his Word in order that a select audience may yet hear and be saved. Though those who do the will of the devil will yet raise their hand against the truth and against us, we do what Jesus did, and address the words of the Father to all his children.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God.”
John 8.47
The oft-repeated claims made by our cell phone carrier on national television to the contrary, there are two places within a mile of our home where we lose the signal. That's right, we are literally surrounded by “dead zones.” When your cell phone screen shows “Dropped Signal” it is annoying, but that annoyance is nothing at all compared to the what happens to those who do not hear the words of God. When one is cut off from God's “signal” one is headed for a dreadful and eternal “dead zone.” Make no mistake, everyone will eventually hear God. But some will not hear him before the Judgment, and then what they hear will be terrible. What determines who can hear and who can't? Well, it depends on the answer to the age old question, “Who's your daddy?”
The children of God hear him just fine. But children not of God, all they can hear is lies. Since God speaks nothing but the truth, the children of the devil, the father of lies, cannot bear to hear the words of God (John 8.43). You see, when Jesus confronted the crowd in the Temple in Jerusalem, he addressed a select audience, only those of God, all the Father's children, could truly hear him. The words of the Lord are still intended for a select audience. This does not mean that we carefully herd God's flock into sanctuaries and lock the doors barring all others. There are still plenty of lost sheep to be found and brought in. The Word needs to be proclaimed far and wide, so that all may be given the opportunity to hear. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to give hearing to all the children the Father calls and claims through the Son.
Many who are in the “audience” will simply shrug and turn away, for the Gospel makes no sense at all to them. Others, not unlike many in the Jerusalem crowd, will respond with a rage that does not stop short of shedding blood. For those who hate the truth are driven by the devil, their “father,” who has been a murderer from the beginning, to do whatever he desires, even to commit the most heinous acts (John 8.44).
If you don't believe that the truth is under violent assault today, consider that in a growing number of places a pastor can be charged and jailed for “hate speech” simply for reading and proclaiming the Word of God. Do you think those “peace loving” children of Allah want to blow themselves, and us, up because they hear the truth and love God? The Father does not want his children to die for him, he sent the Son to die for his children. It's the devil who doesn't care about his children's lives.
The children of the devil? Well, because they still hate the truth and refuse to hear it, they still hate the Father, and the Son, and all the Father's children. For their part, the children of the Father are called to love and not to hate, and this love is to be extended even to the children of the devil. Being a child of God is a far more difficult calling than being a son or daughter of the devil.
For, even as Jesus spoke to all, in order to address a select audience, and thus fell into the hands of those who would do the will of the devil, so the Father requires that his children today speak his Word in order that a select audience may yet hear and be saved. Though those who do the will of the devil will yet raise their hand against the truth and against us, we do what Jesus did, and address the words of the Father to all his children.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, March 28, 2011
Jesus Unshackled Slaves
What Did Jesus Do?
“...everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”
John 8.34
Sin is so alluring in its promises, so beguiling in its deceits, that none of us have any hope of remaining free of this truly harsh and unremitting master. The words of Chapter Five of Proverbs, warning young men about the dangers of an adulterous woman, may aptly be understood as descriptive of sin in general, and taken as advice to us all. I paraphrase:
My children, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
For forbidden lips drip honey,
and the speech of the Deceiver is smoother than oil,
but in the end his words are bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Sin leads down to death,
step by step traveling the path to Sheol;
sin avoids the path of life;
it wanders far and wide,
knowing nothing of it.
Proverbs 5.1-6
We must make no mistake, one cannot “dabble” in sin, from the first we are clapped in irons and led away as slaves, with no way to free ourselves (John 8.34). Only the Son can set us free (John 8.36). Any other liberation, apart from the words of Jesus, is illusory. Not pharmacology, not psychology, nor any other “-ology,” can break sin's shackles.
The Son speaks nothing but the truth of what he himself has witnessed with the Father (John 8.38a). When his Word finds a place in our heart, we are set free. Our problem is that on our own we choose instead to act on “hearsay” evidence which does not come from the Father, but rather from the father of lies, and thus we are enslaved to do his will, and are not free to do the will of the Father (John 8.38b). To believe that we have mastery over our own will is to listen to the oily speech of the Deceiver, to discover too late that what tastes sweet to our lips turns bitter indeed in our belly.
Once again it is what we believe and know about the Son that makes all the difference. And, once again, it is the Holy Spirit who reveals to us the truth about Jesus, and who imparts knowledge to our mind, and who fills our heart with faith. Slaves (to sin) have no lasting place in the Father's house, but children, set free by the Son, have a place in the Father's house forever (John 8.35).
Only by bearing witness, by sharing what we ourselves have seen and heard from Jesus, can we be employed by the Holy Spirit to set others free. As Christ's disciples it is our calling to unshackle sinners, because unshackling sinners so that they would be free to be children of the Father, is what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“...everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”
John 8.34
Sin is so alluring in its promises, so beguiling in its deceits, that none of us have any hope of remaining free of this truly harsh and unremitting master. The words of Chapter Five of Proverbs, warning young men about the dangers of an adulterous woman, may aptly be understood as descriptive of sin in general, and taken as advice to us all. I paraphrase:
My children, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
For forbidden lips drip honey,
and the speech of the Deceiver is smoother than oil,
but in the end his words are bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Sin leads down to death,
step by step traveling the path to Sheol;
sin avoids the path of life;
it wanders far and wide,
knowing nothing of it.
Proverbs 5.1-6
We must make no mistake, one cannot “dabble” in sin, from the first we are clapped in irons and led away as slaves, with no way to free ourselves (John 8.34). Only the Son can set us free (John 8.36). Any other liberation, apart from the words of Jesus, is illusory. Not pharmacology, not psychology, nor any other “-ology,” can break sin's shackles.
The Son speaks nothing but the truth of what he himself has witnessed with the Father (John 8.38a). When his Word finds a place in our heart, we are set free. Our problem is that on our own we choose instead to act on “hearsay” evidence which does not come from the Father, but rather from the father of lies, and thus we are enslaved to do his will, and are not free to do the will of the Father (John 8.38b). To believe that we have mastery over our own will is to listen to the oily speech of the Deceiver, to discover too late that what tastes sweet to our lips turns bitter indeed in our belly.
Once again it is what we believe and know about the Son that makes all the difference. And, once again, it is the Holy Spirit who reveals to us the truth about Jesus, and who imparts knowledge to our mind, and who fills our heart with faith. Slaves (to sin) have no lasting place in the Father's house, but children, set free by the Son, have a place in the Father's house forever (John 8.35).
Only by bearing witness, by sharing what we ourselves have seen and heard from Jesus, can we be employed by the Holy Spirit to set others free. As Christ's disciples it is our calling to unshackle sinners, because unshackling sinners so that they would be free to be children of the Father, is what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Jesus Promoted and Modeled Self-Deinal
What Did Jesus Do?
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself...”
Matthew 16.24
(see also Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)
A couple of weeks ago, before the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and before the civil war in Libya which has grown into an international conflict, the attempt by the governor and legislature of Wisconsin to limit the power of public workers unions in that state dominated the news. It might not be the banner headline any longer anywhere besides Madison, but we haven't heard the last of the confrontation between government and labor. And, as we have all seen and heard, Wisconsin is not the only state grappling with the issue.
Another labor controversy threatens a huge American industry, as billionaire NFL owners have acted to lock-out millionaire NFL players, without the least concern for the folks who made them their riches, the fans. Just as Wisconsin's struggle is shared by several other states, other professional sports leagues may soon be confronted with owners vs. players battles which could shut down other seasons besides football.
While the examples just mentioned garner headlines, they certainly constitute little more than the “tip” of what I believe is a huge “iceberg” of a problem in our nation—rampant self-interest. We have become essentially a “look out for #1” people. Oh, don't get me wrong, Americans still respond effusively to tragedies such as the one which struck Japan two weeks ago. But when the going gets tough, or even when things are going well, we, for the most part, are concerned with ourselves and our own welfare much more than we are with that of our neighbor. We are, individually and corporately, selfish people, to put it bluntly.
Perhaps that is a big reason why Christianity seems to be losing “market share,” if you will please excuse such a crass term—fewer and fewer people are attracted by a faith which comes right out and requires its adherents to deny themselves. Most people will say, “No thanks,” to self-denial, and choose instead one or more of several self-indulgent options. Recognizing this, more than a few ministries are now profiting by proclaiming a so-called “Prosperity Gospel.”
A “Prosperity Gospel” has a lot of appeal for selfish people. There is no self-denial with the “Prosperity Gospel.” One need give up nothing in the “Prosperity Gospel.” The motto, if you will, of “Prosperity” gospels is, “You can have it all!” Such a gospel works for unions which strive to get “all” they can for their members. “Prosperity Gospels” also support Billionaire owners and millionaire players contending for “all” that they can wrangle from each other. But contending against one another for “all” that we can grab for ourselves has nothing to do with the true Gospel.
The mild civil unrest and player lock-outs we have witnessed recently could well pale when compared to what could happen in the very near future if the U.S. economy should collapse. If and when prosperity goes up in smoke, all who have bought into a gospel of prosperity will very likely throw off most, if not all, constraints against selfishness, even to the point of committing illegal and violent acts.
I believe it is high time for every Christian to conduct a thorough self-assessment of our attitudes and lifestyle. On the selfless-selfish scale, where do we find ourselves? There is no doubt where we should be on that scale, though we need the help of the Holy Spirit to get there. If we are Christ's disciples, then we need to be doing what Jesus did. Jesus promoted and modeled self-denial.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself...”
Matthew 16.24
(see also Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)
A couple of weeks ago, before the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and before the civil war in Libya which has grown into an international conflict, the attempt by the governor and legislature of Wisconsin to limit the power of public workers unions in that state dominated the news. It might not be the banner headline any longer anywhere besides Madison, but we haven't heard the last of the confrontation between government and labor. And, as we have all seen and heard, Wisconsin is not the only state grappling with the issue.
Another labor controversy threatens a huge American industry, as billionaire NFL owners have acted to lock-out millionaire NFL players, without the least concern for the folks who made them their riches, the fans. Just as Wisconsin's struggle is shared by several other states, other professional sports leagues may soon be confronted with owners vs. players battles which could shut down other seasons besides football.
While the examples just mentioned garner headlines, they certainly constitute little more than the “tip” of what I believe is a huge “iceberg” of a problem in our nation—rampant self-interest. We have become essentially a “look out for #1” people. Oh, don't get me wrong, Americans still respond effusively to tragedies such as the one which struck Japan two weeks ago. But when the going gets tough, or even when things are going well, we, for the most part, are concerned with ourselves and our own welfare much more than we are with that of our neighbor. We are, individually and corporately, selfish people, to put it bluntly.
Perhaps that is a big reason why Christianity seems to be losing “market share,” if you will please excuse such a crass term—fewer and fewer people are attracted by a faith which comes right out and requires its adherents to deny themselves. Most people will say, “No thanks,” to self-denial, and choose instead one or more of several self-indulgent options. Recognizing this, more than a few ministries are now profiting by proclaiming a so-called “Prosperity Gospel.”
A “Prosperity Gospel” has a lot of appeal for selfish people. There is no self-denial with the “Prosperity Gospel.” One need give up nothing in the “Prosperity Gospel.” The motto, if you will, of “Prosperity” gospels is, “You can have it all!” Such a gospel works for unions which strive to get “all” they can for their members. “Prosperity Gospels” also support Billionaire owners and millionaire players contending for “all” that they can wrangle from each other. But contending against one another for “all” that we can grab for ourselves has nothing to do with the true Gospel.
The mild civil unrest and player lock-outs we have witnessed recently could well pale when compared to what could happen in the very near future if the U.S. economy should collapse. If and when prosperity goes up in smoke, all who have bought into a gospel of prosperity will very likely throw off most, if not all, constraints against selfishness, even to the point of committing illegal and violent acts.
I believe it is high time for every Christian to conduct a thorough self-assessment of our attitudes and lifestyle. On the selfless-selfish scale, where do we find ourselves? There is no doubt where we should be on that scale, though we need the help of the Holy Spirit to get there. If we are Christ's disciples, then we need to be doing what Jesus did. Jesus promoted and modeled self-denial.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Spoke Liberating Truth to Disciples
What Did Jesus Do?
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8.31-32
All disciples are believers. But are all believers disciples? I think it is possible for one to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, yet not follow him. Demons all knew and believed who Jesus was, yet no one would ever call them disciples. So, when John tells us in 8.30 that “many believed in him,” we might not want to assume that all those folks were, or ever became, disciples. In fact, the extended discourse which follows in John 8.31-59, appears to me to target those “believers” who may have had Jesus in their head, but not in their heart, if you will. Jesus wanted to make sure his audience knew what it took to “truly” be his disciples—knowing and abiding in the liberating truth of his words.
There is, and has forever been, a confrontation, Del Tackett of The Truth Project calls it a “cosmic battle,” between truth and falsehood. Recall that all the world's troubles started in the Garden of Eden with the serpent casting doubt on the veracity of God's words to Adam and Eve (see Genesis 3.1). Ever since the Fall, Satan has been making captives of us all, and he only employs one weapon in his assault—lying. We are all born slaves, as it were, to sin. And sin has been built on a foundation of falsehood from the beginning to this very day. The only way to be freed is to receive and know the truth. Jesus came speaking liberating words of truth, and only those who receive and abide in his words, he called them his true disciples, are set free.
But right there in Jerusalem, amidst the group of people who “believed,” there were those who, in the immortal words of Col. Jessup, could not handle the truth. Though they believed themselves to be free, it took a huge act of denial, or swallowing a large lie, to arrive at such a conclusion about their condition. “We are offspring of Abraham, and have never been enslaved to anyone!” Really? I guess all those Romans in Palestine were just tourists, the same for the Syrians, Ptolemies, Greeks, and Persians before them. But Jesus wasn't concerned about the Romans, for he knew that he was addressing a crowd under the control of a far worse tyrant than Caesar. Satan, who enslaves us all to sin, makes all the despots in the world look like amateurs. And he needs nothing more than a lie to whisper in our ear to subdue us and control us.
Here's the thing, no one can receive and abide in any of Christ's words if they do not first hear and acknowledge the truth that they are captive to sin. That's a hard truth to receive, isn't it? I mean, after a generation of two of “I'm O.K., You're O.K.” psycho-babel, why would anyone accept such a blow to their self-esteem as to admit they are a sinner? But believing that hard truth about ourselves opens the door for us to receive and believe all the many wonderful truths about Jesus, and what he has done for us.
Like the fractious crowd in Jerusalem with Jesus, many today “believe” in Jesus without accepting the hard, but liberating truth about their enslavement to sin, and so they are believers without being disciples. Disciples walk a hard, but glorious, self-denying, cross-bearing road. And every step along the road of discipleship is paved with the liberating truth of the words of Jesus which set us free.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8.31-32
All disciples are believers. But are all believers disciples? I think it is possible for one to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, yet not follow him. Demons all knew and believed who Jesus was, yet no one would ever call them disciples. So, when John tells us in 8.30 that “many believed in him,” we might not want to assume that all those folks were, or ever became, disciples. In fact, the extended discourse which follows in John 8.31-59, appears to me to target those “believers” who may have had Jesus in their head, but not in their heart, if you will. Jesus wanted to make sure his audience knew what it took to “truly” be his disciples—knowing and abiding in the liberating truth of his words.
There is, and has forever been, a confrontation, Del Tackett of The Truth Project calls it a “cosmic battle,” between truth and falsehood. Recall that all the world's troubles started in the Garden of Eden with the serpent casting doubt on the veracity of God's words to Adam and Eve (see Genesis 3.1). Ever since the Fall, Satan has been making captives of us all, and he only employs one weapon in his assault—lying. We are all born slaves, as it were, to sin. And sin has been built on a foundation of falsehood from the beginning to this very day. The only way to be freed is to receive and know the truth. Jesus came speaking liberating words of truth, and only those who receive and abide in his words, he called them his true disciples, are set free.
But right there in Jerusalem, amidst the group of people who “believed,” there were those who, in the immortal words of Col. Jessup, could not handle the truth. Though they believed themselves to be free, it took a huge act of denial, or swallowing a large lie, to arrive at such a conclusion about their condition. “We are offspring of Abraham, and have never been enslaved to anyone!” Really? I guess all those Romans in Palestine were just tourists, the same for the Syrians, Ptolemies, Greeks, and Persians before them. But Jesus wasn't concerned about the Romans, for he knew that he was addressing a crowd under the control of a far worse tyrant than Caesar. Satan, who enslaves us all to sin, makes all the despots in the world look like amateurs. And he needs nothing more than a lie to whisper in our ear to subdue us and control us.
Here's the thing, no one can receive and abide in any of Christ's words if they do not first hear and acknowledge the truth that they are captive to sin. That's a hard truth to receive, isn't it? I mean, after a generation of two of “I'm O.K., You're O.K.” psycho-babel, why would anyone accept such a blow to their self-esteem as to admit they are a sinner? But believing that hard truth about ourselves opens the door for us to receive and believe all the many wonderful truths about Jesus, and what he has done for us.
Like the fractious crowd in Jerusalem with Jesus, many today “believe” in Jesus without accepting the hard, but liberating truth about their enslavement to sin, and so they are believers without being disciples. Disciples walk a hard, but glorious, self-denying, cross-bearing road. And every step along the road of discipleship is paved with the liberating truth of the words of Jesus which set us free.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Jesus Pleased the Father
What Did Jesus Do?
“I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
John 8.29
There are quite a few speakers who keep busy going around, for a fee, sharing their experience/insight/knowledge/secret/wisdom on how to lead people to Christ. And you could probably fill up a couple of bookshelves just with books that have been written about evangelism. Nevertheless, the majority of the world remains unconverted. Even here in western North Carolina little more than twenty per cent of the population are members of a local congregation. I'm not ruling out that some of the folks who stay away from church might be believers, but there could not be many of them in any event. So, why is it, when there is what amounts to a thriving Evangelism industry, that there is not more successful evangelism being done? I believe I may have come across something that many evangelists have missed. Certainly, the first evangelist was the Lord himself. But the Son's desire wasn't to evangelize, there was something else that delighted his heart even more—Jesus pleased the Father.
The thing is, as Jesus did and said the things that pleased the Father, the result was that “many believed in him.” (John 8.30) There are countless approaches to evangelism. You can attend schools of evangelism to learn how to be better at evangelizing. Revivals can be scheduled. Tent meetings can be held. Crusades can be mounted. But the key to effective evangelism now seems to me to be simply following the example of Jesus—to do and say that which gives the Father pleasure. If we were always to do what pleases the Father, I believe we would see significantly greater numbers of people coming to faith in the Lord.
The question is, then, how do we go about pleasing the Father? Well, consider these words of the Father,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3.17
The obvious answer, then, to pleasing the Father, is that we need to follow the example of the life of Jesus, or, as we have been discussing for over a year and a half now, we need to do what Jesus did. Evangelism schools may be well and good, but what really leads to successful evangelism is studying the life of Jesus, and then going and doing likewise.
This is not to suggest that even if every believer were to closely follow the example of the Lord in their daily living that the whole world would ever be converted. Many people who met Jesus face to face, who heard him speak, who witnessed his works, never got who he was, or where it was that he came from, or who it was who had sent him. And all those who didn't get Jesus died in their sin, just as the Lord said they would (John 8.21, 24). The truth is, if many people didn't get him, there will be many who won't get our imitation of him. Even if we discipline ourselves to try and do what he did, many will still not get us/him.
Nevertheless, we can rely on the authority of the Word of God that, even as many will not believe, the example of a life pleasing to the Father will also be the means by which the Holy Spirit leads many to salvation. The bottom line is, we need to make the study of the life of Jesus a priority. We need to learn all we can about what Jesus did. This is not intended to get you to keep reading these WDJDs and forward them on to others, though I hope and pray that you will. Rather, when we read the Bible, and we need to be in the Word daily, we should be reading with the goal of gaining knowledge into the life of the Lord. If we were to distill the life of Jesus down to one key principle, and if I were pressed to offer one answer to the question “What did Jesus do,” we would arrive at this—Jesus pleased the Father.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
John 8.29
There are quite a few speakers who keep busy going around, for a fee, sharing their experience/insight/knowledge/secret/wisdom on how to lead people to Christ. And you could probably fill up a couple of bookshelves just with books that have been written about evangelism. Nevertheless, the majority of the world remains unconverted. Even here in western North Carolina little more than twenty per cent of the population are members of a local congregation. I'm not ruling out that some of the folks who stay away from church might be believers, but there could not be many of them in any event. So, why is it, when there is what amounts to a thriving Evangelism industry, that there is not more successful evangelism being done? I believe I may have come across something that many evangelists have missed. Certainly, the first evangelist was the Lord himself. But the Son's desire wasn't to evangelize, there was something else that delighted his heart even more—Jesus pleased the Father.
The thing is, as Jesus did and said the things that pleased the Father, the result was that “many believed in him.” (John 8.30) There are countless approaches to evangelism. You can attend schools of evangelism to learn how to be better at evangelizing. Revivals can be scheduled. Tent meetings can be held. Crusades can be mounted. But the key to effective evangelism now seems to me to be simply following the example of Jesus—to do and say that which gives the Father pleasure. If we were always to do what pleases the Father, I believe we would see significantly greater numbers of people coming to faith in the Lord.
The question is, then, how do we go about pleasing the Father? Well, consider these words of the Father,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3.17
The obvious answer, then, to pleasing the Father, is that we need to follow the example of the life of Jesus, or, as we have been discussing for over a year and a half now, we need to do what Jesus did. Evangelism schools may be well and good, but what really leads to successful evangelism is studying the life of Jesus, and then going and doing likewise.
This is not to suggest that even if every believer were to closely follow the example of the Lord in their daily living that the whole world would ever be converted. Many people who met Jesus face to face, who heard him speak, who witnessed his works, never got who he was, or where it was that he came from, or who it was who had sent him. And all those who didn't get Jesus died in their sin, just as the Lord said they would (John 8.21, 24). The truth is, if many people didn't get him, there will be many who won't get our imitation of him. Even if we discipline ourselves to try and do what he did, many will still not get us/him.
Nevertheless, we can rely on the authority of the Word of God that, even as many will not believe, the example of a life pleasing to the Father will also be the means by which the Holy Spirit leads many to salvation. The bottom line is, we need to make the study of the life of Jesus a priority. We need to learn all we can about what Jesus did. This is not intended to get you to keep reading these WDJDs and forward them on to others, though I hope and pray that you will. Rather, when we read the Bible, and we need to be in the Word daily, we should be reading with the goal of gaining knowledge into the life of the Lord. If we were to distill the life of Jesus down to one key principle, and if I were pressed to offer one answer to the question “What did Jesus do,” we would arrive at this—Jesus pleased the Father.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Jesus Came Down to Fulfill the Father's Will
What Did Jesus Do?
“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of him who sent me.”
John 6.38
People only thought they knew where Jesus had come from (Galilee). If they had really known where he had come from, and who had sent him, well, they would have responded to him differently. The ironic thing is, Israel had been pleading for centuries for the LORD to tear open the heavens and descend to earth to forgive, redeem, and save sinners (see Isaiah 64). In answer to those prayers, and more importantly in obedience to and fulfillment of the Father's will, Jesus came down.
Today there are quite a few people praying that the Son would soon again come down. But I wonder, will the world, will even the Church, any of us, be more receptive this time? Maybe I need my eyes checked, but taking a good look at Christ's Bride (the Church), she's not looking so pure or radiant these days. I rather imagine she would find it awkward if her groom were to show up today. Not that the Church can, of its own, clean or remove any spot or blemish that mars its appearance. Even on their best days (and I think the Church's best days are far removed from today), the righteousness of all the abbeys, basilicas, cathedrals, chapels, cloisters, monasteries, and sanctuaries, and of all the saints who worship therein, has never amounted to more than a pile of filthy rags (Isaiah 64.6). It seems likely to me that most of us would find it inconvenient, to say the least, if Jesus were to show up today.
But the fact is, Jesus, who came down, is coming again. And it could be today. It might be tomorrow. The Lord may return some day next week, or next month, or next year, or ten thousand years from now, there's no way of our knowing. The Father alone knows the day (Matthew 24.36). Personally, I don't believe there will be much anyone will be able to do that day to alter or change their condition much, it will be far too late for mending one's ways when Jesus again comes down. But, just in case some believe keeping an eye on the sky might give them some kind of warning of Christ's coming again, I offer the following picture of what it could look like when the Father rends the heavens and the Son comes down.
The sober truth is, the Lord might not come down today, or for a long time, but this could turn out to be the day we personally meet him face to face. Isaiah makes it clear that none of us can have any confidence in our flesh, in our own righteousness. But, knowing that Jesus came down to live, and to die, in order to fulfill all righteousness, and that by his grace, and the love of the Father, he imparts that righteousness to us by faith in him through the work of the Holy Spirit, we have perfect assurance that there will be no spot or blemish on us when the Son presents us to the Father (see Jude 24-25).
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of him who sent me.”
John 6.38
People only thought they knew where Jesus had come from (Galilee). If they had really known where he had come from, and who had sent him, well, they would have responded to him differently. The ironic thing is, Israel had been pleading for centuries for the LORD to tear open the heavens and descend to earth to forgive, redeem, and save sinners (see Isaiah 64). In answer to those prayers, and more importantly in obedience to and fulfillment of the Father's will, Jesus came down.
Today there are quite a few people praying that the Son would soon again come down. But I wonder, will the world, will even the Church, any of us, be more receptive this time? Maybe I need my eyes checked, but taking a good look at Christ's Bride (the Church), she's not looking so pure or radiant these days. I rather imagine she would find it awkward if her groom were to show up today. Not that the Church can, of its own, clean or remove any spot or blemish that mars its appearance. Even on their best days (and I think the Church's best days are far removed from today), the righteousness of all the abbeys, basilicas, cathedrals, chapels, cloisters, monasteries, and sanctuaries, and of all the saints who worship therein, has never amounted to more than a pile of filthy rags (Isaiah 64.6). It seems likely to me that most of us would find it inconvenient, to say the least, if Jesus were to show up today.
But the fact is, Jesus, who came down, is coming again. And it could be today. It might be tomorrow. The Lord may return some day next week, or next month, or next year, or ten thousand years from now, there's no way of our knowing. The Father alone knows the day (Matthew 24.36). Personally, I don't believe there will be much anyone will be able to do that day to alter or change their condition much, it will be far too late for mending one's ways when Jesus again comes down. But, just in case some believe keeping an eye on the sky might give them some kind of warning of Christ's coming again, I offer the following picture of what it could look like when the Father rends the heavens and the Son comes down.
The sober truth is, the Lord might not come down today, or for a long time, but this could turn out to be the day we personally meet him face to face. Isaiah makes it clear that none of us can have any confidence in our flesh, in our own righteousness. But, knowing that Jesus came down to live, and to die, in order to fulfill all righteousness, and that by his grace, and the love of the Father, he imparts that righteousness to us by faith in him through the work of the Holy Spirit, we have perfect assurance that there will be no spot or blemish on us when the Son presents us to the Father (see Jude 24-25).
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, March 21, 2011
Jesus Offered Light
What Did Jesus Do?
“Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8.12
Funny how some people are so sure they know more about us than we know about ourselves. I mean, the kind of folks who size us up and pass judgment on us, based entirely on opinions, folks who simply don't want to hear the truth. Jesus was always encountering these kinds of people, people who rather liked keeping themselves in the dark, so to speak. Nevertheless, Jesus offered light.
Though many expressed interest in knowing Jesus—who was he, where did he come from—it seemed that every time Jesus gave them an answer they insisted on arguing with him about it! This is clearly and amply illustrated in John's gospel, where we find the Lord making six “I Am” statements about himself (John 6.35; 8.12; 10.11; 11.25; 14.6; 15.1), which typically resulted in contentious debate, boiling anger, and even murderous outrage. Some even picked up stones to stone Jesus to death (see John 10.31).
For some people, perhaps even for many, the truth is so painful that they will refuse it, even resist it violently, rather than accept it. You would think that anyone living in darkness would welcome light into their lives. But coming out of darkness into light is painful, especially when the darkness is employed to try and conceal one's evil and sin. And so, many simply choose the darkness over the light (see John 3.19). Some may even go so far as to start calling darkness “light.”
The legal ploy the Lord's opponents employed when he declared that he was “the light of the world,” was to disallow his bearing testimony for himself (John 8.13). People can make all kinds of claims about themselves, so it is not all that unreasonable to require that others submit testimony. The trouble was, Jesus was just about the only person sufficiently informed about who was the Son of God, and where he had come from, who had sent him, and where he was going, everyone else had little more than an opinion about him (John 8.14). And so, the Pharisees proceeded time and again to judge Jesus according to the flesh (John 18.15a), rather than the Spirit. But it is only the Spirit who reveals the truth about Jesus (see 1John 5.6).
For his part, Jesus was not about to get caught up in judging people (John 8.15b), though there will come a day...(see Matthew 25.31-46). But, if Jesus had indulged in judging people, even himself, his judgment of himself was acceptable, for it did not stand alone. The Father, who had sent the Son, also bore witness about him (John 8.18). Sadly, the Pharisees knew not the Father, making it impossible for them to know or to believe the Son (John 8.19). Thus, in their darkness, they could not apprehend the Light, though they did not cease to contend with the Light.
In a day that is certainly as dark as in the time of Jesus, and quite possibly darker, it is absolutely essential that the Lord's offer of light still be made to the world. Many will yet argue with the Light, refuse the Light, hate the Light, and even seek to kill those who are bearers of the Light. Even so, others now in darkness will yet be led by the Holy Spirit into the Light of life, if we but offer it to them. It turns out that “this little light” of ours, isn't so little after all, but is in fact the only light capable of illuminating the world, if we would just let it shine! That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8.12
Funny how some people are so sure they know more about us than we know about ourselves. I mean, the kind of folks who size us up and pass judgment on us, based entirely on opinions, folks who simply don't want to hear the truth. Jesus was always encountering these kinds of people, people who rather liked keeping themselves in the dark, so to speak. Nevertheless, Jesus offered light.
Though many expressed interest in knowing Jesus—who was he, where did he come from—it seemed that every time Jesus gave them an answer they insisted on arguing with him about it! This is clearly and amply illustrated in John's gospel, where we find the Lord making six “I Am” statements about himself (John 6.35; 8.12; 10.11; 11.25; 14.6; 15.1), which typically resulted in contentious debate, boiling anger, and even murderous outrage. Some even picked up stones to stone Jesus to death (see John 10.31).
For some people, perhaps even for many, the truth is so painful that they will refuse it, even resist it violently, rather than accept it. You would think that anyone living in darkness would welcome light into their lives. But coming out of darkness into light is painful, especially when the darkness is employed to try and conceal one's evil and sin. And so, many simply choose the darkness over the light (see John 3.19). Some may even go so far as to start calling darkness “light.”
The legal ploy the Lord's opponents employed when he declared that he was “the light of the world,” was to disallow his bearing testimony for himself (John 8.13). People can make all kinds of claims about themselves, so it is not all that unreasonable to require that others submit testimony. The trouble was, Jesus was just about the only person sufficiently informed about who was the Son of God, and where he had come from, who had sent him, and where he was going, everyone else had little more than an opinion about him (John 8.14). And so, the Pharisees proceeded time and again to judge Jesus according to the flesh (John 18.15a), rather than the Spirit. But it is only the Spirit who reveals the truth about Jesus (see 1John 5.6).
For his part, Jesus was not about to get caught up in judging people (John 8.15b), though there will come a day...(see Matthew 25.31-46). But, if Jesus had indulged in judging people, even himself, his judgment of himself was acceptable, for it did not stand alone. The Father, who had sent the Son, also bore witness about him (John 8.18). Sadly, the Pharisees knew not the Father, making it impossible for them to know or to believe the Son (John 8.19). Thus, in their darkness, they could not apprehend the Light, though they did not cease to contend with the Light.
In a day that is certainly as dark as in the time of Jesus, and quite possibly darker, it is absolutely essential that the Lord's offer of light still be made to the world. Many will yet argue with the Light, refuse the Light, hate the Light, and even seek to kill those who are bearers of the Light. Even so, others now in darkness will yet be led by the Holy Spirit into the Light of life, if we but offer it to them. It turns out that “this little light” of ours, isn't so little after all, but is in fact the only light capable of illuminating the world, if we would just let it shine! That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Jesus Surrendered His Right
What Did Jesus Do?
“Let him who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.”
John 8.7
I believe that the scene from The Passion of the Christ that most moves me is the one that I'm in. “What, Jim was in that movie?” Well, no, not in the movie. But I certainly played a role in Christ's Passion. You see, I am responsible for some of the stripes on his back, way too many of them actually. And the blood shed by the Lord? I don't want to think of all the drops that fell for my sake.
By any measure, especially by the Law of Moses, I am as guilty as they come. If anyone should know God's wrath, it would be me. In fact, I am pretty sure that if I had been an ancient Israelite I would have died under a hail of stones, and deservedly so. All this is why the scene from the movie means so much to me. Do you recall it? In a dusty city square an angry rock-toting crowd stands armed and ready to execute the death sentence. Then, into the foreground a sandaled foot strides, and someone kneels down and begins to write in the sand. And as the finger writes the mob all drops their stones and departs. This is where I come into the scene. For, haltingly, a trembling hand stretches out and reaches for the sandal, desperately seeking to touch the one who has delivered from death. I realize that in the film the scene depicts Mary Magdalene as the woman caught in adultery from John 8. But in real life, it was me who Jesus saved.
Something tells me that I might not be the only person who recognizes himself or herself in that scene. It ends, of course, with the Lord tenderly reaching out his own hand to us and lifting us up from the dust. His touch, his forgiving embrace—words cannot express what we experience in that moment.
What just might be the most impressive thing about the scene is that Jesus willingly surrendered his right to condemn and execute, and instead chooses to save. You see, alone out of all humanity, Jesus is permitted to throw stones, for he alone is without sin. Yet, alone out of all humanity, Jesus would not even pick up a stone, much less cast it at us. Rather, he willingly took our place. He accepted the lashes that should sting our backs. He received the nails that should justly hold us to the cross. He was bruised and broken by the stones, so to speak, that should strike us down.
The thing is, though I am the last person in the world who should ever presume to pick up a stone, I have hurled malice laden missiles at others many times, and done so believing that it was my right! Though a sinner, I've thrown stones, yet Jesus, pure and sinless, never went around exercising his “rights,” and in fact gave them all up so that, by grace, sinners like you and me might be saved.
Since first seeing the film, I have found that whenever I have an urge to hurl a stone at someone, it is helpful to first recall my “role” in the scene. You see, it is all but impossible to pick up and throw and stone when one is lying face down in the dust desperately reaching out for the Savior. The prone position, however, is very conducive to taking the hand of another sinner, and leading them to the Lord.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Let him who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.”
John 8.7
I believe that the scene from The Passion of the Christ that most moves me is the one that I'm in. “What, Jim was in that movie?” Well, no, not in the movie. But I certainly played a role in Christ's Passion. You see, I am responsible for some of the stripes on his back, way too many of them actually. And the blood shed by the Lord? I don't want to think of all the drops that fell for my sake.
By any measure, especially by the Law of Moses, I am as guilty as they come. If anyone should know God's wrath, it would be me. In fact, I am pretty sure that if I had been an ancient Israelite I would have died under a hail of stones, and deservedly so. All this is why the scene from the movie means so much to me. Do you recall it? In a dusty city square an angry rock-toting crowd stands armed and ready to execute the death sentence. Then, into the foreground a sandaled foot strides, and someone kneels down and begins to write in the sand. And as the finger writes the mob all drops their stones and departs. This is where I come into the scene. For, haltingly, a trembling hand stretches out and reaches for the sandal, desperately seeking to touch the one who has delivered from death. I realize that in the film the scene depicts Mary Magdalene as the woman caught in adultery from John 8. But in real life, it was me who Jesus saved.
Something tells me that I might not be the only person who recognizes himself or herself in that scene. It ends, of course, with the Lord tenderly reaching out his own hand to us and lifting us up from the dust. His touch, his forgiving embrace—words cannot express what we experience in that moment.
What just might be the most impressive thing about the scene is that Jesus willingly surrendered his right to condemn and execute, and instead chooses to save. You see, alone out of all humanity, Jesus is permitted to throw stones, for he alone is without sin. Yet, alone out of all humanity, Jesus would not even pick up a stone, much less cast it at us. Rather, he willingly took our place. He accepted the lashes that should sting our backs. He received the nails that should justly hold us to the cross. He was bruised and broken by the stones, so to speak, that should strike us down.
The thing is, though I am the last person in the world who should ever presume to pick up a stone, I have hurled malice laden missiles at others many times, and done so believing that it was my right! Though a sinner, I've thrown stones, yet Jesus, pure and sinless, never went around exercising his “rights,” and in fact gave them all up so that, by grace, sinners like you and me might be saved.
Since first seeing the film, I have found that whenever I have an urge to hurl a stone at someone, it is helpful to first recall my “role” in the scene. You see, it is all but impossible to pick up and throw and stone when one is lying face down in the dust desperately reaching out for the Savior. The prone position, however, is very conducive to taking the hand of another sinner, and leading them to the Lord.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Jesus Disarmed, But Did Not Deceive
What Did Jesus Do?
“Have you also been deceived?”
John 7.47
When you are thoroughly invested in a lie, the truth sounds like deceit. The chief priests and Pharisees of Jerusalem, presumptive authorities on the law, had in fact embraced a corruption of the law, with the result that when One came to fulfill the law, they characterized him as an arch lawbreaker, a “public enemy,” if you will, and sent a posse out to arrest Jesus (see John 7.32).
Back in those does such a posse would have taken it as their sworn duty to apprehend their man. Ironically, the posse in fact seemed to apprehend the Lord, even as they were not willing to bring him in. What I mean here by apprehend is that they began to realize, to understand, to perceive that Jesus was no mere lawbreaker. In fact, what Christ spoke did not sound like anything they had ever heard anyone say before (John 7.46), and it disarmed them, so to speak. So taken was the posse by the words of Jesus that they refused to lay hands on him, and returned to the chief priests and Pharisees without him. This did not at all please their masters, who demanded to know why they had failed to complete their assignment (John 7.45). When the posse explained that the words of Jesus had in effect been disarming, the Pharisees immediately charged them with being deceived, which in essence charged the Lord with being a deceiver. As I said above, when you are thoroughly invested in a lie, the truth sounds like deceit. But the fact was, Jesus disarmed, but did not deceive.
So, the ones who had so corrupted and twisted the law that they could no longer recognize the truth when it was staring them in the face, blamed pretty much everyone who had begun to believe in Jesus for being ignorant of the law, and condemned them as accursed (John 7.49). When Nicodemus, who, though he still did not completely grasp the truth about Jesus, argued that the law guaranteed that a man should have the opportunity to speak before being condemned, his colleagues essentially accused him of being deceived by suggesting he was a fellow Galilean with the Lord (John 7.50-52). The truly deceived could do nothing but accuse all others of falling prey to deception. They claimed to be defenders of truth, while being afraid of listening to anything that might challenge the lies they were so invested in.
Today there are countless “truths” people invest in. Some embrace political ideologies as their truth. Others are completely committed to anthropology, psychology, and humanism. And many are completely taken in by the claims of science. Interestingly, pretty much all who are so invested in such “truths” deride and dismiss Christians as being deceived, much as the priests and Pharisees did with the first believers.
Well, here's the thing, though we often talk about the Church being engaged in battle (the Church “Militant” if you will), I believe what Christians should be committed to is disarmament, so to speak. This is not at all to suggest appeasement or surrender. But I believe that rather than seek a fight we are called to employ the same tactics as Jesus, indeed use the very words of the Lord, to disarm others. The gracious and winsome words of the Gospel are not “fightin'” words, but words of peace. And the Holy Spirit is the Father's agent of disarmament who reveals the truth of who the Son is, and what the Son has done, to those who have been deceived.
Oh, the one who is the Deceiver will battle vigorously against Jesus, who is the Truth. And all who are under the power of the Deceiver will resist until they are either disarmed by the Gospel, or stand judged and condemned before the Lord himself for refusing to receive him. For now, we are commissioned by Christ himself to go into the world and make disciples of those whom the Holy Spirit disarms with the Good News we proclaim.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Have you also been deceived?”
John 7.47
When you are thoroughly invested in a lie, the truth sounds like deceit. The chief priests and Pharisees of Jerusalem, presumptive authorities on the law, had in fact embraced a corruption of the law, with the result that when One came to fulfill the law, they characterized him as an arch lawbreaker, a “public enemy,” if you will, and sent a posse out to arrest Jesus (see John 7.32).
Back in those does such a posse would have taken it as their sworn duty to apprehend their man. Ironically, the posse in fact seemed to apprehend the Lord, even as they were not willing to bring him in. What I mean here by apprehend is that they began to realize, to understand, to perceive that Jesus was no mere lawbreaker. In fact, what Christ spoke did not sound like anything they had ever heard anyone say before (John 7.46), and it disarmed them, so to speak. So taken was the posse by the words of Jesus that they refused to lay hands on him, and returned to the chief priests and Pharisees without him. This did not at all please their masters, who demanded to know why they had failed to complete their assignment (John 7.45). When the posse explained that the words of Jesus had in effect been disarming, the Pharisees immediately charged them with being deceived, which in essence charged the Lord with being a deceiver. As I said above, when you are thoroughly invested in a lie, the truth sounds like deceit. But the fact was, Jesus disarmed, but did not deceive.
So, the ones who had so corrupted and twisted the law that they could no longer recognize the truth when it was staring them in the face, blamed pretty much everyone who had begun to believe in Jesus for being ignorant of the law, and condemned them as accursed (John 7.49). When Nicodemus, who, though he still did not completely grasp the truth about Jesus, argued that the law guaranteed that a man should have the opportunity to speak before being condemned, his colleagues essentially accused him of being deceived by suggesting he was a fellow Galilean with the Lord (John 7.50-52). The truly deceived could do nothing but accuse all others of falling prey to deception. They claimed to be defenders of truth, while being afraid of listening to anything that might challenge the lies they were so invested in.
Today there are countless “truths” people invest in. Some embrace political ideologies as their truth. Others are completely committed to anthropology, psychology, and humanism. And many are completely taken in by the claims of science. Interestingly, pretty much all who are so invested in such “truths” deride and dismiss Christians as being deceived, much as the priests and Pharisees did with the first believers.
Well, here's the thing, though we often talk about the Church being engaged in battle (the Church “Militant” if you will), I believe what Christians should be committed to is disarmament, so to speak. This is not at all to suggest appeasement or surrender. But I believe that rather than seek a fight we are called to employ the same tactics as Jesus, indeed use the very words of the Lord, to disarm others. The gracious and winsome words of the Gospel are not “fightin'” words, but words of peace. And the Holy Spirit is the Father's agent of disarmament who reveals the truth of who the Son is, and what the Son has done, to those who have been deceived.
Oh, the one who is the Deceiver will battle vigorously against Jesus, who is the Truth. And all who are under the power of the Deceiver will resist until they are either disarmed by the Gospel, or stand judged and condemned before the Lord himself for refusing to receive him. For now, we are commissioned by Christ himself to go into the world and make disciples of those whom the Holy Spirit disarms with the Good News we proclaim.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Jesus Came From Galilee (Part II)
What Did Jesus Do?
Some said, “This really is the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?”
So there was a division among the people over him.
John 7.40-41, 43
We noted in an earlier WDJD that the really important question is not where is Jesus from, but rather who is he (See WDJD for 3/16/11). If we know the truth about who he is we will eventually understand all there is to know about where he is from.
Have you ever noticed what most people want to know about you? Typically the first thing someone asks upon meeting us for the first time isn't “Where are you from?” but “Who are you?” But, especially down here in North Carolina—where everybody notices that I talk kind of funny (I grew up in New Jersey, enough said)—even if they ask who I am, what they really want to know is where I'm from! And often when we tell folks about who we are, much of what we say is about where we're from. Seemingly, people have always placed great importance on knowing where other people are from. Knowing where someone comes from informs what we come to think about who they are. But, I'll say it again, with Jesus the important thing is to know who he is. If we know he is the Son, that tells us he comes from the Father!
Now, if it is important to know who Jesus is, then, as Christians, the most important part of our identity isn't where we are from, but who we are. And the most important thing for people to know about us is—that we are Christians! Think about it some more. When we tell others about ourselves we include where we are from, something about our family, and typically what kind of work we do. Most people don't mention Jesus when they tell others about themselves. But if he is the most important part of our life, and he should be, shouldn't the first thing we share about ourselves with others be about our personal relationship with the Lord? I don't know, but it almost seems that Jesus might not be as important in our life as we like to think he is when we consider how far down the line it is before we mention him when talking about ourselves.
I have to think about this some more. But, even though it might put some people off, might even cause some division between me and a lot of other people I meet, I believe I ought to start introducing myself to others by saying something like this, “Hi, I'm Jim, and Jesus saved me!” Wouldn't that tell a stranger what he or she most needs to know about me, and about the most important person in my life? Somehow I think the conversation, if folks stick around after an introduction like that to actually have a conversation, would be about something more important than the weather, or sports, or politics. I don't know. It would be risky, wouldn't it, to boldly begin by letting someone I meet for the first time know that the most important thing about me is that I needed saving, and that Jesus saved me?
Picture this. I'm sitting down at IHOP for some apple-cinnamon pancakes, and the server says, “Hi, I'm Sally, and I'll be your server today!” and I reply, “Hi, Sally. I'm Jim, and Jesus saved me!” Do you think Sally might ask someone else to take her table? Or maybe she'd go and tell the manager that there was a customer causing a disturbance? But, after all, if Sally is considerate enough to tell me what, in the context of IHOP, I need to know about who she is, shouldn't I, in the context of living as a disciple of Jesus Christ, tell what she needs to know about me, which amounts to telling her what she needs to know about Him?
Or, how about when I am substitute teaching at one of the local schools, and I introduce myself to a class for the first time? What would happen if I were to say to them, “Good morning! I'm Mr. Wilken, and Jesus saved me”? I mean, could there possibly be anything more important that I could tell them about myself, is there anything more important that I could teach them? Of course, I might not ever be invited back to sub if a parent were to complain.
Maybe some of you are already doing this when you meet people. I can't say that I ever remember meeting anyone who introduced themselves to me in such a manner. I wonder what might happen if more and more believers did something like this? When I think about the whole “What did Jesus do” conversation we've been having for more than a year and a half now, it seems to me that it might be a way for Jesus to keep doing what he did—save sinners.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Some said, “This really is the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?”
So there was a division among the people over him.
John 7.40-41, 43
We noted in an earlier WDJD that the really important question is not where is Jesus from, but rather who is he (See WDJD for 3/16/11). If we know the truth about who he is we will eventually understand all there is to know about where he is from.
Have you ever noticed what most people want to know about you? Typically the first thing someone asks upon meeting us for the first time isn't “Where are you from?” but “Who are you?” But, especially down here in North Carolina—where everybody notices that I talk kind of funny (I grew up in New Jersey, enough said)—even if they ask who I am, what they really want to know is where I'm from! And often when we tell folks about who we are, much of what we say is about where we're from. Seemingly, people have always placed great importance on knowing where other people are from. Knowing where someone comes from informs what we come to think about who they are. But, I'll say it again, with Jesus the important thing is to know who he is. If we know he is the Son, that tells us he comes from the Father!
Now, if it is important to know who Jesus is, then, as Christians, the most important part of our identity isn't where we are from, but who we are. And the most important thing for people to know about us is—that we are Christians! Think about it some more. When we tell others about ourselves we include where we are from, something about our family, and typically what kind of work we do. Most people don't mention Jesus when they tell others about themselves. But if he is the most important part of our life, and he should be, shouldn't the first thing we share about ourselves with others be about our personal relationship with the Lord? I don't know, but it almost seems that Jesus might not be as important in our life as we like to think he is when we consider how far down the line it is before we mention him when talking about ourselves.
I have to think about this some more. But, even though it might put some people off, might even cause some division between me and a lot of other people I meet, I believe I ought to start introducing myself to others by saying something like this, “Hi, I'm Jim, and Jesus saved me!” Wouldn't that tell a stranger what he or she most needs to know about me, and about the most important person in my life? Somehow I think the conversation, if folks stick around after an introduction like that to actually have a conversation, would be about something more important than the weather, or sports, or politics. I don't know. It would be risky, wouldn't it, to boldly begin by letting someone I meet for the first time know that the most important thing about me is that I needed saving, and that Jesus saved me?
Picture this. I'm sitting down at IHOP for some apple-cinnamon pancakes, and the server says, “Hi, I'm Sally, and I'll be your server today!” and I reply, “Hi, Sally. I'm Jim, and Jesus saved me!” Do you think Sally might ask someone else to take her table? Or maybe she'd go and tell the manager that there was a customer causing a disturbance? But, after all, if Sally is considerate enough to tell me what, in the context of IHOP, I need to know about who she is, shouldn't I, in the context of living as a disciple of Jesus Christ, tell what she needs to know about me, which amounts to telling her what she needs to know about Him?
Or, how about when I am substitute teaching at one of the local schools, and I introduce myself to a class for the first time? What would happen if I were to say to them, “Good morning! I'm Mr. Wilken, and Jesus saved me”? I mean, could there possibly be anything more important that I could tell them about myself, is there anything more important that I could teach them? Of course, I might not ever be invited back to sub if a parent were to complain.
Maybe some of you are already doing this when you meet people. I can't say that I ever remember meeting anyone who introduced themselves to me in such a manner. I wonder what might happen if more and more believers did something like this? When I think about the whole “What did Jesus do” conversation we've been having for more than a year and a half now, it seems to me that it might be a way for Jesus to keep doing what he did—save sinners.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Jesus Came From Galilee
What Did Jesus Do?
“Is the Christ to come from Galilee?”
John 7.41
Poor Jesus, he just couldn't help but create controversy. Even the matter of where he was from was cause for acrimonious debate (John 7.43). Some of us are very proud of our hometowns, while to others of us, who perhaps have moved about quite a bit, where we are from might not be such a big deal. But, for a people to whom the prophets had spoken, whose messianic expectations were inseparable from the prophecies, it was of supreme importance where any claimant to the title of “Christ” (Greek for “Messiah”) came from. As was widely known in his day, Jesus came from Galilee. The question was, could that “Podunk” of a province, home to those whom the Jerusalemites would have considered the hillbillies and yokels of Palestine, produce the Messiah?
The answer for many was clearly, “No!” According to the Hebrew Scripture, the Christ would be a descendant of David, and a native of Bethlehem, the village of David (John 7.42). And Bethlehem, a “suburb” of Jerusalem, was definitely not part of Galilee. There was no way that “Jesus of Nazareth” (in Galilee) could be the Christ foretold in what we know as the Old Testament. But, as we noted in our WDJD of 3/14/11, by virtue of the signs and works he did, Jesus certainly looked like the Christ. But appearances can be deceiving. The Christ had to have what we might call the “prophetic pedigree,” he must fulfill the words spoken by the classical prophets of Israel. Could Jesus, or any other Galilean, be the one of whom the prophets spoke?
The Davidic lineage and Bethlehem roots of the Messiah were incontrovertible. Where and how did Galilee become part of picture? Well, according to Matthew, that the Christ should live in Galilee, specifically in Nazareth, was in fact spoken of by the prophets (Matthew 2. 23). And, if the prophets said it, First Century contempt for Galilee, and especially for Nazareth (see John 1.46), could be swept away. But did the prophets say, “He shall be called a Nazarene”? Yes, but not in those exact words.
Isaiah foretold of the coming forth of a “shoot” from the stump of Jesse, from the seemingly cut off and dead royal descendants of David (Isaiah 11.1). The consonantal root of the Hebrew word for “shoot” is the same as that for “Nazareth.” In other words, from the relatively cut off backwater of Nazareth would come a shoot or branch from the cut off line of David. That the Christ would be the Branch whom God would raise up was attested by (“spoken by”) the prophets (see Jeremiah 23.5; 33.15; Zechariah 3.8). The many arguing against the Galilean background of the Christ bore out the observation of Jesus that his opponents knew “neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22.29).
The truth, of course, is that Jesus is from Bethlehem and Nazareth. But, of far greater importance than knowing where he was born and where he was raised, believers are shown by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Christ, the Son who was sent by the living Father (John 6.57). The possession of this Spirit imparted knowledge is the single great division among all of humanity. The proclamation of this singular truth is the Great Commission of the Church, and the calling of every believer.
Jesus did not ask his disciples “Where do people say I am from?” but “Who do people say that I am?” While the prophets (who were “flesh and blood”) foretold where the Christ would come from, the Father (who is Spirit) alone reveals to us who the Christ is (Matthew 16.17). To know that Jesus came from Galilee is good. To know and believe that he is the Christ is salvation.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Is the Christ to come from Galilee?”
John 7.41
Poor Jesus, he just couldn't help but create controversy. Even the matter of where he was from was cause for acrimonious debate (John 7.43). Some of us are very proud of our hometowns, while to others of us, who perhaps have moved about quite a bit, where we are from might not be such a big deal. But, for a people to whom the prophets had spoken, whose messianic expectations were inseparable from the prophecies, it was of supreme importance where any claimant to the title of “Christ” (Greek for “Messiah”) came from. As was widely known in his day, Jesus came from Galilee. The question was, could that “Podunk” of a province, home to those whom the Jerusalemites would have considered the hillbillies and yokels of Palestine, produce the Messiah?
The answer for many was clearly, “No!” According to the Hebrew Scripture, the Christ would be a descendant of David, and a native of Bethlehem, the village of David (John 7.42). And Bethlehem, a “suburb” of Jerusalem, was definitely not part of Galilee. There was no way that “Jesus of Nazareth” (in Galilee) could be the Christ foretold in what we know as the Old Testament. But, as we noted in our WDJD of 3/14/11, by virtue of the signs and works he did, Jesus certainly looked like the Christ. But appearances can be deceiving. The Christ had to have what we might call the “prophetic pedigree,” he must fulfill the words spoken by the classical prophets of Israel. Could Jesus, or any other Galilean, be the one of whom the prophets spoke?
The Davidic lineage and Bethlehem roots of the Messiah were incontrovertible. Where and how did Galilee become part of picture? Well, according to Matthew, that the Christ should live in Galilee, specifically in Nazareth, was in fact spoken of by the prophets (Matthew 2. 23). And, if the prophets said it, First Century contempt for Galilee, and especially for Nazareth (see John 1.46), could be swept away. But did the prophets say, “He shall be called a Nazarene”? Yes, but not in those exact words.
Isaiah foretold of the coming forth of a “shoot” from the stump of Jesse, from the seemingly cut off and dead royal descendants of David (Isaiah 11.1). The consonantal root of the Hebrew word for “shoot” is the same as that for “Nazareth.” In other words, from the relatively cut off backwater of Nazareth would come a shoot or branch from the cut off line of David. That the Christ would be the Branch whom God would raise up was attested by (“spoken by”) the prophets (see Jeremiah 23.5; 33.15; Zechariah 3.8). The many arguing against the Galilean background of the Christ bore out the observation of Jesus that his opponents knew “neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22.29).
The truth, of course, is that Jesus is from Bethlehem and Nazareth. But, of far greater importance than knowing where he was born and where he was raised, believers are shown by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Christ, the Son who was sent by the living Father (John 6.57). The possession of this Spirit imparted knowledge is the single great division among all of humanity. The proclamation of this singular truth is the Great Commission of the Church, and the calling of every believer.
Jesus did not ask his disciples “Where do people say I am from?” but “Who do people say that I am?” While the prophets (who were “flesh and blood”) foretold where the Christ would come from, the Father (who is Spirit) alone reveals to us who the Christ is (Matthew 16.17). To know that Jesus came from Galilee is good. To know and believe that he is the Christ is salvation.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Jesus Invited the Desperately Thirsty to Drink
What Did Jesus Do?
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”
John 7.37
Has your body ever thirsted, and you didn't realize it? I mean, have you ever been in serious need of water and not recognized how much you needed a drink? I might not have thought it was possible, if I hadn't experienced it. On a mission trip several years ago I felt nauseated for days, but I wasn't really sick at all—I was dehydrated. I never felt particularly thirsty, never understood how my body was desperate for water. I was gobbling Tums and Pepto-Bismol tablets all the time, but I still felt sick. Finally, someone noticed how miserable I was, and told me I needed to stop working and have a drink. Well, I've been chugging a gallon or so of water a day ever since! Funny how we can be in great need of something and not know it. Though many did not recognize their need for him, Jesus invited the desperately thirsty to drink.
Isn't it funny how ignorant we can be of what we need more than anything? Well, I guess it isn't so funny when we understand that people perish because of this ignorance. And it really should not be all that surprising that we are so out of touch with what we most need. For the world is good at convincing us that what we want is what we need, and it is very good at creating in us desperate desires for what it has to offer. But, even with fabulous wine cellars and kegs of beer, and even with cisterns full of water, we can be dying of thirst, and not recognize our plight.
One of the purposes of the Gospel is to help us realize just how thirsty we really are, just how starved we are, not for what the world offers, but for what the Father alone supplies: the gift of the Holy Spirit who leads us to the living water—the Son, Jesus Christ. It's not an easy job, showing people how desperately hungry and thirsty they are. Most folks will either resent the suggestion that they are in so great a need, or, if they are somewhat aware of their need, they will be likely to look to the world to satisfy their thirst and allay their hunger. For inviting the desperately thirsty to drink, Jesus was ultimately arrested and crucified. We too will often find our invitation falling on deaf ears, or even eliciting anger and resentment from those we invite. But when someone receives the living water, well that joy is almost indescribable.
I believe hard times, lean times, dry times, may well lay ahead of all of us in the not too distant future. People may become increasingly desperate in the days to come. Believers will need to be ready to invite the desperate to come and drink though they might not realize their thirst. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”
John 7.37
Has your body ever thirsted, and you didn't realize it? I mean, have you ever been in serious need of water and not recognized how much you needed a drink? I might not have thought it was possible, if I hadn't experienced it. On a mission trip several years ago I felt nauseated for days, but I wasn't really sick at all—I was dehydrated. I never felt particularly thirsty, never understood how my body was desperate for water. I was gobbling Tums and Pepto-Bismol tablets all the time, but I still felt sick. Finally, someone noticed how miserable I was, and told me I needed to stop working and have a drink. Well, I've been chugging a gallon or so of water a day ever since! Funny how we can be in great need of something and not know it. Though many did not recognize their need for him, Jesus invited the desperately thirsty to drink.
Isn't it funny how ignorant we can be of what we need more than anything? Well, I guess it isn't so funny when we understand that people perish because of this ignorance. And it really should not be all that surprising that we are so out of touch with what we most need. For the world is good at convincing us that what we want is what we need, and it is very good at creating in us desperate desires for what it has to offer. But, even with fabulous wine cellars and kegs of beer, and even with cisterns full of water, we can be dying of thirst, and not recognize our plight.
One of the purposes of the Gospel is to help us realize just how thirsty we really are, just how starved we are, not for what the world offers, but for what the Father alone supplies: the gift of the Holy Spirit who leads us to the living water—the Son, Jesus Christ. It's not an easy job, showing people how desperately hungry and thirsty they are. Most folks will either resent the suggestion that they are in so great a need, or, if they are somewhat aware of their need, they will be likely to look to the world to satisfy their thirst and allay their hunger. For inviting the desperately thirsty to drink, Jesus was ultimately arrested and crucified. We too will often find our invitation falling on deaf ears, or even eliciting anger and resentment from those we invite. But when someone receives the living water, well that joy is almost indescribable.
I believe hard times, lean times, dry times, may well lay ahead of all of us in the not too distant future. People may become increasingly desperate in the days to come. Believers will need to be ready to invite the desperate to come and drink though they might not realize their thirst. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, March 14, 2011
Jesus Confounded Would-Be Captors
What Did Jesus Do?
“Where does this man intend to go...What does he mean?”
John 7.35,36
The last thing you want to hear when you have sent a posse out to arrest Public Enemy #1 is that he has given your deputies the slip. Ancient Palestine was not that large a country, suspects could run, but they could not hide. The long arm of the chief priests and Pharisees did not often fail to bring those accused of doing wrong to justice. But when, in response to the muttering of the crowd, officers were sent out to apprehend him (John 7.32), Jesus confounded his would-be captors.
The thing was, neither the posse, nor those who sent it out, got it. And when you don't get it, you don't get Him. Jesus would soon return to where he came, to the Father who had sent him. But since the chief priests and Pharisees did not get that the Father had sent Jesus, they could not accept him as the Son. And, if you don't get who Jesus is, you don't get to go to where he is. It's pretty simple, really, yet quite confusing to the wise (see 1Corinthians 1.20-25), and no one presumed to be as wise as the priests and Pharisees.
Actually, their best guess was that Jesus intended to flee the country, and go to the Hellenized Jews in the Dispersion (John 7.35). But, in truth, they acknowledged that they really had no idea at all what Jesus was talking about (John 7.36). To be fair, his own Apostles were still trying to understand all that Jesus said to them. They themselves did not yet understand that their Master and friend was serious when he spoke of his approaching death and resurrection, but they were learning, slowly.
Were it not for the work of the Holy Spirit, no one in the First Century, or the Twenty-first, or any of the centuries in between, could ever get it, which means without the Spirit no one can get Him. The irony is, while Jesus confounded his would-be captors who rejected him, he made captives of all who received him. It is quite a different thing to be a prisoner of grace, love, and mercy, rather than of hate. It's like this, while those who don't get it don't get Him, He always gets those he seeks.
As believers our job is to proclaim the Gospel to all, to tell the world about the love of the Father who sent his Son so that through him the world should be saved (John 3.17). Some will be confounded by the Good News, but through the Holy Spirit the Good News will also capture many.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Where does this man intend to go...What does he mean?”
John 7.35,36
The last thing you want to hear when you have sent a posse out to arrest Public Enemy #1 is that he has given your deputies the slip. Ancient Palestine was not that large a country, suspects could run, but they could not hide. The long arm of the chief priests and Pharisees did not often fail to bring those accused of doing wrong to justice. But when, in response to the muttering of the crowd, officers were sent out to apprehend him (John 7.32), Jesus confounded his would-be captors.
The thing was, neither the posse, nor those who sent it out, got it. And when you don't get it, you don't get Him. Jesus would soon return to where he came, to the Father who had sent him. But since the chief priests and Pharisees did not get that the Father had sent Jesus, they could not accept him as the Son. And, if you don't get who Jesus is, you don't get to go to where he is. It's pretty simple, really, yet quite confusing to the wise (see 1Corinthians 1.20-25), and no one presumed to be as wise as the priests and Pharisees.
Actually, their best guess was that Jesus intended to flee the country, and go to the Hellenized Jews in the Dispersion (John 7.35). But, in truth, they acknowledged that they really had no idea at all what Jesus was talking about (John 7.36). To be fair, his own Apostles were still trying to understand all that Jesus said to them. They themselves did not yet understand that their Master and friend was serious when he spoke of his approaching death and resurrection, but they were learning, slowly.
Were it not for the work of the Holy Spirit, no one in the First Century, or the Twenty-first, or any of the centuries in between, could ever get it, which means without the Spirit no one can get Him. The irony is, while Jesus confounded his would-be captors who rejected him, he made captives of all who received him. It is quite a different thing to be a prisoner of grace, love, and mercy, rather than of hate. It's like this, while those who don't get it don't get Him, He always gets those he seeks.
As believers our job is to proclaim the Gospel to all, to tell the world about the love of the Father who sent his Son so that through him the world should be saved (John 3.17). Some will be confounded by the Good News, but through the Holy Spirit the Good News will also capture many.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Appeared To Be The Christ
What Did Jesus Do?
Yet many believed in him, saying, “When the Christ appears,
will he do more than this man has done?”
John 7.31
When you are waiting for the Savior, you don't want to be taken in by an imposter, salvation is such a big deal, after all. The people in Jerusalem, and their ancestors, had been waiting for the Messiah for hundreds of years, the hopes of a nation were invested in the coming of God's Anointed One. But the people were just not sure what to think about Jesus. Jesus appeared to be the Christ, but...
On the one hand, Jesus was just about Public Enemy #1 as far as the Jewish authorities were concerned. But there he was, speaking openly in the temple, and no one was willing to confront him. Perhaps the folks in charge actually believed that Jesus was in fact the Christ? (John 7.26)
But he couldn't be the Messiah, could he? When the Messiah comes, he will just sort of appear mysteriously from nowhere. But this Jesus, well, everyone knew where he grew up and where he came from! How could he be the Christ? (John 7.27). Of course, as Jesus pointed out, they only thought they knew where he had come from, and who had sent him. The truth was, they didn't know the Father, so they could not really know the Son, could they? (John 7.28). It really caused a lot of confusion, and though the folks in charge would have dearly loved to place Jesus under arrest, they didn't, for the time being. (John 7.30)
And so, many people actually started to believe in Jesus. As far as they understood, it sure looked like Jesus could be the Christ. They simply couldn't imagine the Christ doing any more than Jesus had done. (John 7.31) From Nazareth or not, Jesus sure seemed to fit the bill. Oh, they could wait and see if another Messiah showed up, but how could anyone hope to top Jesus? And, if Jesus were the Christ, and they didn't believe in him, well wouldn't they be making a terrible mistake!
In two thousand years things really haven't changed all that much. Some people think they know from history all there is to know about Jesus, though they refuse to believe at all what the Bible says of the Father and the Son, and they dismiss the possibility of Jesus or anyone being a Savior. Others would still love to just remove the Lord from the picture entirely, and eliminate Christ, and Christianity, altogether. Still others, having asked themselves if anyone else could ever do more than what Jesus did for our salvation, accept him as their Lord and Savior.
The old saying goes, “If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, there is a strong likelihood that it's a duck.” The thing about Jesus is, he looked, and walked, and talked, and acted just like the Christ was supposed to. To come to the conclusion that he could possibly be anyone else is worse than foolish. Yet many still have a “wait and see” attitude, and keep looking for another savior to come along, who would somehow better suit them than the Lord. Jesus may have defied appearances (see WDJD for 3/9/11), but he was precisely who he appeared to be. Though looks may sometimes be deceiving, take a good look at Jesus, you'll never see anyone who looks and sounds and acts more like the Savior.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Yet many believed in him, saying, “When the Christ appears,
will he do more than this man has done?”
John 7.31
When you are waiting for the Savior, you don't want to be taken in by an imposter, salvation is such a big deal, after all. The people in Jerusalem, and their ancestors, had been waiting for the Messiah for hundreds of years, the hopes of a nation were invested in the coming of God's Anointed One. But the people were just not sure what to think about Jesus. Jesus appeared to be the Christ, but...
On the one hand, Jesus was just about Public Enemy #1 as far as the Jewish authorities were concerned. But there he was, speaking openly in the temple, and no one was willing to confront him. Perhaps the folks in charge actually believed that Jesus was in fact the Christ? (John 7.26)
But he couldn't be the Messiah, could he? When the Messiah comes, he will just sort of appear mysteriously from nowhere. But this Jesus, well, everyone knew where he grew up and where he came from! How could he be the Christ? (John 7.27). Of course, as Jesus pointed out, they only thought they knew where he had come from, and who had sent him. The truth was, they didn't know the Father, so they could not really know the Son, could they? (John 7.28). It really caused a lot of confusion, and though the folks in charge would have dearly loved to place Jesus under arrest, they didn't, for the time being. (John 7.30)
And so, many people actually started to believe in Jesus. As far as they understood, it sure looked like Jesus could be the Christ. They simply couldn't imagine the Christ doing any more than Jesus had done. (John 7.31) From Nazareth or not, Jesus sure seemed to fit the bill. Oh, they could wait and see if another Messiah showed up, but how could anyone hope to top Jesus? And, if Jesus were the Christ, and they didn't believe in him, well wouldn't they be making a terrible mistake!
In two thousand years things really haven't changed all that much. Some people think they know from history all there is to know about Jesus, though they refuse to believe at all what the Bible says of the Father and the Son, and they dismiss the possibility of Jesus or anyone being a Savior. Others would still love to just remove the Lord from the picture entirely, and eliminate Christ, and Christianity, altogether. Still others, having asked themselves if anyone else could ever do more than what Jesus did for our salvation, accept him as their Lord and Savior.
The old saying goes, “If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, there is a strong likelihood that it's a duck.” The thing about Jesus is, he looked, and walked, and talked, and acted just like the Christ was supposed to. To come to the conclusion that he could possibly be anyone else is worse than foolish. Yet many still have a “wait and see” attitude, and keep looking for another savior to come along, who would somehow better suit them than the Lord. Jesus may have defied appearances (see WDJD for 3/9/11), but he was precisely who he appeared to be. Though looks may sometimes be deceiving, take a good look at Jesus, you'll never see anyone who looks and sounds and acts more like the Savior.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Friday, March 11, 2011
Jesus Stood Against The Flood
What Did Jesus Do?
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us,
then over us would have gone the raging waters.
Psalm 124.1,4-5
Floodwaters are one of humanity's most ancient enemies. Think back to Noah, when a flood all but wiped away humankind from the earth. Today's headlines reveal that we are about as vulnerable to the ravages of raging water as were our ancestors. Thankfully, Jesus, the Rock, stood against the flood, and still keeps the waters from sweeping us away.
I remember back in 1999 when I was in Honduras on a mission to help with the recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. While there I had a bit of a disagreement with one of the other pastors on the mission team. In response to the Honduran's despairing cries of “La tierra fue”, “The earth went!”, sweeping away villages, homes, family members, my colleague told the grief stricken people that Jesus had been there to share in their experience of being overcome by the waters and the landslides. I, on the other hand, told the people that Jesus was the Rock who stands against the flood, who holds fast when the earth beneath our feet moves.
Jesus is not a man who is swallowed up by calamity along with us, but the Son of God who overcomes all our enemies—floods, landslides, fires, and even earthquakes and tsunamis. The tragedy of what has happened in Japan today is severely compounded by the fact that only about one per cent of Japan's population is Christian. As earthquake, tsunami, flood, and fire rage against their land, ninety-nine out of one hundred Japanese have literally nothing to hold onto.
Even as I first heard the shocking news this morning, and prayed, “Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy!” my heart was burdened even more because I knew so few of Japan's people have Jesus to turn to. I believe it is safe to say that Japan has not faced a national trauma of this scope since the Second World War. The suffering and need there will be staggering. As Christians, our compassionate response to Japan's tragedy, both by sending aid, and by going and working to help rebuild the land, can show them that the Father is with them, that the Son is on their side, at their side. And that the help they most desperately need is to be found in the name of the maker of heaven and earth.
Father, may your Risen Son be lifted up in Japan, that his grace and mercy may shed glorious light and bring unshakable hope to the Land of the Rising Sun. By your Holy Spirit compel many Christians to shower the love of Jesus down upon these stricken people by prayer, by sending relief aid, and by going to help rebuild homes, communities, and lives. Amen.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us,
then over us would have gone the raging waters.
Psalm 124.1,4-5
Floodwaters are one of humanity's most ancient enemies. Think back to Noah, when a flood all but wiped away humankind from the earth. Today's headlines reveal that we are about as vulnerable to the ravages of raging water as were our ancestors. Thankfully, Jesus, the Rock, stood against the flood, and still keeps the waters from sweeping us away.
I remember back in 1999 when I was in Honduras on a mission to help with the recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. While there I had a bit of a disagreement with one of the other pastors on the mission team. In response to the Honduran's despairing cries of “La tierra fue”, “The earth went!”, sweeping away villages, homes, family members, my colleague told the grief stricken people that Jesus had been there to share in their experience of being overcome by the waters and the landslides. I, on the other hand, told the people that Jesus was the Rock who stands against the flood, who holds fast when the earth beneath our feet moves.
Jesus is not a man who is swallowed up by calamity along with us, but the Son of God who overcomes all our enemies—floods, landslides, fires, and even earthquakes and tsunamis. The tragedy of what has happened in Japan today is severely compounded by the fact that only about one per cent of Japan's population is Christian. As earthquake, tsunami, flood, and fire rage against their land, ninety-nine out of one hundred Japanese have literally nothing to hold onto.
Even as I first heard the shocking news this morning, and prayed, “Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy!” my heart was burdened even more because I knew so few of Japan's people have Jesus to turn to. I believe it is safe to say that Japan has not faced a national trauma of this scope since the Second World War. The suffering and need there will be staggering. As Christians, our compassionate response to Japan's tragedy, both by sending aid, and by going and working to help rebuild the land, can show them that the Father is with them, that the Son is on their side, at their side. And that the help they most desperately need is to be found in the name of the maker of heaven and earth.
Father, may your Risen Son be lifted up in Japan, that his grace and mercy may shed glorious light and bring unshakable hope to the Land of the Rising Sun. By your Holy Spirit compel many Christians to shower the love of Jesus down upon these stricken people by prayer, by sending relief aid, and by going to help rebuild homes, communities, and lives. Amen.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Jesus Filled Our Plate
What Did Jesus Do?
When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory...
Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3.4, 11b
Back in the antediluvian days when I was in grade school most of my classmates and I carted a brown bag, or perhaps a tin lunch box, in which we would habitually find PB&J (Peanut Butter and Jelly), or maybe a bologna sandwich. On state occasions, such as your birthday, there could possibly be some Fritos or Cheese Doodles, or, if you hit the jackpot, a cookie! But that was pretty much what lunch consisted of. Oh, you also could get a half-pint of milk (white, never chocolate) for a dime. If your family was well to do, they might send you with a dime and a nickel and you could buy ice cream in a paper cone with a foil cap on it. None of us looked particularly malnourished on what today might be considered a spartan diet. Certainly we all had enough energy to run around at recess like a heard of wildebeests. Somehow, our parents just seemed to know what the right portion was for a kid's lunch.
Nowadays schoolkids are burdened by what has come to be called “portion distortion.” When I substitute teach at one of the local elementary schools I am always troubled by how much food some kids eat, and even more disturbed by how much of the food prepared by the school cafeteria goes in the garbage can. It appears to me that plates too full, or laden with the wrong food, are not doing school children any good.
And it isn't just children who suffer from the problem of plates that are simply too full. I won't even start to go into what “super-sizing” breakfast, lunch, and dinner is doing to many Americans. Let me simply comment that we all should be far more careful about what we put on our plate. And I'm not just speaking about food for our bodies.
You see, the Father sent the Son in order that he, and he alone, should be food and drink to nourish our soul and our spirit now and forever (see John 6.53-58). Truly, Jesus is supposed to be our portion. I'd even guess that in the last month there is a good chance you may have even sung on a Sunday morning about Christ being your portion. But we all have to be on the lookout for “portion distortion.” You see, when we have Jesus he fills our plate, and we only do harm to ourselves if we try to add or take away anything.
Let me say something first about the problem of taking away from Christ, our portion. A lot of people today are at least somewhat more health conscious than a few years back. The multi-billion dollar diet and fitness industry is testament to this. Many people today are always looking for “lite” menus, cutting out those nasty carbs and saturated fats. But it is definitely not a good idea to try some kind of “Jesus-lite” portion. “Jesus-lite” is an adulterated, watered down, something less than, Lord and Savior of the Bible. People who choose “Jesus-lite” discard those things about Jesus that they don't like for one reason or another. “Jesus-lite” is popular with folks who want to excuse their addictions, adulteries, and attitudes. But anything less than all of him isn't really him at all.
Then we have the people who like Jesus well-enough, but somehow think they need something more, so they pile a little something extra on their plate to go with the Lord. These are “Jesus and ______” folks, who perhaps throw in a dash of New Age, or a pinch of Eastern religions, or humanist philosophy to go along with Christ. Also popular with the “Jesus and _____” crowd are such things as their work, and their possessions. Many “Jesus and _______” people are in fact “Jesus and me” people, in that they still believe they contribute something to the equation of their salvation and security. But, if Jesus is your portion, it is 100% him, and zero% anything else, especially self.
Finally, when we claim Jesus as our portion, we are telling the Father that his Son is all we need. And this means that we should hold on loosely to everything else. If Christ is our all, then our job isn't, our home isn't. Our favorite teams and movies and foods are all expendable, Jesus is not. Next week the season of Lent begins. Many Christians traditionally give up something for Lent. If I may suggest, we all might think of how we might complete this sentence, “But I just can't live without _________.”
I am going public here with one of my Lenten “sacrifices.” In the past “I just couldn't live without the NCAA basketball tournament.” This year I am going to steer clear of everything that has to do with the “March Madness.” No ACC Championship. No Big East Tournament. No Big Dance. Don't expect to see my bracket, because for the first time in 20 or so years I will not be filling one out. It may seem like a little thing to some of you, but if you've ever been infected with the “Madness” you know how powerfully attractive it is. But not this year for me. I usually pile on heaping servings of college hoops this time of year, and, honestly, it has competed with the Lord for my devotion. But this year I want Jesus to fill my plate, and nothing else. You see it's really true,
Christ IS All!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory...
Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3.4, 11b
Back in the antediluvian days when I was in grade school most of my classmates and I carted a brown bag, or perhaps a tin lunch box, in which we would habitually find PB&J (Peanut Butter and Jelly), or maybe a bologna sandwich. On state occasions, such as your birthday, there could possibly be some Fritos or Cheese Doodles, or, if you hit the jackpot, a cookie! But that was pretty much what lunch consisted of. Oh, you also could get a half-pint of milk (white, never chocolate) for a dime. If your family was well to do, they might send you with a dime and a nickel and you could buy ice cream in a paper cone with a foil cap on it. None of us looked particularly malnourished on what today might be considered a spartan diet. Certainly we all had enough energy to run around at recess like a heard of wildebeests. Somehow, our parents just seemed to know what the right portion was for a kid's lunch.
Nowadays schoolkids are burdened by what has come to be called “portion distortion.” When I substitute teach at one of the local elementary schools I am always troubled by how much food some kids eat, and even more disturbed by how much of the food prepared by the school cafeteria goes in the garbage can. It appears to me that plates too full, or laden with the wrong food, are not doing school children any good.
And it isn't just children who suffer from the problem of plates that are simply too full. I won't even start to go into what “super-sizing” breakfast, lunch, and dinner is doing to many Americans. Let me simply comment that we all should be far more careful about what we put on our plate. And I'm not just speaking about food for our bodies.
You see, the Father sent the Son in order that he, and he alone, should be food and drink to nourish our soul and our spirit now and forever (see John 6.53-58). Truly, Jesus is supposed to be our portion. I'd even guess that in the last month there is a good chance you may have even sung on a Sunday morning about Christ being your portion. But we all have to be on the lookout for “portion distortion.” You see, when we have Jesus he fills our plate, and we only do harm to ourselves if we try to add or take away anything.
Let me say something first about the problem of taking away from Christ, our portion. A lot of people today are at least somewhat more health conscious than a few years back. The multi-billion dollar diet and fitness industry is testament to this. Many people today are always looking for “lite” menus, cutting out those nasty carbs and saturated fats. But it is definitely not a good idea to try some kind of “Jesus-lite” portion. “Jesus-lite” is an adulterated, watered down, something less than, Lord and Savior of the Bible. People who choose “Jesus-lite” discard those things about Jesus that they don't like for one reason or another. “Jesus-lite” is popular with folks who want to excuse their addictions, adulteries, and attitudes. But anything less than all of him isn't really him at all.
Then we have the people who like Jesus well-enough, but somehow think they need something more, so they pile a little something extra on their plate to go with the Lord. These are “Jesus and ______” folks, who perhaps throw in a dash of New Age, or a pinch of Eastern religions, or humanist philosophy to go along with Christ. Also popular with the “Jesus and _____” crowd are such things as their work, and their possessions. Many “Jesus and _______” people are in fact “Jesus and me” people, in that they still believe they contribute something to the equation of their salvation and security. But, if Jesus is your portion, it is 100% him, and zero% anything else, especially self.
Finally, when we claim Jesus as our portion, we are telling the Father that his Son is all we need. And this means that we should hold on loosely to everything else. If Christ is our all, then our job isn't, our home isn't. Our favorite teams and movies and foods are all expendable, Jesus is not. Next week the season of Lent begins. Many Christians traditionally give up something for Lent. If I may suggest, we all might think of how we might complete this sentence, “But I just can't live without _________.”
I am going public here with one of my Lenten “sacrifices.” In the past “I just couldn't live without the NCAA basketball tournament.” This year I am going to steer clear of everything that has to do with the “March Madness.” No ACC Championship. No Big East Tournament. No Big Dance. Don't expect to see my bracket, because for the first time in 20 or so years I will not be filling one out. It may seem like a little thing to some of you, but if you've ever been infected with the “Madness” you know how powerfully attractive it is. But not this year for me. I usually pile on heaping servings of college hoops this time of year, and, honestly, it has competed with the Lord for my devotion. But this year I want Jesus to fill my plate, and nothing else. You see it's really true,
Christ IS All!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Jesus Defied Appearances
What Did Jesus Do?
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge by right judgment.”
John 7.24
You can't judge a book by it's cover, or so it is said, and apparently it is not wise to judge the Messiah by appearances either. To the crowd in Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths it sure looked like Jesus was a Sabbath breaker (John 7.23). But Jesus defied appearances.
Most of us probably consider ourselves decent judges of character, and that we can size up a person pretty accurately after observing them for a short time. We'll weigh how a person speaks, how they are dress, and how they comport themselves and come up with what we believe is a reasonable assessment of the individual. I believe it is safe to say that most everyone would rate themselves a good judge of character. Jesus certainly had no few judges who thought they had him pegged. But Jesus defied appearances.
Consider: Jesus made a lot of people angry by appearing to have violated a Sabbath prohibition against performing certain proscribed acts of labor, specifically healing someone on the Sabbath who, according to those who condemned Jesus, could have and should have been healed on one of the other six days of the week. Yep, to those who judged by appearances it looked like Jesus had broken the Law. But it only appeared that way. Defying appearances, the Lord in fact was fulfilling the Law when he made a man's whole body well.
Jesus was always doing things that appeared wrong to those who judged by appearances. He consorted with Samaritan women (John 4.1-42). He touched lepers (Mark 1.41). He forgave adultery (John 8.1-11). He even claimed equality with God (John 5.18)! But Samaritans were a condemned and despised people. Lepers were unclean. Adulteresses were supposed to be stoned to death. And no one could call God “Father” unless they were the Son of God. Besides all this, the Son of God would certainly have appeared far more glorious than the scruffy, itinerant rabbi from Nazareth. Ah, but Jesus defied appearances.
Right judgment considers more than what meets the eye. God judges not on the outward appearance, but on the heart (see 1Samuel 16.6-7). And every word Jesus spoke, every work he did, had a deeper significance than it often appeared. Many judged Jesus by appearances and found him wanting. The Father judged the Son by righteousness, and was well pleased with him.
There are at least two things believers need to keep in mind about appearances: 1) we must not despair or be discouraged when our actions and words are frequently misjudged by the world, and 2) we ourselves should suspend judgment of others based on appearances alone. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge by right judgment.”
John 7.24
You can't judge a book by it's cover, or so it is said, and apparently it is not wise to judge the Messiah by appearances either. To the crowd in Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths it sure looked like Jesus was a Sabbath breaker (John 7.23). But Jesus defied appearances.
Most of us probably consider ourselves decent judges of character, and that we can size up a person pretty accurately after observing them for a short time. We'll weigh how a person speaks, how they are dress, and how they comport themselves and come up with what we believe is a reasonable assessment of the individual. I believe it is safe to say that most everyone would rate themselves a good judge of character. Jesus certainly had no few judges who thought they had him pegged. But Jesus defied appearances.
Consider: Jesus made a lot of people angry by appearing to have violated a Sabbath prohibition against performing certain proscribed acts of labor, specifically healing someone on the Sabbath who, according to those who condemned Jesus, could have and should have been healed on one of the other six days of the week. Yep, to those who judged by appearances it looked like Jesus had broken the Law. But it only appeared that way. Defying appearances, the Lord in fact was fulfilling the Law when he made a man's whole body well.
Jesus was always doing things that appeared wrong to those who judged by appearances. He consorted with Samaritan women (John 4.1-42). He touched lepers (Mark 1.41). He forgave adultery (John 8.1-11). He even claimed equality with God (John 5.18)! But Samaritans were a condemned and despised people. Lepers were unclean. Adulteresses were supposed to be stoned to death. And no one could call God “Father” unless they were the Son of God. Besides all this, the Son of God would certainly have appeared far more glorious than the scruffy, itinerant rabbi from Nazareth. Ah, but Jesus defied appearances.
Right judgment considers more than what meets the eye. God judges not on the outward appearance, but on the heart (see 1Samuel 16.6-7). And every word Jesus spoke, every work he did, had a deeper significance than it often appeared. Many judged Jesus by appearances and found him wanting. The Father judged the Son by righteousness, and was well pleased with him.
There are at least two things believers need to keep in mind about appearances: 1) we must not despair or be discouraged when our actions and words are frequently misjudged by the world, and 2) we ourselves should suspend judgment of others based on appearances alone. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Sought To Glorify The One Who Sent Him
What Did Jesus Do?
“My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.”
John 7.16
People who are impressed with themselves are typically obsessed with the impression they make on others. If their name is not in print, if talk shows are not discussing them, if they are not the subject of a lot of chatter on the internet, they get depressed. They are, in a sense, the very center of their own universe, and seek as much attention and glory for themselves as possible. Not Jesus, he sought no glory for himself, but rather sought to glorify the one who sent him (John 7.18a).
The truth is, the crowd in the temple was impressed with Jesus, “Where does he get this stuff? He's never been to school a day in his life, yet we have never heard such marvelous teaching!” (John 7.15) I'm pretty sure that if it had been me teaching I would have had a hard time deflecting the praise. But the Son was not their on his own authority, and his teaching was in fact what the Father had given him word for word (John 7.16). Jesus Sought to glorify the one who sent him.
His audience was in fact of two minds. Some, those who earnestly desired to do the will of God, recognized the source of Christ's teaching, and that he was full of the Spirit. The rest, though impressed, just thought Jesus was full of himself. That is the truth of it, and Jesus, in whom there was no falsehood, is all about the Truth (John 7.18b).
Today's audience is no different than that which heard Jesus in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths. Some today hear and know whereof his teaching comes, and give glory to the one who sent him—the Father. Many more, tragically, who are chiefly concerned with themselves, and with doing their own will, dismiss both the teaching, and the Teacher.
The main thing is that, like Jesus, believers today must not get distracted or discouraged by those who refuse to accept them or the word they proclaim. Perhaps even more, believers must also be on guard against falling into the trap of becoming impressed with themselves—one cannot be a glory hound and give all glory to the Father. Thus it is, as so rightly put in the Westminster Catechism, that the chief end of man (and woman) is to glorify God. For the one whom the Son glorified, the one who sent him, is the one who claims and calls us, and he has ordained that we should not only glorify him, but enjoy him forever.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.”
John 7.16
People who are impressed with themselves are typically obsessed with the impression they make on others. If their name is not in print, if talk shows are not discussing them, if they are not the subject of a lot of chatter on the internet, they get depressed. They are, in a sense, the very center of their own universe, and seek as much attention and glory for themselves as possible. Not Jesus, he sought no glory for himself, but rather sought to glorify the one who sent him (John 7.18a).
The truth is, the crowd in the temple was impressed with Jesus, “Where does he get this stuff? He's never been to school a day in his life, yet we have never heard such marvelous teaching!” (John 7.15) I'm pretty sure that if it had been me teaching I would have had a hard time deflecting the praise. But the Son was not their on his own authority, and his teaching was in fact what the Father had given him word for word (John 7.16). Jesus Sought to glorify the one who sent him.
His audience was in fact of two minds. Some, those who earnestly desired to do the will of God, recognized the source of Christ's teaching, and that he was full of the Spirit. The rest, though impressed, just thought Jesus was full of himself. That is the truth of it, and Jesus, in whom there was no falsehood, is all about the Truth (John 7.18b).
Today's audience is no different than that which heard Jesus in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths. Some today hear and know whereof his teaching comes, and give glory to the one who sent him—the Father. Many more, tragically, who are chiefly concerned with themselves, and with doing their own will, dismiss both the teaching, and the Teacher.
The main thing is that, like Jesus, believers today must not get distracted or discouraged by those who refuse to accept them or the word they proclaim. Perhaps even more, believers must also be on guard against falling into the trap of becoming impressed with themselves—one cannot be a glory hound and give all glory to the Father. Thus it is, as so rightly put in the Westminster Catechism, that the chief end of man (and woman) is to glorify God. For the one whom the Son glorified, the one who sent him, is the one who claims and calls us, and he has ordained that we should not only glorify him, but enjoy him forever.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Jesus Caused Division
What Did Jesus Do?
While some said, “He is a good man,” others said,
“No, he is leading the people astray.”
John 7.12
From the perspective of such social science disciplines as anthropology and sociology, there are all different kinds of people in the world. From the Father's perspective there are only two. All of humanity may be divided into two separate and distinct groups: those who believe in Jesus, and those who do not. Every other method of sifting and sorting out one person from another is of absolutely no lasting consequence or significance whatsoever. You see, from the beginning, Jesus caused division.
Of course, the people in Jerusalem who believed Jesus to be a “good” man weren't quite on the mark. Until someone is led by the Holy Spirit to know Jesus as “the Holy One of God,” (John 6.69), he or she is still numbered among the unbelieving camp. It is also true that some of those who considered Jesus nothing but a troublemaker may well have come to be believers. Even today, many who believe were at one time solidly among those who not only didn't believe in Jesus, but held very negative opinions about him. The true “Great Divide” has nothing to do with the separation of the continental watersheds, but rather those who are saved and those who are lost, and the one dividing factor is Jesus.
Back at the time of the Feast of Booths, when Jesus went up to Jerusalem, he did so quietly, in private (John 7.10). And simmering just below the surface, because many were afraid to speak out openly on the subject of Jesus, there was much debate about him (John 7.12-13). Even when he avoided the spotlight, Jesus caused division.
In fact, the Lord admitted that he came into the world to cause division (Luke 12.51). And the division was intense, even to the point of separating members of a family (see Luke 12.53). Maybe those who labeled him a troublemaker were right? Jesus himself confessed to even being something of an arsonist, intent on igniting a holy fire on the earth (Luke 12.49). No doubt about it, Jesus caused, and still causes, division.
But the ultimate goal of this truly Great Divide is not separation, but in fact to repair the tragic breach between humanity and its Creator. The Son came to make a way, for those who would go through him, to return to the Father (see John 14.6). Yes, Jesus caused division, but he also accomplished the restoration of the relationship with the Father and his children. And among the children of God, the saved, the Church, there is no division, for in Christ all are one.
The mission of the Church is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, so that, among the lost, those whom the Spirit gives ears to hear and eyes to see the Truth, may cross over the divide and be numbered among the saved. This, the preaching of the Gospel to the world, will continue to divide all people into one of two groups until the day when the Lord himself returns. Unlike the murmuring people in ancient Jerusalem, the Church must speak boldly, openly for all the world to hear and know that Jesus, and Jesus alone divides, and brings together.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
While some said, “He is a good man,” others said,
“No, he is leading the people astray.”
John 7.12
From the perspective of such social science disciplines as anthropology and sociology, there are all different kinds of people in the world. From the Father's perspective there are only two. All of humanity may be divided into two separate and distinct groups: those who believe in Jesus, and those who do not. Every other method of sifting and sorting out one person from another is of absolutely no lasting consequence or significance whatsoever. You see, from the beginning, Jesus caused division.
Of course, the people in Jerusalem who believed Jesus to be a “good” man weren't quite on the mark. Until someone is led by the Holy Spirit to know Jesus as “the Holy One of God,” (John 6.69), he or she is still numbered among the unbelieving camp. It is also true that some of those who considered Jesus nothing but a troublemaker may well have come to be believers. Even today, many who believe were at one time solidly among those who not only didn't believe in Jesus, but held very negative opinions about him. The true “Great Divide” has nothing to do with the separation of the continental watersheds, but rather those who are saved and those who are lost, and the one dividing factor is Jesus.
Back at the time of the Feast of Booths, when Jesus went up to Jerusalem, he did so quietly, in private (John 7.10). And simmering just below the surface, because many were afraid to speak out openly on the subject of Jesus, there was much debate about him (John 7.12-13). Even when he avoided the spotlight, Jesus caused division.
In fact, the Lord admitted that he came into the world to cause division (Luke 12.51). And the division was intense, even to the point of separating members of a family (see Luke 12.53). Maybe those who labeled him a troublemaker were right? Jesus himself confessed to even being something of an arsonist, intent on igniting a holy fire on the earth (Luke 12.49). No doubt about it, Jesus caused, and still causes, division.
But the ultimate goal of this truly Great Divide is not separation, but in fact to repair the tragic breach between humanity and its Creator. The Son came to make a way, for those who would go through him, to return to the Father (see John 14.6). Yes, Jesus caused division, but he also accomplished the restoration of the relationship with the Father and his children. And among the children of God, the saved, the Church, there is no division, for in Christ all are one.
The mission of the Church is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, so that, among the lost, those whom the Spirit gives ears to hear and eyes to see the Truth, may cross over the divide and be numbered among the saved. This, the preaching of the Gospel to the world, will continue to divide all people into one of two groups until the day when the Lord himself returns. Unlike the murmuring people in ancient Jerusalem, the Church must speak boldly, openly for all the world to hear and know that Jesus, and Jesus alone divides, and brings together.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, March 7, 2011
Jesus Refused To Be Used
What Did Jesus Do?
His brothers said, “Leave here and go to Judea,
that your disciples may see the works you are doing”...Jesus said to them,
“You go up to the feast. I am not going to this feast, for my time has not yet come.”
John 7.3, 8
It is hard for people not to become commodities to those who have an agenda. When someone has an agenda they tend to look at other people in terms of their utility, how they can be useful to the forwarding of one's own interests. Even the brothers of Jesus urged him to go to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem, though it was known that authorities there would kill him if he fell into their hands. Why would they have so counseled their brother? We might not be able to answer this question with certainty, but it is obvious that they had their own agendas, and not their brother's interest, at heart. But Jesus would not go up to Jerusalem with them; he refused to be used.
Though they could not be considered believers at that time, the brothers of Jesus encouraged Christ to “come out of the closet,” so to speak, and show himself plainly and publicly (John 7.3-4). Whatever their motives, the Lord did not respond to the entreaties of his brothers, but sent them on to the feast by themselves, while he himself stayed behind in Galilee (John 6.9). Jesus refused to be used.
For his part, Jesus had good reason not to go the the feast. After all, his testimony was enough to elicit the world's hatred, for Christ declared that the ways and works of the world are evil (John 7.7). Besides that, the time simply had not arrived for Jesus to permit the world to lay hands on him (John 7.8). So, in Galilee he remained. The world, and just about everyone in it, has an agenda. Whatever it takes to move the agenda forward, even to the extent of using others for our own purposes, well, that is the way of the world. But Jesus refused to be used—by the world or by people, even his brothers.
For Jesus, the Son, had come into the world for a very definite purpose, which would be fulfilled at a very particular time, and according to no other agenda than the sovereign will of the Father. The works Jesus had performed, and which his brothers urged him to go to Jerusalem and do openly, were not at all intended to make disciples of people who were impressed by miracles. Rather the works glorified the Father, and revealed where, and from whom, Jesus had come. Glorifying the Father was not on the minds of the Lord's unbelieving brothers when they encouraged him to go to the Feast of Booths. So Jesus refused to be used.
None of this is to suggest that we be anything but bold and confident when we pray, or undertake the work of ministry. It was not the case that Jesus avoided going to Jerusalem, but he would only do so on the day and at the hour appointed for him to go. Neither should we seek to be anywhere but in the Kairos (the “fullness of time” moment) of God. Christ was quite clear when he taught his followers to pray that the Father's will, and not theirs, be done (Matthew 6.10). Anyone who today is a disciple of Jesus does well to examine his or her motives. If we approach the Lord in any way seeking to forward our own agenda, we should not be at all surprised when he does not comply to our exhortations. Jesus still refuses to be used.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
His brothers said, “Leave here and go to Judea,
that your disciples may see the works you are doing”...Jesus said to them,
“You go up to the feast. I am not going to this feast, for my time has not yet come.”
John 7.3, 8
It is hard for people not to become commodities to those who have an agenda. When someone has an agenda they tend to look at other people in terms of their utility, how they can be useful to the forwarding of one's own interests. Even the brothers of Jesus urged him to go to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem, though it was known that authorities there would kill him if he fell into their hands. Why would they have so counseled their brother? We might not be able to answer this question with certainty, but it is obvious that they had their own agendas, and not their brother's interest, at heart. But Jesus would not go up to Jerusalem with them; he refused to be used.
Though they could not be considered believers at that time, the brothers of Jesus encouraged Christ to “come out of the closet,” so to speak, and show himself plainly and publicly (John 7.3-4). Whatever their motives, the Lord did not respond to the entreaties of his brothers, but sent them on to the feast by themselves, while he himself stayed behind in Galilee (John 6.9). Jesus refused to be used.
For his part, Jesus had good reason not to go the the feast. After all, his testimony was enough to elicit the world's hatred, for Christ declared that the ways and works of the world are evil (John 7.7). Besides that, the time simply had not arrived for Jesus to permit the world to lay hands on him (John 7.8). So, in Galilee he remained. The world, and just about everyone in it, has an agenda. Whatever it takes to move the agenda forward, even to the extent of using others for our own purposes, well, that is the way of the world. But Jesus refused to be used—by the world or by people, even his brothers.
For Jesus, the Son, had come into the world for a very definite purpose, which would be fulfilled at a very particular time, and according to no other agenda than the sovereign will of the Father. The works Jesus had performed, and which his brothers urged him to go to Jerusalem and do openly, were not at all intended to make disciples of people who were impressed by miracles. Rather the works glorified the Father, and revealed where, and from whom, Jesus had come. Glorifying the Father was not on the minds of the Lord's unbelieving brothers when they encouraged him to go to the Feast of Booths. So Jesus refused to be used.
None of this is to suggest that we be anything but bold and confident when we pray, or undertake the work of ministry. It was not the case that Jesus avoided going to Jerusalem, but he would only do so on the day and at the hour appointed for him to go. Neither should we seek to be anywhere but in the Kairos (the “fullness of time” moment) of God. Christ was quite clear when he taught his followers to pray that the Father's will, and not theirs, be done (Matthew 6.10). Anyone who today is a disciple of Jesus does well to examine his or her motives. If we approach the Lord in any way seeking to forward our own agenda, we should not be at all surprised when he does not comply to our exhortations. Jesus still refuses to be used.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Left The Door Open
What Did Jesus Do?
Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
John 6.67
There's plenty of debate over the matter of whether or not someone can “lose” their salvation. I don't intend at this time to enter that debate, but I will say I feel very sorry for anyone who goes through life constantly worrying if somehow they'll mess up and forfeit their place in the Father's House (The truth is, we've all messed up, and will continue to mess up-we're fallen! If getting into heaven required us to be perfect the Father's Mansion would be a very empty place.) The point is, some may look at the interchange between Jesus and the Apostles in John 6.66-71, and claim it proves that one can lose salvation.
Yes, many who had been following Jesus turned back when they couldn't make sense out of statements like, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” (John 6.54) I'm not sure that the turning back suggests that all, or even any, of those who no longer trooped after the Lord, “lost” anything. And I certainly don't believe that salvation is granted only when we completely understand everything the Father and Son said and did. God's ways are mysterious, and I fully expect to be saying, “Ah, now I get it!” when I get to heaven. (see 1 Corinthians 13.12 for Paul's explanation the state of our knowledge “now” and “then”) The thing is, following Jesus isn't like being part of a cult, the Lord is no demagogue who compels by coercion, neither does he bar the door to prevent anyone from departing.
It's like this, when someone truly comes to Jesus they are in fact brought to the Son by the will of the Father through the working of the Holy Spirit. And coming to Christ one realizes that he, and he alone has the one thing we most desperately need—“the words of eternal life.” (John 6.68) When the Spirit reveals this to someone, and they recognize the absolute truth of this fact, they quickly conclude, as did Peter, that there is not any other person or place to go to. So Jesus has no need to lock the door, the sheep of his flock are not captives, but they are captivated by his grace, love, and mercy.
The unbarred door does allow for those who follow Jesus, yet not by faith, to turn and walk away. Some of these the Father may well ultimately bring to salvation in and through the Son. Others will never be saved. Certainly, there was one who was chosen by the Lord who was not there for salvation, at least not his own. Judas Iscariot was indeed one of the Twelve, but he was chosen in order that he should fulfill his calling as Christ's betrayer (John 6.71). When Judas ultimately walked out the door he went straight to the chief priests to find out how much they would pay to get Jesus into their hands (see Matthew 26.14-16).
Jesus left the door open because he knew not all who followed him would stay the course. Indeed, on the night of his arrest, all the apostles would flee the scene. Yet the open door allowed for Peter and the others to return, and it has remained open for all of us as well. Fully confident that he will not lose even one whom the Father gives him, Jesus has no reason whatsoever to lock the door, for all who know that Christ alone has the words of eternal life, and who believe that he is the Holy One of God, never want to be anywhere else but with him.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
John 6.67
There's plenty of debate over the matter of whether or not someone can “lose” their salvation. I don't intend at this time to enter that debate, but I will say I feel very sorry for anyone who goes through life constantly worrying if somehow they'll mess up and forfeit their place in the Father's House (The truth is, we've all messed up, and will continue to mess up-we're fallen! If getting into heaven required us to be perfect the Father's Mansion would be a very empty place.) The point is, some may look at the interchange between Jesus and the Apostles in John 6.66-71, and claim it proves that one can lose salvation.
Yes, many who had been following Jesus turned back when they couldn't make sense out of statements like, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” (John 6.54) I'm not sure that the turning back suggests that all, or even any, of those who no longer trooped after the Lord, “lost” anything. And I certainly don't believe that salvation is granted only when we completely understand everything the Father and Son said and did. God's ways are mysterious, and I fully expect to be saying, “Ah, now I get it!” when I get to heaven. (see 1 Corinthians 13.12 for Paul's explanation the state of our knowledge “now” and “then”) The thing is, following Jesus isn't like being part of a cult, the Lord is no demagogue who compels by coercion, neither does he bar the door to prevent anyone from departing.
It's like this, when someone truly comes to Jesus they are in fact brought to the Son by the will of the Father through the working of the Holy Spirit. And coming to Christ one realizes that he, and he alone has the one thing we most desperately need—“the words of eternal life.” (John 6.68) When the Spirit reveals this to someone, and they recognize the absolute truth of this fact, they quickly conclude, as did Peter, that there is not any other person or place to go to. So Jesus has no need to lock the door, the sheep of his flock are not captives, but they are captivated by his grace, love, and mercy.
The unbarred door does allow for those who follow Jesus, yet not by faith, to turn and walk away. Some of these the Father may well ultimately bring to salvation in and through the Son. Others will never be saved. Certainly, there was one who was chosen by the Lord who was not there for salvation, at least not his own. Judas Iscariot was indeed one of the Twelve, but he was chosen in order that he should fulfill his calling as Christ's betrayer (John 6.71). When Judas ultimately walked out the door he went straight to the chief priests to find out how much they would pay to get Jesus into their hands (see Matthew 26.14-16).
Jesus left the door open because he knew not all who followed him would stay the course. Indeed, on the night of his arrest, all the apostles would flee the scene. Yet the open door allowed for Peter and the others to return, and it has remained open for all of us as well. Fully confident that he will not lose even one whom the Father gives him, Jesus has no reason whatsoever to lock the door, for all who know that Christ alone has the words of eternal life, and who believe that he is the Holy One of God, never want to be anywhere else but with him.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Jesus Prayed
What Did Jesus Do?
“And rising very early in the morning...he went out to a desolate place,
and there he prayed.”
Mark 1.35
Jesus fed multitudes (see Mark 6.30-44), but he didn't stay up all hours of the night baking bread for five thousand. The Lord supplied living water to those who thirsted, but he didn't commit every spare moment to digging wells. At night, in the early morning, whenever he had a few precious minutes of “down time,” Jesus prayed.
Sometimes he prayed for guidance, as on the night before he called the twelve apostles (see Luke 6.12-16). One of the Lord's most beautiful and uplifting prayers is recorded in John 17, the so-called “High Priestly Prayer.” In the second chapter of Mark we read of Jesus removing himself to an isolated spot to pray alone before the dawn. But Mark tells us nothing in this instance of the content or subject matter of Christ's prayer.
Normally I try to avoid conjecture about what Jesus might have done, the Bible tells us so much about what he did, I believe speculation is not particularly helpful. But I am willing to hypothesize that often when Jesus prayed the subject of his prayer was the world and all the lost sinners in it. I don't think I'm overreaching on this, after all, the Father sent the Son into the world in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3.17).
Well, believing that intercessory prayer for the fallen world and lost sinners was the focus of much of the Lord's praying, I am of a mind to suggest that these would be most worthy subjects for a lot of our prayers. Such prayer is a “watchman” kind of thing to do, which is to say those who recognize the coming danger, and the need for vigilance, must pray continually for those who are still in the dark, as it were, lest they perish for want of there being no warning.
In the Old Testament, particularly in the books of the prophets, we read of God calling for watchmen to be on the alert, and to cry out to the house of Israel and to Jerusalem (see Ezekiel 3.16-17; 33). Wherever we happen to be living today is our own Jerusalem. And God has called his Church to be the watchman who maintains constant vigil, and employs unceasing intercessory prayer. But, in most cases, the watchman isn't particularly vigilant.
Think about it, the first Thursday in May is appointed to be the National Day of Prayer. One day out of 365. And most churches don't even devote any time on that one day a year for what we might call “Watchman Prayer.” Is it because we don't believe the times are serious, that destruction draws nigh, that every day thousands, even millions, are cast into the abyss for eternity?
Well, I personally think that God wants watchman to be pray continually, 24/7. Pick any community you wish to, can 168 watchmen be found from among the congregations in that community, who will each devote an hour during the week to pray for their community, and for individuals, known and unknown, who need to be saved? Even more, could 336 watchmen be found, in order that, at any time night or day every day of every week, there would be at least two together in prayer? For we know who has promised to be in the midst of those who come together in his name.
Here's the thing. I am going to start trying to recruit watchmen in my community. Even now my prayer is that the Father would lift up watchmen willing to devote a particular hour each week, to pray in the name of the Son for the sake of the world and especially lost sinners in our town. Back when I was still a pastor, the church I served opened a 24/7 prayer room, complete with a couple of pews, a Bible, and lights on a timer that kept the room illuminated night after night. It's been more than three years since I stepped down from the pulpit, and that prayer room is now dark and locked, though the need for unceasing prayer is as great, or greater than ever.
Well, I've decided to abandon the room anyway. Watchmen don't need to be in a closet, they need to be in the square, so to speak. So my goal is to get watchmen to agree to go to the County Courthouse, the symbol of government and authority in the community, and pray to the one who is truly sovereign. I just don't believe that an hour of prayer, at best, on the first Thursday in May, is going to get the job done—God requires more from his watchman than that.
So, if you happen to be a resident of McDowell County, I would ask you to pray and see if the Lord might want you to set aside one hour of each week to come to the Courthouse to be a watchman. And if you should be so called, please contact me, because I am going to be developing a watchman calendar for each and every hour of each and every day. If you are reading this, and you don't live in McDowell County, may I suggest that you take this idea to God in prayer and see if he would have you start recruiting watchmen to pray for your community?
What could be the result of such a prayer vigil by watchmen? God only knows. But, just imagine what could happen with thousands of watchmen praying in every village, town, and city across the land 24/7/365! Conversely, I am pretty sure what will happen if no watchmen at all pray, and it isn't pretty. Certainly, prayer is not all that the Church needs to be doing. But prayer is job #1 for the Body of Christ. Why shouldn't it be, it's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“And rising very early in the morning...he went out to a desolate place,
and there he prayed.”
Mark 1.35
Jesus fed multitudes (see Mark 6.30-44), but he didn't stay up all hours of the night baking bread for five thousand. The Lord supplied living water to those who thirsted, but he didn't commit every spare moment to digging wells. At night, in the early morning, whenever he had a few precious minutes of “down time,” Jesus prayed.
Sometimes he prayed for guidance, as on the night before he called the twelve apostles (see Luke 6.12-16). One of the Lord's most beautiful and uplifting prayers is recorded in John 17, the so-called “High Priestly Prayer.” In the second chapter of Mark we read of Jesus removing himself to an isolated spot to pray alone before the dawn. But Mark tells us nothing in this instance of the content or subject matter of Christ's prayer.
Normally I try to avoid conjecture about what Jesus might have done, the Bible tells us so much about what he did, I believe speculation is not particularly helpful. But I am willing to hypothesize that often when Jesus prayed the subject of his prayer was the world and all the lost sinners in it. I don't think I'm overreaching on this, after all, the Father sent the Son into the world in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3.17).
Well, believing that intercessory prayer for the fallen world and lost sinners was the focus of much of the Lord's praying, I am of a mind to suggest that these would be most worthy subjects for a lot of our prayers. Such prayer is a “watchman” kind of thing to do, which is to say those who recognize the coming danger, and the need for vigilance, must pray continually for those who are still in the dark, as it were, lest they perish for want of there being no warning.
In the Old Testament, particularly in the books of the prophets, we read of God calling for watchmen to be on the alert, and to cry out to the house of Israel and to Jerusalem (see Ezekiel 3.16-17; 33). Wherever we happen to be living today is our own Jerusalem. And God has called his Church to be the watchman who maintains constant vigil, and employs unceasing intercessory prayer. But, in most cases, the watchman isn't particularly vigilant.
Think about it, the first Thursday in May is appointed to be the National Day of Prayer. One day out of 365. And most churches don't even devote any time on that one day a year for what we might call “Watchman Prayer.” Is it because we don't believe the times are serious, that destruction draws nigh, that every day thousands, even millions, are cast into the abyss for eternity?
Well, I personally think that God wants watchman to be pray continually, 24/7. Pick any community you wish to, can 168 watchmen be found from among the congregations in that community, who will each devote an hour during the week to pray for their community, and for individuals, known and unknown, who need to be saved? Even more, could 336 watchmen be found, in order that, at any time night or day every day of every week, there would be at least two together in prayer? For we know who has promised to be in the midst of those who come together in his name.
Here's the thing. I am going to start trying to recruit watchmen in my community. Even now my prayer is that the Father would lift up watchmen willing to devote a particular hour each week, to pray in the name of the Son for the sake of the world and especially lost sinners in our town. Back when I was still a pastor, the church I served opened a 24/7 prayer room, complete with a couple of pews, a Bible, and lights on a timer that kept the room illuminated night after night. It's been more than three years since I stepped down from the pulpit, and that prayer room is now dark and locked, though the need for unceasing prayer is as great, or greater than ever.
Well, I've decided to abandon the room anyway. Watchmen don't need to be in a closet, they need to be in the square, so to speak. So my goal is to get watchmen to agree to go to the County Courthouse, the symbol of government and authority in the community, and pray to the one who is truly sovereign. I just don't believe that an hour of prayer, at best, on the first Thursday in May, is going to get the job done—God requires more from his watchman than that.
So, if you happen to be a resident of McDowell County, I would ask you to pray and see if the Lord might want you to set aside one hour of each week to come to the Courthouse to be a watchman. And if you should be so called, please contact me, because I am going to be developing a watchman calendar for each and every hour of each and every day. If you are reading this, and you don't live in McDowell County, may I suggest that you take this idea to God in prayer and see if he would have you start recruiting watchmen to pray for your community?
What could be the result of such a prayer vigil by watchmen? God only knows. But, just imagine what could happen with thousands of watchmen praying in every village, town, and city across the land 24/7/365! Conversely, I am pretty sure what will happen if no watchmen at all pray, and it isn't pretty. Certainly, prayer is not all that the Church needs to be doing. But prayer is job #1 for the Body of Christ. Why shouldn't it be, it's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Friday, March 4, 2011
Jesus Spoke Words of Life
What Did Jesus Do?
“The Words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
John 6.63b
You have probably heard the saying, “Like water rolling off a duck's back.” The saying is based on the observation that, while we might expect a quacker paddling around on a pond all day to get water-logged and sink, oil in their feathers repels the water, which—rolls off a duck's back. In a similar way, but with far more serious consequences, ears that were spiritually deaf repelled the life-giving words spoken by Jesus, they simply could not listen to them (John 6.60).
Not that all that Jesus said was easy to listen to. Most of us would naturally struggle as to what in the world someone meant if he told us that his flesh and his blood were to be food and drink to us, Hannibal Lecter being a notable exception. In truth, there is no way for anyone to make sense of many of the words Jesus spoke, they are practically a foreign language that needs interpreting. Fortunately, the Father provides an interpreter—the Holy Spirit.
While our flesh is hopelessly confused and frustrated in trying to sort out the meaning of the Lord's words—Jesus plainly said the flesh is useless (John 6.63a) for such a task—the Holy Spirit unlocks the truth of all that Christ said, with the result that we can hear, receive, and benefit from words which in fact give life, and life eternal. Unlike ducks which are all born with the water-repelling oil in their feathers, people are not born with ears to hear and understand the words of life. Some cannot, will not, ever believe. Only those who are drawn to the Son by the Father can truly come to Jesus. Only those to whom the Father gives the Holy Spirit have life.
None of us can tell, though Jesus knows (John 6.64), who can or will hear the words of life, and who will not. This is why it is imperative that the words be proclaimed to all, so that those do who have ears to hear may receive the Gospel. Neither can any of us predict when and where the Father will grant to someone the gift of hearing, for the first time as it were, the life-giving words. For this reason we should be prepared at all times and in all places to share the good news. At home, at work, at school, at play, the gift of the Spirit may be bestowed at any time, at any place. And, it must not be overlooked, there are even many people sitting in a pew week after week who are spiritually deaf as a post. So pastors must make sure that the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed each and every Sunday, for they never know when a long-time member of their congregation may, for the first time, actually hear and respond to the words of life. Not infrequently, faith comes with hearing and understanding one of the Lord's “hard sayings.” Hard saying or easy, in every case it is the agency of the Holy Spirit which gives the hearing.
Here's the thing. Just about all of us will speak countless words today to various audiences (family, co-workers, neighbors, students, even strangers). How many of these words we speak will be words of life? You see, what we say matters more than we can imagine, at times being the difference between life and death. Jesus spoke words of life. We should too.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“The Words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
John 6.63b
You have probably heard the saying, “Like water rolling off a duck's back.” The saying is based on the observation that, while we might expect a quacker paddling around on a pond all day to get water-logged and sink, oil in their feathers repels the water, which—rolls off a duck's back. In a similar way, but with far more serious consequences, ears that were spiritually deaf repelled the life-giving words spoken by Jesus, they simply could not listen to them (John 6.60).
Not that all that Jesus said was easy to listen to. Most of us would naturally struggle as to what in the world someone meant if he told us that his flesh and his blood were to be food and drink to us, Hannibal Lecter being a notable exception. In truth, there is no way for anyone to make sense of many of the words Jesus spoke, they are practically a foreign language that needs interpreting. Fortunately, the Father provides an interpreter—the Holy Spirit.
While our flesh is hopelessly confused and frustrated in trying to sort out the meaning of the Lord's words—Jesus plainly said the flesh is useless (John 6.63a) for such a task—the Holy Spirit unlocks the truth of all that Christ said, with the result that we can hear, receive, and benefit from words which in fact give life, and life eternal. Unlike ducks which are all born with the water-repelling oil in their feathers, people are not born with ears to hear and understand the words of life. Some cannot, will not, ever believe. Only those who are drawn to the Son by the Father can truly come to Jesus. Only those to whom the Father gives the Holy Spirit have life.
None of us can tell, though Jesus knows (John 6.64), who can or will hear the words of life, and who will not. This is why it is imperative that the words be proclaimed to all, so that those do who have ears to hear may receive the Gospel. Neither can any of us predict when and where the Father will grant to someone the gift of hearing, for the first time as it were, the life-giving words. For this reason we should be prepared at all times and in all places to share the good news. At home, at work, at school, at play, the gift of the Spirit may be bestowed at any time, at any place. And, it must not be overlooked, there are even many people sitting in a pew week after week who are spiritually deaf as a post. So pastors must make sure that the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed each and every Sunday, for they never know when a long-time member of their congregation may, for the first time, actually hear and respond to the words of life. Not infrequently, faith comes with hearing and understanding one of the Lord's “hard sayings.” Hard saying or easy, in every case it is the agency of the Holy Spirit which gives the hearing.
Here's the thing. Just about all of us will speak countless words today to various audiences (family, co-workers, neighbors, students, even strangers). How many of these words we speak will be words of life? You see, what we say matters more than we can imagine, at times being the difference between life and death. Jesus spoke words of life. We should too.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Jesus Offered True Spiritual Food and Drink
What Did Jesus Do?
“Whoever feeds on this will live forever.”
John 6.58
There was a time in the ancient world when Christians, that strange sect, were suspected of cannibalism because they would regularly come together to celebrate a meal of the flesh and blood of their Savior. Indeed, the audience in the synagogue of Capernaum wondered if Jesus was in fact trying to literally give them his flesh to eat (John 6.52). While it would be tragically necessary for the Lord to offer up his corporeal body on the cross for the remission of our sins, the “true food” and “true drink” which nourish unto true and eternal life constitute a spiritual meal.
All life comes from the living Father. As the Father sent the Son, full of life, into the world, so all whom the Father calls to life come to the Son and live (John 6.57). The food and drink which sustain the physical body are perishable, they neither last nor nourish forever. But the true spiritual food and drink, which can only be received by faith, is imperishable and nourishes the body, soul, and spirit forever (John 6.58).
Historically, it was well understood that the bread eaten by the ancestors of the Jews during their wilderness sojourn did not sustain for long those who ate it. In fact, the entire generation which had been rescued from bondage in Egypt perished in the wilderness, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, who alone had been found faithful. By contrast, all who eat the true spiritual food offered by Jesus will never die (John 6.54).
Similarly, the blood of countless animals, sacrificed year after year, could never remove the stain of sin (Hebrews 10.4). But the one-time shedding of the blood of Christ counts as atonement for sin now and forever (Hebrews 10.14). The true spiritual drink gives life to all who drink it, for all who drink it abide in the living Son of the Father (John 56).
To be sure, the Church must be concerned with the feeding of those who are perishing from lack of food and water. Yet, all will die, well fed or starving, who do not receive the true food and true drink Jesus offers. Unless the little lambs and the sheep of Christ's flock are fed and continually nourished, they shall surely perish, and any claim of ours that we love the Lord is empty (see John 21.15-18).
It is essential that Word and Sacrament be offered to all who hunger and thirst. Offering true food and true drink is what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Whoever feeds on this will live forever.”
John 6.58
There was a time in the ancient world when Christians, that strange sect, were suspected of cannibalism because they would regularly come together to celebrate a meal of the flesh and blood of their Savior. Indeed, the audience in the synagogue of Capernaum wondered if Jesus was in fact trying to literally give them his flesh to eat (John 6.52). While it would be tragically necessary for the Lord to offer up his corporeal body on the cross for the remission of our sins, the “true food” and “true drink” which nourish unto true and eternal life constitute a spiritual meal.
All life comes from the living Father. As the Father sent the Son, full of life, into the world, so all whom the Father calls to life come to the Son and live (John 6.57). The food and drink which sustain the physical body are perishable, they neither last nor nourish forever. But the true spiritual food and drink, which can only be received by faith, is imperishable and nourishes the body, soul, and spirit forever (John 6.58).
Historically, it was well understood that the bread eaten by the ancestors of the Jews during their wilderness sojourn did not sustain for long those who ate it. In fact, the entire generation which had been rescued from bondage in Egypt perished in the wilderness, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, who alone had been found faithful. By contrast, all who eat the true spiritual food offered by Jesus will never die (John 6.54).
Similarly, the blood of countless animals, sacrificed year after year, could never remove the stain of sin (Hebrews 10.4). But the one-time shedding of the blood of Christ counts as atonement for sin now and forever (Hebrews 10.14). The true spiritual drink gives life to all who drink it, for all who drink it abide in the living Son of the Father (John 56).
To be sure, the Church must be concerned with the feeding of those who are perishing from lack of food and water. Yet, all will die, well fed or starving, who do not receive the true food and true drink Jesus offers. Unless the little lambs and the sheep of Christ's flock are fed and continually nourished, they shall surely perish, and any claim of ours that we love the Lord is empty (see John 21.15-18).
It is essential that Word and Sacrament be offered to all who hunger and thirst. Offering true food and true drink is what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
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