What Did Jesus Do?
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you...
Whoever hates me hates my Father also.”
John 15.18,23
Have you ever wondered why Jesus placed so much importance on his disciples loving one another? I believe it was because he knew that hate was all they would receive from the world, and from all who are of the world (John 15.19). Now, before we fault the world, I point out that its behavior is somewhat similar to the Father's. The world loves its own, and the Father loves his own. Where the Father and the world are, well, world's apart, is that the Father loved those who hated him, while the world hated the One who loved it like no one else ever has or ever could.
The world, of course, will try and deny, “Hate you? Don't be silly, we don't hate you. It's Jesus we can't stand.” The question is, how do we feel about being on the receiving end of the world's enmity on account of the name of Jesus? The apostles counted it as cause for rejoicing to be considered worthy to suffer for the sake of the name (Acts 5.41), and Paul considered it his highest privilege to share in Christ's sufferings (see Philippians 3.7-11).
For his part Jesus, in choosing those whom the Father loved, knew full well that as the world would persecute him, so it would persecute his followers, and he reminded us that as it goes with the master, so it will go with his servants (John 15.20). In effect, Jesus coined the phrase, “No good deed goes unpunished,” when he pointed out that he was hated by the world for doing (good) works no one had ever seen before (John 15.24), even as the Psalmist had foreseen (Psalm 35.19).
So, again, how do we feel about the world hating us? If we try to avoid the world's animosity by being its friend, by loving the world as the world would be loved, we might not be the kind of disciple of Jesus we imagine ourselves to be. It's in loving the world like Jesus loved the world that we draw the world's ire. Are we loving like Jesus? I tell you, that is why he has chosen us, because, having known the love of the Father in and through the Son, we consider it our highest calling to love as we have been loved, though it earns us nothing but the world's hatred. And this lack of love from the world is why Jesus so emphasized the importance of his followers loving one another (John 1334; 15.17). It's the toughest, and greatest, love we'll ever know—direct to us from the Father in and through the Son.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Jesus Shared Privileged Information
What Did Jesus Do?
“All that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15.15
It's frustrating, even belittling, to hear, “That information is on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know.” Ouch! Guess they put us in our place. For hundreds of years it was understood that man's place in relation to God was that of a servant. God was the indisputable master, and our job was to worship and serve him, end of story. God was under no obligation whatsoever to share anything with us, other than his commands. Any information sent to earth from on high was on a strictly “need to know” basis. But the master-servant relationship wasn't the end of the story. God had an entirely different relationship with us in mind, and he sent his Son to tell us about this relationship. The Father gave Jesus authority to share privileged information.
The whole master-servant relationship was to be transformed into a unique, and unimaginable friendship. Where servants are routinely kept in the dark, so to speak, by their masters; friends know all about each others' business, and Jesus no longer called God's people servants, but friends (John 15.15a). While servants simply do the bidding of their master, friends share in the work together. And the work of God is the work of a vinedresser who cultivates a vineyard so that it will bear much good fruit (John 15.1-2).
In order that the former servants-now friends should fully take up their part of God's work the Son passed along all that he heard from the Father (John 15.15b). The “secrets” of the Kingdom were no longer secret; the Father desired that we would no longer think of ourselves as his servants, but as his friends, even his daughters and sons who are privileged to call him “Abba” (see Romans 8.15).
Of course, a Father may yet not disclose everything to his children, even to the Son (see Matthew 24.36; Mark 13.32). And, though no longer servants under obligation to do the will of a master, we are under an even greater obligation, as children of our loving Father in heaven, to be obedient. The obedience that the Father desires from us is the same he asked of the Son, which is why the Son shared with us fully the privileged information that had passed between the Father and the Son. As the Son, by his obedience to the Father, loved us, so we are now to obediently love one another (John 15.17). As the Son, the true vine, yielded good fruit by fully submitting his life to the Father's will, so too with us. We have been chosen by the Son to be his friends, and children of the Father, for the express purpose of bearing much fruit as we submit our lives to the will of our gracious Father.
Jesus shared all this privileged information with us so that, when we ask in his name prayers for the bearing of much good fruit, the Father will grant it (John 15.16). If, in the end, “we are all fruit” (see WDJD for 5/28/11), we are all also part of the fruit bearing business of our Father. And the only thing that will produce fruit good enough for the Kingdom, fruit which will abide, is love. Jesus shared this privileged information with us because it's something everyone needs to know.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“All that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15.15
It's frustrating, even belittling, to hear, “That information is on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know.” Ouch! Guess they put us in our place. For hundreds of years it was understood that man's place in relation to God was that of a servant. God was the indisputable master, and our job was to worship and serve him, end of story. God was under no obligation whatsoever to share anything with us, other than his commands. Any information sent to earth from on high was on a strictly “need to know” basis. But the master-servant relationship wasn't the end of the story. God had an entirely different relationship with us in mind, and he sent his Son to tell us about this relationship. The Father gave Jesus authority to share privileged information.
The whole master-servant relationship was to be transformed into a unique, and unimaginable friendship. Where servants are routinely kept in the dark, so to speak, by their masters; friends know all about each others' business, and Jesus no longer called God's people servants, but friends (John 15.15a). While servants simply do the bidding of their master, friends share in the work together. And the work of God is the work of a vinedresser who cultivates a vineyard so that it will bear much good fruit (John 15.1-2).
In order that the former servants-now friends should fully take up their part of God's work the Son passed along all that he heard from the Father (John 15.15b). The “secrets” of the Kingdom were no longer secret; the Father desired that we would no longer think of ourselves as his servants, but as his friends, even his daughters and sons who are privileged to call him “Abba” (see Romans 8.15).
Of course, a Father may yet not disclose everything to his children, even to the Son (see Matthew 24.36; Mark 13.32). And, though no longer servants under obligation to do the will of a master, we are under an even greater obligation, as children of our loving Father in heaven, to be obedient. The obedience that the Father desires from us is the same he asked of the Son, which is why the Son shared with us fully the privileged information that had passed between the Father and the Son. As the Son, by his obedience to the Father, loved us, so we are now to obediently love one another (John 15.17). As the Son, the true vine, yielded good fruit by fully submitting his life to the Father's will, so too with us. We have been chosen by the Son to be his friends, and children of the Father, for the express purpose of bearing much fruit as we submit our lives to the will of our gracious Father.
Jesus shared all this privileged information with us so that, when we ask in his name prayers for the bearing of much good fruit, the Father will grant it (John 15.16). If, in the end, “we are all fruit” (see WDJD for 5/28/11), we are all also part of the fruit bearing business of our Father. And the only thing that will produce fruit good enough for the Kingdom, fruit which will abide, is love. Jesus shared this privileged information with us because it's something everyone needs to know.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Jesus Showed His Friends How To Love
What Did Jesus Do?
“Greater love has no one than this,
that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15.13
It's one thing to issue commands, and quite another to go and execute them yourself. Jesus issued a command to his disciples that they love one another (John 15.12), then he went out and executed the order himself through his own execution/crucifixion. On the cross, Jesus showed his friends how to love.
The command to his followers was that they should love one another just as Jesus had loved them. Just how had Jesus loved his friends? He had fed them with true food and true drink (John 6.55); he had given them words of eternal life (John 6.68); he had saved them from drowning by calming the water and the wind (Mark 4.35-41); he had healed loved ones (Mark 1.30-31); he had even called a friend back from the dead (John 11.43-44). But all this would soon take a backseat to the demonstration of love the disciples were about to witness.
You see, there's love, and there's greater love, and then there is no greater love. The Lord was about to show his friends, and the world, love to the highest pitch of devotion. In all of history, there has never been, nor ever will be, a greater expression of love than the Cross whereon Jesus laid down his life. Jesus issued the command to his friends, already knowing that in a few hours he himself would execute the “order.” I believe this is how Jesus was able to append to the command a challenge, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15.14) Only a coward or despot would give a command he was unwilling to obey himself. Jesus issued the command to love, and then showed his friends how to love.
It's not that Jesus commanded all his friends to climb up on a cross themselves. But the Lord had made it quite clear that to follow him required bearing one's own cross (Matthew 16.24). It's not that Jesus commanded all his friends to die for one another. But the Lord made it quite clear that there is no greater love than that love willing to sacrifice itself for the sake of another.
What it comes down to is this, no one can go around claiming to love Jesus who is not willing to love like Jesus. This is the true cost of discipleship, to be willing to love regardless of the personal price to be paid. It is a way of life radically contrasted with a “me first,” “I'm #1” culture. And, in truth, it is rare to find, even, and, all too often, especially, in the Church.
The question facing each of the Lord's “friends” is, will we or won't we obey his command? If we would truly be his friends, then we have only one choice—to love one another, even to the point of making the supreme sacrifice, should it come to that, for a friend, or an enemy. For, you see, that's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Greater love has no one than this,
that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15.13
It's one thing to issue commands, and quite another to go and execute them yourself. Jesus issued a command to his disciples that they love one another (John 15.12), then he went out and executed the order himself through his own execution/crucifixion. On the cross, Jesus showed his friends how to love.
The command to his followers was that they should love one another just as Jesus had loved them. Just how had Jesus loved his friends? He had fed them with true food and true drink (John 6.55); he had given them words of eternal life (John 6.68); he had saved them from drowning by calming the water and the wind (Mark 4.35-41); he had healed loved ones (Mark 1.30-31); he had even called a friend back from the dead (John 11.43-44). But all this would soon take a backseat to the demonstration of love the disciples were about to witness.
You see, there's love, and there's greater love, and then there is no greater love. The Lord was about to show his friends, and the world, love to the highest pitch of devotion. In all of history, there has never been, nor ever will be, a greater expression of love than the Cross whereon Jesus laid down his life. Jesus issued the command to his friends, already knowing that in a few hours he himself would execute the “order.” I believe this is how Jesus was able to append to the command a challenge, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15.14) Only a coward or despot would give a command he was unwilling to obey himself. Jesus issued the command to love, and then showed his friends how to love.
It's not that Jesus commanded all his friends to climb up on a cross themselves. But the Lord had made it quite clear that to follow him required bearing one's own cross (Matthew 16.24). It's not that Jesus commanded all his friends to die for one another. But the Lord made it quite clear that there is no greater love than that love willing to sacrifice itself for the sake of another.
What it comes down to is this, no one can go around claiming to love Jesus who is not willing to love like Jesus. This is the true cost of discipleship, to be willing to love regardless of the personal price to be paid. It is a way of life radically contrasted with a “me first,” “I'm #1” culture. And, in truth, it is rare to find, even, and, all too often, especially, in the Church.
The question facing each of the Lord's “friends” is, will we or won't we obey his command? If we would truly be his friends, then we have only one choice—to love one another, even to the point of making the supreme sacrifice, should it come to that, for a friend, or an enemy. For, you see, that's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Jesus Produced Joy-filled Fruit
What Did Jesus Do?
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit...
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be full.”
John 15.5, 11
You gotta love Greek philosophers. No, I don't mean Plato or Socrates, I'm talking about Gus Portokalos, the sage, and funny, font of wisdom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Gus was always informing the world how it owed pretty much everything to the Greeks, and it was all but impossible to argue with him. For instance, there was his speech at his daughter Toula's wedding to Ian Miller. After noting that the root of Miller is the Greek melo (apple), and that Portokalos derived from the Greek word for orange, Gus declared that, though we are all different, “in the end we are all fruit.” Watch, you'll love it!
Now, a lot of people may be inclined to dismiss old Gus Portokalos as a proud and foolish old man, but I'm not one of them. Gus knew what he was talking about. I mean, the Portokalos family, and their myriad relatives, were all Greek Orthodox believers, and as such, as Gus so correctly declared, though not in the exact words, in Christ we are all fruit!
You see, Jesus is the true vine,and his Father is the vinedresser (John 15.1). Together, Father and Son preside over the world's most vast, fruitful, and joy-filled vineyard—the body of believers at all times in all places. True, Jesus did not call us fruit, but rather fruitful branches, if we abide in him. But it's hard to make a sharp distinction between branch and fruit, even as separating a vine and its branches must only be done with care and consideration. A vine with no branches is little better than a branch with no fruit. I mean, without the evidence of the fruit attached to the branch, how can anyone know that the branch is fruitful? And without branches just how productive could any vine be? There is an organic unity, an essential abiding of one in the other, that makes vine, branch, and fruit all one in the end. Clearly, it is the Father's will that the true vine and its branches be fruitful (John 15.2), and this fruitfulness accrues to the Father's glory (John 15.8).
And, what fruit! Why, each “grape” that is produced by each branch of the true vine is filled with joy (John 15.11). This is one way you can tell one congregation from another. Those churches that are just a bunch of sour grapes, as it were, bear little fruit, and even less evidence of being connected to the vine. But where the Spirit of joy, the Spirit of the Lord, is, well there you see much fruit, sweet and joy-filled, abiding and abounding in Jesus. Seemingly, day by day, the Father adds to the number of “grapes” on these branches.
Now, there may be fruitful Orthodox churches, and fruitful Roman churches, and fruitful Pentecostal churches—there may even be fruitful Presbyterian churches—all different, but in the end, all fruitful, all joy-filled. The one essential is the connection to the true vine. Here's the thing, if there's not evidence of a church, or an individual Christian, bearing fruit, there's only so much time before the Father will prune. And the one place to begin to be fruitful, is to know the joy of the Lord, for it is only the filling of the true joy of the true vine that produces true fruit. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit...
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be full.”
John 15.5, 11
You gotta love Greek philosophers. No, I don't mean Plato or Socrates, I'm talking about Gus Portokalos, the sage, and funny, font of wisdom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Gus was always informing the world how it owed pretty much everything to the Greeks, and it was all but impossible to argue with him. For instance, there was his speech at his daughter Toula's wedding to Ian Miller. After noting that the root of Miller is the Greek melo (apple), and that Portokalos derived from the Greek word for orange, Gus declared that, though we are all different, “in the end we are all fruit.” Watch, you'll love it!
Now, a lot of people may be inclined to dismiss old Gus Portokalos as a proud and foolish old man, but I'm not one of them. Gus knew what he was talking about. I mean, the Portokalos family, and their myriad relatives, were all Greek Orthodox believers, and as such, as Gus so correctly declared, though not in the exact words, in Christ we are all fruit!
You see, Jesus is the true vine,and his Father is the vinedresser (John 15.1). Together, Father and Son preside over the world's most vast, fruitful, and joy-filled vineyard—the body of believers at all times in all places. True, Jesus did not call us fruit, but rather fruitful branches, if we abide in him. But it's hard to make a sharp distinction between branch and fruit, even as separating a vine and its branches must only be done with care and consideration. A vine with no branches is little better than a branch with no fruit. I mean, without the evidence of the fruit attached to the branch, how can anyone know that the branch is fruitful? And without branches just how productive could any vine be? There is an organic unity, an essential abiding of one in the other, that makes vine, branch, and fruit all one in the end. Clearly, it is the Father's will that the true vine and its branches be fruitful (John 15.2), and this fruitfulness accrues to the Father's glory (John 15.8).
And, what fruit! Why, each “grape” that is produced by each branch of the true vine is filled with joy (John 15.11). This is one way you can tell one congregation from another. Those churches that are just a bunch of sour grapes, as it were, bear little fruit, and even less evidence of being connected to the vine. But where the Spirit of joy, the Spirit of the Lord, is, well there you see much fruit, sweet and joy-filled, abiding and abounding in Jesus. Seemingly, day by day, the Father adds to the number of “grapes” on these branches.
Now, there may be fruitful Orthodox churches, and fruitful Roman churches, and fruitful Pentecostal churches—there may even be fruitful Presbyterian churches—all different, but in the end, all fruitful, all joy-filled. The one essential is the connection to the true vine. Here's the thing, if there's not evidence of a church, or an individual Christian, bearing fruit, there's only so much time before the Father will prune. And the one place to begin to be fruitful, is to know the joy of the Lord, for it is only the filling of the true joy of the true vine that produces true fruit. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Friday, May 27, 2011
Jesus Clearly Saw The Future, And Said, "Fear Not"
What Did Jesus Do?
“Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14.27
Fear of the unknown can trouble even the stoutest hearts. And few things are more unknowable than the future. “What if...” can start our minds to worrying and our hearts to fearing what could happen later today, what might happen tomorrow, what there's a chance of happening next month. Jesus, knowing both what the future held and how vulnerable his disciples' hearts were to fear of the unknown, looked at and clearly saw a frightening future and said, “Fear not.”
Some, armed with half knowledge, which is to say they are quite familiar with the heart's fear of the unknown but absolutely in the dark about the future, have found that it can be profitable to exploit fear. I am sure you've heard all about the “seer” in California who has filched millions from the fearful with his proclamations about the rapture and end of the world. In marked contrast, Jesus, who wanted his disciples to be unafraid, asked nothing of his followers, but rather offered them much.
First of all, Jesus offered the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to take his place as Teacher, and to serve as a memory aid to help his disciples recall all his words (John 14.26). To avoid any possibility of the unknown causing anxious worry to paralyze his followers, Jesus promised us that we would have the direct assistance of the Spirit who possesses all knowledge of past, present, and future.
Jesus also gave his followers his peace, the fullness of his shalom (John 14.27). Note that I said fullness. While the world may think of peace in terms of the absence of conflict and war, Christ's peace is the positive, confident, assured, certain hope of a heart and the mind filled with the knowledge and love of the Father, and of the Son.
What Jesus wanted his disciples to understand and celebrate was not that he would soon be leaving them, but that he was about to go to the Father, who was even greater than he (John 14.28). The future was not about parting, but about coming together, and being together forever (see John 14.2-3).
Having several times spoken with his disciples about his approaching death, and his resurrection (see John 12.32; also Luke 9.21-22, 43-45; 18.31-34), Jesus again spoke of what would soon occur so that, when it was fulfilled, his followers would believe (John 14.29). It amazes me how Harold Camping, whose “prophecies” have consistently proven false, can still have anyone who gives him any credence. Fear, which again Camping and his ilk play upon to his great profit, makes not only cowards, but apparently fools as well. Jesus would not have us be fearful or foolish, but faithful.
Finally, Jesus wanted those whom he loved to know for a certainty who was in control. For, though it might soon appear to the disciples as if the devil was exercising his power in the world and even over Jesus, the Son obeyed no authority but that of the Father alone, who was and is absolutely sovereign over all (John 14.30-31). Chapter 14 begins and ends with Jesus offering his followers hope and peace in the place of fear, through faith in the Father and the Son.
Christ's disciples have a responsibility to be, well, responsible. We are not to play upon people's anxieties and their fear of the unknown, but rather to share with them our hope and our peace in the sure and certain knowledge of the Father and the Son, knowledge which the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, conveys from the hearts of those who believe to the hearts of those being saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14.27
Fear of the unknown can trouble even the stoutest hearts. And few things are more unknowable than the future. “What if...” can start our minds to worrying and our hearts to fearing what could happen later today, what might happen tomorrow, what there's a chance of happening next month. Jesus, knowing both what the future held and how vulnerable his disciples' hearts were to fear of the unknown, looked at and clearly saw a frightening future and said, “Fear not.”
Some, armed with half knowledge, which is to say they are quite familiar with the heart's fear of the unknown but absolutely in the dark about the future, have found that it can be profitable to exploit fear. I am sure you've heard all about the “seer” in California who has filched millions from the fearful with his proclamations about the rapture and end of the world. In marked contrast, Jesus, who wanted his disciples to be unafraid, asked nothing of his followers, but rather offered them much.
First of all, Jesus offered the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to take his place as Teacher, and to serve as a memory aid to help his disciples recall all his words (John 14.26). To avoid any possibility of the unknown causing anxious worry to paralyze his followers, Jesus promised us that we would have the direct assistance of the Spirit who possesses all knowledge of past, present, and future.
Jesus also gave his followers his peace, the fullness of his shalom (John 14.27). Note that I said fullness. While the world may think of peace in terms of the absence of conflict and war, Christ's peace is the positive, confident, assured, certain hope of a heart and the mind filled with the knowledge and love of the Father, and of the Son.
What Jesus wanted his disciples to understand and celebrate was not that he would soon be leaving them, but that he was about to go to the Father, who was even greater than he (John 14.28). The future was not about parting, but about coming together, and being together forever (see John 14.2-3).
Having several times spoken with his disciples about his approaching death, and his resurrection (see John 12.32; also Luke 9.21-22, 43-45; 18.31-34), Jesus again spoke of what would soon occur so that, when it was fulfilled, his followers would believe (John 14.29). It amazes me how Harold Camping, whose “prophecies” have consistently proven false, can still have anyone who gives him any credence. Fear, which again Camping and his ilk play upon to his great profit, makes not only cowards, but apparently fools as well. Jesus would not have us be fearful or foolish, but faithful.
Finally, Jesus wanted those whom he loved to know for a certainty who was in control. For, though it might soon appear to the disciples as if the devil was exercising his power in the world and even over Jesus, the Son obeyed no authority but that of the Father alone, who was and is absolutely sovereign over all (John 14.30-31). Chapter 14 begins and ends with Jesus offering his followers hope and peace in the place of fear, through faith in the Father and the Son.
Christ's disciples have a responsibility to be, well, responsible. We are not to play upon people's anxieties and their fear of the unknown, but rather to share with them our hope and our peace in the sure and certain knowledge of the Father and the Son, knowledge which the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, conveys from the hearts of those who believe to the hearts of those being saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Jesus Spoke of Where The Father and Son Would "Settle Down"
What Did Jesus Do?
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we will come to him
and make our home with him.”
John 14.23
Have you ever fallen in love with a place? Lots of people have a special place, a place where they hope and dream of moving to and settling down “ some day.” Maybe it is a spot visited once or more on vacation. Perhaps business takes someone to a location that so captures them that they determine to relocate there. There have even been people who go on short-term mission trips who conceive such a strong bond with a place and a people that they eventually move there. This is actually what Jesus did.
You see, the Son, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is eternal (Which is a VERY long time), came to earth on a “mission trip” which lasted roughly thirty years (Which, compared to eternity, is a VERY short-term visit). But, while on his “short-term” mission, Jesus declared that, because of the great love both he and the Father have for those who love them and who keep their Word, he and the Father had determined that they would both come and settle down with men, making their home with us.
Can you imagine? Having dwelt from eternity past in the majesty and glory of heaven, and with all the Cosmos to choose from, the Father and Son declare that their heart's desire is to come and dwell through eternity future with us! That is amazing. It is especially amazing when we consider how men treated Jesus during the Incarnation. Many ignored him. Quite a number rejected him. A few actually hated him. Even among his closest friends one would betray him, one would deny him, and the rest would desert him. No wonder he declared that he wanted to make his home with us forever! Well, of course, the true wonder is that the Father and the Son didn't deal with the world and man as we deserved, but as dictated by their love and amazing grace.
I believe the best thing about God's choice of where he would “settle down,”' is that he didn't put it off until “some day.” That's right, we don't have to wait until “some day” for the Father and Son to move in, as it were, and for eternity to begin. The moment we confess our sin and repent, and receive Christ, the Father and Son see that the Spirit works to incline our heart to love Jesus more and more, and and to keep his commandments. And the Trinity moves in to make our heart their home. Wow. I mean, just, wow!
By implication, then, wherever a believer goes, so go the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We, the Church, the Body of Christ, are the living, loving presence of God, in the world, or at least we are supposed to be. Just as we were all once sinners, and God, through the Church, in the person of, well, one or more persons who loved Jesus and kept his commandments (People in and with whom God had “settled down”), came and brought the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit into our life, so we, who are now part of the Body of Christ, are to go live and love like Jesus. In this way the Father and Son come and make a home in other repenting hearts. It sounds more and more to me as if God desires nothing more than that his children should live with him as one, big, happy family.
But as I survey the landscape, the more it seems littered with angry, broken, splintered little collections of people who exhibit anything but any kind of love and unity, much less the gracious and transforming presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mega-churches notwithstanding, the average size of the average congregation is getting smaller and smaller, even as the number of congregations seemingly multiplies. With all the bad feelings, not to mention bad words, so many of these little splintered parts have for one another, I have a hard time finding places where the Father and Son have actually come and settled down.
But, make no mistake about it, when Jesus spoke of the Father and Son settling down, he declared that they would dwell with those who love them and who keep their word. Every believer needs to ask, “Have the Father and Son come to make their home with me?” It the answer is “Yes,” then there should be no trouble at all with our being “at home” with other believers, regardless of the music they sing, the clothes they wear, or the Bible translation they read.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we will come to him
and make our home with him.”
John 14.23
Have you ever fallen in love with a place? Lots of people have a special place, a place where they hope and dream of moving to and settling down “ some day.” Maybe it is a spot visited once or more on vacation. Perhaps business takes someone to a location that so captures them that they determine to relocate there. There have even been people who go on short-term mission trips who conceive such a strong bond with a place and a people that they eventually move there. This is actually what Jesus did.
You see, the Son, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is eternal (Which is a VERY long time), came to earth on a “mission trip” which lasted roughly thirty years (Which, compared to eternity, is a VERY short-term visit). But, while on his “short-term” mission, Jesus declared that, because of the great love both he and the Father have for those who love them and who keep their Word, he and the Father had determined that they would both come and settle down with men, making their home with us.
Can you imagine? Having dwelt from eternity past in the majesty and glory of heaven, and with all the Cosmos to choose from, the Father and Son declare that their heart's desire is to come and dwell through eternity future with us! That is amazing. It is especially amazing when we consider how men treated Jesus during the Incarnation. Many ignored him. Quite a number rejected him. A few actually hated him. Even among his closest friends one would betray him, one would deny him, and the rest would desert him. No wonder he declared that he wanted to make his home with us forever! Well, of course, the true wonder is that the Father and the Son didn't deal with the world and man as we deserved, but as dictated by their love and amazing grace.
I believe the best thing about God's choice of where he would “settle down,”' is that he didn't put it off until “some day.” That's right, we don't have to wait until “some day” for the Father and Son to move in, as it were, and for eternity to begin. The moment we confess our sin and repent, and receive Christ, the Father and Son see that the Spirit works to incline our heart to love Jesus more and more, and and to keep his commandments. And the Trinity moves in to make our heart their home. Wow. I mean, just, wow!
By implication, then, wherever a believer goes, so go the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We, the Church, the Body of Christ, are the living, loving presence of God, in the world, or at least we are supposed to be. Just as we were all once sinners, and God, through the Church, in the person of, well, one or more persons who loved Jesus and kept his commandments (People in and with whom God had “settled down”), came and brought the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit into our life, so we, who are now part of the Body of Christ, are to go live and love like Jesus. In this way the Father and Son come and make a home in other repenting hearts. It sounds more and more to me as if God desires nothing more than that his children should live with him as one, big, happy family.
But as I survey the landscape, the more it seems littered with angry, broken, splintered little collections of people who exhibit anything but any kind of love and unity, much less the gracious and transforming presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mega-churches notwithstanding, the average size of the average congregation is getting smaller and smaller, even as the number of congregations seemingly multiplies. With all the bad feelings, not to mention bad words, so many of these little splintered parts have for one another, I have a hard time finding places where the Father and Son have actually come and settled down.
But, make no mistake about it, when Jesus spoke of the Father and Son settling down, he declared that they would dwell with those who love them and who keep their word. Every believer needs to ask, “Have the Father and Son come to make their home with me?” It the answer is “Yes,” then there should be no trouble at all with our being “at home” with other believers, regardless of the music they sing, the clothes they wear, or the Bible translation they read.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Jesus Promised Us Help
What Did Jesus Do?
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,
to be with you forever...”
John 14.16
I love insurance commercials. They assure us that we're in “good hands,” that they're “on our side,” and, "like a good neighbor, they're there.” I mean, the folks in the ads are so earnest and sincere that they almost make me forget that insurance companies are in business for the purpose of making money. Don't get me wrong, I've got auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and life insurance, and I'm happy that there are companies who provide these products. But I'm not about to confuse them with altruists. Sure they'll help. That's why I've paid them a $100,000 and more in premiums and deductibles during my lifetime.
Thankfully, God has never sent us a bill for the insurance, and assurance, he supplies us. You see, when Jesus promised us help, it was with the full knowledge that he himself would pay the “premium.” And, unlike my insurance policy which is always expiring and needing to be renewed—the help, actually the Helper, Jesus promised (the Holy Spirit), he promised forever.
Another thing about insurance companies, they keep you waiting a lot. Call them and you're likely to be put on hold after 10 minutes or so of working your way through the automated prompts of their answering system. If you are not careful, you may make a mistake and have to go back to the end of the queue. And, when you finally get through to someone you are likely to wait several days, if not weeks, for an adjustor to show up to verify your claim. But the Helper Jesus promised is always with us, dwells with us. In fact, he's an “insider” (see John 14.17). He's always present and ready to help us.
Even better, the help the Helper provides us is not just timely, it's perfectly, well, divine. Because, you see, the Helper is the very presence and power of the Father and Son, with, in, and for us. It's rather ironic that the world cannot receive help from the Helper. Dollar signs and other idols make the world essentially blind to the truth, which means the world cannot see the Helper, who is the very Spirit of Truth.
But, here's the thing, though there are many who have not received the help Jesus promised, a good number of them may yet receive it. How? Well a big part of it is up to us. If the Holy Spirit is presently invisible to them, they neither see him nor know him. But, if they could but see him and know him, there is every likelihood that they would receive him. My question to you is, where is the Holy Spirit now? If we have received him, then Jesus says that the Spirit dwells among us and even in us. So, if people are going to see and know the Spirit of Truth, their best chance of doing so is for us to exhibit him to them. That's right, today you and I can help someone to see the Spirit at work in us, or not. The key, I believe, is the kind of fruit our lives produce each day. When the Spirit is working in us, when we are exhibiting him, there is such wonderful fruit, you see (see Galatians 5.22-23). Unlike the fruit that our ancestors ate, which enabled all of us to see and know sin, but be blind to righteousness, the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives helps others to see and know the Truth, even Jesus Christ.
Jesus promised us help, in the person of the Helper, in order that we might be helpers who help others to see and know him. Imagine if everyone who has the Spirit within them helped someone to see him and know him today, why it could mean a whole lot of people being added this day to the number being saved. And, you know what, that's what Jesus did when he helped us.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,
to be with you forever...”
John 14.16
I love insurance commercials. They assure us that we're in “good hands,” that they're “on our side,” and, "like a good neighbor, they're there.” I mean, the folks in the ads are so earnest and sincere that they almost make me forget that insurance companies are in business for the purpose of making money. Don't get me wrong, I've got auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and life insurance, and I'm happy that there are companies who provide these products. But I'm not about to confuse them with altruists. Sure they'll help. That's why I've paid them a $100,000 and more in premiums and deductibles during my lifetime.
Thankfully, God has never sent us a bill for the insurance, and assurance, he supplies us. You see, when Jesus promised us help, it was with the full knowledge that he himself would pay the “premium.” And, unlike my insurance policy which is always expiring and needing to be renewed—the help, actually the Helper, Jesus promised (the Holy Spirit), he promised forever.
Another thing about insurance companies, they keep you waiting a lot. Call them and you're likely to be put on hold after 10 minutes or so of working your way through the automated prompts of their answering system. If you are not careful, you may make a mistake and have to go back to the end of the queue. And, when you finally get through to someone you are likely to wait several days, if not weeks, for an adjustor to show up to verify your claim. But the Helper Jesus promised is always with us, dwells with us. In fact, he's an “insider” (see John 14.17). He's always present and ready to help us.
Even better, the help the Helper provides us is not just timely, it's perfectly, well, divine. Because, you see, the Helper is the very presence and power of the Father and Son, with, in, and for us. It's rather ironic that the world cannot receive help from the Helper. Dollar signs and other idols make the world essentially blind to the truth, which means the world cannot see the Helper, who is the very Spirit of Truth.
But, here's the thing, though there are many who have not received the help Jesus promised, a good number of them may yet receive it. How? Well a big part of it is up to us. If the Holy Spirit is presently invisible to them, they neither see him nor know him. But, if they could but see him and know him, there is every likelihood that they would receive him. My question to you is, where is the Holy Spirit now? If we have received him, then Jesus says that the Spirit dwells among us and even in us. So, if people are going to see and know the Spirit of Truth, their best chance of doing so is for us to exhibit him to them. That's right, today you and I can help someone to see the Spirit at work in us, or not. The key, I believe, is the kind of fruit our lives produce each day. When the Spirit is working in us, when we are exhibiting him, there is such wonderful fruit, you see (see Galatians 5.22-23). Unlike the fruit that our ancestors ate, which enabled all of us to see and know sin, but be blind to righteousness, the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives helps others to see and know the Truth, even Jesus Christ.
Jesus promised us help, in the person of the Helper, in order that we might be helpers who help others to see and know him. Imagine if everyone who has the Spirit within them helped someone to see him and know him today, why it could mean a whole lot of people being added this day to the number being saved. And, you know what, that's what Jesus did when he helped us.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Jesus Asked For Proof
What Did Jesus Do?
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14.15
It's one thing to say you love someone, and quite another thing to prove that love. Talk, as they say, is cheap. Whereas love, particularly agape love, is costly. Jesus knew there were many who would say that they loved him; he asked his disciples to prove it.
Please do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that anyone has to prove their love for Jesus in order to be saved. Christ saved a great big bunch of unloving, and all but unlovable, sinners when he died on the cross. And thank God for that! But, I don't believe that everyone who has been saved necessarily goes on to be a disciple. A disciple is not merely one who has been saved by Jesus, but one who follows Jesus. And the only people willing to shoulder their own cross, and walk the hard road of discipleship, are those who truly love the Lord, as opposed to the ones who merely say they love him. Again, Jesus asked for proof from his disciples.
So, what is the proof of our love for the Lord? Attendance at worship services? Important, certainly, but not proof. Generous tithing? Well, the Lord does love those who give cheerfully, but still not proof, even unsaved sinners can drop a bundle into the offering plate (In fact, they might be even more inclined to drop a bundle, mistakenly believing they can thereby “purchase” their salvation.). How about knowing the Scriptures? Sorry, even the devil can quote chapter and verse, so that hardly constitutes proof. How, then, can we prove our love for Jesus? Well, he said it himself—by keeping his commandments.
Here's some good news for all of us who aren't as good at multitasking as we like to think we are. Jesus doesn't ask us to scrupulously keep the Ten Commandments. When it comes right down to it, he doesn't even demand his followers to keep even the two Great Commandments (see Matthew 22.36-40). What Jesus desires from us as proof of our love for him is simply this: that we have love for one another (see John 13.35; WDJD for 5/18/11). Oh, I see such genius in this proof Jesus asks of us.
I mean, it's easy to love Jesus, isn't it, what's not to love about our Savior? But loving one another, now that's tough. And Jesus isn't going to let us off the hook. If we want to truly demonstrate that we love him, and not just say that we love him, the only way we can prove it is by loving one another. And, sad to say, by this proof, I must confess, that I am not the disciple I ought to be. I suspect that, also sad to say, there are quite a few who sit in a lot of pews, and even many who occupy pulpits, who, if they are honest with themselves, and, more importantly, with the Lord, would likewise have to confess that they frequently have little or no proof to show their love for the Lord.
This is truly a shame, because I am convinced that if there were more of us who have been saved by Jesus who actually proved daily our love for him by loving one another, the Church would not be in the sad shape it is today, would not be as deserving of the world's scorn and derision, would not be struggling so to hold on to dwindling membership. Rather, when the Church is peopled with those who prove their love for Jesus by loving others like Jesus loves us, then the number of those who are being saved is added to daily; individuals, families, communities, and even nations, begin to experience transformation. In short, love for Jesus is amply evident for the whole world to see.
I think it might be a good idea if those of us who claim the title of “Christian” would ask the person in the mirror as we brush our teeth each morning if he or she loves Jesus. It the one in the mirror answers “Yes,” then I believe the Lord himself would have us challenge the man or woman, or boy or girl, in the mirror, to “prove it.”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenminitries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14.15
It's one thing to say you love someone, and quite another thing to prove that love. Talk, as they say, is cheap. Whereas love, particularly agape love, is costly. Jesus knew there were many who would say that they loved him; he asked his disciples to prove it.
Please do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that anyone has to prove their love for Jesus in order to be saved. Christ saved a great big bunch of unloving, and all but unlovable, sinners when he died on the cross. And thank God for that! But, I don't believe that everyone who has been saved necessarily goes on to be a disciple. A disciple is not merely one who has been saved by Jesus, but one who follows Jesus. And the only people willing to shoulder their own cross, and walk the hard road of discipleship, are those who truly love the Lord, as opposed to the ones who merely say they love him. Again, Jesus asked for proof from his disciples.
So, what is the proof of our love for the Lord? Attendance at worship services? Important, certainly, but not proof. Generous tithing? Well, the Lord does love those who give cheerfully, but still not proof, even unsaved sinners can drop a bundle into the offering plate (In fact, they might be even more inclined to drop a bundle, mistakenly believing they can thereby “purchase” their salvation.). How about knowing the Scriptures? Sorry, even the devil can quote chapter and verse, so that hardly constitutes proof. How, then, can we prove our love for Jesus? Well, he said it himself—by keeping his commandments.
Here's some good news for all of us who aren't as good at multitasking as we like to think we are. Jesus doesn't ask us to scrupulously keep the Ten Commandments. When it comes right down to it, he doesn't even demand his followers to keep even the two Great Commandments (see Matthew 22.36-40). What Jesus desires from us as proof of our love for him is simply this: that we have love for one another (see John 13.35; WDJD for 5/18/11). Oh, I see such genius in this proof Jesus asks of us.
I mean, it's easy to love Jesus, isn't it, what's not to love about our Savior? But loving one another, now that's tough. And Jesus isn't going to let us off the hook. If we want to truly demonstrate that we love him, and not just say that we love him, the only way we can prove it is by loving one another. And, sad to say, by this proof, I must confess, that I am not the disciple I ought to be. I suspect that, also sad to say, there are quite a few who sit in a lot of pews, and even many who occupy pulpits, who, if they are honest with themselves, and, more importantly, with the Lord, would likewise have to confess that they frequently have little or no proof to show their love for the Lord.
This is truly a shame, because I am convinced that if there were more of us who have been saved by Jesus who actually proved daily our love for him by loving one another, the Church would not be in the sad shape it is today, would not be as deserving of the world's scorn and derision, would not be struggling so to hold on to dwindling membership. Rather, when the Church is peopled with those who prove their love for Jesus by loving others like Jesus loves us, then the number of those who are being saved is added to daily; individuals, families, communities, and even nations, begin to experience transformation. In short, love for Jesus is amply evident for the whole world to see.
I think it might be a good idea if those of us who claim the title of “Christian” would ask the person in the mirror as we brush our teeth each morning if he or she loves Jesus. It the one in the mirror answers “Yes,” then I believe the Lord himself would have us challenge the man or woman, or boy or girl, in the mirror, to “prove it.”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenminitries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, May 23, 2011
Jesus Refuted Shakespeare
What Did Jesus Do?
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
John 14.13
Old Will, you know, the kid from Avon who was always writing sonnets and plays and stuff. Well, he was not impressed by names (see Romeo and Juliet [II, ii, 1-2]). After all, “That which we call a rose...” Even I have to concede that there's not much to most names anymore. The Chuck Taylors I wore playing basketball in high school ain't what they used to be, if you'll excuse the expression. No offense, but “Made in China” just isn't the same as made in Massachusetts. And folks in the know are no longer impressed when I tell them where I went to seminary, that name surely doesn't stand for what it used to. Yet, in spite of all the evidence supporting the Bard's observation about how little names mean, I have to admit that names, or at least one name, matters a great deal.
Not that I'm at all into kooky stuff like Kabalarian philosophy. As astrologers believe that the position of celestial objects millions of miles away at the moment of your birth determines all the important stuff in your life, Kabalarians believe that everything about your life is set in stone the moment your parents saddle you with your name. Nevertheless, Jesus refuted Shakespeare, and replied to the question, “What's in a name” with a resounding “Everything!” Everything, that is, when “a name” is “The Name,” and object is to glorify the Father.
When his life was down to being measured in hours, Jesus talked with his followers about a name, His name. The gist of the conversation was this, “You've all marveled at the works I have done, but there will be people who will do even great works than these. They will be the ones who believe in my name. And, believing, who desire that the Father should be glorified in the name of the Son. These will be able to accomplish pretty much anything in my name.” In your face, Will Shakespeare!
Don't misunderstand, as many do. “In Jesus' name” is not a magical phrase. Such thinking would be more in line with the Kabalarians, than with Christianity. One can't simply desire or say just anything, and expect that tagging “in Jesus' name” on the end will make something happen. You'd have better luck rubbing on some old tarnished lamp and trying to conjure up a genie. The thing is, believing in the name of Jesus means so much more than, well, believing in the name.
Believing in The name means believing in the Word. This is to say that, contrary to the world, we believe that the Bible is true. Otherwise, the name “Jesus” doesn't stand for much at all. Believing in The name means not only knowing the Son, but understanding that in knowing the Son we also know the Father who sent him (see WDJD for 5/20/11). Otherwise, the name “Jesus” doesn't really mean “Yahweh saves!” (And if you truly know Jesus you know Yahweh.) Believing in The name means believing in the Holy Spirit whom the Son has asked the Father to send to help us (see John 14.16). Otherwise, the name “Jesus” is of no more help or hope to us than any other name.
In the name of “Jesus” the blind are made to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the Father is glorified. In the name of “Jesus” mountains are plucked up and cast into the sea, strongholds are torn down, darkness is overcome by light, and the Father is glorified. In the name of “Jesus” prisoners are set free, the dead are raised, sinners are saved, and the Father is glorified.
What's in a name? Not much, unless it's the name, in which case there's everything. To the glory of the Father!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
John 14.13
Old Will, you know, the kid from Avon who was always writing sonnets and plays and stuff. Well, he was not impressed by names (see Romeo and Juliet [II, ii, 1-2]). After all, “That which we call a rose...” Even I have to concede that there's not much to most names anymore. The Chuck Taylors I wore playing basketball in high school ain't what they used to be, if you'll excuse the expression. No offense, but “Made in China” just isn't the same as made in Massachusetts. And folks in the know are no longer impressed when I tell them where I went to seminary, that name surely doesn't stand for what it used to. Yet, in spite of all the evidence supporting the Bard's observation about how little names mean, I have to admit that names, or at least one name, matters a great deal.
Not that I'm at all into kooky stuff like Kabalarian philosophy. As astrologers believe that the position of celestial objects millions of miles away at the moment of your birth determines all the important stuff in your life, Kabalarians believe that everything about your life is set in stone the moment your parents saddle you with your name. Nevertheless, Jesus refuted Shakespeare, and replied to the question, “What's in a name” with a resounding “Everything!” Everything, that is, when “a name” is “The Name,” and object is to glorify the Father.
When his life was down to being measured in hours, Jesus talked with his followers about a name, His name. The gist of the conversation was this, “You've all marveled at the works I have done, but there will be people who will do even great works than these. They will be the ones who believe in my name. And, believing, who desire that the Father should be glorified in the name of the Son. These will be able to accomplish pretty much anything in my name.” In your face, Will Shakespeare!
Don't misunderstand, as many do. “In Jesus' name” is not a magical phrase. Such thinking would be more in line with the Kabalarians, than with Christianity. One can't simply desire or say just anything, and expect that tagging “in Jesus' name” on the end will make something happen. You'd have better luck rubbing on some old tarnished lamp and trying to conjure up a genie. The thing is, believing in the name of Jesus means so much more than, well, believing in the name.
Believing in The name means believing in the Word. This is to say that, contrary to the world, we believe that the Bible is true. Otherwise, the name “Jesus” doesn't stand for much at all. Believing in The name means not only knowing the Son, but understanding that in knowing the Son we also know the Father who sent him (see WDJD for 5/20/11). Otherwise, the name “Jesus” doesn't really mean “Yahweh saves!” (And if you truly know Jesus you know Yahweh.) Believing in The name means believing in the Holy Spirit whom the Son has asked the Father to send to help us (see John 14.16). Otherwise, the name “Jesus” is of no more help or hope to us than any other name.
In the name of “Jesus” the blind are made to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the Father is glorified. In the name of “Jesus” mountains are plucked up and cast into the sea, strongholds are torn down, darkness is overcome by light, and the Father is glorified. In the name of “Jesus” prisoners are set free, the dead are raised, sinners are saved, and the Father is glorified.
What's in a name? Not much, unless it's the name, in which case there's everything. To the glory of the Father!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Friday, May 20, 2011
Jesus Showed Up, And The Father Showed Out
What Did Jesus Do?
“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
John 14.8
Nobody likes a showoff, but that's what Jesus was. I mean, Jesus was the light. He came while there was light (see John 9.4; 12.35), and walked and talked and worked in the light, so that everyone could see and could know, not him, but the Father. When Jesus showed up, the Father showed out.
Not that God had been hidden before the Incarnation of the Son. For ever since the creation of the world what can be known about God has been revealed in the things that he made (see Romans 1.19-20). But it's one thing to know about God, and to perceive his divine attributes, and quite another to personally encounter him, up close and personal as it were, in the flesh. So, when Jesus showed up in the flesh, the Father showed out, well, in the flesh. The author of Hebrews put it this way, “He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” (Hebrews 1.3)
Oh, don't get me wrong here, the Father and the Son are two quite distinct persons. Yet so absolutely alike in their attributes and substance, as to be quite literally and perfectly one. The very same holds true for the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. And so, the disciples, like Philip, who had known Jesus, had in fact known the Father, seen the Father, heard the Father (John 14.9-10). But their faith still had some catching up to do.
While faith comes by hearing (Romans 10.17), Jesus recognized that, for many, seeing is believing, and so the Son showed up, that the Father should show out, and the people may see and know. Of course, Philip's request to be shown the Father reveals that seeing does not always mean understanding, or believing. So we hear Jesus clearly declare that he and the Father are one (John 10.30), and then make repeated references to the unity of the Father and the Son (10.38; 11.42; 12.44-45, 50; 13.20; 14.24; 15.24; 16.27; 17.21). For Philip, and the other disciples who had known Jesus, yet not discerned the presence of the Father in the Son, Jesus recalled the works he had done, works that were clearly of God, and urged his followers to believe because of the works themselves (John 14.11).
And God is still working today. The truth is, wherever and whenever the Son shows up, there and then the Father shows out. There are no exceptions to this. When Jesus promised that he would always be present where “two or three are gathered in my name” (Matthew 18.20), he was guaranteeing that the Father would also be present in the midst of his people. Even so, the Church, wherever and whenever it gathers in the name of the Son to glorify, serve, and worship the Father, is the place where Jesus shows up and the Father shows out, and the works of God are accomplished.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
John 14.8
Nobody likes a showoff, but that's what Jesus was. I mean, Jesus was the light. He came while there was light (see John 9.4; 12.35), and walked and talked and worked in the light, so that everyone could see and could know, not him, but the Father. When Jesus showed up, the Father showed out.
Not that God had been hidden before the Incarnation of the Son. For ever since the creation of the world what can be known about God has been revealed in the things that he made (see Romans 1.19-20). But it's one thing to know about God, and to perceive his divine attributes, and quite another to personally encounter him, up close and personal as it were, in the flesh. So, when Jesus showed up in the flesh, the Father showed out, well, in the flesh. The author of Hebrews put it this way, “He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” (Hebrews 1.3)
Oh, don't get me wrong here, the Father and the Son are two quite distinct persons. Yet so absolutely alike in their attributes and substance, as to be quite literally and perfectly one. The very same holds true for the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. And so, the disciples, like Philip, who had known Jesus, had in fact known the Father, seen the Father, heard the Father (John 14.9-10). But their faith still had some catching up to do.
While faith comes by hearing (Romans 10.17), Jesus recognized that, for many, seeing is believing, and so the Son showed up, that the Father should show out, and the people may see and know. Of course, Philip's request to be shown the Father reveals that seeing does not always mean understanding, or believing. So we hear Jesus clearly declare that he and the Father are one (John 10.30), and then make repeated references to the unity of the Father and the Son (10.38; 11.42; 12.44-45, 50; 13.20; 14.24; 15.24; 16.27; 17.21). For Philip, and the other disciples who had known Jesus, yet not discerned the presence of the Father in the Son, Jesus recalled the works he had done, works that were clearly of God, and urged his followers to believe because of the works themselves (John 14.11).
And God is still working today. The truth is, wherever and whenever the Son shows up, there and then the Father shows out. There are no exceptions to this. When Jesus promised that he would always be present where “two or three are gathered in my name” (Matthew 18.20), he was guaranteeing that the Father would also be present in the midst of his people. Even so, the Church, wherever and whenever it gathers in the name of the Son to glorify, serve, and worship the Father, is the place where Jesus shows up and the Father shows out, and the works of God are accomplished.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Jesus Provided A Compass
What Did Jesus Do?
“Lord, we do not know where you are going.
How can we know the way?”
John 14.5
With the advent of Global Positioning Satellites, onboard navigation systems in cars, and hand held devices that uplink to the stratosphere, a Boy Scout's iconic compass is fast becoming a quaint artifact of the past. But the latest cutting edge technology does not change the ageless truth that, without help, all of us are pretty much like Thomas, clueless about the way we should go. In a word—lost. Fortunately for the lost, Jesus provided a compass.
While a Scout's compass may soon be obsolete, the compass which Jesus supplied will never be replaced. What is this compass? Why, it's Jesus himself! The orbits of all satellites eventually decay, and they come crashing in flames back into the atmosphere. Automobile navigational systems sometimes stop short of getting us to our desired destination. And even a trusty old compass can point in the wrong direction if it suffers a sudden, sharp jolt which messes up the polarity of its needle. Jesus never fails, he always “points” true. And unlike maps and navigation systems which might suggest alternative routes to get us where we need to go, Jesus made it quite plain the he is the only way any of us will reach our destination.
Despite what worldly philosophers, humanists, progressives, most scientists, and many cultures teach, our destination, our destiny, is directly connected to the Father. Everyone is destined to either spend eternity with the Father, or be totally cut-off from him. The sole determining factor in where we end up is Jesus. Either we follow him, as he unfailingly leads us to the Father, or we don't, and wind up lost forever.
Truly, to be lost, and to have no clue where to go, is to trouble our hearts. But Jesus has given us the one perfect and sufficient remedy to this problem—himself! And, unlike satellites, navigation systems, and compasses, which don't actually go ahead of us and check things out for us, Jesus has made the very journey we ourselves need to take. The Lord has blazed the trail, so to speak, arrived at the destination, prepared a place for us, and sent back infallible guidance for us to follow. In fact, in and through the Holy Spirit, Jesus accompanies us every step of the way, until he himself presents us personally to the Father. I don't care how much you pay, you won't find any GPS system that can do even a fraction of what Jesus alone can do.
When I try and figure out what makes GPS, navigational systems, and even the humble compass seemingly more popular than Christ, the only answer I can come up with is marketing. Businesses do a better job selling technology, than the Church does of giving away Jesus. Many people, it seems, can be more easily talked into spending lots of money on things that can still leave them lost, rather than freely receive Jesus, and possess “the way, and the truth, and the life” now and forever.
So, a good part of our “job” as Christians is to always be ready to share Jesus, to provide those who are lost with the one, true, perfect, and unfailing “compass” who alone brings us safely to where we all need to be, to the Father. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion NC
PS 37.4
“Lord, we do not know where you are going.
How can we know the way?”
John 14.5
With the advent of Global Positioning Satellites, onboard navigation systems in cars, and hand held devices that uplink to the stratosphere, a Boy Scout's iconic compass is fast becoming a quaint artifact of the past. But the latest cutting edge technology does not change the ageless truth that, without help, all of us are pretty much like Thomas, clueless about the way we should go. In a word—lost. Fortunately for the lost, Jesus provided a compass.
While a Scout's compass may soon be obsolete, the compass which Jesus supplied will never be replaced. What is this compass? Why, it's Jesus himself! The orbits of all satellites eventually decay, and they come crashing in flames back into the atmosphere. Automobile navigational systems sometimes stop short of getting us to our desired destination. And even a trusty old compass can point in the wrong direction if it suffers a sudden, sharp jolt which messes up the polarity of its needle. Jesus never fails, he always “points” true. And unlike maps and navigation systems which might suggest alternative routes to get us where we need to go, Jesus made it quite plain the he is the only way any of us will reach our destination.
Despite what worldly philosophers, humanists, progressives, most scientists, and many cultures teach, our destination, our destiny, is directly connected to the Father. Everyone is destined to either spend eternity with the Father, or be totally cut-off from him. The sole determining factor in where we end up is Jesus. Either we follow him, as he unfailingly leads us to the Father, or we don't, and wind up lost forever.
Truly, to be lost, and to have no clue where to go, is to trouble our hearts. But Jesus has given us the one perfect and sufficient remedy to this problem—himself! And, unlike satellites, navigation systems, and compasses, which don't actually go ahead of us and check things out for us, Jesus has made the very journey we ourselves need to take. The Lord has blazed the trail, so to speak, arrived at the destination, prepared a place for us, and sent back infallible guidance for us to follow. In fact, in and through the Holy Spirit, Jesus accompanies us every step of the way, until he himself presents us personally to the Father. I don't care how much you pay, you won't find any GPS system that can do even a fraction of what Jesus alone can do.
When I try and figure out what makes GPS, navigational systems, and even the humble compass seemingly more popular than Christ, the only answer I can come up with is marketing. Businesses do a better job selling technology, than the Church does of giving away Jesus. Many people, it seems, can be more easily talked into spending lots of money on things that can still leave them lost, rather than freely receive Jesus, and possess “the way, and the truth, and the life” now and forever.
So, a good part of our “job” as Christians is to always be ready to share Jesus, to provide those who are lost with the one, true, perfect, and unfailing “compass” who alone brings us safely to where we all need to be, to the Father. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Loved Even His Denier
What Did Jesus Do?
“Will you lay down your life for me?”
John 13.38
The answer to the question Jesus put to Peter was, of course, “Yes!” And Jesus knew it was so. It would, however, take some time, for Peter to live up to his promise, “I will lay down my life for you.” (John 13.37) Nonetheless, I have not doubt that Peter meant what he said. And, though he knew that Peter would, as we used to say in the 'hood, “punk out,” I don't believe that Jesus ever doubted Peter's faith. After all, the Lord had given Peter the “keys to the kingdom;” I'm pretty sure that Jesus trusted the man he had proclaimed “the Rock” upon which he would build his church (Matthew 16.18).
If I were in Jesus' place, I'm not sure I would have been able to place much confidence in Peter. I mean, his track record was one of big-mouthed boasting, followed by foot-in-mouth falling over and over again. I think I might have started grooming James, or maybe John, to become COO instead of Peter. How was Jesus able to remain so committed to Peter, whose own commitment was about to be tested, and come up monumentally short (Let's face it, we're still talking about Peter's denying the Lord two thousand years later!)? I am convinced that the reason Jesus remained loyal to the one who would momentarily act in a most disloyal way towards him was because Jesus loved even his denier.
We have already considered the amazing love of the Lord for even his betrayer (see WDJD for 5/17/11), now we see the love of Jesus for one who truly loved him (see John 21.15-19), but who nevertheless would suffer from a lack of courage at a critical time. But Jesus knew his man, better than the man knew himself. Jesus knew that Peter would not, could not, follow him to the cross right then and there. The Lord also knew that the day would come when Peter would follow (John 13.36), and in a most reverent and humble manner insist on being crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. Yes, Jesus knew Peter, and he loved him, though Peter would deny him, and vehemently so, before the cock crowed three times.
I have a confession to make—I'm a denier and “disassociator.” There are friends, co-workers, even an entire denomination I once belonged to, that I have now distanced myself from. It's a troubling thing to admit, because if I have not been faithful to friends, co-workers, and an entire denomination in “little things,” I fear I may, like Peter, come up short when my loyalty to the Lord is on the line. In fact, my life, like Peter's, has plenty of big-mouth boasting in the Lord followed by foot-in-mouth failing Him. Thankfully, Jesus loves even his deniers.
Again, the challenge confronting me (us) is to live, and more importantly love, as He did. Which is to say that, even as I strive to be less of a denier myself, I also need to be more loving to those who “deny” me, who turn and fall away from me when I need their support most. Face it, we've all been let down by “fair weather” friends. And, most all of us have been “fair weather” friends, who have at one time or another deserted a buddy at crunch time. But true friendship remains constant for the long-haul, surviving even the disappointment of denial, to love even to the end. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion NC
PS 37.4
“Will you lay down your life for me?”
John 13.38
The answer to the question Jesus put to Peter was, of course, “Yes!” And Jesus knew it was so. It would, however, take some time, for Peter to live up to his promise, “I will lay down my life for you.” (John 13.37) Nonetheless, I have not doubt that Peter meant what he said. And, though he knew that Peter would, as we used to say in the 'hood, “punk out,” I don't believe that Jesus ever doubted Peter's faith. After all, the Lord had given Peter the “keys to the kingdom;” I'm pretty sure that Jesus trusted the man he had proclaimed “the Rock” upon which he would build his church (Matthew 16.18).
If I were in Jesus' place, I'm not sure I would have been able to place much confidence in Peter. I mean, his track record was one of big-mouthed boasting, followed by foot-in-mouth falling over and over again. I think I might have started grooming James, or maybe John, to become COO instead of Peter. How was Jesus able to remain so committed to Peter, whose own commitment was about to be tested, and come up monumentally short (Let's face it, we're still talking about Peter's denying the Lord two thousand years later!)? I am convinced that the reason Jesus remained loyal to the one who would momentarily act in a most disloyal way towards him was because Jesus loved even his denier.
We have already considered the amazing love of the Lord for even his betrayer (see WDJD for 5/17/11), now we see the love of Jesus for one who truly loved him (see John 21.15-19), but who nevertheless would suffer from a lack of courage at a critical time. But Jesus knew his man, better than the man knew himself. Jesus knew that Peter would not, could not, follow him to the cross right then and there. The Lord also knew that the day would come when Peter would follow (John 13.36), and in a most reverent and humble manner insist on being crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. Yes, Jesus knew Peter, and he loved him, though Peter would deny him, and vehemently so, before the cock crowed three times.
I have a confession to make—I'm a denier and “disassociator.” There are friends, co-workers, even an entire denomination I once belonged to, that I have now distanced myself from. It's a troubling thing to admit, because if I have not been faithful to friends, co-workers, and an entire denomination in “little things,” I fear I may, like Peter, come up short when my loyalty to the Lord is on the line. In fact, my life, like Peter's, has plenty of big-mouth boasting in the Lord followed by foot-in-mouth failing Him. Thankfully, Jesus loves even his deniers.
Again, the challenge confronting me (us) is to live, and more importantly love, as He did. Which is to say that, even as I strive to be less of a denier myself, I also need to be more loving to those who “deny” me, who turn and fall away from me when I need their support most. Face it, we've all been let down by “fair weather” friends. And, most all of us have been “fair weather” friends, who have at one time or another deserted a buddy at crunch time. But true friendship remains constant for the long-haul, surviving even the disappointment of denial, to love even to the end. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Jesus Simplified Things
What Did Jesus Do?
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
John 13.35
One of our favorite movies is It's A Wonderful Life. I don't know if you are familiar with the classic film, but if you are you know that the trigger to George Bailey's crisis is Uncle Billy's forgetfulness, and his misplacing of $8000. In this day and age, when CEOs play fast and loose with millions of other peoples' money, it is hard to imagine anyone making a big deal about $8000, but at the time its loss was enough to make George Bailey wish he was dead, or more accurately, to wish he had never been born. If you haven't seen the movie, don't worry, I won't spoil any more of it. The point I'm leading to is this, many of us can relate to Uncle Billy, who was habitually forgetting things, and misplacing things. Most of us are simply too busy to keep track of everything. I know I am. Thankfully, Jesus simplified things.
On our refrigerator in the kitchen there is a pad for writing down “Things to do” lists. It's a good thing it's there, because even when I only have two or three things to remember to do, there is a pretty good chance I will forget one or two of them. I'm serious. I'm the kind of person who gets up from the living room, walks to the bedroom, and then ask myself, “What did I come in here for?” Fortunately, Jesus simplified things.
Think about it. Jesus was an Israelite, he was part of a people who for more than a thousand years had been covenantally bound to obey the Ten Commandments. But for more than a thousand years Israel had done a terrible job obeying the Ten Commandments. It was as if they just could not keep track of what they were supposed to do and what they were not supposed to do. I mean, Uncle Billy's little lapses in memory were nothing compared to Israel's abysmal record of forgetting the Commandments. Mercifully, Jesus simplified things.
It's like this—knowing that people were never going to be able to remember and obey all of the Ten Commandments, Jesus sort of concentrated and distilled them down to one. One commandment to remember and obey. I think even I might not forget one commandment. What a gracious act, to give one commandment which, if obeyed, would fulfill all commandments! Lovingly, Jesus simplified things.
In the midst of perhaps the most intimate and poignant moments of his life, when the Lord spoke of and showed his disciples just how much he loved them, Jesus simplified their future lives by giving them one “new” commandment to follow—love one another. “Lord, what about all the other commandments?” “Don't fret about keeping track of all of them, simply obey this commandment, and the world will know that you are my disciples, that you are children of the Father. Just love one another.” Eternally, Jesus simplified things.
For there will never be any other commandment that will ever supersede the one Christ gave to his disciples on the night before he was crucified. Which is to say, it is the one commandment we need to remember, and to obey. Not that making things simpler made them easier. The Church's record obeying its one commandment these last two thousand years is just about as bad as Israel's record was trying to obey the Ten Commandments. But, God be praised, Jesus did more than simplify things, he also fulfilled all things, with respect to the Father's will, so that all who put their faith in him are credited with his righteousness in fulfilling all of God's commandments, while the punishment for all our many lapses and failures in obeying the commandments were laid upon him. Divinely, Jesus simplified things, and not just for us. For, you see, Jesus provided a simple way for the Father to know who his children are. They are the ones who love one another in the same way that Jesus loves them. Simple, isn't it?
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
John 13.35
One of our favorite movies is It's A Wonderful Life. I don't know if you are familiar with the classic film, but if you are you know that the trigger to George Bailey's crisis is Uncle Billy's forgetfulness, and his misplacing of $8000. In this day and age, when CEOs play fast and loose with millions of other peoples' money, it is hard to imagine anyone making a big deal about $8000, but at the time its loss was enough to make George Bailey wish he was dead, or more accurately, to wish he had never been born. If you haven't seen the movie, don't worry, I won't spoil any more of it. The point I'm leading to is this, many of us can relate to Uncle Billy, who was habitually forgetting things, and misplacing things. Most of us are simply too busy to keep track of everything. I know I am. Thankfully, Jesus simplified things.
On our refrigerator in the kitchen there is a pad for writing down “Things to do” lists. It's a good thing it's there, because even when I only have two or three things to remember to do, there is a pretty good chance I will forget one or two of them. I'm serious. I'm the kind of person who gets up from the living room, walks to the bedroom, and then ask myself, “What did I come in here for?” Fortunately, Jesus simplified things.
Think about it. Jesus was an Israelite, he was part of a people who for more than a thousand years had been covenantally bound to obey the Ten Commandments. But for more than a thousand years Israel had done a terrible job obeying the Ten Commandments. It was as if they just could not keep track of what they were supposed to do and what they were not supposed to do. I mean, Uncle Billy's little lapses in memory were nothing compared to Israel's abysmal record of forgetting the Commandments. Mercifully, Jesus simplified things.
It's like this—knowing that people were never going to be able to remember and obey all of the Ten Commandments, Jesus sort of concentrated and distilled them down to one. One commandment to remember and obey. I think even I might not forget one commandment. What a gracious act, to give one commandment which, if obeyed, would fulfill all commandments! Lovingly, Jesus simplified things.
In the midst of perhaps the most intimate and poignant moments of his life, when the Lord spoke of and showed his disciples just how much he loved them, Jesus simplified their future lives by giving them one “new” commandment to follow—love one another. “Lord, what about all the other commandments?” “Don't fret about keeping track of all of them, simply obey this commandment, and the world will know that you are my disciples, that you are children of the Father. Just love one another.” Eternally, Jesus simplified things.
For there will never be any other commandment that will ever supersede the one Christ gave to his disciples on the night before he was crucified. Which is to say, it is the one commandment we need to remember, and to obey. Not that making things simpler made them easier. The Church's record obeying its one commandment these last two thousand years is just about as bad as Israel's record was trying to obey the Ten Commandments. But, God be praised, Jesus did more than simplify things, he also fulfilled all things, with respect to the Father's will, so that all who put their faith in him are credited with his righteousness in fulfilling all of God's commandments, while the punishment for all our many lapses and failures in obeying the commandments were laid upon him. Divinely, Jesus simplified things, and not just for us. For, you see, Jesus provided a simple way for the Father to know who his children are. They are the ones who love one another in the same way that Jesus loves them. Simple, isn't it?
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Jesus Loved Even His Betrayer
What Did Jesus Do?
Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
John 13.21
Jesus had already revealed how his soul was troubled by the knowledge of his approaching death (see John 12.27). Now he expresses something that is troubling his spirit—he is soon to be betrayed by one whom he loves. And, do not be mistaken on this point, Jesus loved even his betrayer.
We might expect that, knowing what Judas is soon to do, the Lord would not include him on the “guest list” for this very intimate supper. But Judas is here, and not only is the betrayer present, he is located in a place of honor among the guests. Am I the only one who finds this astounding? Think about it. If you were going to hold an intimate dinner party, you'd only invite your friends, and likely only your very closest friends, to attend. Jesus did. But, he did so knowing that one of his intimates was about to betray him, and betray him unto death. Would you invite that “friend” to your dinner party? And would you seat him right next to you in a place of honor? I can't imagine myself doing such a thing, so if you can, I concede that you are a better Christian than I am. For loving deeply, even those friends who betray us, is a very Christ-like thing to do. It just may be the most Christ-like thing one can do. In fact, Jesus was soon to give a new commandment to his disciples which would forever make loving one another the very sign of discipleship (see John 13.34-35). And Jesus set the example for his followers by even loving his betrayer.
But if it had been me holding the little dinner party, instead of Jesus, I would have been sure not to send Judas an invitation to the supper. And Judas certainly would be crossed off my list of friends. Honoring him would never have entered my mind. And, if I were going to allow Judas to come to the dinner, and there hand him a morsel to eat, I would probably have first soaked it in arsenic. Love Judas? I can't imagine not hating him, can you? But, though it troubled his spirit, Jesus loved even his betrayer.
If there's one place where I consistently fall far short of the glory of God as manifest in the Son, it is in loving others, especially those who have given me good reason not to love them. It turns out that those who have little or no love for me are the very ones the Lord has called me most specifically to love, and love deeply, even sacrificially. It's easy to love our true friends, isn't it? But Jesus never calls us to take the easy way out, and in fact challenges us, if we would be children of the Father, to love those who are our enemies (see Matthew 5.43-48). That's what Jesus, who loved even his betrayer, did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
John 13.21
Jesus had already revealed how his soul was troubled by the knowledge of his approaching death (see John 12.27). Now he expresses something that is troubling his spirit—he is soon to be betrayed by one whom he loves. And, do not be mistaken on this point, Jesus loved even his betrayer.
We might expect that, knowing what Judas is soon to do, the Lord would not include him on the “guest list” for this very intimate supper. But Judas is here, and not only is the betrayer present, he is located in a place of honor among the guests. Am I the only one who finds this astounding? Think about it. If you were going to hold an intimate dinner party, you'd only invite your friends, and likely only your very closest friends, to attend. Jesus did. But, he did so knowing that one of his intimates was about to betray him, and betray him unto death. Would you invite that “friend” to your dinner party? And would you seat him right next to you in a place of honor? I can't imagine myself doing such a thing, so if you can, I concede that you are a better Christian than I am. For loving deeply, even those friends who betray us, is a very Christ-like thing to do. It just may be the most Christ-like thing one can do. In fact, Jesus was soon to give a new commandment to his disciples which would forever make loving one another the very sign of discipleship (see John 13.34-35). And Jesus set the example for his followers by even loving his betrayer.
But if it had been me holding the little dinner party, instead of Jesus, I would have been sure not to send Judas an invitation to the supper. And Judas certainly would be crossed off my list of friends. Honoring him would never have entered my mind. And, if I were going to allow Judas to come to the dinner, and there hand him a morsel to eat, I would probably have first soaked it in arsenic. Love Judas? I can't imagine not hating him, can you? But, though it troubled his spirit, Jesus loved even his betrayer.
If there's one place where I consistently fall far short of the glory of God as manifest in the Son, it is in loving others, especially those who have given me good reason not to love them. It turns out that those who have little or no love for me are the very ones the Lord has called me most specifically to love, and love deeply, even sacrificially. It's easy to love our true friends, isn't it? But Jesus never calls us to take the easy way out, and in fact challenges us, if we would be children of the Father, to love those who are our enemies (see Matthew 5.43-48). That's what Jesus, who loved even his betrayer, did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, May 16, 2011
Jesus Set An Example
What Did Jesus Do?
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another's feet.”
John 13.14
Back when I first started writing these “What Did Jesus Do?” pieces I explained how I had become dissatisfied, even troubled with the very popular “WWJD” (What would Jesus do?) question. Here, in Chapter 14 of John's Gospel, the Lord himself makes it quite clear that he meant for his disciples, and us (That is, if we too are his disciples), to do what he did. No where is there any suggestion that Jesus wants anyone to speculate about what the Lord might do if he were in our shoes. Rather, we are to walk through life as though we were in Jesus' sandals, so to speak. Jesus set an example, and he means for us to follow it.
Jesus came as a servant (see WDJD for 5/16/11), but he clearly was and is the Master. For good reason his disciples called him “Lord”—he is ruler of all. Yet, the example Jesus set for his disciples to follow is that of servanthood. The world, particularly the Gentile world, was very familiar with a leadership model wherein rulers “lorded it over” their subjects. But Christ was emphatic to say that among his followers leaders would be servants of all, and those who held first rank in his kingdom would be the slaves of all. And the precedent for this whole new way of leading by serving was set by the Lord himself (See Matthew 20.25-28).
This is one reason why I am spending so much time asking the question, “What did Jesus do?” The Lord expects, no, commands, that we are to take careful note of how he lived, what he said and what he did, and do likewise. If he washed feet, so should we. If he fed the hungry, we also need to give them something to eat. If Jesus healed those suffering from affliction or infirmity, then we also are to minister to the broken and the sick. If Christ comforted those who mourned, and lifted up those who were in despair, we better do as he did. If the Lord championed the cause of the oppressed, and liberated those in bondage, our course should be to do the same. If there was no task so low and mean that Jesus refused to do it, then we ought to volunteer for the “dirty jobs,” and not require television cameras to record our service (No offense to Mike Rowe).
And there is a wonderful bonus, if you will, to knowing what Jesus did, and then going and following his example—blessing! (John 13.17) I don't know what more incentive anyone could need besides the Lord's own promise that he will bless the ones who follow his example and do what he did. Even so, every disciple who knows and does what Jesus did, becomes an example for others to follow (see 1Corinthians 11.1).
There is no need for us to speculate about how we should live. If we are Christians all we need to do is look to Jesus, who set an example, and do what he did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another's feet.”
John 13.14
Back when I first started writing these “What Did Jesus Do?” pieces I explained how I had become dissatisfied, even troubled with the very popular “WWJD” (What would Jesus do?) question. Here, in Chapter 14 of John's Gospel, the Lord himself makes it quite clear that he meant for his disciples, and us (That is, if we too are his disciples), to do what he did. No where is there any suggestion that Jesus wants anyone to speculate about what the Lord might do if he were in our shoes. Rather, we are to walk through life as though we were in Jesus' sandals, so to speak. Jesus set an example, and he means for us to follow it.
Jesus came as a servant (see WDJD for 5/16/11), but he clearly was and is the Master. For good reason his disciples called him “Lord”—he is ruler of all. Yet, the example Jesus set for his disciples to follow is that of servanthood. The world, particularly the Gentile world, was very familiar with a leadership model wherein rulers “lorded it over” their subjects. But Christ was emphatic to say that among his followers leaders would be servants of all, and those who held first rank in his kingdom would be the slaves of all. And the precedent for this whole new way of leading by serving was set by the Lord himself (See Matthew 20.25-28).
This is one reason why I am spending so much time asking the question, “What did Jesus do?” The Lord expects, no, commands, that we are to take careful note of how he lived, what he said and what he did, and do likewise. If he washed feet, so should we. If he fed the hungry, we also need to give them something to eat. If Jesus healed those suffering from affliction or infirmity, then we also are to minister to the broken and the sick. If Christ comforted those who mourned, and lifted up those who were in despair, we better do as he did. If the Lord championed the cause of the oppressed, and liberated those in bondage, our course should be to do the same. If there was no task so low and mean that Jesus refused to do it, then we ought to volunteer for the “dirty jobs,” and not require television cameras to record our service (No offense to Mike Rowe).
And there is a wonderful bonus, if you will, to knowing what Jesus did, and then going and following his example—blessing! (John 13.17) I don't know what more incentive anyone could need besides the Lord's own promise that he will bless the ones who follow his example and do what he did. Even so, every disciple who knows and does what Jesus did, becomes an example for others to follow (see 1Corinthians 11.1).
There is no need for us to speculate about how we should live. If we are Christians all we need to do is look to Jesus, who set an example, and do what he did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Came (Willingly) To Serve, And Humbly Too
What Did Jesus Do?
Then Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet...
John 13.5
It is not to be found in Scripture, but I believe that it may have been back in eternity past, before he had even began the work of Creation, that the Father announced to the host of heaven that he was going to need someone to go be Lord over the earth he would soon make. I rather imagine that at least one of the angels immediately coveted the position. And when the Son stepped forward and volunteered for the job, that angel immediately conceived a great jealousy that in the end would consume him. Full of rage, the angel fled the assembly before the Father explained that the one who would be Lord of all would have to humble himself, becoming one of the very creatures God would fashion in his own image, and take on the role of servant of all, and that he would ultimately be required to willingly offer his life for the sake of the world. Of course, the Son, being fully God, knew, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, all about what would be required of the one who would be Lord, yet he still said, “Here I am, Father. Send me.” There is no question that when he came to earth, Jesus came willingly to serve, and humbly too.
The disciples who supped with Jesus on the night before he was crucified were still struggling to understand just who he was. They called him “Teacher,” (John 13.13) for there had been many lessons they had learned from him. Peter certainly knew Jesus to be both Christ (Matthew 16.16), and Lord (John 13.6). Never would have Peter or any of the other disciples have presumed to call Jesus their servant, though he had in fact come to serve (see Mark 10.45). It was because he thought he knew Jesus so well that brash Peter had so much trouble accepting that his Lord was in fact his servant, and lowest and most humble servant at that.
For there was no worse job in any household than that of the servant who washed feet. Oh, there might have been dirtier, nastier jobs for field servants, but in the house there was nothing lower than getting down on one's hands and knees and washing the dust and mud off of smelly feet. Ugh! And here was Jesus, taking it upon himself to now wash the feet of his disciples. It not only made no sense, it offended Peter (John 13.8a). Of all people, Jesus should never have to assume the role of the lowliest of servants. Yet to willingly serve, and humbly too, was the reason Jesus had come into the world.
Of course, there was more to this cleaning of feet than Peter at first perceived. For the ritual with the basin and towel was symbolic of the Lord's approaching death whereby he would wash away the guilt of sin through the shedding of his cleansing blood on the cross. No one who was not so washed by the blood and by the Spirit of the Lord would have any place in Christ's kingdom (John 13.8b). Anyone, who deceives themselves into believing that they are free from sin, and therefor in no need of cleansing, will remain shut out both in this world and in the coming kingdom, from all Christ's benefits and fellowship.
In the ancient world, one who had bathed would have been clean, save for their bare or sandaled feet, which would have required daily washing (John 13.10). Even so, we, who have been washed in the water of baptism for the remission of our sins once and for all, still need to confess our sins daily and receive the Lord's forgiveness.
While neither Peter, nor the other disciples, nor we ourselves, nor possibly even heaven's host could conceive of anyone whom we would call Lord as being our servant, in God's economy the Lord of all had to be the servant of all, willingly and humbly. And that's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Then Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet...
John 13.5
It is not to be found in Scripture, but I believe that it may have been back in eternity past, before he had even began the work of Creation, that the Father announced to the host of heaven that he was going to need someone to go be Lord over the earth he would soon make. I rather imagine that at least one of the angels immediately coveted the position. And when the Son stepped forward and volunteered for the job, that angel immediately conceived a great jealousy that in the end would consume him. Full of rage, the angel fled the assembly before the Father explained that the one who would be Lord of all would have to humble himself, becoming one of the very creatures God would fashion in his own image, and take on the role of servant of all, and that he would ultimately be required to willingly offer his life for the sake of the world. Of course, the Son, being fully God, knew, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, all about what would be required of the one who would be Lord, yet he still said, “Here I am, Father. Send me.” There is no question that when he came to earth, Jesus came willingly to serve, and humbly too.
The disciples who supped with Jesus on the night before he was crucified were still struggling to understand just who he was. They called him “Teacher,” (John 13.13) for there had been many lessons they had learned from him. Peter certainly knew Jesus to be both Christ (Matthew 16.16), and Lord (John 13.6). Never would have Peter or any of the other disciples have presumed to call Jesus their servant, though he had in fact come to serve (see Mark 10.45). It was because he thought he knew Jesus so well that brash Peter had so much trouble accepting that his Lord was in fact his servant, and lowest and most humble servant at that.
For there was no worse job in any household than that of the servant who washed feet. Oh, there might have been dirtier, nastier jobs for field servants, but in the house there was nothing lower than getting down on one's hands and knees and washing the dust and mud off of smelly feet. Ugh! And here was Jesus, taking it upon himself to now wash the feet of his disciples. It not only made no sense, it offended Peter (John 13.8a). Of all people, Jesus should never have to assume the role of the lowliest of servants. Yet to willingly serve, and humbly too, was the reason Jesus had come into the world.
Of course, there was more to this cleaning of feet than Peter at first perceived. For the ritual with the basin and towel was symbolic of the Lord's approaching death whereby he would wash away the guilt of sin through the shedding of his cleansing blood on the cross. No one who was not so washed by the blood and by the Spirit of the Lord would have any place in Christ's kingdom (John 13.8b). Anyone, who deceives themselves into believing that they are free from sin, and therefor in no need of cleansing, will remain shut out both in this world and in the coming kingdom, from all Christ's benefits and fellowship.
In the ancient world, one who had bathed would have been clean, save for their bare or sandaled feet, which would have required daily washing (John 13.10). Even so, we, who have been washed in the water of baptism for the remission of our sins once and for all, still need to confess our sins daily and receive the Lord's forgiveness.
While neither Peter, nor the other disciples, nor we ourselves, nor possibly even heaven's host could conceive of anyone whom we would call Lord as being our servant, in God's economy the Lord of all had to be the servant of all, willingly and humbly. And that's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Jesus Judged Not
What Did Jesus Do?
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them,
I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world
but to save the world.”
John 12.47
This just in—the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has judged the Word, and found it guilty of being judgmental. So the PC(U.S.A.) has cast all judgment (and restraint) to the wind, and has now turned back to the time of the Judges of Israel, which is to say that, forsaking the lordship of Jesus the King, everyone in the PC(U.S.A.) is now free to do whatever is right in his own eyes.
In case you have manged, like most of the world, to not notice anything the PC(U.S.A.) does or says anymore, be advised that, by vote of the majority of the presbyteries in the denomination, all impediments to the ordination of adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, and practitioners of pretty much every other sexual perversion imaginable, have been removed.
Oops, did that sound judgmental of me?
I just “googled” something this morning, and got some disturbing results in 0.13 seconds! In less time than it takes your average fifth grader to lose interest in a history lesson, my entry of “judgmental Christians” pulled up nearly 700,000 hits. Now, 700,000 hits might be insignificant in Google terms, but, as I said, I found the result disturbing. And this is because it seems to me that God's winsome grace may be getting obscured by the judgmental attitudes being projected by many of Christ's followers, including me. Jesus judged not, and cautioned us not to judge (Matthew 7.1),so why do so many of us, who purport to be his disciples, spend (I should say “misspend”) so much of our time and energy doing what the Lord never did, and doing so to the neglect of what he did do?
I know, I know, just because a lot of non-believers, and Presbyterians (Is that now a redundancy?), like to characterize anyone who talks about sin as being “judgmental” does not mean that they are. But, if “perception is reality” (And that got 8 million hits on Google in 0.11 seconds!), then I believe we Christians might need to do something about what we are perceived to be by so many people, because their reality is that many of us have taken the Great Commission to be a matter of judging and condemning, rather than loving and saving, the world.
Now, this is not to say that there is no such thing as judgment. Rather, we should, like Jesus, leave the judging to the Judge, which is the Word of God. Jesus did not spend time passing judgment because judging was, and is, the work of the Word, and it is a work that is accomplished for salvation if received in this life, or for condemnation if received on the last day. The work that Jesus concerned himself with, and which every believer should be thoroughly engaged in, is the work of saving souls, not judging them.
Most certainly, the Word must be proclaimed. And the Word is a word of judgment, but it is, over and above judgment, a word of grace and mercy to those whom it judges. As Dave Currie, a good friend and mentor during my seminary days, advised me long ago, the Gospel is by its nature offensive, but we should not be! In other words, let the Word do the work of convicting while we do the work of winning and wooing. If someone hears, but does not receive (accept) the Word, the Word nevertheless remains with them. It will either bring them to a place of conviction in this life, where they recognize their need of the forgiveness and grace of the Father in and through the Son and receive the Father's gift of eternal life (John 12.50), or it will ultimately judge and condemn them on the last day (John 12.48). The great tragedy of what the PC(U.S.A.) has done is that they have now voted to make the Word say and mean what is never said or meant.
By no means should we ever “sugar coat,” soften, or truncate the Word, as many do today, so that we rob it of its power to convict—the Word must be the whole Word in order to retain the necessary force to bring about conviction and repentance. We do no one a favor by leading them to believe that anything which the Word condemns as sin will not ultimately be judged. Jesus did not save the world by getting the Father to cancel the judgment, rather Christ earned a “not guilty” verdict for those who receive his Word. The PC(U.S.A.) has chosen to throw judgment, and the Word, out the window.
Jesus was a cross-bearer, not a stone-thrower, and he has not called us to throw stones (i.e. judge), but to take up our cross and bear it daily for the salvation of the world. Caring, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and love, not judgment, should characterize our life as disciples, even as they characterized the life of our Lord. Having been “invited” to leave the PC(U.S.A.), and then having been dismissed without ever actually submitting a request for dismissal, I am at rather a disadvantage to exercise much care, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and love for that franchise and its rapidly dwindling membership. However, freed from the PC(U.S.A.), but still bound to the Word and devoted to the Lord, I am privileged, like others who struggle with getting the cross-bearing call right, to proclaim the Gospel, and to love, not judge, the lost. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them,
I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world
but to save the world.”
John 12.47
This just in—the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has judged the Word, and found it guilty of being judgmental. So the PC(U.S.A.) has cast all judgment (and restraint) to the wind, and has now turned back to the time of the Judges of Israel, which is to say that, forsaking the lordship of Jesus the King, everyone in the PC(U.S.A.) is now free to do whatever is right in his own eyes.
In case you have manged, like most of the world, to not notice anything the PC(U.S.A.) does or says anymore, be advised that, by vote of the majority of the presbyteries in the denomination, all impediments to the ordination of adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, and practitioners of pretty much every other sexual perversion imaginable, have been removed.
Oops, did that sound judgmental of me?
I just “googled” something this morning, and got some disturbing results in 0.13 seconds! In less time than it takes your average fifth grader to lose interest in a history lesson, my entry of “judgmental Christians” pulled up nearly 700,000 hits. Now, 700,000 hits might be insignificant in Google terms, but, as I said, I found the result disturbing. And this is because it seems to me that God's winsome grace may be getting obscured by the judgmental attitudes being projected by many of Christ's followers, including me. Jesus judged not, and cautioned us not to judge (Matthew 7.1),so why do so many of us, who purport to be his disciples, spend (I should say “misspend”) so much of our time and energy doing what the Lord never did, and doing so to the neglect of what he did do?
I know, I know, just because a lot of non-believers, and Presbyterians (Is that now a redundancy?), like to characterize anyone who talks about sin as being “judgmental” does not mean that they are. But, if “perception is reality” (And that got 8 million hits on Google in 0.11 seconds!), then I believe we Christians might need to do something about what we are perceived to be by so many people, because their reality is that many of us have taken the Great Commission to be a matter of judging and condemning, rather than loving and saving, the world.
Now, this is not to say that there is no such thing as judgment. Rather, we should, like Jesus, leave the judging to the Judge, which is the Word of God. Jesus did not spend time passing judgment because judging was, and is, the work of the Word, and it is a work that is accomplished for salvation if received in this life, or for condemnation if received on the last day. The work that Jesus concerned himself with, and which every believer should be thoroughly engaged in, is the work of saving souls, not judging them.
Most certainly, the Word must be proclaimed. And the Word is a word of judgment, but it is, over and above judgment, a word of grace and mercy to those whom it judges. As Dave Currie, a good friend and mentor during my seminary days, advised me long ago, the Gospel is by its nature offensive, but we should not be! In other words, let the Word do the work of convicting while we do the work of winning and wooing. If someone hears, but does not receive (accept) the Word, the Word nevertheless remains with them. It will either bring them to a place of conviction in this life, where they recognize their need of the forgiveness and grace of the Father in and through the Son and receive the Father's gift of eternal life (John 12.50), or it will ultimately judge and condemn them on the last day (John 12.48). The great tragedy of what the PC(U.S.A.) has done is that they have now voted to make the Word say and mean what is never said or meant.
By no means should we ever “sugar coat,” soften, or truncate the Word, as many do today, so that we rob it of its power to convict—the Word must be the whole Word in order to retain the necessary force to bring about conviction and repentance. We do no one a favor by leading them to believe that anything which the Word condemns as sin will not ultimately be judged. Jesus did not save the world by getting the Father to cancel the judgment, rather Christ earned a “not guilty” verdict for those who receive his Word. The PC(U.S.A.) has chosen to throw judgment, and the Word, out the window.
Jesus was a cross-bearer, not a stone-thrower, and he has not called us to throw stones (i.e. judge), but to take up our cross and bear it daily for the salvation of the world. Caring, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and love, not judgment, should characterize our life as disciples, even as they characterized the life of our Lord. Having been “invited” to leave the PC(U.S.A.), and then having been dismissed without ever actually submitting a request for dismissal, I am at rather a disadvantage to exercise much care, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and love for that franchise and its rapidly dwindling membership. However, freed from the PC(U.S.A.), but still bound to the Word and devoted to the Lord, I am privileged, like others who struggle with getting the cross-bearing call right, to proclaim the Gospel, and to love, not judge, the lost. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Jesus Revealed The Father's Light
What Did Jesus Do?
“I have come into the world as light,
so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
John 12.46
Some people find fault with many of today's Christian songwriters, saying that their enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of them, resulting in some faulty teaching. But, even hymn writers of old could sometimes be victimized by their own enthusiasms. Take “Immortal, Invisible,” written by Walter Chalmers Smith. I love this hymn, but nevertheless take exception to some of its teaching.
For example, consider this line from the first stanza: “In light inaccessible hid from our eyes.” Smith, so taken by the majesty and power of God the Father, was moved to describe him as beyond our the capacity of our senses to bear. Considering how dependent human being are on their physical senses, a god essentially imperceptible to the human eye or ear would truly be all but inaccessible. The truth is, this simply isn't so. In fact, the Father went to great lengths to reveal himself, and his majesty and his glory, to us. He did it through his Son, Jesus, who revealed the Father's light to the world.
Think about it. Jesus was not on any kind of mission of self-aggrandizement. On the contrary, his aim was to make the Father known, and to incline the hearts of people to believe in the Father. With Jesus, it was all about the Father. Disciples? Jesus really wasn't interested in accumulating a following for himself, but rather said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.” The Lord wanted everyone who encountered him to know that they had not merely beheld him, but in fact had looked upon the Father who had sent him (John 12.45).
The fact of the matter was, and is, that the whole world, and everyone in it, was plunged into darkness back in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve took that first awful bite of the forbidden fruit. That's what sin does, it cuts the sinner off from the light, the light of God. Oh, we may walk around convinced we see perfectly fine, but, as we learned yesterday when we looked at John 12.36-43, sinners with even 20-20 vision can be quite blind to the light and the truth.
Mercifully, the Father was not about to permit the world to remain in darkness, but sent his light into the world, in the person of his Son (John 12.46; see John 1.9). So it was, and is, that all who believe in Jesus do not abide any longer in darkness, but come into the light which, sorry Walter, is not inaccessible. Rather than be hidden by the splendor of his light, the Father has shown himself to us in and through the glory of the Son, the very Light of the World.
Now, light that is hidden, say under a a basket, provides no illumination whatsoever for those in darkness. The Father certainly understood this, and in sending his Son he made sure that his light was revealed to the world. And all who believe in Jesus, who are no longer in darkness, have been called to share Jesus, the Light of the World, with the world (see Matthew 5.14-16). We are to reveal the Father's light to those who are still lost and in darkness, because that's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“I have come into the world as light,
so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
John 12.46
Some people find fault with many of today's Christian songwriters, saying that their enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of them, resulting in some faulty teaching. But, even hymn writers of old could sometimes be victimized by their own enthusiasms. Take “Immortal, Invisible,” written by Walter Chalmers Smith. I love this hymn, but nevertheless take exception to some of its teaching.
For example, consider this line from the first stanza: “In light inaccessible hid from our eyes.” Smith, so taken by the majesty and power of God the Father, was moved to describe him as beyond our the capacity of our senses to bear. Considering how dependent human being are on their physical senses, a god essentially imperceptible to the human eye or ear would truly be all but inaccessible. The truth is, this simply isn't so. In fact, the Father went to great lengths to reveal himself, and his majesty and his glory, to us. He did it through his Son, Jesus, who revealed the Father's light to the world.
Think about it. Jesus was not on any kind of mission of self-aggrandizement. On the contrary, his aim was to make the Father known, and to incline the hearts of people to believe in the Father. With Jesus, it was all about the Father. Disciples? Jesus really wasn't interested in accumulating a following for himself, but rather said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.” The Lord wanted everyone who encountered him to know that they had not merely beheld him, but in fact had looked upon the Father who had sent him (John 12.45).
The fact of the matter was, and is, that the whole world, and everyone in it, was plunged into darkness back in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve took that first awful bite of the forbidden fruit. That's what sin does, it cuts the sinner off from the light, the light of God. Oh, we may walk around convinced we see perfectly fine, but, as we learned yesterday when we looked at John 12.36-43, sinners with even 20-20 vision can be quite blind to the light and the truth.
Mercifully, the Father was not about to permit the world to remain in darkness, but sent his light into the world, in the person of his Son (John 12.46; see John 1.9). So it was, and is, that all who believe in Jesus do not abide any longer in darkness, but come into the light which, sorry Walter, is not inaccessible. Rather than be hidden by the splendor of his light, the Father has shown himself to us in and through the glory of the Son, the very Light of the World.
Now, light that is hidden, say under a a basket, provides no illumination whatsoever for those in darkness. The Father certainly understood this, and in sending his Son he made sure that his light was revealed to the world. And all who believe in Jesus, who are no longer in darkness, have been called to share Jesus, the Light of the World, with the world (see Matthew 5.14-16). We are to reveal the Father's light to those who are still lost and in darkness, because that's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Jesus Supplied Signs (But They Could Not Be Seen); We Give Witness (But It May Not Be Heard)
What Did Jesus Do?
Though he had done many signs before them,
they still did not believe in him.
John 12.37
If “seeing is believing” (which is not, by the way, to be found in the Bible, which states that “faith comes by hearing” [Romans 10.17]), then it is not at all surprising that many in Jerusalem did not believe in Jesus, for, even if they possessed 20-20 vision, they were quite blind to the truth. As John noted (John 12.38, 40), the prophet Isaiah had long before described a people whose hardness of heart would have devastating effect on their ability to see (see Isaiah 6.10). So it was that Jesus parted from the company of the unbelieving, and secreted himself from them (John 12.36b).
Regardless of the veracity of evidence produced (or the credibility of signs supplied), hard hearts and closed minds can render one blind and deaf to the most obvious and incontrovertible facts staring one in the face. Being head over heals in love can also “disable” our senses. Have you ever asked a friend “What do you see in him/her,” when in fact it is what the one smitten does not see that really concerns us. Sadly, I believe that even more often than love, it is hate that blinds. Certainly, it was the hatred of those who were plotting to kill Jesus that prevented them from hearing or seeing the truth of who he was.
Sadly, such hatred was sufficient to discourage many who did believe to keep quiet about it, for fear of being removed from the worshiping community (John 12.42). The enmity of the Pharisees not only “disabled” them when it came to perceiving the truth about Jesus, it was also powerful enough to cause believers to deny their faith. John tells us that it was because many had a greater concern for the esteem of men rather than of God (John 12.43). In the end, how much separation is there much between being blind to the truth and denying the truth we believe?
And so we come to the question of the day. Knowing that there are many who will never see or hear the truth about Jesus, and who are opposed, sometimes violently opposed, to our faith, what do we do? Do we stop witnessing, suspend offering our testimony, and no longer submit evidence? Or do we go even further, and intentionally seek to keep our faith a secret, as many believers did in Jerusalem?
Some may point to John 12.36, and say that Jesus himself hid. But by the end of the 12th Chapter of John the Lord was done supplying signs to an unbelieving world, with one awesome exception—the sign of the cross. Chapters 13-17 of John's Gospel make it clear that Jesus withdrew more for the sake of his disciples, than for his own. The Lord hid himself in order that he and his closest friends might have a time of memorable and moving intimacy, away from the ones who would not, who could not see that this indeed was the Christ. And this, I believe, is instructive. For, after we boldly and faithfully witness to a world that will largely ignore, and even violently oppose, our testimony, it is important for us too to withdraw into intimate fellowship with the Lord and with fellow believers, only to come back with ever more powerful evidence of our faith. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Though he had done many signs before them,
they still did not believe in him.
John 12.37
If “seeing is believing” (which is not, by the way, to be found in the Bible, which states that “faith comes by hearing” [Romans 10.17]), then it is not at all surprising that many in Jerusalem did not believe in Jesus, for, even if they possessed 20-20 vision, they were quite blind to the truth. As John noted (John 12.38, 40), the prophet Isaiah had long before described a people whose hardness of heart would have devastating effect on their ability to see (see Isaiah 6.10). So it was that Jesus parted from the company of the unbelieving, and secreted himself from them (John 12.36b).
Regardless of the veracity of evidence produced (or the credibility of signs supplied), hard hearts and closed minds can render one blind and deaf to the most obvious and incontrovertible facts staring one in the face. Being head over heals in love can also “disable” our senses. Have you ever asked a friend “What do you see in him/her,” when in fact it is what the one smitten does not see that really concerns us. Sadly, I believe that even more often than love, it is hate that blinds. Certainly, it was the hatred of those who were plotting to kill Jesus that prevented them from hearing or seeing the truth of who he was.
Sadly, such hatred was sufficient to discourage many who did believe to keep quiet about it, for fear of being removed from the worshiping community (John 12.42). The enmity of the Pharisees not only “disabled” them when it came to perceiving the truth about Jesus, it was also powerful enough to cause believers to deny their faith. John tells us that it was because many had a greater concern for the esteem of men rather than of God (John 12.43). In the end, how much separation is there much between being blind to the truth and denying the truth we believe?
And so we come to the question of the day. Knowing that there are many who will never see or hear the truth about Jesus, and who are opposed, sometimes violently opposed, to our faith, what do we do? Do we stop witnessing, suspend offering our testimony, and no longer submit evidence? Or do we go even further, and intentionally seek to keep our faith a secret, as many believers did in Jerusalem?
Some may point to John 12.36, and say that Jesus himself hid. But by the end of the 12th Chapter of John the Lord was done supplying signs to an unbelieving world, with one awesome exception—the sign of the cross. Chapters 13-17 of John's Gospel make it clear that Jesus withdrew more for the sake of his disciples, than for his own. The Lord hid himself in order that he and his closest friends might have a time of memorable and moving intimacy, away from the ones who would not, who could not see that this indeed was the Christ. And this, I believe, is instructive. For, after we boldly and faithfully witness to a world that will largely ignore, and even violently oppose, our testimony, it is important for us too to withdraw into intimate fellowship with the Lord and with fellow believers, only to come back with ever more powerful evidence of our faith. That's what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, May 9, 2011
Jesus Gave Fair Warning Of The Coming Storm
What Did Jesus Do?
“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.”
John 12.35
Have you ever been plunged suddenly into darkness by a power failure? There's not usually a warning that the lights are about to go out, is there? I remember one time when I was working on a take home exam when I was in seminary, and I had some 8-9 pages of work disappear in an instant (I was new to using computers, and only on that most unfortunate occasion learned the lesson of frequently saving my work), that was painful. But it was nothing at all compared to the suffering that accompanies being cast into eternal darkness. Jesus gave fair warning of a coming storm, and the darkness that would overtake all people who did not come to the Light.
Often times it is severe storms that cause the lights to go out in an instant. I'm no meteorologist, but I believe that, in simple terms, storms result from the clash of systems. The convergence of different air masses can cause extreme disturbance in the atmosphere, generating devastating winds, drenching precipitation, and violent lightning. Jesus warned the people of Jerusalem of a coming storm. There was about to be a clash of cosmic proportions, there would be a “disturbance,” if you will, that would have eternal consequences, and those unprepared would be thrust into a terrible darkness.
In fact, many in the crowd which had been listening to Jesus had moments earlier heard what they thought was thunder (often the ominous precursor to a storm), while others thought that perhaps an angel had spoken to the Lord (John 12.29). But John, the author of the Gospel, and I believe a few others who had been listening to Jesus, heard a voice from on high announcing that the world was about to be judged. Darkness and light were about to collide violently, and though the ruler of the world would be cast out (John 12.31), the light would be taken out of the world for a time.
Yet, “for a little while longer,” the people would have the light among them (John 12.35). Now was the time for the people of Jerusalem to walk, if they wanted to avoid being overtaken by the coming darkness. Now was the time for Jerusalem to come to the light, and so withstand the approaching darkness. Once overtaken, and surrounded by utter darkness, people would have no idea of where they were going—they would be lost. But, for a time, the light was still present, if the people would but recognize and believe in the light, they could become children (Greek NT “sons”) of light (John 12.36).
While the science of forecasting storms has advanced significantly, it is still impossible to predict power failures. Lights (And computers!) still go suddenly dark when storms rage. And for most of us, while the lights are on, we give little thought to the possibility of darkness suddenly overtaking us. But once the darkness envelopes us in an instant it's kind of late to go stumbling around looking for a candle or flashlight.
Even so, now is the time for people to come to the light, to become children of light, to walk in the light, lest they be condemned to eternal darkness. As Jesus gave fair warning to the people of Jerusalem of what was shortly to come upon them, so we who are Christ's disciples are still called in our day to warn others about the terrible truth about the darkness, and invite them come to the Light while there is still time. That's what Jesus, the Light of the world, did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.”
John 12.35
Have you ever been plunged suddenly into darkness by a power failure? There's not usually a warning that the lights are about to go out, is there? I remember one time when I was working on a take home exam when I was in seminary, and I had some 8-9 pages of work disappear in an instant (I was new to using computers, and only on that most unfortunate occasion learned the lesson of frequently saving my work), that was painful. But it was nothing at all compared to the suffering that accompanies being cast into eternal darkness. Jesus gave fair warning of a coming storm, and the darkness that would overtake all people who did not come to the Light.
Often times it is severe storms that cause the lights to go out in an instant. I'm no meteorologist, but I believe that, in simple terms, storms result from the clash of systems. The convergence of different air masses can cause extreme disturbance in the atmosphere, generating devastating winds, drenching precipitation, and violent lightning. Jesus warned the people of Jerusalem of a coming storm. There was about to be a clash of cosmic proportions, there would be a “disturbance,” if you will, that would have eternal consequences, and those unprepared would be thrust into a terrible darkness.
In fact, many in the crowd which had been listening to Jesus had moments earlier heard what they thought was thunder (often the ominous precursor to a storm), while others thought that perhaps an angel had spoken to the Lord (John 12.29). But John, the author of the Gospel, and I believe a few others who had been listening to Jesus, heard a voice from on high announcing that the world was about to be judged. Darkness and light were about to collide violently, and though the ruler of the world would be cast out (John 12.31), the light would be taken out of the world for a time.
Yet, “for a little while longer,” the people would have the light among them (John 12.35). Now was the time for the people of Jerusalem to walk, if they wanted to avoid being overtaken by the coming darkness. Now was the time for Jerusalem to come to the light, and so withstand the approaching darkness. Once overtaken, and surrounded by utter darkness, people would have no idea of where they were going—they would be lost. But, for a time, the light was still present, if the people would but recognize and believe in the light, they could become children (Greek NT “sons”) of light (John 12.36).
While the science of forecasting storms has advanced significantly, it is still impossible to predict power failures. Lights (And computers!) still go suddenly dark when storms rage. And for most of us, while the lights are on, we give little thought to the possibility of darkness suddenly overtaking us. But once the darkness envelopes us in an instant it's kind of late to go stumbling around looking for a candle or flashlight.
Even so, now is the time for people to come to the light, to become children of light, to walk in the light, lest they be condemned to eternal darkness. As Jesus gave fair warning to the people of Jerusalem of what was shortly to come upon them, so we who are Christ's disciples are still called in our day to warn others about the terrible truth about the darkness, and invite them come to the Light while there is still time. That's what Jesus, the Light of the world, did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Jesus Set Aside The Troubles Of His Soul
What Did Jesus Do?
“And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'?
John 12.27
I think most of us are familiar with the phrase, “Do as I say, not as I do.” There lots of examples. A parent sitting and puffing away next to an ashtray she has filled with cigarette butts tells her children they shouldn't smoke. A Scout leader instructs young boys in the safe use of an ax, and then proceeds to ignore all the rules when chopping wood in his backyard, and ends up making a visit to the emergency room. A driving instructor spends all day drumming it into students' heads that they must always obey all traffic signs, and then gets ticketed while driving home at a good 10-15 miles over the speed limit every day. I don't mean to make light of this phrase at all, though. I daresay there's not one of us who has not at one time or another failed to do all that we not only say, but believe, we should do. Take anxiety. It's easy to tell someone not to be anxious or nervous, but how easy is it for us to master our own anxiety and nerves? When our souls are troubled it can be hard for us to do anything but fret, worry, and all but come to pieces.
You remember, I'm sure, when, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about their lives (see Matthew 6.25-34). The Lord also counseled his followers to not let their hearts be troubled or afraid (see John 14.1-31). Did Jesus, the fully divine Son of God, freely offer such advice to us from the safety of never having to confront his own anxious moments, or feel the thumping of his own troubled or frightened heart? By no means! For, being fully human, Jesus' soul knew troubles, as he himself confessed in John 12.27 (see also the accounts in Matthew 26.36-46 and Mark 14.32-42).
Not without reason did Jesus grow anxious. He was back in Jerusalem, and he knew that this time he had an appointment with the Cross. The question is, when it came to his own anxious heart and troubled soul, did Jesus say one thing to his disciples, and do something else himself? Again, by no means! In Gethsemane we see the Lord turning to his Father in prayer in order to get beyond the sorrow in his soul. Here, in John 12 Jesus sets aside the troubles of his soul for the one thing that was most important to him—the Father's glory (John 12.28).
I believe I am on fairly solid ground in saying that our anxieties, and the troubles of our soul, are, nearly 100% of the time, tied to concern for ourselves or for someone we love and care about. Make no mistake, the fully human Jesus had regard for his own life, just as we do, or he himself never would have been anxious or troubled. And the way Christ got beyond such self-regard, or similar concerns for his beloved disciples, was to turn to the Father, and surrender all, even the anxieties of his heart and the troubles of his soul, in order that the Father would be glorified. Ultimately, of course, Jesus was prepared to lay down his very life for the glory of the Father, and he did so knowing that the Father had given him power and authority to take up his life again.
If we, in our anxious and troubled moments, can look beyond concerns for ourselves and for our family and friends, to see the Father and recall that as he calls us to believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord we too receive power to lay down our life and in Christ take it up again. And, if by faith and the aid of the Holy Spirit, we can also look for the ever present opportunities to glorify the Father, we too can possess the faith and the strength to not be anxious about our lives. Hanging on to our anxieties and the troubles of our souls is a hanging on to this life, which Jesus has called us to lose for his sake (and, not coincidentally, for the Father's glory). Letting go of anxious worry and a fretful spirit frees us to receive the victorious life and the surpassing peace of Christ.
Are you anxious today? Is your soul troubled? Does your heart bear a burden of worry? Then come alongside the Savior, and turn your eyes, with his, to the Father, and give him all the glory you can! You may be surprised at how quickly your anxieties melt away, and you find rest for your soul.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'?
John 12.27
I think most of us are familiar with the phrase, “Do as I say, not as I do.” There lots of examples. A parent sitting and puffing away next to an ashtray she has filled with cigarette butts tells her children they shouldn't smoke. A Scout leader instructs young boys in the safe use of an ax, and then proceeds to ignore all the rules when chopping wood in his backyard, and ends up making a visit to the emergency room. A driving instructor spends all day drumming it into students' heads that they must always obey all traffic signs, and then gets ticketed while driving home at a good 10-15 miles over the speed limit every day. I don't mean to make light of this phrase at all, though. I daresay there's not one of us who has not at one time or another failed to do all that we not only say, but believe, we should do. Take anxiety. It's easy to tell someone not to be anxious or nervous, but how easy is it for us to master our own anxiety and nerves? When our souls are troubled it can be hard for us to do anything but fret, worry, and all but come to pieces.
You remember, I'm sure, when, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about their lives (see Matthew 6.25-34). The Lord also counseled his followers to not let their hearts be troubled or afraid (see John 14.1-31). Did Jesus, the fully divine Son of God, freely offer such advice to us from the safety of never having to confront his own anxious moments, or feel the thumping of his own troubled or frightened heart? By no means! For, being fully human, Jesus' soul knew troubles, as he himself confessed in John 12.27 (see also the accounts in Matthew 26.36-46 and Mark 14.32-42).
Not without reason did Jesus grow anxious. He was back in Jerusalem, and he knew that this time he had an appointment with the Cross. The question is, when it came to his own anxious heart and troubled soul, did Jesus say one thing to his disciples, and do something else himself? Again, by no means! In Gethsemane we see the Lord turning to his Father in prayer in order to get beyond the sorrow in his soul. Here, in John 12 Jesus sets aside the troubles of his soul for the one thing that was most important to him—the Father's glory (John 12.28).
I believe I am on fairly solid ground in saying that our anxieties, and the troubles of our soul, are, nearly 100% of the time, tied to concern for ourselves or for someone we love and care about. Make no mistake, the fully human Jesus had regard for his own life, just as we do, or he himself never would have been anxious or troubled. And the way Christ got beyond such self-regard, or similar concerns for his beloved disciples, was to turn to the Father, and surrender all, even the anxieties of his heart and the troubles of his soul, in order that the Father would be glorified. Ultimately, of course, Jesus was prepared to lay down his very life for the glory of the Father, and he did so knowing that the Father had given him power and authority to take up his life again.
If we, in our anxious and troubled moments, can look beyond concerns for ourselves and for our family and friends, to see the Father and recall that as he calls us to believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord we too receive power to lay down our life and in Christ take it up again. And, if by faith and the aid of the Holy Spirit, we can also look for the ever present opportunities to glorify the Father, we too can possess the faith and the strength to not be anxious about our lives. Hanging on to our anxieties and the troubles of our souls is a hanging on to this life, which Jesus has called us to lose for his sake (and, not coincidentally, for the Father's glory). Letting go of anxious worry and a fretful spirit frees us to receive the victorious life and the surpassing peace of Christ.
Are you anxious today? Is your soul troubled? Does your heart bear a burden of worry? Then come alongside the Savior, and turn your eyes, with his, to the Father, and give him all the glory you can! You may be surprised at how quickly your anxieties melt away, and you find rest for your soul.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Friday, May 6, 2011
Jesus Revealed Himself Through The Cross
What Did Jesus Do?
“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
John 12.21, 23
Do you know the song inspired by the inquiring Greeks In John 12.20? I bet you do: “Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch him...” There is no greater or more important desire that could ever bestir the hearts of men, women, and children than the desire to see and know Jesus. And thanks be to the Father, who sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts to turn them from the world so that we might seek Christ. But just who was it whom the Greeks sought?
It's not likely that they were totally ignorant of what Jesus had been doing. Word might have reached them about the feeding of the 5000 (see John 6.1-14). Or, perhaps, they might have traveled through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem, and met a certain woman and heard about her life-transforming encounter with a stranger who had asked her for a drink of water (see John4.1-42). They might have even bumped into a man who, after 38 years as an invalid, had become one of Jerusalem's most enthusiastic liturgical dancers (See John 5.1-17). It is all but certain that they knew about the raising of Lazarus (see John 11.1-44; 12.17-18). So, I believe it is safe to say that the Greeks wanted to see the worker of such signs.
But Jesus was going to show the Greeks, and his disciples, even the world, something far greater than a worker of signs. “So, some Greeks want to see me, do they? Well, I will not just show myself to them, I will give them the opportunity to look upon me in all my glory!” Wow! To see the Son of Man in all his glory, that would really be something, wouldn't it? Sounds even better than Pay-Per-View.
Except, Jesus went on to say some rather odd things about a grain of wheat dying, and hating one's life in order to have eternal life, and the need for any and all who would serve him to actually follow him. In short, Jesus was telling the Greeks, and us, that, if we want to see him, we have to look to the Cross. At the Cross we behold his glory. At the Cross we meet the one who died in order to bear the fruit of eternal life for many. At the Cross we see the Christ who willingly laid down his life so that he might take it up again. Somehow, I don't think this is what the Greeks expected. I am certain that his disciples didn't understand (see John 12.16). And, I have a pretty strong sense that many people today might be looking for Jesus in the wrong places.
Many today, not unlike Peter, want to see Jesus on a mountain top where, unscarred and transfigured, he will hang out and tabernacle with us, away from the world and all its woes. But the hill where we truly get to see Jesus has three crosses on its summit. There, on that hill, hanging on the Cross, we see all the compassion, the forgiveness, the grace, the love, the mercy, and the power of God. It's not a pretty picture, but it is a glorious one. If we would see Jesus, if we would follow him, and be with him now and forever, the Cross is the place to find him.
Yes, Jesus was a worker of great signs, and not only ancient Greeks, but many people today, want to see the author of miracles. But Jesus did not come into the world to work miracles, but to bear the Cross. So, you want to see Jesus, do you? Then take up your cross and follow him.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
John 12.21, 23
Do you know the song inspired by the inquiring Greeks In John 12.20? I bet you do: “Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch him...” There is no greater or more important desire that could ever bestir the hearts of men, women, and children than the desire to see and know Jesus. And thanks be to the Father, who sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts to turn them from the world so that we might seek Christ. But just who was it whom the Greeks sought?
It's not likely that they were totally ignorant of what Jesus had been doing. Word might have reached them about the feeding of the 5000 (see John 6.1-14). Or, perhaps, they might have traveled through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem, and met a certain woman and heard about her life-transforming encounter with a stranger who had asked her for a drink of water (see John4.1-42). They might have even bumped into a man who, after 38 years as an invalid, had become one of Jerusalem's most enthusiastic liturgical dancers (See John 5.1-17). It is all but certain that they knew about the raising of Lazarus (see John 11.1-44; 12.17-18). So, I believe it is safe to say that the Greeks wanted to see the worker of such signs.
But Jesus was going to show the Greeks, and his disciples, even the world, something far greater than a worker of signs. “So, some Greeks want to see me, do they? Well, I will not just show myself to them, I will give them the opportunity to look upon me in all my glory!” Wow! To see the Son of Man in all his glory, that would really be something, wouldn't it? Sounds even better than Pay-Per-View.
Except, Jesus went on to say some rather odd things about a grain of wheat dying, and hating one's life in order to have eternal life, and the need for any and all who would serve him to actually follow him. In short, Jesus was telling the Greeks, and us, that, if we want to see him, we have to look to the Cross. At the Cross we behold his glory. At the Cross we meet the one who died in order to bear the fruit of eternal life for many. At the Cross we see the Christ who willingly laid down his life so that he might take it up again. Somehow, I don't think this is what the Greeks expected. I am certain that his disciples didn't understand (see John 12.16). And, I have a pretty strong sense that many people today might be looking for Jesus in the wrong places.
Many today, not unlike Peter, want to see Jesus on a mountain top where, unscarred and transfigured, he will hang out and tabernacle with us, away from the world and all its woes. But the hill where we truly get to see Jesus has three crosses on its summit. There, on that hill, hanging on the Cross, we see all the compassion, the forgiveness, the grace, the love, the mercy, and the power of God. It's not a pretty picture, but it is a glorious one. If we would see Jesus, if we would follow him, and be with him now and forever, the Cross is the place to find him.
Yes, Jesus was a worker of great signs, and not only ancient Greeks, but many people today, want to see the author of miracles. But Jesus did not come into the world to work miracles, but to bear the Cross. So, you want to see Jesus, do you? Then take up your cross and follow him.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Jesus Entered To Acclaim, And Apprehension
What Did Jesus Do?
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
even the King of Israel!”...So the Pharisees said to one another,
“You see that you are gaining nothing, the world has gone after him.”
John 12.13, 19
As we also know from the accounts in the synoptic Gospels, John reports that the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was a triumph (see. Matthew 21.1-11; Mark 11.1-11; Luke 19.28-40). “Buzz” is no recent phenomenon even if it is part of the vernacular of the 21st Century, for Jesus certainly had the entire city “buzzing,” even with its population swollen by pilgrims who had come for the Passover feast (Matthew 21.10). The outcry was so great that some Pharisees begged Jesus to silence his disciples, but, even if he had, a “rock” concert would have broken out (see Luke 19.39-40).
Many of the witnesses to the raising of Lazarus were present, and, well, they just kept on witnessing, if you will (John 12.17). Truly, it looked as if the people were prepared to proclaim Jesus king right there on the spot (John 12.13)—the very heir to the throne of David (Matthew 21.9)! Such acclaim had not been given to anyone probably since the time of David, or perhaps David's son Solomon. Of course, we know that many in that crowd who were full of acclamation would soon be overflowing with condemnation. And this is because the ones who were doing the acclaiming were not alone, there were also present those who were filled with apprehension on account of Jesus. To them, it appeared as if the whole world was ready to throw all its support behind Christ, (John 12.19), and this they simply could not and would not stand for. To put it plainly, regardless of how the “world” felt about Jesus the Pharisees just could not tolerate him.
Interestingly, today, as Jesus truly has passionate disciples throughout the whole world, there remain many who still cannot tolerate him. It is even funny, in a tragic way, that no few modern champions of “tolerance” are the ones who find Christ, and Christians, so intolerable. While believers still acclaim Jesus as the blessed Son who comes in the name of the Lord, the apprehensive still lose sleep worrying about what could happen if the the world indeed went after Christ. And, the sad truth is, the world, or I should say, much of the world, has not, is not, and will not go after Jesus.
But, thanks to those who still acclaim him, and to those who still witness, there are still those who, every day, turn from the world and start to follow Jesus. The Pharisees were right about one thing though, those who oppose Christ gain nothing (john 12.19), but instead end up losing everything. The question we need to ask ourselves is this, are we “acclaimers?” Do we let others know who Jesus is, and what he has done? Do we refuse to let the apprehensive and intolerant silence us? Do we seek to encourage the world to go after him? If not, we better take a good look in the mirror and see if there are any signs of apprehension in us!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
even the King of Israel!”...So the Pharisees said to one another,
“You see that you are gaining nothing, the world has gone after him.”
John 12.13, 19
As we also know from the accounts in the synoptic Gospels, John reports that the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was a triumph (see. Matthew 21.1-11; Mark 11.1-11; Luke 19.28-40). “Buzz” is no recent phenomenon even if it is part of the vernacular of the 21st Century, for Jesus certainly had the entire city “buzzing,” even with its population swollen by pilgrims who had come for the Passover feast (Matthew 21.10). The outcry was so great that some Pharisees begged Jesus to silence his disciples, but, even if he had, a “rock” concert would have broken out (see Luke 19.39-40).
Many of the witnesses to the raising of Lazarus were present, and, well, they just kept on witnessing, if you will (John 12.17). Truly, it looked as if the people were prepared to proclaim Jesus king right there on the spot (John 12.13)—the very heir to the throne of David (Matthew 21.9)! Such acclaim had not been given to anyone probably since the time of David, or perhaps David's son Solomon. Of course, we know that many in that crowd who were full of acclamation would soon be overflowing with condemnation. And this is because the ones who were doing the acclaiming were not alone, there were also present those who were filled with apprehension on account of Jesus. To them, it appeared as if the whole world was ready to throw all its support behind Christ, (John 12.19), and this they simply could not and would not stand for. To put it plainly, regardless of how the “world” felt about Jesus the Pharisees just could not tolerate him.
Interestingly, today, as Jesus truly has passionate disciples throughout the whole world, there remain many who still cannot tolerate him. It is even funny, in a tragic way, that no few modern champions of “tolerance” are the ones who find Christ, and Christians, so intolerable. While believers still acclaim Jesus as the blessed Son who comes in the name of the Lord, the apprehensive still lose sleep worrying about what could happen if the the world indeed went after Christ. And, the sad truth is, the world, or I should say, much of the world, has not, is not, and will not go after Jesus.
But, thanks to those who still acclaim him, and to those who still witness, there are still those who, every day, turn from the world and start to follow Jesus. The Pharisees were right about one thing though, those who oppose Christ gain nothing (john 12.19), but instead end up losing everything. The question we need to ask ourselves is this, are we “acclaimers?” Do we let others know who Jesus is, and what he has done? Do we refuse to let the apprehensive and intolerant silence us? Do we seek to encourage the world to go after him? If not, we better take a good look in the mirror and see if there are any signs of apprehension in us!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Jesus Put Others In Harm's Way (Which Just Happened To Be The Path To Glory)
What Did Jesus Do?
So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,
because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
John 12.10-11
You know how the Surgeon General has those little warnings on packs of cigarettes (Not that anyone pays any attention to them), well Jesus gave a similar warning to those who were thinking of becoming his disciples (see Matthew 16.21-28; Mark 8.31-9.1; Luke 9.23-27). Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way, “When Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die.” In other words, following Jesus could get you killed! On the other hand, not following Jesus will most certainly lead to death, and then eternal suffering. While those who die in, with, and for Christ take the path to glory and eternal life.
The Bible doesn't give us a lot of detail about the life of Lazarus after Jesus called him out from the tomb. We know that Lazarus and his sisters threw a party to thank Jesus (John 12.1-7). And we know, from the verses we are looking at today, that Lazarus became a “wanted man,” so to speak, making it to #2 on the chief priests' “Public Enemies” list, right after Jesus. This should not at all surprise us, given what we pointed out in the first paragraph.
We do not know from Scripture if the chief priests ever got their hands on Lazarus. I imagine that, whatever happened, Lazarus didn't “take it on the lam” (become a fugitive), but probably lived more boldly than anyone else has before or since. After all, Lazarus had experienced death itself, and lived to tell the tale, if you will. Can't you just see the friends of Lazarus expressing the same kind of concern for him as Christ's disciples had for the Lord (see John 11.8)? I can almost hear Lazarus replying to those worried about his safety, “The chief priests! What can they do to me, kill me? Been there and done that. Death doesn't frighten me, because Jesus has called me to life, now and forevermore!”
Nevertheless, deciding to follow Jesus is not to be taken lightly. If we follow Christ we will earn the world's enmity (Matthew 10.22), even as the chief priests determined to put Lazarus to death. But this is only to be expected since the world had no use for the Lord himself (John 15.18). The Good News is, the world has already done its worst to Jesus, and he has overcome, and we therefore have nothing to fear even though we should have to endure tribulation (John 16.33). You see, as it turns out, harm's way is the very path to glory, while “playing it safe” and trying to cling to one's life is, well, a dead end.
I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to meeting Lazarus, and hearing him tell of his latter days. I'm sure they were far more interesting than his former days. We know they were fruitful, because many believed in Jesus because of him (John 12.11). May it be that some day the same will be said about us.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,
because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
John 12.10-11
You know how the Surgeon General has those little warnings on packs of cigarettes (Not that anyone pays any attention to them), well Jesus gave a similar warning to those who were thinking of becoming his disciples (see Matthew 16.21-28; Mark 8.31-9.1; Luke 9.23-27). Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way, “When Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die.” In other words, following Jesus could get you killed! On the other hand, not following Jesus will most certainly lead to death, and then eternal suffering. While those who die in, with, and for Christ take the path to glory and eternal life.
The Bible doesn't give us a lot of detail about the life of Lazarus after Jesus called him out from the tomb. We know that Lazarus and his sisters threw a party to thank Jesus (John 12.1-7). And we know, from the verses we are looking at today, that Lazarus became a “wanted man,” so to speak, making it to #2 on the chief priests' “Public Enemies” list, right after Jesus. This should not at all surprise us, given what we pointed out in the first paragraph.
We do not know from Scripture if the chief priests ever got their hands on Lazarus. I imagine that, whatever happened, Lazarus didn't “take it on the lam” (become a fugitive), but probably lived more boldly than anyone else has before or since. After all, Lazarus had experienced death itself, and lived to tell the tale, if you will. Can't you just see the friends of Lazarus expressing the same kind of concern for him as Christ's disciples had for the Lord (see John 11.8)? I can almost hear Lazarus replying to those worried about his safety, “The chief priests! What can they do to me, kill me? Been there and done that. Death doesn't frighten me, because Jesus has called me to life, now and forevermore!”
Nevertheless, deciding to follow Jesus is not to be taken lightly. If we follow Christ we will earn the world's enmity (Matthew 10.22), even as the chief priests determined to put Lazarus to death. But this is only to be expected since the world had no use for the Lord himself (John 15.18). The Good News is, the world has already done its worst to Jesus, and he has overcome, and we therefore have nothing to fear even though we should have to endure tribulation (John 16.33). You see, as it turns out, harm's way is the very path to glory, while “playing it safe” and trying to cling to one's life is, well, a dead end.
I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to meeting Lazarus, and hearing him tell of his latter days. I'm sure they were far more interesting than his former days. We know they were fruitful, because many believed in Jesus because of him (John 12.11). May it be that some day the same will be said about us.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Jesus Brought A Sword, But Proclaimed Peace
What Did Jesus Do?
“I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Matthew 10.34b
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies...”
Luke 6.27ff
As I sit here surveying the ground I expect to cover this morning as I write, I have a certain sense that I am about to tread something of a minefield. The thing about minefields is, stepping lightly in the wrong place can still get you blown up, so one might as well step boldly.
Contrary to the opinions of the children at school who think that I am older than baseball, I was not around for V-E Day in 1945. Nonetheless, many of the scenes of of spontaneous celebration that I saw on television yesterday at the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden had a “V-E Day” quality to them. And I confess that a part of me celebrated as well. But then, in my quiet time, I recalled the Lord's words in Luke 6, and I had to again confess that my sin nature still refuses to die, though I have been crucified with Christ.
Don't get me wrong, the Bible makes it clear that those in authority (the government) bear the sword (exercise military power) for our good, acting as an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer (see Romans 13.1-4). And Bin Laden was, without a doubt, a wrongdoer, and certainly deserved to die for his crimes. But, here's the thing, before God I cannot pretend to be anything but a wrongdoer! I might not have as much blood on my hands as Osama, but they are certainly stained, and, apart from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, I too deserve death.
So, even as the sinful part of me regrets that Bin Laden wasn't strapped on a U.S. Air Force drone loaded with high explosives, and flown into the compound of Muammar Qaddafi, the Christ nature in me knows that I should not be rejoicing in the death of a sinner, no matter how great a sinner he was. The fact that Bin Laden's body now lies on the bottom of the Persian Gulf is proof that, as elusive as he was for the last ten years, in the end he was just flesh and blood. And, let's be sure to get this, our enemies are not of flesh and blood (see Ephesians 6.12). It is against spiritual forces of darkness and evil that we are called to wage war. Bin Laden was a mere servant of a ruler far more heinous, with much more blood on his hands, than Osama.
I believe justice was done by the Seal Team that took out Bin Laden. And we can and should take satisfaction in the execution of justice. But, let us not rejoice in anyone's death. Only the devil celebrates death. Jesus Christ is the Lord of life, and his instruction to us is that we should do good to those who hurt us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who abuse us. We are to be merciful above all things, as the Father himself has shown us immeasurable mercy in and through the Son.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Matthew 10.34b
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies...”
Luke 6.27ff
As I sit here surveying the ground I expect to cover this morning as I write, I have a certain sense that I am about to tread something of a minefield. The thing about minefields is, stepping lightly in the wrong place can still get you blown up, so one might as well step boldly.
Contrary to the opinions of the children at school who think that I am older than baseball, I was not around for V-E Day in 1945. Nonetheless, many of the scenes of of spontaneous celebration that I saw on television yesterday at the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden had a “V-E Day” quality to them. And I confess that a part of me celebrated as well. But then, in my quiet time, I recalled the Lord's words in Luke 6, and I had to again confess that my sin nature still refuses to die, though I have been crucified with Christ.
Don't get me wrong, the Bible makes it clear that those in authority (the government) bear the sword (exercise military power) for our good, acting as an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer (see Romans 13.1-4). And Bin Laden was, without a doubt, a wrongdoer, and certainly deserved to die for his crimes. But, here's the thing, before God I cannot pretend to be anything but a wrongdoer! I might not have as much blood on my hands as Osama, but they are certainly stained, and, apart from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, I too deserve death.
So, even as the sinful part of me regrets that Bin Laden wasn't strapped on a U.S. Air Force drone loaded with high explosives, and flown into the compound of Muammar Qaddafi, the Christ nature in me knows that I should not be rejoicing in the death of a sinner, no matter how great a sinner he was. The fact that Bin Laden's body now lies on the bottom of the Persian Gulf is proof that, as elusive as he was for the last ten years, in the end he was just flesh and blood. And, let's be sure to get this, our enemies are not of flesh and blood (see Ephesians 6.12). It is against spiritual forces of darkness and evil that we are called to wage war. Bin Laden was a mere servant of a ruler far more heinous, with much more blood on his hands, than Osama.
I believe justice was done by the Seal Team that took out Bin Laden. And we can and should take satisfaction in the execution of justice. But, let us not rejoice in anyone's death. Only the devil celebrates death. Jesus Christ is the Lord of life, and his instruction to us is that we should do good to those who hurt us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who abuse us. We are to be merciful above all things, as the Father himself has shown us immeasurable mercy in and through the Son.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, May 2, 2011
Jesus Was a Guest Of Honor
What Did Jesus Do?
Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was,
whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
So they gave a dinner for him there.
John 12.1-2
I am sure that many who read this have, at one time or another, attended some kind of banquet/dinner in honor of someone. Who hasn't been to a wedding reception honoring newlyweds? Or perhaps been at a party celebrating a baptism? A picnic recognizing the newest Little League champions? A 25th or 50th wedding anniversary? A retirement dinner? Of course, we all have been to countless gatherings and feasts held chiefly in order that one someone should receive our congratulations, honor, and praise. In fact, probably all of us have ourselves been the guest of honor at some kind of celebration. Oftentimes, the object of the attention is rather embarrassed by it all, and I suspect most of us would probably say that Jesus preferred not to have the “spotlight” shine on him. But, at least once, he was quite willing to be the guest of honor at a dinner organized just to recognize him for his special service to a family of beloved friends.
John supplies us with details most of us could probably fill in for ourselves. Jesus was en route, six days before the Passover, to Jerusalem, and to the cross (John 12.1). Since Bethany was on the way, it was only natural that the Lord would stop by and look in on his friend Lazarus, recently deceased and then not deceased (See John 11), and the sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. While the Bible doesn't tell us, I imagine then, as with many celebrations now, the dinner was something of a surprise. Lazarus and his sisters probably understood that Jesus was not the kind of man who sought to bring a lot of attention to himself, and he certainly wasn't running for any office, so the plans for the dinner were very likely made without the Lord's knowledge. But when Jesus stopped by the house of Lazarus and knocked on the door, I can see most of the population of Bethany jumping out from their hiding places and shouting “Surprise!” and bursting into a rousing chorus of “For He's A Jolly Good Fellow!” or at least some First Century Aramaic equivalent. A lot of people simply could not contain their enthusiasm for Jesus, though for many it would be a short-lived enthusiasm that would turn to condemnation in less than a week. Nonetheless, the fact was the very next day Jesus would receive a hero's welcome to Jerusalem, in a spontaneous parade to honor him (John 12.12-15). But on this day Jesus was the guest of honor at the dinner in Bethany.
At the dinner, Lazarus, as we would expect, reclined at table with the Lord and other guests, while Martha served, naturally (see Luke10.40). As for Mary, well her singular devotion to Jesus (see Luke 10.39-42) compelled her to express her love for the Lord in such a manner that she is still well remembered for it after nearly two thousand years. While many at the dinner might have thought Mary's action to have been the pinnacle of the evening, others, in particular Judas Iscariot, took offense (John 12.4-5). But John lets us know that the reaction of Judas was nothing more than base greed (John 12.6). The fact is that, as Jesus himself pointed out, until this fallen world comes to an end there will always be opportunities to respond to the needs of the poor. Mary still had a lifetime in which she could compassionately care for those less fortunate than herself, but the time to honor the man who had raised her beloved brother from the dead was growing very short indeed (John 12.7).
From our vantage point, on this side of Calvary, would any of us deny the Lord any honor or recognition? Yet Jesus is no more interested in seeking honors for himself today than he was on that long ago day in Bethany. The truth is, all who will be raised to spend eternity in the Father's kingdom will have Jesus always, and be privileged to attend a never-ending feast honoring the Lamb who was slain for the world, and his Bride (see Revelation 19.6-10). For now, we do well to care for the poor, as we have opportunity and resources—of time, talent, and treasure—to do so. And we do well to invite all, rich and poor alike, to partake of the meal the Lord himself instituted to perpetually recall, and participate in, his dying for our sins and rising for our salvation from death. For at this meal Jesus remains both host and guest of honor.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was,
whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
So they gave a dinner for him there.
John 12.1-2
I am sure that many who read this have, at one time or another, attended some kind of banquet/dinner in honor of someone. Who hasn't been to a wedding reception honoring newlyweds? Or perhaps been at a party celebrating a baptism? A picnic recognizing the newest Little League champions? A 25th or 50th wedding anniversary? A retirement dinner? Of course, we all have been to countless gatherings and feasts held chiefly in order that one someone should receive our congratulations, honor, and praise. In fact, probably all of us have ourselves been the guest of honor at some kind of celebration. Oftentimes, the object of the attention is rather embarrassed by it all, and I suspect most of us would probably say that Jesus preferred not to have the “spotlight” shine on him. But, at least once, he was quite willing to be the guest of honor at a dinner organized just to recognize him for his special service to a family of beloved friends.
John supplies us with details most of us could probably fill in for ourselves. Jesus was en route, six days before the Passover, to Jerusalem, and to the cross (John 12.1). Since Bethany was on the way, it was only natural that the Lord would stop by and look in on his friend Lazarus, recently deceased and then not deceased (See John 11), and the sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. While the Bible doesn't tell us, I imagine then, as with many celebrations now, the dinner was something of a surprise. Lazarus and his sisters probably understood that Jesus was not the kind of man who sought to bring a lot of attention to himself, and he certainly wasn't running for any office, so the plans for the dinner were very likely made without the Lord's knowledge. But when Jesus stopped by the house of Lazarus and knocked on the door, I can see most of the population of Bethany jumping out from their hiding places and shouting “Surprise!” and bursting into a rousing chorus of “For He's A Jolly Good Fellow!” or at least some First Century Aramaic equivalent. A lot of people simply could not contain their enthusiasm for Jesus, though for many it would be a short-lived enthusiasm that would turn to condemnation in less than a week. Nonetheless, the fact was the very next day Jesus would receive a hero's welcome to Jerusalem, in a spontaneous parade to honor him (John 12.12-15). But on this day Jesus was the guest of honor at the dinner in Bethany.
At the dinner, Lazarus, as we would expect, reclined at table with the Lord and other guests, while Martha served, naturally (see Luke10.40). As for Mary, well her singular devotion to Jesus (see Luke 10.39-42) compelled her to express her love for the Lord in such a manner that she is still well remembered for it after nearly two thousand years. While many at the dinner might have thought Mary's action to have been the pinnacle of the evening, others, in particular Judas Iscariot, took offense (John 12.4-5). But John lets us know that the reaction of Judas was nothing more than base greed (John 12.6). The fact is that, as Jesus himself pointed out, until this fallen world comes to an end there will always be opportunities to respond to the needs of the poor. Mary still had a lifetime in which she could compassionately care for those less fortunate than herself, but the time to honor the man who had raised her beloved brother from the dead was growing very short indeed (John 12.7).
From our vantage point, on this side of Calvary, would any of us deny the Lord any honor or recognition? Yet Jesus is no more interested in seeking honors for himself today than he was on that long ago day in Bethany. The truth is, all who will be raised to spend eternity in the Father's kingdom will have Jesus always, and be privileged to attend a never-ending feast honoring the Lamb who was slain for the world, and his Bride (see Revelation 19.6-10). For now, we do well to care for the poor, as we have opportunity and resources—of time, talent, and treasure—to do so. And we do well to invite all, rich and poor alike, to partake of the meal the Lord himself instituted to perpetually recall, and participate in, his dying for our sins and rising for our salvation from death. For at this meal Jesus remains both host and guest of honor.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
