What Did Jesus Do?
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus,
they took his garments and divided them into four parts.
John 19.23
The 23rd Psalm is one of the most familiar and beloved chapters in Scripture. But it was the 22nd Psalm that the Lord recalled as he hung on the cross. Even as he cried out in anguish the words his ancestor David had written so many years before (See Psalm 22.1; Matthew 27.46; Mark 15.34), Jesus surrendered what amounted to his earthly estate, the clothes on his back. And the Roman soldiers who had been given the job of crucifying Jesus eagerly seized and divided the garments among themselves.
Though they truly didn’t know what they were doing (Luke 23.34), the soldiers were actually a type, an example, for all sinners to follow. The difference being that, while the soldiers received and divided what material benefits they could from the Lord’s death, Jesus graciously offered his body and blood on the cross so that sinners should receive the spiritual benefits of his heavenly estate. What Christ surrendered on the cross we snatch up every time we partake in the meal Jesus instituted the night before he was crucified.
The soldiers grabbed what they could, and enjoyed for a time whatever benefit they could, probably by selling for a few shekels the items that made up the lord’s wardrobe. While the Lord had little choice in surrendering his garments to a few in a Roman execution squad, what Jesus surrendered on the cross he freely offered to the whole world. Thus Jesus surrendered what sinners could never obtain on their own, and these benefits are both immeasurable and eternal. No wonder sinners have eagerly, joyfully, come to the table to freely receive the bread of forgiveness from sin, and the wine of release from punishment.
While the first twenty-one verses of Psalm 22 are a plaintive cry, verses twenty-two through thirty-one comprise a powerful proclamation of faith and trust. Vindication is promised for the despised, abhorred, and afflicted (verses 22-24). Verses 25-31 cast a vision of the entire world, “the families of the nations,” coming together to praise and worship the LORD for his deliverance. All that the servant of the LORD surrenders in the first half of the Psalm is snatched up and returned to the LORD in exultant worship by those who know him and receive all his benefits.
It may be that Christ’s prayer to the Father for forgiveness for those who acted in ignorance resulted in the deliverance and salvation of the four legionnaires. We will never know for sure this side of eternity. But it is absolutely certain that what Jesus surrendered on the cross achieved the salvation of all who repent of their sins and freely receive the gifts of his body and blood. It follows that we who have snatched up these inestimable benefits should offer up our praise and worship to the Father, for the deliverance he has granted in the Son, and imparted to us through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, August 8, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Jesus Bore the Weight
What Did Jesus Do?
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross…
John 19.16b-17
One of the signs of a great leader is that he or she never asks a follower to do anything the leader is not prepared to do, which is to say he or she is willing to lead by personal example. Alternatively, we might say that exceptional leaders are those who instruct their disciples to “do as I do,” and not merely “do as I say.” Jesus had advised those who would follow him that it would be necessary for them to bear their own cross (See Matthew 16.24). Now, on the path to Golgotha, Jesus bore the weight of his own cross.
But I believe it would be wrong to characterize Jesus as the “Cross-bearer.” For the Lord also said to his disciples that, prior to shouldering the weight of their cross, they first needed to deny themselves (Again, see Matthew 16). Yes, Jesus bore the weight of his cross, but there was some real self-denial required. Think about it, about who Jesus really is. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Alpha and Omega, the living Word (Logos) who not only was with God in the beginning, but was, is, and forever shall be God. To bear the cross to the place called The Place of a Skull, there to be crucified and die, well that took more self-denial than any of us could ever imagine. And so I believe that, rather than Cross-bearer, we should call Jesus the Self-denier.
Let’s talk about self-denial for a moment. Think about how much self-denial Jesus had to call upon when he was taunted, “IF you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27.40) I know there’s not that much self-denial in me; I would have come right down from the cross and shown those so-and-sos just what the Son of God could do! But Jesus denied himself there on his cross which he had borne, and showed the world what, even to relieve himself from the agony of crucifixion and the pain of death, the Son of God would never do. You see, the Son would never do anything that was not the will of the Father. One simply cannot affirm one’s self and be perfectly obedient to the will of God. Bearing the weight of God’s will is impossible while we are the least bit wrapped up in our self. It took all the Lord’s strength to deny himself and surrender all so that he could take up his cross.
I Surrender All is a very popular hymn. But it makes me uncomfortable. The words turn to gall in my mouth as I think about my bulging closets, two cars in the garage, and overflowing refrigerator and pantry. And that’s just my stuff. I don’t even want to begin to think about my passions and opinions, my likes and dislikes, which I cling to dearly. I suppose I’ve surrendered some, but all? Not even close; which means I’m not ready to bear my own cross. I’m not nearly strong enough to surrender all. I’d only be kidding you, and myself, if I were to pretend that I’m a cross-bearing Christian. But some day…
In truth, I’m not sure anyone can honestly sing to the Father about surrendering all, other than the Son himself. Not to make light, if you’ll excuse the expression, of the cross, but I believe the far greater burden, the heavier weight, Jesus bore, was that of self-denial. That’s why Jesus said that it is first necessary to deny ones’ self before shouldering the cross. Once we’ve borne the weight of denying ourselves, and only then, does our cross become bearable. What did Jesus do? Jesus denied himself, bore the weight, and took up his cross.
“If anyone would come after me…”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross…
John 19.16b-17
One of the signs of a great leader is that he or she never asks a follower to do anything the leader is not prepared to do, which is to say he or she is willing to lead by personal example. Alternatively, we might say that exceptional leaders are those who instruct their disciples to “do as I do,” and not merely “do as I say.” Jesus had advised those who would follow him that it would be necessary for them to bear their own cross (See Matthew 16.24). Now, on the path to Golgotha, Jesus bore the weight of his own cross.
But I believe it would be wrong to characterize Jesus as the “Cross-bearer.” For the Lord also said to his disciples that, prior to shouldering the weight of their cross, they first needed to deny themselves (Again, see Matthew 16). Yes, Jesus bore the weight of his cross, but there was some real self-denial required. Think about it, about who Jesus really is. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Alpha and Omega, the living Word (Logos) who not only was with God in the beginning, but was, is, and forever shall be God. To bear the cross to the place called The Place of a Skull, there to be crucified and die, well that took more self-denial than any of us could ever imagine. And so I believe that, rather than Cross-bearer, we should call Jesus the Self-denier.
Let’s talk about self-denial for a moment. Think about how much self-denial Jesus had to call upon when he was taunted, “IF you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27.40) I know there’s not that much self-denial in me; I would have come right down from the cross and shown those so-and-sos just what the Son of God could do! But Jesus denied himself there on his cross which he had borne, and showed the world what, even to relieve himself from the agony of crucifixion and the pain of death, the Son of God would never do. You see, the Son would never do anything that was not the will of the Father. One simply cannot affirm one’s self and be perfectly obedient to the will of God. Bearing the weight of God’s will is impossible while we are the least bit wrapped up in our self. It took all the Lord’s strength to deny himself and surrender all so that he could take up his cross.
I Surrender All is a very popular hymn. But it makes me uncomfortable. The words turn to gall in my mouth as I think about my bulging closets, two cars in the garage, and overflowing refrigerator and pantry. And that’s just my stuff. I don’t even want to begin to think about my passions and opinions, my likes and dislikes, which I cling to dearly. I suppose I’ve surrendered some, but all? Not even close; which means I’m not ready to bear my own cross. I’m not nearly strong enough to surrender all. I’d only be kidding you, and myself, if I were to pretend that I’m a cross-bearing Christian. But some day…
In truth, I’m not sure anyone can honestly sing to the Father about surrendering all, other than the Son himself. Not to make light, if you’ll excuse the expression, of the cross, but I believe the far greater burden, the heavier weight, Jesus bore, was that of self-denial. That’s why Jesus said that it is first necessary to deny ones’ self before shouldering the cross. Once we’ve borne the weight of denying ourselves, and only then, does our cross become bearable. What did Jesus do? Jesus denied himself, bore the weight, and took up his cross.
“If anyone would come after me…”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Jesus Suffered the Debate of the Wicked and the Weak
What Did Jesus Do?
…they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him,
for I find no guilt in him.”
John 19.6
It wasn’t the first time that Jesus had been the center of a debate. In the midst of his ministry, a debate of sorts had raged over just who Jesus was. Peter had settled that question for all time with his confession, “Thou art the Christ!” (See Matthew 16.13-16) While the Lord was well pleased with Peter’s answer, he suffered the masses to continue their speculation about him, going so far as to charge his disciples with keeping the Messianic secret (Matthew 16.17-20). But now, Jesus was the subject of a different debate, one with far more serious immediate consequences, yet again he permitted the debate to go on. But this time, with his life hanging in the balance, Jesus suffered the debate of the wicked and the weak.
Before I am accused of pointing fingers, let me confess that I am not immune either to weakness or wickedness. Had I been present in Jerusalem two thousand years ago I rather expect I would not have comported myself any better than the actual actors in the divine drama of Christ’s Passion. Jesus had already suffered his disciples, his best friends, to betray, to desert, and to deny. Now it was the turn of the chief priests and Pharisees, and the Roman Empire’s most infamous governor, to play their parts.
The irony was thick, though I’m not sure anyone besides Jesus would have noticed, and he kept strictly silent on the matter, when the chief priests and officers presented the Lord to Pilate claiming that Jesus had been “doing evil.” (John 18.30) There was great evil astir on that night, but it was all directed against the Lord, not initiated by him. An illegal court proceeding, complete with false witnesses, had convened at the high priest’s residence for the purpose of imposing a pre-determined verdict and sentence. What better adjective to describe such a vicious, even blood-thirsty, throng, than wicked? Feigning respect for the law, the mob all but demanded Pilate execute the Nazarene, his patent innocence notwithstanding.
The wicked had sought out the weak to carry out their murderous wrath. Now, governors invested with the power of imperial Rome might more appropriately have been characterized as local strongmen, backed as they were with the force of veteran legions. Yet what else, but weak, can we call Governor Pilate, who, though he was convinced of Christ’s innocence, yielded to the demands of the wicked, and surrendered Jesus into the hands of those who would be satisfied with nothing short of his death?
Still, it is evident, even as Jesus suffered the debate to go on, he was not impressed nor intimidated by Pilate’s claims of authority; neither did the great sin of those who had delivered him over to Pilate escape Jesus (John 19.11) . But, seemingly in the hands of the wicked and the weak, Jesus was precisely where he needed to be. In truth, an unseen hand controlled all that transpired. Though Pilate sought to release the man whom the Jews had accused of making himself the Son of God (John 19.7; 12), he was too weak to stand up to the wickedness that confronted him. When the Jews rejected all other kings but Caesar (John 19.15), an implicit rejection of Yahweh, all argument came to a close, and Jesus, having suffered the debate of the wicked and the weak, was led forth to suffer the cross.
We know, of course, that the Lord’s suffering was not at all in vain, but in fact redemptive, even to the point of gaining forgiveness and mercy for those who confess their wickedness and weakness, and surrender to Jesus. On this let there be no debate!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
…they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him,
for I find no guilt in him.”
John 19.6
It wasn’t the first time that Jesus had been the center of a debate. In the midst of his ministry, a debate of sorts had raged over just who Jesus was. Peter had settled that question for all time with his confession, “Thou art the Christ!” (See Matthew 16.13-16) While the Lord was well pleased with Peter’s answer, he suffered the masses to continue their speculation about him, going so far as to charge his disciples with keeping the Messianic secret (Matthew 16.17-20). But now, Jesus was the subject of a different debate, one with far more serious immediate consequences, yet again he permitted the debate to go on. But this time, with his life hanging in the balance, Jesus suffered the debate of the wicked and the weak.
Before I am accused of pointing fingers, let me confess that I am not immune either to weakness or wickedness. Had I been present in Jerusalem two thousand years ago I rather expect I would not have comported myself any better than the actual actors in the divine drama of Christ’s Passion. Jesus had already suffered his disciples, his best friends, to betray, to desert, and to deny. Now it was the turn of the chief priests and Pharisees, and the Roman Empire’s most infamous governor, to play their parts.
The irony was thick, though I’m not sure anyone besides Jesus would have noticed, and he kept strictly silent on the matter, when the chief priests and officers presented the Lord to Pilate claiming that Jesus had been “doing evil.” (John 18.30) There was great evil astir on that night, but it was all directed against the Lord, not initiated by him. An illegal court proceeding, complete with false witnesses, had convened at the high priest’s residence for the purpose of imposing a pre-determined verdict and sentence. What better adjective to describe such a vicious, even blood-thirsty, throng, than wicked? Feigning respect for the law, the mob all but demanded Pilate execute the Nazarene, his patent innocence notwithstanding.
The wicked had sought out the weak to carry out their murderous wrath. Now, governors invested with the power of imperial Rome might more appropriately have been characterized as local strongmen, backed as they were with the force of veteran legions. Yet what else, but weak, can we call Governor Pilate, who, though he was convinced of Christ’s innocence, yielded to the demands of the wicked, and surrendered Jesus into the hands of those who would be satisfied with nothing short of his death?
Still, it is evident, even as Jesus suffered the debate to go on, he was not impressed nor intimidated by Pilate’s claims of authority; neither did the great sin of those who had delivered him over to Pilate escape Jesus (John 19.11) . But, seemingly in the hands of the wicked and the weak, Jesus was precisely where he needed to be. In truth, an unseen hand controlled all that transpired. Though Pilate sought to release the man whom the Jews had accused of making himself the Son of God (John 19.7; 12), he was too weak to stand up to the wickedness that confronted him. When the Jews rejected all other kings but Caesar (John 19.15), an implicit rejection of Yahweh, all argument came to a close, and Jesus, having suffered the debate of the wicked and the weak, was led forth to suffer the cross.
We know, of course, that the Lord’s suffering was not at all in vain, but in fact redemptive, even to the point of gaining forgiveness and mercy for those who confess their wickedness and weakness, and surrender to Jesus. On this let there be no debate!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Jesus Wore A Crown He Didn't Deserve
What Did Jesus Do?
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns
and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.
John 19.2
If Jesus was guilty of no more than being “the King of the Jews,” then his Roman jailors would have him arrayed as no less than a monarch. Yet, not in one of the many I am declarations of Jesus did he ever proclaim himself king. However, it was not hard to conclude that one who was the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the True Vine was indeed the King of kings. In their scornful accusations the Jews for their part, and in their brutal mockery the Romans for theirs, in fact were affirming a truth their hard hearts and dull minds never accepted or comprehended—Jesus was all he said he was, and more. So, Jesus wore a crown of thorns he didn’t deserve.
The Lord wore a crown of thorns he didn’t deserve. Yet, as painful as it had to have been for him, I believe Jesus rejoiced to wear what amounted to the crown of grace. You see, Jesus wore the crown of pain and scorn that all of us deserve because of our transgressions, while we get to receive the crown of righteousness that is truly the Lord’s alone. That’s grace! And, to me, it’s certain that the Son rejoiced and gave thanks to the Father for the grace he showed to sinners.
Here are some things about grace that I’ve learned through this lesson about the crown of thorns worn by Christ: 1) The world, not recognizing grace, will ridicule and scorn it; 2) as glorious and wonderful as grace is, it is also difficult and painful to deliver grace to the ones who need it most; 3) most importantly, grace is never purchased on the cheap, it costs dearly.
Now, I’ve sometimes heard people talk about misapplied grace. The thought seems to be that grace that goes unappreciated would have been better off not having been granted. Well, I believe that grace that is unappreciated, that rolls off the one it is intended for like water off a duck, is never wasted. Such grace may turn out to be like a heap of burning coals upon the head (see Proverbs 25.21-22; Romans 12.20), but that is a far thing from saying that it is wasted. Certainly, on the night the Lord wore the crown of thorns, and on the day Christ shed his blood on the cross, there were few, if any, who appreciated or understood that it was the outpouring of the Father’s grace in and through the Son, yet think on how many have now received this precious grace!
Finally, as one who would follow Jesus, I have to ask myself if I am willing to wear the world’s ridicule and scorn in order to be a vessel of God’s grace. How much travail and pain am I willing to endure so that the grace of Jesus Christ may be delivered unto a sinner who desperately needs it? What price would I pay for another to receive grace? If the Father asked me to wear a crown of thorns, as it were, for the sake of someone who might not appreciate it, would I be willing to wear it? That’s what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns
and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.
John 19.2
If Jesus was guilty of no more than being “the King of the Jews,” then his Roman jailors would have him arrayed as no less than a monarch. Yet, not in one of the many I am declarations of Jesus did he ever proclaim himself king. However, it was not hard to conclude that one who was the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the True Vine was indeed the King of kings. In their scornful accusations the Jews for their part, and in their brutal mockery the Romans for theirs, in fact were affirming a truth their hard hearts and dull minds never accepted or comprehended—Jesus was all he said he was, and more. So, Jesus wore a crown of thorns he didn’t deserve.
The Lord wore a crown of thorns he didn’t deserve. Yet, as painful as it had to have been for him, I believe Jesus rejoiced to wear what amounted to the crown of grace. You see, Jesus wore the crown of pain and scorn that all of us deserve because of our transgressions, while we get to receive the crown of righteousness that is truly the Lord’s alone. That’s grace! And, to me, it’s certain that the Son rejoiced and gave thanks to the Father for the grace he showed to sinners.
Here are some things about grace that I’ve learned through this lesson about the crown of thorns worn by Christ: 1) The world, not recognizing grace, will ridicule and scorn it; 2) as glorious and wonderful as grace is, it is also difficult and painful to deliver grace to the ones who need it most; 3) most importantly, grace is never purchased on the cheap, it costs dearly.
Now, I’ve sometimes heard people talk about misapplied grace. The thought seems to be that grace that goes unappreciated would have been better off not having been granted. Well, I believe that grace that is unappreciated, that rolls off the one it is intended for like water off a duck, is never wasted. Such grace may turn out to be like a heap of burning coals upon the head (see Proverbs 25.21-22; Romans 12.20), but that is a far thing from saying that it is wasted. Certainly, on the night the Lord wore the crown of thorns, and on the day Christ shed his blood on the cross, there were few, if any, who appreciated or understood that it was the outpouring of the Father’s grace in and through the Son, yet think on how many have now received this precious grace!
Finally, as one who would follow Jesus, I have to ask myself if I am willing to wear the world’s ridicule and scorn in order to be a vessel of God’s grace. How much travail and pain am I willing to endure so that the grace of Jesus Christ may be delivered unto a sinner who desperately needs it? What price would I pay for another to receive grace? If the Father asked me to wear a crown of thorns, as it were, for the sake of someone who might not appreciate it, would I be willing to wear it? That’s what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Stood Condemned, Though He Was Innocent
What Did Jesus Do?
“I find no guilt in him…
So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”
John 18.38b-40
Pontius Pilate may have had a hard time recognizing the truth, even when it (actually, He) was staring him in the face (see John 18.38a), but he knew an innocent man when he saw one (John 18.38b). The trouble was, the Jews had already in their hearts condemned Jesus, they simply wanted the Roman authority to affirm their verdict, and carry out the capital sentence they were not permitted to impose (John 18.30-31). So, innocent though he was, Christ stood before Pilate a condemned man. Still, Pilate sought to set Jesus free (John 18.39)
But the Jews would have none of it, they wanted Jesus out of the way and dead, even if it meant letting a known and convicted criminal, the notorious Barabbas, go free (John 18.40). With hearts set on the death of Jesus, what need of evidence? With minds determined to see that Jesus was executed, what did it matter that he was innocent?
Actually, Christ’s innocence mattered a great deal. You see, there is nothing atoning about the death of one who is guilty. The blood of one who has sinned has no power to redeem. The execution of a thousand, a million, Barabbases (Barabbi?) could not purchase salvation for anyone. Only one who had done no violence, who had never had so much as a single deceitful word in his mouth, could be the satisfactory offering for the guilt of the world (see Isaiah 53. 9-10). Only the One who stood condemned by men, but righteous before the Father, could make many be accounted righteous by bearing their iniquities in his body on the cross (see Isaiah 53.11).
From the collusion of the hard and hate-filled hearts of the Jews with a corrupt, jaded, and weak Roman governor, the ultimate injustice was used by God to ultimately accomplish his perfect justice. Of course, it also took the Son’s willingness to stand condemned, though he was innocent.
I wonder, how many of us, who claim to follow Christ, would be willing to be condemned, to accept blame, for something, anything, we were not guilty of, for the sake of another? How many of us would do so for the sake of Christ? I wonder? If unmerited suffering is redemptive, how many of us would be willing to stand condemned, though we were innocent? That’s what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“I find no guilt in him…
So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”
John 18.38b-40
Pontius Pilate may have had a hard time recognizing the truth, even when it (actually, He) was staring him in the face (see John 18.38a), but he knew an innocent man when he saw one (John 18.38b). The trouble was, the Jews had already in their hearts condemned Jesus, they simply wanted the Roman authority to affirm their verdict, and carry out the capital sentence they were not permitted to impose (John 18.30-31). So, innocent though he was, Christ stood before Pilate a condemned man. Still, Pilate sought to set Jesus free (John 18.39)
But the Jews would have none of it, they wanted Jesus out of the way and dead, even if it meant letting a known and convicted criminal, the notorious Barabbas, go free (John 18.40). With hearts set on the death of Jesus, what need of evidence? With minds determined to see that Jesus was executed, what did it matter that he was innocent?
Actually, Christ’s innocence mattered a great deal. You see, there is nothing atoning about the death of one who is guilty. The blood of one who has sinned has no power to redeem. The execution of a thousand, a million, Barabbases (Barabbi?) could not purchase salvation for anyone. Only one who had done no violence, who had never had so much as a single deceitful word in his mouth, could be the satisfactory offering for the guilt of the world (see Isaiah 53. 9-10). Only the One who stood condemned by men, but righteous before the Father, could make many be accounted righteous by bearing their iniquities in his body on the cross (see Isaiah 53.11).
From the collusion of the hard and hate-filled hearts of the Jews with a corrupt, jaded, and weak Roman governor, the ultimate injustice was used by God to ultimately accomplish his perfect justice. Of course, it also took the Son’s willingness to stand condemned, though he was innocent.
I wonder, how many of us, who claim to follow Christ, would be willing to be condemned, to accept blame, for something, anything, we were not guilty of, for the sake of another? How many of us would do so for the sake of Christ? I wonder? If unmerited suffering is redemptive, how many of us would be willing to stand condemned, though we were innocent? That’s what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Jesus Talked, But Few Listened
What Did Jesus Do?
“Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18.37
There was an investment company that used to boast that when it spoke “People listened.” Given how badly the economy and the Market have tanked in recent years, I’m thinking a lot of people would have been better off if they hadn’t listened. During his earthly ministry Jesus addressed multitudes, debated with high priests and Pharisees, and witnessed to a Roman governor. Jesus talked, but few listened.
Personally, I believe it was a problem of frequency. Not that Jesus talked too much, but rather that few people had their ears tuned to the proper frequency. You see, the world has always been a pretty noisy place. There has never been a shortage of alluring and seductive, but ultimately deceitful, voices, and many people, even entire civilizations and cultures, have gone to their destruction because they listened to what amounted to nothing more than a siren song. Unless our ears are tuned to the truth, all we’ll ever hear, and believe, is lies.
Think about it, Adam and Eve had the opportunity to hear the voice of God every day when the LORD walked in the Garden of Eden. But they turned a deaf ear to God’s words, and tuned in to the sweet and tempting words of the devil. We all know how that turned out. And in every generation since Adam the truth of God has had to contend in the world with the many other voices that have variously made truth claims, or dismissed the very idea of truth itself. Is it any wonder that Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18.38)
Pilate, aware that the Jews had it in for Jesus largely because he had effectively declared himself the long-awaited Messiah and King, put the question directly to the Lord, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18.33) But Jesus was about something greater than ruling over Israel, and his authority was not tied to any worldly state (John 18.36). Christ had not come into the world to wear a crown, but rather to bear witness, to testify; and what better time and place to testify, than at your own trial? So the Lord stated it plainly: he had been born to bear witness to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (John 18.37). Of course, it would have been impossible for Jesus to be about anything other than the truth—after all, he was, is, and forever will be the truth (see John 14.6). Sadly, truth was something that the ears of Pilate were not tuned into. Neither were the ears of the chief priests and the Pharisees.
But there were those who could hear the voice of Jesus. In fact there are some in the world who hear him still, though there remain many who neither listen nor hear. Who is it that can hear Jesus? Everyone who is of the truth, which is to say everyone whom the Father draws unto himself through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit, listens and hears the voice of the Lord. The thing is, it is all but impossible to know who can hear, who will listen to the voice of Jesus. So, it remains for those who already know the Lord to faithfully proclaim his Word to all throughout the world, that some would hear, and so be saved. For salvation comes by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2.8), and faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10.17).
Jesus “walked the walk,” as they say, all the way to the cross. But he also “talked the talk,” that we might listen, and come to the cross as well, there to receive salvation.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18.37
There was an investment company that used to boast that when it spoke “People listened.” Given how badly the economy and the Market have tanked in recent years, I’m thinking a lot of people would have been better off if they hadn’t listened. During his earthly ministry Jesus addressed multitudes, debated with high priests and Pharisees, and witnessed to a Roman governor. Jesus talked, but few listened.
Personally, I believe it was a problem of frequency. Not that Jesus talked too much, but rather that few people had their ears tuned to the proper frequency. You see, the world has always been a pretty noisy place. There has never been a shortage of alluring and seductive, but ultimately deceitful, voices, and many people, even entire civilizations and cultures, have gone to their destruction because they listened to what amounted to nothing more than a siren song. Unless our ears are tuned to the truth, all we’ll ever hear, and believe, is lies.
Think about it, Adam and Eve had the opportunity to hear the voice of God every day when the LORD walked in the Garden of Eden. But they turned a deaf ear to God’s words, and tuned in to the sweet and tempting words of the devil. We all know how that turned out. And in every generation since Adam the truth of God has had to contend in the world with the many other voices that have variously made truth claims, or dismissed the very idea of truth itself. Is it any wonder that Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18.38)
Pilate, aware that the Jews had it in for Jesus largely because he had effectively declared himself the long-awaited Messiah and King, put the question directly to the Lord, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18.33) But Jesus was about something greater than ruling over Israel, and his authority was not tied to any worldly state (John 18.36). Christ had not come into the world to wear a crown, but rather to bear witness, to testify; and what better time and place to testify, than at your own trial? So the Lord stated it plainly: he had been born to bear witness to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (John 18.37). Of course, it would have been impossible for Jesus to be about anything other than the truth—after all, he was, is, and forever will be the truth (see John 14.6). Sadly, truth was something that the ears of Pilate were not tuned into. Neither were the ears of the chief priests and the Pharisees.
But there were those who could hear the voice of Jesus. In fact there are some in the world who hear him still, though there remain many who neither listen nor hear. Who is it that can hear Jesus? Everyone who is of the truth, which is to say everyone whom the Father draws unto himself through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit, listens and hears the voice of the Lord. The thing is, it is all but impossible to know who can hear, who will listen to the voice of Jesus. So, it remains for those who already know the Lord to faithfully proclaim his Word to all throughout the world, that some would hear, and so be saved. For salvation comes by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2.8), and faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10.17).
Jesus “walked the walk,” as they say, all the way to the cross. But he also “talked the talk,” that we might listen, and come to the cross as well, there to receive salvation.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, August 1, 2011
Jesus Permitted Sinful Men to Do Their Worst
What Did Jesus Do?
“If this man were not doing evil,
we would not have delivered him over to you.”
John 18.30
It is well said of Christ that,
“…like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that
before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53.7)
For, even as Israel had for a thousand years and more shed the blood of innocent and unresisting sheep as an atonement for its sins, so the innocent and unresisting Lamb of God permitted sinful men to do their worst to him. How ironic that those who had seized Jesus were worried about being defiled by setting foot in the Roman governor’s headquarters, but had no fear of their hands being stained with the blood of the Lamb!
Pilate, for his part, appeared rather dismissive of the Jews when he inquired as to why he was being disturbed so early in the morning by the crowd outside—what accusation was so important as to trouble Pilate so early in the day? (John 18.29) Interestingly, a vague charge of “doing evil” was not worthy of the governor’s time, apparently merely doing evil within the confines of the Israelite community was not punishable under Roman law, and so Pilate preferred to let the Jews themselves deal with what seemed nothing more than a matter of their own peculiar religion (John 18.31a).
But there was a catch, for the Romans did not allow an occupied people to exercise the power of life and death—those accused of capital crimes had to be judged and punished according to Imperial statutes and practice (John 18.31b). The high priests and Pharisees may well have believed they were thus using the system to keep their hands clean, so to speak, in the matter of putting the troublesome rabbi from Galilee to death. In fact, what Jesus appeared to be permitting evil men to do to him was in reality his submission to the will of the Father, and fulfillment of Christ’s own prophecy concerning the manner in which he would die (John 18.32).
The Lord, you see, had not come to die for some of the world’s transgressions, but for them all. Jesus would not go to the cross to atone for anything less than Man’s worst, and what could possibly be worse than condemning an innocent, the Son of God himself, to death? Amazingly, this is the very crux of the Gospel, that Christ shed his blood to cover the very worst of sins. No one, no matter how heinous their crimes, no matter how vile their actions, no matter how evil their life, need despair of salvation, for Jesus permitted sinful men to do their worst in order that his death would pay the debt for all who bring their sins to the cross. I only wonder why there is not unrestrained celebration and exultation each Lord’s day when congregations hear the Words of Assurance,
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
that we might be dead to sin, and alive to righteousness.
I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
you are forgiven!
By the Son’s obedience, the Father did his best when Jesus permitted evil men to do their worst. Thanks be to God!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“If this man were not doing evil,
we would not have delivered him over to you.”
John 18.30
It is well said of Christ that,
“…like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that
before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53.7)
For, even as Israel had for a thousand years and more shed the blood of innocent and unresisting sheep as an atonement for its sins, so the innocent and unresisting Lamb of God permitted sinful men to do their worst to him. How ironic that those who had seized Jesus were worried about being defiled by setting foot in the Roman governor’s headquarters, but had no fear of their hands being stained with the blood of the Lamb!
Pilate, for his part, appeared rather dismissive of the Jews when he inquired as to why he was being disturbed so early in the morning by the crowd outside—what accusation was so important as to trouble Pilate so early in the day? (John 18.29) Interestingly, a vague charge of “doing evil” was not worthy of the governor’s time, apparently merely doing evil within the confines of the Israelite community was not punishable under Roman law, and so Pilate preferred to let the Jews themselves deal with what seemed nothing more than a matter of their own peculiar religion (John 18.31a).
But there was a catch, for the Romans did not allow an occupied people to exercise the power of life and death—those accused of capital crimes had to be judged and punished according to Imperial statutes and practice (John 18.31b). The high priests and Pharisees may well have believed they were thus using the system to keep their hands clean, so to speak, in the matter of putting the troublesome rabbi from Galilee to death. In fact, what Jesus appeared to be permitting evil men to do to him was in reality his submission to the will of the Father, and fulfillment of Christ’s own prophecy concerning the manner in which he would die (John 18.32).
The Lord, you see, had not come to die for some of the world’s transgressions, but for them all. Jesus would not go to the cross to atone for anything less than Man’s worst, and what could possibly be worse than condemning an innocent, the Son of God himself, to death? Amazingly, this is the very crux of the Gospel, that Christ shed his blood to cover the very worst of sins. No one, no matter how heinous their crimes, no matter how vile their actions, no matter how evil their life, need despair of salvation, for Jesus permitted sinful men to do their worst in order that his death would pay the debt for all who bring their sins to the cross. I only wonder why there is not unrestrained celebration and exultation each Lord’s day when congregations hear the Words of Assurance,
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
that we might be dead to sin, and alive to righteousness.
I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
you are forgiven!
By the Son’s obedience, the Father did his best when Jesus permitted evil men to do their worst. Thanks be to God!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
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