Stand By Me

Jesus often modeled how we are to live; this is part of the reason He came to earth. John 1:9-14, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…”

While His examples of compassion and power are extraordinary, He calls us to do the same kinds of things. John 13:14-17, “...I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…” (also 1 Peter 2:21). In John 7:50-53 we have a story where Nicodemus was able to serve Jesus similarly to how Jesus served the sinful woman (John 8): "Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 'Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?' he asked. They replied, 'Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!' Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home…"

Standing up for Jesus carried a lot of risk to Nicodemus’s reputation, similar to Jesus standing with a woman caught in adultery would damage Jesus’ reputation. It's interesting that the earliest manuscripts don't include this story about the woman caught in adultery. Yet it fits perfectly with Nicodemus’s defense of Jesus and Jesus' statement, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

The leaders thought His words had no claim, but Jesus says, "...My judgments are correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent Me is with Me." While Nicodemus had never seen the Father, he saw something in Jesus that convinced him. The story about the woman serves as an example of how people can stand up against evil knowing that we are not alone when we stand together.

Paul says in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” James says, “If one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (5:19-20).

We never know how much our example serves as a model for someone else’s bold move for the kingdom of God.

We Saw His Glory

John 10:37-38, “Do not believe Me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though You do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

Their perspective of who Christ was didn’t match up with who He really was. In Psalms 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” God wants us to see Him but from a proper perspective. Satan offered Jesus a way for the world to see God from a different perspective (Matthew 4; Luke 4), similar to how he offered a way to know God from a different perspective in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). But God had revealed Himself to His creation in a way that fostered deep genuine faith in Him. He wants us to see Him as trustworthy and good.

What did Jesus want to show those disciples on the mountain? Whatever it was, God wanted them to see Him from the proper perspective. He wanted them to see how all that has been written about Him and all that has been prophesied about Him all point to the character and heart of God.

Moses has often been equated with the law. For instance in Luke 16:29 which tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” It was on another mountain, Mt. Sinai, that Moses received the 10 Commandments, and it was there that God’s glory made Moses’ face become “transfigured” and shone. God had told him while he was on the mountain, “If you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6)

Elijah, whose name means “The Lord is God,” was also synonymous with the prophets, those who proclaimed the will of God. Probably the best demonstration of Elijah revealing the power and will of God was on another mountain, Mt. Carmel in 1 Kings 18 during the contest between the prophets of Baal and God. In the end, the people saw the glory of God. “When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” (Notice the connection in the names!)

The apostles would write about this event and how it gave them the proper perspective of who God is. 1 Peter 1:16-18, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is My Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.”

A proper perspective of the events in our lives often helps us see how God is working in our lives, usually much different than what we may have originally expected. This new perspective can allow us to have a mountaintop experience with God. Take time to reflect on your own changed perspective in your walk with God, or determine if now is the time to do something about the new perspective you are experiencing in your life today.

Who is Jesus?

The top of Mount Everest is 29,032 feet. From “the top of the world,” you can see approximately 211 miles (on a clear day). You can also begin to see the difference between the atmosphere and outer space! Standing at the summit is awesome.

But is that enough to prove the existence of God? For those that summit mountains, standing at the top can cause many to reflect on their maker. Throughout history, people have made images that try to help them capture the majesty of God. All the nations, including Israel, made idols to honor ‘gods.’ But God had said in Exodus 20:4, “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath…”. 

During Jesus’ ministry, He reminded His followers, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:6-7) 

He had given them ample reasons to trust His claim to be the Messiah, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?” (14:10) This conversation was after He had taken them to Caesarea Philippi, where the Cave of Pan was located. This was believed by the pagans to be the ‘Gate of Hades.' This entrance into the underworld, the place of the dead, was the place the Greeks and Romans claimed to have received visions from Pan, the "seer." 

Jesus took His disciples to this place as well, a place considered sacred by many cultures throughout the world. Perhaps it was while they were standing at the overlook of the Cave of Pan that He asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:27-30) 

Whatever Jesus’ reason for taking them to that place, it was important that they understood that the kingdom that Jesus came to reveal was not like other kingdoms. His was not a kingdom built upon man or false gods, but on the “Word that became flesh” (John 1:1). An important lesson to His disciples (and us) that we don’t build our hopes on man-made things or on speculative mysteries, but rather on the truths revealed by God. 

All that Jesus had done pointed to who He was so “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31). Sadly, many of the people who had followed Jesus would forget that fact and turn their back on the one who had shown them so much evidence of His power. As John writes in John 1:10-11, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.” 

Where would Jesus need to take you to convince you of God’s deity and His power?

Risk

  

On August 7, 1782, George Washington ordered the creation of the first U.S. military decoration, the Purple Heart, awarded for bravery in action. It’s believed that only three men received it during the American Revolution, all of them noncommissioned officers. It was forgotten until its reinstatement in 1932, and since then, it is a highly distinguished medal of honor. Receiving this medal tells everyone that this person is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for someone else, no matter what. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” He also said, “...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45) While it’s easy to recognize the high value of loving your neighbor even more than yourself (Philippians 2:3-4; Romans 12:3), actually living that out is challenging. In fact, the story of the Bible reveals just how challenging that is for us. Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” A verse that helps to explain Paul’s statement in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Instinctively we realize that those willing to give their life for someone else is a rarity and therefore honorable, and even though we may realize the value of that sacrifice, it still seems to be an action few are willing to take. Sacrifice is risky: “What if my sacrifice is ignored or is relatively meaningless to society?” Jesus describes a scenario of the kind of heart God is looking for in his children. In Matthew 25:14-30, He tells the parable of the talents (each talent is about a 20-year salary). Each of the three servants in the parable received a sum of money based, presumably, on their ability to do something with it. After distributing the money, the master left for a long time. Upon his return, he evaluated the “return on investment” from the servant’s efforts. While the first two doubled their money, the last one did nothing with it. His excuse to his master was, “I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. (25)” The risks involved in multiplying what his master gave him were too great for him. While the master’s response may seem harsh, it should help us realize the urgency from God’s perspective in multiplying, or “making disciples of all nations.” Outreach takes risks (as Jesus modeled in His own ministry). With no risk, there’s no reward. Consider the risks we are willing to take to strengthen, encourage, teach, train, and shape someone’s life right in front of us. Remember the reward we gain for taking risks in doing that is much greater than a medal we put around our neck, but instead it is eternity!

Why?

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, people flocked to Him for various reasons. Sometimes it was the simple fact that He fed them or talked with them; other times it was because He healed them, but regardless of their reasons, Jesus gave hope to people. Therefore, it was natural that He would have a following. Jesus did many things that led them to follow Him, but He wanted something from them that was different than what they wanted from Him.

Where was Jesus leading them? What was His ultimate goal? How were they supposed to respond to the many miracles and teachings Jesus offered? All these questions pointed to a bigger question — why? Why lead them, give them hope, or do miracles?

John ends his gospel by explaining why all the miracles and teachings were done, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God…” (John 20:30-31). Believing in Jesus is more than just mentally acknowledging His existence; it is trusting in Him as Lord! He has all authority, and Jesus wants His followers to trust that. 

At some point, His goals for them and their purpose for following Him ran askew. When the people’s commitment and allegiance were challenged, they began to abandon Him. How deep would the rejection go? How many of His followers would quit when Jesus was so close to fulfilling His mission and inaugurating the kingdom in a visible way?

As the people left, Jesus asked His closest followers, the twelve disciples, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” His candid question is one that we have to ask ourselves when the pressures of the world weigh on us. Jesus was demonstrating authority over all His Creation, and He wouldn’t stop until it was “finished” (John 19:30).

Peter’s answer resounds throughout the centuries as a statement of total surrender, dependence, and reverence. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69).

This is why “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-5) so that we would believe in His name and follow Him faithfully to the end. After all, as Jesus said in John 6:63, “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” 

Why do you follow Jesus?

The Significance of Jesus' Eating with Sinners

Jesus made it a point to spend time with the people He came to save -- sinners! There weren’t any areas off limits in that quest. Jesus found that the sick of society (not necessarily the lame, blind, and leprous) were the ones that need healing first. This is similar to a coach and trainer needing to get an injured player healthy as quickly as possible so they can get out and make a difference in the game.

It’s important to realize the very first command by God to mankind (Adam) is found in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…” This is not a command to exploit and oppress, but to bring life (just as God had done) and make things “good” (Ephesians 2:10). The sick in society represent those that need help the most. Jesus' involvement with them is an example to all people of what God intended by that first command; to “rule over '' the earth wasn’t about domination but about bringing good to all living things.

When the “sick” are taken care of, that removes a level of fear from the community. No one wants to get sick; no one wants to mess up so badly that they are cast out from friends and family. Therefore, Jesus’ outstretched hand to help those in the most distraught situations was a huge message of hope for all people (Romans 5:1-11). By eating with people who had been rejected for whatever reason, He demonstrated that they were important to Him (and to God). 

An important example from the Old Testament is found in the actions of King David after he became king. He sought out those he could show favor towards. Mephibosheth was Saul’s grandson, and David did something very uncustomary of a king -- he gave him a perpetual invitation to eat at the king's table! (2 Samuel 9:10). The customary thing to do was to kill any remaining heir to the defeated king to ensure no one would try to exact revenge, but David’s unwarranted act of kindness actually brought a deep sense of loyalty to the “outcast.”

The kingdom of God brings a new level of peace that is unlike any other kingdom. A scene mentioned in several ways in Revelation. Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” The invitation to join King Jesus at the table is being sent out now, and it’s our privilege to join him there. John 3:17, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Regardless of our past, we have been offered an invitation of grace that changes how we live if we choose to accept it. Will you? 

Multiplicity in Ministry

2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear…”

This timely advice from Paul is the motto of many ministers. Even in spite of the growing unpopularity of Christianity in our culture, people still need to hear the good news; and this requires a multiplicity of ministers!

Paul described his work this way in 2 Corinthians 6:6-8, “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.”

While the task of ministry can be daunting, the job still needs to be done. This is, after all, what’s at the heart of the Great Commission, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Ministry was never intended to be done alone. While not everyone will fill the role of preacher, we each have a place in the body of Christ that contributes to ministry (Romans 12:4-8). In Jesus’ ministry, He called people to “Come, follow Me” (Luke 18:22; Matthew 4:19), a call that brought on plenty of challenges, as the apostles commented on (Matthew 19:27; Mark 10:28). Perhaps that’s why Jesus sent them out in pairs (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1) — for encouragement and support!

Paul wrote to Timothy and begged him, “Please come as soon as you can!” Why? Because he needed encouragement. 2 Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.” As we make efforts to reach out more boldly in our community, let’s never forget the power of multiplicity in ministry!

Remember the Alamo

"Remember the Alamo!" The words of General Sam Houston on April 21, 1836, as he led 800 Texans soldiers to victory against Santa Anna's Mexican force of approximately 1,500 men at San Jacinto in under 20 minutes. The lesson for us: Sometimes the memory of sacrifice for a cause encourages you to stand strong in your own battles.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Our memories can drive us to amazing obedience, or they can paralyze us with fear, or even cause us to become obstinate to any kind of change. But just as Paul reminded Timothy of the gift he’d been given (which was all possible through what Jesus did on the cross), we too should be reminded of what fills us now. 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

Jesus wanted us to remember His sacrifice on the cross and how that act could motivate us to unity within His body. Before His arrest, Jesus prayed, “I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me” (John 17:22-23). Later Paul would remind us how what Jesus did on the cross would help us be unified. He said in 1 Corinthians 11:23-24, “For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord Himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, “'This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.'”

Jesus, “the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29), gave His body so that we could have a new body IN HIM. The power of that memory motivates us, or it should, to do everything in our power to honor the will of the Father. Having that powerful memory of God’s unwavering love can be the strength we need to keep going in life.

Romans 8:39, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Good News Family

God’s first command is in Genesis 1:28, “...Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth…”,thus defining, from the very beginning, that the Great Commission is to “build a family.” Within this concept, making a family after the image of God is ultimately the overall mission of God’s kingdom. Although we don’t make them into a family, we get to be the mouthpiece that reveals the pathway to becoming a child of God.

In essence, we have two families to interact with, and both require special care. Our families we were born into at our physical birth is where we were nurtured as a baby, it’s where we adopted our personality and temperament, and it’s where we learned what love was—initially. Ideally, that upbringing will closely resemble the family we were added to at our baptism (Acts 2:47, Ephesians 3:14-19, 1 Timothy 3:5). However, for some, a family is seen as a group of dysfunctional people, selfishly battling for approval or an inheritance, always manipulating one another and trying to outdo each other. In contrast, God’s family is designed to function in a way that stands out from all other families. This family models attributes like inclusivity, mercy, burden-sharing, and equality in a way that speaks deeply to the needs of everyday people.

1 Peter 2:12, “Live such good lives among (those outside) that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” The reality is that this family functions under the principles of Good News. It’s good news to be part of a family that models peacemaking instead of hatred and jealousy.

Perhaps one obstacle that often arises is "Who is qualified to tell others how to become part of God’s family?" Some people may assume they are part of the family already, and there are others that aren’t ready to accept the invitation yet. While God wants everyone to be part of His family, there are certain attributes that are required (Mark 16:16; Luke 13:3; Matthew 10:32-33).

The desire to trust (obey) God helps reveal our devotion to God as our father. Romans 8:14-17, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

As Jesus spoke to the woman at the well (John 4), He helped her understand that “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem….[but] the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks…” One important goal is for us to be that family that helps define what the Good News is all about.

The Love of a Father

1 John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

There may be many traits we carry with us from our fathers, but a deep, genuine, gracious love for those in our life may be the most important. These should be among the attributes we strive to demonstrate to the world, especially our family. As a father, I have to decide to demonstrate “lavished love” in ways that develop maturity and faithfulness. That can be a challenge at times.

Paul says in Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother...”— which is the first commandment with a promise—"...so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the earth. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

From the beginning, God was setting an example of a good father loving His children. He is patient and kind (Romans 2:4), He models meekness (Matthew 11:29-30), and doesn’t seek to shame people without cause (Psalm 69:6). He is a father who doesn't seek His own will (Philippians 2:5-8). And as we get to know Him more, we find He isn’t easily angered (Psalm 103:8) and grieved when we choose wrong (Hosiah 11:9). He lavishes His love on those who repent and come to Him (Luke 15:10), because He is our heavenly father who always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Do you have a strong relationship with your children? The way we first think about God has a lot to do with how we experienced “father.” It's sad to see kids rebel against their parents. As a father, I can't think of a worse feeling than to feel distant from my children. Yet God has had to deal with that from the very beginning, which makes the passage in 1 John 3 even more shocking.

Throughout Jesus' ministry, those He came to save rejected, rebelled, and showed Him evil after He showed them good. More than enduring it, He anticipated it. Isaiah 53:3-5, "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds, we are healed."

Time and again He warned his followers that this is how the people would treat Him: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Many men struggle in their role as dads because their own fathers were either absent—physically or emotionally—or were poor examples. But regardless of what a person experienced in the past, the best thing any parent can do is imitate God the Father. For dads, what image of the Lord are you portraying?

Storms of Life

Most of us start out in our early years dreaming of some kind of adventure in life: job, relationship, hobby, etc. If those dreams are fed, and halfway realistic, then they can become our reality. However, there are plenty of obstacles that get in the way of any kind of dream.

In Scripture, we read of some men (apostles) who must have felt that what Jesus was promoting fulfilled some kind of dream for them. He invited them to “come follow Me,” and they did it! That first step required a lot of faith and guts. But that’s the power of Scripture… “living and active” Hebrews 4:12. That means it’s more than just a moral guide and “chastening rod.” It’s motivational and inspirational! (Romans 15:4; Acts 8:8; 13:52; 16:34) It brings life and joy!

But even in the greatest moments of joy, there can be storms that arise. Early on in Jesus’ ministry, after sharing the joys of being part of the Kingdom of God, He took his disciples across the Sea of Galilee to the Gentile territory. He had already given a great lesson on planting seeds and being a light; now it was time to show them how to do it. That’s when a storm blew in—shaking the joy of the followers and causing them to focus on what seemed to be a dire situation.

After Jesus calms the storm, the disciples say, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.” (Luke 8:25). But calming storms was just the beginning (much like His words to Nathanael in John 1:50). They would soon encounter a demon-possessed man, who according to Mark 5:4 was “unable to be subdued”—yet Jesus brought life! Then they would meet a woman that had suffered at the hands of doctors (who couldn’t heal her)—yet Jesus brought life! Then, He raised a dead girl! Jesus brought life!

Perhaps these encounters helped the apostles’ doubts and fears that arose from leaving everything to follow Jesus. We all have storms that rock us to our core and cause us to question why we’re doing what we’re doing, and like the apostles, we may have to wait a little bit to have our doubts removed. Jesus showed them (and us) God’s power over what seems impossible. In the end, their faith was strengthened. Peter exclaims in Luke 9:20, “You are the Messiah!” This was a statement that he may not have been able to make prior to his experience in the storm.

We all face storms in life, but storms can reveal our distorted view of our problems, ourselves, and even Jesus himself. The more we trust Him in our current storms, the more we’ll be able to trust Him in the next storm. 

Jesus' Shocking Message

Jesus’ ministry is filled with moments where He shocked the crowds by His actions. Probably most notable are the miracles He performed on Sabbath Day. A “shock factor” has been described as an act done to provoke a reaction of sharp disgust, anger, fear, or similar negative emotions. When we are shocked by someone’s words, clothing, actions, etc,. it’s usually because they are either inappropriate or we didn’t expect that to come from whoever did it. 

It’s within the “shock” that makes us rethink what we had previously concluded about someone or something. Jesus often associated with people that made His followers (and those who read the accounts) question His reasoning. 

After Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, many people were inspired by His words. Matthew 7:28-29, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” The shock was that He didn’t quite fit the complete role of a Rabbi or a scribe, yet His understanding of scripture was amazing; a fact the religious leaders had discovered about Him nearly 20 years earlier (Luke 2:47). 

But how should that “shock” cause someone to respond to the message? The Centurion (Luke 7:1-10) acknowledged Jesus' authority and asked for help. The sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50) brought expensive perfume and a lot of boldness and humility. 

It seemed that those in attendance didn’t care to understand her powerful message, so Jesus helped them see how this shocking act of kindness, honor, and repentance, was the proper response to a shocking message. He told a “shocking” story of forgiveness.

Luke 7:41-43, “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 

Where they saw a sinner, Jesus saw “a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17), someone willing to express her love for Jesus no matter what she had to do or where she had to go. Unfortunately, not everyone who hears the amazing good news of Jesus Christ responds correctly. Yet, the same message that compelled many people to leave all they had and follow Him, or wash Jesus’ feet with their hair, or simply humbled themselves before Jesus—and that response is the goal for us today. How will you show your love for Christ today?

Remembering

Imagine you are a fisherman in Judea in the first century. You have a family and obligations to your co-workers. Perhaps you have a mortgage and other debts; you have aging parents and in-laws that need your help; you have responsibilities. Life is busy! Then, one day a strange rabbi shows up at the worksite and invites you to follow him on a quest. You’re not quite sure where he’s going or what this is really about… would you accept his invitation?

As a parent, I would probably do my best to persuade my son/daughter NOT to accept the invitation. Considering Jesus’ invitation to “Follow Me” from nearly any perspective seems risky and honestly quite irresponsible.

We can read Jesus’ sermon on the Mount as a kind of advertisement for a new kind of kingdom lifestyle that shifts how we think about the everyday things in life. If we consider this, then Matthew dedicates almost half of the lesson to put priorities in their proper place, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). Quickly followed by “don’t worry about life so much,” since “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” and “Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34).

Worrying about life can lead to resentment about where we stand in comparison to people around us. Paul says later in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” That comparison often leads to jealousy and envy. Therefore, Jesus seems to link worry to judging in His sermon. He says, “Do not judge… Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-3). Worrying and judging distract you from the life you have (even if it has plenty of scars in it). Instead, if we trust His crazy invitation to follow Him, we’ll find that “[His] thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways [His] ways, [because] As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways…” (Isaiah 55:8-9). That’s why we trust Him, we build on His foundation, and we listen to His voice.

Thankfully, that voice, those foundations have been shown to us by Scripture and by Godly people in our lives that have modeled Christ well. This Memorial Day, remember those who have shed light on the high road and narrow path leading to true life! Because counting your many blessings, naming them one by one, may surprise you with what the Lord has done, and through whom He revealed it. So don’t worry about the path, just stay on it, trusting God, and stay clear of judgments that cloud our vision of the path Christ is leading us on.

Follow Me

Afterward… The Old English origin of this word is “from aft (behind) to turn towards.” Ultimately it defines a kind of moving on, or a kind of “turn around," not exactly the same as repentance, but this idea is recognized in Jesus’ invitation to “follow Me.”

We leave the path we were on and decide to walk with Him. 1 Peter 2:21, “To this (suffering for Christ) you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” Paul would later remind Timothy of the high price of following Jesus in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” And of course, Jesus gave a disclaimer to those who had decided to join His journey. He said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first” (John 15:18).

However, the fact still remains that we’ve been called to follow Him, and all the repercussions of that choice. We make a decision to turn from our place of comfort, our normalcy, and our routines and are called to adopt His lifestyle. From aft to turning towards Him!

It takes a willingness, and it takes action. This is something that Jesus reminded His apostles of during His last night in the garden. He said in Mark 14:38, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The willingness is the motivation for action, but the action still has to take place

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentioned the kind of people that go to heaven; He says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Like ‘willingness’, faith and following Jesus require us to begin to live like He did. John tells us in 1 John 5:2-3, “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.”

Jesus’ sermon revealed to all of us the kind of people that love others the way Jesus did. His sermon points us to a way of looking at the world that will seem odd or crazy to some, but it will offer a peace that passes all understanding. Seek that by turning away from our worldly view of life and following His spiritual view of life.

Are Willing

Many graduation speeches are crafted around the idea of going out into the world and making a difference, but have you considered what keeps someone from making a difference? Making a difference has a lot to do with: desire, hunger, or a willingness to endure through difficulties until the difference happens. 

When we hear devastating news from a doctor about a condition that will take a lot of time, tests, treatments, and talks with God, it has been noted that those with a willingness to “beat this” have tremendously higher odds of survival. 

Whether it’s going out in the world to do something good, or searching the world over for something that brings good to myself, willingness is a word that has significant value because willingness is power. 

The leper who approached Jesus immediately after the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 8:1-4), had been inspired by what Jesus had said when he asked Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” The man knew that it was up to the willingness of Jesus for a change to happen. 

Of course, we read Jesus' words in Matthew 8:3, “I am willing, be clean!” Jesus was willing to make a difference in his life. But Jesus came to earth, in part, to show us what God’s will for our life is all about, and a willingness to trust and follow God’s is at the center. 

From Jesus’ words, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22), to “watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). He guides us to a place where our willingness to remain faithful is the difference. 

Whether we want to learn, to forgive, to reach out, to impact, to share, to grow...all of these take a willingness. Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” In other words, “stay willing!” 

When we are willing, we become eager, determined, resilient. Willingness is not just mustering up the courage to face something hard, it's an overarching quality that defines faithfulness. Life presents so many opportunities to ask ourselves, “How willing am I right now?” 

What’s your answer?

Compassion of Mothers

When God described Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai, He said, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6) When someone describes themselves with character traits like compassion, patience, being genuine and true, they’re making a big claim. It sounds a lot like the definition of Love that Paul offers in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that Love is patient, kind, doesn’t envy or boast. It’s not proud or disrespectful, selfish or short-tempered. Love doesn’t even focus on the wrongs you do but protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.

God’s compassion is seen often. And compassion is different from empathy, which is the ability to understand and feel another person’s feelings. God can do that, but He goes further than that; God’s compassion is modeled by going through whatever the hardship is with the sufferer (Immanuel, God with us - Matthew 1:23). His character seeks to promote wholeness and redemption.

How do we model that in our own lives? Mothers are probably recognized for doing this best. There have been many psychological studies done to determine the impact compassion has on dealing with things like stress, fear, worry, anger, or resentment. No surprise, it’s a night and day difference when people receive compassion.

So, when Jesus demonstrated compassion to people during His time on earth, He gave them more than their health back or even their lives back. He opened opportunities for those people to pay that compassion forward and share that “healing power” with others.

This Mother’s Day, we recognize the significant impact our mothers have played in our lives. While there may be multiple contributions they have made to our development, compassion is one that Jesus definitely favors.

In Luke 7:11-17 we read of Jesus passing through the town of Nain and noticing a funeral procession for a young man, a mother’s only child. 'When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, '"Don’t cry.'" (7:13). But Jesus did more than offer kind words of comfort, His compassion brought restoration and joy to the woman: He raised her son from the dead!

Although it would be nice if we saw that today, we have to learn from Him that He does something to bring her healing and joy. Resurrection will be God’s final demonstration at the end (1 Corinthians 15:20-28). What we can bring may actually take more work, because it is less than resurrection, but compassionate comfort is more valuable than we realize.

Be sure to recognize those in your life who have been by your side to give you the compassion that God wants us to model. Thank God for mothers who do this well!

Sermon on the Mount and Constitution

Our nation’s government is defined by two important documents: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (Bill of Rights). Although it seems to be debatable for some on how important these documents are for modern living, it has at least been recognized throughout much of our history, that these documents shape the structure for every major part of how our government functions and why it functions in the first place.

In a similar way, the “Good News” is two parts of one story contained in one document (the Bible). The Good News starts with a declaration of independence from our sinful nature. Colossians 1:9-14, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

The good news is that rescue has been made possible through Jesus Christ! But as Paul describes in this passage, he continually prays that they can understand how to live as rescued people.

Jesus’ declaration to those in bondage (sin) gives us hope. But His death on the cross didn’t fully explain how to live a free life. Although one could argue that His self-sacrifice on the cross demonstrated the ultimate ‘love for neighbor,’ we can easily see that there are further instructions to glorify God by what we do and say, after being set free.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines the “constitution.” By describing the attitudes and motives behind people in God’s kingdom, it helps potential followers know what they’re getting into before they take the plunge. This is an important part of Jesus’ ministry that He brings light to what Satan tries to keep hidden.

“In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world… [but] the world did not recognize Him… [nor] receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:4-5, 9-13). God’s ways bring life, but we must follow Him because “He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the father without Him” (John 14:6).

Sermon on the Mount

 One of the most influential teachings of Jesus is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7; Luke 6:20-49). It has been called the “constitution of Christianity,” and it's here, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, that He outlines the “code of conduct '' for His followers. 

At first glance, it may be tempting to surmise that Jesus is establishing a practical lifestyle guide that was actually harder than Moses’ instructions. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago…but I say to you…” (Matthew 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43) all referring to some of the ancient laws of Moses given on Mount Sinai. However, what Jesus was about to show those living on the Judean hillside was that fulfilling God’s laws just required the right heart.

Moses delivered a similar speech. In fact, the entire book of Deuteronomy is a sermon on the mount. And, like Jesus, he was giving the “code of conduct” the people of God should live by in order to be what God had called them to be earlier on the mountain. God said, “Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6).

In Moses’ instructions, he ended his sermon with “blessings” (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) and “cursings” (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Jesus on the other hand begins His sermon with “blessings” in what we call the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11; Luke 6:20-22). Luke, however, follows Moses’ pattern of pairing the blessings with the cursings, or “woes” in Luke. Much like the section in Moses’ sermon about the cursings, which were significantly lengthier than the blessings, Jesus will spend much of His earthly ministry dealing with the curses that were rooted in the hearts of the religious leaders.

The hope is that we as readers will recognize that Moses was giving his final instructions to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land and that Jesus is giving similar instructions before entering the Kingdom of God. As Jesus’ ministry unfolds, we begin to have a paradigm shift in what the Kingdom of God is really about.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 

Shepherds and Christ

Resurrection Sunday, commonly known as Easter, is a day of celebration. Ultimately, the understanding of what Jesus has made possible for us is a cause for celebration. But, as in the Bible, God often set days aside for the Israelites especially, to remind them to listen to His gracious voice, to follow His loving guidance throughout life. 

Photo by depositphotos.com

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

That promise is probably best illustrated in His sacrifice of Himself on the cross where He modeled what a great leader and savior He is. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). His sacrifice set the example of how we are to live (1 Peter 2:21); but it also set an example of the kind of people you should look up to for spiritual guidance on earth — 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ” 

Jesus told a story of a good shepherd in John 10, where He describes the character of a shepherd who cares about the sheep. He says, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (10:11). He leads the sheep to good pasture, he protects them, and the sheep knew his voice. 

Ezekiel 34 contrasts the bad shepherds of Israel to the good shepherd that would be discovered in Jesus. In that contrast, we realize a shepherd was always intended to feed the sheep, to care for the injured, to strengthen the weak. Later, after Jesus’ resurrection, He gave the apostles a job that would be carried on (in some ways) from generation to generation. He said to Peter in John 21:15-17, “Feed My sheep.” What a significant responsibility! 

The story of the shepherd (John 10) was an obvious reflection of Jesus’ sacrifice. It is a high standard that we all should be grateful for and one that causes us to see the beautiful power of genuine love for the sheep in God’s fold. 

Who's the Greatest?

Who’s the greatest NBA basketball player of all time? One problem with that question is what criteria would be being used to determine that. We could gauge that title on their ability to shoot, dribble, pass, defend or rebound, the number of national titles won, etc. But there are plenty of professional basketball players who do those fairly well most of the time (or they wouldn’t be in the NBA). Maybe we determine that title based on popularity, off-court behavior, or the amount of money they’ve earned in their career. 

The Jews had an idea of who the greatest king in Israel would be, using David as the criteria, or Solomon, or what they built, or who submitted to them, but Jesus claimed to be greater than all those:
Matthew 12:42, “The Queen of the South… came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.” 
Matthew 12:6-8, “I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 

Jesus’ claim to be greater than wisdom, the temple, even the Sabbath was a big claim for someone to make, especially to a group like the Jews who regarded their ancestors as being the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). 

Perhaps similar to the contest that Elijah had with King Ahab in 1 Kings 18, the “god” that showed up was the greater god. Ba’al was on vacation, or sleeping, or…didn’t exist! But God showed up in a big way. Jesus, or Immanuel (God with us), showed up on earth challenging those peoples and ideals that had been propped up as the greatest. 

The contest between the religious leaders and Jesus began early in Jesus’ ministry and would last until they killed Him. Yet as Jesus tells Nicodemus of God’s standard of greatness in their private meeting (John 3), He shares with him the real measure of what makes up “greatness” in God’s eyes. 

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This simple statement has become one of the most recognizable and most popular verses in the Bible. In this statement is a divine declaration of what is great! The greatest God gave the world the greatest opportunity to share in the greatest promise by avoiding the greatest tragedy. Jesus set a new standard of what determines The Greatest!

Nicodemus and Pharaoh

Imagine being a Hebrew slave, crying out to God for help, and Moses shows up as your deliverer. What he says just makes Pharaoh angrier and more of a tyrant than before. A lot of bitterness could stem from his “deliverance.” In the end, however, you would be able to celebrate your freedom from slavery on the banks of the Red Sea with your fellow Hebrews. We read of their song of praise in Exodus 15, but it wasn’t until the complete process of deliverance that the people recognized God’s hand in it.

In a similar way, Jesus showed up as a kind of new and improved Moses to deliver God’s people from the bondage of sin. The Gospel story is the good news of deliverance, but the story helps us see how that wonderful message met with resistance. Some Jews, especially the religious Jewish leaders, refused to see Jesus as the Messiah.

Yet, there was at least one Jewish leader that did recognize Jesus as a messenger of God - Nicodemus. We read of that famous meeting in John 3 where Nicodemus says to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with Him.” (John 3:2) He saw what Pharaoh had been too stubborn to see in Moses.

However, simply acknowledging Jesus as God’s messenger, or even the Messiah didn’t equate to acceptance of His kingship. Jesus said to him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (3:3) And in the dialogue we realize Jesus is inviting him to see what has been revealed in the Bible the whole time, and to trust what God is doing.

“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (3:13-17).

Why couldn’t other religious leaders follow Nicodemus’ example by humbly coming to Jesus and trying to find out what it all meant? Like Pharaoh, this is stubborn pride; they simply refused to see. To that, Jesus said in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Or as He would conclude their conversation with, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil…”

Our goal is to see how Jesus the Christ is leading us out of bondage like Moses led the Israelites out of bondage. As Peter would later say in 1 Peter 5:5, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Cleaning Out the Temple

What’s the Sabbath day all about? In one simple word, it’s “rest.” But the concept is seen throughout the story of the Israelites as a kind of renewal. Ultimately, rest is a rejuvenating activity, but we also see a rejuvenating activity in things like the Flood, Jubilee, and a host of other God-directed events. Sometimes to get to the point of rest, you have to do a little spring cleaning.

 
Early in Jesus’ ministry, a significant event demonstrated God’s “cleansing” of the place that was supposed to be a place of refreshment – the temple (John 2). Because of the activities going on in the temple, the words of David in Psalm 65:4 said didn't seem to be true, “...We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple.”

This place needed to see the light that the temple was intended to shine into the world around it. Jesus would soon reveal that He was the light of the temple. John began His gospel with a prologue that included these powerful words, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (John 1:4), but as John would continue in John 1:9-12, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

Jesus was telling those with impure motives in their trade within the temple walls to GET OUT, just like He had done to Satan around the same time frame (Matthew 4, Luke 4). Jesus was confronting darkness with a message that cleaned house and set free.

 
Jesus’ temple cleaning can easily be seen as an important metaphor in our own lives. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” It’s THAT temple that we need to make sure stays free from corruption and evil intentions. It’s good to stop and consider what needs to be cleaned out of my life.

 
John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

After Baptism

Baptism. Romans 6:2-4 reminds us that in our baptism we made a declaration to die to sin. And when we “were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death” which resulted in a new way of living! Dying to sin doesn’t mean dying to temptation. As good as that would be, that’s not how the spiritual realm works. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the “powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Jesus didn’t consider being equal with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself just a servant, in human likeness…[so] “He humbled himself by becoming obedient, even to death…” (Phillipians 2:6-8).

After Jesus’ baptism, He encountered three different temptations (tests) from Satan. Jesus had the same kinds of temptations that we have to deal with, and by doing that, He had to trust in God’s power just like we have to. 

First, Satan tempted Him with food. It’s kind of interesting that it was food that the serpent used as bait for Eve with the first temptation (Genesis 3)! But Jesus depended on the words of God rather than justification or human logic. “‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (A reference to Deuteronomy 8:3).

Next, Satan tempted Him with an opportunity to show off His power by throwing Himself off the cliff and letting the angels rescue Him. Satan quotes Psalms 91:11-12. (ironically, the very next verse is referring to Satan’s demise, “You will tread (and trample] on the great lion and the serpent” Genesis 3:15; 1 Peter 5:8). Again, Jesus responds with Scripture; this time Deuteronomy 6:16.

Finally, Satan tempts Him with the opportunity for the whole world to no longer endure temptation by the “Father of Lies,” if Jesus would acknowledge Satan as a genuine authority. But Jesus demonstrates what Eve failed to do—and every bit of human will has failed to do as well—trust in the guidance of God’s word completely throughout our lives! Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only!” This happened to be the first commandment given to the Israelites after leaving Egyptian bondage (Exodus 20:3). 

Hebrews 4:15-16, “[Jesus was] tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. [So] approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, [reaching for His] mercy and find [that] grace to help us in our time of need.” 

Praise the Lord for giving us the template to endure temptation! Trust in God’s word!

It Starts with God's Word

When do we start planning for retirement, a career, a family? Or being active in our faith? People appreciate being able to see the beginning of a story, of a project, of a relationship, etc. The origins help us appreciate and understand the motive of something better; knowing the origins even helps us feel more confident in the outcome. 

That’s true for products and services, and it's true for the message of the gospel. 2 Peter 1:16, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” 

There was a point when Jesus would officially begin His ministry to reveal the kingdom of God. John’s disciples had come asking if He was the one and if this was the time. He answered them with the words of Isaiah, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me” (Matthew 11:5 referencing Isaiah 35). 

Miracles would end up being a key sign that Jesus was the Messiah, serving as proof of His power and authenticity. The miracle at Cana (John 2), turning the water into wine, was His “first of the signs through which He revealed His glory.” 

However, Jesus had been revealing His unique life even from his birth. We also see Him as a 12-year-old boy displaying a foundation that would set all believers on a course of trusting in God’s words, faithfully listening and meditating on them, and “growing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52) as He sat at the feet of the religious leaders discussing the Law. 

Jesus depended on the words of God to guide Him into action, and even to defend against threats to His mission (Luke 4, Matthew 4). He modeled what God told Joshua to do in Joshua 1:7-8, “Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Those words would comfort Him along every step of His journey, including the cross (Psalm 22). It’s true for us as well. God’s word reveals our role in the kingdom of God, and it gives us the strength we need to carry out God’s will. 

The longest chapter in the Bible is focused on the beauty of God’s laws and how they protect us against enemies, guide us in our life, and ultimately give us hope. Jesus was the essence of all these, “the Word that became flesh.” Think on Psalm 119:28, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” What a wonderful promise and great example for us!

Recognizing Jesus

How do you handle problems? Ultimately, God’s word directs us in a way that helps us to utilize God’s wisdom and power to help overcome the problems we face (Psalm 119, Proverbs 2, Joshua 1:8). That doesn’t mean that all problems are avoidable, but how we react to the problem is within our control.

For the Israelites living under Roman control, they saw their situation as a problem. But what was the solution? God was revealing His ancient plan before their very eyes, starting with the message of John the Baptist in the wilderness, followed by the teachings, the signs, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. However, the religious leaders didn’t see John or Jesus as a solution to their problem. In fact, these leaders set out to stop their message.

Cna uoy raed htis vrey wlel? Sometimes we only see what we want to see! The religious leaders (and others) had a different picture in their minds of what the Messiah would be like. They failed to 5ee 7he B16 picture because of their lack of faith in the signs that had been there all along.

To recognize something for what it is should be considered a wonderful gift. In time, everything that Jesus taught to them would be recognizable to the Apostles, and those they taught, as the words of God. In Luke 24:44-45, Jesus told His disciples, “‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.’ Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Also, in Revelations 1:3, “…blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it…” 

Jesus often said, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:23). This was said to those willing to “see and hear” what the Scriptures had been revealing about Christ and God’s will.

We are blessed to have a more complete picture of the Messiah than those who stood on the banks of the river Jordan, or the people who first met Jesus. However, we can be just as blind as they were. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

It should be our aim to understand His will, rather than being foolish (Ephesians 5:17). But that takes diligently studying and meditating on God’s inspired word. Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Let us “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus the Egyptian

For a time, was Jesus an Egyptian?

Matthew 2:14-15 briefly describes a part of Jesus' childhood. Our attention should naturally go to the quote from Hosea 11:1-2, 4, "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me... I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them."

Not only is this referring to Israel while they were in Egyptian bondage… but to Christ and His rescue of the souls of people!

Why is that important to recognize this from the original Exodus story? By seeing the past, it becomes a guide to the future.

As the Israelites left Egypt, they quickly complained and doubted. We read in Hebrews 3:7-10, 12-13, 19, "So, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried Me, though for forty years they saw what I did'. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ See to it…that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness… [because we know] that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."

Egypt would always have a bitter taste in the mouths of the Jews, because of what it represented to them, but that was part of their embarrassing past. We've all got something in our past we wish would be forever forgotten, but Jesus went there (to their past) to change the future of all people.

Isaiah 19:21, "So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord…"

Like the prodigal son who went off to a foreign land to enjoy his wealth, he remembered that his father wanted him to come home. It's within that story in Luke 15, that we see the truest picture of Exodus… deliverance from our own stupidity.

The Mother of All Life

As we begin our study of the Life of Christ, we pay special attention to those who wrote it all down, those who would piece together the eternal mystery that “angels longed to look into” (1 Peter 1:12). It doesn’t take much to realize that He is the center of everything, as John writes in his prologue, a kind of poetic introduction to his Gospel, in John 1:3-4, “Through Him, all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”

Through Jesus, true, eternal life would be made possible. Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Because Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him]” (John 14:6).

But consider another person who “all life” would come from—Eve. In Genesis 3:20, “Adam named his wife Eve because she would become the mother of all the living.” Eve was not a deity, and she wasn’t the Messiah; she was a human being that would help the “other” human being on the planet–Adam. They would work together to bring life to the entire world, but she was how that “fruit” would multiply. 

Paul said in Romans 5:12-14, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people because all sinned… death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.” (Also read 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 for more comparison of Adam to Christ.)

Although, in reality, we know that it was Eve who caused the first sin to enter the world. What if that scene could be redone? What if there was another chance for “the mother of all life” to simply trust God, praise Him for what He was doing, and acknowledge His will? In contrast, Mary did praise God and glorified Him for using her to play a part in bringing true life to the world. Just ponder that as you read these words of Paul concerning Jesus as the source of all life: 

Colossians 1:16-18, “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything He might have the supremacy.”

The Faith of Priests

After crossing the Red Sea and setting up camp at the base of Mt. Sinai, God gives the “law” to the Israelites. The law included instructions for a priesthood to offer ceremonies designed to reflect blessings from God or repentance towards God; but as time went on, the priesthood didn’t function like they were supposed to very often. From the very beginning with Nadab and Abihu, who didn’t respect the responsibilities of the priests (Leviticus 10), to the prophetic words of Malachi, “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble…” (Malachi 2:7-8).

The priests had abused their position of intercessory between God and the Israelites. It is believed that the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees were established during the time after Malachi as an effort to establish more order in their service. Whether that worked or not could be debated. Just because there was “order” didn’t translate to faith.

Zechariah served as a priest when the Messiah arrived. We’re told in Luke 1:8-9 that “Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.”

Jesus often rebuked the religious leaders and teachers of the law because they “do not practice what they preach,” and “everything they do is done for people to see…” (Matthew 23:1-7). Even at Jesus’ trial, we get a glimpse of the blindness because they were so “zealous for their traditions” that they couldn’t see how the prophecies about Jesus were being fulfilled right in front of them. (Mark 14:55-63, Galatians 1:14).

There’s no indication Zechariah was doing a half-hearted job, but we see pretty clearly that his faith didn’t match up with what the ceremonies he was performing were pointing at. As a result of his lack of faith, he became a mute. But it makes sense that, even prior to that instance, he still wanted to receive blessings from God and had hope for God to redeem Israel.

Sometimes, like the priests, our actions may not match up with our hopes. If we hope to be smarter, fitter, richer, better in some way, can we expect to reach that goal if we just go through the motions? Following Jesus takes faith. Jesus reminded Thomas of this after His resurrection, when He said in John 20:29, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” What we do in faith, matters!

Something New

Having new things is exciting. From new life when we were born into this world as a baby, to new hope of an occupation, a marriage, a family, goals, and dreams, to everything in between. But is there a way to find something new even in the old? 

When I was a kid, I thought it would be cool to restore a car. In reality that car would still be just as old, but it would have newer paint, or interior, or newer motor. Years later, I would find something satisfying in remodeling homes. Although it can be a lot of work and can be expensive, I’m usually pleased with the transformation. The idea of old things having a new look is something that has made HGTV a household name. 

We usually recognize the hard work that goes into restoration and see how expensive it can be, but people who like to do it appreciate the beauty of the end result. When it comes to our spiritual lives, we can easily recognize that “we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” (Galatians 3:23) by how people tend to treat one another. This becomes the base reason for the need to be restored. Our sinful choices continue to corrode our lives until our thinking is completely out of character with God. It doesn’t take much to end up with a warped view of the world or others within the world. 

Jesus showed up to give us an example to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21, Phillipians 2:5). But His life was more than just a good example to follow; what He did on the cross gave us a way into new life—just like those who got on the Ark had a new future because they got on a boat that could rise above the washing away of the old (Genesis 6- 9). Therefore, Jesus is the source of a new beginning, like the Ark was the vessel that allowed Noah to have a new beginning. 

This new life is best seen in how we live, what we say, how we think. Ephesians 2:12-13, “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” 

As new citizens of God’s kingdom, we no longer hold to our old ways. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Like the old car, we may still have the original bones deep inside, but everything about how we look, smell, run is completely new. 

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Eternal Plan

If you’ve ever played a part in organizing a big event you know there are a lot of important details that go into pulling it off successfully. A wedding, for instance, involves more than just two people saying “I do.” There are decorations, invitations, clothes, food, a place to do it! All of these things take a lot longer to put into place than the actual service. Many big ventures in life require a lot of planning to make it go smoothly. The more significant an event is, the longer it typically takes to put it together. As we reflect on the plan of salvation made possible by Jesus the Christ, we should instantly recognize that this is very important not only to God but to us! Can we recognize the planning that went into bringing that into reality?

Genesis 12:2-3, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This is the official promise made to Abraham concerning God among His people. This was made more than 2,000 years before Jesus was born, but we can see how it had already been in the works long before that (Genesis 3:15; Colossians 1:15-17)

However, like many big events that take a lot of planning, people can get impatient and want to cut corners, or do just what sounds easier to them. The Bible is filled with examples of people who decided to move ahead without God. Humanity would do go to remember the words of Psalms 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Paul says in Romans 5:6, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” At just the right time! Once all the pieces were set in place, once all the details were complete, Jesus came to dwell among us. But His arrival was just the beginning of God’s last phase – redemption.

Just consider the impact of one of the most famous verses in the Bible, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” His love for His creation is what compelled Him to put this plan to work.

1 Peter 1:10-12, “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

Listen Carefully

Can you spot the difference between these two Hebrew letters? It may not seem like much, but this small difference determined the fate of some Ephraimites (Judges 12:4-6).

This story illustrates the importance of your words and the interpretation of those words. For the controllers of the Jordan in Judges 12, “shibboleth” versus “sibboleth” was the difference between life and death.

The Israelites had crossed the Jordan River during the time of Joshua (after the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness), which symbolized the boundary between the Promised Land and the land they had come from. The Promised Land was critical to the Jews, it represented the fulfillment of God’s promise, thus the “Promised” Land. Having that land meant that God was faithful, strong, and capable. The Messiah was to be the king that would rule that land. Isaiah 9:6-7, “…the government will be on His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

But just as there were problems within the tribes during the years of Canaanite conquest, there were also problems amongst the Jews concerning who the Messiah, the Christ, would actually be. Would people hear His voice? Would they follow Him?

Jesus compared Himself to a shepherd in John 10:14-16, and said, “I know My sheep and My sheep know Me… they will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” Isaiah had prophesied about the Messiah as a shepherd in Isaiah 40:11, “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart…” Also, in Ezekiel 34:23, “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and He will tend them; He will tend them and be their shepherd.”

The imagery of the shepherd meant that the Jews would need to listen to His voice and follow His example. Jesus said in John 10:25-27, “The works I do in My Father’s name testify about Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”

Being able to decipher the words of God as instructions that need to be obeyed is, and was, fundamental to doing the will of God (Matthew 7:21; Ephesians 5:17). Caring for the flock should be considered part of what determines my faithfulness to God. Consider this concept in light of 1 Timothy 5:8, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Silence

Awkward silence can be deafening. This is a point when many people begin to fumble around and say dumb things and act without thinking. Awkward silence promotes patience; an act that many prefer to steer far away from. Why? Silence can highlight the unknown, ignorance can stimulate all kinds of fears, and when we are afraid, those fears can cripple us.

An example of this could be Gehazi’s response to the Arameans when they come to surround Elisha’s house at Dothan. But Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:16-17). Our fears of the unknown can cause us to lose faith, like Jesus wanting to go back into Judea (John 11:8-10) or His death announcement (Matthew 16:22-23).

Throughout God’s redemption story of mankind, He allows times when we have to simply trust Him to be working, even if we can’t see it. 2 Peter 3:4, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

For the people who awaited the Messiah before John the Baptist, it had been over 400 years since Malachi’s prophecy about the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6). But what was God doing during that time? While there isn’t a confirmed prophecy from God during that time, we can see how He was preparing the way for the Messiah’s arrival. Events like the conquests of Alexander the Great (336–323) included defeating the Persian empire and establishing Greek as the universal language throughout his entire kingdom (the known world). Or later, the strong stance the Hasmonean (Maccabee’s) took against required emperor worship and the tolerance that won with the empire. The establishment of the Synagogue, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. The Greek translation of the Hebrew scripture (the Septuagint). These are just a few things that made the advancement of the kingdom of God easier and more receptive.

Jesus told Thomas, when he finally got to see Jesus after His resurrection, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29). Peter said in 1 Peter 1:8-9, “...Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

2 Peter 3:8-9, “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Preconceived Ideas

Preconceived ideas. These are ideas or opinions that are formed before having the evidence of their truthfulness. Such as, “This is not going to turn out well,” “I’ll never be able to …” These preconceived ideas often impact how we analyze situations. Prior to Jesus’ arrival, the Jews had a lot of preconceived ideas about the Messiah, and what he would do to deliver them from Roman oppression. However, once Jesus began His ministry, many people had trouble seeing Jesus’ plan as God’s plan.

In spite of people’s failure to see Jesus as a fulfillment of the Messiah prophesied about in Scripture, He was — and still is — the essence of God. John 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 9:6)

Luke decided to help clear up some of the misunderstandings or the preconceived ideas about the Messiah by outlining the life of Christ (Luke 1:1-3). As Theophilus began to follow Luke’s detailed account about the life of the Messiah, it seemed clear how significant His life really was.

Jesus is the sum of all things, a phrase used multiple times (Matthew 11:27, Ephesians 1:22, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:16…). Paul would later share his unashamed proclamation of the power and significance of the good news about Jesus, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

Jesus’ way of living revealed God’s desire for us and our purpose in Christ. Jesus said in John 15:8, “This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” There may be a lot that goes into “bearing fruit,” but at its core, it's following His pattern of making people’s lives better by being a blessing to them — loving your neighbor. Prior to Jesus’ arrival (even afterward), people didn’t have a true understanding of what the Messiah would be bringing to God’s creation. His life could sum up our purpose; Jesus’ life summed up powerfully the heart of God. He is truly “all things.” Other people claimed to be the messiah, but they didn’t bear fruit to confirm it (Matthew 7:15-20).

Know that Jesus is the sum of all things; He is the “way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus’ life brought clarity to the many preconceived ideas about God’s will, salvation, and our purpose. In John’s prolog, he describes Jesus, or the Word (logos), by saying, “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.” (John 1:17-18)