Scripture: Hebrews 2:10-18
On Christmas Eve, we considered what Mary and Joseph may have known and what they did not know as they fixed their eyes on the newborn Savior. The truth is that they probably knew very little of what their baby would be able to give to the world or what He would have to endure – all they could see was this new and precious life that had been given to them.
When our first son was born 2 months premature, you would think that we would be concerned about his development. Would he be mentally impaired? Would he have physical defects that would come to light in the next few years? What would he be able to do, what could he learn?
You would think that these are the thoughts that would enter my mind, but the truth is that when I first saw this new baby, the only thought that I had was “My son!” We would learn a few years later that he had some learning disabilities, but that first thought has always stuck with me, and when I look at this fine young man, I still think “This is my son – thank you Lord.”
I don’t think that Joseph and Mary were any different – they had been told that this was the Son of God, but when they looked at him in those first few moments of life, the only thing they could see was their baby.
But they would soon begin to discover that there was more to this child than simply sonship. He would soon be the source of life and glory.
Read Hebrews 2:10-13
What will tomorrow bring? Jesus was to be the “author of salvation”, and salvation would become perfected through His suffering. Those new parents could never have made that connection on their own, not even after the visit of the shepherds, not even with the knowledge that they had regarding prophesy. Joseph had been told that the child would save the people from their sins, but that hardly prepared them for the eventualities of Christ’s ministry.
The text also tells us that the one who is holy and those who are made holy by Him, are of a common heritage. These new parents would never have understood that, either. Family was by blood line, not by a Godly action. They were of the House of David, and were descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and they were “family” with all who could claim the same. Apparently, the reference to “family” meant that no one else would be allowed in! But the Child would turn that interpretation upside down, too.
The latter 2 references – “I will put my trust in him” and “Here am I, and the children God has given me”, are from Isaiah 8:17-18 and are in the context of a warning to the nation, and not as a reassurance. These verses are preceded with these words – ”he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” (Isaiah 8:14) This Child would be a sanctuary, even while the people would be stumbling over His message and fearful of the words that He would offer them. This Jesus Child was going to be a Savior, a Refuge, even while he would cause others to fall flat on their faces! The Child’s future would be filled with wonder and amazement for many, and at the same time, a sticking point for many others.
Read Hebrews 2: 14-18
What will tomorrow bring? As God, Jesus would break the grip that sin has on humanity, but He had to do it as a Man who could die. God can destroy Satan at any moment that He wants to, but the Lord is allowing us to participate in this salvation. Christ dies so that the hold that sin has on us can destroyed, but we must also die - die to sin - so that our hold on it can also be broken. And these deaths, in Christ, will lead to a new life that is unlike anything that we could ever imagine!
And in escaping from the throes of death, Satan is defeated in his war against you and me.
The Child Jesus would become a Savior to the people, but hardly in an orthodox way!
And He would free us, not only from the penalty of death, but also from the fear of death. The writer uses the term “held in slavery”, which raises an interesting connotation. Slaves are people who have been captured and enslaved against their will, and who have no possibility of release on their own. Freedom requires either the benevolence of the slave holder, or one who is mightier that the slaver. And since we all know that there is no grace whatsoever in Satan, our only hope is in the mighty arm of God Himself.
That is Christ’s legacy – He is the mighty arm of God.
And who is He to help? Who is tomorrow for? His only purpose is to gain freedom for us. We know that many angels left heaven to serve Lucifer, but this tells us that there is no salvation for them. Their sin, if the failing of angels can be called sin, is apparently unforgivable. But praise God, our sin can be forgiven and washed away!
If Christ was to be a Savior to angelic sinners, He would have been like them. If He is to be a Savior to humanity, He must be like us. And so He is. Tomorrow, my friends, is for us!
Mary gave birth to the One whose sole purpose in this life was to bring salvation to all who would accept His incredible gift of freedom.
Verse 18 - “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Are you being tempted in this life?
Do you feel drawn to ways that are foreign to God?
Do you still have your own “death grip” on sin?
We can no longer claim that sin has a hold on us. Jesus has come and has broken that hold - it is impotent, it is powerless, it has been destroyed! And now the only power that Satan has over us is our own false sense of right and wrong. He places doubts in our minds and hearts regarding the true power of God, he sends jealousy to tempt us to want more of the things of earth, he sends fear to make us cower and tremble at the very thought of God, he sends” self confidence” to replace our confidence in the Lord, he offers “self worth” to demean the worthiness that comes from Christ.
In Christ, Satan has already been defeated, but until we are one in Christ, until we have claimed that family tie with Him, until we are born anew in Him, our victory is still up in the air. Christmas must be the first day of the rest of our life, and when we kneel before the manger of Bethlehem, the impossible becomes our reality and our vision of tomorrow becomes crystal clear.
Dennis Bratcher writes this in his work “The Christmas Season”;
“I think that the true meaning of Christmas is about possibility in the midst of the impossible. It is not the kind of possibility that comes from a confidence in our own skill, knowledge, ability or a positive mental attitude. It is possibility that comes solely from the fact that God is God, and that he is the kind of God who comes into our own human existence to reveal himself and call us to himself. It is a possibility that is so surprising at its birth that we are caught unaware, and so are left with wonder at the simplicity of its expression in this infant child. It is a possibility that is easily symbolized by a helpless infant who has nothing of its own by which to survive; yet an infant who, because he is Immanuel, God with us, will forever change the world and all humanity. It is this same God who has promised to be with us, with his people, with the church and with us individually, as we live as his people in the world.”
—Dennis Bratcher, “The Christmas season,” crivoice.org/cyxmas.html. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
The thing that Joseph and Mary didn’t know is this: That the little baby who laid in His mother’s arms, who received that first nourishment from her breast, who cried and gurgled and giggled, who gave great joy to them that cold night in Bethlehem, would be the one who would change the impossibility of human existence into a promise of great hope and into a whole new reality.
But even after 2,000 years, many have still not grasped this hope of Divine truth. They still have that tight, chocking hold on the ways of earth, and they have no idea as to what tomorrow could bring to them. Will it be darkness and death, or will it be the marvelous certainty of Christ? Those who are in Christ have become even more than just members of the heavenly family – we have become partners with Jesus, and each of us is called to carry the truth of Christmas with us, and to share it, and to lead others into its promise.
What will tomorrow bring? In all honesty, it’s up to each of us today. Will it be glory? Or will glory be absent? It’s up to each of us to see that it will be one in which all can experience the Hope of Christmas - Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us, reality in the midst of impossibility. What a story we have to tell! Now, we have to go and tell it!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
“I Wonder What Tomorrow Will Bring?”
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
One of my favorite Christmas songs is ">“Mary Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. It begins with these words:
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you.
It continues with question after question, probing the mind and heart of Mary to find out just how much she may have known on that cold night in Bethlehem. Personally, I think that these new parents knew very little of God’s incredible plan. I believe that she knew nothing more than what the angel Gabriel told her, that she was held in very high regard by God, that she was to have a child and His name would be Jesus (“The Lord Saves”)), that he would be called the Son of the Most High, that He will receive the throne of David, and will reign over Israel forever, and His kingdom would never end.
And her reply was simply “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:26-38)
And what did Joseph know? At first, he knew that something had happened that should never have happened! But then the angel appeared to him, and told him that this child had been conceived by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, and not in a normal, human way, that he should not be afraid or worry about this, that this child should be named Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins.
They heard nothing more, they heard nothing less.
God had chosen an unmarried and very young and very humble woman to be the means that His Son would come into this world, and this is all that the chosen ones of earth would know! And yet, with great faith, they accepted the shame that would come to them from their family and friends, and they gave themselves completely to God’s will. Now I also have to believe that the angelic message helped them to be accepting of the condemnation, but on that night when the child came into the world in such a normal and usually way, I also have to wonder what were they thinking about?
This Boy Baby looked pretty normal – no glow, no halo, no divine word from His lips, nothing out of place to indicate that this birth was any different than any other – including the pain of child birth and the cries that come with any infant birth! There were brief instances when the couple would be reassured in the Lord’s plan, and we read that each of these times that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51). But she never knew what would come to be because of this child she had faithfully carried.
But maybe this couple wasn’t supposed to know. Can you imagine the questions that would have flooded their souls if they knew that Jesus would be rejected by the very people He had come to show Divine love to? Or what about His criminal arrest and beating and crucifixion? They would have begun to doubt those visits from heaven’s messenger!
But we know the entire story – maybe not the details behind the story, but we have the benefit of not only knowing the events in Christ’s life, but the outcome of those events. And we still struggle with living a life that is even close to that lived by Mary and Joseph. But even in their ignorance of the things that were to come, these new parents believed and lived life as God had planned.
Where do we fail and fall short? Why do we come up short? We can put so much of Jesus teachings together, and can begin to see why His life among us was necessary. We can be amazed by many of His miracles. We see His death and resurrection and the divine promise for eternity. And still we doubt.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb
The miracle of Christmas is before us, and all too often the only things our eyes can see is the glitter and festivity that surrounds the day. And we turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the fullness of truth in the day.
My friends,
Do you know that our baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Do you know that our baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Do you know that our baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
And that the child that grows within us is the Great I Am?
When Mary took that newborn child and lifted Him to her breast for the first time, she saw a precious gift, she saw the Son of God, she saw the great potential of hope for this world, but she had no idea as to what He would have to endure. In that moment, she knew that this Child of God had come into the world as a helpless baby, and that she and Joseph had been chosen to be the ones who would nurture Him, and teach Him, and care for Him, and love Him until He came into His own for the world.
And now we have that same responsibility. To hold Him, to care for the truth of His teachings, to remember His miracles and share them with others, to nurture the faith that is within each of us, to love Him with our entire lives, and to share this precious gift to earth with all who will listen.
Mary may have never known, but she believed absolutely. We know, but our faith must become stronger and more obvious in our life. Will you kiss the face of God today?
One of my favorite Christmas songs is ">“Mary Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. It begins with these words:
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you.
It continues with question after question, probing the mind and heart of Mary to find out just how much she may have known on that cold night in Bethlehem. Personally, I think that these new parents knew very little of God’s incredible plan. I believe that she knew nothing more than what the angel Gabriel told her, that she was held in very high regard by God, that she was to have a child and His name would be Jesus (“The Lord Saves”)), that he would be called the Son of the Most High, that He will receive the throne of David, and will reign over Israel forever, and His kingdom would never end.
And her reply was simply “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:26-38)
And what did Joseph know? At first, he knew that something had happened that should never have happened! But then the angel appeared to him, and told him that this child had been conceived by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, and not in a normal, human way, that he should not be afraid or worry about this, that this child should be named Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins.
They heard nothing more, they heard nothing less.
God had chosen an unmarried and very young and very humble woman to be the means that His Son would come into this world, and this is all that the chosen ones of earth would know! And yet, with great faith, they accepted the shame that would come to them from their family and friends, and they gave themselves completely to God’s will. Now I also have to believe that the angelic message helped them to be accepting of the condemnation, but on that night when the child came into the world in such a normal and usually way, I also have to wonder what were they thinking about?
This Boy Baby looked pretty normal – no glow, no halo, no divine word from His lips, nothing out of place to indicate that this birth was any different than any other – including the pain of child birth and the cries that come with any infant birth! There were brief instances when the couple would be reassured in the Lord’s plan, and we read that each of these times that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51). But she never knew what would come to be because of this child she had faithfully carried.
But maybe this couple wasn’t supposed to know. Can you imagine the questions that would have flooded their souls if they knew that Jesus would be rejected by the very people He had come to show Divine love to? Or what about His criminal arrest and beating and crucifixion? They would have begun to doubt those visits from heaven’s messenger!
But we know the entire story – maybe not the details behind the story, but we have the benefit of not only knowing the events in Christ’s life, but the outcome of those events. And we still struggle with living a life that is even close to that lived by Mary and Joseph. But even in their ignorance of the things that were to come, these new parents believed and lived life as God had planned.
Where do we fail and fall short? Why do we come up short? We can put so much of Jesus teachings together, and can begin to see why His life among us was necessary. We can be amazed by many of His miracles. We see His death and resurrection and the divine promise for eternity. And still we doubt.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb
The miracle of Christmas is before us, and all too often the only things our eyes can see is the glitter and festivity that surrounds the day. And we turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the fullness of truth in the day.
My friends,
Do you know that our baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Do you know that our baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Do you know that our baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
And that the child that grows within us is the Great I Am?
When Mary took that newborn child and lifted Him to her breast for the first time, she saw a precious gift, she saw the Son of God, she saw the great potential of hope for this world, but she had no idea as to what He would have to endure. In that moment, she knew that this Child of God had come into the world as a helpless baby, and that she and Joseph had been chosen to be the ones who would nurture Him, and teach Him, and care for Him, and love Him until He came into His own for the world.
And now we have that same responsibility. To hold Him, to care for the truth of His teachings, to remember His miracles and share them with others, to nurture the faith that is within each of us, to love Him with our entire lives, and to share this precious gift to earth with all who will listen.
Mary may have never known, but she believed absolutely. We know, but our faith must become stronger and more obvious in our life. Will you kiss the face of God today?
Sunday, December 19, 2010
“Take a Stand in the Lord”
Scripture: Isaiah 7:7-16
Our Revolutionary War was as lopsided a conflict as anyone could possibly imagine. It was a contest between a bunch of citizen soldiers and the mightiest army in all of Europe. It was colonists versus homeland.
- It was rag-tag versus professional. It was a battle between the inevitable and the impossible. But in the end, the ones who should have won didn’t.
During the 6 ½ years of war, the colonists hardly had one decisive victory until General George Washington met Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. Most of the victories that the Americans did achieve leading up to that final engagement were little more than a draw. So why, in the face of such overwhelming odds, did we manage to gain freedom from England? We should have been defeated, and quickly at that!
In our reading for today, we find the Southern Kingdom of Judah in a similar situation. Assyria and Israel have invaded the nation, and are threatening to destroy the people. The mighty vs. the insignificant,
- the world power vs. the meek. Assyria should have rolled over little Judah in a couple of weeks, but they didn’t, they couldn’t. Assyria would later defeat their ally Israel who was much larger and stronger than Judah, but their efforts at the gates of Jerusalem would fail miserable.
Why, in the face of such overwhelming odds, did Judah manage to stand firm against their enemy? They should have fallen, just as every other nation had before the onslaught of power.
In the case of the American colonies, there were three reasons for victory. First, they were fighting for their freedom. England was no longer seen as “home”, but rather as an oppressor nation. The Americans were fighting for their homes, while the British were fighting to retain a colony. The second is that the British were distracted by other problems around the globe. And third, it was simply a matter of perseverance on the part of the colonists. The rebels just wouldn’t give up.
Those are big differences.
In the case of Judah, it was Assyria’s will to conquer the much smaller people, but it was God’s will that they should fail. This is an even bigger difference!
Read Isaiah 7:7-9
The Northern Kingdom, Israel, had abandoned their faith, and had turned to the false gods of their neighbors. They did not stand firm in their faith, and as such, they couldn’t stand at all. The reference to Samaria being the head of Ephraim is a condemnation on the nation. They had turned against their God, and now they were being lead by their own deceptions and failures instead of by Almighty God.
However, Judah was taking a different approach - at least for now. They had continued to be strong in their mighty Yahweh, and Yahweh was still strong in them. And now their God was promising that if they would just stand firm in faith, that the alliance of Israel and Assyria would not only fail to beat them, but that they would be soundly destroyed.
Now most folks, having heard a promise like this one, one that was as unlikely as our experiencing 85 degree temperatures this afternoon (even though there are more than a few of you who would like to have that today!), would like a little more reassurance before they begin their victory celebration!
Read Isaiah 7:10-17
And even though Ahaz is reluctant to ask for a specific sign, the Lord gives him one anyway. The proof of the salvation of Judah will be evidenced by the birth of a child. And God tells them that His promise will be fulfilled before the child is old enough to be able to choose between good and evil. But we need to realize that it is the birth and intellectual growth of the child that is the sign from God, not necessarily the pregnancy itself, and whether it actually was a virgin mother, or, as the Hebrew word indicates, is only a “young woman”, the promise is given and is sure. And they are told that his name will be Immanuel, an absolute sign that “God is with them”.
Now, while this may not actually be a prophecy regarding Jesus – note in verse 16 that the attacking nations will be history by the time the child knows right from wrong – it is still a rather unique way for God to reveal His presence and plan to the people.
But why this way? Why the birth of a child to announce that God is with us, that His promise is true? Why not something that is more obvious, like 3 days of continuous day light, or a peace of mind that affects the entire nation, or an end to the hostilities right then and there? Why not something that everyone could experience and no one could dispute?
Perhaps because even though the child comes to the people, the people still must go to find him. The sign is solid, but we have to make an effort to experience it. The Lord has a strange way of not only blessing us, but of including us, of involving us, of making us part of His plan.
With God, we can never be simple spectators! We can’t sit on the sidelines. We have to be part of the team, we have to be involved.
And why a birth? Because birth doesn’t come peacefully and gently – there is a lot of pain and struggle and conflict, on the part of both the baby and the mother. But in the end, new life has come to us, and the joy is an amazing thing!
Freedom for the American colonies didn’t come by simply declaring it to be so. It took dedication and commitment, it took sacrifice, it required a lot of pain but the result was a release from oppression, the result was freedom!
For Judah, God didn’t simply end the conflict with Assyria – there would be more privation, more war, more death
before the day of victory would arrive, but arrive it would, and in a spectacular way (Isaiah 37:35-37). And the glory of God would shine far brighter than the sun ever could, even on the clearest day.
And in Jesus Christ, salvation never comes easily or cheaply. It involved God’s trading in His divine crown and heavenly throne for a dusty road and the animosity of the very people He came to save. It meant that a young woman, unmarried and pure, would have to suffer the humiliation of her family and neighbors, and even the doubts of the man who loved her. It meant that families would be torn apart when some would take up the path of Christ, while others would not. And it meant that God Himself would have to suffer scorn and ridicule and humiliation in a mock trial, with false witnesses being brought against Him, and then to suffer the death of a common criminal. And all of this so that those who will draw near to Him might live with Him in Eternal Paradise.
Salvation and freedom both come at a terrible cost – they require that we stand firm for what we believe, even while others will do all they can to convince us to let go. But the consequences that the alternative brings are far worse than the price that must be paid to gain it, and so, many will take a stand.
Men and women have given their all that our nation might be free, and God has given His all to ensure that our freedom in Him is sure. But whether it is national freedom or Godly salvation, we must still guard it jealously and never take it for granted. The Assyrians of this world are still actively and intently trying to take it all away from us.
“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” We all must heed these words and take them to heart.
Take a firm stand in Christ, and never, ever waiver.
Our Revolutionary War was as lopsided a conflict as anyone could possibly imagine. It was a contest between a bunch of citizen soldiers and the mightiest army in all of Europe. It was colonists versus homeland.
- It was rag-tag versus professional. It was a battle between the inevitable and the impossible. But in the end, the ones who should have won didn’t.
During the 6 ½ years of war, the colonists hardly had one decisive victory until General George Washington met Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. Most of the victories that the Americans did achieve leading up to that final engagement were little more than a draw. So why, in the face of such overwhelming odds, did we manage to gain freedom from England? We should have been defeated, and quickly at that!
In our reading for today, we find the Southern Kingdom of Judah in a similar situation. Assyria and Israel have invaded the nation, and are threatening to destroy the people. The mighty vs. the insignificant,
- the world power vs. the meek. Assyria should have rolled over little Judah in a couple of weeks, but they didn’t, they couldn’t. Assyria would later defeat their ally Israel who was much larger and stronger than Judah, but their efforts at the gates of Jerusalem would fail miserable.
Why, in the face of such overwhelming odds, did Judah manage to stand firm against their enemy? They should have fallen, just as every other nation had before the onslaught of power.
In the case of the American colonies, there were three reasons for victory. First, they were fighting for their freedom. England was no longer seen as “home”, but rather as an oppressor nation. The Americans were fighting for their homes, while the British were fighting to retain a colony. The second is that the British were distracted by other problems around the globe. And third, it was simply a matter of perseverance on the part of the colonists. The rebels just wouldn’t give up.
Those are big differences.
In the case of Judah, it was Assyria’s will to conquer the much smaller people, but it was God’s will that they should fail. This is an even bigger difference!
Read Isaiah 7:7-9
The Northern Kingdom, Israel, had abandoned their faith, and had turned to the false gods of their neighbors. They did not stand firm in their faith, and as such, they couldn’t stand at all. The reference to Samaria being the head of Ephraim is a condemnation on the nation. They had turned against their God, and now they were being lead by their own deceptions and failures instead of by Almighty God.
However, Judah was taking a different approach - at least for now. They had continued to be strong in their mighty Yahweh, and Yahweh was still strong in them. And now their God was promising that if they would just stand firm in faith, that the alliance of Israel and Assyria would not only fail to beat them, but that they would be soundly destroyed.
Now most folks, having heard a promise like this one, one that was as unlikely as our experiencing 85 degree temperatures this afternoon (even though there are more than a few of you who would like to have that today!), would like a little more reassurance before they begin their victory celebration!
Read Isaiah 7:10-17
And even though Ahaz is reluctant to ask for a specific sign, the Lord gives him one anyway. The proof of the salvation of Judah will be evidenced by the birth of a child. And God tells them that His promise will be fulfilled before the child is old enough to be able to choose between good and evil. But we need to realize that it is the birth and intellectual growth of the child that is the sign from God, not necessarily the pregnancy itself, and whether it actually was a virgin mother, or, as the Hebrew word indicates, is only a “young woman”, the promise is given and is sure. And they are told that his name will be Immanuel, an absolute sign that “God is with them”.
Now, while this may not actually be a prophecy regarding Jesus – note in verse 16 that the attacking nations will be history by the time the child knows right from wrong – it is still a rather unique way for God to reveal His presence and plan to the people.
But why this way? Why the birth of a child to announce that God is with us, that His promise is true? Why not something that is more obvious, like 3 days of continuous day light, or a peace of mind that affects the entire nation, or an end to the hostilities right then and there? Why not something that everyone could experience and no one could dispute?
Perhaps because even though the child comes to the people, the people still must go to find him. The sign is solid, but we have to make an effort to experience it. The Lord has a strange way of not only blessing us, but of including us, of involving us, of making us part of His plan.
With God, we can never be simple spectators! We can’t sit on the sidelines. We have to be part of the team, we have to be involved.
And why a birth? Because birth doesn’t come peacefully and gently – there is a lot of pain and struggle and conflict, on the part of both the baby and the mother. But in the end, new life has come to us, and the joy is an amazing thing!
Freedom for the American colonies didn’t come by simply declaring it to be so. It took dedication and commitment, it took sacrifice, it required a lot of pain but the result was a release from oppression, the result was freedom!
For Judah, God didn’t simply end the conflict with Assyria – there would be more privation, more war, more death
before the day of victory would arrive, but arrive it would, and in a spectacular way (Isaiah 37:35-37). And the glory of God would shine far brighter than the sun ever could, even on the clearest day.
And in Jesus Christ, salvation never comes easily or cheaply. It involved God’s trading in His divine crown and heavenly throne for a dusty road and the animosity of the very people He came to save. It meant that a young woman, unmarried and pure, would have to suffer the humiliation of her family and neighbors, and even the doubts of the man who loved her. It meant that families would be torn apart when some would take up the path of Christ, while others would not. And it meant that God Himself would have to suffer scorn and ridicule and humiliation in a mock trial, with false witnesses being brought against Him, and then to suffer the death of a common criminal. And all of this so that those who will draw near to Him might live with Him in Eternal Paradise.
Salvation and freedom both come at a terrible cost – they require that we stand firm for what we believe, even while others will do all they can to convince us to let go. But the consequences that the alternative brings are far worse than the price that must be paid to gain it, and so, many will take a stand.
Men and women have given their all that our nation might be free, and God has given His all to ensure that our freedom in Him is sure. But whether it is national freedom or Godly salvation, we must still guard it jealously and never take it for granted. The Assyrians of this world are still actively and intently trying to take it all away from us.
“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” We all must heed these words and take them to heart.
Take a firm stand in Christ, and never, ever waiver.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
“What Do You See in the Wilderness?”
Scripture: Matthew 11:2-15
In case you hadn’t noticed, there is a problem with our faith. It’s not that it is too diverse, not that it is too dilute, not that it is too late in coming - the problem with our faith is that we don’t trust it enough! Whether it is out of fear, or uncertainty, or peer pressure, or some other human frailty, most people have a faith that is more limiting than it is emergent. Faith may seem too radical for our lives, and we decide to avoid it. It may seem too difficult to live, and we give it up with a shrug. All too often, we ask for a sign from heaven to answer our doubts, and when it comes, we dismiss it with another doubt. How much does God have to give so that the people of this world will believe without hesitation?
Read Matthew 11:2-6
Last week we read that John the Baptist was loudly proclaiming that One was coming who he was unworthy to even tie the thongs of his sandals. He had leapt in his mother’s womb at the very presence of the unborn Christ! He would baptize Christ, but with the caveat that Christ should be baptizing him! And now, as he was languishing in prison, very possibly fearing for his life, he was expressing his uncertainty that Jesus just might not be all that he had proclaimed Him to be. “Are you the one who we have been waiting for?” Could there be someone else just around the corner?” Even John, in his “wilderness” experience in a Hebrew jail, was having doubts.
What could have brought about this change in the certain faith of such a committed prophet? He had been bold in his proclamation of the Messiah’s arrival. He had never hesitated in his call to repentance, regardless of the audience. He was austere in every aspect of his life. And yet, he had enough uncertainty in him that he sent his followers to bluntly ask Jesus if He was truly who he said He was.
And Jesus, true to form, doesn’t give them a straight answer. He tells them to believe the miracles that they have seen, to understand the message they have heard, and not to fear the truth of His presence. “Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of me.” Don’t doubt who I am, simply because I don’t conform to conventional wisdom regarding what the Messiah should be like. Believe the signs that have been placed before you, and don’t worry about that “brood of vipers” that John attacked so decisively.
J. Walter Cross, in his book “Under No Delusions” tells this story:
A man by the name of Jay Rathman was hiking in one of the wilderness areas near his northern California home. Passing along a rocky ledge, he sensed a movement beside his face. A timber rattlesnake struck, just missing his right ear. Its fangs got snagged in the wool of Rathman's turtleneck sweater, pulling the snake onto his shoulders. He grabbed it just behind the head with his left hand, as they both tumbled down the slope through the brush and rocks. In this eyeball-to-eyeball encounter, he discovered that snakes don't blink. In about 20 minutes, he was able to throttle the reptile. Later, passing through the checkout gate, Rathman said to the warden, “I'd like to register a complaint about the wildlife here.”
Cross continues: “Reading that hair-raising account reminds us how closely it resembles life on a daily basis. At the most unsuspecting moment, something strikes at us. We are knocked off balance by the assault .... Who hasn't been tumbled head over heels by demands and deadlines? Who hasn't done battle with poisonous irritations on the slopes of overcommitment, underachievement and burnout? Who hasn't had to fend off surprise attacks from criticism that strike at us like hungry predators and rip into us like needle-sharp claws? They are frequent and varied: physical pain, emotional trauma, relational stress, spiritual doubts, marital conflicts, occupational disappointments, financial reversals ... demonic assaults.”_
- J. Walter Cross, “Under No Delusions”, Bradenton, Florida.
“Blessed is the one who does not yield to the attacks that come as we journey along our wilderness path.”
Read Matthew 11:7-10
What do we look for in a prophet? Some want the sage of today to simply reaffirm and reinforce the beliefs that they already hold. Some want to be instantly and surely changed into the perfect Christian, without too much bother, of course. But that’s not the purpose of a prophet! Prophets are sent to present the right way for our lives, and it is our job to make the decision to accept the change.
And prophets are never what we would expect from a Godly person. They are unconventional and they carry an unconventional message. They walk a fine line that leads them between the false goodness of society and the all-too-rigid uprightness of the institutional church. And they are generally despised by both.
Most of us want to follow a much more conventional and charismatic sage than the John the Baptist type, but unfortunately, God seldom sends his message wrapped up in $1,000 suits or riding in Lincoln Towncars.
Why does God not intervene more directly today and save us (and him) from abuse and hurt? The author Philip Yancey has an answer: “Some Christians long for a world well-stocked with miracles and spectacular signs of God's presence. I hear wistful sermons on the parting of the Red Sea and the 10 plagues and the daily manna in the wilderness, as if the speakers yearn for God to unleash his power like that today.
But the follow-the-dots journey of the Israelites should give us pause. Would a burst of miracles nourish faith? Not the kind of faith God seems interested in, evidently. The Israelites give ample proof that signs may only addict us to signs, not to God.”
--Philip Yancey, “Disappointment With God” (Grand Rapids, Mich.:Zondervan, 1988), 48.
And, I might add, the appearance of prosperity only addicts us to prosperity. If we truly want to hear of God’s will for our lives, we can’t be concerned with what the messenger looks like – even if he dresses in camel hair shirts and eats bugs.
Read Matthew 11:11-15
So why do we go out into the strangest places to hear God’s Word? Why do we go to the strangest places to share God’s Word? After all, can’t we just as easily hear and proclaim the word in glorious venues, like the National Cathedral, or Rick Warren’s Saddleback church, or on some evangelist’s television show? Sure we can! But there are very few opportunities for most folks to visit those places. Most folks need to hear the Word of God right where they are – whether in a small country church, or in a rescue mission, or in a poverty ridden section of town, or even under a bridge where the homeless gather.
Our wilderness is not so much a place as it is a state of mind. When the people journeyed out to hear John, they went to hear a life changing challenge, to begin to understand that this existence has nothing to do with the next one, to experience the Lord Jesus before they actually met Him, and to know His call on their life.
Sometimes I think that the church building is the last place we should go to experience Christ - that the best places are in a nursing home, or a prison, or with a shut-in, or with family at home, or with a stranger at the mall, with a harried waitress at our favorite restaurant, or a friend who is struggling with the adversities of life.
“Wilderness” is where the God-in-us is revealed. “Wilderness” is where the world comes to meet Jesus, without the distraction of all the trappings and formalities of “religion”. “Wilderness” is where the need is the greatest and where the potential harvest awaits supreme.
“Wilderness” is not some place where there is only harshness and hardship and nothing of interest to see. Wilderness is the very place where our vision can become the most acute, where our hearts can be “strangely warmed”, where the world can see God clearly, where His Word takes on the greatest meaning.
Whether it is in the Israelites’ Exodus, or Jonah’s 3 day journey inside of that huge fish, or in Elijah’s headlong flight from his queen, or
- John’s home away from home, or even at the foot of Calvary,if we truly want to experience and to know and to be changed by Jesus’ presence, we need to set the world aside, if only for the moment. That’s what the season of Advent is all about – journeying to the beginning of Hope and Joy and the Way of Salvation, without the distractions of earthliness.
May your preparations for the Birth and rebirth be blessed in rich and marvelous and unobstructed ways. May we all have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the hearts to know.
In case you hadn’t noticed, there is a problem with our faith. It’s not that it is too diverse, not that it is too dilute, not that it is too late in coming - the problem with our faith is that we don’t trust it enough! Whether it is out of fear, or uncertainty, or peer pressure, or some other human frailty, most people have a faith that is more limiting than it is emergent. Faith may seem too radical for our lives, and we decide to avoid it. It may seem too difficult to live, and we give it up with a shrug. All too often, we ask for a sign from heaven to answer our doubts, and when it comes, we dismiss it with another doubt. How much does God have to give so that the people of this world will believe without hesitation?
Read Matthew 11:2-6
Last week we read that John the Baptist was loudly proclaiming that One was coming who he was unworthy to even tie the thongs of his sandals. He had leapt in his mother’s womb at the very presence of the unborn Christ! He would baptize Christ, but with the caveat that Christ should be baptizing him! And now, as he was languishing in prison, very possibly fearing for his life, he was expressing his uncertainty that Jesus just might not be all that he had proclaimed Him to be. “Are you the one who we have been waiting for?” Could there be someone else just around the corner?” Even John, in his “wilderness” experience in a Hebrew jail, was having doubts.
What could have brought about this change in the certain faith of such a committed prophet? He had been bold in his proclamation of the Messiah’s arrival. He had never hesitated in his call to repentance, regardless of the audience. He was austere in every aspect of his life. And yet, he had enough uncertainty in him that he sent his followers to bluntly ask Jesus if He was truly who he said He was.
And Jesus, true to form, doesn’t give them a straight answer. He tells them to believe the miracles that they have seen, to understand the message they have heard, and not to fear the truth of His presence. “Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of me.” Don’t doubt who I am, simply because I don’t conform to conventional wisdom regarding what the Messiah should be like. Believe the signs that have been placed before you, and don’t worry about that “brood of vipers” that John attacked so decisively.
J. Walter Cross, in his book “Under No Delusions” tells this story:
A man by the name of Jay Rathman was hiking in one of the wilderness areas near his northern California home. Passing along a rocky ledge, he sensed a movement beside his face. A timber rattlesnake struck, just missing his right ear. Its fangs got snagged in the wool of Rathman's turtleneck sweater, pulling the snake onto his shoulders. He grabbed it just behind the head with his left hand, as they both tumbled down the slope through the brush and rocks. In this eyeball-to-eyeball encounter, he discovered that snakes don't blink. In about 20 minutes, he was able to throttle the reptile. Later, passing through the checkout gate, Rathman said to the warden, “I'd like to register a complaint about the wildlife here.”
Cross continues: “Reading that hair-raising account reminds us how closely it resembles life on a daily basis. At the most unsuspecting moment, something strikes at us. We are knocked off balance by the assault .... Who hasn't been tumbled head over heels by demands and deadlines? Who hasn't done battle with poisonous irritations on the slopes of overcommitment, underachievement and burnout? Who hasn't had to fend off surprise attacks from criticism that strike at us like hungry predators and rip into us like needle-sharp claws? They are frequent and varied: physical pain, emotional trauma, relational stress, spiritual doubts, marital conflicts, occupational disappointments, financial reversals ... demonic assaults.”_
- J. Walter Cross, “Under No Delusions”, Bradenton, Florida.
“Blessed is the one who does not yield to the attacks that come as we journey along our wilderness path.”
Read Matthew 11:7-10
What do we look for in a prophet? Some want the sage of today to simply reaffirm and reinforce the beliefs that they already hold. Some want to be instantly and surely changed into the perfect Christian, without too much bother, of course. But that’s not the purpose of a prophet! Prophets are sent to present the right way for our lives, and it is our job to make the decision to accept the change.
And prophets are never what we would expect from a Godly person. They are unconventional and they carry an unconventional message. They walk a fine line that leads them between the false goodness of society and the all-too-rigid uprightness of the institutional church. And they are generally despised by both.
Most of us want to follow a much more conventional and charismatic sage than the John the Baptist type, but unfortunately, God seldom sends his message wrapped up in $1,000 suits or riding in Lincoln Towncars.
Why does God not intervene more directly today and save us (and him) from abuse and hurt? The author Philip Yancey has an answer: “Some Christians long for a world well-stocked with miracles and spectacular signs of God's presence. I hear wistful sermons on the parting of the Red Sea and the 10 plagues and the daily manna in the wilderness, as if the speakers yearn for God to unleash his power like that today.
But the follow-the-dots journey of the Israelites should give us pause. Would a burst of miracles nourish faith? Not the kind of faith God seems interested in, evidently. The Israelites give ample proof that signs may only addict us to signs, not to God.”
--Philip Yancey, “Disappointment With God” (Grand Rapids, Mich.:Zondervan, 1988), 48.
And, I might add, the appearance of prosperity only addicts us to prosperity. If we truly want to hear of God’s will for our lives, we can’t be concerned with what the messenger looks like – even if he dresses in camel hair shirts and eats bugs.
Read Matthew 11:11-15
So why do we go out into the strangest places to hear God’s Word? Why do we go to the strangest places to share God’s Word? After all, can’t we just as easily hear and proclaim the word in glorious venues, like the National Cathedral, or Rick Warren’s Saddleback church, or on some evangelist’s television show? Sure we can! But there are very few opportunities for most folks to visit those places. Most folks need to hear the Word of God right where they are – whether in a small country church, or in a rescue mission, or in a poverty ridden section of town, or even under a bridge where the homeless gather.
Our wilderness is not so much a place as it is a state of mind. When the people journeyed out to hear John, they went to hear a life changing challenge, to begin to understand that this existence has nothing to do with the next one, to experience the Lord Jesus before they actually met Him, and to know His call on their life.
Sometimes I think that the church building is the last place we should go to experience Christ - that the best places are in a nursing home, or a prison, or with a shut-in, or with family at home, or with a stranger at the mall, with a harried waitress at our favorite restaurant, or a friend who is struggling with the adversities of life.
“Wilderness” is where the God-in-us is revealed. “Wilderness” is where the world comes to meet Jesus, without the distraction of all the trappings and formalities of “religion”. “Wilderness” is where the need is the greatest and where the potential harvest awaits supreme.
“Wilderness” is not some place where there is only harshness and hardship and nothing of interest to see. Wilderness is the very place where our vision can become the most acute, where our hearts can be “strangely warmed”, where the world can see God clearly, where His Word takes on the greatest meaning.
Whether it is in the Israelites’ Exodus, or Jonah’s 3 day journey inside of that huge fish, or in Elijah’s headlong flight from his queen, or
- John’s home away from home, or even at the foot of Calvary,if we truly want to experience and to know and to be changed by Jesus’ presence, we need to set the world aside, if only for the moment. That’s what the season of Advent is all about – journeying to the beginning of Hope and Joy and the Way of Salvation, without the distractions of earthliness.
May your preparations for the Birth and rebirth be blessed in rich and marvelous and unobstructed ways. May we all have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the hearts to know.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
“The One Who Cries Out”
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12
Jesus certainly had some very unusual relatives. There was Rahab, the prostitute, Ruth, the widowed Moabite, and David, both a man after God's own heart and a murderer. And if these folks didn’t bring enough baggage to Jesus’ heritage, let’s throw in His cousin John.
But John, with all of his strange ways, must be acknowledged as the first one, after Mary and Joseph, to know the truth of the Christ Child. While still in Elizabeth’s womb, John leapt for joy at the very presence of the yet-to-be-born Savior, and in his excitement, he “witnessed”, in no uncertain terms, to his mother (Luke 1:39-45). In his recognizing the uniqueness of Jesus, it was now confirmed that John had been chosen by God as the fulfillment of prophecy, and he began his ministry even before he was born.
Read Matthew 3:1-6
With camel hair to clothe him and locusts and wild honey to nourish him, John began his own individualized and very special ministry. He would never be identified with polite society and the conventional wisdom of Judaism, and he also would never be identified as one of Jesus’ inner circle. He was as radical as the Messiah he was called to proclaim. And he would be as welcome to the ruling aristocracy as the locusts that he ate. Confession? They did that daily, and loudly, as they stood on the steps of the temple, and didn’t need some ignorant itinerant telling them that they weren’t doing it right! Cleansing? Baptism? They were already members of the “chosen” nation – they were already chosen by Yahweh – why should they be baptized?
But rejection by the Jewish leadership could never deter John. He was called to proclaim, and proclaim he did.
Read Matthew 3:7-10
The Pharisees and Sadducees, normally at opposite ends of the religious spectrum, were becoming united in their hatred of John’s message of salvation. They were hearing that their blood line wasn’t sufficient – that they were still going to face “the coming wrath” if they didn’t accept the Divine intervention that was right on their doorstep, and they didn’t like that one little bit. And if that wasn’t enough, John tells them that God isn’t constrained by their understanding that Israel is the only nation, the only people, who God likes.
The great Joe Garagiola tells about a time when Stan Musial came to the plate in a critical game. As a super hitter, Musial was at the peak of his career. The opposing pitcher in the game was young and extremely nervous.
Garagiola, as the catcher, called for a fastball and the pitcher shook his head; Joe signaled for a curve and again the pitcher shook him off. He then asked for one of the pitcher's specialties and still the pitcher hesitated. So Joe went out to the mound for a conference. He said, “I've called for every pitch in the book; what do you want to throw?”
“Nothing”, was the pitcher's shaky reply. “I just want to hold on to the ball as long as I can.”
- Homiletics Online
These learned men weren’t dummies! They knew that judgment would be coming, and that they would be held accountable for the lives they were living. I also think that they had a sneaking suspicion that their efforts were, in all likelihood, insufficient to please almighty God. But just like the pitcher who had to face Musial, they wanted to hold on to their understanding of religiosity as long as they possibly could. And John was telling them that the time had come to “let go”, and that there wasn’t a lot of time left to delay their decision.
This is the worldly view of faith – that somehow, we must have to be involved, to do something that will please God so that we can receive His favor. How could such a simple thing as “repentance and acceptance” be adequate?
A number of years ago when Diane and I were at Apalachin, we were teaching the Junior High Sunday School class, and why we ever agreed to that I will never know! But that’s another story. One day, one of the girls brought in a survey paper with the question “If we are good, will we get to heaven?” 2 of her teachers had already responded, and both of their answers were “Yes. Being good is enough.” I asked if I could respond, and was told yes. So I wrote “No. Only our belief in the goodness of Jesus is enough to get us into heaven.” That, unexpectedly, prompted a 2-3 week discussion that centered on what the Bible had to say about salvation. I don’t know if it made any difference in the kids’ lives, but at least there was one “No” on her survey.
Hanging onto the “ball” of personal effort in gaining salvation, no matter how long we do it, won’t make an iota of difference in the long run, because eventually, we will have to let go! We will either have to make our own inadequate pitch to the best hitter in this world, or we will have to give it up to our “relief”. The second option is the only one that will keep the opposition from hitting a home run against us, and the first one will guarantee that evil will be struck out, once and for all. We have to “Give it up for Jesus!”
Read Matthew 3:11-12
John’s message that Jesus’ baptism and refining is more powerful than the one he is doing with water, does not tell us that water baptism is unnecessary! He is simply saying that our physical baptism is the outward sign of our claiming the inner grace that comes from God Himself. On the other hand, baptism by the “Holy Spirit and with fire” is not, I believe, a reference to Pentecost, but rather is a factual statement that Divine Cleansing and Holy Refining can only come to us through Godly Intervention, through our faith in Jesus Christ. We also need to remember that fire has two purposes – one is to consume, and the other is to purify, and Matthew includes both of these references in the passage.
The believing Church will be refined, and all unbelievers will be consumed.
Jim Wallis, in his book “The call to Conversion”, writes:
“Our call is to seek the conversion of the church in the midst of a crumbling empire, an empire to which the church is now closely allied. Our question today is still the old question of spiritual formation: How is the mind of Christ formed in us and in history?
To answer that question, we need to use an approach which begins by taking seriously the following questions:
1. Will we follow Jesus?
2. Is the Church to be the presence of Jesus in the world?
3. If so, what would Jesus' presence look like now?
-- Jim Wallis, “The Call to Conversion”, (San Francisco: Harper-Collins, 1992).
We will probably see His presence in a very surprising way. I believe that it would, and does, look like John the Baptist who lives on the fringe of both society and the Church, and like John the evangelist who was the only man whose faith was sufficient to allow him to stand with the women at the foot of Christ’s cross, and like Nicodemus the Pharisee who began in faith with a secret visit to Jesus in the middle of the night and who eventually showed far more faith when he took that public stand at Calvary and His presence will look like you and me, loving the people of this wicked old world on behalf of Christ, wherever, whenever, and however they and we may meet.
The need for “one calling in the wilderness, to prepare the way for the Lord” is even more vital today than it was in the first century. John cried out in preparation for the Lord’s first coming, and we must be crying out in preparation for His second. And the cries?
John’s message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Ours is “Give it up for Jesus!” And these messages are one and the same.
Jesus certainly had some very unusual relatives. There was Rahab, the prostitute, Ruth, the widowed Moabite, and David, both a man after God's own heart and a murderer. And if these folks didn’t bring enough baggage to Jesus’ heritage, let’s throw in His cousin John.
But John, with all of his strange ways, must be acknowledged as the first one, after Mary and Joseph, to know the truth of the Christ Child. While still in Elizabeth’s womb, John leapt for joy at the very presence of the yet-to-be-born Savior, and in his excitement, he “witnessed”, in no uncertain terms, to his mother (Luke 1:39-45). In his recognizing the uniqueness of Jesus, it was now confirmed that John had been chosen by God as the fulfillment of prophecy, and he began his ministry even before he was born.
Read Matthew 3:1-6
With camel hair to clothe him and locusts and wild honey to nourish him, John began his own individualized and very special ministry. He would never be identified with polite society and the conventional wisdom of Judaism, and he also would never be identified as one of Jesus’ inner circle. He was as radical as the Messiah he was called to proclaim. And he would be as welcome to the ruling aristocracy as the locusts that he ate. Confession? They did that daily, and loudly, as they stood on the steps of the temple, and didn’t need some ignorant itinerant telling them that they weren’t doing it right! Cleansing? Baptism? They were already members of the “chosen” nation – they were already chosen by Yahweh – why should they be baptized?
But rejection by the Jewish leadership could never deter John. He was called to proclaim, and proclaim he did.
Read Matthew 3:7-10
The Pharisees and Sadducees, normally at opposite ends of the religious spectrum, were becoming united in their hatred of John’s message of salvation. They were hearing that their blood line wasn’t sufficient – that they were still going to face “the coming wrath” if they didn’t accept the Divine intervention that was right on their doorstep, and they didn’t like that one little bit. And if that wasn’t enough, John tells them that God isn’t constrained by their understanding that Israel is the only nation, the only people, who God likes.
The great Joe Garagiola tells about a time when Stan Musial came to the plate in a critical game. As a super hitter, Musial was at the peak of his career. The opposing pitcher in the game was young and extremely nervous.
Garagiola, as the catcher, called for a fastball and the pitcher shook his head; Joe signaled for a curve and again the pitcher shook him off. He then asked for one of the pitcher's specialties and still the pitcher hesitated. So Joe went out to the mound for a conference. He said, “I've called for every pitch in the book; what do you want to throw?”
“Nothing”, was the pitcher's shaky reply. “I just want to hold on to the ball as long as I can.”
- Homiletics Online
These learned men weren’t dummies! They knew that judgment would be coming, and that they would be held accountable for the lives they were living. I also think that they had a sneaking suspicion that their efforts were, in all likelihood, insufficient to please almighty God. But just like the pitcher who had to face Musial, they wanted to hold on to their understanding of religiosity as long as they possibly could. And John was telling them that the time had come to “let go”, and that there wasn’t a lot of time left to delay their decision.
This is the worldly view of faith – that somehow, we must have to be involved, to do something that will please God so that we can receive His favor. How could such a simple thing as “repentance and acceptance” be adequate?
A number of years ago when Diane and I were at Apalachin, we were teaching the Junior High Sunday School class, and why we ever agreed to that I will never know! But that’s another story. One day, one of the girls brought in a survey paper with the question “If we are good, will we get to heaven?” 2 of her teachers had already responded, and both of their answers were “Yes. Being good is enough.” I asked if I could respond, and was told yes. So I wrote “No. Only our belief in the goodness of Jesus is enough to get us into heaven.” That, unexpectedly, prompted a 2-3 week discussion that centered on what the Bible had to say about salvation. I don’t know if it made any difference in the kids’ lives, but at least there was one “No” on her survey.
Hanging onto the “ball” of personal effort in gaining salvation, no matter how long we do it, won’t make an iota of difference in the long run, because eventually, we will have to let go! We will either have to make our own inadequate pitch to the best hitter in this world, or we will have to give it up to our “relief”. The second option is the only one that will keep the opposition from hitting a home run against us, and the first one will guarantee that evil will be struck out, once and for all. We have to “Give it up for Jesus!”
Read Matthew 3:11-12
John’s message that Jesus’ baptism and refining is more powerful than the one he is doing with water, does not tell us that water baptism is unnecessary! He is simply saying that our physical baptism is the outward sign of our claiming the inner grace that comes from God Himself. On the other hand, baptism by the “Holy Spirit and with fire” is not, I believe, a reference to Pentecost, but rather is a factual statement that Divine Cleansing and Holy Refining can only come to us through Godly Intervention, through our faith in Jesus Christ. We also need to remember that fire has two purposes – one is to consume, and the other is to purify, and Matthew includes both of these references in the passage.
The believing Church will be refined, and all unbelievers will be consumed.
Jim Wallis, in his book “The call to Conversion”, writes:
“Our call is to seek the conversion of the church in the midst of a crumbling empire, an empire to which the church is now closely allied. Our question today is still the old question of spiritual formation: How is the mind of Christ formed in us and in history?
To answer that question, we need to use an approach which begins by taking seriously the following questions:
1. Will we follow Jesus?
2. Is the Church to be the presence of Jesus in the world?
3. If so, what would Jesus' presence look like now?
-- Jim Wallis, “The Call to Conversion”, (San Francisco: Harper-Collins, 1992).
We will probably see His presence in a very surprising way. I believe that it would, and does, look like John the Baptist who lives on the fringe of both society and the Church, and like John the evangelist who was the only man whose faith was sufficient to allow him to stand with the women at the foot of Christ’s cross, and like Nicodemus the Pharisee who began in faith with a secret visit to Jesus in the middle of the night and who eventually showed far more faith when he took that public stand at Calvary and His presence will look like you and me, loving the people of this wicked old world on behalf of Christ, wherever, whenever, and however they and we may meet.
The need for “one calling in the wilderness, to prepare the way for the Lord” is even more vital today than it was in the first century. John cried out in preparation for the Lord’s first coming, and we must be crying out in preparation for His second. And the cries?
John’s message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Ours is “Give it up for Jesus!” And these messages are one and the same.
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