Skip to main content

Faithful to God's Message and Ways

I'm sorry for the lapse of writing...blame it on moving.  We have moved to a different place and it has taken a bit of time to get settled.  Still I've continued to teach weekly and continue to work through this series that covers the entire scope of the Bible's story.

The story is rich because it is a story of God's unrelenting love.  When God the Father sent his Son into the world it was the highest form of love - Sacrifice.  Jesus walked through Israel from North to South, East to West proclaiming "the Kingdom of God is at hand...enter..." and many did.  But it was one experience in John's Gospel that highlights for me - through a narrative - what His coming was to accomplish.

In John 12, the Apostle tells us that it was six days before the Passover, which means six days before Jesus would be hung on the cross, that Jesus came to Bethany where his close friends, Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived.  Mary anoints him with expensive oil which turns out to be a prophetic act - one that Jesus points us is a preparation for his burial. 
The next day Jesus comes to Jerusalem - it is Sunday, Palm Sunday - and another crowd hails him as the coming King of Israel.  Jesus is riding in on a young donkey, a clear fulfillment of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah.  It seems rather clear that everyone - disciples included - hoped that Jesus would accept the role of the Deliverer - which is what the Jews expected of their Messiah.  Vs 16 tells us that the disciples didn't understand what was about to happen...it only made sense later on.  The Pharisees were livid..."look the world has gone after him."  Little did they know how prophetically true they were.  

It happens in John's account immediately:  John 12:20-21 
20  Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21  They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."  

These were Greeks who had converted to Judaism; but nevertheless they were not Jewish, they were Gentiles.  They were God-honoring Gentiles who participated in Synagogue worship and adhered to Jewish laws, but without being circumcised they were never fully received by the Jews.  What they wanted was so simple, but it's a beautiful request:  "We would like to see, meet, Jesus".  

My friend, isn't this what we all need and should want?  Isn't this the essence of what Church is about?  Isn't this what our lives should be about?  "We want to see Jesus".   His friends saw him.  The disciples saw him.  Now these Gentiles - those who the Pharisee had just proclaimed, "look the world has gone after him" want to see him.  

Jesus responds to this in a way that reminds me of both the beauty of God's Faithfulness in sending His Son, and the way in which God uses anyone who is willing to serve His purposes...His ways.

John 12:22-26
22  Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23  Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

 I was a young believer studying to become a teacher of God's word when I first ran across this passage.  Jesus died as that seed, buried and then risen...just like the acres and acres of corn and soybeans that I live around attest to.  Life comes from his death, and his death has produced "many seeds" - the children of God through Jesus Christ, of which I hope you (and I) are.  That is God's faithfulness on display.  
Then Jesus reminds his disciples...the crowd...Me...Us... that the way to life in Christ is the same for us who want to follow Him.

"If it dies"... "If it dies"... I.e. If we die to self, lose our life for the sake of Jesus, we will gain the life that leads to eternal life in Him.

Three words...all simple...together they confronted me and became a reminder that I'm not practicing religion, I'm following a Person - God's Son, Jesus, My Savior, My Lord.

Peace

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hands Full of Parcels

"A Man whose hands are full of parcels can't receive a gift."   - C. S. Lewis Romans 4:13-16 (ESV) 13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... The last four days have been best described by the word "fatigue".  It's not an uncommon word in our vocabulary.  Listless, tired, sore.  1300 miles of car travel, being sick, not sleeping well, and eating poorly all add up to the word - fatigue.   Someone onc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tabernacle

The readings today are Exodus 36, 37, 38 I wanted to post some pictures of what these various parts of the Tabernacle looked like. It's not the easiest read in the world, but if you persevere through it, you can get a picture of all the different pieces that made up the tabernacle. It is a replica of the various parts of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness: First thing in the chapter listed is the outside of the tabernacle which consisted of curtains tied together and put on cross bars through loops. Next at the beginning of 37 is the table and lampstand: Also, the altar of incense: And, the altar for the burnt offering which was in the courtyard: Finally, the courtyard which made it all come together: Hope that helps with what it might have all looked like. Most importantly, this was their "place" of worship they were building. I hope you have a great day of worship. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1 comment
Read more

The difference between defending and explaining

The news of recent has focused the suffering of Christians in the middle east who have been martyred for their faith in Christ at the hands of Islamic Terrorists. Through the centuries many Christians have lost their lives as a result of their faith. For us, who live in America, there is little chance that we would have this happen here - but it's entirely possibly that terrorism will strike out at Christians sometime.  But, for many Christians in the western world - especially here in the U.S. - being a Christians who believes God's word there is a form of persecution that is defined by words like "ostracized", "passed over", "ridiculed", and more. What do we do in the face of opposition to faith? When the Apostle Peter writes to the early believers who are undergoing great pressure, even persecution for their faith in Jesus, he gives them this charge. 1 Peter 3:8-18 8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly lov...
1 comment
Read more