Year 2, Day 273: Psalms 129-130

Psalm 129

Psalm 129 is a neat psalm with respect to tribulation.  Clearly this is a psalm that is designed to talk about tribulation and God’s ability to bring us through it.  So let’s take a look at some of the imagery that we find in the psalm.

First, the psalmist says that they have afflicted him in his youth.  The psalmist has known affliction.  The psalmist is not experiencing one small moment of persecution.  The psalmist is not experiencing his first trial and crumbling.  The psalmist has known affliction from youth.

This is somewhat humbling.  It is so easy to have a moment of persecution and feel like quitting, giving up, or complaining.  Then I read a psalm like this and realize that I have lived a fairly sheltered life.  I haven’t had constant persecution.  I haven’t been persecuted as long as I can remember.  God has indeed been good to me.  It is quite humbling.

The next analogy makes just about the same point.  “The plowers plowed along my back making long furrows.”  It could be that the psalmist is giving an analogy akin to our English idiom “to be walked all over.”  Or, it could be that the psalmist is telling of literal physical bondage.  It could be that the psalmist is saying that he has been worked so hard that other people have benefitted at the expense of his own body.  Either way, this portion of the psalm goes back to my prior point.  This image is humbling because I haven’t experienced that kind of suffering in life.

I can understand how the psalmist would come to the conclusions that he does at the end of the psalm.  The psalmist equates those who have persecuted him with those who refuse to live according to God’s ways.  He longs for the day when their choices will come back to haunt them.  He longs for the days when the power and control that they so obviously wield in a selfish manner is gone from their grasp.  The sad reality is that the psalmist is right.  There will be a day when the unrighteous will wither before God.

Psalm 130

Psalm 130 is another Psalm of Ascent.  I love the truth statement that is given to us in verse 3.  If the Lord were to keep track of iniquities, who could stand?  Think about that for a second.  If God really did keep track of all of my sins without offering forgiveness, what hope would I have?  Do I have any chance of even being half-good?  I doubt it.

Thankfully, there is the truth statement that we find in verse 4.  With the Lord, there is forgiveness.  The Lord does tell us that He can take our transgressions and literally cast them away.  The Lord doesn’t simply forgive; he casts them as far as the east is from the west.  {See Psalm 103:12}  God is indeed good; it is good to be a part of His people.

Is there any reason to wait for anyone other than God?  Is there anyone in whom we should hope besides God?  Can anyone promise to forgive as God forgives?  Can anyone redeem as God can?

As the psalmist says, He is our hope.  He is the one who can fulfill His promises.  He is the one that does not disappoint.  Stay with God, He’s the only one who truly won’t disappoint in the end.  His love is steadfast.

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Year 2, Day 272: Psalms 126-128

Psalm 126

Psalm 126 is a Psalm of Ascents that looks backwards and forwards while living in the present.  The beginning of the psalm looks back to when God pulled the Hebrew people out of captivity.  The psalm lives in the present in the recognition that there are people who currently need to be restored.  The psalm looks to the future when the Hebrew people will once again sing with joy at their restoration.

However, the true power of this psalm is in the witness.  When God saves the Hebrew people, there is rejoicing.  But the outside world also takes notice.  The nations say, “The Lord is doing great things among them.”  This goes to demonstrate a really important point.  The Lord ultimately works for His glory. 

We’d like to believe that we can get the Lord to work for our life.  Yes, God does care about what happens to us.  But God ultimately works for His glory above our own.

Psalm 127

Psalm 127 is a Psalm of Ascent on the topic of perspective.  Unless the Lord desires something, our work is in vain.  Isn’t that a really humbling perspective?

Of course, we know that God gives us free will.  We know that we are capable of doing things that the Lord simply does not desire.  So the psalmist isn’t saying that everything that happens is of the Lord.  To make that claim means that we lay all of the atrocities of human history at the feet of the Lord.  That simply isn’t right.

Rather, what the psalmist is saying is that we can build nothing of tremendous lasting value without God.  If God isn’t in something, then what we build will have no enduring effect.

As I read through the opening lines of this psalm, I am reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.  Paul talks about the things that we spend our life doing and how they will all be judged in the end.  The question becomes: if nothing we can do without God is of any enduring value, why do anything that God is not a part of?  Is our temporary pleasure really worth it in the long run?

The second half of the psalm speaks to the importance of children.  Children are a gift from the Lord.  Children are our greatest resource.  I think about all of the effort that typical churches and the people within them put into the children of the congregation.  To quote an often repeated saying, they are our future.  They are the ones who will pick up the fight when we must lay it down.  They are the ones who will carry God’s evangelistic message to the next generation.  Indeed.  We are wise when we fill our quiver with as many of the next generation as possible!

On an aside, Psalm 127 is at the midpoint of the Psalms of Ascent.  I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to say that this represents the centrality of the nuclear family and the work of the Lord in our culture.  When we destroy the nuclear family and we forget about God … we destroy the central linchpins upon which a good society is built.  I believe the psalmists knew this and made this point symbolically.

Psalm 128

As we continue into the back half of the Psalms of Ascent the first one to which we arrive is a psalm about blessing.  Note the theme.  The one who fears the Lord and walks in His ways will be blessed.  I am reminded of James and his emphasis in the New Testament about faith and works coming together.  I am reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s wonderful quote from the Cost of Discipleship where he says, “Only those who believe obey and only those who obey believe.”  I am reminded of the old song Trust and Obey, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way!”

Consistently we hear the message throughout God’s Word.  Faith comes by hearing.  Salvation comes from God’s hand.  We do not earn salvation.  But God desires – even expects – us to respond.  God expects our response to be faith and faithfulness.  Blessed are the ones who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.

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Year 2, Day 271: Psalms 124-125

Psalm 124

Psalm 124 is an interesting psalm.  The point of the psalm is clear.  It is the Lord who causes us to escape the world.  It is the Lord to whom we owe all of our gratitude.

My mind runs in many directions as I read this psalm today.  First of all, how many of us think of life in terms of coincidence?  Or do we think of life in terms of near misses?  Perhaps we see things that should have gone far worse than they did and think about luck.  I wonder how often we give credit to chance, luck, or coincidence when we should really give credit to God?  I know I’m guilty of this.  Many things in my life should have gone far worse than they did.  Yet for how many of them have I given praise to God and confessed that it is God who prevented them from going horribly?

There is a deeper side to this psalm.  It really goes deep enough to argue the point that God is genuinely in control of every aspect of this world.  Mind you, just because God is in control doesn’t mean that God forces everything to happen.  But God is indeed in control.  Reading this psalm today caused me to ask whether or not I am genuinely aware of God’s control on a moment-to-moment basis.

That brings up the question of how much attention I give to God when He deserves it.  Do I think about God only when things go wrong?  Do I think about God just when I read His Word?  Do I think about God just in those “near-miss” moments of life?  Or am I genuinely pursuing God all day long?  Again, I don’t know about you but I know that I could stand to focus more on God and less on me.

Finally, I am left with a sense of gratitude.  This psalm is simply about being grateful to God.  Basically, this psalm says, “If it wasn’t for God, we wouldn’t be here.”  That’s a really humbling statement to make.  If it weren’t for God, the world would have squashed the Hebrew people from the face of the planet.  If it weren’t for God, there would be no Jesus.  If it weren’t for God, there would be no salvation, repentance, forgiveness, mercy, or grace.  I don’t know if I can say that I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for God; but I can certainly say with confidence that if it weren’t for God, I wouldn’t be following Him and where I am today!  Thanks be to God!

Psalm 125

Psalm 125 is a psalm with a very similar theme as Psalm 124.  God is the protector.  God is the bringer of righteousness.  God surrounds His people and protects them from the world.

But it isn’t quite the same.  The end of this psalm has a very unique focus.  There is a plea and a warning at the end of this psalm that we don’t find in the prior one.  While the prior psalm was to get us to focus on God, this psalm ultimately is to get us to focus on our response to God.

“Do good,” the psalmist says, “to those who are good and are upright in their hearts.”  The general plea is that the Lord would take notice of those who are trying to follow Him.  The psalmist wants us to realize that we are to do good and we are to be upright in our hearts.  The psalmist also wants us to realize that when we are good and upright, we can plead to God that He look upon us with favor.

But then we get to the last verse of this psalm.  It is a very unique and difficult verse.  Those who turn aside to their crooked ways are dealt with by God.  But look really closely.  It says that it is the Lord who leads away those who turn to their crooked ways.  A few Bible translations interpret the words “lead away” as “banish” instead.

This should cause us to pause.  Banishment is being sent out of the presence of someone.  Being led away conjures up images of some prison gang chained up and forced to go where they do not want to go.  When we turn to our wicked ways, the Lord will execute justice.  When we turn to our wicked ways, we deserve to be led away.  We deserve to be banished.  We deserve to be led out of the presence of God.

What a horrible fate.  I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone.  The consequences of sin are a broken relationship with God.  The consequences of sin are death and being led out of God’s presence into nothing.  Jesus often calls that place a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I am again reminded to be grateful.  I am grateful that Christ intercedes for us.  I know I do turn to my wicked ways from time to time.  I am grateful that I will not receive the fate that I deserve.  My actions dictate that I should be led out of God’s presence.  Yet because of His grace, love, and mercy there is forgiveness.  Because of His grace, love, and mercy I am called to continue to help with His plan.  Because of His grace, love, and mercy I am still a tool in His hand.

The same is true for you in Christ.  Go, be humble.  Go, be thankful.  Go, be with God.

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Year 2, Day 270: Psalm 122-123

Psalm 122

Well, we have finished the Gospel of John so it is now time to return once again to the Psalms and finish reading this book as well.  If you remember back in the beginning of September, we last read through Psalm 121.  So today we pick up with Psalms 122 and Psalms 123 and we’ll keep reading a psalm or two per day until we finish.  If you need to refresh your memory as to what it means when it says a “song of ascents” please see the first paragraph in my blog post for September 5th, 2012 on Psalms 120-121.

I cannot help but be thrown into a quandary as I read through Psalm 122.  This psalm is about valuing peace in Jerusalem.  Isn’t peace in Jerusalem a hot topic these days?  But then I also remember what the name Jerusalem means.  The name means “foundation of peace.”

Listen to what the psalmist says here.  Where is the focus of the psalmist as he ponders Jerusalem?  The focus of the psalmist is on the house of the Lord.  That is very key to understanding what the psalmist says here in this passage.  Jerusalem isn’t special because it is geographically located where it is.  Jerusalem is special because within Jerusalem is the house of the Lord.  It is the presence of the house of the Lord that causes Jerusalem to mean “foundation of peace.”

Hence … my quandary.  What is Jerusalem today?  Jerusalem today is a hotbed of political unrest.  Jerusalem today is a city that is being fought over in a political sense and is perpetually on the brink of being fought over in a very militaristic sense.  Jerusalem today is anything but a foundation of peace.  In this regard, I find Psalm 122:6 very poignant: pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

However, I also find it a bit amusing that so much energy is spent over a place.  From the perspective of Christianity, God dwells in us now.  The Holy Spirit has come within us.  In Christ and through His Spirit we understand the true meaning of the word Emmanuel – God with us.  Jerusalem may be the foundation of peace, but the truth is that the people who are fighting over the geography have missed the boat!  True peace can now be found within!  True peace comes from peace with God.  True peace comes from embracing the Holy Spirit and allowing His ways to become our ways.

The psalmist has the right idea – as much as he possibly could according to what portion of God’s plan had been revealed to him centuries before Christ came to this earth.  Peace does come from the presence of God.  When God dwells among us, we can be at peace with God.  But we do not need to rely on geography to know that truth any more.  We are the temple of the Most High!  The house of God is literally us!  In a figurative sense, Jesus’ coming to earth and accomplishing God’s will means that we are Jerusalem!  We are the foundation of peace!

In that sense, I do pray for peace in Jerusalem.  I pray that there will be peace within the walls of all of God’s people.  This psalm of ascent is to have us focus on the importance of the presence of God.  When we do that, we will have peace.

Psalm 123

As we turn to Psalm 123 we have a psalm of ascent with a new focus: God’s mercy.  I love this psalm for several down-to-earth reasons.

First, notice the servant-minded nature of the psalm.  We look to the Lord as a servant looks to the master.  In order for us to know God’s mercy, we must first acknowledge that He is the one who controls all the power.  He is the master.  His agenda reigns.  We are the servant.  We are the tools in His hand.  This psalm asserts humbleness before God.

The second reason that I love this psalm is because of its honesty.  The psalmist has had enough of contempt.  The ungodly demonstrate contempt for the godly.  The prosperous in the world scorn the godly and our attempts to cast off the lusts of our heart and be righteous.  The popular show disdain for us when we embrace a servant mindset and desire to focus on God.  There is plenty of contempt in this world for the genuine followers of God.  I can echo the words of the psalmist when he says that we have had enough of contempt.

There are two ways out of the derision and condescension that the world has for us.  The first way is by far the easiest way: join them.  If we give up God and adopt the ways of the world, the world will stop holding us in contempt.   However, this way is not the path I recommend as it implies leaving God.

The second way is to humble ourselves to God and wait for His mercy.  Like the psalmist, we rely upon God’s mercy.  We wait for God’s mercy here in this world whenever it comes.  We hold fast to God’s mercy and believe that in the life to come we will live even more abundantly within His mercy.  This path is the harder path.  This path is the path that accepts the derision of the world.  This path is the path that leads to God.

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Year 2, Day 269: John 21

A Unique Ending To A Unique Story

John 21 is a very unique chapter.  In fact, it is such a unique chapter that there is quite a bit of debate over this chapter.  There is so much debate over this chapter that I’m going to focus on the debate and try to remain partial – at least where I think partiality is necessary because we can’t genuinely “know” exactly what was happening within people.

We start off with this story about the disciples going fishing.  Right here begins the debate.  What exactly are Peter and the rest of the disciples doing out in a boat?  Don’t they have a Gospel to tell the world?

• Some people have argued that Peter is well within His rights.  We know Jesus had told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come.  In the grand scheme of things, Pentecost had not yet happened.  Since Peter was in this spiritual holding pattern, why shouldn’t he and the other disciples fill their time trying to be productive members of society?
• On the other hand, according to John’s Gospel the disciples have already received the Holy Spirit.  In John’s Gospel, the disciples receive the Holy Spirit in the upper room when Jesus breathes upon then.  See John 20.  Thus, if the disciples already have the Holy Spirit, why have they returned back to their old way of life?  Shouldn’t they get busy doing the work of the Lord?

In the end, I think this is one of the questions where we need to be partial.  John’s Gospel is the least “historically focused” Gospel.  John wrote this Gospel to tell a symbolically spiritual story – not necessarily to make sure that it was an absolutely factually perfect account.  We do historically know that the genuine ministry of “the church” didn’t begin until after Pentecost, so even if the disciples had fully received the Holy Spirit it still might not have been in God’s agenda for them to start right away.  We cannot completely know God’s rationale for waiting until Pentecost.  But we can know that from Pentecost on the church is absolutely on fire.  While I think we should understand that there is an urgency to ministry, I don’t think we should be too hard on the disciple’s choice to go fishing while they were waiting for God to make Himself clear at Pentecost.

A Man On The Shore

So now we move on.  As the disciples go fishing, they spot a man standing on the shore.  The man asks if they have caught any fish.  They say that they haven’t.  The man tells them to try the other side of the boat.

Let’s pause here for a second and think about what had to go through their minds.  Peter and his fellow disciples had some pretty good fishing knowledge.  They fished with big nets, not little lines and hooks.  They knew that the likelihood of the fish all being on one side of the boat and not the other is really ridiculous.  In order for that to happen the fish would all have to be aware of the boat, the net, and the greater scheme of catching fish.  I mean no injustice to our water-loving fellow creation, but fish just aren’t that smart.  The disciples really have to wonder about the advice from the man on the shore.

But I will give them credit.  They are willing to try anything.  So they cast their net on the other side and there are so many fish that they can’t even bring the net in.  Then it becomes clear.  This is a supernatural event.  This is a miracle.  Only one person has done this kind of thing in their life: Jesus!  They recognize Jesus through His miraculous action! 

Contrast this with Mary, who earlier recognized Jesus through the calling of her name.

Peter Leaps Off The Boat

Then Peter leaps off of the boat.  This is not the first time that Peter has done this.  This is also not the first time that Peter’s action falls under scrutiny.

• Some people argue that Peter really messes up here.  Peter leaves the miracle behind.  Peter abandons God’s provision for them: the fish.  He leaves other people to do the work.  He is so focused on “being with Jesus” – one might say, “hanging onto Jesus” – that He is guilty of abandoning the work of the Lord and leaving it to others.
• On the other hand, we know what Jesus says to Mary and Martha when Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet.  See Luke 10:38-42.  Jesus isn’t going to be with the disciples long.  Is it so bad that Peter wants to spend every moment with Jesus?  Furthermore, what was the point of the miracle?  Did Jesus create the miraculous catch of fish for the disciple’s worldly hunger or did He create the miraculous catch of fish to reveal Himself and the power of God?  If the miracle was for God’s agenda – that is, the revelation of Himself to the world – then perhaps Peter actually demonstrates the greatest response by literally abandoning what his body says he needs (food) for what his spirit truly needs (Jesus).

Peter and Jesus

After the disciples eat breakfast with Jesus, we have an intimate moment between Peter and Jesus.  Much has been said about this moment – and I believe it to be spot on.  Thus, I will summarize here and trust that anyone who has not heard this will do their own research into this idea.  This intimate moment between Jesus and Peter is all about redemption.  Peter denied Jesus three times.  Now Jesus gives Peter the opportunity to genuinely respond now that he has all the information his human brain needs.  When Peter denied Jesus, Peter didn’t understand the plan of God.  He was still learning the power of God and the purpose of Jesus.  Now, Peter has seen what Jesus was really about.  Jesus gives Peter a new chance to respond knowing that the story is complete.  Peter is redeemed.  Peter confesses His love three times in perfect balance for his prior transgression.

Peter, Jesus, and the Other Disciple

Then we have this enigmatic meeting between Peter, Jesus, and the disciple that Jesus loves.  We can learn a really important lesson here about humanity.  Even though we might have the Holy Spirit, even though we might be in the presence of Christ, and even though we truly are God’s holy temple it is still easy for our humanity to show through.  Our self-monger rages within us.  Peter wants the intimate time with Jesus.  Peter wants to be the chief.  Peter wants to know what is going to happen to the disciple that Jesus loves so that he can compare that disciple’s calling to his own calling.  In so many ways, our self-monger is all about competition while being better and living better than others.

Why is it that we always have to compare and compete?  When the glory of God shines through someone else, why must we be jealous and why can we not be filled with the awe of God?  When a sinner makes a deathbed confession and finds God, why are we filled with irritation about their ability to escape the snare of Hell when we should give glory to God for His redeeming work?  When God exalts one of his people to become a spokesperson for the faith {Such as Billy Graham} why do people feel the need to immediately berate his testimony to God instead of stand in awe of how God can use a sinful human being for His glory?

We have much to learn from this ending to the Gospel of John.  No human is perfect this side of His return.  We will all have faults.  We all have a self-monger still dwelling inside of us.  Even in the presence of Christ we are still in bondage to sin and unable to free ourselves.  We need to recognize this fact.  We need to confess it.  We need to be willing to resist it and fight against it.  We need to turn to God rather than being absorbed into ourselves.

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Year 2, Day 268: John 20

A Hard to Beat Story

I think this is one of my favorite of the 4 resurrection stories.  I really like Mark 16:1-8, and if later texts didn’t add verse 9-20 I’d probably like that one the best.  But it is really hard to beat the resurrection story of John 20.

Mary comes to the tomb first.  While it is still dark, she comes to the tomb.  I don’t think that it is any accident that Mary came first.  But I’ll get to that in a little bit.

Mary finds out that the tomb is empty.  The stone has been rolled away.  She runs and tells Peter, telling him that someone has taken the body.

Peter and another disciple immediately run to the tomb.  The other disciple beats Peter there and looks in.  He sees the grave clothes, but he stops.  It is important for Peter to go in first.  After all, Peter is portrayed in all the Gospels as the ringleader of the followers of Christ.

Peter goes in.  The grave clothes are there.  The napkin that was over Jesus’ face was in a separate place, folded off to the side.  There was no evidence of violence.  Jesus’ body had not been abused.  In fact, it looked as though something of great care happened to the body.

What is really neat is the way that John develops this story in the Greek. 

• In John 20:5, the disciple who gets to the tomb first and “saw” the grave clothes.  The verb here is a word that means “to glance at” or “to become aware of” something. 
• In John 20:6 we hear that Peter went in and “saw” the scene.  The Greek verb here means “to observe carefully” or “to pay attention” or “to watch with unusual carefulness.” 
• In John 20:8 we hear that the other disciple came in and “saw” and believed.  The Greek verb here means “to see with comprehension.” 

What is really neat about this is that in our English translations we hear a word that our eyes don’t even “see” with any particular significance.  We pass over the descriptions of the disciples’ sight as if it isn’t even there.  Yet, in the Greek John brings us through an increasing pattern of comprehension.  The disciples see the body.  Then they study it.  Then they begin to comprehend what is going on.  That progression – the detail to which John describes it – is so cool! 

You’ll notice above that I said “begin to comprehend.”  I don’t really thing they fully comprehend until they see Jesus – perhaps not even until the Holy Spirit comes to them.

More About Mary

Mary stands outside the tomb, weeping.  She meets with a pair of angels, and then she meets with Jesus.  Do not lose focus on the fact that Mary recognizes Jesus when He calls her name.  He is, after all, the Good Shepherd.  The sheep know His name.  He knows our name.  When He calls us, we recognize His voice.  Even when He speaks through other people or in situations that we aren’t expecting Him to speak – we recognize His voice.

Before moving on to Jesus’ appearance before the disciples, let’s stop for a second and examine the fact that it is Mary to whom Jesus makes His first resurrection appearance.  I think so many things are going on here that it is tough to keep them all straight.

• First, I believe that Jesus is attacking human tradition.  Understand that the Jewish people of Jesus’ day had a saying.  It went something like this: “It is better for the words of the Law to be burned than to be delivered by a woman.”  On a very grand scale, I do believe that Jesus chooses Mary because He wants to make a point about how wrong the human tradition of the Jews of Jesus’ day was.  Nobody is below delivering God’s Word.  Everybody is useable by God.  When we make a point to create hierarchies based on human understand we limit God.  We clearly go against God’s agenda.  We make an enemy of God when we judge people’s usefulness in God’s kingdom by human standards instead of by spiritual standards.
• Second, understand that Jesus is also making a clear point about change.  He came into this world to change it.  He came into this world to change our relationship with the Father and our relationship with one another.  By going to a woman, Jesus is making a point that Jesus’ followers in a post-resurrection world will need to embrace change.
• Third, I believe Jesus is making a specific comment about the ability of women within the church.  The first person that Jesus asks to proclaim His resurrection is a woman.  The first person to tell others about God conquering death through Jesus is a woman.  The first person to tell others that Jesus is alive is a woman.  God will use women to deliver His Gospel to the world in a post-resurrection world.
• Fourth, I believe that Jesus is making a statement about Mary’s desire.  She was first to the tomb.  She couldn’t wait to continue to serve God, even when she thought Jesus was dead and it was His lifeless body that she was going to finish adorning with spices.  When she saw the tomb was empty, she was the one that didn’t wait for the disciples to come on their own – she went and told them.  Mary has guts.  She takes initiative.  I believe part of Jesus’ point here is that Jesus wants us to be proactive about our faith.  Jesus doesn’t want us sitting back waiting for Him to do everything.  Jesus wants us out and about – assertively looking for ways to involve ourselves in God’s plan.
• Finally, I believe Jesus is making a statement about the spiritual relationship between Himself and Mary.  Mary may not have been one of The Twelve.  But she was a close disciple and a spiritual friend.  You don’t have to have a “name” or be part of the “clique” to play an important role in God’s plan.  You don’t have to be part of the “in-crowd” to carry a very special message to the world.

The Twelve

Then Jesus appears to His disciples.  Jesus bestows His peace upon them.  Then an amazing thing happens.  Jesus breathes upon them His Holy Spirit.  The work of our Lord is done.  He came to alter the relationship between us and God by dying on the cross and atoning for our sins.  He certainly did that.  Now, not only can our sins be forgiven forever but God dwells within us!  We can not only approach the presence of God – we literally are always in the presence of God because God is within us!

Now the disciples have all that they need.  They have seen all of Jesus’ words come true.  He came, He conquered death, He died for our sake, He lives, and we have the Holy Spirit in our lives to guide us in faith and truth.  We can be confident in life – going forward to proclaim God’s greatness and His glory to the world!

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Year 2, Day 267: John 19

Pilate

We have a number of interesting points that come out of this first passage in John 19.  First, notice that Pilate is trying to walk a fine line between nobility and political correctness.  Pilate finds no reason to crucify Jesus.  However, he can also see that the Jewish leaders are ready to do something drastic if he doesn’t listen to them.  He doesn’t know why Jesus should be crucified, but he doesn’t want to lose control over the area that Caesar had given him to rule.  If Jerusalem were to go into yet another revolt, it would mean more soldiers coming into Jerusalem as well as a new leader.  If the Jews revolt, then Pilate is out of a job and likely out of favor with Caesar.  What can we learn from this?  The presence of Jesus in our life will cause us to confront our priorities.  We can either do the right thing according to God or we can follow the desires of our heart.  The presence of Jesus will bring us to that point.

Then Jesus tells Pilate that he only has authority over Jesus because it was given to him from above.  Yet again Jesus is driving home the point that the only reason this crucifixion is happening at all is because the Father is in control.  Everyone is playing a particular role of their own choosing – and all will be guilty of the role that they choose to play.  But if God the Father did not intend for His Son to be crucified at all He would not have allowed it in the first place.

No King But Caesar

Then we have one of the significant points of the Gospel of John.  When Pilate brings Jesus out for the last time, the Jewish leaders are frustrated.  They just want Jesus dead.  In order to accomplish their agenda, they back Pilate into a corner.  They tell Pilate that if he allows Jesus to continue to live then he will be guilty of endorsing a challenger to the right of Caesar to rule.  Then they make the boldest statement they’ve ever made.  “We have no king but Caesar.”

In their quest to accomplish their will, the truth comes out.  They are not following God.  They are not pursuing His agenda.  They are solely seeking after their own agenda.  They are willing to say or do whatever it takes to accomplish their agenda. 

When God established the Hebrew people in Promised Land under Joshua, they seemed content.  But eventually they wanted a king in order to be like the other nations.  Samuel begged them to not go on this route.  Samuel begged them to let God be their king.  But they demanded a king anyway.  In 1 Samuel 8:7 we hear God foreshadow this moment in John 19.  “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”  A thousand years later – and many stories of rebellion – the truth finally comes out.  They have indeed rejected God as their king.  The Jewish leaders have no king but Caesar.  In 1 Samuel we know that the desire to have a king in their life is so that they can be like the other nations.  In John 19 that desire is fulfilled completely.  It is a dark statement indeed.

Rejection and Acceptance

Jesus is then led to the cross.  The soldiers cast lots for his clothing.  The Son of God dies according to the ways of the world, in all the lack of ceremony that such an act of salvation truly deserved.  He goes to the cross with the world looking upon Him in shame.  He goes to the cross with people rejoicing that the “Jesus problem” is about to be resolved.  He goes to the cross with the Jewish leaders feeling as though they got their way.  He goes to the cross rejected by the world.

But He does not go to the cross rejected by all.  Jesus’ mother is there.  Jesus’ aunt is there.  Mary the wife of Clopas is there.  Mary Magdalene is there.  The disciple whom Jesus loves – personally I believe this to be Lazarus – is there.  Jesus’ followers do not reject Jesus.  Jesus may have gone to the cross rejected by the world; but Jesus went to the cross loved by His disciples.  Some may have fled for fear of their life.  Others may have followed at a distance.  A few approached the cross as He died.  I think it is important to remember that although all people need Christ’s death in order to have our sins forgiven and in order to have our relationship with God restored – not everyone rejected Christ and celebrated His death.  Jesus went to the cross loved by His followers.

Death and Burial

Jesus dies.  They come to break His legs but He is already dead.  They pierce His side and they receive the proof that they are looking for to indicate that He is already dead.  Scripture is fulfilled in many ways.  The Lord – our Lord – died on that cross for the sake of the world.  God’s plan for salvation to come as a free gift to any who would receive it is finished.  Salvation came to those who would receive it on that cross.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus come to the cross and remove the body.  These members of the Sanhedrin not only come in contact with human blood but they also come in contact with a dead body!  They do this on the day before a high holy Sabbath.  They understand that purity according to mankind’s understanding is not worth achieving.  It is the purity that comes from Christ’s death on the cross that is worth embracing. 

These two Jewish leaders literally embrace Christ’s purity as they take his bloody body off of the cross and lay Him in the tomb.  I can only imagine what they must have felt at that moment.  As they reach for the body of Christ, the conflict of the traditional understanding of the Law and their genuine love for Christ clash.

This chapter – Jesus death – is all about what we chase after in this world.  The Jewish leaders pursued their own agenda and they got it.  Their hearts were exposed as having no king but the ones of this world.  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus’ hearts were exposed as well.  Their hearts longed for the true agenda of the cleansing that comes through Jesus.  As we encounter the cross today, we all have the same choice.  Do I care more about my agenda and my kings or do I care about God?  It is time that we see and understand just how grievously our own understanding clashes with the agenda of God.

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Year 2, Day 266: John 18

Jesus Is In Control

I’m going to begin my reflections on John 18 by talking about the note that John gives us about the familiarity of Jesus, His disciples, and the Kidron valley.  Jesus is to be arrested.  Yet, He goes someplace familiar.

I’ve got two thoughts about this today.  First, how many of us would have the courage to go somewhere familiar when we know trouble is coming?  Jesus knows Judas is looking to hand Him over.  In fact, remember that in John 13 Jesus tells Judas to go and do what he has to do quickly.  The fact that Jesus goes to a place that He is familiar tells us that He wants to make Judas’ plan easy to accomplish.  Jesus is in control of this situation, not Judas.

For the record, this is why I absolutely loathe the translation of “betrayed” when talking about Judas’ work.  Yes, Judas is guilty for handing Jesus over.  Judas is guilty for trying to force His own agenda upon Jesus’ work.  But when we speak of betrayal we often give the impression that this is against God’s agenda.  God sent Jesus to die on the cross.  Therefore, I believe it is more proper to translate the Greek with what the Greek word actually means, which is “to hand over.”  Judas hands Jesus over – that’s the sin which Judas is guilty of doing.

My second thought with respect to the familiarity of the garden is that Jesus is thinking about His disciples.  In hard times, familiarity allows us to deal with stress.  Jesus knows that his disciples will flee, and Jesus sets them up to be able to flee with ease by taking them someplace familiar.  Jesus is demonstrating an incredible amount of compassion by taking His disciples to a familiar place when He knows the strife that they are about to endure.

Silence Of The Lamb

Then they come out to arrest Jesus.  Jesus goes without argument.  He owns up to His identity.  The plan of God is being fulfilled.  Well … that is … the plan of God is being fulfilled until Peter acts.  Peter draws His sword.  He still doesn’t get it.  And why should He?  The crucifixion is an event that can only be understood after experiencing the resurrection!

Jesus rebukes Peter.  Notice that Jesus doesn’t rebuke Judas, but Jesus does rebuke Peter.  Judas is guilty of handing over Jesus, but Peter is guilty of trying to stop the plan of God from happening!  Jesus asks Peter if he would keep Jesus from doing the work of God!  However, Judas is guilty of knowing what He is doing; Peter is guilty of acting out of his lack of understanding.  Peter’s mistake is still a mistake, but it is far more understandable than Judas’ mistake.

Jesus is arrested.  He is brought before the Jewish leaders.  Peter and another disciple follow Jesus.  Peter ends up denying his Lord three times.  The life of the disciples begins to unravel.  Suddenly the teachings of Jesus take on a seriousness note of reality.  It makes sense that Peter would go into denial.  It’s not particularly right – but again, it is understandable.

Within the courtyard of the high priest, Jesus is fairly blunt.  Jesus tells them that He has taught publically in the courtyards and among the Jewish leaders.  This is not a lie.  Yes, Jesus did teach His disciples privately.  But Jesus also taught publically in parables as well as by doing various miracles.  He did not hide His agenda.  He did not work subversively from behind the scenes.  Jesus’ agenda was plain. That’s actually why He is arrested.  Had Jesus worked more subversively, the Jewish leaders might not have known so much about Him!

Jesus is taken before Pilate.  Notice the Jewish leader’s response.  They can punish their own criminals, but they cannot use capital punishments.  There is no reason to involve Pilate unless they were pursuing the death penalty.  They didn’t bring Jesus to Pilate to judge Him.  They brought Jesus to Pilate to kill Him.

Before Pilate, Jesus makes many neat statements.  Today I’m going to focus on Jesus’ statement about His purpose.  Jesus came into this world to bear witness to truth.  The question is, “What truth?”

Jesus came into the world to bear witness to God’s glory and humanity’s sin.  Jesus came to this earth so that we might genuinely understand the difference between the nature of God and the nature of humanity.  Jesus came to die in order to reconcile the differences between those two natures.

Why does the world hate Jesus and those who follow Him?  Jesus bears witness to the truth.  Jesus bears witness to the sinfulness of humanity.  Jesus bears witness to our inner self-monger.  Jesus bears witness to our need of God.  That is truth.  We can embrace it – embrace Him – or reject truth.

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Year 2, Day 265: John 17

He Knows

John 17 is a very humbling chapter for me to read.  It opens with a very solemn statement.  “Father, the hour has come.”  Jesus knows what is coming.  He knows what is about to happen.  He knows the pain of the hours ahead.  He goes ahead anyway.  That’s impressive.  It’s inspirational.

It is these words that Jesus’ disciples likely thought about as they marched to their own death.  It is these words that Jan Hus likely remembered as he was burned at the stake.  It is these words that Martin Luther likely remembered as he stood before the tribunal and said, “Here I stand.  I can do no other.  God help me, amen.”  It is likely these words that Dietrich Bonhoeffer remembered as he was put to death by the Nazi regime.  It is a humbling way to begin this chapter.

This Is Eternal Life

Then Jesus says, “This is eternal life, that they know the only true God…”  That’s a very powerful statement as well.  So many people in this world think that there are many paths to God.  So many people think that it is okay to have a “you have your religion and I’ll have my religion” approach to life.  But that’s not really what Jesus says here, is it?  There is one way to know eternal life: know the only true God.”

God Is Known

Then we get to verse 6.  Jesus says, “I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave me out of this world.”  The word here in the Greek means “to make known clearly; to reveal in detail.”  Jesus clearly tells us His agenda.  When Jesus came, His agenda was to display God to the world.  His agenda wasn’t about Himself.  His agenda wasn’t about materialism.  His agenda was introducing God to the world.  I read those words and can’t help but ask myself how I’m doing with respect to that agenda.  After all, if that was Jesus’ agenda shouldn’t it also be the agenda of anyone who calls themselves one of His disciples?

Disciples Changed

Then Jesus talks for a while about doing the will of the Father and how it relates to His disciples.  At the end of this thought is a reaffirmation of what we’ve been talking about for the last few days.  Jesus has given God’s Word to His disciples and it has changed them.  They are no longer of this world.  But the world has hated them because of it.

Then Jesus lowers the boom.  He says, “I do not ask that you take them out of it.”  Now, let’s put this in perspective.  Jesus just prayed for the disciples while confessing that the world hates them.  Now Jesus specifically asks God not to take the disciples out of the world.  Jesus is setting a pretty substantial bar here as well.  Jesus is telling His disciples that life is going to be tough, but it is necessary.  Doing the work of God is challenging and it is often thankless as far as the world is concerned, but it is exactly where God wants us to be.  The same God who sent His Son to this earth to die for our sake is the same God that wants us to continue on in this life in the midst of persecution.  We might long to be with God; but God wants us right here to do His work.

Jesus Prays

Then Jesus does something really cool.  Jesus prays for those in the world who the testimony of His disciples will reach.  In a sense, Jesus prays for you and me right there.  Jesus prays for us who will believe through them.  How cool is it to think that as Jesus prayed those words that He was praying for you and me!

Jesus prays that we would be one.  He prays that we would know the Father through Him and the words of His disciples.  In a nutshell, Jesus is praying that we would give up our agendas and turn to the agenda of Christ.  We will never be one so long as we seek after our own path.  But we will be one when we drop our personal agenda and seek after the same path of our God and spiritual Father.

The world may not know God.  Many of the people around us may not know God.  But we know God.  How glorious it is to know that we have been invited to know the Creator!  Should we really be so afraid to pursue God’s agenda instead of our own agenda?  Should we really be so afraid to make His love know through us?

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Year 2, Day 264: John 16

Jesus’ Revelation

Jesus then fills the disciples in on a very significant secret.  Jesus has told the disciples all of these things to keep them from falling away.  Jesus has cautioned them against the violence to come.  He has cautioned them against not bearing fruit.  He has told them about the Holy Spirit.  He has spoken to them about obedience.  He has done all of these things so that they would not fall away.

What is it they say?  Knowledge is power.  We must be honest with one another.  We must be forthright.  We must teach the hard lessons.  We must be clear that if we chose to believe these hard lessons the world will hate us.  We have to teach all of this stuff so that people are prepared for it. 

Think of this analogy.  When police and military are being trained, why do they put them in crisis situations such as being pepper-sprayed, being attacked by dogs, in situations where the sound of battle is flying literally right over head, or in vehicular tactical scenarios?  Do they do these things because the drill sergeants and instructors are vindictive and have a mean streak?  Okay, I’ll admit.  Some do and some are.  But the real reason is because the only way to endure persecution is to prepare for it.  Jesus is forthright and honest so that they can prepare.

Holy Spirit

Then Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit.  First, notice that He has to go so the Holy Spirit can come.  In His physical body, Jesus can only be in one place at a time.  But in spiritual body Christ can be with everyone through the Holy Spirit at one time.  Oh, it would be wonderful if Christ was here in the flesh still.  But if Christ was here in the flesh, then what about all those people everywhere else across the globe?  No, although I long to be with Christ, it is good that He has gone and the Holy Spirit has come.

What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to come in addition to being with all of us everywhere? 

• The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin.  In other words, the Holy Spirit will speak to all people and give them every opportunity to consider their self-monger nature.  Some will hear the leading of the Holy Spirit and seek out something besides human nature: God.  Others will seek out something but find themselves content in something outside of themselves but still very much centered on human self-mongerism: false religions.  Others will dismiss the Holy Spirit entirely and be content with their self-mongerish nature.  But all are touched in their life with a voice speaking to our self-mongerish nature.
• The Holy Spirit will testify to the righteousness of Christ because in order for Him to come Jesus must go to the Father.  Ergo, if the Holy Spirit is with us, the Christ must be with the Father.  Thus, Christ must have been righteous.  The presence of the Holy Spirit proves the righteousness of Christ.
• The Holy Spirit will testify to judgment because the ruler of this world is judged.  Think about that for a second.  The ruler of this world is judged.  This directly implies that the ruler of this world is not God.  {Yes, God is more powerful than the ruler of this world.}  However, because of God’s permissive will and His desire to give us free will, He has allowed Satan to be the ruler of this world.  The Holy Spirit comes to judge the ruler of this world and those who follow the ways of the world.
• The Holy Spirit will guide those who are in Christ.  While the world is judged, those who follow Christ will be guided by His hand.

Sorrow and Joy

Jesus then speaks about sorrow and joy.  I think this is a very difficult passage to understand.  On a literal level, Jesus is speaking to the three days that Jesus will be dead.  The disciples will mourn.  The world will rejoice.  But after three days the lament will turn to joy.

Jesus’ words could also be applied to the time post-ascension but pre-Pentecost.  The disciples will mourn because Jesus has physically gone from them but they will rejoice when the Holy Spirit comes upon them in power.  Jesus may well have been speaking to this point as well.

However, it is likely that Jesus is also figuratively speaking about this life versus life eternal.  Even though we have the Holy Spirit, there is a part of us that genuinely longs to be with the Lord.  But there will come a time when Christ will call all of His faithful ones to Him.  We will be with the Lord.  Then there will be no more weeping.  Then there will be no more sorrow.  Then we will want for nothing and ask for everything God genuinely desires us to have.

Back to Reality

Then Jesus tells His disciples the truth.  While there will come a day when Jesus will not need to be our intercessor – that day is not today.  His disciples will be scattered.  They will run.  They will need to be forgiven.  They will abandon Jesus, but He will never be alone because the Father is with Him.

Once more, Jesus turns to the concept of peace.  The disciples may scatter, but they have the peace of God.  They have forgiveness.  When Jesus is resurrected, things will make much more sense.  When the Holy Spirit comes, they will be set against the world.  But even then they still have peace with God.  Following Jesus is not easy.  But it is a life of knowing that we are at peace with God.  Praise be to Him!

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Year 2, Day 263: John 15

Applied Faith

Immediately we return to a familiar concept that we talked about in John 14.  “Every branch that does not bear fruit is pruned away.”  (John15:2)  “Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”  (John 15:5)  “My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15:8)  “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.” (John 15:10)  “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  (John 15:14)  “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit and your fruit should abide.”  (John 15:16)  Can you hear the emphasis that Jesus is putting on “applied faith?” 

Again, we are never saved by what we do.  We are always only saved by what Jesus Christ did on the cross.  But the reality is that those who are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit will do.  We will bear fruit.  We will have spiritual change in our life that we can share with others.

What is also interesting is that Jesus speaks quite frequently in this passage about the negative side of this conversation as well.  Those who don’t bear fruit will be cut away.  Look really closely at verse 2.  It is those who bear fruit that are pruned so that they can bear more fruit.  Those who bear no fruit are cut away completely!  Or look at verse 6.  If we bear no fruit we are tossed away so as to wither.  That’s a really sad thought today!  Is anything in this life worth the withering of my faith?

So what does it mean to bear fruit?  Jesus tells us this answer in the final verses of the opening section of John 15.  We bear fruit by loving one another.  We love one another by laying down our life.  In other words, when we recognize and fight off the self-monger we are demonstrating love.

What does it mean to lay down my life?  Is it a one-time commitment when I physically die for someone else?  I certainly think that it can be – after all, is that not how Jesus demonstrated it the most effectively in His life?  However, I think it can be more than just that one time big act.  When we set aside our personal agenda – lay down our life – we then pick up the agenda of God.  When we pick up the agenda of God and focus less on our desires, we are ready to show God’s love to one another.  In these verses Jesus is absolutely speaking about the inner struggle with the self-monger within us.

I love the connection between what Jesus says in these verses and what Paul says at the end of Galatians 2.  In Galatians 2:20 Paul tells us that “I have been crucified with Christ.  Therefore it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.”  That is what it means to lay down one’s life.  When I look at my life and say, “I’m putting aside what I want so that I can live the life God desires,” it is at that moment that I lay down my life for the sake of God and for the sake of the people around me.

The World’s Hatred

This naturally ties into the second section of text in John 15.  Jesus tells us that the world may just hate us.  The world may hate us because it hated Jesus Christ.  Jesus did not live according to the agenda of the world and the world hated Him for it.  If we lay down our self-centered lifestyle and embrace the lifestyle of God that Jesus lived, of course the world will hate us as well.

Think about something in this world that you really enjoy but it has absolutely nothing to do with God.  How would you feel if I come up to you and say to you, “Should you really devote so much time and energy into something that has absolutely nothing to do with God?”  While you might think that there might be truth in it … are you also not going to have an innate resentment to the idea of giving up that thing (or activity) that you love so dearly? 

This is why the world hated Jesus.  Jesus told the Jewish leaders that they can’t continue to live in their isolationist legalism.  Jesus told the crowds that they couldn’t continue to come and “watch the spectacle” and “receive bread for free” without actually making some kind of meaningful response.  Jesus tells the money-makers in the temple that they will no longer be allowed to use God for their personal gain.  Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell everything that He has.  They all hated Him for it.

Jesus tells the alcoholic to stop drinking.  He tells the liar to quit lying.  He tells the egoist to forget about themselves.  He tells the rich to give all that they have and follow Him.  He tells the sexually immoral either to stop being sexually immoral or to make arrangements for it to no longer be immoral.  He tells the violent to focus on love and let God repay.  He tells the proud to be humble.  He tells the leaders to serve.

It’s pretty easy to see why the world hates Jesus.  Giving up these things – and many things that I didn’t mention – is difficult.  We don’t want to give them up.  We want to hold onto them.  We want to tell Jesus that He’s wrong.  It’s easy to hate Him because of the truth.  I’m just as guilty as the next person.  It’s really easy to see why the world continues to hate Jesus.  It is difficult to abandon the desires of our hearts.

So then it should also make sense that the world will hate us, too.  When we start living like Jesus, the world will hate us because we will have become traitors against the world.  When we start living a life of abandonment of the desires of our flesh the world will see us as strange, different, and stupid.  The world will hate us because of what we represent.  To become Jesus’ disciple, we must embrace the possibility of being hated by the world.  We must embrace the fact that they will persecute us.  We must embrace the possibility that they will do to us all that they did to Jesus and more.

Thank God that He does not leave us alone!  Praise God that He sends to Holy Spirit to us.  Who among us could stand against the hatred of the world if we did not have the Holy Spirit within?  Certainly not me, that’s for sure!

So we have a choice.  To paraphrase a beloved scene from the Matrix:

In one hand you have the “blue pill” of the world.  Take it and you ignore the truth.  Take it, and you go back to the world.  Take it, and you can go back to living according to the passions of your life.  Take it, and the world will stop hating you.  Take it, and you embrace the world and reject God.  You will have the support of the whole world – but you will be apart from God.

In the other hand you have the “red pill” of Christianity.  Take it – make it a part of you – and you will see truth.  You will see the world as you have never seen it before.  But the world will chase you and persecute you on account of the truth.  The world will hate you, but you will have the presence of God within you.

What is your answer?  Do you have it within you to desire to forsake the ways of your flesh, have the world hate you, but know God?

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