A Good Friday Reflection

Picture your most treasured relationship and think about how much you love this person.

Imagine you’ve known this spouse, family member, or friend for 50 years, and you’ve never had any notable relational conflict.

Imagine all the precious time spent with this person and the fond memories you’ve made during your 50 years of life together.

Imagine this relationship being severed abruptly, your loved one rejecting you and blaming you for things you never did.

Can you imagine the deep, inexplicable pain this relational devastation would cause you?

Now, fathom a relationship that has lasted for all of eternity pastwhich has never experienced even the slightest disruption in perfect love, harmony and relational intimacy.

Fathom that both of these persons had endured heinous crimes for thousands of years, committed by people whom they loved but had rejected and despised them.

Fathom one of these persons agreed to be held accountable foreverything these people committed against them.

Fathom the convicted had never been guilty of the slightestcrime or wrongdoing – ever.

Fathom the only way to justly deal with these crimes requiredthe other offended person to punish and reject the other.

Fathom the offended having to unleash their wrath and condemnation upon their beloved for the crimes of people who despised them.

Fathom these innocents enduring the ultimate soul-devastating price of a severed relationship on behalf of their enemies.

Hopefully this very imperfect, incomplete comparative analogysheds a little light on the magnitude of what God the Father and God the Son endured on that Friday long ago. We often focus on the physical pain and mockery by men that Jesus endured, and we often neglect both the pain God the Father endured in punishing his perfect Son, and the agony Jesus endured as the condemned. Jesus’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion was over the “cup” he would have to endure. He asked the Father if there was a way this “cup” could pass from him. What is this “cup,” precisely? The cup of God’s wrath was known to Jews, used several times in the Old Testament (Isa 51:17,22; Jer 25:15), as well as described in Revelation 14:10 and 16:19, as an analogy for the wrath of God that would be poured out to deal with sins.

Perhaps this adds new depth to your understanding of the great sacrifice the Father and Son endured on your behalf? Regardless, don’t let this opportunity pass to thank Him for the depths to which God went to deal with your sin and mine, so that we might also know a relationship in which someone loves us perfectly, unconditionally and unceasingly. As Jesus told us during one of his last recorded prayers before enduring the cross(found in John 17), the Father loves us, just as he loves Jesus. Christian, God has dealt with your sin, he holds no condemnation over you – you are free because of his Good Friday sacrifice!

2011 Advent Thoughts

 

God Incarnate

God the Son, given by God the Father, empowered by God the Spirit, steps into human history by being born of a virgin peasant in a lowly manger. Christianity – the only religion that claims God came to us, to live among us, to die for us, then rise for us, in order to save us.

The Creator and His Creation

The Creator God willingly and lovingly became part of his created order, humbling himself to arrive as a baby, birthed amidst the wood, hay , animals, and even the earthly mother and father that HE created! The angels he crafted heralded his birth to shepherds and sheep whose form he both imagined and made. The bright star that marked his birth was spoken into existence by him untold eons before his earthly arrival. These things blow my mind, and I’m forever thankful!

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3

Gift Giving

Most people associate the Christmas tradition of gift giving to the Biblical account of the wise men who brought gifts to honor baby Jesus. However, the history altering exchange was not gifts given to God, but rather, God’s most precious gift to us. For approximately 33 years this Gift lived the perfect life that none of us can attain, and then, “God made him (Jesus) who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” So, if any part of gift giving is stressing you out this Christmas season, ponder the future stress-free life God has promised you if you’re trusting in The Gift and what he did for you.

Angels and Shepherds, A Star and Wise Men​

Our current political landscape is rife with class warfare, but especially in Christ Jesus, God shows his love for people of all economic status. They heavenly hosts announced to mere sheep herders the arrival of The Good Shepherd – the Lamb of God. The magi came bearing expensive gifts, following the bright star to pay homage to the King of kings and the giver of every good and perfect gift. When tempted to despise the poor or begrudge the rich, may we remember the One who revealed his coming to both simple shepherds and wealthy nobles.

 

Our Glorious Savior: The Miraculous and the Mundane

Looking at Jesus’ life from two broad categories, Scripture records that he lived a life marked by both miraculous feats and normal human interactions. On one hand, the Messiah produced power-filled signs of God’s kingdom come. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demonic spirits, turned water into wine, fed 20,000 or so people with five loaves and two fish, and exercised dominion over his creation. On the other hand, like all of us he ate, drank, slept, worked, studied and learned, followed laws and customs, shopped at the local market, had an earthly family and maintained many friendships. Although fully God, part of Christ’s becoming fully human was living like a normal person, yet doing it perfectly. This aspect of Jesus’ earthly life can often be overlooked and under-discussed, but perhaps we should learn as much from his normal life as we do from the miraculous. All of Christ’s life provides us with a more transparent view of God’s character and nature.

John 21:25 tells us, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I don’t think John had in mind such things as Jesus brushing his teeth when he wrote this verse. Considering the context, I take this to indicate the near-innumerable captivating stories, profound teachings and supernatural works of Jesus. Since Scripture says that Jesus is an exact representation of the Father, we more clearly see God’s nature and character through Christ’s miracles. Let’s look at a few of them and what they reveal to us.

God’s heart for grieving fathers, mothers, widows and siblings was demonstrated through raising daughters, sons, sisters and brothers. God’s compassion for the sick and hurting was shown by healing the blind, deaf, dumb, deformed, diseased, lame and lepers. God’s love for the afflicted was revealed through deliverance from oppressive demonic spirits. God’s care for daily needs was displayed by multiplying food for multitudes of hungry people. God’s concern for our safety was clarified by calming the storm for the sake of his disciples. God’s zeal for our faith was showcased through encouraging Peter to likewise walk on the water.

Jesus’ signs and wonders exhibited the profound glories of God, but so too did his common human interactions. These non-miraculous behaviors can both be deduced from the Bible’s revelation of Christ’s sinless character, as well as from specific passages detailing his life. Since Jesus lived in perfect reliance on the Holy Spirit, we know that he perfectly displayed the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Though we don’t know everything about his life, we certainly know how he lived. Although most of us can think of a person that we greatly admire for their godly character, if we’ve known them long enough, we’ve been sinned against by them or witnessed them doing so towards others. We all continue to live with the reality of a sinful flesh nature.

Considering our experiences, how amazing and encouraging to meditate on the truth that Jesus always pleased the Father in thought, word and deed! Let us not overlook that the God who created our unique personalities had a unique personality of his own! He certainly didn’t live life in a stoic, monk-like fashion. Jesus was full of passion and personality, and no doubt had a sense of humor – otherwise he wouldn’t have made people to appreciate and display them! Imagine Jesus’ righteous reactions to the feasible scenarios of siblings that pestered him, an unjustified rebuke from Mary or Joseph, a bullying classmate, hurtful words of ridicule, an impatient customer, someone taking his Father’s name in vain, fickle crowds, and often dense disciples. Picture Jesus proactively comforting one of his little brothers that was teased by playmates, helping his mother care for his ailing adoptive father, diligently completing a carpentry job for a swindling customer, faithfully and regularly studying the Torah, and foregoing material comforts to help provide for the poor and widows in town.

Expressly provided in the Gospels are examples of God’s disposition towards his people, and even his enemies, through Jesus’ non-miraculous interactions with people. Displaying God’s unmerited grace, Jesus selects twelve unlikely and seemingly unqualified men to be his disciples and carry on his message of salvation to the world. Demonstrating God’s view of racial equality, Jesus walks through Samaria (rather than around it as was most Jews’ custom) to purposefully engage the adulteress woman at the well and offer her eternal life. Showing God’s indiscriminate love for all people, Jesus befriended all types of sinners in need of salvation - prostitutes, tax collectors and the like - not just sinners within the religious establishment and wealthy class that could provide social acceptance. Placing value on a heart inclined towards the things of God over mere works of service for him, Jesus corrects Martha for demanding that Mary help her prepare a meal, indicating that Mary had rightly chosen how to spend time with him. Jesus showed the deep compassion of God as he wept over the death of his friend Lazarus.

Contrary to the world’s philosophy for how to deal with people that undermine and even persecute you, Jesus models the frequent Old Testament exaltation that the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Although Jesus directed many harsh words towards the Scribes, Pharisees and religious rulers, he did not shun them or avoid them. Rather than showing contempt for them, through rebuke, Jesus offered them a chance to repent and believe in him. Jesus wept over the Jews in Jerusalem who would not believe in him even while prophesying their pending God-ordained judgment in A.D. 70. While being beaten, mocked, scorned and crucified, Jesus not only remained silent and restrained, he also asked for these very people’s forgiveness. After being abandoned and even denied by Peter - one of his closest friends – he not only forgave him but also established him as the primary leader of the early church. Lest we forget, this was no mere man that was mistreated, but the very God who created all men.

Praise God for his revealed Word! Meditating on the rich wonders of Christ’s earthly existence draws us into a deeper understanding of the God who loves us and redeemed us. It magnifies the expanse of God’s glory while providing a more tangible understanding of his character that we can emulate. 1 John 2:5-6 says, “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”

Good Friday Reflection

As I drove into work this morning at approximately 6:30AM, it was dark with pouring rain pounding my windshield and lightning bolts erratically illuminating the pre-dawn sky. How fitting for a Good Friday morning. On a Friday some 2,000 years ago between the 6th and 9th hours (12:00PM to 3:00PM), the sky became dark as the King of kings and Lord of lords hung on a cross at Calvary.

Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly state the reason for these dark hours, it collectively tells us what was happening. He who created all universal matter was dying by means of the material he made. The God who formed every man was being crucified by his creatures. Although He held together all things in existence, his hands were nailed to splintered wood. An eternal, perfect, unbroken and unhindered relationship between God the Father and God the Son was experiencing a reality that never had and never will again occur – the Son forsaken, the Trinitarian fellowship temporarily severed.

He who knew no sin became sin for us. In our place, Christ endured the punishment we deserved. The wrath of God against our sin was poured out full measure on his Son incarnate. The cup Jesus prayed might be taken from him in Gethsemane had become reality. The Righteous One became our reconciliation. Humanly incomprehensible in its entirety, yet amazingly true, God chose to suffer great harm in order to secure our eternal home. .

May we meditate today on the awesome reality that the King of Glory paid it all for us at a price to himself we cannot comprehend. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Our Glorious Savior: The Power That Fueled His Ministry

The proclivity for explaining the power behind Jesus’ unique, extraordinary life and ministry tends to lie in his explicit deity as a person of the Holy Trinity. On the surface, this appears to be the most obvious and logical explanation for Jesus’ source of infallible and irrefutable truth, prophetic accuracy, and countless miracles. But as is often the case, the seemingly simple answer does not prove true. Scripture explains that God the Son relied on the Holy Spirit, not his inherent power as God the Son. Before discussing why Jesus’ dependence on the Spirit likely existed, let’s look at some of the examples we find in the Word.

Scripture’s first indication of this functional relationship is found in an Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah 11 records the following:
1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

During Christ’s life on earth, the Son and Spirit relational dynamic is clearly seen after Jesus’ baptism. Mark’s gospel unequivocally states that “the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” The Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness to fast forty days and endure temptation is likewise recorded in Luke chapter four, which also adds that after completing this test, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.” Helping us further comprehend the extent and longevity of these Spirit-led revelations, Matthew 12:28 exposes the power by which Jesus cast out demons - the Spirit of God.

After Jesus’ ascension, Acts 10:38 reflectively reports, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Perhaps the most indicative passage of how Jesus’ life relates to our life in the Spirit occurs when he first appears to his disciples after his resurrection. John 20:21-22 says, “’As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” Although Pentecost does not occur until later, Jesus explains to his disciples what will happen there in fullness.

These verses should be understood as periodic peeks behind the curtain into the power of Jesus’ earthly ministry. I’m sure we could all agree that Scripture would be unnecessarily repetitive if mention was given to the Holy Spirit’s empowerment every time Jesus did something of note. Interestingly, and I believe by no means coincidentally, we see this affirmation prior to his earthly life, at the origin of his ministry, in the midst of his ministry, and after Jesus’ ministry was completed. This leads us to the question of why Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit rather than his eternal power as the Son. The answer lies in both the fulfillment Christ’s earthly mission, as well as how Christians are empowered in our lives.

Hebrews 10 vividly describes Christ as the fulfillment of the sacrificial system with verses 5-7 noting that Jesus’ physical body was essential to God’s plan of atonement. Although no less than fully God, the Son also came as fully man in order to fulfill all righteous requirements – living the perfect, God-pleasing human life that we could not. As Philippians 2:6-11 indicates, the Son willingly (and temporarily) chose not to utilize his divine rights and powers in order to fully live as a man and become the God-provided sacrificial substitute for us. Therefore, Jesus wholly relied on the empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit through his fully human existence, which was without limitation or interruption.

Jesus’ words, then, make much more sense when he tells his followers that they will do greater things than he did. Jesus was one person being incomparably empowered by the Spirit. Now, in all of his people, God releases this same power by the Holy Spirit working in and through them. Another implication for Christians is the New Testament command to emulate Jesus, follow Jesus, be holy like Jesus was holy, and walk in the ways of Jesus. These are only tenable because we have the same Holy Spirit in us that was active in our Lord. We won’t perfectly portray Jesus, of course, but we’ve been given the power to overcome sin and live out these same fruits and gifts of the Spirit.

Romans 8:11 encourages us with this astonishing reality, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” We have the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead living in our very bodies – how amazing to contemplate and take hold of this truth! How all too often we live to the contrary, mired in sin and self-pity. God wants us to know, claim and utilize the Spirit’s power in us to combat sin, live like Christ, and reveal his glory to our fallen world!

Our Glorious Savior: From Ordinary Life to Miraculous Ministry

From twelve years old to approximately thirty, the Bible provides us with no information concerning Jesus’ life. We can only speculate what his life may have been like. Considering that the New Testament makes no further mention of Joseph, most scholars speculate that Joseph died sometime between Jesus’ early teenage years and the beginning of his ministry. Being the oldest son, the responsibility to provide for his family would have fallen primarily on his shoulder, working as a carpenter like his adoptive father Joseph. Jesus would have experienced being a first century tradesman, dealing with many of the same work hassles and frustrations we face – complaining customers, slow-paying and no-paying clients, physical fatigue and perhaps lazy co-workers. Whatever the situation, he never sinned – not even an unkind thought. Jesus did not live a monk-like existence until his ministry. The Scriptures tell us he was tempted in every way, yet was without sin.

It’s fascinating to ponder other unknown aspects Jesus’ life. What did Jesus look like? Did the fact that Jesus never sinned create jealousy amongst his siblings? Who were his best friends? How, when and where did Jesus study the Scriptures? As a carpenter, what did Jesus build and how comparatively skilled was he? When did he fully grasp his true identity and earthly mission? Precisely, how did Jesus know when or how to begin his ministry?

Although we aren’t informed exactly when (in terms of age) or how Jesus transitioned from normal life to Messianic ministry, we know it began with his baptism – the grand inauguration, if you will. This event was of such importance, God ensured it was recorded in all three synoptic Gospel accounts. However, the precise reasons why Jesus was baptized have long been discussed and debated amongst Bible scholars. From the mouth of our Savior, we know it had something to do with “fulfilling all righteousness.” Jesus’ words were in response to John the Baptist’s reluctance to baptize him, saying conversely that he should be baptized by Christ. There are undoubtedly a few important distinctions between the Son’s baptism and both John the Baptist’s or believers’ baptism. First, John’s baptism was to denote repentance from sin, and we know this was not the case concerning Jesus. Believer’s baptism signifies identity with Christ and the new life we’ve received in him. For obvious reasons this baptismal significance cannot fit the basis for Jesus being baptized, but does initiate a future ordinance for his followers.

Therefore, it’s most likely that Christ’s baptism served at least two purposes. Foremost, the Father supernaturally identified his Son with open heavens and an approving voice from heaven, and the Spirit descended on Jesus in a bodily form like a dove. For those God gave the spiritual ears and eyes to see, this was an unequivocal revelation that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah. Second, Jesus fulfilled all of the righteous requirements of the law on our behalf in order to die in our place as the perfect sacrificial Lamb. He tells us in Matthew 5:17 that he came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them. John’s baptism was unquestionably from God, preparing the way for the Messiah. It then seems that Jesus submitting to John’s baptism, although unnecessary in the sense that he had no sin from which to repent, satisfied a righteous requirement that God deemed important to fulfill.

From biblical accounts it appears that perhaps immediately after his baptism, Jesus ventured into the desert for a forty day fast. After facing and resisting temptation from Satan, Jesus then begins teaching, preaching, proclaiming, ministering and displaying miraculous signs of his Messianic identity. Jesus’ words drew large crowds, including curiosity from the high of society and lowliest of sinners. His wisdom astounded. His arms comforted. His hands healed. His words rebuked, revealed, encouraged, provided hope, and gave life – both spiritually and physically. He turned water into wine and fed over five thousand people with a lunch packed for a boy. He commanded the wind and waves. He cursed a fig tree that did not bear fruit, causing it to wither. His spoken words knocked men to the ground. We’ll return to Jesus’ words and works, but before doing so, we’ll investigate their source. Like it once did me, it may surprise you!

Finishing Well and Leaving Spiritual Legacies

Briefly deviating from the series on our Savior, the recent homecoming of a faithful saint leads me to write this posting. John Crawford passed away Monday, February the 8th. John was in his early 90s. For the large majority of John’s life, he was on staff with The Navigators – a Christian parachurch organization (always very supportive of the local church, I might add) that focuses most notably on one-on-one discipleship, scripture memory and Bible study. John was discipled by the legendary Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators and about whom Billy Graham was quoted saying, “I think Daws has personally touched more lives than anybody I have ever known." John Crawford’s fruit did not fall far, if distanced at all, from his mentor’s tree.

John and his wife Helen had recently been living together in a nursing home in Oklahoma City, no longer able to care for each other. Helen has Alzheimer’s disease, and John’s physical health was waning. Despite his ailing health, John was reportedly continuing to faithfully meet with men that came to see him in the nursing home - still encouraging them in the Lord and in the study and memorization of his Word. He even mentioned to visitors that the nursing home had been a blessing from the Lord to him and Helen. What a remarkable testimony! May God also grant us the grace in Christ to finish the race so well!

Over the past 15 or so years, I have heard John preach numerous times at The Key Men’s Conference. But, not having the privilege of being discipled by John or having intimate personal interaction with him, I can’t claim much of a direct spiritual impact by him on my life. However, John’s indirect impact on my life is immeasurable! Allow me to explain. During John’s many years with the Navigators he likely discipled hundreds of men by sharing his life with them, providing Biblical counsel, leading small study groups, and holding men accountable to Scripture memory and godly living. One of these hundreds of men was my dad.

I’m a little fuzzy on how long ago my dad and John began meeting regularly, but my dad was probably around my age (I’m turning 33 in less than a week). Best I can tell, far more than any other Paul-like mentor in my dad’s life, God used John to deposit the most impactful and lasting seeds of faith and Biblical faithfulness. My dad would be the first to tell you that his life hasn’t always been the easiest, and a fair portion of that stems from mistakes he’s made. Nonetheless, my dad has lived his adult life filled with a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years God has sustained my dad through various heartaches, heartbreaks, injuries and illnesses – the deliverance largely attributed to the Holy Spirit’s ministry to him through the Word of God.

I thank God that through His wonderful work in John Crawford’s life, my dad’s life was eternally impacted – and therefore mine. Some of my fondest and earliest childhood memories with my dad include singing songs to the Lord and praying with us before bedtime, watching him perform puppet shows for children’s church, going to Royal Ambassdors’ (everyone that’s not Southern Baptist has no clue what this is – think Baptist Boy Scouts) Dad and Lad camp every summer 1st through 3rd grade, going with him to the retirement party for Ms. Goddard – the sweet, older cafeteria lady at Camp Hudgens that my dad especially befriended, spending 4th through 6th grade in the Royal Ambassadors class my dad taught at church, seeing my dad love the down-and-out like Christ would, hearing about God’s faithfulness in his life, and observing him consistently spend time with the Lord each morning before he went to work. The list could continue several more pages, but I think you get my point. God so graciously brings other believers into our lives that act as sanctifying agents, without which we would otherwise not become the person he has formed us to be.

The way in which God brings mentors into our lives highlights an important Biblical truth. Some Christians wrongly view God’s role in the universe and in our lives. Instead of knowing God Almighty as the Great Artisan with the world as his canvas, they see him as a cosmic janitor that scurries around, merely cleaning up peoples’ messes. Instead of the Divine Composer and Conductor writing and directing for the world’s symphony, they’ve relegated God to a heavenly sound booth, editing our crummy songs in order to rectify their poor composition and errant notes. Christians, let us not hold so low a view of God, “for from him and through him and to him are all things” (Rom 11:35). After God confronts Job with extensive examples of his wisdom, power and might, Job rightly asserts, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). Ephesians 1:11 says that God works all things according to the counsel of his will.

It’s certainly not luck, good fortune or opportune timing that caused John Crawford’s path to cross with the men he discipled. Neither was it ultimately diligent efforts, discipline or initiative. Rather, it’s always God’s sovereign grace upon his people’s lives through vessels of reconciliation. To God alone be all the glory, in all things! In the same breath, Romans 12 tells us to outdo one another in showing honor to each other. So dad, I honor you for the many ways you have shown me the Father. And John Crawford, I honor you for the impact you had on my dad’s life and contributing directly, and mostly indirectly, to the building of my faith. I’m certain that I speak for all the saints that were blessed to know you during your time on earth: We rejoice with you in your present untarnished, uninterrupted, forever-increasing, joy immersed fellowship with our Savior Jesus. We look forward to experiencing the same and seeing you again in Glory. Come, Lord Jesus!