Cross Words #4

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Matthew 27:45-49
45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”-which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

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In this moment Jesus experienced a depth of grief that the Christian will never have to endure – the utter hopelessness of abandonment even by God. Darkness – as though the sun itself and all creation could not bear the sight of what was happening.  For the first time in all eternity the Son was separated from the Father, rejected by Him because of our sin.  Jesus, who always referred to God as “Father” became sin for us and can no longer use that term of affection and relationship.  As one abandoned and alone He can only cry out to the distant God. Continue reading →

Cross Words #3

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John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”
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Hey, when I am hurting, it is hard to think about the problems other people might be having.  My own pain, grief or loss can be so consuming that I am not aware of the pain, grief or loss of others.  In the midst of His own anguish, however, Jesus expressed concern for the well being of others.  He did not just teach His followers to do that – He modeled it in the darkest of hours.

In helping others we often find healing for our own pain.

This is because a principle of life is by giving you receive.  You reap what you sow.  In pain, as we sow comfort to others, we will reap comfort.  As we sow we reap.  As we give, we receive.
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Philippians 2:3-5
… in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: …

Cross Words #2

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Luke 23:41-43
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

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This thief on the cross seemed to understand what we try to forget – that we all deserve death.  If God were to annihilate all humanity no one could claim He was unfair or unjust.  We would simply be “getting what our deeds deserve.”  This second statement of Jesus from the cross is important because it assures us we do not have to “get what we deserve.”

The law of Kharma, in Texas terms says, “What goes around comes around.”  You get what you deserve.  The cross graciously crushes that concept forever.  I don’t get what I deserve.  By exchanging places with Jesus on the cross I get to be made right with God, I get to enjoy what only He deserved.  Does that seem unfair? It is!  Does it seem too easy?  It isn’t!  It was very difficult – so difficult that in anguish Jesus asked if there was any way He could avoid it.

It was hard, even for God, to pay the price to forgive my sins.  But it was impossible for me to do it so, if it was to be done, God Himself had to inflict the penalty for my sin upon Himself.  “This man has done nothing wrong” yet He absorbed the sin of the entire world so the entire world could have the opportunity to become right with God.
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2 Corinthians 5:20-21
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 John 2:22
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.NIV

 

 

Cross Words #1

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Luke 23:33-34
When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
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In the agony of the cross the first word from the mouth of our Lord was “Father”.  Certainly our difficulties cannot compare with the torture of the cross but we too need to learn, in our pain, to make “Father” the first word on our lips, the first one we turn to.  He is there with us, just as He was with Jesus on the cross, even when things appear out of control and hopeless.

Jesus’ second word is another lesson for us – “forgive”. He did not wait until things were better but, in the midst of the rejection, humiliation, unjust treatment and pain, He forgave.  He didn’t just teach us to forgive, he modeled it in the most gruesome of circumstances.  He showed us to forgive when they don’t deserve it, even when they are not sorry and even if they do not ask for it.

The cross demonstrates forgiveness is not easy. It was not easy for Jesus and that is why He said the road is narrow and few find it – it is painfully hard.  Forgiveness is not fair.  In the cross, injustice and grace collide head on and grace triumphs.  Rejoice in that. Fairness and justice sends you and me to hell.  “Grace takes the blame, covers the shame and removes the stain”.*
* Brian Zahnd – Unconditional?
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Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

 

We lost Jesus!

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Luke 2:43
When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
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It is interesting that they did not lose Jesus in the market place or at Joseph’s workplace. They lost him in the temple while fulfilling religious duties. It is so easy to lose the Lord because we are busily engaged in church and religious activity. We think He is still among us, like they thought he was in the caravan, but in our activity, even good activities, we have left Him behind.

They were wise enough to go back to Jerusalem to search. When we find ourselves in a spiritually dry spell it is wise to go back to where we last knew He was with us. Is there something He told us to do that we have not done? Is there something He said stop doing that we are still involved in? Examine the area we last knew He was with us and keep searching and waiting until we once again sense His presence.

Many around you, the rest of the caravan, will continue anxiously moving on with life. Sometimes you have to separate from the crowd. But if you will make finding Him your priority you will find His presence again quietly doing the Father’s work.
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Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalm 46:10-11 (NIV)
“Be still, and know that I am God; ?.. The Lord Almighty is with us;…

Some things don’t change.

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Sunday, as folks were connecting with God during the worship service, someone cut loose shouting a first person word from God – “Worship Me! Worship Me! I love you! Worship Me!”

Though the Summit Church believes all the gifts of the Spirit are still in operation today and such startling expressions used to be the norm, there was an immediate mood change from a God-focused time of worship to a man-focused time of wonder – some wondering why this fellow was shouting we should worship him.

I am amused at the way different generations experience God.  Ecstatic outbursts were expected when I was a young man but today they can spark confusion even in Charismatic churches. Because He looks at our heart I don’t think the Lord cares if we change the definition of proper worship behavior but when we change the definition of proper life behavior we drift toward disaster. Continue reading →

I’d kill for Jesus!

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John 18:10 (NIV)
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
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Some time earlier, during their last meal together, Peter boasted that even though the other disciples might all abandon Jesus, he was willing to die for Him. Evidently he was sincere. Here we see Peter was certainly willing to kill for Him. (Remember, Peter was a fisherman, not a swordsman. Certainly he was attempting to kill the man but was only able to clip an ear.) But the disciples were outnumbered and out armed so Peter’s attack could have led to his death, too. Apparently Peter WAS willing to die for Jesus.

But Jesus put a stop to Peter’s attack. The Lord was more interested in Peter living for Him than Peter dying for Him. Peter failed the ‘living’ test though and denied the Lord three times.

I can relate to Peter. I too find it easier to “go down swinging” than to commit myself to “him who judges justly”. It is easier to go on the attack than to trust God with my life, family, circumstances, career, future and reputation.

While I don’t openly deny knowing the Lord (but I also don’t live in a place that confessing Him really costs very much) I do find it “convenient” to sometimes look the other way, to not speak up when I should, to ignore sin and injustice, to not “rock the boat” and thereby deny Him through my silence and inaction. It appears I too am more ready to die for Him (to make the glorious stand, be the macho man and fight to the death) than to simply live for Him.

Lord, teach me to live for you.
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1 Peter 2:23 (NIV)
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

I’m not sure I believe this.

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John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
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Apart from Jesus I can do nothing? I’m not sure I believe this verse. At least I often don’t act like I do. I act more like I believe “I can do this but if God blesses it it will be so much better.”  So I ask for His help.

When I “help” someone they do most of the work and I just provide the little extra to put them over the top. When I ask God to help me or bless what I am doing, at least in my mind, there is an implied “I can and am going to do this but, God, it will be wonderful if You give it that little extra to put it over the top and make it great.”  God becomes the icing on the cake rather than the essential vine.

I am reminded again how important it is, instead of asking God to bless what I am doing, to find out what God is blessing and do that.  Jesus did what He saw the Father do (John 5:19).  Jesus said what He heard the Father say (John 5:28).  While meditating on that one time I thought, “Lord, if I only said what I first heard You say, I wouldn’t say very much.”  At that moment I sensed a small voice inside saying, “Now you are beginning to get the idea.”

Lord, In every situation I face today, help me to see what You are doing and do that, too.  Help me to only speak in ways that honor you.
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Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

 

Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

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John 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
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While it is great to have the Holy Spirit in my life my natural inclination is to disagree with Jesus’ statement here, that it is better for Him to go so the Holy Spirit can come. After all, if Jesus was walking with me, I could see him, touch Him, talk with Him and clearly hear His response (even though his disciples often had no idea what His answers meant, at least they knew they were hearing Him clearly). So why is it better for us that Jesus is now with the Father and the Holy Spirit is with us?

I see at least two reasons. Continue reading →

We’ll outperform Jesus?

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John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
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Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. What could Jesus be talking about when He says we will do greater works than He did? What could be greater than raising a man from the dead?

As marvelous as the resurrection of Lazarus was, he came back to a world filled with poverty, hatred and fear.  In fact, he became a target for assassination because so many people were coming to Jesus because of what happened to him. (John 12:10)  Once he was resurrected his body continued the process of decay and eventually he died again.  I have visited his tomb in a church on the island of Cyprus.

But now that Jesus has returned to the Father we can share eternal life with people – life that does not end in a tomb.  Not a life in a world of sorrow, poverty and misery like Lazarus returned to but life without end in the glorious presence of God!  Life eternal where our bodies are not daily dying – in fact, nothing is dying – rather everything is alive with real life, eternal life.  How much greater is that?!  And the purpose of it all …?

Jesus said, “To glorify the Father”.  (John 14:13)  When we share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ the greatest work of all is done – the Word of God is sent to accomplish its purpose, eternal destinies are changed and the Father is glorified.
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John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.