Monthly Archives: June 2014

From God’s Perspective

Bible Study, , ,

FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

“Through Him we received grace and apostleship to call all Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

“To all at Rome who are loved by God and called to be His holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:5-7.

What a power-packed greeting — the whole gospel in a nutshell, packed into two paragraphs!

In his address, which was the typical way in which ancient letters were written, Paul gave his own credentials; the subject of his letter; and the credentials of his recipients.

Since he was not personally known to the Roman church, he introduced himself to them as a servant and an apostle, set apart by God to deliver His good news to the world. But was Paul not a son of God, like everyone else who believed in Jesus? Of course he was. That was his standing before God, but from his point of view he was a servant. In another letter he described himself as a servant of God, a servant of the gospel and a servant of the church.

Paul was not subservient. He was as an apostle, one sent by God with a message and with authority, but he served God, the gospel and the church in his capacity as an apostle. It was not his right to do things his way. Since his apostleship was a calling from God and his authority delegated by God, he was first and foremost accountable to God for the stewardship of his calling and gifts.

Everything he had and did came from God, both the calling and the grace to carry it out. He was in a partnership with the Holy Spirit. It was not his right to call the shots; to make the decisions about where to go and what to preach. If he encountered trouble and persecution on the way, he was to stick to his calling and trust God for the grace to obey.

His apostleship gave him the right to declare and explain the gospel to the Roman church. He stood alongside the other apostles to whom Jesus had given the commission to place His yoke on those who believed in Him, His way of interpreting and living out the Torah — God’s teachings about Himself, them and the way to live.

The subject of his apostleship was the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the centre of everything, wherever Paul went and whatever the circumstances for him. Unfortunately for Paul, Jesus was a hot potato in the Jewish, Greek and Roman worlds.

To the Jew, Jesus was hated as an imposter and blasphemer because He said He was the Son of God. He angered the Romans because He challenged Caesar’s claim to be the son of God and the Greeks despised Him because He just did not fit their philosophical system. Their gods were powerful and despotic, not weak like Jesus who died on a Roman cross. That was nothing but foolishness to them.

And what of Paul’s readers? However they viewed themselves in the middle of all this antagonism and suffering, from God’s point of view they were His holy people, called and passionately loved by Him, the objects of His special attention, who provided both grace — everything they needed to be who they were — and peace — the outcome of being justified, declared not guilty because Jesus paid their debt.

How much both they, (and we), needed Paul’s reassurance in a world gone crazy! It is easy to doubt that we are God’s beloved children in the filth of the world around us. Just like the believers in Paul’s day, society is rotten with violence, greed, promiscuity, corruption and every other kind of wickedness, and it is only getting worse.

Like lilies blooming in the swamp, we are God’s beautiful recreation, and we need to keep it in mind constantly lest we also be sucked into the cesspool of sin around us. In the midst of it all we are called to be obedient to God because of our faith in Jesus. Much more than an intellectual assent to some teaching or other, faith in Jesus has brought us into fellowship with a holy God and requires us to be separated from sin and separated to Him.

Acknowledgement

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

Caesar Or No Caesar!

Bible Study, , ,

CAESAR OR NO CAESAR!

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding His Son who, as to His earthly life, was a descendant of David and who, through the Spirit of holiness, was appointed the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ the Lord.” Romans 1:1-4.

Jesus had come and gone. He had lived for thirty three years, spent three years teaching, preaching and doing miracles, was executed as a blasphemer and a threat to Rome, rose again and returned to the Father. The disciples were left blinking. What was that all about? How on earth were they going to make sense of it all?

Ten days after He left them, the Holy Spirit came, just as He promised. The light came on and their Old Testament Scriptures began to radiate with new meaning. Words Jesus had spoken, things He had done, and things that were done to Him began to fall into place.

On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit invaded the lives of those who were waiting for Him, Peter — the one who had denied Him, the one who had hidden behind closed doors with the other eleven — stood up in the temple packed with worshippers from all over the Roman Empire, as well as the Jewish leaders who had led the charge against Jesus, and shot from the hip.

“Jesus was God’s Son. He proved it by His life and miracles. He died, but He came back to life by the power of God. You did it! You killed Him! But it was God’s plan, and now He has sent the Holy Spirit as He promised.” The crowd was horrified, appalled. Many in the group were there when they demanded His death and they were terrified. “What can we do?” they wailed.

“Repent!” said Peter, “and hand yourselves over to God’s mercy. Join Him, and us, and you will receive the same Spirit as we have.” And many of them did just that — three thousand on that day.

A few years before, in the vicinity of Israel’s “red light” district, Caesarea Philippi, where terrible things were going on in the name of pagan religion, Jesus gave them a commission. “Take my yoke, my disposition of compassion and mercy because of God’s mercy to you and give it to people like these, (referring to the pagans who were having intercourse in public with goats, in the name of their god, Pan). It will transform them and shut down places like this that are spawned by hell.”

Jesus’ yoke, which He placed on His disciples, would have serious repercussions for them in the Jewish and pagan Roman world to whom they were sent. They would clash with Roman and Jewish authorities because Jesus’ radical claims would be an in-your-face challenge to their authority and beliefs. It was the role of the apostles (the sent ones) to interpret Jesus’ life and death, under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, according to the Scriptures and to invite their hearers to believe and to accept His yoke of discipleship for themselves.

In a shocking moment of revelation, one of the most vehement defenders of Judaism, Saul of Tarsus, met this risen Jesus and defected to “the Way” as the followers of Jesus were called. Jesus called him to interpret and proclaim the very message he was trying to stamp out by destroying as many believers as he could.

Paul, who was once Saul, became as ardent a protagonist of the faith he once persecuted as he had been an antagonist. Commissioned by the Holy Spirit, he and his companion, Barnabas, criss-crossed the provinces of Asia Minor and Europe with the message of Jesus. Paul longed to go to Rome, but he had to wait until he was taken there, compliments of the Roman government, to face trial for his “crimes” against the Jews.

In the meantime, a church had sprung up in Rome, thanks to the many unnamed believers who lived the message wherever they went. Paul was anxious that they in Rome understand the gospel because false teachers were everywhere, corrupting the truth with their misinterpretations. They did not understand Jesus’ yoke and they did not have the authority to interpret it to their hearers as did the apostles. And so he wrote a letter.

With masterful strokes, Paul gave his credentials and painted a picture of the Jesus he was sent to proclaim. Against the backdrop of the arrogant claims of Caesar, Paul presented Jesus’ credentials for being worshipped as “Lord”. He came in fulfilment of prophecy; He was descended from David, a true human; He died but was raised by the power of the Holy Spirit, truly God; authentically the Son of God and declared to be Lord. His full title: Jesus Christ the Lord — fully man, fully God and absolutely supreme, Caesar or no Caesar!

Acknowledgement

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

A Big Man In A Little Book

Bible Study, , , ,

A BIG MAN IN A LITTLE BOOK

“Because of this the rumour spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; He only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’

“This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for all the books that would be written.” John 21:23-25.

What a strange way to end his story! It’s almost as though John could not think of anything more to say, so he ended with a rather weak statement which could possibly fit any other busy and famous person.

First of all, it seems that John had a perfectly good reason for including his bit about the misunderstanding that Jesus’ words had spawned. The story became twisted in the telling, like most stories do, and John needed to correct it because the rumour that had spread that he would remain alive until Jesus returned would set off a chain reaction among believers. They would give up on life and sit around waiting for Jesus to rescue them from the evil world. That was never Jesus’ intention.

What about the final paragraph? Was it just an inane statement to end the book because John didn’t know what else to say? At face value it might seem like that, but let’s look at his declaration.

“Jesus did many other things as well.” John had so much material to work with, written records, perhaps; memories that he treasured from his years in the company of Jesus; little incidents that took on new meaning as he thought about them. He had plenty of time to ponder on the many things he had seen and heard. He must have felt overwhelmed at times as he wrote and wrote about this amazing man.

Without a set purpose for writing, John would have got lost among the mass of material he had to work with. Talk about writer’s block! John surely knew what that was! Fortunately he had worked out a plan before he started so that he would use only that which served his purpose for writing.

As he thought about his life with Jesus, he felt overwhelmed by the enormity of this man. John was utterly convinced that He was the Son of God, and nothing would ever again shake that conviction, especially after what he had seen in the empty tomb. That was his “light-bulb” moment. The burial cloths spoke volumes about the miracle that had just happened. Jesus had left them undisturbed, as though His body had melted right out of them! Only God could do that.

Yes, John realised, as he looked back, that Jesus was a really, really big person, and that everything He said and did had significance. It’s no wonder that he marvelled at Him so that, to do justice to His story would take all the paper, all the ink and all the energy of all the people of the whole world to write it down! And that was impossible. People would have to be content with what he and his fellow authors had written because it was enough to convince their readers that He really was who He was.

John could not help but assure his readers that he was telling the truth because he was an eyewitness of what he had written. For John, this was an important affirmation of the authenticity of his story because, in a Jewish court of law, there were severe penalties for anyone who gave false information.

And so John ends his book, not with a weak statement that makes his story fizzle out, but with a ringing affirmation that he was carefully selective with his facts, that he was a faithful eyewitness and that he was attempting to tell about someone whose life story was too big for this world.

He makes a grand exit with words something like this, “Hey guys, I did my best to squeeze this huge man into the pages of a small book. I know it’s impossible, but what I have told you is enough to show you that Jesus really is the Son of God. If you believe Him, you’ll know what it’s like to live, really live!”

Acknowledgement

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

Mind Your Own Business!

Bible Study, , , ,

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who leaned against Jesus at the supper and said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’).

“When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.'” John 21:20-22.

What did Peter think this was, a little fortune-telling time? He had just been told what his future had in store for him and it wasn’t pretty. He was curious to know what was in store for John as well. In spite of everything that had happened, the old rivalry was still there, sitting just below the surface.

Don’t you love John’s honesty? He could have left this bit out. No one else reported on it. Peter, at least, could have told Mark and had it included in Mark’s gospel, except that it didn’t make Peter look good. Was John having a little dig at him? It could be, except that John was writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit so we have to look for another reason for its inclusion.

John was eavesdropping on this exchange between Jesus and Peter, Perhaps Jesus had invited Peter to go for a little walk with Him after breakfast while the other disciples dealt with the fish. Instead, John took up his stance behind Jesus as a disciple should, except that he had not been invited to join them. Whatever the reason for him being there, he was listening to the conversation and Peter knew he was there.

There is a good reason why this incident was included in Scripture, although it seems a strange way for John to conclude his gospel. God has a strong opinion about people who meddle in other people’s affairs. What is it in human nature that prompts this rivalry, even among Jesus’ own disciples? And it’s no different today.

The Ten Commandments end with one that searches the heart. “You shall not covet.” The other nine commandments might be measurable — yes, I kept that one; no I didn’t keep that one — but how do I measure whether I have coveted or not? What does it mean to covet?

To covet means to compare myself with someone else and conclude that the other person has more than I have or better than I have. It is actually an inward expression of my discontentment with what God has given me and a judgment on Him for being unfair. Isn’t this where it all started in the Garden of Eden? God put a restriction on one tree in the garden and that tree became the focus of Eve’s discontent.

I think it was more than curiosity that prompted Peter’s question. He was not coveting anything that John had at that moment, but coveting starts with comparing. He wanted to compare his future with John’s to see whether John’s lot was better than his. Jesus quickly nipped that one in the bud.

This is an important lesson for every believer to learn. The undercurrents of competition are very real in the church and between church groups and even denominations. Strangely enough, the Bible puts busybodies together with murderers. Every person’s walk with the Lord is intensely personal. It is not our business to look around and compare ourselves with others or to want what others have or do.

What was to happen to John was none of Peter’s business and Jesus let him know it in no uncertain terms. Peter had only one responsibility and that was to keep his eyes on Jesus.

Paul could have said to him, as he wrote to the Roman church: “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”  Romans 14:4.

To judge someone else, I have to set up a standard, myself, and then compare the other person with myself. Of course, in my opinion, he will fall short, and that will make me feel superior. If I am superior to the other person, why has God short-changed me? God must be at fault and therefore I degrade Him and lose confidence in Him. Isn’t that exactly what the devil wants?

There is only one antidote to this poison in our hearts. Mind our own business. It’s as simple as that!

Acknowledgement

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

A Thorny Road Ahead

Bible Study,

A THORNY ROAD AHEAD

‘Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, ‘Follow me!'” John 21:18-19.

There it is! Full circle!

Jesus put the last piece into the puzzle of Peter’s commission. As far as He was concerned, everything that had happened in the past was behind Him. Once again, He issued His simple two-word call, ‘Follow me!’ Peter’s love for Him had been reaffirmed and there was no need to mope about what had happened or bite His nails in case Peter failed Him again.

Jesus knew that Peter was a man, and fully capable of repeating his failure many times over, but that did not deter Him from calling him or putting His confidence in him to do what he was called to do. He did not give him a detailed map of the future. It was enough that Peter obey His simple instruction, ‘Follow me.’

Jesus gave him no grandiose ideas about what lay in the future for him — only an ominous hint that his life would not end in a blaze of glory, with adoring crowds egging him on, but in a way that he would not choose for himself. Peter and his fellow disciples, like their Master, were being sent out into a hostile world. Both the Roman and the Jewish world were about to hound them to death.

The Roman government, headed by an arrogant and despotic Caesar, would not tolerate any challenge to their supreme authority, and the Jewish leaders would continue their campaign to exterminate those who followed the crucified Galilean who said He was God and whom they claimed to be alive.

Why did Jesus warn Peter of what lay ahead of him? Was He just being a fortune-teller who took delight in hanging a dark cloud over Peter’s head? Most so-called fortune tellers at least paint a rosy picture of the future for their clients. Money…fame…a tall, dark and handsome lover waiting in the wings, or something like that!

Jesus held out no hope of a rosy future for Peter; no preaching in the coliseum to thousands of attentive Jews and Gentiles; no Caesar himself answering the altar call; no churches springing up all over the Roman Empire, living under the protection and favour of the Roman government. No, it would be an uphill battle all the way, and would end for him in a very unpleasant death.

Peter was to carry this warning in his heart, not to scare him but to remind him of his dependence on the Master for grace to do what He called him to do, to follow Him, and to trust Him for every step of the way. He was to die to any dream of success according to the world’s way of thinking. His success lay in his obedience to Jesus’ call.

He was to live realistically, realising that he was in enemy territory. At no time was he to entertain rosy thoughts about his life, or think that he could escape the trouble that His Master had suffered. Following Jesus meant doing what He did — entrusting himself to God and trusting Him for direction every moment of every day.

Why is it that believers today, and especially many so-called spiritual leaders, think that it is any different for us? We qualify our “call” by adding, “I have been called to do this or that.” Really? Every believer is called; called to do only one thing — to follow Jesus. It is His prerogative to decide where He leads and what He intends for us to do.

Some are called to follow Him into the limelight because He can trust them to stand behind Him. Other are called to follow in obscurity because He needs them there too. It is not what we are called to do that is the issue; that we are called to follow Him is what matters. The problem arises when we think we know what He has called us to do, and run ahead instead of simply following where He leads.

It is enough that we stay one step behind Him.

 

Acknowledgement

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.