Monthly Archives: March 2024

SYMBOL OR RITUAL? – 17

Christian Life, ,

John 13:3-5 NLT‬
[3] “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. [4] So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, [5] and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.”

‭John 13:12-17 NLT‬
[12]”After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? [13] You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. [14] And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. [15] I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. [16] I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. [17] Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

It amazes me how often God’s people turn spiritual truth into a religious ceremony! Jesus used ordinary human activities to illustrate profound spiritual truth but, instead of applying the truth, we like to major on the activity and turn it into a ritual.

John 13 is a case in point. Why did Jesus wash His disciples’ feet?

In the culture of His day, it was the host’s responsibility to assign a slave to wash the feet of his guests. Sandaled feet picked up dust and dirt as they walked, on paths covered with animal dung. Since they usually ate a meal reclining on cushions at a low table, dirty feet would soil one another’s clothes.

The smelly task of washing feet caked with animal dung was assigned to the lowliest of slaves. So, no one in Jesus’ group of disciples considered himself responsible to do the job, least of all Jesus, their rabbi.

However, imagine the disciples’ shock when Jesus Himself took on the role of a slave. Peter, as usual, resisted! He saw only the action, not the profound truth in what Jesus was doing.

However, Peter’s resistence brought the real meaning of Jesus’ action to the surface.

‭John 13:8-10 NLT‬
[8] “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” [9] Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” [10] Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”

How does Jesus cleanse His people? Not literally by washing their feet but spiritually, by cleansing away the pollution of sin

‭John 15:3 NIV
[3] “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

‭Ephesians 5:25-26 NLT‬
[25] “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her [26] to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.”

Without God’s Word, we would never know what God did through His Son to cleanse us from our sin. His Word is the instrument by which we learn all the truths about Him that quicken our faith and bring us into union with Jesus. So, the Word teaches us that

‭1 John 1:7 NLT‬
[7] “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

As disciples of Jesus and children of God, we are to love one another, then, as Jesus loves us. One of the practical ways in which we show that love is to build one another up in our faith.

‭1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT‬
[11] “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

‭Galatians 6:1 NLT‬
[1] “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

“Walking” in a filthy world soils our feet. Loving each other means washing one another’s feet. We use God’s Word, which tells us of God’s solution for sin, gently to bring a fallen brother or sister back to the path that takes us to the Father.

This loving action takes courage and humility since people’s pride often deters them from acknowledging their sin. Jesus’ actions shows us that, to wash another’s “feet” means to step down into selflessness that is willing to take the consequences even to resistance and hostility, to bring another, who is walking the wrong way, back into the light.

So, literally washing another’s feet has no meaning apart from restoring one to fellowship with the Father and His children who has walked in the dung of this world.

Go ahead, then, and wash one another’s feet. We do it only as a reminder that, as members of the Jrsus’ body, we are to be as concerned about clean souls as we are about clean feet.

DYING TO LIVE, THE LAW OF THE HARVEST – 16

Bible Study, ,

John 12:20-24 NLT‬
[20] “Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration [21] paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” [22] Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
[23] Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. [24] I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives…. “

A request from some Greeks to see Jesus triggered in Him a forceful reminder that His presence on earth meant one thing – dying to live.

The Old Testament prophets predicted that God’s Messiah would come for Gentiles as well as Jews. When Greeks began to seek Him, their interest probably sparked by His reputation in Israel, it was time to move into the final drama of His human life.

Why did Jesus come? As a unique man, He could have lived a cushy life, to a ripe old age, and died a peaceful death in the presence of a loving family and friends. Of course, this reasoning is faulty since, as a sinless human, Jesus was not subject to death.

However, Jesus did not come to live a cushy life. He came to die. Dying was His purpose and goal, however, not just dying but dying to live.

How often in Scripture, the Holy Spirit applied the law of the harvest to the issues of life. Sowing and reaping is not only written into the work of a farmer. People are constantly sowing seeds and reaping the harvest from what they have sown. In fact, life in all its facets begins with a seed.

Take for example, the harvest we reap from the words we speak.

‭Proverbs 18:21 NLT‬
[21] “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

What about the way we use our money?

‭2 Corinthians 9:6 NLT‬
[6] Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop….
[10] For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”

Generosity to others will always bring a harvest in return.

‭Galatians 6:7-9 NLT‬
[7] “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. [8] Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. [9] So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

So, Jesus saw, not just His words and deeds as seed but far more than that, His own body, His life as a seed to be sown in the ground.

And the harvest He anticipated? He spoke of “many seeds”. A seed always reproducss itself. The seed of one plant cannot produce a plant of a different species. So, the Jesus seed, planted in the ground, would reproduce many seeds in its own likeness, in at least two ways.

First, Jesus’ death would reproduce many seeds like Himself in His nature. In this life, the Holy Spirit is transforming everyone who believes in Jesus into His likeness.

‭Colossians 3:10 NLT‬
[10] “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”

Becoming like Jesus requires a dying to self and identity with Jesus in His death, symbolised by our baptism in water.

‭Romans 6:3-4 NLT‬
[3] “Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? [4] For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

We then in turn, are also seeds that must die, through identity with Jesus, to produce new life.

Second, the body of Jesus buried in the ground, becomes the firstfruits of a harvest of millions just like Him.

‭1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT‬
[20] But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died….
[22] Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. [23] But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.”

There was no way Jesus could wriggle out of His destiny by dodging the death He would die. Death was not only His purpose to produce a harvest. Death, first and foremost was, for Him, the most powerful way in which He could draw attention to the Father.

[27]“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! [28] Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”

‭1 John 4:10 NLT‬
[10] “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”

There was no greater way for Jesus to reveal the extent of God’s love for fallen humans than to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the world. Death was not Jesus’ good idea. Death was the ultimate will of the Father, and Jesus submitted to that will.

Many centuries before, Isaiah accurately predicted the nature and purpose of Jesus’ death,

‭Isaiah 53:4-5,10 NLT‬
[4] “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! [5] But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed….
[10] But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.”

And Jesus submitted to that will.

‭Mark 14:35-36 NLT‬
[35]”He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. [36] “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

And the outcome?

‭Hebrews 5:7-9 NLT‬
[7] “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. [8] Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. [9] In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.”

Mission accomplished!

WHY DID LAZARUS HAVE TO DIE? – 15

Bible Study, ,

John 11:4 NLT‬
[4] But when Jesus heard about it, he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”

The story of Lazarus is the pinnacle of John’s “signs”. I wonder why the other three gospels didn’t record this miracle of miracles!

There are other stories of Jesus raising people from the dead, for example, Jairus’ daughter and the widow’s son. However, no other miracle in Scripture shines the light on God’s power more than
Lazarus living again after decomposing in the grave for four days.

Among many other lessons we learn from this remarkable event is the truth that God’s power can restore those who have returned to dust. Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Not only did He return from death in an indestructible resurrection body, but He also promised that those who believe in Him will rise again in immortal bodies like His.

However, to return to Lazarus, the gospels are strangely silent about Lazarus. Although he was part of the family in Bethany that Jesus often visited, we know nothing about him.. He is never mentioned apart from his name coupled with the two sisters, Martha and Mary. Did Lazarus avoid Jesus for some reason? Yet, Jesus loved him.

There was another wayward young man, the rich young ruler, whom Jesus offended by instructing him to get rid of his riches. He walked away sad because his wealth stood between him and following Jesus. Yet Jesus loved him!

I know this is pure conjecture but, did Jesus allow Lazarus to die to give him a taste of hell, the place to which his unbelief would take him?

After his resurrection, at the banquet prepared in Jesus’ honour, where was Lazarus? Absent, as usual?

‭John 12:1-2 NLT‬
[1] “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. [2] A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.”

Why would John draw attention to Lazarus twice? Yes, he was the central figure in the drama of his resurrection but his presence with Jesus at the table on this occasion was noted.

I like to think that Lazarus was not only raised from physical death, only to die again, but also from spiritual death, never to die again. Didn’t Jesus declare to Martha,

‭John 11:25 NLT‬
[25]… “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.
[26] Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Lazarus’ presence at the banquet had a cultural significance. Sharing a meal with another meant that they were in fellowship, no issues between them. So, Lazarus ate with Jesus.

For each member of this Bethany family, Lazarus’ death and resurrection settled issues once and for all.

Lazarus was in fellowship with Jesus. He sat at the table with Him.

“Lazarus was among those who ate with Him.”

Martha’s faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, was irrevocably confirmed.

‭John 11:27 NLT‬
[27] “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

Mary’s trust in and devotion to Jesus was finally restored.

‭John 12:3 NLT‬
[3] “Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.”

A family healed through suffering…. Mission accomplished.

‭John 11:4 NLT‬
[4]” But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”

Once again, Jesus’ words and actions were right on target. He WAS the Son of God, then and now, and He proved it. Lazarus died and was raised to eternal life, to the glory of Jesus and the Father.

John 11:4 NLT‬
[4] But when Jesus heard about it, he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”

THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE – 14

Christian Life, ,

John 10:27-30 NLT‬
[27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, [29] for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. [30] The Father and I are one.”

What a profound promise! Is it possible to be eternally secure and to know it? Jesus said it is. What makes it possible for a person to go through life with an unshakeable conviction that his/her future with God in heaven
is guaranteed?

How many times did Jesus’ opponents ask Him the same questions! It seems that they has spiritual Alzheimers because, no matter how many times they asked Him the source of His authority, they “forgot” His reply and asked the same question again.

‭John 10:24-26 NLT‬
[24] “The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” [25] Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. [26] But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.”

Still using the imagery of shepherd and sheep, Jesus responded with this profound reply.

‭John 10:26-27 NLT‬
[26]”But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. [27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

The difference between those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do, is simple….connection!

When one person knows another person, they have a connection. Understanding, empathy, involvement, participation, trust, love, togetherness, friendship, are all in the mix.

How does the connection between a believer and Jesus come about? Another important word joins “connection” – that is “identification”. Far more than knowing Him on a merely human level, identification with Him takes the believer into a connection with Jesus that enables them to participate with Him in His death and in His life.

‭Galatians 2:20 NLT‬
[20] “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

This connection and this identification with Jesus also takes the believer into a union with Him so intimate that we can hear Him speaking to us in our innermost being. Jesus gave us His Spirit to be His presence in us, closer to us than our breath. When He speaks, we are able to hear Him because we are joined to Him in the spirit realm.

His sheep, then, hear His voice and follow Him. Other voices, like the voice of the false shepherd, the hireling who has no interest in or concern for the sheep, can only drown out the Shepherd’s voice if we are not listening to the Shepherd.

Jesus’ sheep can only hear His voice if they are listening. Hearing is a function of the ear. Listening is a response of the heart. It takes a lifetime to learn to listen to the voice of Jesus’ Spirit that is guiding us safely home.

Only this connection and identification with Jesus can guarantee us a safe passage to the Father. He holds on to us as we hold on to Him. This is a mystery. Jesus said we can never perish. That’s His promise.

But He also warned…

‭Matthew 24:12-13 NLT‬
[12] “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

‭Mark 13:13 NLT‬
[13] “And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Does this mean that someone can be lost who was once saved? I think that Jesus was speaking from the perspective of eternity. His sheep will never perish because they will endure to the end because the Father has them in His hand. From God’s point of view, it’s a done deal.

Jesus did not mean that we can take anything for granted. Security in Him involves listening to His voice and following Him. THEN, we shall never perish because our connection to Him is secure.

SUNSHINE ON MY WINDOWS

Christian Life, ,

One wall of my lounge is glass, a sliding door and windows facing east, letting in lots of light and sunshine. A wall like that has advantages and disadvantages. Living near the sea and enduring many windy days adds up to dirty windows that are visible and unsightly. Add to that, I have a little dog who uses my windows as a palette for her ‘doggy art’!

At age over eighty, cleaning windows is not an easy task. So, when I do get the job done, I’m delighted with my efforts until…. the early morning sun shines on the smudgy bits I missed. What I thought were clean windows turned out to be not-so-clean windows after all.

How like our lives as God’s children! God delights in transparent lives, clean and letting in His light but, to our shame, we often have ‘smudgy bits’, areas we have neglected to clean which only show up when the light of God’s Word shines on them.

What do the smudgy bits do to us? Smudgy bits in our lives spoil our fellowship with the Father and with our fellow believers.

1John 1:5-6 NLT
[5] “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. [6] So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.”

Does God censure us for these smudgy bits we have yet to clean up? No! He gives us His solution instead.

‭1 John 1:7 NLT‬
[7] But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

Like windscreen wipers that keep cleaning the rain off the windcreens of our vehicles as we drive, so the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us as we walk in the light with God and each other.

So, let’s thoroughly clean the windows of our souls so that God’s light can shine through us, unspoiled by smudgy bits. How do we know when our hearts are clean? We have fellowship with one another and with the Father and the Son and… the peace of God guards our hearts, and minds through Christ Jesus.