Tag Archives: elders

LIKE’S GOSPEL…THE HOUR OF DARKNESS – 59

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“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭52‬-‭53‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is an hour, or perhaps more than one “hour”, when darkness reigns in every life. The light goes out. Everything goes dark. The whole world falls apart. It seems that evil has finally triumphed. Something has happened to shatter life. Peace has evaporated, leaving only chaos, confusion, and terrifying fear of the next hour. 

Sometimes we create our own darkness and, sometimes, others pull down the curtain on us. Whatever the source, we must navigate our hour of darkness. 

Even in the earthly life of Jesus, He had to face His “hour” of “darkness”. His world was rudely interrupted by a mob, armed with deadly weapons, shouting, accusing, to arrest Him…Jesus…the man of compassion, mercy, and peace.  Why? What had He done to deserve this treatment?

Darkness had indeed engulfed the land of God’s people. Their leaders had lost their minds. Hatred, envy, delusion had driven out reason and sense. At all costs, they must rid the land of the one man who held them up to scrutiny… and found them wanting. They were so filled with darkness that it spilled out into the hearts of the people they ruled. 

The same people who, days before, had sung praises and hailed Jesus as “the Son of David”, would, in the next “hour”, bay for His blood.  What had gone wrong? Darkness had thrown down the gauntlet, demanding permanent and sovereign rule over the human race. If they killed Jesus, the God-man, they could finally cement their master’s bid for the title and office he craved and fought so hard to win…”Lord!”

How did Jesus deal with His “hour of darkness”? Did He resist, fight back, retaliate, use His divine power to obliterate His enemies? Did He just walk away unscathed, as He had done on many previous occasions? 

He stretched out His hands to receive the ropes that would bind Him! He surrendered Himself to His captors. He gave Himself up to the darkness that would engulf Him for the next agonising hours because He knew the truth. 

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As in the natural world, so in the realm of spiritual truth, darkness can never outwit or triumph over light. As light enters, so darkness flees. Jesus knew that the darkness of evil would only last for its “hour” until its work was done. Let the darkness do its worst…He held the trump card. He is the light…and the life. Darkness could snuff out His life but only for its ”hour”. Then the life would return. The light would shine, and all darkness and all those who are of the darkness would fade into oblivion. 

Jesus made a promise…

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The light that was extinguished for three days, could never go out forever. Jesus walked from the tomb, alive again, to be our light when we follow Him. He sets us alight with new life, and with His Spirit who lives in us to drive out darkness and transform us into His likeness to be the light for Him. 

What do we do when darkness falls on our world? How can we be sure that, however dark it may be now, the light will shine again? We have the Word, the infallible promise of God…let me say it again…

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With this promise, we need never succumb to the darkness, be it circumstances, people, or the devil himself who intrude on our path. We can surrender ourselves to the darkness for a season, as Jesus did, but our faith in Jesus, anchored to the rock of truth, will hold us steady until the light breaks through again. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee. 

As Jesus did, so we overcome the darkness by refusing to fight back. As we absorb into ourselves the evil intended to destroy us, it loses its power. Through God’s grace, we drive out the darkness by being the light.   

To be continued…

LOWLY LEADERS!

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LOWLY LEADERS!

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings, who will also share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under you care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5: 1-3)

What a lofty standard for God’s appointed leaders! Yet how paradoxical! Leaders must take the lowest position – that of servants, like shepherds caring for a flock of sheep.

What’s the basis of such a standard? Jesus! Peter watched him die. It was a flashback he would never forget. A bloodied figure hanging from a Roman torture stake so disfigured that He was hardly recognisable as a man. Like hamburger meat skewered on a pole; that’s how one translation pictures Him.

. . . His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form beyond human likeness. . . (Isa. 52: 13)

That’s what they did to Him and not once did He protest or resist.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. (Isa. 53: 7)

So, where does the idea come from that church leaders must be a cut above everyone else? Swanky limousines, richly embroidered robes or designer suits, unlisted telephone numbers, even bodyguards, no less; titles they love to wear to boost their egos and give them authority! Is that how shepherds care for their sheep? Jesus said, ‘Don’t do it! You are to care for your sheep, not boss them around.’

Another flashback – a scene on the shore of Lake Galilee. Twelve men sitting around a coal fire eating breakfast. One is missing – he committed suicide. One hangs back, uncertain and ashamed. ‘Am I still accepted as part of this bunch?’ Breakfast over, Jesus talks to Peter while the others listen in. They may not have verbally denied Him at His trial but they were equally guilty of desertion. What will He say to Peter? Whatever He said would apply to them also.

Imagine their shock! ‘Simon, son of John . . .’ Not Peter, the rock, but Simon, one who hears, or listens. ‘Simon, are you listening?’ Yes, Lord, I’m listening. ‘Simon, do you love me?’ What! After all I’ve done to you, Jesus, is that all you have to say? Do I love you? Wait a minute! There’s a world of significance in that simple question.

Love is the basis of loyalty, trust, faithfulness, submission, obedience, commitment, perseverance, service, yes and even martyrdom – and Peter, your turn is coming.

Peter, do you really love me? If you do, feed my sheep and take care of my lambs. I am not giving you a position. I am giving you a commission. FEED my sheep; TAKE CARE of my lambs. That means that you have to shed your fancy clothes and your even fancier image of yourself and get down and dirty for my sake. They are my sheep and my lambs, not yours to bully and exploit for your own ends.

The standard is the same for every leader who follows after Peter – not little popes to rule over God’s people, but under-shepherds of Jesus to serve Him by caring for His sheep. This is not for opportunistic rogues who grab the position to enrich themselves at the expense of their underlings or to elevate themselves above others for image or status. This is a calling of God to be like Jesus to helpless people who depend on them for protection, provision and instruction so that they do not wander away and get lost.

Oh, that every leader who claims to be God’s shepherd would heed Peter’s words! What a sad day it will be for those who forget that they are accountable to God for every word and deed. How many of those who have enjoyed all the benefits of their treachery will hear the words of Jesus:

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21-23)?

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

 

 

 

Glimpses Of The Great God: Day Twenty Nine

Devotion, , ,

DAY TWENTY NINE

 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain,

standing in the centre of the throne,

encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

He had seven horns and seven eyes,

which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

He came and took the scroll from the right hand

of Him who sat on the throne.

And when He had taken it,

the four living creatures and the twenty four elders

fell down before the Lamb. 

Each one had a harp

and they were holding golden bowls full of incense

which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals

because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased men for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:6-10 

Let the full impact of this scene in heaven take a hold of your mind as you read it aloud.  Jesus is the Lamb in the centre of the throne.  He is the reason and the focus of angelic worship and the worship of all redeemed mankind.