I Am Barabbas

This week we are in John 18 which focuses on the trial and arrest of Jesus.

Something mysterious has begun to happen in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although it is something we are told about in plain language, I am convinced we cannot fully comprehend it. Only in the councils of the Trinity is there a full accounting of what took place that night. Nevertheless, we must press on to learn and understand as much as we can from the inspired text.

We are told in Luke's Gospel that Jesus was in such agony He began to sweat great drops of blood. The Father had given Him a cup to drink, and Christ drank it willingly. It was the cup of God's wrath on sin. It was the poison cup you and I so richly deserved, but Christ drank it in our place.

*****

It had been an exhausting week. Pilgrims from all over Israel had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His confrontations with the religious leaders had reached the breaking point. This was the final day, and the Passover was nigh. After a long and somber day, they retired to the Garden of Gethsemane. While Jesus agonized in prayer, His exhausted disciples were heavy with sleep. His time was now at hand. As Jesus again went to stir them, off in the distance, the flickering torches of an armed mob of soldiers appeared. In front of the mob was Judas Iscariot. The chief priests had been seeking an opportunity to arrest Jesus privately, and Judas provided the opportunity for thirty pieces of silver -- the price of a slave.

Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; seize him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. -- Matthew 26:45-50

We have come full circle in the biblical narrative. The Bible began in a garden; the Garden of Eden where man once walked in fellowship with his Creator. But in fairly short order, man decided to reject God's rightful rule. In an act of betrayal, man stole what did not belong to him, and determined that he would decide for himself what was right and wrong -- the knowledge of good and evil. It was treason on a cosmic scale*. Once again, we find man in a garden with his Maker. But this time it is the Garden of Gethsemane. It seems that mankind has come to finish the job he started in Eden. Having rejected God's rightful rule in Eden, he now comes in the form of a mob to Gethsemane. This time he has come to put God on trial and condemn Him to death. When you reject the King, you must kill the King. But despite all appearances to the contrary, God is still in full control. And lest there be any doubt of this we read:

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. -- John 18:4-6

In a more literal reading, Jesus said "I Am", once again proclaiming His deity. Jesus gave just a small demonstration of His power and this mob fell to the ground like toy soldiers in a whirlwind. Mere man cannot stand before the glory of God. But this was not just a random act of power on Jesus' part, He did it for a reason. He did it to secure the release of His disciples.

So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." -- John 18:7-9

How is it that man can be so hard-hearted as to deny the power of God right before their eyes? It is a familiar pattern, isn't it? In the same way that Pharaoh hardened his heart before Moses and Herod hardened his heart before John the Baptist, these men hardened their hearts before Christ and suppressed the truth in unrighteousness.

For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them. -- Romans 1:18-19

 

What Is Truth?

In the closing verses of John 18, it would appear Jesus is standing before the judgment seat of Pilate. But in actuality, it is the other way around. Though he does not realize it, Pilate is the one being judged. What will he do with the Truth that stands before him?

Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. -- John 18:37-38

Doesn't Pilate sound like so many in our own day? “What is truth?” Was Pilate a man before his time -- a cynical postmodern who did not believe in ultimate truth? Or was he afraid that there was such a thing as truth? The Truth to which we are all accountable. Sadly, Pilate did not wait for an answer to his own question; he was yet another man suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. Even before Pilate asked the question and turned away, Jesus had already told him the truth. Truth Himself stared Pilate in the face, but he was too foolish to recognize it. Pilate turned his back on the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and went to cut a deal with the Jews.

Very likely the mention of "truth" touched his conscience, and he found it convenient to go out hurriedly, and cover his retreat with a sneer. A bad conscience generally dislikes a close conversation with a good man. - J.C. Ryle

Ultimately Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, but he would not sacrifice his political ambitions over it. So he gave the crowd an option:

But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. -- John 18:39-40

When we read about Barabbas, we can't help but think about how unjust this was. Barabbas was a rightly convicted criminal sentenced to death. Yet, this guilty man was set free while Christ, the perfect and sinless Lamb of God, was killed in his place. That is a maddening and outrageous miscarriage of justice! But isn't this outrage also a picture of what Christ did for you and me as well?

Like Barabbas, I am truly guilty, not before an unrighteous provincial judge like Pilate, but before God, the holy and righteous Judge of all the earth. I have committed high treason against my maker and crowned myself king. I am the one who deserves the lash to my back and a mocking crown of thorns on my brow. I am the one who deserves a shameful death, the only rightful wages for my sin. But Christ, with incomprehensible love, grace, and mercy, willingly took my place and paid my penalty. He bore the shame and punishment that I so richly deserve. And in so doing, He set me free. I am the guilty man who has been set free, while the innocent One suffered in my place. I am Barabbas.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:6-8

Intermission

We're in the home stretch with four chapters to go and we will resume the study on the week of September 16th. Right now would be a great time to catch up if you've fallen behind. And please, by all means, listen to the sermons I've posted as they are a critical part of our study through John. Until then, see you soon.

He Ever Lives to Make Intercession

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. -- Hebrews 7:22-25

This week we are in John 17. Jesus is spending a final night with the disciples before His crucifixion. Judas has been dismissed from the group and is conspiring with the chief priests to arrest Jesus. Although He is about to suffer the greatest trial anyone has ever suffered, Jesus spends this final night ministering to His disciples - the very disciples He knew would soon abandon Him.

John 13-16 is a record of what Jesus said to His Disciples, and John 17 is a record of how Jesus prayed for His disciples on that final night. It is also a record of how He prayed for you and me.

*****

In John 17 we come full circle as we get a glimpse of the inner workings of the Trinity. Jesus is about to return to the former glory He had with the Father:

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. -- John 17:5

This is the same glory we read about in the opening chapter of John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. -- John 1:1-2

John 17 also gives us a glimpse of how Jesus prays for His own. This was not just a prayer for the disciples, it was a prayer for everyone who would come to believe the Gospel of Christ:

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. -- John 17:20-21

We also see there is a special care Jesus has for His people:

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. -- John 17:9

Notice what Jesus desires for us in this prayer:

• That the Father would keep us (John 17:11)
• That we would have joy (John 17:13)
• That we would be sanctified (John 17:17)
• That we would be unified (John 17:21)
• That we would see the glory of Christ (John 17:24)

That is probably far different than how most of us pray for ourselves and others. Jesus is concerned with the things of eternity, and we are too often concerned first and foremost with the things of this world. There is certainly a place for praying about the things of this life. After all, didn't Jesus teach us to ask for our daily bread, and doesn't the Father know we have need of such things?

But how often do we neglect eternal matters in our prayers? How often do we seek the things of earth over the Kingdom of God? Seeing how Jesus prayed for us offers a needed corrective to our earthbound prayers.

Furthermore, it should give us exceedingly great comfort and assurance to know Jesus is praying for us. Consider how He prayed for Peter:

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." -- Luke 22:31-32

We can be certain Jesus prays in a similar manner for us -- that our faith will not fail as well. J.C. Ryle comments:

The continued existence of grace in a believer's heart is a great standing miracle. His enemies are so mighty, and his strength is so small, the world is so full of snares, and his heart is so weak, that it seems at first sight impossible for him to reach heaven. The passage before us explains his safety. He has a mighty Friend at the right hand of God, who ever lives to make intercession for him. There is a watchful Advocate, who is daily pleading for him, seeing all his daily necessities, and obtaining daily supplies of mercy and grace for his soul. His grace never altogether dies, because Christ always lives to intercede (Hebrews 7:25).

If we are true Christians, we shall find it essential to our comfort in religion to have clear views of Christ's priestly office and intercession. Christ lives, and therefore our faith shall not fail. Let us beware of regarding Jesus only as one who died for us. Let us never forget that He is alive for evermore. Paul bids us specially remember that He is risen again, and is at the right hand of God, and also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34). The work that He does for His people is not yet over. He is still appearing in the presence of God for them, and doing for their souls what He did for Peter. His present life for them is just as important as His death on the cross eighteen hundred years ago. Christ lives, and therefore true Christians "shall live also."

Scripture is replete with promises about the love of Christ toward His own and His constant intercession on their behalf:

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. -- Romans 8:34

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. -- 1 Timothy 2:5-6

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. -- Hebrews 9:24

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. -- 1 John 2:1

Jesus is not idle after His death and resurrection. Even now He is watching over us as the Great Shepherd of our souls, and He ever lives to intercede on our behalf.

What Did You Expect?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -- James 1:2-4

It was something every boy dreams about. The big game is on the line and you're in overtime. With the fate of the game on your shoulders, you run into the end zone and catch a textbook perfect pass from your QB. But then something goes horribly wrong; inexplicably the perfect pass slips through your fingers and you fumble the ball. Certain victory turned into a humiliating defeat and you single handedly lost the game for your teammates, coaches, and fans. There is no getting around it. You blew it, big time

I won't mention the player’s name, but that is exactly what happened to a pro football player a couple of years ago. Not long after the game, he took to his twitter account and wrote:

"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…"

That football player, who was a professing Christian, was devastated by the loss and angry at God. Apparently he believed that God owed him a trouble free life that was free from failure, disappointment, and hardship. He had certain expectations of God, and when God did not meet those expectations, he was devastated. But were his expectations biblical?

As Christians, what kind of expectations should we have about this life? Should we expect limitless success and comfort with the wind always at our back? If Christian television is any indication, we should expect marvelous success in all that we do. In fact, many preachers claim that faithful Christians can expect health and wealth, as well as good parking spaces at the mall. They claim that if we are having a good year, we can expect an even better year to follow. But is that true? Did God promise us a trouble free life of plenty? Did God promise that we would catch the game winning pass? Expectations are very important, because wrong expectations can shipwreck our faith.

Here's the reality (to quote the late Rich Mullins), "There's bound to come some trouble to your life." As Christians, we are not immune to the normal trials and tribulations of life. In addition to the common trials of life, we can also expect various forms of persecution. In our text this week we find that Jesus prepared His disciples by forewarning them.

Consider these passages from John 15 and 16. (Remember, chapters 13-16 is a single discourse that Jesus gave to His disciples the night before His crucifixion.)

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. -- John 15:18-20a

"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.-- John 16:1-2

Notice that Jesus prepared His disciples, not only by comforting them, but He also prepared them by forewarning them about the difficulties they would face. Notice particularly in John 16:1, He said, "I have said all these things to keep you from falling away." Consequently, we can see how important it is to understand that trials and tribulations are part of the Christian life. Enduring trials is a vital ingredient in a faith that will persevere to the end. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus described the kind of faith that will not endure to end, and it is the kind of faith that withers in a trial.

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. -- Matthew 13:20-21

Notice, the rocky ground is the individual who falls away because of tribulation or persecution. If we expect smooth sailing because we are following Christ, we will not endure through times of real difficulty and persecution. Any gospel that promises an easier life by adding Jesus is a false gospel. The Apostle Peter wrote:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. -- 1 Peter 4:12-16

Comfort in the Pain

So what is our comfort in the midst of trials? Our comfort and joy is Christ Himself, not our circumstances.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." -- John 16:33

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.-- 1 Peter 1:6-9

The Apostle Paul, when facing a painful trial that he would describe as a thorn in the flesh wrote:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Thankfully, we can endure trials, not by our own strength, but by the grace of God. By the power of Christ, we can face trials with a deep abiding joy and peace, even as tears fall from our eyes because we are secure in Christ, and He has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Christ Himself is our greatest treasure, and we have everything we need in Him. In Christ we have a treasure so great that it defies comprehension, and any suffering that we face in this life cannot compare to the glory of the next.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. -- Romans 8:16-18

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. -- Ephesians 1:3-14

What to Expect

In this life we can expect trials and tribulations along with the comfort that only Christ can give. In the life to come we can expect glory beyond comprehension. Christians are not exempt from the pain and tears of this life, nor are we guaranteed to catch the game winning pass. But in Christ we find strength, joy, peace, and comfort in the midst of our trials. It is a joy and peace that surpasses our understanding and guards the heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). We can surely rejoice and say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?"

Bound to Come Some Trouble

Abide in Me

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. -- John 15:1-2

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. -- John 15:5

Many, many years ago when I was a boy, my mother took particular pride in her roses. Back then I was more interested in my bicycle and toys, so I can't say that I really noticed or appreciated her efforts until later in life. These days she can no longer care for her roses as she once did, so I've taken more of an interest in her roses lately, and it has only caused my love and respect for her to deepen.

Unfortunately, I do not have a green thumb and my lack of talent in this area is quite obvious. The year started out pretty good. I asked my mom for advice and I watched several DIY videos and got to work. After an initial blaze of glory and blooming roses, everything has fizzled and I have no idea why. To date there is a big difference between my roses and those my mother once cultivated.

I'm learning that it takes constant work, care and talent to cultivate roses. There needs to be continual pruning, feeding and watering, as well as the vigilant look out for anything that might threaten the health of the plants. It requires me to bend and stoop and closely inspect the leaves and stems as I try to thoughtfully cut and prune. The work is never really done.

That is the picture Christ gives of the Father's constant care for His Children. He is not aloof and uninvolved in our lives. But rather, He is closely involved with His children and watches over us with the greatest of care. With perfect wisdom He cuts and prunes in a way that brings health and vitality to the soul, causing us to bear much fruit. Although the atheist might scoff at the notion, God is intimately involved with His creation. His eye is on the sparrow, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He watches over His children with particular care and vigilance like a vinedresser.

My little adventure into gardening has not only caused my admiration for my mother to deepen, it has also helped me understand the constant care and vigilance of God in a new way. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father is much better at these things than I am, and His crop will never fail to bear fruit.

The Abiding Life

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. -- John 15:4-5

What does it mean to abide in Christ, and what does it look like in our daily lives? What is the evidence that we are abiding in Christ? J.C. Ryle offers this insight:

To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him,—to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength, as our chief Companion and best Friend.—To have His words abiding in us, is to keep His sayings and precepts continually before our memories and minds, and to make them the guide of our actions and the rule of our daily conduct and behavior.

This raises several questions such as: What truly brings delight to my heart and what is the sweetest meditation of my soul? Do I love God's Word, or is it collecting dust on the shelf from non-use? Am I fixated and hoping in the things of this world, or do I find my greatest rest and joy in Christ?

What is the evidence that we truly love Christ? Consider the following verses:

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. -- John 14:15

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." -- John 14:21

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. -- John 14:24a

You are my friends if you do what I command you. -- John 15:14

Look closely at the preceding verses. Although there are commands in Scripture to be obeyed, these particular verses are not so much commands to be obeyed, but rather, they are indicators of a life that is truly abiding in Christ. If we truly love Christ, it will manifest itself in a love for His Word and obedience. If Christ has truly taken hold of the soul, it will transform what we love, what we hate, and where we find our deepest joy. It will transform the mind and affections. Consequently, it is in the nature of every believer to truly delight in God, and there will always be ample evidence for those things that truly delight us. It will become evident in what we do, how we spend our time, as well as the speech that bubbles up from the heart.

Bearing Fruit

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. -- John 15:8

Remember, chapters 13-17 of John's Gospel takes place on the night before Christ's crucifixion. It is one continual discourse that Jesus gave to comfort and strengthen His disciples. Woven throughout this discourse is the promise of the Holy Spirit.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. -- John 14:16-18

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. -- John 14:26-27

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. -- John 15:26 

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. -- John 16:7

Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to every believer. As a result, the Christian will produce good fruit as sure as the night follows the day. It is in the nature of the Christian to produce fruit in the same way that it is in the nature of an apple tree to grow apples. They will flow naturally from the life of Christ that resides in every believer through the Spirit. The true believer will have new affections, new desires, and new joys. They have found that the yoke of Christ is easy and His burden is light.

There are many kinds of fruit in the Christians life, but for our purpose here, we are going to take a brief look at the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. -- Galatians 5:22-25

That is quite a list of attributes isn't it? Those are the very attributes of Christ that the Father cultivates and grows in every believer through the power of the Spirit. What an amazing gift. And to what end does He give this incredible blessing? It is for our good, our joy, and God's glory.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. -- John 15:11

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. -- 2 Corinthians 3:18

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. -- Hebrews 13:20-21

All of this continues to raise the question, is there any evidence of the Spirit's work in our lives? Are we growing in the fruit of the Spirit? Are we growing in love? Do we have real joy in the Lord? Are we patient, kind, and self-controlled? Do we even desire these things? If so, that is good evidence that we truly belong to Him. If not, there is reason to be concerned. We are told, even as believers to exam ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) because it is possible to be self deceived (James 1:22).

Once again, let's look at another sobering insight from J.C. Ryle:

"… there are false Christians as well as true ones. There are "branches in the vine" which appear to be joined to the parent stem, and yet bear no fruit. There are men and women who appear to be members of Christ, and yet will prove finally to have had no vital union with Him.

There are myriads of professing Christians in every Church whose union with Christ is only outward and formal. Some of them are joined to Christ by baptism and Church-membership. Some of them go even further than this, and are regular communicants and loud talkers about religion. But they all lack the one thing needful. Notwithstanding services, and sermons, and sacrament, they have no grace in their hearts, no faith, no inward work of the Holy Spirit. They are not one with Christ, and Christ in them. Their union with Him is only nominal, and not real. They have "a name to live," but in the sight of God they are dead."

Although we will never be perfect this side of heaven, God is real and so is the evidence that He is in our lives. I suspect that if you are truly abiding in Christ, this chapter has been a source of great comfort and joy. But on the other hand, if this chapter has disquieted and convicted your soul, it may be an indication that you are not abiding in Christ.

May we do a sober assessment of ourselves this day, and if we find that we have been mere professors with a cold heart and no fruit, even that realization is a grace of God and an invitation to cry out to Him for the mercy that He abundantly gives. And may the truth of His Word draw us closer to Him this day.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. -- 2 Peter 3:9

Abide With Me

J.C. Ryle -- Repent to the Gate of Heaven

Luke 13:1-3
(1) There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
(2) And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
(3) No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

THE murder of the Galileans, mentioned in the first verse of this passage, is an event of which we know nothing certain. The motives of those who told our Lord of the event, we are left to conjecture. At any rate, they gave Him an opportunity of speaking to them about their own souls, which He did not fail to employ. He seized the event, as His manner was, and made a practical use of it. He bade His informants look within, and think of their own state before God. He seems to say, "What though these Galileans did die a sudden death? What is that to you? Consider your own ways. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Let us observe, for one thing, in these verses, how much more ready people are to talk of the deaths of others than their own. The death of the Galileans, mentioned here, was probably a common subject of conversation in Jerusalem and all Judea. We can well believe that all the circumstances and particulars belonging to it were continually discussed by thousands who never thought of their own latter end. It is just the same in the present day. A murder,—a sudden death,—a shipwreck, or a railway accident, will completely occupy the minds of a neighborhood, and be in the mouth of every one you meet. And yet these very persons dislike talking of their own deaths, and their own prospects in the world beyond the grave. Such is human nature in every age. In religion, men are ready to talk of anybody's business rather than their own.

The state of our own souls should always be our first concern. It is eminently true that real Christianity will always begin at home. The converted man will always think first of his own heart, his own life, his own deserts, and his own sins. Does he hear of a sudden death? He will say to himself, "Should I have been found ready, if this had happened to me?"—Does he hear of some awful crime, or deed of wickedness? He will say to himself, "Are my sins forgiven? and have I really repented of my own transgressions?"—Does he hear of worldly men running into every excess of sin? He will say to himself, "Who has made me to differ? What has kept me from walking in the same road, except the free grace of God?" May we ever seek to be men of this frame of mind! Let us take a kind interest in all around us. Let us feel tender pity and compassion for all who suffer violence, or are removed by sudden death. But let us never forget to look at home, and to learn wisdom for ourselves from all that happens to others...

If we have already repented in time past, let us go on repenting to the end of our lives. There will always be sins to confess and infirmities to deplore, so long as we are in the body. Let us repent more deeply, and humble ourselves more thoroughly, every year. Let every returning birthday find us hating sin more, and loving Christ more. He was a wise old saint who said, "I hope to carry my repentance to the very gate of heaven."

Good News and Bad News

I have some good news and some bad news. First the bad news along with my sincere apology, there will not be a new lesson this week. I simply ran out of time, but I will post a new lesson next week. In the meantime, this is an excellent opportunity to catch up if you've fallen behind, and by all means download and listen to the sermons that I have posted. They are vital to our study.

Now the good news. If you have been following this blog you are aware that I requested prayer several weeks ago for my mother and aunt who had both taken seriously ill. I am thankful and overjoyed to report that they are both doing very well and I would like to thank everyone for their prayers. Yesterday we received the test results for my mom and they came back clear, and we are all very thankful. God has been gracious to us.

Home

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. -- John 14:1-3

Heaven would be hell to me without Christ. —Thomas Goodwin

*****

John 14 opens on the final night before Christ's crucifixion as Jesus shares one last Passover meal with His disciples. The disciples, anticipating that Christ was about to establish an earthly kingdom, began to argue (again) over who should be the greatest in the kingdom. And Jesus responded to their show of pride by washing their feet, including the feet of His betrayer, Judas Iscariot (John 13). On this last night, Jesus also instituted the Lord's Supper that we observe in His remembrance to this day.

Meanwhile, the plans of the chief priests were finally beginning to take shape. They were seeking an opportunity to arrest Jesus privately and Judas agreed to help them, but for a price. This man Judas, this son of perdition who walked with Jesus for three years, this man who saw the wonderful character and nature of Christ, this man who had a front-row seat to witness the miracles of Christ, this man who was given the privilege of walking with God incarnate betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver. But in the end, Judas sold his own soul as well.

In the meantime, back in the upper room, Jesus was busy ministering to His disciples. Even though He knew those same disciples would soon abandon Him. And even though He knew the chief priests would soon come for Him like a pack of wolves. This is worth taking note. It is not typical for someone who is in great distress and pain to think of others. In fact, pain has a way of causing us to focus on self all the more. But that was not true of Christ. In His darkest hour He comforted others. And the same comfort and grace that He extended to the disciples, He extends to us as well.

The disciples did not really understand the trials that awaited them. But Christ comforted, strengthened, and prayed for them nevertheless. And I will say it again, that same comfort is extended to every believer. We do not know all of the trials that await us either. Even at this moment, many Christians are facing trials of every sort. It has been said that Christians are in one of three places: in a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to go into a storm. And Christ speaks the same words of comfort to us that He spoke to the disciples on that night -- Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

In the coming chapters of John's Gospel, Jesus will say many things to comfort and encourage believers with troubled hearts. But this week, I will focus on just one thought -- home. Jesus reassured every believer that He has gone to prepare a place for us in the Father's house, and that place is our real home.

Exile

There are over six billion people on the planet, and not everyone is fortunate enough to have a place to call home. If you're reading this, you are probably one of the fortunate ones. And, as the saying goes, "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." At best, home is the place where we feel safe, comfortable, and at ease. It is also the place where we find rest. But even more than that, home is an idea, and in many ways, it is an unattainable idea.

We live east of Eden and mankind lives in exile from the Garden of God. We have been banished from His presence and the way is closed and guarded by an angel who wields a flaming sword (Genesis 3:24). Because of sin, mankind was evicted from the Garden, from the presence of God, from true rest and from our true home. It has been said that this collective memory of exile is stamped on every soul.

Because of this, even if we are fortunate enough to have a place to call home, we do not always feel completely at ease, nor do we feel completely at rest. In fact, home can be a place of turmoil and unrest. At best, there is always something that needs to be done, something out of place, or something in disrepair. Things are never ideal. At worst, home can be place of stress and strife between family members. It can be a place where we stare up at the ceiling during the night as we eat the bread of anxious turmoil. Life is always disjointed in some way. Whatever home we have, it is just the best we can do. It is our imperfect refuge from a troubled world. But even the best home this world has to offer will not save us from a troubled heart. Where do we find rest when the trouble is in our own soul?

It is into the troubled soul that Jesus speaks -- In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Furthermore, He promised to go and prepare a place for us, our true home that no one can take away.

I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same. -- C.S. Lewis

In reality, Christians are pilgrims and sojourners in this life, and this world is not our true home (1 Peter 2:11). The patriarchs rejoiced in their pilgrim status, and we are admonished to do the same. They looked beyond this world to a city whose builder and maker is God.

For he [Abraham] was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God...

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. -- Hebrews 11:10, 13-16

If that sounds like a trite cliché, it is because so few of us who profess Christ really believe it. We have invested everything we have and everything we are in this life. As a result, we have no true longing or anticipatory joy for heaven, our true home, and that is tragic. How is it that we often invest all of our hopes in the empty promises of this broken world when Christ has promised eternal joy?

Ironically, because we are guilty of seeing our fleeting time in this broken world as more important than eternity, our joys in this life are also diminished. C. S. Lewis said, "Aim for heaven, and you get earth thrown in. Aim for earth, and you get neither."

Two Cities

I'm always amazed when I drive on the freeway past a big city. The tall buildings and bright lights are always an impressive sight. But when I get off the freeway, the picture is very different. I see litter in the streets, crime, homelessness, broken people and broken lives; and this is the best that man can do.

It is just a reminder that, upon closer inspection, the City of Man has an impressive veneer, but underneath it is badly broken and increasingly dark. In stark contrast, the City of God grows increasingly bright and glorious because of the person and work of Christ. It reminds me that Christ has gone to prepare a place for us, the true Shining City on a hill. A place where God, the fountainhead of all joy, will dwell in the midst of His people in unbroken fellowship forever.

In Christ, we find rest for our souls and we find our true home. Paradise lost becomes Paradise found. The angel puts away his flaming sword, and the veil in the temple is torn in two. What we lost in the first Adam is abundantly restored in Christ, the last Adam. Christ has gone to prepare a place for His people, there will be no more sorrow or death, and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. The exile will be over and we will be home at last. Knowing that my eternal future is secure in Christ gives me unspeakable joy in this life, and great comfort when my heart is troubled and the storm rages...

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

*****

Holy Ground

I was so taken with J.C. Ryle's introduction to John 13, I'm going to post it in its entirety. The only thing I will add are a few contextual reminders.

As we have already noted, John 1-12 is largely an account of Christ's three-years of public ministry. When we reach chapter 13, there is yet another shift in John's narrative in that the next four chapters (13-17) take place on the final night before the Crucifixion. We will see how Jesus selflessly ministered to His disciples even as He agonized over what awaited Him; that He would soon drink the cup of God's wrath and atone for the sins of many.

His hour had finally come, and He would willingly take up His cross for the the joy that was set before Him. All of history was aligned to bring about this moment. Judas had made a deal to betray Christ, The chief priests finally had a way to arrest Jesus privately, there was a rapid shift in public opinion -- and all of this was according to the predetermined sovereign will of God.

*****

The passage we have now read begins one of the most interesting portions of John's Gospel. For five consecutive chapters we find the Evangelist recording matters which are not mentioned by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We can never be thankful enough that the Holy Ghost has caused them to be written for our learning! In every age the contents of these chapters have been justly regarded as one of the most precious parts of the Bible. They have been the meat and drink, the strength and comfort of all true-hearted Christians. Let us ever approach them with peculiar reverence. The place whereon we stand is holy ground.

We learn, for one thing, from these verses, what patient and continuing love there is in Christ's heart towards His people. It is written that "having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." Knowing perfectly well that they were about to forsake Him shamefully in a very few hours, in full view of their approaching display of weakness and infirmity, our blessed Master did not cease to have loving thoughts of His disciples. He was not weary of them: He loved them to the last.

The love of Christ to sinners is the very essence and marrow of the Gospel. That He should love us at all, and care for our souls,—that He should love us before we love Him, or even know anything about Him,—that He should love us so much as to come into the world to save us, take our nature on Him, bear our sins, and die for us on the cross,—all this is wonderful indeed! It is a kind of love to which there is nothing like among men. The narrow selfishness of human nature cannot fully comprehend it. It is one of those things which even the angels of God "desire to look into." It is a truth which Christian preachers and teachers should proclaim incessantly, and never be weary of proclaiming.

But the love of Christ to saints is no less wonderful, in its way, than His love to sinners, though far less considered. That He should bear with all their countless infirmities from grace to glory,—that He should never be tired of their endless inconsistencies and petty provocations,—that He should go on forgiving and forgetting incessantly, and never be provoked to cast them off and give them up,—all this is marvelous indeed! No mother watching over the waywardness of her feeble babe, in the days of its infancy, has her patience so thoroughly tried, as the patience of Christ is tried by Christians. Yet His longsuffering is infinite. His compassions are a well that is never exhausted. His love is "a love that passeth knowledge."

Let no man be afraid of beginning with Christ, if he desires to be saved. The chief of sinners may come to Him with boldness, and trust Him for pardon with confidence. This loving Savior is One who delights to "receive sinners." (Luke 15:2.) Let no man be afraid of going on with Christ after he has once come to Him and believed. Let him not fancy that Christ will cast him off because of failures, and dismiss him into his former hopelessness on account of infirmities. Such thoughts are entirely unwarranted by anything in the Scriptures. Jesus will never reject any servant because of feeble service and weak performance. Those whom He receives He always keeps. Those whom He loves at first He loves at last. His promise shall never be broken, and it is for saints as well as sinners: "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37.)

We learn, for another thing, from these verses, what deep corruption may sometimes be found in the heart of a great professor of religion. It is written that "the devil put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Christ."

This Judas, we must always remember, was one of the twelve Apostles. He had been chosen by Christ Himself, at the same time with Peter, James, John, and their companions. For three years he had walked in Christ's society, had seen His miracles, had heard His preaching, had experienced many proofs of His loving-kindness. He had even preached himself and wrought miracles in Christ's name; and when our Lord sent out His disciples two and two, Judas Iscariot no doubt must have been one of some couple that was sent. Yet here we see this very man possessed by the devil, and rushing headlong to destruction.

On all the coasts of England there is not such a beacon to warn sailors of danger as Judas Iscariot is to warn Christians. He shows us what length a man may go in religious profession, and yet turn out a rotten hypocrite at last, and prove never to have been converted. He shows us the uselessness of the highest privileges, unless we have a heart to value them and turn them to good account. Privileges alone without grace save nobody, and will only make hell deeper. He shows us the uselessness of mere head-knowledge. To know things with our brains, and be able to talk and preach and speak to others, is no proof that our own feet are in the way of peace. These are terrible lessons: but they are true.

Let us never be surprised if we see hypocrisy and false profession among Christians in modern days. There is nothing new in it, nothing peculiar, nothing that did not happen even among Christ's own immediate followers, and under Christ's own eyes. Bad money is a strong proof that there is good coin somewhere. Hypocrisy is a strong indirect evidence that there is such a thing as true religion.

Above all, let us pray daily that our own Christianity may at any rate be genuine, sincere, real and true. Our faith may be feeble, our hope dim, our knowledge small, our failures frequent, our faults many. But at all events let us be real, and true. Let us be able to say with poor, weak, erring Peter, "Thou, Lord, who knowest all things, knowest that I love Thee." (John 21:17.) -- J.C. Ryle

The Faint Echo of Heaven

The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust in them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through was a longing. … For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.

-- C.S. Lewis

Review: The Big Picture 2 (John 1-12)

(Note: This week, after reading 12 chapters in John, we are going to do another review. Because we have already reviewed chapters 1-6, one might expect that we would only review chapters 7-12. However, this week we are actually going to review chapters 1-12 with a quick flyover. As I have mentioned before, part of what I hope to accomplish during this study is to get the "Big Picture". Once we have a picture of the forest, we will be better able to appreciate the trees. Although this is a review, we will also cover some new ground as well.)

As we have already noted, the opening prologue of John starts in eternity past and it hearkens back to the first chapter of Genesis with the phrase, "In the beginning…" Then we quickly move from eternity past to the Incarnation.

After John's prologue, chapters 1-12 is an overview of Christ's three years of public ministry. The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2:11). This verse alone should put to rest all of the apocryphal stories from the Gnostic Gospels that claim Jesus performed miracles as a child. The Bible is largely silent about Christ's childhood.

Although there is nothing in John's Gospel about the childhood of Christ, there is a brief vignette in Luke's Gospel about Jesus at the age of 12, and it is the only Biblical account we have of Christ's childhood. It is also significant that we find Him in the Temple.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. -- Luke 2:41-52

Roughly eighteen-years later, we find Christ in the temple once again, this time not as a child, but as Israel's Messiah who had come to cleanse the temple (Malachi 3:1). Jesus, God incarnate, came and tabernacled among us, this time not in a tent, or a temple, but in the flesh (John 1:14). But more on that in a moment.

It is interesting to note that the only other prophet to transform water was Moses -- and he transformed water into blood as a sign of judgment. In contrast, Christ transformed water into wine as a sign of grace.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. -- John 1:16-17

The Law came through Moses. Although the Law is good, it is unable to save and brings death. But grace and truth came through Christ. Christ affirms the righteous standard of the Law (Matthew 5:17-18), and with the truth of the Law and its demands, He also brings saving grace and the forgiveness that we desperately need (Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:10-14).

Seven Signs

Although these were not the only miracles performed by Christ, there are seven signs highlighted in John's Gospel:

• Water to wine (John 2:1-12)
• Healed Nobleman's son (John 4:46-54)
• Healed a paralytic on the Sabbath (John 5:1-17)
• Fed 5,000 (John 6:1-14)
• Walked on Water and calmed the storm (John 6:15-21)
• Healed a blind man on the Sabbath (John 9:1-41)
• Raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:17-45)

Notice there seems to be an escalation in the miracles recorded by John, with the most dramatic miracle being the very public act of Raising Lazarus from the dead.

In addition to these miraculous signs, Jesus made some weighty claims that pointed us back to the Old Testament as well. John's Gospel demonstrates how the powerful imagery of the Old Testament foreshadowed Christ. So far we have seen that Jesus is:

• God and Creator (John 1:1-3, 14)
• The true Lamb of God (John 1:29)
• Jacobs ladder (Gen 28:12, John 1:51)
• The true temple (John 2:19-21)
• Salvation in the wilderness (Num 21:7-9, John 3:14)
• The Light of Truth (Psalm 119:105, Prov 6:23, John 1:4-9, 3:19, John 8:12)
• Living Water (Jeremiah 2:12-13, John 4:10, John 7:37-39)
• The true Bread from Heaven (John 6:33-35)
• The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23, John 10:1-16)

Jesus also made several "I AM" statements, thus affirming His divinity (there will be more I AM statements to come in later chapters).

• I AM the bread of life (John 6:35)
• I AM the light of the world (John 8:12)
• Before Abraham was, I AM (John 8:58)
• I AM the door of the sheep (John 10:7)
• I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
• I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)

Through the Veil

Getting back to the temple, although some scholar's will disagree on this point, a plain reading of Scripture indicates that Christ cleansed the temple twice, once at the beginning of His public ministry, and once at the end of His ministry; the same week of His crucifixion. If that is the case (and I believe it is), this would indicate that Christ book-ended His public ministry by the cleansing of the temple at the beginning and at the end of His public ministry, indicating completion. Furthermore, with His death, the veil in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), indicating that the days of temple sacrifice were over -- the true lamb and the true temple had come. The veil that separated man from the holiest place in the temple, the very presence of God in the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:33, Leviticus 16:2), was torn in two at the death of Christ.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, -- Hebrews 10:19-20

Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we have been clothed in His righteousness and made priests with full access to God. Consequently, God's presence is no longer to be found in a temple made with hands, but rather, He dwells in each believer by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The people of God are now His temple and dwelling place.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. -- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. -- 1 Peter 2:4-5

I Have Come To This Hour

"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. -- John 12:27

As chapter 12 begins, we have turned a corner in John's narrative. It is six days before the Passover, and six days before the crucifixion of Christ. What Moses foretold, and what the Passover Lamb foreshadowed, is about to be fulfilled.

No doubt the air was electric. There was something different about this Passover and everyone knew it. Jesus had been ministering and preaching for three years, and His confrontations with the religious authorities had come to a boiling point. They tried to kill or arrest Jesus on many occasions, but Christ had always eluded them, skillfully picking and choosing his public confrontations, then dropping from sight, because His hour had not yet come.

The Pharisees, having lost every confrontation, grew tired of being exposed by Christ, and they were jealous of His popularity. They continued to conspire behind the scenes to privately arrest Jesus and put Him to death. Because of this open hostility, the region was abuzz with people wondering if Jesus would even show up in Jerusalem for the Passover.

They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him. -- John 11:56-57

Meanwhile, in the evening, Jesus lodged in Bethany, a small town less than two miles from Jerusalem. This was the same small town that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus called home. It was during His stay in Bethany when Mary anointed Jesus with an alabaster flask of perfume. This was done in preparation for His for burial. His hour had finally come, and Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem.

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." -- Matthew 20:17-19

Although Mary (who loved to sit at the feet of Jesus) seemed to understand that Christ was going to Jerusalem to lay down His life, His disciples failed to comprehend what was about to take place. They still had the misguided notion that Jesus was about to establish an earthly kingdom, even though Christ repeatedly told them that He was going to Jerusalem to die.

*****

Upon the arrival of Palm Sunday, the Pharisees would no longer need to wonder concerning the whereabouts of Christ. They would find Him entering Jerusalem on a donkey's colt, surrounded by a massive crowd of people waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!". Jesus had officially presented Himself to the nation as their King and Messiah, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. -- Zechariah 9:9

According to ancient customs, when a king rode into town on a donkey, it was to signify that he came in peace, not to make war. And Jesus had come to make peace between God and man. Some scholars estimate, that Jesus drew a crowd of more than 200,000 people. Whatever the size of the crowd, the religious leaders were greatly troubled by this scene.

So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him." -- John 12:19

The Pharisees would need to wait for a more opportune time to arrest Jesus because they feared the crowd (and for good reason). But the mob is fickle, and the cheers would not last. Much of the crowd had the same misguided notion that the disciples had. They also thought that Jesus had come to throw off the yoke of Rome and usher in a new golden age for the nation of Israel. They failed to understand their deepest need, and they failed to understand that Jesus came to accomplish something far greater than establishing an earthly kingdom. Once they realized that Jesus did not come to meet their earthly expectations, just like Judas, the mob would turn on Him, and the Pharisees would finally have the opportunity they were looking for.

Please Stand By

Life has been a little more hectic than usual as we have been dealing with illness in the family. But God is faithful, and by His grace, we will finish our study in John. God willing, we will resume on July 8th. (Now would be a great time to catch up if you're running behind.) In the meantime, I would appreciate your prayers for my mother Dorothy, and my aunt Izola.

Jesus Wept

To say that we have an uncomfortable relationship with death is an understatement to the extreme. As one man said, death is the dark corner at the far end of the corridor that no one can see, but we must all pass through. We cannot stop death from coming any more than we can stop next Tuesday. Death is ugly, it is unknown, we are afraid of it, and no one likes to talk about it. In fact, you are probably having second thoughts about finishing this essay. But please hang in there, because there is hope at the end of the corridor.

Death may be normal, but it is not natural. Something in the very core of our being rises up in protest and revulsion at death. Death should not be! But it is. Like a nightmare that no one can escape, death is a reality, and the day will come when we will lose everyone we love, unless they lose us first. There is no human court on earth that can put a stay on our day of execution. And so we wait, and try not to think about it. We recoil and protest at the thought of death because this is not the world as God created it. We were not meant to die, and somehow, deep down, we know this. We know that we were made for eternity.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.-- Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

So why is there death? According to the Scriptures, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). We are fallen creatures who live in a fallen world, and our sin has separated us from God, the Author of life (John 3:19-20, Romans 3:10-12, Acts 3:15, Psalm 36:9). Every sin that has a beautiful veneer on the outside ends in the ugliness of death.

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In John 11, we encounter death through a man named Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha. We can identify with them can’t we? Lazarus had taken ill and the sisters sent word to Jesus. But Jesus delayed His coming and their worst fears became a reality -- Lazarus died. When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Mary and Martha are grief-stricken over losing their brother. Can you feel their pain? Anyone who has lost a loved one understands their grief.

The scene is that of a funeral, and there is sorrow upon sorrow. We might be tempted to think that Jesus would be unmoved and float above it all, but we would be wrong. Far from being stoic, Jesus is also grieved. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in all of Scripture, and it simply reads, "Jesus wept."

Jesus wept, but why did He weep? Ask five different commentators and you'll probably get at least three different answers. Why did Jesus weep? Did He weep because of what sin has done to the world? Did He weep over the grief of His dear friends Mary and Martha? Why did He weep knowing that He was about to call His friend Lazarus from the grave? Maybe He wept for all of these reasons. Maybe He wept for reasons we simply can't know. But this we do know, Jesus is not indifferent to our pain. He was a man of sorrows and He walks with us in our grief.

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. -- Isaiah 53:3

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. -- Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus does not float above our pain with stoic indifference, He is there with every believer. For example, in the book of Acts when Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians, Jesus did not ask him, "Saul, why are you persecuting my people?" No, instead Jesus asked him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?" When Saul persecuted Christians, it was as if he persecuted Christ Himself (Acts 9:4). Jesus is the friend that sticks closer than a brother, and we are not alone in our suffering, and we are not alone in death.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. -- Psalms 116:15

Jesus wept at the funeral of Lazarus, and He wept with Mary and Martha. But what happened next was shocking and unbelievable to those present; Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

In the next chapter of John's Gospel, we find Lazarus enjoying a meal with his two sisters and with His Lord. No doubt, there was great rejoicing. This is just a glimpse of what is to come for every believer. One day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, God will wipe away every tear, and we will dine with Christ in His kingdom.

Eventually, Lazarus would die again, as would Mary and Martha. However, Jesus made a promise to them, and to every believer as well:

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." -- John 6:40

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, -- John 11:25

Although Lazarus died again, Jesus was crucified and rose on the third day, never to die again; and He promised to raise up everyone who believes in Him on the last day, and they will never die again. In the same way, that David conquered Goliath, and his victory was imputed to all of Israel, Christ defeated sin and death, and His victory is imputed to everyone who trusts in Him.

Now, the light of Christ shines in that dark corridor because He has conquered death. Though we may grieve at the loss of a loved one, we do not grieve as being without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Because Jesus lives, those who are hidden in Christ will live as well. Death may bring sorrow, and it may appear for a time that Jesus delays His coming, but we can rest and know, that He will be on time, in His good time.

The Heidelberg Catechism asks the question: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
The Answer:

That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

So what is our ultimate comfort? It is not in being spared from death and the sorrow that it brings; but rather, we find our comfort in trusting Christ, and knowing that He will shepherd us through the valley of the shadow of death. For the believer, death is but a passing shadow like sleep, and because we are secure in Christ, death has lost its sting.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. -- 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Biblical Motifs - The Shepherd

(Note: This is part of an ongoing series that is best read in order. If you have not already done so, you can read the previous posts here.)

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I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, -- John 10:14

In John 10 we come to another important (and prominent) Biblical motif, that of the shepherd. Of course, shepherds were common in the land of Israel as well as ancient cultures in general. All of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were Shepherds, as were Moses and King David.

Today, when we think of a shepherd, we tend to think of noble men who guarded a flock of sheep with great care. Perhaps we imagine the Nativity when angels announced the birth of Christ to a group of shepherds who were dutifully keeping watch over their flock. But in reality, shepherds were generally uneducated men of low regard who lived on the fringes of society. They were disrespected at best, and despised at worst.

Of course, the chief task of the shepherd was to take care of sheep, and God's people are likened unto sheep. That makes for an interesting comparison, because sheep are defenseless, easily lead, prone to wander, and they are not so bright. Sheep are also easy prey for predatory animals (like wolves for example). In addition to protecting the sheep, it was also the shepherds job to make sure that his flock was properly fed and rested. This made the shepherd indispensable to the sheep.

When we see the word shepherd in Scripture, we must distinguish between "a" shepherd and "The" Shepherd. God has always appointed men to shepherd His people. Sometimes that shepherd would be a prophet like Moses, sometimes it was a king like David, and today the local pastor has been given a charge to act as a shepherd. All of these are examples of an under shepherd. But then, there is the Chief Shepherd to Whom the under shepherd is accountable -- Jesus Himself.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows each of us by name, and He laid down His life for His sheep. He is the Good Shepherd who carried our guilt and shame and was despised and rejected by men. He is the Good Shepherd who was bruised for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. But Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd, in an amazing paradox, the Good Shepherd is also the Lamb Who was slain:

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. -- Isaiah 53:3-7

Truly, the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He restores my soul and leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake, and He knows me by name.