Thomas and Me

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Pete

It occurs to me that as much can be communicated with the tone of voice as with the words themselves. And what brings that to mind this morning is reading again Thomas’ words in John 20.

He was called Thomas, the Twin, or Didymus. He was one of the twelve. Maybe he was Matthew’s twin as his name and Matthew’s seem always to be linked together when Jesus’ twelve disciples are listed. If the association with Matthew wasn’t that of being his twin, maybe Thomas was a tax collector as well. I don’t think we know. But his “15 minutes of fame” come after the resurrection of Christ.

He wasn’t there the first time Christ visited His disciples and showed Himself alive to them. So you need to give him a bit slack when he shows up afterward and hears his compatriots tell him, “We have seen the Lord!” (John 20:24-25a) . . . or do you? That’s where the tone of voice thing comes in. Here’s Thomas’ response . . .

“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25b)

So . . . how did he say that? The words, in and of themselves, are pretty assertive, “I will not believe.” But how where they said? Was it with a tone of, “I’m done with this thing . . . you guys are on something . . . unless I touch Him, I WILL NOT BELIEVE!” Or, maybe, it was more like, “Don’t mess with me . . . I’ve been through the ringer, just like you . . . I’m beat up . . . broken . . . disillusioned . . . withered . . . I need some tangible proof or I will not believe.” Or maybe it was the voice of desperation, “What? He was here? Oh, I know you guys . . . I know you wouldn’t be kidding about something like this at a time like this . . . but it’s too incredible . . . too big a leap of faith . . . unless I see Him and touch, I will not believe.”

You know, regardless of how Thomas said these words . . . regardless of the exact condition of his unbelieving heart . . . it’s the response of Jesus when, eight days later, He again visits His disciples, which captures me this morning . . .

“Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ ” (John 20:27)

Talk about your “Amazing Grace!” Jesus confronted Thomas’ unbelief . . . He responded to His “I will not” assertiveness . . . by saying, “Thomas, stop it . . . stop your unbelieving . . . I want you so much that I’m here to let you poke and prod me as you want . . . I love you so much, not only did I die for you, but I’ve come pursuing you and presenting Myself to you in the way that is needed for you to believe. Stop doubting and believe.” However Thomas said it, Jesus determined to draw “doubting Thomas” to Himself . . . this one that the Father had given Him, Jesus would in no way lose (John 6:39) . . . though this sheep might be wandering a bit in doubt, the Good Shepherd was determined to bring him home, . . . even if that meant He had to carry Thomas on His shoulders . . . even if that meant having Thomas put his fingers into the nail prints in His hand. That’s the grace of Jesus . . . that’s the love of God. And really, I’m that Thomas.

The Lord didn’t appear to me . . . He didn’t tell me to poke Him in the side where the spear had been thrust . . . but I have been shown the same grace . . . and continue to be patiently graced by the One who wants me with Him. I once was just as unbelieving . . . just as willful . . . and continue to have doubts about stuff from time to time . . . and continue to see the ugly head of “I will” rear itself. But in His infinite patience . . . His matchless grace . . . He determines to call me to faith . . . revealing something of Himself which invariably puts my heart on its knees declaring, “My Lord and My God!”

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” Jesus said (John 20:29). I am among that company of blessed persons. Not because of anything I have done . . . but because, just as with Thomas, His grace drew me to Himself and to believing in His precious name . . . His grace continuing to lovingly dispel doubt . . . for His glory . . . amen!

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Worship God!

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Pete

Finally . . . it was just too much for John. The visions . . . the prophecy . . . the insight to the future . . . the encounter with heaven. Finally, in Revelation 19, John the Revelator goes weak-kneed. Not because of fear, as in chapter 1 where He first beheld the majestic Son of Man (Rev. 1:17). No, this time his legs give out because of overwhelming awe and wonder. His legs instinctively cry, “Face down, man!” He just had to worship . . .

He heard again that loud voice of heaven, that great multitude, and this time they proclaimed, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!” (Rev. 19:1). Babylon had been judged . . . the King had avenged the blood of the apostles, of the prophets, of His saints (18:20, 24; 19:2) . . . and heaven could not help but fall down before the throne of God and declare, “Praise our God, all You His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” (19:5).

And the voice continued to grow into an ear-splitting crescendo, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (19:6)

But there was more . . . the marriage of the Lamb to His blood-bought Bride had come . . . there she was, the Bride, His church . . . “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright” . . . “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (19:8-9).

And at that, John’s legs gave out. He needed to worship. Put down the pen of prophecy . . . get on your knees . . . go facedown . . . and worship. It didn’t matter before who . . . He just had to worship! But it did matter before who . . .

“And I fell at [the angel’s] feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’ ” (Rev. 19:10)

Therein are the two words that have grabbed me this morning . . . “Worship God!” Not the glories of heaven . . . not the sound of multitudes declaring His praise. Not the inheritance that is ours with Christ . . . not the wonders of His marriage table. Not the music . . . nor the angels. It all bows in subjection to Him who alone is worthy of our worship . . . God!

Fall at His feet . . . bow your head to the ground in reverence . . . kiss the hand . . . prostrate yourself . . . all this is encompassed in this idea of worship. Truly, it is no more evident that He must increase and we must decrease, than in worship. Everything else is the creation of His hand . . . we are to worship the Creator not any part of the creation.

This weakness in the knees would happen with John again . . . this need to go facedown before something . . . and again it would be before his “host angel” . . . and again the angel would re-direct Him to the only true object worthy of our exaltation, “Worship of God,” the angel would say again (Rev. 20:8-9).

That will truly be the best part of heaven. To worship at the foot of the throne. To look away from all the glories of our heavenly surroundings and focus solely on the One who so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son . . . to gaze upon the Son . . . the Lamb . . . the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . the King of Kings and Lord of Lords . . . and, oblivious to all the splendor . . . and angels . . . and loud voices . . . worship God. But hey, I don’t need to wait until then to start practicing . . . I can go facedown right now . . . and bow, whether “in my heart” or literally, . . . and worship Him who is worthy of all worship.

Worship God! . . . so be it!

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Seek and You Will Find

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Pete

Her pursuit of Him was relentless. As much as she could, where He went, she would go too. She was a woman of some means, but she had also been a women possessed . . . possessed by seven demons, in fact . . . but He had healed her . . . had delivered her . . . and, this Mary Magdalene had determined to follow Him (Luke 8:1-3). She stood by the cross where He was crucified, witnessing His dying act of caring for His mother (John 19:25-27). She followed as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took His lifeless body from the cross, hastily prepared it for burial, and laid it in a nearby garden tomb (John 19:38-42, Mark 15:47).

And her pursuit of Him did not stop at the apparent finality of the cross. On the first day of the week she went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, bringing spices in some hope that she might prevail upon the temple guard to allow her to anoint His body (Mark 16:1, John 20:1). But the guard was gone . . . the stone was rolled away . . . and the tomb was empty. She ran to tell Simon Peter and John . . . she followed them back to the open tomb, though she could not keep up with them as they ran. And after they had entered in and discovered the burial place empty . . . and the linen cloths lying there . . . and had left to wonder at what had happened . . . Mary remained . . . standing outside the tomb weeping (John 20:2-11).

Eventually, she stooped down and looked into the tomb . . . even encountering angels would not distract her focus from the One she thought was gone. And turning back from the tomb she encountered someone else . . . not knowing who it was. He too, as had the angels, asked why she was weeping. And then He asked her the question of questions, “Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:12-15b)

Jesus . . . she just wanted to be with Jesus. If this stranger in the garden had carried away His body and laid it somewhere else, she wanted to know so that she might “take Him away” (John 20:15b) . . . that she might anoint the body properly . . . that she might honor Him even in death . . . that she might continue to show gratitude to the One who had so wondrously delivered her and given her new life. Jesus . . . that’s all she wanted . . . He’s the One she was seeking.

And then, He said her name, “Mary!” And at the moment, she realized that the One who was her life’s pursuit was standing before her . . . alive! She had sought Him . . . and now He spoke her name . . . and she would declare His, “Rabboni!” . . . “my Teacher!” . . . “my Master!”

Oh, what blessing awaits those who relentlessly pursue the Son of God? What unexpected encounters? What intimate conversations? What glorious joy?

Through the prophet, such blessing was promised: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). Jesus, Himself, affirmed it as one of the great principles of the kingdom, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). Seek and you will find!

What was it that resurrection morn, for Mary to hear Him say her name? In that moment, whatever had been the cost of her pursuit of Him, it paled against the prize of encountering the risen Christ! The weeping was done with . . . the doubts had been erased . . . joy had come in the morning (Ps. 30:5b).

Would I not too seek to pursue the living Christ? Why wouldn’t my life’s passion be to follow wherever He leads that I might be near Him . . . that I might be with Him . . . that I might too know those moments of intimacy when He speaks my name . . . and bow in adoration and declare the wonder and glory of His.

Seek and you will find . . . amen!

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Called, Chosen, and Faithful!

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Pete

Ok . . . so, if we’re honest with ourselves, who doesn’t like to check themselves out in a picture or a home video? Yeah, it’s a group photo . . . or a family gathering caught on tape (aargh, I date myself . . . caught on a digital recording device) . . . and although we know we aren’t the focus of attention, we can’t help but notice ourselves and check out how we’re lookin’. I confess I did a bit of that this morning in my reading in Revelation 16 and 17.

Now . . . I know this passage is so not about me. It’s about bowls of wrath . . . the judgment of God upon those who refuse to bow the knee. It’s about the identification of “the great harlot”, the one “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Rev. 17:1-2). And it’s about the Lamb who makes war against the harlot and the peoples of earth who have gathered together at Armageddon in opposition to God Himself.

“So,” you might ask, “Where are you in this picture, Pete?” Glad you asked . . . check this out . . .

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Rev. 17:14)

There I am! “Those who are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Ok, so maybe it’s not me specifically (or maybe it will be, I don’t know), but at the very least those are my people. Four things to note about them . . . First, they are “the called”. They were invited . . . even wooed . . . by the Lamb to come to Him . . . to drink of His living water . . . to feast at His table . . . to become part of His family . . . to be counted a joint-heir of His glories and the inheritance that is His. That’s me! Oh, that He would invite me, when I really wanted nothing to do with Him. That He would patiently seek and eventually save this lost sheep. Invited by the Lamb . . . the invitation written in red, with His own precious blood . . . and by the grace of God, I RSVP’d, “O Lamb of God, I come.”

Second, they are” the chosen” . . . the elect . . . the “picked out” . . . the appointed. Oh, what a mystery . . . oh, how beyond reconciliation with the truth of the free will of man . . . yet, how true as well! Yes, by grace, I believed and received . . . but true also, that I am part of that company known as the “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1Peter 1:1) . . . a member of those God chose “in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:4-5). That’s me as well! To Him be all glory!

And too, they are “the faithful”. They have rested on His promises . . . and they can be counted upon. They have kept on keepin’ on. On the mountain top and in the valley, by the grace of God, they have continued to hold fast that which they have been convinced is true and have held fast to Him who is the hope of salvation. Though they may have stumbled from time to time, at the end of the day, they are considered “the faithful.” By His sustaining and enabling grace, I see them as my company . . . God having kept His promise that the work He has begun in me, He will complete until the day of Jesus Christ (Php. 1:6).

And finally, the fourth thing I see in this group which I so identify with, is that “they are with Him.” The One who is Lord of lords and King of kings is in the company of those He has redeemed through His blood. They are with Him . . . He is in their midst. He leads . . . they follow. He triumphs . . . they are victors. He serves up the great marriage supper . . . they feast at the table. With Him . . . what wonder that will be. That’s me! I’m in that picture! With Him! Praise God!

Father, once again I am filled with awe and wonder at the position I occupy and the hope I possess because I am “in Christ”. Thank you for the invitation . . . to You be all praise for determining in Sovereign grace to graft me into Your family . . . and, by Your grace, I desire to be faithful . . . and some day soon, I look forward to being with Him . . . Your Son . . . the Lamb . . . the King. To You be all the glory . . . amen!

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Not Guilty!

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Pete

Ok . . . so I’m pretty sure this is a first for me . . . a devotional thought from the prophet Nahum. I don’t know how many times I’ve read Nahum’s judgment upon Nineveh . . . it’s probably more than “a few” . . . but I don’t recall having anything “jump off the page” before . . . this morning, that changed . . . right out of the shoot . . .

“God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” (Nahum 1:2-3a)

It’s that last phrase, the LORD “will not acquit the wicked” that just hit me as I read it. One of my topics to watch for is the “attributes of God” . . . when I find one, I underline it with a navy blue colored pencil . . . and this is one such attribute . . . God will not acquit the wicked. Other versions put it this way, “The LORD will by no means clear the guilty” (ESV) . . . “will not leave the guilty unpunished” (NIV, NASB).

That’s a true statement . . . God does not acquit . . . the guilty are not “let go” . . . nor will they be unpunished. And it reminds me this morning that my standing before God lies not in the fact that He will overlook my transgressions, but that I am, before Him, “not guilty!”

My eternal future this morning doesn’t lie in the hope of a God who will “look the other way” . . . of One who will overlook my sin and let me into heaven anyway. Instead, I rest in the One who has paid the price for the guilty. My sin has not been overlooked it has been atoned for. God does not acquit me, instead He stamps on the “invoice” for my sin, “PAID IN FULL!”

God’s holy nature cannot acquit or overlook or leave sin unpunished. But the love of God is such that He determined to pay the price for my sin through His Son on the cross. I read about that this morning too . . . “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). “It is finished” . . . are there any three more glorious words! . . . aka “the price is paid” . . . aka for all who will believe, “not guilty!”

Justified is the theological term . . . read about that also this morning in Habakkuk, “But the just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4b). God is not required to go against His holy nature and acquit me in order to save me . . . the price has been fully paid for my sin by Jesus the Christ . . . the One come to save His people . . . and because I have believe that . . . because by faith I own Christ as Lord and His death as payment for my sin . . . because I trust in the One who has risen from the dead and has ascended to glory and will one day return for His own . . . I do not fear the wrath of God . . . because, in Him, I am not guilty!

I am “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:24-26).

I am redeemed . . . purchased with a price out of the marketplace of slavery to sin . . . His blood, an atoning sacrifice for all my sin — past, present, and future . . . God demonstrating and being true to His holy and righteous character in that He might maintain His just nature by becoming also the justifier, paying the penalty Himself through His Son! Oh, I believe! Oh, glorious truth . . . I am not guilty!

Father, thank You for the reminder this morning of Your immense love and Your amazing grace. Thank You, that on the cross the price was paid and, truly, the work of redemption was finished. All praise and blessing be Yours as I consider afresh that I come before You not in my sin, but in Christ . . . You don’t overlook my sin or acquit my guilt, but You see it fully atoned for . . . when You look at me, You see Jesus . . . I wear the robe of righteousness He purchased for me with His blood . . . not guilty . . . to You be all glory . . . amen!

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The Patience of the Saints

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Pete

I almost didn’t do it this morning . . . I started to “double up” on my reading in Revelation, reading two days of assigned passages . . . but then stopped . . . but then, for some reason, . . . I’ll take it as a prompting from the Teacher . . . decided to read Revelation 14 in addition to Revelation 13. And, had I not done that, I don’t think I would have noticed a phrase which, I think, is found only twice in the New Testament . . . here in Revelation . . . in these two chapters I read in one sitting . . . once in chapter 13 . . . once in chapter 14. A phrase, though I cannot fully imagine the implications of it, seems to have application for me . . . there being something in it that challenges me and encourages me when I consider “the patience of the saints.”

The context for this phrase is the period of the Great Tribulation. A period of time when believers in Christ will suffer intense persecution as “the beast” comes to power and determines to oppose God by making war against His people (13:7). It is also a time when God’s wrath is poured out on those who worship the beast and his image (14:9). It seems quite literally it is a time of hell on earth . . . and though they are sealed by the blood of the Lamb, you just know that this will be an extremely difficult time for believers . . . so hard that even a voice from heaven declares to the John, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” . . . “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (14:13)

It is then, in the context of this chaotic, tumultuous time, that John writes of “the patience of the saints” (13:10, 14:12). “Patience” is the NKJV rendering . . . here’s how it’s translated or paraphrased by others . . . “endurance” (NIV, ESV) . . . “perseverance” (NAS) . . . “endure persecution patiently” (NLT) . . . “passionately stand their ground” (MSG). The tribulation is the ultimate crucible to show forth the quality of faith . . . it is the hottest furnace under which patient endurance testifies loudly to the preserving grace of God . . . it is the blackest of backdrops against which stars of faithfulness shine the brightest for the glory of God. What will it be, to be a believer in that time?

I know, that there are believers in other parts of the world which today can identify to a large degree . . . they know first hand what it means to endure demonic-based physical opposition for their faith. I can try to imagine, what it’s like, but I really can’t relate. If I’ll take the time, I can read of their enduring struggle and add my voice to the those who cry out on their behalf for God’s sustaining grace to flow in abundance towards them . . . but, and I praise God for this, I really don’t know what it’s like for them to live out “the patience of the saints.”

Having said that . . . and not trying in the least to compare any of my struggles and battles to those who live under such intense persecution . . . there is a context in which I too am called to endurance and faith. My struggles might be minor in comparison, nevertheless, they’re my struggles . . . my potential sources of despair . . . my hard experiences — those I would just as soon avoid . . . and through them, I think I too am called to endure patiently, to obey the Father, and remain faithful to the One who has bought me with His own precious blood.

“The patience and faith of the saints”, seems to me, is a call for all believers . . . in all less than ideal circumstances . . . through all ages . . . to passionately stand their ground . . . to determine to faithfully remain steadfast, by the grace of God. And so, I hear the call this morning . . . and I desire to step up, by His grace . . . to practically model the patience of the saints . . . to remain true to the faith of Jesus . . . for the glory of God . . . amen!

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The Child

Posted on December 11, 2009 by Pete

I don’t necessarily expect to find “the Christmas story” when I read the book of Revelation. But this morning, I was caught a bit by surprise by the insights this book of the future provides on the past.

In Revelation 12 the focus is really on a woman and a dragon. The woman is marked as she who is “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:12) . . . recall Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9, and it seems this woman is Israel. There’s no question as to who the dragon is, ” . . . the great dragon . . . , that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world . . . the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night . . .” (12:9-10). And the deal is that this dragon doesn’t care too much for this woman. He has opposed her in the past . . . he will oppose her in the future . . . and, you can pretty much guess, that he’s arrayed against her even now. How come? What’s at the center of this hatred and violent opposition? The Child.

This woman, Israel, birthed a Child . . . the same Child we focus on at this time of year . . . the angelic, innocent, beautiful, restful, peaceful, Child in a manger. You kind of realize that as you read about this part of the “Christmas story” our nativity scenes focus on but one dynamic of that history defining event.

“And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. [Insert the life of Jesus
here] And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” (12:4b-5)

Any doubt that Herod was demon-possessed? That he was part of the dragon’s plan to “devour” the Child as soon as it was born? What other forces had Satan garnered around Bethlehem that night or in those days following the Child’s birth. You have to think that Satan had had his eye on Bethlehem ever since Micah penned his prophetic words, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2).

But this serpent of old did not prevail. The Child was born and lived and died and rose again and ascended into glory.

He was born a king and established His kingdom, though His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). “I am a king,” He would tell Pilate, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37). He would bear witness to the truth concerning man’s sin and God’s holiness . . . the truth concerning man’s inability to deal with the “wages of sin” and God’s amazing grace in making way for redemption . . . the truth concerning man’s hopeless situation and God’s love for the world . . . “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) . . . the truth concerning a lost world and a Child come to save that world.

The Child, though He was Creator before He became flesh, “dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And the Child, eventually, would die on a cross for the sin of man . . . would lie in a tomb for 3 days as the payment for our transgressions . . . and then, . . . oh, the glorious then . . . would rise again the third day in victory, crushing the head of that dragon . . . “and her Child was caught up to God and His throne” (Rev. 12:5b) . . . “while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts. 1:9-11).

The Child is coming again . . . soon . . .

Oh, bless the Child! Glory to the Child! O’ come lest us adore Him! Christ the Lord! Amen!

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The Touch

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Pete

It occurred to me, as I read John 18 this morning, that when I consider those who touched Jesus, I think of those who honored Him. I think of a woman reaching out to touch the hem of His garment because, by it she believes she will be healed (Mark 5:28). I think of another woman — a woman that “any good church going person” would want nothing to do with — and this woman stands at the feet of Jesus as He is reclined at a supper table . . . and she weeps in contrition . . . the Holy Spirit convicting her of sin and showing her her Savior . . . and as these tears fall on Jesus’ feet she kneels down and washes her feet with her hair and kisses His feet with her lips (Luke 7:38). And I think of yet another woman, who having lost her brother to death, and then received him back after 4 days in the tomb, also touches Jesus . . . pouring out upon Him a fragrant oil of anointing . . . she too, using her hair to wash His feet (John 12:3). That’s where I go first when I think about people touching Jesus.

It’s the wonder of Immanuel . . . God with us . . . Deity in flesh . . . He could be encountered physically. God could be touched . . . brushed up against . . . held . . . hugged . . . anointed. But this morning’s reading also dealt a harsh dose of reality of the other implications of Immanuel being Deity which could be touched . . .

“And when [Jesus] had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, ‘Do You answer the high priest like that?’ ” (John 18:22).

The end had begun . . . Jesus had been arrested in the garden and stands before Annas . . . and Annas asks Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. And Jesus, knowing that He is not before a seeker of truth . . . knowing that Annas is very aware of His teaching because Jesus has proclaimed it openly in the synagogues and in the temple . . . replies that Annas might want to ask those who have heard Jesus what they think. And to that response this unnamed officer of the high priest slaps Jesus across the face (John 18:19-22). Oh, that Deity in flesh should be treated in such a manner . . . kind of makes you cringe.

Jesus, the Son of God . . . the image of the invisible God . . . the One by whom all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth . . . the One in whom all things exist . . . manifest in flesh . . . available for the touching . . . and here, one exercises that blessing with an open hand to His precious face. Oh, right there, had I been Jesus, I might have put my fingers to my lips and whistled the whistle that would call 10,000 angels down from heaven to my rescue . . . I might have called down fire upon that man, right there, right then. How dare He strike the face of God! But, as a songwriter has so aptly written, “Thank God I’m not Jesus.”

But this was only the beginning of many more “touches” that Immanuel would endure over the next several hours. He would be manhandled repeatedly. He would be stripped . . . beaten . . . dressed in mock clothes of royalty . . . stripped again . . . and nailed to a cross . . . all because He allowed Himself to be touched by human hands . . . “and being found in human form, He humbled Himself” (Php. 2:7 ESV). Oh, the humility of Jesus . . . the degree to which He was prepared to be obedient to the Father’s will.

And what did the Father think as He saw that welt form on His Son’s face . . . knowing that this was just the start of something that would end with not just the physical pain and agony of scourging and crucifixion, but the spiritual torment of being “Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2Cor. 5:21). Oh, the love of God . . . that He would give heaven’s best for earth’s worst . . . that He would allow the Creator to be abused at the hands of the creation . . . that He would allow Him to be touched in such a manner.

And, I imagine, the Son conveying to heaven a silent prayer at the moment . . . a prayer which I imagine could have been His unceasing prayer over the course of this day . . . the prayer which would eventually be spoken from the cross in that dark hour . . . “Father, forgive this guy, He doesn’t know what He’s doing.” Oh, the grace of Jesus! Oh, the love of God!

Father, I can’t imagine what it was for You to allow Your Son to be so treated . . . Lord Jesus, what longsuffering to endure what You endured . . . I know that it was my hand too that was taken to Your face . . . in ignorance . . . in sin . . . in unbelief. Thank You for the grace which brought me out of such darkness . . . and into such marvelous light. I can’t wait for the day when I will touch You “for real” . . . face to the ground . . . hands outstretched . . . at the feet of Him who gave His life for me . . . thank You Father!

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Manipulating the Glory

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Pete

You know, Jonah really is a fascinating character. When you get beyond the amusing Sunday School story picture of him being human barf, standing on a beach, with seaweed hanging off his head, you see that he really was a man of faith and one who had encountered the glory of God. His problem wasn’t one of unbelief. Rather, it seems to me, that Jonah was trying to manipulate the glory.

After the initial attempt to run to Tarshish . . . and getting tossed off the boat during the storm . . . and getting swallowed by a great fish . . . and praying . . . and getting spit out . . . and then preaching to Nineveh . . . and then Nineveh repenting . . . and then God relenting . . . Jonah is ticked (4:1). He is grieved that a nation such as Nineveh has not been judged . . . He is angry that God has relented from disaster . . . better for Jonah, in his mind, to die rather than to live with the knowledge that Nineveh was given another chance. And what caught my eye this morning was Jonah’s reasoning for disobeying God in the first place and trying to hide in Tarshish . . .

“So he prayed to the LORD, and said, ‘Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.’ ” (Jonah 4:2).

Jonah knew that His God was a gracious and merciful God . . . that He was slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. Jonah knew the glory of God. That’s what Jonah 4:2 is describing — the glory of God. This is what was revealed to Moses when God agreed to hide Moses in the rock and allow him to behold His glory as He passed by (Ex. 34:6-7). Jonah knew the God of heaven . . . Jonah feared the God of heaven (Jonah 1:9) . . . but Jonah had his own sense of justice . . . his own agenda . . . and so tried to manipulate the glory of God . . . somehow thinking that if he didn’t agree to play a role in God’s determination to show grace to Nineveh, that either, it wouldn’t happen or, at the least, he wouldn’t have to be part of it.

But the glory of God would not be derailed by a stubborn prophet . . . in fact, that same glory, that same grace and compassion, that same patience and overflowing love, would be shown to this “fish food.” God could have “recalled” this unwilling messenger . . . taken him home . . . allowed the swim in the sea to be his last . . . and raised up another, more wiling, servant. But God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in lovingkindness . . . and would go to great lengths to teach his servant that the glory of God will not be manipulated according to the will of man. This one who would have suppressed the glory of God in order to align with his own sense of justice would, instead, be a recipient of that grace . . . that he might not just know of the glory, but experience it, and appreciate it, and celebrate it.

Oh, how glorious is grace! Why would we want it withheld from someone . . . why would we withhold it from someone? We might not think they deserve grace . . . yeah!! . . . that’s kinda what grace is . . . unmerited favor. How often do we pass up the chance to show grace and thus display the glory of God? How often do we determine that someone has “crossed the line” and we’re just gonna get on a slow boat to Tarshish because we don’t want God gracing them through us?

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Col. 3:12-13)

Father, thank you for again showing me Your glory in this morning’s reading . . . thank you for showing me Your glory in the grace and mercy extended to me each day, in the patience and lovingkindness that you show as I seek to figure out this pilgrim path. May I not manipulate that glory because I determine to see others with my eyes rather than the eyes of Jesus. May I be an extender of that glory . . . for Your glory . . . amen.

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The Desire of His Heart

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Pete

One of my favorite “promises of God” is found in Psalm 37 where David writes, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (37:4). The Father of Lights, the Giver of every good and perfect gift from above (James 1:17), will look upon those whose joy is in Him . . . who find an exquisite delight in the Almighty . . . and, in His grace and His good pleasure, will give them that which their heart desires most. We’re not talking about some heavenly blank check (cheque for my Canadian friends) to be spent on whatever . . . instead, for those who delight in God, I’m thinking that their hearts are so tuned to the mind of God, that the desires of their heart cannot be but aligned to the will of God.

And if the promise is true of us, who now “see in a mirror dimly”, how much more is it the case with Son of God. Who delights in the Father more than the Son? What then is His longing . . . what is the desire of His heart?

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me . . . ” John 17:24

Check that out! As Jesus prepares to go to the cross, to be then be raised again the third day, and then to ascend back to heaven . . . as He prepares His disciples for life without His physical presence . . . and He thinks of those who will believe in Him through the disciples preaching . . . this One, whose delight is do the Father’s will, articulates the desires of His heart to His Father, “Oh, how I want those You have given me, Father, to be with me . . . face to face . . . beholding My glory . . . for their blessing, for sure . . . but also to satisfy the longing of My heart.”

How much does Jesus love us! Way much! So much! He died for us . . . bought us with His blood . . . we are His prized possessions . . . given to Him by the Father Himself. He has determined to intricately and eternally associate Himself with us . . . we are the body of which He is the head . . . we are the bride entered into eternal bliss, literally, with the Bridegroom. He’s gone to prepare a place of us (John 14:3). Why? ‘Cause He wants us there with Him. How much does He love us . . . so much that He wants to be with us . . . literally . . . “physically” in heavenly bodies. He longs for that time when we will be together. That’s the desire of His heart . . . that’s what He wants . . . that’s what will make Him happy. How unreal is that?

He wants us to behold His glory . . . and I think it’s not just so He’s at the center — which He will be and should be . . . but because, in beholding His glory, will be the greatest pleasure and blessing we will ever know. We experience something of His glory now and it fills us with inexpressible joy . . . what will it be to behold His glory up close and personal? Moses looked on God’s back from the rock and it changed His countenance (Exodus 33:6-9, 29) . . . put a “heavenly glow” on His face . . . what’s gonna happen to our faces when we’re in His very presence . . . won’t be enough SPF to keep the shine down . . . won’t want it . . . won’t need it!

He desires that we join the myriads before the throne of God and gaze upon the Lamb in the midst. He desires we experience first hand what it is to worship with heavenly, intimate worship. He desires that our senses be maxed out as we behold His splendor and hear the thunder of heaven roll forth with praise from thousands upon thousands of angelic beings and redeemed souls. Oh, I know it’s what I want . . . but to think that this is what Jesus wants too . . . amazing!

Jesus delights Himself in the Father, and the Father shall give Him the desires of His heart.

Oh, thank You Father that those desires are directed toward me. I too, delight in You my God . . . and the desire of my heart is to be with Him . . . to behold His glory . . . to declare His praise.

Sounds like a “match made in heaven” . . . amen?

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