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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Tag: Death

Suddenly.

August 22, 2020 /
“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive” –Matthew 25:13.

This teaching is dedicated to Jillian and Hayden. It’s their wedding day! Mazel Tov!

Today we’ll be exploring the marriage supper of the Lamb and, how in many ways, it mirrors a traditional Galilean wedding. Specifically, the suddenly of the Bridegroom’s return for his bride. We’ll do this by exploring the roles of both the bride and groom, as Jesus and His disciples would have understood them. Taking that understanding then, we can contrast it against our expectations for His imminent return for us, His bride, and see how the two line up. If you’re familiar with Scripture, you’ll recognize today’s verse as a final warning given by Jesus at the closing of the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids—fitting considering verses 1-13 address our need to be prepared for His return. To more fully appreciate this suddenly moment described in Matthews’s Gospel, we’ll take a more in-depth look into the Galilean wedding customs. After all, there’s a reason Jesus chose to use this familiar analogy when teaching His disciples more about the Kingdom of God and His future return…

First, comes the betrothal—the promise. It’s a pledge made between the father of the groom and the father of the bride— the “bride price” is settled here. This pledge is meant to recognize the value of the bride and the loss her family will experience once she leaves the familial home. This pledge is a fundamental part of the Galilean wedding custom. A negotiation that clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of the bridegroom towards his bride—this pledge carries the full-weight and responsibility of his father’s assurance to fulfill it. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” –John 3:16.

Once an agreement for the “bride’s price” had been reached, the prospective couple is then brought together, face to face now, the groom pours a cup of wine. Then, taking the first sip from it, he offers it to his bride. This shared cup of wine symbolizing the new covenant he is choosing to enter into with her. “In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” –1 Corinthians 11:25; Luke 22:20. If she accepts his cup and drinks from it, she is stating in front of him, and those witnesses gathered around them, that she too wishes to enter into this marriage contract.  Yet it’s here, before accepting his cup, that the bride may refuse the terms of the marriage proposal that’s been offered her—being free after all, to either accept or reject them. If she accepts his cup, she is then recognized by all as “the one who was bought with a price.” “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” –1 Corinthians 6:19-20. She’s an engaged woman now.

The gathering of the two families and their witnesses breaks up here. And immediately the groom returns to his insula—his father’s house. Here he begins preparing the place, the rooms he will eventually bring his bride to after their wedding feast is over. It’s here, in his father’s insula, where these newlyweds will live. Here in this cluster of buildings where his parents and aunts, uncles, and grandparents each live within the rooms, they added on at the time of their betrothals. “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 14:2-3.

And while it is the bridegroom’s responsibility to go and prepare the place that he and the bride will live, he is also responsible to ensure she has everything she will need within her future home as well. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him” –Matthew 7:11-12! And since only the father knows the hour, he’ll release his son to go and retrieve his bride, the son is free then to attend to the final preparations, all those finishing touches, for their insula. “But as for that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” –Mark 13:32. The father has spared no expense—no sacrifice to himself too great to ensure that his son’s bride has the absolute best he has to offer her. Remember, she is valuable to him. “This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven.” –Matthew 26:28.

While the bridegroom’s been away busying himself preparing the place for his future bride, the bride has kept busy as well. She has been diligently focused. Making certain she has been a good steward of all that’s been freely provided her. Ensuring then, she will be impeccably dressed in her pure, white wedding gown. Now, having done all that she can, she is ready—she waits patiently then for the sound of her bridegroom’s arrival. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus” –Philippians 3:12-14. Much time has passed since the bridegroom vowed to return for his bride yet, she holds dear their pledge of fidelity. And while waiting she remembers—takes comfort that they drank from the one shared cup of their new covenant.

Now, suddenly, at long last, the father finally wakes his son, telling him it is time to go and take hold of his bride! Jumping up quickly, the bridegroom is off to gather her to himself! He’s been longing for this moment! The familiar blast of his shofar is heard by all. Those wise guests, the same ones who have been expecting this joyous moment, come running; dressed, and ready to meet the bridegroom on his way to gather his bride…! “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps” –Matthew 25:6-7. And then he sees her—a vision in pure and sparkling white standing before Him. His bride, without spot or wrinkle. She has been dressed and ready to meet him, eagerly expecting his imminent arrival. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” –1 John 3:1-2.

Now friends, having gained a greater understanding of how Jesus and His disciples understood the allegories played out within the Galilean wedding tradition, (remember, it was at just such a wedding in Cana that Jesus performed His first miracle!) is it any wonder He used its example to emphasize the Father’s extravagant love for His children while teaching His disciples—teaching us about our need to be ready for His imminent return? About His willingness to lay down His own life for us—His Bride? Teaching us all then, what we must do to ensure our preparedness for His imminent return. And, the heart-wrenching state those who do not have a relationship with Jesus will find themselves in when He does suddenly return? “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out. ’No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour’” –Matthew 25:7-13.

Friend, some things are true whether you believe them, or not. That Jesus was born a man, was crucified, died, was buried, and rose to life again on the third day is the Truth. So is the fact that His return will happen sooner than most think. The only way to ensure that you are ready to meet Him and spend eternity with Him is to have a relationship with Him. Do you have that? If you don’t, you can. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and be the Lord of your life. He will come to all those who sincerely want Him to. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief” –2 Peter 3:9.

Three Crosses: The Conclusion. Matthew 6:33

August 12, 2018 /

 “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

It has always been and will forever be, all about Jesus…

We preach Christ crucified. This is the focal point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a picture of blood flowing from Christ’s veins as He hung on the cross. The message of shed blood is repugnant to many, and they turn from such a gory sight, feeling that their delicate sensibilities have been outraged. Many people will accept Christ’s character, but they reject His crucifixion. –Billy Graham

“It is finished.” The three most powerful Words ever spoken. In them the “amen” to every promise God ever made for those who believe in Him…

Those three Words were sitting inside Jesus’s mouth waiting to be released over a world He had yet to speak into existence. As He said, “Let there be light”, “It is finished” was holding its breath, back straight, ready—waiting its turn. As the Light of the world literally spoke light into existence—a way had been made too for that same Light to pierce the darkness of sin-stained hearts…

… “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” –John 19:30. The cross of Jesus Christ is elemental to the Christian faith. The cross unveils the character of God. The Cross is where God’s love for sinners and His perfect justice converge. It’s where Jesus said a visible yes to the will of God. “Yes, I’ll lay down my life for them Father.” “Yes, though it means leaving heaven to take on their every sin, I’ll go. Though it means wrapping up the Light of my glory, concealing it in flesh, though it means betrayal and heartbreak and hunger and pain, though it means rejection and ridicule, being momentarily forsaken by You, I’ll go. Though it meant that the One who knew no sin would take into Himself every sin that every person ever created had ever committed—past, present, and future, still, before any one of us had broken through our mother’s womb—drew our first breath in, He had already said yes, “I’ll die for her, for him, for all of them”.

If God had to send His only Son to the cross in order to pay for sin, than sin must be dark indeed in the sight of God.–Billy Graham

In the Cross we see two inseparable Truths:

The greatest proof of Love known to man was ordained before one living-soul stepped foot on the earth. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” “It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And, besides this evidence of such great a love, we see evidence too of God’s intense hatred of sin. Both attributes are inextricably linked, foundational Truths standing side-by-side, indivisible. “The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them” (John 3:16; Romans 5:7-8; Ezekiel 18:20).

And, though we have His love and can also know His Love; to fully rest in its promises, we must first come to the Cross He stepped down across time and space to lay Himself upon. And we must answer His call of Love. We must first confess our guilt and ask forgiveness for it. We, like Peter, must answer this one question: “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God” –Matthew 16:15-16.

In so doing, in answering this one life-changing question, what we’re professing is this:

Jesus I know, I admit, You are God. I know I deserve to be hanging there—not You. I know it should be my blood spilled and not yours. I’m the sinner, not You. I’m sorry, terribly sorry, I repent of my sins and I thank you that You’ve made a place at the foot of Your Cross for me to come and acknowledge openly that You are God and I am not, and that I need you. Thank you for taking my place Jesus. And thank you that I’m now able to serve you, to be with you eternally…

This final teaching on the Cross of Christ may make some a bit uncomfortable. I make no apologies for that. Truth can often makes us squirm a bit. And that’s okay. Rather, I boldly offer you the Truth His Cross offers the world—the Life it affords us all. Instead of offering an apology for the Cross, I’ll ask that you think of—conjure up, the most unimaginable, most vile, hate-filled, perverse, twisted sin you can scarcely image, have ever heard tell of.

Got it? Now, understand this: As much as God hates that sin, hates all sin—He loves us, the sinners, infinitely more…

That same Cross that offends so many, that shed Blood of Jesus Christ—the Sinless Son of God, the One who left heaven for you and me, took that unimaginable sin, no, more, He willingly died, to take upon Himself all the unimaginable sins. And, with them, every other sin ever committed—and to be committed, so that the ones who confess those sins and truly repent of them will not have to die for having committed them. He did that for us—died in our place that is. That is the power, the humility, the forgiveness, and the unfathomable pure Love of our final and greatest Cross. The Cross of Jesus Christ. Sit with that thought for a second…

This Jesus came and in His coming, is the incarnate New Covenant. Covering laws, we could not keep with His Blood, once for all, so that we might be afforded life eternal. “For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second” –Hebrews 8:7.

All are welcomed at Jesus’ Cross. It doesn’t matter who you are, Jew or gentile, black, white, brown, tan or “other”. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or who you’ve done it with. It doesn’t matter who you identify as—not even that “scarcely unimaginable sin” you’d heard of earlier is any match for the Love God has for you. For the Power of Jesus’ shed Blood to scrub it so white, only you will ever know it was ever there. “And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” –1 John 4:10.

So, to recap: At our first cross, the Law, we saw God lay down an exacting, yet life-giving path that leads us towards the knowledge of who He is—of His standards. At our second Cross, we witnessed Jesus teaching us—transitioning us, readying us for a more intimate, a more “Parent-child” relationship with Himself. Teaching us the “how to’s” of presenting ourselves, our prayers and petitions, before Him. How to carry on a conversation with our Father. And here, now, at our third and final Cross—The Cross of Christ, we witness the price God our Father was willing to pay that we might be restored into relationship with Him. A relationship destroyed by sin. A relationship only the Cross of Christ; faith in Truth of His life, death, and resurrection could afford us… “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” –2 Corinthians 5:21.

The cross of Christ is not only the basis of our peace and hope–but it is the means of our eternal salvation. The goal of the cross is not only a full and free pardon, but a changed life lived in fellowship with God. No wonder Paul said 2,000 years ago, “We preach Christ crucified.” The world needs this message today. This is the message of hope, peace, and brotherhood. This is what the world calls “foolishness” but what God has been pleased to call “wisdom.” What do you call it? –Billy Graham

Friend, if you haven’t yet come to His Cross, I implore you to come today. Christ died for you. Confess your sins to Him, ask Him into your life, and let your life truly begin anew… “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]” –2 Corinthians 5:17.

“Free to Choose” Rom. 8:6

June 18, 2017 /

 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Choose: is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as follows: to select freely and after consideration.

Contrary to all that the world is aggrandizing—contrary to its boasting of the supposed ‘choices’ people have, truth be told, there have continually only been two choices given to every man. The way of Life and the way of death. There’s a right way and a wrong way, there is no third way. These two choices were offered to Adam and Eve in the Garden by God and the same two choices stand today. And, even if you are a Christian, we too need to be reminded of this—daily.  To live according to The Word of God—according to a fixed way of life, of choices and consequences clearly mapped out for us in that Word we profess. Or, of choosing, and it is our choice, to live according to the ways of our fallen flesh—aka, in rebellion to God. Ignoring—pushing aside, disregarding, dismissing, Him or His ways and doing ‘our’ thing instead. Our thing, our way, our choice…

A daily battle.

And so it was that through one such self-gratifying, rebellious, choice—that sin entered into the world through man’s rebellion against God’s command. “And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis. 2:16-17).

Yet—these above choices mentioned and those below, the opportunities, blessings, tests, and, trials—all of it, everything, literally starts with our first—our most important choice. Asking Jesus into our lives. To be our Lord and Savior. To be our Guide, our Friend. To have and grow in a loving relationship with Him.

Listen…

The Apostle Paul, being the author of both Colossians and Romans, sums up—echoes, within Colossians what he was driving at—teaching, in Romans 8:6. The better way, the Godly way. “And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth” (Colossians. 3:2).  Yet, every believer has the freedom to choose between the way of the Spirit—the higher things, or, the way of the flesh, earthly things…

And, because we are flesh, there are moments—choices, that we absolutely get wrong. Why? We make them in the flesh. ‘Flesh’, in this case, referring to the way of death—as in things fleshly,  finite. Or, as with our choices, those things resulting from its nature. Our physical bodies that is, and its fruits—the byproducts of our choices. It is only those things—decisions, actions, thoughts, born from the Spirit—that have any true lasting, or eternal value.

Paul teaches that we live, move, and, react as a result of how it is we truly believe. In other words, our actions are a result of—a byproduct of, what we deeply, firmly, believe and confess. If we profess God, we must live Godly lives, doing all we can to put to death our old ways. Whatever they were. In Romans 8:12-13 he says it this way: “So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]— for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever.”

According to the Old Testament, at least two witnesses are required to establish any charge. Jesus Himself confirms this law—this truth, while He’s addressing the Jews concerning their charges—their accusations, against Him and His healing of a man who had been disabled for 38 years. Listen to what Jesus says about the necessity for witness in John 5:31-37: “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.  “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me…”

So then, based on this need for two witnesses, let’s turn to the Apostle Peter as our second witness. Let’s listen to his confirmation—his witness, to what Paul has already taught us. In Chapter 1 of 2nd Peter, starting with verse 12 Peter expounds on—reiterates, our need to remain—that is, for those in Christ—believers—to continue in choosing Godly living. And, how we might escape the corruption of this world through our knowledge of Christ. Here the word, ‘world’ is used as ‘flesh’ was in Paul’s teaching. Pointing to our baser desires and their subsequent actions. Peter says—choosing self-indulgence, willful rebellion—our choosing ‘the flesh’ over the ways of The Spirit—will lead to death: 1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul.”

We have now seen evidence—heard teachings of both the Apostles Paul and Peter concerning our need to make Godly choices. To choose the ways of God—our need of His Spirit to lead and guide us, to strengthen us, to help put to death our most base and fleshly desires. Those corrupt, fallible, finite impulses. To walk away from—train ourselves to renounce, the ‘things’ of our flesh (fornication, adultery, unclean passions, evil desires, lying, stealing, and, covetousness—to mention some). Those things that lead us away from God’s will for our lives. Away from living a life that offers us hope for an eternity spent with Jesus and, that aides us today—in our daily living. Strengthening us to become more Christ-like, more reflective of His imagine and likeness in this world.

The Opposing way is—has continually been, foolishly been, to choose—some short-lived, self indulgent, existence we might piece together. The Bible is littered with many such examples—and their common demise.

Two witnesses have now been established in Peter and Paul.

The Word of God clearly tells us that God does not want any man—His creation, to perish. But to have eternal life with Him (2 Peter 3:9). Peter and Paul both, were talking to those who had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We, like those Christians, are each given this same opportunity—this choice, this magnificent free gift through belief in—relationship with, Jesus Christ. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy. 2:3-4).

The ‘will have’ in this Scripture reflects God’s heart that all men should come to Him. And not a guarantee that just because you were born that you will come to Him…

The main subject—the very title of this teaching, relates to making a choice—it reflects this one Truth.  You must choose.

Jesus Christ died so that all men might be saved. Jesus loves you. You are a part of the, “all men” spoken of in 1 Timothy above. That is a Truth so solid, so fixed—you can anchor your life to it. Will you, like Peter and Paul, and countless others, choose Jesus’ way over your way of doing things? Or will you go the way of Adam and rebel? Allowing your sins—your choices, to separate you from a God that created you to love you—and, to have a relationship with you? Jesus is patiently waiting for you to choose Him…

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” emphasis my own; Hebrews 3:15

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