The Light of God's Great Love Poured out for Us

 Reading: John 3:16-21, Ephesians 3:14-21

Last year a precious little grandson was born into our family. I love to hold him, this precious gift from God and look into his bright face with wonder, and consider who will he be, what has God purposed in his life, how will his life affect our family and the world around him.

Birth of Christ by Carl Bloch

I wonder if the first day of Jesus life, Mary held Him and looked into His brilliant face and wondered what He would be like, how God's purpose would play out in His life, how it would affect her and Joseph and what He would mean for the entire world? 

"Mary kept all these things 
and pondered them in her heart."  
Luke 2:19 NKJ

Could she have known that God's plan for humanity would pierce her own heart? Probably not yet, though Simeon would tell her in eight days. Could anyone have understood how God's plan would pierce His Own Heart? God, the Father knew from eternity past what it would take to rescue human kind. He foretold this in the life of Abraham. How must Abraham have felt when God said:

"Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, and... 
offer him as a burnt offering".
Genesis 22:2 NKJ

 

This verse foretells God the Father's plan and the pain it would cause Him.. Somehow, the suffering of humanity was an even a greater pain. It reveals the extent of His profound deep love for us. We are His Creation. He formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Gen. 2:7, We are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His work of art. Eph. 2:10 We are lovingly crafted by Him.

 

 On Saturday, December 5th, we looked at David's question to God. To paraphrase: In light of Your majesty, Who are we that You would even think about us, let alone care? Look how God answered that question, by sending His Son, His one and only, beloved Son, knowing full well we'd kill Him. In fact that was the plan, that He would provide once and for all people, a perfect sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins.

"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 NIV

 

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,  according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21 NIV

The Passion of the Christ

Some years ago we saw the Passion of the Christ, produced by Mel Gibson when it first came out in the theaters.  It is so hard to watch... the cruel violence inflicted on a loving and innocent man. Even worse is the cruel violence inflicted on the Son of God who came to save mankind on all earth and time!!!  It was likely true to what really happened to Jesus, as gruesome as this movie is. Now as more and more study has been done on the Shroud of Turin using 3D imaging, not only do you see the blood dripping down His face; but also the marks on His body of the whipping and scourging. The Passion of the Christ was no exaggeration, it was reality.

You see, over 700 years before Jesus came to dwell among us, a prophet named Isaiah, through the Spirit of God had a vision of a suffering servant who would come and bear the sins of many, he would intercede for transgressors. This description of the suffering servant describes what I saw on the movie. Many times I covered my face from the horror of what was playing. Here is what Isaiah prophesied:

“Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness... He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Isaiah 52:14, 53:3 NIV

How does the Bible describe the torture of Jesus:

“ after having Jesus severely whipped (scourged), he handed Him over to be crucified.” Matt. 27:26 AMP

”A victim to be scourged was stripped and tied to a whipping post. Then he was beaten mercilessly with a whip consisting of several leather thongs, each loaded with jagged pieces of metal or bone and weighted at the end with lead. Fragments of flesh would be torn from the victims, some of whom did not survive the ordeal.” Footnote - Matthew 27:26 NSFL Bible

As awful as the scourging scenes were in the Passion of the Christ, I don’t believe they were exaggerated.

Going back a bit, to Jesus being taken to Pilate:

“When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” Matt 27:1 NKJ

Jesus was quiet as His accusers make accusations. Pilate spoke with Him and he realized that the Jewish leaders handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat his wife sent a message to him say, “Have nothing to do with this just Man, for I have suffered many things in a dream because of Him.” Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus... he tried to release him, or Barabbas as was his custom on the holiday. At that time the Roman leaders were encouraged to keep peace in their jurisdiction.

“But the chief priest and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. Pilate asked, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ They all answered, ’Crucify him.’ ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. They shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but instead an uproar was starting, He took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ’It is your responsibility!’ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’’ Matt 27: 20-25

Sadly, they had no idea what they were doing and the misery that would soon come upon them and their children. On Palm Sunday, in the midst of all the praises of the crowd, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it and said this:

“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden form your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Luke 19:42

And yet in so many of the poignant scenes of this movie, verses came to mind that I thought to share a few with you.

Prophesies locked up for centuries... people puzzled by what they could possibly mean, until they were fulfilled before His disciples own eyes... I would imagine His disciples, sometimes during the horror of it all and other times; they remembered the things He had told them before this day.

Jesus said to His Disciples, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written, "I will strike the Shepherd,  And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'  Zech 13:7

Peter said to Jesus that "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." Jesus said to Him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"

Matthew 26:31-35

Later all the disciples left Him and fled... But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priests courtyard. As He sat outside, a servant girl said, "You were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it, saying "I do not know what you are saying. " Then he went out the gateway and another girl said, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." He denied again. "I do not know the man!" Later, some came up to him and said, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then Peter began to curse, and swear saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Peter remembered the word of Jesus who said, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out ad wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:56, 58, 69-75

John was watching the crucifixion, expression on his face... and him having memories of being with Jesus, and hearing His closing words for His disciples before He leaves them. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” He recorded this in his gospel of their life with Jesus.

The Pharisee’s shouted to Pilate... “His blood on us and our children” ... Luke 19: 37-44... Jesus’ prophecy... Romans destroying Jerusalem
While the Romans whipped and beat Him“He was pierced for our transgressions...
When Mary was wiping his face after they took him down from the cross... the expression on her face dull with the trauma and pain, reminded me of Simeon’s prophecy to her when Jesus was just a baby...“A sword will pierce your own soul...”

The first time I saw this movie in the Theater, I had met my husband in town and was driving home alone, completely overwhelmed by the horror of the crucifixion. I had to pull over, sit in my car, cry many tears and process what I had just seen.

God Will Hear Our Cries From Heaven

Covid 19 Update - 3/31/20
Last Sunday, March 29,  the stay at home order was extended to the end of April. I wonder if that will be enough time for the virus to run it’s course? I also wonder what that will do to our economy? Will we collapse into a depression? On those not so cheery notes; I will share a verse that has been on my mind in the last few days... a verse that is really our only hope.

“If MY people who are called by My name 
will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJ

King Solomon dedicated the newly finished temple to God for Him to dwell among His people.*  The night after Solomon dedicated the temple, the LORD appeared to him and said,

“I have heard your prayer 

and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, 

or command the locusts to devour the land, 

or send pestilence among My people,

if my people who are called by My name 

will humble themselves...” 

The key verse at the top of the page,  is what God said for His people to do when pestilence comes. I didn’t know what the word pestilence meant so I looked it up. The concordance says it is a plague. My dictionary defines it as:
 “Diseases that spread rapidly, causing many deaths. Smallpox, yellow fever,  and the plague are pestilence. A synonym is epidemic.”

Wow, very sobering, yet at the same time hopeful. This verse is well known and loved by God’s chosen people across the globe who are struggling in an enormous crisis beyond their control. Now is such a time of global crisis with nearly every country in the whole world infected with this virus.

In this verse at the top, God Himself sets forth what His people are to do to receive His gracious healing. This verse gives God’s chosen people a path to restoration, through the prayers of His people, and provides a guide for prayers for revival across our world.  

The verse begins with ”IF”, which brings up implies questions. Will we even do what He is calling us to do in a crisis? We need to ask ourselves: “Am I willing to do this? Am I His one of His people? Am I called by His name? A CHRISTian? Am I willing to answer His call and do what He says?”

He is calling us who are His people, who are called by His name to do two things:

Hungering for Righteousness - Covid Update 2

Reading
Matthew 5:6

“God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice (righteousness).”

Matthew 5:6 NLT

Our country, our world is in crisis. The World Wide Pandemic of the Covid 19 virus is highly contagious and spreading like the wild fires we had a few years ago. Just one little spark could ignite an entire forest. And so with this disease. During times of adversity, the goodness in people is seen. Many rise to the occasion, jump in, to do the right things to help others. Then you see other people taking advantage of the situation for their own selfish interests.

Can we see evidence of people doing right and wrong actions? Is there such a thing as good and evil? Justice and injustice? Many think there isn’t... we should just do what seems right to us. And who are you to judge right and wrong, good and evil? Though over the centuries, millenniums of human history there were good things done, and there was also evil perpetrated on others. Justice? Injustices committed? Can we all agree that Hitler perpetrated evil and committed genocide when he murdered Jews, Christians and others?

Today is March 27, 2020, the 12th day of the Federal guidelines to slow down the spread of this disease, which began March 16, 2020.  We are still mostly staying home, and if we need to go out for a necessity it is brief. We avoid crowds and practice “Social Distancing” as best as possible. I stocked up on food and other necessities a while back. Both the Federal Government and the State of Oregon has asked people to stay home and many businesses deemed unnecessary are ordered to be closed. And schools are closed as well. So many parents find themselves home with their kids, getting restless and needing to get out. But now all the parks are closed, so where do you take the kids to run and play?

The Blessing of Hungering for Righteousness

Reading:
Matthew 5:6
Romans 3:21-25

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.” 

Matthew 5:6

As human beings we long for things to be right; in our own lives and in the world.  Most of time they are right, at least in some ways, and we manage to get through our lives with a semblance of feeling good or at least okay about the world. There are the really great times, like having good family and friends, moving into a new home or apartment and setting up your life. Maybe you’ve started a new job opportunity or a new business. Perhaps you started a new life getting married to the sweetheart of your dreams. And at some point your union you brought a new life into the world. You look into that little face and see hope and promise for this new little life. Then you have the satisfaction of seeing growth and good things come in your life; whether it is the success of your new job/business; or watching your children grow.

But then there are other times, when “the proverbial shoe drops” as they say; and life becomes extremely difficult. Perhaps your dream job/business or your marriage falls apart. Or one of your children has problems, a disability or gets into trouble of some kind. Or you go to the doctor only to hear a dreaded diagnosis... cancer or ? Maybe, or likely, it is more than just one of the things above. You realize that while there are a lot of things that are right in the world; there are also things that are just not right and you long for things to work out much better. Why is it that as much as we may want things to go well, there are times they just fall apart and disaster comes despite our best efforts?

Today, as I write this post, March 26, 2020, the entire world is in the midst of a worldwide pandemic... the Covid 19 Virus or as I call it, the “WuFlu”. My husband and I, our children have experienced pretty much all of the good things and difficulties above; the hopes and joys; as well as the stress, sorrow and setbacks. Yet in all our decades of life challenges, we have never experienced a world wide pandemic and quarantine. We have friends in their 90’s who have never experienced this. There is a lot of uncertainty and fear of what lies ahead. Will a family member or friend become gravely ill and we lose them? How long will it take to stop the spread of the disease? Will family members and/or friends lose their jobs? Their businesses? Will there even be an economy left in the wake of the disease? If the disease slows, will it come back in the fall? Will it last weeks, months or years? When will our free society return? Our economy return? When will life be back to normal again?

Humble to Rise

Reading: James 4:1-10, 1 Peter 5:5-7, Psalm 37.

This is our final post on the Beatitude, Meekness. These first three beatitudes relate together. They reflect the beginning stages of both true conversion and growth in the Spirit of God. When you or I catch a glimpse of how amazing God is and where we stand in comparison, suddenly a realization takes place, deep in our heart... He is God and I am not!!! We realize our need for Him, for you see apart from Him we can do nothing of lasting value! This is what it is to be poor in spirit and is the entry point into the Kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit 

(realize their need for God. NLT)

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

Matt. 5:3 NKJ

When you truly see your own sin and need for God, you will experience the important godly sorrow of mourning. "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted... just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness... what desire, zeal, vindication, you have done everything necessary to make things right"  2 Corinthians 7:10, 11 NKJ/NLT  This is the kind of sorrow necessary for true repentance and conversion. With this godly sorrow, comes the comfort of the comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.  

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." 

Matthew 5:4 NKJ

Once a person has seen their need for God and mourned over their sin and the lost opportunity of what might have been; a meekness and humility may emerge. Meekness and humility are not weakness but power under perfect control. A person moving in this beatitude, fully trusting God and not his own strength will be blessed by God.

What is the Blessing of Meekness?

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." 

Matthew 5: 5 NKJ

"... the meek shall inherit the earth, 

and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." 

Psalm 37:11 NKJ

When you get a chance, read all of Psalm 37 and you will see what meekness looks like in a very practical way. You will also see the blessing of Meekness in the lives of those who completely trust in God.

Exalted Humility

Reading: Matt. 5:5, Philippians 2:1-13,

"Blessed are the Meek.." 

Matt. 5:5

As we looked to Jesus in the last post to consider what the attitude of meekness looks like in a person; we saw Him becoming a servant and washing the disciples feet. Jesus even says of Himself,

"For I am meek and lowly, (humble) in heart." 

Matt. 11:29

In Jesus' life on this earth He demonstrated greater power than a political leader. He moved in the power of humble wisdom and penetrating love. Today we will look at powerful verses speaking of this humility and love. The apostle Paul calls us to have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

The Master Serves

Reading: Matt. 5:5 John 13:1-17, Matt. 5:43-48

"Blessed are the Meek..." 

Matt. 5:5

As we have been looking at the beatitudes, we have talked about the Meekness of Jesus, our Messiah. He is the one we look to. Our hope should is to be found in His image. Yes found in His image, transformed from our flawed human nature to His glorious nature.  In our reading today lets look on at Jesus' last meal with His disciples. He knew this was His last time with them, so everything He says and does is full of meaning for them and us, who love Him today. In this private evening with them, He demonstrated His meekness in a very powerful way.

"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. The evening meal was being served... Jesus... got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.

When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. 'Do you understand what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord,and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will blessed if you do them.'" John 13:1-17 NIV

Greatness is Serving

Reading: Matt. 20:20-28, John 13:1-17

The mother of James and John came to Jesus and asked Him if her two sons may sit next to Him in His Kingdom, with one son on His left and and the other on His right. She was seeking power for her sons. She did not realize what she was asking and neither did James and John. The other ten were very upset with them. So Jesus called them to Himself and explained: "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. 

"...whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant...
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many."
Matt. 20:26-28 NLT/ NKJ"

Meekness of Messiah

Reading: Matt. 5:5, Matt. 21:5, Zech 9:9, James 3:13-18

James Tissot - Brooklyn Museum

As we continue in our series of the beatitudes we look again today at meekness. In our last post we looked at the blessing of meekness and what meekness is. Though many think of meek as weak, in the Bible it is power under perfect control. What does that look like in a persons life? The best example I know of is our beautiful Messiah, Jesus. Today we will look at him, coming into Jerusalem as King and what His glorious nature is like.

"Blessed are the meek..."
Matt. 5:5 NKJ
 

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
'Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey...'"
Matt. 21:5 NKJ

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, Your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey..."
Zechariah 9:9 NKJ

The word for "lowly" is the same Greek word "praus" for meek as found in the beatitude "Blessed are the Meek". Lowly: praus Strongs #4235 and #4239 mild, humble, meek and gentle.

The Blessing of Meekness

Reading: Matt 5:5, Psalm 37,

"Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth."
Matt 5:5 NKJ

This is our next beatitude, Blessed are the Meek. What is meekness? Why are the meek blessed with inheriting the earth? Look at Psalm 37 to give you a picture of the blessing of meekness.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good. Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust Him, and He will help you. Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act. Stop being angry!.. Do not lose your temper it only leads to harm. NLT

But those who wait on the Lord... shall inherit the earth... But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace... The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever... For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off... The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever." Ps. 37:3-18  NKJ

This Psalm describes the unrighteous person and the kind of thinking that is easy to slip into when we lose sight of God. If we see evil people doing really well we may have the tendency to envy them and worry. The meek person totally trusts God and rests in His will to happen at the right time. If we are meek before God, we are not angry at what seems to be unfair to us. Worry and anger comes when don't get what we want. But if we trust God for our life, we will live with inner strength and peace. We trust God because we know that life in this age is not the end of the story.

Comment from Marjie Lewis:

The Jewish people certainly have suffered continuously since the death of Jesus. In Old Testament times, the Jews would turn away from God and while out from under His protection, would be overrun by enemies who would destroy their lands and take them into exile. But time and again, they eventually repented and asked God for intervention. The Lord was always faithful to restore them to their lands and prosperity.

In Awe of The Risen Christ

Reading: Revelation 1

The book of the Revelation is the revelation of the resurrected Christ! It is written by the Apostle John who had a vision of the risen Lord. John was close to Jesus during His life on this earth. He was one of His three closest friends and traveled everywhere with Him. As a young man he saw Jesus with his own eyes, heard His actual voice speak and touched Him with his own hands (I John 1). He wrote the gospel story of what he experienced with Jesus so that we might believe in Him and have life in His Name. (John 20:31)

Now he is an old man imprisoned on an Island and all of the other disciples that were with Jesus have died, most were martyred for their faith. He was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and received a Revelation of the Risen Lord. In verses 9-20 he "sees" the Eternal Christ. Even though he was so familiar with Jesus when He walked on earth with John, he was awestruck and

"fell at His feet as though dead!"