Category: Jesus

John and I recently finished listening to The Return of the King, the final book of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. One of my favorite quotes relates to Aragorn, the ranger who fulfilled an ancient prophecy from Tolkien’s world: “The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.”

In the history of our world, Jesus Christ came “with healing in His wings” and fulfilled the prophecies of old that spoke of a King rising from the line of David. Unrecognized by most, the humble carpenter from Nazareth healed with words, touch, spit, and prayer. The witnesses marveled, the religious establishment grumbled, and the healed rejoiced.

Now, as His followers, we desire to heal in the name of our King. How many relationships, communities, and physical bodies are in need of healing today? As peacemakers, as lovers, and as people of prayer, we ask God to reveal Himself through His healing power.

One of Susan’s favorite memories of our summer trip to Ecuador took place high in the Andes mountains. A wife brought her husband to the church building and asked us to pray that he be relieved from constant pain in his abdomen. As we gathered around this man in the name of Jesus, we could all sense the Spirit of God.

I felt the same sense in our state this past week, but I was the one being prayed for. Marco and Mayra got to visit Atlanta for three days, and we planned a couple of gatherings for those who had visited them in Ecuador. This was Mayra’s first trip to the United States and her first ride in an airplane.

Unfortunately, on Thursday I got very sick from the chemo I received that morning. With everyone joining his prayer, Marco put his arms around my shoulders and asked God to help me. The love of the Healer resides in all those who have been born again. May we live daily with our eyes open and our hearts attentive to those around us. May we live as participants with the King.

“When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. And wherever He went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed.” Mark 6:53-56

“The Return of the King” by J. R. R. Tolkien, ©1955, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, p 139

Some believe the story celebrated this past weekend about the Jewish Rabbi rising from the dead on the third day; many don’t. Some believe the crucified One has paid the price for all sin and will live in the hearts of those who put their faith in Him; many don’t. Some believe He is coming back to earth to judge the living and the dead; many don’t.

As He walked the earth, Jesus knew a person’s destiny depended on what he believed. He was the Answer… and He is still the Answer today. He is hope; He is nourishment; He is life. Jesus says, “Believe in Me!”

“When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You get here?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.’

“Then they asked Him, ‘What must we do to do the work God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.’

“So they asked Him, ‘What miraculous sign will You give that we may see it and believe in You? What will You do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’’

“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’

“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘from now on give us this bread.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never grow hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’” John 6:25-40

Speaking as the Good Shepherd, Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

A peculiar blessing of living with a terminal disease is that I know that the full, abundant life Jesus gives does not mean you are always ‘healthy, wealthy, and wise.’ It was often that Jesus spoke life to those who were suffering (like Mary and Martha who had just lost their brother Lazarus). “I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Even today, Jesus speaks life and calls His little ones to believe in Him and follow Him. “Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and now has come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself.” (John 5:25-26)

Life comes from the Spirit and Jesus teaches that His words are full of Spirit and life. “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” (John 6:63-64)

As we listen and believe and follow, we find ourselves in the safest arms. “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28)

So whether we are in a time of plenty or scarcity; whether our family is healthy and strong or struggling with sickness or disability; whether our relationships with others are thriving or rocky… Jesus is life.

The picture of a mother or father with child (or in this case a grandfather with grandchild) points to the abundant life that Jesus knows God intends. Susan keeps Wilkes three days a week as Emma and Taylor are working. When I step in the house after getting home from school, the ten-month-old can barely contain his excitement. He swings his arms and kicks his legs and smiles as he hears my voice and sees me approach. I don’t know who has more joy… the baby or me!

We are the little ones. We can have unbounded joy in the Father’s love. And we can know He finds great joy in us.

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” John 17:2-3

We often pray that God’s purposes be fulfilled, but what are His purposes? A broad answer is a bit staggering: He plans to bring everything in heaven and on earth under the authority of His Son, Jesus Christ. “And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” (Ephesians 1:9-10)

If we narrow the ‘all things’ a bit, we again see the purpose of God being centered in Jesus and being accomplished through Jesus. “For He (Jesus) Himself is our peace, who has made the two (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14-16)

If we narrow ‘all people’ to you and me, I think we could say that God wants us to “shine like stars in the universe” as we “hold to the Word of Life.” And we are not alone… “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (see Philippians 2) So let us walk as the children of God, thanking Him for the Holy Spirit who leads and empowers us daily. Let us find our purpose in God’s purpose and constantly point to Jesus – the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His purpose and grace.” II Timothy 1:9

‘Tis the season of waiting… Students are waiting to take the last exam of the semester. Teachers and kids are waiting for the last bell to ring before the holidays. Children and parents are waiting for the arrival of Christmas morning. And much of the world remembers the ancient story of a virgin mother and her husband waiting for a miracle child to be born in Israel.

There was a man in Jerusalem who was waiting for a prophecy to be fulfilled. He was a righteous and devout man and his name was Simeon. We don’t know too much about Simeon, but we can conclude that he was very close to God. In fact, the Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die until he saw the promised Messiah.

One day Simeon was led to go to the Temple, the most holy place in Jerusalem. While walking through the courts, the Holy Spirit revealed that a little baby with a young couple was the One he had been waiting to see.

“Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.’ The Child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Him.” Luke 2:28-33

Did anyone else hear these words Simeon declared? Mary and Joseph took them to heart, but I’m not sure anyone else believed. “What’s that old man saying? Does he actually think a little baby is going to save all of Israel? And what is he saying about the Gentiles? Strange, strange…”

Today, lovers of the Savior are still waiting. We’re waiting for the kingdom to come, for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We’re waiting for justice to rule the nations and for suffering to cease. We’re waiting for the return of the King.

Merry Christmas!!

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” Luke 2:25-26