Category: Jesus

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which one of the two did what his father wanted?” (Matthew 21:28-31)

On the exterior a young man seemed to be a good son. He was wealthy; he followed the Law of Moses; and he was sincerely interested in the Teacher from Nazareth. “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” he asked. But when Jesus told him to get rid of everything that hindered him and follow the Master, the rich young ruler would not do it. Once someone in a crowd asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

Believe! Believe what? Believe He is: Messiah, King, Savior, Lord, the Way, the Truth, the Life… Everything! This was the explanation of the parable of the two sons: “John the Baptist came to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. That is why they are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matthew 21:31-32) Jesus is the Way of righteousness. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Repent and make the paths straight because the kingdom of God is at hand!” John’s message was Jesus. The religious and the prominent looked very much like obedient sons, but they did not believe John’s message. On the other hand, the sinners, who definitely would have been labeled ‘disobedient’, entered the kingdom by believing the Good News.

The message is the same today: “Look to Christ;” “Call on Christ;” “Trust in Christ;” “Follow Christ;” “Abide in Christ.” Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote a great anthem for all who say “yes” to Jesus.

IN CHRIST ALONE
In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground – firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace…
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease…
My Comforter, my All in All; Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh; fullness of God in helpless Babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied;
For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
‘Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Many of you have heard I got a great report from the doctor Tuesday. One year after a stem cell transplant, blood and bone marrow show no sign of cancer. We praise God and thank you again for so many prayers.

Last night I sat in a circle of believers discussing the invitation of God to enter a Strong Tower. A beautiful wife and mother of four young children  learned last week that she has breast cancer. The one who spoke the most encouraging words in our time of sharing was this one who has just entered a fiery trial. Her words of faith came from deep places of the heart. We know Jesus is the Strong Tower and He often whispers precious truths to tender hearts.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” When a child of God makes such a statement, I feel I can face any challenge. How we need each other! When we’re strong, we know we are to support the weak. But listen to the weak… sometimes they will make you stronger.

On the way home last night, six-year-old John pointed out the window and said, “That’s the kind of cloud God’s going to come through. Look! There’s the foot of the Lord!” I looked up to see two huge clouds outline the shape of a giant foot. Wow. What if I saw the ‘foot of the Lord’ all the time? I told some students today, “This time last year I was probably throwing up. Today, I’m celebrating a good report from the doctor. When was God with me?” The answer, of course, is: “Yes!” He is there! He never deserts… He never fails… He never sleeps. We may not sense His presence all the time. We may question a lot of things. We may go through such sorrow and pain that we can’t even think clearly. But He is there… a Refuge, a Strong Tower. So let us encourage one another constantly. Let us bear one another’s burdens. Let us mourn with those that mourn and rejoice with those that rejoice. And let us keep our “eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.”

“The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

One of my students wrote: “I want to learn to be closer to God in my everyday life.” An unknown author wrote a similar desire in an old spiritual:

“Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”

Throughout time, perhaps more now than ever, the busyness and pace of society works against us, yet Jesus still invites: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

So, can a teenager or a young adult or a middle-aged adult or an old adult unplug the i-pod, turn off the cell phone, shut down the computer, switch off the television and sit down with Jesus? “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘You are worried about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.’”

Is it really so simple? “Only one thing is needed… ‘Me’.” If I will resist the distractions, quit worrying about so many things, and spend time with Jesus, he can teach me to walk and live. “So I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature… If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law… The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Gal. 5)

Jesus teaches us to walk close to the Father, just as he did on this earth. He also gives us the greatest gift, the Holy Spirit, to enable us to live in fellowship with God. Fellowship with the Father produces fruit, freedom, light, and life. “Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” I John 1:5-7

What hinders us from getting close to Jesus? My friend Harry, who has lived with his wife Dagmar in Jerusalem over twenty years, recently shared lesser-known details of the story of the woman in Mark 5 who fought through the crowd to reach Jesus. “Do you know it was unlawful for the woman to touch Jesus or any other man? According to Jewish law, she was bleeding and therefore wasn’t qualified to touch any man – not even their garments.”

So, if the woman had asked for permission to get close to Jesus in order to be healed, she would have been denied. But Jesus knew the purpose of the Law… and he knew he had come to truly fulfill the Law and the Prophets. This woman was a ‘bruised reed’ and he would not break her. Matthew, quoting Isaiah: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.”

Yes, there are many things that hinder us from getting close to God – sin, lack of faith, lack of knowledge – but the good news is that Jesus is able to overcome them all. He’s paid the price for our sin. He’s the Author and Perfecter of faith. He is the Source of all knowledge. His arms are open wide as he says, “Come!”

God forbid that anything or anyone prevent man’s most important quest. Even well-meaning disciples can be a hindrance if comprehension of the Savior is too weak. “Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” (Matt. 10:13-15)

It is interesting that the very next story in Matthew 10 is of the rich young man who asked how to get eternal life. After witnessing the interchange between this man and Jesus, the disciples were really confused. Their Master had just welcomed children who had nothing to offer and seemingly rejected one who had everything. But Jesus had simply told a seeker the truth and the young man allowed his wealth to hinder him. Jesus then taught his followers: “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So here’s our answer: Many things can hinder a man or woman from getting close to Jesus, but nothing is impossible for God to overcome. Jesus says: “Come to me. Believe in me. Listen to me. Obey me. Cast your cares on me. Trust me. Love me. Follow me.”

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

On my first day of teaching this school year I asked each student to
write what he or she would like to gain in Bible class the remaining
weeks of the semester. The overwhelming majority of answers had
something to do with getting closer to God and understanding him
better. What a great goal! But is it safe?

From The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – regarding
Aslan, the Lion who represents Jesus:

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “Who said anything about safe?

‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” A woman had been plagued with bleeding for twelve years. No doctor had been able to help her, and though she had spent all her money, things were getting worse instead of better. When she heard the ‘Gentle Healer’ was in town, she boldly fought through the crowd to simply touch the hem of his garment. Her great faith was rewarded as healing instantly came to her body, but she was not allowed to shrink back to her home unnoticed. “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus asked. Mark says this woman fell at his feet trembling with fear. Holy fear is not uncommon for those who come close to God, but as He comes close to us we receive assurance and blessing. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

His best friends, who followed him (and failed him), were asked a troubling question: “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” What is the cost of following the risen King? “Pick up your cross and follow me” does not sound too comfortable. John the Baptist, who determined to become less as Jesus became greater, did not always understand why things were happening the way they were. “Why, if Jesus is really the One, am I sitting in this dark dungeon?” John’s disciples took his questions to the Master and while Jesus sent back a message to confirm the truth, He gave no simple answer for John’s suffering. Today, scores are suffering because they carry the name of Jesus. “We have learned that suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to you. Disobedience to God is the worst thing.” Tran Mai, a Vietnamese pastor, shared what Christians in his land have learned through persecution. “Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of me,” Jesus said. He knows that doubts, fears, and temptations to retreat will always beset those who aim to come near.

So… the hope for the seeking young person (and me and you) is the promise of the Living God: He will draw close to those who draw close to him. Though the path may not be easy or safe… it is the only path to take. Jesus once asked his closest disciples if they wanted to leave him. “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Peter asked. “You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” This is our faith… and “He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

“… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10: 22-23