Category: Jesus

Brooke Ligertwood, a member of Hillsong United, wrote a song called New Wine:

In the crushing; in the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil, I now surrender
You are breaking new ground
So I yield to You and Your careful hand
When I trust You, I don’t need to understand
Make me a vessel; make me an offering,
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing; but all You have given me,
Jesus bring new wine out of me.
Where there is new wine, there is new power,
There is new freedom, the Kingdom is near
I lay down my old flames to carry Your new fire today.

Once we see Jesus is everything and realize He has graciously saved us and placed us in His Body, we realize, as Scripture teaches: all things are in His hands. “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“OK, Lord, all I can do is present myself to You and say: ‘Have Your way.’ You know the purpose of my existence. You know what will bring You glory. I admit my inabilities and trust You completely. Bring forth lasting fruit… pleasing to You.”

The honest prayer of surrender is no small thing. It takes a lifetime for some of us to reach, but it is precious to the ears of God. Out of love, He has purchased us. With perfect attention, He has been molding us into the image of the Son. He receives the offering of ‘ourselves’ with great joy.

Jesus Himself came to this position. “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. Then I said ‘Here I am – it is written about Me in the scroll – I have come to do Your will, O God.’” (Hebrews 10:5-7)

Though God’s will involved the Cross, the Son completely trusted Himself into the purposes of the Father. “I will do what You show Me; I will teach what You direct; I will drink the Cup You have given Me. For You alone are God and I trust You with all of My heart.” May we follow in His steps.

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12: 1

New Wine ©2017 Hillsong United

God loves seventh grade boys… and He respects their questions. He wants to reveal to them (and everyone) His truth and bring all into a relationship with Himself through His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, our Helper.

If one believes and obeys the truth of the Gospel and understands he is chosen and blessed with everything he needs for ‘life and godliness,’ what next? I think this third question is about commitment. Seventh grade boys are very observant and notice huge differences in the lives of those who say they follow Jesus. Not every Christian seems to be truly seeking first the kingdom of heaven. So… “If I do follow Jesus with all of my heart, will it be worth it?”

The mature might say such a question reflects self-centeredness rather than Christ-centeredness. Jesus has created us, purchased us with His blood, and made the way for us to live with Him forever… who are we to ask: “Lord, do I really need to be totally devoted to You in order to be Your disciple? And if I give my all… will it be worth it?”

As independent-minded Americans, Jesus’ rhetorical questions may not register: “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So, you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10)

All of us should say: “I owe everything to You so I will surrender all to You. My life is for Your glory… not my own. You loved me first and gave Your life to take away my sins. I am Yours!” But even the apostles asked questions. As Jesus explained the difficulty the rich would have following Him, one spoke up:

“Peter answered Him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in the present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’” (see Mark 10:28-31 and Matthew 19:27-30)

As usual, looking to Christ helps answer our questions. He is the only begotten Son, blessed by His Father in heaven. Knowing who He was, Jesus chose to surrender His own will and yield completely to His Father. “He learned obedience from what He suffered,” (Hebrews 5:8) which must mean even the Son of God grew and progressed on this earth. His life was not taken from Him; He laid it down. ( John 10:18) I think Jesus would tell seventh grade boys (and each of us): “It was worth it to follow My Father’s plan.”

Now He invites us to follow in His steps. And as we make mistakes and struggle with understanding, He patiently teaches us and gives us: infinite love, purpose for living, peace that passes all understanding, joy unspeakable, undeserved mercy, Living Water (which is the Holy Spirit), Bread of Life (which is Himself), fellowship with His Body (which is the Church), forgiveness of sins, abundant grace, the promise of an inheritance from the Father, and eternal life. Following Jesus is more than worth it.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature a of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’” Philippians 2:5-11

Regarding Jesus, seventh grade boys have three important questions:

• Is what you’re telling us about Jesus true?
• Can a person really have a day-to-day relationship with Jesus – even though He left this earth almost 2000 years ago?
• If I follow Jesus wholeheartedly, will it be worth it?

Jesus is all about truth… in fact, He is Truth. His reality is not impacted by whether or not we believe… but He wants us to know Him. One day, every person will acknowledge and bow to the Truth.

As when He walked the earth, Jesus patiently implores people to believe in Him. Today, Satan continues to use ‘confusion’ to hinder faith. He knows ‘without faith it is impossible to please God,’ so he makes what is pure sound wrong and what is evil sound good. Truth is the remedy to confusion… but we must pursue it.

On trial, Jesus said: “The reason I was born and came into this world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.” A skeptical Pilate asked: “What is truth?” and then walked away.

A while later, two unlikely sinners reached similar conclusions. “Today, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” The thief on the cross confessed the truth about himself as he realized the holiness of the Man crucified next to him. By asking for mercy, he shows us the beauty of the Truth that saves. He did not have to understand everything… he just needed to petition the One with all authority. The Messiah said: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

Even a Roman centurion recognized what the Jewish religious leaders rejected: “Surely this Man was the Son of God!” God wants Jews and Gentiles, law-abiding citizens and criminals, rich and poor, seventh grade boys and old men to recognize the truth, embrace the truth, and live for the truth.

In 1980, Lee Strobel, a writer for the Chicago Tribune, was upset because his wife had become a Christian. An atheist with a post graduate degree from Yale Law School, Lee determined to use his professional skills to investigate and disprove Christianity. His search took him all over the world. On November 8, 1981, Strobel surrendered his life to Jesus and began telling the world what he discovered.

The Case For Christ was published in 1998 and a movie with the same title came out in 2017. God has used a one-time opponent of the Gospel to proclaim the miraculous rescue of the world through Jesus Christ. Here’s a quote from Lee Strobel:

In short, I didn’t become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised such a thing. Indeed, following Him would inevitably bring divine demotion in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus is the one-and-only Son of God who proved His divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following Him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle – I am telling the truth, I am not lying – and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.” I Timothy 2:3-7

The Case For Christ, by Lee Strobel, ©1998 Zondervan

At least four times over the years I’ve had the chance to lead a session at the Georgia Independent School Association annual conference. This past week my topic was Jesus the Master Teacher.

Having just witnessed twenty-five teachers being honored as ‘master teachers’ in the opening main assembly, I asked the group to name some characteristics of a ‘master teacher.’ After writing suggestions on the white board, I asked if Jesus demonstrated these qualities while He was on earth.

We had a great discussion. Every time I’ve led such a group, I am encouraged by how many teachers look to Jesus for wisdom and example. I asked participants to write on a card why they signed up for my session. One said she wanted “to better incorporate the love and knowledge of Christ within my classroom.”

Another wrote, “As a Christian teacher in a secular setting, I want to find more ways for Him to shine through me.” A coach replied, “Anytime I can discuss Jesus with someone, it is a great day!”

Here are the results of our discussion during the session. Of course this list is not exhaustive, but it is a good reminder.

JESUS – MASTER TEACHER

• Jesus was knowledgeable – He must have studied from youth as He often quoted Scripture; He taught about the Kingdom of God; He knew His Father and wanted others to know Him
• Jesus was a good communicator – whether large crowds or His 12 apostles or one-on-one, He communicated His message with authority
• Jesus was empathetic – He met people where they were; He was full of compassion
• Jesus was willing to learn – He often asked questions, sometimes already knowing the answer, sometimes seeking to understand; He was humble
• Jesus was flexible – Jesus interacted with individuals in ways that were needed; He answered His critics with wisdom; He was discerning
• Jesus was relational – He came to restore relationship between man and God; He gladly visited homes of ‘sinners’ and ‘religious’, He called His disciples ‘friends’
• Jesus was protective – He loved purely; He welcomed children and warned those who harmed ‘little ones’; He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep
• Jesus was engaging – He challenged people to believe; He praised faith; He used stories and other methods to cause people to think; He spoke truth in love even though He knew it would lead to His death

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as One who had authority, and not as the teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28-29

Over the course of each school year, I show my seventh grade boys a movie filmed in 1999 called JESUS. In one scene, Mary Magdalene watched from a distance as Jesus rescued the woman caught in adultery from being stoned.

As Jesus and His group of disciples passed near where Mary was standing, He looked at her and asked: “Do you want to come with us?” “Where?” Mary replied. “Does it matter?” the Lord answered. “Yes,” she said, “I go where I want… I am free.” Looking directly into her eyes, Jesus said: “You’re not free… but you could be.” Hesitating as Jesus continued to walk, Mary called out: “That woman… You treated her as if she is worth something.” “So are you…” He replied. “Come, follow Me.”

Many have been intrigued with Mary from Magdala over the years. Though the Bible does not say, some have supposed she was a prostitute in Galilee. Scripture does reveal that Jesus cast seven demons out of her… and we know she did faithfully follow the Master.

Whatever Mary’s back story, I imagine her experiences were similar to those in our broken world: hidden abuse, poor choices, addiction, shame, loneliness, self-rejection… Our Savior does not shy away from such obstacles. He understands perfectly; He fears no evil; and He possesses all authority.

Knowing His purpose to seek and save the lost, Jesus possesses the pure heart of His Father. “I see you and I love you. I am the Answer to your self-doubt and self-loathing. I am the Way and I am choosing you to be Mine. Look into My eyes; listen to My voice; trust Me.”

Read afresh the Gospels and notice the Savior’s passion for people. He forgives; He heals; He delivers; He exposes the devil’s lies; He restores; He loves. Because of sin we’ve all been separated from the Lover of our souls, but Jesus reconciles us to God. “My Father is the One who created you, who loves you, and who has given His most precious gift to redeem you. Relinquish your pride and receive the good news. Believe in God; believe also in Me. I set captives free; I give eternal life. Come, follow Me.”

“You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.” Acts 10:37-38

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” II Corinthians 5:14-21