Tag: Jesus

Ancestors

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 11:10-32 (day six)

Did you know that Shem is one of our spiritual forefathers? It’s true. The line of Shem runs straight to Jesus, and then extends to His church. This genealogy is a reminder that God is at work fulfilling what He has promised- the destruction of sin and death, and the restoration of humanity. We are the recipients of that fulfilled promise through Jesus, while God is also completing His Kingdom work through us . We are the light of the world, salt of the earth, image bearers of the glory of God displayed in us through the Gospel.

We share in a rich heritage of Kingdom fulfillment! Here is the exciting news, the church by the power of the Gospel will conclude what God started so long ago!

Own your spiritual heritage! Continue the Gospel work!

Glory

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 11:1-9 (day six)

Pastor Don has already written on the difference between the unity depicted in Genesis 11 and the kind prescribed for the church in John 17:21-23, but I can’t help but have a go too. It is clear that humanity’s aim in Genesis 11 is glory, not God’s but their own. They sought to make a name for themselves by building a tall tower that stretched to the heavens; ironically they fell short (don’t excuse the pun). God looked down upon their small tower and fractured their ill-aimed pursuit.

The truth is we are not designed to display our own glory, we are designed to receive a greater glory. Jesus prayed in John 17:22, “The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one.” Isn’t that remarkable? Humanity in Genesis 11 had it all wrong; they had no need to contrive a glory of their own, they only had to receive God’s glory by faith. Perhaps that is exactly what God intended when he made us in his image, and perhaps that is exactly what Jesus restores through the Gospel-God’s glory given to us!

Knowledge

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 3:8-24  (day six) 

Maybe the hardest kind of knowledge is self-knowledge; seeing yourself for who you really are. Their eyes had been opened, but they still couldn’t see; they had become wise in their own eyes. Rather than come clean, they both thought it wise to hide, and then even wiser still to cast blame. The consequences came, they were just, and they were devastating-heartache, pain, sweat, and death. But that is not the end of the story, God doesn’t walk away, he draws close, covers their shame. He loves them despite it all. He wants them to see Him, and then themselves, in that order. Only then can they know the truth, and the truth will set them free.

Resolute

Re: Verse reading–Mark 15:33-41; 16:1-8 (day six)

“…just as he told you.” Mark 16:17

It is no surprise to us, but Jesus did exactly what he said he would do. He followed through; he completed the task; he stuck to his word. He wasn’t all talk and no walk. He wasn’t all theory and no practice. He didn’t just flirt with redeeming the world (all those who would believe and call on his name); no, he actually redeemed the world.

This is helpful for us because it reminds us that the foundation of the Gospel is action. The Gospel was born in action, and thus gives birth to action for those who belief, affecting what we do by changing who we are. Jesus lived it, and so should we.

Mosaic of Wrongs

Re: Verse reading–Mark 14:43-52; 15:1-15 (day six)

“Why, what evil has he done?”-Pilate

That was Pilate’s immediate response to the frenzied cries to crucify Jesus. At best it was a half-hearted defense of Jesus; an effort to talk sense into the crowd. Everybody knew Jesus was innocent; the crowd, the Pharisees, Pilate, Herod, everyone knew he had done no wrong, he had done nothing worthy of capital punishment. Pilate did not know just how right he was though; Jesus had done no wrong EVER, not once had he sinned. The irony in this narrative is that it is everyone else’s “wrong” that stands out, not Jesus’. Judas’ betrayal, the Apostles’ flight, Pilate’s crowd-pleasing capitulation, the angry crowd, all a mosaic of wrongs.

Perhaps, one of the purposes of this narrative, is not for us only to see Jesus laying down His life, but to see ourselves for who we truly are, to see ourselves in the mosaic.

Gospel Depth

Re:Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day six)

Mark is coming to a close, but it is a Gospel after all, and thus rapidly moves towards the Cross. In this narrative we have the securing of the upper room, the enunciation of a new covenant, the prediction of betrayal(s), followed by immediate denials (they were all wrong; perhaps most of all Peter). All narratives that we seem so familiar with. How do we look at these in a fresh way that doesn’t seem trivial? I suppose the best reminder is that we never graduate from the Gospel, nor those particular events leading up to the Cross. Every so often in ministry, I have heard the occasional mantra, “I want something deeper.” As if the Gospel is wading through shallow waters, no in fact, there is nothing more profound and worthy of contemplation.

Bountiful

Re: Verse reading–Mark 11:12-33 (day six)

In the beginning God invited Adam and Eve to eat of all the fruit of the garden, save one. That fruit would only bring suffering and death. Jesus came that we might have life and life abundantly; he came that we might be free again to know the bounty of good fruit, to taste and see that the Lord is good.

I know you know this, but it must be said, Jesus desires that you bear much fruit, he died in fact, and rose again, that you might. He beckons you to believe, to listen to His voice and obey, and to pray for Kingdom fruit. Is that not what he told his Apostles, “Abide in me and you will bare much fruit,” and “whatever you ask of God and believe, it will be yours.” The invitation is true and clear, will you taste the bountiful fruit of God, will it manifest in your life and others? You can even today.

Lift

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day six)

“Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.” Mark 9:27

Amidst the arguing scribes, the father who struggled with unbelief, the disciples who lacked faith was a boy, a young man. As far as he could remember he had no control over his own life, but only knew slavery to an evil spiritual force. For all practical purposes he was dead, numb; it was how it had always been…until Jesus. The moment Jesus was near a battle had begun in his body and mind. The evil one tugged and pulled inside his body in a different way then he was used to, as if to back away, to turn around; it had never felt like this before. And then Jesus’ words came like hammer blows against the internal shackles, and he was free. He had never known freedom; not that he could remember. He lay still, at peace, so still he heard whispers, “He is dead.” In that very moment Jesus’ hand wrapped around his own, strong, not like stone, but like a father’s embrace. In Jesus’ strength he rose to his feet, as new found strength returned to sinew and bone. And he believed.

You don’t work for great faith, you receive it, as from a strong and mighty hand that lifts you up.

Seeing

Re:Verse reading–Mark 8:27-38 (day six)

Jesus wanted Peter to see, not in part but the whole of things. That’s why this moment between Jesus and Peter is one of grace; it was spittle gently applied to his eyes (much like he did with the blind man). All he could see was blurred images, but soon he would see clearly.

What was true for Peter is true for us. Jesus desires that we not only see Him for who He is, but also see clearly the nature of God’s Kingdom. It is nothing like the Kingdom of men that fight for self-preservation at the expense of their own souls. No, we lose our life to Jesus because it is in Him that our eternal lives and joy rest most secure. Do you see?

Watching

Re:Verse reading – Mark 7:1-23 (day six)

The Pharisees were watching Jesus’ disciples from afar, always bent on finding fault, shortcomings. They came by them easy enough, these were fishermen and tax collectors after all. Point, gasp, sneer, all part of their judgemental vernacular. Look they didn’t wash their hands; can’t even follow the simplest of traditions.

Look, it is easy to find fault in others; it doesn’t take much time or effort. It is easy to point, or roll our eyes, quietly feeling better about ourselves. It takes more effort to encourage others, to be a help not a hinderance, but the gains far outweigh any sacrifice.

What are you watching for? Be careful; the watching can keep you from loving and serving others.