Mike's Place on the Web

Archive Page 665

Breakfast on the Beach: A Resurrection Fish-Fry

Published March 30, 2013 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: breakfast, fish fry, Luke, Resurrection

“Come and get it, boys!”

John 21:1-14

The Gospel of John begins with a prologue and ends with an epilogue. In the prologue we learn some life-changing things about Jesus: His eternity, His deity, and His Incarnation. In the epilogue we not only see Jesus after His death and resurrection, but we seen His interaction with Peter and how Peter was restored after His night of betrayal.

After the resurrection of Jesus, nobody just “ran into” Him on a crowded street. After His Resurrection, nobody could just “call Him up” and talk to Him or search Him out for fellowship. Neither Mary nor the two disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized Jesus until He revealed Himself to them. Nobody, save the disciples, ever saw Jesus in His Resurrection Body. Now, seeing Jesus has become a spiritual issue; only those who believe can see Him.

On that memorable morning of the Resurrection, it happened this way.

1. The time

As in life, Jesus appeared at just the right time after His Resurrection.

(a) After a dismal night of failure

“I’m going out to fish, ” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (John 21:3 NIV84)

Seven of the group formerly known as “the 12” were together. Once again, Peter is the man of action; the leader of the group. He was ready to go fishing. After three years of traveling with Jesus, Peter made a decision to return to his former occupation. Jesus had promised to make him a “fisher of men,” but after everything he had been through, catching fish must have seemed like a good excuse to relax and think about things. That this fishing expedition happened after these men had seen and talked with Jesus on two different occasions after His death (Thomas just one time), seems odd. It does, however, show that these men were like sheep without a shepherd.

We wonder if, after a night of fishing and catching nothing, they remembered a similar experience they had back in the early days of Jesus’ ministry. Was history repeating itself? What a disappointment it must have been – all that work and not a thing to show for it. Sometimes, though, it takes disappointment and even defeat to prepare us to see a manifestation of God’s power and grace. Sometimes we have to be maneuvered into a position whereby God can show us His power.

These men, close friends of Jesus, were about to learn a valuable lesson. It doesn’t pay to lift a finger to do anything without His presence.

(b) At the dawning of a new day

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. (John 21:4 NIV84)

The way this sentence is written in the Greek, we sense the absolute frustration these men were experiencing. “The morning was finally arriving.” At long last, the night of failure was coming to an end. We might say, “What a long night! I’m glad it’s finally over!”

…weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5 TNIV)

When there was enough light to see, the frustrated, tired disciples looked toward the shore and they saw a man standing there. They didn’t recognize that He was Jesus. Why not? Scholars offer all manner of explanations, from the obvious – it wasn’t quite bright enough, that the early morning mists obscured their view – to the notion that these men were so preoccupied with their work and failure that they missed the fact The Lord was nearby. The fact remains that Jesus was never recognized by anybody after His Resurrection until He revealed Himself to them. It may well be that all people are so spiritually dull that Jesus could be standing right in front of them and remain unrecognized until He tells them who He is.

2. The manner

Jesus is unique. He never reveals Himself the same way to two different people. He knows the human heart and He alone knows what it takes to get the attention of a lost sheep. Consider how He dealt with these frustrated disciples.

(a) He led them to make a confession

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No, ” they answered. (John 21:5 NIV84)

The way Jesus addressed them made it easy for them to be honest. He initiated the conversation like this: “Boys, have rough night? Catch anything?” Jesus knew they didn’t have any fish. He asked a question to which He knew the answer, but these men needed to make the confession. Their return to their former occupation had been an utter failure. They did not realize God’s plan for their lives.

“No,” was an honest confession of complete failure. All night long they fished and didn’t get so much as a nibble. They had nothing and, to their credit, they made no attempt to make it look like something. When we are completely honest with Jesus, Jesus can show us a better way. But if we try to “pull the wool over Jesus’ eyes,” if we try misrepresent ourselves to Him, He can’t do anything for us. Christ wants us to be open and honest with Him. If we have sinned, we must be honest. If we have failed Him, we have to tell Him.

(b) He tested their faith

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. (John 21:6 NIV84)

Experienced fishermen would probably not listen to a stranger’s advice. They, however, obeyed immediately, apparently without hesitation. Why? Did Jesus speak with some kind of authority that seemed vaguely familiar to them? We may debate why, but the fact remains they did. Really, what did they have to lose?

Again, timing is everything. Jesus could easily have given them a full net any time during the night. But He let them get to the very end of their resources. They were tired, frustrated, hungry, and probably ready to just crawl into bed. It’s our Lord’s way, though. We need to be tested; our faith needs to be stretched just as surely as the disciple’s. No doubt must remain. In a sense, it’s the perfect way to deal with weak human beings. When God manifests Himself, it must be obvious to the spiritually dull.

(c) He turned their failure in success

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. (John 21:6 NIV84)

The disciples obeyed the stranger and they were rewarded for they obedient faith. There could be no doubt, no room for debate, that this was a miracle. Jesus did not suddenly create all those fish, instead He moved His friends into the right place at the right time and He moved those fish into the right place at the right time so as to create the perfect storm of circumstances to take place to manifest His glory.

The fact of this miracle is important, but the reason for it is more important still. These men needed to see that on their own, they could do nothing.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord, ” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. (John 21:7 NIV84)

The hearts of Peter and John are revealed. John shows that of all the disciples, he is the “spiritual genius.” He saw Jesus in the miracle. But it was impulsive Peter who leapt out of the boat and ran to shore to see His Lord. Throughout their association, it was always Peter who seemed to act first. John may have believed first, but Peter was the man of action.

What was it that caused John to realize who this stranger on the shore was? It was the miracle, of course. It was just like Jesus to turn failure into success; defeat into victory. It was just like Jesus to meet the needs of His friends. He always had before!

(d) He fed them and fellowshipped with them

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” (John 21:9, 10 NIV84)

It was a wonderful and welcome scene that greeted the weary fishermen. Here they were, unable to provide food for themselves, about to sit down to big breakfast, courtesy of their Lord. Even in His Resurrection Body, Jesus was keenly aware of what His friends needed. Here is yet another revelation of our Lord’s love, concern, and compassion for His own.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1 TNIV)

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 TNIV)

This was the Jesus these men knew so well. He was the Good Shepherd, and He showed them who He was, He didn’t have to say a word. They knew His ways, and that’s how they recognized Him.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. (John 21:12 NIV84)

The miraculous haul was a great miracle, but it wasn’t only one that took place this morning. Consider this verse:

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. (John 21:13 NIV84)

Where did the cooked fish come from? Jesus didn’t cook any of the fish His friends caught, He had them there, on the coals, cooked, seasoned and waiting for them! They worked and worked and worked, essentially wasting an entire night, and Jesus had some fish already fried up and waiting on them to finally get there. The disciples contributed NOTHING to the breakfast.

Nothing can for sin atone,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Naught of good that I have done,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Jesus lives to give!

O how He loves you and me

He gave His life, what more could He give?

This incident teaches us so much about Jesus and ourselves. Jesus is never far from those who love Him and most certainly near to the discouraged and frustrated. The Lord know our hearts, even as He knew the hearts of those three disciples. They weren’t malicious. They weren’t engaged in some dreadfully sinful activity. They went fishing! They were confused and discouraged. At worst they were spiritually blind and worldly minded. To these men, Jesus came, giving them precisely what they needed to get them back on track.

Luke and the Transfiguration

Published March 29, 2013 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: Luke, Mount of Transfiguration, the Transfiguration

Luke 9:27-36

I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:27 NIV84)

Here is another incident that is found in all three Synoptics. The exact meaning of verse 27 remains the subject of debate two millennia after Jesus spoke the words. One thing, however, is certain, the Kingdom of God had arrived.

…and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:33 NIV84)

The key to understanding what Jesus meant might be found back in verse 23–

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 NIV84)

Jesus was speaking to a lot of people, not all of whom would turn out to be true followers. Some would not “take up their cross daily to follow Jesus.” Those people would never live to see the kingdom of God. Those who were following Jesus but who hadn’t committed their lives to Him would not see the Kingdom. The Resurrection would mean nothing to them. The Day of Pentecost would not be a part of their lives. But true followers of Jesus would experience the awe and wonder of the Resurrection. They would be filled with power on the Day of Pentecost. And some of those standing with Jesus would see the Transfiguration – they would see a glimpse of the glory that is the Kingdom of God. That Kingdom is here now in the sense that it is within each believer. The Kingdom of God is spiritual in nature right now. But one day in the future, the Kingdom of God will visibly, literally, and physically come to Earth. What it will be like was seen in Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

1. A heavenly appearance, verse 29

As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. (Luke 9:29 NIV84)

This event occurred about week after the events that preceded it. The Transfiguration is one of the “crises” in the life of Christ, the others being His Baptism and His Temptation. All three “crises” were events of great spiritual significance. As far as the Transfiguration is concerned, it served a two-fold purpose. (1) It showed Jesus’ deity to all who witnessed it. All who saw it caught the briefest glimpse of His eternal glory. (2) It showed the absolute necessity of the coming Passion, the climax of our Lord’s earthly ministry.

Jesus took three of His friends (Peter, James, and John) and went up to a mountain to pray, and it was while He praying that He was transfigured. What happened to Jesus actually happened to His Person, they were not imagined or envisioned by the disciples with Him. The word used in Matthew and Mark is metamorphoo, from which we get our word metamorphosis. What these men saw as Jesus’ heavenly glory broke through forever changed them. Years later Peter would write:

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16 NIV84)

And John wrote:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NIV84)

Jesus was changed before their very eyes. It didn’t last very long, but these men never forgot what they saw. The glory of Christ changes those who experience it.

Everything about Jesus changed; His face and His even His clothing, which became bright (or “bright white”). Clothing in Scripture is symbolic of the righteousness of the saints–

Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Revelation 19:8 NIV84)

The thing about our righteousness apart from Christ is that it’s worthless. All our good acts and good intentions don’t move the meter of righteousness in God’s sight–

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6 TNIV)

When we come to Christ as our Lord and Savior, He takes our “filthy rags,” our useless righteousness, and gives us His righteousness.

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9 NIV84)

The Kingdom is within all believers; our new “robes of righteousness” are dazzling in God’s sight, but they come from the merit of Christ. We still struggle to live right. We still sin and fall short. But the glory (and the mystery) of the Kingdom is that it is NOW, and it is yet to come.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV84)

One day, we will be made whole and the struggle to live right will finally be won; it will be over and we will be in the eternal presence of God.

2. A heavenly fellowship, verses 30, 31

Part of the glory of the Kingdom is a new dimension of fellowship. We, as members of the Body of Christ, can have great fellowship with other believers in the here and now, and that’s one of the purposes of the Church. But when the spiritual Kingdom becomes a literal one, our fellowship will take on an eternal dimension, even as Christ’s did.

Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31 NIV84)

Can you imagine the day when we will enjoy fellowship with the likes of Moses and Elijah? Or Peter and Paul? Of course, we enjoy constant fellowship with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit today, but it will be a singular experience to visit with the heroes of the faith.

All three accounts of this story include the visit of Moses and Elijah. But why just these two? Moses represents the Law, Elijah represents the prophets. Many scholars observe that the entire Old Testament pointed toward Christ; Jesus had come to fulfill both the Law and the Prophets. So who better to fellowship with Christ, our Great High Priest, than Moses the Lawgiver and Elijah the prophet?

Of significance, though, is what the three heavenly Personages spoke about: Jesus’ departure and what He was about to go through. They weren’t talking about Jesus’ sinless life or His teachings. They didn’t speak of His virgin birth. They were discussing His “departure,” or His death and resurrection. The most significant event in the history of Earth is also the most significant event in all eternity: the death and resurrection of Christ. Lenski comments:

All the saints in heaven looked forward to this accomplishment of Jesus. Redemption was intended for the universe of men, for the dead as well as for the living and those yet to live.

Peter, James, and John were witnesses of this once-in-a-lifetime event. In spite of that, we read this:

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. (Luke 9:32 NIV84)

This prompts the question: How in the world could these men fall asleep during this phenomenal scene? The Greek actually suggests these men fell asleep during Jesus’ prayer, much like they did in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were drowsy and just couldn’t keep their eyes open. All the Gospels speak of the fear and sleepiness of the disciples often in connection to their spiritual dullness. But clearly they did see much of the divine display in front of them:

As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) (Luke 9:33 NIV84)

Only Luke mentions Moses and Elijah were leaving. Peter wanted to build them shelters, presumably to keep them around. It’s curious that Peter wanted to build three shelters, suggesting that in his mind all three Heavenly People were of equal stature. It also suggests that he didn’t understand why Jesus came – to be crucified and to rise again. He wanted to keep these three shining, glorious men right where they were. He didn’t want them to leave. Even more, Peter says, “It is good for us to be here.” Many preachers like to use this as a way to motivate their listeners to “get out of the pew and into the streets,” to “come down from the mountain to the sinners in the valley.” That’s not a bad application, but why did Peter say that? Why did he think it was good for him to be there? It was because Jesus was finally revealing His true self! They had been hoping He was the Messiah, and so far Jesus had worked some miracles but He didn’t fit their bill of what the Messiah should look like. But here, like this, as He appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration, this was what Peter longed to see and, in fact, what he though all Jews needed to see so they could accept this Jesus as their Messiah. How spiritually dull was this man who had just confessed Christ as Messiah! He was overwhelmed by what he saw – the glorious appearances of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah – but he did not grasp the significance of what he heard – their discussion about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

3. A heavenly perspective, verse 34

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. (Luke 9:34 NIV84)

Peter, completely caught up in the glorious scene he was witnessing, missed the point of it all. It took a move of God wake him up – it took a cloud. The cloud symbolizes a number of things: the presence of God (Exodus 13:21-22); the future coming of the Messiah (Daniel 7:13); and a cloud is involved with the two prophets in Revelation 11:12. Many Bible scholars like to point out the Shekinah glory appeared as a cloud. Regardless of opinion, a cloud appeared, signaling to Peter and his friends that it was God, not Peter, was in in control and calling the shots.

Another question comes to mind. Why were Peter, James, and John “afraid” when they saw Moses and Elijah taken up into the cloud? They were afraid because it wasn’t just Moses and Elijah entering the cloud. Jesus was being taken up, too. This is not stated in the text, but it is suggested. The cloud engulfed all three of them, taking all three of them. To be suddenly separated from their Master would have surely scared them!

The message from heaven, then, was for the three men who accompanied Jesus:

A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35 NIV84)

Jesus’ “inner circle” needed to hear this message from Heaven – from God the Father. Furthermore, they were admonished to “listen to him.” The 12 did not always pay attention to Jesus or take His teachings to heart. Consider this incident:

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” (Luke 8:45 NIV84)

Peter actually thought his knowledge was greater than that of Jesus! Some of them actually argued about who would be first in the Kingdom. The apostles were worldly minded men who needed to keep quiet and listen to Jesus.

The Heavenly Voice reminded them, as it should remind all believers, that a human tendency needs to be dealt with. The human tendency is that we put our thoughts and opinions ahead of God’s. We have a thought and we force God’s Word to fit our thought. It ought to be the other way around! The arrogance of human beings; to think they know something God does not!

This Voice from Heaven is also a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15–

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. (Deuteronomy 18:15 NIV84)

This whole scene was for one purpose. Certainly Jesus didn’t need to be Transfigured. Certainly Jesus didn’t need to have a discussion with Moses and Elijah. This whole, glorious drama was played out for Peter, James, and John. They needed a glimpse of the glory of the Kingdom. They needed to have all the strands of God’s plan of redemption tied together. They needed to see Jesus as the True Prophet, the Son and Servant of God, and the Messiah. The Transfiguration was designed to that end.

It worked:

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. (Matthew 17:6 NIV84)

They were frightened and they understood they were within the presence of God.

But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up, ” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (Matthew 17:7-8 NIV84)

Jesus: The Light of the World

Published March 28, 2013 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: caesar augustus, jesus light of the world, John, Light of the world, shining in the darkness

Two lights in the darkness

JESUS: LIGHT OF THE WORLD

As dark as our post-modern society has become, we Christians have no concept how dark the world was when Jesus was born. Rome was at the height of its power and upon his death, Caesar Augustus was declared to be a god. For the Jews, their association with the Roman Empire gave them peace and security at the cost of their freedom due to burdensome taxation. Their religion became an extension of the Roman government, with high priests being appointed by that government. Worship services became excuses for even more taxation.

Yes, things were worse than bleak when Jesus came into the world. No wonder He was called “the light of the world!” But how was Jesus “the light?”

1. The light revealed, John 1:4—9; 12

In the stunning prologue to his Gospel, John introduces its main themes: word, life, light, John the Baptist, children of God, the Incarnation, the Law, and grace. The concept of “light” is the subject of verses 4—9.

(a) Shining in the darkness, verses 4, 5

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Word, Jesus Christ, is the source of life. The way the word “life” is used here, it refers to the fullest life possible; the highest life that may be attained by any human being. All human beings have life in the sense that they are living beings. John is not referring to this life, although it is true that all living beings come into existence by a creative act of the Word. The context demands that the life in the Word, the life the Word gives human beings, is the blessed life of God; it’s a gift to believers from the Word.

This life, John says, is the “light of all mankind.” What does that phrase mean? The Word, Jesus, is God’s personal revelation to all people. It is personal in the sense that the light proceeds from God and is directed to man. The purpose of the light was (is) spiritual in nature. The sun also produces light, and man is able to see and work in the light. We all know how beneficial physical light is. In the spiritual realm, Jesus’ life and light is just as beneficial and they go hand-in-glove:

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9 NIV)

The purpose of the light is to enlighten man; to teach man the truth of God. The truth of God is not just intellectual in nature; it is life-giving. The truth of God affects man’s whole being, spiritual and physical. Everything about life is made better when one possesses the life that proceeds from Christ, revealed to us by the light.

(b) Shining in darkness, verses 6—9

The light points man to the life. John the Baptist, wrote John the apostle, was like a “minor light,” pointing man to the true light, Jesus Christ. In that sense, all believers are “minor lights,” because we are to point unbelievers to the light as John the Baptist did.

Verse 9 captures the universal nature of the true light:

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

God did not send His Son into the world for some, but for all! Naturally, not all would receive that light, but some did.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… (John 1:12 NIV)

Man, wandering around in the darkness searching for meaning to his life is able to, thanks to the light, find that meaning in the life that is in Christ, which He freely gives to those who ask.

(c) A new temple, a new light 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When we note the context for this verse, it becomes even more powerful than it sounds on its own. There was a sharp argument among the Jewish leaders that began in back in 7:25. It was a heated “discussion” about Jesus, who was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. At the start of this Feast, a large candelabra was lit in the busy Temple courtyard. The Mishnah suggests that the light from those massive burning candles was so bright, it lit up the city. The burning candles represented God, as the illuminating guide that directed the children of Israel in the desert. Even as God was their guide then, so Jesus is the I AM of the present – illuminating, guiding and chasing away the spiritual darkness that engulfs, not just the Jews, but of “whoever follows” Him.

2. Come to the light, John 3:19—21; 12:46—50

(a) A choice that must be made, 3:19—21

Jesus had been speaking of judgment:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17 NIV)

He did not come into the world to judge it, but then we read in the very next verse:

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18 NIV)

What was Jesus getting at here? The answer is verse 19.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19 NIV)

“Judgment” depends, not on Jesus, but on the decision of people. If all people loved Jesus and followed Him, there would be no judgment. But because some men will stubbornly refuse to believe, judgment becomes necessary for them. It’s man’s decision to make, though. Man decides if he wants to be judged or not. If he wants to be judged, then he will refuse to follow the Light. But if man wants to avoid judgment, all he has to do if follow the light. This is simplicity itself!

(b) The finality of unbelief, 12:46—50

There is no cure for unbelief when a person makes up his mind to turn away from the light.

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46 NIV)

To not follow the light that is Jesus is to remain in the darkness (of sin). To reject Him is to choose the darkness of sin. Jesus’ purpose of coming into the world—the Incarnation—was not to judge the world but to save the world from the judgment that is to come. Our Lord wants desperately to save men, not destroy them! But the offer of salvation demands a decision for or against the One making the offer. To reject the offer is to reject Jesus Christ and that guarantees judgment.

3. The light gives sight, John 9:1—7, 35—41

Chapter 9 opens with the healing of a man born blind. While we believe this miracle really did take place, it also serves to illustrate in a practical way the spiritual state of all men: they are born spiritually blind. The giving of sight to this blind man is quite literally what the light of Jesus does for the spiritually blind.

(a) A physical healing, verses 1—7

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (verse 2)

The disciples asked this question of Jesus regarding the blind man. It revealed the Jewish belief of the day that the sins of the parents were visited upon their children. It also reflects a bizarre notion held by some of Jesus’ time that a person could actually sin the womb or even in some previous existence! The disciples were positive this man’s blindness was caused by someone’s sin.

Jesus took their ignorance as an opportunity, not to berate them for holding such ridiculous ideas, but to teach them the truth. This blind man was not blind because any particular person sinned, causing this blindness as a sort of divine punishment.

Now, sometimes sinful conduct does result in the one sinning reaping awful consequences:

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14)

But this most certainly isn’t always the case. Sin always produces unintended consequences in ways we may never fully realize in this life. It’s not Jesus’ purpose to go into an in-depth treatment of that subject. What He needed His disciples to know is the foolishness of trying link one’s present state to some sin way back in the past. What they should have been doing is trying to discover what God’s will was; how God could use this man’s predicament for God’s glory. In the broader scope, Christians need to understand there is a special, divine purpose in allowing suffering to come upon a person.

…“but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (verse 3 NIV)

In our vernacular, Jesus might have said this, “On the contrary, this man was born blind so that…” The structure of the Greek makes it clear: this man’s blindness was for the express purpose of a future event—so that all may see “the works of God” displayed in the blind man. And the works of God certainly included the physical healing, but went way, way beyond merely giving sight to the blind! The works of God are a manifestation of His grace and mercy to one in need. According to Jesus, while the blind man would be the recipient of a great miracle, onlookers would receive something too: God’s light would shine out from him making the works of God obvious for the spiritually blind to see.

(b) A spiritual healing, verses 35—41

When the blind man received his sight, his whole life changed. He literally moved from a life of darkness to a life full of light. When he was confronted by the religious elite, we read one of the most humorous exchanges in the New Testament:

Then they hurled insults at [the formerly blind man] and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (verses 28—33)

We know that this man knew Jesus came from God—he deduced it. But he had never actually seen Jesus! Jesus had told the man while he was blind to go away and wash his eyes and he would be able to see. Having never seen Jesus, the once-blind man figured out on his own that whoever this man was, he must have come from God.

But then the greatest miracle happened when He met Jesus a second time with his eyes wide open:

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. (verses 35—38 NIV)

He had been physically healed, but now he had been spiritual healed! He was shown the light and that light led him to the Life that is Jesus, which our Lord in turn gave to Him.

This man’s “new life” wasn’t in word only, it was also in deed: he confessed Christ, then he worshiped Him!

The Holy Spirit and You, Part 2

Published March 27, 2013 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: grieving the Spirit, The Holy Spirit, unpardonable sin

il_570xN.339479220

Grieving the Holy Spirit

Last time, we discussed the reality of the Holy Spirit’s personhood. He is a Person. He is not an “it,” “an emanation,” “a warm fuzzy feeling,” or anything that looks like a leaping flame on your head or a dove, floating down from the sky. The Holy Spirit is a Person, the third Member of the Holy Trinity. He is, for all intents and purposes, the abiding presence of God that rests inside every born again person.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13 NIV84)

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7 NIV84)

Jesus told His disciples He had to go (to be crucified and return to the Father) so that He could send the Holy Spirit to them. This was important because while Jesus was on the Earth, He was pretty much a local personality; His ministry confined to the plains of Galilee. But things needed to change. The Gospel message was about to spread to the ends of the Earth. The presence of God needed to be where all believers were going to be, not just among the converts in Galilee and Judea. In short order, there would be Christians in Asia Minor, Rome, Italy, and all over the world. Jesus, before He was crucified, prayed this:

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:11 NIV84)

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (John 17:15 NIV84)

The Holy Spirit is God the Father’s answer to Jesus, the Son’s prayer. And as we work our way through our study of the Holy Spirit, we will discover He fulfills Jesus’ prayer of John 17 to the letter.

Being a Person in every sense of the word, the Holy Spirit can be hurt. He can be offended. He can be resisted. This time, we will look at how the Holy Spirit suffers.

1. He may be blasphemed, Matthew 12:31, 3

And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:31-32 NIV84)

What exactly does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Just what is the dreaded “unpardonable sin?”

It’s a remarkable statement; all sin and blasphemy – even when committed against Jesus Christ – can be forgiven! Now that’s some amazing grace! However, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will NEVER be forgiven. The key to understanding this terrible sin is glancing back to verses 24 and 28–

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” (Matthew 12:24 NIV84)

But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28 NIV84)

What is it that the Pharisees did? They attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to that of the Devil, thus they blasphemed the Holy Spirit. John Wesley wrote: It is neither more nor less than ascribing those miracles to the power of the devil which Christ wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Essentially, the Pharisees were rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit, claiming it was Satanic in its origins. They were rejecting the witness of the Christ and the Holy Spirit. Can this sin be committed today? It’s committed when a person willfully resists the Holy Spirit. That sin cannot be forgiven because the Holy Spirit brings forgiveness. Forgiveness is the cure for sin, and it’s the Holy Spirit that applies it. If a sinner rejects it, he is rejecting the cure. That’s unpardonable.

2. He may be insulted, Hebrews 10:29

How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29 NIV84)

This verse should be taken in context of the writer’s larger context. He is contrasting the days of the Old Covenant with the days of the New. He compares the penalty for sin under the Old – physical death – with the much stronger penalty under the New – spiritual death. He points out the differences between breaking the Law of Moses and despising the Son of God and the Holy Spirit.

The sinner who rebels against God under the New Covenant rejects the Person of Jesus Christ and His work and He rejects the Person of the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of grace. So, the “unpardonable sin,” then, involves three aspects:

(a) Sinning against the Son of God. The sinner tramples under foot Jesus Christ. That’s a figurative way of describing how we treat things that bother us, like chunks of mud in the treads of our sneakers. The sinner scrapes and grinds the Son of God into the ground.

(b) Sinning against the Work of Jesus. Jesus shed His blood as the supreme sacrifice for our sins. To sin against that sacrifice is to consider it as nothing significant. It’s to think of the blood of Jesus like anybody else’s blood.

(c) Sinning against the Holy Spirit. When a sinner does this, he insults the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of grace – by ignoring Him or by attributing His work to something else. Insulting this third Person of the Trinity is the height of man’s arrogance and folly and sin. He can never be forgiven for such a flagrant display of pride.

3. He may be grieved, Isaiah 63:9, 10

In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit.So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. (Isaiah 63:9, 10 NIV84)

Think of Israel, the redeemed ones, rebelling against the Holy Spirit, grieving Him terribly. No wonder the Spirit “turned and became their enemy.” When God’s people knowingly rebel against Him, He becomes their enemy. Verse 9 might be the most heartbreaking verse in the Bible. It describes a God who totally identified with His people; who did so much for them, yet they completely turned their backs on Him. Instead of being grateful and serving God in humble thankfulness and appreciation, they fought against Him; kicking violently against the goad.

God the Holy Spirit is hurt when we treat His goodness, faithfulness, and compassion as nothing at all. It’s more than hurt. To rebel against the Holy Spirit is to hurt the Holy Spirit and that puts you on the wrong side of the equation.

4. He may be resisted, Acts 7:51

You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! (Acts 7:51 NIV84)

The people to whom Stephen was speaking were “stiff-neck” (unbending), whose faith was all for show. Those who are like that are able to resist the Holy Spirit; those whose faith is all on the outside, with nothing on the inside. The church attenders whose faith is a Sunday-only proposition, for example, are like this; people like that routinely resist the Holy Spirit. They are able to render all the sermons they hear as nothing.

Why God’s Word breaks some hearts and is resisted by others is a matter of some mystery. Of course, the former is due to God’s amazing grace and the latter due to man’s sinful nature. The Jews Stephen was addressing were all guilty, as where their forefathers, of resisting the Holy Spirit as He sought to lead them and guide them.

When a believer easily resists the Holy Spirit, it is probably an indication they don’t take their faith seriously; they doubt the Word of God they may claim to defend. If the Holy Spirit is to have full possession of the “Canaan Land” of the heart, then the whole Word of God must be believed and yielded to, or the Spirit will be resisted.

5. He may be quenched, 1 Thessalonians 5, 19, 20

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 NIV84)

The Thessalonian church was busy church. They were, by all indication, doing the “good work” of the Lord: sharing their faith in the community, with their worship services characterized by great manifestations of the Holy Spirit: joy and enthusiasm in the The Lord. In verse 20, one particular gift of the Spirit is singled out: the gift of prophecy. We may debate what the spiritual gift of prophecy is, it is in essence a message from God. This sin is slightly different from resisting the Spirit. This involves actively stopping the proclamation of God’s message to a congregation.

How does this happen? It happens when we hear something we don’t like from the pulpit – a message from God, not an opinion – and we speak against it or against the one who gave it.

You may say that rarely happens, but the evidence of your own eyes proves that it does: the dozens and dozens of denominations that dot the religious landscape in America all testify to the reality of people who, rather than deal honestly with the Word of God, start their own church so as to preach a message they like to hear. The Holy Spirit is quenched all the time.

6. His heart may be broken, Ephesians 4:30

And do not make God’s Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. (Ephesians 4:30 GNTCE)

This “grieving” of the Holy Spirit is a little different from what was mentioned earlier. In the context of what Paul wrote the Ephesians, it seems the Holy Spirit can be hurt by how we treat others! Malicious, sacrilegious, or unwholesome talk that could hurt others causes pain to and hurts the Spirit of God. Can you imagine? Does that make you think twice about the words that come out of your mouth? If you knew what you were saying was hurting God, would you keep saying it?

If you are a Christian, you don’t have the right to say anything you feel like saying. You have to take into consideration how your words will touch the Spirit of God within you.

Remember, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 NIV84)

The precious Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer, was given freely in love by Jesus Christ, is deeply wounded by irreverent and hurtful talk.

Let’s think twice about how we treat others, how we respond to the Word of God, and how think about what the Holy Spirit may be doing in the lives of fellow believers.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Mike's Place on the Web

Archive Page 665

Breakfast on the Beach: A Resurrection Fish-Fry

Luke and the Transfiguration

Jesus: The Light of the World

The Holy Spirit and You, Part 2

Recent Posts

Another great day!

Meta

Blog Stats

Jump To…

Never miss a new post again.

Archives

Email Subscription

Top Studies

Places I find interesting

Who’d have guessed?

My Conservative Identity: