We get to know Jesus by using the collected books, letters, poems and histories that have been collected for us. A great place to start is the gospels.
For example Luke, written by a Greek, in a plain straightforward language is often seen as a good place to start.
But Luke starts almost like legal paperwork. There is a pedantic solemnness about the start, as thought Luke understands the great import of what he is about to undertake. The great burden of carefully and accurately passing down the information that will eventually help millions to come to a belief in Christ.
This wasn’t done lightly. These early disciples, suffered, worked and persevered for the gospel, for Christ. We should meet them with the same spirit and be willing to devote our time and effort in understanding the words they recorded.
Luke 1: 1 – 4 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
I heard an analogy this weekend that was thought-provoking. I was watching a program about people who have left the Amish faith. This particular family did so as they studied the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. They came to the conclusion that the principals of Jesus were more important than the rules of their faith.
A friend came to her and explained that the rules were there as a fence to keep the sheep safe within the confines of the pasture. The fence protected them from the dangerous world. This woman’s response was so beautiful. She said, “If you are with the Shepard and following where he leads, then no harm can befall you.” Or something of that nature – it’s a rough paraphrase.
The hardest thing to do is live by principles. We favour rules and laws. They give us security. We feel less afraid when we have a physical barrier or fence. The problem is that we are limiting our influence. We are limiting our experiences and our knowledge. As scary as it may be to leave the safety of the pasture, if we are following Jesus, then we can do so with confidence.
Read about Jesus. Know about Jesus. Give your life to Jesus and see where he leads.
Fear has no place in our hearts. Is it there? YES. We are human. But we must fight fear. Jesus overcame evil. The biggest battle the world has ever known has already been fought and won. We may struggle and suffer, but Jesus has already paid the price for our sin.
Our Shepard will not lead us astray. He has gone before and fought the fight. We must keep our eyes on him.
1 Peter 2: 21 – 25 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The other night I had to go to the bathroom. I normally walk around with the lights off, but I had something stuck in my throat, so I turned the light on to take a look. It took me a few seconds before my eyes adjusted to the light. I took a look, couldn’t see anything, had a drink of water and turned to go back to bed. I now staggered in what was complete darkness. By the time I got back to my bed my eyes were starting to adjust again and I could see a little.
As I crawled back into bed, I thought about Jesus calling himself the light. What does this mean? How often do we consider how we interact with light.
Sometimes light is unbearably bright. We all know not to look directly at the sun – it’s intensity will blind us. And when we move from a bright sunny day into a dark space we feel blinded by the darkness. Light isn’t always gentle or unobtrusive. Light can be shocking, both in its brightness and in its absence. It is a basic human need, but we still need to protect our eyes from it.
When Jesus came to earth as a human, He came in a form that we can see and understand. He came as a lantern that lights a path. But His true nature would shock us. We wouldn’t be able to gaze on him directly. His light is what defies the forces of darkness. His light is a weapon.
John 1: 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.
How often have you been disappointed by people. We are a selfish, self centered lot. We care more for our own feelings and ideas than we do the hurts of others. How often have we offered to help only to run away not ready for the commitment required? How often do we misunderstand the hurt and anger in other and feel critical? How often do we desire to help, but in a way that doesn’t inconvenience us?
We all do this. We all fall short. We are flawed.
But Jesus isn’t, he said:
Matthew 11: 28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Sometimes I get frustrated with others. Sometimes it’s hard to not put my own concerns first. It can be hard to give and give and give.
But then I read Roman 15 and like a splash of cold water it tells me to ‘snap out of it.’ Christ didn’t get frustrated with my sin. Christ didn’t decide to call me selfish and teach me to figure it out on my own. Christ didn’t walk down a different street to avoid talking to me. Nope.
Christ died for me, for my sin, for my weakness. He took on my failings as his own and bore them. I owe a debt I can never pay. Therefor, I should gain strength from him. His sacrifice should help me swallow my own pride and bear the weaknesses and sorrows of those around me. I can look to him for strength and endurance in the face of frustration.
I needed this reminder this morning.
Romans 15: 1-4 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
There are three topics of discussion I have bumped into over the last few weeks. First, concerns about freedom; what it means, what it looks like. Second, the idea of truth. Is truth just subjective or is it something more? Third, who can we believe, who and what can we trust?
These are all huge discussions encompassing many of the contrasting views rampant in our society. My thoughts led me to develop a little Venn diagram.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna. The triumphant return of the King. If this was a story written by human hands this is where the story would end. The return of the king and goodness to the land.
But this is not where the story of Jesus ends. The great king is killed. Taken down by evil and plotting forces. The great hope for humanity is squelched by evil. All hope is lost.
Until… he returns. This time not only conquering evil but death itself.
Only a great and worthy king could do this. No human could. He lives on. His story lives on. It never ends, replaying every day in the lives of all who follow him.
I have been thinking of the “Easter” story and how it has affected my life. I’m not sure I have organized my thoughts yet. I’m not sure it’s possible to organize my thoughts about something so enormous.
This one moment in history changed everything; this moment of Christ on the cross. But not in the way that human events change history! For example a world leader makes this choice and now it sets off a chain reaction and events unfold. These are the world changing events of which history is full.
But… Jesus on the cross is different. It changed the trajectory of the world – yes. It changed how events unfolded and the course of our societies – yes again. But it also changes the direction and course of my life now, of the lives of everyone who interacts with him. His act of sacrifice was not a world changing event, it’s a continuous and on-going world changing event.
God and his work are alive in our world. Seeing his hand and his presence in our own story should be the quest of all who seek him.
I listened to this video this morning and found it incredibly moving.
“The greatest of all prayers was designed with still another purpose in view, quite as important as either of the others. Jesus foresaw that, as centuries went by, his simple, primitive teaching would gradually become overlain by all sorts of external things which really have nothing whatever to do with it. He foresaw that men who had never known him, relying, quite sincerely, no doubt, upon their own limited intellects, would build up theologies and doctrinal systems, obscuring the direct simplicity of the spiritual message, and actually erecting a wall between God and man. He designed his Prayer in such a way that it would pass safely through those ages without being tampered with. He arranged it with consummate skill, so that it could not be twisted or distorted, or adapted to any man-made system; so that, in fact, it would carry the whole Christ Message within him and yet not have anything on the surface to attract the attention of the restless, managing type of person. So it has turned out that, through all the changes and chances of Christian history, this Prayer has come through to us uncorrupted and unspoiled.”
The Sermon on the Mount (The Lord’s Prayer), by Emmet Fox
I spent years of my life working in the Communication industry. My experience ranged from local newspapers, corporate communications companies, to advertising companies. I saw a wide spectrum of types of communication.
Almost by coincidence I fell into understanding how great of a communicator Christ was. There were several young women who used to come to me for advice. Whatever the issue I was often struck by how applicable the teachings of Christ were. I would often recount stories or parables to them as an explanation of how to see and deal with their problems. They of course thought I was brilliant. I was awe struck with Jesus.
These ideas are not new to me, I came to them through a lens of working in this field. Jesus is by far the best communicator the world has ever seen. But this shouldn’t surprise us, as John calls him at the beginning of his Gospel, the ‘Word.’ We think, create and process with language. This use of language and words is a profoundly human experience.
Jesus’ whole time on earth is a living breathing example that we can look to and follow. He in every way communicated God to humanity. Not only his teaching and preaching, but his very being. He didn’t use words, he was the Word.
As Fox suggests, man can muddle and confuse doctrine. Yet the message from Jesus is simple. Further on in his writing Fox explains how this prayer can be used not as a mantra to parrot over and over, but as a way to see one’s life. The prayer offers daily guidance on how we can live for and serve God. A reforming of our souls.
Matthew 6: 9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Roberta Writes 