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From Riches to Rags to Riches

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:9

I want to share with you a rags to riches story!  But not a typical one.  Normally a “rags to riches” story speaks of someone who was poor, then became rich—either through hard work, or some good fortune—but here in 2 Corinthians 8:9 we have a “riches to rags to riches” story.

We should note 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 have to do with giving.  Two words are used repeatedly throughout this section.  The words “grace” and “gracious” appear 7 times!  The words “gift,” “given,” “gave,” and “giver” show up 8 Times.  The term “grace” has been defined as “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.”  Whoever came up with that acrostic might have used this very verse ‘cause that’s exactly what the verse is talking about.  Christ’s expense=”though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor.”  God’s riches=”that you through HIs poverty might become rich.”

He was rich. In what sense? His estate from eternity has been heaven’s glory.  He’s been the object of angelic worship (John 17:4).  He is self-existent creator of all things.  If all things have come into existence through Him, how rich must He be!  He was (and is) richer than the wealthiest of Kings.  He was and is perfect in every way.  Yet in love He deliberately stepped down from heaven and made Himself poor for us.  You ask, “In what manner did He become poor?”

He became poor.  There was no place for Him in the inn.  His crib was a feeding trough.  None of the religious elite, or powerful came to acknowledge His birth.  His mother and father were but humble folks. Soon after His birth His family was forced to flee to Egypt.  Jesus was poor in His life.  He associated with lowly folk.  He had no earthly riches.  His disciples were ordinary men.  He once said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).  “He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him” (Isaiah 53:2).  He had no bank account.  No elaborate wardrobe.  He traveled by foot.  He was impoverished, yet He gave.  He taught.  He healed.  He raised people from the dead.  He fed the 5000.  He, who said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” was always giving.   He lived as a servant (Mark 10:45; John 13:1-20).  Jesus had enemies.  They conspired against Him.  He was arrested and put on trial.  There was no one to defend Him.  He had friends, yet they deserted Him. He made His way to the cross alone.  They stripped him of His clothing.  He was crucified naked to a cross.  The crowds who yelled “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” now mock Him.  The religious leaders mock Him.  The soldiers make fun of Him.  People pass by and insult Him.  Jesus is crucified between two common thieves; they mock Him too.  

He had submitted Himself to the Father’s will.  He loved the Father and the Father loved Him.  For all eternity they’ve existed in perfect fellowship.  Yet as He is dying there on the cross and the sins of the world are put upon Him, he cries out “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”  He is utterly bereft.  Naked, on that cross, soon to die for crimes not His own, He is abandoned and alone.  He is bankrupt in every way, but especially in that which mattered most to Him—His relationship to the Father.  He is the antithesis of a rags to riches story.  He went from riches to rags.  He gave and gave and when He had given everything, but His life, He gave that too.  He did it on purpose.  It was no accident.  The Father gave the Son (John 3:16).  The Son gave Himself (Galatians 2:20). 

See Him there hanging on the cross?  The Scriptures declare “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).  Our Lord is cursed, impoverished, naked, all alone, devoid of righteousness bearing sins not His own (2 Corinthians 5:21).  It is as Martin Luther once said, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”  Indeed!

So that you by his poverty might become rich.  Paul speaks to believers when He speaks of the riches we now possess in Christ.  He is speaking not of the financial kind; He is speaking of spiritual prosperity.  Every believer in Christ has a rags to riches story to tell.  Each one has gone from being spiritually bankrupt to being spiritually wealthy in Christ.  From being dead in sins and trespasses, to being made alive in Christ.  From being without God and without hope, now possessing both in Him. From being children of wrath, yet given the right to become children of God.  Being poor in Spirit, but now possessing unsearchable riches in Christ.  Though a person be incredibly rich in this world, they are nevertheless poor in the eyes of God (Matthew 16:26). But even the poorest believer is incredibly rich in Christ, in that which matters for eternity (Revelation 2:9).  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 8:9)! Amazing grace! How blessed we are!

Lord Jesus, how amazing Your grace! That You left the the glory of heaven to come to this sin-needy world is reason enough to praise You. But then to deliberately impoverish Yourself for our sakes, so that we might be made rich in You–it is a sacrifice that transcends our ability to understand! Its entirely because of who You are and what You’ve done that we find ourselves in this blessed estate! Having so richly received from You, may we follow Your example, esteeming it to be better to give than to receive. That You might be honored in our lives in that way!

AND CAN IT BE?

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:1-11

For today’s devotional we are headed out on a treasure hunt, looking to see if we can find some hidden and valuable trove.  Look there!  We’ve found it!  Right here in 2 Corinthians 4:7!  Let’s examine this “treasure” to see what it’s all about!

The context of our passage has to do with how it was Paul did not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:1,16), though his ministry was hindered by the reality that the god of this world blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).  But Paul was encouraged by how God worked in the lives of believers to “give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Therein lies the treasure!  You were previously without God and without hope in the world, darkened in your understanding, blinded to the reality of your own sin and to the truth of the gospel.  Yet God graciously intervened in your life, unveiling to you the precious truth “of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  It was a wonderful day when “you were born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine!” You came to understand Jesus through the gospel.  In knowing Our Lord, you’ve come to possess “unsearchable riches” (Ephesians 3:8). Paul, himself was well aware of the value of knowing Christ, for Who’s sake he had counted all else in life as rubbish (Philippians 3:8).

Now notice where God has placed this treasure, in “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Jars of clay were widely used in Paul’s day.  They were used to hold things. There were vessels of gold and silver and there were jars of clay.  A jar of clay, as opposed to vessels of gold and silver, were ordinary–fragile, and vulnerable.  Now why would God liken us to jars of clay?  Because that’s what we are.  Consider your calling—“God chose what is foolish in the world…God chose what is weak in the world…God chose what was low and despised in the world” (1 Corinthians 1:25-31).  He did so to shame the wise and to remove all room for human boasting.  In fact, it is only “because of him that you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:30).  You and I are much loved by God, yet are nonetheless jars of clay having nothing within ourselves to boast about. Jars of clay are fragile and vulnerable.  They can be easily broken.  And so, Paul spoke of being “afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, given over to death, etc. (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).  Let’s face it, we all are needy humans and are weak in ourselves and subject to a myriad of troubles.  It’s a wonder our jars of clay survive at all!  But this brings us to our next point…

Why has God chosen to put the treasure of knowing Jesus and His gospel in jars of clay?  He could have instead put it into stronger golden vessels, with fancy inscriptions on the side—all decked out so people would look and say “ooh and aah, what a beautiful golden vessel!”  Instead God placed His treasure in jars of clay “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).  It is in our own humanness and neediness God’s surpassing power is clearly made manifest.  “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

What does all this mean to us?  First, we need to treasure the treasure.  Paul taught us that knowing Jesus was the most important thing in his life.  “But this one thing I do,” he said in reference to the pursuit of knowing Jesus better (Philippians 3:13).  Is that your “one thing?”  Second of all, we need to be authentic.  We are jars of clay—ordinary, vulnerable, fragile—yet inside we possess a treasure of infinite value, a treasure others need too.  But it’s the treasure they need, not us.  One of the most beautiful things we can hear, or say is “I can see Jesus in you!”  It is in our inadequacies His adequacy has an opportunity to be made manifest (2 Corinthians 3:5).  It is okay to be you!  Jars of clay don’t need to put on a show.  They just need to let the light of the treasure shine forth!

Lord, how incredible that would choose and save us! By Your doing we’ve come been lovingly brought into relationship with You! And how amazing it is that into our frail and vulnerable human vessels You’ve put this treasure of knowing You! We are weak, but You are strong, and in our weakness the surpassing greatness of Your power is made manifest! You never meant for the treasure to stay hidden within us, may You and Your glory shine such that others might see You in us!

We are God’s people, the chosen of the Lord,

Born of the Spirit, established by His Word;

Our cornerstone is Christ alone, And strong in Him we stand:

O let us live transparently, and walk heart to heart and hand in hand.

“I Will Build My Church“

”Bible Reading:  Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8, 5:33-39; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 5:8-10

A couple of surveys done in the spring of 2021 revealed fewer than half of Americans now say they belong to a church, synagogue, or mosque.  That’s down from 70% in the year 2000.  Yet it doesn’t take a survey to tell you such things.  Church attendance in America, even in evangelical churches, is at an all-time low.  It would be fair to say the church in America, for a variety of reasons, is facing unprecedented challenges.

Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus declared: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).  In Jesus’ words we can find much encouragement.  Four main truths are stated.  Let’s consider each:

“I will build MY church.”  Theologically there is a distinction made between the universal church, made up of all the believers from Pentecost until the rapture and the local church–where a group of believers gather together in a specific location to worship Jesus.  The focus here is on the universal church, which belongs to Him. Though what is true of the universal church ought to be true in the practice of any local church.  Jesus is the Head of the church, which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).  The church is His bride, and He is even now working to “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27).  It is His church, and the first obligation of its leaders and members is to lovingly surrender and subject themselves to Him and to His word, that He will have the freedom to do all He has purposed to do in and through His church.

“I WILL BUILD my church.”  Jesus’ outlined His church building plan to His apostles in Acts 1:8.  Put simply the plan looks like this: Ordinary men and women are Spirit-empowered to live out and proclaim His extraordinary message.  He deliberately chose to do the work through ordinary men and women, “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7),  These folks don’t do what they are given to do in their own strength, they are empowered by the Spirit to do what they could never do on their own (John 6:63).  By the Spirit, cowardly Peter (who had previously denied Christ three times and even to a slave girl), was made courageous and proclaimed Him before a crowd of thousands and even indicted his hearers with having killed Jesus. It is by the Spirit the church is led and empowered to bear witness of Christ.  The book of Acts speaks to this reality, as the message of Christ spread from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth!  Though those folks didn’t have church buildings and lacked in training or resources, they were led and sustained in their work by the Spirit.  It was the Lord who “added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

“I will build my church, and the GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.”  The fact the gates of hell shall not prevail against it doesn’t mean they won’t try.  From Stephen’s martyrdom until this day, the church has been under assault.  While the church in America has faced setbacks, disruption and inconvenience due to Covid, fellow believers in other parts of the world have faced far worse.  According to one study, in the past year 360 million Christians around the world faced severe persecution for their faith.  Every day in 2021 an average of 16 believers were killed for following Jesus, a 24% increase from the year before.  But it is as was declared by the church father, Tertullian, who said, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”  In spite of the relentless efforts of the devil and his emissaries to destroy the church, the church expanded.  It will never fail and the gates of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL against it..  Leaders will fail.  Nations will fall.  Other organizations will be long forgotten in the dust heap of history, but in the church we possess “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28).  Its beauty and longevity lies in its Lord and Savior, the One who died to purchase it, the One who is even now preparing it for glory!

Psalm 113:3, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”  And so it is in His church.  The sun rises on any given Sunday.  And far to the East, in those earlier time zones, people wake in the morning and then head off to their churches where they gather to worship the Lord Jesus.  Even in places where it is dangerous, these people have determined nothing will deter them from assembling together in Jesus’ name.  They gather to worship Jesus, hear His word, and fellowship together with their brothers and sisters.  As the sun makes its course across the sky—from that time zone to the next—other folks do the same.  Some live in poverty.  They travel to their churches on foot.  Sometimes they gather in places which could hardly be called a building.  They have no fancy sanctuaries.  They have few Bibles.  Few, or no programs.  Nothing of earthly fare to attract folks.  But they LOVE JESUS and they are determined to assemble together to worship Him.  Then still, as the sun makes its course across the sky—in the spiritual desert regions of Europe—there are still those who hold onto faith, even though they are in the great minority of folks.  Though people naively ridicule them for their beliefs, they nevertheless gather together to worship. So it is in America.  Once there were new churches being planted and churches growing and missionaries being sent out and prayer meetings being attended.  Now the church in America sleeps.  Yet there are still those who love Jesus. Because they love Jesus, they love those who belong to Jesus.  These folks are like those early believers who were awestruck by Jesus and the work He was doing.  By the Spirit they love and worship and serve the Head of the church, the One who died to save them.  The day is coming when we shall all be gathered together  in heaven to worship Him.  Gentiles and Jews, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, people from every “tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9-10) will praise the Lamb who was slain who will reign forevermore.  He said He’d build His church!  And so He will!

Lord Jesus, How beautiful is Your Church!  You promised to build Your church, and so we read of Your handiwork through the centuries in spreading the gospel from Jerusalem to the far reaches of the globe.  You warned us of opposition, Yet You’ve watched over Your church during all these years and strengthened her amidst her toils and tribulations!  We praise You as the Lord of the church!  May we ever look to You to lead and provide and direct us in all of its affairs!  As You are even now at work to present Your church to Yourself, holy and blameless, so might we devote ourselves in love and service to the building up of Your body!  Until You rapture us home!  Amen!

The Church’s one foundation

is Jesus Christ, her Lord;

she is his new creation

by water and the Word.

From heav’n he came and sought her

to be his holy bride;

with his own blood he bought her,

and for her life he died.

Christ’s Intercessory Ministry

Bible Reading: Acts 1:1-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25

“Where is Jesus?”  Sounds like a question a child might ask.  But I’m thinking there may be others who are asking this question in view of the challenges we’ve all faced in recent years.  There’s a good theological answer, which we intend to deal with first, and another related truth we will consider which should be of great encouragement to you.

In today’s Scripture reading, we read of how Jesus ascended into heaven as the disciples looked on.  Jesus had foretold of this event (John 14:2,12; 16:5,10, 17, 28; 17:5; 20:17). The Apostle Paul wrote of it and affirmed Christ’s Lordship over all (Ephesians 1:20, 4:8-10; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 3:16).  Likewise the writer of Hebrews spoke of this truth in light of the encouragement we find in it (Hebrews 1:3; 4:14-16; 7:25-26; 9:24).  The fact Jesus has been enthroned as ruler over all is a encouragement to every believer, especially in view of the difficulties we are all facing in these troubled times.

So the theological answer to the question of “Where is Jesus?” is He has ascended to heaven, and from there He reigns over all. But we are also told He is, from heaven, interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).  This, my friends, is an amazing truth.  To intercede is to plead with a person on someone’s behalf.  It is sometimes used in Scripture to speak of the prayers of men.  It would be fair to say “Jesus is praying for me.”  Did you know that?  You have others, no doubt, praying for you.  You are encouraged by this truth–that they’ve lovingly taken your prayer concerns and needs to the throne of grace so you will be helped by God.  But is it not an incredible thing to know Jesus Himself is praying for you?!  Robert Murray McCheyne, a pioneer missionary to America, once testified, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me!”  We should also note that it’s not just Jesus who is praying for you, the Holy Spirit is too (Romans 8:27)!

To be sure the exact manner of communication between the glorified and omniscient persons of the trinity is beyond our comprehension, yet that does not diminish the wonder of it all.  The context of the Romans 8:34 reference is the security of the believer.  In this portion of Scripture we read of the opposition and threats we face: accusations; condemnations; tribulation, distress, persecution, etc.  To be sure, the journey of the believer, from new birth to glory, is an arduous one filled with obstacles and challenges.  It is in this context we are reminded “Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34)!  The One who died for your sins and rose from the dead, is seated at the right hand of God and is praying for You! 

You have others who pray for you, praise God, but none so qualified as our Savior!  Human prayers are limited in both extent and power, but the One who created all things and rose from the dead is without limits.  Humans grow weary in their prayers, but not so the omnipotent Christ.  Perhaps you have been oblivious to His intercessory work, but He’s never stopped praying for you.  From how many spiritual pitfalls have you rescued?  How many times were you led away from danger?  How much strength has been imparted to you?  How many times was a needed truth mysteriously brought to your mind?  The passage in Hebrews speaks to His intercessory work in relation to His saving work: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).  A “salvation to the uttermost” is assured because Jesus is a Great High Priest who “always lives to make intercession for them.”  He prays us along on our path to glory!  Be encouraged–He will complete the work He started in you.  Nothing can separate you from His love!

Lord Jesus, we’ve been prayed for by human hands, but how incredible it is to know we are being prayed for by the One whose hands bear the scars of His loving sacrifice!  That You are even now, at the right hand of God intercede for us, is a precious truth indeed!  Forgive us that we too often take such things for granted.  Help us to remember in our journey that You, the One who has gone before us, are always pleading our case before the Father!  Amen!

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

A great High Priest, whose name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me

He is Risen!

Bible Reading: John 20

With respect to being a hospice chaplain I sometimes tell people it’s my job to talk to dying people.  Yet that is true for us all because we are all dying.  Some of us are just further along on that journey.  Richard Baxter once said, “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” 

Death exists in our world because of sin.  Adam and Eve sinned, and death has been around ever since.  No one can escape it–world leaders, wealthy folks, religious figures, and great teachers lie in graves and tombs around the world.  It mattered not if they were men of great wealth, or wisdom or intellect or abilities—they were, each one, subject to and humbled by man’s ultimate fear and foe—death (Cf. Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 2:14-15).  Death is an unavoidable reality, we need a hope which lies beyond the grave.  We find this great hope in Jesus alone.

Jesus died.  He was laid in a tomb.  An “extremely large” stone was rolled against the entrance.  The grave was made secure with a guard of sixteen Roman soldiers.  A seal was set on the stone.  Every effort was undertaken to keep Jesus dead in that tomb. But it was “impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24).

When the women arrived that Sunday Morning, they found the stone rolled away.  They saw an angel who said, “Do not be amazed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.  He has risen; He is not here; behold here is the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6). He rose from the dead and “presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs” (Acts 1:3). “He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time…then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles…and last of all to (Paul)” (1 Corinthians 15:6-8).

Because the tomb is empty, there is such a thing as salvation (Romans 4:25). Because the tomb is empty, there is a newness of life only He can impart to us (Romans 6:4). Because the tomb is empty, there is the promise of a future resurrection for those who believe (1 Corinthians 15:20).

The gospel message—that Christ died for sins and rose from the dead–is a glorious message!  The Apostles faithfully proclaimed that message first to the Jews, then to the Samaritans, then to the Gentiles.  They were willing to suffer and die for it.  Eleven of the twelve died a martyr’s death.  They did so because they themselves had personally witnessed the resurrection!

The tomb is empty.  Jesus is alive!  He has ascended to the right hand of God.  He is the risen, reigning, and returning Lord. Different religions have been espoused by leaders who have died and were buried, their bones having long ago rotted in their graves.  But ours is no mere religion, we’ve been brought into an intimate relationship with the Risen Lord Jesus!  This is no mere religion which possesses such a glorious Savior!  It is no mere religion which glories in such a wondrous cross!  It is no mere religion which has been well-founded on Christ’s triumph over sin, and death and the devil himself.  It is no mere religion which worships a risen Savior who reigns over all at the right hand of the Father!  It is in no mere religion that the Risen Savior Himself indwells and lives through all of those who have believed in Him!  His sacrifice on the cross for you is the greatest act of love ever witnessed in the history of man!  Likewise, His victory over sin and death and all the forces of evil is a universal triumph of infinite personal import to every believer.  Because He won that battle, we too will “overwhelmingly conquer” through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37)!

Lord Jesus, how glorious this truth of Your resurrection from the dead!  Death could not hold You!  The devil could not defeat You!  You burst forth the chains of death and trampled over the powers of darkness!  In You, we possess a living hope borne from Your finished work on Calvary!  You died for our sins and rose from the dead!  How incredibly blessed we are in that good news!  Because You are a living Savior, we’ve been set free from sin to walk in the newness of life we possess in You!  Help us to walk that way, to Your honor and glory! 

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,

One day the stone rolled away from the door;

Then He arose, over death He had conquered,

Now is ascended, my Lord ever more!

Living He loved me, Dying He saved me,

Buried He carried my sins far away;

Rising He justified freely forever;

One Day He’s coming; ‘O glorious Day.

It is Finished

Bible Reading: John 19

John 19:30, “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

“It is finished!”  Through the annals of history, have three more precious words ever been uttered?  A man’s dying words are said to have a powerful import.  Have there ever been more significant “dying words?”  In three words Jesus founded a message of hope, in the forgiveness of sins, which has resounded through the centuries.  

Charles Spurgeon once wrote concerning this matter: “The Son of God has been made man.  He had lived a life of perfect virtue and total self-denial.  He has been all that lifelong despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  His enemies have been legion; His friends have been few, and those few faithless.  He is at last arrested while in the act of prayer; He is arraigned before both the spiritual and temporal courts.  He is robed in mockery, and then unrobed in shame.  He is set upon His throne in scorn, and then tied to the pillar in cruelty.  He is declared innocent, and yet He is delivered up by the judge who ought to have preserved Him from His persecutors.  He is dragged through the streets of Jerusalem which had killed the prophets and would now crimson itself with the blood of the prophets’ Master.  He is brought to the cross; He is nailed fast to the cruel wood.  The sun burns Him.  His cruel wounds increase the fever.  God forsakes Him.  ‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’ contains the concentrated anguish of the world.  While He hangs there in mortal conflict with sin and Satan, His heart is broken, His limbs are dislocated.  Heaven fails Him, for the sun is veiled in darkness.  Earth forsake Him, for “his disciples forsook Him and fled.”  He looks everywhere, and there is none to help; He casts His eye around, and there is no man that can share His toil.  He treads the winepress alone; and of the people there is none with Him.  On, on, He goes, steadily determined to drink the last dreg of the cup which must not pass from Him if His Father’s will be done.  At last He cries— “It is finished,” and He gives up the ghost.  Hear it, Christians, hear this shout of triumph as it rings today with all the freshness and force which it had centuries ago!  Hear it from the Sacred Word, and from the Savior’s lips, and may the Spirit of God open your ears that you may hear as the learned and understand what you hear!”  (Charles Spurgeon, “Christ’s Words from the Cross”).

What did Jesus mean by what He said?  What was “finished?” The Old Testament includes many types, promises, and prophecies which looked forward to Christ’s arrival, His ministry and His death for our sins.  He finished that prophetic work (Luke 24:44).  The Old Testament sacrifices anticipated the more perfect “once for all” sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18).  He made that better sacrifice.  In His death He finished the great work He was given to do by the Father (John 17:4).  He had come to do war with the devil, at the cross He triumphed (Hebrews 2:14).

According to Matthew’s gospel upon His saying, “It is finished,” “the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51).  God dramatically demonstrated the practical benefit derived from that which Christ spoke of.  The curtain of the temple was symbolic of the restricted access to God, but “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18;Cf. Hebrews 10:19-22).  Jesus finished His work so sin-rebels could be transformed into glad-hearted worshippers.  An enduring message of hope is bound up in these three precious words!  It is finished!

Lord Jesus, how we thank You for Your finished work on Calvary!  Though my sins had left a crimson stain, You washed me white as snow.  Though my burden was as a mountain of guilt, You worked to cancel out the debt I owed.  Your triumph has worked to set me free so that I might know You and love You and worship You.  May I be ever mindful that I’ve been set free to serve You, because You paid it all!

I hear the Savior say,

“Thy strength indeed is small,

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

Delivered Up for Me

Bible Reading: John 18

“(He) loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).  So wrote the Apostle Paul regarding Jesus.  He spoke in personal terms regarding His Savior.  He understood that Jesus purposed in love to deliberately offer Himself up for his sins.  His testimony regarding Jesus is shared by every believer in Christ.  You and I can rejoice in the same truth, “Jesus loved me and gave himself for me!”

Jesus was well aware of “all that would happen to him” (John 18:5).  He warned His disciples of His pending suffering and death on many occasions (Mark 8:31).  He predicted Judas’ betrayal before it happened (John 13:11, 19).  He had spoken of the “cup” He would drink (Mark 10:38).  It was a cup the Father had given to him.  Earlier Jesus had labored, sorrowful of soul, in prayer concerning it.   “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

The events recorded in John chapter 18 were not matters of mere happenstance.  They were not accidental occurrences which worked to bring about an unforeseen calamity, or supposed premature end to a “good man’s” life.  The death of the divine Son of God was according to the predetermined plan of God (Acts 2:23).  God purposed all along to send His only begotten Son to suffer and die for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  In His cross–and in all the events which led up to His sacrifice–Jesus fully and willingly submitted Himself to the Father’s will (John 17:4).

A company of Judas-led men came “with lanterns and torches and weapons” to arrest Him (John 18:3).  It was no small group and included “a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees” (John 18:3).  They came with torches to search for him, yet He did not hide.  They came with weapons to overcome any resistance, but He did not resist.  The mere affirmation of His identity, “I am He,” caused them all to draw back and fall to the ground (John 18:6).  Nevertheless Jesus voluntarily gave Himself up and was bound by them.  Had He chosen to resist, all the armies of the world would not have been able to arrest and bind Him.  But He had already bound Himself to the will of the Father and that bond would ultimately work to bind Him to the cross.

Despite having been forewarned, Peter did not fully understand the events which were transpiring.  His response?  “He drew (his sword) and struck the priest’s servant and cut off his right ear” (John 18:10).  What was his plan?  Defeat the enemies of Christ “one ear at a time?”  Matthew’s gospel includes the rest of Jesus’ response to Peter’s ill-advised effort: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place.  For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so’” (Matthew 26:52-54)?

Jesus could have called “twelve legions of angels” to rescue Him, but He did not.  Instead He chose to subject Himself to the Father’s will.  In so doing He fulfilled numerous, specific, and centuries-old prophecies.  The words “fulfill” and “fulfilled” are used repeatedly in the passion account to describe His obedient response.  He loved me and gave Himself for me!  Every step towards that cruel cross was fueled by His unwavering desire to fulfill the Father’s will in rescuing lost sinners like us!  

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and giving Yourself up for me!  We are awestruck as we read of how Your loving devotion to the Father led you along on the way to the cross!  Nothing could work to deter You from finishing that which You had purposed to do!  And we are the glad-hearted recipients of Your loving sacrifice!  May our hearts ever rejoice in it! 

Jesus, keep me near the cross,

There a precious fountain,

Free to all, a healing stream,

Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross

Be my glory ever,

Till my raptur’d soul shall find

Rest beyond the river.

The Suffering Servant

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53

What an amazing passage of Scripture!   Did you know the book of Isaiah was written in about 680 BC, about 700 years before Christ?  That means that all of the things spoken of in this chapter, by God through the prophet Isaiah, were spoken centuries before they actually took place.  In this chapter we find details related to the life, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus which were ultimately fulfilled to the letter.  New Testament writers referred to this very chapter many times, either quoting from it directly or alluding to truths found there.  Do you understand what this means?  In the exactness of the seven-centuries-later fulfillment of its prophecies, this revealing chapter stands as dramatic evidence of the divine authorship of the Scriptures (Cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)!

Much is spoken of in this chapter, but we are going to focus upon one central truth. John MacArthur made this point: “The truth of this ancient prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ answers the most crucial, essential, critical question that can ever be asked by any human being. I’m going to pile up the adjectives on you. This passage answers the most significant question any person can ask, the primary question, the principle question, the most vital question, the most weighty question, the most serious question, the most monumental question, the paramount question…How can a sinner be made right with God so as to escape hell and enter heaven?”

So what is the answer?  The words “iniquities” and “transgressions” are used repeatedly (Isaiah 53:5, 6, 8, 11, 12).  The word iniquity signifies a punishable offense against God’s law.  The word transgression has to do with deviation from the path of godly living.  Both terms speak to the reality that we fail to measure up to God’s righteous standard.  The fact we all have these iniquities and transgression is clarified in verse 8, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way.”  That verse sounds much like Romans 3:23 which declares “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  These texts universally indict us all of being guilty of sin and because of that, deserving of God’s judgment (Cf. Romans 6:23).

Seven hundred years before Christ died on that cross, the prophet spoke to His atoning sacrifice.  Note how God dealt, through Jesus, with our iniquities and transgressions.  “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities.”  “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  “(He was) stricken for the transgression of my people.”  “He shall bear their iniquities.”  “(He was) numbered with the transgressors.”  “He bore the sins of many.” The Bible uses the term atonement to speak of the way God’s wrath is appeased by means of a holy sacrifice to cover sin.  We deserved God’s judgment, but in bearing our sins, Jesus satisfied the demands of God’s holiness so we can be forgiven.  Salvation is by grace through faith, as we read in Romans 3:24-25, “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”  It is as the hymn says: “Guilty, vile, and helpless we; spotless Lamb of God was He; Full atonement, can it be?  Hallelujah, What a Savior!”

Lord Jesus, how we praise and thank You for Your atoning sacrifice!  We were the ones bearing the guilt of our iniquities with no means of our own to assuage our debt. How incredible that You would enter into our sin-plagued world and bear our sins, suffering the punishment we deserved!  Grant us grace that we will remain ever mindful of the great sacrifice You’ve made, that we might walk in a manner worthy of You.

What thou, my Lord, hast suffered

was all for sinners’ gain.

Mine, mine was the transgression,

but thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior!

’Tis I deserve thy place.

Look on me with thy favor,

and grant to me thy grace.

The Miracle Worker

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:1-6; John 20:30-31; Acts 2:22-24

My friend had experienced a heart attack.  His wife found him unconscious and began CPR, but he had been some time without oxygen.  He was life flighted to Portland.  He ultimately ended up at Doernbecher Children’s hospital, where they had an ECMO machine which could keep him alive.  The family was well-known and much loved and folks from around the Northwest were praying.  For some days they monitored his vital signs, hoping for some improvement.  Finally, the doctors decided there was nothing more they could do–they planned to remove him from the machine the next day.  I was with his wife when their four children came into his hospital room one-by-one to say goodbye to their unconscious father.  But God had other plans.  Miraculously, his vital signs began to show improvement that night and he survived.  He’s alive to this day!

Do you believe in miracles?  Can God do such things?  When Jesus walked the earth He did lots of miracles.  From prison John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3).  Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:4-6). The things prophesied in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah were all fulfilled through the ministry of Jesus.

These miracles of Jesus were of immediate benefit to those on the receiving end, but their purpose lay far deeper. The glory of Jesus was revealed through the miracles He performed. As a result, some were led to believe in Jesus. John’s gospel includes a purpose statement which speaks to this specific intent: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in the book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). Jesus’ miracles attested to His true identity and worked to elicit faith in Him.

What began in his earthly ministry, Jesus continues to this day. There are times He chooses to intervene in a situation in a miraculous way. But sometimes, as in the case of my wife’s cancer there’s been no instantaneous healing. Yet His provision of grace is a miracle too. He is worthy of our trust in all things (Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9). We tend to forget, or under appreciate, the miracle which is our salvation. I once wrote of this, “The life and ministry of the believer in Christ lies in the realm of the miraculous. It is impossible for us to accomplish what God calls us to do, in the power of the flesh. It is a foolhardy enterprise to suppose we can do anything of spiritual value through human wisdom, or self-effort. It is by the Spirit, people are miraculously born again and become new creatures in Christ. By the indwelling Spirit these new creatures in Christ are miraculously transformed into Christlikeness. By the working of His miraculous power their lowly bodies will one day be conformed to his glorious body. These are miracles. And Jesus is doing such things every day. By His grace. By the Spirit. To His honor and glory!”

Lord Jesus, we stand amazed when we read of the miracles You did when You walked this earth, revealing Your glory and true identity.  How thankful we are for the truth that nothing is impossible for You!  Forgive us.  We sometimes doubt, or take Your miracle-working abilities for granted.  Indeed, it was a miracle of Your grace when You caused us to be born again, making us new creatures in Christ.  Help us to trust You to do those amazing things which we could never do on our own!

My Father is Omnipotent and that you can’t deny

A God of might and miracles is written in the sky

It took a miracle to put the stars in place

It took a miracle to hang the world in space

But when He saved my soul

Cleansed and made me whole

It took a miracle of Love And Grace

Text and Music: John W. Peterson; c1948 John W. Peterson Music Company

Here’s a link to a great video testimony by Joni Eareckson Tada, related to this, which you might find helpful: A Deeper Healing

“I AM” He Said

Bible Reading: John 6:35; 8:12, 8:56-59; 9:5; 10:7; 10:11-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1

John’s gospel account includes seven “I AM” statements in which Jesus affirmed both His deity and His sufficiency.  These seven statements all relate to God’s self-identification to Moses in which God declared “I AM who I AM” (Exodus 3:14), a statement regarding His self-existence and eternality.  In John 8:58 Jesus said to the Jews, “Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”  Their response was to pick “up stones to throw at Him” (John 8:59).  Why?  Because they understood Jesus to be equating Himself with God (Cf. John 10:31-33).

In these seven “I Am” statements, Jesus, the eternal, self-existent, Divine Son of God, boldly affirmed His ability to meet all our needs. Each statement focuses on a different aspect of His provision.

A treasure trove of blessings are bound up in the person of Jesus!  To borrow the words of the hymn, “O soul are you weary and troubled, no light in the darkness you see?  There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free.”  Are you distressed and afraid in the pervasive darkness which rules this world?  The light of  the world can shine into your darkness and lead you to safety.  Have you struggled to find purpose and meaning in life?  Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy the deepest longings of your heart.  Have you grown weary of walking down dead end paths which lead only to trouble and heartache?  Jesus, the Way and the Truth and the Life, will bring You into a right relationship with God.  Are you fearful of what’s going to happen to you after you die? Jesus, the resurrection and the life, has conquered sin and death and He’ll do the same for you if you trust in Him.  Do you need someone to lead you and watch over you, as you journey in this trouble-filled world?  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will watch over your soul!  Do you want your life to truly matter, bearing fruit of eternal significance? He will accomplish this in and through you  as you abide in Him.  Look to Him, weary traveler!  He lovingly calls for you to come!

Lord Jesus, there is none like You! As the self-existent, creator of all things, You alone are able to meet all our needs and satisfy our deepest longings! May our hearts gladly welcome You in Your all sufficient presence and love, in the reality of each of these wonderful truths.

Jesus, I am resting, resting

in the joy of what thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

of thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon thee,

as thy beauty fills my soul,

for by thy transforming power,

thou hast made me whole.