Ministry of Love

The intention of this blog is to share Biblical messages at least on a weekly basis. Any response is appreciated. I do not expect everyone to agree with my interpretation of Biblical passages. I will try to respond with love and thoughtfulness.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Questions people ask about Jesus, by John

Why did Jesus say, "Your faith has made you whole...."? Why didn't He just say to those to whom He spoke that He had all the power needed to do anything? Why did he say to more than one person, "I will, be thou clean"? Why didn't He tell them their faith had accomplished their healing? I supposed many Christians are familiar with the theory that God limited Himself when He gave us "free will." Are Jesus' statements part of that? Is that why Jesus could not do many miracles in His hometown? Matthew 13:57,58 says, "And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, 'Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.' And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."

Many believe that Jesus was always unlimited in power. Satan certainly believed He had all power when he tested Jesus. (Matthew 4) Some believe that His power grew as He grew. Somewhere between these two theories lies the truth. Personally, I do not think it makes any great difference which theory you believe. I do believe it is vital that you believe Jesus is the only born Son of God, that He died for our sins and that He arose from the dead for our salvation. I believe to inherit the eternal life He, and He alone, gives you must commit your life to Him repenting of your sin. Once you've done that, everything else becomes secondary. Nothing loses it's importance, but it does not compare with saving faith mixed with God's grace.

Now about the thing we started with. I believe Jesus' power grew as He approached the cross. I believe that because I believe He was completely human as well as completely God. Humans grow constantly adding to their knowledge and wisdom until they are older adults. As we are all too aware, with advanced age, some of our capabilities decline. We believe Jesus died about age 33, so He was not old enough humanly speaking to have lost any ability at all. At the time, Jesus was performing signs and miracles, I believe He was totally unlimited in power. I believe He limited Himself to helping those who sought His help. Those who didn't believe, didn't seek. I think that is obvious. I can remember how chagrined I was when a girl in my highschool class came into the drugstore as I was leaving, and I said, "Hi, Virginia!" She replied in kind, and her aunt who was with her loud enough for me to hear her said, "Don't tell me that kid is in your class!" People don't give honor and respect to those chose to them even today. I suppose they consider that "great people" would not inhabit their neighborhood, but Jesus' statement still stands as a truism today.

There is another very important consideration here. God's power, which can override any obstacle, does require our faith. I think that the different responses Jesus made were all designed to show more than one thing. First, it showed that God doesn't have to do anything the same way twice. Some doctors are now stating that we will be less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's if we stop doing everything by habit. They suggest we make little changes such as putting on our stockings or socks, etc., differently. Instead of right foot first, don them on the left first. There are many things we can change such as the route we take to the grocery, or work, and all of these things force us to use different parts of our brain.

I think a second reason Jesus answered people differently was to let us know there is not just one way to do spiritual things. One of us may pray, "In Jesus' name," while another may not simply because he considers himself in Jesus to start with! One of us may sprinkle water on a person's head, and another pour it on, while another submerges a person once, and another submerges them three times, all for baptism. The important thing is that we are in touch with our Heavenly Father and in His will when we do it, and that we are doing it because that person has placed his life-trust in Jesus.

A third reason in my mind is that Jesus knew human beings would try to reduce everything to a modicum of the truth. I believe He did not want us to know what He looked like physically for the same reason. He wants us to be exercising our minds, plumbing the depths of knowledge and reason while He provides us wisdom to use and share what we learn. "Jesus is the sweetest name I know...." But the Jesus I know wants us to know Him, not just His name. He wants us to share His life eternally. He wants us to enjoy all of God's creation, and I testify that we do when we really know Him!

Friday, November 12, 2010

11/12/10Musings:A Word Picture of Jesus? by John

Lev. 1:2 "herd" (Hebrew, baqar) is definitely one of the bovine species, a bull, a cow, or a calf. The "flock" (Hebrew, tsone) is definitely ovine, so it could either be sheep or goat. This word is also be used for a group of migrating people. It actually means "migrate."

To Christians, this first section of Leviticus is unmistakably a picture of the coming Jesus. Taken as it is here, He could have been born in any race. God made the choice for Him to be born of the house of David. Traced back in history, there is no racial purity in David's house. Moses had a wife who was not a child of Abraham. Rahab was from Jericho, and Ruth was a Moabitess. All three of these are included in the lineage of the human Jesus showing that He represented all races on earth.

The sacrifice involved a number of specific actions, some done by the priests, but a very large part done by the worshipers. Anything that concerned the altar was extremely holy, and the person doing anything there had to be consecrated for that holy purpose.

On the other hand, the worshiper had to provide the animal to be sacrificed. He brought it to the priests at the tabernacle, and laid his hands on the animal's head before killing it. That may have showed he owned it, and it could also have identified him as the one needing forgiveness. Both could be true. Then he had to slay it, flay it and divide the pieces. That's where the priest took over offering it on the altar. It was burned until nothing was left but ashes.

The smoke rising upward provided a sweet aroma to God, Leviticus says. That's the Bible's way of saying God was pleased with what was done. It also shows the offering was not intended to appease God's anger, but rather to be a pleasure to Him.

I can see Jesus plainly here. He represented all mankind when He walked among the people of the world. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus possessed every desire that God has given each of us. He refrained from any and all sin in order to be an innocent sacrifice, like the lamb or calf specified in Leviticus. Each of us to become Christian, must have our sins forgiven and become God's children. In a sense we must lay our hands on Jesus as the ancient Hebrews did their sacrifice. We must "own" Jesus as our Lord. We must recognize that we need saving because as sinners we are unfit to stand in the presence of God. Owning Him as our Lord and Savior recognizes the greatness of our Heavenly Father.

When we say, "I do" to God, if we honestly seek Him, then He promises to say "I do" to us, and we and our God become one in spirit. Romans 8:16,17 says, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

If you have not experienced what is described above, you may not realize you need God at all. That's understandable. Have you ever suddenly become aware you had lost your way in a city, or perhaps on a long trip? The Bible tells us everyone is a sinner. None of us has lived without sinning whether we realize it or not. When you do realize you are lost, a kind person showing you the right way is a blessing! Jesus is that kind Person. He doesn't just point the way for you. He, Himself, is the Way! John 14:6 is a quotation from Jesus. It says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."