Tag Archives: Jesus

Tell the Disciples and Peter (Part 5)

I often wonder what those hours immediately following the crucifixion were like for Simon.  What thoughts ran through his mind after he denied knowing Jesus?  How did he deal with the sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach as he reflected on how he’d turned his back on his friend, his teacher, his master?

Jesus had actually called him Peter – Cephas – the ‘rock’.  And within that exchange, the only time Jesus ever called him by that name, Jesus also warned Simon that he would betray Jesus.  Imagine the incongruity of it all.

Simon, you’ve lived with the fact that three years ago I gave you a new name, yet I’ve continued to call you Simon.  Your new name, Peter, is a name of which you can be proud.  It’s a solid name; a name which reflects an uncompromising nature.  Now, in the very moment I finally use that name to address you, I’m also telling you that you will behave in a manner that is the very opposite of this new name.

I wonder if Simon was able to put all this together with Jesus’ statement immediately prior?

“Simon, Satan has asked to sift you but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.  When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22.31).

Even though Simon may not have made it through the ‘sifting’ in the way he likely would have preferred.  Jesus knew Simon truly was the ‘rock’ worthy of the name Peter.  Jesus had confidence in him.

But, what was it like for Simon during that day in-between?  Was he able to look the other disciples in the eye?  Was there tension between them all?  Simon, you and John went into the courtyard so you would know what was happening to Jesus.  Why did you run off?  Did Simon feel he was no longer worthy to be counted among them?

I realise this is my own speculation, but something the angel said to the women stands out to me.  When the women arrived at Jesus’ tomb and found it was empty the angel said to them, “…Go tell his disciples and Peter…” (Mk 16.7).

The angel didn’t say, “Tell the disciples and Simon…”   Not only did the angel refer to him by the new name, but the angel was aware there was already some sort of distance between Simon and the rest of the Disciples.  Had Simon already distanced himself?  Had he turned away?

Perhaps, the angel’s instruction was to indicate to everyone that Simon was still included in the group.  Perhaps, the use of the name Peter, was an indication to all that Simon was no longer to be called Simon.  Perhaps, the use of the name Peter, was an indication to Simon that, despite how he may have felt at the moment, he truly was Peter.

Simon…, Simon, when you turn back; strengthen your brothers.

Simon, Peter, Simon (Part 4)

Not long after the second time of announcing Simon’s change of name, Jesus finally calls him Peter.   The only recorded instance of Jesus calling Simon by the name Peter is recorded in Luke 22.34.  Jesus uses the name Peter when he prophesied that Simon was about to deny him three times that night.  Ouch.

Why did Jesus wait until this moment to call him Peter?  It seems so contrary to the new name.  This is the occasion when Simon is the least rock-like.  Why not call him Peter after one of his many declarations of truth, or demonstrations of faithfulness?  Why not call him Peter after he walked on water!?!  Why wait to call him by this name of ‘rock’ when you’re telling him he will be very un-rock-like?  Why use this name to tell Simon he will betray his friend, the one for whom only moments previously he had said he would lay down his life?

“Peter, before the rooster crows you will have disowned me three times.”

When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Simon took up the sword – some would say that is rock-like behaviour when your mentor and rabbi is being abused and unfairly treated.

When Jesus was taken in for questioning, Simon and John talked their way into the courtyard – some would say that is rock-like behaviour to stay aware of what is happening to your friend and teacher.

But when he is questioned by a servant girl Simon operated in non-rock-like behaviour.  Some may say it didn’t really matter what a servant girl thought, Simon was focused on what was happening to Jesus.  The servant girl was a distraction. Simon wanted to find out what would happen to Jesus, so he let the denials flow and kept his attention on the court proceedings.

Imagine Simon’s fear and guilt when he heard the rooster crow.  Imagine the sinking feeling in his gut when he realised that these flippant denials to an insignificant servant girl really did matter.  Imagine the depth of shame and embarrassment as he made eye contact with Jesus.  What passed between them in that brief encounter?  How rock-like did Simon feel in those moments?

Simon…, Simon…, Simon…

God’s Will & Jesus’ Teaching

I really like the way Jesus taught. Frequently I come across something Jesus said that makes me smile. So often he would say something that would be stated a challenge to some, but to someone else, the same statement was an invitation.

One instance is from John 7.16 where he said, “My Teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God.”

Jesus was responding to the peoples’ amazement at his teaching. In his humility, he said that what he spoke wasn’t something he came up with himself, but had originated with God the Father. The challenge was that anyone who wanted to explore more of this teaching would be invited to pursue God’s will to do so.

What I find interesting about this invitation is the way it challenges us to test while, at the same time, invites us to pursue the will of God. But the only way we can truly know the will of God is to do what Jesus taught – then we’ll come to know whether his teaching comes from God.

Again, it comes back to the necessity of our lived experience that enables us to prove the will of God.

It is not through agreeing with what we’ve heard, or even saying that we believe what we’ve heard that validates the teacher, but only by putting into practice what we’ve heard. Only by testing the teaching can we stand over our belief or agreement in the teaching.

Come, Hear, Do (part 3)

The man who heard Jesus’ words but did not put them into practice had not come to him. Compare this to the man who came to Jesus, heard Jesus’ words and put them into practice; he is like the man who dug a foundation for his house.

This man knew he was building something valuable, and he understood the importance of building correctly.  The process of digging is difficult, messy, and time consuming – but worth the effort.

In a construction project the ground works are a vital part of the job.  But it is also the messiest, dirtiest part of building.  This can be frustrating because the works can go on for a while with, seemingly, no visible sign that anything is actually being accomplished.  Pipes and cables must be trenched for services to the site. The ground must be levelled. But before any of that can be done the site must first be cleared of any obstruction.

Coming to Jesus for his instruction can sometimes be a little bit like the effort of digging the foundation.  In our process of coming to him, we sometimes realise there are obstacles in the way – obstacles we’ve put there or allowed to grow.  Sometimes we uncover things about ourselves we weren’t aware of before. It can sometimes be messy.

Coming to Jesus can be time-consuming.  Sometimes Jesus doesn’t “answer” when we want him to or when we think he should.  Sometimes, we seek Jesus because we want to hear his words on a matter but he appears to be silent.  In those seasons, rather than jump to false conclusions, we must continue to seek him so we learn to hear is heart, not just his words.

Sometimes it is the process of seeking Jesus that helps me realise just how much I need to come to him.  It is in the seeking that I learn the depth of my longing, the necessity of the burden, the scale of my desire.  It is in the seeking that I learn how important it is for the soil of my heart to be cleared from obstructions so when I do hear the words spoken by Jesus, they can be planted in good soil.

Come, Hear, Do (part 2)

Jesus continued the lesson with a story about someone who builds his house on the ground, not digging and setting a proper foundation.  The correlation is that this person hears Jesus’ words but doesn’t put them into practice.

Why would someone who hears the words of Jesus choose not to put them into practice?  What is going on in the heart or mind of someone who would decide that the teachings of Jesus are not worth attempting to integrate into their life?

Could it be that the person simply has no regard for the teaching of Jesus?  Is it possible that they don’t have respect or honour for Jesus?  Could there be an issue of pride or the inability to receive instruction?

Maybe it could be any combination of these, but notice what Jesus pointed out.  The one who builds his house on the ground did not actually come to Jesus.  So, this person has missed out on step 1 (anyone who comes to me) and step 3 (put my words into practice).

This makes what Jesus says all the more interesting.  If the person didn’t come to Jesus how did he hear the words of Jesus?  Did he hear the words through a 3rd party? Did he hear the words because he happen to pass by?

It’s impossible to know – after all, this is only a parable.  But by saying this Jesus seems to indicate that those who come to him (seek him) will be more inclined to put into practice the teachings they hear from him.

Let’s think about this for a minute.  We do not usually seek something or someone unless we recognise a need for what that person has to offer.  If we seek out a doctor– we’ve recognised a need.  If we seek out an architect – we’ve recognised a need.  If we seek out a friend or loved one – we’ve recognised a need, albeit a different type of need.  Seeking Jesus is what we do when we’ve recognised we have a need.

Why would anyone seek, if they don’t recognise they have a need?   At the same time, if someone doesn’t seek, it is likely they are unaware of their need.  So, the person who builds their house on the ground does so because he is completely unaware that there is a better way.

I’ve heard this story talked about in church for many years and it’s almost always spoken of with more than a hint of judgment about the one who built the house on the ground.  As a child I was even taught a song about this story and the man who built his house upon the ‘sand’ was immortalised in the song as being ‘foolish’.

Perhaps, I’ve been too quick to judge the man. Perhaps this man is simply an allegorical version of so many of my friends who, for whatever reason, have not come to Jesus and are unaware of the wisdom, freedom and life of his words.  Do I judge them?  No, I have compassion for them.  I look for ways to introduce them to this great teacher called Jesus.  I look for ways to help them realise that he is the one who can meet their need.

Come, Hear, Do (part 1)

Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house , who dug down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When a flood came…. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

Jesus asks a great question at the start – Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say?  He knows that if someone calls him Lord, then that person should also be committed to the teachings of his Lord. It raises the question of motive – why are you calling me Lord at all?

I like that Jesus doesn’t say to them: “Stop calling me Lord!”  Jesus rarely gave commands when the real issue was centred on someone’s choice of following.  Following is always a choice.  Jesus always invites, always entices, always demonstrates what life can be like, but never demands that someone follow.

Once someone decides to follow, then the instructions come.  But, as in the story, the instructions and directions are spoken for our benefit.

Notice the three-step process Jesus mentions:

  1. Anyone who comes to me
  2. Hears my words
  3. Puts them into practice

Coming to Jesus is a crucial part of hearing his words. Too many people hear Jesus’ words through a 3rd party – that can be a helpful for people but sometimes the meaning, intent and relevance of the original words are lost in translation. We each need to come to Jesus to hear his words, to learn his heart, to understand his ways and to experience his nature.

Jesus invited people – all people – to come to him (Mt 11.28) and to seek his Kingdom (Mt 6.33).

The Father also promised that anyone who comes to him would find him, when we seek him with all our heart (Jer 29.13). The Bible even promises rewards to those who seek him (Hb 11.6).

The second part is hearing Jesus’ words.  You might think that hearing Jesus’ words would be natural if we come to him, but this isn’t always the case. It often happens that someone comes to Jesus but spends the whole time doing all the talking. Sometimes we come with a heart so full of our own concerns and worries that we feel we need to ‘pray’ for these concerns.  While praying is important we must also learn how to listen.

Jesus told us that Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth by speaking to us the things he hears from Jesus (Jn 16.13-14).

Jesus also said that his words are spirit and they are life (Jn 6.63) so rather than carrying the burdens of worry and stress, hearing Jesus’ words will bring life-giving perspective to the concerns of daily living.

The third part of Jesus’ lesson is to put into practice the words he has spoken.  This can sometimes sound easier than it is.  Jesus has provided a range of instructions in the Bible that are to guide us: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and Love your neighbour as yourself…; Give to everyone who asks of you…; Bless those who curse you…; Heal the sick…; Go, teach people what I’ve commanded you…; Love one another…

These are simple, but can be challenging as we learn how to pursue them.  Yet, the challenge can never become an excuse for not putting them into practice – “Why do you call me Lord, but do not do what I say?”

The heart of the matter is that we are on a journey, the further we go, the more we learn. The deeper we walk in relationship with Jesus, the more we learn his heart, the way he speaks and, just as importantly, we learn how to hear.  In this process of learning to listen a desire is formed in us to want to put his words into practice.

 

Jesus & God in Healing (part 2)

Back to those inconsistencies I grew up with. I remember thinking that somehow Jesus & God had different roles to play. I could read the Bible and see what Jesus did, but somehow that was separate from what God did.

When someone we knew was diagnosed with a disease or suffered a debilitating condition, I remember hearing older people say things like, “that’s the way life goes” or “God works in mysterious ways” or “I don’t understand it now, but there’s a reason for the sickness”. I did not grow up in a belief system that held out hope and faith that God is good and doesn’t want people to be sick. As a result, the belief system that developed in me was more the opposite: that God intentionally gives people diseases or, if he’s not giving them directly, he’s not able or willing to change the condition.

So much of Jesus’ life and activity was spent healing those who were sick, lame, blind or deaf. The gospels give several summary statements about Jesus ministry and how he healed the multitudes (Mt 4.23f, 9.35; Lk 6.18). He healed because he had compassion (Mk 1.40-42 ), he healed to demonstrate he had authority to forgive sin (Lk 5.18-25), he healed to release people from the bondage of sickness (Lk 13.11-13 ;Jn 5.6), he healed simply because people requested it (Mt 9.19; Mk 10.51), he healed to demonstrate the present reality of his Kingdom (Mt 8.5-13, 12.28; Lk 6.22-23) and Jesus healed because he and Father are one and the same (Jn 14.11).

I was always happy with the first few reasons – because this was Jesus and healing is just a part of what he did. But I remember the first time I heard the idea that God is good and doesn’t want people to be sick – I recall getting defensive, even argumentative. I could agree that God is good but I didn’t know what to do with the idea he doesn’t want people sick. Hadn’t I learned all along that people get sick, suffer with disease and people in the church simply put it down to God’s purposes? Wasn’t it commonly understood that all things happen for a purpose and if someone gets a diagnosis it will work out for their good?

These are the conclusion I had come to. But I was now being presented with a conflicting idea and the more I investigated Jesus’ life and what the Bible reveals, I realised that my conclusions were very far away from what I was discovering in the Bible.

It all boiled down to this question: If Jesus healed the sick, how could God be the one making people sick? Jesus said that one of the reasons for healing was to reveal the nature and heart of God (Jn 10.38), then how could God be the one who is making people sick? If Jesus is the exact representation of God (Hb 1.3) then it doesn’t make sense that Jesus would go around healing if God is the one making people sick.

If Jesus only did what he saw the Father do and only said what he heard the Father say (Jn 5.19), then that meant Jesus ‘saw’ that the heart of God was to heal the sick. Jesus even said on a few occasions that he healed so people would know God sent him (Jn 11.42). Never once did Jesus tell someone that he wouldn’t be able to heal them because the particular condition had been given to them by the Father. Jesus and God are not playing out a ‘good-cop, bad-cop’ routine. They are completely united and in total agreement. They are genuinely good.

Jesus & God in Healing (part 1)

Another image of God that I picked up somewhere along the way is the idea that people get sick either because God gives it to them or, at the very least, he allows it in order for them to learn something to make them better people. But, if the author of Hebrews is correct, Jesus is the perfect representation of God and no matter how hard I looked, I simply could not find anywhere in the life of Jesus where he told people that the sickness they had would make them better people. Again, I see the opposite.

Jesus actually healed everyone who asked him for healing. Everyone who asked. Not once did Jesus tell somebody that the disease they were suffering with was sent to them by God in order to build their character, help them be a better person, teach them patience, bring their family closer or to die with dignity. Yet, for so much of my life, I’ve heard Christians give reasons like these to explain why people get sick.

When we talk about healing from a Christian perspective I think its essential that we talk about it from the example and teaching of Jesus. Too often healing is discussed from our point of view – and that isn’t always the most biblical. It is important that we stop to consider from where we form our beliefs. Where do your beliefs about healing come from? Have you arrived at those beliefs through studying the Scriptures? Or are your beliefs about healing arrived at through your personal experience?

I’m not saying I have all the answers. In no way do I have it all figured out. But I am sure about one thing: Jesus healed everyone who came to him requesting healing – he even went to heal people who didn’t ask him for healing! Not once did Jesus turn someone away. Never did he tell someone to get their act together before he would heal them. Never did he tell someone to get used to the disease because it was the ‘cross they were to carry’ or that it would make them a better person. His only response to disease and physical ailments was to get rid of them by healing the person who was sick.

Jesus and God (Part 2)

The more I learn about Jesus and his relationship with God I am surprised that I ever had an idea that they were so different.

Jesus was with God in the very beginning and through him all things were created. But Jesus was humble enough to willingly set aside his divinity in order to be born as a man. In his human-ness he was able to live and identify all the aspects of the human condition, yet he remained without sin. How was he able to live without sinning? He maintained a relationship with God. As a young man he grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with both people and with God.

Jesus matured into manhood living a life of perfect relationship with God. His relationship with God was so close that he repeatedly told people “If you have seen me you have seen the Father” and ” I and the Father are one”. But this didn’t just come from Jesus. On three different occasions God spoke in a voice that others could hear, telling people that he was proud of his son, Jesus (Mt 3.17, 17.5; Jn 12.28).

Jesus wanted so much to retain his relationship with God that he would often spend long blocks of time away from other people so he could pray and spend time alone with his Father. Through that close-knit bond between them, Jesus knew the heart of God and wanted only to please him. He said that his ‘food’ is to do the will of the one who sent him (Jn 4.34). As a result God honoured Jesus and “was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Col 1.19; 2.9).

So, when we talk about Jesus being the exact representation of God, it is because Jesus – as a man – was more interested in living to please God than to please himself. His desire to please God and to mirror the heart of God to people, meant that he only did what he saw the Father do, and said what he heard the Father say (Jn 5.19). This perfect obedience in a relationship of love is what made it possible for him to exactly (link to post) and precisely reflect and represent the heart, nature and character of God.

The Man With a Shrivelled Hand

One Sabbath day Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue and saw a man whose hand was shrivelled.  I’m not sure what a shrivelled hand looks like. The Greek word used in this sentence is Xaraino (Zay-ra-eeno) and its meaning is to dry up, to wither, to waste away.

I have a picture in my head of a hand with fingers somehow curled up and locked into an unusable position with the palm of the hand squeezed together with the base of the thumb forced inward toward the palm. Withered. Unusable. Wasting away.

All through the Bible, we see instances where Jesus healed the multitudes and all who came to him. In this situation he does something a little unusual. He doesn’t simply heal the man; he first asks a question of the religious leaders who were present.

“What is lawful on the Sabbath; to do good or to do evil? To save a life or to kill?” In their silence Jesus was angry and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts and told the man to stretch out his hand – which he did to the astonishment of everyone in the room. The man’s hand that just a few moments ago was withered and wasting away is now being stretched out, with life once again pulsating through the muscles, tendons, nerves and joints.

The context of the passage is dealing with the religious leaders who were more concerned with keeping their man-made tradition than they were concerned about the good of the people. By asking the question, Jesus exposed their stubbornness in front of everyone. But, his question did more than simply embarrass the religious leaders.

Everyone knows the answer to the question Jesus asked. To do good is always a better option than to do evil and to save a life is always better than to kill. These questions don’t even require consideration from any right-thinking person. So why did Jesus ask the question?

Through his question, he made clear that there is a connection between doing good and saving a life. To do good is to act in such a way that brings hope, invites promise or demonstrates righteousness. This type of action is life-giving in the spiritual sense as well as in the tangible, physical sense.

Conversely, there is a connection between choosing evil and killing. To do evil is to act in such a way that steals, inhibits righteousness or oppresses others. Even if there is no overtly evil deed, a decision not to act for good when you have the power to do so, is still an action. And this in-action is the opposite of goodness; it robs life and, over time, it kills.

To do good or to do evil? To save a life or to kill? Each action is a result of a choice.

But this question seems a bit too heady, too deep, almost over the top for the situation. The religious leaders had been teaching for strict adherence to their laws around keeping the Sabbath holy. Surely, they weren’t trying to kill anyone, all they were trying to do was keep people in line – even if it was through an unreasonable & overbearing approach.

But, in a way that only Jesus is able to do, he cuts through all the smokescreens and religious double-talk and gets right to the heart of the matter. To choose not to do good is just as evil as an overt act of evil.

Throughout his ministry Jesus consistently stated that one of the reasons he came was to do good and to save. He said that he came to give life in abundance, but the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (Jn 10.10). When speaking to Cornelius in Acts 10, the disciple Peter made a statement about Jesus that summarises this point. Peter describes Jesus as going around “doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil because God was with him” (Acts 10.38).

So the reason behind Jesus’ question becomes even more clear when we look at the context of Jesus’ teaching and ministry. Jesus came to bring life. Healing the man’s hand was a demonstration of goodness and life.

Another important element in the context of Jesus’ ministry is that he taught, and expected, his followers to continue in his mission.

Which is better; to do good and save a life, or to do evil and kill?