Was Jesus Right About the World (Spiritual Reality, Death, Values)?
Too Little, Too Late? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Welcome to what I hope will be a paradigm-shifting, mind-blowing, life-changing weekend. It was originally my intent to skip discussion of one of Willard’s chapters to get right into the SOM with discussion of the Beatitudes. Re-reading that chapter made me realize we needed to wrestle with a question of prime importance lest the Red Letters be just another “good Bible study” instead of being transformative, which was Jesus’ original intent.
That question is, “Was, and is, Jesus right about the world?” The truth is the world as Jesus saw it has little in common with the world as commonly perceived. I’m talking about more than the differences of time, culture, discovery and technology. How we answer this question is fundamental (hate that word) to how seriously we take the words of Jesus.
Most (all) of us grew up holding two realities in tension.
Most (all) of us grew up holding two realities in tension.
God (the Father) was “the old man in the sky,” looking down like Zeus with thunderbolts.
God (the Father) was “the old man in the sky,” looking down like Zeus with thunderbolts.
Jesus, whom we never ever referred to as God, lived in our hearts.
Jesus, whom we never ever referred to as God, lived in our hearts.
Being Baptist, we rarely talked about the Holy Spirit in any meaningful way that I remember.
Being Baptist, we rarely talked about the Holy Spirit in any meaningful way that I remember.
While some still hold to these “realities,” for most there has been a transition.
While some still hold to these “realities,” for most there has been a transition.
Old school liberalism weakened the underpinnings for understanding God as “in the sky somewhere,” that is rattling around empty space.
Old school liberalism weakened the underpinnings for understanding God as “in the sky somewhere,” that is rattling around empty space.
While the old view was less Bible than ancient mythology, it preserved the idea of God as an objective reality.
While the old view was less Bible than ancient mythology, it preserved the idea of God as an objective reality.
The response has been to bring God nearer by having him reside in the human heart.
The response has been to bring God nearer by having him reside in the human heart.
While this nearness is a positive thing, it turns God into a subjective reality, and, as Willard points out, human heart can become human imagination.
While this nearness is a positive thing, it turns God into a subjective reality, and, as Willard points out, human heart can become human imagination.
As best we can figure it out, what was Jesus’ reality?
As best we can figure it out, what was Jesus’ reality?
We know Jesus’ God was a spirit being.
We know Jesus’ God was a spirit being.
But an hour is coming—and now is here—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for indeed the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and the ones who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
What you may never have heard quite this way is we, too, are spirit beings.
What you may never have heard quite this way is we, too, are spirit beings.
So God created humankind in his image, in the likeness of God he created him, male and female he created them.
I found this explanation on the PBS website: …humans are in the image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature.
I found this explanation on the PBS website: …humans are in the image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature.
Forget the old ideas of body, spirit, and soul from Greek philosophy which makes parts of us less real than other parts.
Forget the old ideas of body, spirit, and soul from Greek philosophy which makes parts of us less real than other parts.
Willard says we are spirit beings who currently have physical bodies, but he leaves out some truth.
Willard says we are spirit beings who currently have physical bodies, but he leaves out some truth.
We are more than our physical bodies, but our bodies are part of our being and are given importance in scripture.
We are more than our physical bodies, but our bodies are part of our being and are given importance in scripture.
The creation of us, the whole us, was part of what God pronounced very good in Genesis.
The creation of us, the whole us, was part of what God pronounced very good in Genesis.
Jesus experienced bodily resurrection, not soul immortality.
Jesus experienced bodily resurrection, not soul immortality.
So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in front of them.
And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Although the doors had been shut, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace to you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Place your finger here and see my hands, and place your hand and put it into my side. And do not be unbelieving, but believing!”
Even in death, we will not dispense with our bodies, glorified though they may be.
Even in death, we will not dispense with our bodies, glorified though they may be.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
How does this impact our reality?
How does this impact our reality?
There is such a thing as a “me.”
There is such a thing as a “me.”
There is no surgery you can perform to find this me, even in my brain.
There is no surgery you can perform to find this me, even in my brain.
Yet this “me” directs my body and is influenced by it through sickness, age, etc.
Yet this “me” directs my body and is influenced by it through sickness, age, etc.
I can use this body’s verbal and non-verbal language to show you “me” or hide “me” from you.
I can use this body’s verbal and non-verbal language to show you “me” or hide “me” from you.
Willard rightly says the relationship we have to our bodies is illustrative of God in space, using the word here to mean anywhere and everywhere.
Willard rightly says the relationship we have to our bodies is illustrative of God in space, using the word here to mean anywhere and everywhere.
God occupies and manipulates space as we do our bodies, but we cannot point to anything in space and say, “There is all of God.”
God occupies and manipulates space as we do our bodies, but we cannot point to anything in space and say, “There is all of God.”
In her Second Revelation on Divine Love, English mystic Juilan of Norwich wrote, “For He will be seen and He will be sought: He will be abided and he will be trusted.”
In her Second Revelation on Divine Love, English mystic Juilan of Norwich wrote, “For He will be seen and He will be sought: He will be abided and he will be trusted.”
We know this because all true revelation of God is self-revelation culminating in Jesus Christ.
We know this because all true revelation of God is self-revelation culminating in Jesus Christ.
Beware lest anyone take you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ, because in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily,
But, as we are rarely seen where we are not wanted, the same may be said of God.
But, as we are rarely seen where we are not wanted, the same may be said of God.
“I decided God was good.” Willard's YouTube story of the Wycliffe Bible Translator couple who lost both sons to malaria.
The closer we are to another person, the more that person’s “me” is visible to us; might not the same be said of God?
The closer we are to another person, the more that person’s “me” is visible to us; might not the same be said of God?
Are we seeing not only the reason for the kind of relationship Jesus had with the Father (or Mother) but that such a relationship might be possible for us?
Are we seeing not only the reason for the kind of relationship Jesus had with the Father (or Mother) but that such a relationship might be possible for us?
To say we are spirit beings means we have access to and resources in realms not perceptible to the 5 senses.
To say we are spirit beings means we have access to and resources in realms not perceptible to the 5 senses.
Our society devalues what is imperceptible to the senses as not real.
Our society devalues what is imperceptible to the senses as not real.
This is why spiritual reality is increasingly regarded as subjective, or, even, worse disconnected from “real” life.
This is why spiritual reality is increasingly regarded as subjective, or, even, worse disconnected from “real” life.
But thought is certainly real, even if you can’t perceive it only through the senses.
But thought is certainly real, even if you can’t perceive it only through the senses.
And thought opens other doors from the subjective into the objective.
And thought opens other doors from the subjective into the objective.
What thinks can value or devalue.
What thinks can value or devalue.
What can value or devalue can choose.
What can value or devalue can choose.
And having chosen can act.
And having chosen can act.
This we can call the will.
This we can call the will.
Understanding the will.
Understanding the will.
Will is self-determination.
Will is self-determination.
To the comment no one can make us do anything, someone said, “They can with a gun.” Ron Hinze replied, “No, they can’t. We can choose to die.”
Only for God is this 100% true.
Only for God is this 100% true.
And God said to Moses, “I am that I am.” And he said, “So you must say to the Israelites, ‘I am sent me to you.’ ”
For the Son as well as the Father.
For the Son as well as the Father.
For just as the Father has life in himself, thus also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself.
And as Dr. Beasley-Murray said this life can be communicated to, shared with, others.
And as Dr. Beasley-Murray said this life can be communicated to, shared with, others.
Because we are spiritual beings, we ought to live under God’s kingship because that is our world.
Because we are spiritual beings, we ought to live under God’s kingship because that is our world.
This is the eternal life, the divine conspiracy, that God isn’t only present but wishes to share his life with us.
This is the eternal life, the divine conspiracy, that God isn’t only present but wishes to share his life with us.
May your kingdom come,
may your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
We need to take a page from the OT Jews who had no sacred/secular division, all life was God’s.
We need to take a page from the OT Jews who had no sacred/secular division, all life was God’s.
For the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace,
We are freed from the “only physical” world.
We are freed from the “only physical” world.
Which takes us to our greatest (?) reality: death.
Which takes us to our greatest (?) reality: death.
Several verses that seem almost nonsensical merit our attention.
Several verses that seem almost nonsensical merit our attention.
but has now been disclosed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel,
Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death forever.”
The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham and the prophets died, and you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death forever.’
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die forever. Do you believe this?”
We know people still die, don’t they?
We know people still die, don’t they?
I mean wasn’t that last verse words Jesus spoke to Martha on the way to Lazarus’ tomb?
I mean wasn’t that last verse words Jesus spoke to Martha on the way to Lazarus’ tomb?
Paul wrote the last enemy to be abolished, future tense, is death. [1 Cor 15.26]
Paul wrote the last enemy to be abolished, future tense, is death. [1 Cor 15.26]
Does death mean something else for those who see God?
Does death mean something else for those who see God?
Paul often refers to those who have died in the Lord as those who are asleep.
Paul often refers to those who have died in the Lord as those who are asleep.
When we sleep, we are still conscious of things, just different things from when we are awake.
When we sleep, we are still conscious of things, just different things from when we are awake.
Jesus told a dying thief he would be with him (Jesus) in paradise. This is Willard’s response to those who dismiss these as pretty words.
Jesus told a dying thief he would be with him (Jesus) in paradise. This is Willard’s response to those who dismiss these as pretty words.
Anyone who realizes that reality is God's, and has seen a little bit of what God has already done, will understand that such a 'Paradise' would be no problem at all. And there God will preserve every one of his treasured friends in the wholeness of their personal existence precisely because he treasures them in that form.
Without downplaying the physical trauma to the dying one and the emotional trauma of those left behind, might we say death is the transition to an elevated consciousness?
Without downplaying the physical trauma to the dying one and the emotional trauma of those left behind, might we say death is the transition to an elevated consciousness?
Perhaps death is just one example, although pretty big one, of a shift in values and language reflecting a larger reality than we’re used to?
Perhaps death is just one example, although pretty big one, of a shift in values and language reflecting a larger reality than we’re used to?
Do you remember the story of the widow’s mite?
Do you remember the story of the widow’s mite?
Certainly, in one reality she did not give more than the wealthy donors did.
Certainly, in one reality she did not give more than the wealthy donors did.
But in another reality she did because in that reality the question is not how much each person gave, but how much each had left.
But in another reality she did because in that reality the question is not how much each person gave, but how much each had left.
So, we’re back to the question was Jesus right…about everything, about some things, about nothing?
So, we’re back to the question was Jesus right…about everything, about some things, about nothing?
Willard says to experience reality as Jesus did we have to accept he was the smartest man who ever lived, in every field of human endeavor.
Willard says to experience reality as Jesus did we have to accept he was the smartest man who ever lived, in every field of human endeavor.
He doesn’t spell it out enough in what I have read for me to say he has it wrong.
He doesn’t spell it out enough in what I have read for me to say he has it wrong.
But I have long been convinced that Jesus lived in his times as a man of his times.
But I have long been convinced that Jesus lived in his times as a man of his times.
His difference was not that he was an expert in molecular biology nor in particle physics, any more than we have to be.
His difference was not that he was an expert in molecular biology nor in particle physics, any more than we have to be.
His difference was not only in his relationship to his Father, which he makes available to us, but in the kind of Father he was related to.
His difference was not only in his relationship to his Father, which he makes available to us, but in the kind of Father he was related to.
I agree with Willard Jesus cannot be Lord without being competent.
I agree with Willard Jesus cannot be Lord without being competent.
We don’t have to posit modern understandings of the universe, of illness or anything else back 2 millennia to believe he was competent.
We don’t have to posit modern understandings of the universe, of illness or anything else back 2 millennia to believe he was competent.
But I think we do have to be convinced that whatever Jesus knew he knew correctly.
But I think we do have to be convinced that whatever Jesus knew he knew correctly.
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” (CS Lewis, Mere Christianity)
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