Portrait 2 Who Are You 4th June 06
Portrait 2 Who Are You 4th June 06
Fear of God – Discerning Lord’s Body – Painting Portraits of Cross.
Lk 2:40----And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Lk 2:52----And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
When Adam was created he was not created holy – he was created innocent – without “self” consciousness – he was God conscious and as he progressed he was given opportunity to become holy through a series of choices. If Adam had not fallen into temptation perhaps he would have become fully spiritual as well as natural. This natural body, this man is not evil or bad – it is the fallen nature that compels it – that inhibits it’s spiritual growth, as it were.
But Jesus – the 2nd Adam grew and became strong and the Grace of God was upon Him. He increased in wisdom and stature.
Heb 4:15----For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
So Jesus became holy in His humanity – fully God and fully man – yet He had to endure what we are tempted with so that He could show Himself perfect through suffering!
Heb 2:10----For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
So Jesus grew into adulthood and the time came when He was prepared for His ministry – no-one knew who He was at this time – He had come to His own and they knew Him not! Save John the Baptist who was sent out by God to declare Him to the lost and broken people of God’s love – to this Israel who had rejected God because Adam had passed down the failure of becoming holy to all mankind – even those chosen by God to be His people.
Interesting that even these special, called and chosen people, Israel, could not remain faithful to the God that revealed Himself to them so dramatically and powerfully – every living person on the face of the earth was created by God – even the Egyptians and Syrians – but God had chosen Israel through Abraham – what righteous wrath had to come on those who were so privileged by God and then rejected Him.
[I am always challenged by the desire we have for power, for evidence of God – when our faith should be in the W.O.G. whether we see His power or not.] ---- But John the Baptist a man sent by God had arrived and was preaching at the Jordan – you know there had been many such prophets and “Messiahs” doing things to attract a following – many had come declaring themselves the Christ of God. --- When there is no Presence of God , no clear sound from God –
Clever men will always gain a following – because there is an emptiness in mankind a need for the spiritual. Clever men who recognize this can manipulate and control masses of people with skills they learn and clever speeches ---
Ac 5:36-38----For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;
1 Co 2:1---- And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
In fact huge masses of people went out to John in the wilderness from all over the country – drawn by their need and emptiness, drawn by the reports, drawn because it was the power of God even though they didn’t really know that – God knew, Jesus knew, and John knew, but I don’t think the people really understood at all – in fact later on Jesus asked them : --
Mt 11:7-9----As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
People just like us! Drawn by something exciting, spiritual and different - an event!. Drawn to a man who stands out or appears to be different – especially those who have an ability to show you they are different and have us believe them! But they did not know who he was or why he was there – not even those who should have known through the scriptures, the prophesies : ---
Mk 1:4-5----John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Hundreds – thousands went out to John in the wilderness and were baptized by him in the Jordan caught up in the mass excitement and hope of deliverance from their problems – their oppression, fear, captivity and poverty – they wanted something more for their empty lives, anything! And John was there preaching in the power of God – many of them were genuinely convicted, responded in hope – others, I’m sure, followed for a range of reasons –
Everyone else is doing it -- don’t want to miss out -- my parents are going I’ll go -- I’m sure there were parents pushing their children forward – “I don’t care what you think just get in the water!” Some would have thought “There is power here, I want that!” -- Some were looking for God’s direction hoping for a “word” -- There was a mass response - these are people just like us – they are us in a sense – then Jesus Himself was baptized --
Mt 3:16-17----When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Until this time no-one knew who He was – now God the Father publicly endorsed Him, declared Him! – Here is am amazing thing, but there were at least hundreds of people who saw, heard, witnessed this miraculous demonstration – this empowering and filling Of Jesus and heard the voice of God after 400 years of silence!! Wouldn’t you think they’d have all followed Him from that moment on? Don’t you think there would have at least been some?
But these are the first to whom God revealed Jesus Christ – (and all these things are given for our examples upon whom the end of the ages has come) – they are people just like us! How many thousands went out to Louis Palau, Benny Hinn, Greg Laurie? How many hundreds have responded to the healing and miracles many of us saw from 96-2000 – people coming because there was something happening! God was there! Power!
But where are they now? Where are they now? Just like at the Jordan – and even as Jesus went on to perform the most outstanding and indescribable miracles and multitudes – and the W.O.G. never exaggerates --- everywhere He went multitudes followed Him, thousands of people – imagine Western Springs for the Rolling Stones! Multitudes sitting on the grassy slopes wanting to get near and hear and even touch Him! But where were they just before Pentecost??? 120?
I hope we can recognize this – because we go out to a great speaker, or follow a dynamic leader, or conform to the masses and even get touched by God in some meeting and maybe receive a healing. But is that following Jesus? Or reaching for what He can do?
Even though we might say I believe – I know it is real, I’ll go along to church to join with those nice people – that doesn’t make you a follower of Christ. – Not so long ago Robyn and I met this lovely young woman – she was really quite unique and there was something about her that drew us to her. She came to us because she was struggling in her marriage – just a couple of years married to a fine young man brought up in a strong Christian home.
At first we didn’t meet him – just the girl and she told us her struggles. The further we went the more we realized she didn’t know Jesus at all – she was part of a church because all her friends now went, they liked the clean living and lifestyle and even the serving – in fact the particular church is very active in serving and good works and she felt it was really good. She soon became a leader – really good qualities – pretty, confident and outgoing, she became popular.
She felt after being married for a short period of time that she had made a mistake! This marriage was not as she imagined marriage would be – for many reasons – she soon found as we tried to counsel her that what God required and what she wanted were vastly different things. Disaster!! She was not a follower of Jesus – she was a convert to church culture – Sadly when we get caught up in the culture, believing it is the answer – we appear the same as everyone else.
It was the same then, with Jesus, their were multitudes healed and I’m sure some of them followed Him from place to place - in fact we know they did. But they were following what He did, they were part of a crowd – but they were not following Him because of who He was and what He promised for eternity. I think this is a picture of much of the modern church – these people were following what was happening and receiving the fruit – but they had not heard the message.
Mt 4:18-22----And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Now these were different, these were men Jesus called to Himself. Ordinary men, representative men if you like – working men, they could have been carpenters or farmers or office workers or small business owners. Men involved in life, families, responsibilities, commitments – but unfulfilled spiritually and concerned with the state of the nation and the future of their families – the political situation of course was deeply challenging –
They longed for a leader to lead them out of captivity. Being involved in life and community they imagined the only hope of change to the nation and their future well-being was militant, and military. They were hoping for a man to lead them into rebellion. Righteous, just rebellion -- they were patriots! Even in their religious upbringing the Messiah would bring revolution by might!
When Jesus called them and they immediately followed they were responding to many factors :--
God was in Christ and they were compelled – they had a dream for their nation and families, something much better than this – they were desperate to be freed from captivity – there was the adrenaline of danger and excitement – I don’t think we understand this aspect of motivation – this quest for achievement and excellence and creativity – we express it now in art and sport and as we get older vicariously through TV – but there was also the personal hunger in their souls.
That hunger that is there in all mankind for the spiritual and holiness – that thirst that was left unquenched in Adam and inherited by us all.
All of these things remain today and in every age – our country may not be under a conquering army, foreign control. But it is it is given over to the dominion of Satan and our laws and government no matter which political party is in power construct society according to his plans and purposes – not that God is out of control – but He has given us over. There is still that deep concern for family and the future – there is still the need to be free from captivity –
Just listen to talk back and see how bound people feel they are – there is still that enormous need for creative expression, for achievement and significance – look at the graffiti – you know we get so upset but there is such a pride in what they can do and how they can gain a sense of worth by writing on the walls – I did that! That is ME!!!! Television allows ordinary men and women to live lives of excitement and stimulation by proxy!
Some of them turn to the Church – to this new type of church that is actually geared to reach them in these very areas of need – café’s and entertainment and professionalism and excellence and performance and comfortable, friendly non threatening atmosphere.
So we read this part of Jesus’ ministry – the beginnings of miracles and healing and great signs and wonders – we see these men called and chosen – Andrew and Peter, James and John –
And we so readily identify with them and think if I had been there then I would have been just like that – I would have been a follower – but can you see that all of these we’ve described this morning – from the multitudes to the fishermen – had not yet come to the CROSS – it was all before the Cross – every miracle and healing that Jesus did was before the Cross – I think that is the way for many of us in the church today –
We follow the Jesus of the incarnation, we relate to the Jesus of the miracles, it is this Jesus we talk to, we desire intimacy with – but this is Jesus before the Cross – and there was not one of these here who stood – they all ran in fear.
See if we are to be the Lord's body. Then we are a body crucified, we should bare the scars in the hands and feet and side as it were, We are a crucified body we are a resurrected body, but you cannot be resurrected if you have not been to death!
Jesus' body on earth was always in absolute subjection to the Father, He feared the Father in all that He did, and we are that body now, and so ours should be the fear of God also. As He is, so are we in the world.
Because they were not followers of the man, of the God, they were followers of what He had done!