Faith In the Absence of Details

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.” (Mt 28:6-7 AV)

It occurred to me that none of the gospels give a detailed description of the process of the resurrection.  The gospels do not give a scientific or even an observational report of the process of regeneration.  There is no verse that states the steps Jesus took as He exited the tomb.  He is buried.  Then he is reported to have risen.  There is no information between those two events.  For instance, it takes four to six weeks for someone who has donated blood to be back the way he or she was before the donation.  Plasma is the quickest to revive.  Usually 24-48 hours.  But the rest take time.  That is why giving blood is regulated.  It would be dangerous to donate if done too frequently.  The body begins to deteriorate the moment blood is removed.  That is why cryogenics will never work.  The moment a cell is deprived of what it needs, the cell wall begins to break down.  Jesus lost all his blood.  We are not completely clear on the exact makeup of His glorified body.  If still completely human, somehow He would have had to produce enough blood to live in only three days and night when it would take at least a month or more.  If His body did not contain human blood, then of what did it consist?  We don’t know.  And there is the challenge.

We know Jesus died and was buried.  We also know He rose again.  500 or more eye witnesses attested to this very fact.  Even secular historians will give credibility to the resurrection of Christ.  Non-believers of the first century knew the resurrection of Jesus Christ was an established fact of their time.  The challenge is in understanding the ‘how’ of this divine miracle.  No doubt that of all the miracles of God, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was the greatest.  In fact, the resurrection from the dead is that single miracle that proved the divinity of Jesus Christ.  The fact that He could raise Himself from the dead proved He had power over life and death.  He had proven power of creation and generation by calming the seas and feed the thousands.  Now, He walked abroad proving that He had power over death and life.  Especially His own.  Only God had that power.

But again, here is the challenge.  We don’t know the mechanics of this miracle.  But then again, we don’t know how He calmed the sea or fed the thousands, either.  Just because we do not know how God does things does not make them less believable.  I remember my childhood instructors of a false religion.  They tried to rationalize all the miracles of Jesus and explain them in terms we would accept.  It was mass hallucinations, they said.  It was cunning manipulation.  It was an exaggeration to prove a point and not a record of historical fact, they would claim.  Skeptics do the same today.  They will not accept a provable fact from history that was a miracle from God.  They will not accept it because they cannot explain it.  So sad.  Faith begins where reason ends.  Jesus left us in the dark because He requires faith.  Even if we knew the ‘how’, skeptics would refuse it unless they could duplicate it.  In short, refusal to live by faith makes one his own god.  I don’t need the rational explanation of how Jesus regenerated.  I don’t need to know the details of how he exited the tomb.  All I need to know is that He is risen!

Who Is Really In Control?

“And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” (Mt 26:15 KJB)

Obviously, Judas never read James 4:15, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”  It is ironic that an evil man believed he could control the events surrounding the son of God.  When he went to the Pharisees to arrange a deal, he had this crazy idea that somehow he could control the whole event.  Jesus is God.  Nothing happens without His approval.  If Judas does betray God, it is only because God allowed it.  This idea of perfect and complete self-determination is erroneous.  If we have any freedom of choice or movement, it is because the sovereign God of creation has purposed or allowed it.  We think Judas a bit irrational with rebellion.  Yet we often live the same way.  Perhaps not to the degree of evil, but we do make choices believing God is required to accept those choices.  We often think we are the captain of our own ships, when in reality, the God who created all things also controls all things.  How silly to live any other way!

Many years ago, we went on a trip to Ireland.  We took a group of teenagers on a missions trip.  The first week was spent with a little church helping them conduct a VBS.  My son and his good friend, Oscar, loved the game of chess.  They had brought a set and were playing a match.  The pastor came over and asked what they were doing.  They said they were playing chess.  He asked if he could watch.  They agreed.  The pastor said he had never heard of the game and wanted to know how to play.  They taught him the rules and then played another match.  Along the way, they explained why they had made certain moves.  He asked more questions.  Then he asked to play.  So, he started out with my son.  The first match went as you would expect.  My son won that match rather quickly.  They played a second match, and this time my son won but took a bit more time.  The pastor said he thought he had learned quite well and wanted to play one more time.  So, my son set up the board, and within two minutes the pastor won the match.  My son sat there, stunned.  He had no idea what had just happened.  Then the pastor announced he was the chess champion of his county.  The pastor gave the illusion that my son was in control of the matches he played.  In reality, the chess master knew what he was doing all along.

This is not to suggest that life is a game and God is a player.  This is not to suggest that God does not take our lives any more seriously than a board game.  This is not true.  Rather, the point is that we think we are in far more control of our lives than we actually are.  Judas thought that he was in control of Jesus’ life.  He thought he could make a deal and that by his actions Jesus was destined to die.  And for no other reason that by his hand.  How ludicrous.  Judas was merely part of God’s divine plan.  This was planned, known, and decreed before Adam and Eve were created.  In fact, the book of psalms predicted it hundreds of years before Judas was a small little boy growing up in Israel.  For some, this can be aggravating and an insult to our egos.  But for the saint, it is a comfort.  What we need to remember is that any freedom of self-determination is given to us by a God who will hold us accountable for it. 

The Greater The Need, The Louder The Cry

“And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] Son of David.” (Mt 20:31 AV)

Every time I read this I get a chuckle.  These two men reacted to the crowd shushing them by getting louder.  Not softer.  Rather than apologize for their impertinence, they doubled down.  I don’t think this was out of rebellion.  I think it was out of desperation.  These two men felt their blindness was cause enough to make as much noise as they could.  They knew the crowd was growing louder, and if they didn’t yell the loudest, Jesus may never hear them.  They did not quiet down as Jesus got closer.  They couldn’t see that he was approaching.  As far as they knew, Jesus was still a way off.  They yelled as loud as they could until they got an answer.  The greater the mercy needed, the louder the child of God will shout!

It is not easy serving as a chaplain in a hospital.  There are wards that are pure joy.  The maternity ward comes to mind.  As the chaplain makes rounds, very rarely will he encounter a sad face or someone in severe pain.  Hospice, although not a joyful place to be, is rather sedate.  There may be sobbing or crying at the passing of a loved one, but for the most part, the souls assembled have resigned to the inevitable.  They have come to terms with the end, and they are at peace with it.  When a soul passes into eternity, there are many tears.  Maybe even a bit of wailing.  But for the most part, the mourners are at rest, knowing the suffering of their loved one is over.  There are also those wards that are general care wards.  Less serious situations and also by and large, quiet.  But there are those wards set aside for severe cases.  These cases are usually contained in a single wing or floor.  These cases are not quiet at all.  There is great pain and discomfort.  There are constant calls for the nurse.  They are doing all they can.  They have administered the largest dose of relief that the doctor has prescribed.  There is nothing more they can do.  Only the toughest work on this floor.  They guard themselves against over-empathetic hearts.  They wouldn’t survive if they did not.  As a general rule, the one who cries out the loudest is the one who gets the attention.  There are moaners and there are screamers.  There is everything in between.  As a Chaplain, relief is what we are supposed to offer.  We try our best.  The more someone cries out, the greater our desire to help.

These two men cried out because they had a great need.  Their need was for mercy.  For them, mercy would come by way of gaining their sight.  But there are other reasons someone might need mercy.  There is strength to endure a trial of faith.  Only the mercy of God can get us through.  There are doubts and fears.  Only the mercy of God can reassure us.  There is confusion of mind.  Only the mercy of God can show us the truth.  There is ambition yet unrealized.  Only the mercy of God can give us a calling in life.  There is loneliness.  Only the mercy of God can fill that vacant heart.  There is concern for others.  Only the mercy of God can help.  There are unspoken prayer requests.  Only the mercy of God knows what they are and what we need.  Most of all, there are sins that need forgiveness.  Only the mercy of God can provide the peace that comes from divine forgiveness.  The point is, the greater the need for mercy, the louder or more persistent our prayers.  Perhaps our prayer life is anemic because we do not realize our great our need for mercy truly is.  Don’t worry, we will learn this soon enough.  When we do, we are to cry loudly and persistently until the Son of God approaches!

Profound Gratitude

“Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” (Mt 17:4 AV)

I think in Peter’s words we see a profound gratitude for the experience Peter is witnessing.  What I don’t see is an immature excitement of something new and different.  I don’t see an immature attitude of competition comparing himself against the nine that were not invited.  What I see is a man who understood the event.  I see a man who had walked with Jesus for a bit and began to understand who it was that was transfigured.  I see a man who is deeply grateful for the experience as one who does not deserve anything.  What I see in Peter is the spirit that should be in the heart of every believer.  Especially during those quiet times of prayer and Bible study.  What I see is the heart that should rest its head at night deeply grateful for the adoption to which we are called the children of God.  Circumstances change, but the presence of God does not.  What I see is a heart that is so grateful that he will never forget this moment.  I see in Peter a heart that is profoundly grateful to the point that it is understood there is nothing we can do that will equal it.

I also see a heart that understands the profound nature of the event and how it will change him.  Peter will never be the same again.  And I think he knew this.  Because of their question regarding Elijah, the three disciples truly understood that the mount of transfiguration was not a mere miracle.  It was far more than that.  They understood that they were experiencing Jesus in a vastly different way and they were the first ones.  I think they understood why it was so very important when Jesus told them that they were not to share this experience until after the resurrection.  They understood that the evidence of the deity of Christ was not to be the mount of transfiguration, but rather, that he would rise from the dead.  They understood this event was founded upon the faith of the three to believe what they were seeing.  They saw Elijah and Moses with Jesus Christ.  They knew who these two individuals were.  They had no problem with it.  In that moment, their faith grew exponentially.

I think we have lost our heart of gratitude for the relationship we have in Christ Jesus.  In particular, I think we have lost our heart of gratitude for the hand of God that brings us through experiences that grow us up.  Challenging times are growing times.  Profound times are times of maturing.  Have you ever been in a situation that you did not completely understand or felt overwhelming, but you knew it was good to be there? Fear abated.  Calm anticipation and a heightened sense of purpose ruled.  This is how our devotional and worship times should be each time we enter them.  Every time God speaks to us we should feel as Peter felt.  It is good to be here.  Every time we are thrust into a situation we cannot control and we are forced to spiritually grow, we should respond that it is good to be in such a place.  The grateful and mature Christian is hard to find.  Taking each event in stride and being grateful no matter what it might mean is where we need to be.  It is good to be called a child of God.  It is good to have Him as our Father.  It is good to be in His presence and under His hand.  It is good!

The Faithful Must Still Bless

“Bless ye the LORD, all [ye] his hosts; [ye] ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.” (Ps 103:21-22 AV)

This is an interesting scripture passage because it speaks to those who are already faithful in pleasing God.  Note that the psalmist is speaking to those who are presently doing the pleasure of God.  Note also the encouragement to bless the LORD is to all His works (that which He has created) that are in His dominion (or those surrendered under His will).  The command is a peculiar one.  To bless the LORD would be a given if one is in the will of God and also doing His pleasure, right?  Wouldn’t the two go hand in hand?  Wouldn’t serving the church, witnessing to others, and being a help to the children of God necessarily bless the LORD?  The key is in knowing the definition of the word ‘bless’.  The word means to kneel in adoration.  It is an emotionally oriented word.  Other uses of the same word can mean to be happy.  Or, it could mean doing something nice for others or for God.  But here, the psalmist tells the faithful servant who is in the will of God and doing His good pleasure not to forsake the personal aspect of his relationship with God.

There is a difference waiting on tables of complete strangers and waiting on a table of people you know and are close to.  In the restaurant I managed, these situations we common.  We had a dining area and served dine-in customers.  Our cashiers were also part-time waitresses.  They didn’t wait on the table directly, but did see to our guest’s needs.  Mostly they cleared dishes, got more soda, or delivered doggy boxes.  They were very good at waiting on customers at both the counter and the dining area.  That is, until someone they knew came in.  This happened quite frequently on Friday nights during High School football season.  Having employed many teenagers, it was normal to remind our staff that there were other customers to be waited on and spending too much time with the people they knew was not ideal service.  What was the difference?  Those whom the cashiers didn’t know were served faithfully.  They did not go without their order.  They were greeted cheerfully and cashed out the same.  There was no disconnect there.  But for those whom the cashiers did know, they enjoyed something others did not.  They enjoyed the cashiers’ hearts.  There was a connection.  The first order of service was wonderful.  But it lacked a personal connection.  The second received a level of service that the first would never enjoy because of an established personal relationship.

Our psalmist is reminding us that in our faithful service and walk toward God, let us not forget the personal aspect of our relationship.  Yes, He is our Creator worthy of our faithful worship and service.  Yes, He is almighty and above all He has created.  Yes, He should be feared.  However, the psalmist is reminding us that in all of this, do not forget to fall to our knees in adoration for the person of Jehovah.  Our drawing nigh to the Father does not stop with obedience and service.  It starts there.  What God wants above all other things is for His children to love Him with all their hearts and souls as well as their bodies and minds.  In short, the writer is encouraging us to draw nigh to God with more than our lips or hands.  He is reminding us to love the LORD our God as He is.  Our patient and ever-loving Father.

Unoffended and Blessed

“And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (Mt 11:6 AV)

These are precious words of our LORD to His disciples.  They are very true words.  The sceptic in us would debate the truth stated above.  We would be less than honest if we didn’t claim to agree with Israel from time to time when they say, “Ye have said, It [is] vain to serve God: and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?” (Mal 3:14 AV)  In times of persecution or need, perhaps we thought that being a Christian was not worth it.  Especially in those early years.  Like Israel who could not go into Canaan fresh from the exodus, we became a bit offended at the cost of being a believer.  So, when Jesus says those who are not offended in Christ are blessed, there were times we didn’t feel all that blessed.  Our experiences do not determine truth.  Being a wandering Jew, I am sure that most of the time they didn’t feel blessed.  That is why they murmured.  God was maturing them into a nation.  They were blessed and didn’t even know it.

Taking this verse as truth regardless of what we perceive to be reality helps us see life in a completely different way.  It changes the way we look at events not only from the past, but while they are transpiring as well.  Going out to eat is a good test to try the truth above.  Early in my walk with Christ, I would not pray all that long or that loudly while blessing the food.  Over the years, you lose your inhibitions and do as the Spirit leads.  Interesting things happen.  You get all sorts of ugly looks.  People may even move to another table.  If your walk with God spills over into table conversation with a guest, the reactions of those around you become more dramatic.  There may be a cross word or an all-out argument with someone you don’t even know.  More times than not, there is an interested soul within earshot.  At first, you don’t notice them.  They may have their backs turned to you, and you are unaware that they are listening.  Or, it might be your server who hears your conversation.  When the meal is done and you go to pay your bill, someone who heard you, stops and asks questions.  Or you see a smile that tells you the guest was a believer, and they appreciated someone who was not ashamed to speak of spiritual matters.

Yes, the Christian life is a hard one.  The LORD never promised anything different.  The older I get, the more I appreciate the truth above.  Life has taught me that being in Christ is indeed a blessed life.  It hasn’t always been easy.  There are more difficult days ahead.  With old age comes disease.  With old age comes uncertainty.  With old age come new fears.  With old age comes loneliness.  But to say that walking with God has not been blessed would be the worst lie of all.  The key is to fight shame over one’s identity in Christ.  If we are ashamed to be called a believer, the trouble we face will still be there.  But there will be no offramp.  To have a blessed life, one must embrace his or her identity in Jesus.  To have the best life possible, the saint must welcome what it means and what it costs to be a Christian.  Jesus made a promise.  If we are not ashamed of Christ, yet do not feel blessed, then the fault lies with us.

Our Greatest Need!

“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (Mt 9:6 AV)

This is an amazing truth.  Remember, this event was rather early in His ministry.  Remember that the foundation of the ministry of Christ was not medicinal.  It was spiritual.  In particular, the foundation of the ministry of Jesus was repentance and faith toward God.  The body will perish.  Those who are redeemed will receive a perfect and eternal body.  There is no deaf, dumb, or lame saints in glory.  When Jesus healed the sick, it was only temporary.  Eventually everyone whom He made whole would die of something.  Above, we see the real power of Jesus Christ.  We see the eternal power of Christ.  We see what matters most.  We see that the Son has power to forgive all sins.  The Father has bestowed upon the Son the privilege of judicial forgiveness.  The Son will sit upon His white throne and look upon those who have trusted in His grace.  He will say one word which opens the gates of heaven – FORGIVEN!  This word is uttered on earth before it is uttered in heaven.  The day a lost soul chooses to trust in the grace of his Creator and the gift of salvation bought by the blood of the Son is the day the Son shouted from glory – FORGIVEN!

Forgiveness is a natural human desire.  It is stronger in some than others, but it is there.  It is closely associated with our need to be affirmed.  We want someone to accept us regardless of what we have done or what we are.  If we are unacceptable, we turn to other means to drown out the sorrow.  But forgiveness is what we need and what we want.  One of the saddest circumstances I have ever had to deal with was that of a dying patient who was estranged from her daughter.  She was dying from emphysema.  It is a particularly cruel way to go.  The patient is slowly dying from oxygen deprivation.  She could not breathe.  One of her last wishes was to be reunited with her estranged daughter.  Apparently, they had a falling out decades earlier.  As to the measure of fault each held, that was not a detail divulged to me.  It really didn’t matter, anyway.  In any failure of relationship, the fault is usually shared.  This dear lady was in tears.  She simply wanted a brief visit from her daughter so she could gain forgiveness for whatever part of which she was responsible.  There was no manipulation.  There was no pretense.  She simply wanted her daughter to forgive her.  The daughter would not even speak to her mother on the phone.  As far as I know, this greatly humbled lady died as an unforgiven mother.  More time was not her greatest need.  Her greatest need was her daughter’s forgiveness.

The reaction of those assembled to the miracle they had just witnessed is very telling.  There were some who were deeply offended that Jesus forgave the sins of the lame man.  They would be right to be offended if Jesus was mere man.  If Jesus is not the Lord Jesus Christ, they would be righteous to be angry.  But then there were those who rejoiced that such power was given to man.  Some suggest the power to heal was that to which Matthew we referring.  But the context lends to eternal forgiveness being the power given to man.  In particular, the power was given to Jesus Christ who came in the form of a man.  Why?  Because forgiveness, and specifically eternal forgiveness, is man’s greatest need.  I can rest my head upon my pillow is peace every single night because I know that I have been forgiven!  I can walk upon this earth with no fear of death because I know I am forgiven.  I did not earn it.  I cannot earn it.  I am no better than anyone else and must worse than most.  But this saint has trusted in the grace of God by which forgiveness comes.  He does not owe it to me.  My faith in Him does not entitle me to His grace.  Rather, my Creator took pity on me and accepted the blood of His Son as full payment of all that I have or will do and for that which I have or will fail to do.  FORGIVENESS!  My greatest need met in the person and offering of the man who came with the power to forgive.  JESUS CHRIST!