It is finished (part 2) Week 18, 2012

“Since Jesus said it is finished everyone is automatically saved now. We shall all get to heaven.” No! It doesn’t work that way though I wish it did. “You told me we became sinners automatically because our first parents sinned. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to everyone, because all have sinned Rom 5:12(ISV). Why are we not saved automatically since Jesus has died?” When Adam sinned whether we liked it or not, all of us who come from him become sinners like him, but to benefit from Jesus’ salvation we must make a conscious choice. But God's free gift is not like Adam's offense. For if many people died as the result of one man's offense, how much more have God's grace and the free gift given through the kindness of one man, Jesus Christ, been showered on many people! Rom 5:15(ISV). In everything God has for man there is a part for God and a part for man.
“So it is not finished then?” Remember “it is finished” refers to what Jesus was expected to do. The work of Jesus is a provision. If your mother has provided food for you does it mean you have fed? Would you not still have to put it into your mouth and swallow it? “I would of course.” Very good; God has through Jesus provided eternal salvation. After he had provided a cleansing from sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Highest Majesty Heb 1:3(ISV).
Have you not participated in free medical treatments before? Who pays for the treatment? Is it the man to be treated? “No the organisers come with free drugs.” Fine, is it the day the drugs were bought that the sicknesses were cured? “Not so. It is from the day we heard of the free treatment and took the drugs that we got well.” Very good: the gospel, which has come to you… is bearing fruit and growing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth Col 1:5, 6(ISV). Jesus has finished the payment. You now need to hear and understand and believe for it to work in you. In fact for a surgical operation the person has to sign the consent before the operation is done. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead Col 2:11, 12(KJV). Now that you have heard and understood, will you sign over your life to Jesus? “How do I do that?” With all your heart ask Jesus to forgive you and give you his salvation; He’ll do the rest.

It is finished Week 17, 2012

“What did Jesus mean by that?” He certainly did not mean “I am finished” as some would say when things become unexpectedly difficult. This was a cry of victory. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do Jn 17:4(ESV). “So all things are accomplished?” We-ell He was not also saying all things are accomplished. This cry was specific: it is finished. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit Jn 19:30(ESV). That which God planned for Him to do on this earth was accomplished.
“You still haven’t said what he meant.” Do you remember John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jn 1:29(ISV)? God had been promising a saviour who would take upon Himself the sin of the whole world. This saviour would by His sacrificial death purchase forgiveness and eternal life for those who come to Him. “Where is that written?” Isa 53:4-6(ESV) Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
“Are you certain this refers to Jesus and not another person?” That is exactly what the Ethiopian eunuch asked Phillip when reading the same passage Act 8:28-35. He confirms it refers to Jesus. In saying it is finished Jesus indicates sin has finally been carried by Him for mankind; personally. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to those sins and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed 1Pt 2:24(ESV).
Have you sinned against God? “All have.” Jesus Christ has become the sacrifice that brings peace between us and God. The price for our rebellion has been fully paid by the spotless substitute: “It is finished.”
There had been restricted access to the very presence of God before now. This was symbolised in a curtain separating the Most Holy place in the temple from other sections. About the time He said it the curtain of the temple was torn in two Lk 23:45(ESV) signifying the very presence of God is made accessible to anyone who believes. Nobody needs to continue with the weight of sin. It’s also impossible to get relief elsewhere: it is finished.

The only thing Week 16,2012

Jesus was pretty calm on the cross don’t you think? “Yes, nothing seemed to bother Him at the face of death.” He was painfully abused, but he did not complain. He was silent like a lamb being led to the butcher, as quiet as a sheep having its wool cut off. He was condemned to death without a fair trial Isa 53:7-8(CEV). How many times have we wept because of injustice done us? He must have prepared very well at the garden. “Yes, imagine when they nailed Jesus to a cross Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they're doing." While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him Lk 23:33-35(CEV); insults upset me a lot especially when I am convinced of my innocence.” What of the property loss? His very clothes were taken away, stolen by force if you ask me, yet He remained calm in the face of it all. “He definitely showed the example to follow. Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others… And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever Heb 10:33, 34(CEV). We need to recapture joyfully allowing things for Christ’s sake.” He handled separation from His mother quite calmly. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, "He is your son." Jn19:26(GNB). “Does it mean we shouldn’t weep at funerals?” I wouldn’t say so; we can certainly draw inspiration from Him.
There was one thing that made Him cry out anyway: At three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice… "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Mk 15:34(GW). “He must have been in intense pain.” Pain yes, but it was beyond crying out for the pain of physical suffering or emotional reaction as to what man was doing to Him. Did you notice that before this by noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon Mk 15:33(GW)? “What are you trying to teach here?” The only thing that can bring darkness to a life, the one thing that should make us cry out is if we are separated from God, if His face is hidden from us. The LORD is not too weak to save or his ear too deaf to hear. But your wrongs have separated you from your God, and your sins have made him hide his face so that he doesn't hear you Is 59:1, 2(GW). Jesus personally bore our sins on the cross: Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God's approval.1Pt 2:24(GW). He was separated for a little while that we may never be. What is it that upsets you in life?

Who will roll the stone away week 15, 2012

They were not coming in faith to meet a risen saviour. These three women, driven by love for the master who died, were determined to honour him. They had prepared but had been unable to anoint his body on account of the Sabbath law. Had Jesus’ body not been spiced? It had: Nicodemus … came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices Jn 19:39, 40(ESV). Perhaps they were not satisfied with the one done by Nicodemus, certainly they wanted it done by themselves. It is unlikely they were unaware of the spicing for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb Mat 27:61(ESV) when Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away Mat 27:59, 60(ESV). That’s how Mary anointed Jesus before. Martha was doing the serving, Lazarus playing good host, but Mary would not let her love go unexpressed (Jn12:1-3). What of you?
Think of it: the discovery of Jesus’ resurrection was made through women who purposed to honour the dead, not knowing if they would succeed, and having unanswered questions. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"Mk 16:3 (ESV). Think of it; when last were you stopped from doing something good because you did not know who would roll the stone away? What good thing have you prepared to do but held back by law must postpone it for another time; an inconvenient time with uncertainty about access and therefore success? the women …followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment Lk 23:55, 56(ESV). Do it. Delay no more, do it.
I say: insist on expressing love for Jesus. Insist on doing the good you know. Be held back no more by uncertainty. That’s how the 4 lepers found the camp of the Assyrians empty and a famine ended (2Kg7:1-10). The word of God was fulfilled. What dream propelled the women, what vision or prophecy but the inner drive to express love; yet what weighty discovery came from that insistence. They did not succeed in their mission of anointing Jesus. Was their preparation in vain? Nay; it was ordained of God for witnesses to the greatest event in history: Jesus Christ the Son of God has risen from the dead! What are you waiting for? Go and prepare your spices. God can yet use fickle ones who determine in love to honour Jesus.

Judas Iscariot Week 14, 2012

He was selected with care after all night prayer from a list of possible apostles who had faithfully followed Jesus from John’s baptism (Lk6:12-16; Acts 1:21) and sent with other apostles and disciples on two occasions to minister the gospel in power. Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and every illness Mt 10:1(ISV). In these he exercised authority to cast out evil spirits and also healed people Lk 9:6. He was appointed by Jesus to hold the money bag for the apostolic band; one of the few trusted with specific duties. Judas was in charge of the money, some of them thought that Jesus had told him to buy something they needed for the festival. Others thought that Jesus had told him to give some money to the poor Jn 13:29(CEV). He joined in to hail Jesus coming into Jerusalem, pulling off coats and casting them on the donkey in adoration for Jesus to sit upon (Mk 11:7).
He suffered hunger on occasion with other disciples needing to pluck corn and eat it from the hands (Mt12:1). He abused the opportunity of handling money to steal. He pretended to care for the poor when his eyes were on money to steal from. Judas did not really care about the poor. He asked this because he carried the moneybag and sometimes would steal from it Jn 12:6(CEV). When his plot failed the hook of greed led him to specifically request money in exchange for betraying Jesus (Mt 26:7-16). When given an opportunity to repent publicly he parried the matter (Mt26:21-25).
Unsatisfied greed gave opportunity for Satan to plant a seed in his heart. By supper time, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him Jn 13:2(ISV). Unrepentance when given opportunity gave room for Satan to enter the apostle’s heart. After he had taken the piece of bread, Satan entered him Jn 13:27. Participating in the last supper brought judgement and hardening to the unrepentant. Closeness to Jesus and partaking of the gifts and powers of the kingdom did not replace the need for discipline. None is immune from temptation. Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack 1Pe 5:8(CEV).
Pretense, refusal to be corrected publicly. Was Peter not rebuked publicly? When he realized what he had done, his sorrow did not send him back to God, but to the enemies of Jesus (Mt27:3). An apostle by calling, a disaster by submission to sin.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Mk 13:37