Forsaken for the sake of others Week 9, 2014

It’s been said before and I wish to say it now. Nothing disturbed Jesus’ equilibrium on the cross. When the nails pierced His hands He prayed and forgave His  killers. Taunts from the crowd drew no response from him. Insults by thieves on His left and right did not disquiet Him. Even physical thirst was under His belt. His mother’s presence at His crucifixion and the inevitability of (her) bereavement brought no agitation. Nothing disturbed His peace but separation from the Father. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, lema sabachthani?", which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Mk 15:33, 34(ISV). 

What disturbs you? No money? No food? Insults?  The only thing that can bring darkness to a life is separation from the Father.

So what was happening on the cross? Why would the sense of momentary separation settle on Jesus? Momentary I say for a little later He commits His spirit into the Father’s hands. As Jesus hung on the cross all our sin was laid on His body. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed  1Pt 2:24-25 (NIV).

In the Old Testament the animal would be silent as the priest would lay hands on it and confess the sins of the people. And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat Lev 16:21(KJV).  You know Jesus was accused of many and grievous things before the chief priests and before Pilate but remained silent (Mt26:62, 63; 27:12-14). On the cross all our sin was carried by Jesus. God forgave us all our sins; He canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. Col 2:13, 14(GNB) 

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:Hab 1:13(KJV) Habakkuk confessed.

On the cross Jesus became accursed for my sake. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Gal 3:13(NIV). Pause and ponder the terribleness of sin: As shown in the garden of Eden The Innocent had to die to cover for sin. Then the LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for the man and his wife Gen 3:21(CEV). He cried out so that I (you) might never be forsaken. Pause and ponder the love of God: Jesus volunteered to suffer this way because He could not bear to see us go to hell without redemption.

The next time you have to cry out “Why?!” know there is a redemptive purpose. Innocent Joseph suffered that souls may be preserved alive (Gen 45:5). O innocent righteous saint, your suffering works to bring good for the church! You are broken to feed others.  Now I am rejoicing while suffering for you as I complete in my flesh whatever remains of the Messiah's sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church Col 1:24(ISV). Be at peace

Lessons from the Shunem woman

Where are you coming from?

Oh we had a programme in church and I attended it.

But the programme ended 2 hours ago, where did you go?

 If you must know I went to the man of God. I took a gift to him and prayed with him in his room. You know I have this job interview coming up and it is very competitive. I need all the anointing I can get. Why are you shaking your head? It is true; that’s where I went.

You have strange practices indeed.

Ah! Did Saul not insist on taking a gift to the man of God before inquiring of God through him? You don’t like men of God, or you think only your church has anointing.

Is that so? And what became of Saul eventually? Have you read about the Shunem woman? 2Ki 4:8(GNB)  One day Elisha went to Shunem, where a rich woman lived. She invited him to a meal, and from then on every time he went to Shunem he would have his meals at her house. In all her giving she never mentioned childlessness. Elisha never knew even when he pressed her to reward her for her kindness. This man of God may not know your name, but knows you as a sister in need. The Shunem woman’s motive of giving was not an answer to her prayer even when before the powerful man of God.

So what? Different strokes for different folks.

 Yes, and different results also. By coming with this specific request don’t you think you are limiting your reward?

How do you mean? She got her baby, I will get my job.

She got her baby that is true; she also had him raised from the dead. In fact she was protected from famine unlike other givers in Israel like you…

 Don’t abuse me o.

Sorry; no offense meant. She also had her lands restored when they were seized 2Ki 4 and 8. God reserves his best for those who serve Him unconditionally.

Thank you for your lecture. Can I go now?

 I’m not finished yet. You said you entered his room?

 Ah ah, were we supposed to pray in the corridor?

Well the shunem woman did not do this. Elisha said, "Call her." So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. Elisha said, "At this time next spring, you will hold a baby boy in your arms." The woman became pregnant and had a son at that time next year2Ki 4:15-17(GW). Even though it was in her house, and Gehazi was there she stayed at the doorway and received her blessing.

Kai! Na wah o, Mommy these are modern times!

 Modern times with ancient sins. These things happened to them as a warning to us. All this was written in the Scriptures to teach us who live in these last days. Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall. 1Co 10:11, 12(CEV) Follow the example of godly women.

Unanswered questions Week 8, 2014

Perhaps you are facing darkness of some sort in life. Darkness mingled with pain. Perhaps you have sought to make meaning of it all and desire to cry out “God! Why?”. Do you realize that Jesus asked God “Why?” in a question which we have no record of a verbal answer?

He’d been hanging on the cross from 9am, and 3 hours later at noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, lema sabachthani?", which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Mk 15:33, 34(ISV).  In all the gospel records no verbal answer from heaven is recorded, but without doubt the Father heard.

O how many of us cry out and become dejected when we get no answer. Heaven’s silence did not mean Jesus is no son. He is the unique son of God. In heaven there was silence following Jesus’ action: When the Lamb broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Rev 8:1(GNB)  Your hearing silence now is no indication you are no child of God.

What do we do then? In  Jesus we have our example and pattern. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned.Heb 4:15(ISV).

Some say don’t ask God “why”. Since Jesus never sinned how come some teach that we must never ask God “Why?” when confounded? Consider Hannah: but I poured out my soul before Jehovah…  for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken1Sam 1:15, 16 (ASV) .

Her cry was silent, a burden poured out voicelessly. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and so it was not a secret cry.

It is good to cry out to God in our bitter pain. But His cry was not a rage against heaven, a fist shaken against the Almighty. It was and is the greatest expression of faith: “My God, my God…” not “this God”. Is it not painful worship? Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped …  Job 1:20(KJV).  At such times cry out to God honestly: call Him “My God” and so worship Him in the midst of your pain.

The next thing we see is Jesus’ action to fulfill scripture. Jesus, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith…. Jn19:28 (ASV) When you face silence from heaven ask “what scripture in my situation remains to be fulfilled?” Then do it. Give; do what God had said to be done in your situation. His glory will  come. Call Him “Father”, and genuinely commit your cause, your spirit, to Him.

I believe God answered. Heaven’s apparent silence is but for a moment. God is not silent as our senses may think, but on is course. He answered in tearing the curtain separating the holy of holies from human access in two from top to bottom (Lk 23:45), He answered in continuing the work for which Jesus Christ cried out in pain at the cross. Shall He not confirm and complete you as well?