Jesus' Life and Christianity

And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:26 ESV)

Jesus’ Life and Christianity

The name, “Christian” means “one who is like Christ.”  A little Christ, perhaps… a follower of Christ perhaps… those who desire and strive to be Christ-like.

And while those things might seem at first to be a philosophy, some ideals, or principles, more than that they refer to the actual Life of Christ.

A Christian studies what Jesus did, and does likewise.

A Christian imitates Christ’s life, and does things in the way He might have.

Christ lived… and therefore we know how to live.

Christ lived righteously… and therefore our lives become righteous in God’s eyes.  Because of the great exchange!

If Christ had not lived humanly on earth, Christianity would be a meaningless philosophy, just like any other that would fade over time.

But He lived.  And so Christianity IS.

Jesus' Life (Again) and Learning

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, (I Peter 1:3,4 ESV)

Jesus’ Life (Again) and Learning

I am very cynical about plumbing projects.  I have a fair bit of plumbing knowledge and experience, but rarely does a project work out as I planned, expected, or anticipated.  For me, there is no hope in plumbing.

Many are very cynical about politics.  History and experience both seem to indicate that promises will be broken, plans will fail, and efforts will over or under achieve. 

Some are even cynical about gravity.  Not only have scientists failed to present a true complete theory of gravity, but it sure seems at times that gravity is inconsistent!  Sometimes it is my friend, and sometimes it is not.

But Jesus’ Resurrection teaches us that hope is reasonable, hope is truth, and hope is going to be fulfilled.  Not any hope… but the hope of new life, the hope of restoration, the hope of sin’s utter destruction.

And those are pretty big hopes!

We do not learn that hope from observing nature, taking part in human relationships, or heavy contemplation.

We learn that hope only from Jesus’ Resurrection!

Jesus' Death and Learning

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:5 ESV)

Jesus’ Death and Learning

I have a mysterious cistern in my yard.  It is covered with a metal plate, and I do NOT know what is down there!  I have attempted to open it up, but so far, have not been successful.  If I knew someone who had opened it before, though, it would not be so mysterious, scary, and ominous.

Most humans fear death.  We do not know what is on the other side.  We have not experienced what happens after our eyes close the last time.

But Christians do not need to be afraid.

Because our Savior, our Friend, our Brother, our King has already walked through death’s door, and removed all the darkness from it!

Death is no longer merely the end curse. Now it is the way to the greatest blessings ever known!  Because Jesus died before us, and changed death.

Death is no longer the great unknown.  Now it is a path, a road, a way, that Jesus has already walked and cleaned up for us.

Death is no longer a failure, a disaster, or the end.  Now it is the finish line, the victory march, the homecoming.

Jesus died, and taught us about the greatest unknown event of human existence.

Jesus' Life and Learning

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 ESV)

Jesus’ Life and Learning

God could have instantly created a fully formed and developed human do be the Messiah.  But instead, the Christ was incarnated as a baby.  And that baby Jesus learned human things, just like every other human.  He learned to speak, and to walk, and to interpret His senses.

Just like us.

But Jesus had one huge advantage.  He BEGAN His life with the fear of the Lord.

And so, His knowledge came easier.  His knowledge came without deception.  His knowledge came without confusion.  His knowledge came without inaccuracy.

But He paved the way for us, too!

Our knowledge becomes easier, better, purer, and more true when it is learned with the foundation of the fear of the Lord.

He had it earlier, but He gives it to us, too.

Let your knowledge about, of, and in God guide your minds.

Truth is best known when seen in HIS light.  Morality is only known when seen in HIS light.  The best paths are only known when seen in HIS light.

Jesus knew first… and now we can, too.

The Big Events

The Most Important Events!

I am convinced that the three most important events in the history of the universe are the Life of Jesus Christ on earth; the Death of Jesus Christ at Golgotha, and the Life Again (the Resurrection) of Jesus Christ.

For the next “things”, ( I am not sure what to call these written presentations…)  we will be asking what difference the Life, Death, and Life (Again) of Jesus Christ makes.  Why are they so important?

Our general format will consider a triad of themes.  First, for instance, we will examine Jesus’ Life and Learning, Jesus’ Death and Learning, and Jesus’ Life (Again) and Learning.

If you have suggestions or requests, please send me a private message, and I will attempt to comply.

Life and Death and Life (again) of Jesus

The Necessary Life and Death and Life of Jesus

When I consider my existence (I know… it sounds like I have become a hippy!) I realize that from almost any perspective some parts of my life have been more important than other parts.

Nobody noticed the first time I ate bacon.  While it might have been a good day for me, I do not even remember it myself.

Nobody noticed my 26th birthday.  While I advanced in years, nothing particularly important happened.

In the life of Jesus there are three particular phases.  And those three phases are necessary for our justification, necessary for our sanctification, and necessary for our glorification.

In the life of Jesus there are three particular phases.  And those three phases are necessary for our past, necessary for our present, and necessary for our future.

In the life of Jesus there are three particular phases.  And those three phases are necessary for the physical world, necessary for the emotional world, and necessary for the spiritual world.

And so, for the next while, let’s examine those phases:  The earthly life of Jesus… the death of Jesus… and the life (again) of Jesus.

Jealousy?

Then the Lord became jealous for His land and had pity on His people. The Lord answered and said to His people,  “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.” (Joel 2:18,19 ESV)

Jealousy?

When I am jealous, it is a bad thing. 

But when God is jealous, He blesses His people!  He hates it when God’s people receive the WRONG kind of attention from others.

When He sees HIS enemies pressing His people, God helps us.

When He sees His people oppressed and threatened, God helps us.

When He sees His people suffering, God helps us.

The grain, wine, and oil are not just random examples of God’s blessing, either.

The grain and oil make bread.  And together with wine, we see shades of our celebrations of the Lord’s Supper.

How does God bless His enemy-oppressed, threatened, suffering folk?  Not just with food… but with a Savior!  With a Messiah!  With Jesus Himself.

Better

I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love! (Song of Songs 5:1 ESV)

Better

The poet here urges his readers to be drunk with love!  And that is a strange idea. 

By drunk, though, he does not mean stupid, buffoonish, clumsy, unaware, embarrassing crudeness.

He means ecstatic, unabashed, joyful, excited, awareness of love’s power, goodness, and glory.

Just like spices make many things taste better, love makes all of life grand.

Just like honey makes bland things sweet, love makes common things delightful.

Just like wine and milk apparently combine both nutrition and pleasure,  love combines our peace, work, rest, and devotion into a fantastic life-enriching concoction.

And love only comes from God.  He invented it.  He is the source of it.  He gives it.  He receives it.  Other things imitate it… other things are similar… other things are love-like.

But God’s love, in Christ, and ONLY in Christ, makes all things better!

Satisfaction

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:15,16 ESV)

Satisfaction

When we depend on our skills to be satisfied, we will not find satisfaction.

When we hope for financial success through planning, hard work, or windfall, we will not find satisfaction.

When we expect peace and joy through our friendships, relationships, and personality, we will not find satisfaction.

But when the eyes, hearts, and souls of God’s people look to HIM… He satisfies.

Perhaps through our skills, but HE brings satisfaction… not those things.

Perhaps through our planning, our hard work, or windfall, but HE brings satisfaction… not those things.

Perhaps through our friendships, relationships, and personalities, but HE brings satisfaction… not those things.

And it is not just some bland nicey-nice work God does.  He gives satisfaction to His people through the life, death, and life of His Son, our Savior.

Jesus leads to satisfaction.  Nothing else does

Fasting

The hand of our God is for good on all who seek Him, and the power of His wrath is against all who forsake Him.”  So we fasted and implored our God for this, and He listened to our entreaty. (Ezra 8:22,23 ESV)

Fasting

The idea of fasting is often connected in the Bible with crying out in desperation to God.  Here, Ezra describes how the people of God fasted, refrained from eating, while they implored God for help.

Fasting is not magic.  Fasting is not a ritual that we should perform to cause God to do things He does not want to do.  Fasting is not a means of coercing God.

Rather, fasting has to do with ourselves.

Fasting, doing without the pleasure of food, is an honest display of our urgent need before God.

Fasting, choosing to do without the common astonishing blessings God gifts us, reminds us of our daily dependance on Him.

Fasting, waiting to be full, content, or relaxed, is an indication of our problems that are looming large today.

Fasting doesn’t push God… but it might pull us in the right direction.

Motivation

Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. (Acts 7:11,12 ESV)

Motivation

I have a few things that I like to believe I would NEVER do.  This has nothing to do with unrighteous things, or illegal things, or moral things.  Merely things I do not appreciate, or like.

But I would probably actually do them, if push came to a shove.

Egypt, for Jacob and his family, was a place they would never want to visit.

At that point in history, Egypt was a rising power… and a fierce, unfriendly, extremely prejudiced land.  They knew they had the best army, the most money, and the most fertile land around.

Foreigners were treated, usually, with disrespect, disregard, and disdain.

But a terrible famine caused Jacob to overcome his own prejudice, his fears, and his doubts.

Hunger, the lack of food, motivated him.

And God knew what God was doing.  God wanted the Israelites in a corner in Egypt.  They had things to forget, things to learn, and a dependance on God to develop.

It did not make sense, I expect, to Jacob.  It was disappointing and shameful.  It was dangerous, unsure, and difficult.

But hunger, the lack of food, motivated him.

Perhaps our present day lacks are part of a similar plan of God’s.  He drives us to Him through the things we do not have, as much as the things we do have.  He drives us to His Son through our inabilities, our shortcomings, and our personal droughts, as much as through our skills, our successes, and our bounty.

Jacob was motivated, and followed what ended up being clear was the leading of His God.

Look for what God is motivating you to do, rather than focus on the famines around you.

Attention

And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.’ (Deuteronomy 1:25 ESV)

Attention

Some days my eyes see darkness more than light.  I KNOW that the light of Christ is brighter than any shadow, but darkness seems so prevalent.  Some days my ears hear cacophony more than harmony.  I KNOW that God directs my life in ways of beauty and Unity with Him, but the noise seems so loud.  Some days my nose notices odor more than fragrance.  I KNOW that God’s presence is a delight, but the decay and stink sometimes fills my nostrils. 

So many senses… so many ways to interpret the world.

But there was something about the food in the Promised Land.  The food they brought back made them say, “this is good!”

They could have been blinded by mist, they could have been deafened by terrible sounds, they could have been overwhelmed by the smells… but they noticed the good food.

Maybe that is one reason God gives us tasty food.  Not just so that we have some happy things… but because when we taste goodness, it is an easy path to the goodness of God. 

I suppose I could survive on saltine crackers, broccoli, and water.  But instead He claims my attention with croissants, with brussels sprouts (yes, I LIKE them…), and with wine. 

Let food’s deliciousness pull your attention to the goodness of God.

Drought

It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they became full,

they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. (Hosea 13:5,6 ESV)

Drought

Those foolish Israelites!  They received help from God, enough food to make them FULL, when all around them was in drought… and then after the danger was past, they forgot God.

We are foolish, too.  When we are in trouble, we cry out to God, the One True Living God.  The ONLY help in whatever trouble we have.  We desperately look to Him, and to Him alone.  We are sincere, we are open and honest, we are full of need, and full of our need for Him.

And then, because He helps us, we feel better.  We stop being afraid.  Our desperation moves out of sight, and out of memory.

And we forget how much we needed Him.

If it seems like we have more drought than harvest, perhaps it is because God is reminding us that we need Him.  If we have more tears than laughter, perhaps it is because we have forgotten how wonderful He has been.  If we have more terror than peace, perhaps it is because we have moved away from Him.

And He allows, or sends, or causes droughts, tears, and terror to draw our gaze back to Him.

Instead of panic, remember Him.

Responsibility

Only your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in the cities that I have given you… (Deuteronomy 3:19 ESV)

Responsibility

I have wasted many of the gifts I have received.  It took me a long time to realize and admit that with great gifts comes great responsibility. 

I have wasted friendships, letting them slip into inactivity.  I have wasted financial blessings, using money for things that rust away.  I have wasted time, wandering into purposelessness and laziness.  I have wasted good health, without regard for prevention and protective habits.  I have wasted energy, living wildly from wake-up to bedtime.

The Israelites who decided to stay on the East side of the Jordan River were given the blessing of land, homes, and security, just like those who inherited the West side of the Jordan River.  But as they received their gift early, they perhaps were able to understand the responsibility that comes with receiving a gift.

They had to arrange safety for their children and wives.  They had to ensure food for their (much) livestock.  They had to work hard for what they had already received.

It is not that far from the lives of Christians, today. We have received the GIFT of salvation, but with that gift comes great responsibility.

Responsibility to God, of obedience.  Responsibility to other Christians, of love.  Responsibility to creation, of stewardship.  Responsibility to others, of compassionate gospelling. 

Not to receive blessings… but because we already have been blessed.

Comfort Food

Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. (Song of Songs 2:5 ESV)

Comfort Food

For me, it is bacon.  When I am tense, bacon helps relax me.  When I am excited, bacon helps calm me.  When I am angry, bacon helps me smile.  When I am tired, bacon revives me.

Others might be refreshed by chocolate donuts… others by kale… others by steak… others by a milkshake.

For the poet in these verses, when he is heartsick, yearning for love… he turns to raisins and apples.

These fruits remind him, somehow of the reality of love.  It might be referring to romantic love.  It might be referring to brotherly love.  It might be referring to God’s love.

But food, particular foods, refresh in him an awareness of love.

THAT is comfort food.

Consider God’s love when you eat your favorite food.  Consider your family’s love when you share a familial meal.  Consider romantic love when you are out to eat on a date.  Consider Christ’s love when you eat HIS Supper with Him.

Food and comfort go together.

Now

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8 ESV)

Now

I saved some fruit gummy treats for too long.  Perhaps I was eating less to be healthy.  Perhaps I was forgetful.  Perhaps I had too many hoarded at the beginning.  But they sat in the cupboard for a long time.  And they sadly turned hard, and tasteless.

It is easy to focus on the here and now.  We understand cause-and-effect.  And so we make our plans for today, hoping and expecting that our efforts will have good results… will bear good fruit.

The trouble is, that often our focus is in the here and now.  Physical things.  Financial things.  Health things. Property things.

And those things are not necessarily bad….

But they will not last.  They will fade way.  They will be infested with rust, germs, age, and the effects of time and the elements.  That is what it means to reap corruption.  They are temporal and temporary.  They will not be pure, but rather will eventually be corrupt.

No matter how careful we are.

But the things of the Spirit… things like love, joy, peace, patience, and the rest… those things will last.  Particularly love.  Which will be our main activity and attitude in eternity.

Now is not meaningless… but it is not eternal.

Only the things of God will last.

Ripen

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control… (Galatians 5:22,23 ESV)

  Ripen

When we think of this list, we often think of them like commandments.  Love!  Be Joyful!  Have peace! Be Patient!

But while those are great commands, here they are called fruit.

Fruit is a natural result of a fruit tree.  The nature of the tree brings fruit. 

And the nature of Christians, when we are grafted into Christ, results in fruit.

We naturally (because it is our new nature in Christ, NOT because it is easy) love, find joy, know peace, are patient, are kind, are good, are faithful, are gentle, and have self-control.

Perhaps because God chose the illustration of fruit to help us understand this, we can glean some other ideas.  Our spiritual fruits develop like fruit.  They ripen like fruit.  They are aimed at someone ELSE, not ourselves (apples do not consume apples…). They have seeds that can grow and develop in other people, other situations, other communities.

How ripe is your fruit?

Not Politics

For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for his dwelling place: “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.” (Psalm 132:13-15 ESV)

Not Politics

We are Zion.  The people of God are Zion.  Particularly, the church is Zion.  Here, God declares that He is present with us!  He will bless us!  And then God declares that through Zion (which means through US) He will satisfy our poor with bread.

Through Zion… which is us.

Does it seem to you that we spend a lot of energy finding ways to excuse us from that job?  Does it seem to you that we have relegated that job to others (i.e. the government, ‘someone else’)?  Does it seem to you that we figure God will take care of that, if He really cares to?

Instead… without yet arguing about HOW we can do it… let us just notice that in God’s Economy for this world, He desires to provide for the poor through Zion.  Through the church.  Through us.

It is not political.  It is not left wing or right wing.  It is not about blame or fault or failure.

It is, though, time to do it.

Payment

Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.  And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. (II Chronicles 17:11,12 ESV)

Payment

The Kingdom of Judah was powerful. More specifically, the God Judah served was powerful.  When neighboring neighbors observed this, they were worried.  As was customary in those days, they attempted to diminish the threat of a powerful Kingdom by paying them.  The theory was that Judah would accept the profit from the gifts, and not venture into a more risky and costly invasion.

And the Arabians gave rams and goats.

In other words, they gave food sources, and food itself.

This was a more immediate payment than the gift of money.  Food is necessary.  Food is life-sustaining.  Food is profitable itself.  Food is a good payment.

In the Old Testament sacrificial system, much of what God required of His people as sacrifice for their sin was food.

While we tend to see those requirements as due to the simpler economic system of the day, perhaps God had more in mind.  The sacrificial animals were a more personal offering than silver and gold.  The sacrificial animals were a more ‘felt’ offering than silver and gold.  The sacrificial animals were a more practical offering than silver and gold.  The sacrificial animals were a more immediately costly offering than silver and gold.

Jesus does not come as gold, but rather as a lamb.

Jesus is not the silver of life, but rather the bread of life.

Jesus is not the multi-layered economic plan, but rather the vine.

Payment, in every sense,  is more than dollars and cents.  I am glad God knows this.

Importance

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2;42 ESV)

Importance

What did you do yesterday?  When answering that question, you show what is important to you.  Even though you drank 1.78 liters of water, that action is not what defines your day, I expect.  Even though you answered 16 texts about the weather, that action is not what defines your day.  Even though your heart beat 98,487 times, that action is not what defines your day.

But often our day’s summary includes a mention of food.

For the church in Acts it certainly did.

They broke bread.  That phrase refers to every time they ate.  That phrase refers to eating in fellowship.  That phrase refers to celebrating the Lord’s Supper.

And every such meaning refers them back to their Lord, Christ Jesus.

He is the bread of life.  He is the source of all provenance. He is the source of their unity.  And it is His Supper.

So, of course, when the book of Acts summarizes the lives of the church, we read that they broke bread.

Because it was of the utmost importance.

It is for us, too.  Again, He is the bread of life.  He is the source of all provenance. He is the source of unity.  And it is His Supper.

Break bread!