Blog Archives

I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW

12/30/2010

Most people are spending at least some time this week reflecting on this past year and preparing for the coming one. It is always interesting to stand on the threshold of a new year. Obviously, we do not know what tomorrow holds; but neither did we know what the coming year would hold at this same point last December.

As people of faith, however, we do not necessarily need to know what tomorrow holds. We only need to know Who holds tomorrow. Jesus teaches this clearly in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:25-33, He states:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Since God is in control of our lives (including whatever tomorrow holds), it behooves us to know His mind, and to pursue His will. Ultimately, this is all that matters in life. By comparison, everything else is inconsequential, and therefore subservient. God, of course, already knows this (just as He knows what we will face). He simply wants us to come to the conclusion (that He is all we need) on our own. When we do, our perspective on life will be forever changed; and our Lord will be glorified.

Steve Shepherd shares a story that well illustrates this simple truth. I have posted it here in the hopes that you will find it inspirational.

When Dr. W.A. Criswell, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist church in the world at one time, was preaching in the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago, he was entertained at the home of deacon James L. Kraft, who was superintendent of the Sunday school and founder of Kraft Foods.

Kraft said that as a young man he had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese, and began as a young fellow with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy.

After making his cheese, the youth would load his wagon, and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell the cheese. As the months passed, young Kraft began to despair because he was not making any money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.

One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said, “Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around. Our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place him first in our lives.”

Kraft then drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed. Many years after this, Dr. Criswell heard James Kraft say, “I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America. My first job is serving Jesus.”

UNDERSTANDING THE INCARNATION

12/25/2010

How was your Christmas? I hope it was a joyous and festive time for both you and your family. The Jacksons certainly had a great time with one other as we celebrated the birth of our wonderful Savior together. In Luke 2:19, the well known birth narrative of Jesus concludes with these words:  "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

As Christmas day comes to an end, I find that I too am turning now from all the festivity to a time of more reflection. As I have, I have been drawn again to the Biblical story of Christmas. Not to the more familiar passages as recorded in Matthew 2 and Luke 2; but to the more metaphysical and theological statements of John 1, where he states:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (1:1,14). In between these two parenthetical verses, John gives the purpose of the incarnation: "In him was life, and that life was the light of men... The true light that gives light to every man...

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

The finest theological minds of the last 2000 years have pondered the meaning of these verses, and no one has even begun to tap their richness. And yet, we keep trying. My post this Christmas day is a recounting of the story I shared at this year's Christmas Eve service.  My copy came from Rev. Paul Decker, who illustrates the awesome mystery of the incarnation with this simple story in a way which few others have. I hope you enjoy it.

There was a man that was a kind, decent, and mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn’t believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas time. It just didn’t make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. "I’m truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, "but I’m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve." He said he’d feel like a hypocrite. That he’d much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window.

But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window. Well, he couldn’t let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it.

Quickly he put on a coat and galoshes, and then tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow.

He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, the scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn. And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

"If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself," and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safe, warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand." At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells – “O Come All Ye Faithful” - listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow. This man rediscovered this truth… The Word became flesh.

DONT MISS THE BIG NEWS!

12/24/2010

Eric Martin, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Henderson, wrote an insightful guest column for the Tennessee Baptist Convention state paper, The Baptist and Reflector, this past week (Dec. 15, 2010, p. 11). I thought I would post a copy of it here, as today is now Christmas Eve, and most of us will finally begin to slow down long enough actually to reflect on the true meaning of tomorrow.

1903

Orville and Wilbur Wright were two brothers originally from Dayton, Ohio, who are credited in history as the inventors of the airplane. As you probably would imagine, inventing an airplane was no cakewalk. Beginning in 1899, Orville and Wilbur went through a long journey together in the process of developing the airplane.

But finally, while in North Carolina in December of 1903, and after multiple attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet! We will be home for Christmas.” Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the big news ... man had flown!

As humorous as that story may seem to us over a century after the airplane, it still is fascinating to think that the newspaper reporter actually thought the big news was that the boys would be home for Christmas instead of the fact that they had taken flight!

How easy it is for some people to miss the primary message! Luke chapter 2 is probably the most beloved birth narrative of our Lord Jesus. Specifically in these verses, we read the message given to the shepherds by the heavenly host of angelic messengers. The shepherds were told not to be afraid, and then they were told the most important part of the message ... that the Savior had been born.

But what would have happened if they had responded like the newspaper reporter from Dayton, Ohio, in 1903? What if they had overlooked the birth announcement of the Savior and simply focused on the promise that they did not have to be afraid of the angels? After all, I am sure it was startling to one moment be working out in fields as their flocks grazed and the next moment be overwhelmed by approaching angelic beings!

But praise be to God, the shepherds were able to decipher the Angels' secondary message from their primary message. The secondary message was the fact that the shepherds did not have to be afraid. Oh, but the glorious primary message was the fact that the Savior had been born in Bethlehem!

The primary message of Christmas is not the gift giving and the party gatherings. Nor is it the most recent Christmas song or movie. It is not even the annual Christmas service at church. The primary message of Christmas is Jesus Christ! If it were not for Christ, there would be no Christmas! Jesus truly is the reason for the season! Why? Because the provision of salvation offered to us by God through His Son Jesus!

The reason why the message of Christmas is Christ is because salvation is man's greatest need! Someone once said, "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior."

Take time out this Christmas season to ponder upon the primary message of Christmas; that "in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

THE BRIDEGROOM COMES!

12/22/2010

This past Sunday, as I concluded my series on “Christmas through the Ages”, we focused on “Christmas Future”, and on John’s vision of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in particular. (The two previous messages in the series focused on "Christmas Past" as seen through the eyes of the Prophets, and "Christmas Present" as seen through the eyes of Matthew and Luke.) In Rev. 19:6-9, John records the vision he received when he states:

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

The meaning of this vision becomes clear when one considers a few other key passages in the New Testament. Among them, the statement made by Paul in Ephesians 5, when in the midst of discussing how a husband and wife should relate to each other, he says, “This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

Add to this Jesus’ "Parable of the Ten Virgins" (Matthew 25:1-13), shared in his "Olivet Discourse" (a sermon He delivered from the mount of Olives the week before He was crucified and recorded in Matthew 24 and 25), along with His famous statement to His disciples which he made on the night before He was crucified (as recorded in John 14:1-3), when He says,

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am".

When we research what lies underneath these statements, we soon discover that each of them is alluding to something that the original audience would have well understood, but which has been lost to us down through the intervening centuries. The key is in understanding Jewish marriage customs of the First Century A.D.

The custom was for the groom to go from his father’s house, where he resided, to the house of the bride’s father, where she resided. Once there, he would propose marriage, negotiate and pay any price for the bride, and then seal the pact with a cup of wine. Thereafter, the couple would be officially betrothed.

The groom would then return to his father’s house, where for a period of approximately one year, he would busily prepare a dwelling place for his new bride. At the end of this time, known as the "period of separation", on an unannounced night, when his father so instructed him, the groom would form a processional and then leave to retrieve his bride.

Amidst much fanfare, including the sounding of trumpets and shouts of “Behold the Bridegroom comes”, he would arrive at the home of the father of the bride, where he would then call for his bride to come out and meet him in the courtyard. Once she came out to him, he would then take her back to his own father’s house to consummate the marriage.

An elaborate wedding feast would then ensue, which often lasted for as long as seven days. (Consider Jesus’ miracle at the wedding feast at Cana, when the hosts committed the social faux pas or running out of wine after a lengthy celebration.)*

I hope this vision of the second coming of Christ helps to inform your understanding of His first coming. I hope an appreciation for the Second Advent enriches the season when we celebrate the First Advent. I trust this Christmas will give you peace and joy. But I also pray that it will give you hope for the future as well.

Luke recorded the famous passage of the birth of Christ in his Gospel (2: 1-14). Later, in the opening chapter of the book of Acts (verse 11), he added the following: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Amen! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

*This is admittedly a brief summary of a very complex event. To read more, check out the following web links:

http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/jewish_marriage_customs.htm

http://www.believersweb.net/view.cfm?ID=801

http://www.bible-history.com/links.php?cat=39&sub=400&cat_name=Manners+%26+Customs&subcat_name=Marriage+Customs

http://www.jewishweddingnetwork.com/Jewish_Wedding_Glossary.doc

A RITE OF PASSAGE

12/17/2010

After four years of hard work, my daughter graduated from college this weekend. If I may be permitted to be a bragging dad, let me state that she did so with the highest of academic honors. Universities in America and Europe often confer upon graduating students with high grade point averages what is known as “Latin Honors” - in one of three levels: Cum Laude, meaning "with praise” (for students with a Grade Point Average of 3.5 to 3.74 out of a possible 4.0), Magna Cum Laude, meaning "with great praise" (for students with a GPA of 3.75-3.89), and Summa Cum Laude, meaning "with highest praise" (for students with a 3.9-4.0 GPA).

That having been said, my daughter, Andrea, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace from Middle Tennessee State University. She was one of only 27 students out of a total of 1347 who graduated to receive such recognition. Needless to say, both her mother and I are very proud of her.

As she received her diploma, I could not help but think of the story I first heard a pastor tell from the pulpit over thirty years ago. He said he was graduating from college and the various students were being called up to the platform to receive their diplomas. The first student had his name called; and as he stepped up to the platform, it was announced that he was graduating “cum laude”.

The next student was called and they announced she was receiving her diploma “magna cum laude”. The third student heard his name and stepped up to the receive his degree “summa cum laude”.

At last, the young preacher’s name was called. As he stepped up to the platform, he was wondering if he would receive similar recognition. As he made his way to the podium, his question was answered. One of his professors shouted out passionately, “He’s graduating, Praise the Lawdy!”

Let me just say that her mother and I would have been proud of Andrea just for graduating, with or without honors. We praise the Lord for this monumental step in her life. And we hope and pray that this is only one of many milestones she will pass on the road of life.

WHO WILL TAKE THE SON?

12/15/2010

For the last couple of Sundays, I have been speaking on the subject of “Christmas Through the Ages”. The approach has focused on “Christmas Past” (as seen through the eyes of the Prophets), “Christmas Present” (as seen through the eyes of the Gospel writers), and “Christmas Future” (as seen through the eyes of the Apostle John on Patmos). In so doing, I have been reminded that all of Scripture points to the life, the ministry, and ultimately the purpose of Jesus Christ.

The flowing verses as recorded in I John 5:11-13 summarize God’s purpose in Jesus Christ: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This confirms the promise of Jesus Himself, when He said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

Later, Paul elaborates throughout the book of Ephesians on this fullness, which he calls our spiritual inheritance (or riches) in Christ: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (1:3).

This week, I thought I would post a well-known story, one that illustrates the great truth of our full inheritance in Christ Jesus. Several versions of this story exist, both on the web and in print. For example, see either: http://www.jesuschristonly.com/illustrations/gospel.html#jesusaccepting, or Alice Gray, More Stories From The Heart, (Multnomah, 1997, pp. 126-127). It appears that the earliest actual printed version is from Ivor Powell’s book, Bible Windows (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1954), pp.
27-28. Whichever version you choose, I hope the story speaks to you.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When a vicious conflict broke out, the son went off to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.

The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted. "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?" Another voice shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued, "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting."

Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming angry. They did not want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted. "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"

Indeed, God gave His Son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13).

REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR!

12/7/2010

In light of the fact that this is Pearl Harbor Day, “a day which will live in infamy”, I thought I would share an extra post today. As I lover of history in general, and of World War Two history in particular, I agree in part with the assessment that WW2 is the single biggest “event” in all of human history. And yet, while it is the single biggest event in terms of human involvement, it is not the single biggest in terms of consequence. Let me explain.

If one overlooks the lingering consequences of World War One some twenty years before, then WW2 can be said to have properly started when the Japanese Army invaded China in July of 1937. In Europe, it began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland with its blitzkrieg (or lightning war). Of course, the war began for the United States on December 7, 1941, when she was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Navy at Pearl Harbor. The Allies early on adopted a "Europe first" policy, desiring to stop Hitler above all else. As a result, the European war ended on May 07, 1945, and the Pacific war ended on August 15, 1945. It is arguable, however, that even though the war itself did not technically end until 1945 (in either the European or the Pacific theatres), the beginning of the end occurred much earlier.

Two dates are significant. Barely six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Pacific Fleet ambushed the Japanese Imperial Navy at a little island called Midway. In this battle, which occurred during June 4-7, 1942, the Japanese Imperial Navy’s Midway Invasion force was thwarted along with the loss of four of her mainline aircraft carriers. From that point forward, Japan was no longer on the offensive in the war. Indeed, she was forever thereafter on the defensive. Three years later, she was exhausted, depleted, and ultimately defeated by the much larger and better equipped forces of the United States.

The other significant date is, of course, June 6, 1944. On that day, forever remembered in history as “D-Day”, the combined Allied forces under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower invaded Nazi occupied Europe on the beaches of Normandy, France. Again, though Hitler’s forces fought fiercely, they were nonetheless on the defensive from that day forward. As was the case in the Pacific theatre after Midway, the outcome of the European theatre was never really in question after “D-Day”. The tide of war had now turned. The following facts by Chuck Colson (in his book titled The Faith) detail the Allied invasion of Normandy.

“D-Day” was the largest seaborne landing in history. More than 150,000 U.S. troops were committed to the initial invasion, employing 6,900 vessels, 4,100 landing craft, and 12,000 airplanes. Within two weeks the British deployed an additional 314,547 men, 54,000 vehicles, and 102,000 tons of supplies, while the Americans put ashore an additional 314,504 men, 41,000 vehicles, and 116,000 tons of supplies at Omaha. Ten thousand tons of bombs were dropped on German defenses, with the word given to the French resistance to sabotage key bridges, railway lines, telephone exchanges, and electricity substations. Despite the Allies' air superiority and hours of heavy bombardment against the beach defenses by the warships' guns, the Germans stayed intact as thousands of brave men in the landing craft motored toward shore. Nothing stood between these troops and the German guns but the morning air. At Omaha, Gold, Sword, Juno, and Utah beaches, the troops' only chance was to run, swim, and crawl up the beach to the sea walls, where they could reassemble for assaults on enemy gun positions. In the first hours at Omaha, more than 2,400 died. Over the next few weeks, as the battle progressed inland, the U.S. would eventually lose 29,000 men and more than 100,000 wounded and missing, while the British gave up 11,000 of its finest, and Canada 5,000. And all this was just the initial set of invasions. The Battle of the Bulge and other potentially catastrophic reversals were still to come, but the invasion of Normandy was so massive and successful, that it allowed the Allies to turn every counterattack into another victory.

Colson then makes the following insightful observation: "As if preordained, the outcome was clear; the evils of Hitler and fascism would be conquered."

Why do I share this? Because in both theatres of the war, one can see the Gospel illustrated. In Genesis chapter three, Satan attacked men and women, ruthlessly bringing death and destruction into human history. He reigned unchecked until a supernatural invasion occurred and the battle was joined. When the Son of God invaded this world that first Christmas, He turned the tide of battle as surely as did Midway after Pearl Harbor or as did D-Day after Blitzkrieg. And that supernatural invasion was the single most important event in terms of consequence in all of human history. No, the battle may not yet be over; but the outcome is now abundantly clear. Satan is now on the defensive. In short order, the reign of the evil one will cease. In short order, the victory of the Righteous One will come. And that victory will be ours as well. And we will be forever free in the Kingdom of the Son! Amen! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

If you see a WW2 veteran today, be sure to thank him (or her). They fought for our freedom. Be sure to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to our Savior this day as well. He came to die in order that you and I might live.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

12/6/2010

As Christmas approaches, the prophecies of the Old Testament have become increasingly intriguing to me. By some estimates, Jesus Christ fulfilled over 400 Old Testament prophecies. Among those prophets seeing into the future, Isaiah was arguably the greatest, for he envisioned the person and the
role of the coming Messiah more clearly than did any of his contemporaries. The passages in Isaiah chapters seven and nine are remarkably precise in their predictions surrounding the birth of Jesus. Matthew chapter one and Luke chapter one show this to be the case.

But Isaiah also foresaw the events surrounding the death of the Messiah as no one else did. His famed “Suffering Servant” passages culminate with chapters 52:13-53:12. Here, he describes in vivid detail the vicarious suffering and death of Jesus Christ. When one reads these verses (along with other passages such as Psalm 22), the explicit nature of the crucifixion is clearly foretold.

Several years ago, I came across an article written by a group of physicians and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It is titled “On the Physical death of Jesus Christ”; and it can be accessed at the following web link: http://www.slublog.com/deathjesus.pdf. Be advised: it is
not necessarily an easy read, owing to both its content and it erudition. Nonetheless, it is a dramatic description of just what Isaiah foresaw would one day happen to the Messiah.

All of this serves to remind us that Jesus Christ was born to die. As gruesome as that may sound, remember this: His death is the means whereby you and I are truly born. Jesus Himself said (in His discussion with Nicodemus in John 3:3-6): “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again… no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit (for) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” Indeed, Jesus’ double victories over sin on the cross and over death in the resurrection together made possible our new life - abundant
and eternal.

In short, Jesus was born to die in order that we may be born to live. When we grasp the significance of this message, the purpose of Christmas is clear. And the meaning of the angels’ song in Luke 2 is apparent: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

THE WHIPPING

12/2/2010

We have been exploring the book of Isaiah during Bible Study on Wednesday nights this fall. The high point of Isaiah’s book is the famed “Suffering Servant” passage of Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This passage beautifully describes the coming vicarious death of Jesus Christ for the sins of men and women.

Rarely does one find an illustration which so aptly fits a passage like the story of “The Whipping” fits this one. It is a well-known and time-honored story. My copy, which I shared this past Wednesday night, and I which I post here, comes from Scott Severance and can be found at the following website: http://www.sermonillustrationlibrary.org/illustration55?highlight=the|whipping.

There was school with a class of students that no teacher had been able to handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in one year by the unruly students. A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to the school.

The principal asked the young man, "Do you know what you are asking for? No one else has been able to handle these students. You are just asking for a terrible beating."

After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man looked at the principal and said, "Sir, with your consent I accept the challenge. Just give me a trial basis."

The next morning the young man stood before the class. He said to the class, "Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize I can't do it by myself. I must have your help."

One big boy, they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to his buddies, "I won't need any help. I can lick that little bird all by myself."

The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school, there would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added that he would allow the students to make up the rules and that he would list them on the blackboard.

This was certainly different, the students thought! One young man suggested "NO STEALING."  Another one shouted "BE ON TIME FOR CLASS."

Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board. The teacher then asked the class what the punishment should be for breaking these rules. "Rules are no good unless they are enforced", he said.

Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off.  The teacher thought that this was pretty harsh, so he asked the class if they would stand by this punishment.

The class agreed. Everything went along pretty good for two or three days. Then Big Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his lunch. After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that little Timmy had stolen Big Tom's lunch. Someone had seen little Timmy with Big Tom's lunch!

The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the room. Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom's lunch.  So the teacher asked him, "Do you know the punishment?  Little Timmy nodded that he did. "You must remove your coat," the teacher instructed.

The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the teacher, "I am guilty and I am willing to take my punishment, but please don't make me take off my coat.

The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and again told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man. The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat. And even worse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on.

Little Timmy replied, "My daddy's dead and my mother is very poor. I don't have but one shirt, and my mother is washing it today. I wore my big brother's coat so that I could keep warm."

That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered how he could lay a rod on that little back and without even a shirt on.

Still, he knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not obey the rules. So he drew back to strike little Timmy.

Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle. He asked, "Is there anything that says that I can't take little Timmy's whipping for him?"

The teacher thought about it and agreed.  With that Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped and stood over little Timmy at the desk. Hesitatingly the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back.

But for some strange reason after only five licks that old rod just broke in half. The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the room. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck apologizing to him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy begged Big Tom to forgive him. He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping for him.

Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us. That He shed His precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life in Glory with Him?

We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren't you glad He loves us that much?