No More Time to Doubt ...

The women were the first to speak the truth of the gospel.  Then two men of the inner circle came bursting into the upper room bringing the same words of the gospel good news.  Jesus is alive.  Don’t care that we all saw Him get crucified and die.  Don’t care that we all know He was laid in the tomb fully dead.  He just walked with us all the way to Emmaus and showed us right out of scripture how all of this was fore-ordained.  We nearly ate dinner with Him before He just disappeared.  And Luke picks up the story right as they are speaking the validation of the women’s first gospel testimony that should have never been needed to be validated.  But just to put a nail in the coffin of doubt forevermore Luke interrupts what goes on there continuing in chapter 24 of his letter to his friend about what we believe and why.  In verse 36 it says … “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”  While they were yet testifying as to what they had seen, heard, and experienced.  They are interrupted by this Jesus Himself appearing right in the middle of them.  No knock on the door.  Not tired from running the whole way there from Emmaus.  God does not need to run.  God moves where He wants.  God goes where He is needed.  No prophet ever did that.  Jesus is not just some mere mighty prophet.  Jesus is God.  And God is very much alive.

The time for doubt to die is here.  The time for faith born in evidence is now right there in the middle of that room looking them straight in the eyes and hearts.  But once again, human weakness, is the response to Jesus, even when He just got finished saying “peace be unto you”.  In effect Shalom.  A greeting of peace.  A greeting meant to assuage fear.  But when we refuse to see, we often refuse to hear, all because we are so set in our ways that even if Jesus appeared right in the very room with us, we cling to our notions of the past.  Luke continues recording their responses in verse 37 saying … “But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.”  It winds up easier for us to believe in ghosts than God.  We prefer the darkness to the light, even when it shines right in front of us.  Consider that every disciple in that upper room (man or woman, part of the 12 or part of the 70), every one of them, knows and has seen firsthand Jesus raising the dead while He was yet with them in His earlier ministry.  They know it can be done, because they have all seen it done.  Some of them will do this in His name in the future.  But regardless, they all know it is possible.  No ghosts back then.  No tricks back then.  But when Jesus shows Himself to be alive, we reject the possibility of resurrection and cling to the notion of evil spirits or ghosts.

Is it any different today?  We accept death as inevitable and permanent, never considering for a moment that our resurrection is assured.  Never considering that God may even bring us back to this world early to accomplish the mission He has in mind for us.  But no one asks that prayer.  And worse NO ONE believes it could ever happen.  So NO ONE tests their own faith in the name of Jesus by asking it.  We just see death, and give up all hope, barely trusting in the resurrection that will one day come.  We just assume death is the will of God.  How could it not be?  If God did not want death, then why is it so inevitable?  But these musings are the thoughts of believers who accept the results of sin, without considering that God never intended for us to understand death at all, let alone to experience it.  We were created with the notion of forever in mind.  Time was to have no end.  Endings would be a foreign concept.  So why do we believers now choose to NEVER ask for God to bring life back in the here and now, in order that we may continue the work He has set for us.  It is possible that work was prematurely ended by death.  And it is possible that God would have that work restarted now, if those fellow servants would only have the faith to ask and believe in those same possibilities.  What is the worst that can happen; He says “no”.  Seems like we are already settling for that answer, without ever asking for something else.

The lesson in this upper room is one for our church today.  Our ideas of the past, what we believe the doctrines dictate, so inform our judgment that even a risen Lord is unable to penetrate them.  We get in our heads what we think things should be, then cement those ideas so that nothing can shake them.  Even a plainly risen Lord Jesus, is translated into the ideas of a spirit or ghost instead.  A spirit or ghost is still consistent with their earlier beliefs, a risen Lord is not.  And are we any different?  Our ideas create our fear, our doubt.  Any evidence, or testimony, that lends itself to the notion we are mistaken, is discarded in favor of ridiculous conclusions that keeps us fully in line with the past.  We choose, like our disciple forefathers, to look backwards even when standing in the presence of God Himself.  And in so doing we nurture our fear and self-reliance, not our faith, and our ability to step forward.  Imagine if even when you do not have the money, you pay your tithes anyway.  Common sense tells you that this is a financial mistake.  There is no way that spending money you do not have, on church of all things, or ministry of all things, could possibly make sense.  But I challenge you to challenge God and spend that money that way, then stand back and watch.  Somehow, someway, everything works out.  It does not make sense, but it does work out.

And this lesson is to be applied to more than just our money.  Imagine if instead of returning some well deserved righteous indignation to someone who has wronged you, who is guilty, who clearly has it coming and they know it – instead – you return some undeserved love and total forgiveness, you show kindness where it is not deserved.  And believe me, kindness is the last thing that will be expected in that situation, from them or you.  But instead of “being human”, you react through the power of His love, letting it flow through you, and only then; lives will be changed, perhaps yours most of all.  To apologize when you have done no wrong, to be humble when you are in the right, to be forgiving when you are the aggrieved party; these are the hallmarks of a true believer in Jesus Christ as your lord.  We should not need evidence before we are able to trust this way.  We should not need Jesus appearing in our living rooms, to truly know that living this way, is living a better way.  And no difference of doctrine or denomination should warrant a limit to our love, our forgiveness, or our kindness.

Luke continues in verse 38 saying … “And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? [verse 39] Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. [verse 40] And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.”  So Jesus must reach out to us even farther.  He offers his own flesh as proof of His identity.  Jesus humbles Himself enough to let His followers poke the holes in hands, or feet, or side.  Imagine how far Jesus will go, to assuage your doubts and fears, to turn you from looking backwards and start you on looking forwards to what really matters.  The only way the incorrect beliefs or doctrines you hold to will ever be corrected, is if you look forward to Jesus, and to where and how He leads you.  Nothing can change while we cement ourselves in a backwards posture.  Looking to Jesus can be the full death of doubt if we let it.

But humans can be stubborn when we choose to.  Luke continues in verse 41 saying … “And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? [verse 42] And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. [verse 43] And he took it, and did eat before them.”  So even when we start seeing the potential in the future, even when that potential introduces so much joy we can hardly stand it, we still find a way to keep doubting, and keep the door to all that - sealed shut.  Where Jesus is concerned, too good to be true, is not yet good enough.  Jesus always brings more good, more joy to us, than our limited brains ever thought possible.  As a final demonstration that He is not some spirit or ghost, Jesus eats something right in front of them.  In the kingdom of the Lord there are no spirits or ghosts save the Holy Ghost or dimension of the God head we do not fully understand.  Think about it, other than that, when Enoch goes to heaven he is translated alive in full bodily form, just as he was born to his parents.  When Moses dies, he is buried in a secret place by God, but when the devil finds his body, Moses is resurrected and taken to heaven in full bodily form.  When Elijah goes it is the same story.  When Lazarus was brought back it was in no spirit form, but in full bodily form, as was every other resurrected person during the ministry of Christ.  When the firstfruits go to heaven, it is the same story once again, resurrected in full bodily form.  And Jesus is no different.  God does not need a shell of who we are.  He did not make us this way, He has no interest in seeing us this way.  We are either living as we do now, or dead and sleeping in a grave with no memory, or interest in what happens today. 

But the disciples were more inclined to believe in demons masquerading as spirits or ghosts of those no longer alive, than in a resurrected Lord.  It took more than just His appearing in their room and speaking with them.  It took more than poking the holes of His wounded flesh, wounds He has chosen to keep forevermore.  It took Jesus eating a meal in front of them, before they would finally set aside their doubt.  This was Jesus subtlety teaching them their superstitions should be undone by what is real.  We don’t need the ghosts of the past, we need the Lord of today, the Lord of the future.  We should not allow our ideas of doctrines and what we think “should” be, cloud our notions of what the Lord is actually doing right now, right here in front of your face.  God is bigger than our box.  God is greater than our limitations, or our imaginations.  Now is the time for the doubt of the past to meet its end.  Is your faith capable of letting go of the past, and fastening hold of the future Jesus has in mind for you?  I hope mine is …

 

Identity Revealed ...

A “Monday morning quarterback” has the advantage of knowing the end of the game, and how it arrived at that conclusion.  They see the fumbles that got in their way.  They see the completions that marked their advance.  And they regret the decisions they made when facing the unknown, that in retrospect turned out to be the wrong ones.  But with the perspective of knowing these things, what a different series of events might have been possible.  Plays and decisions that “at the time” would have looked crazy, might have just been the very things that would have altered the outcome of the game.  Coaches, fans, and the TV audience looking on, without the perspective of knowing these events, would decidedly NOT have understood the call while the game was in motion.  But later, all the coaches, fans, and audience members would have cheered the outcome, and come to believe the “Monday morning quarterback” had to have been a prophetic genius to have made those calls.  How alike that is, with how our God works with us in this life.  He already knows the ending, when it will come, and what is important to accomplish before that day.  Some of the calls He makes, look crazy to us.  But in the end, when life is eternal for us once again, we will cheer His calls, and praise His foreknowledge, in the mission of redeeming us unto Himself.

When Peter began his recollection of the gospel to John Mark, He already knew the end of the story.  And He knew where the debate continued to rage.  The “mystery” of the identity of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of the Living God, was now known to Peter, and no longer in any question.  But the stubborn Jewish religious leadership could not come to admit this idea.  And what was the original established religion by Christ, given to Moses in the desert, had now officially adopted the position of being the enemy of Christ.  The long awaited hope of the Messiah, had been perverted into a “land grab” that would drive out the Romans, and assert world-wide domination for the Jews.  The idea that the Messiah would have bigger ambitions, in the saving of every soul on earth, even those of Roman blood, was simply unthinkable.  So “evidence” of the identity of Jesus Christ had to be covered up.  To dispute the words of men would be easy enough, simply call them liars, and attempt to enter a “he said / she said” debate.  But personal witnesses to “evidence” of the true identity of Jesus Christ, would be MUCH harder to refute.  Peter knew this.  And Peter had no interest in prolonging a debate he knew had already been settled.  So in the brevity of his recollection with John Mark, he provides evidence after evidence after evidence of the Truth of Jesus Christ, and “who” He really was.

Mark continues the recollections of Peter as he writes in verse 9 … “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.”  Peter was not there in person at that event, his brother Andrew was.  Peter does not recount the speech by John the Baptist expressing his own unworthiness to baptize the Lord, or frankly the lack of “need” as Jesus was sinless throughout His entire life.  John the Baptist craved the baptism of the Holy Spirit that he knew only Jesus could actually offer him.  But to serve as our example, Jesus goes forward with the traditional baptism by John in the dirty river of the Jordan, in front of the crowds who have gathered.  The crowds were paying special attention to this baptism, as up to now, they had never seen John greet a parishioner in this way.  Announcing Him to be the Lamb of God, and publicly stating there was no need to be baptized.  So the eyes of the crowd were intent on this particular case.

Mark continues in verse 10 … “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: [verse 11] And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Imagine the “shock” in the crowd.  For the first and only time ever, a baptism is followed by the heavens parting and the Spirit of God descending on the head of Jesus in the form of a dove.  Not just an ordinary bird, but one covered in brilliant light.  This would not be mistaken for a homing pigeon, or pet of Jesus, this was clearly a supernatural event.  And if the dove of brilliant light and unmistakable presence was not enough, it is followed by a voice from heaven stating plainly for all to hear … “Thou are my beloved Son” … the voice of God the Father affirming the very identity of Jesus Christ.  Only the long awaited Messiah “could” ever be the only Son of God.  Only “this man” Jesus standing wet still in the river itself, was ever affirmed by God as His much loved and only Son.  And further, our God affirms his pleasure in the 30 years of the life of Christ to this point.  Peter has here offered the greatest “proof” there would ever be as to the identity of Jesus Christ.  What greater witness could there ever be, than God the Father, and the Holy Spirit themselves?  Here is the testimony of 2 witnesses.

Mark continues in verse 12 … “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. [verse 13] And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”  Peter does not dive into the details of this event either.  Perhaps it is because he is only recalling it to further establish the identity of Jesus Christ.  “Immediately” upon rising from the waters Jesus is “driven” by the Spirit into the wilderness.  No time to eat, rest up, prepare and get ready.  The time for temptation will never be a convenient one, where careful planning will help us avoid it.  No, the devil looks for our weakest moments, not our strongest ones.  He is a hunter who preys on the weak.  Forty days without sustenance, or companionship, will so weaken Jesus Christ that He will be at the point of death for these temptations.  At the end of these events, it will take angels to minister unto Jesus, or he would have died of exposure, starvation, and dehydration.  This event was not intended to be something we are to emulate.  It was to put the Son of God in His human form into the weakest state humanity could sustain (right before death), and allow only then for the devil to present temptations of ease, and alternate ways to save us.  Having resisted, Jesus collapses, and angels keep what little life remains in Him to sustain Him.  When Jesus returns to Galilee He is so emaciated, almost no one recognizes Him.  Angels as well, now attest as to the identity of Jesus Christ.

John Mark continues writing in verse 14 … “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [verse 15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”  Peter summarizes the remainder of the real mission of the Messiah and believes it begins immediately following these events.  Even ahead of having disciples, Peter believes the Messiah has begun His work for our redemption.  And thus far, Peter has offered the word of God the Father as to the identity of Jesus Christ.  Peter has also offered the interest of the devil himself, in tempting the Messiah to fail in His mission by pursuing an alternative means.  So from Peter’s perspective, both God and the devil, have affirmed who Jesus Christ is.

Mark continues in verse 16 … “Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. [verse 17] And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. [verse 18] And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.”  John Mark records Peter’s participation in these events under his original name “Simon”.  He also extends the invitation of Christ to become fishers of men to Andrew Peter’s brother, who had been a disciple of John the Baptist.  John Mark offers that “straightway” they forsook their nets, not elaborating on the miracle Christ offered Peter in catching fish after he had failed on his own.  He does not recount the initial disbelief that following the directions of Jesus would yield a different result;  though these events are recalled in other gospels.  But the intent of these verses is to establish the witnesses of Simon Peter and his brother Andrew as they enter the story.

Mark continues in verse 19 … “And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. [verse 20] And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”  James and John were sometimes known as the “sons of thunder”.  Perhaps Zebedee had earned this reputation from his voice, or from his “colorful” language when expressing displeasure.  Peter takes note of the lineage here. 

But he also recounts that following Jesus Christ was not something to be done after careful consideration, planning, and attending to other matters to make ready.  The four of his first disciples, left everything they owned, knew, or were familiar with to “follow” Jesus Christ.  They had no idea where they were going.  They had no idea what they would be doing, other than perhaps to gather others to their cause.  They had no money, brought no food.  They were promised no reward.  What they would do, where, and how, were all going to be up to Jesus Christ.  “They” were simply going to be there “with” Jesus as events would unfold.  Jesus would be doing all the “real” work.  They would be watching what He did.  They would be observing and attending to Jesus in any way He asked.  There was no advanced agenda, or preplanned curricula, or predefined list of activities, goals, and accomplishments.

How unlike us!  We want to know every particular before we make a decision, and even then, we vacillate endlessly.  We promise God, or claim to follow Christ, but only as it suits our own convenience and preferences.  We are not prepared or inclined to leave everything we know, everything we are familiar with.  We cling to our families, our jobs and careers, and particularly our things.  Our “version” of following Jesus Christ distills down to “admitting” we are Christian … only when asked.  We will occasionally part with our tithes and offerings, but only as we are “able” to give, rarely when we are “unable”.  Perhaps there is a good reason why modern Christians are not known as “disciples”, but rather just as “believers”.

Peter has set the stage in his recollections to John Mark.  He has been brief in the events that lead up to the ministry of Jesus Christ.  But he has also been very conscience of revealing the identity of Jesus Christ in every passage and text.  There is no real mystery as to who Jesus was and is.  The doubts that may linger in the minds of those who refuse to believe are there by choice.  Keep in mind, that Jesus has thus far not proclaimed Himself to be the Son of God.  Others have proclaimed Jesus so.  The message of Jesus was that the time is at hand, the prophecies are being fulfilled in living 3D color, and that the gospel of the kingdom of God has arrived.  Repentance; like the message of John who preceded Him, is still the first step towards our salvation and the message that Jesus Christ brings to His hearers.  Jesus has gathered disciples who He will teach to become fishers of men.  The stage is set, the ministry will begin immediately, and “who” He is, can hardly be contained …