The Little while and the End of the Discourse

“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:16–20.

"In effect, what He has said is: It is good for you that I go, for not till I become invisible physically, shall I be visible to you spiritually: I must be withdrawn from the eye of your flesh, before I can be seen by the eye of your mind." A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 436.

We often wonder what our faith would look like if we were the original followers of Jesus. When I say this, I mean actual followers of Him in His time here on earth. Would we be better Christians if we had? Or would we be just like we are today?

During this time when Jesus made this statement, the disciples had no conception of what He meant when he spoke these words. It was a mere riddle to them which again they did not understand; however the disciples were roused as a result of this saying and it sparked their curiosity. Jesus, looking at them and their faces knew an explanation was necessary. Note though how Jesus never explains the two types of seeing to them. This explanation would only have to be worked out through their own experiences in the future. And that future was fast approaching...

I find the next statement by Bruce to be hugely insightful into the human realm. "... from an ignorant implicit faith to a faith developed and intelligent; their initiation into the highest grade of the Christian mysteries, when they should see clearly things presently unintelligible, and be Epopts (one who is instructed in a secret system) in the kingdom of heaven." Furthermore he states; "It is a great thing to be regenerated, but it is a not less great thing to be illuminated." page 439. 

When Jesus disappears and goes to heaven, the disciples will then receive the Holy Spirit. He will be the spiritual light and life that will permeate their being. This Spirit will give them an enlarged comprehension of truth as He tells them; "In that day you will not question Me about anything."

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:23.

In the coming days, no longer will they have to ask the questions like a child and their incapacity to understand the answers will be gone. Their childhood spirit will be replaced by the understanding spirit of adulthood. They will have an imparting from the Holy Spirit who give them knowledge into all things. All spiritual things!The mysteries of the kingdom will no longer be unknown to them and Jesus will be more real to them than He ever was when the Spirit of Truth comes.

As we reflect, I re-visit the question posed in the beginning of this blog. Would we be better Christians if we were walking with Jesus right now? Well, the Bible tells us we have the perfect knowledge of God now as the Spirit indwells the believer in this present age. So how to we know all things? We take our Bibles out and we read them each day. Even the disciples didn't have the complete written Word then! We must avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit in prayer and asking for wisdom each and every day. We talk to God each day and ask that He would show us Himself each and every day how to be more like His Son.

Don't allow yourself to go throughout this life without using what God has given to each of us (His Spirit) who know Jesus as their Savior. Then you won't have to ask some of the childish questions that the disciples posed to Jesus as new babes! Then you will possess perfect knowledge!

Tribulations and Encouragements from the Departing One

“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 16:1–4.

From this time on, Jesus told the apostles they would face some pretty tough tribulations. Their fruit which remained was sure to make them become men of sorrow. Pretty harsh conditions from One who promised them eternity...

"To be hated and evil entreated is one of the penalties of moral greatness and spiritual power; or, to put it differently, one of the privileges Christ confers on His 'friends.'" A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 423. 

Imagine with me how harsh this sounds, but consider what else Bruce says; "Hatred is very hard to bear, and the desire is to escape it is one main cause of unfaithfulness and unfruitfulness." Bruce, pg. 423.

Most of us treat our lives as ones that want to live as peacefully as we can with as little turmoil as we can, but does this really line up with the real gospel? Jesus statement, "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling" is almost said apologetically to the apostles. The apostles face some tough times ahead and Jesus knew it. Would they be good soldiers in the fight, or run for high ground? Would they realize that the Master told them that they would face trials and tribulations for being one of His and face them boldly? Or would they seek to escape the trouble ahead?

Then I read on in Bruce's book. Here's what he had to say next: "Men who suffer for their convictions are greatly tempted to regard their opponents as in equal measure the opponents of God. The wrongs they endure provoke them to think and speak of the wrong-doers as the very children of the devil. Then it gives importance to one's cause, and dignity to one's sufferings, to conceive of the former as God's, and of the latter as endured for God's sake. Finally, broadly to state the question at stake as one between God's friends and God's foes, satisfies both the intellect and the conscience,- the former demanding a status questionis which is simple and easily understood; the latter, one which puts you obviously in the right, and your adversaries obviously in the wrong." Bruce, pg. 426.

This reminded me of something that happened to me a long time ago. It concerns a friend's wrong convictions. Several years back, a friend called me to ask for prayers for he and his family. He told me that he had been facing some really hard difficulties in his life. You see he was about to lose his license to practice medicine. I asked him what was happening so I would know how to pray about the situation. He explained the situation. He stated that he was being persecuted by the devil and wanted me to pray Satan would be defeated in this attack. After more probing, I found that the entire problem was a result of poor decision (a wrong conviction) he had made in his professional and personal life; all brought upon himself by himself! This was obviously his fault, but yet he chose to blame Satan for the trouble. It was more about his personal vanity than his gospel conviction.

Ok, so I know this is an extreme case, but it does allow us to see the difference and how we react to trials and tribulations. I don't think sometime we endure the things we do because Satan is outwardly attacking us. It might be just because those around us don't know Who we know. There was a man who in Acts 7 did the same thing. His name was Saul.

Jesus told the apostles that they would face trials and tribulations as a result of being connected to Him. But He told them not to be surprised of the times when they came. He stated, "But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them." (John 16:4). 

Sure, all of us face tribulations from demons (not Satan) throughout our lifetime. If Satan were to directly attack us, most of us wouldn't endure it well... I remember Job's story too well. I think a lot of the time, we are going through these times as a result of those who are not connected to Jesus and thinking they are doing the right thing while attacking us (again Saul springs to the mind). Then again, sometimes we are our own worse enemy sometimes as well. Then it is not the attitude of "the devil made me do it," rather "I helped the devil do it!"

Is our conviction truly for the gospel of Jesus Christ or is it somewhere muddled in what we think this life should contain? 

I challenge you today to think the next time trouble comes as to what is attacking you. Is it a result of what we have done to ourselves or is it because those who attack us do not know the One? Remember, if we are standing alongside Jesus, He will consider us His "friends" as we endure a tiny fraction of what He endured for us!

Dying Charge to the Future Apostles III

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:15.

"...the apostles would be partners: the disciples had been as government clerks; the apostles would be confidential ministers of the king: the disciples had been pupils in the school of Jesus; the apostles would be the treasurers of Christian truth, the reporters and expositors of their Master's doctrine, the sole reliable sources of information concerning the letter and spirit of His teaching. What office could possibly be more important than theirs? and how needful that they should realize their responsibilities in connection with it!" The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 422.

Consider the truth taught here... Once upon a time, these men, disciples in the training court of the School of Jesus were responsible for learning the truth about the Teacher. Now becoming apostles; they had a greater obligation. An obligation to share His teaching to those around them in the spirit of His teaching. As apostles, they have the duty to pass along the teachings they so diligently studied and listened to at one time as mere disciples. But Jesus gave further stimuli to diligence and fidelity (Bruce, pg. 422). "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:16.

This benefit was not of their own doing, but of what Jesus bestowed upon them. The benefit they received was all on their side. "He had raised them from obscurity to be the lights of the world, to be the present companions and future friends and representatives of the Christ." Bruce, pg. 422. 

Consider this: In the previous passage (John 15:15) Jesus tells them that the slave does not know what the master is doing.  The slave does not know the king's plans, nor is he important enough to be allowed in the room when they are made known. But now He calls them friends. They no longer hold a menial position in the kingdom as a slave does in the king's house. They now have the benefit of knowing the king's plans and details therein. Note Jesus words though: "all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:15. 

"All things?" Yes, all things! Have we also been entrusted with all things? Yes, all things! What an amazing passage!

You and I once were slaves to our sin (before our salvation). Our sin would never allow us access into the King's house. It separated us from Him. Now as "friends, children, heirs of God" how much light are we given by God through our Savior Jesus Christ. We have the luxury of the true Light of knowledge which is given to us from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! And now we are called to be lights of the world (so richly spoken through the words of Bruce). 

Do you see the calling today? Jesus left His entire gospel to people like 12 ordinary men; just like you and I. He taught them over the course of His lifetime and now left it in His friend's hands. Would they be successful? Yes, they were! Will we be successful in our time and age? It's up to us.

What each of us have within our heart is something very special and given to us at a great cost. It was God's prize to the world we live within. It's called the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't underestimate it. It cost God everything and you nothing...

I think Christians sometimes go overboard with too many Bible studies...

Wait before you respond first though. My point is this; there is nothing wrong with learning as much as we can about the Bible and God's plan. My complaint is not there. It is with those who take a lifetime to learn it and never pass it along to someone else. This is not a precious treasure to kept to oneself. What good is a precious diamond held by the owner if there is never anyone who knows it exists. 

When God gives to you His Word. Go and give His Word to another. That is design of the Master. A true friend of God is one who goes and shares the Good News! 

That's what reporters do. They report the news! Will you?

Dying Charge to the Future Apostles II

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:4.

"Abide in me, and I in you." These words point to a dependence of the disciples on their Lord under two forms, which by help of the analogy of a tree and its branches it is easy to distinguish. The branch abide in the vine structurally; and the vine abides in the branch through its sap, vitally. Both of these abidings are necessary to fruit-bearing. Unless the branch be organically connected to the stem, the sap which goes to make fruit cannot pass into it. On the other hand, although the branch be organically connected to the stem, yet of the sap of the stem do not ascend into it (a case which is possible and common in the natural world), it must remain as fruitless as if it were broken off and lying on the ground. The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 414. 

The first part of this illustration Bruce writes is the common call to all His disciples to go and share the gospel as His witnesses. It the call for us to be those who are active in sharing our faith with those who have not heard and to make the message known to all. This is the call and the structure of the gospel.

The second part of this challenge is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within each of us. This Spirit of God which is given to us is the continued "sap" which allows the new life to continue to flow in each of us. This is the vitality. Without it, we would fail to thrive and eventually wither and die; or the same branch would grow moss or be covered with infection, even when it is still connected to the vine. Sometimes it is as if the vine would even try to grow by itself without the life-giving force which allows it to even remain. This constitutes a great departure from the faith, yet many Christians try today to do this very thing.

Furthermore Bruce writes; "The conception of a dead branch, applied to individuals as distinct from churches or the religious world viewed collectively, is not without difficulty. A dead branch on a tree was not always dead: it was produced by the vital force of the tree, and had some of the tree's life in it. Does the analogy between natural and spiritual branches hold at this point? Not in any sense, as we believe, that would compromise the doctrine of perseverance in grace, nowhere taught more clearly than in the words of our Lord. At the same time, to cannot be denied that there is such a thing as abortive religious experience." Bruce, pg. 416.

This statement by Bruce is somewhat startling, but yet truth revealing about those around us who have thrown in the towel of their faith. The towel they used to serve others with has now become one which is folded and placed on the shelf. The power that the towel had to serve others (as Jesus washed the feet of the disciples) has now lost its ability to do what it was created to do. Much like the sap from the branch, the towel loses its ability to absorb and dry that which was needed to be dried.

So what happens when the sap is flowing continuously? I take you back to the story of my little poinsettia plant from last week. On last Sunday morning's service, I recalled how God prunes each one of us throughout our lives so that we might bring forth "much fruit," as I began to pull off some of the old leaves on the little plant. As I noted (while pulling the leaves off) the sap from the plant began to rise (like a creamy whitish fluid) into the area where the plant used to have a small leaf branch. Within the next few days, another chute came forward revealing another leaf. Without the power of the sap rising to the trimmed branch, it would have withered and died. This is the power of the Holy Spirit within each of us... He can and will rise up within our trimmed branches to fill them with a new sense of purpose and life. Something that was better than before; all for the glory of the Savior!

So the question for today is this; are you ready to be pruned? It might hurt. It might leave you bleeding. It might take away the thing you depended upon...

God is in the process of bringing forth "much fruit" if we will let Him. Will you?

The Dying Charge to the Apostles

John 15:1-4 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:1–4.

Concerning the disciples... "They must be great actors in the world, and leave their mark permanently on its history: they must, in fact, take His place, and be in His stead, and carry on the work He had begun, in His name and through His aid." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 411. 

Jesus put the duty of the disciples clearly in front of them when He used the parable of the vine. He referred to Himself as "I am the true vine." He also referred to His Father as the "divine husbandman." Note something though: Jesus skips the vine and who they are identified as, but then goes on to mention how the Divine Husbandman deals with the branches which bear no fruit are lopped off, while the fruitful ones are pruned to become more fruitful. This tells us something from the beginning; that Jesus fully intended the disciples to become fruitful. The church's life depended upon it...

"While urgent in His demand for fruit, Jesus does not, we observe, in any part of this discourse on the vine, indicate wherein the expected fruit consists. When we consider to whom He is speaking, however, we can have no doubt as to what He principally intends. The fruit He looks for is the spread of the gospel and the ingathering of souls into the kingdom of God by the disciples, in the discharge of their apostolic vocation. Personal holiness is not overlooked; but it is required rather as a means towards fruitfulness than as itself the fruit. It is the purging of the branch which leads to increased fertility." Bruce, pp. 412-413.

So a key here lies in the spread of the gospel. It lies within the deep realm of the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We cannot and will not be fruitful in seeing the spread of the gospel without first embedding ourselves within the personal realm of holiness. This is not a half-hearted commitment.

Just as a vine draws its water from the main branches, the Christian must draw their power from the source it is connected. This was the plan from the beginning spoken by Jesus to the disciples. There was no back up plan here. Its original plan was always to be connected to the Savior, the source of life. You ever wonder why we are not seeing souls being impacted by the gospel? Maybe it is because we are not connected to the main branch to where we are drawing nourishment each day!

Over the last few weeks, I have been babying a small poinsettia plant which was given to me during the Christmas season. It came home looking a little puny and dry. It was a gift from someone, so I couldn't just throw it out. We left it in the original pot in the house for a few weeks and watered it regularly. No change. Finally, I went and got some Miracle Grow potting soil and a new pot. I moved it into the new pot, and replaced the old soil (which was really dry with no nutrients). I watered it again and left it inside in a reasonable place for light. No change. Boy, I was tempted to say "that's it, you're just not going to make it!" As I was looking at this little plant, I knew it could be stronger, but how?

Well, I took it outside and placed it within direct sunlight, in its new pot with Miracle Grow potting soil. Over the last week, the little poinsettia has popped back into life. It is now starting to reach its potential!

You see, in our lives, we are trying to make our relationship with the Lord grow with the help of man made steroids like being busy and serving (like the Miracle Grow). These might be wonderful things but they do not replace the personal relationship with Jesus. You see, nothing helped the little plant except to bask in the sunlight each day, where it belonged. It now thrives in the sunlight (its source of life) where it was intended to be from the start. Could we be this stubborn that we are trying to share the gospel without drawing our power from the source? 

I think so; even in my own life. Sometimes we think we have something to offer people. We don't. Our source of strength comes from our Savior! Have a wonderful week!

Remember, Wise men still seek Him...

The Dying Parent and the Little Ones, Part II

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 14:5–6.

When the young disciple asked this question, how could he have not known where Jesus was going and what path was He taking? He heard all the conversations from Jesus about the kingdom! You see, from the beginning Thomas was a skeptic. He was one who carefully listened to Jesus while he taught the others. He had one fault though; it was his dark skepticism. He knew Jesus was a king and was going to bring His kingdom to pass, but what that meant in great detail he never knew. None of them did!

A great lesson is about to occur here. Jesus told him that He is the one who is "The Way" to His kingdom. All Thomas had to do was to follow Him and Jesus would provide the path and direction to follow. Surely if Jesus had taken all the time to tell the disciples about the coming kingdom, He wouldn't leave them without a way to get there? 

How complicated is it to know for sure that we will go to heaven and we will all arrive there without getting lost along the way? Do you feel sometime like Thomas?

This brings about an interesting statement by Bruce: "The doctrine that in Christ is the fullness of grace and truth is very comforting to those who know Him: but what of those who know Him not, or who possess only such an implicit, unconscious knowledge as hardly merits the name? Does the statement we have been considered excluded such from the possibility of salvation? It does not. It declares that no man cometh to the Father but by Christ, but it does not say how much knowledge is required for salvation. It is possible to that some may be saved by Christ, and for His sake, who know very little about Him indeed. This we may infer from the case of the disciples themselves. What did they know about the way of salvation at this period? Jesus addresses them as persons yet in ignorance concerning Himself, saying: 'If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.'" The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 396.

So, are you a doubting Thomas today or have been in the past? Here is a really good thing to remember that will help you in the future as stated so eloquently by Bruce; "These observations may help us to cherish hope for those whose opportunities of knowing Him who is 'the way, the truth, and the life' are small. They do not, however, justify those who, having abundant facilities for knowing Christ, are content with the minimum of knowledge. There is more hope for the heathen than for such men. To their number no true Christian can belong. A genuine disciple may know little to begin with: this was the case even with the apostles themselves; but he will not be satisfied to be in the dark. He will desire to be enlightened in the knowledge of Christ and will pray, 'Lord, show us the Father." Bruce, pg. 398. 

Every day is about change and growth in our lives for the Lord Jesus Christ. How is yours doing today? I am not satisfied with just going along with the attitude of "business as usual." Will you join me this year in your growth. I don't want to go on in the dark this year!

The Dying Parent and the Little Ones

"After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly." So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 13:27, 30.

This is probably one of the saddest days in history. To be the One who knows who will betray you after knowing for years this was going to happen; then it happened.

Judas had been traveling with the disciples from early on in their journey. He was not from their native area. He was an outsider from the beginning. Over time, he assimilated into the fold of the disciples. Now at the table at the Last Supper, he does what Jesus knew he was going to do for years.  He betrays Him. Jesus though, viewed this in a different manner and how He addressed the disciples after Judas departure is thought provoking. 

"In His last words to His own the Savior employed two different styles of speech. First, He spoke to them as a dying parent addressing his children; and then He assumed a loftier tone, and spoke to them as a dying Lord addressing His servants, friends, and representatives. The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, page 379.

In Jesus encouraging words, He shares with the disciples this message; "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 13:34.

Everything these men had in their teacher, Lord, dear friend and brother's presence, is now about to disappear... 

Jesus knows that each of these men would need each other in the coming days. They would need the comfort that can only be found in reciprocating and mutual love. This love would carry them through some of the darkest days ahead in their own ministries. It was as if the man of Jesus who lit their paths in the previous days with wonder and power, during their night of sorrow they did not even have a solitary star to alleviate the coming gloom. But He knew that their love for each other would encourage each other in the coming days.

In the coming new year, many will be looking to their own destinies, while others look to the coming year with great anticipation and/ or worry over where our country is headed. Let me leave you today  with some great encouragement; Jesus has it all covered. He left here and went there to prepare our great treasure which awaits all who have trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

Today, heed the words of Jesus; "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." We as the church united need each other. Use the church to be the encouragement when you feel down, share your cares and burdens with one another, pray for one another (just as Jesus did for His disciples), and love each other with the love of Jesus Christ. Then and only then, will we be applying the guidance left to all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord!

If you don't have a church home, come and be a part of our wonderful church. You truly will find a group of people who will love you unconditionally here at Grace! May God bless you and your families in the coming year!