AS TO SACRIFICE FOR CHRIST'S SERVICE
Samaria. Probably September, A. D. 29.
LUKE 9:57-62
Overview--In this section, three men come to Jesus wishing to follow him. Christ gives directives to each.
From the Pulpit Commentary:
"SUCCESSFUL WORK REQUIRES FAITHFUL DEALING WITH INDIVIDUAL CASES. (Verses 57-62.) As Jesus was moving upwards to the capital, the people perceived that a crisis was at hand. Hence the desire of some on insufficient grounds to cast in their lot with him who is to be the conquering King.
Here is a case in point. A man comes and professes his willingness to be a follower of Jesus wheresoever he goeth. But Jesus undeceives him by indicating that he is not going to be sure of any lodging in this world. Perhaps the man was hoping to reach a palace by following him; but Jesus shows that the birds and beasts have more certain lodgings than he. He thus laid bare the man’s danger, and prevented a rash decision.
The second case is an invitation to the individual by Jesus himself. It is a case of bereavement, and Jesus seizes on it to secure a disciple. He knew that the best thing this broken-heart could do would be to become a herald of his kingdom. The bereaved one naturally enough asks leave to go and bury his father, but Jesus assures him that there are sufficient dead hearts at homo to pay due respect to his father’s remains, and the formalities of the funeral may only change his promptitude into delay and neglect; and so he urges him to become a preacher at once.
A third case is that of one who is ready to follow Christ, but wishes to bid those at home farewell. Our Lord tells him the danger of looking back. The farewells at home might have resulted in a farewell for ever to Jesus. It is thus Jesus shows the importance of dealing faithfully with individual souls. We have the secret of successful work laid clearly before us."—R.M.E.
Section 78
IN THE TEMPLE AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
(October, A. D. 29.)
JOHN 7:11-31
"It was now eighteen months since Jesus had visited Jerusalem, at which time he had healed the impotent man at Bethesda." -BKC
Excellent overview framework here by Pulpit Commentary:
"Ch. 7-10. contain the record of the conflict between faith and unbelief in the metropolis. At first the narrative indicates a vast amount of critical inquiry, of unsettled opinion, of angry disappointment and a certain readiness to be convinced on the part of one section or another. The secrecy of the Galilean village is contrasted with the broad arena of the temple courts. "The Jews," or leaders of opinion and authority in Judaea and Jerusalem, who were hostile, are seen in contrast with "the Jews who believed on him" (Joh_8:31). There are multitudes and multitudes (Joh_10:12, Joh_10:30, Joh_10:31), priests and Pharisees (Joh_10:32), the synagogue, and the blind beggar with his fearful and temporizing parents (Joh_9:1-41.). There are those who are deeply plotting Christ’s destruction, and those who are indignant that any suck plot is being hatched (Joh_7:20). The discourses treat the deepest questions of ethics and theology, national prejudices and the Divine correction of them. The conversations are fragmentary, broken in thread, and yet closely interwoven, while a life like circumstantiality pervades the entire narrative, which argues strongly in favour of its historicity and authentic character. It is the record of definite acts and genuine questions, veritable rebukes and repartees, which have a permanent value as an insight into the character, mind, and Person of the Lord."
"The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me." John 7:15-16
"If Jesus were only self-taught (speaking on His own) or a genius, then His ministry would be self-exalting. But He did not seek honor for Himself. The true goal of man should be to glorify (honor) God and enjoy Him forever. Jesus is what man ought to be. His purpose is to represent His Father correctly (Joh_1:18). He is a Man of truth (i.e., reliable; cf. Joh_6:28; Joh_8:26) without any injustice." -BKC
"The religious authorities figured that either a person studied in a traditional school or else he was self-taught. But Jesus’ reply pointed to a third alternative. His teaching was from God who had commissioned Him (cf. Joh_12:49-50; Joh_14:11, Joh_14:24). Jesus was God-taught, and to know Jesus properly one must be God-taught (Joh_6:45). In order to evaluate Jesus’ claim, one must desire to do God’s will. Since Jesus is God’s will for man, people must believe in Him (Joh_6:29). Faith is the prerequisite for understanding. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb_11:6)." -BKC
This commentary from the BKC mirrors my own experiences. As a literature student in college, I took a class on the Bible which gave me a better understanding of the genres and issues of Biblical scholarship, but it had little impact on my understanding of God and His ways. The road to faith is mysterious, not merely a matter of passing on information from other men or spiritual truths. An over or only focus on scholarship leads to cold legalism then and now.
A piece of oneself---a mystical piece--must interact with God's Spirit, causing a type of spiritual chemical reaction that renders the soul new. This is the mystery, the conversion, the second birth of faith.
The "anyone" in both of these images is an encouragement to me---anyone is inherently inclusive. God reaches out to anyone willing to do His will, to humble Himself. Heaven will not be full of "country club" legalists, but of those who stepped out, even tentatively, fearfully, seeking Him in faith. It teaches a gospel of trust linked up with action and life change.
This passage from The Pulpit Commentary highlights the complexity of the balance between the will and action:
1. The internal verification.
(1) It springs from the disposition or desire to do the will of God.
(a) The will of God represents all that is included in doctrine and duty, but it specifically regards man’s salvation. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification’’ (1Th_4:3).
(b) It is not deed, but will, that holds the primary place in Christian life. The will represents the motive power; the deed is but the outcome of the will. Yet they are inseparably linked in the designs of grace as well as in the experience of the saints—"for it is God that worketh in you, to will and to do of his good pleasure." -Pulpit Commentary
Faith is not an act of the intellect. This truth feels right to me. If we could get there through intellectualism, the Church would be brimming with thinkers and academics. The Lord loves the analytical too, but they bring their handicaps---their suspicions, their lack of trust.
Even the heathen Aristotle says, "The mind’s eye is not capable of rightly judging without moral virtue." It follows from this fact that
(a) unbelief is more the fault of the heart than of the intellect. Therefore Scripture speaks expressively "of the evil heart of unbelief" (Heb_3:12).
(b) Religion is essentially a matter of life as well as of thought. Therefore the Jews could not understand the will of God concerning the Messiah, for they were altogether out of sympathy with it.
(c) Faith is, therefore, not the result of a logical operation. It is "the gift of God;" it is "given to us to believe." -Pulpit Commentary
(1) The false teacher seeks the praise of men for his own exaltation. The scribes and the Pharisees exulted in their traditions and their glosses and their interpretations of the Bible. -Pulpit Commentary
What do I exalt in? May it be only the praise of God and not men. May I not become overly absorbed in the academic but recognize the academic is a subordinate tool of the will and spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment