Jesus' Christmas Job Description.

The Angel declared the Job description for the promised Baby. His mission, to save people (among other things). As we finish celebrating Christmas it is a good time to ask ourselves “what does ‘save’ mean”. To help understand this I’ve used four personal illustrations.

When I was about 11 years old I was on a pontoon at a swimming beach and I was pushed into the water. I couldn’t swim. The other Y.P. thought I was fooling around until my mother screamed out ‘Save him’! Someone had to dive in and rescue me. I was saved from drowning.

When the Bible uses the term ‘saved’ it means someone had to ‘dive into that situation and rescue the person who cannot save himself. This is what Jesus Christ came to do at Christmas. That was part of His ‘Job Description’. But there is much more to being saved than being ‘pulled out of the water’ – or whatever other situation. When I accept Jesus as my Saviour He saved me from my sin and judgement.

When I was about 19 years I was going to church but I was only really play acting at being a Christian. After the evening service I was standing on the street corner, alone, and it was as though God said in my heart “Shape up or ship out”! The Lord was offering me the opportunity to be saved from hypocrisy and a wasted life. That wasn’t a fun time I can tell you. I chose to shape up. I was saved from being masquerading and a useless life. The alternative was too terrible to contemplate. This decision two years later led me into Bible College. At that moment my Saviour became my Lord.

My first few days in College were great, until one night. I sat at my desk and felt guilty about being there. Memories of my past mistakes, failures and disobedience flooded the mind. The devil whispered “you are no good. You should not be a minister. You are unworthy”. He was right. He didn’t have to lie or make things up. What was I to do? I opened the Bible and these verses from Colossians 2:13-15 leapt out at me. The Lord was saying to my heart “you are saved from your past. The Devil hasn’t any power to blackmail you. You are forgiven! You are cleansed! You have been set free by Christ’s victory at the cross”.  

Over the years I’ve been challenged by people who believe that all religions are leading you to the same God. However when I looked at the Bible it said something different. Acts 4:12, John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the only way to know and meet God and call Him ‘our Father’. The Bible means what it says. Therefore if anyone wants to know what God is like, how to meet Him and be accepted in time and eternity there is only one way. It is called ‘Salvation’ and it has been made possible because Jesus Christ came into this World to ‘make it possible’. To do this He had to live as a man and suffer an unjust death. More than that, to be the Saviour, He had to rescue us from sin and judgement by taking it from us and putting it upon Himself. However, if He was still in the tomb there is no way He could be our Saviour, only a failure. However as Matthew 28:6 and other passages tell us, Jesus conquered death and the tomb by rising again and by that became fulfilled His job description, to save all who believe in Him.  . No other religion or Faith has a message such as this, or a Saviour such as Jesus.

How then can you experience the salvation secured for you by Jesus?
First, you must recognise that you are ‘drowning’ in sin, hopelessness, and the wrath of God.
Second, you must accept the fact that Jesus is the only One who is able to reach out to you and place you on salvation’s ground.
 Third, you must invite Him into your life, by faith, and allow Him to be your Saviour and Lord.

 When you do this a whole new destiny awaits to be discovered, enjoyed and shared. You become a new person in God’s eyes. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. That is the Joy promised at Christmas. That is the reality secured at Calvary. That is the gift offered by Jesus Christ on behalf of the Father and it is yours to be claimed by faith. What a great way to end the year and face the New Year.

Today make it your day for claiming Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. 2 Corinthians 6:2

(© Ray Hawkins Dec 28.2014.)

 

 

Discipleship #3 When the Winnowing Comes.

Verse: My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink … When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” John 6:55. 60.

Winnowing is meant to sort the wheat from the chaff. This farming principle was used by Rabbi Jesus to explain a reason why some things happen to us. It is meant to reveal those who were genuine and those who are simply along for what they can get. The master Teacher could easily draw a crowd as the supreme story teller. Others crowded Him as the miracle worker and healer. Who wouldn’t want a free fish and bread lunch or see amazing healings. To cap it all off this apparently unlearned man revealed the covetous nature of so many Scribes and Pharisees. Even today Jesus can draw a crowd whether it be through movies, meetings or testimonies, for or against Him.

Jesus confronted the multitudes with some interesting statements that unmasked those who were self seekers, not disciples. By His Holy Spirit and the Scriptures the process continues today. Consider John 6. Jesus talked about being the ‘Bread and Wine of Heaven’ and didn’t try and explain it. Even today His words are misunderstood or inadequately explained. This is a reference to Leviticus 17:11: ‘The life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you for making atonement for your lives on the altar; for, as life, it is the blood that makes atonement.’ Notice the link to the altar. This was the place for animal sacrifice. Each of those offerings on the altar were pictures of a future event which will fulfil them. That was and remains the cross on which Christ Jesus was crucified at Calvary. Not knowing the Scriptures, as was the case in John 6, still produces all types of weird conjectures.

The result? This statement became a winnowing of the commitment of those who gathered around Jesus. Those who were attached to Jesus because of ‘bread and fishes’ or seeing Him do signs and wonders were ‘blown away’ by Christ’s tough sayings. Those who simply enjoyed being with a celebrity were also sifted because it was no longer kosher to be seen in His presence. That remains true even today. Will we stand with the Lord on what He taught? Will we compromise our faith and be sifted on such matters as: Creation, the uniqueness of Christ Jesus, the cross and resurrection, the ‘Noah’ flood, the promise return of Christ to judge and rule, to highlight just a few. Today’s church going crowds will need to answer these questions. What will be their response? Will it be that of the crowd or ‘the twelve’ when asked by Jesus? “Do you also wish to go away?” What held this group to Jesus? Conviction! Peter’s reply must ultimately be ours: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Would Jesus make an exception about the principle of ‘winnowing’ for those with good social credentials? Remember the rich young man who asked about earning the gift of eternal life? (Luke 18:18–25) He was also observant of the Law and thereby had good moral integrity. Jesus challenged this young man on the issue of priority and faith. Would he relinquish his love of and security in money? Would Jesus become his Master and provider? The winnowing must have been severe in the heart of this inquirer. The breath of the Lord blew upon Mammon but the man would not let it depart from his heart.

There are forces, spiritual, physical and emotional which we may face. These may appear unannounced. They can pounce on any of us to crush, bruise and take us away from Jesus. Again the fisherman Peter becomes an example for us. In the future he would face the greatest crisis in His life. It would take place when he denied his Lord. This caused not merely emotional pain, guilt and self loathing it opened the door for Satan’s onslaught. What saved him? Jesus prayed for Peter. Then, after the resurrection, Jesus made a point of meeting with Peter and assuring him of forgiveness and re-instatement.
He does this for you too. He knows there will be times when you and I fail to stand the test. Jesus doesn’t abandon His disciples. Correct them yes. Forgive them definitely. Lift them up to get on with the task, assuredly. Jesus continues to be our intercessor (and restorer) according to Hebrews 7:25.

Jesus is up front to men and women who are drawn to Him. What He offers is beyond price and is eternal. However, there is a cost factor. You will be faced with it in many of the devotions. As Jesus went to the cross to secure for you all He promised so you must have a ‘death to self’ encounter to receive the promises. To walk in newness of Life means you could be opposed, ridiculed, ignored or condescendingly endured. Jesus considers this part of the sifting process. You must recognise what awaits you. When the choice is made you either begin the discipleship journey or remain uncommitted. In Athens you get a glimpse of the winnowing of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Gospel. ‘When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” – But some of them joined him and became believers’. Acts 17:32–34

Series: Discipleship. Christ's invitation



students @ Woolwich Bible College 1963

To be a disciple is to be a student. Therefore to be a disciple of Christ Jesus is to be in His classroom ad learning from His curriculum. From what I can see people were never called to make ‘decisions’ for Christ. They were invited to enter into His ‘classroom’. This would begin a series of student/Master engagements, both theological and practical, in groups and individually, in a set place or out in the ‘market place’.

How Discipleship Begins: John 1:35-39.

Someone who knows about Jesus (eg John the Baptist) points out to someone the person of Jesus. When that person (Andrew) shows interest Jesus (or now His servants) says: “Come and see” (v.39)

One of the key words of Jesus is “come”. Don’t rush into commitment or hasty vows. Check Him out. This use to be the role of such things as Sunday Schools, Youth groups, Gospel services, specific Bible Studies. Our society has by-passed most of these, unfortunately, today.

The early parts of the Gospels have this “come and see” aspect. You see the person of Jesus under all types of circumstances. You hear of His teachings. You watch His debates and marvel at His miracles. He also gives you areas of responsibility, Matt. 10. Matt.14:13 etc.

How Discipleship is Sifted: John 6: 22-71. Matthew 16:24-26.

It’s great and exciting in the early days and months of being a disciple. See and hear all types of things. Suddenly, you hit the proverbial ‘brick–wall’. It takes at least two forms.
1. Jesus lays out some tough sayings. Some cannot handle them or misunderstand the implications and metaphors. They drop out of class.
2. Then to those who remain comes even harder words: Deny self: Take up your cross: Follow.

In a sense this is the penultimate part of Discipleship. It is also a requirement which is never lifted. It says you are prepared to put to death all your personal ambitions, dreams, lusts and likes to obey Jesus. It says when you have a choice of serving self or obeying Jesus you deny yourself.

The ultimate test is when it seems as though the One you call Lord is beaten in battle and crucified literally or verbally. It’s as though all the teaching has been a fraud and He is either a liar or sad lunatic. Graduation from being a disciple into a follower/soldier etc arrives when the wonder, the reality, the awesome triumph of Jesus and His Word over the tomb and human philosophy grips your heart.

How Discipleship is Celebrated: John 21:12.

The Greek is “Come and breakfast (or dine)”. I find it interesting that after Acts the term ‘Disciple’ isn’t used. Actually we would be better called ‘sent ones’ (apostles) Matt. 28:19-20 as well as other descriptive terms such as ‘co-labourer, fellow-soldier, elder, evangelist, and collectively ‘saints.’

Was this a ‘graduation’ dinner? Those in the upper room and others were convinced about who Jesus is and why He had come. The profound statement by Thomas in John 20:28 sums Jesus up. “My Lord and my God!”

In this passage just before the ascension of the Lord (Acts 1) Jesus comes for a breakfast with His ‘ graduates’. One or two matters needing addressing but now they were to be commissioned. What did that involve? Matthew 28:19-20 ‘Go into all the world and make disciples…’ They were now the ‘sent ones’. That also spills over onto us.

From “come and see” these men and women of Jesus were now invited to “come and dine”. It reminds me of our personal calling. The Lord invites us to ‘come and dine’ regularly with Him around Communion/Eucharist. After sharing in that precious time we are sent into ‘our world’ as Christ’s witnesses. One day, when all the ‘sending out’ has been completed we will dine with our Lord at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10).