Laying It All Down part 5

Thus far we have seen the event of the Gospel through the eyes of Supremacy and through the eyes of Sovereignty.  Today we will see the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through His eyes of Submission.

Here’s a little snack: Review with me once again, with the spirit of submission, the 18^th verse of John’s 10^th Gospel chapter: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”  It is within the highlighted portion of this verse that we see Christ’s motive behind the execution of the Gospel.  Submission to His Father’s command was the culminating factor in histories most iconic event… the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (keep in mind that the death, burial and resurrection are not to be viewed as 3 separate events but rather 1 glorious gift of good news).

“This commandment have I received of my Father.”  Jesus isn’t suggesting that the Gospel wasn’t His idea, nor was He telling us that this glorious event was news to Him- as if He were surprised by the command.  But rather, this statement makes us privy to the condition of Christ’s heart when going to the cross- and making vacant earth’s most empty tomb.  Love for the Father set in motion the most celebrated evidence of the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ.

“Submission” is a funny word.  In our day, it is very difficult to see submissiveness as anything less than the result of dominating inferiority.  As if Christ resisted, or else could have resisted the command of the Father.  Do no let the events of the Gethsemane, the night before His execution; taint your view of Christ’s headlong entrance into His last days on earth.  The heart of Christ was established before time- and that heart prevailed over any human emotion that would seek to alter the plan of the Trinity.  Love for the Father carried Jesus through Gethsemane, in and out of Pilot’s judgment hall, along the Via Delarosa, up Calvary’s mountain, onto to wrath’s tree and out of a borrowed tomb!  In fact, love for the Father provoked Jesus to lay it all down!

Submissiveness was the final act of love for Christ on earth.  In fact, submissiveness defined the most hallowed 33 1/2 years of time.  Philippians 2:8 says it most accurately: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”  But His obedience did not stop at the cross or find it’s resting place inside the hollowed crevices of a rock made for the remains of the dead.  In victory over death and hell, Jesus came forth from the grave, as a testimony to His love for His Father.  All praise be to the Name of Jesus Christ!

The Gospel exposes us to the Supremacy, Sovereignty and Submission of Christ. The greatest act of love ever witnessed.

Mike Carmody

Laying It All Down part 4

The Gospel is the most vivid angle by which to see the magnificence of God in Christ Jesus.  Today we will position ourselves vertically- that we might see the sovereignty of Jesus concerning Calvary and the days to follow.

Here’s a little snack: Def: “sov·er·eign” [sov-rin, sov-er-in] –to possess power over- to control as a king or monarch.

John’s 10^th Gospel chapter gives us a royal vantage point into heart of God concerning the event of the Gospel.  In one verse we see Christ’s supremacy over, sovereignty of and submission to- the death of the cross and the miracle of the resurrection.  Verse 18 reads, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” 

Authority is a precious thing. Here we learn that Christ’s authority over His life was given to Him by His Father in heaven.  The death and resurrection of Christ were in His control as a gift of sovereignty.  We need to see with great clarity that that this sovereignty wasn’t His to dictate the future, predetermined events of Calvary and the days to follow, but rather to fulfill the love of God for His people without the say of any other.  In other words, the Father’s gift of sovereignty (control) to the Son over His own life was not His to twist or alter the event of the Gospel, (for that event was the will of God for His Son) but rather sovereignty was His that He might fulfill the Father’s will without any help or persuasion of man. 

To say that Jesus’ authority over His life as stated in verse 18 was His that He might consider (and thus reconsider at will) the event of the predetermined Gospel as optional only seem glorious.  However, there is nothing glorious about a dysfunctional Divinity; and the will of God for Christ and Christ’s determined spirit of obedience to that will were anything but dysfunctional; and nothing less than the sovereign act of obedience on the part of the Son.  The Father and the Son were one.  The decree of God and the understanding of Christ concerning that plan were synonymous, not unanimous.  There was no heavenly election held as to who would be the Savior, thus there was no vote taken.  The event of the Gospel was the single-minded plan of the Trinity.

Therefore, when Jesus said, “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again”, He was not merely speaking of the inability of any other to take His life prematurely or by their own cause.  He was speaking emphatically of the mutual agreement that was held in the understanding of the Father and the Son.  In short, the sovereignty of Christ over His life was His to fulfill, not to consider.

The sovereignty of Christ over His life is the greatest glory of the Gospel.  To know that Christ set His face “like a flint” (Is. 50:7) toward Calvary and that no effort of man could alter that Gospel plan of the Trinity is the greatest joy of the Christ-centered life.

Pastor Mike Carmody

Laying It All Down part 3

The death of Christ allows us to see the tri-fold splendor of our King.  In one single act (the Gospel of Christ) we are granted permission to behold, in unmistakable majesty, His Supremacy over, His Sovereignty of and the Submission to- the death of deaths.

Here’s a little snack: If it weren’t enough to hold the patent on virgin births, possess the monopoly on the Son-ship of God and be the sole-proprietor of perfection, even upon death, our God reigns.  John’s 10th Gospel chapter brings us face to face with the superiority of God over death.  Jesus said in verse 18, ““No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

The supremacy of Christ has never been stated with more clarity as seen in the wording of this text. Read it again carefully: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself…”  Oh to know this supremacy!  This supremacy is not stumbled upon or even achieved.  The supremacy that I am speaking of cannot be natural. It must transcend time and space.  In fact the supremacy of Christ over death was not a thing obtained in the last hour of the third day or even during an agonizing evening in the Garden of Gethsemane- but rather it was decreed before the foundation of the world.  This is why no one else possesses, or ever will possess, this level or kind of supremacy.

I cannot overstate the necessity of seeing the supremacy of Christ as is seen by the eyes of Divinity.  To have a horizontal view only of Calvary and the days to follow would cause a blurred, misinterpreted and tainted view of Christ’s expiration of life on earth and His resurrection from the dead.  In other words, to see His death and resurrection with the eyes of man would allow only a single vantage point; and that vantage point would rob man of seeing the splendor His death and resurrection.  Unless we see Christ’s Gospel vertically, as heaven sees it, we cannot give proper gravity to history’s greatest event. (The death, burial and resurrection are not separate events but rather THE event the Bible refers to as the Gospel of Christ.)

You see, the greatest difference between the one who embraces the message of the Gospel and the one who does not, isn’t in the presenter or the presentation, it is the way he views Calvary and the empty tomb, the glorious event of Christ’s Gospel.  Anyone who has ever obtained eternal redemption did so upon the proper viewing of the death of God’s Son.  If he only sees Calvary with the ordinary, scaled eyes of depraved man, he cannot embrace the Gospel.  Though he may embrace Christianity, he cannot embrace Christ.  However, when the Spirit of God removes the scales of blindness, thus revealing the events of Calvary and Christ’s death from a vertical vantage point, the power of the Gospel is unleashed to do its saving work.  It penetrates the soul with heavenly supremacy.

Many embrace Christianity from purely social, logical and academic standpoints.  Christianity does in fact make since when compared to other major religions.  However, the event of the Gospel is neither social, logical or academic.  Christianity? Perhaps- but not the Gospel!  The religion of Christianity has soothed many sorrows, stroked many strings and solaced many situations- but it has never saved any soul.  This is the work of the Gospel alone.  Now do you see why so many enter “church” life to only evaporate like vapors in the summer’s mid-day heat?  They had a head-knowledge of Christianity but not the Spiritual awakening of Christ’s Gospel.  When will we stop blaming the supposed backslidings of supposed Christians on the devil- as if Satan has more power than the Gospel? 

Until one sees the event of the Gospel vertically, and not horizontally, he will either dismiss the Gospel or embrace it for purely selfish reasons.  However, those who see the Gospel vertically, for what it truly is: the most supreme act of God in the Bible; not only receive that Gospel but seek to live that Gospel as a glorious reflector of the supremacy of Christ in their lives.

Today we have seen the Gospel in the light of Supremacy. Tomorrow we will view it in the light of Sovereignty.  Lord willing, Friday, we will behold the Gospel in light of Christ’s Submission.  All this is seen in John 10:18.

Laying It All Down part 2

Often, when considering the Love of God, our focus is on the love that is extended to His people through the death of His Son.  But, have you ever considered that God the Father had a special love for His Son?  It was a unique love, reserved just for Him.

Here’s a little Snack: John’s 10^th Gospel chapter offers insight into the very unique relationship that the Father had with His Son.  It was unique due to the common understanding that was established between the Father and the Son (verse 15).  They understood one another’s role and the preciousness of abiding in that role.  The Father was the Commander of commands and the Son was the Steward of obedience.  The command was to reveal the love of the Father to the people of God through the sacrificial death of Christ. Like the mood reflecting the light of the sun to a darkened earth, Jesus was obedient to the command, thus honoring the Commander of commands.

Verse 17 brings to light a great dynamic of this Heavenly relationship: the dynamic of the Father’s love for His Son. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” Read those words, exactly as they are written and out loud.  With ease they seem to role off the tongue of the believing reader.  It’s a beautiful thing to be made privy to God’s emotion for His Son.  I mean to say that displays of affection are, and often should be, reserved for private moments.  But here, Jesus sees fit to allow us access to deep seeded emotion established in the heart of divinity. A love that is extremely unique… and it’s a beautiful thing!

And what was that dynamic emotion expressed from the Father to the Son?  It was love.  Pure, undefiled, unimaginative love- from the Father to the Son.  Now, why do I refer to this emotion as unique?  Because the prompting of this emotion is unique.  Jesus tells us in verse 17 the Father’s love for the Son is a response to obedience; namely the obedience to lay down His life for the sheep. 

Now, some might ask, “Was the Father’s love held by contingency to the Son’s obedience?”  To which I would say, “Again, we see the uniqueness of this relationship.”  You see, Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.  Christ’s dying was the prompting of obedience. And His obedience was the prompting of love contained in this most unique relationship.  In other words, the Son could not have responded in anything less than obedience because the Father could not have expressed any emotion less than love for His Son… and visa-versa.  Which is to say, the act of obedience on the part of the Son and the expression of love on the part of the Father were tandem displays of the foreordained plan of God.

And why? The answer is found in the latter part of this verse: “…that I might take it (my life) up again.”  Here we see the culmination of this heart-felt emotion between the Father and the Son that we have so graciously been made privy to.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was the climactic celebration of both the command of the Commander and the obedience of the Steward.  And what a glorious celebration it was!  And what is the most glorious embellishment of this celebration?  That we the believers might be participants in this celebration by reflecting back to the Father glory- by our acts of obedience, prompted by the love of God.

Pastor Mike Carmody

Laying It All Down part 1

It is said that we remember a person by they way we last saw them.  This thought should cause us to always want to leave a place on the very best of terms. However, if our leaving a place should be by means of death, how we leave would not be our choice- for the way we die a natural death is not of our choosing.  Christ, however, had the authority to do both: to leave a legacy and to choose His own death.  To those who know Him intimately, His legacy and His death are one in the same.

Here’s a little Snack: We find ourselves locked securely within the sheepfold of John’s 10th Gospel chapter. Our choice verses are the 15th. thru the 19th.  In these verses we find the dynamics of the Father’s relationship with the Son- that of authority and obedience.  This is the perfect example of the most appropriate of Gospel relationships.

Verse 15 says, “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Many blessed truths are discovered from this one thought provoking verse.  Immediately we see that the great dynamic of the Father’s relationship with the Son is one of mutual understanding.  The One understood clearly the position of the Other.  This understanding allowed perfect harmony between the Two.  As a result, fallacies were non-existent, mistakes were impossible and change was unnecessary.  Not once did the Father and Son reconvene for clarity of the plan or huddle together to improvise on the play.  There had always been the complete understanding of one another.  

The two roles were not subliminal, nor were they secretive.  The Father and the Son were clear as to their own role and also clear of the role of the other.  Through the Word, today we are made privy of this same understanding.  So, what were the two roles?  The role of the Father was that of Commander, while the role of the Son was Obedient Steward of all the Father commands.  With this understanding, along with the flawless performance from both, the good pleasure of the Father was predicted with unquestionable reliance.

“As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

The key to seeing the 2 complimentary roles is found in the word “and.”  It would be the same as our phrase, “and as a result.”  In other words, as a result of the mutual understanding of the roles, Christ laid down His life for the sheep in obedience to the Father’s command. It is made more clear to our understanding if we reposition the verse in our reading, from back to front.  In other words, if we were to read it, “I will lay down my life for the sheep because My Father and I have a mutual understanding of one another’s role” it is more clearly understood.  Without the command of the Commander and the obedience of the Steward, the sheep would be doomed forever.

Now, we cannot lose sight of the reason for the command.  We see this clearly as we are made known the benefactors of the Stewards keeping of the command of the Commander: “the sheep”.  It was God’s love for the sheep that motivated the Command; and it was Christ’s love for the Father the motivated His obedience. The partnership of the Father and Son (the Commander and the Steward) is the focal point of this chapter and this week's Snacks.

Pastor Mike Carmody

Eyes Wide Open part 3

What would it look like if our God who is not constrained by space and time found Himself dealing with geographical boundaries and deadlines?  The answer: He would look like Jesus.  Now, let’s discover how God, in space and time managed Himself in the sandals of men.

Here’s a little snack: John’s 9^th Gospel chapter allows us glimpse into God’s ability to adjust in our world of confinement.  Walking in the sandals of men meant dealing with many of the same limitations as you and I do today.  This is seen clearly in the story of the blind man in verses 1-4.  Our example of how God incarnate handled Himself on a deadline is made clear as He addressed the disciples in verse 4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Here we see clearly the mind of God in time.

Knowing that His departure time was nearing, Jesus made good use of the time allotted Him by the Father’s will.  God, the Father, did in fact have a will for His Son, Jesus Christ, which was fulfilled by Christ’s spirit of obedience to all that His Father deemed as His to accomplish.  And with all that was His, Christ performed flawlessly as our example.  What is it that we see as being of necessity if ever we are to perform in the same manner?

First, Christ had an understanding that time was of the essence- without losing site of the Father’s will for His life on earth.  Remember, everything about the incarnation of God on earth was purposed to supply His people, both then and now, with His commission for our lives.  And yet, there was a sovereign-filtered urgency that directed the works of God in the flesh.  In other words, while the urgency- due to time- was there, His spirit of composure allowed Him time to both perform miracles on the go- and yet take time with His disciples to teach them along the way. 

It’s important to understand that while time created urgency, the Lord’s teachings would not be constrained by time. In other words, what Christ taught His disciples 2000 years ago is still being learned by His disciples today.  Had Jesus merely hurried about performing miracles- without education, the Great Commission would be limited to 2 measures rather than 3.  We are, in fact, commanded to (1) make disciples, (2) covenant them to the church and (3) disciple them through the teachings of Christ.  This would not be possible had He not taught the disciples along the way.  There needs to be a sense of urgency today due to time, but without the skipping any steps along the way.

Secondly, there was an understanding in the mind of Christ that legacies are built while living in time- but live on in infamy; therefore what is done in time must be done in such a way that what is made of our works (by men) after we are gone is not tainted by those men.  In other words, while time creates our sense urgency it should not create fallacy.  We see this clearly in the words of our Lord in verse 5. “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  Jesus knew that men would seek to defile the works of His miracles and teachings even long after He went to be with His Father in glory.  Therefore, everything He did on earth was done with a spirit of excellence.  Anything that man may say today about the works and teachings of Christ that are not congruent with what we find in His Gospels is perverted injustice.  Christ was the perfect incarnation of God- without error.  His words were spoken without the possibility of honored perversion.  His miracles were performed without possibility of relapse.  And as we see in this text, every minute of His time on earth was utilized to perfection. 

May we see this as our example of how to live the Christ centered life- in time.  Today, we are the light of the world- through the Spirit of our Lord.  May men see our good works and glorify God- even the way we utilize the time that God has given to every man.

Eyes Wide Open part 2

We often ask the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  Or, “Why do good things happen to bad people?”  I suppose an even greater question, that goes under our conversational radar, might be, “Why do good or bad things happen to people… period?”

Here’s a little snack:  We find ourselves in common company with the disciples as they struggle to understand the mystery of social injustices.  In verse 2 of John’s 9th Gospel chapter, the disciples asked an age-old question.  While passing by a man who had been without sight since birth, their feelings of inadequacy prompted them to ask, “Jesus, what’s the story with this man?  Why is he in this condition?”  They took their investigation a step further by equating this man’s handicap with his spiritual life.”  One disciple asked, “Was it his sin or his parents sin that put him in this predicament?”

As my imagination makes its way onto paper, I can’t help but believe that these disciples must have had this conversation before- prior to their investigation of Jesus’ understanding of sin in relation to infirmities.  Could it be that they had often seen this blind man, and others like him, and had regularly paused to consider why some people have sight and others do not?  With self-righteous indignation they had decided that handicaps were a deserved default to the acts of sin.  In other words, they resolved that this man’s infirmity was self inflicted and could have been prevented or eleviated. 

Could it be that the course of their resolution was based upon the fact they did not have the faith to heal this man themselves, and thus decided to embellish this man’s handicapped state and compound his situation to make it more than what it really was?  They felt that they could do nothing about blindness; and so created for themselves justification for their lack of ability to harness the power of faith.  In turn, they blamed his handicap on sin- which they knew only God could forgive.  In this, they relieved their own conscience but left this man helplessly in the dark.

It needs to be said that they were partially right.  All sickness, disease, war, famine, injustice and all manner of anything less than good is the justified aftermath of depravity.  However, this doesn’t exempt our Sovereign’s influence in any matter- nor His ability to work our inevitable demise to His own glory… for His own good pleasure. 

Bad things don’t just happen to good people. Nor should it be said that good things happen only to bad people.  The shear fact that we ask such a question reveals the sensitive, self-righteous overshadowing of our hearts. Two observations are made of those who ask the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  First, the question is a subliminal prompting of our misunderstanding of the nature of man.  “Good” is not an accurate description of any man.  By default we are inheritably bad- not good.  To suggest that bad things should happen to bad people and good things should happen to good people is a misqualification of both “things” and “people”.  In other words, what qualifies a thing as good?  And what qualifies people as good? On the same token, what qualifies a thing as “bad” or people as “bad”?  The answer is found in our selfishly depraved heart.  We assume that anything that occurs outside of our plan for our lives can’t be good- but rather bad.  This is an insult to God’s all sufficient Grace for our lives.

Secondly, to suggest that a person’s standing in Christ (whether they be saved or lost) establishes their position on the spiritual scale of good or bad is to suggest that Christians deserve only good things and bad things should only happen to non-Christians.  This is a misinterpretation of Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”  The key to understanding this blessed verse is found in the first 3 words: “And we know…”  You see, God’s people know that our God is sovereign and can only do that which fulfills Hisgood pleasure.  By this we are convinced, based on our knowledge of Him who has redeemed us, that whatever comes our way is to the glory of our God... for His good pleasure.

The fact is, Jesus did that day what had only previously been discussed by anyone else.  Jesus put into action what the disciples were only willing to talk about.  They were more concerned with how they could clear their own conscience than how they were going to alleviate his situation.  And in doing so, Jesus answered their question:  “…Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

There was in fact a reason for this man’s blindness.  It was a testimony to the grace of God and to the glory of our Sovereign.  His infirmity, nor any thinggood or bad goes under the sovereign radar of our supreme God.  May it be our joy to know that God’s grace is sufficient for us… regardless the situation.

Eyes Wide Open part 1

Man has always been perplexed by sin. The when, where and how of depravity have given theologians and laymen much material for debate.  How confused are you about sin?

Here’s a little snack: The first few verses of John 9 should cause our minds to expand.  The Lord’s students were highly interested in the origin of infirmity in the life of a blind man.  Any intelligence that they may have had concerning sin gave way to ignorance- and their dialogue proved this fact. “And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” Confusion, concerning our sin nature, has always existed.  However, the Bible is abundantly clear on this issue.

The story of the healing of the blind man in John 9 unravels issues that are otherwise twisted in the discombobulated mess of our minds.  Very quickly we are made privy to two very complex world issues: the reason for sickness and disease and the reason for Christ.  Both are revealed in verses 3 and 4 of John’s 9th Gospel chapter.

First, Jesus makes us aware of the nature and purpose of fleshly infirmities.   While the origin of such is unmistakably the product of depravity, the purpose of our infirmities has been the subject of much debate.  Jesus brings the discussion to a close in this text when He says, “…that the works of God should be made manifest in him”.  Think it not a strange thing that the sovereignty of God extends to every facet of our life; even sickness, disease and our physical handicaps. 

How our Sovereign chooses to “manifest” His works is entirely left to His discretion and good pleasure.  However, the fact that such works are made known is without debate.  In-other-words, while many do not have spiritual eyes to see the works of God (Deut. 29:1-4), He is in fact working in every situation, regardless of our ability to see it due to our own spiritual blindness.  The nature of this healing truly opens our eyes to many things, doesn’t it?

Don’t miss the point of this miracle!  Jesus did not heal this man so that he alone could rejoice in the temporal ability to see with earthly eyes.  According to our text, Jesus healed this man of his infirmity that we may see His sovereignty over the spiritual blindness of our heart. Many will both enter and exit this world having never had the scales of earthly blindness removed from their eyes.  Such is to be said of the blindness of our spiritual eyes as well.

This explains why some in this world will be exposed to such awesomeness of “the works of God…” and not others? Because their eyes have not been made to see them.  Spiritual blindness is the product of depravity and spiritual sight is the product of grace; grace that God alone can give. But this is not the only lesson to be learned from this story.

In addition to an understanding of the purpose of earthly infirmity, we are also made privy to the purpose of Christ on earth: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”  Jesus was God in the flesh.  His time on earth was short but not without complete fulfillment the Father’s purpose for His life.  He left no stone unturned in His pursuit to please the Father.  Knowing that night-time would come on Him soon, He valued every second He had hear on earth.

Jesus did not exempt Himself from death. “…the night cometh when no man(not even Jesus) can work.”  He was obedient to death, having taken upon Himself the sin of the world.  However, while He was here, He removed the scales of earthly eyes that we might be witness to His ability to open the spiritual eyes of those whom He would.  What an awesome God we serve!  Can you see that?

Sinners in hands of a compassionate God part 3

Thus far, having examined John 8:1-11, we have seen 2 of the 3 laws of dealing with sin and sinners.  Compassion and consideration are benchmark, fundamental necessities if to ever we are deal with sin and sinners as Christ exemplified in this blessed text.  Today we will be humbled by the third and most beautiful of these 3 laws.

Here’s a little snack: Having answered finally the entangling question of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus raises His head, along with the prostitute, to find that the dismayed accusers left nothing behind but the imprint of their sandals and the stones that were meant to end the life of this prostitute.

What Jesus says next is a very powerful thing.  He looks the harlot in the eyes and asks, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?”  Take a moment to read that again. What is it that Jesus is asking?  He is, in fact, asking the woman to evaluate the situation.  What she thought would happen, did not happen. 

Now, her position (on the ground) was one of self-preservation.  She was positioned in such a way to protect herself from the deathblows of these specifically chosen stones.  The bruises on her arms and neck were reminiscent of a woman caught in sin and dragged to her final demise.  The fear she felt was typical of someone sentenced to death and awaiting the inevitable.  However, the stones on the ground and the disappearing sandals told her different. 

May I remind you today, that what you thought would happen doesn’t have to happen?  What you assumed was the inevitable may not be so.  While nothing about this woman’s situation resembled hope and promise, they look on Jesus’ face told her different.  The words from His mouth spoke of power and potential.  That’s why Jesus asked the question, “Hath no man condemned thee?”  He was making her aware of the reality of her situation- in the presence of Jesus there is joy and freedom.  But most importantly, there is restoration. 

How are we to deal with sin and sinners? We are to deal with sin and sinners with the expectation of restoration.  Our goal is never condemnation, but rather restoration.  When we express compassion- on the heels of consideration, we are fit for restoration.  May look to restore someone today as we follow Christ’s example of how to deal with sin and sinners.

Pastor Mike Carmody

Sinners in the hands of a compassionate God part 2

The claim of Christ to be equal with the Father was validated by His ability to deal with sinners in a Godly fashion.  Following this example allows others to see true Christianity as it is modeled in the Bible.  How then should we deal with sin and sinners?  John 8 reveals the answer.

Here's a little snack:  Everything they said about her was correct- they did not lie.  She had, in fact, been caught in the very act of adultery.  According to the Law of Moses, she could have been put to death. Again, the truth of her situation was accurate and potentially fatal.  However, the accusers made one crucial mistake.  They had not considered the obvious: they were all guilty of sin... which made them equal to prostitutes and adulterers.

John 8:7 says, "So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her".  Here we see directly the way that Jesus dealt with sinners.

Chances are this woman had never seen such compassion.  She was convinced that she would be taken to the outskirts of town, stripped of her clothing and killed by these brutal men.  Death by stoning was not only painful, but also enduring.  In her mind, this was her inevitable fate.  So you can imagine the extreme relief when she heard the thump of the stones as they pelted the dusty clay beneath her fetally positioned body.  As she lifted her head off the ground she spit the dirt out of her mouth. All she could see were the bottoms of men’s sandals as they walked away from her in disgust at the words of Jesus.

The first principle in dealing with sin is potentially the most difficult.  Compassion is not easy.  The word “compassion” means: “with suffering” or “to suffer with”.  It goes against our depraved nature to suffer by choice.  By instinct, we as humans shun pain and grief.  So, to suffer with or on behalf of another is not done as a reflex.  Therefore, if ever we are to express compassion it must be expressed by an understanding that this same mercy has been extended to us by the grace of God for already condemned men and women.

Think about it, there was nothing that these men or Jesus could have done to condemn this prostitute any more than she was already condemned.  By the shear fact that she was born of the seed of already condemned man insured her inevitable death.  Stoning her would only speed the process.  This is why Jesus told her in verse 11, “…Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Based on the question that they asked concerning the Law of Moses, Christ’s only option was to send her away,

Galatians 6:1 tells us the mode of our heart when restoring a fallen brother or sister. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Pastor Mike Carmody

Sinners in the hands of a compassionate God part 1

The constant theme of our Lord’s life was his “onement” with His Father.  This claim of being one with God both set Him apart from many other prophets of His day and eventually secured His death at the hands of murderous sinners.

Here’s a little snack: The 8th chapter of John’s Gospel allows us a universal look into the heart and purpose of God in the flesh.  The social network of Jesus broke both generational and geographical boundaries in this one chapter.

In its induction, we see a prostitute receiving forgiveness of sins.  At its conclusion we find Jesus categorizing the genealogy of men as he tells these Jews, “Ye are of [your] father the devil…” in verse 44.  Both of these actions resulted in men taking up stones to kill the Son of God.

In this 8th chapter we see how Christ dealt with sin and sinners.  Most certainly this is the pattern for Christians to follow as we are given authority to deal boldly with those around us, both sinners and saints.

Have you ever been placed in an awkward position due to the immorality or lack of Christian ethics on the part of fellow believers?  If so, you know the feeling of not know what to say- or whether to say anything at all.  Following Christ’s example in the case of this woman caught in adultery allows us to deal with this awkwardness with victory.

This will be the theme of this week’s snacks.

Intimacy With God part 5

Every lasting relationship is comprised of 3 vital elements.  The 6th chapter of John's Gospel shows all 3 elements of our relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  So far this week we have seen the first 2 elements- the physical and emotional. Now we will see the greatest of them all.

 

Here's a little snack: Jesus was not slow to provide sustenance for His followers.  They had traveled a long way to get to know Him better, and He gave them what they wanted- and left overs to boot.  Their physical needs were no match for God's Son. Neither did He forsake them emotionally.  When the disciples were afraid for their lives and the emotion of fear became overwhelming, Jesus calmed the storm of their life for the purpose of giving them peace.  The emotional element of their relationship was taken seriously by our Lord.

 

The third element of Christ's relationship with His people (as is seen in every lasting relationship) finds its origin in verses 26 and 27: "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. "

 

Notice that Jesus did not forsake the physical and emotional aspects of His relationship with His people.  He took very good care of them in both of these areas.  However, verse 27 shows us that there is a third and most vital element of every lasting relationship that absolutely cannot be forsaken.  "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,..."  The spiritual aspect of a relationship is the most important.  Unfortunately, it is often the most forsaken.

 

We are quick to see the physical needs of those around us.  Often, the emotional is equally difficult to overlook.  But way too seldom to we take the necessary time to cradle with loving care the spiritual needs of those we love.  These are the "everlasting" things that Jesus is speaking of. 

 

Men and women alike are drawn to the oposite sex both physically and emotionally- this is very natural. But in the end, what really matters; and what lasts eternally, are the spiritual properties of a relationship.  When we see someone hurting in the body we do our part to sustain them to health, as Jesus did by feeding the multitude.  Likewise, few can look past the one who is mourning the loss of a dear friend.  With loving arms we wait with them silently.  But few of us are willing to go all the way- pointing others to an everlasting relationship with God's Son.

 

Notice the conclusion of verse 27, "...which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."  Many men will enter your life who can care for you physically.  Some will even dare to care for you emotionally.  But only Jesus can take you all the way. "...for him hath God the Father sealed."  Jesus is God's chosen method for eternal life.  May we never look past the physical and emotional needs of those around us. But most importanly, may we take people to Jesus today that they may have intimacy with God for all eternity.