Basin and Towel part 4

What we know about a situation before entering into it will almost always dictate how we handle that situation.  If we enter into a room of people knowing that an old enemy is in the room, how we conduct ourselves may be different than if they were not there. In fact, if that person leaves the room, we feel a certain relief that they are gone. A freedom to conduct ourselves as normal. How did Jesus handle this kind of situation?

Here’s a little snack: John 13 tells the story of Jesus washing the feet of His 12 disciples. It’s a humble example of how we are to treat both our friends and our enemies.  The fact that Jesus knew that His time of departure from this world was nearing and that His leaving would be painful and tragic is without debate. Jesus was in fact God and knew His inevitable fate.  Perhaps Christ’s knowing fully His surroundings is what makes this story so remarkable.  Not only was He in the presence of His betrayer (Judas), but He knew it!

In fact, notice the number of times in this text that we are made aware of Christ’s full knowledge of His surroundings:

• Verse 1 says, “…Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father…” 
• Verse 3 says, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;”
• Verse 11 says, “For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”
• Verse 18 says, “I know whom I have chosen:”

At least 2 other times in this story we are made aware of Christ’s full knowledge of the situation. He knew that Judas would dip His bread after Him.  He also knew that the Peter would deny Him 3 times before the cock would crow.  It is this knowledge that makes this story so beautifully amazing.  For it is presence of such knowledge that Christ embarked upon such humility.

How many times have you said (or heard someone say), “Had I known that they were going to do that…” or “If I had known that they weren’t going to appreciate my gift…”?  You see, our knowing or not knowing the hearts of others will generally dictate how we deal with them.  Christ was no different.  He knew fully the hearts of all men and what their heart would lead them to do… and yet “…he loved them unto the end.” (verse 1)

This is why Jesus could tell them in verses 34 and 35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”  Notice that there are no stipulations on this commandment.  He did not say, “Love one another…unless you know that they are going to harm you” or “Love one another… unless you the walk all over you.” 

When we consider the length that Jesus would go to love those who he knew would betray him, we then see the Love that Jesus had for His Father.  He loved the Father so much that loved us despite our affections for Him.  May we express this kind of love to one another.

Basin and Towel part 3

Perhaps the aspect of our relationship with Christ that is least appreciated is our fellowship with Him.  And for this reason do we live this life in constant pursuit of someone or something to satisfy that which Christ gave Himself.

Here’s a little snack:  In John 13, the Passover was at hand.  It was a fellowship of sorts that set the stage for the meal that Jesus would partake of with His disciples.  To further illustrate the level of importance of Christ’s fellowship with man, Jesus stripped Himself of His outer garments and wrapped around Him a rag meant for cleaning.  What a lovely symbolism of the length that Jesus would go to have fellowship with man.

Jesus then began to wash each disciple’s feet in perhaps the most humble act of service that could be offered by a king.  One by one, Jesus crawled around the room, washing dirty feet, dragging the basin of water from one disciple to the next.  When He came to Peter, in typical Peter-like character, he had something to say.  Surprised that Jesus would serve him, Peter put up a fuss.  “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” (verse 8)  This conversation between Peter and our Lord would serve as a dynamic focal point in Christianity… and yet so often overlooked.

“Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” (verse 8b)  Jesus here was speaking of fellowship that can only be had through humble service.  Peter, however, thought that Jesus was speaking of eternal salvation. We know this because of his next words, “Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.” Jesus was quick to uncover this mystery for Him. “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”

In other words, “Peter, you are eternally saved; and my washing your feet is a symbol of my service to you as your example to serve others… even those who are not in the Kingdom.”  I believe it was then that Jesus washed Judas’ feet.

It’s hard to imagine a king stooping to wash the feet of the one who would betray Him. Oh how he desired sweet fellowship with His people.  The washing of feet was symbolic of the fellowship of service. But the service of Calvary would be for the purpose of eternal fellowship.

Jesus’ washing the feet of Judas did not secure his fellowship with the Lord.  In fact, Judas thought little of his time in fellowship with Jesus.  It angered him that Jesus would do this thing to him.  It was then that he determined that he would sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. 

How precious is your fellowship with Jesus?  It’s amazing how little we think of fellowshipping with Him.  Sleep, the quick taking of offense, lack of interest… the list goes on.  Every excuse we use to not fellowship with Jesus is the value that we place on His fellowship.  What excuse do you use to fellowship with Jesus?

Basin and Towel part 2

In the hours preceding the greatest act in human and angelic history (the death of Christ and the consummation of the Gospel), man makes prideful efforts to be exalted above the moment.  This is typical of a creation who seeks self exaltation above the glorification of Jesus Christ.

Here’s a little snack: We find ourselves journeying into and through the 13th chapter of John’s Gospel.  Shortly after Mary pours costly ointment on the feet of Christ and wipes His feet with her hair (chapter 12), Jesus does the very same thing to the feet of His disciples with water and a towel.  Mary's was a moment of worship, Jesus' a moment of service. Both were birthed from a heart of utter humiliation.

We learn from the introductory verses that Satan had entered into the heart of Judas for the purpose of betrayal.  Christ’s stripping Himself of His outer garments and the adorning Himself with rags made for cleaning was more than Judas could take.  In his mind, no king worth serving would stoop to such humble degrees of service.  The washing of dirty feet was the icing on the cake.  All Judas needed was an excuse to leave and this was it.

John tells us, in verses 6–10, of the conversation that Jesus had with Peter.  Not surprisingly, Peter would make the moment about him. Oh how we need to make every moment in Christ's presence about Him! Notice the language used by Peter as Jesus made His way around the room washing away the dirt, grime and sweat collected by the feet of these tired men after a day’s journeying with their Rabbi: “Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash ‘my’ feet?” (emphasis added). 

Peter struggled with the fact that Jesus placed him in the same category as the rest of the dirty disciples.  He had always struggled with this level of pride.  Peter had engaged in conversations with the others about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom… only to have Jesus rebuke him along with the others.  Peter thought little of exercising his authority over gravity in an attempt to walk on water to be with the Lord.  Only to have Jesus rescue him and put him back into the same boat with the others. Peter was a legend in his own mind and Jesus saw to it to humble him quickly.

The Lord’s response to Peter’s self exaltation came in the form of an ultimatum. Verse 8 says, “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”Oh how deflating this was to Peter.  First he had to admit that he was dirty and secondly he had to submit to being served by the Lord.  The same is said of each sinner today: we must admit that we are dirty and submit to the cleansing of Christ’s serving us on Calvary as an act of obedience to the Father.

Peter responded as we must respond today, “Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head."  Here we see the humble submission to a complete washing of ourselves that is necessary if ever we are to know the Lord completely.  First, we see the cleaning of the feet, which is symbolic of the deep depravity of the soul of man.  Secondly we see the washing of his head which is the cleansing of the mind (earthly wisdom and logic of man). Finally we see the washing of the hands, symbolic of any effort that we might have to offer for our own righteousness.

May we know today that we cannot clean ourselves, but rather, we must resolve to know and submit ourselves to the fact that God in the flesh has humbled Himself to cleanse us wholly, when we wouldn’t- nor couldn’t wash ourselves.

Basin and Towel part 1

Aside from the cross of Calvary, perhaps the most humbling scene for the reader of God’s Word takes place in John chapter 13, as Jesus takes a basin and a towel and begins washing the feet of His disciples.  This will be our focus this week.

Here’s a little snack: The picture of the King of Kings bending His knee to the floor- and with a water soaked towel washing the feet of His followers stirs an array of emotions. Peter, though hesitant at first, consented when he realized that this meant more than a simple gesture of hospitality, but rather a symbol of covenant between the disciple and his Rabbi.  For Judas, on the other hand, seeing the one whom he thought would take the government by storm bowing down to a fisherman- meant the end of a really good thing. 

But what about Jesus?  What kind of emotions ran through the Son of God as he transitioned from being a lion to a lamb?  Knowing that His time was now come, He must have felt some kind of emotion.  The first 3 verses share with us 3 emotions of our Lord, which give us more clarity of Jesus’ heart as we see Him washing the disciples feet.

Verse 1 says, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” 

Notice the pattern of events in this one, short verse.  When Jesus gave thought to the time, that His life on earth was coming to an end, His first thought was to those He loved.  Some speculate that He was speaking of His 12 disciples in particular, however, He could have been thinking of all the redeemed of the Lord.  Regardless, what a glorious thought to know that His love for His people did not cause Him to stay with them, but rather run to take His cross for them.

The second verse reads, “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him.”  Can you imagine sitting down to eat a meal with one who was filled with the heart of Satan… knowing that he was plotting to betray you?  Oh the emotions!  And yet, Christ took that same basin and towel and made His way downward to the feet of Judas.  It must be understood that Jesus did not wash Judas’ feet by accident.  Humbling yourself to wash the feet of the one you love is not an easy thing. But to wash the feet of your enemy is perhaps the greatest showing of humility.

Finally, in verse 3 we read, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;”  Jesus understood clearly that He was God.  He knew that He had authority over the event of the Gospel and that no one could alter what the Father had set in order before the foundation of the world.  And knowing this kind of authority, Jesus lowered Himself, with a basin and towel, and washed the disciples feet.

We are told later in the chapter that this was His example to us that we might humble ourselves to wash one another’s feet; those whom we love and those who would betray us.  What an awesome God we serve!

Perceptions part 4

Nothing about the heart of Judas was ever bent toward God.  There was never a time when he had good intentions and then gave way to sin nature.  Judas betrayed the Lord as a result of the greatest need in human history: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here’s a little snack:  The answer to one of Christianity's greatest questions is as hard to swallow as the thought to ask the question.  And the answer is yes, Judas was in fact a chosen vessel for the setting in order of life’s most wicked sin… the murder of Jesus Christ.

Sitting at the dinner table in the home of Martha, Judas was one of the privileged among the Lord’s chosen disciples.  John’s 12th Gospel chapter does not tell us of all who were present at the dinner, but it is clear that the list of notable participants included Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Judas.  Oh to have had such luxury bestowed upon us- to sit with the one who had been resurrected from the dead and enjoy the presence of the Power that resurrected him.  All the while, Judas couldn’t keep his mind off the bag filled with Lord’s money.

As Mary poured both her heart and a vessel of costly perfume on the feet of her Lord that she might wipe them with her hair in ridiculously humble adoration, the heart of Judas was revealed.  John tells us in verse 6 that Judas was a thief, and that he stole regularly from the bag of money.

The knowledge of Judas’ heart should not come as a surprise to us.  As students of God’s Word, we have already read John’s account to the predetermined heart of Judas.  The latter verses of John 6 speak boldly to this decreeing.  Verse 64 says, “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”  In that same chapter John reveals who it is that Jesus is speaking of: “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot [the son] of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”(verses 70-71)

What is so amazing about the scene in Martha’s home is that such hideous sin could be known in the presence of such glory.  Think about it.  Present in the same room as resurrection power sits the heart of Satan.  While one is bowed prostrate in humble worship, another is plotting wickedness.  And what is even more amazing is that Jesus knew the heart of both Mary and Judas.  May this be a reminder to us the next time we gather together- that God knows the heart of us all.

Judas was in fact the chosen vessel of wickedness that would unleash the world’s most wrathful evil ever known to the flesh of man.  Jesus was the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world; and nothing about this plan was produced on improvisation… not even the heart of Judas.  It was this heart, the heart of wickedness, that set in order the most glorious event in human history.  It’s hard for us to swallow this pill of the knowledge of God’s sovereignty.  That God could have, in some way, known before hand that Judas was capable of such wickedness.  It is an even harder pill to swallow to know that God ordained it.  And yet, the good pleasure of the Lord resides in both the Gospel of God’s Son- in glorious splendor, and the wickedness of a desperately evil heart- in utter depravity.

That Judas was a chosen vessel of dishonor does not change the fact that we are chosen vessels of honor.  In fact, this truth only enhances the splendor of God’s glorious good news.  May we rejoice today that the Gospel was made possible to us, NOT despite the act of Judas, but rather through the act of Judas.  In other words, no matter how sinful the heart of any man, God’s grace and love prevail… to the glory of God!

Pastor Mike Carmody

Perceptions part 3

The ability to worship is the highest honor bestowed to man.  Our depravity disqualifies us from worshipping by our own will- and yet God seeks to be worshipped by nothing other.  Today we will see 3 aspects of worship that are irresistibly, overwhelmingly and unmistakably ours to enjoy.

Here’s a little snack: John’s 12^th Gospel chapter plays as a sequel to the chapter before.  Lazarus, having been raised from the dead, is now sitting with the Lord at the house of Martha, eating a meal.  In the presence of a worker (Martha) a worshipper (Mary), and a wretch (Judas), Lazarus looks on as the product of resurrection power.  Each of these played as an example of what his new life could become.

Having the Savior as her focus, her surroundings, her sacrifice and her self gave way to the sweet smelling savor of worship.  Nothing else seemed to matter.  Her willful yielding at the feet of her Lord was the picture of selfless adoration to the resurrection and the life.  With her heart fully submitted to His, her knees collapsed to a most natural position- falling prostrate before her Lord.  Though her silhouette was positioned horizontally, her spirit was launched vertically into an atmosphere not commonly known to depraved man.  Mary became a worshipper.

At the height of her worshipful accent, Mary does the unthinkable.  She leaves the room abruptly; leaving the others to wonder what power she must be under.  Moments later, Mary reenters the room carrying a box reserved for the security of costly perfume.  Martha, Judas and Lazarus are utterly filled with wonder as they watch Mary effortlessly move toward Jesus as if she were floating.  As they watched her holding the box of ointment in her outstretched hands, an array of thoughts filled their minds.  Would she offer the perfume to Jesus as a payment for His working of this great resurrection miracle?  Would she seek to impress Jesus with the fact that she owned such a valuable thing?  What was Mary up to?

Before anyone could stop her, Mary breaks open the alabaster box of ointment and begins pouring it on the feet of her Lord.  Had she lost her mind?  Or was she simply surrendering all of her worth to Jesus in humble adoration?  Though the others were amazed, appalled and angered, Jesus approved.

Here we see 3 beautiful aspects of glorious worship that must take place if ever we are to believe that our time spent in the presence of our Lord was acceptable to a King.  First we see the sacrifice of worship.  May we know that true worship must cost us something; of our time, our emotion, our pride, our effort, our treasure, our talent and our self.  Secondly we see the sacredness of worship.  Mary knew that a woman’s hair was her glory, thus she used the most glorious thing she possessed to stroke the most glorious thing she knew- the feet of her Lord.  Finally, we smell the scent of worship.  May our worship toward Holiness leave the room, the building, the earth, with the sweet smelling aroma that can only be known after a time spent in the presence of God.  This is true worship!

Pastor Mike Carmody

Perceptions part 2

Shortly after the resurrection of Lazarus from the grave, the story continues to play out as a sequel in John’s 12^th Gospel chapter.  As a testimony that life goes on, we are invited to dinner at the home of Martha.  In attendance are 5 people: Lazarus plays the part of the newly resurrected product of love.  Also in attendance are 4 other characters that play the part of every person alive today.  Our objective is to place ourselves in the seat of Lazarus.  As we examine each character we do so in hopes of discovering which one most embodies the heart of God.  If repentance is necessary, may we progress to do so, that we may be more like Christ.

Here’s a little snack:  The first character to be mentioned as our example to follow is Martha.  Verse 2 seemingly gives us so little to work with in light of Martha’s character: “There they made him a supper; and Martha served:” At first glance we might react to Martha’s character with the reflex of obligation.  It is, after all, our natural instinct to want to serve our Lord enthusiastically… especially in the days that follow our witness of His greatest miracle of resurrecting power.  Humble servants are needed in the ministry of God.  Servants help to bring precious souls into the Kingdom, nurture and train them after baptism, that they might return to a servants life to do the same.  Serving is a good thing… isn’t it?

If all we knew of Martha was the one word that embodied her character in this scene, we would be left give her an A+ in the area of service.  But God was careful to allow us a more accurate glimpse into the heart of Martha in Luke’s Gospel.  Luke chapter 10 reveals a side to Martha that might cause our heart to flutter with Holy Spirit conviction.  Jesus was meek in His review of Martha. As Mary sat at the feet of our Lord, Martha was true to her nature, and served the Lord frantically.  Verse 40 – 42 read like this, “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

The truth of Martha’s heart of service was revealed.  It wasn’t her service that caused her much grief that day.  It was the spirit by which she served.  She was serving the Lord in a spirit of competition.  She was weighing her service in comparison to that of her sister Mary.  Oh that she had served with a servant’s heart and not the heart of bitterness toward others who were not.  What an example to us all of how not to serve our Lord!  May our service to Him be a for of worship to Him.  May we serve Him because it is our delight to do so and not as an obligation in the form of an exchange of services. In other words, may we not serve the Lord as if we can repay Him for His power of resurrection on our soul.  That kind of service will lead to bitterness and strife toward others who aren’t serving as we are serving.

May we delight in simply knowing Him- thus serving Him with delight. 

Perceptions part 1

One of the most telling verses in the Bible exists in John’s 12 Gospel chapter.  On the heals of resurrection power, the evidence of earth’s greatest miracle sits to eat a meal with the resurrection and the life.

Here’s a little snack:  What do you eat for your first meal after being raised from the dead?  This isn’t something that we give much thought to is it?  If the story of Christ raising Lazarus from the grave wasn’t chilling enough, the resurrected recipient of new life now sits down for dinner with the one who commanded death to vacate his lifeless body.

I can hardly read verse 2 of John 12 without pausing to reflect on my own resurrection experience- and what it felt like to gain new fellowship with God as Jesus exercised His ability to overcome my trespasses and sins.  Perhaps reading this verse allows you the same overwhelming experience: “There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.”  As you read this verse, take time to reflect on the moments following your resurrection:  The joy, humiliation, somberness and overwhelming feeling of the awesomeness of knowing the now presence of almighty God. 

This verse, along with the a few following, allow us a vivid comprehension of life after resurrection.  The realness of this scene is amazingly accurate to what we, as new born babes, experience in the days following our new found life in Christ.  As Lazarus sits across the table from the very one who raised him from the dead, he sees 4 examples of Christianity by which to mimic with his new life: Martha, Mary, Judas and the crowd of onlookers who no other objective but to be spectators of Kingdom work. 

As we snack together this week, decide for yourself who you most resemble as a resurrected child of God: the controller (Martha), the cherisher (Mary), the critique (Lazarus) or the crowd (on-lookers). 


Pastor Mike Carmody

Unveilings part 4

Nothing satisfies our heart, mind and soul as does the presence of the omnipresent God.  Man’s greatest loss came with the understanding that God’s presence was no longer his to be enjoyed at will.  Man’s greatest treasure comes with the understanding that God made a way for His presence to be known again.

Here’s a little snack: The knowing of the absence of God’s presence and the knowledge of His now available presence are almost always synonymous. Rarely will someone come to an understanding of the absence of God without the presence of the Gospel (the good news that God is available through the His Son), and never will a person come to know the presence of God without that same Gospel.  In other words, a man may know something is missing, and set out on a journey to find that which is missing.  But he will never secure that which is missing (the presence of God) without the Gospel.

You see, the Gospel, in that way, has a double effect.  It is good news only because it makes us aware of the bad news.  If there is no bad news, the good news is only… news.  It’s the unveiling of bad news that makes the good news so good.  And the greatest good in the good news of the Gospel is the available presence of a previously absent God.  In this way, the discovery of the absence of God is actually… good news.

This is seen clearly in John’s 11^th Gospel chapter- the story of the raising of Lazarus from the grave.  Upon hearing that Lazarus was now dead, after a terminal illness, Jesus gave a startling revelation.  He said in verse 15, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”  Here we see a clear presentation of the Gospel.

This verse makes us privy to an emotion of Christ that has, till now, been absent from our understanding: the emotion of gladness.  Jesus was glad!  What an overwhelming thought: Jesus was glad!  Even Jesus knew the emotion of gladness. And why shouldn’t He?  He is in fact the source of all true gladness.  Any worthy, eternal gladness of value comes from knowing Jesus.  We speak of Christ’s knowledge of the emotion of gladness as if God should be numb to the emotions of man.  We think that gladness is reserved for humans and that God knowing the emotion of man makes Him somehow less than God and too much like man… but Jesus was glad!  “Glad” is why we refer to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the Gospel… for it is the “good news” of Jesus.

Oh how the nations would rejoice if they could only share in this gladness!  David understood this principle of gladness.  He said in his 67^th Psalm, “O let the nations be gladand sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.”  What is the greatest emotion of the Gospel of peace?  Gladness!  Gladness of the revelation that God has come to earth in the likeness of man that He might redeem His people from His wrath.  This is the good (glad) news of the Gospel!

This is why the angel of the Lord spoke so specifically of the coming of Christ. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10)  Think about it!  The angel of the Lord was sent by God to deliver a single message to all the nations- and what was that message?  JOY! And how would God establish such joy on earth?  By the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, the long awaited Messiah, that He might redeem otherwise condemned men. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”  And take notice, when the angel of the Lord delivered this glorious, good news, all of heaven shouted! “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 

The good news of the Gospel is the joy that God has made His presence available to man through the redemptive blood of His Son.  And this joy is not only reserved for man, but even the nations shall be made glad.  Oh, the power of the Gospel!

And what was it that Jesus was glad about? “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there…” (Verse 15)  Jesus was glad that He was not there when Lazarus died.  And why? “to the intent ye may believe.”  Oh the sovereignty!  Jesus let Lazarus die.  Jesus had control over the life and death of His friend, and He let him die.  At first glance this might seem cruel.  Lazarus suffered from a terminal illness, to the point of death.  In addition, Lazarus’ family had to watch him suffer.  What pain they endured while caring for their brother and friend.  All the while, Jesus could have stopped every ounce of pain… but didn’t. In fact, He was glad! 

It’s true!  The suffering and inevitable death of a friend was the sovereign working of gladness.  We are quickly reminded of Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”   It troubles our fleshly heart to think that God could glory and be made glad in our times of struggle, pain and even death.  However, our sadness is turned to joy when we realize that it is through our suffering that God’s glory is revealed. “…to the intent that ye may believe.” 

Again, the Gospel is presented in vivid, high definition.  First we see the absence of God, “And I am glad… that I was not there.”  Secondly, we see the need for faith “…to the intent ye may believe.”  And lastly, we see the presence of God restored, “nevertheless let us go unto him.”

May we rejoice, in gladness, in times of sorrow.  For it is in our weakness, through Him, we are made strong.

Pastor Mike Carmody

Unveilings part 3

John’s 11^th Gospel chapter unveils 5 glorious truths that every follower of Christ should know.  Today we will unveil the 3^rd of these 5 truths, on our way to witnessing the greatest miracle of all.  The raising of the dead to life again!

Here’s a little snack: Everyday is a new day as a follower of Christ.  If this is true of ourdaily walk with Him, imagine the life of those fighting for the imprint of Christ’s sandals in the middle-eastern dust of 2000 years ago.  With the rising of the sun came the possibility of being witness to the truest of all teachings, the greatest understanding of old testament Scriptures and perhaps, a miracle that would bring fame to the name of Jesus Christ.  This particular day would differ only in that the rising of the sun would give light to the greatest of all miracles.

This miracle begins to take shape in verses 20-27 as Martha runs to greet Jesus on His way into town.  Seemingly she arbitrates for Christ in defense of His delay: “If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give [it] thee.”  Her knowledge of Jesus and His abilities to KEEP man alive by healing them of their earthly sickness was obvious: “If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

No doubt, Martha had been witness to the abilities of Christ to do what no other could do.  In fact, one can only imagine that Christ’s miracles were the topic of daily discussion for those like Martha, Mary and Lazarus, who knew Jesus so well.  Perhaps they had debated whether or not Jesus could raise the dead.  Today, Jesus would put an end to any doubt that He was in fact the Lord of the living… and of the dead.

Her faith took a huge leap from verse 21 to verse 22.  In just one verse she went from believing that Jesus could sustain life- to believing that Jesus could give life.  My how choice and powerful were her words: “But I know, that even now…”  Martha spoke words of faith that sets in motion the working of glorious miracles: “But I know…”  These are not simply hopeful words or words spoken on show-string faith.  These are words that create miracles.  These are words that build solid platforms for works that only God can perform.  These are words that most can only utter out of habit- with spiritualistic (but faithless) overtones.  It’s one thing to say these words, and another to expect them to light the wick of dynamite-like happenings.

“…that even now…”   With these words, Martha went from believing with site to believing with faith.  By now, Lazarus was 4 days dead (verse 39).  Martha’s faith extended into the land of the dead.  It was one thing to believe that Jesus could do what He had done so many times before (verse 37), but Martha was believing Jesus to do what she had never seen with her natural eyes- only the eyes of faith. 

Perhaps today you are needing Jesus to do a new thing in your life.  It’s time to stretch your faith.  It’s time to believe God to do what you have never seen Him do before.  Let your words be spoken today with the knowledge of faith: “But I know…” And let those words set the stage for that new thing: “…that even now…”

Pastor Mike Carmody

Unveilings part 2

The story of the raising of Lazarus in this 11^th chapter of John’s Gospel is unique in that it is one of the most detailed of all Gospel stories.  The reader is made privy to emotions, thoughts, intents, histories and actions of most every character mentioned.  We are spending this week unveiling a few Gospel mysteries from this blessed text.

Here’s a little snack: We spent yesterday’s Snack time unveiling the mystery behind sickness and even death.  We discovered that both the Father and His Son are glorified in our times of suffering when we see these suffering times as opportunities to believe and not doubt.  Today we will witness another unveiling.

Jesus was Spiritually methodical.  Not cunning or simply wise… but methodical- with great Spiritual value.  This unveiling begins to take shape in verse 6.  We are told by the writer, “When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.”   Now, something interesting to note about much of the New Testament writings is that many of its writers were writing to specific people for specific reasons. While this is not necessarily so in the Gospels, we must still yet approach the Gospels with an understanding this understanding.  When we do, we begin to see that there were many assumptions made by the writers of the Bible.  The greatest assumption made (in my opinion) is that the culture, customs and traditions of their day would remain until the coming again of Jesus to remove His Bride.  Because of this, often little explanation is given for certain beliefs of their day.

For example, in verse 6 we are told that Jesus chose to wait in His present location 2 days after hearing of the sickness/death of His friend Lazarus.  Why would He do this?  We are not told directly (again, the assumption is made by the writer that the reader would understand their customs and traditions).  On the surface, it makes little since for Jesus to delay His inevitable trip to see Mary, Martha and the friends of Lazarus.  However, as the story unravels, the unveiling if Christ’s Spiritual methodology is scene clearly.

In verse 15 we begin to see Christ’s Spiritual methodology taking shape as He teaches His disciples.  He tells them, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”   Why did He tell them that?  Would they have not believed in His abilities if He performed a long-distance healing?  Even some of the locals expressed this very thought in verse 37. “And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?”

In that day, there was a teaching among the Jews that while never proven, gave surviving family members of the deceased a temporary hope of perhaps seeing their loved one again.  It was commonly believed that the strong, valiant prayers of the living for the dead could raise back to life those had been buried.  The only stipulation being that this praying must take place within the first 3 days after death.  Having this understanding of the customs and traditions of that day help us to see why Jesus delayed His departure and thus His arrival until the forth day of Lazarus’ death.

Now it makes since.  Had Jesus made the 2 day journey (vs. 17), or had He chosen to heal Lazarus from His original location, upon hearing of his death, there would have been a great possibility that His miracle would have gone unnoticed due to their customs.  By waiting till the fourth day to raise Lazarus from the grave, He did away with any notion that this miracle was the working of anything less than the divine working of Jesus, the Son of God.  Much could be said here about our giving too much credence to our traditions; of which I will reserve for another Snack.

Again, Jesus told the listeners in verse 15, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe…”  Jesus was Spiritually methodical.  This came with having such a tight relationship with His Father.  Jesus not only knew His surroundings, but He was wise in all His understandings.  He could have allowed His great love for Lazarus and His sadness for those mourning his death to cause Him to act prematurely.  But His agenda prevailed: to reveal His Father in Heaven.  Oh that we would be Spiritual methodical.

Pastor Mike Carmody