“This means the more we discover about Jesus Himself, the more we find out about the means of creation itself and that when we explore this line of thought all sorts of things look differently to how they look when we approach things the other way around. The four gospels tell us, after all, what Jesus did and how He did it. Part of the trouble here is that much conservative, western Christianity has tended to be docetic or platonic so we read the evidence wrong and much liberal, western Christianity has tended to be skeptical and to deny that actually we know that much about Jesus in the first place. This, by the way, is where history really matters.” ~ N.T. Wright
“There is a consensus of sorts on the basic outline of Jesus’ life. Most scholars agree that Jesus was baptized by John, debated with fellow Jews on how best to live according to God’s will, engaged in healings and exorcisms, taught in parables, gathered male and female followers in Galilee, went to Jerusalem, and was crucified by Roman soldiers during the governorship of Pontius Pilate (26-36 CE)”. ~ Amy-Jill Devine, Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University
“Whether through some mass delusion, some colossal act of wishful thinking, or through witness to a power or force beyond any definition known to Western historical analysis, those who had known Jesus in life and had felt the shattering disappointment of his death proclaimed that he lived still, that he loved them still, and that he was to return to earth from the Heaven which he had now entered, to love and save from destruction all who acknowledged him as Lord.” ~ Diarmaid MacCulloch
“And Aphrodite would not weep
Nor Zeus would suffer for the weak
But have you come to stand inside my pain?” ~ John Mark McMillan, “The Road, the Rocks, and the Weeds”
-
The Mystery of the Son of Man
-
The turning point of the destiny of humanity.
-
As we saw last week, the destiny began with the created intention that humans would be the “pinnacle” of creation: bearing the image of God and destined to be like God as they rule over creation with God.
-
We ended last week looking at a “now and not yet” scenario where Paul was arguing that humans have been restored to the kind of relationship that can achieve this destiny, though we do not yet see it made real/mature (at least, not on a global scale).
-
Paul’s Perspective
-
"To me [Paul] – the less than the least of all the saints – was given this grace among the nations: to proclaim the good news of the unfathomable riches of the Christ and to cause all humanity to finally see the Secret Fellowship that has been hidden before the ages in the heart of God, who created all things by Christ Jesus. So that there might be made known now – through the Church of Christ, to the principalities and authorities in the heavens – the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we unreservedly and confidently approach God through our trust in His faithfulness.” - Ephesians 3:8-12
-
A Secret Fellowship revealed.
-
The joyful song of the Master Craftsman dreaming of humanity joining in on the delight.
-
-
The manifold wisdom of God made known to the former rulers.
-
The multifaceted nature of God’s wisdom demonstrated through His fellowship with humanity.
-
-
An eternal purpose realized.
-
This dream from the “hidden before” being made real in His Life.
-
-
Freedom and confident access through His faith.
-
The “faith of Him” secures the bold, freely-speaking, nothing-hiding, mask-destroying, vulnerability-loving, approach of the saints to the Throne.
-
-
-
-
-
The Expectation
We thought You'd come with a crown of gold
A string of pearls, a cashmere robe
We thought You'd clinch an iron fist
And rain like fire on politics ~ John Mark McMillan, “Baby Son”-
Surprisingly, God is not petty and vindictive, but long-suffering and forgiving.
-
"Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:6-9-
The evil of men is the myth of redemptive violence and vengeance.
-
"Lamech said to his wives,
"Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Give heed to my speech,
For I kill a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me;
If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."" - Genesis 4:23-24-
While Cain is the first murderer – also resorting to violence to handle his problems – Lamech is the first real bad guy in scripture
-
First boast of violence.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Disproportionate response.
-
Decrees for himself instead of God’s decrees.
-
Interestingly enough, also the first mention of polygamy, coincidence?
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The justice of God is redemption, not vengeance.
-
"Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble(d) in justice,
And He teaches the humble(d) His way.
All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
For Your name's sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great." - Psalm 25:4-11-
The psalmist – David – does not appeal to his own goodness or even his changed ways, but to God’s goodness and righteousness as the reason for which to forgive him.
-
Essentially, God forgives because that’s what He’s like – and, therefore, what true justice and goodness looks like – not because someone has earned it.
-
-
In fact, David rests his side of the appeal upon his great iniquity and need for God’s restorative power and teaching.
-
“Pardon me because I really badly need You to… It’s really jacked up in here right now.”
-
Also, I’m willing to wait while You do, because I know that You will, it’s what You do for people who have chosen to have nowhere else to go.
-
-
-
-
This doesn’t mean God is unwilling to let them experience destruction, it just comes with a few surprises.
-
He never enjoys it.
""Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'" - Ezekiel 33:11-
If you don’t hear a begging and pleading tone from God at the end of that verse, you’re not reading it right.
-
-
The destruction is always rebounding from their own hand.
"The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice." - Proverbs 21:7-
notice that violence is contrasted as being the opposite of “acting with justice”.
"The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion. Selah." - Psalm 9:16
-
The revelation of God is not that He is more violent than the wicked, but that He turns the violence of the wicked against them.
-
-
-
-
-
Surprisingly, the Messiah will not come with satanic (accusing/opposing) power, but will come with healing/creative power.
-
"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”
"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall." - Malachi 4:1-2-
Notice that “the day” is what sets them ablaze, not God.
-
The promise is not that there will be no consequences for evil, but that you might be healed, restored, and even thrive in the midst of evil as it destroys itself.
-
-
A restoration and healing is coming for the people, even in the midst of “a day of burning”.
-
-
"And it happened that [Jesus] was reclining at the table in [Levi’s] house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."" - Mark 2:15-17
-
The Justice and Righteousness of Jesus are revealed in His fellowship and calling of sinners to walk with Him.
-
-
-
-
The Hidden Hero
But without a sword, no armored guard
But common born in mother's arms
The government now rests upon
The shoulders of this Baby Son ~ John Mark McMillan-
The prophecy
"But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
You shall multiply the nation,
You shall increase their gladness;
They will be glad in Your presence
As with the gladness of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will be on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this." - Isaiah 9:1-7-
Restoration of contempt and light in the darkness for the lost ones.
-
The end of war tools.
-
A child who brings peace and wisdom that continually increases.
-
Established and upheld with justice and righteousness.
-
-
The Vessel
"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. "For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her." - Luke 1:26-38-
Mary is the best and I love her so much.
-
Never rejects, just considers.
-
Not sure if she buys it, but she permits it to happen.
-
She has a great song about the true nature of God’s love for the lowly.
-
-
-
-