fencepostdigest

The following list contains names assigned to our Lord Jesus. It is important to study who Jesus is. How can we love Him more unless we know more about Him. However, my question is simple, “How, in a biblical sense, refer to Him as ‘Sweet?’ There is no writer in known manuscripts that I am aware of refer to the Messiah as being ‘sweet’ as He is oftentimes described. This is not a necessarily objective term in English language terminology as the Webster’s dictionary simply defines the word as
‘Pleasant or desirable.’  However, the only reference to the Messiah as being sweet if found in Ephesians 4:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” NET2.  Of course this concerns the Suffering Servant concept of Jesus at the Crucifixion.

Please do not misunderstand my concern here; for in no way is there an attempt to belittle the descriptions that are made of Jesus Christ, but my thought is simply to provide some insight into the many types of descriptions given to Jesus Christ which may or may not accurately describe Him in human and secular manners. However, it is paramount that we do not allow ourselves to secularize Who this member of the Godhead is. He is NOT a ‘lovey’ that can be seen as a ‘soft and kind and cuddly teddy bear’ figure. Jesus is the Son of God, the I AM, the Begging and the End, the Savior, King and Lord of Lords. The list of names which are used in Scripture are many and lofty, to say the least. They are Names given Him by the Holy Spirit Who has portrayed Him as being the Holy, Crucified, buried and Resurrected, and coming again King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But ‘sweet’ is never used to describe Him.

All following Scriptures are taken from the NASB.

1 Corinthians 15:45-47, “So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.”

1 John 2:1, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

Revelation 1:8, “”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 3:14,  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:”

Hebrews 3:1, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.”

Hebrews 5:7-10, “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.  Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Revelation 3:14, “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:”

John 6:35-39, “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.“

There is a question Jesus asked of His disciples, “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-17.

What greater lesson is to be learned than the same one that Jesus Christ Himself knows. God has appointed authority over all men to provide a means of peace to the world in which we live. and in bringing a sense of Divine Design, the Father has given everyone a lifetime to learn valuable lessons of how to be submissive to a government ordained by God. This is a lesson we all must learn if we are to live peaceably. What we do know is that for Christ, the Son of God, is subject to His Authority, Who is the Father. “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign , till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:23-28 KJV

Paul agrees with Moses’ record in Genesis 9 that human government receives  authority to exist and rule directly from Creator God or Yaweh. By reading this portion of Scripture we find that God gives to us human government to prevent disorder in His Creation. Paul illustrates his statement with the commonly used weapon of war, the “sword,” as an instrument of criminal execution. 

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. {ordained: or, ordered} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject , not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.” Romans 13:1-5 KJV.

Within God’s judgment and eternal punishment can be found, “the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23. A person’s daily practice of habitual sin earns the eternal death penalty. A difference between His justice and man’s justice of capital punishment is that God, as the Ultimate Judge, executes His judgment directly upon the guilty and there is no jury. It must be noted that God allows human governments the authority to take life to preserve order with the presence of the testimony of at least two witnesses, but He does not give the same privilege to those who are practitioners of habitual sin at the point of physical death. At that moment the door of the physical is closed and eternity is entered and at some point in His time, “Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15 NET2.

God is our only Source of life, The Source of life and only He, and/or those to whom He delegates that authority are allowed to take it. We find in Genesis that man was given a mind that can somehow become like God’s for He does allow for that awful possibility. (Strange that the Almighty would do such a thing.) God gave man dominion over the world he lives in, but not authority to change his environment, His creation that He calls ‘good.’ What man did/does not seem to understand his character, wisdom, and understanding must be that of the Creator which can only be simulated by relationship with Him. This relationship requires experience and time.

The Bible often addresses the short time that every man has on this earth that sometimes ends because of murder and by accident and this interrupts God’s intentions for that person. If a man does cause an interruption of God’s plan for another there is a horrible consequence. Capital punishment administered under the jurisdiction of the Creator is bad enough, but the Messiah preached a much more effective justice described as ‘Hell fire’ in Matthew 5:21-22. However in Matthew 10:28 He said this, Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” HCSB.

God did not do away with the Old Testament law concerning death penalty principles, and Jesus was a both a pioneer and a revolutionary for He did not destroy the existing law of God, but rather fulfilled it. As a pioneer He both accepted the Law of God, but moved forward with the New Law that began with the Great Commission with the support of the Holy coming on the Day of Pentecost. 

His Creation is now required to submit to Him through the expressions of the inerrant, infallible and never changing Word of God. Included in this submission is the governments He has ordained to give us direction. In the Person of the Holy Spirit Jesus imposes the positive obligation of the spirit of the law upon us. The Spirit indwells man and by so doing has opportunity to change errant attitudes of a person’s character that cause him to do murder. The Old Covenant law inscribed on the heart of the Believer is not done away with, but rather gives direction to the changed heart as the Holy Spirit provides gifts that provide strength to the New Covenant relationship. What we must understand that the Old Covenant is very much a part of the Christian life.

No doubt, I have taken a lengthy path to describe the lesson of submission to authorities God has allowed over us. However, because He has, indeed, appointed the governments of men to give us direction so long as the governed are not required to break the inspired instructions found in His Word. This we must be aware of. 

Jesus is Lord.

I have often asked and wondered, and you may have done the same, “Why should we require our government to solve social issues when the Bible has already provided the solution through God’s grace and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ?” Paul addresses this in Ephesians 2 when he writes that this relationship does not depend upon us because if this were so finite man would praise himself instead of giving God due praise and honor.

All of the social activism in America and around the world wants everyone to be equal in the eyes of every human standard, but God allows for equality among us all according to His standards and not in frail government documents. He again directed Paul to give us a solution, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:27-29.

Because God is the ‘Prime Mover’ in all of life and in everything that takes place around us because of His sovereignty everyone should seek Him for answers and NOT us nor government. Us and government do NOT have the solutions; God does.

The Progressives want to tax the wealthy and to remove their earned wealth for equal distribution across the socio-economic horizon. And the agents of change which include  the LBGQT and NAACP and other platforms want social recognition to be done by decree written in the halls of government. Why do this, again, when the Bible clearly states the very same thing for Jesus said, “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:44-46. (I will encourage everyone to read Matthew 25:31-46. There is but one sure way to achieve real justice in our Nation and that way is to change people’s hearts through faith in Jesus Christ.

There is no doubt in my mind that those who espouse and proclaim the ideas of social reformation in America and around the world do so with good intentions, but their good intentions will continue to fail and cause disaster. The problem is simple  for they deny the principle that is fundamental to the gospel of Jesus Christ and that is that mankind is sinful and in desperate need of THE Savior, “And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.:  1 Timothy 1: 14-16.

Apart from HIm there is no way out of this conundrum. The more we love and identify deeply with our family, our social class, our generic race, and our chosen religious practices the harder it is to not feel superior or even hostile toward everyone around who does not look, think and smell like ‘us.’. So the divide of racism, classism, and sexism are not matters of ignorance or a lack of education, but rather of being born-again by faith in Jesus Christ. The real culture war is taking place inside our own disordered hearts, wracked by personal desires for things around us  that control and lead to failed feelings superiority. What everyone fails to understand these things will not satisfy even when achieved. Only Christ is able to supply the needs, not necessarily our desires:

“Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke even though I had married them”—the Lord’s declaration. “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put My teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.  No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.” Jeremiah 31-14.

Jesus is Lord.

Common Sense

Someone has asked, “Why do we feel sleepy when we go to read the Bible? How can we stop that?” My first response is, “The Devil did NOT make me do it.” And there may be several physical issues going on that your doctor might be able to help you with. I am not a physician and, therefore, am unable to give any kind of advice that will help.

However, I am a Sleep Apnea patient and have been sleeping with a CPAP machine for more than 30 years. My opinion is that you might want to ask your personal physician to refer you to a Sleep Clinic and allow them to give you some help.

Now, back to the question. I find it somewhat disturbing that some faithful Christians sometimes have a tendency to blame the Devil for everything seemingly bad. Let us not give him credit for things that simply are too difficult for him. What we know is that we do live in a fallen world in which ‘stuff’ simply happens. This is a simplistic answer, I know, but we must seek to place blame where it may belong and not give incorrect honor where none is due.

To some degree, perhaps, if we are falling asleep while reading the Bible we must accept some of that responsibility and do some simple things that may help. But, ‘the Devil made me do it” syndrome is not the solution. And there certainly is no Bible verse solution for this. However, we can go to the Bible to find directives for Common Sense values.

Job is the prime example of an honorable man chosen by God and allowed to be faced with Satan. His confrontation was far more grievous than the Covid-19 virus, but there were some positives for God allowed Satan to attack Job with a limitation, “But Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life. But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!” So the Lord said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.” Job 2:4-7.

As I was ‘studying’ the question as my Great Uncle Bob would say, I think God pointed me to something; because God is Sovereign and in complete control, “Is it not also possible that God is responsible for allowing you to become drowsy while reading the Bible in order for you to focus more upon Him than the reading of His Word?” This does not mean that reading the Bible is less important, but rather we must focus upon the ‘why’ of our reading. Do we do so solely to say to ourselves, “Self, I have read the Bible for today and I can ‘check’ this off my routine ‘to-do list.’” We should read the Bible to focus upon Him and not our ‘to-do’ list. Just a thought.

Job lost everything he had, but remained faithful to God. His focus was upon the Creator and not upon the created and God blessed him because of his faithfulness. “So the Lord restored what Job had lost after he prayed for his friends, and the Lord doubled all that had belonged to Job.” Job 42:10.

The ‘Why’ Is More Important Than the ‘Doing’

Sometimes the process of ‘doing’ a project is more important than the result. However, this may not be so for our Daily Bible Reading. Do we ‘do’ or read the Bible in order to ‘check-off’ our daily ‘to-do’ list or do we read the Bible in order to know our Lord better and to understand how we are to live a life pleasing to Him? The ‘why’ is far more important than simply ‘doing.’  Jesus said it this way, “Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32. We learn to follow His teachings by reading and learning His Word. We do not learn His teaching simply to read them in order to check-off our ‘to-do’ list. This is Common Sense.

Jesus is Lord.

“Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool. 19 If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. 20 But if you refuse and rebel,you will be devoured by the sword.” Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:18-20.

Israel is THE Chosen Nation of God who has a very l-o-n-g history of abandoning the faithfulness of their God; the One Who brought them out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses. Isaiah chapter one speaks to that abandonment and God’s anger toward Israel. In v 18 Yaweh speaks to the sinful people concerning their sins and tells them, ‘you can become white like snow…if you have a willing attitude and obey.’ Their attitude must be one of obedience to the Lord’s commands as seen in the Torah, i.e., The Ten Commandments. God’s Word of truth is that when they come to Him in obedience, “I will heal their land…” 1 Chronicles 7:14.  Here, in verse 19, “then you will oagain eat the good crops of the land.” His blessings upon an obedient people will be plentiful. However, there is another option available to them, as well. “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Strong words for a disobedient heart.

In Acts 28 we find that Paul preached and taught the Message of the Gospel  for 2 years in Rome, in vv. 23-28 we find this account written by Luke, “They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive. For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!’ ”

What we find herein is that Paul attempted to convince these people who are hard in their hearts, but some were convinced. Paul quoted the words of Isaiah, “You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive…” God’s desire is that everyone will be convinced and come to Him by faith. “Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare. Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must you be, conducting your lives in holiness and godliness, while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” 2 Peter 3:8-12.

A disappointing and disastrous opinion exists that wrongly teaches that God has already chosen who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell. However, the question also exists, “If God has already made such a decision, why would He have sent Paul to Rome for 2 years in house arrest?” AND “Why would Paul have attempted to convince people to do something that had already been done for them?” This is absolutely ludicrous and opposed to what many believe and teach among us today. Yes, these folks are able to ‘proof-text’ their examples, many very good examples, but to read the contextual examples which state just the opposite is to negate the Word of God.

But here we are again with Jesus and Nicodemus, and Jesus gives Nicodemus the same option to choose to follow the Messiah or not. “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.” John 3:34-36. The option is to believe the Son for eternal life or to reject Him and understand God’s wrath remains. Jesus does not tell Nicodemus that the decision has already been made for him, but rather explains a moment earlier that all who believe in Him will have eternal life, John 3:16.

All that I am able to do is to explain the same thing that Isaiah said, “Consider your options,” for Jesus is Lord and Savior.

Declared Righteous by Faith

“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! 28 For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! 30 Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.” Romans 3:27-31 HCSB.

There is an important intersection that everyone of faith will eventually encounter and that is the question of ‘How did I get here?” At this intersection of faith is a collision that is being investigated by every person who somehow believes in God and eternity. The Baptists will talk about it among themselves as will everyone else, and everyone will decide that ‘I am correct.’ However, God is the one One Who really knows, Who really understands the simplicity of it all. In the end, God will point everyone to the Cross of Jesus Christ where He paid the ransom for the eternity for everyone who believes in His Son as Savior and Lord. For just as Jesus answered Thomas, “Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:5-7.

The point is simple, It is NOT what you are, but Whose you are…

Baptists will not go to Heaven, Methodists will not go to Heaven, Presbyterians will not go to Heaven, Catholics will not go to Heaven, etal. In the end, just as Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John 3:16-18.

Now, let us NOT get our undies in a wad, so to speak. For I know that every faith group has a set of rules they follow in order to get folks to worship at their place, but those rules do not apply at Heaven’s gate. And one more thing has me ‘riled up,’ too. If anyone is reading a book written by Charles Stanley, Joel Olsteen, Beth Moore, John Piper, John MacArthur and that author is not saying what the inspired, infallible, inerrant and perfect Word of God has already explained; You had best write a ‘Dear John’ letter to that book, say ‘goodbye,’ and close it. “Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.” Matthew 22:29-33.

Now, each of those folks whose names I have mentioned have some good things to say, and UNDERLINE the word ‘some’ for much of what they say is nothing but good advice, but not necessarily biblical. The Word of God everyone can ultimately depend upon, but not everything written by the Spurgeon or Watts or Wesley can ultimately be trusted. “But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves. You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:13-26.

Now, I am NOT interested in people remembering what I have written here, but what I am interested in is how you are going to get to Heaven. You can find that in God’s Word and you can begin with John 3:16. Jesus said that, I did not.

Jesus is Lord

All Scripture references are taken from the HCSB translation.

The question of the ages might just be, “What does it mean that he had no form or comeliness?” This comes to us from Isaiah 53:2, but to find the answer we should read the entire 53rd chapter of Isaiah. 

“Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to? 2 He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.” Isaiah 53:1-3.

The best suggestion that I am able to give anyone is to read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah for this is the foremost contextual evidence that speaks of the coming Messiah. Remember that when the Word (Logos) became flesh and lived among us He never sought the approval of anyone, but that of the Father. He did not come to please or to satisfy the desires of anyone in or near Jerusalem. Jesus only came to redeem mankind from sin and He accomplished that at the Crucifixion.

Please note verse 3, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.” I think that this verse provides an answer to your question for if He had a physical appearance that anyone would have wanted to gaze upon and desire no one would have chosen to despise Him. They would have implored Him to be a Monarch or Military leader. Rather the Logos was despised and generally hated among His peers. What He commanded few wanted to do and that was obedience to the commands of God, that is, His teachings, “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.” John 14:22-24.

Our Humanness Revealed

Judas asked the Christ, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” And a part of Jesus’ answer in verse 24 is quite revealing for He tells us just how ‘self-centered’ we really are, “The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words…” Everyone who claims to know the Lord as Savior and Lord will follow His teachings. This is not implied, this is a stated fact, “As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:30-32 and again, “If you love Me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17.  The point is, we are to serve Him and not to seek anything for ourselves in return. 

Paul writes, “Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.  For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:4-11.

Constitutional Liberty

This is a ‘spin-off’ of the subject at hand, but I think it can be mentioned here. Amid the Covit-19 pandemic we have been asked, and in some cities, orders have been given that we not meet in mass gatherings, such as church assemblies, or fines will be subjected. And the question has been raised, “Should we be forced to relent our Constitutional liberties?”

There is a very fine line that has been drawn and each American must look very, very carefully at it. At what point should we stand up and cry “Foul,” or “Enough is Enough?” For this I have no sufficient answer that can be given for everyone. But as for me? I must say that if allowed, the government will do as much as is allowed by us, for in this Republic those who govern are truly working for us and not the other way around. There are some in sit in those hallowed desks in Congress and walk those hallowed halls of the Capitol Building that desire to be the sovereign over us. This is far from what the Constitution allows, but what we allow them will certainly be taken from ‘We the People…’ 

We must now decide if we are to follow in lockstep with our elected leaders and some who are but appointed officials or as Joshua wrote, “But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.” Joshua 24:15.

Our Humanness is revealed when we fail to recognize the Sovereign God who is the foundation of our Republic and the Constitution which governs us or sit silent as our Constitutional liberties slip away unnoticed. Just a thought.

Jesus is Lord.

“No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:13-16 HCSB.

We had been about 2 months in Pacora working toward starting a new church there. This was a community of maybe 3 thousand and there were 3 other churches: the Catholic Cathedral, Seventh Day Adventist and a Pentecostal. But, this was not the issue. The issue was all those folks that were wandering around about without Jesus Christ in their lives, and there were many. 

There was one old farmer who walked all bent over leaning on a long stick that helped to support his measured steps. He was deaf in one ear and heard little in the other, and he was near blindness. His name is Rosario Tiliafarro and a life-long resident of Pacora. He was born in the small house he occupied and his father had long ago homesteaded the 25’ x 60’ piece of property.

Manuel Sanchez allowed us to use his house for our Friday night Bible Study and worship for several meetings with about 30-40 people attending. These folks squeezed into a room that was maybe 10’ x 15’. The Sachez family had a few chairs, but we did build some benches to accommodate others, and there was a single light bulb that provided our light.

On this night we were reading and talking about Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus in John chapter 3. There were not enough Bibles for everyone to read from and they shared where necessary. Many in the group could not read, and Rosario had never learned to read nor could he see well enough to do so. But, he listened well. 

Normally when the study was over people would linger for a moment before leaving and Rosario always sat by the door and would leave immediately without speaking to anyone. This night was different. He sat by the door, but did not leave. When everyone had departed I took the opportunity to approach him, but before I could speak he began patting the empty seat next to him, “Hermano Misionero, toma a su siento aquí porque yo tengo una pregunta.” (Brother Missionary, take your seat here because I have a question.” This was not a request, Rosario demanded that I sit down and I obliged.

“Hermano, why did Jesus go away without becoming a Christian?” Of course, I did not have an answer for him, but I did go on to further explain John 3:16. My feeling was that my theological explanation was sufficient to give Rosario an understanding of what Jesus had said. In fact, I was very proud of my statement. This dear old man looked at me with tears streaming down his face and said, “Please tell me about Jesus. I do not want to go home tonight without Him.”

To make a long story short, Rosario was wonderfully born-again. He related that he had been reared as a Catholic and had never heard the story of Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus. Neither had he felt that he was ever good enough to go to Heaven. Faith had never been a consideration for him. Rosario told me that no matter how many times he had prayed through his beads there was no answer for his sinful heart. 

A few weeks later I baptized Rosario and 5 others in the muddy canal that ran nearby. After he went under the water, Rosario came up and shouting, “Gloria a Dios. Yo soy libre, yo soy libre!!” I am free, I am free!!

Rosario sold his property to the new Baptist Church, La Iglesia Bautista Agua Viva. The Living Water Baptist Church. His only request was that we build him a small room at the back of the house for him to live in. He wanted to live there until he went to Heaven. Today, Rosario is in Heaven for at that time, 1987, he was 90+ years old. What a story, what a Savior!!

Jesus is Lord.

Jesus was nearing the end of a long series of parables while speaking to His disciples just prior to the Passover and His crucifixion, and He said this, “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’” Matthew 25:34-40.

Not long after going to Chiclayo, Peru in 1985, my family became members of  Iglesia Bautista La Hermosa, and soon thereafter I became their interim Pastor. This was just the beginning of a long and happy relationship with that church which continues today. 

Local Ministry With Eternal Destiny

The women’s ministry was and continues to be a very vital part of Peruvian Baptist churches that is the source of this story. These dear women had a very active ministry at a local hospital where they visited patients often and many of these people were not known by them. Lorenzo was from Santa Cruz de Succha, a tiny village way up in the mountains of northern Peru that is a 2-day vehicle trip and an 11 hour walk beyond the roadway. Lorenzo was to be in the hospital for 6 months for the treatment of an infection in his foot. During this time these women brought him food on a daily basis, provided bed sheets, pillow, a blanket and a Bible. Meanwhile, Lorenzo had an experience with Jesus Christ, too. Upon release from the hospital he came by La Hermosa to thank the ladies for what they had done and went on his way.

A few weeks later this new Believer showed up at the church one Sunday morning and explained why he was there, “I went back home to my village and began sharing what happened to me at the hospital through these ladies. I told everyone about Jesus and I need your help. There are now many new Christians there. We need Bibles.”

La Hermosa saw an opportunity for a mission trip and voted to help out. The Peru Baptist Mission provided the Bibles and three of us from the church were appointed to take the trip. Asuncion Fuentes, Santos Carbajal and myself left aboard a small bus one morning into the mountains to the northeast. A journey that had eternal possibilities. 

The actual time by vehicle was about 16 hours and there were 11 hours by foot to arrive at Santa Cruz de Succha. The trip by bus was an all night, 13 hour bumpy and unusual ride. However, 3 days passed before we arrived in Santa Cruz because we had to wait 2 days for a vehicle in a small town called Cutervo where Lorenzo met us to take us to the end of the 2-hour road trip at Socata where the footpath began. Fortunately, we found a family willing to rent us a room until we found a pickup to take us to the end of the road. The word got around that a Gringo Missionary was in town which attracted some attention from a local radio station. An announcement was made on the radio that the missionary would arrive in Santa Cruz in a couple of days.

Lorenzo had his cousin Manuel meet us at Socata and the beginning of the footpath which was to take us 11 hours to trod. At the trail Manuel met us with 3 donkeys to carry our belongings and Bibles. I discovered that the message sent over the radio was actually meant for Manuel for this is how he knew to meet us. At Socata we ate lunch at a house of Lorenzo and about 3 hours later Manuel arrived and we were ready to journey. 

Garden of Eden Beauty

Darkness swallowed the trail several hours later as weariness began to take toll over me and I told them that we needed to bed down somewhere. Manuel spotted a small house down the hill and inquired of the family if we could sleep in their house for the night. The husband was not home, but the wife and mother of 3 children allowed us in, fed us a soup and warm drink of some sort. We awoke the next morning to the chatter of a family gathering around breakfast which was kindly offered to us. As we were leaving to wave good-bye notice a mummified skunk hanging above the door frame. Making a comment to Lorenzo, he tells us that the husband is a ‘witch doctor,’ a ‘shaman’ in his language,  a practicing witch. To this day I have wondered about that for when we prayed over the meal everyone said their ‘amens,’ but I suppose that religious language is known even in dark places.

Several hours more and passing through some of the most beautiful scenery that I have ever witnessed we finally came to that hill we were looking for; the one from which Lorenzo and Manuel spoke of which provided a spectacular view of their village and beyond. This was a place that one reads about in magazines, but seldom actually visits because of the location. Sometimes  outsiders have the opportunity to enter these kinds of places. This was a ‘Garden of Eden’ kind of location.

Hero’s Welcome for a New Beginning

Suddenly, Lorenzo unloaded one of the donkeys and literally ordered me to ride this animal of burden into town. I hesitated, but took their commands with serious intent, LOL!! Upon entering the center of the village I sort of had the idea of how Jesus must have felt for everyone was awaiting us as if we had come home victorious from wartime or something. The school children along with their teacher were cheering as were the adults. What a ‘welcome’ this was. How humbling an experience for we had done nothing, but our work was to come.

We met on the village Plaza de Armas every evening after work ended. Our light came from a string of lights powered by car batteries which families loaned for the project. No electricity nor running water was available to anyone, but there were community water faucets located in the community. The water came from an elevated cistern located nearby and that water came from the mountain stream. Once a week someone in the village loaded donkeys to take the batteries to Socata for recharging. This was their only source of electricity for lights and radios in town.

Every night I had the opportunity to preach and lead a Bible study for the community, and about 30 people attended each night as the temperature dropped and the wind blew. Everyone wrapped in blankets to be comfortable. What a time of praise, worship and study that God provided this small group of new Believers.

At week’s end there was a baptism in the creek wherein 9 were baptized and a New Testament church was birthed. What joy for such a time as this…

Jesus is Lord!!

Not too many years ago our churches had yearly scheduled events and we called them ‘Revivals,’ but today they are called ‘irrelevant’ and do not have them on our schedules. I am not sure as to why not, but I think it may be because of the fact that some are afraid of ‘numbers’ that result and large numbers cause people concern. And the reason that is true is ‘many of those in the number statistics really are not saved. Most likely that is the case, but a few of them will go to Heaven. 

The sad reverse of that is fewer people are hearing the Gospel than ever before and far fewer people are entering the waters of baptism than ever before as well. Not doing revivals every year because of a fear of large numbers is a poor excuse for not participating. What we do know is that Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!” Matthew 7:21-23. What we are doing is abominable for we are ‘throwing the baby out with the dirty water.’ 

There may be something else going on, too, and I fear that this is true as well. The question can be asked, “How long has it been since we have heard regular sermons that can be considered “Hell-fire and Damnation” kinds of sermons? I know, I know, this will tell my age, perhaps, but Baptists were once known for preachers who screamed and hollered and sweated a bit when they preached, and they ‘stepped on my toes.’ If a preacher does that today the words ‘intolerant’ or ‘hurt feelings’ are heard, and “we cannot do that because people will be offended and stop coming.” 

The Call of the Fires of Hell Need to Feared Once Again

Famed preacher Jonathan Edwards once preached a sermon entitled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which is regarded by many as the most famous sermon in American history. He delivered this epic sermon on July 8, 1741 during the Great Awakening. The sermon caused such a panic among the congregation that many screamed and wept uncontrollably.  Some grabbed pews, and were convinced that Hell would open causing them to fall into the fire below. His sermon is regarded by many as the very essence of “fire and brimstone” preaching. I would suggest we need more of this and scheduled revival meetings in order to cause people to understand that God sometimes grows impatient with stubborn people,  “You forgot the Rock who fathered you, and put out of mind the God who gave you birth. 19 But the Lord took note and despised them because his sons and daughters enraged him. 20 He said, “I will reject them. I will see what will happen to them; for they are a perverse generation, children who show no loyalty. 21 They have made me jealous with false gods, enraging me with their worthless gods; so I will make them jealous with a people they do not recognize, with a nation slow to learn I will enrage them. 22 For a fire has been kindled by my anger, and it burns to lowest Sheol;  it consumes the earth and its produce, and ignites the foundations of the mountains. 23 I will increase their disasters; I will use up my arrows on them. 24 They will be starved by famine, eaten by plague, and bitterly stung; I will send the teeth of wild animals against them, along with the poison of creatures that crawl in the dust. 25 The sword will make people childless outside, and terror will do so inside; they will destroy both the young man and the virgin, the infant and the gray-haired man.” Deuteronomy 32:18-25.

If anyone doubts the anger of God against evil and evil-doers, sin and sinners, alike; they must be taught to think about Him again in those terms. We need to fear God in those terms. Yes, He is a God of love, but in love He does bring His justice and His judgment upon those who disobey Him. Hell is a real place that burns with eternal damnation for it is not a place of vacation. And the reality is simple, “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14,15.

Jesus is Lord.