The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
God's word tells us that fearing Him, and following His commands, make us wise.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. Psalm 119:98
Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments. Psalm 119:66
God makes us wise by teaching us through His word.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
Through His word, we not only receive His commands, but we see how Jesus lived, interacting with others, and obeying His Father, so we can emulate Him. I believe this is what the hymn writer had in mind as he penned this verse.
Who is He that makes me wise
To discern where duty lies?
Who is He that makes me true
Duty, when discerned to do,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
When we look at Jesus Christ, we see the epitome of humbleness and obedience to God's will. Paul tells us that Christ is to be our example in this regard.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
By looking at Jesus, we become wise and we can discern where our duty lies: it lies in obeying our Heavenly Father, just as Jesus did.
When we look at Jesus, we also see how to be true to the duty we have been called to do. When we discern how God is calling us to serve (our duty), we can look to Jesus for the example.
And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 21:41-42
Jesus was being sent to the cross by His Father. He petitioned His Father to "take this cup away" but He also said "Not My will, but Yours."
Jesus, a sinless man, asked to be relieved of His duty. We can certainly take our requests to our Father in prayer, but we must have the same request as Jesus: "not my will, but Yours." That is not always an easy prayer to pray. Most often, I want God's will to MATCH mine! But I look to Jesus, as my example, and see His obedience and submission to the Father. I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ the crucified, felt and experienced everything that I am facing. Because of this, I can confidently pray, like Jesus, "not my will, but Yours."
Look to Jesus! Follow His example, and grow in wisdom and discernment, so you may be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10
Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know
Words by Johann Schwedler
Ask ye what great thing I know,
That delights and stirs me so?
What the high reward I win?
Whose the name I glory in?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
What is faith’s foundation strong?
What awakes my heart to song?
He who bore my sinful load,
Purchased for me peace with God,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is He that makes me wise
To discern where duty lies?
Who is He that makes me true
Duty, when discerned to do,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who defeats my fiercest foes?
Who consoles my saddest woes?
Who revives my fainting heart,
Healing all its hidden smart?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is life in life to me?
Who the death of death will be?
Who will place me on His right,
With the countless hosts of light?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
This is that great thing I know;
This delights and stirs me so;
Faith in Him who died to save,
Him who triumphed over the grave:
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
What is Faith's Foundation Strong
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. I Cor. 3:11
Jesus Christ, through His subsitutionary death on the cross, laid the foundation for my faith. I can trust the One who gave His life for me.
He bore my sinful load, so that I can be dead to sin and alive in Him forever.
His death also purchased for me peace with God. When I was dead in my sin, I was separated from God. His sacrifice reconciled me to God, bringing me peace.
When the angels appeared to the shepherds at Jesus' birth, they proclaimed the two reasons for His incarnation: glory for God and peace for men.
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”Luke 2:14
We are justified by faith, and because of this, we have peace with God.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2
Jesus Christ, the crucified, makes it possible for me to live in peace because I have peace with God, which is foundational to all other kinds of peace.
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. II Cor. 13:11
That awakes my heart to sing!
Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know
Words by Johann Schwedler
Ask ye what great thing I know,
That delights and stirs me so?
What the high reward I win?
Whose the name I glory in?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
What is faith’s foundation strong?
What awakes my heart to song?
He who bore my sinful load,
Purchased for me peace with God,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is He that makes me wise
To discern where duty lies?
Who is He that makes me true
Duty, when discerned to do,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who defeats my fiercest foes?
Who consoles my saddest woes?
Who revives my fainting heart,
Healing all its hidden smart?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is life in life to me?
Who the death of death will be?
Who will place me on His right,
With the countless hosts of light?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
This is that great thing I know;
This delights and stirs me so;
Faith in Him who died to save,
Him who triumphed over the grave:
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Jesus Christ, through His subsitutionary death on the cross, laid the foundation for my faith. I can trust the One who gave His life for me.
He bore my sinful load, so that I can be dead to sin and alive in Him forever.
His death also purchased for me peace with God. When I was dead in my sin, I was separated from God. His sacrifice reconciled me to God, bringing me peace.
When the angels appeared to the shepherds at Jesus' birth, they proclaimed the two reasons for His incarnation: glory for God and peace for men.
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”Luke 2:14
We are justified by faith, and because of this, we have peace with God.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2
Jesus Christ, the crucified, makes it possible for me to live in peace because I have peace with God, which is foundational to all other kinds of peace.
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. II Cor. 13:11
That awakes my heart to sing!
Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know
Words by Johann Schwedler
Ask ye what great thing I know,
That delights and stirs me so?
What the high reward I win?
Whose the name I glory in?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
What is faith’s foundation strong?
What awakes my heart to song?
He who bore my sinful load,
Purchased for me peace with God,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is He that makes me wise
To discern where duty lies?
Who is He that makes me true
Duty, when discerned to do,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who defeats my fiercest foes?
Who consoles my saddest woes?
Who revives my fainting heart,
Healing all its hidden smart?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is life in life to me?
Who the death of death will be?
Who will place me on His right,
With the countless hosts of light?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
This is that great thing I know;
This delights and stirs me so;
Faith in Him who died to save,
Him who triumphed over the grave:
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I Corinthians 2:2
When singing this hymn recently, I was struck by the simplicity of the message - the restatement of the gospel that Jesus Christ was crucified for me. He took my place. As we look forward to the upcoming Lenten season, I wanted to take some time to reflect on this wonderful old hymn (written in 1741) and its timeless message for us as Christians, and for the world.
What great thing do I know, that delights my soul and wins me an eternal reward? Jesus Christ, God's son, gave His life for me so that I would be free from the bondage of sin and reconciled to God.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Colossians 1:21
Whose is the name I glory in? Jesus Christ, the crucified. For through His subsitutionary death of the cross, He has made salvation available to those who believe. We deserved to die for our sin, but He took our place.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5
Lord Jesus, may we know you! May we be conformed to Your death so that we may attain the resurrection from the dead.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know
Words by Johann Schwedler
Ask ye what great thing I know,
That delights and stirs me so?
What the high reward I win?
Whose the name I glory in?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
What is faith’s foundation strong?
What awakes my heart to song?
He who bore my sinful load,
Purchased for me peace with God,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is He that makes me wise
To discern where duty lies?
Who is He that makes me true
Duty, when discerned to do,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who defeats my fiercest foes?
Who consoles my saddest woes?
Who revives my fainting heart,
Healing all its hidden smart?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is life in life to me?
Who the death of death will be?
Who will place me on His right,
With the countless hosts of light?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
This is that great thing I know;
This delights and stirs me so;
Faith in Him who died to save,
Him who triumphed over the grave:
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
When singing this hymn recently, I was struck by the simplicity of the message - the restatement of the gospel that Jesus Christ was crucified for me. He took my place. As we look forward to the upcoming Lenten season, I wanted to take some time to reflect on this wonderful old hymn (written in 1741) and its timeless message for us as Christians, and for the world.
What great thing do I know, that delights my soul and wins me an eternal reward? Jesus Christ, God's son, gave His life for me so that I would be free from the bondage of sin and reconciled to God.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Colossians 1:21
Whose is the name I glory in? Jesus Christ, the crucified. For through His subsitutionary death of the cross, He has made salvation available to those who believe. We deserved to die for our sin, but He took our place.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5
Lord Jesus, may we know you! May we be conformed to Your death so that we may attain the resurrection from the dead.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know
Words by Johann Schwedler
Ask ye what great thing I know,
That delights and stirs me so?
What the high reward I win?
Whose the name I glory in?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
What is faith’s foundation strong?
What awakes my heart to song?
He who bore my sinful load,
Purchased for me peace with God,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is He that makes me wise
To discern where duty lies?
Who is He that makes me true
Duty, when discerned to do,
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who defeats my fiercest foes?
Who consoles my saddest woes?
Who revives my fainting heart,
Healing all its hidden smart?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Who is life in life to me?
Who the death of death will be?
Who will place me on His right,
With the countless hosts of light?
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
This is that great thing I know;
This delights and stirs me so;
Faith in Him who died to save,
Him who triumphed over the grave:
Jesus Christ, the Crucified.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
I am not Skilled to Understand (from the archives)
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5
I am not Skilled to Understand
Words by Dorothy Greenwell
I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!
I take Him at His word indeed;
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!
That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I,
Before I knew my Savior!
And oh, that He fulfilled may see
The travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!
Yea, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this Spring;
That He Who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!
There are many things in this life that I will never understand. I am sure you can look at your life and say the same thing: God moves in a mysterious way. He is God, and He has the plan for my life, even though I may not understand it at this time.
This hymn acknowledges that I don’t have the skill to understand, and then reminds me of the one thing I need to know: at God’s right hand is One who is My Savior!
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:3-4
And I, like the writer of this hymn, know that I need a Savior. Paul tells us that all of us are sinners and that Christ died for us, even while we were in our sinful state.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
The Love of God was demonstrated through Christ’s death on our behalf. We were the ones who deserved to die, yet Jesus, who lived a sinless life, took our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
And now, that Christ who died for you and me has been exalted to God’s right hand.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. Acts 5:30-32
Like the writer of this hymn, I want my strength and solace to come from this very fact: that He who lives to be my King once died to be my Savior.
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
I am not Skilled to Understand
Words by Dorothy Greenwell
I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!
I take Him at His word indeed;
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!
That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I,
Before I knew my Savior!
And oh, that He fulfilled may see
The travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!
Yea, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this Spring;
That He Who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!
There are many things in this life that I will never understand. I am sure you can look at your life and say the same thing: God moves in a mysterious way. He is God, and He has the plan for my life, even though I may not understand it at this time.
This hymn acknowledges that I don’t have the skill to understand, and then reminds me of the one thing I need to know: at God’s right hand is One who is My Savior!
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:3-4
And I, like the writer of this hymn, know that I need a Savior. Paul tells us that all of us are sinners and that Christ died for us, even while we were in our sinful state.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
The Love of God was demonstrated through Christ’s death on our behalf. We were the ones who deserved to die, yet Jesus, who lived a sinless life, took our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
And now, that Christ who died for you and me has been exalted to God’s right hand.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. Acts 5:30-32
Like the writer of this hymn, I want my strength and solace to come from this very fact: that He who lives to be my King once died to be my Savior.
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Who is He that from His Throne
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. Matthew 28:1-8
God's mighty power raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Christ conquered death once and for all. God was satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice and so brought Him back to life, to live forever and be seated at His right hand. Just as he healed people's sickness in His earthly ministry, He heals our sin-sickness by His death and resurrection.
Through His sacrifice and resurrection, we are justified. When God looks at me, instead of a sinner, He sees the righteousness of Christ!
Death has now lost its sting forever! Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we have the hope of everlasting life. If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you don't need to fear death, because our physical death is only the beginning of our eternal life in heaven with God and Jesus!
Christ is our living Lord AND our coming King! He has told us that He went to prepare a place for us. He has promised that He will return to earth to claim His own.
And He is our King who from His throne rules through all the world alone.
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15
We have confidence that God is sovereign over all, including over Christ's triumphant return - and we trust Him to bring it about in His perfect time. Until then, we live our lives full of adoration and praise, worshiping our Sovereign Father; to Him be honor and eternal dominion!
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. I Timothy 6:13-16
Who is He in Yonder Stall?
Words by Benjamin Hanby
Who is He in yonder stall
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Refrain
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
God's mighty power raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Christ conquered death once and for all. God was satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice and so brought Him back to life, to live forever and be seated at His right hand. Just as he healed people's sickness in His earthly ministry, He heals our sin-sickness by His death and resurrection.
Through His sacrifice and resurrection, we are justified. When God looks at me, instead of a sinner, He sees the righteousness of Christ!
Death has now lost its sting forever! Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we have the hope of everlasting life. If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you don't need to fear death, because our physical death is only the beginning of our eternal life in heaven with God and Jesus!
Christ is our living Lord AND our coming King! He has told us that He went to prepare a place for us. He has promised that He will return to earth to claim His own.
And He is our King who from His throne rules through all the world alone.
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15
We have confidence that God is sovereign over all, including over Christ's triumphant return - and we trust Him to bring it about in His perfect time. Until then, we live our lives full of adoration and praise, worshiping our Sovereign Father; to Him be honor and eternal dominion!
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. I Timothy 6:13-16
Who is He in Yonder Stall?
Words by Benjamin Hanby
Who is He in yonder stall
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Refrain
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
Friday, December 30, 2011
Who is He who Prays in Dark Gethsamane
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." Matthew 26:36
We can learn much from Jesus and His last hours before His crucifixion. In the last week of Jesus’ life on earth, He had just finished His last Passover, and had instructed His disciples to remember Him by breaking bread together, instituting the Lord’s Supper. Most of us know how the story continues: His disciples went with Him to Gethsemane, and Jesus told them to wait while He went away to pray. During this time, the disciples fall asleep, and Jesus comes and instructs them to watch and pray, so that they will not enter into temptation. But, you guessed it, they fall asleep again. It is here in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus prays this specific prayer three times:
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Matt. 26:39
I’ve heard some commentaries about the Garden of Gethsemane and how it would have been possible for Jesus to get away from His pursuers at this point. But He didn’t. He knew that God would not take this cup away from Him. He was in conflict, so much so, that His sweat actually turned to blood. And what did He do? He prayed.
We can learn from Him how to pray when we face the tempter’s power, when we are in conflict, and in grief. Jesus faced all of this that night, and He turned to His Father in prayer. I’ve addressed prayer before in this blog – it is our great privilege to go before our Heavenly Father in prayer – to humbly bow before Him and seek His will – notice that’s what Jesus did. “Not as I will, but as you will.” Sometimes that’s a very difficult prayer to pray. God’s will is not always our will. But God uses our time in prayer and in studying His Word to bend our hearts to His will.
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Col. 4:2
The story goes on: Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, taken before Caiaphas, beaten, questioned by Pilate, and mocked. He was arraigned for a crime He didn’t commit – He took our sin as His own. He suffered for us.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:8
Because of His suffering for us, we can learn from Him. We learn to bear the cross. Many of us suffer, in fact, it’s the only thing guaranteed in our lives. Paul encourages us:
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. II Corinthians 1:5
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. II Timothy 1:12
We will suffer, no question about it – but our suffering is a time of being made more like Jesus. When we learn to bear the cross, we learn to obey, to be humble, to be selfless, and to trust in the One who healed our wounds through His death. Peter exhorts us that we have been called for this purpose!
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. I Peter 2:21-24
Our story doesn’t end with Jesus betrayal and arraignment. They hung Him on the cross, and He suffered physical pain and agony for many hours before giving up His spirit. He died.
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. John 19:30-34
We learn from Jesus Christ to die. Jesus physically died. And He calls us to die to our fleshly desires, and to live for Him.
Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal. 5:24
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:3
Who is He on yonder tree who dies in grief and agony? 'Tis the Lord, o wondrous story! But it's not the end of the story. There's one more very important verse in this hymn....
Who is He in Yonder Stall?
Words by Benjamin Hanby
Who is He in yonder stall
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Refrain
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
We can learn much from Jesus and His last hours before His crucifixion. In the last week of Jesus’ life on earth, He had just finished His last Passover, and had instructed His disciples to remember Him by breaking bread together, instituting the Lord’s Supper. Most of us know how the story continues: His disciples went with Him to Gethsemane, and Jesus told them to wait while He went away to pray. During this time, the disciples fall asleep, and Jesus comes and instructs them to watch and pray, so that they will not enter into temptation. But, you guessed it, they fall asleep again. It is here in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus prays this specific prayer three times:
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Matt. 26:39
I’ve heard some commentaries about the Garden of Gethsemane and how it would have been possible for Jesus to get away from His pursuers at this point. But He didn’t. He knew that God would not take this cup away from Him. He was in conflict, so much so, that His sweat actually turned to blood. And what did He do? He prayed.
We can learn from Him how to pray when we face the tempter’s power, when we are in conflict, and in grief. Jesus faced all of this that night, and He turned to His Father in prayer. I’ve addressed prayer before in this blog – it is our great privilege to go before our Heavenly Father in prayer – to humbly bow before Him and seek His will – notice that’s what Jesus did. “Not as I will, but as you will.” Sometimes that’s a very difficult prayer to pray. God’s will is not always our will. But God uses our time in prayer and in studying His Word to bend our hearts to His will.
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Col. 4:2
The story goes on: Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, taken before Caiaphas, beaten, questioned by Pilate, and mocked. He was arraigned for a crime He didn’t commit – He took our sin as His own. He suffered for us.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:8
Because of His suffering for us, we can learn from Him. We learn to bear the cross. Many of us suffer, in fact, it’s the only thing guaranteed in our lives. Paul encourages us:
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. II Corinthians 1:5
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. II Timothy 1:12
We will suffer, no question about it – but our suffering is a time of being made more like Jesus. When we learn to bear the cross, we learn to obey, to be humble, to be selfless, and to trust in the One who healed our wounds through His death. Peter exhorts us that we have been called for this purpose!
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. I Peter 2:21-24
Our story doesn’t end with Jesus betrayal and arraignment. They hung Him on the cross, and He suffered physical pain and agony for many hours before giving up His spirit. He died.
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. John 19:30-34
We learn from Jesus Christ to die. Jesus physically died. And He calls us to die to our fleshly desires, and to live for Him.
Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal. 5:24
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:3
Who is He on yonder tree who dies in grief and agony? 'Tis the Lord, o wondrous story! But it's not the end of the story. There's one more very important verse in this hymn....
Who is He in Yonder Stall?
Words by Benjamin Hanby
Who is He in yonder stall
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Refrain
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Who is He that Stands and Weeps
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I think one of the best illustrations of Jesus' humanity AND deity is the story of Lazarus' death and resurrection.
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” John 11:1-3
Clearly, Jesus loved Lazarus. And we would expect that upon hearing these words, Jesus would do everything in His power to get to Bethany right away. After all, He is the One who heals the sick! But that's not what happens.
But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. John 11:4-6
Wow - these verses seem to be contradictory, don't they? At least to our human way of thinking. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus (who is very sick) and so he STAYS in the place where He was... Hmmm. It does seem contradictory, until we realize what Jesus said at the beginning of that section - He tells the people with Him that this sickness is to bring glory to God and that it won't end in death.
This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” John 11:11-15
Lazarus is dead. And what Jesus will do next will show His humanity and His deity, bring tremendous glory to God and bring many people to faith in His Son.
Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?” John 11:32-37
Clearly, Mary and Martha are disappointed that Jesus didn't come earlier since they know He could have saved Lazarus. And when Jesus sees Mary weeping, and all the people weeping with her, He is moved and troubled. When He sees where Lazarus is laid, our Lord weeps. (Humanity!) The Jews realize that this display of emotion shows how much Jesus loves Lazarus. But they wonder why this Healer didn't prevent His death - clearly they knew He had the power to do that.
So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
John 11:38-44
Jesus brought Lazarus back to life! (Deity!) And He did it so that all the people would believe that He was sent from God. He did it so that God would be glorified in a bigger way than if Jesus had "just" healed Lazarus while he was sick. God's power raised Lazarus from the dead. And because of this, many people believed and put their trust in Him.
Who is He that stands and weeps at the grave where Lazarus sleeps? He is the Lord, the King of Glory!
What can we learn from this story to apply to our lives? For me, it shows that God will choose to bring Himself glory, and may not do something he COULD do, if there's something BETTER He could do to make His name even greater. That doesn't always make sense to us. It didn't make sense to Mary and Martha, who wondered why the Lord didn't come RIGHT AWAY to save their brother. If you're a believer, the Lord is working things out for your good and His glory. But it might not be the way you think it's going to work out. That's because He is God and we are not!
“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 55:8-9
God has a purpose and a plan and He is working it out. He is the King of Glory.
Who is He in Yonder Stall?
Words by Benjamin Hanby
Who is He in yonder stall
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Refrain
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
I think one of the best illustrations of Jesus' humanity AND deity is the story of Lazarus' death and resurrection.
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” John 11:1-3
Clearly, Jesus loved Lazarus. And we would expect that upon hearing these words, Jesus would do everything in His power to get to Bethany right away. After all, He is the One who heals the sick! But that's not what happens.
But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. John 11:4-6
Wow - these verses seem to be contradictory, don't they? At least to our human way of thinking. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus (who is very sick) and so he STAYS in the place where He was... Hmmm. It does seem contradictory, until we realize what Jesus said at the beginning of that section - He tells the people with Him that this sickness is to bring glory to God and that it won't end in death.
This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” John 11:11-15
Lazarus is dead. And what Jesus will do next will show His humanity and His deity, bring tremendous glory to God and bring many people to faith in His Son.
Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?” John 11:32-37
Clearly, Mary and Martha are disappointed that Jesus didn't come earlier since they know He could have saved Lazarus. And when Jesus sees Mary weeping, and all the people weeping with her, He is moved and troubled. When He sees where Lazarus is laid, our Lord weeps. (Humanity!) The Jews realize that this display of emotion shows how much Jesus loves Lazarus. But they wonder why this Healer didn't prevent His death - clearly they knew He had the power to do that.
So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
John 11:38-44
Jesus brought Lazarus back to life! (Deity!) And He did it so that all the people would believe that He was sent from God. He did it so that God would be glorified in a bigger way than if Jesus had "just" healed Lazarus while he was sick. God's power raised Lazarus from the dead. And because of this, many people believed and put their trust in Him.
Who is He that stands and weeps at the grave where Lazarus sleeps? He is the Lord, the King of Glory!
What can we learn from this story to apply to our lives? For me, it shows that God will choose to bring Himself glory, and may not do something he COULD do, if there's something BETTER He could do to make His name even greater. That doesn't always make sense to us. It didn't make sense to Mary and Martha, who wondered why the Lord didn't come RIGHT AWAY to save their brother. If you're a believer, the Lord is working things out for your good and His glory. But it might not be the way you think it's going to work out. That's because He is God and we are not!
“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 55:8-9
God has a purpose and a plan and He is working it out. He is the King of Glory.
Who is He in Yonder Stall?
Words by Benjamin Hanby
Who is He in yonder stall
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Refrain
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
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