One Who is Greater

John 1:24-28

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, "Why do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."

These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Those who were sent to look for this Man John was preaching about were religious men of the day. Men of some importance and intelligence within the religious circles, Pharisees. A Pharisee by definition then was a member of a Jewish sect, one who strictly observed the written laws. These men were well versed. They would have known of and looked for the coming Messiah because they knew of the Prophet Elijah's words. They came here to find out if John was that prophet. John claimed he was neither Elijah, nor the Messiah, nor a prophet.

So why was he preaching as he was? His words of repentance and baptism might not have made sense. A new concept. If he was neither the prophet or this Man, how could he do these things? They were accustomed to their religious rites and John's performance was outside that understanding. Remember, they were Pharisees, men who followed strict laws. They were looking for a messiah to save them from Roman rule, not change their whole religious thinking. A physical rescue, not a spiritual one.

Same is the message for today. No religion can save. It's not about religion or man made rites or works for salvation. Like John, Jesus came to call us into an act of repentance and baptism. Submission to God, not to a religion. We must first realize our sins then make a choice to receive Christ/God in order to have ourselves redeemed through relationship alone with Him, not by any works for our salvation...but through repentance, then regeneration through the act of cleansing, like Jesus was about to do Himself.

These men questioned John about this baptism. They would have some understanding of cleansing because the priests washed their hands and cleansed themselves before they offered sacrifices for the people in the temple. John said he baptized only with water. And he told them of Someone already among them who they did not yet know...and Someone some of them would ultimately reject because His beliefs were out in "left field" according to their beliefs.

John spoke of One who is greater than all of us, One who has the power over any man or any works to bring life or death to each of us depending upon a certain choice we have to make. He was speaking of Jesus. He was speaking about One who should be preferred over all others and while we are not worthy of what He has to offer, He is also willing to give freely, if we choose to receive Him, the gift.

There are many claims today that our good works will get us to heaven, because a person is better compared to others in the world, that they have a better chance. It's not about religion. It all comes down to relationship with Jesus. None of us are ever good enough on our own. We are only good through Christ's sacrifice. His sacrifice did away with all the works or rites performed in His day. Today all He wants is for us to believe, repent, receive and obey. No outward act of sacrifice but an ongoing inward act of repentance, no vain repetitive prayers, just giving of ourselves to Christ alone.

Jesus' appearance would make all these sacrifices null and void...and it was why He was so rejected and killed. But He became one final sacrifice...for all mankind. Our act of baptism comes, not as an infant, but as one who is able to understand the act of repenting and receiving Christ.

Remember, John came as prophesied as one calling in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord." Jesus is the Way. John was doing as he had been led by the Spirit to do. To lead us to that One who is preferred over all others, including religions. We are to be born of God, not man. Religion is man made.

1John 5:19-20 - We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

What Must I Do?

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

This thing of confession can touch uncomfortable places in our minds and hearts. But don’t we know that confessing something helps take away the sting. Confessing especially to a particular individual over something one might have thought, said or felt is difficult, but liberating, like a burden has been removed from one’s heart. The air is cleared. But it is up to us to take the step to do this. No one else can remove that burden until we’ve spoken up.

I'm not only talking about our day to day life. I'm also talking about the confession of our faith in Jesus Christ.  It takes confession. It is our own responsibility to do this also. No one else can do it for us. When that confession is made, as I've said many other times in my blogs, a whole new world opens up, a world you cannot describe until it does. This is deeper than just acknowledging who Jesus is. That doesn’t count.

One thing that happens with this confession is the beginning of true knowledge...knowing the truth. Don’t we all want to know the truth that our sins are banished as far as the east is from the west...all because we have confessed Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It’s that simple, yet it must be heart felt.

We do not see a lot of confessing in the world. We see a lot of blaming and finger pointing. Personal responsibility is not always the first choice. Spare the embarrassment of being wrong. Replace it with the staunch belief that we have every right to do what we want, no matter what.

These days  a lot of confessing of Jesus Christ has disappeared too. In some countries one can be killed for this acknowledgment of Christ. In our country this confession is trying to be silenced...because for some the name of Jesus is offensive. These people are like the Pharisees, religious leaders in Jesus’ day.

To the Pharisees He was an offense. They could not see beyond their own beliefs. They were so focused on what they had been taught that they missed the very understanding of His words. His way of dealing with sinners and His words were viewed with disdain because they could not let go of their beliefs for a better way.

Hebrews 8:1 shows us that Jesus is the better way: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Who is higher than a great High Priest and who sits at the right hand of His Heavenly Father? The Pharisees could not see Him this way. He did not look like that to them. They were blind, as I alluded to last week. It was spiritual blindness. They were so zeroed in on their own ideas of who their Messiah would be that they could not see Jesus, right before their eyes, being that Man. If He showed up today how many would recognize Him?

They would not allow themselves to confess He might be that Messiah they were waiting for, even though they knew the scriptures. They waited for a political messiah, one would would come to fight their natural enemies and set them free. They didn't understand the spiritual freedom that comes from their own sinful natures being forgiven...if only they would confess.

Jesus is trying to get our attention in these days. He doesn’t know exactly when His Father will have Him return, but He knows He will...and the signs of the times are very clear that it’s sooner than we might think. The Messiah will come and He will fight the enemy. But like Pogo said: we have seen the enemy and he is us. Some have believed the lies of our greatest enemy, satan (I will not capitalize his name!). The seemingly better way of the world is to sweep Jesus under a rug or attempt to remove any mention of Him. Get rid of the offense.

Every day we see more ugliness rearing it's head in the world...and here in the USA. But apart from what we see happening more quickly each day, there is an excitement and peace because it only means it is ushering in the last days and the return of Jesus. How do I know? "The Bible tells me so."

How can I feel a sense of peace? I know what Christ as done for me and what I’m saved from...the truth. That truth set me free more than twelve years ago. When I confessed Jesus is Lord I was saved. I was saved from the future wrath of the world and God. When I received Christ, acknowledged Him in our church one Sunday morning, and then again when I was water baptized, that was just the beginning of truth. All I once believed, the little falsities I had picked up along the way one by one gave way to truth.

I can't tell you how this happens other than confessing Jesus and receiving Him opens your spirit to receive another blessing, His Spirit, who according to scripture guides us in all truth (John 14:16-17, John 16:13).

God nudges daily. He speaks to people in so many ways. He can reach into the most hardened heart and turn it around, not only because that person has a desire to change but because of His strength through His Spirit. When a person confesses the name of Jesus, the Spirit begins His dwelling place within that person and begins to unravel the absolute truth of Jesus Christ.

This country and people in general cannot live without the power of God at the center of our lives. God is waiting for more eyes to open, more tongues to confess so that His truth will prevail. I think of the Battle Hymn of the Republic line that says, His truth is marching on. Our own preconceived ideas must give way to the truth of who He is.

Lord, I ask that You open the eyes of the blind that they might see You for who You really are. You are the One who saves. You are the One who brings peace and comfort in a messed up world...even in our own little worlds of disappointment, despair, hurt or anger. We don't understand exactly how You do it, but You do. Let the confession of Your name begin to grow. Draw more into Your Kingdom. Open blind eyes, set captives free, bring the peace that passes all understanding. I pray this quite openly in the name of Jesus.

I heard a woman the other day in Bible study say she had heard scriptures many times in the church she grew up in. She thought she understood them. It wasn’t until she received Jesus and confessed Him that those words took on a whole new meaning. Her blind eyes were opened. Like the Pharisees she thought she understood. Confess Jesus that the spiritual eyes of your understanding would be opened. Confess Jesus to be saved. Confess Jesus to be set free. The Pharisees knew all the laws, but they did not know Jesus. Because they rejected Him, His words and works He told them they would remain blind. They said they saw, but they did not.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:11, 10:9)

Blind

John 9:25 - ...One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.

We are delving into chapters 8 and 9 of John next week. Jesus is more assertively telling the people, and being questioned repeatedly by the Pharisees, who He is. There is division. The Pharisees have this preconceived idea who He should be, where He should come from and it upsets them that He is indifferent to their understanding of the laws Moses taught (which especially meant no work on the Sabbath).

He came to show us: He is the light of the world. He can testify about Himself because He knows where He came from and where He will return...He and His Father are one. He comes from above. Sounding a bit like any politician having to dispute accusations, Jesus has to say He does not have a demon in Him and He only does what His Father tells Him to do. He knows His Father. He claims "I am."

You have  to understand that the statement I AM seemed blasphemous to the religious leaders because I AM is speaking of God and who is this Man who claims He is God.

Jesus heals again on the Sabbath when He recovers a blind man's sight. For this He is called a sinner. In the end He says: For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind (John 9:39).

This scripture tells us that those who hear about Him and believe and follow will have their spiritual eyes opened. They once were blind but now they see...like the blind man claimed in front of the Pharisees.

But there's more to this. Those who see, hear or are confronted with Jesus and reject Him, although they see, their spiritual eyes will be blinded to the truth if they reject Him. Isaiah 6:9-10 describes what Isaiah prophesied long before Jesus even was born. It speaks to what will happen to those who take lightly the claims of Jesus, who follow their own ways, who avoid the narrow path He demands:

And He [God] said, "Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’  Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." 

In other words, “Do not try to understand or see...see what I (God) will do then.” Sounds like a judgmental and harsh God. He is, as well as He is loving. He loves so much and He tries so hard to get people’s attention. However, He will never force Himself on anyone, but will in time leave them to their own devices...dulling their hearts and ears. He requires righteousness...through Jesus Christ. Reject the Son, reject the Father.

An interesting explanation of the meaning of light of the world: as long as I am in the world. Meaning, as long as He was in the world He was the light; when He departed, He left His Spirit to convict people of their sins and to empower His followers to be the light. 

The Pharisees knew the teachings on light. They understood God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality, Strong’s Bible Concordance tells us. They did not accept Jesus as God. God to them was without sin; they wrongly and foolishly accused Jesus of being a sinner because of some of the things He said and did they did not agree with.

Isaiah 60:19 - the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.

Exodus 13:21 - And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

He had always been there for them. But not Jesus is claiming the same thing. For some reason they just could not “see” Jesus as that light. Another definition for light of the world is Messiah. Their human perception would not allow them to see Him this way. 

We are all born with spiritual blindness. There are lights shining all throughout this world who proclaim the name of Jesus. These lights will never be put out until He returns. Then there is little hope in receiving Him. Spiritual blindness cannot be irradicated except through Christ alone.

Matthew 13:19 - When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

A God Who Participates

John 3:17 - For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 

Read this scripture again...and then another time. Let it sink in.

This is the day You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I thank You that You created this day for each one of us. By Your hand did You create it. And when You create, it is good.

God participates in our lives. He sent His Son, Jesus. He woos us into relationship with us. He hears our prayers and answers them (in His time and according to His will). He works righteousness within us. He’s always available.  His Spirit convicts us of wrong, His Son heals us spiritually and physically. He just plain participates.

As I look at everything around me, I am reminded deep that it is because of Him that all things exist. Man may have invented some of them, but He created each person who did the inventing. We come into this world by His hand and He has given each of us the skills and abilities, the weaknesses and strengths, even a character and nature. (More participation.) He uses all those things to develop us. But at the same time, He knows who we truly can be in His power, wisdom, knowledge and strength and that character and nature can change. He also knows that we are filled with sin, guilt, shame and annoying habits!

We live our lives apart from You in that sin-filled lifestyle until we make a concerted decision to allow You to work through us and grow us and make us in to that man or woman You originally created us to be...the person that has been kept hidden...that person who is blind until You reveal Yourself to us and make us into that person (a lifetime process) who is perfected by Your hand. This is a good thing!

The world should praise You and bless You for this day. You are the Giver of the gift of life. You are the Giver of all good things. I thank You for what You have given me this morning. I bless You.

As mentioned in Sunday’s sermon, He is a God who participates in our lives. He is a God who hears our prayers, unlike a stone idol or carved wooden image. We do not need an object before us to pray to. We do not need a picture. We can sit in a darkened room and speak into the atmosphere and He hears. We only need trust in that which is unseen and believe that He hears.  

I know You are at work everyday seeking the lost, pricking their spirits to come to You. You do not slumber nor sleep. You are a God who participates in our lives...but we must be so aware of it from day to day...we must know You personally to be aware of this. Only You are truly able to remove the guilt and shame we hang on to for things we have done through our sinful nature. 

Pastor Rory Grooters talked about the woman who was caught in adultery. She was brought before Jesus by the Pharisees to test Him, to see how He would handle this situation. The Pharisees were good at testing. Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say? (John 8:4-5). Jesus was always good at proving right from wrong. I don’t think they expected what transpired. After all, they were wise and learned men! They were, after all, Pharisees! Can you say “pride?”

Instead of accusing this woman, Jesus asked that whoever was not guilty of sin should cast the first stone. Little by little everyone departed. And the woman when Jesus asked who among them condemned her, answered “No one.” Jesus told her: Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:11). She was set free without His condemnation. He calls each of us to do the same so that we might be set free. And...to give grace in like manner to others.

The question was brought up: HOW did they catch her in the act? Were they aware of her lifestyle and were waiting, listening through the walls, peering in the windows? Who was the other party and where was he?? Was he one of the Pharisees accusing her? (Remember, being Pharisaical means being hypocritical or self-righteous.) Oh, the unanswered questions. Yet the story speaks volumes. Jesus doesn’t condemn any of us. He points out our weaknesses and tells us He will heal us and make us whole. His hand is held out for anyone who wants to come out of their pit of sin, shame and guilt. 

Praise Him that He created us for this very day that we might call on the name of Jesus that we could be one with Him, one again with the Father and also be filled with His Spirit to receive the power to be a child of God.

Lord, remind us to always remove the plank from our own eye before accusing someone of “whatever.” We are all adulterers, like the woman above. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That’s why we need You. That’s what You are all about, Jesus...taking that guilt and shame away. Pastor Rory said: If you don’t think this is you, you have pride. A hard word, but very true. There are many who don’t think they need a Savior, that they are fine just the way they are, basically good people. 

Sometimes it’s that very guilt and shame over something we’ve done that is held secret, that hangs over us like a cloud and holds us hostage as Pastor Rory explained, and prevents us from coming to Jesus. But when one submits and allows God’s hand to touch us that those feelings of guilt and shame are removed.

God participates in our lives. He has created us, we live as sinners, yet He is always looking to and fro around the world for those who will follow Him. He nudges, touches lives, heals spiritually and physically, makes His glory known to all. He participates. He is relentless. And when we receive His Son Jesus, the participation continues. He works day and night in our lives. He cleanses and heals our hearts and spirits. He gives us peace that we do not know without Him. 

There is nothing we have done that Jesus can’t sympathize with. He came to earth and was bombarded by sinful lifestyles and temptations, which of course He defeated. He associated with the downtrodden, not the elite, but He still realized that in either case, they needed Him in their lives.

Right from Genesis Chapter 3 the true nature of our being came to light. We carry the same sin, passed down from generation to generation since Adam and Eve, and remember what God did to them? He quit walking with them in the Garden; He distanced Himself because He could no longer be in the presence of sin. He does that today until we remove the barrier that keeps us from Him and we receive the Mediator between God and us...Jesus Christ. He does not come to say: I see your sin and I abhor it. He says, I come to take that sin away and heal you. When we receive Christ, God sees us in our righteousness. Don’t ask me how this spiritual act happens; it just does. 

There is an intersection we come to in our lives. We must make the right decision and make the right turn. Turn right...to head in the direction of Jesus. That road is a Cross-road. Jesus will not condemn, but will gladly receive you. Then, go and sin no more.

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. (John 8:15, 12:47)

Are You an Aristocrat?

Mark 2:17 - When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Just prior to the words above, Jesus had seen Matthew in the crowd and called him to follow Him. He was then invited to dinner with Matthew and his tax collector friends. He chose to sit with them. They, by all accounts, did not have very good reputations! The Pharisees, who just happened to be hanging out, probably looking for a reason to pin something on Jesus, noticed all this. The Pharisees were religious leaders of the time. They believed they held all the answers to righteous living. When Jesus came along and poked holes in their teachings, they were not too happy and sought to undo His ministry. Jesus heard them question, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" His answer is above.

Righteous, according to Strong's Concordance, in this context means of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined.

So, I heard something that prompted me to consider what I had written yesterday, August 16. It has to do with those who receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

As I mentioned there are many who don't feel a need for a Savior. Their lives are doing well, there are no problems to speak of. They are on top of the world with only little annoyances here and there. Their goals may be accomplished, businesses stable or they are climbing ladders to success and believe they have what it takes to get there.

The words I heard from Perry Stone were discussing another subject, which I am not going to address. It was one thing he said that stopped my thinking and the recording dead in its tracks: At the turn of the century or the 1800's there was a manifestation of the Spirit among people...common people, uneducated people and poor people...because in the ministry of Jesus it was the poor people who accepted Him immediately. And it was the aristocrats who didn't...they looked down on people.

That's all I needed to hear. Although he's talking about certain beliefs and manifestations in some churches at that time, I believe Stone hit upon the idea I wanted to convey yesterday. A common belief is we only need a Savior when things get too overwhelming in our lives. NOT. Jesus is there to enhance every part of our lives, in good times and bad. We are all sinners in need of a Savior and He considers all of us lost sheep. He is the Shepherd. But so often we don't view ourselves as lost. We consider ourselves as having "the right stuff." We tend to need to get to the end of ourselves before we feel a need to receive Him.

This is sad. That's the way it was for me; I knew who Jesus was so what more did I need to do? Stop buggin' me! Pharisaical? Prideful? Aristocratic? That's the way it is for many. Those who are not needy, not common, but educated...today's aristocrats, if you will. Their intelligence might be in question if they made a choice for the Lord. The Pharisees were not common but educated and so full of themselves for the vast knowledge of what they believed to be accurate religious practices. They might have been up there with aristocrats. Where do we fit here?

Like I said, it usually takes a disaster for God to get our attention. He allows us to take life on in our own strength and own intelligence until something occurs that knocks us off our feet or pushes us into a pit where the only way out is up. The only thing left is to look up to the Lord, stretch out our hands, plead for help, and receive it from Him.

However, this is not the only way it works. Some are just humble enough to realize their need for One whose wisdom is greater. (Wish that had been me!) We are generally not humble people. So full of ourselves, even when we think we are humble! Our pride. Oh, that pride will trip us up or bite us where the sun don't shine.

If we are doing well in the world, aren't we all a bit aristocratic? We are not poor, common or uneducated. And can't we think a bit more highly of ourselves than we truly are? Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That's all of us. None of us are righteous on our own. Our righteousness comes when we acknowledge and receive Jesus. We all have need, spiritually, of a Physician. We are no better or worse than those Pharisees or tax collectors. We all need a Savior and He's just waiting to be received.

As the disciples began to follow Jesus, their Master, they learned that humility was His trademark. He took on the role of a Servant (Mark 10:45). Look at those who followed Him. They were, apart from Luke, a physician, from humble backgrounds, or like, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, willing to humble themselves to believe Jesus had something better to offer. As His ministry grew and also His followers, the people were those whose physical or emotional illnesses were healed by this great Man or those who heard His words and believed them. Even today He still heals hearts, turns them from stone ones against Him to fleshly ones who accept Him.

There is none righteous. Not one person, even of those saved, who can say they are better than another. They may be better in that their lives have improved for acknowledging and receiving Christ. The disciples tell us this if we take the time to hear their accounts. Comfort and peace abounds in the midst of trials. A hope looms large in the distance of our lives. We know in our healed hearts that this world, given to us by God, is nice and has a lot to offer, but the greater things will be seen someday when we spend our lives with the Lord.

1Timothy 1:15 - This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.