Category: ‘Nuff Said

Margin notes: Lazarus Laughed

September 26th, 2019

John 12:9–11 (ESV) — 9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Forgive my going back to repost this, but in reading this portion again today, I was once again so tickled by the irony of the chief priests making plans to put Lazarus to death after Jesus had raised him. Can you imagine how the threat of death was useless, so empty to Him? It would be so utterly absurd to try and strike fear into this man’s heart as to be laughable in every sense of the word. And so I repeat a poem written quite a while back and shared before. But I trust it cheers your own soul today as you contemplate that the physical death which awaits us (should Christ tarry) is nothing compared to the death in trespasses and sins He has already raised the Believer from. Fear not beloved, the Mater of Life and Death reigns.

Killing Lazarus

Laz’rus! Have you heard the news?

The word’s all over town

The Priests, the Scribes and Pharisees

all want to bring you down

They’re plotting when and planning where

it’s best to take you out

Their minds are set, their hearts are hard

They’ll move without a doubt

The more I squawked and stammered on

the more his face would shine

And leaning back in perfect peace

He said “son, pay no mind”

“They’re scheming what? Now think with me

To kill me? That’s the plan?

Now hear me son, I’ve walked that path,

and walked it back again

“They really think that’s going to throw

a panic into me?

I’ve stared at death from inside out

and that’s some sight to see!

“Now I’m supposed to shake and quake

at threats from mortal men,

And hold my tongue from telling all

Christ raised me up again?

“You’ve got…, you’ve got…”, he started out

in trying to explain

“You’ve got to just be kidding me!”

Then, like bursting from some pain –

He let a howl from deep inside

escape with such a roar

I’m sure they heard him miles away

Or three or maybe four

The loudest, deepest, grandest laugh

that ever man has heard

erupted till the rafters shook.

A laugh the whole world heard.

As tears were streaming down his cheeks

he heaved and gasped for air

Then thinking he had stopped himself

broke out again and blared

“They’re going to try and kill me!

The man who Jesus raised!

Like death could ever scare me now –

Christ’s precious name be praised!”

And then he laughed, and laughed some more

Till all of us laughed too

in joy too deep for human words

Though shared by all too few

The promise of eternal life

Came crashing in on all

That Jesus truly conquered death

And triumphed o’er the Fall

No fear of death bound Lazarus

No threat could make him doubt

He’d known the power of Christ our Lord

Though buried – he came out

At just a word from Jesus’ lips

the power of death was gone

and life returned to lifeless flesh

The Kingdom Light had dawned

The day will come when we’ll laugh too

The trump of Christ will sound

And all the dead in Christ the Lord

will rise up from the ground

And meeting Jesus in the air,

with all who still remain

With Lazarus and all the rest

We’ll laugh at death and pain

In raptured sobs of joy and glee

We’ll reign with Him on high

And never feel the whispered lisp

Of pain or grieving’s sigh

We’ll shake our head like Lazarus did

at the foolishness of fear

To think – we’re loved by Christ the King

No joy, can be so dear

No doubt when Lazarus heard the news

that men sought his dispatch

He just lit up and shook his head –

Don’t doubt it, Laz’rus laughed
Margin notes: Inscrutable love

September 25th, 2019

John 11:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

It is the 5th verse in our text that grips me today.

It is not due to any lack of love on God’s part, that He sometimes allows us to undergo inexplicable and heartbreaking experiences. As Believers, we can be assured that His intention and role in them, is love. But oh the anguish of those who do not know Him, and have no such promises to sustain them in their trials.

Note how the text says He loved all three. He does not choose to act as He does in waiting because He can only show love to one or two at the expense of another. His wisdom is as infinite as His love. It isn’t as though in God’s economy He can only love one at a time or has to shortchange one in order to bless another. He intricately weaves all of them together. He has all the parties in mind at once. His waiting and then His raising of Lazarus is best for Lazarus, best for Martha, best for Mary, best for His disciples, best for the Townsfolk, and all these generations removed, best for you and me to witness it all.

For those who are loved of Christ as His own, His wisdom, love and eternal purposes to glorify the Father and secure the fullest possible salvation for all who believe may be inscrutable – but it is real. And it is here we are to rest. It reminds me of the words of George Matheson’s famous hymn:

O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

O Light that foll’west all my way,

I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.
Margin notes: Perspective

September 24th, 2019

John 11:11–15 (ESV) — 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Perspective is a powerful thing. To fish, being submerged in water at all times is not something to be feared, but embraced. For you and me, from our perspective, that idea is not so good. And one of the things which made much of what Jesus said seem so puzzling to us, is that we do not have His perspective. He sees all things through the lens of His own deity, the Father’s plan, the power to bring all He has promised to pass, His own absolute truthfulness in that He cannot lie, and His total faithfulness – that He neither will, nor CAN fail. Given that perspective, He faced all things in His incarnation much differently than all of those around Him, even His disciples.

But nowhere does this difference of perspective collide more with our fallen human one than in places like this – where to the Eternal Son of God, human death, even after 4 days in the grave, is no more difficult to overcome than waking someone up from a good night’s sleep.

And I for one need to remind myself of that when I am facing trials, questions and especially difficult circumstances. If I could only get His perspective. If I could keep in mind that He is not afraid of anything, since He has power over everything. That He is not shocked by anything, even my worst sins, because He already knows everything. That He is never fooled by anything, discouraged about anything, worried about anything or too distant from anything to be of aid.

To Him, all of my trials are well in hand and have purpose. To Him all of my weaknesses are but places to manifest His own strength. To Him, my helplessness is the theater of His all-sufficiency, and my doubts, but the canvas upon which He paints portrait after portrait of His faithfulness.

He sees the end from the beginning, because He declared the end from the beginning. He knows He has purposed to crush the enemy under the feet of His people. The rise and fall of empires are but part of the process of bringing about His final kingdom. He even sees my death only through the lens of the coming resurrection He will accomplish in due time.

Heavenly Father, if only I, we, might retain always the view of the world and our lives that is afforded us when we keep our eyes on the Cross. Be pleased to make the perspective increasingly ours until the day Jesus returns, that we might walk with you in this present age in joy, confidence and fruitfulness. Fill our vision with Christ and Him crucified.
Margin notes: When the Master asks.

September 20th, 2019

Luke 19:29–38 (ESV) — 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

What a simple thing these 2 disciples were asked to do. Go into the village, look for the colt. untie it, and bring it to me. And if anyone asks you what you are doing, just tell them I need it.

They didn’t sense any deep spiritual significance in it. It was a simple errand. The everyday kind of thing all of us does all the time. But it was what the Master asked, and so they complied.

They didn’t see the need to ask why. They didn’t look for an alternative. They didn’t say “why us? send so-and-so.” They didn’t argue that it was too menial, not important or spiritual enough. The Master asked, and they went.

They had no idea that this would be the means of Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. They didn’t know that in a few days He would be crucified. That these would be their very last days with Him. That Judas was about to betray Him. That the Sanhedrin would try Him, Herod mock Him, Pilate scourge and give the order to execute Him, or that He would rise on the 3rd day. The Master asked, and they went.

They didn’t know they were acting on the orders of the King of Glory – of God incarnate. They didn’t know He was about to die for their sin. They were not aware they were part and parcel of fulfilling ancient prophecies. They did not know this simple task was vital to the outworking of the eternal plan of God for the ages. That their own salvation was tied to it. The Master asked, and they went.

Like them, we may not know the whys, wherefores and importance of how Scripture calls the Believer to live – but isn’t it enough that the Master asks, and so we should go?

And when it is all said and done, isn’t it amazing that serving the Lord in the routine and the mundane, is, in the final analysis, serving the Lord. That we need not concern ourselves if our simple service is important or spiritual enough. If it is for Him, it bears eternal significance no matter what the details – because the Master asks, and we go.

Never diminish the ordinary life of living for Christ in what we say, think and do in the most mundane of all things. Do them as unto Him. And let Him do with those acts, what He will. You never know.
Margin notes: The Purposes of the Lord

September 19th, 2019

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) — 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

God has a plan. He is moving the cosmos inexorably toward that end. The question is – are we in sync with it or not? If not, no matter how many things we’ve conceived and attempted, all will be lost. How we need to learn to make our plans – around and on the foundation of, His.

Here then is something of great importance – not to place all of our joy or satisfaction in whether or not our plans come to pass. To submit joyfully to Christ’s interventions and to yield to His unfolding plan even at the expense of circumventing of our own. His plans are always better. Always best. And when the 2 collide, how we need grace to abandon our own easily.

This does not mean that simply because we seek His will and ways, that all will be smooth sailing. It was when the prophets of old were most fully in God’s service that they met their steepest opposition. And the Disciples were never more perfectly obedient than when Jesus got them into the boat in Luke 8 and said: “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” That obedience put them right in the middle of a terrifying and life-threatening storm. Yet, in a demonstration of Jesus’ sovereign authority – the storm was stilled, and the destination reached. Later, their obedience would lead each of them to a martyr’s death.

But this they knew – and we can know it too. When all is said and done, the plans and purposes of the Lord WILL stand. And so it is, His plan and purpose in saving us, and bringing us to completion in Christ Jesus cannot fail. No matter who or what purposes otherwise. He who began the good work in us, WILL complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Lord WILL stand. Trust Him.
Margin notes: A tale of 2 theologies

September 18th, 2019

Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) — 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Theology comes to us in more than one form. When most of us think of that word “theology” – we most likely think in terms of doctrinal or propositional statements or truths. Fair enough. That is the context we most often hear the word used in. But in truth, whether we know it consciously or not, or can articulate it systematically or not – we all have a “theology”. An understanding of God and general truth about God, ourselves, and the world we live in.

In this parable, Jesus contrasts two very different theologies. One, from a Pharisee, one we might consider theologically astute. He would have been self-consciously theological. He studied the Law of Moses, and the writings of the great Rabbis and Jewish teachers. He had a grasp of what he would reckon was Biblical and theological truth. A good, thorough-going, devout, religious guy. The other, is identified simply as a “tax collector.” For all intents and purposes, not someone who would think of himself as a theologically astute person. Who most would consider “wordly”. Not well versed in Jewish theology, if interested at all. And yet here they both are – in The Temple, and doing their religious duty.

Now the Pharisee had a very well thought out theology as I said, which he articulated in 2 major tenets: 1 – “I am not”. 2 – This is what “I do.” This is how he defined himself before God. I’m not – X, and I DO, Y. The Tax Collector’s theology had a very different center: 1 – “I ask – A”. 2 – “Because I AM – B.”

People who wish to justify themselves, like to compare themselves to others, and to catalog their goodness. People who look to be justified – declared righteous before God in Christ – simply look for mercy, because they know they are not worthy. And Jesus says, it is the theology of the second man that wins true justification. Oh, how our God loves to show mercy. And a slavtion which is not rotted in mercy on the undeserving, is no salvation at all.

What’s your theology?
Margin notes: Simple Faith

September 13th, 2019

Luke 5:4–6 (ESV) — 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

There are some principles in Scripture which need to be revisited over and over. They are like the foundation stones of a skyscraper. If they give way, everything gives way. If they are compromised, instability is the inevitable result. And, as in this text, they can appear quite inconspicuously, unless you really stop to consider them. And they greatly inform key strands in Scripture and the Christian life in such a way that they prevent the Believer from very destructive and debilitating thought patterns.

Of these, developing right thoughts about faith, Biblical faith, is truly one of the utmost importance. I’ve beat this drum before, but rehearse it with me again today.

In vs. 5, the words and actions of Peter in response to Jesus’ “put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” hold the clearest and most succinct exposition of faith. It reasons in the face of everything else “but at your word.”

So note carefully, faith does not groundlessly hope. It does not pluck its expectation from the air. It is not the product of imagination, or a contrived desire. We cannot have faith regarding that which God has not said. No. It roots itself firmly in one place: What God HAS said. And then acts accordingly.

So many, sadly, do almost irreparable harm to their own faith. They do so when they hold God to promises He never made, or to impressions they thought came from Him. Then, when He appears not to have come through, they inwardly undermine their own ability to believe Him in the things He HAS said.

Though stated in another context, Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 4 :6 have broad application and especially in this issue: “learn by us not to beyond what is written.” What God has said, what He has inspired by His Spirit to have written down for us in His Word – these are the things (rightly interpreted) in which we can have absolute faith. And when we go beyond that into thoughts, desires, impressions or hopes of our own creation – we open ourselves to faith-destroying disappointments.

Let Peter’s example be your guide – “But at your word.” And you will find a safe haven for your soul. A truly firm foundation for your faith.
Margin notes: Symptoms, Disease and Social Justice

September 11th, 2019

Isaiah 1:2–4 (ESV) — 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 4 Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.

Isaiah is a powerful book in its sweeping condemnation of God’s people for their sin, warnings, visions of the future Day of the Lord both as the day of restoration and of justice, and of ultimate hope in God’s redemptive power. But as it starts out, it deals head-on with the sins God intends to deal with them about.

Balance is an issue of constant concern in the Church, and this text brings us one place of balanced consideration into sharp focus. Here is a very great lesson – the need to distinguish between diseases themselves, and their symptoms. And as we all know, no cure can be had by merely treating symptoms. Ultimately, we must aim at a cure. And a cure can only be had by treating the root cause – the disease itself.

Isaiah is going to rehearse a litany of dreadful symptoms that indicated Israel’s diseased state: Idolatry. Oppression of the poor. Religion without repentance. Sexual immorality. Materialism. Superstition. False religion. Corruption in government. Bribery to pervert justice. Arrogance. Trust in political power and military might. Neglect of widows, orphans and the lower classes of society. And many, many more. All wretched things. And all, just the symptoms. The underlying disease? The same as it was in the Garden, and remains inherent in every sin you and I and society at large manifest today: Rebellion against God’s rightful authority over us, and the pursuit of provision for heart and soul and mind from some source other than God Himself. Not recognizing our absolute need of Him. From these twin contagions spring every manifestation of sinful putrefaction.

We dare not ignore the symptoms. We must respond. They are God-appointed indicators. But we must respond in full, not in part. The symptoms are no more the real issue than the red light on your dashboard is. No bandaids on cancers. Cures are what we need. THE cure. Repentance from sin, and faith toward God in Jesus Christ, resulting in lives lived loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves. For as we have a dual disease, so we must have a dual cure. One that addresses only God and not our neighbor, or only our neighbor and not our God will still be treating only symptoms. There is no such thing as a Christianity which is compassionless to the suffering of men, even as there is no Christianity but brings men to the foot of the Cross, and reconciles them to God in the blood of Christ as the first compassion – compassion on their eternal souls. Tip this boat on either side, and it WILL capsize. No man who loves God can disregard human suffering in all of its manifestations. And no man who truly loves people can actually love them while ignoring the eternal destiny of their souls. There is no social justice apart from reckoning with eternal justice and the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Biblical balance is hard-won.
Margin notes: The power of faith?

September 10th, 2019

Matthew 9:20–22 (ESV) — 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

As Dr. Smith took us through this amazing passage this last Sunday, I could not help but be caught by those words of Jesus “your faith has made you well” – or “saved you”, or “made you whole.” Jesus alluded to this concept at least 4 times in the Gospels if not more. “Your faith has made you well.” But how are we to understand that? Does this imply that faith is some force that we can just tap into to get what we want? What is really going on here?

It is vitally important to note the context here, as well as in each of the cases where a similar thing is said. And so we MUST see this: Her faith did not do this, did not make her well, in a vacuum, as though faith had power in itself. What her faith did was bring her to Christ, and to trust HE could work.

Faith does nothing on its own. Faith is neither a “work”, nor a generic cosmic force we can somehow tap into for our own uses, it is looking to Christ. If faith could operate on its own, then she did not need to get to Jesus at all. She could have “just believed” where she was. So too with the others where this phrase is used. But in each case, it was faith that brought them into contact with Jesus. It was bringing their need to Him, not just “believing.” This is vitally important to see if we are not to turn faith into a Christianized view of magic. Faith brings us to Christ, and looks to Him to meet the need, as He sees fit. It simply looks to Him. This is always what faith does.

But note the nature of her faith. She did not imagine she needed Him to stand and make pronouncements, move mountains, still seas, rebuke storms or demons – she knew all she needed was the slightest touch. That grace and mercy are so grand, so expansive, that the slightest true touch – even of just His garment, will transform in the most unspeakably glorious and powerful way.

What we need every day, is the sense of our need being great enough, to press through the mob of all that claims our attention and seems to make Him distant, to but touch the hem of His robe. Lord Jesus, let me come to you – today!

This is the place of prayer. Press through. Touch His hem.
Margin notes: Lessons from a former demoniac

September 6th, 2019

Mark 5:18–20 (ESV) — 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

The astounding account of this man delivered from the legion of demons stans on its own as a demonstration of the mercy, goodness and power of Jesus Christ. His authority over the demons. His mercy on this horribly bound man. His sad rejection by the townsfolk. But there are two other things are worth noting in this brief account.

First: Not every good and right desire, is the best desire. There is nothing in this man’s request but what is good and pure and honorable. But God determines what is best. Best for the man, best for the kingdom and best for those he will reach. Do not be discouraged if God chooses some other path for you than the one you think most desirable or proper. How you think you can serve best. Nothing could be more right – in a sense – than wanting to travel with Jesus, sit at His feet, serve Him and listen to Him. But Jesus had other plans. He needed him to go bear witness back in Decapolis. Thus it was personally costly to serve Him this way. To not have what he would rather have, that the King might be served as He best thought fit. Father, give me such a willing heart – that I do not demand to serve you as I see fit, above what you do.

Second: Though it has been discounted in some circles, here is a great encouragement in evangelism. With only the barest exposure to Christ. With little or no theological training. With no more detailed instruction than this – a man may enter upon a fruitful and Christ sanctioned ministry of evangelism: “Go home to your friends and them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” Isn’t that just so abundantly simple and sweet and ready at hand? The telling of how He has met us in our sin, and of His great mercy is enough. Each of us is a ready-made evangelist in this accounting. Don’t wait a minute more. Don’t fear you don’t know enough or haven’t been given techniques or strategies. Just tell them how much He’s done for you. That’s all He asks. It is enough.

But note that the key, the bottom line is this: He needed and received MERCY. Those who do not believe they need mercy, know nothing of true saving grace. If we have not, in mercy, been delivered from our bondage to sin, and the just wrath it deserves, we are not saved. And we cannot be His witnesses.