2024-05-24
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit has been guiding me through this series on transformation in various types of human challenges—cancer or other catastrophic illness; life-changing accidents; crime; lack of provision; chronic illness and pain; combat—to name a few. I didn’t say much about crime, but was thinking of the horrific murders that took place on the University of IA campus or in Toronto of a family of 5 Sri Lankans murdered by a young Sri Lankan man with whom they shared their home. Loss of loved ones is traumatic. But in situations of murder and suicide are even more intensely tragic. No matter what belief system or lack thereof one has at times like these, he is forced to turn to some kind of higher power to deal with this trauma. So this leads us as believers in Jesus Christ, to ask things like: 1) Just Who is Jesus? 2) Why believe in Jesus? 3) How can He help us to accept these traumatic situations?
Let’s look at what the Holy Spirit gives me to say about: Just Who is Jesus? Out of the faith He has given me, I write on the premise that the Scriptures are true and consistent throughout the OT and NT. Please understand that I believe that God wants as many people to know and believe in Him as possible. Because He has no evil in Him [1 JN 1: 5], He also wants what is best for everyone who comes to Him. So, why do these traumatic situations happen? Much has been written about this by all kinds of Judeo-Christian theologians. Some truth we can mine from these books is that our time on earth is a time of testing and that we are never given a challenge great enough that our resolve to believe is destroyed [1 COR 10: 13]. People like the Sadducees of Jesus’ time denied the existence of an afterlife, so they avoided dealing with the issue of why good people suffer. Those who believe in an afterlife, explain it as everything from God’s timing [2 PET 3: 8-9] to His testing us. PR 17: 3, “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” Some people don’t understand the need for the Refiner’s fire, but if we examine our own lives carefully, the times of our greatest growth in spiritual maturation have come when we were challenged. The truth is found in MT 22: 14, “Many are called but few are chosen,” i.e. when God invites all to participate with Him in His rule and reign over earth, He does so without partiality or favoritism.
Now to the fundamental question: Just Who is Jesus? A dispute arises between Jews and Christians mentioned in JN 8. Jesus said to the Jews, “I am going away but you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come [JN 8: 21].” This made them wonder if Christ was going to commit suicide. But Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you would not believe I am He, you would indeed die in your sins” [vs 23-24]. When asked just Who Jesus was, Jesus knew they didn’t understand or have faith in Him. He went on to say, in vs 25-29, “’I have much to say in judgment of you. But He Who sent Me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world. When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that am He and that I do nothing on m own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. The One Who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.’ Even as Jesus spoke, many believed in Him.” If this truth wasn’t clear to the Jews that held out, there were cultural and theological reasons for that. Such was the case even when Jesus was speaking to Philip, in JN 14-: 9-11, “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been with you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I don’t speak on My own authority; rather it is the Father living in Me, Who is doing His work… Believe in the evidence of the works themselves.”
As a Messianic Jew, I’ve had to deal with the question of why my own family and so many traditional Jews have rejected Jesus as the Son of God and part of the very Trinity that is depicted in Hebrew--their own language, in the OT. An example is GN 1: 26, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so they may rule over fish in the sea, birds in the sky, over livestock, and over all the wild animals, and over all the creature that move along the ground.” The pronouns underlined are definitely plural, as is the Hebrew word used “Eloheim.” What is going on here is a description of what we, as Christians know and refer to God’s Trinitarian nature. God, the Father, God the Son-Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit! God has always left clearer and clearer pictures as the OT moves into the NT. Jesus’ name is never mentioned in the OT, but yet, He is all over it. So, back to my issue: what about the fate of the Jews? It is answered, if one believes God is in charge of when He acts on our prayers. RO 11: 25-27 provides the answer Messianic Jews must face. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles [non-Jews] has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion: He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” God has not rejected the Jews! He just commands us to be patient for His perfect timing and way!
PRAYER: O Lord, “Many are called but few are chosen” [MT 22: 14]. Indeed, there is more in the Scriptures about the fate of the Jews and everyone. Christ is given the right to be the final Judge and will do this task at His perfect time and way [DN 7: 13-14]. You are a fair and equitable Judge, lest we worry. Your grace and generosity is beyond measure. Moreover, You are our God, a Trinity of three personalities in One Being, wholly truthful, wise, faithful, and kind. You love us so much that You are patient with our imperfections and sometimes clumsy efforts to correct them. We sent You our eternal love, loyalty, praise, and thanks, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Holy Spirit commands me to share what He has for us about: Why believe in Jesus? If space permits, I will also share His thoughts on How does Jesus help us when trouble happens? These fundamental questions have not departed from the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as you will see. In the meanwhile, join me in praying for peace in this world, for God not to tarry too long before He separates the sheep from the goats [MT 25: 32], and for healing for all who are lonely, ill, and troubled in this present day. Praise and thanks be to God for hearing our prayers!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2024. All Rights Reserved.
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