"Has the Body Gone Missing?"

Scripture Passage

John 4:7-5:21; 2 John 1:1-13; 3 John 1:1-15

Scripture Focus

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. … I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. (2 John 1:5,7 NLT)

Observation

I’ve tied together two verses in today’s Scripture Focus because they seem (to me) so disparate at first glance, yet I assume they must connect.  Verse 7 must relate to verse 5—they’re not that far apart! If not, John has taken an incredibly radical change of direction between verses 6 and 7. I find that unlikely. So I'm asking myself about the connection within 2 John 1:5-7. What is John’s train of thought? Why does John move from reminding us to love one another to warning us about those who deny the physical Christ?

Indeed, for the third day in a row from our readings, the Scriptures have made particular note of the reality of Jesus’ flesh and blood…His physical body. These reminders were included in some of the last Scriptures being written—likely near the end of the 1st century. These words were written no earlier than 50 or 60 years following the birth of Christianity.

So I’m thinking about what transpires over 50 or 60 years, and how easy it is to lose a sense of reality regarding someone who lived that long ago. My paternal grandfather passed away just over 50 years ago. All I know of him are black and white photos from an era I never experienced. My own father passed away nearly twenty years ago. Unfortunately, like my experience of my grandfather, my children’s experience their grandfather is almost non-existent. Apart from eternity, they will never know the reality of who my dad was like I do from having known him in the flesh.

The point—I’m suggesting—is that the limited understanding my children have of their flesh-and-blood grandfather also limits their understanding of the power of his life—what he stood for, how he impacted others, how his life shaped mine. And so it would be for second- and third-generation Christians who only knew the story of Christ, with no living memory of Christ Himself. These believers would more easily succumb to some false doctrine dismissing Christ’s physical existence. And these believers would more easily miss the impact of Christ’s command to do the one thing that would define us as His—“love one another.”

What has that to do with us? Their challenge is our challenge. Having not seen or touched Jesus of Nazareth, let us not diminish the reality of His physical existence! Let us not reduce His life to myth! Let us not be deceived into thinking He—the Christ—was anything less than “the Word become flesh” who “made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14 NIV)!

Rather…

Let us acknowledge the LORD;
     let us press on to acknowledge him.
                              (Hosea 6:3 NIV)

About this, John says, “Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.” (2 John 1:8 NLT) This is our challenge and opportunity.

(And on a completely related note, "Merry Christmas!")

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"Next Witness, Please"

Scripture Passage

1 John 1:1-4:6

Scripture Focus

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. (1 John 1:1 NLT)

Observation

Yes, I’m beating the same drum two days in a row. Still…

Yesterday, we focused on the eyewitness accounts of the Apostle Peter. “We saw,” Peter says, “his majestic splendor with our own eyes … ” (2 Peter 1:16 NLT). In other words, “We didn’t invent ‘clever stories’—we reported historical fact!”

And then today, the prescribed reading opens with these words—We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. (1 John 1:1 NLT)

Is Someone perhaps orchestrating a theme here? “We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.” I love that! At the time of this posting, it’s Christmas Eve. We’re within a few breaths…a few heartbeats…of that day each year when the whole world (okay—look, I know not literally the whole world stops to celebrate Christmas…but grant me a little literary license here)…that day each year when the whole world stops to take notice of the birth of the baby who was God-become-flesh.

Is not the historical reality of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, simply marvelous (in the original sense of the word—something to be marveled at)? Another voice from the Word of God announces that this is not a fable we’re reading…not someone’s philosophical ponderings…not someone’s wishful thinking. Au contraire! (A little French for you there.) As John says, “We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.” That’s just astounding!

Thank you, Father, for the gift of your Son. Thank you Eternal Word, for becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for showing us all things and leading us into all truth. You, Triune Godhead, are indeed the “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6 NIV).

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"Eye-Witness Testimony"

Scripture Passage

1 Peter 5:12-14; 2 Peter 1-3:18

Scripture Focus

“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes … ” (2 Peter 1:16 NLT)

Observation

It’s fascinating to think about the kinds of memories that must have filled Peter’s heart as he wrote these verses. Peter was there! His ears heard the Master’s teaching. His eyes saw the Savior’s miracles. His sandals shared the Master’s path. These experiences he describes were not just words he’d read on a page—they were moments he’d lived!

In this verse particularly, Peter references his experience with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Imagine being present on that day—seeing Christ glorified—hearing the Father’s commendation: “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (2 Peter 1:17 NLT). Could you ever deny what you’d experienced?

Scoffers may suggest that these are merely “clever stories” we read when perusing the Scriptures, but Peter testifies otherwise. He was eye-witness to Christ… to His life, death, resurrection and ascension. It’s tough to argue with an eye-witness.

And so it is with us. Our witness for Christ, though informed by the Scriptures, should also be equally about what of God we’ve experienced ourselves. “The Bible says… ” will witness best when matched by “… and here’s how I’ve experienced that myself.” Those who “bear witness” to Christ must have something of Christ to bear witness to. So what can you tell me about your experience of Christ?

We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes … ” (2 Peter 1:16 NLT)

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"Stability and Fluidity"

Scripture Passage

1 Peter 2:4-5:11

Scripture Focus

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. (1 Peter 2:5 NLT)

Observation

1 Peter 2:5 launches a wonderful metaphor for what it means to be the church—the people of God. Peter writes that we “are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple” (1 Peter 2:5 NLT).

Certainly there are other great Biblical metaphors for the church—“the body of Christ” and “the bride of Christ” come to mind—but there’s something especially attractive about this description of the people of God as “living stones” being built into a “spiritual temple.” At the same moment that those words picture stability (stones) they picture fluidity (living). At the same moment that those words portray structure they portray movement. At the same moment that those words recognize individuality they recognize and call for connection…interrelationship…interdependence.

All of those things are qualities the church must embrace in a rapidly changing environment. Given the significant cultural shifts that have occurred especially over the last fifty or perhaps one hundred years…and given that those changes continue to occur with increasing rapidity…the church must be marked by fluidity and movement. But she cannot neglect those realities that tie her together as a body and provide the foundation for her health and strength—the finished work of Christ, the present activity of the Holy Spirit, and the living, authoritative Word of God.

What a blessing to know that the Scriptural message overflows any cultural boundaries imposed upon it and that the church remains, by the grace of God, His church—equipped to partner with God in Kingdom progress until the day of His glorious return.

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"Welcome to the Club!"

Scripture Passage

Hebrews 13:1-25 1 Peter 1:1-2:3

Scripture Focus

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. … They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. (1 Peter 1:10, 12 NLT)

Observation

There are two things I find fascinating about 1 Peter 1:10-12. First—just like yesterday’s “Scripture Focus” on Hebrews 11:40—again today the Bible records that great people of faith longed for something significant which was held in reserve for us! It’s not that they were kept forever from receiving what we now enjoy, but that they were given something that was not theirs to understand in full. Complete clarity regarding the prophetic messages that they themselves delivered was kept from them. “They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for [us]” (1 Peter 1:12 NLT). What a privileged people we are to know what others had only wondered about!

Second, I would never put myself on the same level as those who prophesied regarding Christ’s appearing, but I do share a sense of affinity with them after reading these verses. I, too, have stood up and attempted to proclaim things I don’t fully understand—things I cannot fully articulate. It’s terribly frustrating! There are days that something stirs in my soul…days there’s some perception—some minimal understanding—but not nearly enough clarity to either feel like I understand it myself or that I could possibly explain it to anyone else. Still, the call is there to speak that word. And so, with fear and trembling—and an utter sense of inadequacy—I do.

But that’s the place of the servant of God, isn’t it? I don’t mean only “preachers.” I mean you, too. It is—at times—the role of God’s man or woman to speak what’s in his or her heart, even if full understanding has not yet come.

We read the prophets and assume, I think, that these spokespersons for God understood in full what we’re so challenged to sort out. 1 Peter 1 declares otherwise, announcing that they, themselves, often spoke with the same kind of limited understanding and trembling heart that all people of faith throughout the ages have known. So if you’ve been there like I have—and like they were—Welcome to the Club!

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"A Sudden Stop and a Hard Right"

Scripture Passage

Hebrews 11:1-12:29

Scripture Focus

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. (Hebrews 11:39-40 NLT)

Observation

Hebrews 11 is commonly known as Scripture’s “Hall of Faith.” It contains name after name of great people of God whom Scripture directly commends for their faith-full-ness. And that is a remarkable commendation, because if the Scriptures celebrate anything at all, they celebrate people of faith.

But there’s a fascinating transition at the end of chapter 11.   In fact, transition is hardly a strong enough word. It’s like the celebration of these people of faith comes to a screeching halt and the Scriptures suddenly take a hard right! “All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised” (Hebrews 11:39 NLT). Hebrews uses the most inclusive language—“all”—to affirm that every person listed is excluded. “None of them received all that God had promised.” And the fascinating thing is why.

For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. (Hebrews 11:40 NLT)

God’s gracious plan for faith-filled people was not complete until we—those who have, since Christ, placed full trust in Christ—were counted among those of “like precious faith” (2 Peter 1:1 KJV). God wasn’t done until I was included. Wow!

(For what it's worth, the word translated “perfection” in verse 40 has to do with completeness and wholeness.)

That prompts two responses in me. First, I want to honor God, who “loved me and gave himself up for me” (Ephesians 5:2 NIV). How gracious His ways and beyond understanding! Second, I want to make sure I’ve not stopped short of seeing others whom God wants to include.

Scripture is clear: “The Lord is…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). I want to remain focused on His call and busy in His work until all He longs to accomplish is complete.

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"Better Promises"

Scripture Passage

Hebrews 8:1-10:39

Scripture Focus

He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6 NLT)

Observation

The book of Hebrews is all about the superiority of Jesus—a better high priest who institutes a better covenant through a better sacrifice. I’m not sure that before today, however, I ever noticed one other way Hebrews describes the superiority of this covenant: Better promises.

He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6 NLT)

And Hebrews 10:15-17 details two of those better promises:

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

“This is the new covenant I will make
     with my people on that day, says the LORD:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
     and I will write them on their minds.”

Then he says,

“I will never again remember
     their sins and lawless deeds.”
                              (Hebrews 10:15-17 NLT)

Are those not two most wonderful promises? First, the covenant moves from “external” to “internal.” Instead of laws written on tablets of stone, God’s promise is that He will write His law our hearts and minds! It’s the difference (it seems to me) between searching through volumes of reference works on dusty bookshelves just to uncover some applicable regulation (one mental image) verses simply knowing what is the right thing to do (a second, much better, mental image).

Second, my sin moves from “ever before me” (Psalm 51:3) to “remembered no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). Again I ask—does it get any better than this?

How gracious our God! How marvelous His ways! How superior His covenant extended to me through Jesus Christ my Lord!

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