The Ken Read Podcast

0111 MY BURDEN IS LIGHT

MY BURDEN IS LIGHT

In chapter 11, Jesus gives a speech about John the Baptist, and he compares and contrasts their ministry approaches. Jesus goes on to say woe to unrepentant cities. And then he says to come unto him and he will give rest. That final speech is the one for us to highlight today, and especially the last sentence of it: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Sounds like an oxymoron.How can a burden be light? You ask. Isn’t a burden, like, heavy by definition? Well, yes it is. So maybe I’m confused. . . Let’s back up and get the context, shall we?

Here is the invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Sounds good, right? But let me be clear right now: Following Christ is NOT easy. It is a yoke. It is a burden. In just a few chapters, he will say, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” So whatever Jesus is saying about easy yokes and light burdens does not mean that He offers an easy path.

There are plenty of other Bible passages that underscore the difficulty of following Jesus. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live…” Galatians 2:20 “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3 “If we who are in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 “I tell you the truth . . . I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31 

So, does Jesus offer rest for our souls, or does He insist that we give ourselves up for Him? Yes! But, how? How do we reconcile these seemingly very different views? 

It’s really not that difficult, of course. We make these kinds of decisions every day, just in our relationships with others. Those who are married know that a happy marriage involves both partners sacrificing their own dreams to serve the other, and that such mutual respect is worth it. Those who have been to school know that hard work pays off in the long run. Workers know that careful attention to quality may take more effort, but that both the satisfaction and the pay more than make up for it. There is a difference between happiness and joy. “Happiness” comes from the root of “happen.” I am “happy” when my happenstance fits my desires. Joy and peace, love and faith, they are not built on what “happens” to me. They are fruit that comes from making right decisions.

So it is in the spiritual realm, both eternally after this life is over (heaven!) and even in this life. Here is how Jesus worded that tradeoff: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33 He’s saying that the world will not/does not treat you well when you follow a controversial figure like Jesus. But “the world” does not have the final say.

So we come back around to these comforting words of Jesus, and we see that following him means to take a yoke and put it across your shoulders. Yet, the yoke suits us. It means we take on the burden of self-denial and of betting our lives that there is something better for us after this life is over. Yet, we discover that the burden we take on is pleasant and yields peace inside.

Jesus tells that the Father has revealed truths to little children but hidden them from the wise and learned. He says that this is the Father’s gracious will. The educated reason it away, decide we have no souls and there is no god. But those who have not yet jaded their emotions and beliefs are the ones who can accept things they cannot see.

Jesus turns to us weary, skeptical adults, and invites us to trade in our grown-up worries, our phobias and experiences, our regrets and addictions, and to take up a simpler view of ourselves, of our relationship with God, and our efforts to improve ourselves. Rest, he says. Stop and let me carry that for you.

Are you weary? Are you heavy-laden? I can testify that following Jesus offers a very positive trade. I give up my selfish ambitions, my thoughtless addictions, my earthly convictions. I receive life without regrets, love without bitterness, light without darkness. I stop trying frantically to get my own, and I see fruit growing up in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I learn that repentance leads to seasons of refreshing! 

Who would have guessed? Oh, yeah. Children.

I guess Jesus might say, Just grow down, will ya?

0112 WATCH YOUR WORDS

WATCH YOUR WORDS

Today we are reading chapter 12 of Matthew, which contains several pithy and controversial sayings of Jesus: He has a couple of confrontations about the Sabbath, and he says, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” The Pharisees claim that Jesus casts out demons because he has power from the prince of demons, and Jesus declares that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. Jesus calls them a brood of vipers and says that people will give account for every careless word they speak. They ask him for a sign, and he says no sign will be given but the sign of Jonah. Jesus teaches that an unclean spirit which has been cast out will return to the person with seven others, worse than itself. Jesus declares that those followers who are with him are his family. Among all those sayings, let’s focus on this one: 

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” ~Matthew 12:36-37

These words are sobering, and strike me as a bit of a surprise. I mean, I thought it was our actions, the bad things we do (or the good we fail to do), that would lead to our judgment. 

But to be judged for words, and not just actions, takes the scrutiny of God to a new level. I guess that’s why Paul tells the Ephesians (5:4) “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” I mean, foolish talk and crude joking, those are just words, right? But we must watch even what we laugh at, what we listen to, how we participate in crude or disrespectful humor, even. Wow.

This is why Jesus can say so clearly that every careless word is subject to judgment. In this case, it was Pharisees claiming that Jesus’ power came from the devil instead of from God. They were blaspheming the Holy Spirit by assigning God’s works to the devil. They might argue, “But they are only words! I didn’t really mean them!”

But James says, “if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” 

He writes, “the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness . . . and set on fire by hell. . . . no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. . . . From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.”

Of course, as I reflect on it further, I realize that it is not just our actions or our words that will be subject to judgment. It is our very hearts themselves. Solomon spent a lifetime pursuing wisdom, and he records his journey in Ecclesiastes. Here is how he ends his journey and the book: “Here is the end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” ~Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Even the secret things, our inner thoughts and solo sins, are open to God’s judgment. God is ready to judge the living and the dead. The Judge is standing at the door! Our mouths speak what is in our hearts, and our hearts are the part of us to give account before God in the day of judgment.

So, what hope is there? If I am judged by my thoughts and my words, even my careless words about which I would say, “I didn’t mean it,” then who can stand in the day of judgment?

No one can. But thanks be to God for his indescribable grace. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. His grace is such that there is no sin, no person so far enslaved, that it is not covered by the blood of Christ.

We have only to receive it. With our mouths we confess Christ Jesus as Lord and we are saved! By our words we are condemned, to be sure. But Jesus says by our words we are also justified! Thanks be to God.

0113 FINDING BURIED TREASURE

FINDING BURIED TREASURE

Today we were reading Matthew 13, which contains several of Jesus’ parables. Let’s focus in on one of those parables today and see what we can learn from it.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Much of this story is not surprising at all. The kingdom is like a treasure. A man sells all he has and trades it in for the kingdom. I get it. In eternity, I will not regret anything that I have given up for the sake of heaven. As I die to myself and sacrifice my desires for the kingdom, I will find that what I gain is worth it.

But there are two curious details about the story that cause me to do a double-take.  The man finds the treasure. Why not take the treasure with him? Why bury it? Why buy the field? What does all that mean? 

And the second curious detail is that the man “in his joy” went and sold all he had in order to buy the field. That’s not as curious as the first. I mean, he anticipated that all would go well. But when I think of the story, I feel a certain anxiety. I hope the current owner of the field doesn’t know about what I found.

It seems to me a matter of ethics. Why not find out who owns the field, and see if this is his treasure? If you don’t own the field, and you don’t own the treasure, you are really sort of being sneaky and taking a risk that someone else will step up and claim it.

But I think Jesus is not talking about Christian ethics here. The treasure he is describing is actually available to all. It is not the property of someone else, so that I have to secretly keep that person from knowing about what I found. This treasure, and the land on which I find it, are common to everyone. So I will take the details of his story as what it means, not what I think about in the flesh.

One day, I discover the truth about the kingdom of God: the truth that I can live forever. I can be forgiven. I can be fulfilled. He gives good gifts to me, without withholding any good thing from me. It’s worth more to me than anything in this world. So, I take it all in. I hide it in my heart. It becomes my little secret. 

Then I do my research while it is buried. I make sure that it is not too good to be true. And having done my research, having tested the truth for myself, having confirmed the value from other witnesses, I am ready. Ready to trade everything for the invisible kingdom.

I make a vow. I go under the water, buried in baptism with Christ. Then, dead to myself, I am raised to a new life, and am new inside. You can’t see what I now have, for it is invisible to the human eye. But I give up my pride, my ambitions, my idols, all of my earthly goals that bring me satisfaction for only the time between now and the grave. I bet my life that there is more. And I do so gladly, because I am convinced that this treasure is worth more than everything I own—my land, my house, my possessions, my family and friends, my career, my reputation. It is all garbage to me, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

This is the great trade. The buried treasure. The chance to know and be known by the Maker of the Universe. To be a child of God. My friends might not understand. My financial advisors might think I have lost my mind, because I seem to be throwing my money away. But I know something they don’t know. So it is with great joy that I trade it all in to be born again. Remade from the inside out. There will be fruit that you will see in my life. But know that it is my own secret. Only I know whether or not there has been a change in me.

And so I see the center of this story. Just like the one pearl of great price, I gladly give up all I have in this life to own it.

Do me a favor: In a hundred years, ask me if the trade was worth it. I bet we will both say a hearty Amen to that.

0114 GIVING ABOVE AND BEYOND

GIVING ABOVE AND BEYOND

There are several important events that happen in chapter 14 of Matthew: the death of John the Baptist, Jesus feeding the 5000, Jesus walking on water and crowds following him in Gennesaret. But since Matthew is the mathematician among the gospel writers, let’s look at his “bad math” in the feeding of the five thousand.

There are other accounts of the feeding of the crowd of five thousand men, and we might delve into some of those later. But for today, I notice a little detail in Matthew’s account that challenges me. 

It comes in six parts, and they all add up to the same end. Bear with me while I tell you each:

Part one. Jesus is withdrawing to get away from the crowds after he heard about the death of his cousin and friend, John the Baptist. It is a sad loss. It is foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus himself will make before too long. He needs some “alone” time. But Matthew writes, “When the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” He has compassion on this crowd of TAKERS. So he does what they want, instead of what he had a right to do. After all, he came for people, right? Someday soon, he will give his life for them. Until then, he will give up his rights.

Part two. The disciples come to Jesus at the end of a long day of healing and teaching, and they compassionately urge him to “send the crowds away.” You know, so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves. Generous guys, those disciples. Sounds like a “win/win,” right? Jesus and the boys get that alone time, and the crowds are taken care of, without having a guilty conscience. But Jesus is ready to keep serving, even now. “They need not go away. YOU give them something to eat!” The challenge to me here is that Jesus calls his followers to yield their rights, just as he does himself. No easy way out. Time to do more work. But there’s more yet.

Part three. The disciples tell him they have only five loaves and two fish among them. Sounds like another good reason to send the crowds away, right? We don’t have the resources! I did my best. I was willing. Send them away now? But Jesus answers, “Bring them here to me.” Like any good disciplemaker, He is not demanding anything of his followers that he is not willing to do himself.

Part four. Jesus has the crowd sit down on the grass. This is another little detail that intrigues me. Jesus puts his reputation on the line now. Everyone is hungry. It is late in the day. Should they leave or stay? Jesus raises expectations without an actual solution yet. Notice that he has not told the disciples how this was going to work. Can you imagine being one of the twelve here? “Yes, just sit down in this group, and we’ll be getting back with you shortly.” Talk about risks! He prays. He looks up to heaven. He says a blessing. Then he hands out the fish and the loaves. And keeps handing them out. And handing them out.

Part five. They all ate and were satisfied. There were even leftovers, in greater numbers than had been at the start! There is no hint that the crowd was having to “make do,” but kind of disappointed at the meager supply. All of them ate. All five thousand men. Plus women and children. Thousands and thousands of meals provided directly from the hands of Jesus.

Part six. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces left over. Wait a second! How many baskets full? Twelve. How many disciples were there? Twelve. Every one of them, in spite of having to sacrifice his own agenda and energy, was taken care of with an entire basket full of food!

In the math of the kingdom, there are days when I am called upon to give more than I think I can give. More than should be expected of me. But in the end, the same God who asks “too much” of me, also GIVES me “abundantly more than I could ask or imagine” in return.

Twelve baskets full. You know, it’s too bad Jesus didn’t think to get a basket for himself.  He sacrificed above and beyond.

0115 THE SILENCE OF JESUS

THE SILENCE OF JESUS

This chapter contains one of the more confounding actions of Jesus, so I’d like to have us focus on that. In the last chapter, we saw that people have been crowding around Jesus, pressing in on him to seek healing, touching the tassels on his robe. And everyone who touched the tassels of his robe was healed. 

It was common practice for Jews, and especially for rabbis, to wear robes with four tassles that have special knots in them, to remind them of the law of God. This is why the hem of a robe was their focus. But just imagine, Jesus is surrounded by all these Jews, who are coming to be healed, and it happens without a word. Talk about spiritual authority! As with the Roman centurion, no words are needed. No incantation. No prayer. No confession. No command.

But the immense pressure is constant. Yesterday’s chapter opens with Jesus trying to get away from the crowds, and it didn’t work. Where to go from here? Up north. Up into Gentile country, near Tyre and Sidon, where they will leave his robe and him alone for a season.

And now, though there are not crowds pressing in, it’s not just Jesus and his followers. A very determined Gentile woman starts following Him. She cries out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! my daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 

Jesus does not answer a word. Not a word. Doesn’t even acknowledge her presence. Just keeps walking, chatting with the disciples.

this is not at all what i expected from the Gentle Shepherd. He healed entire villages. Could his silence be because she is a Gentile? He had nearly been killed in His home town for hinting that God cares about gentiles. He initiated a conversation with the samaritan woman at the well. Why on earth would Jesus give this gentile woman the silent treatment? it seems so unlike, well, Jesus.

what does this mean? does He want her to plead? is this the test to see if she will prevail? surely it isn’t because He doesn’t care! whatever He is doing, i’d like to know, because i think sometimes He is doing the same thing with me. i am, after all, also a gentile (though grafted into the olive tree of God’s people). Like her, i call Him by the right name and ask Him for a favor. Like her, i don’t sense Him saying yes or no to my request. i just hear silence. Not a word. is Jesus ignoring me?

finally the disciples (who always seem to have mixed motives) urge Him to send her away. Sounds like what they said about the five thousand just yesterday, doesn’t it? Now Jesus speaks. But when he does, he strangely tells her that He came only for israel. 

But that is not the end of her. She keeps pursuing him, pressing him for mercy. She wisely answers that she’s happy to be a lowly dog and just get some scraps from the table. Now Jesus sees what He has needed to see: this woman has great faith. She may be a Gentile dog, but if so, she is the family pet, and she is still part of the family, right? 

He smiles at her. And He says the word. Her request is granted, just like that.

it is the unanswerable question: why the silence?

why does Jesus sometimes have no conversation?

Jesus had just said, “keep on asking, and you will receive." i sometimes get silence confused with a “no" Answer, and I mistake silence for anger. So, i give up too soon. The silence of God in this case is not a “yes" Or a “no," Or even a “wait." it really is silence. 

what do i do in the meantime, while i wait for an answer? i keep on asking. i keep on seeking. i keep on knocking. Eventually i will  receive, i will find, and it will be opened to me.

while i am pleading and banging on heaven’s door, I wonder if the angels are whispering to Him, “make him go away!" or shall i trust that this is the silent non-answer of a loving Father who knows what is best and when is best, and who knows how many times i need to ask before i get my petition right.

sometimes God is silent. 

0116 PETE GOES ONE FOR THREE

PETE GOES ONE-FOR-THREE

This chapter contains three statements from Jesus that are so central to our faith. Peter declares what we call The Good Confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus says that flesh and blood did not reveal that to Peter, but His Father who is in heaven. Jesus declares that He will build his church on this confession. It is very central to everything in our faith. 

But the very next incident that Matthew records is Jesus saying to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” It is amazing to put these back-to-back as Matthew has done. But such is the fickle heart of a person, I suppose. One moment I am on God’s wavelength, and the next I am thinking in the flesh.

Which leads me to the statement that precedes both of those. Jesus said, “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” That warning is important, especially in light of Peter’s statements that follow. Let’s delve into it a bit more.

We are to “beware.” Jesus is warning us that if we are not on guard against this, we will miss it. We are like night sentries, with our senses heightened, eyes scanning about, reflexes alert. We are anticipating something coming up to surprise and defeat us, so we must “beware” of something.

What are we to be aware of? Jesus calls it “leaven.” I’m no expert at such things, but I know what Jesus said about leaven. He says elsewhere that you cannot tell where leaven begins and ends. It works its way through a lump of dough, and you cannot separate it from the part that is unleavened. It’s not an on/off switch. Not a locomotive bearing down. It is subtle. Easing its way into my life, my beliefs, my heart.

What, then, IS the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? The context is that they need a sign. Show us a sign from heaven that you are really the Son of God. Of course, they were SURROUNDED by signs, every day. But this leaven always needs just. One. More. I’m always one sign away from believing.

The leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees is also the subtle temptation to imagine that I have figured God out. Say this, God does that. Know this, and this is the result. Do this, and God answer like this. They knew how to be forgiven, how to behave in any and every situation, and they knew God. They had no idea just how far off they were. 

That’s how it is for us, you know. When I was a kid, I was pretty good at something. We’ll say I was a pretty fast runner. I could beat even some of the older kids on my street in a foot race. So I began to imagine that I was, or soon would be, the fastest runner on earth. Because I had never been humbled by defeat, I thought I was within inches of my goal, rather than miles away.

This is what the sneaky leaven of the Pharisees will do. It creeps into my faith, begins to color my prayers, affects my teaching, allows me to have easy answers to things I know nothing about. It gives me a false sense of being an expert at knowing God, when I am not even in Kindergarten yet. And somehow I become the OPPOSITE of the person of faith I imagine myself to be. I become an ENEMY of Christ! 

How did I get there? It was leaven. And I did not beware. 

We are told to be on the alert, because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Do you know who wrote that warning? It was Peter. He knows about that.

I want to be blessed because truths are revealed to me by the Heavenly Father, so that I speak His words, not mine. But the very next statement I make just might be with the things of man in mind, not the things of God. So I must keep watch for the need for a sign, and never think that I have put God into a box.

Pete went one-for-three that day. I wonder if I can do any better.

0117 WHEN TO EXPECT THE KINGDOM

WHEN TO EXPECT THE KINGDOM

The very beginning of Matthew 17 presents an opportunity for us to talk about time and the kingdom of God. The combination of time and the kingdom creates one of the most important and controversial topics in the Bible, so we might as well address it now.

First, let’s talk about time. The chapter opens with, “And after six days . . ..” The gospel of Mark records the same time measurement: “After six days.” But Luke describes the time as, “Now about eight days after.” 

Maybe this is not a big deal to you. But some consider this to be a contradiction in the Bible. What was it: Six days or eight days? Of course, we might say, “About a week later,” and we would forgive it. But let me give a possible explanation, in case you are curious. In Jewish culture, the Sabbath and the measurement of “seven” days was something to be especially careful with. So Jewish writers might typically refer to a week as either “after six days” or “about eight days,” because they want to honor the sacredness of the seventh day.

Another picky controversy over time in the Bible would be Jesus’ resurrection. Was he in the grave for three days and three nights (the sign of Jonah)? Did he rise on the third day? Did he rise after three days? All three terms are used interchangeably, and none of the Bible authors seem to be concerned with the difference. Traditionally, we consider Jesus to have died on Friday afternoon and to have risen early Sunday morning. That is certainly not three days and three nights. But no one in that first generation was bothered by our more particular measurements of time.

But to clarify: We also use contradictory time terms regularly in our culture and aren’t bothered by the inaccuracy at all. “Just a minute?” “Just a second?” or “Just a moment?” The twentieth century was the 1900s. Someone is one year old all the way until completing their second year of life. Then the “second” birthday (which is technically the third “birth” day of their life) is actually the start of the third year of their life. And on and on it goes.

Okay, enough of that. The second major topic here is THE KINGDOM. This was the notable time marker that happened six days before, or about eight days before, that caused all three synoptic gospels to measure time to the transfiguration.

Here’s what Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Luke describes it as, “they see the kingdom of God.” It must have been a life-marking event when Jesus said it. They are going to see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom! 

No doubt, when the transfiguration occurred, they wondered if it was the fulfillment of that prediction! “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (V. 1-2)

Was this the Son of Man coming in his kingdom? The transformation certainly showed something supernatural about Jesus. Joined by Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the prophets), with the voice of His Father identifying him as His Son. On their way down the mountain, the disciples are asking the Lord about it. Was this it? Was that the start of the kingdom? Somehow none of them would have died before the Son of Man brought the kingdom, so it must be soon.

Thus begins the controversy. Maybe that wasn’t the coming of the kingdom, but the disciples didn’t know what to look for yet. Maybe the kingdom came in power with the cross and/or the resurrection of Jesus. After all, at his ascension, the disciples asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus simply answered  them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” So it still seems like a mystery at that point of time. Of course, some ten days later at the day of Pentecost, the kingdom came with power. Was that it?

The next possible event would be the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Perhaps that could be what Jesus described, when Jerusalem and the temple itself were destroyed. It was certainly the end of an era. Or, many believe that perhaps the Father in his mercy has continued to postpone the clear plan for the kingdom, and even today the coming of the kingdom is on indefinite hold, with the hour known only to the Father.

Jesus taught us to pray, may your kingdom come. We are continuing to pray for it, whatever form it may take. Then, we are told, time will be no more, and He shall reign forever. Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come. Amen.

0117b EMMANUEL’S LAND

SONG OF THE WEEK: EMMANUEL'S LAND (COME ALIVE SINGERS)

Elizabeth Ann Cousins, modified and set to music by Jeff Steele.

(Note: This was a group of students for which I was music director in 1997. Jeff was a student composer who discovered this poem, which had been a favorite of Moody and of Spurgeon back in the day.)

The sands of time are sinking
The dawn of heaven breaks
The summer morn I've sighed for
The fair sweet morn awakes
Dark dark has been the midnight
But dayspring is at hand
And glory glory dwells there
In Emmanuel's Land

Verse 2

O Christ He is the fountain
The deep sweet well of love
The streams on earth I've tasted
I'll drink more deep above
There in the depths of the ocean
His mercy does expand
And glory glory dwells there
In Emmanuel's Land

Bridge

Oh I am my Beloved's
And my Beloved's mine
He brings this poor vile sinner
To the wedding feast to dine
I stand upon His mercy
I know no other stand
I'll join Him where glory's dwelling
In Emanuel's Land

Verse 3

The bride eyes not her garment
But her dear Bridegroom's face
I will not gaze at glory
But on my King of Grace
Not at the crown He gives me
But on His pierced hand
The Lamb He is all the glory
Of Emmanuel's Land

Ending

The Lamb He is all the glory
Of Emmanuel's Land
In Emanuel's Land

 

Anne Ross Cousin | Jeff Steele

• © 1997 CByond Music

 

0118 THE LEAST OF THESE

CARING FOR THE LEAST

This chapter contains several brief moments of Jesus’ teaching that all have a common theme in my mind: how do we treat the vulnerable? Let’s hear each of these snippets and then draw them together.

“. . .  whoever humbles himself and becomes like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. . . . whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. . . . If anyone causes one of these little ones . . . to stumble, it would be better . . . to be drowned in the depths of the sea. . . . Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot . . . your eye causes you to stumble, . . . throw it away. It is better for you to enter life . . . than to . . . be thrown into the fire of hell. . . . do not despise one of these little ones. . . . their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. . . . leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off . . . happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. . . . your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. . . .  whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. . . . The . . .  master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But . . . he found one of his fellow servants . . . you owe me!’ . . . Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger . . . handed him over to the jailers to be tortured. . . . This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Positive commands:

Humble yourself like a child. Welcome a child. Do not despise one of these little ones. Remove anything that causes you to stumble. Leave the ninety-nine who did not wander off and go look for the one. Bind or loose on earth and heaven. Have mercy on your fellow servant. Forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

I had never put all of these together, to see them as a group. But when I think about my neighbors and various vulnerable people I know, including children, those with illness and disability, those who are lacking resources or skills, those who are struggling in life, whether because of poor choices or simply because they have been dealt a tough hand in life. I even think about what Jesus says about someone who refuses to repent, and Jesus says to treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. And I think of Matthew and his “sinner” friends, and how Jesus treated them. If I ever err, I would rather err in showing mercy and forgiving from my heart than to err on the side of rejecting someone because I don’t have the time or judging them because their particular sin irritates me.

Rewards:

Greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Welcome Jesus. Enter life unencumbered. Angels of little ones are always before my Father. Happier about the one sheep. Debt forgiven. Set  free. 

Warnings:

Drowned in the sea! Woe! Stumble.Thrown into the fire. Wander off. Perish. Handed over to be tortured.

My conclusion: I need to protect those who are under my influence from stumbling. I need to have mercy on those who struggle. I need to watch my life and doctrine closely. I need to forgive from my heart. This is the prevailing ethic of the kingdom of heaven: forgiveness. I have been warned about the alternatives if I ignore this teaching from Jesus. I suppose I’d rather be rewarded than punished. Amen.

So, let us watch out for the least of these. I’m determined to learn what this means: I desire mercy , not sacrifice. I want to be willing to leave the 99 happy, safe, easy-to-shepherd ones and go find and rescue the one who has wandered away. I want to not be the one who makes a person to stumble, I want to not break a reed that is already bruised, and I want to help Jesus heal and restore the ones who are broken. Lord, here am I. Send me.

0119 HOW TO SHEPHERD A STRAY

THE ONE WHO WENT AWAY

Do you know how a good shepherd works? Basically, a good shepherd does two things: Provide and protect.

A shepherd provides by herding the sheep to good grazing ground, finding fresh water, and nourishing each sheep’s health. A shepherd protects by watching vigilantly for enemies and other dangers, and by putting himself between his sheep and danger. A truly good shepherd is focused on his sheep, not on himself.

So, at the end of the day, as the sheep are moving from grazing in the pasture to sleeping in the safety of the fold, the shepherd looks each one over good. Calls each sheep by name, and each one comes because she recognizes her shepherd’s voice. Then he holds that sheep tenderly and looks into her eyes, looks over her coat, her legs, her tail. Sees if she has any cuts or injuries. Anoints her with oil if she does. Speaks words of comfort and assurance while giving her a check-up.

Do you know how to shepherd a man with your eyes? Have you ever received a spiritual check-up?

Here’s how you do it:

Stop, and look him square in his eyes for about, oh, five seconds or so.

With a hand on each of his shoulders, look through his eyes (which are the lamp of the body) and search down into his soul. See his childhood hurts, his aspirations, his worries and priorities. Go a bit deeper and see what he loves, how it goes with his soul, and judge the thoughts and intentions of his heart. 

Then, while you are seeing all those secrets and ambitions of that man, love him. Love him with your whole being. 

I guarantee one thing when you shepherd a man in this way: Tears will well up in your eyes, and your heart will break with the secret things the Spirit whispers to you.

This is a deeply spiritual exercise, and it takes a true shepherd to do it.

I only know about it because I have seen the Great Shepherd do this very thing. Many times. With each of the twelve, when he called us to follow him, he saw into our lives, spoke something prophetic into us, perhaps gave us a new name, and issued a challenge. The little children experienced it regularly from the Master. He would call the little one by name, place his hands on them, pray for them, and bless them. Speak into their futures and set a godly calling before them. It was the Lord’s favorite thing to do, I believe.

I’ll tell you, when you have been shepherded by the Good Shepherd, your life will never be the same. Most of us after being shepherded like that by Jesus dropped everything and followed after this Man who spoke into the deepest part of our hearts, revealing the secrets of our hearts. Everyone who has had those piercing eyes look into the deepest recesses of their soul walks away changed.

But it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes a person refuses to be shepherded. Hard to believe, but some of us are rogues. Jesus looks at us long and loves us, and we turn and walk away.

Let me tell you the odd story of a young man who refused Jesus, and what happened to him.

So, we’re heading out to begin another journey, when a young man comes running up to Him. He kneels down, and pants, “Good Teacher, what good thing should I do to inherit eternal life?”

I’m not afraid to tell you, I was impressed. This guy was the ideal disciple, in my estimate. Well-dressed. So ambitious that he ran, he knelt, he addressed Jesus respectfully. He was zealous to inherit eternal life. He kind of put the rest of us to shame there for a minute, to be honest.

So Jesus commenced to doing what He does best. He shepherded the man. Only this time it was nothing but tough love.

“Why so quick to talk about good? Only God is good!” . . . “So if you call me good, are you prepared for the implications of that title? Never flatter a man to get an answer you want. I don’t work like that.”

“Sorry, Lord. I meant to ask you about doing good.”

“And that’s another thing: If you think that you can do enough good to enter eternal life, you sadly misunderstand the holiness of God.”

“No, sir. I understand. I think I almost have it. What more do I need to do?”

“You know the commands. Things like, ‘Never murder.’”

Check.

“how about hate?”

huh?

Never commit adultery.

Got it.

How about lust?

Wha..?

Never steal.

Sure.

How about coveting?

I don’t …

Never lie.

I never do.

What about right now?

Are you saying…?

Do not defraud.

Is that one in the Ten….?

“Honor your father and mother.”

Not a problem. I have obeyed all of these commandments since I was a child!”

And here was the moment that I’m talking about. Jesus looked into that man’s eyes, and He loved him. Loved him. We could see the tears welling up and spilling over, down the Master’s cheeks. That was love. Sacrificial love, running down into his beard and onto his robe. He saw right into him. Knew that young man was so thoroughly a liar that he didn’t even know it. Knew that he was proud and self-satisfied, thinking that some small extra tweak in his character would make him—it makes me almost laugh to say it—good! Good enough for eternal life!

And from that deep, deep love of Jesus came a question that was as sacrificial and selfless as any ever said. Jesus sniffed His runny nose, and, through tight throat and moist eyes, He says, “You are just one good deed away, my friend. Go and sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come and follow me.”

The man’s face fell, from hopeful expectation to dejected disappointment. He and Jesus both knew that this requirement, this one more good thing, was the one thing he could not bring himself to do. He was a wealthy young man. He had many possessions. He thought God’s eternal life was another possession that he could add to his trophies. But instead of being like the man who found a treasure buried in a field, or like the man who found the pearl of great price, those men who sold everything to get something worth far more, this man was being asked to trade everything that he could see in order to obtain something he could not see. Jesus knew the one true idol in the center of this man’s life, and He went right to that tender spot.

Now, here’s the part that really blows me away. The young man turns and walks away sadly. He is not running, kneeling, asking or seeking anymore. He is shuffling in the dust, downhearted and without hope.

That’s not what blows me away. It is this: Jesus lets him go. He throws down a commandment that is impossible to keep, and never corrects it. He doesn’t chase down the guy and tell him He’s just joshing with him. Doesn’t say, “No one has to keep that standard, buddy! Give me ten percent, and you’ve got eternal life. Then follow if you like. Don’t take me so seriously.”

When I confront someone and he repents, then I know it was God who prompted my rebuke. But when I say something and it backfires on me, I always question whether or not I was hearing clearly from the Spirit. But Jesus was one with the Father. He only spoke what he heard his father saying. And when someone walked away, or turned and betrayed him, or denied even knowing him, or crucified him, Jesus with all confidence let them go, or restored, or forgave.

And that’s how you shepherd a stray.