Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Tommy told me that one of the “pat” answers that I used to give him when he was growing up was, “Keep your eyes on Jesus” or “What would Jesus do” no matter what the situation or question was. One day when he was seeking some financial advice, my answer to him was, “Fix your eyes on Jesus!”

When I heard that, I had two reactions. The first one was that I was and still am very embarrassed—embarrassed because I did not hear the seriousness of his question; Embarrassed because I did not hear the earnestness of his heart in seeking practical advice.

On the other hand, I am pleased that my children are remembering me in this way—as an eccentric whose cry was, “Fix your eyes on Jesus!” But it is my hope that these words eventually become more than a cliché or a “Dadism” in their lives. It is my hope that these words become the commentary of their lives. And it is my prayer that all their hopes and their hearts become permanently fixed on the One who has all the answers to life and godliness (II Peter 1:3).

Jesus Wept

It used to always baffle me why Jesus wept before He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead in John 11. Most people say it is because Jesus identified and felt the sorrow for those who had lost their friend and relative. What confused me about this answer is that at least half a dozen times in this passage of Scripture, Jesus tells people that this illness was not, “unto death” but “for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified…”

If the people that Jesus said this to understood this, they should have rejoiced at the Good News that Jesus was coming and Lazarus was going to live. Instead, all the people mourned, Mary wept, and I think that as Jesus looked at the unbelieving hearts, He wept.

Jesus wept again as He approached Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42). In Matthew 23:37-38 and Luke 13:34 we hear the cry of His heart, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

I don’t think that Jesus just wept for the religious people and for the Jews—the people of God. I think that Jesus also wept for His disciples who did not understand or believe that He was going to rise from the dead even after he told them He was going to do this time and time again.

It is easy for us to be a Monday morning quarterback or a back seat driver. It’s easy for us to look at the people in Scripture and tell ourselves that if we were there, we would have done this or that. But I think that we can find out how we would have responded back then if we were to consider how we respond to God today.

Over and over again the Scripture tells us that Jesus is coming back. Do we live in that hope and expectation? Or do we hold on to this life and the things of this life as if that’s all there is and that’s all that matters? I wonder...does Jesus weep for us?

Jesus Says

There are two frequent reactions or responses that I hear myself saying after Jesus speaks. The first one is, “Who do You think you are, Jesus?” I guess I have had my share of disappointments in life, that red flags go up in my head whenever people make statements that say, “Believe me!”, “Trust me.”, “You can count on what I say.”, or “You can bank on it.” All too often people either didn’t really mean what they said or they were unable to fulfill what they promised.

The second thing that I find myself saying to Jesus is, “That’s unreasonable and unrealistic!” Jesus says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away”, “if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away,” “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,” or “do not worry about your life.” The kind of life that Jesus expects is not something that I am able, never mind willing to do.

Yet, this is the kind of life that God demands. If we were to take God at His word, it will do one of two things: It will either make us throw our hands up in the air and give up, or it will drive us to our knees and cry out, “Lord, help me! Lord, save me!”

This is why following after or imitating Jesus has the same purpose as keeping the Law. Paul says, “…the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” (Galatians 3:24) Keeping the Law and imitating Christ reveals what is lacking in the Law and in us; therefore keeping the Law and following Jesus brings us to the foot of the cross. The sacrifice of Jesus does what the Law or our efforts cannot do—that is to be a holy and righteous people. If we believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father, it not only pleases Him immensely (Hebrews 11:4), but makes us righteous (Romans 3:22-23, Philippians 3:9).

Forgiveness

There are so many times in the past and present when things that I've said and done have come back to haunt me. Many times I've found myself on the ground or head up against the wall crying out, "Lord, help me! Lord, forgive me! Lord, save me!" And often in the midst of my struggles, I remember the words of the Hebrew writer: "For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more..." –Hebrews 8:12

In these words, I find relief from my anguish and I am comforted. As ironic as this may sound, I have come to appreciate my struggles and these painful moments because in my agony, I am brought face to face with my Savior. My trials remind me of who I am, who He is, and what Jesus has done for me on Calvary.

I look forward to the day when I will be full transformed into His likeness and then, too, I will remember my sins no more. Until that time, I am grateful that I am the one that remembers my sins and He is the one that forgets them. I rejoice that it is not the other way around...

Daniel

Most of us were surprised, if not shocked, when we heard that Daniel had died on Christmas Day. We were shocked because Daniel was such a young man and it didn’t seem right that his life was ended so abruptly. It just didn’t seem fair because he had just started out in life and he should have had a lifetime ahead of him. Because of his sudden death, some of us probably reflected on the uncertainties of life. It probably caused others to contemplate our own mortality.

At his funeral, all of the ministers that spoke recognized and acknowledged the sorrow and sadness among family and friends. However, all the ministers that spoke, focused on and emphasized the idea that this was a time of “Celebration” because when we looked at Daniel’s body, we were looking at an empty shell. Daniel was evicted out of his body and he was now at home with the LORD.

As I thought about Daniel’s death, I was reminded of the death of another. Like Daniel, Jesus also died. Like Daniel, Jesus was buried. But that’s where the similarities end. When we gathered around Daniel’s casket, we saw his body. When people went to Jesus’ tomb, it was, and still is, empty. Because it’s empty, we can have confidence in Jesus words: “He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11:26)

This is why a death of a believer is a time of celebration. When we approached the casket and looked at Daniel’s body, we didn’t see a corpse, we saw an empty tomb. Isn’t that something to celebrate?

(Note: Christmas Day marks the Advent of Jesus into this world. Last Christmas was Daniel's advent into heaven).

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

As I listen to some Christians talk, I sometimes wonder if we hear Scripture in the following way:

Paul, an apostle…by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful…peace to you from God our Father...Praise be to the God and Father…who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing…For He chose us…before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight…He predestined us to be adopted as His sons…in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace which He has freely given us…we have redemption…the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches…that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed…to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together…we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first…might be for the praise of His glory. And you were included…when you heard the word of truth, the gospel…Having believed, you were marked…with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory. –Ephesians 1:1-14

I also sometimes wonder if this was read from a pulpit if anyone would notice something missing. In this passage of Scripture, every reference to Jesus and His redemptive work was taken out. When we remove phrases like, “of Him”, “for Him”, “by Him”, “and through Him,” the emphasis of the text makes a dramatic shift. And yet, that’s the way we sometimes read Scripture.

Sometimes we make a big deal about predestination. Sometimes we make a bigger deal about being chosen and being the blessed of God. But what I think Paul wants us to see is that election is not possible without Jesus Christ. Paul is telling us that if Jesus was taken out of Scripture, he would not be an apostle, no one could claim to be a child of God, and we would be destitute of every spiritual blessing. This is why Paul continues to remind us not only what’s important, but WHO it is that we should remember, honor, and WHO really is the CHOSEN ONE before the creation of the world, “to the praise of His Glory.”

Disappointment

This past summer, our attention was turned to the Olympics in Beijing. As the Olympics began, one of the stories that caught my interest was that of the American Gymnastics teams. Before the Olympics began, it was announced that two of United States’ key competitors, a man and a woman, relinquished their spots on gymnastics teams. Because of injuries, the man withdrew his spot altogether and the woman withdrew from three out of four events that she was supposed compete in. For both competitors it was heartbreaking. They both had poured out their hearts, souls, and lives to participate in these events. They had labored long and hard and had come so close only to end up with extreme disappointment. I think that most of us have experienced a similar kind of disappointment—where we gave our all only to come away with extreme disappointment.

Jesus also experienced disappointment. Gospel writers, Matthew and Luke, record Jesus saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37-39, Luke 13:34). Can you hear the cry of Jesus’ heart? John writes, “He came to His own and His own received Him not” (John 1:10-11). For Jesus, His disappointment ended with His death.

For the most part, our disappointments are not fatal. But often when we experience such disappointments in life, there is no second chance. We have to swallow it and live with the results. That’s the way life is a lot of times…unless God is involved.

Thus we are reminded that even though Jesus’ death was fatal, it really did not end up in tragedy. The Hebrew writer tells us that even though Jesus scorned its shame, Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). The joy that was set before Him was your salvation and mine.

For centuries mankind has disappointed God. In the Garden, Adam disobeyed God. The people of God’s own choosing refused Him in the Wilderness. The people of God rejected His very own Son, Jesus. But when Jesus went to the cross, was buried and was raised from the dead, God makes one more appeal through Jesus inviting us to, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you...rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-30).

In life, we will experience many heartbreaks and disappointments. But we need to remind ourselves as we seek and strive to enter His Rest—the One who has shown Himself to be faithful throughout the centuries is the same One who claims that He will complete the good work that He began in us (Philippians 1:6). He has never disappointed His people in the past, and it’s a good bet that He won’t disappoint us in the future.

Knowing Scripture

I was substituting for Robin’s Bible Class for International Students last week. I asked my students if it were possible to read and study the Bible and not know God. Two of the girls replied, “It is impossible!” So we turned to John 5:39 & 40 which reads:

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

I then asked the class if they had any favorite authors. One of the girls said that she liked J.K. Rowling and that she had read all of the Harry Potter books. I then asked this girl, “If J.K. Rowling came here, would you be able to go up to her and say, “Hi, J.K.!” and would she know you?

She thought for a moment and then replied, “Even though I like her books, I have no personal interest in this person.” What a remarkable statement and how appropriate to the class discussion!

Even though I did not quote John 1—

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. (John 1:1, 14, 11)

We did talk about how God’s people, the people of the Scriptures (Bible) had no personal interest in the Author. Instead, they were the front runners in rejecting and crucifying Him. At the end of class I again asked the students, “Is it possible to know Scripture and not know God?” This time I got a harmonious, “Yes!” I thought it was a good class.

Irreverence?

The other day I heard a familiar hymn about Jesus that was oh, so different. If I had not been paying attention to the words, I would not have recognized the song. Someone had taken the words to an old favorite of mine, and had set it to a different tune. The music made me think that the song belonged in a Night Club. It reminded me of people like Sinatra singing with a microphone in one hand and a cigarette and champagne glass in the other. And while the song was one of my favorites, I could not sing along. I felt very uncomfortable because the music seemed very irreverent to the words that were being sung.

After some reflection, I came to the conclusion that the artist probably did not mean to disrespect the LORD. The artist probably wanted to communicate “the message” and wanted to “speak” to a certain culture or audience. And whether this is true or not, I suspect that it is still okay. The reason why I’ve come to this conclusion is because of what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:15-18, which reads:

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…”

Although I have reached this conclusion, I still feel very uncomfortable with this hymn being sung in this way. I will probably continue to struggle with this for a while, but I it is my prayer to align my mind, heart, and spirit with Paul’s words, “The important thing is…Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice! Yes, and I will continue to rejoice!”

The Gift of God

Several years ago, a man who used to frequent our church was going through some turbulent times in his life. One morning, during these days, he got up, sat outside with his cup of coffee and as he watched the sun rise, he said, “Here we go again.” His despair was very great.

I sort of have the same attitude as this guy. I have a hard time seeing life as a gift of God. I have lived long enough to see how life is full of disappointments, cruelty, and injustice. I have seen how life and relationships can be fragile, volatile, temporal, and uncertain. Somehow thinking that my life is so much better than 90% of the world and that my children are so much better off than those starving “third world children” does not really comfort me or make me feel better. When I look at life with these eyes, I can see how people can become hard, cold, and calloused and if life was a “gift from God,” I can see how people might think that God has a morbid sense of humor.

However, when I consider that the “Gift of God” is really God, Himself, I can look at life differently. I can declare with the Psalmist, “…though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You (O, LORD) are with me…” (Psalms 23:4) And again, “O God…earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalms 63:1) I can also add my voice along with the multitudes and sing, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.”

I would “cash in my chips” in life except if it weren’t for the promise of “Immanuel—God with us…always, even to the end of the age.” For this reality, I am eternally grateful and forever His.

Drawing Power

I often marvel at the sports section of a newspaper and wonder how long it takes someone to think up its headlines. I also wonder if they pay someone to sit there and think up these catchy headlines. If you’re a sports enthusiast, you know what I am talking about. The headlines in the sports section catch my eye almost every time because there is a clever pun with a player’s name, a team’s name, or a city’s name. I am amazed that they can come up with these plays on words day in and day out.

In I Corinthians 2:1-4 Paul writes,

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Sometimes I get the idea that Christians think that the “gospel message” is not good enough. Sometimes I get the impression that Christians think that we need to help God out by making “the gospel message” more appealing or attractive to others.

Paul says the power of the “gospel message” does not lie in our ability to make it more presentable or devising a more clever technique or program, but it rests of God’s ability to draw people with His plain and simple message.

Jesus says it this way,

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw* all men to myself. (John 12:32)

Jesus is saying that when He is crucified, He will drag* all people to Himself. The Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the drawing power of God. If this is not the message that is drawing us, perhaps it is not God that is reeling us in.


Notes:
*This same word is used in John 21:6 for hauling in a catch of fish and in Acts 16:19 Acts 21:30 when the crowd brings Paul from one place to another.