He Provides for His Children

 April 23, 2024.

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

-Mark 8:1-10 (ESV)

Have you ever doubted or wondered if God actually hears your prayers?  Have you ever doubted that God would provide for your needs?  I’m reminded that Matthew 6:28-30 tells of God taking care of his people.  Does God actually provide for his people?

Newcomers to Christianity may think that once I commit to Jesus Christ, everything in life will be easy and straightforward.  That concept couldn’t be further from the truth.  In fact, Jesus promises in this life, there will be trouble (John 16:33).  Dear Christian, know that Jesus Christ cares for you and he provides for his children (his followers) just as he always has in the Old Testament, New Testament and beyond.  He will take care of you!

I probably say many passages are my favourites, but yes, this is another one.  By the time when we get to our story, Jesus had already fed the over 5,000 people on the west side of the Sea of Galilee primarily dominated by Jews.  After one of the many times he crosses over to the east side, he performs a similar miracle and this time by feeding over 4,000 people.  I say over 4,000 because it was that time and culture that men were accounted to represent households.  The real number could’ve been over 12,000 for all we know.  One thing worth noting is that Jesus always intended to seek and save his lost children and that includes his lost children that are Jews and even non-Jews or Gentiles.  The east side of Galilee was primarily dominated by Gentiles, but this crowd following Jesus probably had a mix of Jews and Gentiles alike.  They heard about Jesus and the miracles he performed previously.  They were captivated by Jesus and they risked it all to follow after Jesus.

Understanding that all of these people followed him a great distance and for even three days, it says that Jesus have compassion on the crowd.  The Greek word for compassion here is splagchnizomai, and it means to be moved in the inward parts, i.e. to feel compassion.  However, it’s also much more than that.  It’s an intense feeling that is felt in the deepest and most crucial organs: the lungs, heart, liver and kidneys.  Thus we know that it’s a feeling of compassion that is so intense, it aches and affects these vital organs.  Simply put, Jesus had to act on that aching compassion and take care of his people!  From the perspective of those that followed, they were not satisfied with the lifestyle they had.  We don’t know if some of these people were poor, oppressed by rulers, bored, or afflicted by any other condition, but whatever it was, following Jesus was better than what they were leaving behind.  They didn’t know for how long they were to travel with Jesus, but it didn’t matter.  They were so driven to follow after Jesus and be with him, to experience him, and enjoy him that I believe they were willing to give-up all they knew.  And verse 8 tells us after eating, they were satisfied!

It is this very satisfaction that can only be found and met in Jesus.  Sure he took care of their physical needs, but I would argue that satisfaction really came from their deep, inner groans and in other words, their spiritual needs!  Jesus took care of both the physical and spiritual needs…..so I want to now ask you:  how far are you willing to journey with Jesus?  Are you willing to give up everything?  Is there a deep groaning and an urge to follow after Jesus, the Saviour of the world?  It won’t be an easy journey, but I promise you that he takes care of his children!

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Living with Uncertainty

 April 16, 2024.

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

-John 20:24-31 (NIV)

The event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is nothing short of miraculous!  It is the single defining moment that sums up all of Christianity!  It is by this single, defining moment that sets Christianity apart from all other faiths and belief systems.  In other words, all of Christianity rests upon the God-man of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.  If this event were not true or if it didn’t happen, then all life wouldn’t have meaning, purpose, direction or hope!  If this resurrection of Jesus Christ where Jesus rose from the grave, body, mind and soul didn’t happen, then Jesus would be proven to be a liar and therefore, he would just be like everyone else in history before or since.  Last Sunday I stressed that even some pastors falsely believe that Jesus didn’t rise in all three – body, mind and spirit.  There are some that believe he didn’t rise bodily and that he rose metaphorically or spiritually.  Following this twisted mindset would imply a counterfeit gospel and therefore, no gospel at all!

The story of Jesus’ resurrection taken from places like John 20:24-31 gives us great joy in knowing Jesus fully resurrected in every sense of the word.  I believe at this point in Thomas’ faith journey, he really wanted to believe but he needed specific proof!  Thomas wanted specific proof of Jesus’ resurrection on his terms and that’s why he specifically wanted to not only see, but also touch the nails and wound marks.  He wanted absolute and undisputed proof that Jesus indeed resurrected fully!...Jesus provided that proof!

After Jesus presented his body the way Thomas wanted, did you catch Thomas’ immediate reaction?  Most disciples still called Jesus as rabbi.  Thomas saw past that earthly title and immediately exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”  He knew it was only God that could resurrect himself!  As astonishing as the story is up till this point, I want to delineate the rest of our text here.

In verse 29, Jesus stressed, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.”  You see, belief after been shown indisputable proof is really knowledge, no different than throwing a tennis ball into the air, expecting it to come down.  The proven law of gravity tells us it’ll come back down and so that’s what happens – that’s knowledge!  While that’s great, I’m convinced that Jesus really wants believers to really believe with great faith, even if they’re not given “proven knowledge” all of the time.  Is it not enough to rest upon the fact that scripture is 100% inerrant, infallible and inspired?  Is it not enough to rest upon not being there at the empty tomb ourselves and to not touch Jesus’ resurrected body ourselves?

How else can we apply this same understanding?  My dear friends, while it’s true that we’re living in uncertain times in many ways (rumours of wars, natural disasters, economy hazards, troubled relationships, denomination woes, etc.), I want to ask you this:  When have any of the disciples and God’s followers ever lived without uncertainty?  When have any of God’s followers in the history of the Old Testament, New Testament and beyond ever lived without knowing with undeniable proof that there’s success in the near future?  The answer to this is….NEVER!!!

Though it’s not clearly stated in scripture, I believe Jesus came down to the level of Thomas out of relenting and from a compassionate heart, because it seems that Thomas wasn’t willing to budge until he got that undeniable, bodily resurrection proof!

I believe ideally, this shouldn’t be our modus operandi to belief!  We shouldn’t have to outright demand undeniable proof.  Instead, we are to daily walk in our belief with the faith of a child (Matthew 18:3), simply because of what our God says in scripture.  Good children listen to their parents out of love and trust, simply because of what their parents say, even without understanding the world around them and even without amassing a briefcase full of documented evidence.

Blessed are you who follow Jesus Christ and believe without the undeniable proof and live in tension and uncertainty.  Blessed are you who still faithfully follow after Jesus because you believe Jesus is the Messiah (the anointed One and Saviour/Deliverer of the world).  Blessed are you who believe that Jesus is the one, true and only Son of God!  And finally, blessed are you who believe these things that you may have life only in his name, and found nowhere else!

You live in tension and uncertainty? Good!  Now real faith comes into play!
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The Sun Turned Black….

 April 9, 2024.

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
-Rev. 6:12-14 (NIV)

Did anyone catch the solar eclipse the other day?  According to CBS news, solar eclipses occur every 18 months or so, but during most of them the spectacle is wasted on empty ocean.  Still, most would probably say the one that just occurred on Monday, April 8th, 2024 in New Brunswick was somewhat unique as it plunged much of the province into darkness, calling it a total solar eclipse (not partial).  I heard Miramichi made it a big deal with up to five days of festivities.  I even heard millions of people flocked to parts of Mexico to experience this galactic phenomena.  Still, others panicked and thought it’s the end of the world and Jesus is coming back any moment.  Some theorized that the eclipse pattern mimicked the shapes of the Hebrew first and last letters in aleph and tav (aka beginning and the end in Hebrew numerology).  It seems many fear death and darkness (thanatos and scotos in Greek) during these times and look to God during these moments.

For me, it was just a Monday.  Seriously though, it’s sad how people only turn to God when God is all they have.  Instead, we should be in the mindset of turning to God (through Jesus Christ), for each and every situation and not only when there is great uncertainty and potential ruin.  Moreover, the fearmongers take opportunities like this to try and calculate the exact time when Jesus makes his second return and until then, falsely think they can excuse themselves from God’s judgment and wrath.  Such people love to indulge in all kinds of sin, selfish ambitions and wickedness thinking all they have to do is to turn Jesus right before he comes and only then.

I remind everyone that Jesus Christ even said himself, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”  (Matt. 24:36).  When we look at our text in Rev. 6:12-14 it is the account of the sixth of seven seals being opened.  As each seal is opened, a judgment falls upon the world.  Now these things have to pass!  May we take comfort in knowing who is the one that is opening these seals – the Lamb of God in Jesus Christ!  He has everything under control!  The sun turned black, but it’s not the time of the sixth seal, and especially since the events and judgments of the previous five seals had not taken place yet.  In other words, it’s not the end, but unless we fix our eyes upon Jesus right here and right now, it might be the beginning of the end for some.  Moreover and instead of being so fixated on cataclysmic events now, I encourage everyone to focus on the person of Jesus now and his salvation!  Actually, instead of focusing on whatever problem may arise, focus on our God that is bigger than any problem or chaos event.  Instead of turning to God through Jesus Christ when God is all we have, how about turning to Jesus now and switch your mindset to turning to Jesus because he’s all we need?  Instead of thinking Jesus is our last option, daily live out that he’s our first and only option!  When Jesus says he is the Alpha and Omega (the Greek first and last letters) in Rev. 22:13, he’s not only stating he’s merely the beginning and end of all things and all time, he’s also stating he’s everything, as in everything we need in life, period!

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The Blood of Jesus

 April 2, 2024.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
-1 John 1:5-10 (NIV)

Friends, let’s not forget, let’s not EVER forget the unimaginable price that Jesus paid for us  by dying on the cross on Good Friday!  Let’s also not EVER forget the even greater work of Jesus Christ resurrecting from the grave!  One without the other would be meaningless and both have to constantly be at the forefront of how we live our lives.  Jesus couldn’t resurrect without dying, and if he died without the resurrection, then he would just be practically known as any other common person and a liar, and we would all end up in the grave with no hope as well.  However and thank goodness that both Good Friday and Easter Sunday happened just as God planned and intended – to save us and to save all of creation with it, for God’s glory!

With that in mind, sometimes you hear me preach about the concept of “cheap grace” and how many people take Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for granted.  Sadly, many people plan-out, meditate on, purposely and willfully sin and thereby forget the magnitude of Christ’s atoning work on the cross while being crucified.  Also, let’s face it in that we all have spiritual strongholds and habitual sins.  The great news for that is we’re all works in progress, meaning it’s not over yet! – Jesus holds the final outcome and salvation belongs to our God (Rev. 7:10).

….but do you know the opposite of “cheap grace”?  It’s a “limited grace!”  Matt. 12:31-32 talks about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and in context refers to the false accusation of Jesus being demon-possessed instead of being filled with the Spirit at the time of his earthly ministry.  However, the implications of that mindset extend to believers until today where it’s a type of rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.  In other words, it is unbelief!   

Apart from unbelief, the opposite of “cheap grace”, a “limited grace” would be to falsely believe that whatever sin you’ve done is too much for God to forgive! – that God’s grace is too limited and too small for my large sin!  It’s a false understanding that Jesus’ salvific grace is greater than Sin!  There is a reason why Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished!” (Jn. 19:30).  He said it because truly his work while on earth was completed, but he also said it to tell the world that no sin is greater than his redemptive work on the cross!  By his wounds we are healed (Isa. 53:5).  And in 1 John 1:5-10, we are reminded that in Jesus, there is no darkness! 

If you are a Christian, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and Saviour and repent of your sins, you are no longer at odds against God.  You are no longer a child of darkness, but are now a child of light, period!  After being a Christian, you have eternal fellowship with God the Father through Jesus Christ and because his redemptive work on the cross was so immense, it covers over all sin.  No matter what you’ve done, as long as you genuinely confess it, you are forgiven!  Psalm 103:12 tells us, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  That is such a powerful statement!  Admittedly, life is still not perfect and yes, we will still fall to sin, but the blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all sin.  It is crucial to know this!  It is crucial to live out the truth to live victoriously!  Why is this important?  - Because I don’t want you to fall into a trap where you may think, “Well, I’ve already sinned,  God will forgive me anyways and so I might as well keep sinning!  And whatever sin I’ve committed is too bad, too immoral, so let me just keep dwelling in filth and sin because I’m a hopeless cause!”  That type of thinking is both cheap grace and limited grace!

Christian, verse 9 of our text says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  There is no asterisks or special exemption here.  He will forgive our sins, no ands, ifs or buts.  This is the truth of the gospel!  Now it’s your turn to know it, remember it, and live it!  You are right with God through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, and by his blood, your sins are washed away.