Staying on Mission and Staying on Message

Turning Points

There are critical turning points in every story. It’s that moment when the choice is made that will make all the difference. Maybe you don’t realize it at the time. Maybe the decision may not make sense at the time. It’s only when you have the luxury of time and perspective that you see this was a decisive and defining moment.

Things happen. Momentum builds. As a result, the next move seems obvious. But suddenly with little warning, the story makes a sharp left when the whole world expected it to turn right. The narrative reverses field and goes surprisingly against the grain.

The Very Urgent Versus the Most Important

Has this happened in your life? Too many times we lose focus on our original purpose. Why? The very urgent overtakes the most important. We allow circumstances to sidetrack us. We take the obvious next step. Before we know it, we’re so far off mission that Google Maps can’t save us.

But there’s one Person who seized those moments and made the right call…even when it didn’t make sense at the time. Jesus never allows the very urgent to overtake the most important. How? By spending time alone with the One who sent Him, His Heavenly Dad. As a result, the Messiah stays on mission and stays on message.

Sabbath Saturday in Capernaum

That’s what we see in Mark 1:35-36. Jesus is blowing the lid off the joint in Capernaum. It all escalates quickly. VERY quickly. The incredible momentum begins to build when He picks His first four followers, two pairs of brothers who are career commercial fishermen (Mk 1:16-20).

Stuff really begins to pick up steam on a Sabbath Saturday at the local synagogue. The Rabbi/Carpenter from just up the road in Nazareth gets the privilege to preach. And does He ever! Worshipers have never heard anything or anyone like Him before (Mk 1:21-22). If that’s not enough, Christ performs an on-the-spot exorcism right in front of everybody and sends the evil spirit running packing (Mk 1:23-28).

When Opportunity Pounds

Follow that up with His instantaneous healing of Simon’s mother-in-law after leaving the synagogue (Mk 1:29-31). Clearly word gets out about what’s gone down and it transforms Simon and Andrew’s home into a crowded urgent care clinic well into the night (Mk 1:32-34).

As this crazy day comes to a close, you think you know what’s coming. Jesus sleeps in after a very busy day. When He does wake up, He sets up shop in Capernaum and people continue flocking to see Him.

It only makes sense. He’s the hottest thing in town. He’s gotta leverage the moment. The door is opening and He needs to walk right through. Opportunity isn’t just knocking. It’s pounding with both fists!

Choose Your Own Adventure

At this moment, Mark’s Gospel reminds me of those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. These little jewels give kids the chance to make critical choices in the storyline and determine the main character’s actions and the plot’s outcome. You get a few options at critical points. Whatever you pick directly impacts the end of the story.

But Jesus does EXACTLY the opposite of what everybody expects. It’s been a super busy Saturday. It was late into the night when He healed the last person and chased away the last demon. Who could blame our Savior for catching a few extra Zs on Sunday morning?

Zero Dark Thirty

If you’re like me, you’re surprised to see our Savior stirring at Simon and Andy’s house before sunrise. Not only is the Rabbi/Carpenter awake but He’s on the move. “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (v35). The sun may not be up yet but the Son of God sure is.

A closer look at the Greek confirms just how early Jesus gets going. The phrase “before daybreak” (Gr. εννυχον/ennuchon) is actually a compound word that literally means “in the night” or “at night.” That’s why some other translations call Christ’s nocturnal exit as happening “while it was still dark” (v35 NIV, NASB, ESV).

Mark follows that up with a few more specifics on just when the Lord leaves. “The next morning” is actually just one little word in the original language (Gr. πρωι/proi) which describes what First Century Jews called the last watch of the night. In other words, between 3-6am. We’re talking Zero Dark Thirty.

100% God and 100% Man

Instead catching a bit more shuteye and recharge for Day 2 of more crowds and a crammed calendar, “Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (v35). He does the opposite of what we might expect. He wakes up early. He leaves before sunrise. Why? To get alone with His Heavenly Dad.

It’s usually at points like this in the story of Jesus that we need to remind ourselves that He’s the God Man. 100% God. No question about it. But He’s also 100% human as well.  Theologians cooked up a fancy schamcy term called the Hypostatic Union to try and wrap their heads around the Incarnation of God into a human body.

As the God Man, Jesus is fully man. He’s not some sort of heaven-sent Superman just pretending to be Clark Kent. In other words, He needs a good night’s sleep just like the rest of us. I’ve got a sneaking suspicion the Lord is wiped out when He rolls out of the rack. In doing so, He reveals the priority of His relationship with His Father. It means devoting the very first part of His day to His Dad.

No Distractions

The Lord looks for “an isolated place to pray” (v35). Long before dawn, Jesus gets alone. No crowds. No TV. No iPad. No smartphone. No distractions. If you had the chance to chat with the Sovereign God of the universe, wouldn’t you want to hear Him clearly?

I’m tapping out these words on my laptop early on a Wednesday morning. The sun hasn’t hit the horizon yet. I don’t do this to thump my own chest or earn bonus points from God. I get up in order to eliminate distractions so I can hear from Jesus. Am I tired? You betcha. But He consistently uses these quiet moments to meet with me so I want to hear Him clearly.

God uses our early AM appointments to get me ready for the day. But maybe mornings aren't your jam. You may be able to find a lonely place at lunch. You could be one of those people who can spend time with the Lord just before bed. Whatever time it is, make it a habit get alone with God. With no distractions. I promise, you won’t regret it.

The Divine Dance

Meanwhile back in Mark’s Gospel, we see Jesus getting alone…to pray?!?! Here’s another one of those unexpected turns the story takes. Why would the Son of God need to pray. Why does God need to talk to God? For heaven’s sake, He’s the Second Person of the Trinity. It’s easy to think that if ANYBODY doesn’t have to pray, it’s Jesus!

Did you ever cross your mind that our Savior WANTED to pray? That He LONGED to pray? It makes perfect sense when you think about it. The Holy Trinity is the perfect relationship. Father, Son, and Spirit absolutely love being together. So much so that ancient preachers saw the Three Persons of the Godhead in a divine dance.

The Son Calls Home

After leaving heaven on this holy rescue mission, Jesus desperately wants to hear His Dad’s voice. Think of calling home when you’re on the road. You need to hear the voice of the one you love. I know I do. 

Here we see the Son calling home. Just to let you know, the Father would love to hear from us when we have a moment. When’s the last time we called our heavenly home?

Just how close are the Father and Son? So close that on the night before His murder Jesus asks His Dad that His followers “may be one as We are one…May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me” (Jn 17:22, 23). Our Savior wants us to enjoy the depth of His relationship with His Father.

Too Busy NOT to Pray

Jesus also prays BECAUSE of the gravity of His mission. In the words of Bill Hybels, He’s too busy NOT to pray! This quiet time alone with His Dad resets Christ after that crazy Saturday in Capernaum. You can bet He thanks Abba for all He was able to do the day before.

But this is just the beginning of what He came to do. There’s so much more to do. So many more people who need to hear the Good News of God’s kingdom. So many more who need a healing touch. So many more who need the love that will drench the planet from a Roman cross at Calvary. This quiet moment allows the Messiah to stay on mission and stay on message.

In High Demand

This becomes glaringly apparent as we pick up the action in Mark’s Gospel. Suddenly Jesus is no longer alone. “Later Simon and the others went out to find Him. When they found Him, they said, ‘Everyone is looking for You’” (v36-37). Here’s something we’ll a lot more of in Scripture. Simon Peter taking the lead. In this case, he’s probably leading the other three fishermen.

Pete and the boys let Jesus know He’s in high demand back in town. Now’s Your chance. Opportunity is pounding on the door. Come on back to Capernaum and capitalize on the buzz and excitement that just went down on the Sabbath! Let’s do this!!

Keeping Jesus All to Ourselves

Who can blame them? That was quite spectacle on Saturday. The only problem is that folks want a show, not a Savior. They want miracles, not a Messiah. Be honest. We’re still doing the same thing. We would still rather watch Him than worship Him. Let’s not be too quick to throw the Galileans under the bus.

In his version of this same story, Luke tells us how the people did everything they could to try and keep Christ from leaving town. “They begged Him not to leave them” (Lk 4:42). They hope to keep Jesus all to themselves. Instead of sharing Him with the world, He would be their local attraction.

Trending on Twitter

But once again, the Lord makes the unexpected choice. He tells His boys, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came” (v38). After spending a quiet time alone with His Father, Jesus refuses to allow the very urgent to trump the most important. He won’t allow the fact that He’s suddenly trending on Twitter to trash what he came to do.

Because of His morning, the Messiah stays on mission and stays on message.

Christ Includes Us

Did you catch that Jesus says “WE must go” (v38 emphasis added)? He could do it all by Himself but He includes His brand new followers. He certainly doesn’t need them. The Lord is still involving us in His work to this day. Christ invites us and includes us in His mission. We don’t just have front row seats to watch Him do His thing, He wants us on the playing field right next to Him!

Think about what might have happened if Simon and the boys had been able keep Him in Capernaum. The Messiah’s message never leaves town. He never completes His mission. If that’s the case, do you I ever hear about God’s amazing grace?

A couple of thousand years later, we’re still trying to put Jesus in a box. Too many times I’m trying to force Him to follow my agenda and stay focused on my to-do list. Hey, here’s an idea…let’s join Jesus in what He is doing. He says the same thing to us that He did to Simon and the boys. “We must go.”

The Lord Has Target Lock

And with that, they hit the road. “So He traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons” (v39). So that Sabbath Saturday in Capernaum was simply a sneak preview of what was to come (Mk 1:21-28). Because of His morning in prayer, the Lord has target lock. No mission creep here.

Prioritizing Prayer

So if prayer’s good enough for the Son of God, shouldn’t it be something I must prioritize? Do I rationalize away my lack of quiet time with God by pointing to my calendar? Have you seen all I have to do today? Seriously, am I really busier than Jesus? Not so much. Instead, there’s a pretty good chance I’m too busy NOT to pray.

Setting our eyes on Jesus allows us to choose the most important over the most urgent. We start making unexpected decisions. People will probably scratch their heads when they think we’ll go one way but we go in an unanticipated direction. Only from God’s perspective do these choices make perfect sense.

When I do set aside time in the morning with Him, a funny thing happens. His choices become my choices. His mission becomes my mission. His message becomes my message. Other than God, who saw THAT coming?

©2017
Jay Jennings

God Makes House Calls

No Deductibles, No Copays

With the ongoing debate over healthcare (take a deep breath, we’re NOT getting political here!), it’s almost impossible to think of a day when doctors actually made house calls. Yup, it’s true. I remember back in a previous millennium when the family physician would come to you when you couldn’t get there.

No calls to the insurance company about whether something is covered. No worry about whether this doctor was “out of network.” No deductibles. No copays. The doc and his little black bag would simply swing by and bring healing your house. When you couldn’t get to help, help came to you.

Capernaum’s Urgent Care Clinic

In Mark’s bio of Jesus, he writes about the day the Son of God makes a house call right after church (Mk 1:29-34). Before it was all said and done, the Great Physician transforms one of his new disciples’ homes into a crowded and crazy urgent care clinic in Capernaum.

From Zero to Sixty

But let’s back up for a little context. The opening chapter of Mark’s story of the Messiah certainly gets off to a rip roaring start. This Gospel goes from zero to sixty like the meanest muscle car. Your head is spinning after just a few short verses. Once you’re strapped in and ready, we’ll review. Punch it!

The story begins with some quick road construction in order to prepare the highway for the high speeds we’re about to experience (Mk 1:1-3). Next, Jesus’ weird cousin John shows up as the opening act to get everyone ready for His message (Mk 1:4-8).

Things really get going the day Christ comes to the Jordan to be baptized by John. The other two Members of the Trinity can’t get there fast enough (Mk 1:9-11). Then Jesus wastes no time and opens His schedule by playing the toughest road game you can imagine, winning a forty day duel with the devil in the desert (Mk 1:12-13).

The Original Fast and Furious

Right after that, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter begins building the team He’ll use to transform the world. No, not with summa cum laude seminary grads and spiritual superstars. Instead He drafts four commercial fishermen (Mk 1:16-20). Not long after, Jesus shocks folks at a sleepy local synagogue not only with His incredible teaching but a rather raucous exorcism (Mk 1:21-28).

That’s all in just the first chapter! Is your head spinning? It’s my contention that Mark’s writing the original Fast and Furious. Well, we’d better hang on. The action doesn’t stop there!

Lunch after Church

We pick things up with Jesus and His first four followers leaving that crazy day of worship in Capernaum. “After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home” (v29). Christ and His brand new crew head are apparently coming over for lunch after church.

There are a few neat points to notice in this little verse. Both Matthew and Luke tell this very same story as well but Mark is the only one who mentions Jim and John. I mean, it certainly makes sense. Jesus asked them to join Him the same day as Simon and Andrew.

Two Boys from Bethsaida

Notice that Simon and his little brother Andy share the same home in the fishing village of Capernaum. You may remember John tells us these two guys are originally from Bethsaida (Jn 1:144). That’s just a little less than nine miles up the beach of the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida sat at the foot of what’s known today as the Golan Heights.

Tradition holds that this home was just a block away from the synagogue. How do we know that? If you’re lucky enough to swing by Capernaum today, you’ll not only see the remains of an ancient synagogue but the place folks believe where Simon lived just down the street. Modern Christians built a church that looks like a flying saucer right over the location of the home. Nothing says First Century faith like a UFO.

The Married Disciple

Mark let’s us know from Jump Street that Simon and his kid brother share the home with their extended family. “Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever” (30). The apostle Jesus nickname’s Peter is clearly married BEFORE he started following our Lord.

This kinda trashes the idea that you have to be some sort of unmarried monk in order for God to use you in a big way. As a matter of fact, Paul makes the point that Pete and his lovely bride do a good bit of traveling together as they spread the news about Jesus (1Cor 9:5).

Caring for Those Who Can’t Care for Themselves

The fact that Simon’s mother-in-law is living with her daughter’s family probably means that her husband has died. Remember, there’s no Social Security, nursing homes, or retirement communities back in those days. An elderly widow had no way of supporting herself. She desperately needed friends and family in order to survive.

This is why God goes out of His way to tell Jesus’ followers to take care of widows, orphans, and anyone else who can’t take of themselves (James 1:27). Paul instructs Timothy that younger ladies who’ve lost their husbands shouldn’t be looking for a free ride (1Tim 5:16). But the church has the responsibility to help women who have no family support (1Tim 5:9-10, 16).

She’s Got a Fever!

Meanwhile back at Simon’s house, his mother-in-law is burning up and can’t get out of bed. Mark uses a Greek word (Gr. πυρεσσω/puresso) to describe her fever which literally means to be on fire. We all know just how terribly helpless we are when our body temp soars into triple digits.

How sick is she? When Dr. Luke diagnoses Pete’s mother-in-law, he uses medical language in the original text to say she is “very sick with a high fever” (Lk 4:38). MacArthur says that the good doctor hints that her condition is critical and quite possibly life threatening. Remember, it’s not like she could pop a couple of aspirin or ibuprofen to knock the fever down.

She’s got a fever and the only prescription is NOT more cowbell. (My apologies to Bruce Dickinson. I just had to get that out of my system.) Whatever they’ve tried to this point has clearly not worked. Her temp has spiked and she needs help right now.

Tell Jesus First

Once Jesus walks through the front door, everything changes. Maybe it’s because of what just what they saw the Lord do at the synagogue, but they don’t waste a second in asking Him to help. “They told Jesus about her right away” (v30).

Mark once again uses his favorite Greek word ευθεος/eutheos. It means immediately, at once, right away, and indicates the very next event in a sequence. He drops it eleven times in chapter one alone! A form of this word shows up more than 40 times in Mark…that’s more than the rest of the NT combined!!

The Priority of Prayer

Had they already pleaded with God for healing? Was Jesus appearance that Sabbath an answer to their prayers? We don’t know. It IS clear that once Christ arrives, they waste no time in telling Him exactly what’s going on.

Here’s one thing you and I can take away from this moment at Pete’s house. We need to make prayer our priority. I like how Oswald Chambers puts it. “We tend use prayer as our last resort but God wants it to be our first line of defense.” Too many times we wait until nothing else has worked. Too many times we pray as a last option. Let’s give God a shout right from the start.

He IS Help

He’s always right there and ready. One of the hit songs in the boxed set of the great worship tunes we call the Psalms makes that clear. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1 ESV). Notice how the psalm writer personifies God as help. He not only helps. He IS Help. The folks at Simon’s house are going to find that out in just a few minutes.

When we can’t get to help, Help comes to us.

Home Comes for Us

After they tell Jesus of her high fever, He wastes no time. “So He went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up” (31). Did you catch that? Christ comes to her! And why wouldn’t He? If the Son of God is willing to leave the comforts of heaven to come and save us, there’s nothing that will stop Him from coming to our house to help.

That’s the core of the Gospel right there. God is THE Initiator. He’s the One who is on the move to come to our rescue and make things right. It’s actually the truth behind the tagline for the movie “Dunkirk.” When we can’t make it home, home comes for us.

Jesus’ Go-To Move

But Jesus didn’t just stand there and stare at Pete’s mother-in-law. He gets personal and “took her by the hand” (v30). Jesus touches her. You see, touching is His go-to move. Over and over again, Christ scores with a touch.

NBA fans know what I’m talking about. Kareem had the Skyhook. George Gervin had the finger roll. Olajuwon had the Dream Shake. Jesus has His Touch. We see Him reach out and make physical contact time and time again (Mt 8:3; 9:29; 20:34; Mk 1:41; 7:33; 10:16; Lk 22:51). Touching is His go-to move. And in order to touch, He has to get close.

When we can’t get help, Help comes to us.

Get Well NOW!

They don’t have wait long at Pete’s house for healing. The very moment Jesus touches Simon’s mother-in-law, “then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them” (v31). Notice that little word “then.” There’s Mark’s favorite little adverb once again, ευθεος/eutheos! Jesus has His go-to move. Mark has his go-to word.

As the Great Physician, Christ has the miraculous ability to heal ASAP! No convalescence. No recovery room. No waiting. No “get well soon.” This is get well NOW! Matthew and Luke back that up the story of immediate healing (Mt 8:15; Lk 4:39). That’s a sure sign that Someone has supernaturally gotten involved with your healthcare!

Sandwiches as Worship

In case we don’t have enough proof of a miracle already, Simon’s mother-in-law jumps out of bed and starts whipping together lunch! She makes the meal as an act of worship. It’s her response to what He has done for her.

If you’re looking for a definition of worship, you’ve got one right here. It’s our response to who God is and what He has done. When you think of all that He’s done, it’s hard to sit still. You’ve just GOT to do something! You’ve got to worship! You’ve got to respond to His goodness! Yeah, sometimes worship might mean making everybody sandwiches.

Notice what she is NOT doing. Peter’s mother-in-law is NOT cooking as a way of paying Jesus back. This is her way of saying “thank you.” She didn’t have to make the meal to pay for the heal.

But Wait, There’s More

You’d think that would make for a full Saturday. Let’s run down the list of all that’s gone down. Teaching with amazing authority at the synagogue. Chasing a demon out of a dude during worship. Instantaneous healing in the home down the block. We top it all off with a spread of delicious food with friends and Pete’s family.

But wait, there’s more.  “That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus” (v32). Remember a few verses back when “the news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee” (Mk 1:28)? Mark wasn’t kidding. At dusk, a line forms at the front door.

Twisting God’s Top Ten

Don’t miss how the writer points to the clock on the all and tells us how this happens “that evening after sunset” (v32). Sunset is the official sign that the Saturday Sabbath is over. God graciously gave His people the Sabbath as a day off after 400 years of nonstop work as Egyptian slaves (Ex 20:8-11).

Without giving too much away about what’s to come in Mark’s Gospel, the Sabbath is going to become a BIG hairy deal in his story of Jesus. These events at Simon’s house as well as that demonic throw down at the synagogue foreshadow what’s coming.

Religious bullies have twisted God’s Top Ten into a complicated code of commands that make the US tax code and NCAA manual look like children’s picture books. That includes the Sabbath. They’ve gone so far as to limit carrying people on stretchers to get help as “work.” So with the sun now down, people begin bringing friends and family who need Jesus’ healing touch.

Peter’s Story of Jesus

Since Help has come all the way from heaven to Capernaum, people line up at Simon’s house. “The whole town gathered at the door to watch” (v33). Folks come not just to get a miracle but to watch them being performed. Does Mark really mean every single person in this little fishing village came to Pete and Andy’s place? Got anything else to do on a sleepy Saturday evening in Galilee?

Once again, John Mark includes a detail the other Gospel writers do not. “The whole town gathered at the door to watch” (v33). Where does he get this observation? Straight from the Apostle Peter! Remember, some of the earliest church fathers said Mark’s Gospel is actually Pete’s personal memoir of Jesus’ life. It’s like one of those books we see. “Peter’s Story of Jesus…as told to John Mark.”

Ground Zero for Heaven’s Healing

Put yourself if Simon Peter’s sandals for just a moment. The past few days have been a whirlwind. The One you believe is Messiah has made you and your kid brother His first round draft picks. You see Him rock the crowd and kick demonic butt at your hometown synagogue. He heals your mother-in-law from her high fever in a heartbeat.

Now your humble home is ground zero for heaven’s healing and everybody’s come to watch. Imagine your pride, your gratitude, and your awe. And we know something that Peter didn’t at this point in the story. He ain’t seen nothing yet! The next three years will not only rock his world but ours too!!

No One-Trick Pony

Christ gives the crowd exactly what the came to see. Better yet, He gives those suffering exactly the healing they desperately need. “So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and He cast out many demons” (v34).

The Son of God isn’t just some one-trick pony. He’s not a specialist only dealing with one sort of health problem. He can do so much more than break a high fever. He heals all sorts of crazy illnesses. Demons are no big deal when He gets involved.

Does Jesus Still Heal?

Let me guess what some of you are thinking. A lot of folks believe Jesus may have been able to provide His healing touch back in the day, but that was then. This is now. He’s gone home to heaven and taken His miracles with Him.

Here’s the truth of the matter. The Son of God still heals. He provides the ultimate and final treatment for every one of His followers. For many, Jesus allows doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to use the gifts, talents, and abilities that He’s given them to heal people.

Not If but When

For a few others, the Great Physician gets personally involved in their care and supernaturally heals them. The rest of God’s children receive their miracle on the other side of eternity. Being the presence of God means no more pain, no more crying, no more disease, and no more death (Rev 21:4).

So for those of us who’ve placed our trust in Jesus, healing isn’t a matter of if but when. And we’re talking total healing. Physical. Emotional. And, most importantly, spiritual. It’s the kind of cure Isaiah writes about. “He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Is 53:5).

Controlling His Messianic Mission

Let’s swing by Simon and Andrew’s place and wrap things up. Once again, we see Jesus stuff a supernatural sock in the demons’ mouths when He casts them out of their victims. “But because the demons knew who He was, He did not allow them to speak” (v34).

Why wouldn’t Christ let them reveal His identity? Well, think about it. Would you let your sworn enemies run your PR campaign? Didn’t think so. Jesus has His own agenda. He has His own plan. And it doesn’t include allowing evil spirits to put their sinful spin on His messianic mission.

Break Glass in Case of Emergency

So what’s all this mean for you and me? First of all, we can’t leave Jesus at church when we leave. Just like He came home with Peter and Andrew, He wants to come home with you and me. He’s not just for Sundays anymore. As a matter of fact, He never was!

Second, let’s remember to go to Jesus for help and healing right from the start. He shouldn’t be one of those “break glass in case of emergency” doohickeys. Prayer should be our first call, not our last resort.

Third, let’s recognize that the Son of God is the ultimate source of all healing. No matter how it happens, it all comes from Him. He was. He is. He always will be. It’s all part of being the “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). He still heals.

Help comes to Us

That means inviting Him to be a part of your healing. Are you sick? Do you have a common cold or even cancer? Has an addiction grabbed ahold of your soul and won’t let go? Do you struggle with mental illness? Pray to the Son of God for His healing touch. Maybe, just maybe, He’ll work a miracle on this side of eternity. We’ll never know until we ask.

We can be sure that God still makes house calls. When we can’t get help, Help comes to us.

©2017

Jay Jennings

The Ground Is Level at the Foot of the Cross

Critters on a Blanket
 

Here in Acts 10, the Gentile centurion Cornelius has invited the Apostle Peter to come from Joppa to Caesarea Maritima.  God gave both of these men visions reinforce the importance of their meeting.   

Pete properly understood his rooftop vision of critters on a blanket to mean that "I should not call any person common or unclean."  In other words, God Himself was throwing the door of salvation open wide to non-Jews.  This would have been absolutely unfathomable to first century Hebrews (Acts 10:1-33).

Our Impartial God

After Cornelius tells Pete about his vision, the apostle uses the opportunity to preach to those at the home in Caesarea.  He begins by stating a powerful truth.  A truth that he is still trying wrap his brain around.  "Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality" (v34).

Or as Billy Graham likes to say, the ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Through Jews to Gentiles

Pete was seeing first hand that God's gracious offer of salvation wasn't limited to His chosen people.  And God was using Pete to take that Good News THROUGH Jews to Gentiles.  The Scriptures are full of passages proclaiming God's divine impartiality (Dt 10:17; 2Chr 19:7; Rom 2:11; Acts 15:9).  But only now is Pete beginning to understand exactly the scope of this truth.  

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Only One Door but Open to All

Pete's sermon is loaded with statements loved by both who see the divine sovereignty and control of God (Calvinists) as well as those see our personal responsibility and accountability to respond to His offer of grace through faith (Arminians).

This might be the best way to get a theological grip on such a slippery issue.  Almighty God has opened the door of salvation to all (how VERY inclusive!).  Yet there is only one door (how VERY exclusive!).

Your Invitation to the Party

"In every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him" (v35, emphasis mine).  Catch that? ANYONE who fears the Almighty.  Not a limited to a particular race or people group.  Anyone.  God has an invitation to His party with your name on it.  It doesn't matter who you are or where your from.  You are invited!  Don't miss the chance to RSVP to the most awesome event in all eternity!

No Limits on Forgiveness

Pete concludes this message by saying, "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name" (v43, emphasis mine).  Again, God extends His offer of forgiveness to everyone.  It's not limited to a particular neighborhood, zip code, skin color, background or demographic.  Everyone.  Do you fall into the category of "everyone?"  Thought so.  Again, we find this all-inclusive invitation throughout the Bible (Jn 3:16-18; Rom 10:11; Gal 3:22; Acts 13:38-39).

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Marching Orders for a Message

In his sermon, Peter tells of being an eyewitness to the mission and ministry of the amazing Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.  Jesus has extended the offer of a once-and-for-all peace treaty with God (v36).  The baptism of Jesus was actually God anointing His Son with His Spirit (v38).  This enabled Christ (i.e. "the Anointed One") to do miraculous things "because God was with Him."

The apostle describes seeing firsthand Jesus' brutal crucifixion (v39).  But he also talks about it didn't end there.  "God raised Him on the third day and made Him to appear" to those He had handpicked as witnesses (v40-41).  And Pete tells his Caesarean audience how the risen Jesus gave these witnesses marching orders to take His message of salvation and forgiveness to the entire world (v42).

Anyone and Everyone 
If you only remember two words from Pete's preaching, remember these.
-Anyone.
-Everyone.

We're all invited to God's party.  Anyone.  Everyone.  You.  Me.  Us.  Them.  Yes, even them!  The Good News is very bad news for those who think God's people will be some sort of homogenized racial society.

But there is ONLY one party.  It's only through the door of faith in Jesus and His completed work on the cross.  It's both inclusive and exclusive.  And if you accept His invitation, there's one thing you discover when you walk through the door.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

©2011
Jay Jennings

When Authority Comes to Town

Going to Church…Again

You wake up, rub your eyes, and roll out of bed. Before your feet hit the floor, you realize you’re headed to church today. It’s what you do every weekend…whether you want to or not. You know that’s the wrong attitude. But it’s the truth.

As you pour your coffee, you think about the day ahead. You’ll get together with friends and neighbors to hear some holier-than-thou guy talk about God. He’ll talk a lot of religious dumbo jumbo, most of which is way over your head. Pie-in-the-sky-sweet-bye-and-bye kinda stuff.

Same old Sabbath

When the preacher does teach something that makes some sense, it doesn’t exactly send your heart soaring. Quite the opposite. His message is nothing more than a religious ball and chain. A loathsome list of impossible dos and don’ts.

What’s even worse, you’ve heard it all before. Last week. The week before. The month before. The year before. Same old Sabbath. Same old synagogue. Same old sermons. Same old stuff. The faces of the preachers may change but there’s one thing that doesn’t. That religious rehash they warm up and serve every weekend.

A Podunk Village in Palestine

Sound familiar? Hit too close to home? For too many of us, this is EXACTLY what going to church was (and still is!) all about. Here’s the crazy thing. This was the very same attitude people had 2,000 years ago in a podunk fishing village in Palestine. Well, at least until the day Jesus came to town.

That’s exactly the scene Mark sets in his bio of Jesus midway through his opening chapter (Mk 1:21-28). The place is Capernaum, a tiny blue-collar burg on the northwest shore of a large freshwater lake we call the Sea of Galilee. It’s Saturday, the Jewish day of worship.

People fill the streets as they head to the local synagogue. It’s not like some go to First Baptist or Saint Moses Catholic or Capernaum Community Church. The synagogue is the only game in town. It’s not just the center of worship but the center of life for the city.

A New Rabbi in Town

But Mark tips us off that this particular Sabbath is going to be different. An unfamiliar face is there. There’s a new rabbi in town by the name of Jesus. He’s accompanied by four of His brand new followers who you swear you saw working as fishermen just a couple of days ago.

Here’s how the author describes that day. “Jesus and His companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, He went into the synagogue and began to teach” (v21). Same old Sabbath. Same old synagogue. But this is going to be a VERY different sermon. What’s about to go down is about to change absolutely everything.

Snap out of It!

Right out of the gate, this Rabbi/Carpenter from up the road in Nazareth is like no other teacher you’ve ever heard before. “The people were amazed at His teaching” (22). Jesus totally blows your mind. Normally folks can’t wait for the sermon to end. Today they don’t want Him to stop.

John Mark uses a word (Gr. εκπλεσσω/ekplesso) that the NLT translates as “amazed.” It literally means to hit something or someone suddenly in order to get something to leave. Ever see the movie “Moonstruck”? Cher’s character slaps Nicolas Cage to get his attention. “Snap out of it!” (Well, let’s be honest. Who hasn’t wanted to do that to Nic after sitting through one of his flicks?)

Jesus blindsides the boredom right out of the sleepy crowd at the synagogue. He snaps you out of it. He catches you off guard. He astonishes. He astounds. He bewilders. There’s just something about Him that grabs you by the shoulders and forces you to pay attention.

Shock and Awe

Christ’s teaching amazes people, not just once. But over and over and over (Mt 22:23; Mk 6:2). Jaws drop when He drops the mic at the end of His most famous sermon (Mt 7:28-29). Shock and awe are His signature.

Jesus awes the crowds when He brings the heat. Forget “amen” and “hallelujah.” You hear “oohs” and “aahs" when the Lord preaches and teaches. His lessons and lectures were absolutely amazing. And they still are!!

Blowing away the Religious Fog

What a great reminder that we need to regularly blow the religious fog out of the story of Jesus. Too many stale Sunday School lessons and mundane messages have covered His dazzling life under a thick layer of church dust. Grab a new Bible translation. Read Jesus fresh. Walk with Him for the first time all over again.

Remember, He’s unlike anyone or anything the world has ever seen. He brings a Gospel no one has ever heard before. He’s bringing grace and mercy straight out of heaven. Instead of demanding a hopeless climb to an unapproachable God, He brings God all the way down to us.

Real Authority

What is Jesus’ secret sauce for His sermons? “He taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law” (v22). Did you catch that? He wasn’t some self-promoting, self-proclaimed expert blogging from his parents’ basement. He has “real authority.”

The word most Bibles translate “authority” here is εχουσια/exousia. It describes power, strength, jurisdiction, or influence. At its core, the term means doing exactly what you want when you want where you want to whom you want.

Where does Jesus get this incredible ability? Right before He heads home to heaven, He tells His followers that His Father is the source. “I have been given all authority (Gr.εχουσια/exousia) in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). It’s that kind of heavenly authority that qualifies Him as Lord.

Tasteless Leftovers

This new Rabbi is so radically original that all you and your fellow worshipers can do is compare Him to the men who have taught before in the synagogue. His impact and influence is nothing like the tasteless leftovers that have been part of the regular diet on Sabbath. His new teaching is fresh and delicious!

The regular teachers simply taught the Old Testament by quoting the opinion and interpretation of rabbis. The Message puts it this way. Jesus was “not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars” (22 The Message). Their teaching is more like a nonstop argument trying to prove who’s right rather than pointing people toward God.

The Ultimate Authority

A couple of thousand years later, this garbage still goes on. You’ve heard the arguments. They’re all over the interweb. Who’s team are you on? John Piper’s or Rick Warren’s? John MacArthur’s or Bill Hybels’? Let’s be honest. We spend WAY too much energy arguing in public about which teachers are right when it comes to stuff like predestination, speaking in tongues, evangelism, and even style of worship. Come on, people.

We still play the same silly games as the Capernaum rabbis. We LOVE to quote folks like Chuck Swindoll, Matt Chandler, Andy Stanley, and C.S. Lewis. Don’t get me wrong. These are heavyweight teachers when it comes to Scripture. I love them all. But why not read about Jesus straight from Jesus? Why not get God’s Word directly from God’s Word?

But Jesus doesn’t quote other rabbis and their opinions. He didn’t need to. As the Son of God, He’s the Go-To Guy on what Scripture says and what it means. Forget the Bible Answer Man. Christ doesn’t need to Google or Youversion. He IS the Ultimate Authority.

When Worship Goes off the Rails

If Saturday at the synagogue wasn’t crazy enough already, we’re about to turn it up a notch or two. “Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’” (v23-24).

Here in the middle of Jesus’ message, a guy shouts back at the new Rabbi. Whoa. Sure, there have been a few times I felt like the pastor has gone from preaching to meddling in his message, but I’ve never stood up and shouted at him to stop! This worship service in Capernaum has officially gone off the rails! I mean, WAY off the rails!!

The Weird Guy in Town

On the other hand, you’re not really all that surprised at the dude challenging the guest Speaker. He’s the weird guy in town. Yeah, THAT guy. The guy who mumbles to himself a lot. He makes you uncomfortable. Shoot, he makes EVERYBODY uncomfortable! Conversations with him are bizarre and messy. You head the other way when you see him coming.

Mark explains just why the man is so bizarre. He’s “possessed by an evil spirit” (23). We’re not exactly sure how or when it happened, but a demon has made itself at home in the man and is calling the shots. And now the filthy spirit is calling out Christ.

Satan and His Evil Army

Throughout the Bible, these nasty spirits cause people all sorts of serious problems, including both physical and mental illness (Mt 12:22; Mk 9:17-25; Lk 8:27-28; 9:39; Acts 8:7). This does NOT mean the devil’s demonic crew is behind all of them. But we need to be aware of the potential spiritual aspect of any sort of sickness.

A couple of important ideas. On one hand, blaming the enemy and his unholy horde for every little thing that happens in life gives him way too much credit. This leads to a victim mentality. I’m not saying Satan hasn’t set his sites on me, but my biggest problem is the knucklehead I see in the mirror each morning.

The other problem is ignoring our enemy completely. Jesus makes it clear the devil does is demonic best to “steal, kill, and destroy” (Jn 10:10). The prince of darkness is real. To ignore that satanic snake and his evil army is a MASSIVE mistake! We have a defeated enemy but he’s still a dangerous enemy.

Jesus’ Heavenly Identity

Clearly the demon controlling this guy knows there’s a new sheriff in town. “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (v24). The evil spirit tips us off that Christ isn’t simply going one-on-one. In order to help the man, He must deal with a minimum of one demon. It’s not unusual for them to torture folks in massive teams (Mk 5:9, 15; Lk 8:30).

In essence, this particular satanic spirit tells Jesus to stop jacking with him and his human host and mind His own business. The demon not only calls the Rabbi/Carpenter by His earthly name, “Jesus of Nazareth” (24), but also clearly understands His heavenly identity. “I know who you are—the Holy One of God” (v24). This is one of those times Christ’s kid brother James writes about when he says even demons believe in God but “tremble in terror” (James 2:17).

Evil Gets Antsy

It’s interesting that the demon inside the dude couldn’t simply sit there quietly with the Son of God in the room. That’s because wherever Jesus shows up, evil gets antsy. You see it all throughout the four bios of Christ. There’s nothing like the Light of the World to expose sin and filth (Eph 5:13). Like cockroaches on the run when the light comes on.

Do you start to squirm when Jesus is around? Do you think He should get His holy nose out of your personal business? Do you get more than a little anxious when you think the Lord might know all about those nasty little “habits” you do behind closed doors?

Guess what. He already knows. Our Savior is fully aware of our deepest, darkest secrets. As a matter of fact, Jesus knows more about that junk that we do (Ps 44:21: Jer 23:24). And He came to free us from it and replace it with a “rich and satisfying life” we can only know through Him (Jn 10:10). Tell Him and trust Him. Get it off your chest and get Him into your life. What are you waiting for?

A Screamin’ Demon

If this Sabbath at Capernaum synagogue wasn’t already crazy enough, wait until you see what happens next! “But Jesus reprimanded him. ‘Be quiet! Come out of the man,’ He ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him” (v25-26).

In the words of Ron Burgundy, “Well, that escalated quickly!” No sooner does the demon challenge Jesus than the visiting Rabbi tells him to stuff a sock in it and get the heck out of Dodge…or at least get out of the poor guy he had possessed.

The evil spirit certainly doesn’t go without a fight. When Christ gives him the order and sends him packing, the demon screams and gives the guy one last nasty shake. This is like an ump tossing a player out of game. Before the player leaves, he throws a juvenile tantrum, involving bats, balls, hats, and the Gatorade cooler. He pitches a fit, but he’s still leaving.

Jaw-Dropping Authority

If you think folks were impressed by Jesus’ sermon, having a front row seat for an exorcism takes this Sabbath to a whole new level. “Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened, ‘What sort of new teaching is this?’ they asked excitedly. ‘It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey His orders!’” (v27).

Just in case you had any doubts about whether this new Teacher and His message could move the needle, they’re gone now. Those doubts ran out the door with the demon. Everybody is picking their jaw up off the floor of that small-town synagogue. This new Rabbi not only exposes evil but sends it running with its forked tail between its legs.

A Game Changer

The authority Jesus is a total game changer. Nobody has ever seen anything like Him before. I’m talking EVER. Not before. Not since. Not ever. It’s the role He was born to play. And that role is the incredible combo of Savior and Lord.

As our Savior, He’s the Hero the Father first promised He would send to clean up the mess our first parents made (Gen 3:15). The Son of God leaves the luxury of the heavenly palace to come to our rescue. Or as Jesus announces at a big shindig in Jericho, “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Lk 19:10).

As the Lord, He has total authority. Complete authority. Unlimited authority. So much so that when Jesus says so, it IS so. Just ask the demon He evicted from the dude in the synagogue. Oh, that’s right. You can’t. The Lord told him to shut up and leave.

The 800-pound Gorilla

Here’s the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to Jesus as Lord. Are WE actually going to do what He says? Am I going to obey His commands? Do I believe that believe that He is God and what He wants for me is good? Or do I think He’s holding out on me? In case you haven’t heard the story, but that’s how things fell apart in Eden in the first place (Gen 3:1-8).

Here’s the rub. We love the whole Jesus as our Messiah/Hero idea. That’s awesome. But once He saves our eternal bacon, we really want nothing to do with His leadership as our Lord. Savior, yes. Lord, no.

There’s just one little problem. I can’t pull the two apart. Jesus as my Savior and Lord is a package deal. In other words, I can’t simply buy the fire insurance. I must also willingly to submit to His leadership and guidance. It makes sense when you think about it. My very limited authority certainly hasn’t been able to get me to make any real changes in my life so far.

The Buzz in the Burg

Back in Capernaum, there’s a quite a buzz in the little burg as people leave the synagogue. “The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee” (v28). Word gets around about not only the new Teacher, His amazing message, but His astonishing authority.

Because of Jesus’ authority, the Sabbath will never be the same. Going to synagogue will never be the same. Life will never be the same!

Let’s just say things are about to get rather complicated for Jesus and His team. But He’s up for it. He’s got the brand new message folks have been waiting to hear. And He’s got the authority they desperately need. 

That’s what happens when Authority comes to town.

©2017
Jay Jennings