Who's the G.O.A.T.?

I Am the Greatest!

I love sports. Always have. For me, there’s a lot to like. The passion. The performances. The stories. The drama.

But if there’s one thing I can’t stand about athletics, it’s the non-stop self-promotion and boasting. Just about every sport has 

more than its fair share of egomaniacs who brag that they’re the G.O.A.T. The Greatest of All Time.

It seems to have started with Muhammad Ali. Back in the sixties and seventies, he constantly made the claim, “I am the greatest!” Chances are, in his sport, he was and still is.

How Ironic

In Mark’s Gospel, there’s the story of a similar argument about who’s the best. Yup, long before Ali, a group of guys try to make the case for which one is the greatest member of Jesus’ team (Mk 9:33-35). And the crazy thing is, they’re the closest followers of the MOST humble yet MOST deserving person to ever walk the planet. Ironic, isn’t it?

We pick up the story with the Lord and the Twelve returning to the home office in Capernaum. They’re fresh back from a trip to the mountains of northern Palestine near Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon (Mk 8:27; 9:2).

On the Way Home

On the way back, the Son of God heals a young man of demon possession while filling up the faith tank of his desperate dad (Mk 9:14-29).

During the trip home, Christ tells His team what to expect in the coming weeks (Mk 8:31-33). Get ready, boys. You’re gonna see the radical Rabbi/Carpenter betrayed, tortured, and murdered by the leaders of Judaism.

Pulling back the Curtain

But that’s not all. He’s going to rise from the dead!!! The problem is, the guys clearly don’t get it. Peter pulls Jesus aside and tires to tell Him that real Messiahs don’t die (Mk 8:32).

Then there’s the mountaintop meet-up with Moses and Elijah that Jesus allows Pete, James, and John to witness (Mk 9:2-8). Next thing you know, God pulls back the curtain of heaven to reveal His Son’s spectacular glory.

Some Sort of Blowup

On the return trip, the boys are having some sort of blowup. And they clearly don’t want Christ to know what they’re bickering about. Once they’re home, the disciples haven’t even set down their suitcases when our Savior asks them a question.

“After they arrived Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked His disciples, ‘What were you discussing out on the road?’” (v33). Before we get to the question, let’s set the scene geographically.

A Blue Collar Bump in the Road

Capernaum is a little fishing village on the northern tip of a large freshwater lake called the Sea of Galilee. We’re talking blue collar bump in the road inhabited by the working class poor. It’s also become the headquarters of Jesus’ team.

Pete grew up just down the shore in Bethsaida.  But he’s since gotten married and moved here (Mk 1:29-30). He shares a home with his brother Andy and their extended family.

Jesus’ House

The town may be tiny but it’s big enough to have a synagogue. That’s the equivalent of a Jewish church community. Jesus has the honor of being the guest speaker on a few occasions (Mk 1:21). The ruins of that place of worship are still there today.

There’s an interesting little tidbit that might be easy to miss in the NLT. In the original language, Mark literally describes how the Lord “was in the house” (v33 ESV). The use of “the” tips us off that this is where the Son of God is living at the time. It could be Pete and Andy’s place. Who knows, maybe Jesus knew the joy of home ownership.

Trying to Keep It from Jesus

Whatever the case, Christ has a question for His crew. “What were you discussing out on the road?” (v33). It seems the boys were chatting it up while they were on the way back. And for whatever reason, they didn’t include the Teacher in the conversation.

Clearly whatever they were talking about, they tried to keep it from Christ. Don’t mistake His question for His ignorance. You can be sure He knows EXACTLY what the guys were chewing the fat about.

Coming Clean before Christ

Jesus asks them because He wants them to admit and repent. He knows. He simply wants them to come clean and realize how ridiculous they are. There’s no need to think He doesn’t already know.

He knows.

Jesus Doesn’t Need a Transcript

Christ offers us the same opportunity. He’s fully aware of everything we say, everything we do, and everything we think. He doesn’t need a transcript. There’s no reason to compose an executive summary.

He knows.

Before You Say It

Over in John’s Gospel, we read how our Savior didn’t need anyone to explain others’ motives “for He knew what was in each person’s heart” (Jn 2:25). King David wrote a song about how intimately God knows each one of us. “You know what I am going today even before I say it” (Ps 139:4).

He knows.

The Open Door of Confession

The reason He asks is to give them the opportunity to confess and repent. He’s not putting them on the spot to embarrass them. The Son of God wants them to realize their ego battle is exactly the wrong approach for one of His followers. He’s graciously opening the door of confession for them. He does the same for you and me.

We not only need let God know what He already knows but have the courage to confess to fellow followers of Jesus. The Lord’s little brother James tells us that this is a critical part of life in God’s family. “Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

That is why it is critical to find a group of believers where you can let our guard down and be the real you. Here’s the deal. If you can’t confess and come clean to the people who love you in the Lord and want His best for you, where can you do it?

Christ Gets Crickets

Back inside the house in Capernaum, it’s quiet. Too quiet. After Jesus asks the question,  the disciples don’t say a word. “But they didn’t answer” (v34). Christ gets nothing but crickets. There’s little doubt they’re too embarrassed to tell Him.

He’s thrown open the door of confession. But the Twelve is standing on the front porch and won’t come in. They’ve got nothing to say. You can see them looking at the floor and shuffling their sandals. The boys are busted.

A Silly Squabble

It’s at this point that Mark let’s us know what the disciples are unwilling to tell their Leader. “They had been arguing about which of them was the greatest” (v34). Seems kinda stupid to have this sort of silly squabble when you’re in the presence of the sinless Son of God, don’t you think?

This is another example of the author of the second Gospel giving us behind-the-scenes info we don’t find anywhere else. What’s his source? Early believers thought Peter is the one feeding Mark these crucial details.

The Guest List for the Transfiguration?

Could this argument have started over who got an invite to the Transfiguration and who didn’t? Did the other nine feel jealous when Jesus asked Pete and the Thunder Brothers to up on the mountain without them?

Any chance the Big Three felt cocky about what they were on the Son of God’s guest list and rubbed the noses of the other nine in it? I’m sure you’ve never been part of a group that didn’t have its fair share of drama. *wink wink*

A Teachable Moment

Instead of chewing His team out, He turns it into a teachable moment. “He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to Him” (v35). Back in the First Century, rabbis sat down to teach. When the Son of God grabs a seat, the disciples know that class is in session. They probably have a good idea He’s about to go deep on God’s view of greatness.

Despite the disciples’ silence, Jesus puts all His cards on the table when it comes to any claim to be the best. “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else” (v35).

Right out of the chute, notice how the Lord doesn’t dismiss the idea of wanting to be great. There’s nothing wrong with ambition. It simply must be focused on godly goals.

Last Is First

Somewhere along the way, many of the followers of Jesus have gotten the idea that greatness has no place in God’s kingdom. Heaven’s definition of success is a complete 180 from how we see it here on earth.

Christ tells His crew that it’s okay when someone wants to be first. So if that’s you, take a deep breath. But instead of fighting for the front of the line, it’s just the opposite. Jesus wants His followers walking to the back of the line. You see, for His disciples, last is first. Least is best.

Success Centered on Self

Society has sold us on a picture of success that puts us at the top of the org chart. The truly people have got it all going on. An corner office in the c suite. Countless employees. A sizable staff. Maybe even servants to respond to their every want and need.

Greatness here on the third rock from the sun is all about power, money, and influence. that use to your advantage. It’s success centered on self. What can I get out of it since I’ve got the leverage?

Don’t Buy a Fast Pass

But true greatness in God’s eyes turns the whole thing on its head. According to Christ, success means being in last place and serving everybody else. So if you see a long line, don’t look to buy a Fast Pass. Simply move to the back. That’s because in God’s view, the back of the line is actually the front.

Our Savior uses this very logic when wrapping an illustration about payday for employees at a vineyard. The workers hired in the morning get their undies in a bundle when ones hired late in the afternoon get the same check.

In the story, the owner of the company steps in and explains his pay structure. “Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others? So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last” (Mt 20:15-16).

The Mother of the Thunder Brothers

This idea that last is actually first becomes a HUGE theme in Jesus’ last days. He makes it the point of His teaching not once, not twice, not three times, but a grand total of four times! It sure seems like He doesn’t want us to miss the point!

The first time is when the mother of the Thunder Brothers goes to bat for her boys and asks Jesus to give them positions of power in His kingdom. Helicopter parenting is not a modern invention. The Lord tells her that’s the wrong way to go about it.

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:26-28).

The Choice Is Yours

The second comes a couple of days later when Christ speaks before a big Passover crowd in Jerusalem. “The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exactly themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Mt 23:11-12).

Let me put it another way. Humble yourself or suffer humiliation. The choice is yours.

A Real Leader Waits Tables

Number three is just hours before His betrayal and murder when He settles yet another battle for power among His team. “Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like the servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course! But not here! For I am among you as one who serves” (Lk 22:26-27).

Washing Filthy Feet

Moments later, the Son of God shows the boys how it’s done when He grabs a bucket and a towel and washes their filthy feet. “I gave given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. 

Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them” (Jn 13:15-17).

Our Savior Serves

A few hours later, Jesus would provide the ultimate example of servant leadership by giving His life for us. Dying a brutal death for our sin so that we could live. By doing for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves, our Savior serves us and saves us.

The Man from Heaven Humbled Himself

The man God used to spread His message of grace around the Mediterranean Rim writes how we are to model our Savior’s humility. “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Phil 2:3-8).

Leveraging Your Position

This doesn’t mean to success is evil or that greatness is ungodly. First of all, let God examine your heart. Why do you want it so badly? Is it so the world will be impressed? Or is it so you can leverage your position for others and shine the spotlight on our Savior?

Here are a few subtle symptoms of pride from Fabienne Harford. Do you love to find fault with others? Do you have a snarky spirit that enjoys putting folks down? Are you more worried about your image than your integrity?

Do you go on the defensive when criticized? Are you desperate to be the center of attention? Do you neglect the needs of others? Oops, did these hit a little too close to home? Sorry, not sorry.

The Lamb is the G.O.A.T.

Last is first.

First is last.

Greatness in God’s eyes is serving others.

Follow the Lamb. He just happens to be the G.O.A.T. The Greatest of All Time.

©2018

Jay Jennings

Jesus' Opening Act

The Warmup Act

Most concerts have at least one opening act. Usually you have to sit through 45 minutes of some unknown up-and-comer before the performer you paid your money to see hits the stage. You give them polite applause but you while you check your watch. You can bet the farm that the warmup act hopes to be a headliner one day.

That was NOT the case for Jesus’ opening act. In the opening chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we meet John the Baptizer (Mk 1:4-8). He understood his place in the pecking order. John’s goal was never to have his name at the top of the bill. All he wanted was to get people ready for the real Headliner.

Peter’s Ghostwriter

Let’s back up just a bit for a little context. God is using a man named Mark to write a fast and furious bio of Jesus for a mostly Roman audience. Folks a lot smarter than me believe the author has an impeccable source for his material. We’re talking about Peter. Yeah, THAT Peter. The Apostle Peter.

While Mark gets the credit, he’s really a ghostwriter for the legendary leader of Jesus’ crew. So as we read the document we call the Book of Mark, put yourself in Pete’s sandals. You’re witnessing the story of Christ through the eyes and ears of the hotheaded commercial fisherman from Galilee.

Holy Road Construction

Mark uses the opening lines of his Gospel to broadly describe the holy road construction needed before Messiah arrives (Mk 1:1-3). Before Christ gets here, someone’s coming to prepare His way. There’s an opening act who will get everybody ready.

The writer then gets specific and reveals the identity of the one who took the stage just before Jesus. “This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven” (v4).

This is Mark’s way of introducing Jesus’ opening act. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for John the Baptizer! 

It Runs in the Family

Without naming names, prophets like Malachi and Isaiah have hinted about the opener for centuries (Mal 3:1; Is 40:3-5; Mk 1:1-3). Jesus Himself compares John to the one and only Elijah (Mt 11:14; 17:10-13; Mk 9:11-13).

Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus and John are related. Cousins maybe. You see, their mothers are kin (Lk 1:36). The two boys actually met before they were born (Lk 1:41)! I guess you could say they were in adjoining wombs. Okay, maybe not.

The Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth goes out of His way say John is the greatest person who’s ever been born (Mt 11:11). Coming from the Son of God, that’s kind of a big deal.

Rocking the Wilderness

John’s not appearing at a huge stadium, large arena, or even the local amphitheater. “He was in the wilderness” (v4). No, this isn’t the name of a trendy new outdoor venue. He’s in the desert. He’s rocking the Judean wilderness somewhere near Jerusalem. That’s because this isn’t about the where but the Who and what of his message.

Mark tells us that the location doesn’t stop the crowds from coming. “All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John” (v5). Big crowds. Long lines. The prophet packs them in.

A Trunk Load of Churchy Baggage

In order to get folks ready for Messiah, John doesn’t tickle the ears and tell people what they want to hear. He tells them what they need to hear. He “preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven” (v4).

What they needed was to repent. What they needed was to turn from their sin and turn toward God. Repent. Boy, talk about a word that’s fully loaded with a trunk load of churchy baggage! For many of us, it conjures of memories of angry evangelists in three-piece polyester suits trying to scare us away from hell and into heaven.

Doing a 180

But let’s take a closer look at the word the writers of the New Testament use. “Repent” is a Greek word (μετανοια/metanoia) which means a turning around, about face, change of direction. It’s making a U-turn. Doing a 180.

It’s actually a compound word that literally means “after (Gr. μετα-/meta-) thinking (Gr. -νοια/-noia).” Repentance paints a picture of a correction of direction after reconsideration. It’s when we turn ourselves around. Maybe the Hokey Pokey IS what’s all about!

A Radical Change

In preparation for the coming of the Son of God, John the Baptizer makes folks aware of who exactly is on the way. His love. His mercy. His grace. His holiness. As a result, many make a radical change of heart which results in a radical change of life.

Once we understand who God is and what He expects from us, we think again. God’s Holy Spirit flips on the light bulb in our head and heart. We pull a U-ey. We turn FROM our own selfishness. We turn TOWARD the forgiveness only found in Christ.

The First Southern Baptist?

It’s about this time you can see how Jesus’ cousin earns the nickname John the Baptist. “All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River” (v5).

Don’t freak out. I understand why some of you might start to squirm when you see that description. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. As our friends in recovery like to say, the first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem.

No, John’s not the founder of the Southern Baptists. His title has nothing to with a denomination and everything to do with dunking. Mark uses a Greek word we translate here as “baptized” (Gr. βαπτισμα/baptisma), which means submersion or going completely under.

Overwhelmed by God

One ancient writer uses this word to describe a sinking ship. Let’s be clear. I don’t think God really cares whether you’re sprinkled, dive headfirst, or soaked by a firehose. But can’t we all agree Jack and Rose weren’t exactly sprinkled after the Titanic hit that iceberg?

The best way to understand the idea behind baptism is something that completely and absolutely overwhelms. John’s message totally engulfs his audience in the love and grace of God. The result was a permanent change that prepped people to meet Messiah.

A Weird Wardrobe and Wacky Diet

Suddenly Mark drops in a crazy little commentary on John’s weird wardrobe and wacky diet. “His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and honey” (v6).

It’s pretty clear that John the Dunker wasn’t exactly into fashion and food. He was all about function. I’m pretty sure you won’t find clothes made from camel hair at Abercrombie & Fitch. And “locusts and honey”? We’re talking a seriously paleo diet!

NOT the Star of the Show

It’s at this point that John wants to make it clear that he’s NOT the star of the show. He’s only the opening act. The REAL Headliner is yet to come!

“John announced: ‘Someone is coming soon who is greater that I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of His sandals” (v7).

This reminds me of the scene from “Wayne’s World” when Wayne and Garth are blown away meeting Alice Cooper. They drop to their knees and shout, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!”

Trending on Twitter

Let’s cut to the chase. Put yourself in John’s sandals. It would be so easy to get the big head and begin to believe you’re a pretty big deal at this point. Have you seen the traffic coming out of Jerusalem? Check out the long lines for baptism! He’s trending on Twitter!!

But the Dunker refuses to be fooled by the massive crowds coming out of the city to see him. For those of you who think he’s hot stuff, just you wait. John doesn’t think he’s even good enough to help the Star of the show take off His shoes.

Getting in the King’s Grill

Don’t make the mistake of thinking he was some sort of self-deprecating shrinking violet. The guy had the guts to poke his finger in Herod Antipas’ chest and when he started shacking up with his brother’s wife (Mk 6:16-20). While this sounds like an episode of “The Real Housewives of Jerusalem,” getting in the king’s grill cost John his head (Mk 6:21-29).

The One on the Way

The Baptizer knew his role was to point people to the One coming from heaven. This is the long-awaited Savior God had promised for thousands of years. The Snake Killer (Gen 3:17). God’s Blessing to and through Abraham (Gen 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:5-5; 17:2-8). David’s Undying Descendant (2Sam 7:8-16).

All throughout the Old Testament, God drops some incredible hints about the Hero who was on the way. The coming Christ is THE Point of OT. Are there cool stories in these ancient documents? You betcha. But the big idea is the arrival of the Second Person of the Trinity.

Making Jesus Famous

With Messiah just about to take the stage, John’s job is to get everybody ready. Don’t mistake him for the headliner. If you think he’s something, just you wait.

In many ways, God calls Christ followers to be like the Dunker. Our job is not to be the star of the show. Our job is to point to Jesus. Our job is to make Him famous. So just politely step out of the spotlight as soon as you can.

The Jams of Air Jordan

John says his baptism may be pretty cool, but it’s nothing compared to the what the Son of God is about to do. “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (v8). Getting drenched in the Jordan to symbolize turning from sin is sweet. But just wait until you’ve been overwhelmed by God’s Spirit!!

What’s the difference between John’s and Christ’s baptisms? Let’s see if this helps. Remember back when the NBA Slam Dunk Competition was still cool? The contest was the highlight of All-Star Weekend.

It always looked like Dominique Wilkins and Clyde Drexler were unbeatable. The crowd went crazy when the Human Highlight Reel and the Glyde rattled the rims.  That was until Michael Jordan cleared himself for launch from the free throw line. They don’t call him Air Jordan for nothing.

Forgiveness for the Past, Power for the Future

In the same way, you might think the Dunker had serious skills until you saw Jesus jam. John’s baptism only took care of the sins of our past. Jesus brings a baptism that preps us for the future with the power of the Spirit!

For Mark, John, and the folks in the lining up along the Jordan, Jesus’ baptism of the Holy Spirit is still to come. Dr. Luke writes all about the time it first happened just after the Lord headed home to heaven (Acts 2:1-4).

The Slam Dunk of Salvation

Since that crazy day at Pentecost, Jesus has been baptizing every one of His followers with the Spirit of God. Paul tells the Corinthians that each believer’s body is actually a temple for the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19).

God’s overwhelming message leads to the slam dunk of salvation! I guess you could say Jesus is the undisputed champ of the eternal dunk competition.

So What Do WE Do?

So what in the world does what Mark has to say about John the Dunker have to do with you and me? For Pete’s sake, I don’t even wear sandals.

If you don’t mind, allow me to ask a few questions? Have we repented? Have we done a 180 from our selfishness and turned to the grace of God?

Have we confessed our sin to others? Jesus’ kid brother James says it’s really important to have a group of friends we can tell about what we’ve done wrong (James 5:16).

We need to remember that repentance and confession aren’t a one-and-done kinda thing. No, we don’t need to run to the front of the church each time the preacher offers the Gospel. But it’s a great idea to stay in a continual attitude of turning from sin and telling others we trust all about it.

Jesus Loves You More than Momma

If I’ve turned to Jesus, I can be sure He’s baptized me in His Spirit. Just because I don’t feel overwhelmed doesn’t mean He hasn’t. The Third Member of the Godhead will not only give you faithfulness you didn’t think you had but will constantly remind you about the One who loves you more than your own momma.

Know Our Role

Finally, John gives a great example of knowing our role. He realizes he’s not the headliner. He’s not the star of the show. Over in the Gospel of John (not THAT John, but one of Jesus’ apostles), the Dunker goes so far as to say his rep must reduce while Jesus’ glory gets greater and greater (Jn 3:30).

Rick Warren is right. The opening line in The Purpose Driven Life reads, “It’s not about you.” It’s not about me. It’s not about the Dunker. It’s ALL about Jesus.

Like John, we’re only the opening act.

©2017
Jay Jennings

That's the Ticket!

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” (Ps 100:4).

The Super Bowl. The Final Four. The Olympics. A great concert. These are tough tickets. Demand is high. Supply is low. And scalpers have a field day. But those are nothing compared to entering the presence of Almighty God. You may have a fat wallet but big bucks won’t get you into see the Lord. There’s no one to bribe, no “I know a guy,” no Stub Hub to make it happen.

The songwriter behind the 100th Psalm tips us off to the secret way in. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” (Ps 100:4). If you want access to our holy God, leave your cash at home. The key to entering His presence is an attitude of gratitude. Thankfulness is the ticket!

The psalmist paints a picture of the temple in Jerusalem. It was THE place you went to worship the God of Israel in Israel. The temple sat on the top of plateau in the heart of the city. You literally had to go up to get to God. Once on the temple mount, you had to use one of the eight gates to get in. That’s where you “enter His gates with thanksgiving” (v4). After that you walked through a series of courts or plazas, getting closer and closer to God’s presence as you go. At this point, you’re rolling through “His courts with praise” (v4). 

But you’re not getting past the turnstiles without your price of admission. What you need isn’t a ticket in your hand but an attitude in your heart and and word in your mouth. It’s an expression of sincere “thanksgiving” (v4). The psalmist uses the Hebrew word towdah, which describes a specific kind of song of thankfulness and praise by the entire worship team or choir. This tune is a confession of God’s amazing grace in the face of our own horrific sinfulness. Thankfulness isn’t the only way we praise God but a VERY important way we praise Him!

This isn’t just a generic gratitude and an unexpressed warm fuzzy feeling. This term emphasizes our shocking sin and just how incredibly undeserving we are for all that He’s done at the same time expressing God’s overwhelming and overflowing love and grace to us. It’s a combo confession of our badness and His goodness. 

You do know you’re sinful, right? Talking about sin may not be politically correct but it is biblically correct. Everyone who’s ever walked the planet has fallen short of God’s perfect standard (Rom 3:10-12, 23). If that’s not bad enough, we’re rebels and terrorists against God’s kingdom (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). 

You do know the Lord’s good, right? Despite our civil war against the throne of God, Jesus goes to battle and defeats our sin for us (Rom 5:8). He does for us what we could never do for ourselves. He lived the perfect life we failed to live. He died the death for our sin and rebellion we should have died. He rose to new life we don’t deserve. Yeah, we have EVERY reason to be thankful!

Thanksgiving isn’t something the Pilgrims and Native Americans cooked up back in 1621. God made it a regular part of worship for His chosen people (Lev 7:12-15; 22:29). Repentance and gratitude is meant to be expressed so everyone can hear it. King David wrote a hit song about he loves “proclaiming thanksgiving (Heb. towdah) aloud, and telling all Your wondrous deeds” (Ps 26:7). Did you catch that? Thankfulness proclaimed. Gratitude never goes unsaid. Say it loud. Say it proud.

We see this combo expression of repentance and thanksgiving throughout the OT. At the resettlement of Jerusalem, Ezra told Jewish men to get rid of their pagan girlfriends as part of their confession of sin and worship of God (Ez 10:11). A few years later, the people openly repented of their sin and praised their God when they celebrated the rebuilding of the city walls (Neh 12:27, 31, 38, 40). 

We celebrate Thanksgiving annually by eating a meal. Ever heard of someone celebrating it who WAS the meal? From the guts of the a fish, Jonah sang, “But I with a voice of thanksgiving (Heb. towdah) will sacrifice to You” (Jnh 2:9). The fugitive prophet openly repented of his rebellion and thanked God for His goodness. Can you imagine what was going through that fish’s brain when it heard that coming from its belly? No wonder it barfed Jonah up on the beach! He not only had the ticket out of the fish’s mouth but into God’s presence.

So the kind of thanksgiving the psalmist is calling for here is two-part praise. Step one, admit your sin. Confess your crime. Say it. Out loud. Step two, tell God how amazing He is. Praise Him. Say it. Out loud. Check out the Message’s take on this verse. “Enter with the password: ‘Thank You!’ Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him.” (v4 The Message). Thanksgiving is the password. When it comes to entering God’s presence, that’s the golden ticket!

Gilligan's Island and Spiritual Shipwrecks

“holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith” (1Tim 1:19).

It’s a familiar tune with legendary lyrics. Let’s all sing along…

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, 

that started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship.

Now that I’ve got that ear worm crammed deep into your consciousness, you may be wondering what in the wide world of sports does the theme song from “Gilligan’s Island” have to do with our faith in Jesus and Paul’s letter to Timothy? So glad you asked. 

One is a cheesy 60s sitcom and the other a first century tragedy of epic proportions. But they both tell the story of tragedy that could have been avoided. The Skipper and his little buddy thought they were taking folks for a three-hour tour but clearly failed to check the forecast. Meanwhile, the apostle tells his sidekick the importance of listening to warnings. He encourages Timothy to continue “holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made a shipwreck of their faith” (v19). Paul describes the inevitable result of hurtling toward disaster while ignoring the alarms going off in our conscience. (That song is still running through head, isn’t it? For that, I’m sorry. Well, sort of.)

There’s quite a mess in Ephesus. While God has given Paul his next assignment somewhere in Macedonia, the apostle has left his protege to pastor the megachurch in the big port city. His assignment: to stuff a sock in team of false teachers who are distracting believers from the message of Jesus with a counterfeit gospel (1Tim 1:3-7). Paul reminds Tim that this is exactly the kind of confrontation people prophesied to be in his future back home in Lystra (1Tim 1:18). Apparently God has this showdown circled on His divine calendar for quite some time. 

Before we compare the Minnow with the Ephesian spiritual shipwreck, Paul points out just how critical it is for Timothy to be “holding faith and a good conscience” (v19). We must do the same. Let’s be clear about what sort of faith we’re talking about here. This is NOT gritting your teeth, clinching your fists, and working up some sort of I-believe-this-will-happen-with-all-my-heart kind of wishful thinking. No matter how strongly you believe in something, it doesn’t mean it’s trustworthy. Faith is all about the object. It’s ALL about what or whom you’re placing your trust. 

When the writers of the Bible talk about faith, they’re talking about trusting in the goodness of God. In the New Testament, the specific object of our trust is Jesus Christ. We believe in Him when we place our trust in who He is and what He’s done for us. We’ve completely failed to live up to God’s perfect standard. Jesus nailed it. We totally deserve divine punishment for our rebellion and disobedience. Jesus took the full brunt of that for us. And there’s no way we earned resurrection life. But once again, Jesus handled that for us. He’s the ultimate object of faith. He did for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves. We can’t buy our way of our situation just like Mr. and Mrs. Howell couldn’t buy their way off the island.

That’s the reason Paul tells Tim to hold onto his faith in Christ. Never forget who He is. Never forget what He’s done. Never forget where we would be without Him. “Holding faith” (v19) is putting a death grip on “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:6). One of the subtle tricks spiritual con artists have up their sleeves is making folks put their faith in themselves. We mistakenly believe it’s up to us to keep ourselves in God’s kingdom by following a list of religious rules. 

Here’s the big idea. Once Jesus saves you, you’re saved. Future failure does NOT disqualify you and me from salvation. Jesus died for ALL our sin. Past, present, and future. That’s the whole reason He shouted from the cross, “It is finished!” (Jn 19:30). There’s nothing left to do but trust in what He’s done. That’s what it means to be “holding faith” (v19). We’re NOT trusting in the Professor’s ability to turn a coconut into a shortwave radio.

Once you’ve placed our faith in Jesus, it’s important to pay close attention to your “good conscience” (v19). Throughout the Bible, we see the conscience serving as a sort of God-given warning system (Acts 23:1; 24:16; Rom 2:15; 9:1; 13:5). Combined with the supernatural guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God enables us to look out for trouble through our conscience. We’re to help out our friends who have what Paul calls a weak or malfunctioning conscience (1Cor 8:7-12). Paul instructs the followers of Jesus in Corinth to use this internal radar to determine what foods to eat (1Cor 10:25-29). Just to be clear, this had more to do with whether to eat meat used in idolatry than to going gluten-free.

A properly functioning conscience is key to keep us from slamming our faith on the rocks. So how do we make sure our warning system is tuned up and ready to go? That happens through simple the two-step process of confession and repentance. Notice that I said it was “simple” and not “easy.” First, we need to run TO Jesus and not away from Him when we sin. Go to God and admit your failure. There’s no reason to run and hide. Remember, He’s God. He already knows. And if you’re a follower of Jesus, He’s already forgiven you. 

Step two is just as important. I must repent from what I’ve done. That’s more than just “I’m sorry I got caught.” This is doing a 180 away from my sin and heading back to my Savior. When we regularly confess and repent, we’re much more likely to pay attention to the blaring siren of our conscience. John MacArthur provides a powerful illustration, saying, “A good conscience serves as the rudder that steers the believer through the rocks and reefs of sin and error.” If only the Titanic’s captain wasn’t so cocky. If only the fearless crew of the Minnow had been paying attention.

Paul says ignoring the warning lights on the dashboard of their conscience got certain folks into what was certainly an avoidable accident. “By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith” (v19). Apparently, all the alarm bells were going off. These people simply ignored them. That’s the meaning of the Greek word behind “rejecting” (Gr. apotheomai). It means to push aside, use force to thrust off, or shove away. In Stephen’s sermon just before he was stoned, he told his killers about the time their ancestors rejected Moses and the Ten Commandments and “thrust him aside (Gr. apotheomai)” (Acts 7:39). Paul knows personally the pain of a spiritual stiff arm. During his first world Gospel tour, the Jews living in Pisidia totally freaked out when he and Barnabas told everyone that Jesus is Messiah. The apostle responds to them, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside (Gr. apotheomai) and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). Don’t make the same mistake and give your conscience the Heisman.

The result of shaking off these obvious warnings was spiritual carnage. They’ve “made shipwreck of their faith” (v19). Paul uses the same Greek verb here (Gr. nauageo) that he does when describing his rather sketchy seafaring history. “Three times I was shipwrecked (Gr. nauageo); a night and a day I was adrift at sea” (2Cor 11:25). So if anybody knows about shipwrecks, it’s Paul! I’ll be honest, if I saw the apostle walking up the gang plank to board my ship, you can bet I’m getting off! Ancient Greek authors outside the New Testament also use this term to describe a nasty chariot accident. Think plane crash. Train wreck. This is no little fender bender. When we ignore our God-given warning system, it’s going to be bad. Very bad.

This is a self-inflicted wound. When I reject what Jesus has done for me and stop listening to the alarms, I’m headed for the rocks. It’s not a question of if I’ll crash but when I’ll crash. But just because we’ve driven our faith off a cliff, it’s NOT fatal. Jesus will NEVER let you go if you’re truly His. There’s absolutely NOTHING that cuts us off from His love (Rom 8:31-39), including our own mistakes! Now that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences and terrible damage. I’m not sure about Ginger and Mary Ann, but we can be sure our Savior will come to our rescue.

Take it from Paul and Gilligan. There's a big difference between a three-hour tour and a lifetime of pain. In the meantime, let's all sing a long...

Turning Enemies into Friends

“though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1Tim 1:13)

I need you to use your imagination for a moment. And I need you to crank it up to 11. Picture the number one enemy of the Christian faith suddenly switching sides and becoming a spokesperson for the Son of God. Try to wrap your brain around the idea of an enemy like Osama bin Laden unexpectedly spreading the love of Jesus across the planet instead of trying to wipe His followers from the face of the earth. Hard to imagine, right?

That’s EXACTLY the kind of guy that Jesus chose not only use to spread His Gospel throughout the Roman Empire but write most of the New Testament. In a letter to Timothy, Paul reflects on his wrap sheet. “Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (v13). The apostle knows without a doubt he didn’t make a mistake. He realizes he wasn’t simply misguided. He didn’t just say “my bad.” He was a rebel with a cause against Christ. Despite all of that, Jesus overwhelmed His enemy in His amazing mercy. What a great reminder that our Savior loves to qualify the disqualified. That means me. That means you.

It’s easy to loose sight of Paul’s background when we see him at this point in his life. He’s Christ’s handpicked apostle to non-Jews everywhere. When he’s not in jail for upsetting local authorities with the Gospel, he’s always on the road telling everyone who will listen that the resurrected Jesus is the Hero sent straight from heaven to save the world. But before he was Paul, he was Saul. Before he was an apostle, he was an assassin. Before he was a missionary, he was a murderer. Before he was Jesus’ biggest proponent, he was Jesus’ biggest opponent. It’s a great reminder of the turnarounds our Savior loves to pull. He’s not looking to make good people better. The Son of God didn’t just water in to wine. You've heard of frenemies. Jesus loves turning His enemies into His friends.

Paul has nothing to hide from his spiritual son. He’s left Tim in Ephesus to pastor the growing megachurch there while he heads off the Macedonia (1Tim 1:3). The apostle gives his protege specific instructions to shut down a team of false teachers who are stirring up trouble (1Tim 1:3-7). The man from Tarsus knows all about what it means to be against the Gospel. He devoted himself to that cause for years. At the time, he sincerely believed he was doing the right thing. He was sincerely wrong. What did it get him? The realization that he was “blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (v13) of God. Just in case you were wondering, God beats His enemies. Every. Single. Time. The Generals have a better chance against the Globetrotters.

The apostle readily admits that he once was a “blasphemer (Gr. blasphemos)” (v13). This is a person who defames another in general and someone who speaks against God more specifically. But this is the idea of someone who openly insults another. A slanderer who trashes your reputation. In today’s culture, we call it hate speech. It’s literally someone who hurts another with their words. Now you can’t really injure Almighty God with what you say. The truth is the only person you’re really hurting is yourself. 

Paul also transparently tells Tim that he was a “persecutor” (v13) in the past. He uses a Greek term (Gr. dioktes) that paints portrait of a person preoccupied with causing others to pain (say THAT three times fast!). It comes from a verb that means to chase swiftly or hunt down. The book of Acts doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to Paul’s relentless pursuit of Jesus’ followers. He led house-to-house raids (Acts 8:3; 9:1). He mercilessly tortured many right in the synagogue (Acts 26:11). He had martyrs’ blood on his hands as well (Acts 22:4; 26:10). Paul comes clean to the Galatians about how he “persecuted the church God violently” (Gal 1:13). The apostle doesn’t shy away from his days as a Christian hunter.

If that doesn’t make your skin crawl, the apostle formerly known as Saul lays his cards on the table as a former “insolent opponent” (v13). This describes someone who is a violent aggressor. But it’s even worse than that. There’s arrogance and superiority involved. It’s someone with a superior attitude who mistreats others out of their own rebellion against God’s truth. Think hate groups like the KKK who intentionally look down on their enemies and do what they can to wipe them off the map. Before Jesus saved him, Paul saw little to no value in anyone below him in the religious pecking order. 

Oh, how times and hearts have changed. The jaw-dropping turnaround started a few years back when this Hebrew up-and-comer was on one of his patented search-and-destroy missions to Damascus. That’s when the resurrected Christ made it clear to Saul that when he persecutes His church, he persecutes Jesus personally (Acts 9:4-5; 22:7-8; 26:14-15). Once God shined his holy light of truth on Paul’s life, he saw his sin for what it really was. He saw himself for who he really was.

That was the very moment when Paul “obtained mercy” (v13) from His Savior. He uses a verb (Gr. ele’eo) that is less about a judicial ruling in his favor but receiving compassion or pity. Over and over, it’s what people tossed aside by society would plead Christ for. Two visually impaired men chased after Jesus and shouted, “Have mercy (Gr. ele’eo) on us, Son of David” (Mt 9:27). You and I would probably put this torturer and terrorist at the top of the most wanted list, NOT God’s mercy list. But in a letter to the Roman church, Paul reminds believers of what God said to Moses. “I will have mercy on (Gr. ele’eo) whom I have mercy (Gr. ele’eo)…So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy (Gr. ele’eo)” (Rom 9:15, 16). We need to remember that God showers His compassion on those He chooses. We don’t earn it. We can’t earn it. Our man Paul knows that better than most.

Saul/Paul quite simply did not understand who Jesus was and what He had done, or in his words, “because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (v13). As a member of the Pharisees, he believed it was up to him to save himself by building up a religious resume so impressive that God had to accept him (Phil 3:4-7). His admission of ignorance is not an excuse or an attempt to rationalize all he had done. Until Jesus blindsided him on the highway outside Damascus, this rising Jewish rock star was defending his religion against these whacky radicals. 

Like so many people around the world today, he mistakenly believed HE was on a mission from God. He was convinced this movement called the Way was clearly headed the wrong way. But the confrontation with Christ flipped on the light switch. Paul then realized that the only thing that matters is a personal relationship with Jesus and everything else was nothing more than a big steaming pile (Phil 3:7-9).

So what can we take from these words written from a mentor to his protege more than 2,000 years ago? What can we learn from this verse? Don’t miss the fact that Paul confessed. Throughout the New Testament, we see that he confessed early and often. Once Jesus shines His holy light on his life, the apostle understood exactly who he was and what he had done. Then he said it out loud. His sin was all out in the open.    

Confession brings our sin out from hiding. Funny thing. What seems so scary and mean in the dark becomes kinda wimpy when we drag it into the light. Horror movies are so horrible in the daytime. When we keep our sin secret, we carry it alone. Jesus’ little brother James knew the importance of confessing our sins to our closest spiritual brothers and sisters (James 5:16). Find a trusted crew of believers and open up. Reveal your mess. Disclose your dirt. Divulge your darkness. Stop carrying your secret crap all alone. Owning up to our sin also puts the focus on Jesus and His goodness…as it should be. In case you forgot, it’s not about you. Don’t impress. Confess. It’s what happens when Jesus turns us from one of His enemies into a friend.

Living Out Loud

“and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11)

Ever heard that often quoted line from St. Francis of Assisi? You probably know the one I’m talking about. “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words when necessary.” There’s only one itty bitty problem with that little ditty. Frankie didn’t say it. It’s not in any of his writings. Nowhere. His first biographer quotes the monk as actually saying just the opposite. Words and actions go hand in hand. That’s the point Paul is trying to get across as he sings the closing line of lyrics to the worship song we read in Philippians 2:6-11. We not only live a life of obedience and worship of Jesus but look for opportunities to tell everybody who will listen that He is our Leader. We say it out loud. We live out loud.

From behind bars in Rome, the apostle writes a letter of incredible encouragement to his friends back in Philippi. Over the past couple of years, he’s had to send notes to put out theological fires in churches in Ephesus and Colossae. But this epistle is different. VERY different. Paul is so overwhelmed with the joy of Jesus while he’s in the joint that he’s got to share it with the amazing followers of we call the Philippians. A few years back, the man from Tarsus and his travel team rolled into the Macedonian port city with the message of Jesus. God used Paul to open the heart of a fashionista named Lydia, save a young woman from demon-possession and slavery, and convert a brutal prison warden and his entire family. You can read all about it in Dr. Luke’s sequel (Acts 16:12-40). 

Here in chapter 2 of his letter, the apostle can’t contain himself and bursts out into song. We’re not sure if Paul wrote it or if he was simply quoting one of the hot worship tunes of the time. But the structure is in the form of lyrics or poetry. Folks like Chris Tomlin and David Crowder compose some fantastic praise music, but this golden oldie is a classic. This little number is all about Jesus, who He is and what He’s done for us. Christ is 100% God and then added 100% humanity in order to serve and save us (Phil 2:6-7). He left His palatial home in heaven to live as one of us and then die in our place on the cross (Phil 2:8). Because of Jesus’ mind-blowing humility His heavenly Dad escorted His Son to the place of honor and gave Him a name greater than any other (Phil 2:9). The result of our Lord’s new name is the worship and submission of every person who has ever lived (Phil 2:10). We’ll not only humble ourselves before Him but tell everyone that the resurrected Rabbi from Nazareth is the ultimate authority in the universe (v11). All that leads us back to making His Father famous.

After painting a picture of how “every knee should bow” before our Savior, Paul writes, “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (v11). The apostle is singing about the Who behind the why. Just about every Bible translator uses the word “confess.” This is from the Greek verb exomologeo, a word that describes the words proceed an inevitable action. It’s to openly and joyfully acknowledge, agree, profess, or affirm a fact to be the reason you’re about to do something. This particular song reminds me of one we sing at our church, “This Is Amazing Grace” by Phil Wickham. It goes a little something like this. “This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love. That You would take my place, that You would bear my cross. You would lay down Your life, that I could be set free. Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that You’ve done for me!” We can’t help but sing and shout about our Savior. We confess to everyone who will listen who He is and what He’s done. We say it out loud as we live out loud.

If you think this phrase “every tongue confess” looks familiar, there’s a reason. It’s sprinkled throughout the Bible. God announced to Isaiah, “To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance” (Is 45:23). When you combine that with Paul’s words in Philippians, it connects the biblical dots between the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth and the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews! In other words, Jesus isn’t just an awesome Teacher but the One God has promised would come to our rescue since our first parents listened to the lies of a satanic snake (Gen 3:15). The apostle sings about the Hero of the entire Bible! He sings about the Hero of the Big Story! All of the great movie heroes have a theme song. One day we’ll ALL sing Jesus’ song.

That tune is the a big part of the soundtrack of the New Testament as well. We’ll belt out that “Jesus Christ is Lord” (v11). It’s our acknowledgement that He is the rightful Ruler and unquestioned Boss of the Universe. When it’s all said and done, we will announce that Jesus is God and the sovereign authority of the whole shooting match. Some of you might have some doubts and are hedging your bets on this idea. Meet Thomas. You may remember him by his nickname Doubting Thomas. He had missed the meet-up with the resurrected Jesus and wasn’t buying what his buddies were selling about a resurrected Jesus. When Christ appears to His posse in the  bonus room, Tommy’s doubts disappear just as quickly. “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 21:28). He confesses with his tongue just exactly who Jesus is. Tommy and the rest of the apostle live the rest of their lives saying it out loud. They live the rest of their lives living out loud.

Telling others that Christ is in charge of your life is a sure sign that He’s come to your rescue. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). Chances are if my mouth is confessing Christ and my heart is trusting in what He’s done for me, I’ll be living out loud for Him. Let’s be clear about what Paul is NOT saying about being a tongue confessor. Chances are he’s not telling you to buy a bullhorn, wear a “Jesus is Lord” sandwich board, and go for a walk at the mall. But he IS saying we can’t be shy about Who we worship. You don’t have to force anyone to believe in the One who came to your rescue. On the other hand, our love for and trust in Jesus should be a regular part of our conversation. Paul’s buddy Peter says as followers of Jesus we’re “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1Pet 3:15). Be ready. But NOT to pound your next victim into the kingdom with a 20 pound King Jimmy Bible. Be ready to share the Good News of Jesus (don’t miss this!) gently and respectfully. Put down the bullhorn. Take off the sandwich board. Simply say it out loud and live out loud.

But the worship of Jesus is NOT the last word of this worship song. This is all about “the glory of God the Father” (v11). All the Son has done shines the spotlight of praise back on the Father. As charter members of the Holy Trinity, there’s a incredible relationship there that’s hard to wrap our human minds around. During His time on our planet, Jesus continually made the supernatural connection between Him and His Dad. “All may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (Jn 5:23). There’s this crazy ricochet of glory that happens between the Father and Son. “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him at once” (Jn 13:31-32). Yeah, it makes my head hurt when I try to figure it out. The bottom line is when we make the Father famous, we make the Son famous. And vice versa. So the glory doesn’t just pile up in front of Christ. I know what some of you are thinking right now. There’s all this talk about the Trinity but why are you talking about the Holy Spirit. Every Member of the Big Three is fully involved in the glory ricochet. Check out what Paul wrote to the Corinthians. “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1Cor 12:3). The Spirit is the One behind every confession that Jesus is Lord. This confession is “to the glory of God the Father” (v11). 

So what do we do with the truth found here in the last line of Paul’s first century worship song? Don’t be afraid to tell others that “Jesus is Lord” (v11). He’s the One who’s truly in charge of my life. He’s the ultimate authority. Put it this way, you’re one of His direct reports. Not begrudgingly. Not unwillingly. It’s an act of love and gratitude for all He’s done for you. We say it out loud. We live out loud.