Nobody Feels Sorry for the Pharisees

 
A Nightly Punching Bag

Nobody ever feels sorry for the Washington Generals. Who are they? So glad you asked. They’re the nightly punching bag for the legendary Harlem Globetrotters.

People don’t buy tickets to pull for the Generals. They have no rabid fan base. Folks come to watch them lose. And Washington doesn’t let them down. They lose. Boy, do they lose. Over and over and over.

A 2,495-Game Losing Streak

The Generals hold a record of 6-17,000 (plus) against the ‘Trotters. Yeah, you read that right. Six wins. More than seventeen thousand losses. Their last victory came way back in 1971.

That win broke a 2,495-game winning streak. It also broke the hearts of fans who came to see  them lose. The Washington coach said the crowd reacted “like we just killed Santa Claus.”

See what I mean? Nobody feels sorry for the Generals.

Wearing the Collar

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Pharisees are the First Century version of the Washington Generals. These knuckleheads continually make the mistake of challenging the sinless Son of God and lose. Over and over and over.

The only difference between the two? The Pharisees are winless. They’re wearing the collar. They carrying the goose egg. At least the Generals claim six victories. Oh, there was one time they thought they’d finally gotten the W on a Friday during Passover. But when Sunday rolled around, Jesus took the ultimate last second victory.

Like the Generals, nobody feels sorry for the Pharisees.

Could This Be the Day?

We pick up the action in the Gospel of Mark with game six of the schedule (Mk 8:11-13). Christ and His crew have just dropped anchor on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, somewhere near Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10).

When word gets out that the radical Rabbi/Carpenter is in town, the Pharisees scramble into action. Despite riding a five-game losing streak in Mark’s bio of Jesus, these guys think this will be the day. Gotta give’m credit for persistence.

Crashing the Party

Let’s review the highlights, or in their case, lowlights of the previous losses. There was the time the Pharisees crash a party and lose their ever lovin’ minds when they see our Savior hanging out with nothing but losers. Jesus tells these religious bullies that if they knew how truly sick they are, they would join the party (Mk 2:15-17).

There was the time they caught Christ and His crew grabbing a snack on the Sabbath. He gets in their pharisaical grill and tells them they’ve got the rules all wrong. God gave His people the seventh day as a divine day off (Mk 2:23-28). 

Throwing the Penalty Flag

There was the time at church back in Capernaum when the Pharisees got so upset when Jesus healed a man with an atrophied hand that they immediately begin plotting to shut Him down (Mk 3:1-6).

There was the time they teamed up with religious power brokers from the Hebrew home office to throw the penalty flag on Him for failing to follow their manmade rules. All the Lord did was call them out for being phonies when it comes to faith (Mk 7:1-13).

Here We Go Again

See a theme? Five confrontations. Five defeats. Well, buckle up, buttercup. Here we go again. Number six is about to go down.

“When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with Him. Testing Him, they demanded that He show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority” (v11).

Jewish Superstars

Just who are the Pharisees anyway? Did they always have such a terrible rep? I mean, two thousand years later, their name has become the equivalent of a four-letter word to most followers of Jesus.

Well it certainly didn’t start that way. Back in the day, the Pharisees are a very small but incredibly popular team of Jewish superstars. They’re super serious about God. Because of that, Hebrew parents dream of their sons growing up to wear the Pharisee jersey.

Fighting Greek Culture

About 150 years before the birth of Jesus, they began fighting the battle against what’s known as Hellenization. Greek culture was spreading like wildfire around the Mediterranean Rim. The Pharisees wouldn’t stand for it and fought the good fight for the good ol’ days in Israel.

They run the synagogues in the countryside, the equivalent of local Jewish churches. Meanwhile, another rival Hebrew party known as the Sadducees hold a death grip on the temple in Jerusalem. More on them in a moment.

Keeping God’s Rules and Regs

The Pharisees are lot like today’s conservative religious fundamentalists. They believe there’s only one way to God and that’s through keeping His rules and regs. Spoiler alert: only one Person in history has done that and they see Him as public enemy number one!

The Religious Liberals

Matthew tells the very same story but adds that the Sadducees are there too (Mt 16:1-4). That’s a critical bit of intel because they are the arch enemy of the Pharisees. The Sadducees are the religious liberals of the day. They run the temple because they’re more than happy to play footsie with whoever’s in power.

The Sadducees accept only the first five books of the OT. They aren’t buying the endless list of rules cooked up by the Pharisees. They also don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. The way they see it, this life is all there is. Which is sad, you see. (That’s a preacher’s version of a bad dad joke.)

Gluttons for Punishment

This is the first time these two bitter rivals have ever teamed up to take down Jesus. Let’s just say it won’t be the last. The Galilean has become a threat to both and as a result is their common enemy.

As we mentioned, the Pharisees have had their share of run-ins with the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth already. But that doesn’t stop them from doing it again. They must be real gluttons for punishment.

Ganging up on the Son of God

Mark tells us “they came and started to argue with Him” (v11). The author uses a word in the original language (Gr. συζητεω/suzeteo) the NLT translates as “argue.” It means to question together as a team in a negative sense.

In other words, the Pharisees are ganging up on the Son of God. It’s like one of those scenes in a martial arts movie. You know, the thugs way outnumber and surround our hero. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Bruce Lee, Billy Jack or Neo from “The Matrix.” The result is always an epic beatdown of the bad guys. Same here.

Ready to Drop the Gloves

The same word shows up in similar ways throughout the NT. When Jesus and His lead team walk in on the religious leaders ambushing His other followers (Mk 9:14-16). Luke uses it to describe the time a truckload of angry Jewish folks surround Stephen just before they murder him (Acts 6:9).

The Pharisees really aren’t looking for answers from Jesus. It’s their way of getting in His grill and cramming their views down His throat. This isn’t about seeking a peaceful solution. This all about being right.

They’re like those old school hockey goons who constantly try to pester an opponent into dropping the gloves. They’re bullies who love to fight because they always win. Well, that is, until they challenge Jesus. Major mistake.

Wrestling with Pigs

Know somebody like that? It’s that person who’s always looking for a fight. They’re always ready to argue. Their hobby is never being wrong and always hoping for a chance to let everyone knows it.

Don’t take the bait. There’s an old saying that may come in handy. It goes a little something like this. Don’t wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it!

A Relational Thermostat

God jam packs His Word with all sorts of commands about how we should avoid pointless arguments. The wisest man who ever walked the planet writes, “A hot-tempered starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them” (Prov 15:18). You have the opportunity to be a relational thermostat.

The man who wrote a huge chunk of the NT pulls no punches with his friends in Philippi. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure” (Phil 2:14-15). Godliness and integrity has nothing to do with winning more fights than you lose.

Could It Be You or Me?

But what if the person who looks back at you in the mirror each morning is the problem? Yeah, I’m talking to you. Are you the instigator? Do you believe you’re smartest person in the room no matter where you go? Are you constantly correcting others during conversations? I know because I’ve been there.

Since you’re unable to interrupt me and tell me I’m wrong, do you mind if I drop a little wisdom? Take it from Paul. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Eph 4:2). I’m just gonna leave this right here.

Messianic Magic Tricks

Mark lets us know these religious thugs have come with a very specific strategy to bushwhack Jesus. “Testing Him, they demanded that He show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority” (v11).

Maybe you think this is some sort of well intentioned pop quiz. Say Jesus, how ‘bout You show us what one of those handy dandy messianic magic tricks so we’ll know you’re the Real Deal. Not even close. These goobers are clearly up to something.

Poking a Hole

When we dig into the word the NLT translates as “testing” (Gr. πειραζω/peirazo), something curious happens. It means to see whether something can be done. It comes from a root word that describes piercing an object. Think of poking a hole in something in order to look inside.

Depending on the context, “testing” can be either positive or negative. I’ve give you three guesses as to what sort of test the Pharisees are giving Jesus and the first two don’t count.

An Ongoing Fight

They’re out to burst the bubble on this whole Messiah business once and for all. They hope to obtain info to use against Him. Trip the Lord up and expose Him. And what better way to do it than by publicly shaming Him here on the shores of Lake Galilee.

If that’s not enough, the grammar in the original text shows this is ongoing fight. These troublemakers are just getting started. They just won’t let up. As it says in the Message, “badgering Him to prove Himself, pushing Him up against a wall” (v11 The Message).

Some Divine Fireworks

The Pharisees demand a supernatural sign from our Savior. They insist He cough up a miracle right here and now. Preferably some divine fireworks in the Galilean sky. Apparently these goofballs missed out on the famous angel-laser-light-show the Father cooked up as a birth announcement for His one and only Son.

In doing so, they’ve made a huge mistake. Jesus isn’t some heavenly Netflix account that’s always on demand. He’s not sitting around twiddling His thumbs like our personal butler, hustling to give us what we want when we want it.

The Key to Ultimate Joy

The Lord doesn’t answer to us. He doesn’t obey us. It’s the other way around! Our willing obedience to His commands is His favorite love language (Jn 14:15, 21, 23-24). Consistently doing what Christ tells us is not only the key to ultimate joy but is a sign of an intimate relationship with Him. (Jn 15:10-15; 1Jn 2:3).

That doesn’t mean we can’t ask Him for anything. He loves it when we do. God wants us to bring everything to Him, including our worries, regrets, hurts, and pains. ESPECIALLY our worries, regrets, hurts, and pains! He trades that garbage for a peace that will blow our minds (Phil 4:6-7)!

A Long List of Miracles

The ironic thing is that Jesus has used a long list of miracles as divine signs to show He’s legit to this point. Driving out demons (Mk 1:21-28; 5:1-13; 7:24-30). Healing the sick (Mk 1:29-38, 40-45; 2:1-12; 3:15; 5:21-43; 6:53-56; 7:31-37). Calming storms (Mk 4:35-41). Feeding big crowds (Mk 6:30-44; 8:1-10). Water skiing without a boat and skis (Mk 6:48-52).

But Jesus isn’t some magician headlining in Vegas who’s come to dazzle the crowd. He uses each and every miraculous sign for the benefit of others. Christ doesn’t even do command performances for local royalty (Lk 23:8-9).

A Groan from the Gut

Check out the Lord’s immediate reaction to their ridiculous request. “When He heard this, He sighed deeply in His spirit” (v12). While Matt relates the same story in His bio of Jesus, we only find this little nugget in Mark.

This is not some insignificant exhale. Mark carefully selects a verb that only appears once in the entire Bible. Αναστεναζω/anastenazo means to draw a deep sigh from the bottom of the lungs. Think of it less than a sigh and more like a groan of intense grief from the gut.

Of All People

You know when a parent heaves a heavy sigh when their child should know better. You just don’t get it, do you? How many times are we going to do this? This exhale contains more than CO2. It’s loaded with a mix of frustration, exasperation, as well as deep compassion.

Jesus is offended and frustrated by the arrogance of these religious leaders. Of all people, shouldn’t they know EXACTLY who He is and what He’s come to do? Nobody but nobody knows the Scriptures like these guys. Come on, man!

It makes me wonder how many times my Savior shakes His head over my repeated bad choices. Dude, not again. It’s just one of the many reasons why I’m glad His mercies are hot and fresh each morning (Lam 3:22). I desperately need them everyday because I fail everyday.

They Just Won’t Let up

As the Pharisees just won’t let up and won’t stop their irritating insistence for an on demand miracle, Jesus puts an end to their nonsense. “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign” (v12).

Oh, they can ask all they want but it ain’t happening. Christ goes so far as to publicly promise they’ll never see the sign they want. He swears they won’t get want they want. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

A Smelly VRBO

According to Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord swears He’ll give them a sign…just not the one they want. “The only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Mt 16:4).

Just like the runaway prophet stayed three days and nights in the stomach of a fish like some kind of smelly VRBO (Jonah 1:17), Jesus will soon spend the same amount of time in a tomb. He’ll shock the world by taking a Sunday stroll straight out of the cemetery.

Another Embarrassing L

Oh, the Hebrew hotshots will get a sign alright, but it won’t be the sign they want. The next miracle they’ll see will be the one God wants them to see. And even then, they won’t buy it.

So just like the Generals, the Pharisees take yet another embarrassing L. Sure, there was no water bucket of full of confetti, basketball on rubber band, or shorts pulled down to their ankles. But these religious superstars certainly got caught with their pants down once again.

Make It Six in a Row

After dropping the mic on His opponents, it’s time to hit the road. Or in this case, the water. “So He got back into the boat and left them, and crossed back to the other side of the lake” (v13).

If you’re counting, that’s six defeats in a row at the hands of the Son of God. And you can bet they’re counting. Every. Single. One.

Not Throwing in the Towel

But you can be sure the Pharisees aren’t throwing in the towel. Mark tells us they challenge Jesus two more times (Mk 10:2-9; 12:13-17). I don’t need to tell you how those turn out, do I?

Kinda like the hapless Washington Generals. The owners of the longest losing streak this side of Wile E. Coyote.

Like I said, nobody for the Generals. Or the Pharisees.

©2018

Jay Jennings

Going the Distance

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:7).

Yo, Adrian!

Confession time. I have a soft spot for “Rocky” movies. Long before the mumbling Philly street fighter morphed into a multi-billion dollar motion picture franchise, Sly Stallone created the original Oscar-winning film about the ultimate underdog.

There’s a pivotal scene in the first flick where Balboa admits to his girlfriend Adrian that he has no chance to beat the champ (as well as any thought of a sequel!). But he holds out one sliver of a dream.

“All I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I’m still standin’, I’m gonna know for the first time in my life, see that I weren’t just another bum from the neighborhood.”

SPOILER ALERT! (Please tell me you’ve seen the original “Rocky.” For Pete’s sake, it came out in 1976!). The Italian Stallion is still standing at the end of the fight. He may have lost, but he went the distance. Yo, Adrian!

From Assassin to Apostle

There’s another story of someone who went the distance. Someone who you fought hard right to the end. Someone who left nothing in the tank when he crossed the finish line. Someone who kept his eyes on the prize no matter what came his way.

We’re talking about Paul. That’s right, the Apostle Paul. The former Pharisee and one-time enemy of Jesus who’s the subject of one of the greatest turnarounds in history. The resurrected Christ transforms him from assassin into apostle. From murderer into martyr. From trying to kill the followers of the Rabbi/Carpenter into dying for Him too.

After the resurrected Jesus blindsided him at high noon outside Damascus, Paul dedicated his life to telling everyone he met about God’s mind-blowing offer of mercy and grace through His Son. The apostle traveled the known world spreading that very Good News and planting churches.

This mission was anything but pleasure cruise. We’re talking jail, beatings, torture, stoning, shipwrecks, death threats, lack of sleep, hungry, thirsty, hot, and cold. Paul may have been beaten up but not beaten down. He never stopped fighting. He never stopped running. He never lost faith.

Like Rocky, Paul went the distance.

Paul’s Three-Punch Combination

He also wrote important letters of instruction to these new communities of believers which we’ve saved and collected in a little something we like to call the New Testament. In his very last letter, the man from Tarsus writes to a young preacher named Timothy (2Tim 1:1-2). Paul’s on Death Row in Rome (2Tim 1:16; 2:9; 4:6-7). He hands the ball of ministry to his protege (2Tim 2:1-4:5) and hopes for one last visit (2Tim 4:9, 21).

That’s the scene as the camera zooms in on Paul. Behind bars once again. He’s pouring out the last drops his life in sacrifice to his Savior (2Tim 4:6). Like a fighter throwing a jab, hook, and uppercut, the apostle then delivers a three-punch combination as he looks back at his life just before the final bell.

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith” (v7). Paul’s given it everything. He’s left it all on the field. He’s got nothing left in the tank. He knows that the cause was worth it all. And he’s still standing.

He went the distance.

A literal translation of the apostle’s words from Greek to English sounds more like something from another big time movie franchise. “The good fight I have fought. The race I have finished. The faith I have kept.” Call it the Yoda Intergalactic Translation. You almost expect next thing Paul to say is “Do or do not. There is no try.”

Max Effort

Let’s use the super-slomo and take dissect Paul’s impressive three punches. First he writes, “I have fought the good fight” (v7). In doing so, he doesn’t want there to be any doubt about the effort involved. He uses the verb “fought” (Gr. αγωνιζομαι/agonizomai) which means to participate in a contest in the public arena, contend for a prize, struggle incredibly hard against an opponent, fight the enemy with everything you’ve got.

It seems clear that our man Paul is a First Century sports fan. He uses this very same language when writing to the Corinthian church as he compares following Jesus to the intense preparation of an Olympic athlete. “Everyone who competes in the games (Gr. αγωνιζομαι/agonizomai) goes into strict training” (1Cor 9:25 NIV). We’re talking the same kind fierce focus and devotion to our Savior as folks like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt had to their sport.

Think I’m exaggerating? We get our words “agonize” and “agony” from the term the apostle drops. As a matter of fact, “fight” is actually the very similar word αγων/agon. While it certainly can mean any struggle, contest, game, race, or conflict. But it also paints a picture of a big crowd filling a stadium or arena watching a contest or game, an arena, stadium.

The Athlete in the Arena

In other words, Paul’s agonizing battle has been a very public struggle. The NT is chockfull of times when the apostle’s mission to tell people about Jesus puts him at the center of citywide unrest and riots. Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:44-50). Iconium (Acts 14:2-6). Lystra (Acts 14:19). Philippi (Acts 16:19-24). Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9). Berea (Acts 17:12). Corinth (Acts 18:12-17). Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). Even in Jerusalem (Act 21:27-36)!

What a great reminder that while our faith in Jesus is personal, it is anything BUT private. Living for the Lord means living out loud. Like Paul, “agonizing the good agony” means swimming upstream in the swift current of our culture. It’s going to be hard. Much of the time we’re going to look different, sound different, and act very differently from the folks around us. Here’s the deal. Following Jesus will make us look weird to the world at times. There will be spectators as we fight the good fight but this is anything BUT a spectator sport!

Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is all about Paul’s superhuman effort to leave it all on the playing field. Over in a letter to believers in Colossae, he makes it clear that Jesus is the supernatural source of his strength. “For this I toil, struggling (Gr. αγωνιζομαι/agonizomai) with all His energy that He powerfully works in me” (Col 1:29). Oh, the struggle IS real. And our Savior gives us His strength to fight.

Fight the RIGHT Fight

Notice that the apostle has “fought THE GOOD fight” (v7 emphasis added). It’s not just any fight. Not “a” fight. He’s not simply walking around with a hair trigger looking to throw down at a moment’s notice. This is THE fight. It is the GOOD fight. It is the RIGHT fight.

In other words, Paul has wasted his time and energy on stuff that doesn’t matter. I wish I could say the same. Too often I get distracted by things that have no eternal value. I allow myself to get sucked into silly and meaningless skirmishes that steal my strength from what God calls me to do.

How about you? Do fight stupid little battles that pull you away from the real war? Do you major in the minors? Just a reminder of the mission Jesus has given us. Love God. Love others. The Lord said so much Himself (Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:29-31). As a matter of fact, He says our love for each other lets the world know exactly Whom we follow (Jn 13:34-35). Just before He headed home to Heaven, Christ commanded us to make sure we tell everyone we meet all about His message of grace and goodness (Mt 28:19-20).

Failing to Fight

Then there’s my little problem of failing to fight at all. Too often it’s just too much trouble. Passivity has been a problem in my family for a VERY long time. It goes back to my first father Adam failing to put up his dukes when a talking snake started whispering sweet nothings to his wife (Gen 3:1-7).

Too many times I follow in Adam’s footsteps and fail to fight for what’s right. Fight to pray with my wife. Fight to tell my kids about Jesus. Fight to spend quality time with those I love. Fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. For Pete’s sake, at least the Beastie Boys fight for their right to party. I must be intentional and get off my blessed assurance to fight for what has eternal value.

Fight. Don’t just fight any fight. Fight the right fight. Fight the good fight. Fight to the final bell.

Go the distance.

Kicking to the Finish Line

The second punch in Paul’s furious final combination actually takes us out of the squared circle and onto the track. “I have finished the race” (v7). Picture highlights from SportsCenter. It’s the end of the Olympic marathon. The winner lays it all out in one final and unrestrained race to the tape. Paul’s words are NOT describing some runner who’s barely broken a sweat who’s high stepping to victory. Not in the least. We’re talking crossing the finish line and immediately collapsing.

Once again, the apostle pulls an image from the sports world. He uses the word “race” (Gr. δρομοις/dromos), which can specifically mean a race course, a running track, or generally describe a mission or any activity that involves continual and serious effort.

When Paul and his team rolled into what we know now as Turkey for the first time, he told folks there that just before John the Baptizer “was finishing his course (Gr. δρομοις/dromos),” the prophet made it clear that he was NOT the Hero God has promised (Acts 13:25).

Years later, the apostle hustles together a quick meet-up with the Ephesian church leaders. He makes it clear that he’ll give it everything he’s got to keep spreading the Good News. “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course (Gr. δρομοις/dromos) and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Running the Obstacle Course

Life is much more like a marathon than a sprint. It’s the ultimate endurance race. Sure, there will be times to pick up the pace, but this race is all about stamina. Think of those extreme obstacle courses with all sorts of hurdles and barriers. You have to run through water, slog through mud pits, climb ropes, and crawl under barbed wire.

That pretty much describes life for most of us. It’s an endless series of obstacles. There are the little bumps like sick kids, car repair, and broken water heater. There are those massive mud pits like job loss, bankruptcy, disease, and death of a loved one. American Ninja Warrior looks like a little kid’s Slip-n-Slide compared to the obstacle course called life.

Life Comes at You Fast

There’s one huge difference between these extreme tracks and our time here on the planet. You really can’t quit life. Oh, you might give up and sit down between the barbed wire and rope climb. But that doesn’t push pause on existence. Whether you’re moving or not, the folks at Nationwide nailed it. Life comes at you fast. Very fast.

Paul is a great example of just how quickly life moves. One minute he’s on a black ops mission to snuff out Jesus’ followers in Damascus. The next he’s on mission as one of them. From that point on, he put his head down and took on every obstacle life through his way. He may be locked up on Death Row at the end of his life, but he’s sprinting to the finish.

Jesus’ Finish Line

With the checkered flag in sight, the apostle knows his race and finish is actually based on the one run by his Savior. It’s interesting that Paul uses the very same word for
“finished” (Gr. τελεω/teleo) that Jesus shouted from the cross at Calvary. “It is finished (Gr. τελεω/teleo)!” (Jn 19:30). For you grammar nerds out there (yeah, I know who you are!) both of them are in the perfect tense. It’s the second person perfect active τετελεκα/teteleka in 2 Timothy. Meanwhile over in John, we see the third person perfect passive of τετελεσται/tetelestai.

In the ultimate act of love, Jesus successfully breaks the tape of performance in our behalf. He perfectly fulfills every one of His Father’s commands that we failed to follow. Christ defeats the obstacle course of obedience that kicked our tails. If that’s not enough, He paid the full brunt of our punishment for that disobedience. The cross was more than a place of Roman execution. It was also Jesus’ finish line.

Go the distance.

Playing by the Rules

Step back into the ring with Paul during the final round and check out the knockout blow. Here’s the third punch of his Christ-following combination. “I have kept the faith” (v7). The apostle wants Tim to know that he’s played by the book. He’s followed the rules. No low blows. No cheap shots. Don’t mistake his intensity for a willingness to take short cuts or play dirty.

We’ve already seen how the man from Tarsus has placed his trust in who Jesus is and what He has done. Paul writes here that in the last days on this side of eternity, he has complete confidence in Christ. The practical application of that faith trusting in what the Lord tells him to do. As the Lord, He’s the Boss.

Weak Faith in a Strong Object

I express my trust in Him by doing what He tells me to do in the strength that He provides. Will I fail? Will I stumble? Will I fall flat on my face? You betcha. But Jesus gives me the mercy and grace I find nowhere else to keep on keeping on.

We’re able to remain faithful because of our Savior’s unshakable faithfulness. Earlier in this very same little letter, Paul drops the lyrics to a First Century worship tune which goes a little something like this…
“If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful
For He cannot deny Himself” (2Tim 2:11-13).

Building to Code

In other words, it’s not so much about the strength of our faith. It’s ALL about the strength of the object of our faith. There’s better one in whom to place our trust than God. That’s how He earned the nickname of “the Rock of our Salvation” (Ps 89:26; 95:1). Grab hold of that Rock. He’s not going anywhere!

Jesus made a point of saying that doing what He says is the best way to prepare for the storms of life. He compares practical application to the wise dude who built his house into the bedrock. The hurricane hit the home “but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Mt 7:25). You could say that he built it according to code. He played by the rules.

The Buffet at Golden Corral

To often I pick and choose the commands I want to keep. It’s like I think I know better than God. There I go listening to the whispers of the satanic snake just like my first mom did (Gen 3:4). Following Jesus means obeying what He says. It’s not like picking only your favorite from the buffet at Golden Corral. On a related note, do you think there’s a Chocolate Wonderfall in Heaven? But I digress.

Paul has come to realize that God’s commands actually bring joy and blessing instead of stealing it. They’re guard rails on the narrow road. Here at the end of his life, he has played by the rules. He has lived obediently. He has kept the faith. He has kept it to the very end.

Go the distance.

A Life Well Lived

As the apostle looks back, he sees a life well lived. “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith” (v7). He fought for the right cause and left it all on the field. He ran the obstacle course God placed in front of him and crossed the finish line. He played by the rules, trusting in the goodness of God in the process.

What about me? Am I fighting the good fight?  Will I fight to the last bell?
Am I running the race with everything I have no matter what comes my way? Will I run through the finish line? Am I keeping the faith? Will I continue to trusting in Jesus until I see Him face to face?

Let’s turn Paul’s words into a daily prayer. Lord Jesus, give me the strength today to fight the good fight. Give me the endurance to finish the race whenever that day may come. Give me a willing heart of obedience to love God and love people.

Christ, allow me the privilege to go the distance. Just like Rocky. Just like Paul.

Moronic Arguments

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels” (2Tim 2:23).

Rude attacks. Cheap shots. Disgusting vulgarity. Sleazy rumors. Shameless lies. They’re everywhere you turn. Network newscasts. Your Facebook feed. The Twitterverse. The customer line at your local overpriced coffeehouse.

And just when you think this latest campaign couldn’t slide any further down the sewer pipe, there’s another soundbite, another commercial, or another slimy allegation. Is it any surprise that one of the debates was the same night as a WWE pay-per-view? Don’t think it didn’t cross Vince McMahon’s mind to combine the two.

Cool your jets. I’m not gonna use the Bible to endorse or condemn anybody. But if you or either of our presidential candidates are willing to listen to timeless truth, the Apostle Paul has has some incredibly wise words. “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels” (v23). Don’t get sucked into ludicrous debates that don’t make a difference. Nobody wins. Everybody loses. These arguments just give birth to more battles.

A couple of thousand years before America was a twinkle in the founding fathers’ eye, Paul is behind bars and in chains in Caesar’s SuperMax (2Tim 1:16, 2:9). He knows full well that he’s doing his final days on Death Row in Rome (2Tim 4:6-7). The man from Tarsus scribbles down what will be his letter to his protege Timothy with two purposes. One, he pleads with Tim to come see him one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). Two, he desperately passes the torch of spreading the message of Jesus to the young pastor (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

What a powerful reminder of the original purpose of what we call the New Testament. It’s really a collection of documents. Some are short bios of Jesus. Most of the others are letters. This is the latter. A letter from one real person to another real person. If we’re going to get a grip on how we’re to read and apply it today, we need to get a handle on what was going down when it was written in the First Century. In this case, it’s one last letter from a mentor to his spiritual son with their eyes locked on Jesus (2Tim 1:1-2).

Before we dig into this verse, let’s go back up the page just a bit. We see this is actually Paul’s third warning in chapter two against getting sucked into a war of words. Call it Word War III. It’s not a prophetic warning about the presidential campaign of 2016. Well, at least I don’t think so. The apostle sounds the first alarm when he tells Tim to make sure folks don’t start a War of the Words which that leaves the church look like a post-apocalyptic wasteland. (2Tim 2:14).

We see the second alert right after that when Paul instructs him to steer clear of “irreverent babble” which not only drives people away from Jesus but spreads like a cancer (2Tim 2:16-17). A couple of knuckleheads named Hymenaeus and Philetus have turned the lives of believers upside down by telling folks they’ve missed the resurrection of the dead.

Which brings us to warning number three. Right after Paul instructs Tim to put on his big boy pants (2Tim 2:22), he cautions him a third time, “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies” (v23). A closer look at the original language reveals the verb  παραιτεομαι (paraiteomai) which means to beg off, reject, or refuse to listen to someone. It carries the idea of declining an invitation and intentionally ignoring what’s going on. In other words, make your RSVP clear. You are are NOT going to be part of that scene.

Back in his first letter, the apostle tells Tim to decline every invitation when someone wants to peddle any message that’s not grounded in reality. “Have nothing to do with” (Gr. παραιτεομαι/paraiteomai) irreverent, silly myths” (1Tim 4:7). Jesus compares our refusal to God’s kingdom to a man who throws an awesome party but people continually RSVP with regrets. “But they all alike began to make excuses (Gr. παραιτεομαι/paraiteomai)” (Lk 14:18). The writer of Hebrews warns us not to ignore Jesus’ invitation and “do not refuse (Gr. παραιτεομαι/paraiteomai) Him” (Heb 12:25).

It’s like those times we’ve been chatting with someone who suddenly sends the conversation somewhere we want nothing to do with. Rumors start to spread. Reps begin to be ruined. That’s when you hit them with,“Oh, no you di’n’t! Don’t go there!” And from what I’ve seen on Jerry Springer, it’s always more effective if you wag your head with your hands on your hips as you say it. Excuse yourself from the discussion. Make it clear that you will not join in their ridiculous reindeer games. Decline their invitation immediately. RSVP ASAP.

What kind of invitations are we to turn down immediately? Paul describes them as “foolish, ignorant controversies” (v23). Foolish” (Gr. μορος/moros) means something stupid, intellectually weak, irrational, rude, crude or with no respect for God. It’s where we get our word moron. Jesus says any doofus stupid enough to hear His words and fail to apply them is “like a foolish (Gr. μορος/moros) man who built his house on the sand” (Mt 7:26). Christ calls the religious bullies of Israel “blind fools (Gr. μορος/moros)!”

Paul tells the incredibly dysfunctional Corinthians how God loves to purposely picks knuckleheads and “what is foolish (Gr. μορος/moros) in the world to shame the strong” (1Cor 1:27). In other words, He loves to show off by using morons like you and me to embarrass the best and brightest. You see, Jesus and His team of ragtags, losers, and goofballs will beat a roster full of five-star recruits and first-round draft picks every single time. And if we’re going to be morons, let us be “fools (Gr. μορος/moros) for Christ sake” (1Cor 4:10).

The apostle goes further to tell Tim to avoid invitations to discussions which are “ignorant” (Gr. απαιδευτος/apaideutos). This is the only time we find this word anywhere in the entire Bible. I don’t have to tell you that this term paints a very unflattering picture of someone or something stupid, uneducated, untrained, rude, or crude. One commentator named Parry calls it “speculations of a half-educated mind.” In other words, these dipsticks know just enough to be dangerous. (Insert your favorite political joke here!)

What makes these discussions so moronic and dangerous is that there’s conclusion to them. The ESV uses the word “controversies,” which is the Greek noun ζητησις (zetesis). This term doesn’t just describes a heated discussion or dispute, but a forceful expression of differences of opinion with zero chance of seeking a solution. You won’t find anybody willing to agree to disagree. Listen, we all know someone who will argue about anything and everything, including the color of the sky. (If you don’t know someone like that and totally disagree with me, it’s probably YOU!).

Check out how the writers of the NT use this word. John remembers the time folks tried to stir up a fight between John the Baptizer and his cousin. You may have heard of Him. His name is Jesus Christ. “Now a discussion (Gr. ζητησις/zetesis) arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification” (Jn 3:25). John didn’t take the bait. He drops the mic when he tells everybody that his rep own must be reduced while the Son of God’s must continue to grow (Jn 3:30).

The term shows up a couple of times in Paul’s prequel when he orders Tim to shut down anybody who teaches goofball doctrine because all they do is “promote speculations (Gr. ζητησις/zetesis)” and drive people further from Jesus (1Tim 1:4). 

A little later in that same letter, he tells the young pastor that any spiritual huckster who peddles a counterfeit gospel is not only full of himself but also “has an unhealthy craving for controversy (Gr. ζητησις/zetesis) and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth” (1Tim 6:4-5).

Paul warns us that these arguments are a real lose-lose proposition. Why? Because “they breed quarrels” (v23). The cycle just spins. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Mudslinging word wars are fertile ground for further conflict. Maybe it’s all the fertilizer (if you know what I mean and I think that you do). Before you know it, you’re in an endless dispute loop. Go ahead and Google “fastest breeding animal.” I don’t care what the interweb tells you. Rabbits, rats, cockroaches, and bandicoots finish a distant second to pointless debates. They give birth to even more battles.

In a note to another one of his direct reports, Paul uses some of the very same language and gives some of the very same orders. He tells Titus, “Avoid (Gr. παραιτεομαι/paraiteomai) foolish (Gr. μορος/moros) controversies (Gr. ζητησις/zetesis), genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels (Gr. μαχη/mache) about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3:9). Don’t take the bait. Don’t get sucked into moronic arguments. They are a total waste of time.

So what does this mean for you and me 2,000 years later? It doesn’t mean we just crawl into our backyard bomb shelter and just wait for Jesus to come back. There will be times when we should take a stand for Christ. But we need to remember who the real enemies are. If you need a quick refresher, they are Satan, the world, and our own flesh. Notice nowhere on that list do you see democrats or republicans.

Our Savior came to our rescue so that we be active agents of His love and His light in this fallen world. That’s not simply having a warm fuzzy feeling toward folks. It’s actively loving and serving the people God brings into our path. They don’t have to earn it. Remember, we certainly did nothing to deserve His love (Rom 5:8). 

Just before He headed home to heaven, Jesus gave us one last command. “Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34-35).

This is NOT a call to excuse yourself from the political process. Be a good citizen who’s fully involved wherever you live. But when someone invites you to join in a endless argument, RSVP ASAP. Refuse the request quickly and clearly. There are always going to be controversies that are nothing more than vicious cycles. Check out how the Message paraphrases Paul’s words. “Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights” (v23 The Message).

Before you get your undies in a bundle one more time, it’s probably time to turn off the debate and turn on God’s love. That message will get Jesus’ vote every single time.

War of the Words

“Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers” (2Tim 2:14).

I had a love/hate relationship with sci-fi as a kid. On one hand, I couldn’t get enough of it. But on the other, I couldn’t keep my eyes open! Whether it was TV shows like “The Outer Limits” or movies like “Frankenstein,” I wanted to watch but I couldn’t.

There was no better example than “War of the Worlds.” Not Spielberg’s remake (which IS pretty good). I’m talking about the original made in 1953 starring Gene Barry, based on the novel by H.G. Wells. The storyline is really no surprise. Martians unleash an unrelenting assault on unsuspecting earthlings.

The aliens scorch the planet and its people by firing an assortment of killer ray guns from their spaceships. The people of Earth drop a nuke hoping it put an end to the invasion (Spoiler Alert: it doesn’t!). The resulting “War of the Worlds” destroys anything and everything. Before you can say “little green men,” the battle will totally devastate the third rock from the sun. The war over the planet could eventually destroy the planet they’re warring over.

I don’t know if Paul was a fan of sci-fi, but he certainly knew all about doctrinal collateral damage. In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle warns against the danger of the War of the Words. “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers” (v14).

He tells Tim to remind folks to keep their eyes on Jesus and His Gospel. Warn the followers of Christ too keep cool heads when it comes to words and language. Don’t take the bait. Avoid arguments over theological terminology. It only results in catastrophic ruin for God’s people. The fight will eventually leave them nothing to fight over. There’s no reason for a War of the Words.

Paul is writing anything but fiction in this epistle. He’s behind bars and in chains (2Tim 1:16; 2:8). The man from Tarsus has been locked up before but this time it’s different. He’s on Death Row and he knows it (2Tim 4:6-7). The apostle writes to his protege named Timothy with two purposes. One, please come for a visit before his date with the executioner (2Tim 4:9, 21). Two, encourage the young pastor as he passes the baton of ministry (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

Here in verse 14, the former Pharisee looks back before looking ahead. When writing “remind them of these things,” he’s referring to what he’s just told Tim. Paul has just used the lyrics of a first century worship tune to teach the truth of the Good News (2Tim 2:11-13). Remind folks that following Jesus is a matter of life THROUGH death. Remind them that there’s no easy button when it comes to walking with Christ but it promises to deliver the ultimate in delayed gratification. Remind them that a lifetime of rejecting the Lord’s offer of salvation will only result in God giving us exactly what we want. Remind them that while our faith may wobble wildly at times, Jesus never wavers.

This Gospel refresher course in verses 11-13 isn’t a one-and-done deal. A closer look at the tense of “remind” tells us it’s in the present imperative form. An imperative simply means it’s a command. Not a suggestion. Not a recommendation. Not just a good idea. “Remind” is also in the present tense. That means Tim is to continually be reminding folks. Just as Paul orders the young pastor to make this a regular diet of his teaching, so should anyone who’s passing along God’s truth.

Now the apostle looks forward and writes “charge them before God” (v14). The verb here (Gr. διαμαρτυρομαι) means to declare solemnly and emphatically, warn strongly, or urge insistently. Again, this isn’t simply a suggestion or “hey,  you might wanna try this.” It’s the idea of grabbing someone by the shoulders, looking them right in the eye, making sure you get your point across.

When Jesus tells the story of a billionaire’s death and descent into Hell, He describes how the dead rich dude begs to go back and tell his family they want no part of where he is. He desperately wants “to warn (Gr. διαμαρτυρομαι) them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Lk 16:28). Let’s just say he’s unable to post a review on Yelp for Hades.

Paul drops this term three times in his two notes to Timothy. Other than here, we see it when he writes, “I charge (Gr. διαμαρτυρομαι) you” to not play favorites when it comes to protecting leaders from discipline (1Tim 5:21). Later in his second letter, the apostle cuts to the chase when he tells Tim, “I charge (Gr. διαμαρτυρομαι) you in the presence of God and of Christ” to be locked and loaded to preach God’s Word and pull no punches when he does it (2Tim 4:1-2).

Now that Paul has undivided attention, here’s his warning: “not to quarrel about words” (v14). Sadly we miss something very cool when we translate this phrase from the original language into English. The apostle isn’t just using an unusual term (Gr. λογομαχεω), he’s making up a whole new word! Most NT scholars believe he manufactured a hot-off-the-shelf, never-seen-before verb. We only see this word one time and one time only in the Bible. And it’s found NOWHERE in ancient Greek literature.

Long before anybody uttered mashed up words like “frenemy” and “bromance,” the apostle comes up with λογομαχεω. It’s compound word that literally means “word (λογο-) war (-μαχεω).” He slams two terms together to describe anytime we argue over language and terminology or wrangle about the meaning of terms. In other words, a War of the Words.

The big idea here is to avoid getting sucked into pointless arguments over stuff that really doesn’t matter in the end. Sure, we need to be accurate in our language and word choices. It is important to dot our doctrinal i’s an cross theological t’s. But keeping the main thing the main is the main thing. The big idea is Jesus and His Gospel. Focus on the essentials of our faith. Who Christ is. What He’s done. How much we need Him. And don’t forget to flip to the end of the book to see how everything all turns out (Spoiler Alert number two: Jesus WINS!).

The enemy tempts us and taunts us to duke it out over meaningless matters. Helps explain the expression: “The devil is in the details.” And make no doubt, Satan is behind it all. He loves to turn God’s people on themselves and divert us from our real mission. The result is destruction WITHIN the church. Don’t believe me? Let’s face it, people leave in a huff over carpet color, music, preaching style, altar calls, and how to celebrate the Lord’s supper. I’m sure you’ve never been dragged into that kind of trash talk.

This is going to be the first of three successive warnings against fights over language here in the next few sentences. We need steer clear of empty chatter which spreads like gangrene among the church (2Tim 2:16-17). And we must not go anywhere near ridiculous controversies that are, in the words of Admiral Ackbar, “It’s a TRAP!” (2Tim 2:23-24).

Here in verse 14, Paul says this War of the Words “does no good, but only ruins the hearers” (v14). the result is nothing positive. Only negative. You can translate “does no good” as “no profit” (KJV, NKJV), “useless” (NASB), “nothing profitable” (YLT), or “no benefit” (NET). Just as going to war comes with a heavy cost for any country, word wars take their terrible toll on God’s people. Nothing good comes out of it.

Instead these one of these quarrels “only ruins the hearers” (v14). It doesn’t just ruffle a few feathers. It doesn’t just bruise some egos. Paul says it’s catastrophic. That’s exactly the meaning of the Greek term translated as “ruins (Gr. καταστροφη).” It’s exactly the source of our word catastrophe. It literally describes something overthrown or overturned. Peter uses it when talking about smoldering rubble of Sodom and Gomorrah (2Pet 2:6). We’re talking total destruction. A War of the Words is absolutely catastrophic.

Let’s be clear. Paul is more than ready to fight for the right things. Remember the time he got all up in Pete’s grill in Antioch over his two-faced treatment of Gentiles (Gal 2:11-14)? But he’s warning us to pick our battles carefully. VERY carefully. There’s too much at stake. Instead of being always ready to throw, let’s be quick to spread God’s grace. We’ve gotta stop our “pious nitpicking” (v14 The Message). Build each other up and stop tearing each other down.

Once a stupid fight over language breaks out, it’s like one of those barroom brawls in a western movie. Tables trashed. Bottles broken. Chairs smashed. And you know somebody’s going out the front window and into the street. When it’s all over, the place is nothing but rubble.

How many times have you seen great teams torn apart from the inside out? Fights in the locker room and shoving matches on the sidelines distract from the real opponent. That’s exactly why Jesus commands us to love one another. That’s how the world will recognize we’re His followers (Jn 13:34-35). If we’re followers of Christ, we’re all wearing the same jersey. It says Team Jesus. Start playing together. Start serving each other.

We ARE in a war. Let’s just make sure we're not fighting each other and focusing on the real enemy. If you think Martian death rays are bad news, just wait until you see the catastrophic destruction of a War of Words.

Fight on and Keep on Fighting on

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Tim 6:13-14).

This one is going the distance. Like Rocky and Apollo (both times). Like Rocky and Clubber Lang. Like Rocky and Drago. Like Rocky and (Insert name of opponent from any sequel here. You get the idea.) This slugfest that won’t end early. No matter the foe and no matter the flick, the Italian Stallion will fight on and keep on fighting on. Yo, Adrian!

A couple of thousand years before Stallone gave us the original Balboa, a young slugger named Timothy was in the fight of his life. But check out who he had in his corner. Paul. We’re talking about THAT Paul. Yeah, the APOSTLE Paul. The same Paul who wrote a hefty chunk of the New Testament. You think that’s something? Father God and Jesus Christ are right there too giving Tim the supernatural strength and encouragement to go the distance. 

We pick up the action late in the fight. The camera zooms in on Tim’s corner. Let’s listen in to what Paul tells him. “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v12-14). Don’t give up. Don’t EVER give up. Fight on and keep on fighting on.

Because Jesus fought hard for us when He was cornered, we can to! Yo, Timothy!

It’s been a brutal battle so far. A team of false teachers dominated the middle rounds at the church in Ephesus. They used all sorts of funny business to fool the followers of Jesus. Wacky religious theories and complicated family histories (1Tim 1:4-7). Outright lies and downright demonic doctrine (1Tim 4:-2). And you thought Mike Tyson chomping down on Evander Holyfield’s ear was a dirty move! By the way, folks are still throwing these low blows in church’s today.

But truth made a comeback. Then again, God’s truth always does. Jesus’ church gets up off the canvas and fights back to take control. In the corner, Paul grabs Tim’s tired shoulders. “I charge you” (v13). He uses a Greek verb (Gr. paraggello) which means to give strict orders or make specific instructions. It’s the same word Matthew uses when Jesus orders His posse to do advance work for one of His preaching tours. “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing (Gr. paraggello) them” (Mt 10:5). He gave them detailed instructions just as the apostle coaches up his protege.

I’m no different than Timothy. God has to get up in my grill to get my attention too. Sometimes I forget I’m in a fight. Other times I get tired. Or distracted. He has this amazing ability to reset my focus. He’ll do it through a friend. Maybe through prayer. But consistently use His Word through people like Paul. The Lord regularly grabs me by the shoulders and gives me a hard shake when I’m reading Scripture. It’s time to fight on and keep on fighting on!

Paul then reminds Tim of Who’s in his corner. God the Father. God the Son. You can bet God the Spirit is there too but He’s not the One to draw attention to Himself. The Trinity is total agreement on the strategy. The apostle encourages his spiritual son that our Heavenly Dad is the One “who gives life to all things” (v13). God is not just the Life Producer but the Life Preserver. Take a look around you right now. What do you see? What’s alive? Well, if it’s breathing, creeping, barking, hopping, flying, blooming, or growing, God is the One who makes it happen.

The Son of God is there and brings a ton of experience to Team Timothy. Paul tells his young fighter how it was “Christ Jesus who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession” (v13). This is certainly a big bout but it’s nothing compared the fight Jesus won against sin and death for us. Forget the Fight of the Century. It’s the Fight of Eternity! And Christ won the belt!! Place your trust in what He did that we could never do. 

The apostle jogs Tim’s memory about one specific aspect of Jesus’ fight on our behalf. In one of the toughest rounds, Christ stood toe-to-toe with a local Roman governor and “made the good confession” (v13). Let’s swing over to the Gospels to see what made His confession so good. When Pilate interrogates the Rabbi/Carpenter directly and asks if He really is the king of the Jews, Jesus replies “You said it” (Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2; Lk 23:3; Jn 18:37). When backed into a corner, Jesus delivers a devastating short right of truth. He is indeed the One the Father promised would come to rule and reign (2Sam 7:12-16).

Paul compares Jesus’ “good confession” of Jesus to with to the time Tim did the same thing and “made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1Tim 6:12). When did this happen? Who were those witnesses? It might have been when the young buck from Lystra first placed his trust in Jesus. It might have been answered God’s call to ministry, which by the way included getting circumcised…as an adult (Acts 16:3)! I’m pretty sure I would have made a confession that day and it wouldn’t have been good!! Or it may have happened once when Tim had his back to the wall as a member of Paul’s team in places like Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9), Berea (Acts 17:13-15), or Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). Since the apostle connects these two incidents, you have to believe he’s refreshing Tim’s memory of when God gave his partner the strength to stand strong. Fight on and keep on fighting on!

There are going to be times as a follower of Jesus when you and I are stuck in a corner. Times when we have to stand our ground. Times when we’ll need to make our own “good confession” (v13). When there’s no seeming escape, remember that we don’t have to answer every question. We’re not going to argue anyone into heaven. We simply point to the One who won the fight for us. Or as the writer of Hebrews tells us, run the race with everything we’ve got while keeping eyes locked on Jesus who endured the cross on our behalf (Heb 12:1-2).

In the critical moments of the fight, Tim is “to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v14). Folks have wondered about just what command Paul is talking about here. The best answer is probably his instructions to “fight the good fight of the faith” back in verse 12. That would be the big idea of this entire letter. In other words, there are a some specific things to do in the Ephesian church but the big idea is to fight on and keep on fighting on. 

If you want a more specific commandment to follow, think back to what Jesus tells His dozen disciples the night before His own death. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (Jn 13:34). As a matter of fact, it’s through keeping this command that people around the world can be sure we’re followers of Jesus. You just can’t go wrong when you love the folks God puts in your life. 

Just before the bell rings to start the next round, Paul delivers the last part of his instructions to Tim. Keep this command “until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v14). We win the fight when we continue the fight. Jesus has already won it for us. And He’s returning one more time. In the words of LL Cool J, don’t call it a comeback. Christ isn’t like one of those sad aging heavyweights who continue to come out of retirement for one more shot at former glory. No, when Jesus returns, He returns in top form (Rev 19:11-16). Fire in His eyes. Crown on His head. Tattoo on His thigh. Sword in His mouth. 

This fight is going the distance. But instead of being saved by the bell, we’ll be saved once and for all by God Himself. We don’t know when, but we can be certain He will return. Until then, remember you’re not alone. The Holy Trinity is in your corner. Jesus already won the fight for you. Until then, tell folks about Him. Tell them you trust in Him and not yourself. Remember that He’s returning one final time. Until then, fight on and keep on fighting on.

Because Jesus fought hard for us when He was cornered, we can too! Yo, Timothy!