Demo Day

As Seen on HGTV

Who doesn’t love demo day? If you’ve watched any show on HGTV, you know exactly what I’m talking about. 

Sometimes it’s an older house that’s outdated and needs serious renovation. Other times there’s a safety issue. Maybe you plan to flip it. Other folks hope to take a historic home back to its original condition.

Stand Back!

Whatever the case, that’s when folks show up wearing hard hats, goggles, and gloves, armed with sledgehammers and pry bars. 

Before they can build the new, the old must go. It’s time to take this place down to the studs. You might want to stand back. Walls are coming down. Floors are coming up. 

A Messianic Makeover

Ever hear about the time Jesus personally gave His Dad’s house a messianic home makeover? In his bio of Christ, John Mark describes demo day at the temple in Jerusalem (Mk 11:15-19). 

It happens as we’re coming down the homestretch in the story of the second Gospel. Mark’s outline goes a little something like this. 

He opens with folks scratching their heads and trying to figure out just who this radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth really is (Mk 1:1-8:26). Could He REALLY be Messiah? 

The Long Awaited Hero from Heaven

Next, Jesus slowly pulls back the curtain on what it means for Him to be Messiah (Mk 8:27-10:52). Three times Jesus tells His team that He is indeed the long awaited Hero from heaven (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). 

There’s just one very important detail. He’s not the kind of Christ they’re expecting. He’s come to conquer sin and death, not the occupying Roman army.

In this middle section, it also looks like He’s turning everything upside down. In reality, He’s actually flipping things back the way they are supposed to be. We’ll get back to that flipping part in just a bit.

A Ticker Tape Parade

In the exciting conclusion of Mark’s Gospel, the author zooms in on the last week of the Lord’s life. This is when Jesus actually becomes the Messiah (Mk 11:1-16:20). 

The week gets off to a rocking start on the Sunday before Passover with a ticker tape parade into Jerusalem on a borrowed burro (Mk 11:1-11). The day ends with our Savior taking a look around the temple grounds before leaving town. We’ll soon see it’s a recon mission.

A Figless Fig Tree

Then on His way to the temple on Monday morning, hungry Christ curses a figless fig tree (Mk 11:12-14). Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is about the tree. Nope. This ties directly to what’s about to happen when they get back to the temple.

That Escalated Quickly

We pick up the action as Jesus and His team hit town. “When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices” (v15).

In the words of Ron Burgundy, that escalated quickly. The Son of God doesn’t waste any time. He right to work from Jump Street. He begins by chasing out everyone involved in the hustle for religious requirements to worship.

God’s Rules for Worship

So why have folks set up some sort of open air market at the the temple in the first place? It’s because God has set down some VERY specific guidelines when it comes to worship. 

That’s a huge part of the law which Yahweh gives Moses along with His Top Ten on Mount Sinai (Ex 20:1-26; 23:10-19; 25:1-31:18; Lev 1:1-8:4; 11:1-17:9; 19:1-8; 21:1-24:16). God lays down clear-cut and exact rules when it comes to sacrifice.

There’s No Business Like God’s Business

Because of that, it’s almost impossible for worshipers to make the long trip to Jerusalem from their hometowns with the required sacrifices. Your animals also must be without a single flaw. What happens if the priest gives your lamb the thumbs down?

The answer? Buy them up when you hit the temple courts. As the old saying goes, there’s no business like God’s business.And during the big holidays like Passover, business is VERY good.

A Very Profitable Enterprise

There are just a couple of problems with all this. First of all, this very profitable commercial enterprise is owned by none other than the family of the high priest. 

Let’s just say there’s a significant uncharge on anything you buy. Kinda like at the airport. How’s that $20 microwave burrito taste? Don’t forget to wash it down with a $5 bottled water.

Cluttering up the Courtyard

The second issue is the location of buying and selling. By all indications, this is what’s called the Court of the Gentiles. This outer court is the only place on the temple grounds where non-Jews could participate in their praise of God.

But apparently they couldn’t. Hebrew leaders are using a big chunk of it as a shopping center. Kinda like when your garage is so full of junk that you can’t park your car in it. Cluttering up the courtyard is one way to keep out those pesky Gentiles.

Tossing out the Trash

That’s the crazy and crowded scene Jesus’ sees when He arrives. It’s exactly what He expected to find. Remember how He got a sneak peek the day before (Mk 11:11)?

Christ wastes no time Monday morning. He quickly “began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices” (v15). He may not have a sledgehammer or a pry bar but that doesn’t stop Him from doing some serious demolition!

The word translated “drive out” (Gr. εκβαλλω/ekballo) is a compound Greek verb which literally means to throw out. And in this case, the Lord tosses out the trash. 

The Old Heave Ho

Matthew chooses the same term when writing about Jesus kicking demons to the curb in his Gospel (Mt 7:22; 8:16, 31; 9:33-34; 10:1, 8; 12:24-28). Luke uses it when the crew of a sinking ship “began throwing (Gr. εκβαλλω/ekballo) overboard” (Acts 27:18).

Jesus is asking nicely for these people to leave. He’s making them leave. He’s chasing them out. Giving them the old heave ho. They don’t have to go home but they can’t stay here!

And did you catch that He’s chasing away not just the sellers but their customers as well? Are these worshipers simply doing what’s convenient rather than what’s costly? Let me put it this way, sacrifice isn’t really a sacrifice if it doesn’t cost me anything.

Coins Jingling and Feathers Flapping

Christ’s demo day is just getting started. Next, “He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves” (v15). You can almost hear the sound of coins jingling and feathers flapping.

Maybe you’re like me and wonder why folks are offering financial services at the temple? Well there’s a tax which male worshipers must cough up when they visit. According to New Testament scholars, officials will only accept a specific currency called a Tyrian tetradrachma. 

Remember, this is Passover. Hebrews are pouring into Jerusalem from all around the Mediterranean Rim carrying the money of their current home country. Just like travelers exchange their currency when they’re abroad, same here. You can be sure they’re not exactly getting a great exchange rate.

Putting on the Squeeze

And what about those vendors who are “selling doves” (v15)? Why do they get a specific mention? I’m just spitballing here but let me take a shot.

God made specific provision in the OT for the poorest of the poor. They can offer much doves as their sacrifice rather than an a pricy lamb (Lev 5:7). Luke tells us that Jesus’ mom and dad were working class poor and took advantage of this cost effective option (Lk 2:24).

Is Christ ticked off that these dove vendors are putting the squeeze those who can least afford it? God continually calls His followers to stand up for those who can’t up for themselves.

A Catastrophe

Humor me as we take another dive into the original language. Check out the Greek verb the NLT translates as “knocked over.” It’s καταστρεφω/katastrepho, which means to flip or turn over.

It’s the source of our word “catastrophe.” Webster defines that as “a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune or utter overthrow or ruin.” If you’re a money changer or dove seller at the temple, Webster might put your picture next to its definition.

Right Side up

Ultimately Jesus hasn’t come just to turn over a few tables and chairs at the temple. He’s here to turn it ALL over! But He’s not flipping things upside down. He’s flopping everything right side up! He’s turning Creation back the way it was originally meant it to be.

Shutting down the Shortcut 

Christ didn’t just upset the buyers and sellers. “He stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace” (v16). While I HUGE respect the folks who bring us the NLT, that’s not exactly the best translation of the Greek.

A more accurate way would be to say the Lord did not tolerate anyone to carry anything through the temple area. In other words, He stops folks from using it as a shortcut. Interestingly, Mark is the only Gospel writer to drop this nugget.

Using God as a Shortcut

A.T. Robertson writes that religious leaders had a rule against using any part of the house of God as a shortcut. For whatever reason, they’re looking the other way and not enforcing it. 

This may seem a bit harsh at first glance but here’s our Savior’s point. Stop taking the temple for granted. Worship of God isn’t a shortcut to anything else. Stop using God to get anything but God!

A Hot Mess in the House of God

Remember that whole cursing the figless fig tree deal (Mk 11:12-14)? Just minutes after Jesus dumps a barrel of spiritual RoundUp on the tree, He’s kicking tail at the temple. 

Now we found out what He’s REALLY upset about! He’s hot under His holy collar about the hot mess people have made the house of God. 

Mad for All the Right Reasons

The Lord is furious about what’s happening. He IS angry. VERY angry. But He did NOT sin. This is what some folks call righteous indignation. That’s being mad for all the right reasons. 

As the followers of Jesus, we should all be upset when we see things like injustice, crime, and corruption. Instead of sitting back on our blessed assurance, we need to take a stand. 

The problem is we look the other way on many of these issues but get our undies in a bundle when we’re the target of insults and criticism. Instead, let’s fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. Let’s be a voice for the voiceless. 

Not the First Time

One more thing. Do you know this is not the first time at Passover that Jesus has cut loose on folks doing business at the temple. John tells us how the Son of God actually used a whip to cause chaos a few years back in the beginning of His ministry (Jn 2:13-17). 

So here in the last week of His life, He does it again. Not only did the folks at the Hebrew home office miss His point the first time, but Christ creates a sandwich around His ministry. In the end, He wants people to know the temple is NOT the point. 

Drawing a Crowd

This is quite a scene. Merchants scooping up their money and running out. Foot traffic through the court has come to screeching halt. The word is out that the Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth has gone crazy in the Court of the Gentiles.

Jesus isn’t just clearing the court but He’s also drawing a crowd. You can bet people are beating feet to see what all the commotions about. 

From Temple Cleansing to Bible Study

The Lord uses this as a teachable moment for the quickly assembled flash mob. The ESV tells us He is “teaching them” (v17 ESV). He makes His point by telling everyone the reason for why He did what He did.

He turns the chaos of the temple cleansing into Bible study. “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will 

be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (v17).

A Pair of Prophetic Passages

Christ uses God’s Word to drive home His point. He mashes up a pair of prophetic passages from the Old Testament. Don’t forget, during Jesus day it’s the ONLY testament.

“My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations” is straight out of Isaiah 65:7. It’s a powerful reminder that God has set aside this particular place for people to talk with Him.

The International House of Prayer

While both Matthew and Luke quote Jesus’ words, Mark is the only Gospel author to include the phrase “for all nations” (v17). Think of it this way. Before pancakes were ever invented, there was the International House of Prayer.

What’s the Lord’s point? First of all, He’s in the Court of the Gentiles. That’s the only part of the place where non-Jews are allowed to pray and worship. 

Throwing the Doors Open Wide

It’s also a hint at what’s right around the corner. It won’t be long before Jesus will throw the doors of God open wide to anyone and everyone.

The Son of God is saying His Dad didn’t just have the Temple built as an exclusive club for the Jewish people. In the end, it’s for EVERYBODY! Think back to God’s promise to bless Abraham and His chosen people (Gen 12:1-3). 

God tells Abraham that His blessing won’t stop at the Hebrews. “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:1:3). When it’s all said and done, He’s gonna drench the whole world with His grace! 

An Overpriced Mini-Mall

Jesus says there’s just one problem with that. “But you have turned it into a den of thieves” (v17). The second half of Christ’s quote comes from the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 7:11).

He makes it clear that Jewish leaders have transformed this God ordained prayer area into an overpriced mini-mall. Imagine people on a fixed income required to shop on Rodeo Drive. With all the tables and chairs, worship is next to impossible for non-Jews.

A Hangout for Thieves

In calling this “a den of thieves” (v17), He wants everyone to know that the temple has become the home to religious corruption, embezzling, and extortion. Don’t forget. God put stealing in His original Top Ten list (Ex 20:15).

The Message pulls no punches with its take on Jesus’ words here. “You’ve turned it into a hangout for thieves” (v17 The Message). Instead of being a hideout for criminal activity, God’s church should be a sanctuary for sinners like you and me.

The House ALWAYS Wins

Here’s another way of picturing what’s going on. They’ve turned God’s temple into a casino. Now I’m not saying that gambling is sin. It certainly can be incredibly destructive. 

One thing for sure, the house ALWAYS wins! While I’m not buying the line that “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” But you can bet your money will stay there! Kinda like what’s happening at the temple in Jerusalem.

Putting a Hit on the Son of God

The Hebrew head honchos hit the religious roof when they get wind of Christ creating chaos in the temple courts. “When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill Him” (v18). 

How mad are they? Mad enough to begin plotting how to get rid of this Nazarene troublemaker once and for all. They don’t just want Him to shut up and go home. They want Him dead. They put a hit on the Son of God.

A Passover Powder Keg

There’s just one issue before they kill the Christ. “But they were afraid of Him because the people were so amazed at His teaching” (v19). Don’t forget. It’s Passover. The place is packed. Jerusalem is a powder keg.

This radical Rabbi has the huge crowds hanging on His every word. He astounds His crowds both with what He says and how He says it. 

Dropping Jaws from the Beginning

Jesus has been dropping jaws from the beginning. Here’s how it went down back in Capernaum. “The people were amazed at His teaching, for He taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law” (Mk 1:22).

For the religious power players to challenge Him now would be a big mistake. If only they had a mole inside Jesus’ team. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Getting in the Way of God

A couple of thousand years later, you may be wondering what does all this have to do with you and me? I mean, it’s not like we’re exchanging shekels or selling animals for sacrifice. (You aren’t, are you?!?)

Let’s look at it another way. What have I put in my life that gets in the way of my relationship with Jesus? Are there habits, routines, or even rituals that have nothing to do with knowing and worshiping God that actually keep me from Him?

Making the Non-Essential Necessary

Have you made stuff that’s non-essential to your faith absolutely necessary? Worship style? Bible translation? Denomination? 

Has your personal worship time with Jesus simply become a way of punching the spiritual time clock or checking a box on your religious to-do list? Don’t just read for information. Read for transformation! 

Demo Day in Your Devotional Life

Think of these moments as divine appointments with the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. If He can make time for you, can’t you squeeze Him into your busy calendar?

Jesus may need to drop by for a little demo day in your devotional life. 

Obstacles for Others

Also, what have I put in my life that gets in the way of others’ relationship with God? Is there anything I’m doing or saying that’s an obstacle for somebody else moving closer to Christ?

I realize I may be stepping on some toes but here goes. Self-righteousness? Lack of repentance? Hypocrisy? Anger? Pride? Prejudice? 

Busy Building Roadblocks

It’s easy to understand why Ghandi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike Christ.” Why are we so busy building roadblocks rather than shining light and spreading salt?

If that describes you and me, it’s time for Christ to swing by and flip over the furniture. 

A Sneak Peek

There’s one more thing. Jesus is actually provided a sneak peek at the real demo day at the temple that’s right around the corner. In AD 70, God will allow the Romans to destroy it all. 

Why does He let this happen? Because there’s absolutely no need once the sinless Lamb of God provides the ultimate sacrifice and takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29; Heb 9:26-28; 10:10-12).

Borrowing an Idea from Jesus

Shows like “Fixer Upper,” “Flip or Flop,” and “Property Brothers” understand the appeal of demo day. But they’re simply borrowing an idea Jesus used back at the temple. 

The question is…what work does He need to do in your life?

©2020

Jay Jennings

Bottoms Up!

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come” (2Tim 4:6).

Last Call

The glass is almost empty. Just a sip or two remain. You hold it up and swirl it around a couple of times. There was a time when it was full. Maybe a little too full and overflowing down the sides. But it’s just about over. It’s last call and there are no refills.

Sounds like the kind of stuff that has filled country songs radio stations for decades, doesn’t it? From Hank Williams to George Jones to Luke Bryan. It’s where we get such classics(?) as “Light at the End of the Bottle.”

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come” (v6). Is this the last declaration made at the end of a long night by some pour dude getting his drink on? Has someone sufficiently drowned their sorrows and needs to call an Uber?

No, we’re not talking about the end of the night at your favorite local bar or craft brew pub. This is Paul describing the end of his life in a Roman prison. The apostle is not knocking back a beverage at last call. He IS the drink. His glass of his life is just about empty. He’s poured himself out as an act of worship to Jesus. Long before Maxwell House came up with their catchy slogan, Paul’s life has been good to the last drop.

So, bottoms up!

Caesar’s SuperMax

It’s somewhere around 64-67 AD. Thirty years since Jesus rocked the world by walking out of the cemetery. The former Pharisee has spent the last three decades spreading the word about the tsunami of grace that started in Palestine and rapidly inundating the Mediterranean Rim.

But this message of God’s love is actually quite dangerous. It challenges the religious establishment of rule-following. As a result, Paul regularly finds himself behind bars. Each time before, he got out. But this time is different. This time he won’t be leaving with his life or his head.

So the man from Tarsus writes what he knows will be the very last letter of his life to his spiritual son Timothy. He’s on Death Row in Caesar’s SuperMax in Rome (2Tim 1:12, 16; 2:9). He realizes full well that he’s in the final round of what has been a very good fight (2Tim 4:7).

In these final words, he hopes Tim can make it to the prison and see him one last time before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). We really don’t know if they ever saw each other again on this side of eternity.

Paul’s Last Letter

Paul has just spent most of this last letter passing the baton of ministry to the young pastor (2Tim 2:1-4:5). How to handle spiritual con artists (2Tim 2:14-19). How to make sure he’s ready to go when Jesus calls (2Tim 2:20-21). How to steer clear of pointless controversies (2Tim 2:22-26). Warning him of the danger right around the corner (2Tim 3:1-9).

Reminding him of all he’s learned over a lifetime of hanging out with his mentor (2Tim 3:10-13). Making it clear that God’s Word has given the apostle’s protege a very particular set of skills (2Tim 3:14-17). Caring for the followers of Jesus means giving them what they need and not necessarily what they want (2Tim 4:1-4).

Paul sums up all of these instructions in what we might call his Final Four (2Tim 4:5). One, stay composed and on your toes. Two, hang tough and watch God work. Three, keep spreading the news. Four, full speed ahead and finish the mission.

No More Appeals

Which brings us back to that nearly empty glass. The apostle writes, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering” (v6). This is the end. Barring some unforeseen miraculous move by Jesus (hey, it’s happened before!), his life is coming to a close. Death is right around the corner.

His Roman captors have cranked up the Roman execution machine. The process has begun. Paul understands that clearly by using the term “already” (Gr. ηδη/ede), meaning now or at this moment. No more appeals. He’s run out of options. His death has moved from possibility to probability to certainty.

The Final Toast

The apostle sees his life as “being poured out as a drink offering” (v6). Believe it or not, this is actually just a single Greek verb: σπενδω/spendo. It means to offer a drink, pour out a beverage, or offer a liquid in sacrifice. Ancient writers used it when describing two enemies sharing a drink in peace after a period of war. It’s how the authors of the NT paint a picture of giving one’s life in sacrifice or spilling your blood in a violent death while serving God.

Paul is making the connection to his living his life as an act of worship with the system of worship and offerings in the Old Testament. When God gives His people the meticulous details of sacrifice, He wraps up just about every act of worship with a drink offering (Ex 29:40-41; Num 15:1-7; 28:1-15). It’s like lifting your glass for the final toast.

New Names, Feasts, and Vows

The first time we see a drink offering made is after Yahweh changes Jacob’s name to Israel. Right after he gets his new ID, Israel builds an altar to God and “poured out a drink offering on it” (Gen 35:14).

It was the final toast when the Israelites celebrated the Firstfruit Feast (Lev 23:13). The drink offering was the closing sacrifice at the end of each day of the Booth Feast (Num 29:16, 19, 22, 24-25, 27-28, 31, 33-34, 37-38) It’s how God wanted the sacrifice at Passover to wrap up (Num 28:16-24). It’s the last offering made during the Nazirite vow ceremony (Num 6:15, 17).

There were those dark times when God’s people played footsie with false gods poured out drink offerings to them (Dt 32:38; Is 57:6; Jer 52:19). Joel warns Yahweh’s chosen folks how these times of spiritual infidelity will lead to a time when they won’t be able to make the liquid sacrifice (Joel 1:9, 13). But because God overflows in grace and mercy, they can toast him again the moment they do a 180 of repentance (Joel 2:13-14).

Good to the Last Drop

Meanwhile back in a Roman dungeon, the apostle sees the final drops of his own life as his final toast to his Savior. He wrote something very similar to his friends in Philippi the last time he was doing hard time. “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering (Gr. σπενδω/spendo) upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (Phil 2:17). In other words, when the glass of his life is finally empty, it will be worth every drop.

Bottoms up!

Wiggling off the Altar

That’s not the only time Paul connects the dots between pouring your life out in sacrifice as an act of worship. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1-2). As someone once said, the only problem with living sacrifices is that they keep wiggling off the altar. But given the overwhelming grace of God, how could we do anything else?

The Last Toast at the Last Supper

That picture of emptying a cup as an offering drips all through the Bible. That’s why Jesus grabs His glass and at dinner with His posse the night before His own execution. “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24). It was the last toast at the Last Supper on the last night before His death.

The Son of God loves us so much that He was willing to spill His own precious blood on our behalf! He gave everything He had to come to our rescue. He emptied His cup as a drink offering for you and me. Paul pours himself out as an offering in an act of love and worship to the Savior who did it for him. It’s the last offering. Jesus invites us to do the same.

Free Eternal Refills

It’s at this point that you might wonder why in the world anybody would be stupid enough to pour out a perfectly good drink? Why waste a full glass? Here’s the secret. God has something SO much better for you. He can’t refill my cup if it’s still full. That’s why He invites me to die to my own selfishness and empty my life as an act of worship.

Once my glass is empty, Jesus fills it to the brim with overflowing life. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). As a matter of fact, Christ will make sure that the cup He fills will never ever run out and we’ll never be thirsty again (Jn 4:13-14). Forget free Slurpees at 7-11. Pour yourself out as drink offering and enjoy a never-ending glass of the Living Water. We’re talking free eternal refills!

Bottoms up!

A Divine Appointment

Meanwhile back on Death Row, Paul tells Tim that the sands in the hourglass of his life have just about run out. “The time of my departure has come” (v6). The apostle understands that his execution date is actually a divine appointment. Roman officials think they’re in control of day their prisoner will day. But the former Pharisee knows full well that God is in charge of that calendar.

The writer of Hebrews tells us, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb 9:27). Paul knows it’s now only a matter of time. Same for you and me. We may not walking the Green Mile with a death sentence hanging over our heads. But our time here on the third rock from the sun is limited on this side of eternity. Let’s make the most of it by loving God and loving people. Let’s pour ourselves out as an offering.

Cruising off to Paradise

The apostle doesn’t pull any punches. He knows death is right around the corner. But he sees what’s ahead with an eternal perspective. He calls it his “departure” and uses an interesting Greek word (Gr. αναλυσις/analusis) in doing so. It describes a breaking up, breakdown, or a dissolution into parts. It’s actually where we get our word “analysis.” You analyze something by taking it apart and breaking it down.

Paul’s analysis of his own date with death is that it’s only a transition. You see, the term is also a metaphor of untying a ships lines from the dock before setting sail. He understands that the end of life on this side of eternity is only a transition to the next. It’s bon voyage and time to sail away into the afterlife. And if you’re wondering, Royal Caribbean and Carnival have no cruises that come close to this trip to paradise.

We see the apostle use a very similar word in when he writes about the win/win he faces when it comes to life and death. “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart (Gr. αναλυω/analuo) and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account” (Phil 1:23-24). Cruise away into Christ or stay here tell more people about Him? Tough call.

Don’t Knock It Back, Pour It Out

So as he’s about to cruise into the afterlife, Paul lifts one last toast. Instead of knocking it back, he pours it out. It’s a one final tribute to the One who poured Himself out for us. The One who lived the perfect life we failed to live. The One who died the death we should have died. The One who rose to the new life we don’t deserve. Let’s raise a glass and pour ourselves out as an offering in obedience to the Lord.

Bottoms up!

Real Love Is a Life Laid Down

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1Jn 3:16 NIV).

Back in 1984, the guys from Foreigner were searching for an answer. In a classic power ballad, they sang…

I wanna know what love is

I want you to show me

I wanna feel what love is

I know you can show me

If you’re my age, you’re singing along at the top of your lungs and waving your hands back in forth. 

Foreigner’s Mick Jones wrote this number one tune that rocketed to the top of just about every chart around the world. In an interview for Classic Rock Magazine about the song’s success, Jones said, “I don’t know where it came from. I consider it a gift that was sent through me. I think there was something bigger than me behind it. I’d say it was probably written entirely by a higher force.”

There certainly was Someone bigger behind it all. WAY bigger! The sad thing is that Jones didn’t realize that a certain Someone DID show them. Two thousand years before Foreigner recorded one of their greatest songs, Jesus demonstrated pure love. His best friend John says it this way. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (v16). 

Real love is a life laid down.

The problem is that society has sold us a counterfeit version of love for centuries. You know the kind of garbage I’m talking about. Remember the infamous tag line from the movie “Love Story”? “Love means never having to say your sorry.” WHAT?!?! Talk about a lie straight from the pit of hell!! We’ve fallen for a phony love that’s all feeling and no substance. It’s not that love has no emotion. It certainly does but it certainly does NOT stop there.

If we want a legit definition of love, let’s go to someone who was an eyewitness. Someone who was right there and saw it for himself. His name is John. Specifically, the Apostle John. He’s a former commercial fisherman who chucked the family business in order to follow the radical Carpenter/Rabbi from Galilee. If being one of the Twelve wasn’t cool enough, John actually became Jesus’ best friend. I can’t think of a better guy to tell us all exactly what love really looks like. 

In a little letter we call First John, he defines it like this: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1Jn 3:16). Our Savior sacrificed Himself for you and me. We’re to sacrifice for those around us. 

Real love is a life laid down.

In this verse, John does two things. First, he defines what true love really is. Second, he tells us how to respond. Fact then action. Explanation then application. You see, when we understand the expression of Jesus’ love-in-action, we can’t sit still and can’t sit down. We get moving. We get doing. We get going. Not for us. But for others. We give because of what we’ve been given.

the kind of agape love Jesus showed you and me wasn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling. Real love is sacrifice. It’s love that does. Love with hands. Love with feet. Love that goes. It’s love in action. Jesus showed the universe that love is a verb.

So what exactly did Christ do? How did He lay down His life for us? Long before He left heaven to come to our rescue, God loved you and me. That love goes back a LONG way. So let’s go back. I mean WAY back! Back even before creation. Did you realize God loved you before He created the universe (Eph 1:4-5). But He didn’t just think good thoughts about us with a long distance love. Jesus didn’t just feel something for us. He did something for us. When we needed a Savior, the Son of God left the comforts of the heavenly palace and served us.

Real love is a life laid down.

Paul tells his friends in Philippi the kind of sacrifice Jesus made for us. He took “the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross (Phil 2:7-8). Think about that for just a minute. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords became the Servant of Servants. 

The classic example is the incredible picture in the Bible of the Sovereign Lord of the universe sitting on the floor washing the filthy feet of His followers (Jn 13:3-17). That’s what love looks like. As a matter of fact, Jesus told His now clean-footed posse how we’re to follow His sacrificial example. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you are also 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). 

Real love is a life laid down.

Just to be sure, godly love is a whole lot more than washing feet. There’s no greater example than what Jesus did for us on a cross one Friday at a place called Calvary. But His service to us is much more than a bloody spectacle of Roman torture and execution. Christ laid down His ENTIRE life as an act of love. He spent 33 years doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. He lived the perfectly obedient life that we failed to live. He died the death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that we don’t deserve. 

Christ put our needs ahead of His own right to be called God (Phil 2:6). And in doing so, He lived out His own definition of living large and loving large. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Jesus didn’t just say He loved. He lived His love. He put His life on the line as a practical demonstration of how He felt.

Real love is a life laid down.

Back in 1st John, the apostle explains what the best love looks like and then goes on to tell us what we should do about it. “And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (v16). In doing so, John uses a word (Gr. opheilo) that’s translated here as “ought” but carries a LOT more weight than that. John doesn’t just suggest something to do in response to Jesus sacrifice. “Hey, here’s something you might try…” No, the original Greek term means to owe. To be in significant debt. To be obligated after receiving something of considerable value. The Son of God gave His very life for us. THAT is certainly of considerable value (1Pet 1:18-19)!

So what do we do about this massive debt we owe our Savior? There’s absolutely no way we can pay Him back. But we can pay it forward. We lay down our lives in sacrificial service of others as an act of worship to Jesus. That’s exactly the kind of debt repayment plan Paul wrote about to the church in Rome. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8). Declare spiritual bankruptcy and file Chapter 13. And by Chapter 13, I mean 1st Corinthians 13, the so-called “Love Chapter.” See what I did there?

Jesus laid down His life in order to pay our massive debt of sin. You think you’re six-figure student loan looks large? Not even Dave Ramsey is getting us out of hole our own sin. There’s only one answer. Christ. When we place our trust in Jesus, we’re trusting in what He did that we could never do. We can never repay Him for what He’s done for us. We can never earn our way into eternal life. 

Salvation is an undeserved gift. We have no reason to brag or boast about it. We’re not saved BY our good works but to DO good works (Eph 2:8-10). Just in case you were wondering, God doesn’t need your good works. But your neighbor does. I can’t pay Jesus back. But I can pay it forward. I can do that by laying down my life for others. Because I have received real love, I can give real love. Or as John likes to say, “We love because He first loved us” (1Jn 4:19).

Real love is a life laid down.

While I do own my fair share of Foreigner tunes, I’ve never had the privilege meeting Mick Jones and the boys. If any of us ever do, let’s make a point of telling them there’s no reason to look any further. Wanna know what love is? Take it from His buddy John

and check out Jesus. He’s happy to show you.

Real love is a life laid down.