Hosannah To Christ

On April 15, 2011 By BrianIn Hymns1 Comment

I have a book with a couple hundred hymns by Isaac Watts, and I found this one that goes along with Palm Sunday. We are planning to sing it this Sunday using the familiar tune to O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (both hymns share the same meter and the music fits well). Read the words and notice their theological depth in reference to the person of Christ that leads to the call to praise him.

Hosannah To Christ
Isaac Watts

Hosannah to the royal Son
Of David’s ancient line!
His natures two, his person one,
Mysterious and divine.

The root of David here, we find,
And offspring is the same:
Eternity and time are join’d
In our Immanuel’s name

Bless’d he that comes to wretched men
With peaceful news from heav’n!
Hosannahs of the highest strain
To Christ the Lord be giv’n!

Let mortals ne’er refuse to take
The hosannah on their tongues,
Lest rocks and stones should rise and break
Their silence into songs.

Two Ways To Live

On October 20, 2010 By BrianIn Book of Luke, Heart

In the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6, Jesus gives us two ways to live.

One way is to live for self. We can chase after riches, fullness, laughter, and popularity. We can live to gain for ourselves, as though the world revolved around self. This is our tendency even from our youngest years – consider the toddler throwing a tantrum because he doesn’t get what he wants. To those who live this way, Jesus says: “Woe to you.”

But Jesus calls us to another way of life. He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. Instead of living for self, we should live for Christ. We should be willing to give up all the world chases after and become poor, hungry, weeping, hated, rejected, and ridiculed for the sake of Christ. When we live for Christ instead of ourselves, Jesus says: “Blessed are you.” But that is not all. Jesus then goes on to tell us to live for others – even those who hate us, ridicule us, and reject us. He tells us to love our enemies. We are to do good, bless, pray for, and be merciful to others. Rather than judge and condemn others, we should forgive and give generously. Live for Christ and others. Love God and people. Live with a passion for God and compassion for people.

Two ways to live. We can live for self or we can live for Christ and others. Jesus closes his sermon with four applications:

First, choose your teachers carefully. Those blind to the truth follow those blind to the truth, and they both fall into a pit. But if you are in Christ, you are no longer blind, so don’t follow those who are. When we are fully trained we will be like our teacher. If we make the lies of our culture our teacher, we will be like our culture – we will live for self. If we make Christ our teacher, we will be like Christ, willing to give of ourselves for others. So who are we listening to? What does our favorite music, movies, books, magazines, and websites teach us? What do our closest friends teach us? To live for self or for Christ? Have we chosen our teachers carefully? Do we need to make some changes?

Of course, our culture is everywhere, and we cannot help but hear the lies, but we can minimize our exposure. And when we do hear the lies, we can reject them rather than let them shape us. We must continually ask ourselves the question as we traverse this world: “Is this true?” And we must saturate ourselves with the truth of God’s Word so we can know the truth and see the lies.

Second, Jesus calls us to apply the truth to ourselves first. We may agree with Jesus that we should live for him instead of ourselves, but we have this tendency too often to apply the truth to someone else. We think: “He really needs to hear this message. I hope so-and-so is listening. I should send this post to her….” Though we may have a plank in our own eyes, we want to take the speck out of another’s eyes. Jesus calls us to look to ourselves first, to apply the message to our own lives.

Third, we need to focus on the heart. The tree determines the fruit. Our heart determines our words and actions. It would be easy to hear Jesus’ message to love others, and attempt to tinker with our words and actions. But Jesus says we need to go deeper, we need to address our hearts.

We are all born with hearts bent toward sin, bent toward self. So our first need is to get a new heart bent toward God. We need to be born again. We need Christ to come into our lives and change us if we have any hope of living for Christ and others.

Assuming we have received Jesus as our Savior and have received a new heart, we must guard our hearts. Our new heart believes the best thing is to live for Jesus. It desires to live for Jesus. With that believe and desire, we will live for Jesus. But we have been living for self for a long time. And our culture calls us constantly to live for ourselves. And so we must guard our hearts from the lies of the culture we once believed. We must guard our hearts from the sinful desires of our culture we once desired. When we don’t, lies mix with truth, sinful desires mix with desires for Christ, and we sin. That is why we still sin. Sometimes we believe the lies, desire what the lies promise, and live out the lie. What we believe is what we will desire, and what we desire is what we will do. Our heart leads to our words and actions.

And so we must also examine our hearts. We need God’s Word to discern the thoughts and intents of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12) to reveal the lies and sinful desires. We need to pray with the Psalmist: “Search me, O God, and know my heart (Psalm 139). We can’t just tinker with our words and actions. We must examine our hearts.

Finally, we must live the truth. We shouldn’t claim Jesus is our Lord if we don’t obey him. We can’t simply listen to the truth, we must live it out. If we do, we are like the man who builds on a firm foundation, whose house stands. If we don’t, we are like a man who builds without a foundation, and great is the ruin.

Jesus calls us to stop living for ourselves, and to start living for Christ and others. If we are to do that, we must choose our teachers carefully. We must apply this truth to ourselves first. We must focus on the heart – we need a new heart, we must guard our heart, and we must examine our heart. We must live out the truth.

So how do you need to respond to Jesus’ message? As you respond and live for Christ and others, you will hear our Lord say to you: “Blessed are you!”

Our Only Worthiness

On August 6, 2010February 24, 2015 By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

Remember we did not declare temporary spiritual bankruptcy. Our bankruptcy is total and permanent. The only worthiness we have for entrance into God’s Kingdom is in Christ. The only worthiness we have with which to come before God is in Christ. The only worthiness we have to qualify us for ministry is in Christ. If we are to progress in any aspect of the Christian life, we must look outside ourselves and only to Christ. It is is him that the grace of God is so abundantly poured out on us.

– Jerry Bridges in Transforming Grace

Listen

On July 26, 2010 By BrianIn Book of Luke

During the Transfiguration recorded in Luke 9:28-36, a cloud overshadows them, and a voice says, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” The Father commands the disciples to listen to Jesus. We too must listen to Jesus, but how? He does not walk among us as he did then, so how do we listen to him?

Some might suggest that the words that he spoke while he was here that are recorded in Scripture – the words in red – are his words that we must listen to, but that does not go far enough. We know that the apostles and prophets wrote the entire Bible as they were led by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:20-21). We also know that the Spirit speaks the words of Jesus (John 16:13-14). That means that the entire Bible is the words of Jesus. When we open the Bible and read, Jesus speaks to us. We must listen.

We must stop and listen. Peter wakes up to find Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah, and he bgins to chatter on about building three tents. But is this a time to talk? Would you interrupt Jesus, Moses, and Elijah? Wouldn’t you want to hear their conversation? This is a time to stop all other thoughts, words, and actions, and just listen.

As we gather on Sunday mornings to open the Book which contains the very words of our glorious Savior, this is not a time to get up and wander about, to daydream, to think about lunch or afternoon plans. This a time to stop and listen.

As we wake up each morning to open the Book to read the very words of Jesus, we must stop all distractions, stop thinking about our plans for the day, and just listen to Jesus Himself speak to us. Stop and listen.

But we must not just stop and listen, we must also listen and respond. We cannot listen to Jesus like we often listen to a news announcer – in one ear and out the other as they say. When God speaks, we must respond. The Parable of the Sower in the prior chapter reminds us that we must not just hear the Word, but must respond (8:4-15). Jesus tells us his family are those who “hear the Word of God and do it” (8:21). We must not just hear the Word; we must do what it says (James 1:22).

So as we gather on Sunday morning to open the Book, do we come planning to not only hear but also respond? As we open the Book each morning, do we intend to respond? Do we intend to obey that command, or claim that promise, or believe that truth, or confess that sin, or follow that example? Do we plan to listen and respond?

Father, you have given us a great gift – the very words of Jesus. As we open the Book, help us to remember that we are reading the very words of God. Help us to stop. Help us to listen. Help us to respond. For your glory, we pray. Amen.

It Is Not About Me

On July 23, 2010July 24, 2010 By BrianIn Book of Luke

In the last post, we considered the identity of Jesus. We considered his claim to be the King and Savior of the world. We suggested that either he was the King and Savior or he was an egotistical nut. Assuming we believe his claim to be the King and Savior (as I do), how should we respond. Jesus continues in Luke 9 to tell us.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (v23). We are to come after him, to follow him, and this following includes self-denial.

I have a card on my computer which says: “Oh yeah. I keep forgetting. It’s not about me. It is about Him.” Self-denial is living out this card, not living for myself but rather living for him. If he is my King, I must live for him. If he is my Savior, I owe him my life. How might this play out in practical terms?

It means first of all, that I deny my life (v23-24). Verse 23 says we should take up our cross. The disciples knew this was an invitation to die. As Jesus died for us, we should be willing to die for him. And countless Christians through the centuries and around the world have given their lives for Jesus and continue to do so today.

Yet, he says to take up your cross daily. This takes us beyond a willingness to literally die to the idea of dying to ourselves; that is, not living for ourselves, but rather giving of ourselves each day for him and indeed for others. Because it is not about me, I can set aside my agenda to serve Christ by serving people. Verse 24 goes on to say that if I seek to save my life (live for myself), I will lose. But if I die t myself, giving of myself, I will find true life.

Secondly, I must deny nt nly my life, but my stuff (v25). Yes, I can enjoy what God gives me, but I don’t live for it. I am willing to give it away. I can give to others rather than hoard my resources seeking to gain the world.

Thirdly, I must deny my reputation (v26). Not ashamed, I must be willing to lose my reputation for Jesus by telling others about him. People may laugh, scoff, or ridicule, but it is not about me, it is about him. It is not about lifting up my name, but his.

Jesus is our King and Savior. It is not about me. It is about him. May God help us live this out more and more each day.

The Identity of Jesus

On July 21, 2010July 21, 2010 By BrianIn Book of Luke

Who is Jesus? What is his identity? As Jesus traveled around teaching and healing, people were talking. They wondered who he was, and they came to some interesting conclusions, as we can see in Luke 9.

Popular Ideas (v7-9, 18-19)

Herod wondered who Jesus was and heard what people were saying. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Others thought he was Elijah. Still others thought he was another ancient prophet raised again. When Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, they responded with the same ideas – John, Elijah, an ancient prophet. All three options agree on the idea that he was a prophet. Curiously, all three ideas also agree that he was a dead prophet raised from the dead.

Today, people have their own ideas about who Jesus is. Some children presumably might think Jesus is simply a swear word, as that is the only time they have ever heard the name. Others think he was a great deceiver of the people. Most I suspect would simply say he was a good teacher, a moral person, a spiritual leader akin to the Dalia Lama and others. Who is Jesus?

His Claim (v20-22)

Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was. Closer to the source perhaps they had a better answer. As usual Peter takes the role of the spokesman and suggests that he is the Christ of God; that is, he is God’s Messiah, the one predicted in the Old Testament to be sent by God, the coming king. It is clear from parallel passages that Jesus agrees with Peter’s assessment…as far as it goes.

And yet the popular view of the Messiah at the time was that of a political leader who would free the Jewish people from their Roman oppressors. And so Jesus goes on to redefine for them who he was as the Messiah. He must suffer. He would be rejected by the Jewish leaders. He would be killed. And then he would be raised from the dead.

The Old Testament speaks of one who will in fact suffer, be rejected and killed, an even hints at a resurrection in various places. The clearest passage is surely Isaiah 53 which clearly predicts these things, as well as giving the reason – he will die to pay for sins. As Jesus seeks to broaden their understanding of the Messiah, he points to himself as not only the King but also the Savior.

Sorting the Options

This didn’t fit with their understanding. Indeed parallel passages tell us that Peter rebukes Jesus. This view of Jesus overall doesn’t fit today either. A good teacher is fine, but not the King and Savior of the world. And yet, suppose I claimed to be sent by God to reign over you as king and to save you from your sins. Would you call me a good teacher? A spiritual leader? No, you would think I was an egotistical nut. Such claims to be king and savior negate the idea of being a good teacher, unless those claims are true.

Who is Jesus? He is either the King and Savior as he claims or he is an egotistical nut, a fruitcake. And yet he doesn’t act like a nut. He is not at all like the mentally disturbed folks you might meet wandering around downtown cities claiming to be the Messiah. He speaks and acts with sanity, and indeed with power – casting out demons, calming storms, healing disease, and even raising the dead. The evidence, I suggest, points to him being who he claims to be – the King and Savior. Have you come to believe in him as your King and your Savior?

The Provision of Jesus

On July 12, 2010 By BrianIn Book of Luke, Uncategorized

Can the provision of Jesus meet my needs? This is an important question today as we live in a world of uncertainty. Many are fearful of the future with a poor economy, lack of jobs, loss of money, and the list could go on. Do we need to be afraid? Or can we trust in the provision of Jesus? We get a helpful glimpse of an answer in Luke 9:10-17.

Jesus is preaching to a crowd of over 5000 in a desolate place. Evening comes, and the crowds are hungry. This is a big need. It would take a lot to feed over 5000 people! Have you ever had a big need in your life? Maybe you do now.

Jesus tells the disciples to give them something to eat. They rightly recognize that they can’t – this situation is too big for them. Ever been there – in a situation too big for you? Maybe you are now.

The disciples manage to come up with five small loaves and two little fish, but that won’t even feed the disciples, let alone the multitudes. They consider buying food, but where would they get so much food? There are no Super Walmarts. The surrounding towns are smaller than the crowd with Jesus. Even if they could find the food, how would they pay for it? Mark 6 gives us the figure of 200 denarii. Each denarius is a day’s wage. Estimate $100 a day and you get $20,000. How many of us have that kind of cash on us? None of the disciples did. No place to buy food and no money to do it. The situation seemed impossible. Ever been there? Maybe you are now.

But Jesus thanks God (literally blesses God) for the food, divides it up, and they all eat, are satisfied, and have 12 baskets of leftovers. There was a great need beyond any of them, and Jesus provided for the need. How has Jesus provided for your needs in the past. Times when the need was so great you didn’t see how it could be met, but He did. I can think of ways God has provided jobs in incredible ways for me. I asked the congregation Sunday, and we heard a number of wonderful stories of God’s provision. Don’t you think he can provide for your need today?

Of course Jesus provides in different ways for different people. He might meet a need miraculously like he did in these verses. Or he might use others to provide for our need as he did when he sent the disciples out in verses 1-6. Often he provides a job for us to work that our needs might be met. He makes our gardens grow that we might have food. And on and on the list might go. Sometimes he provides in totally unexpected ways. We are waiting for provision in one way, and he provides in a completely different way. We don’t understand why, but how he provides is up to him.

He also provides in various amounts. He provided more than enough for the crowds in our passage. In verses 1-6, he presumably provided just enough. Verse 5 suggests there were times when they didn’t get any food, but God still provided enough to keep them going. None of them starved. Which reminds us that we could get by on much less than we think. Paul tells us that if we have food and clothes, we should be content (I Timothy 6:8). Most of us have much more than that!

Our greatest need, however, is not even food and clothes. Our greatest need is God, a relationship with him, a home with him forever. This too is provided to us by Jesus who died for our sins and rose again to give us a new life with God. Should he choose to withhold food, clothing, or health, still in him we have our greatest need met. The Psalmist reminds us of this in Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” One day it will come our time to die. He will withhold our physical needs. But he will provide something greater – a home with him.

With all this in mind, how should we face the future? Do we need to be afraid? Or is the provision of Jesus enough to meet our needs? The answer is found in the feeding of the 5000. The answer is found in our own past experiences. He is more than able to meet our needs. So let us:

Seek. Seek his provision for our needs. Let us pray as Jesus taught us to pray – “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Trust. Trust the Lord to take care of us. We need not be afraid. God will give us what we need.
Be Content. God may provide abundantly or just enough. He might provide for us to come home to him. Regardless of how he provides, let us be content.
Give Thanks. God provides for us in measureless ways. We always have reason to give thanks to God.

Web Weekly

On April 10, 2010 By BrianIn Idolatry, PASSION Points

Here are some recommended links from the past week related to Three Passions living:

Tullian Tchividjian uses a quote from Elizabeth Elliot to help us ask the much needed question – why do we serve? He also provides a wonderful quote from Cornelius Plantinga that reminds us of who truly satisfies. Timothy Keller likewise calls us to find our contentment in God alone, and not in what he does for us. It strikes me that all three of these links ultimately deals with the issue of idolatry.

Finally Joshua Harris gives us a poem from Kevin Hartnett that helps us reflect upon the cross.

Gospel Shaped Death

On April 7, 2010March 30, 2019 By BrianIn Book of Luke

Some say there are only two things certain in life – death and taxes. I would suggest that there are a few more certain things, but death is certainly certain. Even though we live in denial, death could come to our door at any time of any day. We will die. How should we approach death – apart from the gospel? And how should the gospel shape our approach to death?

In Luke 23, Luke relates the story of the two criminals on crosses on either side of Jesus. One criminal joins the mockers, but the second rebukes him – “Do you not fear God?” Presumably these two criminals dying outside of Jerusalem are Jews with an understanding of who God is from the Old Testament. They know God is holy and just – he will punish sin. They know God created us to live in a perfect loving relationship with God, but that we sinned against God bringing death and separation and judgment. Perhaps they have heard Jesus warn of hell – a place of separation and judgment after death. Indeed, do you not fear God? You are about to die and face his judgment. You have every reason to fear! Without some good news we are in a heap of trouble.

But the second criminal has noticed something. This Jesus has done nothing wrong. The rest of the New Testament confirms his observation – Jesus was without sin. So if sin brings death, but he is without sin, why is he going to die? Clearly this is further than the thief is thinking, but Peter gives the answer – Jesus is dying for our sins (I Peter 2:24). He is taking our sins upon himself, and the death, judgment, and separation that goes with those sins. Why? So we can escape God’s judgment and be reconciled to God. Again, this is more than the criminal understands, but he somehow realizes that salvation is available from this man dying on the middle cross.

And so the criminal does the only sensible thing. He asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. He looks to Jesus. He is trusting, believing in this man to save him. And Jesus tells him that they will be together in paradise that very day. By looking to Jesus, he has escaped eternal judgment and separation from God. Instead he has received eternal paradise with Jesus. No wonder that Paul later says that death is gain. Why? Because he will be with Jesus (Philippians 1:21-23).

The gospel utterly turns our approach to death around. Instead of separation there is relationship. Instead of judgment there is pardon. Instead of hell there is paradise. Instead of fear there is anticipation.

And yet that is only part of the gospel. For Jesus will not only die and be buried, but he will be raised from the dead. And because he is raised from the dead, those who look to Jesus will also be raised from the dead when Jesus comes back. We will be victorious over death like Jesus (I Corinthians 15). And we will dwell in a new heaven and earth forever with the Lord (Revelation 21). We not only look forward to paradise with Jesus, but even more we hope in our own resurrection. And this hope is not “I wish it were true” hope. It is a certain hope based on the very promises of God.

Yes, there are more things certain than death and taxes. Death is certain. But for the one who looks to Jesus, paradise with him after death is certain. And the resurrection when he returns is certain. And so the gospel shapes our approach to death from fear to anticipation and hope. May we live and die with this anticipation and hope alive in us as we look to Jesus.