9/19/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“And when Jesus came down from the mountain [after teaching the people on the mountain], the large crowds followed Him. A man with leprosy ame and knelt before Him saying, ‘Lord if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out and touched the man as He said…I AM willing. Be clean.” (Matthew 8.1-3)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I reflected yesterday on God’s Word saying “Teaching was not Jesus’ job.” It is true Jesus was called Rabbi, Teacher and even Good Teacher. Jesus never refuted the titles of rabbi and teacher. He did bring an understanding to the title “Good” Teacher saying “Why do you call Me good? There is none ‘good’ but God alone!” (Mark 10.8) It is recorded in the other synoptic gospels as well. Why would Jesus eschew being called “good.” Was He not good? Did He have a skeleton in His closet? Had He broken some law, rule or regulation which would disqualify Him? He was indeed good in the scope and sequence of righteousness. He was without sin and refused any and every opportunity to allow someone in sin to wallow in it and fester in it without giving it a thought. Jesus called everyone into accountability by the alignment of word and action in His own life. But, in that moment when the rich young ruler begged the question that each of us has had on their heart and mind, Jesus said “Only God is good.”

Again, I return to the definition/application of the term “good” as we hear it first in the story of creation. God declares that each day’s work was “good.” It came at the end of the work of that day. When Moses shares the story given to him by the Holy Spirit, he emphasizes “And God saw it was good.” Hear again Jesus’ declaration, “There is nothing good but God.” How this creation was an extension of God’s nature and character and being! It was good because it was “of God, in God, by God and through God.” John captures this revelation and sees its fulfillment in Jesus Himself who was, is and will always be “The light of the world.” So, if creation was good, God is good and Jesus through whom all things were created was infused with the goodness of God is good, then why would Jesus defer the acclamation? There are at least two reasons: 1) God declared such goodness Himself and not creation making such a self-determination; and 2) the work of Jesus was not yet finished. That is why I offer for consideration that “teaching was not Jesus’ work.” If it wasn’t and neither were preaching, healing, training disciples or leading worship, then what was? We only need to go to the cross and understand what the answer is to that question. There on the cross, the suffering servant of God who was fully committed to “doing the will of My Father in Heaven,” Jesus breathed His last painful in the flesh but peaceful in His spirit and declared “It is finished. It is done. Into Your Hands I surrender My spirit.” His work of being the Lamb of God who comes, as John declared, “To take away the sins (or the burden of sin or the end which sin brings into the world which is eternal death) of the world” was made evident. Everything else He had done was pointing this moment and leading to this reality.

What then of our own lives? What is our true work? What is our ultimate reality? And if there is anything which hinders us, deters us or dissuades us from the ultimate truth which defines our authentic life and living, then we must recognize it and ask for the Creator and Sustainer of Life to help us overcome it, pass by it or carry it along in peace that surpasses all understanding. We do this because our work is to “do the will of God in proclaiming the acceptable day of the Lord.” Can we say that? Can we justify our answer in that light? Can we truly take up the cross and lay all else aside so that we may be followers and believers in Jesus as the Christ? We may not be able to be worldly good but we can be creation good and kingdom good with Immanuel: God within us.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.