God’s Great Gift

 

 

READ Isaiah 53–56

The first verse in this reading is not to be taken lightly. It asks, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1)

It reminds me that I read the Bible for seventeen years without ‘hearing’ it. Only when Jesus Christ came into my life was it revealed to me and I believed it. This is not about intellect, nor education. While entering and living the Christian life can require mentors or preachers to help us, unless the Holy Spirit enlightens, faith does not happen because we just don’t get it.

Most of this reading is about Jesus. Some question how it could since it was written several hundred years before He was born, or they say this part was ‘added’ after. Yet if God’s Word is hidden to our eyes and heart until He opens it, this same God can reveal His salvation plan long before it happens.

53:6 is the reason for unbelief and spiritual blindness, and the solution for both. It says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) This describes sin, not in the usual terms of murder, stealing, cursing God and worshiping idols, but as simply insisting on my way, my ideas, trusting myself for everything. It happens often. Do I ask God for wisdom when I buy groceries? Before I answer the phone? When I write a text or an email? I’m learning, usually the hard way.

The greater revelation is the last part — Jesus bore my sin and its penalty. He was afflicted and slaughtered because of me going my own way. I may not have done the ‘big’ sins, but the little ones, and ignoring Him and His Word are sins too. For all of that, and for all of every sin ever committed by the entire population throughout all time, He died.

And He died without protest or finger-pointing. He sweat drops of blood and asked for a different way, nevertheless said, “Not My will but Thine be done” and ”was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

How can I write about this? Isaiah did well. His words bless my heart, remind me of how much God loves me, and reinforce the idea that going my own way must be surrendered — “not my will but thine be done.”

I’ve a plan for today. It could be interrupted, changed by the will of God. I have great desires for good things that only God can do, but they are not up to me; He may not answer my prayers, even for what seems like His will. I trust Him and His choices, yet weep when sin seems stronger. I know He is sovereign and powerful, yet need to rely on that knowing, that revelation, that faith, when the evil in this world increases and the dark closes in.

It helps to read the whole Book. In the end, Jesus wins. Isaiah knew it. He wrote things to say so, to reveal to us mere mortals that God knows what He is doing and invites us into His plan.

It was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:10–11)

For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:7–8)

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. (Isaiah 54:13–14)

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)

And finally, He calls out to all . . .

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6–7)

Amen.

 

Spiritual blindness healed

 

 

READ Mark 9-12

Some years ago a young girl came to a youth meeting at our home. She was a member of a cult that professed salvation. I asked her how that happened. She said, “through doing good works.” I gave her the following verses to read aloud:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Then I asked her what these words said about how a person is saved. She replied, “Through doing good works.” Such is the power of spiritual blindness.

This is not new. When Jesus told the disciples what would happen to Him, they also were oblivious to His words:

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. (Mark 9:30–32)

In that same chapter, Mark tells how the disciples argued about who was the greatest of them. Jesus said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” then took a child in His arms and said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but Him who sent me.”

Soon after that, people were bringing children to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:14–15) They heard it twice but still didn’t get it.

Later, two of the disciples asked Jesus for positions of prominence in His kingdom. Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mark 10:38) They didn’t get that either, nor realizing His kingdom is not about power but “to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The disciples were not the only ones who misunderstood kingdom realities. Some religious leaders came to Jesus with what they thought was a trick question. Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mark 12:24)

Knowing the Scriptures is important. Knowing the power of God is important too, but unless the Spirit of God opens eyes, the natural human heart is oblivious to the things of God. Our sin keeps us from welcoming the truth:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools . . . . (Romans 1:18–22)

I can testify to this from my experience. When I was a young teen, I decide to read the Bible every day. My mother did it and I thought that is what a grown-up woman should do. For nearly two decades, I read it every day without understanding anything it said, or anything our godly DVBS teacher said, or what my mother said. It was only when Jesus opened my eyes did His words begin to make sense and to transform my thinking.

It was not for lack of trying, nor was it ignorance (I was an honor student), but this was spiritual blindness, the kind of inability to see without a touch from the Lord Himself. Even the disciples who walked and talked with Him didn’t get it. He rebuked them for it, yet He also prepared them for the day that they were ready to hear and understand. When Jesus died and rose again, these men who once were blind began their task of bringing the Light into darkness. Once they finally got it by the power of the Holy Spirit, they told everyone about Jesus and the world was forever changed.