Power, not fear . . .

 

READ John 11-16

An Internet search for ‘greatest fears’ surprised me; most of the hits did not mention fear of dying. Is this denial? No one wants to talk about being terminal. The fear seems to be there  and governing how we deal with life.

The Bible says: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, (Jesus) himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:14–15)

Fear is a slave that makes us do odd things. We’ve seen it during this pandemic and in less horrors, like jumping up on a table at the sight of a mouse. In contrast, the Word of God says that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) This means that God’s Spirit gives us incredible assurance:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

Knowing that death no longer has power over me is integral to the Gospel — Jesus died that I might live forever! Before He died and rose again, Jesus showed His power over death by raising a widow’s son from his coffin and raising Lazarus from the dead. He told this man’s sister:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die . . . .” (John 11:25–26)

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (11:38–44)

After this, some believed in Him, but some were afraid He would cause them loss of political power so plotted His death — blind to His power over death. But Mary wasn’t. She anointed Him with expensive perfume in preparation of his dying. The people rejoiced too, for a while.

Jesus talked about death in a way that challenges all fears, not about physical dying as much as death to our sinful way of life:

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life . . . . Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (12: 23–25; 44–46)

He showed what that life would be like when He washed His disciples’ feet and told them to love one another and that by that love “all people will know that you are My disciples.” He knew Peter would fail. He knows we are not perfect. Living for Him is about Him, not our ratings. He assures that, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (14:13–14)

He also promised the Holy Spirit’s help to live for Him and to give us His love. Being loved by God is enough to overcome whatever I might fear. It enables me to love Him and “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” He is my vine, my source, my ability to be fruitful and not fail in life. He grants all that is needed — including no fear of death. The world may hate me, but Jesus promised peace in tribulation because He has also overcome the world. No fear, no fear!

I almost burst with joy at the wonder of this freedom from fear. Nothing can harm me unless the will of God plans to use it to shape me. Whatever I do, even the mistakes I make, cannot destroy the power of Christ in me, or rob me of the love of God through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Bless the Lord, oh my soul! Amen.

 

Convinced

 

READ John 5-10

These chapters from the Gospel of John repeat principles that ground my faith. My heart bursts with joy reading these truths. I am certain of so many things because Jesus said them!

Jesus said, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14) and I know that sin brings undesirable things into my life.

He said, “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (5:22–24) I know that cults who claim to worship God but ignore Jesus are not honoring God at all.

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (5:30) tells me that seeking the will of God gives me the ability to rightly evaluate what I hear. Without Christ, I cannot be sure of anything. This uncertainty is increased when I try to impress others: “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (5:44) Jesus later adds, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” (7:17) Obedience brings clarity.

Jesus gives priorities for life: believe in Him, seek His will rather than temporary stuff . . .

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you . . . .” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (6:26–29)

I also know that the salvation of others is primarily God’s work: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him . . . .” (6:44) and as they are drawn, they must come to Him realizing that sin is the big issue and so is His identity! He says, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (8:24)

In that last verse, the word “he” is not in the original language. Jesus later repeated this claim: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” And those who heard Him “picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” (8:58–59, compare to God identifying Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14) For this claim and for all that He did, the Jews thought He was lying, but I am firmly convinced that Jesus is God in human flesh.

From experience and the words of Jesus, I am also convinced that sin is a slave driver. My only freedom is knowing the truth and living by it. Satan lies to deceive and sometimes knocks me down, but Jesus picks me up . . . 

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free . . . . everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin . . . . So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (8:31–36) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (10:10) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (10:27–30)

If something nasty happens to me, God uses it for good. Romans 8:28-29 define that good as transforming me to be more like Jesus. From John 9:1-3, I also am convinced that nasty stuff is not always brought on by my sin. Sometimes it happens because God has a plan. When Jesus saw a man blind from birth, his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

My mom used to say, “We must need it, or we would not be getting it.” This expresses a belief in the goodness and sovereignty of God. Jesus used her words and John’s Gospel to convince me. Whatever God says is true.