Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Voice of God
Hard to imagine, I began chapter eleven of Christianity Is Jewish back in July. As Christmas has come, and for most, gone, it seems more than a pressing matter to finish the story. Also of urgency would be for all those so inclined, to get out to the theatre to see The Nativity Story, in true Christmas spirit. Did I leave off with Micah? Think of the Jewish faithful, Mary and Joseph, and a knowledgeable priest, Zacharias, who surely were familiar with some of the prophecies. Knowledge of God’s Word undoubtedly helps us hear God’s voice more clearly but there are no guarantees. Sometimes it requires the removal of distractions—what distractions? I’m not distracted! It demands our desire, a pure and sincere motive. I don’t know if Mary and Joseph saw the Light as they entered the little town…”Mary, do you remember that verse in Micah? That’s why the census brought us here, NOW!” Joseph calls back to Mary on the donkey. No, actually, the movie (above said) is a more human depiction. Filled with anticipation, some anxiety about the accommodations, I’m thinkin’ Micah was a lost memory. Zacharias on the other hand, reduced to writing all his expressions, had plenty of silence before John was born. But we all know how frustrations and concern interrupt deep contemplation! “This is just perfect,” cries Zacharias, “I’ve got no voice, my dear wife is old. Will she survive childbirth? And how will I call the doctor?!”
Jesus God, as depicted in the four faces in Ezekiel’s vision, is the Lion of Judah, the ox to whom we are yoked as Servant, the Son of Man, and the glorious Son of God. The gospel writers perhaps had knowledge of all four faces from God’s Word, yet each one heard God speak to them differently; the message came vividly, yet they only wrote about one face each. Matthew heard God from his Jewish perspective and told of the Messiah, King of the Jews, complete with royal blood. Mark drew the picture of the Servant God as he had heard and understood---an ox. Luke, the physician, received God’s revelation of Jesus, the Man. The one Jesus favored, maybe BECAUSE of his ability to hear God in a heavenly, supernatural way, John blessed us with the eagle perspective. Jesus was God, is God and forever will be.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” ~John 1:1-5
To hear God’s true voice has no measure. WE are given what we will hear…we don’t always hear what we are given. Slow me down, Lord. Let us hear out of excited yearning, solemn focus, calm awareness, and aggressive searching. Amen.
Jesus God, as depicted in the four faces in Ezekiel’s vision, is the Lion of Judah, the ox to whom we are yoked as Servant, the Son of Man, and the glorious Son of God. The gospel writers perhaps had knowledge of all four faces from God’s Word, yet each one heard God speak to them differently; the message came vividly, yet they only wrote about one face each. Matthew heard God from his Jewish perspective and told of the Messiah, King of the Jews, complete with royal blood. Mark drew the picture of the Servant God as he had heard and understood---an ox. Luke, the physician, received God’s revelation of Jesus, the Man. The one Jesus favored, maybe BECAUSE of his ability to hear God in a heavenly, supernatural way, John blessed us with the eagle perspective. Jesus was God, is God and forever will be.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” ~John 1:1-5
To hear God’s true voice has no measure. WE are given what we will hear…we don’t always hear what we are given. Slow me down, Lord. Let us hear out of excited yearning, solemn focus, calm awareness, and aggressive searching. Amen.
