Tuesday, March 20, 2007
When Jesus Spoke, People Listened
“We need to sweep away the hindering dust and smog which has been put between the Old and New Testaments…Today, the thing of first importance is to believe the writings of Moses—really believe they are true; then, in Jesus’ own teaching, we are prepared to believe His words.
Those that say nothing matters but Jesus, and think of Him as appearing out of nowhere two thousand years ago as a floating mystical happening to be followed, like a ghostly gleam, have not listened to Jesus Himself when He says, ‘But if ye believe not [Moses’] writings, how shall ye believe My words?’” ~John 5:47 ( Schaeffer; CIJ, p 143, emphasis mine)
At God Still Speaks, the other blog, I refer back to the law and procedure of the High Priest and Tabernacle sacrifices in Exodus and Leviticus, which is a type and illustration of God’s pinnacle sacrifice of His only Son. On the road to Emmaus, do you realize what Jesus “chatted” about with two of the apostles? Not the weather or last night’s episode of Lost! “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” ~Luke 24:25-27
Jesus spoke truth, one hundred percent, every last word. “…No deceit was found in His mouth.” ~1 Peter 2:22 (Peter quoting Isaiah 53:9)
John records his teacher’s accusing words to the Pharisees: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. For he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.”
You see, there is no gray. You believe all Jesus has said or none. If you believe only parts, then you also believe He was capable of lying (or the writers got His words wrong, but then, what’s the point of believing anything written about Him, if we have no idea what is accurate?) In either case, how or why do you believe any of it? If you don’t believe Jesus Christ is the Way and only way to the Father, then why do you believe at all? What is it you believe in, a liar or a distorted story?
One thing to be sure of, relativism, half-truths, personal truth cannot abide with the words spoken by Messiah. There is Truth and there is non-truth. If He spoke Truth saying, “No one comes to the Father but by Me”, then the opposite MUST NOT be true: “Some come to the Father without Me.”
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” ~John 1:12
How many Jews realize Jesus’ entire ministry was directed toward them, Israel. As Mrs. Schaeffer points out…they would recall Isaiah 40:11—“He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” The Jews would remember as Jesus spoke these words to them:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anything pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and nothing is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” ~John 10:27-30
His words divided the crowd! Listen: “…and I lay down My life for the sheep.” “I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” (John 10:17 and 18)
Those that say nothing matters but Jesus, and think of Him as appearing out of nowhere two thousand years ago as a floating mystical happening to be followed, like a ghostly gleam, have not listened to Jesus Himself when He says, ‘But if ye believe not [Moses’] writings, how shall ye believe My words?’” ~John 5:47 ( Schaeffer; CIJ, p 143, emphasis mine)
At God Still Speaks, the other blog, I refer back to the law and procedure of the High Priest and Tabernacle sacrifices in Exodus and Leviticus, which is a type and illustration of God’s pinnacle sacrifice of His only Son. On the road to Emmaus, do you realize what Jesus “chatted” about with two of the apostles? Not the weather or last night’s episode of Lost! “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” ~Luke 24:25-27
Jesus spoke truth, one hundred percent, every last word. “…No deceit was found in His mouth.” ~1 Peter 2:22 (Peter quoting Isaiah 53:9)
John records his teacher’s accusing words to the Pharisees: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. For he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.”
You see, there is no gray. You believe all Jesus has said or none. If you believe only parts, then you also believe He was capable of lying (or the writers got His words wrong, but then, what’s the point of believing anything written about Him, if we have no idea what is accurate?) In either case, how or why do you believe any of it? If you don’t believe Jesus Christ is the Way and only way to the Father, then why do you believe at all? What is it you believe in, a liar or a distorted story?
One thing to be sure of, relativism, half-truths, personal truth cannot abide with the words spoken by Messiah. There is Truth and there is non-truth. If He spoke Truth saying, “No one comes to the Father but by Me”, then the opposite MUST NOT be true: “Some come to the Father without Me.”
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” ~John 1:12
How many Jews realize Jesus’ entire ministry was directed toward them, Israel. As Mrs. Schaeffer points out…they would recall Isaiah 40:11—“He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” The Jews would remember as Jesus spoke these words to them:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anything pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and nothing is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” ~John 10:27-30
His words divided the crowd! Listen: “…and I lay down My life for the sheep.” “I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” (John 10:17 and 18)
Some considered it blasphemy from a raving lunatic!
Some believed.
All were Jews.
Some believed.
All were Jews.
