Part Six of The Way Up Is Down Series

 
JESUS – THE SUPREME EXAMPLE

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

(Note: Last time we looked at four real-life applications of the “way up is down” principle. Today we finish this series by looking at Jesus as the supreme example of this principle.)

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Finally, let me point you once again to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the supreme example of this principle. God could have stayed up in heaven and shouted this principle down to us, and it would have been just as true. But he didn’t just shout it out to us.

The way up is down, so Jesus the Son of God came down to earth as a man. “He humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:8–11).

So Jesus is riding into Jerusalem. It’s Palm Sunday. The people are cheering him on. But Jesus knows better. He comes humble and lowly, riding on a donkey. His face is set toward the cross at Calvary. Jesus is the living embodiment of this verse in James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

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Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this series.

Note: You can access the whole series here:
The Way Up Is Down Series
 

If you are looking for some Advent reading this December, let me suggest my new book on the names of Jesus from Isaiah 9:6. You can check it out on Amazon here: Name above All Names (Isaiah 9:6)
 
This book works well as devotional reading in preparation for Christmas. It would also make a great Christmas gift for the reader on your list. I hope you enjoy it!
 

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a child who would be born a ruler and king. How would people recognize this baby when he was born? Isaiah identifies him for us by his names: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

There is only one child in history who fulfills the meaning of all these names. We celebrate his birth each year at Christmas, and his name is Jesus. Come join the wonder of the Advent season as we study the meaning behind these four names together.

Bonus Material: Selected commentary, poems and songs on Isaiah 9:6 through the ages.

 
Note: This book is part of the Understanding God’s Word series. Each book in the series is adapted from actual sermons preached in the local church. These books are part commentary, part exposition, but mostly offer a clear explanation of the text, showing how it relates to other Scripture and to our lives today. They are ideal resources for teachers preparing lessons, for pastors preparing messages and for personal Bible study.
 
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Currently available (click on the book images to view on Amazon):

   
 
Click here for all books in the Understanding God’s Word series.
 

Leighton Ford on nine ways to build intimacy with Christ:

1. At bedtime, be at peace with the Lord (Psalm 4:4-8, Eph 4:26)

2. During sleep, rest in the Lord (Psalm 3:5, 121:4, 127:2)

3. When sleepless, commune with the Lord (Psalm 63:6,7)

4. In the morning, ask of the Lord (Psalm 5:3)

5. During the day, talk to the Lord (Psalm 25:4,5)

6. On the Sabbath, remember the Lord (Psalm 95:6-8)

7. In times of trouble, wait for the Lord (Psalm 37:5-7)

8. At all times, praise the Lord (Psalm 34:1)

9. Always and forever, be at home with the Lord (Psalm 27:4, 23:6)

From: Leighton Ford, Nine Ways to Build Intimacy with Christ (6230 Fairview Road, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28210).

Found in: Michael Frank Sabo, The Life I Want in Christ, p. 107.

I had the privilege of reading this beautiful poem at the funeral of a church member a few weeks back. Joan lost her husband, Jim, and the poem was written by Joan’s mother, Anna Campbell. The title of the poem is “Complete in Him.”

“COMPLETE IN HIM”

I stand complete in Jesus,
He’s everything to me.
My every need he will supply;
He’s my sufficiency.

Though once my eyes were blinded,
By faith I now can see.
Christ gave to me his righteousness;
He is my purity.

He is my joy and gladness;
He makes my sorrow flee.
In time of danger, fear, and dread,
He’s my security.

Each time I face life’s battles,
He never fails to be
My sword, my shield, my captain;
He is my victory.

For me he died upon the cross;
I’m justified and free.
His resurrection now I share;
He’s my Eternity.

By: Anna Campbell; Copyright 2005

A Good Friday Devotional

“Pilate asked him, ‘Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.’ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.” (Mark 15:4-5)

It was early in the morning on a Friday. The previous evening Jesus had shared a meal with his disciples in the Upper Room. From there they proceeded to Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. False witnesses testified against him, but their statements did not agree.

Finally the high priest asked Jesus if he was the Messiah. Jesus responded, “I am.” At this the high priest tore his clothes. He accused Jesus of blasphemy, and the people condemned him as worthy of death. They spit at him, blindfolded him, and struck him with their fists. The guards took him away and beat him.

Now in the early morning hours Jesus stood before Pilate. The accusations came fast and furious, yet Jesus made no response. Jesus, the Word of God who spoke all of creation into being, stood silent before his accusers. And although Pilate found no basis to condemn Christ, in order to satisfy the crowd he handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Why didn’t Jesus speak up? Why didn’t he defend himself? Jesus remained silent in fulfillment of the Scriptures and out of love for you and for me. Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:23 says, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

Have you encountered situations where you felt the need to defend yourself against others? Ecclesiastes 3:7 says, “There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Sometimes it is the right choice to speak. But there are other times when we would do better to remain silent. We must seek God’s wisdom and prayerfully consider our words before we speak. And we will always do well to remember the Silent Lamb who remained silent before his accusers and entrusted himself to God who judges justly.

Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar year. SourceFlix has put together an excellent 9-minute video explaining the Day of Atonement and showing how it has been fulfilled for believers today through Christ.

The Sacrificial Lamb (Video length: 8:56)

You can also read about the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament in Leviticus 16.

Link: SourceFlix

Expedition Bible recently released “The Jesus Tomb Unmasked” as a response to the Discovery Channel’s 2007 production, “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” You can purchase the DVD for $7 from Amazon or watch it for free at the Expedition Bible website. Expedition Bible is a documentary series produced from the land of Israel covering a diversity of topics in thirty minute episodes that defend and establish the reliability and authority of the Bible. (HT: BiblePlaces.com)

Related posts:
    • The Lost Tomb Losing More Ground
    • How to Ensure Bias in a Presentation
    • The Jesus Family Tomb and Bayes’ Theorum – You Do the Math!

It is not uncommon for preachers to compare Jesus’ arms stretched out on the cross to his arms stretched out in love for us today. I thought this was a more modern convention, but apparently the analogy goes back at least as far as John Calvin.

“God declares to us that Jesus Christ, who once had his side pierced, today has his heart open, as it were, that we may have assurance of the love that he bears us; that as he once had his arms fastened to the cross, now he has them wide open to draw us to himself; and that as once he shed his blood, so today he wishes us to be plunged within it. So, when God invites us so sweetly and Jesus Christ sets before us the fruit of his death and passion, . . . let us all come to take our stand with our Lord Jesus Christ.” (John Calvin, Sermons on Isaiah’s Prophecy of the Death and Passion of Christ, p. 82)

Thank you, Lord, for the wide open arms of Christ my Savior.

HT: Ray Ortlund

Following Jesus is not the same as Twitter. Twitter is a service that allows you to “follow” other people online as they post brief messages throughout the day (similar to Facebook status updates). It is a relatively simple and painfree way to keep up with friends, relatives, or business associates. Following Jesus does not mean simply keeping up with him or checking in on him periodically.

Rather, the call to follow Jesus is the call to discipleship. It means that you put Jesus first, that you give him your complete loyalty, obedience and trust. Just as the disciples left everything to follow Christ, you re-orient your entire life around Jesus. He is your Master; he is your Lord; and he calls you to follow him.

“Come, follow me.” It is a simple, absolute call. There is no wiggle room; there are no other parameters. You are either a follower of Jesus or you are not. (From Sunday’s sermon: When Jesus Calls)

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)

Darrell Bock posts on the difference between Christianity and Jesusanity.

There are really two Christian stories in our culture, two things often called Christianity that are very different in their focus.

One approach sees Jesus’ teaching and person at the center of what God is doing for people. Jesus is God’s anointed one, the Christ, whose mission, life and death is at the center of God’s program. This is what is known as Christianity …

The second approach sees only Jesus’ teaching as the key to understanding who Jesus is. Jesus is like a great prophet, whose teaching shows us the way back to God, but his person, other than the example of Jesus’ walk with God and pointing the ethical path God calls us to, is not central to the divine program. This I have called Jesusanity, because in this view, it is Jesus of Nazareth, the teacher-prophet who is the central focus …

A conversation between people holding to each of these views can be confusing, because people may think they are discussing the same thing (Christianity), when their perception of that belief is in fact very different. Much cultural Christianity, as well as many presentations of Jesus in the public square, actually reflects this Jesusanity.

Bock identifies the following four characteristics of Jesusanity:

1. It tends to distance the creature’s responsibility to the Creator.
2. It places a significant distance between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith.
3. It often argues for dividing the New Testament into very different theologies.
4. It often claims that many types of Christianity existed in the first century with an equal claim to go back to Jesus.

Obviously, Jesusanity is very different from the Christian faith taught in the New Testament. As Christians we accept Jesus’ teaching because of who he was – the promised Christ sent from God for our salvation.

Ben Witherington has posted a response to Early Doherty’s book, The Jesus Puzzle: Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus. Darrell Bock also worked through a lengthy set of responses last fall.

• Click here for Ben Witherington’s response.
• Click here for a round-up of links to Darrell Bock’s responses.

Here is a great quote I found over at Of First Importance:

“God could have poured out judgment on mankind in the Garden, therefore the only reason there is any history is because God has purposed to send his Son into the world, to pour out judgment on him and thereby bring salvation. Jesus is the only reason there is human history, and therefore he is the goal of human history. Thus everything God says and does in history explains and prepares for the salvation of his Son.” (Timothy Keller, “Preaching the Gospel in a Post-Modern World,” p. 34)