For You Have Been Raised with Christ, A New Creation (Colossians 3:1-17)

What would it be look like for the children of God who have been born again by the cleansing blood of Christ? It is not worry free, care free, easygoing life at all. All knows that. Rather, full of troubles and difficulties, and even persecutions. Jesus says, “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (John 15:20) However, the Scriptures tell us not to be afraid, nor worry, but to rejoice in sufferings. It’s so revolutionary and incredible. But we all know that the Scriptures never exaggerate or lie at all. It tells all truth and nothing but the truth. Is it possible to think like Jesus, live like him, and act like him as a child of God? I believe the answer is yes. But it is a long process to get to know that and live like our Lord Jesus did on the earth. The secret of life is summarized by seven words of Jesus, “You in me and I in you.” This is a new creation in Christ who shed his blood to cleanse the sin of the world. That’s what we are in God, a new creation. Here in Colossians Chapter 3, Paul explains what’s happened in Christ and gives exhortations what we ought to do in him.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

It is almost impossible to believe what Paul is saying here. We have been raised from the dead with Christ! Yes, that’s what’s happened in Christ since we died with Christ (Colossians 2:20; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:8). We did not die physically because Christ died in our place. After we died with him, we rose from the dead with him. That’s a resurrection life, imperishable and immortal. What is impossible with man has been done with God. It’s a divine power that made us alive from the heavy burden of sin and the most formidable enemy of death. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) That’s eternal life we have freely received by the faith of Jesus Christ. We’ve made alive and vital, so never go hungry nor thirsty at all. It’s incredible and breathtaking. So, we can set our hearts on things above as we ought to, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. We can set our minds on things above as we ought to, not on earthly things. We’re now living eternal life in heaven with Christ. How could it be possible? It’s because we died and were buried with Christ. We died to sin, so we no longer live our old lives, but the new life of Christ. We’re in Christ and he in us. It’s a total communion with Christ. We no longer rely on earthly things but on everything supernatural and divine in Christ. Even things like food and clothing we depend on are all coming from the Lord of Almighty. Nothing is coming from us because we’re totally broke. Since we’ve been made a new creation, we ought to live in a completely different dimension of life.  

Just as the Risen Christ is invisible so is our life hidden with him in God. Christians aren’t different at all in all levels of life like standing and appearance. They suffer, bump into troubles, fail, and at times commit sins. They pay taxes, face floods and storms, play football, practice professions, raise kids, embrace social unrest, political conflict, and at times family troubles. They are humans just like others in the planet. Prophet Isaiah reports us that there is nothing attractive, no beauty or majesty in his appearance. He is Jesus Christ crucified in our place (Isaiah 53:2). Even the Risen Jesus was not recognized by two men who were heading down to Emmaus, walking and talking with him. Although Jesus was God in full, no one recognized him. But there were a few who were told and revealed by the Father in heaven like magi, the shepherds out in the field, and Simeon and Anna. People in the world are super busy in exalting themselves and worshiping idols. They are blind and in darkness. So, our Father in heaven put the hidden treasures in the world as salt and light. It indicates that the impact and influence of Christians to the world doesn’t come out of their appearance, far from the religious piety, but their presence because in them the true life of Christ is hidden. But one of these days, the heaven will open the eyes of the world to see the sons and daughters of God with Christ in glory, even in the eternal weight of glory.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 -17)

Now, it is our turn to take actions. What our God has poured out upon us is every spiritual blessing in Christ. Psalmist proclaims, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Paul spells out so aptly as well, saying “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) What we ought to do in Christ?

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:5-11)

Growth ought to happen to every new born. It requires the decisive determinations and commitments in order to grow in Christ. What’s the motivation for making decisions of faith? It’s God’s unfailing grace through the Son Jesus Christ. That’s the most powerful motivation. But motivation is not enough. We need power to take actions. Jesus Christ is the motivation and the power. While we were still sinners he died for us. Even before we make any decision to repent and change our minds to believe in him, he shed his blood to cleanse our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness. Paul argues that how he could not save us who have been made alive through the faith of Jesus Christ, saying “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10) Putting to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry is only possible to the children of God in Christ. It is impossible for the unregenerate of the world to flee away from the earthly nature. Only the born again in Christ is able to put to death to all forms of idolatry. God never demands putting to death to sins before he has first made the provision of grace, Jesus Christ.

We all once used to walk these ways in the life once lived and experienced the wrath of God without finding pure and living water to quench our thirst and hunger. But now we have found the living water welling up to eternal through the faith in Jesus Christ. So, we must get rid ourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from our lips. We must not lie each other, since we have taken off our old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no difference whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free for Christ is all and is in all. Anyone who has been made alive in Christ is now a new creation in God’s sight. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Practically, what does it mean to put to death our old self? Psalmist says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers.” (Psalm 1:1) So, it means completely putting away all idolatry, wickedness, and unrighteousness. It means fixing our eyes on God the Father and Jesus the Son, listening to the holy words of the Lord always. It means fearing the Lord of glory and taking heed to the precepts and commandments of God more than anything else. It means truly recognizing the presence of the Lord in the midst of everything in our daily lives. Fasting and memorization of passages in Scriptures would be helpfully and effectively working, some say. Putting to death our old self doesn’t mean only on Sunday services, bible studies, or religious activities. Rather, it means always, day and night, public and private, home and away, church and work, leisure and chores, especially in our loneliness of time and space. Practically, it means getting away from pornography, sexual promiscuity, love of money, and love of self, even in thoughts let alone talks. Paul admonishes and exhorts every believer to offer true and reasonable worship to God, saying “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Putting to death our old self means to be holy in every way, Apostle Peter says. “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:13-16) To be holy is not an option but the commandment of God, so we shall be holy in all we do. We’re holy because we’re his possessions. Whatever belongs to God is holy. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, so they are holy to God. How could we then worship idols by uniting our bodies with a prostitute? By no means, Paul says. “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!” (1 Corinthians 6:14-15)

How is it possible? It’s absolutely possible because we’ve been raised with Christ and seated with him in heaven. Paul says, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6-7) Of course, it’s not us who do it but Christ in us who does everything. We’ve been clothed with Christ who was raised from the dead by the power of resurrection. Christ indwells within us forever (Hebrews 13:5). It’s the gift of God promised even before the creation of the world. We’ve already been equipped with the power of God, the Risen Jesus Christ. We’ve been made a totally new creation in Christ. We’ve burnt our bridges behind everything in our old self when we’re baptized with Christ. It has completely done by divine and supernatural power. On the night of God’s Passover, the people of Israel stayed inside their houses silently and quietly without making any noise of plea for life. They completely had to depend on the blood sprinkled on the doorframes until the angel of death passed over. It indicates that they didn’t do anything at all to be delivered other than full dependence on his grace and mercy. Dependence on the work of Christ Jesus is the way to life, delivery, fulfillment, excitement, vitality, and even more abundantly and forevermore.

Why is it inevitable to put to death our old self? It’s because it is the way to put on the new self in Christ. No death, no resurrection, Scripture says. No suffering, no crown. Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus gave his life unto God in obedience to him for it’s the will of the Father to save the lost world and humanity. So, Jesus honors those who hate their life with eternal life. “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:25-26) It is not normal not to put on the new self even after we put to death to our old self. There is no other choice or alternative than putting on the new self. If anyone continues to refuse to put on the new self, it simply tell that they are not born again. They are still in darkness and delusion. Many, so many who crossed the Red Sea had been perished in the wilderness because they stubbornly refused to obey God.

 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17)

What does it mean to put on the new self in Christ practically? It means loving each other as Christ loved us. How did Christ love us? He gave his life unto us. He was wounded, afflicted, crushed, bruised in our place. So, loving each other means not loving the lovable but loving the unlovable and forgiving the unforgivable. Jesus says, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22) Proverb says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” (Proverb 25:21-22) Putting the new self is to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These virtues are God’s characters. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) How could we not come unto Jesus who is gentle and humble? He is compassionate and merciful for the people who are like sheep without a shepherd. He wept over the people under the powerful grip of darkness and death. He wept over Jerusalem, the holy city which rejected the blessed Messiah and poised to kill him by the hand of pagans and thus invited the imminent judgment of holy God. This is what our God has been doing, loving his children in compassion and pity, kindness and gentleness, long suffering and forbearance for ages and ages. He loves and forgives a contrite and broken heart and fills with his overflowing love, peace and joy.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

So now, what do we say? Thank you Father in heaven for being our shepherd though we are like sheep, getting lost and weary always not knowing where to turn, stop, or go. Thank you Lord for the knowledge of mystery which you have disclosed generously and lavishly in our hearts and minds that Jesus Christ lives in us forever. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) Thank you Jesus for delivering us from all evil to make us live a holy and worthy life of the Lord. Amen.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing,

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.” (Psalm 23:1-6)

P.S. Won’t you memorize these passages—Colossians 3:1-17 and Psalm 23:1-6?

 

2016. 10. 27.

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Lord, I Want to See! (Luke 18:35-43)

In the Old Testament, there is no record of opening the eyes of blind. However, Jesus Christ opened the eyes of blind in several occasions as Prophet Isaiah prophesied. The Lord God says, “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7) Jesus came as the Messiah of God to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. It indicates there is something seriously wrong in humanity. In fact, man is born blind and captive in prison, sitting in darkness. How has it happened? It has happened when the first man, Adam, disobeyed God by listening to his wife. Life is all connected and shared. No one can live alone in no-man’s island. That is what we are. We’re all in Adam. It tells us the truth that every man must be opened from blindness, freed from prison and released from the dungeon of darkness and confusion. Jesus says, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” (John 9:41) This story tells who is qualified to receive sight and most of all how and why it is possible.

“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” (Luke 18:35-43)

The time, the narrator tells, is for our Lord Jesus is approaching the city of Jericho. It was a historical place, the fortified and invincible fortress, but was conquered and destroyed by the forefathers led by Joshua. It was the first warfare the Israelites encountered in the land of Canaan after crossing the Jordan River on foot. They didn’t use any weapons but simply and faithfully obeyed the commandments of the Lord God and walked around the city seven days and on the seventh day they shouted followed by the sound of trumpet. When they obeyed the Commander in Chief in heaven the fortress city was crumbled and destroyed completely. They experienced the mighty hand of God working powerfully right before their eyes and worshipped him. Jericho clearly set the tone of how the battle would be look like in the land. It’s Jehovah’s holy war. I am sure that our Lord Jesus must be listening to the cry of victory of the people, the song of praise and wonder in the heavenly places. In fact, our Lord was there, overseeing and orchestrating the entire procession of battle from the beginning to the end as the Commander in Chief.

Actually, he is heard a cry, the cry of blind beggar who is sitting by the roadside begging. It is not a cry of victory, but a cry of mercy and begging. The man has been sitting by the roadside begging and heard the crowd going by he asks what’s happening. Some people reply to him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” When he hears the name of Jesus his eyes of mind are fully awakened and he immediately makes an orphan cry of help, shouting “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” All those years of sitting by the roadside begging he has been waiting for this moment of calling the holy name, “Son of David.” As soon as he makes a noise, he has faced the counter pressure and rebuke to be quiet from the anonymous people. However, he doesn’t care the pressure and opposition and shouts all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” His cry of help quickly reaches to the heaven, the universe headquarters situation room, and the Father quickly tells the Son to take care of him. The blind beggar’s orphan cry of calling the most scared name, Jesus, Son of David is heard loudly by the Father of mercy and compassion. It has not only been heard but also an urgent message with top priority has been sent out immediately to the One sent by the Father in the right spot for delivering the answer of cry.

Though King of kings and Lord of lords, the Blessed Son of David, Jesus is approaching Jericho, no one shouts of his coming as King and Lord. But the blind man cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Again, resisting the rebuke of people, shouts, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” The name, Son of David, is the most scared name in Israel. It indicates the Blessed Messiah of God. Prophet Isaiah prophesied the Lord God would send a son born of a virgin and call him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). In another place, the prophet gives the marvelous vision of the Messiah of the Lord.

“For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Although the man is physically blind, he has known who Jesus of Nazareth is and has accepted him as Son of David. While he has been sitting by the roadside begging all along, he has been wanting to see him, Son of David. His inner eyes have been opened by grace and mercy from the heaven above to know and believe in Jesus, and he puts his hope in Son of David. He has received the gift of faith to put his whole trust in Jesus of Nazareth. It’s not known how long he has been sitting there begging, but must be quite a long. Is it possible for him to miss Jesus passing by? Not possible! Although the multitudes of people who can see physically miss to identify Jesus, it is not possible to this man who cannot see physically because the heaven watches over him. See how he is told. The crowd tell him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He doesn’t ask back who Jesus of Nazareth is. Rather, he immediately calls out loudly the name that he has been waiting to call all along since he has been known the most blessed One by grace and mercy. He doesn’t call out the name aimlessly and pointlessly in the air. Probably, the people around think that he is going nowhere, so they rebuke him to be quiet. Both the crowd and the man are in the same space and time where our Lord Jesus is approaching the city of history, but only the blind man knows what to say, how to say, and why to say such a heaven-opening words, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

How can our Lord Jesus miss to hear this orphan’s cry for mercy? It is impossible! What a comfort and blessing for the believers in God! Not a single cry for mercy will not be missed to reach out to the heaven where our Father is watching over with eyes like blazing fire. Prophet Isaiah so aptly says about his compassionate heart, saying “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” (Isaiah 42:3) So, Jesus stops and orders man to be brought to him. When the man approaches to him, Jesus says, “What do you want me to do for you?” It sounds like a simple and easily answerable question, but it is truly not. This question is spoken from none other than the One who has all power in heaven and on earth. It is very difficult to answer because we’ve been blinded to ask one thing so crucial and significant in our lives when asked suddenly and unexpectedly. Although it seems so obvious to know what is in want for the man, Jesus asks him because he wants to know what the man really wants him to do. Jesus knows already what he is in want. Jesus says, “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)

The man says to Jesus, “Lord, I want to see.”  These five words are the ones the Lord wants to hear. What does he mean by “Lord, I want to see.” First of all, he admits that he is blind, so he doesn’t see. This is so significant to admit the fact that he is blind and does not see. King David, a man after God’s own heart, was completely blinded and deceived by the devil that he committed the twin sins of evil—adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, Uriah. Until King admitted his blindness and evil when Prophet Nathan uncovered the sins he was being tormented and haunted day and night by the evil. He was blind and locked in prison, sitting in darkness until the delivery of cure arrived from the Lord God in heaven through the hand of Prophet Nathan. It was a painful procedure to release him from dungeon because the evil should be exposed. It’s entirely on God’s grace and mercy only that can reach to the dungeon of evil forces and rescue and deliver the victims. His grace and mercy is based on the priceless and incomparable sacrifice of Son of David, Jesus Christ. King David knew that no other sacrifices could reach to the victim like him except repentance through a contrite and broken heart before God.

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart

you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)

Secondly, beyond he wants to see his parents, nature, scenery, and himself, I believe he means to see the incarnate God, Jesus, Son of David with his own eyes. He has already been given inner sight to see and believe in Son of David. He has put his whole trust in the Blessed One to come since he was given the gift of faith from the heaven above. So, when he says he wants to see means to see the Blessed Lord of glory with his own eyes, whom God sent according to the promises given to the forefathers. He has already believed in Son of David and now he wants to see clearly who Son of David is. His vision is not yet clear to see the Messiah’s full picture, because he is blind under the powerful grip of evil. It tells a great truth that although evil is forcefully working in humanity not to see clearly the mighty presence of God in their midst it never can prevail over it. “What is impossible with man is possible with God,” says our Lord Jesus (Luke 18:27). As long as we live in this life on earth we cannot get over evil, lurking behind invisibly to devour us like a roaring hungry lion. Darkness, boredom, emptiness, depression, anger, hatred, frustration, distress, tiredness, complaints are the manifestations of evil force in the midst of daily routines. No one is free from such powers of evil and must face it moment by moment. How deeply are we thirsty and hungry for excitement, enthusiasm, vigor, zest, strength, and even in the fullest? Apostle Paul so aptly describes the deepest desire of humanity in the Epistle to the Romans the Eighth Chapter.

“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:23-25)

However, this is not the end of story. There is a good news. It is that evil is not out of the boundary of the Lord God but under the full control of the Sovereign God. In fact, the devil is one of God’s made who rebelled against the Maker and Master of the universe. He is more cunning and shrewd than any other creatures God made. He is ever formidable and impenetrable than any other animals God made. But it doesn’t mean that he is out of control or beyond the Creator because he is in full submission to the Lord. God reveals the deep mysteries of the serpent and how he handles it in the Book of Job.

“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook

or tie down its tongue with a rope?

Can you put a cord through its nose

or pierce its jaw with a hook?

Will it keep begging you for mercy?

Will it speak to you with gentle words?” (Job 41:1-3)

Genesis Chapter 3 records the most decisive and tragic incident in human history. The devil deceived the woman and she ate God-forbidden tree and gave to Adam and he ate it. It’s called the fatal fall of race as Paul puts it in Romans Chapter 5, saying “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Since the fall of man, the powerful forces of evil of darkness and confusion has been overshadowing and even trying to wreck the human lives like through wars, drug overdoses, pornographies. But the evil never shapes and controls the human race. God solemnly pronounced the destiny of the devil in Genesis Chapter 3 that he is always in humiliation and frustration and will be destroyed forever by the hand of God.

“So the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock

and all wild animals!

You will crawl on your belly

and you will eat dust

all the days of your life.

And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)

The forces of evils must be destroyed and will be done as our Lord promised. There will be the Day of the Lord when Satan will be punished and judged and thrown into the fiery furnace, the blackest dungeon of darkness forever. But in order to save the elect, God is allowing the dark forces of evil in our midst not because he is not able to punish him but because he is gracious and faithful to reach out the lost ones, being deceived and blinded by the evil forces. We’re all the victims of the evil. We’ve been delivered by the power of God through the blood of Christ. So, in Christ, we don’t have to choose to sin but oftentimes we do sin. It will be continuing until the redemption of our body which is the seat of sin, the flesh. However, the Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) There is no sin which cannot be forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ if we confess.

Our Lord Jesus hears what the blind man wants to do and thus delivers the message of the Father in heaven, saying “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” (Luke 18:42) The compassionate Father heals the blind man by giving him sight to see clearly the incarnate God, Son of David with his own eyes. God has given him the gift of faith to believe in Son of David and so he has acted his faith by calling the most holy name in heaven and on earth, “Son of David.” Also, he begs him for mercy. When asked what he wants him to do, he clearly answers him that he wants to see. This tells that beyond what he sees, he wants to praise and thank and worship God in heaven who sent the Blessed Messiah in keeping his promises faithfully. Beyond what he sees, he wants to follow the Lord of glory and obey him as token of many thanks. As soon as Jesus speaks to him, “Receive your sight,” immediately, he has received his sight and follows Jesus, praising God. When all the people see it, they also praise God. It proves that his faith is genuine and authentic because he doesn’t go his own way but follows Jesus, praising God. It means he continually lives by faith in Son of David, even after he has received his sight. Surely, God will bless this man to see continually what God is acting and doing in the midst, following Jesus Christ the Lord.

Prayer: Our Blessed Father in heaven, thank you for blessing the blind man who admits that he is blind and doesn’t see, answering his orphan cry for mercy to Son of David, the Blessed Messiah of God. Thank you Father for your compassion and mercy for those who earnestly ask for mercy and pity by faith. May God bless us to be like this blind man, admitting that we are blind and don’t see clearly and so crying to Jesus for mercy to give sight. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

September 25, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

God the Father Bruised the Son Jesus Christ (Luke 18:31-34)

We all are like the rich young ruler who went away sad because he had great wealth when Jesus said to him to sell everything he had and to give to the poor and follow him. When our Lord Jesus sees the man leaving sad, he says to his disciples, “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Then, the disciples are asking to the master, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus gives his answer, saying “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Now, our Lord Jesus gives the answer how God is going to make what is impossible possible.

“Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (Luke 8:31-34)

The way to restore the lost people is for the Son Jesus Christ to go up to Jerusalem to be condemned to death and crucified on a cross for the sin of the world. This is the only way, the life, and the truth for humanity. It is for Jesus to come into the world that he would take up the cross of sin and death upon his body and be sacrificed as the lamb of God, offering his holy blood before the Father in the heavenly sanctuary. It is for Jesus to com into the world that he would be mocked, insulted, spitted on him, flogged and killed. It is written by the prophets about the Son of Man and everything would be fulfilled. Why would the Son of Man be suffered much and crucified like a criminal?

First, everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man must be fulfilled. After Adam fell, the Lord spoke to him and revealed the restoration plan for humanity. It is written in Genesis 3:15. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” As it was prophesied and promised to Abraham, it was the time for the Lord to deliver his people out of the bondage of Egypt. For that, God sent Moses and called him as the deliverer. But King Pharaoh stubbornly refused to send his people to worship the Jehovah God. Consequently, he invited the ten judgment plagues upon him and the land of Egypt. The tenth plague is to kill all the firstborns of Egypt from the king to the slaves. However, the Lord commanded Moses to prepare a special meal for his people, by slaughtering male lambs or goats on the night of death plague and putting the animal’s blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes of every house of Israel. The angel of death passed over the house of Israel where the blood of animals had been sprinkled on the doorframes as commanded. The animal sacrifice is the symbol of the death of the Son Jesus Christ. All offerings prescribed by the Lord God written in the Book of Leviticus requires the blood of animals, which signifies that any worshiper cannot come God without blood.

“The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.” (Exodus 12:5-8)

The Psalmist prophesied the vivid picture of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ in Psalm Chapter 22. It starts with the Son’s cry on the cross in Calvary, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” (Psalm 22:1) What is written in the psalm was fulfilled in history as the orphan cry of Jesus was heard loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!” Prophet Isaiah most vividly and accurately is describing how the Messiah of God would suffer and die and why. The Prophet beings with a rhetorical question which draws the attention of hearers, saying “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1) He continues to describe the Messiah’s pain, loneliness, being rejected and despised, humiliation, shame, death, and even the Father’s forsaking as the lamb of God.

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:3-7)

God revealed the deep things of him to Prophet Daniel about seventy ‘sevens,’ the master time schedule for the world set even before the creation of the world. The prophet was told that the Anointed one would be cut off. “After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.” (Daniel 9:26a) This was fulfilled as prophesied in the city of Jerusalem in the first century that Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross. Prophet Zechariah tells a remarkable dialogue between the anointed one and the people of Israel, saying “If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’” (Zechariah 13:6)

The death of Christ is not the end of story, for Jesus further says that he would rise again on the third day. He must die for the sin of the world to redeem the lost humanity, as Apostle Paul puts it in the Epistle to the Romans. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:8-10) He did not die in vain but became the eternal propitiation for those who confess their sins and obey him. How can it be possible for the death of Christ to reconcile the race with God? It is through his resurrection. He not only died in our place but also was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Therefore, he did not die for himself but for sinners like all of us. Man has been lost in darkness since the fall of Adam. All mankind is lost in Adam. Christ died and rose again on the third day to restore the lost race. Unless restored and reconciled with God in Christ Jesus there is no life, no truth, no way for man. No matter how man is well established by wealth and fame and even high morality in the world it is no avail to be reconciled with God without Christ Jesus crucified. As man is doomed and destined for death, so does the judgment of God follow. No one can deny the fact that man’s death rate is 100 percent flat with no exceptions. It is unbelievable and incredible that God is pleased to crush and bruise him and to put him to grief. Is there such a father found in the whole world? No father would do it such a thing to his own son. But God did to his Son Jesus Christ because it is the only way for mankind to have eternal life. The Father God was pleased to crush the Son, because by his wounds we are healed.

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” (Isaiah 53:10 NKJV)

He was despised and rejected and died because it is impossible for man to deliver themselves from the powerful illusion and delusion of untruth. Man does not even know that they are seriously and critically lost and fallen. Nothing is seen without light. Man is in darkness and total confusion because they don’t know what they are and why they are and who they are. How can the blind lead other blind people? Impossible! Man is desperately in need of light which shines and reveals the real things out of darkness. Prophet Isaiah has prophesied that people walking in darkness would see a great light because a light has dawned in the land of sheer darkness.

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isiah 9:1-2)

This is the hope for man and the nations. Jesus Christ died for us and rose again from the dead on the third day. “God so loved the world that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” says the Scripture (John 3:16). We live now in Christ Jesus is not by natural strength but by the power of God, the resurrection power of God. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) We live not according to what the world says any longer but according to what our Lord Jesus says. It is to follow him who though he was God became nothing, who was rejected and despised, afflicted and bruised, crushed and desolated, and who shed his blood and died on a cross, obeying the Father even to the point of death. We live in him eternal life now and forever. It is no longer by natural strength and experience even spiritual one, but by him, wholeheartedly depending on Christ, his power and life, his love and joy and peace, his mercy and grace. He is ever present in our midst in work, school, driving, home, and community. We live in him eternal life, so we reign with him in the heavenly places.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Prayer: Thank Jesus Christ who died for us and in our place and rose again from the dead on the third day, so we no longer live eternal life by our natural strength, but by his power and life, his love and peace and joy, his mercy and grace, eating his body and drinking his blood every moment of our lives. We no longer listen to the voice of the world but to the voice of Lord only. In Christ’s name. Amen.

September 15, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.