For The People

Posted on by korgrocker

“So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.””
John 18:12-14 NLT

The historical account of Jesus’ arrest was well documented in the Gospels, with each Gospel writer adding snippets of information to build an overall picture of the events that weekend. Over the years following the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples would have perhaps occasionally relaxed and chatted together, going over the events and sharing the details, much in the Jewish way, where fathers shared an important event with their children who in turn did the same with theirs. And then it was all written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who would have brought to their remembrance what He wanted recorded. With the benefit of hindsight, John remembered what the High Priest, Caiaphas, had said in an earlier meeting of Jewish leaders. In John 11:49-52 we read, “Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world”. This would have been remarkable prophecy if it had been related to Jesus and His mission of salvation, but Caiaphas and the other Jewish leaders were more interested in their own cosy lives, and didn’t want anything to rock their boat and cause them personal loss and difficulties. So, they wanted Jesus out of the way, preferably dead, in case He was in the process of leading a rebellion to overthrow the Romans. Caiaphas probably never realised the significance of what he was saying, and the difficulties he was afraid of in fact materialised just a few years later in AD 70 when the Temple was destroyed by a besieging Roman army.

For us pilgrims, the death and resurrection of Jesus forms the bedrock of our faith. No other religion can claim that their god came to earth, where he took on the sins of his followers. No other religion has the power to grant eternal life to all those who believe in the One who created the entire Universe. We read again God’s mission statement, voiced by Jesus in a conversation with a Jewish leader called Nicodemus. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). An all-inclusive statement that embraced all humanity regardless of skin colour, nationality, ethnic origin, sex and genetic makeup. The only criteria to be applied was the people’s belief in Jesus. A belief that went beyond a superficial acknowledgement of a God’s existence and instead placed Him firmly and unequivocally in a central position in our lives. Today, we pilgrims also believe in Jesus, with a faith that knows no doubts, with a faith that has transformed our very lives and with a faith that will carry us to our Heavenly home one day.

Dear Lord Jesus. You came to this world for the people, those who God loved so much. We are so grateful. Amen.

None Are Lost

Posted on by korgrocker

“Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfil his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.””
John 18:7-9 NLT

So, there was Jesus facing a crowd of soldiers, Temple guards, Judas, and others, even the High Priest’s slave, who had all been sent to arrest Him. I wonder what this motley crew were expecting? Of course, they may well have seen the miracles, and even might have benefitted from them. They would have heard about Jesus, and the Jerusalem rumour mill might have made them nervous in case He called upon supernatural resources to protect Him and His disciples. But earlier, and as recorded in John 6:39, Jesus said, “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day”. And even in the face of personal danger all Jesus was concerned about was His friends. It is a humbling thought that our incarnate Creator God made friends with human beings. Ordinary men like Peter the fisherman, or Matthew the tax collector. But despite His imminent suffering, Jesus’ concern for His followers was exactly what He taught and demonstrated during the previous years – His selflessness and love. But Jesus’ actions were all part of His Father’s plans for mankind.

There are two things here that apply to us pilgrims. Firstly, and because God has no favourites, Jesus’ care for His disciples extends even to us today. We may not see Him in the flesh but nevertheless He is with us through the Holy Spirit, making available to us all the love and grace we need in our hours of need. Secondly, are we too looking out for others in their times of adversity? Are we putting aside our own convenience and feelings, instead thinking of others? Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3-4, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too“. We look around us and we have a circle of friends and family. How are we supporting and encouraging them? Perhaps our patents or grandparents need assistance with garden chores. Perhaps a friend is incapacitated by an accident or illness and needs some shopping done. We must remember that for most people the only glimpse they will receive of Jesus is through His followers.

Jesus cared deeply for His friends, the disciples and others who had faithfully followed Him over the previous few years. And even as His life was coming to an end He cared more for them than He did for Himself. In John 15:12-13, Jesus said, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends“. Jesus gave us an example of what true love really means, and we are called to offer that same love to others, “so that none will be lost”.

Dear Lord Jesus. You laid down Your live in the ultimate act of love dying on the Calvary Cross so that we might have life. We are so grateful. Amen.

Jesus the Nazarene

Posted on by korgrocker

“As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.””
John 18:6-8 NLT

In those days the name “Jesus” was relatively common, and there were others of that name mentioned in the Bible. There was one man called Barabbas, also called Jesus Barabbas in some manuscripts. We can read about him in Matthew 27:15-17, “Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named [Jesus] Barabbas. As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you— [Jesus] Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”” As an aside, can you imagine the relief that Barabbas felt, in prison having been part of a gang who had killed Roman soldiers, and expecting to be executed in the very near future, and to then be released, in the place of someone with the same name? Such is the saving power of Jesus Christ, bringing relief to sinners, who are otherwise under a eternal death sentence. There were other historical figures in those times with the name “Jesus” but who weren’t mentioned in the Bible. The name “Jesus” is a derivation of the name “Joshua” meaning “to deliver or to rescue”, or “salvation of God”. 

To differentiate between men with the same name, often the place where they lived was added for clarity, along with the name of their father. So Jesus became Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Joseph. Or Jesus the Nazarene. Matthew 2:23 reads, “So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”” Later Jesus was referred to “Jesus Christ” or “Christ Jesus”, adding the Greek name of Messiah, as written by Paul in Romans 1:4, “and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.” The name Jesus is not commonly used in English-speaking nations, but it is  more used in places where languages such as Spanish in spoken.

To us pilgrims, however, Jesus is not “Jesus of Nazareth”. He is our wonderful Saviour, the Name above all names. There is no other name by which man can be saved. Romans 10:9-10, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved”. In Acts 4 we can read the account of Peter and John, brought before the Sanhedrin for healing the lame man begging at the Beautiful Gate, healing that took place in the Name of Jesus. Acts 4: 7, 10, “They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” … Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead“. Peter didn’t hold back. He clearly pointed out to the Jewish leaders what the power of the Name of Jesus was capable of, and added for good measure the facts of His death and resurrection. And he finished up by saying, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Dear Lord Jesus. Your Name is above all names. We sing it and believe it and worship You today. Amen.

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The Great I AM

Posted on by korgrocker

“Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!”
John 18:4-6 NLT
 
Jesus’ use of the two words “I Am” were very significant because they were the name of God. To the Jews this name was so sacred that they would not use it in conversation or any other time, instead referring to Him as HaShem or Yahweh. These were sacred names to them, names that would be used with care, if at all. Back in Exodus 3, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and God commissioned him to go and lead the Israelite people out of Egypt. A daunting task for a mere shepherd looking after his father-in-law’s sheep. As we read the account, we find that initially Moses wasn’t too keen on the idea – after all he was about eighty years old at the time. In the ensuing conversation, where Moses tried to present reasons as to why God had chosen the wrong man, he asked for God’s name. We read in Exodus 3:13-14, “But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you””. In the following verse, it says, “God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations“.
 
In relationship to Himself, Jesus used the name “I AM” several times in the Bible. We find it in John 8:24, “That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins”. And in a previous blog we considered the seven “I Am” statements that Jesus made. But we know of course, as it is a fundamental part of our faith, that Jesus had every right to use the name that associated Himself with God, because we know Him as being the Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity. The name “Jesus” has become synonymous with “I AM” because that is who He is. Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father“.

We see in our verses today from John 18 that Jesus, in His use of the name “I AM”, had a dramatic effect on the soldiers and their companions. They stepped back and fell over each other. Such is the power of Jesus’ name. Peter used the name of Jesus to good effect when he and John were brought before the Sanhedrin. We read in Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved“. Jesus’ name, “I AM”, is so powerful that it can save men and women from their sins. This is true power, and power without limit.

Jesus is the great “I AM”. There is none greater and there never will be. And the amazing thing is that the greatest will welcome the lowest – you and me – into His home one day. So we refocus our earthly minds on the things above, elevating our thoughts into Heavenly places. Only Jesus has the words of eternal life.

Dear Lord Jesus. Humbly before You this morning we bow in worship of the only Name that really matters. Thank You. Amen.

Blazing Torches

Posted on by korgrocker

“The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.”
John 18:3-4 NLT

Imagine the scene. It was dark and Jesus and His disciples were in the Olive Grove, in a place where they usually went. There would have been sufficient light from the stars and perhaps the moon to provide a half-lit monochrome environment. Around them were the olive trees, standing still and shadowy. And then in the distance there appeared lights, the “blazing torches”, the occasional lantern, and sounds, clinking of weapons, whispered voices. Some historians have even estimated that there may have been as many as six hundred soldiers present in that military contingent, though this would seem a bit unlikely, just to arrest one man. But onward they came, tramping through the Olive Grove. Fear would have been starting to rise in the hearts of the eleven disciples, who were there with Jesus.

Of course we remember Peter’s words, as recorded in Matthew 26:35, ““No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same“. The intentions of the disciples to die for their Master and friend were clear, but Peter’s words evaporated into thin air when faced with the overwhelming force arraigned against them. But Jesus had all under control. He “stepped forward to meet them” and asked for clarification about their intentions. What happened next we will consider in a future blog.

But the “blazing torches”? All these events were taking place in the darkness just outside Jerusalem and at a time when ordinary people, who might have become a hindrance to the religious leaders’ purposes, were tucked up in their beds. We know, however, that the devil is most active in times of darkness. Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places“. The “blazing torches” provided physical light so that the instruments of the devil’s purposes could find their way amongst the trees, but in Jerusalem the enemy’s darkness was working its way in the hearts of the religious leaders. They must have been rubbing their hands with glee, thinking that, at last, they had the opportunity to do away with the Man who challenged their sinful practices.

Is there any significance in these “blazing torches” today? With our modern technology, light is easily manufactured, and can quickly expose the dark corners in rooms and streets. But there is only one “blazing torch” that can expose the dark corners in people’s hearts. In Luke 11:35-36, Jesus said, “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light“. There is only one source of light that really matters and that is Jesus. 

Dear Heavenly Father. You want us to be “blazing torches”, witnesses, for You in this wayward and war-soaked world. Please lead us and guide with the Master’s torch, that illuminates our hearts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Olive Grove

Posted on by korgrocker

“After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples.”
John 18:1-2 NLT

In Luke’s Gospel, we read, “Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives” (Luke 22:39). The Mount of Olives was close to Jerusalem, and it was there that Jesus and His disciples spent time together, enjoying the cool of the evening after what was probably a hot day. It was a sanctuary of peace for them, peace in turbulent times where they faced into the antagonism of the Jewish religious leaders. A place of prayer and sharing, a place where the disciples could relax with their Teacher and their Lord. A place where spiritual batteries were recharged for anything to be faced the next day. A grove of olive trees became a place of sanctuary.

The word “sanctuary” first appeared in the Old Testament and it was a place where God dwelt with His people. Exodus 25:8, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them”. A sanctuary in Old Testament times became the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Moving into New Testament times, church buildings emerged and here in the UK the landscape is scattered with hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful, but mostly totally impractical, buildings, sanctuaries that have become monuments to past moves of God. But even today, there is something special about sitting in a pew in a church building, surrounded with light streaming through stained glass windows, looking at an altar where we hope that God will reveal His presence and grant us peace in our time of need.

We pilgrims need a sanctuary, where we too can sit at the Master’s feet in our own personal Olive Grove. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “ … Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls“.  The Psalmist David found his sanctuary in God. He wrote these verses from Psalm 62, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken“. 

Personally, I find my sanctuary amongst the natural world around me, where I can see and hear God’s creation, splendid and unique. Every bird that sings and every flower that has burst into life provides a backdrop to where I find God’s peace and presence, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [my] heart and [my] mind in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). And from my spiritual olive grove I find once again the place of rest, a sanctuary for my soul. Where, dear fellow pilgrim, is your “Olive Grove”? Somewhere where the heavy burdens of life in this mad and bad world can be left at the Master’s feet? God always wants to meet with us. He is always accessible. And there is a place where Heaven touches earth, right where we can find it. It may be an “Olive Grove” or it may be somewhere else, but there we will find rest for our souls.

Dear Father God. It is mind-boggling to realise that the Creator of this Universe wants to meet with us, within the sanctuary in our hearts. Please help us to remain open and willing to commune with You and find the peace that our souls yearn for. Amen.

Judas, the Betrayer

Posted on by korgrocker

“After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples.”
John 18:1-2 NLT

Why did Judas Iscariot spend three years with Jesus and then decide that he wanted to turn Him over to the Jewish authorities? He shared the fellowship with eleven other men and their Teacher and friend. He saw the miracles. He heard the messages and parables, and even embarked on a missionary trip himself where he healed the sick and preached the message about the Kingdom of God. Why would he then want to see Jesus arrested and, presumably, executed?

In Luke’s account of the time when Jesus chose His disciples, there were two men named Judas. “Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him)” (Luke 6:16). In other passages, Judas, the Son of James, was also referred to as Thaddeus, thus avoiding any confusion. So there is no doubt about who Judas was. David prophesied about the Judas to come, as we read in Psalm 41:9, “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me”. And Jesus referred to this verse when He said, “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfils the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’” We all know the story of Judas’ betrayal of his friend and Master, a story so well known that even today, a betrayer is referred to as a “judas”. 

What motivated Judas to do what he did? Come to that, what would motivate anyone to act in the way Judas did? In Judas’ case, personal gain might have been a factor. He was the Twelve’s treasurer and had a reputation of dipping into the shared funds for his own purpose. In John 12:4-6 we read, “But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself“. So, to acquire thirty pieces of silver, about 30 days wages, would have appealed to his avaricious nature. Another motivation might have been disappointment. Did Judas lose patience with Jesus because he wanted to see a political, not spiritual, solution to Israel’s woes? But regardless, Judas never realised that he was a pawn in the devil’s hands and was being set up for his own destruction. And in the process he became part of God’s plan for the salvation of many.

Father God. With sadness we remember the man who betrayed Your Son, Jesus. But he was all part of Your plan for our salvation, for which we are very grateful. Amen.

God Revealed

Posted on by korgrocker

“Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
John 17:24-26 NLT

Jesus said in His prayer that He had revealed God, His Father, to His disciples, and was going to continue to do so.  But how could they see the magnificence of all that God is in a human being, even though this was Jesus, God’s Son? To get our mind around all of this we have to look at Jesus’ mission and ministry in its entirety. Miracle after miracle, people healed, teaching about the Kingdom of God, demonstrations of love and compassion, the impact of Jesus’ ministry was huge, not just to the people He met, His native countrymen the Jews, but also to countless people ever since. But there was one factor underpinning all that Jesus did, and we find that in John 5:30. He said, “I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will“. All that Jesus did on Planet Earth was in accordance with His Father’s will. It was God’s plan for Jesus to be executed, for Him to be a willing sacrifice that defeated the devil and provided salvation for all who believed in Him. The challenge for the disciples was to see the will of God manifested in Jesus. Jesus said, and as recorded in John 10:37-38, “Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father”. Jesus’ mission was obvious to those with open eyes. Even a Jewish religious leader, Nicodemus, could see a glimmer of the truth, as recorded in John 3:2. “After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you””.

There was nothing special about Jesus’ appearance to set Him apart from His peers. He was an ordinary man, who grew up in a Jewish home just as any other boy of His times did. Schooled and then apprenticed to His natural father’s profession as a carpenter. A good worker who reached the age of thirty and then who laid it all down to become an itinerant rabbi. In His home town of Nazareth He preached in the local synagogue one Sabbath, and the people were happy with what He said. We read in Luke 4:22, “Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son””? But as soon as He said something they didn’t like, they wanted to kill Him – the account is in Luke 4. There is no record of Jesus speaking there again, and soon after this event He went to live for a time in Capernaum, a town near Nazareth. Jesus, an ordinary Man but with an extraordinary mission.

 Sadly today, most people in our Western societies fail to make the connection between Father and Son. In fact, they reject the Bible and its Godly content, consigning it to a corner of their bookcases with other books they never read. They may know about Jesus, but the only connection they have with Him is through making His name an expletive. And even more sadly, there are those who claim to be followers of Christ, but who reject some of His teachings because they are inconvenient or are at odds with their own particular ideologies. There was even a senior clergyman, who claimed to be a Christian in the Church of England who said that Jesus’ resurrection was a “conjuring trick with bones”.  He didn’t believe in much of the Bible at all! 

So, have we pilgrims had a revelation of God? There is only one place where we can find Him and that is in His Word and as revealed by the Holy Spirit. The books of Genesis and Revelation and all between, are a rich mine of spiritual nuggets exposing the character of God and revealing Himself to all who search after the truth. But just as a man and woman will get to know each other by spending time together, so the only way we can find out anything about our Heavenly Father is by reading about Him in His Word. There are no short cuts. No instant solutions. But through His love and grace, God will meet us in the pages of our Bibles. He loves it when we come to Him, like a small child bringing a book and sitting on His knee. And as He turns the pages with Him, we will find our God revealed.

Heavenly Father. All that we need for life we will find in Your Word. Please open the Scriptures before us, to reveal who You are in all Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Perfect Unity

Posted on by korgrocker

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!”
John 17:22-24 NLT

We continue the theme of the unity that is supposed to be seen between believers. Jesus spent some time in His High Priestly prayer focussing on the importance of “perfect unity” because it is only then that the world around us will sit up and take notice. Jesus referred to the love that existed between Him and His Father, and that indicates something that should also be seen between believers. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:14, “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony“. There is a special bond of love that exists between believers, but too often the relationship deteriorates into arguments about the differences between them. Differences in Biblical interpretations, differences in liturgies. There is even arguments going on within the same denomination with, for example, the Church of England having its liberal and traditional wings, with resulting divisions removing all semblances of unity.

There is an account of a miracle performed by Jesus in Matthew 12. A demon-possessed man was healed, but the Pharisees suggested that Jesus received the power to do that from satan himself. We read in Matthew 12:25, “Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart“. That same principle applies to any corporate body, a church or denomination included. Infighting and disunity will eventually see the fruit of such behaviour, but that is probably why over the years so many different denominations have sprung up. It is why so many churches, even at a local level, split apart. 

In Matthew 5, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:13-16). Christians obedient to their calling will stand out, unified in a world of conflict.

How is unity between believers achieved? It all starts at the cross, where there is level ground and all repentant sinners will find forgiveness. Very early on in His ministry, Jesus said that those who want to be present in God’s Kingdom must be “born again”. To many Christians this is a contentious topic and it associates those of the new birth with fundamental and traditional interpretations of the Bible. But where else can unity between believers ever start? The writer of the Hebrews Epistle put his finger on the issue when he wrote, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12). In that verse he took as read the importance of the Word of God, and went on to emphasise its importance in the lives of believers everywhere. There can be no mutual acceptance of believers, in love and trust, unless there is mutual acceptance of the truth of God’s Word.

In many ways, the label “Christian” has fallen into disrepute. A friend of mine claims to be a “Christian” just because he considers himself to be a good person and does “Christian” things. But a true Christian is a person who believes in Jesus and who follows His ways and teachings, and in whom a glimpse of Jesus can be found. One of the scariest Scriptures can be found in Matthew 7. We read what Jesus said, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

 Jesus defined what being a true Christian was all about, with all the implications of being one in the faith, when He said, “ Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter“. But we pilgrims cannot take a judgemental position, because we do not see as God sees, and in any case Jesus said “Do not judge lest you be judged”. Rather we should remember what Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (emphasis mine). 

Unity between believers won’t come easy. Our enemy the devil will do his utmost to prevent it, instead causing strife and division whenever the opportunity arises. But we persevere and try and look at our fellow believers with God’s eyes. He loves them, as He loves us. And so we can love each other, completing the triangle.

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your love and grace, which know no bounds. We worship You, our amazing God, today. Amen.

All Who Believe

Posted on by korgrocker

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
John 17:20-21 NLT

We shout out this morning with a heart-cry of thanks, that Jesus slipped these two verses into His High Priestly prayer. No-one can ever make the claim that Jesus was only concerned about His immediate circle of friends, His disciples. This morning let the reality of the truth that Jesus prayed for you and me personally sink deep into our souls. Too big a leap of faith to think that? We already know that God knows our names – Isaiah 49:16a, “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. … “. So, I am convinced that Jesus knows my name, and He could see me down the corridors of time right to my desk this morning, and that He prayed for me. But what did He pray for? My life and ministry as a disciple? My health and wealth? Plans for a “future and a hope”? None of these – Jesus prayed “that [all believers] will be one”.  He prayed for unity in the faith of believers everywhere, including me.

But how can Christian unity ever be achieved? We look around at all the various denominations with their liturgical differences and varying interpretations of what the Bible really says. Some so called Christians even deny bits of the Bible, especially when it comes to their sexuality or their acceptance of the miracles of Jesus. Then you have the Calvinists, and the Armenians, the Roman Catholics and the Baptists. How can church unity ever be a possibility? But that was not what Jesus was praying for. He was praying for all believers, that they would be one, and that through their unity “the world will believe You sent Me”. Jesus added the picture that those who believed the disciples’ message, handed down through the times since, and who believed in Jesus, would be one with the Father and the Son. 

But what does unity between believers look like? We may not worship in the same church or even denomination. Our liturgies may be different. We may be pre-millennialists, a-millennialists, or even post-millennialists in our end times views, but being one starts with a belief in Jesus. A belief that He was, and is, who He claimed to be. A shared belief that he died for our sins at Calvary. And through our one-ness with each other, and with the Father and Son, “the world will believe You sent Me“. Sadly, too many Christians focus on their differences rather than their common belief in Jesus. But we pilgrims can see beyond that, can’t we?

Father God, the Creator of true unity between Your children. We pray together as one for each other and for our mission to demonstrate our one-ness to those around us, bringing glory to You. Amen.