Still
True Today!
The scriptures record statements made
by men concerning Jesus of Nazareth that, at the time they were spoken,
represented cynical INDICTMENTS against the Son of God, But the Spirit
who inspired scripture enshrined them as eternal MONUMENTS to the glory
of his Person. Here are just three:
Jesus Associating with Sinners
Luke 15:2—“And the Pharisees and scribes
murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”
The religious leaders believed it was beneath the dignity of any ‘man
of God’ to associate himself with the riffraff of society. But it was
his love for the riffraff that motivated the Son of man to seek them
out and fellowship with them. Jesus STILL does so today!
Jesus issued this invitation and
promise to the church at Laodicea: “Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”
(Revelation 3:20). It’s the wonder of wonders that Jesus STILL
associates himself with sinful men willing to receive him, and desires
intimate fellowship with them!
Jesus Suffering as King on His Cross
Luke 23:38—“And a superscription also was
written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS.” This was at once an accurate
statement as well as an understatement. Jesus WAS the King of the
Jesus, But he was ALSO the King of heaven and earth with ten thousands
of angels at his disposal to destroy those who were about to destroy
him.
What the Romans had posted as MOCKERY
was actually a tribute to his MAJESTY, which the glorious power of his
resurrection would demonstrate a few days hence! Jesus is STILL the
King of heaven, the earth, the Jews and of all who've entered his
kingdom through simple, childlike faith!
Jesus Forgiving a Palsied Man, Then Healing Him
Mark 2:5-7—“When Jesus saw their faith, he
said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But
there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their
hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins
but God only?” Before Jesus healed the man sick with
palsy, he pronounced him forgiven of his sins. In response to hearing
this, the scribes reasoned rhetorically that since (1) no one but God
can forgive sins, and (2) Jesus of Nazareth cannot possibly be God in
the flesh, his pronouncement must therefore be blasphemous!
The scribes asked the RIGHT question,
but came to the WRONG conclusion. Their rhetorical thinking was not
rooted in reality. If they had properly perceived WHO he was, they
would have accepted WHAT he did—forgave the man’s sins! Jesus proceeded
to give them something they could SEE as a basis (sign) for believing
what they had HEARD. So he asked: “Whether
is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven
thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
(2:9). When they beheld the palsied man healed by Jesus, they said: “We never SAW it on this fashion”
(2:12). But the question remains: “Was what they had SEEN in terms of
his physical wholeness sufficient for them to believe what they had
HEARD in terms of his spiritual wholeness?” The one was NOT more
difficult for God to accomplish than the other, according to Jesus.
What the scribes believed to be
BLASPHEMOUS, we believers see as a source of BLESSEDNESS! The Lord
Jesus IS God! For my greatest need—the forgiveness of my sins—Jesus is
God’s sufficient and singular answer! Jesus is STILL forgiving sins
today in the lives of those who trust in him and the cleansing power of
his precious blood!
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