A Glorious Future with Jesus

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  John 14:1-2; 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12

1 John 3:2

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears^[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

(ESV)

Christians, have justification with God because of what Jesus did on the cross (Galatians 2:8; Romans 10:9-10).  This justification means they now have the identity of a child of God that has been adopted into the family of God (Ephesians 2:19; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; 1 Peter 2:9-10).  For those that have received justification through accepting Jesus as their savior, a process of sanctification begins where a believer grows, develops steadfastness, endurance, character, and hope (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5).  However, without future glorification that includes eternity with Christ, what is the purpose of enduring the sanctification process that produces hope for hope must have something to hope in. 

The purpose of glorification in the process of salvation is giving a believer something glorious to look forward to while enduring the struggles and challenges in a cursed secular world.  Even though the challenges in this world contribute to our sanctification and becoming whole, without the hope of future glorification and eternity with Christ, what is the purpose of enduring the pain and struggle of sanctification.  The thing a believer must do while going through the sanctification process is live with a hopeful expectation of the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  However, as believers live with this hopeful expectation, they must,

1)      Not become obsessed with end-times eschatology (Matthew 24:36) – The study of eschatology or the end times can be intriguing, especially when the world around us seems to be crumbling and Christians anticipate the Lord’s return.  However, eschatology must not become an obsession in one’s life for no one, including Jesus Himself, knows the time of the Second Coming (Matthew 24:36).  Instead, the obsession of Christians should be in establishing intimacy with God in their life finding the strength and resolve to persist even though the world around seems to be crumbling (John 17:25-26).  While we wait for the physical return of Jesus, we can and must enjoy His presence in spirit for that is the strength that produces steadfastness, endurance, and character in the life of a believer. 

2)      Remember the mission of the Church (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) – Proverbs 29:18 teaches that without a prophetic vision the people cast off restraint.  In the context of eschatology, we can interpret this verse in one of two ways.  First, since we do not know the hour of the Lord’s return, having a vision that the Lord could return at any time causes us to remain diligent in our obedience to God so as not to be lacking at His return.  Second, it explains why the Lord does not let His children know the date and time of the return of Christ, knowing people would throw off all restraint until just prior to the Lord’s return.  God’s desire for the church is that it lives with the hope of the return of Jesus and uses the fact Jesus could return at any moment to create a sense of urgency in spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

3)      Love one another as believers so the world wants what gives us hope (John 13:34-35) – Differing interpretations of what will occur in the Last Days can create divisions in the church.  These divisions revolve around theological opinions over what will happen when Jesus returns for His bride, the church.  The church must not allow differences over theological interpretations regarding when Jesus returns for the church to escalate into hatred for one another, causing the world to see no difference between the church and the secular world (John 13:34-35).  Instead of arguing over what will occur when Christ returns, the Church must unite and focus on bringing as many people as possible with them when the Lord returns. 

The fact is that Jesus is going to return for His bride, the Church.  However, believers must not be like the disciples who looked up into the sky as Jesus ascended and instead be diligent in fulfilling the mission of the Church (Acts 1:6-11).  Jesus did not ascend to the Father and send the Holy Spirit for the Church to argue and divide over interpretations of end times eschatology but instead empowerment to be witnesses pointing people to Christ so they too can share the glorious hope that comes with being a believer in Christ.  In alignment with this mission, I want to invite anyone reading this who has not already done so to ask Jesus to forgive their sins and share the glorious future of eternity with Christ. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations and know that you now have justification with God because your sins, no matter how bad they were, have forgiveness from God.  As John 3:16 reminds us, this means you have a glorious future of eternity with God with John 3:17 reminding you that you no longer are under God’s condemnation but have experienced His forgiveness (Romans 10:9-10).  I now encourage you to share the good news with someone by sharing this blog post on social media or by email.  May God bless all reading this. 

Lessons from the Fig Tree

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Test:  Mark 11:12-14; 20-26

Mark 11:20-21

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. ²¹ And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

(ESV)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  Its history goes back to the time of the pilgrims who were the first Europeans to settle in the country giving thanks to God for His provision.  The tradition of a feast during this time is due to their desire to share the abundance of God’s provision with others.  As those reading this post who live in the United States prepare to celebrate the holiday, I encourage you to pause from the busyness of preparing for the holiday and give thanks to God for all He has done for you, especially for sending Jesus to die for our sins.  I also invite those reading this from outside the United States to join us in giving thanks to God.  I also encourage everyone to make it a habit to daily give thanks to God for all He does for us. 

The text for this post involves Jesus cursing a fig tree and the lessons we can learn from the withered fig tree.  The unusual aspect of Jesus’ cursing the fig tree is that he curses the fig tree for not providing figs at a time when the tree would not normally produce fruit.  The fig tree also teaches us the importance of having faith in God to move the mountains or obstacles that hinder our relationship with God.  The fig also teaches us the need to have forgiving hearts so our prayers to God have no roadblocks on their way to God.  Jesus uses the illustration of cursing a fig tree to show the power of prayer. 

The fig tree teaches us that,

1)      The Lord expects Christians to be fruitful even when out of season (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Timothy 4:2) – Jesus Curses the fig tree for not producing figs during the season when the fig tree would not produce figs (Mark 11:13).  At first, this might appear to be some form of fig tree abuse which today would mean some special interest group would have condemned what Jesus did on social media and possibly even taken some legal action against Him.  However, to truly learn this lesson from the fig tree, we must interpret it symbolically.  The symbol of fruit on the tree refers to one being fruitful as they serve God.  For Christians, these fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  While there is no law against one having these fruits in their lives, a corrupt world may have a corrupt definition of these fruits and make accusations against Christians demonstrating these characteristics in their lives.  However, even in a climate of the misunderstanding of a believer demonstrating these fruits, a believer must demonstrate them as a witness for Christ.  The lesson from the fig tree is that Christians must bear the fruits of the Spirit and preach the Word of God both in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2).

2)      The Lord expects Christians to have faith in God and not the abilities of self or others (Matthew 6:33) – Jesus’ initial response after Peter pointed out that the fig tree Jesus cursed had withered was to “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).  While Peter focused on the withered fig tree, Jesus attempts to change His focus to having faith in God.  While Jesus is God in the flesh (John 1:14), His curse of the fig tree occurred as a man having faith in God the Father to do what He asked.  In Mark 11:24, Jesus expands upon his telling the Disciples to have faith in God by using the illustration of telling a mountain to move with undoubting faith in God.  However, this is not an open invitation to ask God for whatever we desire to fulfill our happiness but occurs in the context of one seeking intimacy with God (Matthew 6:33).  Our faith in God must not be a faith that uses God to fulfill personal gain but instead faith in God as our savior desiring to fulfill His will in our lives, bearing fruit pleasing to God.  The fig tree withered because it did hot bear fruit pleasing to God.

3)      The Lord expects Christians to pray in faith without doubting what they pray for will happen (John 15:7; Matthew 18:19).  A prayer offered with doubt is like one begging for something without the expectation of receiving it.  Unfortunately, our prayers to God are often a form of begging from God with doubt and not something offered with faith that God hears us and wants to answer our prayers.  James 5:16 reminds us that the fervent prayers of a righteous person have great power.  The fig tree teaches us not to pray with doubt but to pray with faith and expectation God hears us and loves to answer our prayers. 

4)      The Lord expects Christians to forgive so nothing hinders our prayers (Matthew 5:23-24; 6:12-15).  While our prayers have power, there is a condition, confession of our sins to one another (James 5:16).  A heart of unforgiveness poisons our fruit making us unappealing to others.  It is also a form of hypocrisy as we are not forgiving others as the Lord has forgiven us.  The fig tree teaches us not to pray with hypocrisy due to unforgiveness in our hearts but to forgive others as per the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12-15). 

Granted the fig tree is not human and incapable of teaching about prayer but makes an excellent illustration of the importance of being fruitful, having faith in God, praying in faith without doubting, and forgiving others.  Jesus was not cruel when he cursed the fig tree for not having fruit out of season but instead used it as an illustration of the importance of having faith in God, praying without doubting, and having a heart of forgiveness like our Savior.  Through following these illustrations, one can lead a fruitful Christian life both in the good and bad seasons of life. 

Who am I: A Work in Process (Sanctification)

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 1:6

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(ESV)

Everyone who has made a profession of faith in Jesus as his or her savior should wear a construction zone sign, indicating they are under construction and a work in process.  While the goal of living a life for Christ is purity and perfection, we are still fleshly beings that do not always do what we know we should do (Matthew 5:48; Romans 7:15-20; 1 Timothy 4:12).  This work in process is a work of sanctification in the life of a believer or the setting apart of one’s life for serving Christ in this world and eternal life in the presence of God.  The challenge for believers as they go through this process is that it occurs while they are living in fleshly bodies in a corrupt world.  However, God does His sanctifying work in this context as a demonstration of God’s transformative work in the life of a believer to a world needing Christ (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5).  While going through this sanctification process, it is important for believers to,

1)      Have a daily connection with God through prayer and study of the Bible – The process of sanctification begins with the renewing of a believer's mind through losing conformity to the world and its way of thinking through a renewal of thinking according to biblical principles (Romans 12:2).  This mental renewal occurs through regular and consistent exposure to the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15).  This occurs each week as believers gather to hear the Bible taught from the pulpit, but for the renewal to thoroughly sanctify an individual, it must also include personal study.  There is also a need for continual prayer as this is how we communicate with God in support of each other (2 Corinthians 1:11; Romans 15:30). 

2)      Have a heart of forgiveness – Those outside the Church view those in the church as perfect in Christ and when they see a Christian fail, are quick to point out hypocrisy.  What these individuals are missing is that Christianity is about forgiveness and not perfection.  Jesus provides the greatest example of forgiveness when he forgave his accusers from the cross for their failure to realize He was their Messiah (Luke 23:24).  Unfortunately, Christians advance the perception of perfection when they behave moralistically by putting down those that sin.  It is important and biblical for Christians to model the example of Christ and forgive those that wrong them remembering that forgiving one that sins is not condoning the sin but following the example of Christ.  Instead of lashing out in condemnation of one’s sin, a sanctified individual will point them to the source of forgiveness Jesus Christ who has forgiven them (Matthew 6:14-15). 

3)      Seek opportunities to serve God despite imperfections (Romans 7:15-20) – Churches financially survive through the efforts of volunteers.  While salvation occurs through grace and the work of Jesus on the cross, faith in Jesus is a dead faith if it is not followed up with works (Ephesians 2:8; James 2:20).  Our theology and knowledge of God and His Word must go beyond an academic exercise to something practical in our lives, and the lives of others.  Even the demons have good theology and know who God is (James 2:19).  It is important to see James 2:20 in context by interpreting it in the context of James 2:19.  James is not saying that good works bring salvation into the life of a believer but instead that the academic knowledge of who God is must have practical application in one’s life for faith in God to have life.  When believers volunteer to serve Christ, they are not doing it to find salvation but as a way of demonstrating the love of God in their lives.  The demons believe in God and shudder in fear while believers believe in God and serve out of love for God and others.

4)      Live a life of hope of the return of Jesus and invite others to join in that hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) – While God is performing the construction project of sanctification in our lives, it is important to keep our eyes on the prize of an eternal reward of glorification and eternity with Christ.  The work of sanctification is a construction project which involves some demolition as we are transformed from conformity to a corrupt world system to a godly worldview (Romans 12:2).  However, by keeping our eyes on the prize of eternity in the presence of God, we can endure the struggles that come with sanctification knowing it works for our good (Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 3:12-14; Romans 8:28).  Such is the hope of those choosing to profess Jesus as their savior. 

If you are reading this and lack the hope of eternity with God, I invite you to pray with me now to receive justification and eternal life,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  You died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Just like how people can drive cautiously through a construction zone, we can live for Christ even though we are under construction.  While making this drive, we must be diligent in the practice of spiritual disciplines by having a daily time with God in prayer and study of God’s Word.  While drivers usually want to avoid construction zones, this is one people need to travel on for it leads to eternity with God.  Therefore, those on the sanctification highway must invite others to take the justification onramp, go through the construction zone of sanctification, and join us with God for eternity.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Triumphal Entry

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 11:1-11

Mark 11:9-10

And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

(ESV)

Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem where he is about to fulfill his purpose as the Lamb of God, becoming the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity, fulfilling the prophecy of Genesis 3:15.  It would appear the crowd understood what Jesus was about to do based upon their enthusiasm at Jesus entering the gates of Jerusalem.  However, in just a few days some of these people will be among the crowd calling for Jesus’ crucifixion (Mark 15:6-15).  What happened to change the minds of the crowd and what can we learn from it to avoid a similar change of mind in our lives. 

1)      Unrealistic expectations – The fanfare and praise given to Jesus upon his entry into Jerusalem are similar to that given a conquering king returning victoriously from battle (1 Samuel 18:6-7).  However, Jesus is not entering the city on a horse as a conquering king, but on a donkey indicating he came in peace, not to make war (Judges 5:10; 10:4; 12:14; 2 Samuel 16:2).  While some in the crowd may have listened to Jesus foretelling his death and saying this last time that he would be executed in Jerusalem, others may have had the expectation Jesus was coming to overthrow the Romans and establish a kingdom of peace (Mark 8:31-38; 9:30-32; 10:32-34).  When these unrealistic expectations were unfulfilled, they turned on Jesus, siding with the Pharisees in believing Jesus was a fraud.  God does invite his children to come boldly in prayer, but we must also humble ourselves to God’s will in our lives Which may not fulfill our unrealistic expectations (John 14:13; Luke 22:42).   

2)      Lack of understanding Jesus’ purpose for coming – Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 describe the suffering Messiah with Jesus even quoting Psalm 22:1 from the cross.  Since people did not have easy access to written or digital versions of scripture, Jesus quoting the first verse of something they had heard read in the synagogue would have led to them remembering the rest of the passage.  However, in this instance, they would see Psalm 22 come to life before their eyes but when Jesus stood accused before Pilate, they did not recall this and instead called for his crucifixion.  Not only did the crowd that changed from praise to crying for Jesus’ execution have unrealistic expectations, but they also lacked an understanding of scripture foretelling of the Messiah’s suffering and dying for humanity’s sins. 

3)      Fear of rejection by the crowd and religious leaders – When Peter denied Christ it was out of fear of rejection by the crowd outside where Jesus was tried and also fear the religious leaders would come after the twelve after calling for Jesus' execution (Matthew 26:69-75).  It is possible some in the crowd when Jesus stood accused also feared rejection by those in the crowd and their religious leaders.  However, after encountering the risen Lord and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the leaders in the early church were fearless and bold, turning their world upside down (Acts 4:13; 9:26-27; 14:1-7).  When one truly encounters the risen Lord in his or her life and allows the Holy Spirit to empower them, fear is eliminated (Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:7). 

4)      Fear of their Roman oppressors – Similar to the fear of going against the crowd and religious leaders is a fear of government oppression.  However, in places lacking freedom of religion or worse in places where the practice of Christianity is illegal, there is a real fear of imprisonment or even death for a belief in Jesus as savior.  The crowd seeing Jesus beaten and on trial may have thought they would also suffer a similar beating or crucifixion for their belief in Jesus.  Perhaps some called for Jesus’ crucifixion as a means of protecting themselves and family from death at the hands of their Roman oppressors.  However, after seeing the risen Lord and receiving the empowering of the Holy Spirit, some of these people would willingly die as martyrs for their belief. 

As believers in Christ, Jesus has made a triumphal entry into our lives forgiving us of our sins.  However, while this is something to celebrate, we must ensure we do not have unrealistic expectations.  Jesus warned his followers that in this world there would be trouble but also reminds us that He overcame the world through His resurrection (John 16:33).  Believers in Christ also have hope that the tribulations in the world will cease when Jesus returns to establish His earthly kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16).  Believers in Christ must also study God’s Word to understand what is occurring in their lives and the world from a godly worldview (2 Timothy 2:15).  Most importantly, believers in Christ need not fear for fear is a liar and not from God (2 Timothy 1:7).  If you are fearful at this moment, take a moment to watch this video and let the words of the song minister to your heart. 

If you are reading this and have not invited Jesus to make a triumphal entry into your life, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

For those that just prayed, it is important to gain an understanding of Jesus and His triumphal entry into your life by study of the Bible and regular association with other believers in a church or bible study to learn more about Jesus.  This new life does not mean an end of troubles, just that you now have help from the Lord and other believers.  Most importantly do not let fear keep you from telling others about Jesus so He can make a triumphal entry into their lives as well.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Righteous in Christ: A Believers Source of Joy and Peace

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Romans 5:1-11

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(ESV)

One commodity there is no shortage of in our society is news that steals our joy and happiness.  While it is important for people, including Christians to stay informed, dwelling on the negative in the news can result in grumpy Christians.  This goes against the command of Jesus when he told his followers to let their light shine so the world can see our good works and give glory to God the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).  However, when the world sees Christians who are grumpy and complaining about their situation, they see no difference for they are also grumpy over the negative they see in the world.  Instead, believers in Christ are to shed the light of the Gospel on the darkness prevalent in the world, pointing people to Christ and making disciples who bring light to others (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  To have this joy as Christians we must remember that,

1)      Jesus death and resurrection have made us righteous in Christ giving believers peace with God (John 3:17; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:1) – When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they were separated from God and evicted from the place where they had physical connection with God and peace (Genesis 3).  However, instead of turning His back on fallen humanity, God did the unbelievable, he became human by becoming flesh and taking the wrath intended for humanity due to their sin even though He was sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:14).  Through belief in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ, one can not only receive eternal life but freedom from condemnation.  This coupled with the knowledge Jesus is returning to establish His kingdom on earth brings peace and hope to believers in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

2)      Believers have restored access to God (Romans 5:2) – Jesus' death burial and resurrection restored access to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This access comes through God’s grace but is not full access like that experienced by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  However, this restoration through faith does come with the hope of God’s future glory when a physical connection with God occurs. 

3)      Suffering in this life has a purpose (Romans 5:3-4) – Since our restored relationship with God is not complete, we still live in a cursed world that will come with suffering.  In John 16:33 Jesus reminds us that in this cursed world there will be trouble.  The context of Jesus making this statement is telling the Disciples of the trouble that will happen to him when betrayed and handed over to the Romans for execution.  However, the second half of John 16:33 reminds us that Jesus overcame the darkness of this cursed world through His resurrection.  For those believing in Christ, the suffering of this world has the purpose of producing endurance, character, and hope (James 1:2-4; Romans 5;3-4).  While the struggles of life may make one unhappy, a believer in Christ can have joy in knowing God’s plans for their lives are for their good and not their destruction (Jeremiah 29:11).  There is also the hope of Glory and knowing Jesus will return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

4)      God loves us and willingly laid down His life for us (Romans 5:5-8) – The greatest act of love one can extend to another is to lay down their life for them (John 15:13).  This is why nations honor those in their military for their willingness to risk their lives for their fellow citizens.  For many throughout history, this has meant making the ultimate sacrifice of their life or the suffering of debilitating injuries to preserve the sovereignty of their nation.  However, not to diminish the actions of the brave members of the military, the greatest act of love extended to humanity is God sending His Son to die for the sins of humanity and Jesus, God’s Son and God in the flesh willingly offering his life in obedience to God the Father (Matthew 26:39).   

5)      We escape the wrath of God (Romans 5:9-11) – The sentence for sin is death and since everyone has sinned, all are under a death penalty from God (Romans 3:23; 6:23).  However, because of God’s grace, we can avoid this death penalty through a profession of faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9-10).  This profession unlocks the grace of God that takes one from condemnation from God to eternal life with God (John 3:16-17). 

It is crucial in these dark times for those professing belief in Jesus as their savior to realize their new identity in Christ.  No longer are believers in Christ sinners subject to the wrath of God but instead are sinners saved by the Grace of God that have escaped God’s wrath (John 3:17; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23).  However, not making a profession of faith in Jesus as savior means one remains under God’s wrath through their decision not to accept the give of salvation through God’s grace (John 3:18).  Therefore, I invite anyone reading this who has never made a profession of faith to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you just prayed with me, you have escaped condemnation from God and are righteous because of what Jesus did on Calvary.  Believers in Jesus as their savior are encouraged to learn more about their Lord through study and meditation on the scripture of the Bible, prayer or talking with God, and association or fellowship with other believers by attending a church or Bible study.  May God bless all reading this and may everyone find peace in Christ. 

When We Cry Out, Jesus Listens

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:49

 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”

(ESV)

This text begins with a crowd following Jesus.  This time they are following Jesus as he leaves Jericho on his way to Jerusalem.  However, there is a difference this time for Jesus is not only going to Jerusalem for Passover but also as the Lamb of God to become the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity (Mark 10:32-34). 

Jesus most likely had much on His mind as he walked on ahead of the crowd because He knew the pain and suffering he was about to endure.  However, he also knew he must die as the sinless Lamb of God for humanity to have any hope of salvation and out of great love for fallen humanity, Jesus, God in the flesh, submitted to the will of God the Father and died for our sins (John 1:14; Matthew 26:39; Romans 5:8).  However, even with this on His mind, Jesus takes time to minister to a blind man who cries out to him. 

The disciples and crowd following Jesus rebuked the blind man.  Once again the text does not tell why they rebuked Bartimaeus but Jesus had just told them what would happen to Him in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-34).  The response of James and John to what Jesus said leads to the belief they may have thought Jesus would establish His Kingdom immediately after the resurrection (Mark 10:35-37).  Therefore, it is possible those rebuking Bartimaeus believed Jesus had more important things to do and could not take time to minister to this blind beggar they regularly saw begging on the road to Jerusalem.  However, just as Jesus did with James and John, he stops and calls for Bartimaeus forcing the crowd to also stop and once again see Jesus serve someone in need. 

Since this is the only mention of Bartimaeus in the Bible, we have no historical background as to how or when he became blind.  His request for recovery of his eyesight does indicate he may have been able to see at one time and is asking Jesus to restore his sight.  However, this is just speculation with Scripture only telling us that He is a blind man begging on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem.  Since this was not the first time Jesus traveled to Jerusalem with His disciples, they had most likely encountered Bartimaeus before.  It is also possible Bartimaeus had either heard of or been present when Jesus performed a miracle.  This would explain his enthusiasm this time for when he heard the commotion of a crowd and discovered it was Jesus, he began to cry out, believing Jesus had the power to restore his eyesight.  Whatever was going through the mind of Bartimaeus, Scripture does tell us that he came to Jesus when called and had his eyesight restored. 

However, the most interesting part of the text of Mark 10:46-52 is what occurred after Bartimaeus received his sight.  Since his blindness, Bartimaeus had most likely started begging along the road to Jerusalem for money to live.  Even though he had received his sight, he still had no source of income and yet left his begging to follow Jesus.  We can surmise that he had possibly heard of Jesus teaching on the importance of seeking the kingdom of God first and trusting God to take care of his needs (Matthew 6:33). 

When we cry out to Jesus, he stops to listen, knowing our needs and stands ready to meet those needs.  Our response to God graciously hearing our prayers and meeting our needs should be a desire to reciprocate by following.  This begins with one making a profession of faith in Jesus as his or her savior (Romans 10:9-10).  I encourage anyone reading this that has not made Jesus their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

This is the first step in a new life of following Christ.  God has given us His Word, the Bible so one serious about following Jesus must begin to read and find out more about God.  It is also important to pray.  Prayer does not require fancy or eloquent words for it is just talking to God like we might talk to anyone else.  A great pattern to follow when praying is to follow the example of the Lords Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15).  It is also important to associate with others that have made Jesus their Savior by finding a church or Bible study.  The most important thing to remember is that when we cry out to Jesus, he hears, listens, and wants us to follow Him. 

Who Am I: Part of God’s Royal Family

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

(ESV)

Even though the United States is no longer part of the British monarchy, there is still a fascination with what happens in the British royal family.  One explanation for this fascination could be the allure by those living an ordinary and mundane life with those living a life of fame who are continuously in the public eye.  The good news is that those choosing to believe in Christ and make Him the Lord of their lives have citizenship in the household of God and are part of His royal family (Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 2:9-10).  While this royal family is not constantly in the news giving those in the family fame and notoriety, the kingdom has eternal rewards that no earthly kingdom can match (John 3:16).  The rewards for those in the royal family of God are,

1)      Hope (Ephesians 2:12) – The hopelessness and despair of eternal separation from God which occurred in Genesis 3 have been reversed through the blood of Jesus Christ giving all choosing to make Jesus their Lord eternal hope (John 3:16). 

2)      The treasured possession of God (Exodus 19:5-6) – While the promise of being a treasured possession of God in Exodus 19:5-6 is given to the nation of Israel, through Christ the promise is for all choosing to make Jesus Lord of their lives (Romans 3).  This is because both Jews and Gentiles are under sin and need a savior (Romans 3:9,23).  Not only are believers in Christ reunited with God but treasured by Him.

3)      Holy to the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:6) – Not only are believers treasured by God, but they are also holy through the death of Christ for their sins, freeing believers from the condemnation of sin (John 3:17; Romans 5:8). 

4)      Loved by God (Deuteronomy 10:15) – This is not a love just expressed by words but a love demonstrated by God coming to live with sinful humanity but beyond that, dying to reconcile a broken relationship due to sin (Romans 5:8).    

5)      Cared for by God (Isaiah 43:20-21) – Just like the rest of creation, God provides for His people.  However, so extensive is God’s love that he even provides for the needs of those choosing not to believe in him (Matthew 5:45).  However, those that choose to make Jesus their savior escape condemnation (John 3:17) and have their greatest need met, the need for a restored relationship with their creator. 

6)      Forgiven and sanctified (Acts 26:18) – The process of forgiveness from God is something one experiences when they ask Jesus to forgive their sins.  Sanctification is the setting apart of God’s people and an ongoing process.  This is why members of God’s royal family must pray, study and meditate on God’s Word, and be with other believers to separate from the world and its system and conform to God’s will (Romans 12:2). 

7)      Built-up by God (1 Peter 2:5) – It is through the ongoing sanctification process that God builds godly character in His people.  However, this building up process may require some pain and suffering as God tears down the world system in our hearts.  Therefore, we must maintain our joy in the Lord when suffering comes, knowing it is building godly character in our lives (James 1:2-4).  God’s desire is for His royal family to be strong. 

8)      Given mercy by God (Hosea 1:6,9) – Just like royal families on earth, the royal family of God can be dysfunctional.  However, God is not the source of the dysfunction for He remains perfect.  Instead, the dysfunctional aspects of the family of God are due to the disobedience of His children.  Fortunately, God has mercy and stands ready to forgive those approaching Him so he can build them up (1 John 1:9). 

Being part of God’s royal family carries certain benefits but is not a reason for one to believe they have moral superiority over those that are not part of the family.  Instead, those in the family are to lead as servants of Christ that have a purpose to serve others by spreading the news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and the making of disciples (Mark 10:42-45; 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  This aligns with Jesus’ purpose in coming the first time, not to have others serve Him but to serve.  Those in the royal family of God are not to become another elitist class of individuals for the world already has plenty of them, but instead to be ambassadors of Christ pointing and leading others into the family for God does not want any to perish by being outside the family (2 Corinthians 5:20; 2 Peter 3:9).  If you are currently living outside the family because you have not accepted Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to join the family by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Welcome to the family.  I now encourage you to learn about your heavenly Father through listening to Him by studying the Bible and talking to Him in prayer just like you would talk to anyone else.  I also encourage you to regularly get with other family members in church or a bible study.  Others can join the family too, so be sure to tell your friends about Jesus or share this blog with others.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

A New Leadership Model: Leading as a Servant and not an Authoritarian

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 10:32-45

Mark 10:42-43

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant

(ESV)

God created humanity with a need for intimacy with God.  In the Garden of Eden, both Adam and Eve had a face-to-face relationship with God and could regularly walk with Him in the Garden because there was no sin in their lives (Genesis 3:8).  Sin, however, caused Adam to want to hide from God for he realized he was naked and that his sin was known by God (Genesis 3:10).  Not only did Adam and Eve try to hide from God, something that is impossible even today, but they also sewed fig leaves to cover their sin.  However, people cannot hide from God or cover up their sins to hide them from God for it is only the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God that can cover sin symbolized by the garments of the skin and the need for the death of Christ and shedding of His blood to atone for sin (Genesis 3:21). 

In Mark 10:32-24, Jesus once again foretells his death.  This time, however, as they are going to Jerusalem for Passover Jesus tells them that this time in Jerusalem, He will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, and turned over to the Romans to carry out the execution (Mark 10:32-34).  However, Jesus also tells the disciples that he will rise after three days as a demonstration of His conquering death. 

The request of James and John gives an indication that the Disciples missed the death part and only heard the part about the resurrection, interpreting Jesus' victory over death as when He would establish His earthly rule in Jerusalem.  James, Jesus’ half-brother (Matthew 13:55) and John, the disciple Jesus loved (John 13:23) may have thought this entitled them to special prominence in the new kingdom (Mark 10:35-37).  Jesus then takes the opportunity to describe a new type of leadership that differs from the authoritarian leadership James and John had lived under all their lives. 

Jesus knew that he would not immediately march into Jerusalem and take over but that His death and resurrection would usher in the church age when the Gentiles would have an opportunity to become part of the family of God.  Jesus also knew these men would suffer for their faith and why He asked James and John if they could drink the cup of wrath he was about to drink and suffer the baptism of suffering he was about to endure, to which they responded they could, perhaps believing Jesus was testing them to determine if they could rule with Him (Mark 10:38-39).  Once again, they failed to understand the suffering component and the commitment to service when serving Christ. 

Jesus then outlines leadership as a servant, something He would demonstrate by going to the cross as a sinless man for the sins of all humanity (Romans 5:8).  This leadership model of leading as a servant was the total opposite of what the Disciples would have seen around them from their Roman oppressors (Mark 10:42).  It is this leadership model that made it possible for the Disciples to spread the Gospel and make disciples as people saw leadership from a heart of love and not the force of authority.  So prominent has this leadership model become in the world that it is even beginning to receive acceptance in the secular world as a model of leadership eliciting greater acceptance and dedication from followers. 

For believers in Christ, this means we are not to present a Gospel of moralistic superiority but instead present a Gospel of God’s love.  The Gospel message is not one of following a moral code to make one right with God but instead accepting that God has done everything necessary through Christ to make us acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16).  May we not present the Gospel from a position of moral superiority as James and John may have envisioned, but instead present the Gospel as God coming to us, serving us by dying for our sins, and rising from the dead in victory over death. 

The world needs revival which can only occur as people come to know Jesus as their savior.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

I now encourage those who prayed to become servants of Christ by getting to know Jesus through the study of the Bible and being with other believers in Jesus at a local church or Bible study.  I also encourage you to share what has just happened in your life and if necessary, refer them to this blog.  May God bless all reading this posting. 

No Greater Friend than Jesus

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  John 15:13-15

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

(ESV)

While social media has changed the way friends communicate with each other, it has also changed how we view friends.  In John 15:13-15, Jesus describes a level of friendship that goes beyond someone friending us on Facebook.  The Greek word for friend in John 15:13 is philos or a level of friendship as one dearly loved and prized having a personal and intimate relationship.  It also connotes a level of one being a trusted confidant.  Since Jesus laid down His life for us all on the cross, this describes Jesus’ level of friendship as an intimate philos friendship.

Our response to this level of friendship should be obedience to what Jesus commands us to do (John 15:14).  However, this is not obedience as a slave or servant but as one reciprocating the level of friendship of one willing to lay down His life for them (John 15:15).  Our continuing goal as believers in Christ should be to achieve greater intimacy with the one that laid down His life for our sins.  However, we often fail to achieve this level of friendship with God through Christ because of,

1)      Sin – Sin was what separated Adam and Eve from face-to-face intimacy with God (Genesis 3:8, 23).  Since that day, all humanity lives under the death penalty of sin (Romans 3:23; 6:23) and needs the savior promised in Genesis 3:15 who we now know is Jesus (Romans 5:8).  However, even after receiving Jesus as savior, we may struggle with sin for even the Apostle Paul had this struggle (Romans 7:13-25).  Thankfully, when becoming aware of sin in our lives, we can receive forgiveness by confessing it to God (1 John 1:9).  Therefore, we have no excuse for allowing sin to come between us and intimacy with God. 

2)      Lack of trust – Mark 9:14-29 records the account of Jesus healing a boy with an unclean spirit.  This account occurs after the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13) as Jesus comes to the disciples who were unable to cast out the unclean spirit.  The father of the boy declares his belief but asks for help with his unbelief (Mark 9:24).  We can relate to this father because all that have made a profession of faith in Jesus as their savior have a measure of belief but will also encounter situations where they lack belief.  The use of the word belief in Mark 9:24 is pisteuo or having faith by implication.  This is the level of faith one has when they accept Jesus as his or her savior.  The word unbelief is the Greek word apistia indicating a lack of trust.  Since close intimate friendships require trust, a lack of trust presents a barrier to having close intimacy with Christ.  Since faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), any lack of trust in God indicates a need for greater study and meditation on God’s Word in the area in which we lack trust. 

3)      Lack of spiritual disciplines – This lack of trust can also indicate a lack of spiritual disciplines in a believer’s life.  These spiritual disciplines are prayer, study and meditation on God’s Word, and being with other believers (Acts 2:42-43).  For a believer in Christ, these disciplines should be as much a part of life as eating and sleeping for these disciplines feed and recharge the spirit and soul.  As we consistently practice spiritual disciplines, we begin to encounter God and have a more personal knowledge of Jesus as our friend. 

4)      Internal divisions in the Church – Anyone who has ever experienced a church split can attest to how this stops God from moving in that church through the church body experiencing loss of intimacy with God and the Church’s missional focus.  In addition, some of the believers in a divided church may also lose trust in God through becoming inconsistent in their practice of spiritual disciplines.  In His discourse with the Disciples during the Last Supper, Jesus taught that love for one another within the Church is how the Church shows the world they are disciples of Christ (John 13:34-35).  

Jesus has taken the first step in establishing a friendship with each of us by offering His life to provide reconciliation to God lost in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8, 23).  It is up to us to take the next step of acceptance of Jesus’ friend request by seeking forgiveness from sin, learning to trust God, practicing spiritual disciplines, and living in harmony with other believers.  For those reading this who have not made the initial step of friending God through accepting Jesus as their savior, I encourage you to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Jesus is now your friend but like all friendships, it becomes stronger when we spend time together to learn more about each other and work out our differences instead of allowing them to divide us.  I invite you to begin praying which is simply talking to God just like you would do with anyone else.  For a biblical example, I encourage using the pattern of the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and not just to recite the prayer.  I also encourage study and meditation on the Bible with a good place to start being the Gospel of John that teaches about the love of God for us.  I also encourage you to find a group of other believers either in a church or Bible study as the mature believers in these groups can guide you to a better friendship with Jesus.  I encourage all reading this to develop a closer friendship with Jesus, the one who knew no sin and yet took the death penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8).