Sorrow Turned to Joy

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 16:16-33

 

John 16:20

Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

(NKJV)

 

The assassination, or I should say, the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk has brought sorrow to many in the evangelical Christian community. While this brings sorrow, we can find comfort knowing he is now with Jesus, but we must continue to pray for his wife and children as they mourn his loss. Our sorrow over this loss can become joy when we realize Jesus has forgiven our sins, so we can also meet Him in death or when he returns to take His Church. Our sorrow can indeed be turned to joy.

 

Jesus is speaking to His disciples the night before His crucifixion and makes a statement that brings confusion by saying he is going away, then returning, and then going to the Father (John 16:16). This causes the disciples to murmur among themselves, wondering what Jesus means (John 16:17-18). Jesus knew what they wanted to ask Him and asked them if they wondered what He meant (John 16:19). Jesus tells them that they will indeed have sorrow with the world rejoicing, but that their sorrow will turn to joy (John 16:20).

 

To help the disciples understand what He meant, Jesus uses the illustration of a woman in labor who has sorrow and pain when in labor only to have joy when the baby is born (John 16:21). Jesus tells the disciples they will experience sorrow when He is taken away, but will experience joy when He sees them again (John 16:22). While Jesus was with His disciples, they asked nothing in His name because He was with them, but when he goes to the Father, they can ask for what they need in Jesus’ name and will receive it (John 16:23-24).

 

So far, Jesus has spoken to the disciples figuratively but a day is coming when He will speak plainly about the Father (John 16:25). When Jesus has ascended to the Father, the disciples will ask in the name of Jesus and He will pray to the Father for them (John 16:26). The Father loves the disciples because they have loved Jesus and believe He came from God (John 16:27). Jesus declares He has come from the father, into the world, and is going back to the Father (John 16:28). The disciples now tell Jesus He speaks plainly, that He knows all things with no need for anyone to question Him because he comes from God (John 16:29-30).

 

Jesus then asks them if they now believe (John 16:31). Jesus tells them that an hour is coming when they will be scattered and leave Him alone, but Jesus is never alone for the Father is with Him (John 16:32). Jesus concludes this discourse by telling the disciples he has told them of these things so they can have peace for in the world they will have trouble but that He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

 

Jesus is about to die, be resurrected from the dead, and ascend to the Father, causing the disciples to have sorrow that will turn into joy. The disciples are confused about what Jesus is saying (John 16:17-18), but before we condemn the disciples for this confusion, we must remember that we have something they did not have, hindsight. One becomes a believer when they believe in their hearts that Jesus resurrected from the dead, something believers today can look back upon with hindsight (Romans 10:9-10). However, the disciples had something we do not have, they walked face-to-face with Jesus and were eyewitnesses to the miracles Jesus performed, but now hear that the one they believed was the Messiah is going to die (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23; 20:17-19). While Jesus also told them he would be raised from the dead, they found it difficult to believe one could be raised from the dead, even though they witnessed it with Lazarus (John 11:38-44). Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). For the disciples, it was faith to believe Jesus would resurrect from the dead, having been with him for three and one-half years. For us today, it is faith to believe what the Bible tells us about Jesus, even though we have not seen Him face-to-face.

 

Because of humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden, the world has sorrow with Jesus, the promised deliverer in Genesis 3:15. There is much sorrow in our world that became evident with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk dedicated His life to Jesus Christ and took the message of the Gospel to young people on college campuses. Charlie Kirk was martyred while speaking on a college campus, sharing about Jesus Christ. Charlie Kirk is with Jesus face-to-face now, but before his death did so in faith, knowing in his heart that Jesus rose from the dead. Charlie Kirk is an example to us that we should boldly share the message of Jesus Christ wherever God leads us.

 

With this in mind, I want to invite anyone reading this who has not confessed a heartfelt belief that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead 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.

 

Let’s be strong and courageous like Joshua (Joshua 1:9), and boldly declare the life-transforming message of the Gospel wherever we go. We should do it not just because this is the commandment of God (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), but out of a desire for others to join us for eternity in the presence of God. May God convict, challenge, and strengthen everyone reading this post. 

A Plea for Deliverance, Forgiveness, Divine Security, and Redemption

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 25-26

 

Psalm 25:1-2

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.

(NKJV)

 

Recent events in the news alarm us, but also serve to remind us that we, like David, need deliverance from enemies that seek to harm, or even kill us. May we remember the words of the Lord to Joshua who was about to lead Israel into the promised land, a land full of enemies, when He told Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). The odds may seem stacked against us but with the Lord on our side, we have all we need, something David understood and stated in Psalm 25-26.

 

In Psalm 25, David begins by lifting his soul to the Lord, placing his trust in Him without shame, with shame reserved for those dealing treacherously without cause (Psalm 25:1-3). David asks the Lord to show him his paths for his life as the God of his salvation and the one he waits on all day (Psalm 25:4-5). David pleads with the Lord to remember his tender mercies and not to remember his sins and transgressions, remembering him with mercy (Psalm 25:6-7).

 

God is good and upright, teaching sinners in the Way (Psalm 25:8). The Lord guides the humble in justice, teaching them His way with His paths full of mercy and truth to those keeping his covenant (Psalm 25:9-10). David asks for pardon from his iniquities, for they are great (Psalm 25:11). Those who fear the Lord shall be taught the ways of the Lord, dwell in prosperity with their descendants inheriting the earth (Psalm 25:12-13). The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, with Him showing them His covenant (Psalm 25:14). David’s eyes are ever toward the Lord for the Lord delivers him (Psalm 25:15).

 

David is desolate and afflicted, pleading with the Lord to have mercy on him because the troubles of his heart have enlarged, asking the Lord to bring him out of his distress (Psalm 25:16-17). David asks the Lord to look upon his affliction and pain and to forgive his sins (Psalm 25:18). David has many enemies who hate him with cruel hatred and asks the lord to keep his soul and deliver him without shame, for he trusts in the Lord (Psalm 25:19-20). David concludes by asking for integrity and uprightness to preserve him because he waits on the Lord and for God to redeem Israel out of their troubles (Psalm 25:21-22).

 

In Psalm 26, David prays for divine scrutiny and redemption. David begins by asking the Lord for vindication because he has walked with integrity and trusted in the Lord and shall not slip (Psalm 26:1). He then asks the Lord to examine his mind and heart, knowing the Lord has lovingkindness and that he has walked in the Lord’s truth (Psalm 26:2-3). David knows that the examination of the Lord will show he has not sat with idolaters and hypocrites, and has hated evildoers and the wicked (Psalm 26:4-5). David will wash his hands in innocence as he goes about the Lord’s altar with a voice of thanksgiving proclaiming the Lord’s wondrous works (Psalm 26:6-7). David loves the habitation of the Lord’s house where His glory dwells (Psalm 26:8).

 

David asks that the Lord not gather his soul with sinners or his life with bloodthirsty men because these men concoct sinister schemes and are full of bribes (Psalm 26:9-10). David vows to walk with integrity and asks the Lord to redeem him and be merciful to him (Psalm 26:11). David’s foot stands in an even place with him blessing the Lord in the congregations (Psalm 26:12).

 

In these psalms, David shows us how to plead with God for deliverance and forgiveness and pray for divine scrutiny and redemption.

• Pleading with the Lord (Psalm 25) – Pleading for deliverance should begin with one acknowledging their trust in the Lord to triumph over their enemies without shame. However, one pleading with the Lord must be willing to follow the direction of the Lord in their lives (Psalm 119:105). Jesus delivered the woman caught in adultery from stoning by her accusers but commanded her to abandon the path of adultery and sin no more (John 8:1-11). Pleading for deliverance must be accompanied by one's surrendering to the Lord’s will in our lives.
• Praying for scrutiny and redemption (Psalm 26) – In 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, Paul tells the Corinthians to examine their hearts before partaking in the Lord’s Supper (communion) to avoid judgment from the Lord. Because of the mercy and grace of God, David knew he could allow the Lord to scrutinize his heart without fear. The Lord did not come to condemn us but to save us by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:17).

 

We should plead with the Lord when we need deliverance and forgiveness because the Lord has the power to deliver, and He forgave our sins on the cross. Because the Lord demonstrated love toward us on the cross, we should not fear His scrutiny of our hearts, so we can repent of any sin in our lives and experience the Lord’s redemption. A believer is not just to ask the Lord to be his or her savior and then continue in sin, but is to lose conformity with the sin of the world and be transformed (Romans 12:2). A redeemed life is not to be a life continuing in selfish and sinful gratification of the flesh but a transformed life following the enlightenment of the word of God (Psalm 119:105). If you are reading this and have never prayed to confess Jesus as the Lord of your life (Romans 10:9-10). 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 encourage you to find a church that teaches the truth of God’s Word from the Bible, so that God’s Word can transform your life by renewing your mind. May God convict, challenge, and empower everyone reading this post. 

Warning, Comfort, and the Work of the Holy Spirit

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 16:1-15

 

John 16:12-13

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

(NKJV)

 

In a divisive world full of hatred and violence, the Church is called by Christ to put forward a unity of purpose, to love one another (John 13:34-35). Jesus is about to return to His Father and knows the disciples are fearful. He is also aware of divisions among them regarding who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. He comforts their fears by letting them know the Father will send the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, to live within them. This passage provides a warning not to stumble, comfort that they will not be alone, and the work of the Holy Spirit through them when Jesus is gone.

 

Jesus begins by telling them that He has spoken to them about His leaving so they will not stumble when it occurs because they have been warned (John 16:1). Jesus warns them that they will be thrown out of the synagogues for their belief in Him and even killed with their murderers believing they are offering service to God (John 16:2). They will do these things because they do not know the Father or Jesus (John 16:3). Jesus reveals these things now because he is about to leave with these things about to happen and waited till now because He was with them (John 16:4).

 

Jesus is going to the Father who sent Him and is concerned that none of the disciples ask where He is going (John 16:5). The disciples are sorrowful because of what Jesus has said, but it is for their advantage that Jesus leaves so the Helper, the Holy Spirit, can come to them (John 16:6-7). The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). Conviction of sin for those who do not believe in Jesus, righteousness because Jesus goes to His father having completed His mission to die for humanity’s sins, and judgment because Satan is judged (John 16:9-11).

 

Jesus still has many things to say, but when the Holy Spirit comes, He will guide the disciples into all truth (John 16:12-13). The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus and take what is from Christ and declare it to the disciples because all that is of the Father is Christ’s (John 16:14-15).

 

Jesus is about to depart from the disciples and warns them of persecution to come, which brings them great sorrow. However, Jesus is not leaving them without a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will be with them and in them (John 14:17). The Book of Acts records the ministry of early church history. This is a history of church growth accompanied by persecution. This is why Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before going out in ministry (Acts 1:4). When we see how the disciples scattered when Jesus was arrested, we can understand the need for these same disciples to have the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives so they would be empowered to be witnesses for Christ and be able to fulfill the mission given to them by Christ (Acts 1:8; Mark 15:16; Matthew 28:19-20). The fact that these disciples were accused of turning their world upside down (Acts 17:6) illustrates the effectiveness of one ministering under the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Unlike the disciples who walked with Jesus and saw him face-to-face, we must accept Christ in faith as the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin (John 16:8). It is sad that the Holy Spirit, part of the Trinity, has become a point of division in the Church. His work is the power behind the spreading of the Gospel (Acts 1:8), leading us to ask what is behind this division.

 

1. The need for one to speak in tongues as evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit – While there are three instances in Scripture where people spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 10:46, 19:6), there is no place in Scripture telling us this is a requirement for receiving the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said Receive the Holy Spirit with no one speaking in tongues (John 20:22).
2. Disorder in worship blamed on the Holy Spirit – In 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, Paul points out the disorderliness of worship in the Church, reminding them that God is not a God of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). Things done in the Church should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
3. Gift comparison leading to some believing they are superior to others – This was the main point of contention Paul had with the Church in Corinth, with divisive factions of people following Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ when all believers must follow Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). The world is attracted to believing in Jesus because of unity in the Church behind Christ with Love for one another (John 13:34-35).  

 

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity and given to the Church for empowerment, not divisiveness. I pray the Church will repent of divisiveness through deceptive teaching about the Holy Spirit and experience empowerment by the Spirit to warm up from its lukewarmness.

 

I want to invite anyone who has never prayed to accept the gift of salvation through the grace of God, and who feels convicted of his or her sin, 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.

 

May God convict, challenge, empower, and encourage everyone reading this post. 

The Lord, Our Shepherd, and King of Glory

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 23-24

 

Psalm 24:10

Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

(NKJV)

 

We live in a world of chaos and confusion. The chaos of violence in schools and churches, places where people should go with safety and security. There is confusion with people, even young children asked to question the gender they were born with, enduring mutilating and irreversible surgery to change genders. We are to question the traditional family of a man and woman getting married and having children, and instead support same-sex marriage. We are also asked to support the murder of the unborn out of convenience. This world is in desperate need of the good Shepherd and King of glory, Jesus Christ.

 

Psalm 23 is familiar to many who are reading this and provides a powerful picture of Jesus, the good Shepherd, from David, who was the shepherd of his father’s sheep. It begins with David declaring the Lord is his shepherd with him lacking nothing (Psalm 23:1). The good Shepherd leads David to the abundance of green pastures and the peace of still waters (Psalm 23:2). David finds restoration for his soul and a path of righteousness for the good Shepherd’s Name’s sake (Psalm 23:3). Even when facing death, David has no fear because the good Shepherd is there to bring comfort (Psalm 23:4). The good Shepherd provides David with abundance, goodness, mercy and an eternity in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 23:5-6).

 

In Psalm 24, David declares that the earth belongs to the Lord for He established it (Psalm 24:1-2). David then asks who can ascend to the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place, answering his question with one who has clean hands, a pure heart, not worshipping idols, or swearing deceitfully (Psalm 24:3-4). This person shall receive blessing and righteousness from the Lord, with David declaring that this is Jacob, the generation who seeks the Lord (Psalm 24:5-6). David tells the gates and doors of the city to open and let the King of glory in, asking who this King of glory is, answering with the Lord strong and mighty in battle (Psalm 24:7-8). David again tells the gates and doors of the city to open for the King of glory, asking again who this King of glory is, answering with the Lord of hosts (Psalm 24:9-10).

 

In Psalm 23, David offers praise to the Lord as his good Shepherd. Psalm 23 is familiar to many reading this because it is often read at funerals due to its reference to walking through the shadow of death. However, only reading this psalm when remembering someone who has passed away limits its application in our lives. The psalm reminds us of the Lord’s provision, green pastures, peace, still waters, restoration of the soul, and being led down the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:1-3). It is a reminder that the Lord is with us, so we do not need to fear, and of the Lord’s corrective rod and staff that does not have the purpose of condemning us but of giving comfort. The Lord’s goodness and mercy are there to follow us in this life, with us having the hope of eternity in the house of the Lord (Psalm 23:4-6).

 

In Psalm 24, David praises the Lord as the mighty King of glory. The earth is the Lord’s, with David asking who is worthy to ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place. The answer is one who is righteous who will receive a blessing from the Lord. While David says this is Jacob, or Israel, Israel has a history of rebellion throughout its history, with David himself having a history of rebellion against God with his sin of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). The truth is that David is not speaking of the nation of Israel or himself but of a coming King of Glory, Jesus Christ, who would be spotless and without sin, willing to die for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

We must ask ourselves if we can offer praise to the Lord as our good Shepherd and King of glory in both the good and bad times of life. The Lord, our good Shepherd, is there with us to provide for our needs and give us peace, even when circumstances look bleak and dire. When we, as sheep, are disobedient and in need of correction, the good Shepherd does not beat the sheep with His rod and staff but provides correction that gives comfort and security.

 

Do we praise God as the King of glory when things in the world in which we live is in chaos or do we question why the Lord would allow the earth which belongs to Him to be in such a state (Psalm 24:1). Do we understand that the world is in the state it is in due to sin that entered the world in the Garden of Eden? Do we also understand that when Adam and Eve sinned, God promised a deliverer who would come and bruise the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15), and that this deliverer is the King of glory, Jesus Christ? When we believe in Jesus as our savior in our hearts, we have a hope of eternity with the Lord, like David had. If you are reading this and do not have this hope, I invite you to pray with me to have this assurance.

 

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 who just prayed, this is a good beginning, and I encourage you to find a local Church that teaches the Bible as the Word of God so you are equipped with knowledge, empowered to serve God, and encouraged by other believers. May God convict, challenge, and comfort those reading this post. 

No Excuses

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 15:18-27

 

John 15:22

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

(NKJV)

 

I want to begin this post by asking everyone to pray for the safety of our schools and universities. As a professor at a university, my purpose is to provide students with an education. The students are there to receive an education, with the staff and administration there to support the students and professors in this endeavor. Unfortunately, hatred in our society has made schools and universities a target for violence, which can be a distraction for everyone involved in the educational process. So please pray that God will place a hedge of protection around our schools (Psalm 91:11).

 

The world hated Jesus so much that they put Him on a cross. Knowing this would happen to Him, Jesus told us that the world hated Him before it hated us (John 15:18). If we were of the world and its beliefs, the world would love us as one of its own but since we have been called out of the world by Jesus, it hates us with the same hatred it hated Jesus (John 15:19). Jesus told us a servant is not greater than his master so as servants of Christ, we should not expect to escape persecution because Jesus did not (John 15:20). The source of this hatred and persecution is a lack of knowing God in the world. (John 15:21). However, anyone who has heard the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, including that he came and died for their sins and resurrected from the dead in the conquest of sin and death, has an excuse (John 15:22).

 

Anyone who hates Jesus also hates God who sent Him (John 15:23). Jesus not only came declaring truth but also did works unlike anyone else, demonstrating he was unlike any man who ever existed yet some hated both Him and His Father (John 15:24). The hatred of Jesus was hatred without a cause, not unlike that experienced by David (John 15:25; Psalm 69:4). To help His disciples through this hatred and persecution, Jesus and the Father has provided a Helper, the Holy Spirit to testify of Jesus (John 15:26). Since the Disciples were with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, they bore witness of what they had seen, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; John 15:27). This is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and empowers us to be witnesses because of what we read in the Word of God even though we were not born when Jesus walked the earth (Romans 8:11).

 

Hatred and persecution of those choosing to follow Jesus has as its root, hatred of God and His Son, Jesus. How quickly the tide of opinion regarding Jesus turned from praise to calls for His crucifixion (Luke 23:18-23; Matthew 21:1-11). Jesus represented a stumbling block to the religious leaders of His time as well as to those living under oppression from the Roman authorities.

 

·         Threat to the religious leaders – Jesus, a man from lowly Galilee, has come upon the scene, performing miracles and drawing a multitude to Him. However, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders began to plot his death along with the death of Lazarus (John 12:9-11). The religious leaders also knew his teachings were aimed at them and their hypocrisy (Matthew 26:1-5).

·         Disappointment for the oppressed – Many in the crowd waving palm branches during the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem may have expected Jesus would march in and depose their Roman oppressors. However, Jesus marched into the Temple and overturned the tables of the money changers who had turned the Father's house of worship into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-17). Jesus did not fulfill their expectations.

 

Deciding to follow Jesus does not mean a life of ease and freedom from trouble (John 16:33). It also does not guarantee everyone will love us. Unfortunately, out of fear of losing members and their contributions, some churches teach a gospel that promises those following Jesus will have all of their needs met and loved by many (Matthew 6:33). Taken out of context one could interpret this verse to mean a believer in Christ can expect to have all they want, but the contest is one having their needs met not everything they want (Matthew 6:25-34). Ask those who believe in Christ in countries where it is illegal and punishable by time in prison or death if following Christ is easy with everyone loving them, and you will find the truth. Following Jesus requires commitment and taking up the cross, risking rejection and hatred. Philippians 4:19 does promise that God will supply all our needs. but Paul did not write this as one living a materially prosperous life, but as one in prison for his belief, experiencing God’s miraculous provision. We must ask ourselves if we are committed to Jesus even if it could cost us everything. Deciding to follow Jesus does not mean a life of ease and freedom from trouble (John 16:33). It also does not guarantee everyone will love us, possibly costing everything we have, or even our lives.

 

Jesus has come to humanity and shared the truth with us. He told us He is the way, the truth, and the life, the only path to reconciliation to God (John 14:6). Jesus also told us anyone believing in God’s Son, Jesus, would have eternal life (John 3:16). Anyone reading this who has heard these truths that came from the mouth of Jesus has no excuse. Therefore, I want to invite anyone reading this who has not prayed to accept Jesus as their Savior to pray with me now from a heart committed to following Jesus, no matter what it may cost.

 

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.

 

May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post. 

Joy of Salvation and the Suffering Messiah

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 21-22

 

Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

(NKJV)

 

It can be difficult to find joy in our world with headlines filled with hatred and even horrific news. Recently, there was a stabbing at a high school close to where I live, a high school that I attended for a couple of years. The thought of a young person committing such a heinous crime brings no joy and serves to challenge the Church to have a sense of urgency in proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ. In Psalm 21-22, David praises God for His salvation and then gives us a prophetic picture of the price paid for that salvation.

 

David found joy and strength in the Lord and rejoiced because the Lord gave him his heart’s desires and withheld no request (Psalm 21:1-2). David found his foundational stability in the Lord and, through God’s mercy, refused to be moved (Psalm 21:3-7). David knew the hand of the Lord would find His enemies and those hating the Lord (Psalm 21:8). The Lord will make His enemies like a fiery oven and swallow them up in the fire of His wrath (Psalm 21:9). Even their offspring will be destroyed because they plotted evil that they were unable to perform (Psalm 21:10-11). David knows the Lord will destroy His enemies and exalts the strength of the Lord, singing His praises (Psalm 21:12-13).

 

In Psalm 22, David provides a prophetic picture of the price the Lord paid for our salvation. The psalm begins with the same words uttered by Jesus from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” The psalm continues with the psalmist asking why God is so far from him and from the words of his groaning (Psalm 22:1). The psalmist cries out day and night but the Lord does not hear (Psalm 22:2). However, the psalmist still knows the Lord is holy and has not lost his trust in the Lord, remembering the trust of the fathers of Israel (Psalm 22:3-5).

 

The psalmist is broken and sees himself as a worm and a reproach of men who ridicule him and his trust in God (Psalm 22:6-8). The psalmist reminds God that it was Him who took him from the womb with God his God since birth, asking God not to be far from him now (Psalm 22:9-11). He then shares his wretched state with God, a condition not unlike that suffered by Jesus on the cross (Psalm 22:12-18). He then asks the Lord to be near to him and to be his strength to deliver and save him, acknowledging that the Lord has answered him (Psalm 22:19-21). Because the Lord has answered him, he will declare the Lord’s name to his brethren and praise the Lord in the middle of the assembly (Psalm 22:22).

 

The psalmist calls on those fearing the Lord to praise Him, for the descendants of Jacob, Israel, to glorify the Lord, and for all Israel to fear the Lord, for the Lord has heard the cries of the afflicted (Psalm 22:23-24). The psalmist’s praise shall be to the Lord in the great assembly, with him paying his vows before those who fear the Lord. He knows the poor shall eat and be satisfied with those who seek the Lord will praise Him (Psalm 22:25-26). All of the world shall turn to the Lord and praise Him (Psalm 22:27-29). What the Lord has done will be passed on to the next generation so they will know what the Lord has done (Psalm 22:30-31).

 

There is joy in the salvation of the Lord, with us exalted in the strength of the Lord. David could find joy in the salvation of the Lord as he saw the Lord deliver him from the many enemies that were against him. This is the theme of Psalm 21, with Psalm 22 providing a picture of the suffering Messiah on the cross. Jesus said the first part of the psalm when on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Since people in the time of Christ did not have access to the written word of God like we do today, they would memorize entire portions of scripture, including this one. When they heard Jesus say these words, they would have been able to recite the rest of the Psalm and could have realized that the events foretold in this passage were unfolding right before their eyes. We can also interpret this passage as David not talking about himself since the pronouns are capitalized, an indication in scripture that the person referred to is God. The passage does not end in sadness but says that what the Lord has done will be told to the next generation, which includes each of us (Psalm 22:30-31).

 

Jesus died on the cross for the sins of anyone choosing to make Him their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus suffered a gruesome death on a cross that is recorded in Matthew 27:32-56. This account mirrors the imagery provided in Psalm 22, and why many believe this psalm is a prophecy of the Messiah suffering for the sins of humanity. The mission of the Church is quite simple: to take the message of God coming to us in the person of Jesus and dying for our sins, with eternal life possible for those who believe (John 3:16; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Unfortunately, many churches today have strayed from their God given mission, with us having three types of churches today,

 

• The trembling Church that is afraid to talk about the need for the Savior to forgive their sins, afraid of offending someone by mentioning they are sinners (Romans 3:23)
• The traitor Church that has turned into a social club or a political organization standing for social justice, usually supporting a woke culture.
• Truth Churches or Churches remaining true to teaching the Word of God and carrying on the mission of the Church given to it by Jesus.

 

We need more truth Churches today who are not afraid to preach the truth of God’s word and remain true to its teachings and the mission of the Church. If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your personal savior or have drifted away from the Lord, I invite 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.

 

May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post. 

Love and Joy Perfected in the True Vine

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 15:1-17

 

John 15:1-2

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ^[a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

(NKJV)

 

Jesus uses the image of a grapevine with His disciples as an illustration of how they are to live once he goes to His Father. This is an illustration they would have been familiar with, seeing vineyards all around them. The fruit of the grapevine is on the branches, with the branches receiving their nourishment from the vine. If the vine is a good vine providing nourishment, the branches will bear much fruit, but if the vine is not good and provides little nourishment, the branches will not bear much fruit. Jesus wants His Church to remain connected to the nourishing words of the truth from the word of God so the Church can be fruitful.

 

Jesus begins this teaching by saying He is the true vine with His Father the vinedresser (John 15:1). The vine dresser takes away any branch that does not bear fruit and prunes those that bear fruit, so they can bear more fruit (John 15:2). Jesus declares the disciples with whom he speaks as clean because Jesus has spoken to them with instructions to abide in Him so they can bear fruit (John 15:3-4).

 

Jesus is the true vine with us the branches, with those abiding in Jesus the ones that bear fruit with those not abiding in Christ unfruitful because they are apart from the true vine, Jesus Christ, and can do nothing (John 15:5). God the Father, the vinedresser will cast out the branches not abiding in Christ since they are unfruitful (John 15:6). Those abiding in Christ, having His words abiding in them will ask whatever they desire, and it shall be done for them with the Father glorified because they bear fruit and are Jesus’ disciples (John 15:7-8).

 

Jesus loves his disciples just as the Father loves them so we must abide in the Love of Jesus (John 15:9). To abide in the love of Christ we must keep His commandments just like Jesus keeps the commandments of His Father (John 15:10). The reason for Jesus saying these things is so His joy may remain in us and be full (John 15:11). Jesus’ commandment to his disciples is that they love one another just like He has loved us, demonstrating the greatest love one can express, the giving of His life for us (John 15:12-13). Those that keep Jesus’ commandments are His friends (John 15:14). Jesus’ disciples are not servants unaware of what the master is doing, but friends to whom He has revealed what the Father has made known to Him (John 15:15). We did not choose Jesus, but He chose and appointed us so we can bear fruit that remains with whatever we ask of the Father in Jesus’ name given to us (John 15:16). Jesus concludes with another reminder to love one another (John 15:17).

 

The disciples have spent three and a half years with Jesus, who is about to be crucified. He is then going to ascend to the Father and wants His disciples to continue in His words and to love one another. Jesus probably recalls the time when the disciples bickered among themselves over which of them would be the greatest (Mark 9:33-37). In response to this dispute, Jesus teaches them that the greatest is the one who is the servant of all. However, Jesus does not call His disciples servants but friends, friends he loves so much he would lay down His life for them (John 15:13-15). Christ commands that His disciples love each other with the same love He shows to us, His friends.

 

Jesus' words to His disciples apply to the Church today, but the Church is failing miserably in obedience to Jesus’ command to love one another. Throughout church history, there have been divisions or schisms, often over nonessential doctrines, leading to many different denominations that compete instead of having love for one another. This projects an image of competitiveness and even hatred for the world, which does not differ from what they see in the world. Why would one want to come to Christ and be part of a church that is competitive and filled with hate when they can just remain in the competitive and hate-filled world they are in?

 

Jesus taught that the world would know we are followers of Christ by our love for one another (John 13:35). There is no need for churches of differing denominations to compete over people or contributions because Jesus said if the Church lifts Him up, He will draw all men to him (John 12:32). The Church must lift up Christ who loved us so much, He died for us and stop being in competition with each other over nonessential matters.

 

I now want to invite anyone reading this who has not prayed to accept Jesus as his or her savior to pray with me now. I understand this may involve putting past hurts from those in the Church who are competitive or even hateful because Jesus does not condone such behavior and loves you so much, he died for you.

 

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.

 

May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post.