Whoever Has Ears, Let Him Hear

I had the chance to sit at the table with Jesus today and watch a scene play out that I’ve seen countless times before. Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus and his disciples, while Martha rushed about preparing a meal. Amid the ordinary, Mary brought out a pound of perfume from pure nard, worth a year’s salary. Then, in front of everyone, she poured it out and anointed Jesus’ feet -- wiping it with her hair. The smell of sweet perfume filled the air, but along with it was the tension of Judas’ disapproving presence. He criticized her for being too extravagant, saying that the sale of the perfume could have been given to the poor. Jesus spoke up and with words of compassion defended Mary. “Leave her alone” he calmly said, reminding Judas, Mary and all the others that the Father had sent Mary for this specific task to anoint him in preparation of his upcoming death.

Shift in perspective

For the first time in reading the passage I noticed something different. It’s like gazing at a picture repeatedly only to notice a detail one day that changes the whole meaning of the picture. My eyes had always been fixed on Mary’s extravagant and unusual sacrifice. This time my attention shifted to the heart posture of Judas instead of Mary. Both journeyed with Jesus through towns and villages and witnessed his divine power and goodness. Both sat at his feet and heard his teaching about the principles of the Kingdom of God and that he was the promised Messiah-King. The seed of the Word spoken by the eternal Word fell on the soil of both of their hearts, receiving the same sunshine, rain and air. But the outcome was completely different.

Different kinds of soil

Jesus talked about this reality in the parable of the sower, showing that the same seed has different outcomes based on the condition of the soil. In a similar way, the seed that fell on Judas’ heart was like the seed that fell among the thorns and on the rocky ground. “The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth [choked] it out, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). But the seed that fell on Mary’s heart fell on good ground and yielded a plentiful harvest (13:23). 

This provides an accurate picture of what is happening today in the evangelical church among professing believers in America. We all sit at the table with the risen and reigning Christ when we come to hear the Word, worship and participate in the sacraments. We encounter his glory as the God-Man in the Gospels as he exhibits power over sin, sickness, death and even nature. We hear his declaration that he and the Father are one, and that he is the only way to eternal life – the living bread and the only source of true sustenance. And then we hear him calling us to become his disciples – to yield our treasures to him so that we can embrace him as our true Treasure (Matthew 13:45-46). 

Like Mary and Judas, some 2000 years ago, the condition of the soil of our hearts impacts the way we listen to and respond to the message of Christ’s call to discipleship. Though we have the same access to the Truth, some listen to understand while others “are ever hearing but never understanding” (Matthew 13:14). Some offer their lives as living sacrifices to the reigning King, holding nothing back. Like Moses, they choose to regard “disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt” because they are looking to their eternal reward (Hebrews 11:26). 

Others, under Judas’ guise of widsom, refuse to pour out their life as a sacrificial offering to the Lord and instead give themselves to the ruler of this age. They appear to be authentic followers of Christ, but hidden below the surface are hardened hearts filled with every form of evil (Romans 1:29). The apostle John explains the reason for this in John 12:43 when he writes, “They loved human praise more than praise from God.” They are incapable of hearing God’s message and trusting him because rather than love God, they are lovers of themselves and money (2 Timothy 3:2). They have “a form of godliness but [deny] its power” (3:5).

Day of Reckoning

It may appear on the surface that they will escape the judgment of God, like it did when Judas was sitting at the table with Jesus. Jesus’ words to him were mildly confrontational as he told him to leave Mary alone, much like a parent would do with a troublesome child. However, as we fast forward a few chapters, we see that his rebuke became an eternal one – recorded on the pages of Scripture. John refers to him as the “son of destruction” and (John 17:12) we see that the money he treasured over Jesus was thrown to the ground and memorialized as cursed, along with his life (Matthew 27:6-10).

The sobering message I’m reminded of today as I gaze upon this scene along with Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the sower is the importance of bending my ear to carefully listen to the instruction of the Lord (Luke 8:18). He promises that if we listen to understand and obey what he tells us to do, we will  produce a good crop – “a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:8). Like Mary, our faith will flourish, and we’ll bring glory to the Lord. If, on the other hand, we close our ears to his instruction and allow the cares of the world and the praise of man to grab our hearts, even what we have will be taken away (Matthew 13:12). 

There are two kinds of people. Both sitting at the table with Jesus. One has ears to hear. The other does not. Praying that we will be those who listen to understand and who then pour out our lives in a sacrificial way to honor God and bring him glory.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Matthew 11:15).

Bless God!

One of my favorite new songs, “Bless God," is a bold declaration of determination to praise and thank God at all times. This includes when things are going well and when they’re not, when there’s plenty and when there is little, when the battle forms and the walls fall, when others are present and when I’m all alone. This decision is not based on my life circumstances but on the unchanging goodness of God and the reality that he is worthy of all praise.

He's worthy of whole life worship

From the first verses of Scripture, God declares his identity as the Creator God, speaking the whole world into existence and crafting humanity in his image to reflect his glory. Because he is the only True God, he is worthy of our whole-life worship. About this John writes, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11). Here and throughout Scripture we’re exhorted to praise and bless the Lord at all times. Psalm 103 outlines some of the many reasons for praising him including his faithfulness to care for and heal us, his gift of redemption and forgiveness and his loving mercy and compassion for all he has made. 

Because of his greatness and glory, we’re called to whole-life worship. This differs significantly from the way the Christian culture in America has redefined worship – which is primarily relegated to Sunday mornings. While whole-life worship includes gathering with believers to study the Word and praise his name, it expands to all of life. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 10:31 when he says that whether we eat or drink or whatever we do – we’re to do it for the glory of God. He goes on to show in Romans 6:13 and 12:1-2 that true worship involves our  physical bodies. We’re called in these passages to present ourselves continually to God as living sacrifices, offering the very parts of our bodies to him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13, 12:1-2). As one writer notes, we offer our hands, eyes, ears, hearts, minds and more to him, realizing that what we do with each part of our body is our worship.

He is faithful and will never fail or forsake us

God’s faithfulness can also be traced to the first pages of Scripture. He created Adam out of nothing and Eve from his rib, breathed breath into their lungs and then sustained them after the Fall. He lovingly covered their shame and nakedness and led them to safety so that they could flourish and take dominion over the earth. 

He does the same for us and all his beloved children. At regeneration, he pours out his Spirit upon us, cleanses us from all sin and declares us righteous and holy in his sight (1 John 1:7; Colossians 1:22). He promises to be with us throughout all of life to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Though he assures us we will encounter suffering and trials, he simultaneously promises that he will strengthen us through hardships and will never fail or forsake us (Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:5). 

He is our shield and exceeding great reward

In speaking with Abram, God encouraged him not to fear and promised to be his shield (Genesis 15:1). His covenant with Abram and his descendants included God’s promise that he would guard him against his enemies and protect him from danger. Abraham was called simply to remain in God’s plan – listening to, trusting and following him where he was leading.

In a similar way we, as Abraham’s offspring, are given this promise. God says that he is our “sun and shield”, the one who keeps us from the fiery arrows of the enemy (Psalm 84:11; Isaiah 54:17). As we take shelter in Christ through faith, we are guarded from every evil attack and held on high, kept in safety (2 Timothy 4:18; Psalm 18:16-19). 

He is our portion and our prize

The Psalmist declares “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup” (Psalm 16:5).  The prophet Habakkak echoes these words when he writes, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” (Lamentations 3:24). The word portion here is translated inheritance in some versions, which further shows the depth of the meaning. These men were declaring that God was their ultimate treasure – that which gave them purpose, meaning and sustenance. They were not looking to personal strength, wisdom or riches or relying on their own ability to uphold themselves (Jeremiah 9:23, 17:5). Instead, they fully put their trust in God. 

As God’s adopted children, he promises that we have an inheritance in his Kingdom, both now and for eternity, that is imperishable (Hebrews 9:15). Our present inheritance includes the riches of our union with Christ, which Paul outlines in Ephesians 1 saying we’ve been “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:3). At the resurrection we will receive the fullness of this treasure as we’re brought into his presence and fully freed from all sin, suffering, sickness and death (Revelation 21:4).

He is our hope and our future

The prophet Jeremiah reminds the people of Israel that God had given them “hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). On a similar note, David exhorts Israel in Psalm 134:7 to “Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” This kind of hope is not like the hope of the world – which relies on non-substantial things, people and ideas to sustain them and give them life. Jesus warns that hoping in anything in the world is like building our house on sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27). If, however, we put our hope in God and his promises, he assures us this hope will serve as the “anchor” for our soul. It will hold us fast to him until the end (Hebrews 6:19). Paul reminds us that the hope of God will not disappoint or put us to shame (Romans 5:5) but will instead enable us to patiently endure. 

For these reasons and thousands more, we bless the Lord! 

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD” (Psalm 34:1-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK0fbhGdX4A

When Man's Rejection is God's Redirection

Jesus began his earthly ministry calling humanity to repent and believe so that they could both see and enter the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). He declared himself to be the rightful King and then explained the dynamics of his upside-down Kingdom, which is diametrically opposed to the kingdom of this world. Central to his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ emphasis on the reality of persecution for those who would follow him. He assured them -- and us -- that man's rejection is not an accident or something to fear but often the natural result of darkness encountering light and seeking to extinguish it (John 15:18; 16:3). Jesus then demonstrated from his own life how we should respond when this happens.

God’s preparation

God prepared humanity for Jesus’s coming with hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, so that when he arrived they would recognize him. One of the clearest and most detailed accounts of his character and work was given in the book of Isaiah. Here we see a poignant description of the suffering-servant King who the prophet shows will be “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces” (Isaiah 53:4). 

When we fast forward about 700 years from this prophecy to Jesus’ life and ministry, we see how it was perfectly fulfilled. To begin with, Christ’s family rejected and persecuted him, refusing to believe his testimony that he was the Messiah (John 7:4-6). In addition to this, the religious leaders mocked, slandered and sought to kill him (Matthew 12:24; John 11:53). The masses tried to manipulate him to get miracles and bread and then many of the disciples deserted him (Luke 6:60-66). On the cross, his enemies heaped insults on him (Matthew 27:38-44). He was hated in his hometown Nazareth and rejected in many cities like Samaria, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (Luke 4:14-30; 9:51-56; Matthew 11:21). 

How did Jesus respond?

Regardless of what the rejection and persecution looked like, Jesus responded in a consistent way. Peter describes this in 1 Peter 2:23: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Jesus was not triggered or discouraged by the rejection, nor did he allow it to stop his mission. On the contrary, he set his face like flint against the opposition and continued to travel from town to town sharing the Good News and calling people to repentant faith (Matthew 9:35). 

When man’s rejection is God’s redirection

When rejected and persecuted in one city, Jesus shook the dust off his feet and moved on. He instructed the disciples to do the same saying, “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another” (Matthew 10:14). He forgave, blessed, prayed for and showed love to those who cursed him, but at the same time he did not remain among them (Luke 6:27-28). We see the same pattern emerging in the apostles’ lives, namely Paul who went from city to city when he was often violently rejected (Acts 19:23-41; 2 Timothy 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:2). Rather than seeing this as a sign that God was not pleased with him or that the message of the Gospel had failed, he used it as a springboard to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). To encourage him to press on, the Lord even visited him in prison saying, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" (Acts 23:11). The apostle John spent his last years in an unexpected place on the Isle of Patmos, having been redirected from what he thought was the mission of God due to persecution and arrest (Revelation 1:9). However, it was there on the remote island that he received “revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1).

How should we respond?

As Christ’s disciples, we also experience rejection and persecution. And because we’re human, we’re often tempted to retaliate or to run in fear -- to seek revenge or to shut down. But it’s clear from Scripture and these examples from the life of Christ and the apostles that neither is appropriate for the child of God. Instead, we’re to follow in the footsteps of the Lord and continue entrusting ourselves to our faithful Creator and doing good (1 Peter 2:21; 4:19). He promises that we’ve been called and created for a righteous purpose to do the work he’s given us to do (Isaiah 42:6-9; Ephesians 2:10). Additionally, he assures us that we will be hated by the world and rejected because of his name (John 15:18). If we give up or run when this happens, we will fail to flourish and bear fruit for his glory (Matthew 25:14-30; John 15:8). And if we retaliate we will discredit the Gospel, which is demonstrated by our love for one another (John 13:35). 

God calls us to be sober-minded so that we’re able to prayerfully observe and discern each situation to ensure that the rejection and persecution are real and not perceived and that they are the result of someone else’s sin and not our own (1 Peter 5:8-9). When the Holy Spirit makes this clear, we’re called to move on – blessing, praying for, doing good to and loving our enemies – just as Jesus did. Rather than seeing this as a setback or failure, we can commit ourselves to our loving Father and thank him for this unexpected gift -- trusting that man’s rejection is God’s redirection. 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

God's Sovereign Plan and Foreknowledge

This morning as I was reading about Jesus’ interrogation by Pilate and the Jewish leaders, I was reminded of God’s sovereign design of his betrayal and crucifixion. Not only did he foretell the suffering Christ would endure in many Old Testament passages, but he allowed the crucifixion to unfold this way under the hidden agenda of wicked men to accomplish his divine purposes. What Satan meant for evil, God most certainly meant for good and for the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20).

Sovereign over every detail

What if God really is in control of every detail of our lives and knows what will happen millions of years before it comes to pass? Thankfully, this is the reality of our loving God and Father, who has existed for eternity with the Son and the Spirit. As the Psalmist writes, “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the productive land, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God (Psalm 90:2). Not only that, he knows and chooses us before we’re even born and then masterfully orchestrates the most minute details so that we fulfill his plans and purposes (Psalm 139). God assures Jeremiah of this at the beginning of his ministry when he says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

Masterful plan of redemption

The same is, of course, true regarding his foreknowledge of redemption. He first unveiled this master plan on the heels of the Fall of Adam and Eve into sin and rebellion in Genesis 3:15, when he promised to send the Seed of the woman to crush the Serpent Satan’s head. Through more than 300 prophecies in the Old Testament, God continued to add detail upon detail, like brush strokes of a painting, until at last he presented a clear picture of the coming Seed-Messiah and how he would save his people from their sins. At the center of the picture, he revealed Christ as the suffering, servant King, who would lead his people into freedom and victory through his own brutal death and atoning work on the cross (Isaiah 53). 

In order to accomplish this, the Son had to come to earth as the second Adam as both fully God and Man. He had to be wholly God to serve as the propitiation or atoning sacrifice for our sins and fully Man to reverse the curse of the first Adam, who chose to disobey God (1 John 2:2; Romans 5:12-21). He then had to be put to death by sinful men, since God is holy and cannot commit murder (Deuteronomy 5:17). By divine concurrence, God allowed the religious community, who were steeped in sin and filled with murder, to accomplish what they naturally desired to do in the flesh. Peter explains this in Acts 2:23 when he says, “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” 

While allowing them to fulfill his purposes through their evil plans, he further displayed his divine wisdom and power through the means of the cross. It appeared to the human eye only be an instrument of shame and death, but God transformed it into a vehicle for his glory and made it a symbol of hope and life. He saw to it that the beams which once held the tortured Christ are now empty and serve as a reminder to the entire world of his resurrection victory over sin, Satan and death (Luke 10:18; 1 Corinthians 15:55-58; Colossians 2:15). 

As we reflect on the crucifixion and God’s masterful plan of redemption, we can be greatly encouraged that we serve a sovereign Lord. Yes, it is sorrowful to remember Satan’s and humanity’s plan to destroy the King of glory. But if we will turn our gaze upward, we will see the empty cross and grave and remember that Jesus is not dead but alive (Luke 20:38). God was able to use even the wicked plans of evil men and a shameful cross to accomplish his purposes.

What does this mean for us?

We can apply these principles to our own life in many ways. Often, the evil that happens to us threatens to discourage and defeat us, causing us to lose sight of the goodness and sovereignty of God. But like Jesus’ crucifixion, our story is not over. God is speaking to me this morning, reminding me to look up in trust to see his divine wisdom and power at the cross. He’s the living God, who is able to work all things – even the most painful – for our good and for his glory (Romans 8:28). Like the cross, the cup he’s given us often looks like the losing one, but God…

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10).