Why the cross

So different

A distinctive of Christ

When one surveys the religions of the world, the politics of the world and the business of the world, one thing is common – the promotion of oneself.

Jesus Christ was so different.

·        He never promoted Himself

·        He did not seek His own glory or power

·        He did not deny His claim to being the Son of God, the Messiah but He did tell those He healed, not to tell others

·        He told the followers who discovered who He really was, not to tell anyone

·        When they would make Him a king, He left them

·        His was a life of service, not power and glory by human reckoning

·        It appeared that He was crucified in weakness

·        When He was insulted , He did not retaliate

·        During His final suffering, He did not threaten to get even

·        When risen from the dead, He did not use His power to take revenge

·        At the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, He is long suffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (have the opportunity to be saved)

Soon He will return to earth.

The day of His glory will soon come, and holy vengeance will be executed. But the brilliant hope of the Christian is this – He will appear in glory, to be admired in all those that believe!

I do pray that all who read this page are true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John Mckee

Christianity

Christian Distinctives.

Christianity begins with three fundamentals to existence.

1.      Life.  Most assume life, but no. Human life , chemical life, natural life, is but a minor part of life . Jesus Christ Himself is presented as the source of all life (creator and sustainer), and to a broken world of humans, He is the source of spiritual life. Often this is called eternal life, being participation in the life of God. Being born again, born of the Holy Spirit is a connection with God as children to a Father.

2.    Light.  Everyone claims to know a thing or two – sometimes what they have discovered, sometimes what they have been taught. Moses shed much light on the situation when he brought to the people the law of God. This light exposed the wrong and pointed the people away to a cure outside of themselves. When Jesus came, the light of ‘grace and truth’ pushed back the darkness. The revealing of God in mercy and grace enabled many unworthy people to press into the kingdom of God. The truth lived and taught by Jesus Christ enabled His followers to live on a much higher plane. To follow Him was and is to walk in the light.

3.     Love.  Humanity has always wanted love. Various forms of love have been tried – lustful, family, natural.  Only in God’s love can people know true love. ‘Agape’ love stands unique. It is of divine origin and able to penetrate beyond beauty, beyond worth and beyond offence. It seeks the ultimate good of the one loved.  As a Christian accepts and absorbs this unique love of God, the mind, the attitude, the heart are changed. One is then able to live life rejoicing in God’s love and to live like God.

This then becomes the spring and motive of action. This is true life being lived in the light of God, by the love of God.

JRM

Bible reading

The response of humans.

I sense the frustration in the life of the Lord Jesus. On one count the people were enthusiastic to hear Him teach – He spoke as one with authority.  But when He did speak truth, the same people began to dissent and disagree.  They enjoyed seeing His miracles, yet when He suggested they were the evidence of His deity, they were willing to stone Him.

I am blessed to meet many people , young and old, who are enthusiastic about having a Bible, but commitment to reading it is another thing. I am aware that it is a large , daunting book with many things hard to be understood, but oh the joy of hearing God speak through its pages when we wait upon Him to make it living to us.

The written Word unveils the Living Word.

Have you read it today?

Maybe some of you would like to share with me, something of what you have recently enjoyed in the holy scriptures.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

The Word

"in the beginning was the WORD"

Jesus Christ is the full and final expression of God. His words were God's words. His life was the truth of God revealed.

"All who are of the truth hear His voice"

Is His voice special to you?

Do you read those words regularly?.

Are you affected in daily living by those words?

Do you quickly obey His voice?

Maybe you don't have a Bible to read those words - send me an email and I will endeavour to give you one in your own language. 

johnmckee@internode.on.net

This week's verse:
If riches increase, set not your heart upon them... power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:10,11

Gentile inclusion

Hello to all my dear friends around the world.

 I have been reminded from Zimbabwe that a new article is overdue.- thank you. I have been very busy doing a course in TEASOL – to teach English as a second language. If I was much younger, this skill would enable me to travel many places teaching English, however I shall be content to help the many migrants in Toowoomba.

Now for something I have been enjoying from John 12:

This chapter concludes the public ministry of our Lord. It has some very serious conclusions about the final judgement of all who have rejected Jesus Christ as the Lord from heaven. But the part I find encouraging is the inclusion, by the writer, of the inquiry of the Gentiles to see Jesus. On several occasions John the writer highlights the grace of God embracing the whole world (John 3:16).

Some will remember the chorus

            Jesus loves the little children

            All the children of the world

And so He does.

Gentile philosophy was about triumph by strength of might or argument, but the Lord by contrast says His path to triumph is through humiliation and His death on a cross (Lifted up).

On several occasions the Lord made it clear that “he who humbles himself will be exalted” and most important is for this exaltation to be done by the Father. Glory here and now is very temporary. Honour in the next life will be forever.

May the risen Lord keep you all in His love.

“Even so come Lord Jesus”

John