LOGOS

A short meditation for those who choose to think.

       ‘In Geek philosophy the LOGOS remains an impersonal force, a lifeless abstract philosophical concept that is necessary to understand the cause of order and purpose of the universe. In Hebrew thought the LOGOS is personal. He indeed has the power of unity, coherence  and purpose, but the distinctive point is that the Biblical LOGOS is a he, not an it.’    (R.C. Sproul)

       Remember Genesis 1 – the creation was given order, purpose, coherence by God’s word – ‘God said’  - not just the miracle of it happening, but the wonder of God communicating order into matter, purpose into beings,, unity into diversity.

     The very laws of nature had to be set in place.   The fine tuning of the planet earth for life to prosper, was enacted by the LOGOS.

To say that the detail of nature “just happened” , defies scientific logic and good reason.

       Now read John chapter 1, and discover that the LOGOS (the Word) by whom all things were set in order, became  flesh (a true man) and lived among us!  His name was Jesus!

He who set the worlds in order, came to set in order a new creation, which will finally be revealed when the man who was and is "the Lamb", rules over all things and all people  -  He will be the eternal Light, the eternal LOGOS (Revelation 21,22)

If you understand what has just been written, you will quietly worship.

'The wonder of it it all......................................

      ...................just to think that God loved me'

John McKee 

Jesus lives!

Small incidentals in the Bible often have important significance. The example that I would like to write about is found in 1 Corinthians 15.8

Paul writes of himself “ last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also” Paul is referring to the story of Acts 9, when two years after the death of the Lord Jesus, he was converted by the intervention of God.

We have many reasons to believe that Jesus is alive again, risen from the dead. The angels said it was so. The Lord Jesus foretold his resurrection before it happened.  Peter and the other disciples were prepared to die for their witness to having seen the risen Jesus Christ.

The witness of Paul is sometimes overlooked. A couple of years after the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, the dust of excitement had settled, and the heel of persecution by Jewish leadership had tried to stamp out the rumour of Jesus being risen from the dead. Saul ( as Paul was once called) was breathing out threatening against the Christians and was authorized to cast them into prison. No doubt Saul had many arguments against the resurrection story. However God had other plans. As Saul journeyed to Damascus, about midday he was struck down by a blinding light from heaven. A voice then said “Saul , Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  Saul responds “who are you Lord?”   The answer is simple yet  sublime  -  “I am Jesus...”

Let us pause to ponder the implications of this answer.

1                  The voice is from heaven

2                  The voice is from a LIVING Jesus

3                  This voice is from an all powerful person

4                                   Saul is not challenged by some philosophical persuasion, but a living person.

Such  is the power of this intervention, Saul himself becomes a witness to the reality that Jesus once crucified, is now alive.  He  is changed from ‘hating’ (Titus3) to love, from persecuting Jesus to preaching Jesus as the Son of God. His bright career as an educated leader of the Jewish people had been  shattered and his life work is to involve  much suffering and rejection.

I trust some of you reading this, have picked up on the significance of this story  ie that after this space of time, this voice from heaven with it’s corresponding power to change, is a brilliant witness that Jesus lives.

Many signs and wonders were also done in the done in the Name of the Lord Jesus, verifying that Jesus was alive and ascended. John the apostle, many years later , also gave a written account of having seen the Lord Jesus in person. Revelation chapter 1 is not a description of the man of Galilee. It is a description of Jesus the Christ, in glory, who is able to say of Himself “I was dead, behold I am alive forever more”  (Revelation 1.17,18).

Many others have testified to the interruption of the Lord in their lives, all pointing to the truth that Jesus lives.

Saul/Paul wrote  in his last letter  ‘ at my first defence no one came to stand by me but all deserted me...but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me..”  (2 Timothy 4.16) He knew the continuing nearness of the risen Lord.

I trust that the Lord Jesus is real in your life, so that beyond all the historical evidence, you can say ‘ He lives within my heart’

John McKee    johnmckee@internode.on.net

Serving the Lord

“Always abounding in the work of the Lord”  1 Corinthians 15.58

What is the work of the Lord?

       Many of us spend the greater part of our lives struggling to survive.  We apply the best of our day at work, to make an income. Some time is spent with family and a little consideration may be given to Christian focused things. Maybe on Sunday, a little more time is found for others and Christian service. We do well to occasionally stop the treadmill of life and check what our priorities are, and reassess the chief purpose of life.

    The secret is not, more time for God, but rather making the all the duties of life as the ‘work of the Lord’.  In the first century, many of the believers were slaves, with no real spare time. So Paul encourages them and us, ‘whatsoever you do’, at work , at home , in the community – do all as unto the Lord.   ( Colossians 3.17)

In this letter to the Corinthians, it is interesting that Paul does not refer to the work of elders, deacons, pastors, evangelists. He does outline gifts that were being used or abused in the church. He also writes of himself and Apollos as servants who brought the word of God to the Corinthians. Perhaps one of the best clues about ‘the work of the Lord’ is found in chapter 16.15  - of some he said they ‘devoted themselves to the service of the saints’. These workers and labourers were to be given moral respect and honour, not for some position held but work done.

       How then did they do ‘ the work of the Lord’. – by serving the saints. No detail is given, and that is  likely wise.  That service will vary from washing dirty feet to teaching heavenly truth. It could be done in Christian gatherings, or it might be done at the workplace. Sometimes it might be appreciated, other times resented. If done for the Lord first, under the direction of the Lord, He will enable the work to proceed. Some think that all service must be organized to be effective. From Bible observations, and from fifty years observing Christians serving the Lord, I choose to disagree. The greater part of effective service for the Lord is carried through by individuals quietly committed to the task given them by the Lord.

        May the Lord of the harvest, the heavenly account keeper, encourage your hearts to be “ steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”

John McKee

The Gospel -the way back to God

The Gospel

Previously I have outlined the letter to the Romans as the ‘Way to God’. In this presentation of the Gospel, I am drawing from 1 Corinthians 15. The Gospel Paul preached was direct and clear – Salvation was available through the once crucified, now risen Lord Jesus.

The very idea of ‘salvation’, ‘being saved’ is important. It is popular today to grow in knowledge about God to become ‘Kingdom children’. And that is not altogether bad, so long as we all face the reality – we need to be saved from our ‘sins’. The problem of separation from God by sin is real and so great; it takes the intervention of God to cure it. “Christ died for our sins” – this precise statement changes the whole story of the cross from any idea of accident, or moral cause or even martyrdom. The death of the Lord Jesus was deliberate and for a defined in purpose – according to God the Father’s will, the Son became the sacrifice to take away the penalty of our sins.

Paul the writer is very quick to link this claim to the Old Testament Scriptures and the most obvious one is Isaiah 53 (see Acts 8). Let me quote from that old prophecy.

Verse 5 – ‘But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with His stripes we are healed’. This puts it so clearly that we, like wandering lost sheep, have gone astray. Instead of punishing the sheep, the shepherd bears the guilt of the undeserving sheep. 

This message of Christ dying for the ungodly is confirmed by Peter -

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God –  

             1 Peter 3:18.

It is God who wants to reconcile us to Himself and He has paid the price – are you willing to be at peace with God?      

 But Paul has not finished. After asserting that Jesus was buried (real death), he then announces that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day. For evidence we could see the circumstances surrounding this claim, but first Paul again draws from the authority of the Old Testament to verify that the Lord Jesus crucified must rise from the dead.

Again in Isaiah 53:10...after it is said of the Messiah that ‘His Soul was made an offering for guilt”  it then  goes on to announce the victory..’ He shall prolong His days’...’He shall divide the spoil with the strong’...’He makes intercession for the transgressors’. 

Peter quotes from Psalm 16: 10 to confirm that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead. A sacrifice to take our sins away is indeed good news, but a living Saviour to make it real to us is even better. There have been and still are many who deny the idea of resurrection.  So Paul calls into focus some of the witnesses. 1^st is Peter (Cephas) then the Twelve apostles and then  a group of five hundred people. 

A special appearing to James seems to have changed him from unbelief to faith.

 The final reference to Paul himself is significant. It is a couple of years later that the proud Pharisee is struck down to the ground on his way to Damascus. He rightly asks the question –‘Who are you?’ – The answer is given – ‘I am Jesus”. From that moment Saul is completely changed by the fact that the Jesus he thought was dead is very much alive.

And so this Gospel not only deals with the guilt of our past ,but has very real implication for the future.  If Christ is risen, then He will raise His own people to eternal life. If Christ is risen, then He is appointed to be the judge of the living and the dead.

Today is the day of opportunity to be saved - be reconciled to God by the death of His Son.

John McKee  johnmckee@internode.on.net

The final verse of John 14

John 14.31

The Lord Jesus said  “ that the world might know that I love the Father, arise let us go hence” and He went out to face the sufferings of the cross.

                At first glance this final verse in John 14 seems to have little significance. However a thoughtful contemplation brings to light helpful truth. We have learned that the world does not know Christ. The prince of this world has no power over Him. Most people would rather have nothing to do with Him. Yet to the world of people, He had an important message.

1                     His death was not accidental nor a defeat – it was as the Father planned – see Galatians 1.4 NLT.

2                     He was operating according the explicit command of the Father – see John 10.18

3                     His primary motive for going to the cross was out of love for the Father. There were many other purposes involved, as He taught – to destroy the works of the devil, to gather all men unto Himself, to give Himself as a ransom for all  etc etc, but the highest motive is here revealed. ( I think we could learn a lot from this as to our motives).

In what way did the world pick up on this? well should have.

1                      In the garden of prayer, when He was arrested, He said “This is your hour and the power of darkness” Like 22.53

2                            “Thus it must be that the scriptures be fulfilled” Matthew 26.56

3                         Before the court He said “you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of God” Matthew 26.64

4                         To Pilate “ You could have no power at all against Me except it be given you from above” John 19

5                         To the soldiers “Father forgive them” Luke 23.34

6                         To the women  “ The days are coming....................” Luke 23.29

7                         To the thief “Today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23.43

8                          To all  “ Father into thy hands I commit my spirit” Luke 23 .46

9         Then the unspoken silence of darkness followed by the earthquake, the veil is rent and some of the dead arise from the graves.

Well might on ‘worldly witness’  say “truely this man was the son of God” (Centurion)

The conclusion of John 14 remains the most significant question of all time “ who is this man – Son of God  - doing the will of God? Or is He not????” and so the destiny of all humanity is decided.

I trust that all my readers have received Him for who He claimed to be – ‘the Son of God’

John McKee

Bible studies - John 14: 23 - 30

My apologies for my delay in producing this blog ( recently working 6am to 6pm)

       John 14: 23 to 31 is in response to a question by Judas. ‘Why not manifest Himself to the world?’      The Lord appears to not answer the question, yet He does.  His primary concern is for the disciples to be well prepared to overcome in the world.  He elaborated on the subject of the world later – Chapter 15:18-25, 16:20, 16:33, 1 John 2:15 etc.

      Verse 23  How stabilising it is to have His word and His presence. When we respond to His love by loving Him, the abiding presence of the Father and the Son by the Holy Spirit is heaven begun on earth. Link this with the teachings of 1 John, and it is evident that the love of the world is not compatible with the love of the Father. Also see Revelation 3:20

     Verse 24 highlights a very solemn note – to reject His word is to reject the Father! This is the characteristic of the world then and now.

     Verse 25 It is very important to study the words of Christ prior to His death, concerning His death. It shows that the cross was no accident. It shows that He knew all things. It gives understanding about the cross and it gave help to endure the conflict of the cross. A beautiful study is to highlight the foretelling of Christ in Luke 22. The apostles expounded the meaning of the cross and its relevance to us.

      Verse 26 In this world of darkness, ignorance and unbelief, it is perhaps one of the most helpful things, to learn from the Holy Spirit that God knows what He is doing in this world. This is the chief function of the Helper, the Holy Spirit – to reveal truth.  Note, He is the one to bring back the words of the Lord Jesus. This is why we can take the Gospel records as accurate – not up to failing memories.

     Verse 27 In the world there certainly is unceasing turbulence, and the Lord wants His own to enjoy peace. Not so much the stilling of the storm, although He may, but rather His peace. Sometimes we get peace when we know what is going on in difficult times, but HIS peace is the implicit trust that believes in HIM even when we do not understand what is going on. Job had no idea what was going on, yet He trusted in the Lord to see him through.

      Verse 28 The idea of His going away did not register with the disciples as a good thing largely because they were preoccupied with prominence  and place in the hoped for kingdom (prosperity gospel). The teachings of the Lord were full of references to eternal things, spiritual things, but how slow they were, how slow we are to connect with the greater values. For the Lord of glory, going back to the Father was going HOME to a better country.

‘My Father is greater than I’  How shall we explain this statement in the light of others in John eg Chapter 10 “I and My Father are one”  One could spend a lot of time interlinking many verses, but I shall just illustrate what I think is the point.  We are body , soul and spirit. Each has a function, and yet each is really ‘ME’.  The spirit is higher, giving intelligence to conscience and wisdom to will and way. The soul responds as the personality to make decisions and react with feelings. The body is most times subject to the direction of the will, but is the most visible part of the person.  My point is differing functions, so the Father administers His will for the Son to express visibly the purpose of the Godhead! In that sense the Father is greater.

      Verse 29 Knowing truth should inspire faith. So he would prepare them. It was the angels by the empty tomb who said “ remember the words which He spoke while He was with you”.   How important to let the Holy Spirit remind us of truth previously revealed.

     Verse 30 The ruler of this world I take to be Satan. Many other verses show the deceptive control of the evil one. (see Ephesians 2, Luke 3, John 8, Revelation 20 etc) Now He says “He has no claim on Me”.  Rejoice in it this way:

1 Jesus is not fallen in Adam

2 Jesus is not fallen in temptation

3 Jesus is not given over to world values

4 Jesus was not driven by selfish ambition

5 Jesus was not subject to death

6 Jesus is the conqueror of Satan, sin and death.

Verse 31 is wonderful in meaning and implication – I will explain next time

John McKee 

Dedicated to God's work

"Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God's work. 
Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away.
In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life"

1 Corinthians 7.30 (NLT)