Dependability: Who Cares? Part One

Luke 22: 25 – 30

Jesus is looking for people who care. Do you?

He is looking for people to represent Him. Will you?

There have always been people who followed Jesus. Those who have can be divided into two groups:  STRAYERS AND STAYERS.

John 6:66 describes the first group. Jesus depicted the challenges and demands of following Him, and “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” Then Jesus turned with a broken heart and addressed a question to those remaining: “Do you also want to go away?”  (6:68).

They became His decals. They stuck. Near the end of His ministry in the upper room on the eve of His death He paid them one of the highest compliments He ever paid anyone.  He said, “You are those who have continued with me in My trials.” In effect, “You,” He said, “stuck with me.”

They were not much to brag on and they probably knew it, but one quality they had and He stressed it. “You stayed when others strayed.” They stayed because they cared.

I have seen loved ones keep long vigils in hospitals because they cared. I have seen families go without food and get little sleep in order to keep a love vigil in an hour of crisis because they cared.

If you really care about Jesus, you will stay, not stray.

The philosopher, Friedreich Nietzsche, is not one of my favorite writers; but in his book, “Beyond Good and Evil” he made a worthy observation. He wrote: “The essential thing ‘in heaven and earth’ is… that there be a long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.”

That is what results when one really cares about Christ and His cause. There is a long obedience in the same direction. There is no turning back.

If you care, you share. There is an old proverb which came from ancient Europe which states: “Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”

Clearly, the way of doubling a joy is by sharing it. When something good happens and you share it with a friend, the joy is doubled.

Likewise, when something sorrowful happens and you share it, the burden is lightened and the sorrow diminished.

That is the environment that the church must afford its members and the world.

Jesus complimented them saying they had been with Him in His “trials.” The Greek word is “peirasmos,” meaning dangers, afflictions, troubles, or tests intended to prove. Some Christians whine, “It’s not easy being a Christian.” It never was and never will be, BUT it is fulfilling, victorious, and joyful.

The Docket of Witnesses

Let’s review the resurrection and the aftermath.

Jesus had died a quivering corpse on a cruel cross.

The Centurion thrust his lance into His side piercing the flesh, slitting the pericardium, and puncturing the heart.

Calloused Roman soldiers who gambled at the cross cursed and swore – – – – “He is dead.”

Elders, whose deception lead to His death attentively listened to the report – – – – “He is dead.”

Sadducees who shunned the supernatural rejoiced to hear – – – – “He is dead.”

Caiaphas, intoxicated with envy, sighed in relief at the account – – – – “He is dead.”

His lifeless body was placed in the tomb. Death reached a new depth.

For three days death celebrated around the tomb.

Death’s cold hand stamped His life – – – – “Fiction.”

Death’s dirge drowned out life’s song.

There would be no appeal from His lifeless lips. Then God said – – – – SURPRISE!

Jesus had forced open the old door of death that had been locked since the death of the first person. The Easter story does not end with a funeral, but a festival.

Not a casket, but a celebration. The resurrection deserves not our applause, but our allegiance. Not our compliment, but our compliance with His will. The resurrection is heaven’s amen and earth’s hallelujah. The courts of earth had condemned Jesus to death.

The appellate court of heaven reversed death’s decision and pronounced Him as being alive.

A variety of people walked with, talked with Him, touched Him, and dined with Him. He was seen indoors, outdoors, on a sunny beach, and on a shadowy roadway.               

Note these observances: “… He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then all the apostles, Then last of all He was seen by me…”  (I Cor. 15: 5 – 9a). He who was decidedly dead was obviously alive.

In light of these insights make certain you have asked His forgiveness of your sin and committed you life to Him for time and eternity so that you will hear from Him: “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25: 34).

Dependability: Who Cares? Part Two

Luke 22: 25 – 30

We need one another because inevitably we are going to have “trials.” Jesus warned “In this world you shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul also reminded us of this truth when he wrote: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12).

Scripture gave us an example of the kind of care that is so filled with love for persons and truth that it risks the loss of friendship in order to defend the truth. Once the relationship is broken they reach out to work for its renewal.

Because of sin in the church at Corinth, Paul wrote them a letter exhorting, admonishing, and encouraging them. The admonition, that is warning of the consequence of their sin, temporarily broke their relationship with him. He then wrote them a second letter and in it gave insight regarding caring evidence that restored relationships.

Showing appreciation is essential in restoring appreciation. He wrote “… you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf… Now I rejoice… that your sorrow led to repentance” (II Corinthians 7: 3 & 9).

Psychologist/philosopher, Will James, wrote a classical work entitled “Principles of Psychology.” It is still a primary reference work in the field. He later admitted “an immense omission” in the pioneer work. He wrote, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” His regret was that he had not dealt with it at all in his book. Let’s not fail to deal with it in all of life. Make people feel appreciated. Show appreciation.

It is also expedient that separation be shown. “… let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God… godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted” (II Cor. 7:1).

Some well-meaning Christians have turned separation into isolation.  They have become so narrow they can’t even get along with one another.  Some have gone to the other extreme and will fellowship with any person or ideology.  Both are equally wrong.

A couple of teenage sisters slipped in the side door of their dad’s office in the governor’s mansion after school. They explained to him again a popular dress fad they wanted to copy knowing he didn’t want them to.  Then came their big clincher, “But, dad, everybody is doing it!”

Lovingly and patiently he wove one question into their conversation: “Whose daughters are you?”  After their acknowledgement of him as their dad he said, “Sure, you are the daughters of the governor. You don’t follow styles.  You set the styles.” As Christians, our impact for Christ would be more effective if we realized that by virtue of being children of the King of Kings, we don’t follow styles; we set them.  “Come ye out from among them…”

The Joy of a Job Well Done

Rummaging through old files is something no one likes to do unless they really need something. In the process, other items of interest are found. The following is from deep in one of my files found by accident.

“Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah’s Ark.”

1. Don’t miss the boat.

2. Remember we are all in the same boat.

3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah started building the ark.

4. Stay fit. When you are 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something big.

5. Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job to be done,

6. Build your future on high ground.

7. For safety sake, travel in pairs.

8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. Snails were on board with the cheetahs.

9. When stressed, float a while.

10. Remember the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.     

Basics, every thought in that is basic to being productive. They add substance to Colossians 3: 23, the theme text of my life, “…whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” If you do a good job as to the Lord and He approves even if people complain you don’t get depressed. You didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

Suppose you do a job with your whole heart as to the Lord and He approves. While people brag on you, compliment you, pat you on the back, and add a few “adda-boys” you don’t go on an ego trip, you didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

If you are going to do something, anything, do it enthusiastically. Put your whole heart into it. The Seven Dwarfs got the message and it showed as they whistled and sang, “Just whistle while you work. And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place. So hum a merry tune, it won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace.”

OK, OK you don’t have to whistle and sing, but it helps to have the spirit expressed by the thought. Remember, “A merry heart does good like a medicine.”

Finishing a task is a fulfilling experience. Remember, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Good advice, you might enjoy it so much today you will want to do it again tomorrow.

The Apostle Paul wrote to friends who had worked diligently when he was with them. Leaving them he said, “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence” (Philippians 2: 12). In summary, don’t just be people pleasers.

Get out there now and heartedly do whatever it is you have to do.

I’ll Be Back

Reflect on this summary of Jesus’ last days. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time”  (I Corinthians 15:3-8).

A creditable, available body of eye witnesses were still available to testify of having seen the resurrected Christ.

Many of those in the first century were so fully accepting of the fact of His bodily resurrection that millions of them died as martyrs rather than disclaim it.

If these people were not absolutely certain of the resurrection they would not have allowed themselves to be tortured to death in order to proclaim it as fact.

Among those who came to the tomb the morning of the resurrection was the Apostle John who noted the facial napkin. In that era it was thought that life did not leave the body for three days after the person died. A napkin was placed over the face of the “deceased” in the event they revived so they could blow it off and call for help.

Like a detective investigating a crime scene John scanned the chamber looking for clues. In that napkin he found a clue with a message. John reported the napkin was “folded together in a place by itself” (John 20:7).

It was the custom of monarchs that upon the completion of a meal they would crumple their napkin and leave it on the table indicating they had finished and would not be back.

If they were leaving the table with the intent of returning they folded the napkin and left it neatly in place.

In that clue in the tomb Jesus was saying, “I will be back.”

He said, “I will come again and receive you unto myself.”

That is reason to REJOICE!

He left us with many unanswered questions, but not a single one is a “need to know” question. He taught us all we need to know to be able to follow Him. Our inquisitive nature will always have one more question than there is an answer. It’s a good thing. It is a stimulus to our faith.

In light of all the information He left us, what will be your response? Will you have the right answer to His definitive question? It was asked of Simon Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Or, in old English, “Lovest thou Me?” Summarily your faith response embodies your answer. Answer it now with a truthful resounding “Lord, you know I love you” and spend the rest of your life proving it.