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Monday, August 10, 2015

Pastoral Ponderings ~ When Father Speaks So Hearts Can Hear

          One of the things I love about God’s book is that anyone can read it and gather the meaning of each passage of the glorious breathed-out words of God, and then discover layer upon layer of context that weaves each passage into the tapestry of the whole book until the soul is overwhelmed with joyful wonder at how everything comes together. Only God could do that.
          There are many passages of Scripture that I have understood in their word to my heart simply because I have stayed in that holy place until my heart has burned with understanding of what any particular revelation meant.[1] Later on, often  in one of those why-did-I-never-see-that-before experiences, I find other Scriptures that address similar things, or interpret what a previous passage means, or give prophetic-pictures that make the fulfillment-pictures stand out in even greater glory.
          In such times as we see the words of God’s book weave together in wonderful connections that build up our faith, our first understanding of a passage is not necessarily changed (though God’s grace does help us through our misunderstandings in equally glorious ways), but is often increased and enhanced with joy-inducing elaborations.
          At times, it is like the picture made by a few puzzle pieces suddenly expands as it is framed by a whole other circle of pieces showing even more of what that initial picture means. Other times, it is like a beautiful structure of faith, hope, and love is placed upon an earlier foundation that is so rock-solid in its substance that the initial experience of these gracious gifts of God feel more secure and lasting than ever before.
          All of this came together for me in some passages I had never seen together until this morning. It began by considering the apostle Paul’s relationship with the Philippian Christians, and how his initial work in Philippi fulfilled the beautiful picture of Isaiah 52:7. There we read, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” Paul’s ministry in Philippi was one way people experienced this Scripture, rejoicing that God would send his messenger into their city so they could hear the good news of salvation and joy.
          As I looked at the context of Isaiah 52, seeing that it spoke both of a time when God would save his people out of their captivity in a foreign land, and when Jesus would come to deliver his people out of their sin, I noted something Isaiah wrote in the context: “Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”[2]
          The thing that stood out is that God would show up to help his people in such a way that they would know his name, and know it was their God who was speaking to them. This visitation would be characterized by a “here I am” experience of the presence of God.
          Suddenly I realized that Jesus had spoken of these things in some beautiful and heart-warming ways in John 10:1-42. Jesus’ himself said that his people would know him, would know that it was their God who was speaking to them, and would hear his glorious gospel as an announcement of, “here I am!” Here are some of the things Jesus said that are built on this glorious foundation of prophecy.
          Jesus introduced himself in the familiar imagery of a shepherd with his sheep.[3] Woven into this revelation are a variety of statements that identify the relationship of God’s people hearing Jesus’ voice and knowing that it is him, their shepherd.
          In reference to the shepherd imagery, Jesus said, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”[4]This is what Jesus was doing in his ministry. When prostitutes and tax collectors repented and entered the kingdom of heaven,[5] they were fulfilling this picture of the sheep hearing the voice of their shepherd and following his lead.
          Jesus continued, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”[6]Jesus spoke of the fullness of his ministry. It would be characterized by him bringing out “all his own.” He would bring the full number of believers from every tribe and nation, and he would go before them as a shepherd leading his sheep. The reason people would believe in Jesus from every generation of history would be because they know his voice, that it is him who is calling to their souls.
          There is no doubt that Jesus claimed the status of shepherd when he said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”[7]The prophet who told of a day when God’s people would know that he was speaking to them, moved into a very descriptive prophecy of what would happen to the Messiah.[8] Jesus summarized it as laying down his life for his flock, what he fulfilled through his crucifixion.
          As Jesus continued he said, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”[9]Jesus spoke of a ministry that would reach beyond Israel, and beyond that generation. There would be people in other places, and throughout other centuries, who would also hear his voice and know it was him.
          So Jesus concluded, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”[10]The reality Jesus spoke of included that his disciples would hear his voice as their shepherd. He would know them in personal relationship. They would follow him as the one they were waiting for. All a beautiful expression of, “Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”[11]
          I think of the Samaritan woman’s interaction with Jesus.[12] People wonder why he came to that Samaritan city, on that day, at that time, and began talking with this woman while his disciples went into town for food. We read his fascinating dialogue with her, and see a shepherd knowing his sheep, seeking the lost, calling them to follow him. We see sheep hearing his voice and coming to know that it is he.
          At the end of the conversation, the woman went into the town announcing, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”[13] After two days of Jesus’ sharing with the people, we read, “And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’”[14]The sheep realized that this Jewish man who violated long-standing prejudice and division, had the voice of the Savior they were waiting for.
          When Jesus asked his disciples what the masses of people thought about him, and then asked what they themselves had concluded, Peter spoke for the group when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”[15] On another occasion, when many people deserted Jesus because they did not like what he was saying, Jesus turned to the disciples and asked him if they also wanted to leave. Peter again replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”[16]
          Every time we read of someone coming to understand that Jesus truly is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the promised Messiah, we have examples of people knowing that it is he, that it is Jesus announcing to their longing hearts, “Here I am!” He is the LORD who is our shepherd, the one who satisfies our souls, who speaks and we know it is our shepherd, and not the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.[17]
          No wonder that the proclamation of the gospel continues to bring about this response: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”
          Even in terrorist-plagued countries and regions, where Jesus’ sheep are led to the slaughter, it is God who sits on the throne, with Jesus exalted at his right hand, who reigns. Justice is coming. So, in life and in death, 
we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.[18]

© 2015 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)




[1] Usually that involves many hours of prayer-journaling to help me meditate on any given passage of Scripture.
[2] Isaiah 52:6
[3] Remember that Jesus’ Jewish audience was very familiar with David’s description of “the LORD” as the shepherd of Israel (Psalm 23:1-6). The people were quite aware that he was making this association.
[4] John 10:3
[5] Matthew 21:28-32
[6] John 10:4
[7] John 10:11
[8] Isaiah 52:13-53:12
[9] John 10:16
[10] John 10:27
[11] Isaiah 52:6
[12] John 4:1-42
[13] John 4:29
[14] John 4:41-42
[15] Matthew 16:16
[16] John 6:68-69
[17] John 10:10
[18] Romans 8:37-39

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