The Eternal Sacrifice

We never tire of hearing good things about someone we love. And we never tire of hearing a person we love tell us they love us in return. Such messages are choice messages.

Likewise, we never tire of hearing a choice Word regarding Jesus. He is the great love message of all time. The book of Hebrews says, Christ came as High Priest . . . Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all. . . . (Heb. 9:11a,12a NKJV)

Jesus made it possible to approach God! Only the high priests could enter the Most Holy Place of the Temple where God's Pesence dwelled. And the high priest entered only once a year with a blood sacrifice. Jesus changed that when He gave Himself—the eternal Blood Sacrifice for all people.

Originally published August 31, 1990.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, 2009. Photo by Solveig

He Went Out to His Disciples

At one point during His ministry, Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him in a boat. Then a storm came up and caused problems for the disciples. Finally, About the fourth watch of the night he [Jesus] went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them. . . . (Mk. 6:48b NIV)

This is one of those puzzling verses. Twelve tired disciples are struggling against strong winds. They need help and Jesus is going to pass by? It doesn’t fit our concept of Jesus!

Yet it is a beautiful picture of God’s revelation. First, Jesus looked upon His disciples' need—just as He looks upon our needs today—and He went out to them. . . . Many testify today that Jesus has come to them during a time of need.

But as is often the case, God may not be recognized when He enters a scene. The disciples thought he was a ghost. (v. 49b) Because Jesus will never forces His presence, He did not actively intervene until the disciples cried out. (v. 49c)

“Take courage! It is I.” Jesus said. Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. (v. 50b,51a)

Originally published March 4, 1983.

The Criterion Is Love

There is a means for evaluating our walk with God. Although we can’t use it to judge others because we can’t enter other people’s hearts to know them completely, we can use it to search our own heart.

The criterion is love.

This doesn’t mean God won’t forgive us when we fail to love—or even if we struggle with a generally unloving attitude. He understands our nature.

It does mean we can’t repeatedly and consistently reject the people He brings into our lives. If we fail to love, we can let Him work with us and change our hearts until we do love others.

The love of Jesus is our standard. Jesus showed His love by giving His life. Through Him we understand love includes more than saying positive words—although that may be an important part of God’s work in us. John said, And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, . . How does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth? (I Jn. 3:16b-18 NKJV)

Originally published February 19, 1993.
Picture: Flower in Arizona desert, 2008. Photo by Patty.

They Were Afraid

The Bible says, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. . . . (I Jn. 4:18b NKJV)

Such love cannot be natural. We love, but not to the depth of becoming perfect. We love, but not to the point of no longer fearing. Jesus is the only man who ever walked in perfect love.

However, people who follow Jesus can draw from His love when they experience His intervention. One night the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee without Him when they encountered a fierce storm. After expending themselves to the point of exhaustion while rowing several miles in the dark, they saw Jesus in the distance. He was walking on water as He moved toward them, and they were afraid. (Jn. 6:19)

Jesus understood their fear and He let them know who He was as He continued to draw closer and closer. “It is I,” he said; “do not be afraid.” (v. 20) Evenwhile walking on the water’s surface, He broke the power of their fear. Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. (v. 21)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. (II Tim. 1:7)

Originally published September 15, 1989.