|
The Truth of Love: Jesus First, Then Us Well, forget Ground Hog’s Day—we have Valentine’s Day coming up fast. We all know that a woodchuck forecasting the weather on February 2nd is ridiculous, but did you know that February 14th has a true story behind it? During the 3rd Century AD, Valentine, a Christian pastor, had a two-fold dilemma. Emperor Claudius, wanting to more easily recruit men for his army, tried to weaken family ties by forbidding marriage. Obeying the Bible and not the Emperor, Valentine secretly married young couples in an underground church. His second problem was even more pervasive—all had to proclaim, “Caesar is lord.” They didn’t actually have to mean it—just say it, and they would escape certain death. Valentine, however, wouldn’t even say it, let alone mean it. In the midst of a full-scale crackdown, the young pastor was arrested. While in prison, he became friends with the jailer’s daughter, teaching her to read and write, and, even more importantly, he saw her surrender to Christ. Throughout the long and grueling months, he looked towards the day they would be joined together in marriage. During this time, he wrote beautiful letters, reassuring her of his undying love. Denying himself, he also sent notes to his struggling church, convincing many of the love of God in Jesus Christ. Valentine, however, would never marry, for on February 14, 269AD, he was led along the Flaminian Way, beaten, and then beheaded for his overcoming faith in Jesus Christ. His last note arrived on the morning of his death and ended with the words, “Your Valentine.” I know this is not the usual mental image you think of when Valentine’s Day rolls around, but maybe it should be, for it paints a more powerful picture of true love than do the heart shaped candy boxes and the cupid cards. Valentine was only able to give his life for Jesus because Jesus had given His life for him. In fact, the Lenten season, a time to focus on the epitome of love itself—the Cross—begins the day before Valentine’s Day. Jesus first, then us. He even said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit; and that your fruit should remain.” (John 15: 16a) Just before this, Jesus told his followers, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (15: 12-14) True love is so greatly misunderstood today. It has been turned into a “feeling-fest,” focusing on self-gratification and pleasure. God’s Word paints a very different picture. Many misunderstand love by misunderstanding Jesus Christ. It is very popular today to claim a belief in Jesus being both God and man, which, of course is very true, but then totally re-interpreting what that means. I have known many who insist that Jesus was able to do everything He did during His ministry simply because He was God. In an effort to not truly surrender, die to self, and let Him live within, many insist that Jesus passed with flying colors because He was God—after all, how could He, as God, do any other? They do their best to keep God “isolated” from His people, insisting that He is the only one who should live in purity, holiness, and obedience. In this, they actually miss the entire point of the incarnation. Jesus didn’t just come to show us what God could do, but rather, what He could do in us—living His life of purity, holiness, and obedience. First Him, then us. Now let me be very clear here—I am not saying that Jesus Christ is not God, for, by all means, He most certainly is. In fact the Bible is very clear—100% Man and 100% God; 100% Jesus and 100% Christ—the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity. But what exactly does that mean, in general, and for us? Consider the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness. If Jesus is only God, how is this a real and legitimate temptation? It would only be a charade—a game, if you will, and God isn’t into playing games. All through this account, the humanity of Jesus is emphasized. When very hungry, He was tempted to turn stones into bread. There is no game here—this is very real. The author of Hebrews tells us that He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (4:15b) He was a very extremely hungry man—literally, starving to death. This is “people stuff,” not “God stuff.” God does not get hungry; He does not eat food, for He is Spirit, not flesh and blood. (cf. Luke 24: 36-45) And Satan knew that—he is not stupid. He knew that he was dealing with a man, and therefore, appealed to His fleshly appetites. If Jesus had fallen here, it would have all been over. Having obeyed Satan, He would no longer be the sinless Son of God—no longer able to save people from their sins. But Jesus declared, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) He was saying that He was that man, and that fulfilling His own needs was not the most important thing to Him—obeying God’s Word was. Satan, however, is very persistent. Taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, he encouraged Him to jump, for, “He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (vs.6b) Jesus’ response? “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (vs. 7) Many think that Jesus is pointing His finger at Satan, ordering him to not tempt the Lord his God. But this can’t be! The Lord is not Satan’s God—the devil threw God away a long time before this. No, Jesus is applying this Scripture to Himself—He, as a man, needed to obey this command Himself. You see, if Jesus had jumped, as Satan had said, He—Jesus—would have been tempting the Lord His God. Oh, what love! And, oh, what hatred, at the same time—Satan keeps it up because he hates your soul. Lastly, Satan took Jesus to the top of a mountain and promised Him all of the Kingdoms He could see—“IF thou wilt fall down and worship me” (vs 9b) Oh, if He would just “fall down!” Just compromise, just give in, just stumble a little bit, just serve God in the power of worldly flesh and understanding…just fall down! But, Praise God, Jesus would not. Not “could not”—would not! Jesus’ response? “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” (vs. 10) Who should worship the Lord thy God? Satan? No, once again—the Lord was not Satan’s God. Obviously, Jesus was speaking of Himself—if He were to fall at this point and worship Satan, He would not be worshipping or serving the Lord His God. At every crossroad—not only in this temptation in the wilderness—but throughout His entire ministry, Jesus “passed the test.” And this He did, not by simply being God, but by being a man so filled with the Spirit of God that He followed the leading of His Father at every turn. When we are born again, and brought into a walk of sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit, this life—His life—comes into us. This is what the incarnation is all about—Emmanuel, God with us…yes, even God in us. Referring to Jesus, Philippians 2: 6-7 tells us, “being in the form of God…(He) made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, (and) humbled Himself…and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Though Jesus Christ, even on this earth, was still God, He “emptied Himself” of the rights and the privileges of the Godhead and came from Heaven to graphically express the truth of love—total renunciation of self. He never gave up the divine attributes—mercy, grace, longsuffering, forgiveness, love, etc.—for, indeed, these are the very things He manifested on the Cross of Calvary. What He did do was to purposely limit Himself while on this earth so that we could see what God could do in Him, and ultimately, in us, as the power of the Holy Spirit was and is allowed to live within. Jesus first, then you. Jesus first, then me. Jesus first, then everybody who comes to Him for His life. Jesus Christ—100% God and 100% Man—what a glorious picture of love! It does not make us little gods, but, through death to self, we become children of God. As Valentine’s Day and the season of Lent approach, let the truth of this love come within—to transform your life from the inside out. This is the Christian life! This is Christ! This is love! Copyright (c)
2005 Christ Our Rock Bible Church. |
