For reasons that you will hear in this PODCAST, this past week has arguably been the single most emotionally-challenging period in my precious bride’s and my 43 years of marriage.
Consequently, in God’s good providence, Peter’s words in 1 Peter 3 came at just the right time.
For my family.
And very possibly, for yours.
Enjoy.
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As you will hear in the PODCAST, I do have a dream.
A modest dream. Yet modest though it may be, an increasingly illusive-if-not-impossible dream.
Won’t you please help my dream to come true?
Ironically, your response to this message will either nudge my dream to its fulfillment, or cast my dream upon the ash heap of impossible dreams. (No pressure!)
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As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, Jesus is in every book, 39 out of 39 books, in the OT.
Genesis: Jesus is the Seed of the woman (3). Exodus: Jesus is the Passover Lamb (12). Leviticus: Anointed High Priest (8). Numbers: Brazen serpent (21). Deuteronomy: The Promised Prophet (18). Joshua: Captain of the Lord’s angelic army (5). Judges: Angel of the Lord (2). Ruth: Our Kinsman-Redeemer (2). 1 Samuel: The coming Messiah (2). 2 Samuel: Seed of David (7). 1 Kings: Thick cloud of God’s glory (8). 2 Kings: The Lord God of Israel (19). 1 Chronicles: The God of our salvation (16). 2 Chronicles: The God of our fathers (20). Ezra: Lord of heaven and earth (1). Nehemiah: God who keeps His Covenant (1). Esther: The God of providence (Esther). Job: Our Risen Redeemer (19). Psalms: The King of glory (24). Proverbs: Personification of wisdom (8). Ecclesiastes: The God to be obeyed (12). Song of Solomon: The one who loves selflessly (SoS). Isaiah: The Suffering Servant (53). Jeremiah: The Lord our righteousness (23). Lamentations: The faithful / compassionate God (3). Ezekiel: Lord who dwells with His people (48). Daniel: The Son of Man (7). Hosea: Picture of God’s redemptive love (3). Joel: Giver of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2). Amos: The plumb-line by which all is measured (7). Obadiah: Destroyer of the wicked (1). Jonah: The God of second chances (2). Micah: Messiah to be born in Bethlehem (5). Nahum: The Lord who is slow to anger (1). Habakkuk: The Rock of our salvation (1). Zephaniah: The King of Israel (3). Haggai: The One who will bring peace (2). Zechariah: King riding on a donkey (9). Malachi: The sun of righteousness (4).
No wonder, then, that as Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:2 (NASB),
“Like newborn babies, (we) long for the pure milk of the word (including the so-called OT!), so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”
If you have ever asked yourself any of the age-old questions like…
What’s it all about?
Why am I here?
What is my purpose?
If you have ever asked yourself these or similar questions, then you are in for a treat in this latest PODCAST. Because in this podcast, you will get the answer to these most-important questions.
So let me start with a news-flash for you. One of considerable consequence. Yet one that you will not find to be surprising at all.
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Not to be clichéd! But if the words, “Mission Accomplished” ever meant anything to anyone in any situation, they absolutely apply here in John 17.
As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, this is the moment, courtesy of John, now forever frozen in time.
The singular moment toward which all of human history, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden, had been slowly but steadily building.
The seminal moment from which the remainder of human history, down to our present day, has been rapidly descending.
The consequential moment when Jesus could literally look up to Heaven and finally acknowledge,
“I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.”
Such mystery, such majesty, in these few words.
Indeed, a Mission — the Mission — Accomplished!
That mission that Jesus Himself defined when He said in referring to Himself,
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10).
Which, as you are about to learn, means far more than pulling people out of Hell. Indeed, infinitely more!
When the biblical writers, as well as Jesus, use the words “save” or “saved,” it means far more than whether we are going to Heaven or Hell when we die. Sadly, most of our Gospel-presentations focus almost exclusively on that locational / destinational dynamic.
However, a most compelling fact emerges from the first few words of Jesus’ prayer here in John 17.
As we are about to learn, if one’s view of his or her salvation centers primarily upon the notion that salvation is basically a “Get Out of Hell Free” card, we miss so much precious truth. So.Much.More than our finite minds can even begin fully to appreciate.
But try to appreciate it, we must.
So in an effort to appreciate it, let me take you on a bit of a journey, far back in time, to a faraway place, in order to show you where and why this journey originally began. All the way back to what is arguably the single most important verse in all of the Bible.
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If last week’s discussion revealed to us the iconic image of the heart of Jesus, this week’s PODCAST will unveil to us the iconic image of the humanness of Jesus.
The beloved Apostle John wrote this in the first chapter of his Gospel masterpiece:
“Jesus became human and made his home among us.”
Paul wrote this to his beloved little community of Christ-followers in Philippi:
“Though he was God… Jesus became completely human.”
Here in John 11, we will see just how completely human Jesus truly was.
I’ll clue you in right here from the start: We are about to witness three powerful, very human emotions collide within the heart and soul of Jesus. And as a result, we will be all the richer for having witnessed this collision, each emotion in response to the death of Jesus’ dear friend, Lazarus.
You are about to take a quantum leap in your understanding of who Jesus is, in a way that you may not be anticipating as we break the seal on this (to many people) very familiar story.
This entire discussion under this overarching question: What does it feel like to be Christ-like?
Rabbi, paint picture. OK, courtesy of John, let’s paint this picture. The picture of a very human Jesus, a human side of Jesus that perhaps you have never seen before.
Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play.
Dewey Bertolini 