Kenneth Winter's Blog, page 18

What Is God Waiting For?

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Frequently in response to my weekly posts, i receive comments or questions about why God didn’t intervene in a specific tragedy. If He is sovereign, why didn’t He keep that tragedy from occurring? The comments, in most instances, are from people crying out for an answer with a sincere and broken heart. On occasion, it is pouring out from a heart that has become bitter and hardened by the tragedy. Some have even gone so far as to conclude that since God didn’t act in the way we think He should have that He must not exist.

i will confess that i too struggle with some of those very same “why” questions. Why does God permit pain and suffering to continue? Why hasn’t He returned to earth and ended the disastrous consequences of our sin? To quote Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof”: “Wouldn’t now be a good time for the Messiah to come?” (And i would hasten to add the word “again” to the end of that question.)

The Israelites asked that question more than once. Let’s look at one of those occasions.(1) When they had completed assembling the Tabernacle per God’s instructions, His Spirit covered it as a cloud and dwelt within it. Then, whenever God was ready for the people to move on, the cloud would lift and go before them. But as long as the cloud covered the Tabernacle, the Israelites would stay in camp and not move on. 

Sometimes they would encamp overnight. Sometimes they would encamp by day and follow the fiery pillar through the night. Sometimes they would encamp for days, for weeks or for months at a time. The people didn’t determine when it was time to go. The priests didn’t determine when it was time to go. Moses didn’t determine when it was time to go. Only God determined the time; and when He was ready, His Spirit led them. Sometimes they moved with haste (“I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”(2)), but sometimes they didn’t move at all. Lookouts kept their eyes trained on the cloud. “Is today a camping day or a traveling day?” “Do we break camp today and follow in His path, or do we remain and wait in His presence?” On the days that the cloud lifted, the cry would go forth, “Break camp, we are leaving!” On other days there would be silence as they waited.

If you have journeyed through the wilderness following God’s pillar of cloud, you, too, have experienced the uncertainty of waiting. I can hear the children of the Israelites asking their parents, “Why can’t we go now? Why must we wait so long?” I can hear the adults, as they peered up into the sky, asking the priests, “Why isn’t the cloud moving?” I can hear Aaron asking Moses, “What is God waiting for?” God had promised to deliver them into the land of His promise; why must they now tarry in the wilderness?

Today I feel just like that. “Lord, why do You tarry in this place? Shouldn’t we leave just now?” But as I ask these questions, I am reminded of another time when followers of our Lord, who were also sons of Israel, asked the same question. Jesus had just gotten news that His dear friend Lazarus was sick unto death. His sisters, Martha and Mary, knew that if Jesus came, He could heal Lazarus. Time was of the essence; they must leave now and travel with haste to Bethany. But Jesus remained where He was for two days. 

Now if you or I were there we probably would have said, “Master, I don’t think you understand. We must leave now. The one You love is sick.” And I can just imagine Jesus looking back at us with that patient, all-knowing and understanding gaze as He says, “You don’t get this, but you will. Be patient. All will ultimately be for the glory of God.” 

Days later, Jesus looked at Martha and said, “You will see God’s glory if you believe.”(3) And moments later, Lazarus, “who had died, came forth” from the grave. Jesus’ delay had been a part of the plan – the plan of God’s glory. Jesus understood that His entire purpose was to bring glory to the Father – every act, every action, every word, every step, … and every stop – was about God’s glory.

As you tarry at your encampment, remember this truth: every step and every stop is about God’s glory. He has placed you on this journey for His glory. He alone knows best how that will be brought about. He is God over the details and the delays. He is God when His pillar of cloud leads you to go and when it covers you to stay. “‘My thoughts are completely different from yours,’ says the LORD. ‘And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”(4)

It's one thing to wait when nothing is threatening you, but it’s quite another when tragedy is either knocking at or already busting down the door. But the answer is the same – as difficult as that may be at times. As difficult as it was for Martha and Mary to endure the death of their brother. As difficult as it was for God the Father to endure the death of His Son. As you wait for Him to answer, be mindful that God knows your situation. You will see the cloud move! It may not be when or how you would like it to occur, but trust His promise that “you will see God’s glory if you believe.”(5)

In the meantime, keep your eye on His pillar of cloud. And as long as the cloud isn’t moving, wait with Him. Trust Him, the cry to “break camp” will come. When everything is ready, He will move; and you will see God’s glory.

* * * * *

This post is adapted from The Wandering Years, chapter 6, entitled “Why Isn’t The Cloud Moving?” This second book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print or for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

 

* * * * *

(1)  Numbers 9:15-23

(2)  Isaiah 60:22 (NKJ)

(3)  John 11:40 (NLT)

(4)  Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

(5)  John 11:40 (NLT)

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Pearl on Lightstock

The Unpredictable God

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Did you ever expect God to do something in one way, but it ended up looking completely different? Did you ever ask Him to provide for a need in a way you thought was best, only to discover He provided in a totally unpredictable way? Did you ever think you were headed in one direction and then find out that God had opened a door in an entirely unexpected direction?

God has promised to always be faithful, but most often His faithfulness looks very different from what we thought it would. As i look back on our journey, i can see many such moments. A number of years ago we were on the path to what we thought was a thrilling new business opportunity in an exciting new city, only to discover that God was redirecting us into a completely unexpected adventure in vocational ministry that has now spanned three very unpredictable decades.

i can’t begin to tell you all of the times over the years when we have seen God provide for our family in a way that was completely unexpected … AND far and above anything we could ask or think.(1) And though we always trusted that God would be faithful, somehow, we were still always surprised by the way He provided. i have come to believe that God delights in our surprise. He enjoys doing things in ways we would never expect … because it is His way of reminding us that He is God … and we aren’t!

The children of Israel were one month into a forty year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. They had already seen God deliver them, protect them and provide for them in miraculous ways. He had already more than proved His faithfulness to them. And yet, here they were again crying out to Him for food.

In response, God promised them that in the morning they would be filled with bread.(2) That night they experienced a feast of fowl delivered fresh to their doorstep. They had never tasted meat so good; nor experienced it in the quantities that God provided that night. It was truly a feast that was infinitely more than they could have hoped for or asked. 

After what God had provided that night, can you imagine the expectancy the people had for what He was going to do in the morning? They could envision bread that was beyond anything they had ever tasted. They imagined the fragrant aroma of fresh bread baking, and it was already filling their nostrils. The thought of the sweet taste of warm fresh-baked bread was already making their taste buds salivate. Not only did they believe that God was going to provide and trust Him to do so, but they were also picturing the bountiful way in which He was going to do so. They had a picture in their minds based upon His promise; and they already had a praise on their lips based upon that picture.

i wonder how the people slept that night. Did they stay awake with the same excitement and expectancy of a child awaiting the arrival of Christmas morning? Did they set their “wake-up alarms” a little earlier so that they could be one of the first to see God’s provision? As the first glimmer of the sunrise appeared on the horizon, did they quickly arise and look all about for God’s morning delivery? Did they look to the sky to see if God’s bread was falling from the ovens of heaven just like the quail had fallen from the sky the night before? Did they look to the coal fires that they had used to roast the quail to see if God had delivered the bread to those same fires to bake? But everywhere they looked, they didn’t see bread. All they saw around them was the wet morning dew – and they had seen that every morning. What was going on? God had promised! God had always been faithful to accomplish what He promised. Where was the aroma? Where were those fresh loaves?           

i can imagine the people turning to Moses and Aaron for explanation. i can also imagine their bewildered looks. Had they heard God correctly or had they misunderstood? It was morning and there was no bread. Then one of the “more godly” in the crowd said, “Yes, but morning isn’t over. Morning goes until noon – and God is always right on time and never late! Watch and see. It just hasn’t arrived yet.”

As the morning went on and the people continued to watch and wait, the dew began to disappear. Someone noticed that where the dew had evaporated, there remained a thin white layer of crust. They had never seen that before. One neighbor pointed it out to the next and pretty soon their curiosity got the better of them, so they walked toward it to investigate. Someone reached down, broke off a piece and picked it up. It didn’t feel like anything they had ever felt before. They smelled it – it didn’t smell like anything they had ever smelled before. Then someone – you know, there’s always one in every crowd – tasted it, and it didn’t taste like anything they’d ever tasted before. And then in one voice they asked Moses, “What is it?” And Moses said, “It is the food that God has promised you.”   

If i had been there, i can just imagine myself saying, “Oh no, this can’t be God’s provision. It doesn’t look, smell, taste or feel anything like i thought it would. It doesn’t pass the test of my senses or line up with my expectations. Surely this isn’t God’s provision.”

Gratefully, Moses would have been there to remind me, “Is your trust in God based upon His promise or is it based upon your picture of how you thought He would answer?”

As we journey with Him today, remember that the way He answers will most often be unpredictable… but His faithfulness is always predictable. His ways are not our ways. Watch for Him to surprise you!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from The Journey Begins, chapter 14, entitled “What Is It?”. This first book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print or for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * *

(1)  Ephesians 3:20

(2)  Exodus 16:12-15

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo: The Gathering of the Manna by James Tissot (1896-1902) The Jewish Museum, via Wikipedia Commons (Public Domain)

A Hidden Journey

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Jesus will often take us on a wilderness journey with Him in order to prepare us and equip us for the task that He is placing before us. There are things that He can only teach us when we are one-on-One with Him in the deserts, or the floods, or the difficulties of a wilderness journey. He alone determines how long the journey will last and where it will lead. Though He is using the time in the wilderness to prepare us for what He has in store after the wilderness, He also has work for us right there in the midst of the wilderness! And through the preparation and the work, He is teaching us truths we can only learn directly from Him.

Sometimes those wilderness journeys are a very private and personal affair. It’s us and the Lord – and very few others, if any, know about it. It’s a “hidden” journey – and i personally believe that it is in that type of journey that God does His deepest work in our lives. It is an intimate journey that God uses to remove the dross from our lives and refine us to be vessels that are prepared and useful to Him.

Many of us are very familiar with the Apostle Paul’s story, but i think most of us miss the “hidden” journeys that the Lord led him to take. Allow me to explore one of those here, because i believe there are some important take-aways for us.

Luke records that Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days following the day that Ananias laid his hands upon him, and he regained his sight. Luke also tells us that Saul arrived in Jerusalem after the believers in Damascus lowered him through an opening in the city wall.(1) There is an important part of the narrative that the Holy Spirit chose to tell us through Saul himself, and not through Luke. Saul tells us that “it was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem.…”(2) That means that three years transpired between verses 19 and 26 of Acts 9. Saul also writes “I went away into Arabia and later returned to the city of Damascus.”(3) That means that somewhere between verses 21 and 23 of Acts 9, Saul was in Arabia and then returned to Damascus. We don’t know if that was for the entire three years, but it was apparently for a significant portion of it. So what was he doing and why did Luke leave a three year gap in his narrative?

Apparently, Saul only remained in Damascus initially for a matter of days – long enough for his sight and strength to be regained. During those initial days, Saul was already boldly proclaiming that Jesus, the One whose followers he had been persecuting, was in fact the Son of God. He did not delay in bearing witness to the grace and mercy of God. His witness was immediate – and the Jews, both believers and non-believers alike, were amazed by the conspicuous transformation in his life. But after a few days, the Lord led Saul on a wilderness journey into Arabia so that He might prepare and equip him for the work He had chosen for him to do. Though Saul had been an ardent student of the Word under the teaching of the religious scholars, there was much that needed to be clarified before he could effectively minister as an apostle. And if Saul was going to be the Lord’s apostle to carry the Good News to the Gentiles, he needed to be taught firsthand by Jesus. Remember, the apostles did not have benefit of the written New Testament as we do – they were the writers of that New Testament under the direction of the Holy Spirit. And they were writing what they had seen and heard from Jesus. It’s interesting to note that the duration of this time in Arabia is approximately three years, similar to the amount of time that Jesus spent discipling His other apostles.

Though the Holy Spirit did not lead the writers of the New Testament to tell us many of the details aboutSaul’s time in Arabia, we know that it pleased God “to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia.…”(4) And throughout his time in Arabia, Jesus was his Teacher. Saul explained, “I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.”(5) Later, Saul (by then called the apostle Paul) wrote to the believers in Corinth, “I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”(6) Some of these details refer to his missionary journeys recorded in the Book of Acts, but some, such as the flooding rivers, the danger of robbers, the danger in the deserts, the cold and the lack of food may very well refer to other periods, including his three years in Arabia. As Jesus led Saul on his wilderness journey with Him, it is very likely that it included time at Mount Sinai. It is also most likely that Jesus led Saul to evangelize as he journeyed through the wilderness of Arabia. Jesus often sent out His apostles to preach and perform miracles throughout His earthly ministry, so it would be reasonable to believe He followed a similar pattern with Saul. 

When Saul returned to Damascus, his preaching was so powerful that the Jews could not refute him. It wasn’t ferocity, or piety or fervency that they saw. His power and authority came from the fact that, like Peter and the other disciples, he had been with Jesus.

Yes, the Lord allowed Paul to walk with Him through the trials and challenges of a wilderness journey – all so that the Father’s mission and purpose would be fulfilled. And that same God will also lead you and i through the wilderness journeys He has designed for us. Some of them will be publicly known, but others will be hidden. Regardless, He will go with us each and every step of the way.

One more thing: This week i am releasing the newest novel in my Through the Eyes series. The book is entitled Through the Eyes of a Prisoner. It is the story of the Apostle Paul, written in first-person – from his early days in Tarsus through his final hours in Rome, including the many times he was imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel. The story includes the “hidden journeys” of his life using fiction to consider what may have occurred during those times. My hope is that you will recognize the ways God works through all of our experiences – those that are well known to others, as well as those that are hidden from view. God uses it all – to further His mission  -- and bring glory to His name. i hope you will check out the book.

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Until He Returns, chapter 25, entitled “A Hidden Journey in the Wilderness”. This sixth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print or for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Acts 9:19-26

(2)  Galatians 1:18 (NLT)

(3)  Galatians 1:17 (NLT)

(4)  Galatians 1:16-17 (NLT)

(5)  Galatians 1:12 (NLT)

(6)  2 Corinthians 11:26-27 (NLT)

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Pearl on Lightstock (picturing Saul on the road to Damascus)

3 Things You Never Want To Hear Jesus Say

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Most often when we think of Jesus, we think of Him as our Loving Savior. He and the Father loved us so much that Jesus came to this earth to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus, Himself, said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”(1) He was not only pronouncing His love for us; He was calling us His friends. 

We also often think of Jesus as the Gentle Servant, who lived humbly and served selflessly. But we water down the Gospel when we fail to recognize Him as the Righteous Judge. Though we see Him most often in the Gospels as the Loving Savior, we see Him upon His return in the Book of Revelation as the Righteous Judge. And just as He, as our Savior, has extended His salvation to each and every one of us – each and every one of us will stand before Him as our Judge. 

One day in the temple, three days before His crucifixion, He stood as Judge over the scribes and Pharisees rendering His verdict and His pronouncement over them.(2) And He used some very strong words. But don’t think for a moment that Jesus had allowed His emotion to get the better of Him. This was not like you or i might do – allowing our anger to seize control of our tongue and spew venom upon those who have hurt us. He was speaking out of an anger that was godly and a judgement that was righteous. Let us be mindful that one day we, too, will stand before Him as our Judge, and there are three things that we never want to hear Him say to us! 

The first is, you never want Jesus to call you a hypocrite. Throughout His pronouncement to the religious leaders, Jesus repeatedly referred to them as hypocrites, who taught and said one thing, but lived another.

Through their false leadership and false teaching, they prevented others from making their way to heaven. Instead of teaching truth, they misled the people with their lies. And though all of us are responsible for our own decisions, these men carried an even greater weight because of their part in keeping the people blinded to the Truth.

Though they made great pretense through lengthy and showy prayers that they were servants of God, they failed to demonstrate any compassion for those around them, and actually took advantage of them, including the widows, for their own selfish greed. 

Though they made great show of teaching others the Law, they were converting others to their man-made beliefs and not leading them to become followers of the Almighty God. They were promulgating a religion and not leading anyone to a personal relationship with God.

The Pharisees had contrived a system  whereby people would make oaths in the temple by swearing on gold or objects of value. Thereby those elements became “dedicated to God” and could not be used for anything else. It enabled the Pharisees to build rich treasure chests for personal gain but still appear to be pious in their practice.

The Pharisees majored on the minors. They had rules for every minute area of life. But they would totally ignore the most important things – loving God and loving their neighbor. As an example, Jesus rebuked them for tithing, but He was not denouncing the practice of tithing. He was correcting them that they were not to tithe out of obligation to a set of rules. They were to tithe as an expression of love, thanksgiving and worship to a loving Heavenly Father Who entrusts us with everything we possess.

The Pharisees were more concerned about their outward appearance than the spiritual condition of their hearts. They sought the praise of men and were therefore most concerned about what could be seen on the outside. But God, who could see on the inside, saw their greedy and self-indulgent hearts.

Jesus called the religious leaders “whitewashed tombs.” He was rebuking them for placing their attention on their outside appearance while totally ignoring the death and decay that was inside their hearts.

Finally, throughout much of their history, the religious leaders had rejected the prophets of God, and in many instances, they had been complicit in their murder or persecution. Then, they turned around and built monuments to the very prophets they had murdered. And though these particular Pharisees had not had a personal hand in their murder, their hearts reflected the same attitudes – and Jesus knew what they were about to do … to Him … and, in the days to come, to His disciples.

The second thing you never want to hear Jesus say to you is “woe to you!” “Woe” is a word of judgement. It signifies that impending condemnation, doom, and wrath await you. Whatever reward the Pharisees enjoyed in this life was but momentary. What awaited them was an eternity of damnation separated from God. Their “outward” appearances and feeble attempts to earn God’s forgiveness through their works was all for not. Jesus knew their hearts and He knew the judgement that awaited them.

i can’t finish this post without including a third statement that you never want to hear Jesus say to you. Though He did not speak these words on this particular day to the scribes and Pharisees, they were included in His Sermon on the Mount. And again, though He did not speak them here, the scribes and Pharisees would have said to you that they were spokespersons for God to the people. So it is fitting to include this statement here as well. You never want to hear Jesus say to you, “I never knew you; depart from Me.”(3)

i think that too many of us play at religion. We put on a religious front just like those religious leaders. We would do well to heed the words of Jesus – the only outcome of playing at religion is “woe”. The Pharisees rejected the Savior and rejected the salvation that can only come through Him. Jesus is the only way. Our salvation is from Him and through Him. Our walk with Him is empowered by Him. He is not fixated on our outer appearance. He sees our hearts. And if our hearts are truly where they need to be – cleansed of our sin, seeking Him, loving Him and following Him – then the outside is going to look just the way it should – like Jesus!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Taking Up The Cross, chapter 14, entitled “The Eight Woes”. This fifth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print or for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  John 15:13 (NLT)

(2)  Matthew 23:13-36

(3)  Matthew 7:23 (NKJ)

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

The Forgotten Disciples

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

If someone was to ask you to name the twelve disciples who followed Jesus, how far could you get on the list? Many of us could think of Simon Peter, the outspoken fisherman who denied Jesus. Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, would also probably come to mind in light of his treacherous act. We may think of Matthew and John, since they both wrote a Gospel account. (And, no, just in case you were wondering, the other two Gospel writers, Mark and Luke, were not two of the disciples.) The other two names that might come to mind may be Andrew, the one who introduced his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus and James, the brother of John.

If you named those six, you get to advance to the head of the class, because you have named more than most of the rest of us. But there are six more men on the list, whose names are more difficult to recall. Since little was written about them, their names tend to fade into obscurity in our memories.

But here’s the thing: the very fact that Jesus chose them to be His disciples tells us that He could entrust them to carry out His mission to make disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit. They weren’t “superstars;” they were more like the rest of us. They were flawed, quirky, imperfect sinners. They didn’t merit salvation. Nothing about them qualified them to be apostles, other than the grace that Jesus extended to them. When He met them, He didn’t see them for who they were, He saw them for who they would become in Him. As Jesus said to Nathanael the day they first met, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the One who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”(1)

So, let’s take a moment to look at those remaining six:

Philip

The day after Andrew brought Simon Peter to meet Jesus, we read that Jesus “found” Philip as He was traveling to Galilee. It is highly probable that Andrew and John were traveling with Jesus. Philip was from Bethsaida (Andrew and Peter’s hometown). Philip was more than likely a fellow fisherman, and a friend of Andrew’s. Quite possibly, Andrew helped Jesus “find” Philip, just as he had helped Simon Peter “find” Jesus the day before. And i love that Scripture records that Jesus found Philip(2) and Philip found Jesus.(3) That is such a great picture of salvation – when we were dead in our sin Jesus “found” us, and as we repented and surrendered our lives to Him, we “found” Him.

The other great picture is – that just like Andrew – on that very same day – Philip went to find his friend, Nathanael – to introduce him to Jesus. He didn’t require six weeks of training on how to tell people about Jesus – he just went out and immediately introduced his friend to the One he had met that very day.

Philip was a part of the growing entourage that witnessed Jesus transform the water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. So it was appropriate that the Master turned to him the day when a great crowd was before them, and asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”(4) What had he learned from the miracle in Cana? Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”(5) Wrong answer! But Jesus lovingly again taught him – as well as the rest of the disciples and the multitude – that He is Lord over all – and He is our sufficiency!

Bartholomew (aka Nathanael)

We read in John 1 that when Philip came to Nathanael (aka Bartholomew) to tell him about Jesus, Nathanael’s immediate reply was  “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see for yourself.” To Nathanael’s credit, he did just that. And as they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel — a man of complete integrity.” To which Nathanael replied, “How do you know about me?” Jesus answered, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Then in a reaction very similar to the Samaritan woman at the well, Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God — the King of Israel!” To which Jesus replied, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Immediately Nathanael left where he was to follow Jesus – and he apparently never looked back.(6)

Thomas (aka Didymus – “the twin”)

After learning that Lazarus has died, Jesus declared, “Let’s go see him.” Despite the fact that Jesus and all the disciples knew the Pharisees were determined to stone Him, He was resolved to go to Bethany. At that moment, Thomas was the bravest one in the group. He said, “Let’s go, too – and die with Jesus.”(7)

Not long after that – the disciples were gathered in the upper room – as Jesus assured them, “…I am going to prepare a place for you…. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.” None of the disciples understood what Jesus was talking about. Again, it was Thomas who courageously spoke up and said, “We have no idea where You are going, so how can we know the way?”(8)  

But he is best known for his statement to the other disciples after the risen Christ had appeared to them in his absence. “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side.”(9) From that moment, he became “Doubting Thomas” – to this day defined as “a skeptic who refuses to believe without direct personal experience.” His skepticism and faithlessness robbed him of joy for eight long days before Jesus again stood among them, this time including Thomas. And Jesus admonished him with a truth that we would do well to embrace – don’t believe because you see; believe because of Who I am and what I have said.”(10)

James – son of Alphaeus (aka Clopas)

This James also came to be known as James the Less, making a distinction between him and James, the son of Zebedee, and James, the half-brother of Jesus. But like the sons of Zebedee, following Jesus was apparently a family affair for James. His mother Mary was one of the women who traveled with the disciples. She was there at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified,(11) and she was one of the women who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’s body.(12) Her husband, Alphaeus (also known as Clopas) was probably one of the two men to whom Jesus appeared on the road to Emmaus.(13)

Simon the Zealot

The only thing we know about Simon is that he was zealous – but we don’t know for sure whether his zeal was directed toward his faith in Christ, or the political movement of the day to be freed from the rule of Rome, or both. If the latter is the case, more than likely he was the second apostle carrying a sword that night at the Garden of Gethsemane. Either case would have given him a unique perspective as a disciple of Christ. And he is another reminder to each of us that followers of Christ come from all circles and all backgrounds. 

Judas (aka Thaddeus) 

We know the least about this Judas (not to be confused with Iscariot). Many believe he was the brother of James the Less, and was therefore another son of Clopas.  He appears to be the apostle that spoke up that night as they gathered with Jesus for the Last Supper. All of them knew that Jesus was the Messiah. And He had just told them that He was going to die, and that one of them would betray Him, one would deny Him, and all would abandon Him. So Judas spoke out with a question that must have been on all of their minds, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”(14) Or in other words, “Jesus, why don’t You publicly declare Yourself to be the Messiah so that the people will follow YOU?” Though they had been with Jesus for the last three years, they were still a few days away from truly understanding His mission.

Just like the others, these six fled and deserted Jesus at the time of His arrest. After His crucifixion, they all huddled together in fear. But as the resurrected Christ appeared before them, their eyes were finally opened, and they truly believed!

A few weeks later, they were all gathered in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them. They became fully empowered that day for the mission to which their Lord had called them. Scripture records the journey of some of the disciples after that day and historians bear witness to the others. Each of these men were true to their Master’s command to go out into the world and make disciples:

Philip went to Carthage, and then Asia Minor.

Nathanael went to Armenia, Ethiopia and Southern Arabia.

Thomas went to Syria, and then to what is now India.

James the Less went to Syria.

Simon the Zealot went to northern Africa and parts of Europe.

Judas, the brother of James the less, preached in Armenia and Persia.

And, as a result, the Gospel began to spread to the ends of the earth.

If you have stuck with me through this long post – here’s the point: Not one of them was anyone special on their own merit. They were ordinary people – just like the rest of us. But as they walked with the Master, He transformed them into His image and empowered them for His mission. 

Most of us will probably fall into the category of being a forgotten disciple! But that’s okay, because it’s not about us. It never has been, because it’s all about Jesus! He’ll do the same thing in us and through us – that He did through these six – if we, too, will choose to follow Him!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 20, entitled “All the Rest”. This fourth book in theLessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  John 1:51

(2)  John 1:43

(3)  John 1:45

(4)  John 6:5

(5)  John 6:7

(6)  John 1:46-50

(7)  John 11:1-16

(8)  John 14:2-5

(9)  John 20:25

(10) John 20:29 (paraphrase)

(11) Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25

(12) Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10

(13) Luke 24:13-35, Mark 16:12-13

(14) John 14:22

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Papaioannou Kostas on Unsplash

You Have Not Passed This Way Before

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Just this morning i heard from or about a number of good friends who are walking through difficult circumstances or life-altering events. One has been intubated and placed on a ventilator as his body fights the ravages of Covid-19. One is grieving the death of a parent … and still another the passing of a spouse. Another has been exploring a job change and is now dealing with the disappointment of a recent rejection. Yet, still another announced with great joy that he is embarking on an exciting new career opportunity.

And right now, we are all watching while the people of Afghanistan are experiencing a traumatic and chaotic transition that appears to have caught everyone by surprise. We pray for the many whose lives have been uprooted as they flee their homeland, as well as the many more who are bracing for the unknown as they remain in their country.

At the same time, the people of Haiti are reeling from the devastating effects of the recent earthquake – the loss of loved ones, the countless many who have been injured, and the overwhelming destruction of homes – at a time when outside assistance is limited due to the nation’s political unrest and high incidence of Covid-19.

Yes, today is a day filled with excitement for some. But, for others, it is a day filled with fear or sadness, and for too many, unbearable pain and sorrow. For many, the events of this day weren’t foreseen or expected … and for too many, the events that have unfolded have been a most unwelcome intrusion.

Though our circumstances may vary greatly, we are all dealing with the unknowns of this day …  and we have no idea how it will all turn out. None of us have passed this way before. All of us are walking through this day for the first time … and none of us know what all it will bring.

We would do well – no matter what we are facing – to take a reminder from a day in the life of the people of Israel.(1) The next day was going to be a big day for them. God had told them they were going to enter into the Promised Land. You say, well at least they knew what was about to happen. That’s true, they did … but not completely. 

Over fourteen thousand days had passed since their departure from Egypt, and the journey hadn’t looked anything like they had envisioned it would. And they were still journeying through the unknown … just like we are. There would be challenges ahead – those they could see – like the Jordan River and the city of Jericho – and those they had not yet seen. There would be adversaries ahead – those that would be obvious, like the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Hivites, and those that would not be so obvious, like the Gibeonites.(2)God never told the Israelites that His promise ahead would be absent of challenges and adversaries … and He hasn’t told us that either. However, He has said that He will never leave us nor forsake us.(3) And just like that day on the banks of the Jordan River, He has promised that He will go before us and go with us.

A significant change was about to take place in the journey for the Israelites. For forty years, they had been led in their journey by a pillar of cloud or a pillar of fire. Wherever God had led His people, a pillar had gone before them. Now, as they prepared to cross the Jordan, God made no mention of a pillar. Instead, the Ark was now going to lead them – representing the covenant (His Word) between He and His people. His Word would be leading the way – heralding His promise that if He “is for us, who can be against us”(4) – and marking out the path before them. Inside the Ark would be the tablets containing the Law. On the outside was the mercy seat – representing God’s judgement and grace. Together, the Ark was a picture of God’s divine law under His judgement and grace – a perfect representation of not only His presence but also His favor. It is a picture to all of us of the embodiment of His Word and His Spirit as He leads and directs us in our steps.

When they saw the Ark move, the people were to follow it. This is an important distinction. The people were not taking the Ark with them; rather, they were following the Ark. It was not their role to establish the direction and then justify it with the presence of the Ark. Rather they were to walk fully-surrendered and under the complete direction of the Ark. Our pride often rebels against doing that. We are willing to cry out to God to ask for His wisdom as long as everything turns out the way we want it to. But the point of following the Ark was that God made the decisions! They were to trust Him and follow His Word, walking under His grace and led by His Spirit. They were to keep their eyes on the Ark.

Joshua told the people to purify themselves – to be prepared to follow the Ark. He assured them – just as we need to be assured – that the Lord would do great wonders before them and in their midst. Like them, we are walking in a way that we have never gone before. There are no other tracks to follow or markers on which to rely. The journey will be difficult … and it will require our complete faith and confidence in the One whom we are following.                    

Let us heed Joshua’s instructions and purify ourselves and surrender everything to our Lord. As we do, we can be confident that He will go before us. He is wholly-devoted to us. He has extended His love, His grace and His mercy – even His own Son – so that we might walk clothed in His righteousness in a personal relationship with Him. He chose us. He saved us. He goes before us. He will use the path that we are currently on – whatever it is – to ultimately bring glory to His name. Keep your eyes on Him! You have not passed this way before – but He knows exactly where this journey will lead. And by His grace, He is going before you. Trust Him to lead you through!   

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Possessing The Promise, chapter 6, entitled “You Have Not Passed This Way Before”. This third book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Joshua 3:1-8

(2)  Joshua 9:1-27

(3)  Deuteronomy 31:6

(4)  Romans 8:31

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Enrique Ortega Miranda on Unsplash

Everyone Loves Jesus … Or So It Appeared

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

It was the first day of the week, and the crowd was enthusiastically welcoming Jesus into the city.(1) Most of the people spread their garments or branches on the road before Him. Everyone appeared to love Jesus! Well, maybe not everyone. But, at that moment, you would have thought everyone did by the way the crowd was acting. 

Scholars estimate there could have been as many as two million people in and around Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover that year. The celebration always brought pilgrims to Jerusalem. But the crowd was unusually large that day. The people knew that Jesus always came to Jerusalem for the religious festivals, and they knew that Passover would be no exception. Thus, large numbers had come for the express purpose of seeing Jesus. Many had traveled down from Galilee, having witnessed the miracles He performed there. His fame and notoriety had spread throughout Judea as well, particularly after He raised Lazarus from the dead.(2) The people were looking forward to seeing Jesus perform more miracles.  

But most of them were blinded to the truth of who Jesus really was. They were blinded by the teachings of their religious leaders. Instead of pointing the people to the truth of the Word, they had pointed the people to their man-made traditions.(3) The leaders had become less interested in the truth and more interested in protecting their own self-interests of position, power and prestige. And the people themselves were also blinded by their own selfish desires – desiring only what Jesus could do for them. 

Those very desires are what prompted them to cry out, “Hosanna!” This Hebrew word means “Save Now!” They were quoting from Psalm 118:25-26: “Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.” But their emphasis was on themselves! Save us! Give us success! Do this for us! And they lavished Him with praise, welcoming the Miracle Worker into their midst, expecting to be rewarded by His miracles.

i fear we might often be just like that crowd. We love Jesus when everything is going well, or when we anticipate Him doing something miraculous for us. But when difficulty comes our way, or the miracle doesn’t happen, our love for Jesus begins to fade. 

Jesus had planned for that particular day – from before the beginning of time. That day was the only time in the ministry of Jesus that He planned and promoted a public demonstration. Up until then, He had deliberately avoided public scenes. But now, the defining moment of time and space had arrived. Up until now, each time Jesus had entered Jerusalem, He had done so unobtrusively through the “sheep gate”. But on this day, He entered conspicuously as King through the “Golden Gate” (also known as the “Eastern Gate”).

It is worthy to note that when He returns, He will again enter Jerusalem from the east. Though men have now sealed up the current eastern gate and made it humanly impassable, one day all of those man-made “barricades” will fall away, and the gates will open to our returning King!

Jesus had not only planned this day from eternity past, He had also planned for it the previous time He was in Jerusalem. He had made arrangements for a donkey and its colt to be available. The keeper of the animals was to expect two of His disciples, and have everything ready for them. Everything was to be as the prophet Zechariah had recorded: Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.(4)

And yet, Zechariah was writing simultaneously about two different occurrences when Jesus would enter into Jerusalem. The portion of the verse that i have emboldened relates to this entry into Jerusalem as we see quoted in Matthew 21. On that day, the crowd was not witnessing the arrival of their victorious, judging King. The triumph had not yet occurred. It was still a few days away. They were welcoming the arrival of their saving King. A donkey’s colt was the royal animal of Jewish monarchs. It symbolized Jesus’s station as King. But it was also a symbol of peace – the peace and the salvation that He was bringing to all people. It was a picture of Jesus, the humble Savior and Servant. He was presenting Himself as King, approaching His cross – not as a victim – but as the coming Victor.

Bear in mind, Zechariah is also giving us a glimpse of Jesus’ triumphal entry on the day still yet to come when He returns. The portion of the verse i have underlined speaks to the day which is yet to come – the day He will return in triumph and victory – a day that is rapidly drawing near!

On the day we now call Palm Sunday, His time had arrived. The “spontaneous” demonstration of praise and accolades from the people frightened the leaders and left them to conclude if they did not destroy Jesus now, they would be destroyed. Jesus was forcing the religious leaders to act now, in the time and way He had chosen. Don’t lose sight of the fact that He was in complete control of what was about to unfold. No, everyone did not love Jesus, but by this act of obedience to the Father, the Father and the Son both demonstrated their love for each and every one in the crowd – as well as each and every one of us.

Jesus knew what was in the minds and hearts of everyone in the crowd, and each one of the religious leaders. He knew that the shouts of praise today would turn into shouts to crucify Him in just a matter of days. He was no more disillusioned or distracted by the shouts of praise than He would be by the shouts that He be crucified. That’s an important lesson for us to grasp. If we are following Jesus, there will be days that we are experiencing the adulation, praise, and “love” from the crowd. Those are the days that are easier to experience – but don’t be deceived by them. Because, if we truly are following Jesus in obedience, we will encounter days when many of that same crowd turn against us. If they did it to Jesus, why should we expect anything different?

But don’t lose sight that regardless of how the crowd acted, Jesus loved them. He loved them from the back of a donkey’s colt, and He loved them from the vantage point of His cross. As you take up the cross and follow Him, ask Him to give you that same love for the crowd around you, no matter what your vantage point is today. That kind of love doesn’t exist within us apart from Him. But ask Him to position your heart so that He can love them through you.

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Taking Up The Cross, chapter 1, entitled “Everyone Loves Him”. This fifth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Matthew 21:1-11

(2)  John 12:17-18

(3)  Luke 11:52

(4)  Zechariah 9:9

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

If It Is Of God, You Will Not Stop It

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Have you ever felt as if God has directed you to do something … but the world around you is standing against you? Has that kind of opposition ever discouraged you from doing what you know God has directed you to do?

Jesus encountered opposition at almost every turn throughout the three years of His earthly ministry, as did His disciples. It should therefore come as no surprise that the same will be true for us. So, what do we do when we encounter that opposition? It would be good for us to take a reminder from Peter and John.

In the days following Pentecost, Peter and John (as well as the other apostles) boldly proclaimed the Good News of Jesus. Many who heard came to faith, but many more rejected the Good News. Most notable in their rejection was the religious establishment. They, in turn, did everything they could to dissuade the apostles. They threatened them – and when that didn’t work, they arrested, imprisoned and flogged them. But still, Peter and John would not be put off.

There are two powerful statements in the exchange that took place between the apostles and those religious leaders.(1) The first statement was made by Peter. “We must obey God” – not the false legalistic god the religious leaders had created in their own image – rather, the One and only true God. He is the God who raised Jesus from the dead after the religious leaders in their jealousy and hatred had Him crucified.

They had rejected the One through whom God chose to bring salvation and forgiveness to His people – the One who now sat on the right hand of the Father as Prince and Savior. In rejecting Jesus, they had rejected the very God they claimed to worship -- the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Though the religious leaders sat in seats of religious authority, they had chosen to disregard God’s authority over their lives. As a result, Peter and John had no choice but to obey God rather than those leaders. 

As we can imagine, the high council became furious and decided to kill the apostles. They had already killed one Galilean (Jesus), why not eradicate the movement by killing a few more?

That’s where the second powerful statement comes in. It was made by Gamaliel, who appears to have been a voice of reason. His voice apparently carried great weight with the high priest Caiaphas, Annas and the others on the high council. Remember – only two years earlier this same council had met to discuss and plot the killing of Jesus. It is reasonable to presume that if Gamaliel was present for this discussion about the apostles, he was probably present at the discussions about Jesus. The absence of his name in conjunction with those earlier discussions would tend to indicate that he supported the popular view of the council to crucify Jesus. So, who was Gamaliel and why did he speak up now when he apparently had not done so two years earlier?

Gamaliel is considered by many to have been one of the greatest teachers of the Mosaic Law in all the annals of Judaism. When the apostle Paul was defending his pedigree in Jewish Law, he cited Gamaliel as being his teacher because the name obviously carried great weight and respect.(2) Gamaliel was a Pharisee and, in the Talmud, he bears the titles of “Nasi” meaning “prince”, and “Rabban” meaning “our master”. Some believe that he was the president of the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Regardless, he held great authority and influence within the council. 

Gamaliel used two examples in his statement to dissuade the other members of the high council from choosing to execute the apostles. The first was a man named Theudas. He was a zealot who lived at the dawn of the first century A.D. He gathered a following of about four hundred men who joined him in an attempted insurrection against Rome. His attempted revolt ended in his death, which in turn resulted in his now-leaderless followers scattering and going their separate ways. As a result, the whole movement fell apart. 

Gamliel’s second example was Judas of Galilee, who was also a leader of a group of zealots. It was a similar situation. In 6 A.D. he got a number of people to follow him in an attempted raid on a Roman armory. Their attempt also failed, and he, too, was killed. The result was that all of his followers also scattered. 

Both of the events that Gamaliel referenced occurred twenty to thirty years earlier, which means they had occurred long before Jesus was brought before the high council. But Gamaliel apparently did not choose to make the argument at Jesus’s “trial” that he was now making at the apostles’ “trial”. That would indicate that he believed that the work of Jesus would stop with His death. Gamaliel must have believed that Jesus’s followers would scatter. Remember, the number of devoted followers of Jesus at the time of His crucifixion was only about one hundred twenty men and women. Though thousands flocked to Jesus to witness and experience His miracles, only one hundred twenty faithfully followed Him to the end. In Gamaliel’s mind at the time of Jesus’s crucifixion, Jesus had less followers than Theudas or Judas of Galilee. He hadn’t made the argument before the council back then because he believed the movement would fail with Jesus’s death.

But two things had happened after Jesus’s death! First, Jesus did not stay dead! Though Gamaliel probably never saw the resurrected Jesus personally, he was witnessing the boldness of His followers who were now unwaveringly proclaiming His resurrection. These uneducated fishermen were speaking with a boldness and an authority unlike he had ever witnessed – and his spirit was bearing witness to the fact that they were speaking truth. Jesus was the Son of the Living God! No matter what he and the other religious leaders had tried to do, Jesus had been victorious. The shedding of Jesus’s blood had not stopped the movement; it had fueled the movement! 

Second, there was no denying that tens of thousands of people had since become followers of Jesus – three thousand on just one day! And some of those had been Pharisees! There was a movement taking place that could not be denied, and Gamaliel’s eyes were becoming opened to the truth. The Holy Spirit was at work in His life. And the pivotal point for him was this: “If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” Gamaliel had already concluded that he and the other members of the high council were “fighting against God!” His argument and authority swayed the decision of the other council members, and the decision was made to “accept his advice” and release the men instead of having them executed.

Biblical historians, including Josephus, tell us that Gamaliel subsequently became a follower of Jesus. Whether it occurred before his remarks to the high council or after, we can see the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in and through his life. In that light, we need to see the sovereignty of God through all of this. First, it was always the Father’s plan that His Son would be crucified on the cross. Remember Jesus was not a victim; He was – and is – the Victor. Gamaliel remained blinded to these very arguments at Jesus’s trial because it served the Father’s purpose for him to be so. 

Second, it was the Father’s plan that this Jewish rabbi be a part of His plan to preserve the lives of the apostles in the early days of the formation of the church. It was God’s timing for Gamaliel’s eyes to be opened to truth and, in the Father’s sovereignty, He had ordered his steps to stand in that place with the authority and respect he commanded for just such a time. Third, God was also already at work in and through Gamaliel to help equip a young man by the name of Saul, who would by all accounts become the greatest Christian missionary who has ever lived.

So here’s the takeaway for us. “If it is of God, you will not stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”(3) His plan will not be thwarted. His ultimate purpose will always prevail. Trust Him. Follow Him. No matter the circumstance. No matter who stands before you. The apostles rejoiced that God had counted them worthy.(4) Even if you are flogged, don’t lose sight that our God is sovereign. He was then … He is now … and He always will be!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Until He Returns, chapter 17, entitled “If It Is Of God, You Will Not Stop It”. This sixth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Acts 5:29-42

(2)  Acts 22:3

(3)  Acts 5:39

(4)  Acts 5:41

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

What Happens When The Water Is Gone?

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

All of us have been through a lot over these past eighteen months. Experiences like we have been through tend to cause us to consider what it is we can really count on when we find ourselves in a tough spot. What can we depend on to get us out? Is it our possessions (do we have enough money to pay our way out)? Is it our position (do we have enough pull or ability to get ourselves out, or at least ride it out)? Is it our relationships (do we know the right people who have the answers and can help us get out of this jam)? Those aren’t really new questions. Humankind has been thinking that way almost from the very beginning.

One example is a man who had faithfully gone to a pool each day for thirty-eight years. He was trusting in the miraculous powers of a pool of water to heal him. But he came to learn that there was One in whom he could trust even if the water was gone. He could have confidence even if the possessions, the position, or the relationships suddenly disappeared. There was One who would never fade away or forsake him.

In the 8th century B.C., as the Assyrians were threatening to conquer Jerusalem, King Hezekiah commissioned that a dam be built across the Beth Zeta valley, turning it into a reservoir for rain water. A channel cut in the rock was used to bring water from the reservoir into the city of Jerusalem. Later in the 2ndcentury B.C., a second reservoir (or pool) was added, and the channel was enclosed. In the 1st century B.C., natural caves to the east of the reservoirs were turned into small baths and cisterns. 

Under Roman rule, the city walls were extended to include the pools, and five porticos were added to surround this labyrinth of pools and baths. The Romans brought their pagan beliefs with them and likely incorporated them around parts of the Pool of Bethesda. Historians write this site was believed to be an “asclepieion” (a healing place) where a temple to the god Asclepius was located.  Considered the god of healing, Asclepius carried a serpent entwined on a staff (the symbol of medicine today). This god was also worshipped as “soter” or savior. It is likely the Roman soldiers who were quartered in the Fortress Antonio in Jerusalem carried on their pagan rituals alongside the infirm Hebrews at these healing pools.

At some point the legend grew that from time to time, an angel would visit the pool and stir the waters – giving the waters healing powers. The first person to then enter the pool once the waters had been stirred would be healed. As you can imagine, the blind, the lame and the paralyzed from all over either came or were brought by family or friends so that they might experience the mercy of this miraculous healing. The place came to be called “Bethesda”, meaning “house of mercy” or “house of grace”.

One day Jesus, entering Jerusalem through the Sheep Gate, came to this place filled with a crowd of the sick and infirm. And one man in that crowd would be changed for eternity – not because of a stirring of the waters, rather because of a stirring of his heart through a personal encounter with Jesus.(1)

As a result of a 19th century archaeological dig, the pools and cisterns which had long been hidden from view were unearthed and identified. Today, though the broken down remnants of the pools and the porches are again visible, the cisterns have all dried up. This “house of mercy (or grace)” no longer draws the crowds of the blind, lame or paralyzed to wait beside its waters. The hope of the healing power of the bubbling water has faded – the water is gone. The reservoir that once was the source of the pool has dried up. The crowds – still seeking a cure – are now gathered at some other modern day source of hope – whose healing powers are truly no greater than the waters that once filled this pool. How willing we are to seek and trust in sources that at their best can only provide temporary relief – and in most instances provide none!

But the same question to those who are broken and hurting remains as relevant today as it was when Jesus first asked it – “would you like to get well?” 

The man had not come to the pool that day expecting to encounter Jesus. He was hopeless. He had been sick for thirty-eight years. Even though he was at this place of hope – this house of mercy -- he was fretful that even that hope was beyond his grasp because he had no one to put him “into the pool when the water bubbles up”. He had never heard of Jesus. He didn’t even know His name. His response to Jesus wasn’t one of faith or understanding. In his hopelessness, the man didn’t even know what to ask --- BUT – Jesus KNEW what to answer! His compassion never fails! Jesus responded to his hopelessness. And when Jesus spoke to him, and the man obeyed, he was immediately healed. 

He learned an important truth that day – his source of hope was never in a temporal place – it was never in the water. It was never in a person coming to his aid. It was never in a possession that he could ever have. His hope could only be found – only be realized – in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Before his encounter, this man didn’t know to look to Jesus. How many of us who do know Jesus are seeking a cure by going to a place that will provide a change of scenery or momentary relief? When i originally wrote the chapter from which I have adapted this post, my wife and i were in Jerusalem for a time of spiritual renewal. The day prior, we had visited the site of the pools. I found myself asking, “Am i seeking to be refreshed by this unique place, or through a personal encounter with Jesus as i spend time with Him? Our surroundings will constantly change. Even the very places themselves will change over time. People will fail us – even unintentionally. Possessions will never satisfy – most often, they will never be enough. The water will eventually dry up. But the Person of grace and mercy will remain – fresh and new and relevant each and every day.

But, gratefully the story doesn’t stop with the man’s miraculous physical healing. Though we read that Jesus immediately withdrew from the crowd, He soon thereafter sought out the man. Because Jesus’s compassion and purpose went well beyond the man’s crippled body – His concern was for “something even worse” – the consequence of NOT believing and NOT following Jesus. 

Let’s not lose sight, that Jesus’s mission was to seek and save those who are lost. As a matter of fact, Jesus was surrounded by “crowds of sick people” that day at Bethesda, and yet we are told He only healed oneman that day. He had knowledge of all, compassion for all, and power over all – and yet He healed only one. He could have stayed there healing the masses, but He didn’t. Because He never lost sight that His mission was – and is – to be about the Father’s business – seeking and saving those who are lost. His mission was not focused on physical healing, but rather spiritual healing. That’s an important reminder for us. Is our primary prayer focus on physical healing (keeping folks “out of” heaven) – or is our prayer focus on the salvation of the lost (discipling them “into” heaven)? Look at your prayer list before you answer that question. 

So, here’s the question to consider from Jesus – “would you like to get well?” Are you stuck in a place waiting for a miracle – or are you looking to the “Miracle Worker” to do far more than you could ever imagine? Whatever it is that is going on in your life, you can trust Him. “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk” – with the One who is inviting you to follow Him. He is the One who extends true mercy and grace. He is the One and only true Source of hope! Roll up your sleeping mat and start walking… with Him. 

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 13, entitled “What Happens When The Water Is Gone”. This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  John 5:1-9

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

Jesus Never Hesitated

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

There was a point in Jesus’s earthly ministry that people had seen Him perform many miracles – from the transformation of water to wine, to the healing of lepers, cripples and even the blind. The people had marveled at this One who could make the lame to walk and the blind to see. And the multitudes began to flock to Him to witness, and for many, to experience – His healing touch. But they were about to see something they had NEVER seen before – and something they could not even imagine. They were about to see Jesus raise a young man from the dead!

The day had started out no different from any other. A large crowd had been following Him throughout the day. Jesus was approaching the gate to enter the village of Nain late in the day.(1) At the same time, a funeral procession was making its way out of the village on its way to the cemetery. In the first century, burial grounds were always situated outside the village gates.

The funeral was for a young man who was the only son of his widowed mother. She had already lost her husband and now she had lost her son. She was now very much alone. Without a husband or any family to care for her, her future looked bleak. She was mourning the death of her son – but she was also mindful of how desperate her own situation had now become.

The local rabbi led the procession, followed by the grieving mother surrounded by a very loud group of mourners. Next came the coffin carried by friends of the dead man, followed at a respectable distance by a large crowd of friends and neighbors.

Remember that none of our Lord’s encounters were by chance. Each and every one of them was ordered in such a way as to fulfill His purpose and to bring the greatest glory to the Father. That was true of every encounter in Jesus’s earthly life – and it’s also true in ours. Jesus knew before time began that this particular encounter would take place with these people… at that time… and in that place. And the Father had ordered His steps accordingly… just like He orders ours.

Also, never lose sight of the fact that Jesus understands our pain. He knows what it means to sorrow – He had experienced the death of His earthly father. He knows what it means to be betrayed, denied, mocked, abandoned, beaten, brutalized … and even murdered. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “This High Priest of ours (Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do….”(2) That was true then, and it’s just as true today.

As He encountered this grieving widow, He was mindful of His own earthly mother – Mary. Jesus had witnessed the grief of His widowed mother at Joseph’s passing. Though Mary had multiple sons, and at least two daughters, she had only one son who was the Son of God. And Jesus knew that one day soon, His widowed mother would be grieving as she witnessed the death of her only Son, just as this widow was grieving the death of her only son. Luke writes that His heart overflowed with compassion for this grieving mother. Though i know that the Son of God has compassion for all, i do believe that the Son of Man had a special place in His heart for this grieving widow.

No one asked Jesus to bring this young man back from the dead. The grieving mother did not plead with Him for a miracle. Those in the crowd didn’t think to wonder out loud as to what Jesus might possibly do. Raising this young man from the dead was not a thought on anyone’s mind. He was dead. His mother was grieving. Nothing else could be done… even by Jesus (or so they thought). So no one even thought to ask. No one knew what to ask. 

But Jesus knew… and He knew what needed to be done… and He was able to do it. So He intervened, and He interceded. There will be times in our lives when we won’t know what to ask. We won’t know to expect anything different. Gratefully – and graciously – our Lord has given us His Holy Spirit, who “helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.…”(3) Trust Him to intercede, even when we don’t know.

The first thing Jesus did was to offer the mother comfort. We don’t know if she knew who He was – but regardless, He spoke comfort into her life. He knew exactly what she needed; He always does! She needed comfort, tenderness, and assurance – and He spoke it into her life

Next, He did the unthinkable – He touched the coffin. The religious leaders of the day believed that to touch a coffin rendered you unclean for days and unable to perform your religious duty. But Jesus didn’t hesitate. He walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. Has the Lord ever told you to “touch a coffin” – either literally or figuratively? Has He ever brought someone into your life who seemed like a hopeless cause or a waste of time? Has He ever directed you to get involved in ministry that may cause you to be considered by others to be “unclean”? Remember, Jesus didn’t hesitate. He walked right over and did what needed to be done!

Then He spoke to the one who was dead, “Young man, I tell you get up.” Jesus spoke. In every instance that Jesus raised the dead to life, He did so by speaking. And we read in Scripture that when He returns, He will do so again. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ will rise first.”(4) As in all things, Jesus has but to speak it! He spoke, “Let there be light”(5) and there was light. He spoke, “Peace! Be still!”(6) and the wind stopped. He spoke, “Get up” and this dead son sat up and began to talk! At the very name of Jesus every knee will bow… in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(7) and at the very voice of Jesus, the storms will stop and the dead will rise.  

Scripture records that Jesus raised three people from the dead (in addition to Himself). In this case, He said “Young man, get up!” In the case of Jairus’ daughter, He said, “Little girl, get up!”(8) And in the case of Lazarus, He said, “Lazarus, come forth!”(9)  i am convinced that in each instance He addressed them specifically. Otherwise, all the dead bodies within the sound of His voice would have arisen! Because in response to His very voice, the dead will arise! 

And we read that “great fear swept the crowd” and “the news about Jesus spread….” The people marveled. And though, regrettably, many chose NOT to follow Him, the Good News about Jesus spread because of it.

As we walk with the Master, let’s be mindful that His Good News is still being spread through His followers. We are His hands and feet. We are to be a reflection of Him in all that we do. Remember none of our encounters are by chance. He has a purpose and a plan in each and every one of them. We are to follow His lead and listen to His voice. We may be there to provide comfort. He may even direct us to “touch a coffin”. But whatever it is, He has us there for a purpose – to speak truth and life.

So, let’s be faithful to respond as He would … because He never hesitated!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 24, entitled “Arise!” This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Luke 7:11-17

(2)  Hebrews 4:15

(3)  Romans 8:26 (ESV)

(4)  1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NASB)

(5)  Genesis 1:3

(6)  Mark 4:39

(7)  Philippians 2:10 (NASB)

(8)  Mark 5:41

(9)  John 11:43

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock