The Captain of Our Salvation

When I was a young chef in the British Merchant Navy, I quickly learned that the Head Chef in the galley was not my ultimate boss on the ship. That right belonged to one man, and one man only - the Captain! Of course, he was also charged with being responsible for the ship, the whole ship's company, and the passengers that we carried!

The writer of the letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus refers to the Saviour by this title. He writes: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him (the Father), for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation (the Son) perfect through sufferings." (2:9-10; KJV).

Looking at alternative versions, we discover that the Greek word "archēgon" may be translated in a number of ways, e.g. "pioneer"; "initiator"; "author"; "originator"; "founder"; "source"; "leader". All of these words convey the idea of one who is at the front; first in line; the leader. So, the Lord Jesus is seen to be the first in line of an endless procession of the true people of God, in every age, resurrected from the grave, and marching to the ultimate realisation of their salvation - to the heavenly Zion prepared for them by God. 

The word "archēgon" is used on only three other occasions in the Scriptures of the Second (New) Testament. On each occasion, it is used within a context of resurrection and glorification. Peter, addressing the crowd after the miraculous healing of the man who had been lame from birth" (Acts 3:2),states that they: "... killed the Author of life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." (v.15; emphasis added).

Later on, as the apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin, they responded to the High Priest's questioning (v.28) by saying: "The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We must obey God rather than men." (vs.29-31; emphasis added).

The only way by which we sinners could ever share in His glory was for Him to suffer and die. Indeed, for Him "to be sin" (II Cor.5:21) - the very epitome of sin; sin personified in Him; sin in all its vileness. I firmly believe that it was at that moment in human time that the Son uttered what is often referred to as "the cry of dereliction" as the Father, Who cannot bear to even look upon sin, turned His eyes away from the beloved Son. “Eli, Eli, la′ma sabach-tha′ni?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”. (Matt.27:46).

As a result of what our "Captain" has done, on our behalf, ought we not to be "looking to Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."? (Heb.12:2; emphasis added).

The song may not apply, in every sense, to the above - but it was the first one that came to my mind as I prepared the text! It was also a favourite at the meetings of the FGBMFI in Stirling, when my dear wife and I led the praise with guitar and piano-accordion. Happy memories!

When God fails to answer!

Second last time, we looked at the kind of prayer that "works". I shared that if we are to receive positive answers, then our asking, seeking, and knocking, must be true prayer! 

This time, I wish to add to that! One of the old hymns with which I was raised, has the lines : "Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer". If that hymn were to be sung today, I would stop singing for that part!

I confess to being just a little bit irritated when I read, or hear, that "God answered my/our prayer". You see, there is, I would contend, a corollary to that statement. If I have to state that God answered my prayer on this particular occasion, I must be implying that, on other occasions, He failed to do so!

Is this true? Are there occasions on which He ignores my prayers, even as they are made, sincerely, and with no thought of personal benefit, in the name of the Lord Jesus?!

Permit me to suggest an analogy. Imagine that one of my children, still attending Primary School, had come to me with a request: "Dad, please may I have the keys to your car so that some friends and I can go out for a drive?" Well, as a loving father, I would obviously reply: "Yes, darling, of course. They're hanging up at the back door." Would I? I might respond with: "No. You are much too young; you have no driving experience; you haven't got a licence; you are not insured. Perhaps when you are a lot older, I'll allow you to borrow the family car." 

This would not be the response that she wanted - but I would have answered her request! I would not simply have walked away and ignored her.

Or, imagine that she came to me, at 18 years of age, now old enough, and qualified, to drive a car, and asked: "Dad, may I have £50 so that my friends and I can buy some non-medical drugs, and enjoy ourselves?" In such a scenario, my response would have been: "No! Not now, not ever. I have seen what substance abuse does to a person, and I will never be party to you behaving in such a way." Once again, the answer would not have been what she wanted - but I would have answered!

The Almighty God to Whom I pray, is also my loving heavenly Father. Indeed, the love that I have for my own biological children is but a faint shadow of the love that He has for me. And, just as I looked beyond the (imaginary!) requests of my child and, from my greater knowledge and life experience denied her - temporarily, or permanently - her request, so my Father, from His infinite knowledge, denies me many of the things for which I ask. 

Someone has described His answers to prayer to a set of traffic-lights. Sometimes the light is red - STOP! This is a total "n0-no"! On other occasions the light is amber. Be ready to go, but don't move just yet. Praise His name, there are times when the light is at green - and we may move forward with confidence that we are in His will.

So, next time you pray a prayer of intercession (and don't forget that real prayer includes praise and thanksgiving) and don't receive the answer that you wanted, and expected, look more deeply and realise that your prayer has not been unanswered, but answered by One Who loves you with an everlasting love, and Who always has your best interests at heart. Seek, always, to walk more closely to Him. Then you will discover that there are more and more "green lights", as you are in His will, and doing that which He has planned for you to do.

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thess. 5:16-18).