Those who passed by.

Many will be familiar with the old Negro spiritual that asks the question: "Where you there when they crucified my Lord?" On this Good Friday, it's a question that may still be, legitimately, asked! 

The story is familiar to many, but here is Luke's account of the part on which I wish to concentrate: "... when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified Him , and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide His garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" (Luke 23:33-37).

Consider those who callously passed by the Saviour, as He hung on the cross - how they mocked Him; scoffed at Him; even challenged Him. How heartless they were. Yet, before we rush to judge them let's remember that many continue to treat Him thus today! They fall, broadly, into three groups.

There are those who want a cross without a Christ. It's possible to revere a symbol - even a symbol of death! - without giving any thought to the Saviour. So-called 'celebrities' will often be seen with a bejewelled gold cross being worn as a necklace; others will have little crosses hanging from their ears; many men will wear a 'chunky' gold cross around their necks. But that emblem, be it of silver, or gold, or wood, or anything else, will never pay the penalty for even one sin. It is the Christ, alone, Who redeems us with His precious blood.

Then, there are those who want a Christ without a cross! They want a mighty conqueror, not a dying Lamb. They would cry "... come down from the cross!" (Mark 15:30). They want a good example; a great teacher; a triumphant king. Theirs is a 'gospel' of human works. They want to be able to sing "I did it me way" - not His. They despise the true Gospel that declares that we are made right with Father God by faith in the One Who shed His blood on the cross.

A third group is those who want neither the Christ, nor His cross. They are untouched by His sorrow; unmoved by His suffering; unrepentant of the sins that He bore. They have never given thought to those wonderful words, penned by Horatio Gates Spafford:

"My sin - O the bliss of this glorious thought - my sin, not in part, but the whole is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more; praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul." (emphases added)

(by the way, if you don't know the story behind the writing of that song, I would encourage you to check it out. Try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReApJymYSiw  The 'embed' code is below but, for some reason, doesn't always work! Any advice appreciated!)

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He Who was sinless gave His life, that I, who am a sinner, might live in Him. He took my place, that I might have His peace.

What about you?!

The highest watermark.

In his letter to the believers in the early church in the Imperial City of Rome, Paul writes these words: "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (12:1-2).

It was many years ago that I was taught that, when one reads the word "therefore" in the Bible, one should ask "What is it there for?"  In those words, it refers to all of the teaching that Paul has previously provided to the recipients.  It is, indeed, the pivot word on which this section of Romans turns from belief to behaviour.  Up until this point, Paul has been explaining what God has done to redeem us.  He now challenges his readers (now, as well as then!) to surrender themselves, totally, into God's hands.

Self-surrender and self-sacrifice have, of course, been demonstrated by God before He demands them from us!  Tomorrow (Saturday) is, of course, the Jewish Shabbat.  Judaism has its own "lectionary" - set readings from the Scriptures for each week, or even day.  In synagogues around the world, one of the passages that will be read on this particular Shabbat is from the Book of Leviticus: "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When any man of you brings an offering to YHWH, you shall bring your offering of animals from the herd or the flock.  If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before YHWH."  (1:2-3).  The Hebrew word korbanot  means to be close and the point is that the sacrifices, once accepted by God, restore closeness and intimacy between Him and His people.  Why is this necessary?  Because our iniquities and sins separate us from God and prevent us from establishing or maintaining a close relationship with Him.  "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2). For we who live under the New Covenant, the perfect sacrifice was made by God Himself, in the Persona of the Son.

It is our sin - yours and mine - that took Jesus to the cross in the greatest act of self-sacrifice in all of history.  When He asks us to surrender ourselves, He is not asking us to do, or give, anything that He has not already done, and given.

The story is told of a missionary who shared this truth with a highly intellectual Hindu, and added, "I believe that to be the high watermark of the universe".  The Hindu removed his spectacles, wiped away an involuntary tear, and replied, "High watermark?  That's the highest watermark of which the human mind could ever conceive!"  How true!  In the self-giving of Himself, Almighty God set the standard for the universe.  Nothing in either God, or in man, can ever go beyond it.  It is the highest truth conceivable.

Have you submitted yourself to Him?  Have you presented yourself, a living sacrifice?  It is, indeed, no more than "reasonable service"!

Grace!

This morning we had a particular visitor at Wishaw Baptist Church - a young lady named Grace, the younger sister of our current Youth Worker, and one of the loveliest young people I know.  When I composed yesterday's post, I had no idea that I would see Grace today, but it is very appropriate that I did!

Yesterday, having commented on the fact that, in that realm/dimension that we call heaven, there will be no denominations, but that what will be important will be our discipleship of Jesus, I ended by saying that there is more.  Permit me to illustrate by a story!

A man died, and arrived (as in the popular picture) at the Pearly Gates.  There he was met by St Peter - carrying a clip-board and a pen (perhaps that should now be updated to a Tablet, or some similar electronic device!).  Peter explained to the man that, in order to go through the Pearly Gates, he had to acquire 100 points.  The man was rather shocked (I hope that you are, too!).

"100 points!", he said.  "Nobody warned me about that.  How do I get them?"

"Well," said Peter, why do you think that you should be allowed to enter heaven?"

The man thought!  Then he said, "You know, I was a faithful husband for 47 years; caring for my wife; never cheating on her."

"That's very good," said Peter, "Three points.  Anything else?"

The man was aghast!  "Well,", he said, "my wife and I had four children, and I was a good father to them, and provided for all their needs."

"Excellent!" responded the saint.  "That's worth another three points."

The man thought.  Then: "I was a good, and honest employee with the same company, for 52 years - never took extra time at breaks; first in every morning; last to leave in the evening; never stole as much as a paper-clip."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Peter, "You've just gained another two points."

"Wait a minute!" said the man.  "Of course!  I attended my church fellowship regularly; tithed my income; made a freewill offering on top of that; served as an elder for 26 years; and often preached the Word at church meetings."

"I wondered when you would get around to that." said Peter.  "Now you're getting somewhere.  That's a full ten points.!

"Ten!" exclaimed the man.  "Only ten!  How many have I got, now?"

Peter totted up the points.  "That looks like eighteen." he replied.

"And I need 100?" the man asked.

"That's the goal", said Peter.

"At this rate," responded the man. "only the grace of God will get me in!"

"100 points." said Peter.  "Welcome!"

It's only a humorous story, but it does make a very important point.  Not only does my denominational background make no difference with regard to heaven; nor do my good works - however commendable they may be (and, of course, I am only too aware of my own failures and shortcomings - what the Bible refers to, simply, as my sins!).  The only way by which I may gain eternal life is the grace of God.  My book Great Words of the Faith (see the heading) has a chapter on the word, but suffice it to say, just now, that it is receiving, from God, what I don't deserve.  By the way, mercy, which is often linked to grace, is not receiving from God, what I do deserve!

Are you trying to 'work' your way to heaven?  Are you hoping that, when you die physically, you will have done enough good to over-ride the bad you know you've done?  Are you depending on a kind of 'balance sheet' salvation?

If you are, please give it up - right now!  You have failed, even before you start.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9).

Grace - it's the only way!

And this is justice?!

Sometimes, I become a little confused!  I have to hear, and read, a news item a number of times to assure myself that I am understanding the situation correctly.  One of last evening's news items, also in most of the newspapers, left me in that state.

It would appear that Mr Bernie Ecclestone, multi-billionaire (sterling) and F1 racing Chief Executive, was charged in Germany with bribery concerning allegations that he had paid Gerhard Gribkowsky, ­formerly the chief risk officer of German bank BayernLB, a £26 million bribe to steer the sale of F1 from the Bavarian bank to CVC ( the sport’s majority shareholder, CVC Capital Partners), Ecclestone’s preferred buyer, in 2006.

However, in spite of facing a potential 10-year custodial sentence, Mr Ecclestone is now a free man, having successfully negotiated a deal with prosecutors in Munich whereby he will hand over $100 million (£60 million) in the next few days!

Understandably, there has been a furious reaction from some quarters in Germany, after prosecutors spent years preparing the legal case against ­Ecclestone.  A former justice minister described the situation as “galling”, calling for the closure of the legal loophole that enabled Ecclestone to settle.

It certainly appears to me that what has happened here is that a man accused of bribery has bribed his way out of the court case that would have decided his guilt, or innocence.  And this is justice?   How many of us could afford to offer £60 million?  How many of us can even envisage £60 million?   Is this, yet again, one law for the 'rich and famous', and another law for the rest of us?

The Bible, unsurprisingly, has a lot to say about bribery.  For example, in Ex 23:8, we read these words of YHWH: "... you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and subverts the cause of those who are in the right."   In words of condemnation, YHWH states, through the prophet Isaiah, that: "Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves.  Every one loves a bribe and runs after gifts." (Isa 1:23).

In the New Testament also, bribery is condemned.  After the discovery of the empty tomb, the Chief Priests "... assembled with the elders and ... gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day." (Matt 28:12-15).  An ambitious magician even tried to bribe the apostles.  "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, [a bribe] saying, 'Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'  But Peter said to him, 'Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.'  And Simon answered, 'Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.'" (Acts 8:18-24).

Obviously, I do not know any more about the Bernie Ecclestone story than what I have read and heard, in and through the media.  However, if the facts are as reported, then Mr Ecclestone may have escaped human justice, but he must still appear before the Judgement Seat of the Creator God, Who has stated that "... the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery." (Job 15:34).  There, justice will truly be done, and be seen to have been done.  That final judgment will be  certain (Eccl 11:9), universal (II Cor 5:10), righteous (Rom 2:5), decisive (I Cor 15:52), and eternal as to its consequences (Heb 6:2).  We will not have to have bribed with tens of millions of pounds sterling to be found guilty.  We will only have to have broken God's laws - and none of us is innocent in that respect (Rom.3:23).  Only those who have the perfect and sinless Christ as their Advocate will escape the penalty of their sins (and, indeed, have already been accounted as justified in the sight of Father God - Rom.8:1).  Have you responded, positively, to His offer of full salvation?  If not, please do not delay.  If I may be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me, privately, using the e-mail address at the top of the blog.