Go and See

Christ could do a whole lot better without us, right? I mean, He put you and me in charge of evangelism, encouraging others, teaching His word, raising kids, showing mercy. Sometimes I wish He would just tell me to slide over so He can drive.

Apparently He gets us involved and actually works through us, to train us and stretch our faith.

Remember when Christ multiplied the loaves and fishes for the 5000 (and that’s just counting the men, of course)? He said to the disciples, How many loaves do you have? Go and see  (Mark 6:38b). Like you tell a little kid.

Of course He knew how many loaves they had, and how many fish, and how many hungry people were milling around. But the process of looking for resources, finding almost nothing--laughably little compared to the need--was all part of the training.

Having the disciples get the crowd seated in groups was part of it. Blessing and breaking the bread and the fish--that was part of it, too. Then actually feeding all those thousands, followed by the collection of leftovers.

Jesus could have provided manna for the crowd. He did it before, for a vastly superior number and for a much longer period of time. But He chose this way to humble and train His men to trust and depend on Him.

I really admire the Savior for taking the time. I would have given up on me long ago. 

Give Her Something to Eat

Do you ever wonder if God knows what you’re going through? He’s God and you’re not, right? So how could your little life capture the interest and attention of the Almighty?

That’s why we have a Savior. He’s one of us. He knows how we feel.

The story of Jairus and his little girl in Mark 5 reveals the Savior’s compassion and His power. He raised the child from the dead, after all. Little girl, I say to you, arise (v.  41). And that’s exactly what she did.

But there’s something else in the story that makes me love Jesus even more. After bringing her back to life, Christ told those parents to give their daughter something to eat (v. 43).

That day Christ had dealt with huge crowds, a distraught father, a chronically ill woman, ritual mourners who mocked Him, and a dead girl. He treated them all with grace, patience, and infinite power. And still He was concerned that the child would be hungry after her ordeal.

Don’t you admire Jesus! Healer of hurts, Comforter of sorrows, Lord of life, and Champion of hungry, worn-out children everywhere.

The Antidote for Fear

Some people, I guess, must not be afraid. But I am. I have many fears. Some of them make sense, and a lot of them don’t. But all fears cut away at our insides, and make us more miserable than if they all came true.

The only way I’ve ever been able to deal with any of my fears is to trust that Jesus is on my side, that He is in control, and that He will take care of me. (All these things about Him turn out to be true, thank God.)

Remember Jairus, the desperate father we met in Mark 5? His little girl was dying, and he persuaded Jesus to come and help her. And Jesus dropped everything and came with him.

But on the way, Jairus’ greatest fear came true. Messengers arrived with the news that his daughter was already dead. It was too late. No need to trouble the Teacher any further.

Jesus overheard what they were telling the poor man, and He said, Do not fear; only believe (Mark 5:36b). And He kept right on walking toward the man’s house.

Jairus’ fear was well-founded. He had every reason to expect that the report of his daughter’s death was accurate. But he trusted that Jesus was on his side, that He was in control, and that He would get him through somehow.

When Jesus is present, no fear can win in the end. Not even death.

Was it somehow easier for Jairus to trust Christ than it is for you and me to trust Him? After all, he actually saw, touched, heard the Lord, and we don’t.

Actually I think we may have the advantage over Jairus. We have God’s precious word, including this record of our Lord’s power and love. And we have the Holy Spirit who will help us trust.

I want to shut out fear with faith in my wonderful Jesus. But honestly, even that is beyond me. I must trust Him for greater trust. Like another desperate father whose boy was demonized (Mark 9:24), I say, “Lord, help my unbelief.” And He does.

When You're Desperate

A few years ago I saw a woman have an emotional melt-down at the airport. She and her little boy were waiting to board a plane.

Suddenly she began running around the boarding area, calling her son’s name. Evidently she had just discovered her toddler was gone. “Billy! Billy!” Within a few seconds she hit full panic-mode. She began to scream: “My little boy is gone! He’s two years old with blond hair!  BILLY! BILLY!”

Some people stood up and began looking for the boy. The mother continued to run randomly around the room, crying out for her son. Within a few minutes a police officer appeared, and shortly thereafter the boy was found. He had wandered around the corner and was engrossed in playing with a toy. His mom sobbed as she hugged him to her chest.

I bet she didn’t care that she looked out of control. Getting him back, safe and sound, was all she cared about.

When you’re desperate, propriety and convention go out the window. Who cares if you look like a raving lunatic, if you get the help you need?

Every time I think of that woman, it reminds me of the story of Jairus in Mark 5. He was the desperate father who came to Jesus because his little girl was near death.

Consolation Prize

“Even though you did not win the $25,000, we have some lovely parting gifts for you. You’ve won a month’s supply of designer plastic ware, and a case of triple-ply bath tissue!”

I guess that’s why they call it a “consolation prize.” You need to be consoled that you didn’t win something really good.

But actually consolation is a serious business. Some things in life cannot be fixed with plastic ware and bath tissue.

I think that’s why Jesus is called the Consolation of Israel. That’s how Luke describes Him (Luke 2:25). Christ is the one who consoles His people.

Some wounds are just too deep, some losses too grave, some betrayals too painful. No human comfort can heal them. True consolation must come from the Savior.

• When you feel ashamed and can’t bear to tell anybody else, whisper it to Christ.
• When your dreams die, run to Jesus.
• When regret and sorrow are strangling you, come to the Man of Sorrows.
• When your failure is your own fault and no one else will give you the time of day, go to Jesus.
• When you’ve been betrayed, turn to Someone who knows exactly how that feels.
• When you’re so weary of life that you think you can’t take another step, call out to Christ.
• When your circumstances seem hopeless, set your mind on Him.

You can count on Him. He promised: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Jesus is the Consolation of His people. He’s the grand prize.

Tim Tebow: Who's Number One?

As a Denver Bronco fan, this has been quite a week. The arrival of Peyton Manning and the departure of Tim Tebow for the New York Jets has given me plenty of heartburn.

Manning is one of the all-time greats to play the game. Any Bronco fan could be enthusiastic about seeing this Pro Bowl quarterback running Denver’s offense. On the other hand, Tim Tebow is one of the most exciting athletes I’ve ever watched, and he led a dud team into the playoffs last year. His outspoken Christian faith makes me want to see him succeed even more.

But it’s just sports, right? In the end, it doesn’t really matter. (This is what I tell myself while I’m yelling at the T.V. during football season.)

It’s Tebow’s faith, his witness, that means more to me. And one of the curious things the media has done is label him “polarizing.” For example, let me quote three stories that popped up when I was googling his trade to the Jets:

The polarizing quarterback was traded from the DenverBroncos to the Jets for a fourth- and sixth-round pick in this year's upcoming NFL draft.

Or here’s a headline from bleacherreport.com: Tim Tebow to Jets: Denver Broncos Part Ways with and Trade Polarizing QB

And from the Washing Post: Owner Shahid Khan certainly did, telling general manager Gene Smith to explore a trade for the polarizing quarterback.

So let me get this straight: you have professional athletes who are indicted for rape and selling drugs, who go to prison for dog fighting, who are publicly intoxicated, use foul language, father multiple children out of wedlock, and then you have one squeaky-clean kid who is outspoken about loving Jesus, and he is polarizing? (Excuse me for raising my voice again.)

Well, on the other hand, it’s true. Jesus is polarizing. You can’t be lukewarm about Him. He insists on being number one. He’s not a genie in a bottle or a security blanket. He demands and deserves to be number one. Like Paul said, …that in everything he might be preeminent (Colossians 1:18).

Jesus said it about Himself:

‎"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.  ‎ For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Luke 12:51-23, ESV

 The issue for everyone is not who’s playing quarterback, but who is Lord of your life.

Was Mom Proud?

My mom had her heart set on my having a dual career as an attorney and an accountant. She had endured the privations of the Great Depression, and it forever changed the way she looked at life. She wanted to make sure that I had a job that guaranteed financial security.

You can imagine how hard it was for her when I came home from college and began talking about going into the ministry. Mom was so determined to thwart this foolishness that she telephoned one of the professors at the seminary I planned to attend. She made an appointment to see him, flew from Western Colorado to Denver, and confronted him on the foolhardiness of her son's becoming a pastor.

A gracious man, the professor admitted that most people in ministry don’t find financial success to be their main career benefit. In time Mom resigned herself to my calling. But it was never a comfortable fit for her.

It’s tough when your family doesn't really believe in you. Most of us want to hear, “I’m proud of you,” from our parents, but many of us never do.

I admire Jesus’ perseverance in the hard road He had to walk, even when His family thought He was crazy. Early on, when the crowds began to gather around Him, here’s how His mother and brothers reacted:  And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).

You can say it didn’t bother Jesus. He was God, after all. But in His true humanity, I have no doubt it was another heartache. Even a perfect Son wants His family’s approval.

And of course the infinitely greater rejection was coming, that moment when His Heavenly Father turned away from Him.

How grateful we are to a Savior who endured all this, the loneliness, rejection, and misunderstanding, to complete a mission for sinners like you and me.