Jesus, The Transcendent Witness

John 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Most religions (I use this word in its broadest sense) have a primary witness. Someone who claims to have seen or heard from God, or experienced a unique awareness of some force, power, or knowledge. The testimony of this witness usually becomes the foundation of the religion.

Christianity is multi-tiered in its cadre of witnesses. There are those who testify in the Bible that God spoke directly to or through them. Then there are those who, throughout history, have confessed to a definite, real, experience with God. I am in that group... I have experienced God.

But Jesus is the primary witness, and He is also the transcendent witness. By this I mean He is far past simply being a conduit of God's revelation or message. He is the revelation. He is the message. The fullness of His knowledge, being, and purpose transcends this existence. But He came to us... The Apostle John seems to have understood this reality better than most, so this insight is boldly woven into his writings.

This is the chief realism of Christ followers--Jesus is Emmanuel--God with us. He is the primary witness, and there is none like Him.

Damned... But Still Alive

2 Thessalonians is a letter about the future written by the Apostle Paul. It is a weighty letter. Some of the future Paul shows us is dark. I'm aware that a number of the articles I wrote and published a year ago, and am now finally posting on my blog, carry that dark weightiness. But... that is the nature of consistent exposition of the Bible. There are high mountain peaks of truth to explore and deep valleys to journey through, but it is all equally true... and equally necessary.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I published a post some time ago discussing the word “damned” in Mark 16:16. The word translated in that verse means: To be actually under sentence after a determination of guilt and the pronouncement of the sentence. The sentence is pronounced but the execution of the sentence is in the future. But the verb used in 2 Thessalonians 2:12 is slightly different.

This verb, as used in this verse, means: "the act of inflicting the penalty on one." Thayer Bauer-Danker says it this way: "the temporal punishment which God brings upon sinners." While in the first usage, Mark 16:16, there may be time between the legal process of judgment and the execution of the penalty, in this usage the penalty is being sealed and executed.

This verse in its context teaches us that God is constantly observing unbelievers. They have already been legally judged and condemned, but are living under His common mercy. He is aware of all their decisions and actions while His mercy restrains the justice that awaits them. There is a time, sadly, when God’s gracious patience gives way, mercy evaporates, justice is all that remains, and the penalty is executed.

The unique thing about this verse is their doom is sealed while they are still living on earth. Today, as far as we know, any unbeliever who draws breath can believe the Gospel and find everlasting freedom from condemnation and guilt. There is always hope. But this passage portends a time when God seems to close that opportunity for some. The rope of God's mercy securing their place on the precipice of life will be cut, but they will still retain life for the moment while they streak toward the rocks of His final justice waiting beneath them. Damned... but still alive.

In other words there really are consequences for sin and unbelief. If the consequence has not yet been experienced it is because God’s mercy has held it back. But never take His mercy for granted. The gospel is the only hope we have in this life.

Mosquitoes Can Sense Your Blood Type

Why do mosquitoes seem to hone in on some people and not others? Well in recent studies scientists have discovered that some proteins found in mosquitoes’ antennae connect with specific chemicals emitted from our skin. The chemicals are emitted as a natural process and mark our presence for the hungry little buzzing predators. But we don’t all give off the same chemicals.

People who have been ingesting alcohol, for instance, put off a special chemical compound which tells the little creatures there might be a person here who can’t swat as quickly as normal… get him… One 12 ounce beer will light you up for a mosquito like a neon sign.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the breath is also a serious marker. This is one of the reasons expecting women fall prey to mosquitoes more than most: they emit 21 percent more carbon dioxide than the rest of us. Their temperature is also an average 1.26 degrees higher than normal which is another “come and get me” sign to a mosquito.

We also emit certain chemicals that identify our blood type, and it has been found that mosquitoes can be picky when it comes to blood. Researchers tell us that people with Type O blood are bitten 24% more than people with any other blood type.

The mosquito is a complex creature with complex on-board equipment. This system includes the equipment to collect chemical data on the molecular level, a nervous system to convey the data, a brain with the ability to decipher the data and make it usable, and then the ability to act on the data and move toward the prey. A complex system like this didn't just happen, it was designed.

An Abused, Angry, Sullen Woman

John 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

We must keep this conversation in the context of the culture of that day. It was a man's world, and for women and children not willing to show humility in the presence of men it was, sadly, a brutal world. I think one purpose for retaining the first part of this conversation was to give us insight into the nature of this particular woman within that culture.

Twice Jesus told this woman what to do, and twice she argued with Him, and then didn't do what she was told. In that culture her responses would have been openly disrespectful. Then, while alone with a man from a neighboring nation in conflict with her own, she tried to start a religious argument about the superiority of her national religion over his. Dangerous...

I would expect to see scars on the face and knuckles of a woman who responded to men in that culture the way this woman responded to Jesus. She was a sullen, angry, abused woman, who had experienced a difficult life of broken relationships. She was living, unmarried, with her sixth man.

But... Jesus knew this, and was patient and kind with her. To Jesus she was His lost sheep in the wilderness. She was the one He came to save. He left the ninety and nine righteous to look for her. Other men may have seen her as someone to abuse, use, belittle, or ignore. Jesus saw a beloved soul; a person to value and sacrifice Himself to redeem. Even his disciples were surprised to see Him talking to her as they returned from an errand. He could have gone to a Samaritan queen… but He went to that water-well to save that woman, and I'm glad He did.

Stealing His Bride

John 3:29 ...this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

In ancient Israel marriages were arranged. Most of the time the bride and groom had little to do with choosing who they married. Special “friends” would negotiate marriages with the parents. But marriage negotiator was not exactly the role John the Baptist filled in the illustration he used in this verse. As a trusted friend he was sent by the groom to prepare the bride for His coming. John 3:29

For a moment let's move from the illustration to the reality. In his role John gathered a large group of baptized followers (the bride) who waited for the revelation of the Christ (the Groom). Until this revelation the followers would only see John. In fact, they were constantly mistaking John for the Christ. John 3:28 

John was the one leading the work of gathering, baptizing, and teaching the people. So the Bride's eyes were constantly on him, and her ears listened to every word he spoke. I expect she was constantly complementing him too.

John could have taken possession of the bride--at least in his mind. It would've been easy to do. To avoid this John had to remember his role, and remember that the groom, his friend, was coming for His bride. The Groom trusted him...

Are we who serve Christ today any different than John when it comes to the practical aspects of his ministry? We work to gather and prepare a glorious bride for Jesus when He returns. And they, the people--His church, don't physically see Him they see us. (This thought actually affects me so deeply that I become a bit nauseous when I consider the responsibility of it)

His brides' eyes and ears are, in a sense, ours for the time being. This can be a heady thing. We can become bride thieves, at least in our minds, if we are not careful... a sort of spiritual adultery. And I don't speak only of those of us who are ordained. Having worked with troubled churches for over 20 years I know that some of the greatest problems in churches can be caused by members who take possession of what belongs to Christ alone.

I (we) must remember: the Groom trusts me with His bride. I am (we are) a friend He has sent to care for and prepare His bride. My (our) role is only temporary, limited, and ends with another of His friends stepping into this role when my time is finished, or when He comes. It is not about me, I'm nothing, it is all about Jesus and His bride. Even so come Lord Jesus so this our joy may be fulfilled.