I think I've always felt that I've learned about what the cross of Jesus means through looking at New Testament letters and even key Old Testament passages like Isaiah 53 than through reading the gospel accounts. In some ways, the teaching of the gospels is perhaps more implicit on what Jesus was actually accomplishing on the cross. We see a factual, historical narrative with key incidents but not much narrative commentary on what the actual significance of these incidents is. The writers give you the evidence and challenge you to come to the same conclusion that they have: Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Mk 1:1). But there is a richness to the gospels especially in their biblical references and allusions, and through a close study we learn many important truths about the cross of Jesus.
1. Divine plan- the heart of the gospel is that God has designed a plan to reach and deliver the poor, oppressed and those caught in Satan's oppressive grip (Lk 4). The cross is the key to how this plan is put into action. How does Jesus release people? Through His death on the cross. The wonderful healings we see in Jesus' ministry are a foretaste of the amazing salvation He offers.
2. Part of the Messiah's role - The picture of the suffering servant from a few passages in Isaiah (eg. Isa 53) form a key backdrop to how the gospel writers understand the crucifixion of Jesus. Not just an unfortunate ending to an idealistic, heroic teacher, the cross in fact is seen as an essential part of Christ's identity and mission, to give his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10.45). In John's gospel Jesus often refers to his suffering and crucifixion as 'the hour' (Jn 16.32, 17.1) which would be followed by glory and turn His disciples' sorrow into joy (Jn 16.20,22). Jesus understood the cross as His mission which He had to complete before going back to His Father (Jn 16.28).
3. Promised and predicted in both the Old Testament and by Jesus Himself. In Jn 3.14-15 Jesus teaches that the Son of man must be lifted up, making a parallel with the bronze serpent Moses made and the salvation the cross would bring. The cross is there in the 'I am' sayings and images- 'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.' (Jn 10:11) In the parable of the tenants, Jesus predicted Israel's ultimate rejection of their Messiah, just as they had refused to listen to the prophets: 'He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:
‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.' (Mk 12:6-11, quoting Ps 118.22-23)
In the gospels we see specific prophecies fulfilled such as Psalm 22, quoted by gospel writers when Jesus' garment is taken and lots are cast for it, and other details too like the mockery of His enemies. But also the gospels show how the whole promises of God have been fulfilled in Jesus' death and resurrection: 'Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms' (Lk 24.44).
4. Kingship. Far from being a sign that Jesus was not God's chosen king, the cross is shown as integral to Jesus' royal position as the descendant of David. This is shown on the reception of Him as the son of David when the people laid palms before him as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (Mk 11). There is the irony of sign placed over the cross calling Him King of Jews (Mt 27.37) The thief on the cross recognises Jesus has a kingdom (Lk 23.42). In Jn 18.36 He says His kingdom is 'not of this world'. Yet He is still in control even as the horrific events unfold - in Jn 17.6 the people who come to arrest Him fell to the ground. In Jn 19.30 he 'gave up his spirit' implying His death was His choice. Once He has gone through the suffering of the cross, Jesus returns in glory and splendour, and speaks of His second coming which will be glorious and universal.
5. Passover. The last supper is a symbolic presentation of the cross. Jesus sees the cross as the once-for-all fulfilment of the Passover because He is the 'lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world'(Jn 1.29). He becomes the atonement for sin. Jesus' blood becomes the blood of a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins. In Luke's account he says 'until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God' (Lk 22.6) He dies at the ninth hour, the time of evening sacrifice.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Book review: True Friendship by Vaughan Roberts
I don't know why, but when I think about Christian books on friendship I always think about flowery cards to go in your wallet or Patience Strong sayings on a calendar. Perhaps this shows that there isn't much out there that is theologically meaningful about this important topic. Vaughan Roberts' book is incisive and gets to the gospel heart of friendship: 'Just as God is love, so he commands us to prioritize love in our lives by loving him and our neighbours.. This is not something we can do by ourselves... But, wonderfully, God is determined to change us by his Spirit so that we are transformed from being turned in on ourselves to reaching out in love to him and others.'
I found the teaching in this book really refreshing, and also it really challenged me that we do need to make true friendship a priority in our busy lives and not just settle for superficial social-network-style acquaintances. The book has an honest tone with the realistic acceptance that friendship is hard, but with the gospel mandate that we need it!
Perhaps more could be said about the sanctifying aspects of friendship, whether it's non-Christian friends challenging your faith and behaviour, or fellow believers, but I did like the section on the need to be 'candid' in friendship as this is something we seem to struggle with in our culture. Or at least, it's hard to be candid without being insensitive as well.
This book could be a great one to study in small groups or maybe prayer pairs/triplets, as the questions at the end of each chapter provide good food for discussion. It would definitely be worth reading this with someone else so that you could talk more about how to put the teaching into practice and be accountable on it.
This book is a great, short read, and it could be really helpful for people at all seasons of life from teenage years to post-retirement. Thoroughly recommended!
I found the teaching in this book really refreshing, and also it really challenged me that we do need to make true friendship a priority in our busy lives and not just settle for superficial social-network-style acquaintances. The book has an honest tone with the realistic acceptance that friendship is hard, but with the gospel mandate that we need it!
Perhaps more could be said about the sanctifying aspects of friendship, whether it's non-Christian friends challenging your faith and behaviour, or fellow believers, but I did like the section on the need to be 'candid' in friendship as this is something we seem to struggle with in our culture. Or at least, it's hard to be candid without being insensitive as well.
This book could be a great one to study in small groups or maybe prayer pairs/triplets, as the questions at the end of each chapter provide good food for discussion. It would definitely be worth reading this with someone else so that you could talk more about how to put the teaching into practice and be accountable on it.
This book is a great, short read, and it could be really helpful for people at all seasons of life from teenage years to post-retirement. Thoroughly recommended!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Review of 'The Everyday Gospel' by Tim Chester
I've read quite a few of Tim Chester's books and he consistently gives good biblical teaching with a particular emphasis on how Christians should live in missional community with one another, sharing life on an everyday basis, and reaching the lost collaboratively through ordinary day by day activities. I think this book has been written to rectify the idea that 'spiritual' activity like preaching, singing hymns or praying is separate or somehow divorced from 'normal' life where we do chores.
The cynic in me sees a male writer choosing as his example chore the task of washing up - which I've heard a few male preachers refer to as well- and part of me wonders if this is the only chore that some of these men actually do! Hence why it crops up so much in illustrations. But that, as I say, is the cynic in me and probably has no real foundation! But I do think that women, who are perhaps exposed to doing more of the mundane household chores (especially if they are full time mums), see them differently to men. I'm making huge generalisations here, I know, but hear me out: don't we, as women, just tend to get on with it anyway and manage (with varying levels of success) to balance housework with our parenting, job, time with the Lord and in fellowship with other believers?
I think the need for this book lies in the sad fact that we often value our day by productivity, and often housework doesn't 'count', because our efforts are so quickly undone or replaced by a fresh load of dirty dishes. We live in a culture that seeks to define success by attainment, and if you've done the washing up it's a pretty small victory. We definitely need to re-think the way we assess our lives: are we judging ourselves and others by the values of the gospel or just the (pretty shallow) values of the world around us? If full time mums are feeling judged by people around them as 'wasting' their time and talents in the home and feeling depressed as a result then there certainly is the need for this book to reaffirm the value of doing the small things well and being diligent in your circle of influence.
I guess what I want to say to sum up is that this book is true and valid, but perhaps it needs more specific application to different people (or genders, dare I say it?) at different stages in life. Whilst it's true that all of us will have to do mundane tasks each day, for some of us this is more relevant than others! And I think this book could have had a real opportunity to speak into the situations of the full time mum, or the recently retired, as well as to the 'busy' professional.
That said, I am probably just being way too critical and I don't want to come across as negative towards a great writer who has produced some fantastic resources, many of which my own church has been really influenced by and I've seen really positive effects from. Perhaps you should buy it yourself and see what you think?
The cynic in me sees a male writer choosing as his example chore the task of washing up - which I've heard a few male preachers refer to as well- and part of me wonders if this is the only chore that some of these men actually do! Hence why it crops up so much in illustrations. But that, as I say, is the cynic in me and probably has no real foundation! But I do think that women, who are perhaps exposed to doing more of the mundane household chores (especially if they are full time mums), see them differently to men. I'm making huge generalisations here, I know, but hear me out: don't we, as women, just tend to get on with it anyway and manage (with varying levels of success) to balance housework with our parenting, job, time with the Lord and in fellowship with other believers?
I think the need for this book lies in the sad fact that we often value our day by productivity, and often housework doesn't 'count', because our efforts are so quickly undone or replaced by a fresh load of dirty dishes. We live in a culture that seeks to define success by attainment, and if you've done the washing up it's a pretty small victory. We definitely need to re-think the way we assess our lives: are we judging ourselves and others by the values of the gospel or just the (pretty shallow) values of the world around us? If full time mums are feeling judged by people around them as 'wasting' their time and talents in the home and feeling depressed as a result then there certainly is the need for this book to reaffirm the value of doing the small things well and being diligent in your circle of influence.
I guess what I want to say to sum up is that this book is true and valid, but perhaps it needs more specific application to different people (or genders, dare I say it?) at different stages in life. Whilst it's true that all of us will have to do mundane tasks each day, for some of us this is more relevant than others! And I think this book could have had a real opportunity to speak into the situations of the full time mum, or the recently retired, as well as to the 'busy' professional.
That said, I am probably just being way too critical and I don't want to come across as negative towards a great writer who has produced some fantastic resources, many of which my own church has been really influenced by and I've seen really positive effects from. Perhaps you should buy it yourself and see what you think?
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