Ever Wonder Why Jesus Did Not Reveal Himself to the Whole World in The Flesh?
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s question is asked in John and answered in John but experienced in our lectionary passage from Acts. Ever Wonder Why Jesus Did Not Reveal Himself to the Whole World in The Flesh?
Scripture: And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news. In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Acts 14:5-18 (NRSV)
They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you
John 14:21-26 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus could have revealed himself to the whole world and taken over the world but that is not how God planned it out. Jesus wanted us to experience the fullness of life and was teaching us how this is done. He revealed himself to the disciples teaching them that they were to live as he lived…in obedience of the Father. If he had revealed himself to everyone they would have been obeying him for all the wrong reasons. Just look at what happened to Paul and Barnabas in today’s passage from Acts. Still Paul and Barnabas obeyed. They realized that there is only one God. So, from the story of creation to the end of Revelation, it’s difficult to turn a page that doesn’t deal with God’s call for obedience. It is a central theme and is related to today’s question. You see, the way of obedience is often ignored or dismissed because it confronts our sin and challenges our lives. But obedience of God is not exactly like obedience of people. We are to obey, not because we must or because we need to, but, because we want to.
The whole thing is not a power trip for God. It is to increase our enjoyment of life though the Holy Spirit. Obedience is the evidence of God’s love.
Obedience is not a requirement of salvation but a confirmation of God’s love that calls us into the presence of the divine and transforms us. It is understandable why the events in Lystra and Derbe turned out the way they did. You see, everyone who is united with Christ expresses that union with Christ by living like Christ, by walking as he walked. That is why he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit so we could walk in unity. That is what Paul and Barnabas were doing and it is what we are to do as well.
Pray we have the strength to obey. Pray we obey the command to love. Pray we obey for all the right reasons. Pray we understand that love and obedience are yoked together across time. Pray therefore we are abiding in Christ, walking like Christ, and living like Christ would have us to live. Pray our obedience is not forced, burdensome or painful. Pray our obedience not spring from fear, selfishness, legality, self-praise or custom. Pray our obedience be easy, natural and pleasant. Pray we realize that some things that appear of earthly good and benefit to society may not benefit a person spiritually. Pray we believe in only one God. Pray we realize we are not God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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