Do You Have A Humble Yet Victorious Faith?
Good Morning Friends,
Now some may say that attending a certain church is the answer, or naming and claiming, or sending an offering to a missionary, but the Bible suggests true success is found in staying Christ-centered and standing on the Word of God. And it is also witnessing one’s belief that God, in us, is greater than the evil of the world. We are to turn our faith into redemptive action that binds us together. And it may even require us to do the most menial of tasks to seal the deal. Do You Have A Humble Yet Victorious Faith?
Scripture: Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:5-13 (NRSV)
He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:7-11 (NRSV)
But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Matthew 18:16 (NRSV)
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:24 (NRSV)
But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.
John 5:36 (NRSV)
Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, “Acquire it for yourself,” he took off his sandal.
Ruth 4:7-8 (NRSV)
Message: Sandals were worn by all classes of society in Palestine, even by the very poor; and both the sandal and the thong or shoe-latchet were so cheap and common that they came to mean the most insignificant thing. John the Baptist references his own insignificance compared to Jesus though this image but there is more to the meaning. It was a mark of reverence to cast off the shoes in approaching a place or person of eminent sanctity. And when it came to the place of Jesus’ baptism it was certainly Holy. So, think about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples in the Upper Room and then realize that the intimacy of unlatching a sandal and giving it to another was legally caught up in the sealing of a contract as mentioned in the Book of Ruth. Meditate on Jesus’ baptism and today’s text from John about testimony, picture the image is of Jesus taking on the responsibility of redeeming us and unlocking the power of God to save us all as he takes off his sandals. Contemplate that in Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son, the prodigal son has one shoe off and one shoe on. Remember that it was the custom in Israel, when it came to redemption and to confirm any matter, that a man removed his sandal and give it to another. This was the manner of attestation in Israel. And after this procedure was followed, every bond of slavery was broken and consequently as with Ruth became free. Perhaps this was the way of the prodigal. And perhaps living victoriously is like this, for even a menial action is a witness to the hope of our faith and redemption. And this strengthens us in believing in the unlocked power of Jesus to save us and the willingness to do what at first appears to be insignificant. Friends, this belief in Jesus, as both the King of Salvation and the Servant of Salvation is the most important thing ever. Your life depends on it and so does mine. So in summary, support of this belief is established by the testimony of witnesses that are trustworthy, but also our own willingness to do the most menial of tasks even though we are never worthy. So, in today’s scripture, we have the testimony of John the Evangelist, John the Baptist, the works of Jesus, scripture and the testimony of the Spirit of God and the Father’s voice at the baptism of Jesus. But we also have the image of the sandal to seal the deal of a contract for our redemption. Interestingly the Father and the Spirit attest to the event.
Pray we realize that the witness of God trumps everything. Pray we realize just how special the baptism of Jesus was. Pray we rejoice in the good news of this anointing but also the celebration of the resurrection. Pray we have a belief in Jesus that assures us of eternal life. Pray we realize that the message of Christianity has always been and will always be repent and believe, turn from your wicked ways, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray we embrace a covenant of love sealed in the Spirit of our own baptism. Pray we understand the importance of small things done with great love in our witness of our belief.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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