Good Morning Friends,
Yesterday’s devotional was about hearing and listening and as a follow up to that we look at Jesus’ final message before he died and his last miracle before he was crucified. And they combine to give us some clues, as a type of prophecy, as to the role of Christianity and the Holy Spirit in relationship with people of the Jewish faith. But we need spiritual ears to hear and it depends on who we consider Jesus to be and what purpose we consider to be the role of the church has to how we proceed. In our scripture from Matthew, where Jesus asks the disciples who do you say that I am, it becomes clear that Peter had spiritual ears to hear. Unfortunately, his actions, like the actions of the church he would symbolize were not always on point. Jesus took a personal interest in guiding Peter, as hopefully he guides the church, and today’s scripture gives us a preview and some breadcrumbs to follow as to what that might be. As Jesus’ time on earth was ending but also transforming, He delivered a final message and it was an appeal to people to embrace His light and hear his voice. Today’s NRSV translation says: “Then Jesus cried aloud”. There is a sense of urgency to the tone. Some of Jesus’ last words and actions before His Passion give us a choice. The timing should give us some indication as to their importance. But in the end, where does your answer take you…acceptance or rejection? What Would Your Last Act Be Before You Died?
Scripture: But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark. Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them.
Acts 12:24—13:5a (NRSV)
Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”
John 12:44-50 (NRSV)
Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him.
Luke 22: 50-51 (NRSV)
He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:15-18 (NRSV)
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
John 18:10-11 (NRSV)
Message: That the church exists today, its building and missions and people after nearly 2000 years is a miracle of light in a dark world…no not the institutionalism but the examples of the Body of Christ alive in a community of love. That Israel as a nation exists is also a miracle. And the healing of the two will be an even greater miracle.
The reality is that each generation could be the last were it not for those who take up the cause of Christ. It comes as the spiritual DNA of the Father to Son, through tradition and heritage and to us though the Holy Spirit. So, when Our Lord’s time on earth was ending, He delivered this final time of teaching and it was an appeal to people to embrace His light and love and to hear his message. These words, emphatically spoken, provide a climactic summary of His ministry designed to free us. In these verses, Jesus affirms His union with the Father, along with a message of hope for tomorrow and light for our darkness. He also states the importance of really believing and sharing in the great commandment to love. But we not only need to see in the light of love, we also need to hear spiritually. Simon Peter’s first name comes from the Hebrew, shamah, meaning “hearing.” He is a man who has spiritual hearing. And that brings us to Jesus’ last miracle before his Passion. And one way to see it is that the wounding of Malchus’ ear is symbolic of the people of Israel. We do not know if Malchus ever became a Christian. It is not clear whether he was an onlooker or a key figure at the arrest of Jesus. As a slave of Caiphas, the High Priest, he may just have been in his personal service or may have been even the captain of the temple police. What is clear is that he was entitled to the same respect as Caiphas and Peters’ attack on him would have prompted immediate retaliation had Jesus not rectified the situation immediately. The story shows Jesus’ resolve but also through its deeper meaning perhaps shows forth a prophetic telling of what was and is to happen related to the Jews and the church. As a servant of the High Priest, Malchus (whose name means King) depicts Israel’s role. Like him, Israel served a corrupt priesthood. They listened to the wrong voices and would soon call for the death of their Messiah. Their hearing had been “cut off.” But Jesus healed the ear of Malchus. In so doing, he was prophetically acting out that future day when he would heal the hearing of Israel. In that day, they will serve Jesus as their true High Priest. The hope is that sane and rational people will gather together and commit to a life that Christ preached in the light of his last message and last miracle before he died.
And So, last words and actions are important. So, Jesus last miracle before he died and some of his last words before he died should be seen as significant. Their symbolism and relevance to what is to come can give us valuable insight. So too what we say and with whom we share it each day is important, for we may not know as Christ knew the last day before his death. In the Book of John, the story is told how Christ prepares his disciples for the future and we are to learn from it as well. The main point in the whole book is that Jesus is the Son of God and that those who believe in Him have eternal life. And this point is in today’s text as well. But people must have spiritual ears to hear the message as Peter demonstrated in his affirmation of Jesus as the Messiah and is played out as a bit of prophecy in the healing of Malchus’ ear. And if we have ears to hear in this way, and sight to see we might understand that the last miracle and some of Jesus’ last words are meant to prepare us for what is to come too. The disciples did not see it coming and I doubt that many today see what is to come with clarity, but all this will make sense to us as it did to the disciples when we have the benefit of hindsight. So, there’s a point of tension and a reason for what Christ is doing that is beyond him being the Messiah for Israel. For the Messiah was to live and Jesus tells us in the scripture that he needed to die. With Jesus dying people had doubts. For the Messiah was one to live on. And so, in this moment the question is one of faith in deciding whether following Jesus is worth the cost given the doubts we all have. And for the disciples when He dies, that seems to answer the question about whether he was the Messiah. But then the resurrection happens, and Christ promises to return and to make His dominion clear over all creation. All this is dramatic stuff and a bit of a rollercoaster ride. And so, the message is that Christ will allow unbelievers to prosper now, but ultimately, He will judge them. Christ allows believers to suffer now, but ultimately, He will save us. Christ deals patiently with His disciples in their unbelief and works proactively them bring them out of darkness giving us all a hint as to how the future is to play out. So, friends, if somehow, I knew my next devotional would be my last, I would I say to you that God’s love is the light of eternal life…embrace it, hear it spiritually and share it in the darkness of the world to Jews and Gentiles in the hope of Christ’s healing. In this way believe and experience a wonderful and abundant life each day. Listen to Jesus and follow his Spirit.
Pray we not lock ourselves up in the darkness. Pray we have faith to trust Jesus so we might trust the Father to express the purpose God has placed in us. Pray the darkness in our lives be dispelled. Pray we never become accustomed to the dark. Pray Jesus though the Spirit with the knowledge of the Father enlighten our minds and give us wisdom and insight of spiritual truth. Pray Jesus transforms the darkness of sin in our lives, even the darkness of death. Pray we see by His light the way of pardon and purpose. Pray we find our way out of the dark night of the soul and have the reassurance we need to journey into an uncertain world proclaiming the good news. Pray we look for opportunities to love and live into them believing even when the world is full of denial and darkness. Pray we realize that we cannot see God’s light because it is within us. Pray this light in us is never extinguished but shines on with hope.
Pray
Jesus heal the hearing of the church and of Israel to a purpose that glorifies God. Pray we have ears to hear and words to share that bring light into the lives of others.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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