Man of Sorrows

I see posts on facebook from time to time asking friends to use a word to describe the poster. There is sometimes even a menu of choices. I cannot remember any of them giving "sad" or "sorrowful" as options. After all, everybody knows facebook is about fun, right? And wouldn't we consider it a slam if someone said that's what they thought of us? At best, we might think they felt sorry for us. No, sorrow is not good public relations.


Isaiah either did not know that, or did not care when he prophesied about Jesus:


"He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." (Isaiah 53:3)


When was the last time you saw a church named "First Church of Sorrows" or "Sad Man Sanctuary?" You have not seen them because we do not like sorrow. We are not attracted to it. To call Jesus a man of sorrows makes him sound...sad. What in the world was the Holy Spirit thinking when he gave these words to Isaiah?


Consider this: You have just come through a terrible patch in life. You are closing in on 50 and your job and marriage are on the skids. Your kids hardly acknowledge you any more, and you just can't seem to shake the feeling that life is over for you. You look in the phone book and find the name of a counselor. You make an appointment with Caring Carl and show up for your appointment. The counselor walks into the lobby and you are surprised to see that he looks to be about 25 years old. He tells you he is not married, has never had a serious relationship (or a job before this new practice). He is from a privileged background and has never wanted for anything. Oh, and he looks like Tom Cruise. What are you thinking at this point? Can this man, so unacquainted with sorrow begin to understand or empathize with you? Probably not. He may offer some sound textbook advice, but you leave his office feeling worse than when you entered.


What you need is a counselor who has had some sad days, weeks, or even years, and has overcome them. Someone with some experiences under their belt. Someone who has been in the darkness and found the switch. What you need is a man or woman acquainted with sorrow. It is this the writer of Hebrews refers to when he says that we have a compassionate high priest (Jesus) who understands our pain because he has been there.


Jesus came, the first time, to suffer and die as a sacrifice for our sins. Many today want to shy away from the so-called down side and focus on a "happy gospel" where it is all about your joy, your happiness, your blessings, your best life...YOU. The gospel of the Bible is one of suffering, a sacred sorrow that leads to repentance. The outcome is joy with its foundation firmly planted in eternity--not whether God is coming through for you the way you think he should here and now.


It may not be the best public relations. Not many people are signing up to follow Jesus into a sacred sorrow. Maybe that's why the gate that leads to salvation is narrow and few find it. We have to know we are sick before we can ask to be healed. It is the gate that leads to peace with God and eternity-based joy. Like Jesus, we long to do the (sometimes unpopular) will of the Father. The thing is, the Father really does know what's best for us.


The Man of Sorrows stands by to walk with you through your darkest valleys (and your brightest paths). There is no circumstance that will cause him to walk away from you. He will never give up on your broken life or your broken heart. Compassionate and patient, he is there for you, always, and his promise to all who trust him is to bring beauty from ashes. He is the redeemer of everything, and he is not afraid to get down in the mud and the muck to do it. He gets it; he understands you. His love never fails and, by his stripes we are healed.

The Lion

During a time of deep emotional and spiritual wounding, when I went to sleep with a plea for Jesus' presence in my heart, I dreamed of a lion. The lion in my dream lived with us. He was not a pet but had well deserved respect from us. As I lay on the rug in front of a fireplace beside the lion, suddenly he had me in a bear hug from behind, his mouth covering my head. My first reaction was fear, until he held me there for a while and I realized the gesture was one of loving control and protection. The lion had my back.

In Christian tradition, the Lion of Judah represents the triumphant Jesus. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and he is mentioned as the Lion of Judah in Revelation 5:5; "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Many Christian organizations and ministries use the lion of Judah as their emblem or even their name. The use in C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia of a lion named Aslan is known to represent Christ.

Jesus first appeared on earth as a sacrificial lamb. He was literally led to slaughter to provide a bridge between this fallen world and the holiness of God. He was not a victim but a willing participant in our redemption, if we trust in his righteousness (and not our own) to save us. The second chapter of the book of Philippians shows us that because Jesus descended from heaven and humbled himself in this way, he is given the "name above all names" and everyone, eventually, will worship him.

In Revelation, we see the risen Christ, triumphant, certain of his victory over sin and our mortal enemy. His message to you, wherever you are is this: "Dry your tears. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has prevailed." He has your back.

 

The Man

Remember the popular phrase, "You da' man?" We used it whenever someone surpassed our expectations in some way. From a friend or partner it was a badge of camaraderie, the gold medal of brotherhood, so to speak. I suppose it was a rather sexist way of saying, "well done." A hundred years earlier there might have been in its place a rousing chorus of "He's a jolly good fellow..."

Of all the things that Jesus is called in the gospels, the one I find the most intriguing is "the Son of Man." Jesus used it to refer to himself more than any other, possibly because it was not a title already used in the culture, therefore unsullied by pre-existing ideas. This title just means, "The Man" and Jesus gave it a whole new significance as he used it in 3 distinct ways.

First, he used it generally to refer to himself, often in place of the pronoun "I." For example, when he warned a would be disciple of the cost of following him he said "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Luke 9:58). It was his way of saying that those who follow him must be willing to share his homeless existence if called upon to do so.

Second, Jesus used it when he referred to his need to fulfill prophecies, specifically those which foretold his suffering. This usage is seen in "the Son of Man must suffer" (Mark 8:31), in reminding them it was "written concerning the Son of Man, that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt" (Mark 9:12). He referred to his being taken captive and his crucifixion at the Last Supper declaring "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him" (Mark 14:21), and when he submitted to his captors he said "The Scriptures must be fulfilled."

Ultimately, Jesus referred to himself as "Son of Man"--the one who had and exercised exceptional authority. This authority, he was clear, was given to him by God the Father. When he said "The Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2:10), he was declaring this authority. This special use of Son of Man got him into some trouble with those who just wanted a rabbi, not a Lord: "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28). The Son of Man spoke and acted in these cases as the ultimate prototype human being. In Genesis, God had given people dominion over all the works of His hands and, the Son of Man was in a position to exercise that dominion in very literal ways.

Looking into the future, Jesus promised (and warned his opponents) that the Son of Man will be seen "coming in the clouds with great power an glory" (Mark 13:26), and "sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). The illusion, at the time, was that he was the victim of their illegal proceedings and political intrigues but, a reversal of fortune was coming when He comes with the authority of God Himself.

Stephen, the first martyr of the early church, was the only other person on record as calling Jesus the Son of Man. While he was being stoned he declared he saw "the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). In this vision, Jesus stood as his witness in fulfillment of his promise "Whoever confesses me before men, him the Son of Man will confess before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8).

In the title "Son of Man" we see Jesus humility, poverty, past and future fulfillment of prophecy, the ultimate example of humanity, and Lord of the Sabbath.  In every sense of the word, he was and is--The Man.

 

Reconciliation

People often bring into my office the opportunity for reconciliation. Two people, once in love, have grown apart. Misunderstandings piled upon hurt feelings and the walls of defense are only outmatched by their growing arsenal of ways to hurt one another. Yet something brings them in--a glimmer of hope for paradise regained. In all my years of working with all kinds of issues, there is nothing more miraculous than seeing a relationship healed, reconciled, redeemed.

Reconciliation is simply the act of bringing two or more disagreeing people into agreement. It implies that motives and feelings of hostility are abandoned for the purpose of restoring damaged or broken relationships. There are people, like me, who make a profession of it.

The ultimate reconciliation came to the world to reconcile fallen people and a broken world to a holy and blameless God. "Religion" was and is about people trying to reach God through  personal effort and human goodness. Jesus brought a new deal. He became righteousness for us because we could not become righteousness (completely blameless before God) on our own. And he did it (pardon Paul's lack of political correctness by mentioning it) through his blood, shed on the cross.

"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:19

So, today is the day to take a deep breath and drink in peace. You do not have to be perfect or even good enough. You are already loved beyond description and, if you have trusted in the righteousness of Christ, you are reconciled with God through his sacrifice.

Part of his ongoing redemption, his reconciliation, is to write his will on the hearts of those he loves so that they respond not out of fear, but out of love.  Jesus referred to this kind of relationship redemption when he said the peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called the sons of God.

In making your personal applications, please do not lose sight of what the Apostle Paul is saying about Jesus: there is One who reconciles the vast chasm between God and man. No other philosopher, theologian, intellectual or mystic became the eternal sacrifice for you. Admire who you will--but worship the one and only Jesus.

 

Holding It All Together

Recently we dismantled our satellite connections inside and outside of the house. The process was way more involved than I imagined. I would have thought that all I needed to do was to unplug my receivers and send them back. But with this particular company I had to do that plus remove a mother board looking thing from the outside of my house, as well as some noise reduction gadgets from each satellite dish. (I had some help from a friend with one of these that exceeded the reach of my ladder.) To my surprise, most of these items, standing out in the elements for many years, were held together with one or two small screws! I am amazed they held together as long as they did in our Colorado weather.

There are times in our lives that test the metal of the screws that hold us together. The array of problems that parades through the typical counseling office astound the most seasoned among us: indescribable pain and unutterable losses revolving around seemingly unbearable circumstances. It is in walking through these bleak seasons that people discover the reality of their faith and the truth of sustaining grace. The presence and comfort of the Shepherd who walks with us through these dark valleys (notably not around or away from) reveals the tangible nature of deep and abiding relationship with him. It is when nothing else works for us that we realize that Jesus is the force that holds us together.

Paul wrote to the Colossians:

^"17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." Colossians 1:17-18


Jesus Christ was before all things--present and active at creation. He is also active in holding all things together: the balance of the planets, especially earth, suspended at just the right distance from the Sun to sustain life and allow the cycle of our water planet to work; the intricate balance of nature providing all that is needed (micro-organisms, oxygen, water, light, photosynthesis, gravity); seasons, and on and on. What we call the natural order might be described as the character of Christ.


Have you considered that Christ is also holding you together? Literally, every atom (each an inexplicable miracle in its own right) just where it needs to be to serve a unique function as part of an organ contributing to the greater needs of the body which in turn is capable of interacting with the environment and other organisms. Virtually, Jesus holds you together through the storms of life as well. At those times he speaks: "I'm right here. Will you trust me?"


Don't misunderstand--this Colossians passage is all about Jesus--his deity, his timelessness, his role as creator and sustainer, his place as head of the body (the church), the firstborn among those who will rise again, supreme over all.


But isn't it good to know that the "all things" he holds together includes you and me?

Exalted Matters

Mary, my wife, has had a couple of chance encounters with celebrities. At a music camp in a remote location, I found her sitting at a table with one of the male stars of the television series, "Lost." On one of our jaunts to a Nashville music store, she complimented a young man on his choice of guitars--without realizing it was Brad Paisley. My wife: celebrity magnet.

The rarity of these coincidences aside, what we noticed most were the gentle, humble personalities of these men. The Lost star was in several music classes with me and, actually seemed a bit insecure, frequently whispering in my ear, "Do I sound okay?" Mr. Paisley, incognito in standard ball cap, blue jeans and tee shirt, could have been any guy on the block. He accepted Mary's compliment with grace and wished us a nice day. I know men in my own community whose life stance is, "Do you know who I am?" But these celebrities did not need to flaunt their fame or superiority. They walked among us as fellow humans, laying aside any celebrity status.

The second chapter of Philippians contains one of the most beautiful chapters in the New Testament, which speaks of an even more dramatic example of this principle. The apostle Paul is encouraging the believers in Philippi to adopt the same attitude. Not only does it speak to how we should do life, it speaks volumes about Christ:

Philippians 2:5-11

New International Version (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

He is, in his very nature--God! In terms of rank, he is equal with God. And because of his willingness to empty himself, to become one of us, submitting to God the Father all the way to the cross, God has given him a place of exaltation--a name above all names and a promise that every knee will bow and acknowledge him as Lord.

Jesus Christ is not just a man who practiced holiness and became like God. He was God before he came to earth. He is not merely another great philosopher, though his teaching changed the world. He is not just another prophet, foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, he is the fulfillment of all prophecies. He is not our buddy, our therapist or, our imaginary friend. He is God and exalted King.

The love of God is seen in this--while living in perfect bliss in heavenly realms, Father, Son and Spirit colluded in a conspiracy to restore fellowship with a fallen world and its broken inhabitants. God loves the world this much: He gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him will never perish, having eternal life. Your decision about whether you believe this or not is yours, he gives you that freedom. But your decision about who he is does not change who he is, any more than our initial belief that Brad Paisley was just another guy cancelled out his true identity.

One thing about that decision? What you choose to believe about Jesus has eternal consequences for you. Choose wisely.

Supreme Matters

I remember riding shotgun in a buddy's Cutlass Supreme back in the late 70's. We were young and free from responsibilities, and this was a first taste of luxury. To us, it was a supreme experience--a chance to savor the best life had to offer.

Some words have lost their power through overuse. We love everything from our family to cookouts. Everything we approve of is awesome and, we apply the word supreme to everything from courts to tacos. We love comparison so we desire to know what is the best--cruise, restaurant,  baseball team, American singer or place to live. It seems to matter a great deal to most of us, that we get our share of the best the world has to offer.

So, it seems extremely ironic to me that when the best of the best is right in front of us, we want to make it less than supreme.  Take Jesus. Ask the average person what they think of him and, what do you think you will hear? "Get away from me with that fanatical stuff!" "Oh what a good man and great teacher!" "I love what he did, he changed the world!" "I think he's one of many who taught us a way to enlightenment." " I have no problem with Jesus, he was a gentle spirit." Even the most generous of these comments express a weak view of the biblical Jesus:

"15 The Son (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." Colossians 1:15-16, parenthesis mine.

Why would we want to diminish him? I mean, God came to us in the form of a scandalous babe.  Both God and man, he grew before us as a tender plant. He was tempted in all ways and yet never sinned. He gave us words of life, and then offered his life as a sacrifice for sin so that we can approach God as sons and daughters. That should be nothing but good news--supreme news! So why would we not enthusiastically embrace him and worship him?

I fear the answer to that "why" has a lot to do with our desire to be the masters of our own fates. If another is master over us, we might not like what he asks us to do--and not to do. This goes against our independence and what we imagine to be our freedom. How can we worship another when, truthfully, we are the gods of our own lives?


Real worship is more than a one time intellectual acceptance of who he is. The apostle Paul, in the twelfth chapter of the book of Romans, says that our spiritual act of worship is to give our bodies (our lives and everything in them) to God in sacrificial living. This is a result of growing, loving relationship with God through Jesus. As a favorite writer puts it, "Everything" is what you give up and what you gain to really follow Jesus.  

After delivering a particularly tough message, the crowd turned away from Jesus. He looked at his motley posse and asked if they would leave him too. One of the more outspoken responded that they had nowhere else to go because Jesus had THE words of life.

And that is what it's like to live in the light of the supreme One. No one else can satisfy. Nothing else will do. Now I see those cars in period movies of the 70's and I am surprised how funny they look to me. The things of  this world, including tastes in cars, fashions and kitchen appliances, change to the point the once-supreme is now laughable.


One stands heads and shoulders above it all--eternally supreme. Why would we put our faith in anything or anyone but the best?