This sketch illustrates how we can try to follow Jesus still hanging on to: Pride, ambition and loose heart because these things weigh us down.
Jesus would ask us to let him deal with our pride, ambition and let him take care of our heart.
Jeremiah had Godly Pride
Soon after King Solomon died, the nation was divided Israel in the north and Judah in the south. God raised up Jeremiah as a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem during the following fifty years he saw both good and bad kings.
At that time King Josiah reigned over Judah, he was regarded as a Godly King, a good shepherd. During his reign Judah prospered and God was at the centre of Jewish life. After his death Jehoahaz succeeded to the throne, he was not a Godly King; he was soon deposed by the King of Egypt and taken prisoner there. The Egyptians allowed Jehoiakim to reign over Judah, but he was lukewarm towards God. Matthew Henry wrote,” the crimes for which he was reproved were pride, and affection and splendour.” Jehoiakim full of pride, self esteem, built himself a mansion with no expense spared. He had affection for material splendour.
This reminds me of the neighbour who parade their worldly wealth by having the most recent new car parked on their drive and demonstrates to everybody the latest gadgetry. Flaunting their possessions putting value on what they have rather than the person.
Jeremiah had Godly pride he saw through the king’s decadence, he spoke out for God. He saw in the almond blossom, God watching over his people.
Through the pot boiling over he saw in that God’s anger towards them in their self indulgence.
Jeremiah prophesied that Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar would plunder and burn the city of Jerusalem. God would allow this to happen because of the unfaithfulness of king and people. He advised the King to repent and set a good example so that the people would follow his lead, he ignored his advice. Jehoiakim later banned Jeremiah from delivering messages in public at the temple, so he gave his massage to his friend Baruch to read them out in his place.
Three of Jeremiah’s Prophesies.
• The Babylonian King conquered the land of Judah and later destroyed the temple exiling many of its people as slaves into Babylon for 70 years.
• The exiles returned under the occupation of the Persian King Cyrus.
• The raising up of the ‘branch’ the Messiah, the descendant of King David.
Jeremiah saw the day when the Messiah would come and reign over Jerusalem and its people.
Jeremiah a holy man he had a Godly ambition he was looking for the sovereign rule of the Messiah over God’s righteous kingdom. He knew in his heart that through the Messiah God would make an end of sin and lead the people like a shepherd into green pastures.
Today every Christian looks forward to seeing the righteous Kingdom of God filling the whole earth.
Jesus lived at the time when the Roman’s occupied the whole of Israel.
After the death of King Herod around 6BC Herod’s three sons: Archelaus, Philip and Antipas ruled over Israel. The land was divided up into three areas: Herod Antipas was king over Galilee and Perea.
After Jesus was arrested Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas for questioning. His accusers: the chief priests and scribes went with him; they vehemently accused Jesus of making himself their king. Jesus did not answer any of Antipas’ questions.
Jesus afterwards was taken back to Pilate and from there he was taken to Golgotha and crucified. Whilst Jesus hung on the cross the chief priests and the scribes taunted him. They shouted, so that everyone could hear, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” Luke 23: 35
In Mark’s account of this he wrote, “Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross that we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 32
They shouted this to Jesus because they did not expect their Messiah to come and die. God had deliberately hidden Messiah’s death from their understanding.
All the people had been taught by the chief priests, scribes and lawyers that when the Messiah came he would remain and reign as their king. Jesus’ words left the people perplexed.
Even when Jesus told his disciples that he was going to be put to death and be raised from the dead they did not understand couldn’t grasp it.
“Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.” Luke 9: 44, 45. Mark 9: 31, 32. Luke 18:31-34.
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus on the evening of the resurrection were discussing with the stranger about Jesus, “And they said to him,”Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.”
These disciples had been taught like everyone else that the Messiah would come and reign over the kingdom of God.
Jesus’ words left the people perplexed.
The people also heard him speak of being crucified.
“When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. Jesus said this to show by what death he was to die.”
The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever, how can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” John 12: 32 – 34
When Jesus’ words were fulfilled, Jesus on the cross was heard to say, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing.” Luke 23: 34
Jesus knew that they had acted in ignorance when they crucified him, their king. His forgiveness was given to them before any repentance had taken place.
Today that same forgiveness is available to all who come to Jesus in faith.
Church’s special relationship with Israel
For almost 2,000 years we have been brought up to believe that the time for the Jewish people to receive Jesus as their King and Messiah was before his death. Since then the Jewish people have been put on the back burner by the church. But the days are coming were the church needs to understand it has a special relationship with and a responsibility towards Israel.
The Messiah’s Secret – Preface by John Young
“As one of the elders of a Messianic Fellowship whose congregation fulfils the desires of God to see Jews and Gentiles as one, this book will be extremely helpful to Jew and Gentile in understanding the plan, and purposes of God and for His people. The Church has long needed to understand it has a special relationship with and a responsibility towards Israel. Truth has been lost throughout the ages but like a treasure is always rediscovered. In these end times then let this book be dedicated to the One who inspired its writer and author as He did in times past. To those searching for the ‘truth’ this will be a very helpful book in bringing clear understanding and direction in where our focus should be.
I trust in the grace of God to open the eyes and to open the hearts of those searching for the ‘truth’ for it is only the Lord Jesus who declared He is the way, the truth and the life to all irrespective of colour and creed. Let this little work be to the glory of God and to the increase of His government in this world.”
John Young December 2000
A sign of the latter days
Today the nation of Israel is not very popular in the world. My view is that anti-Semitism will increase. It will get harder for the church to reach Israeli’s with the gospel.
“Remember that you (Gentiles) were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility . . . that he might create in himself one new man in place of two, so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.” Ephesians 2:12-16
Roman soldier.
The soldiers who stood nearby repeated the Jewish leader’s accusation, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.”
They thought that Jesus as a man had aspired to be the King of the Jews. Earlier at Herod Antipas’ residence they had put on Jesus a purple robe, mocking him. However, the soldiers upset the Jews when they nailed this inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” Luke 23: 37, 38.
The soldiers did not know that Jesus was already king of the kingdom of God, and that he was born a king.
The two criminals
One of the criminals crucified alongside of him hurled insults at him and said,”Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us?” He thought that Jesus should reveal himself by coming down from the cross, and save them as well.
The chief priests, scribes, soldiers and the criminal were goading him to take action if he was the Messiah. They were appealing to Jesus’ pride, his self esteem, wanting him to elevate himself by descending from the cross in a spectacular way so that he could fulfil his ambition, which they believed was at the heart of it all, to be made the King of the Jews, the Christ.
Saved by Faith and Grace
The other criminal discerned that Jesus was genuine, in his humility he admitted his sin and had faith in Jesus when he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This man was to die with Jesus and be raised up with him.
The cross is our meeting place with Jesus as we come to him in humility confessing our sin, having faith to believe that he is Lord and Saviour of mankind and we too die with him and are raised up with him in his resurrection and enter into his kingdom.
Excess Baggage
The Sketch points out that the cross is just the beginning of what Jesus wants to do for us. Pride and ambition to succeed in the world can weigh us down; there is an element of competition, to strive with others, like keeping up with our neighbour.
Jesus transforms our desires so that material possessions count for nothing they are not important any more. That does not mean that we should not have them, but it puts them in perspective, they are useful to us. What is important is knowing that we are valued and loved by the Lord. We have self esteem in humbly having a feeling of pleasure over a job well done.
Jesus transforms our ambitions.
Jesus taught his disciples and us to seek the lowest place so that we might be honoured when we are asked to sit in a higher place.
Jesus gave the example of when you are invited to a wedding feast. Do not go and sit in the places that are intended for the most immediate family guests, as it could be very embarrassing if you are asked to move. It is much better to sit in seats available for the other guests. If then, you are invited to go and sit with the bride and groom’s family, you are being honoured.
When we do these things it brings joy to our hearts we bond with Jesus.
