Tag: Jesus Christ

Reverberations

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That is why I think this Grand Miracle is the missing chapter in this novel, the chapter on which the whole plot turns; that is why I believe that God really has dived down into the bottom of creation, and has come up bringing the whole redeemed nature on His shoulder. The miracles that have already happened are, of course, as Scripture so often says, the first fruits of that cosmic summer which is presently coming on. Christ has risen, and so we shall rise. St Peter for a few seconds walked on the water; and the day will come when there will be a re-made universe, infinitely obedient to the will of glorified and obedient men, when we can do all things, when we shall be those gods that we are described as being in Scripture. To be sure, it feels wintry enough still: but often in the very early spring it feels like that. Two thousand years are only a day or two by this scale. A man really ought to say, “The Resurrection happened two thousand years ago” in the same spirit in which he says, “I saw a crocus yesterday.” Because we know what is coming behind the crocus. The spring comes slowly down this way; but the great thing is that the corner has been turned. There is, of course, this difference, that in the natural spring the crocus cannot choose whether it will respond or not. We can. We have the power either of withstanding the spring, and sinking back into the cosmic winter, or of going on into those “high mid-summer pomps” in which our Leader, the Son of man, already dwells, and to which He is calling us. It remains with us to follow or not, to die in this winter, or to go on into that spring and that summer.

-C.S. Lewis, The Grand Miracle (God in the Dock, page 85)

Behold the Lamb of God

James HoganLeave a comment

So I’ve been enjoying reading the book of John of late. Always a pleasure when it comes time to read that again. And today, found myself reading the three epic chapters(but really, aren’t they all?) of John 4, 5 & 6. So many things could I say (Jesus proclaiming Himself to the woman at the well! Jesus healing the man who had been waiting 38 years – “pick up your pallet and walk!”), but since John 6 is the last chapter I read, thought I’d just make a couple comments on a few items that encouraged me deeply. Firstly, Jesus had just provided a bountiful feast for the thousands of people that had flocked to Him for his healing. Because of this great sign which Jesus had performed, the people decided that Jesus really was something special and they for some reason thought it’d be a good idea to make Jesus king (by force if necessary!). Jesus – knowing that this was a terrible idea, and indeed that His time had not yet come – went up the mountainside to be by Himself, at which time I have no doubt He prayed to His Father. The disciples apparently had no idea when Jesus was going to come down, so they got in a boat and started across the sea. The wind was terrible, they were rowing for miles and then finally…they saw Jesus. Walking. On the sea. Reasonably so, they were frightened. But Jesus reassured them – “It is I; do not be afraid.” And so they were willing to receive Him into the boat and Jesus brought the boat to where they needed to be. No more rowing required! I suppose this is a well-known story, but I just want to make a couple quick points. The disciples were on their own(as they thought) and not having a great time of it. Just as we often are in the midst of turbulent and miserable circumstances and think that we’re alone and think that Jesus is nowhere near. We may think that there’s no way Jesus could be near or with us(maybe intellectually we know this is not true…but emotionally and spiritually…we feel alone. Yes?) Yet, no matter where we are – Jesus has absolutely no probably getting to us. Being near us. But what is the disciples’ first response to seeing Jesus on the waves? Fear! Just so with us – sometimes when God reaches out to us when we’re in the midst of our mess, we are afraid as well. It may be for different reasons (not just because we see God walking on the water!) We are afraid for Jesus to see us at our worst. We are afraid that Jesus is too holy and we know we are too unholy. We are afraid that Jesus is disappointed in us. We are afraid that Jesus won’t really be able to help us. We are afraid looking into the face of God. But Jesus reassures us. “It is I; do not be afraid.” As we know who Jesus truly is – His character, His divine nature, His love…for us! – so that should assuage our fear and reassure us that the nearness of Jesus is indeed our good. Jesus’ communion with us – via ministry of the Holy Spirit! – is indeed a very balm to our wounded souls. And so it says the disciples willingly received Him into their boat. So let us not push back against the ministry of God in our lives – let us receive Him, welcome Him, cry out to Him, love Him. Be willing – nay, be eager! – for Christ to work in our lives. And what great things will He not do?? Just as He miraculously brought the boat to where they needed to be…so God will do wonderful things in our lives. Far more wonderful than we can even conceive. True? May it be so.

Humorous interlude. I do like that the next morning, all the crowds of people are still looking for Jesus and they note that the one boat is still there and the disciples had used the other boat (guess there were only 2 boats there originally?)…and they still couldn’t find Jesus anywhere!! They’re hunting all over and finally they find Jesus across the sea. They are most confused. Wait a second…how did Jesus get here when he most certainly didn’t use a boat?? It’s fun to picture their puzzlement. They probably didn’t consider the fact that Jesus doesn’t exactly need a boat. The Son of God truly rules the wind and the waves and He will walk where He will. No boats required.

Briefly…another few thoughts that encouraged me. The rest of John 6, Jesus challenges the Jews greatly. They bring up Moses and the manna in the wilderness and ask Jesus if He will perform such signs (even though He already did…I guess they want more signs? More food!) and Jesus doesn’t hold back from speaking truth to this crowd that seems to be seeking Him. He tells them that He Himself is the true bread of God that comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world. And that only those who believe in Him will have eternal life. There’s a lot of back and forth and I don’t have time to get into it now, but Jesus doesn’t package this into a nice easily digestible message. No, He makes it difficult. He makes it weird. And just when they start to complain about Him coming out of heaven (“We know you come from Joseph and Mary!”), he challenges them further, while also proclaiming the truth that no one can come to Christ but those in whom the Father works. What hard words are these. Those who ate the manna in the wilderness, what happened to them? They died in rebellion in the desert. That manna did them no good whatsoever. But as for the true bread of life, Christ Himself? Come to Him, believe in Him for your salvation, cry out to Him for your life…eat His flesh and drink His blood (oh what a beautiful picture of communion with God this is!)…and you shall abide in Christ and Christ shall abide in you. You will truly live forever.

Again though, these were weird words. And Jesus didn’t make them necessarily all that palatable. And so many of His disciples (those who had been following Him! Those who thought they liked Jesus!) just couldn’t take it. When they thought Christ was just a prophet or just a rabbi or just a good man…they were very willing to follow Him and be a part of His group. Now though? To trust that Christ is the only source of eternal life and to completely and totally believe in Him for salvation? Too much. So many of them “withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” Submitting yourself to God isn’t about going to church or being part of a fun social group. It’s completely and totally surrendering to the God of the universe, believing what God says about Himself and trusting in Him and Him alone for your salvation. This isn’t a fun and easy way of life. But it is true life. And the gorgeous words which wrap up this chapter…Jesus asks the twelve disciples if they want to go away too. How does Simon Peter answer?

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Let those be our words. To whom else shall we go indeed? There is no one other. There is nothing else that can satisfy. Never, no never. To whom shall we go? Christ Jesus is the Holy One of God, and our true hope of salvation.

These are a lot of random words today, so don’t take my words for true interpretation of these texts. Just some musings on what I read today and thoughts that came to my head. Indeed, through the reading of the Scripture does the Holy Spirit comfort our souls.

Art Deco

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It is a most glorious day. This morning – finally! – is sitting at sub-60 temperature and it is drippy and wet and slightly cold and it is beautiful. I forget how much I love the “winter” (quotation marks most definitely required) here in Houston. And it is here at long last! So now I get to enjoy my hot coffee inside after having walked in from the (marginally) cold outside and I am happy. Another reason for happiness – I got quite a good long reading time this morning…woke up (reasonably) on time and thus was able to luxuriate in reading through sections of Psalm 119, some Proverbs, 1 Kings 19-20(1 Kings 19 – will always be one of my very favourites after preaching through it in Scotland…oh how encouraging are those words! God indeed takes care of our needs and encourages us with his presence and reminds us of the truths we ought to know…and gives us good works to do. May I remember that this day) and then finally Galatians (yes, I had time to read all of it – which truly is necessary as Galatians is such a lovely book and needs to be read straight through!). So I am ever more aware of how truly blessed I am. Might I constantly be reminded today of how I ought not boast in anything else other than the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. Always.

A Note of Grace

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Good morning, friends!! I only have a bare few minutes to write…really not even that long, though I did want to say a few words. I read (amongst other things) in Luke 19 today and it’s a glorious chapter with so much I could talk about…from Jesus talking about his going away and not returning for a long time, and how we are to use what He has given us in the meantime, not just sit around waiting for Him…and then scarily enough(this is definitely not the Jesus of popular culture) he talks about those people who did not want Him to reign over them. What happens with those people? This is a democracy right, and if they don’t want Jesus, then fair enough, yup? We all get to choose our own destinies!! Not quite. At the end of that parable, the returning King calls for those who did not want Him to rule to be brought to Him and slain in His presence. Well. Alright then. And then more sobering words, with Jesus arriving at Jerusalem and weeping at their soon-coming judgment because they had missed their visitation – rejected their King. But as sad as these words are – we are comforted by the fact that Jesus will come again…and we shall truly say – “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord”. Oh how I long for that day. But since I have no time and I really can’t talk about all these words, just going to mention my favourite verse in this chapter, the very last one. It is talking about how Jesus is preaching daily in the temple and the religious leaders were trying to destroy him, yet they couldn’t. Here I’ll quote verse 19 in its entirety – “…and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.” That is beautiful enough in and of itself – imagine the scene, people just soaking in the words of Jesus, eyes enraptured, hearts afire. But I glanced over at the footnote as I read and noted that those last few words are literally in the Greek, “…for all the people were hanging on to Him, listening.” Do we have that kind of attitude towards Jesus? Do we have such a desire to know Him more that we could be described as “hanging on to Him, listening”? Each and every day – how do we approach our Lord? I pray that this day we all might burn with passion to be closer, closer to Jesus. Read the Word of God and be in awe at the Light of His Truth. Listen, listen, my friends – to our glorious Lord. Do not miss His visitation – for He has truly offered Himself to all those who cry out to Him. What glory. What beauty. What love. Embrace Jesus and what He has done – for us. Hold on to Jesus and listen. He calls to you. Listen. Listen.

A staggering And most Achingly perfect Montage produced To most Dazzling effect

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Besides, faith itself, as acted on the death of Christ, hath a peculiar efficacy
unto the subduing of sin: for, “beholding” him thereby “as in a glass, we are
changed into the same image,” 2 Cor. iii. 18; and that which we peculiarly
behold, we are peculiarly transformed into the likeness of.  And, moreover,
it is the only means whereby we actually derive from Christ the benefits of
our union with Him.  From thence we have all grace, or there is no such
thing in the world; and the communication of it unto us is in and by the
actual exercise of faith principally.  So it being acted with respect unto
His death, we have grace for the killing of sin, and thereby become
dead with Him,
crucified with Him,
buried with Him,
as in the testimonies before produced.
This is that which we call the application of the death of Christ unto us,
or our application of ourselves to the death of Christ for the
mortification of sin.

-John Owen, Works, Vol III, p 563

Éponine

James HoganLeave a comment

Read some of my favourite verses this morning…

For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
When I was a child, I used to
think like a child, reason like a child;
when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

For now we see in a mirror dimly,
but then face to face;
now I know in part,
but then I will know fully
just as I also have been fully known.
-1 Corinthians 13:9-12

I would like to dwell on the following phrases this day.  Firstly, “…but when the perfect comes…”  What a sublime few words, what a gorgeous sigh of hope.  Someday.  Secondly…”…for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face…”  Oh so true is it that our eyes can scarcely pierce the hollow lies of this dark and weary world.  There is a Truth about this world and though sometimes we glimpse it and though sometimes we may reach for it, our reaching is fumbling with our eyes half-closed.  There is a light glorious though and that light beckons true.  Someday our knowledge of the Truth will not be as though seen through shifting waters.  No, someday our knowledge of the Truth will be complete and full and perfect because we shall see that Truth face to face.  To bow at the feet of my Lord Jesus Christ.  Someday.  And “…just as I also have been fully known.”  Now our knowledge is partial and wavering and oh so frail at times.  Yet now – even now – we are completely and utterly known.  Our souls are not lost in the void and despite the devils’ siren call to blissful nothingness, we can with confidence state that we are loved by the One who knows our name.  Is it better to be self-determinedly lost and not yet found?  I say no, I say never.  Never again.  We have a higher hope, a sweeter faith, a most perfect love.  After all, we are fully known.

Smeared Black Ink

James HoganLeave a comment

So it is the exact midpoint of the week.  Wednesday at noon and while I should be beginning my lunch (cheese sandwiches – don’t judge!), I somehow feel like writing a few words instead.  So I shall do that.  Only a very few words though since I am hungry!  Today read a number of passages in my coffee time, but the words that struck me the most came from Romans 5…the first few verses.  And since they so powerfully rocked me, I shall quote them here:

Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have obtained
our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand;
and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,
knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character;
and proven character, hope;
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

That’s Romans 5:1-5.  And truly, reading those words…does that not stir your soul?  Each line more thrilling than the last – a whirlwind of love and glory, a symphony of hope and awe.  I shan’t talk about all these words as my time and abilities don’t stretch that far….but look at that first line: “Therefore, having been justified by faith.”  This is the bedrock of our salvation – and rather than something as grand and magnificent as some great work that we have done…we have been justified(i.e., had righteousness credited to us) because of our faith alone.  Simply confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and ye shall be saved.  (And at this point I must mention before I forget…that these words in Romans 5 really must be read with the understanding and context of the first four chapters of Romans.  In which, briefly – our sin and utter damning lack of holiness before God demands a response.  There is no one righteous, not even one. And nothing we do in and of ourselves can atone for our sins or is something we can boast in.  The wages of sin is death.  All we can do as we consider our great and overpowering sin before the face of a holy God is…tremble.  And fall flat on our faces before the Almighty.  And wail and weep.  And yet.  There is an Answer.  There is a Hope.  And that Hope is Jesus Christ, in whom is our redemption and our salvation).

Ahem.  So…in returning to my point, we are justified by faith.  How marvelous is that?  Simple, precious, beautiful faith – believing and trusting in God and understanding that He is able and willing and desirous to save us from our sins(from ourselves!).  And that next line…because of our faith, we have peace with God.  How can we possibly react to this.  We – who are dirty and vile and impure and rotten and dark and lost – have peace with God.  The Creator of the universe and the Most Holy One who sits in the heavens.  We have peace with this God.  We should tremble in awe and adoration at these words – how can it be that our God shouldst grant us this peace?  And one more line…this peace is through our Lord Jesus Christ – of course! – because of what He has done for us.  Our God – died – for – us.  So we now stand, not sit or kneel or even flat on our faces as wouldst be appropriate.  We stand in the grace of God.  And our response?  We sing and dance and praise – we exult in hope of the glory of God, for that is from whence all our joy should spring – that God is glorified in all these wondrous things!

And…funnily enough, this passage continues.  You would think it would be a perfect spot to end – exulting in hope of the glory of God, right?  Wrong.  …we exult in our tribulations. Hm, that’s weird.  Tribulations?  Sounds terrible and not at all appropriate to be part of an uplifting and self-affirming passage as this right?  (Well, there’s your first mistake – this is most definitely not a self-affirming passage!!  If you think that’s the purpose of reading Scripture – to uplift and affirm yourself – you are gravely mistaken).  Anyways.  Our tribulations result in perseverance, proven character…and hope.  So next time you encounter tribulations(perhaps later this afternoon?), rejoice.  And seek that perseverance, proven character and hope that is promised here – for truly, this is a promise from God.  What is God teaching you through your tribulations?  Trust in Him, lean on Him and surely you will rejoice as God honours your acknowledgement of Him alone as the sole Sustainer of your soul.

And now that my appetite begs me to eat lunch…how can I end this?  Simply by reminding you that if and as you are a child of God because of your faith in Him then the Holy Spirit has been given to you.  This is true!  And what a miracle – we have God in us.  We have a Comforter with us at all times.  And because of this Spirit, the love of God has been poured out within our hearts.  Let me repeat – the love of God has been poured out within our hearts.  Does that even make sense to you?  It takes me aback.  I question it.  I wonder.  I certainly don’t always feel that.  Yet.  It is true.  As children of God, we have been abundantly and staggeringly blessed with the love of God Himself.  Consider that as you go throughout your day.  Next time you’re tempted to complain or fear or snap…pause.  The love of God has been poured out within your heart.  Stunningly beautiful words.  Meditate on them.  What cause have we for grief and sorrow in the face of such an overwhelming jewel of light and beauty as this?  The love of God has been poured out within your heart.  Remember.

Contradictory Wildcats

James HoganLeave a comment

 Happy Thursday friends!!  It’s very sadly not cold outside anymore(not close to cold, even.  It’s approximately 75.  Ugh)…but I still can’t complain.  I have my peppermint mocha here, which is…not traditional for Thursdays, but that’s just because tomorrow I won’t be going to work – no, tomorrow at this time I’ll be in airport awaiting my flight to Charlotte to see Maryanne.  Hurrah!!  Can’t wait for that.  We shall have a glorious weekend of being together and doing adventerous things…mostly I just am looking forward to good chats.  Anything else going on here in Texas…?  Not terribly much…last night was a relaxing evening hanging out with John.  Had sushi and watched Rogue One, which is a very good Star Wars movie indeed.  Even if everyone does die(oh – spoilers much?  My apologies.  Not really, it came out over a year ago – no excuses!)  It was more emotional than I remember it being…and it has one of the best combined space/land battles in all of Star Wars.  Much explosive, laser-filled fun!  This morning had a nice breakfast at home while I continued my read through Acts.  Sadly I’m over closer to the end than the beginning of the book….am much enjoying reading about Paul and his missionary journies presently.  Today read about his trials and travails in Corinth, Ephesus and a few other places.  Was encouraged by seeing the works of the Lord in saving so many…also convicted by how the people of Ephesus responded.  They burned over 50,000 pieces of silver’s worth of “magic books”, etc. If only we all were so serious about our sin and what distracts us from loving and honouring God with all our might.  Truly – as I read last night in Edwards biography, “…the love and the pursuit of true holiness is the enduring mark of the true Christian.”  Lovely.  I definitely am most enjoying reading this biography lately – I now remember why it is one of my all-time favorites.  Oh that I might live with even a tenth of Edward’s passion and desire to know Christ more.  And…as I continue to ramble, I think ’tis too late to start a new paragraph now, so shall just leave this all messy and of one piece.  Honestly, it is probably time I end this and sip my peppermint mocha in peace as I meditate on the goodness of God and look forward to what He shall do this day.  Oh!  And speaking of mochas, while at Starbucks today, got a surprise Katie sighting…she is only working one day a week lately due to nursing school, etc – and apparently got switched to Thursdays.  So we enjoyed chatting for a couple minutes – this past Sunday she was at Bethel on a panel talking to middle-schoolers about dating and all that…they definitely need it!!!  (I probably could have used something similar back in the day, honestly…)  Anyways, we had solid people on all these panels(at least on the girls’ side – know it was Megan, Emily, Erica & Katie…can’t go wrong!).  Now I continue to type and yet there is no point.  So I shall rest my fingers and think and ponder for real.  Peace, my friends.

the City of the Wind

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For to receive the grace of God in Jesus Christ means not
only that my sins are forgiven because of His death for me on the cross on
Calvary’s hill, but also that I have been given a new life and a new nature. It means
that Christ is being formed in me, that I have become a partaker of the divine
nature, that old things have passed away and all things have become new. It
means that Christ is dwelling in me, and that the Spirit of God is in me. The
man who has been born again, and who has the divine nature within him, is a
man who is righteous and his righteousness does exceed that of the scribes and
Pharisees. He is no longer living for self and his own attainments, he is no
longer self-righteous and self-satisfied. He has become poor in spirit, meek, and
merciful; he hungers and thirsts after righteousness; he has become a peacemaker.
His heart is being purified. He loves God, yes unworthily, alas, but he
loves Him and longs for His honour and glory. His desire is to love God and
to keep and honour and fulfil His law. The commandments of God to such a
man ‘are not grievous’. He wants to keep them, for He loves them. He is no longer
at enmity against God; but he now sees the holiness of the law and nothing
so appeals to him as the living of this law and the exemplifying of it in his daily
life. It is a righteousness that far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees.

Some of the most vital questions that can be asked, then, are these. Do you
know God? Do you love God? Can you honestly say that the biggest and the
first thing in your life is to glorify Him and that you so want to do this that you
do not care what it may cost you in any sense? Do you feel that this must come
first, not that you may be better than somebody else, but that you may honour
and glorify and love that God who, though you have sinned against Him grievously,
has sent His only begotten Son to the cross on Calvary’s hill to die for
you, that you might be forgiven and that He might restore you unto Himself?
Let every man examine himself.
-D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, page 182-183

Violently does the ocean Foam, Alone does the herald Stand

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So today I have just begun reading the Gospel of John – a truly glorious book, divinely inspired and penned as it was! And while I could spend hours pondering and thinking and writing on the beauties contained in only the first chapter of John, I’d like to focus on a few words. Let me set the scene – John the Baptist has been talking about the One whose sandals he is not worthy to untie. The One upon whom the Spirit descended like a dove. The One who existed before John – although John was born first. The very Son of God. And as John proclaims in his preaching – “the Lamb of God!”

Some of John’s disciples are naturally curious and so they decide to follow Jesus. Jesus sees them following and turns to them and what does He say? “What do you seek?” These are the words I want to hone in on. Apart from them being the very first words Jesus speaks in the Gospel of John, these are the words Jesus speaks to those who would “follow Him”. So to those of you who would desire to follow Jesus(or at least curious to know more about him?), that is the question that needs to be answered. What do you seek? Notice – Jesus doesn’t say “who” – He says “what”. We desire many things on this earth, most of them unhelpful and even dangerous for us – body and soul. Jesus – as very God – understands that our minds are warped and corrupted and He knows that apart from the grace of God our desires will be foolish and our seekings ill-conceived. So – what do you seek? Do you seek fame and fortune? Do you seek pleasure and gain? Do you seek comfort and self-gratification? Do you seek companionship and emotional fulfillment? Do you seek intellectual fulfillment? Do you seek a sense of identity or belonging that you think comes with “religion”? Do you seek moral stature and a cleansing of the conscience? Do you seek love? What do you seek?

I would say that to desire to be a follower of Christ…that question must be answered. Consider in your own life what it is you truly desire and long for. And then consider who Christ is. Think – these men following after Jesus didn’t know who He was at this point. They understood John had been making grand proclamations about Him. But they did not truly know Him. They wished to know Him more. But what did they seek? This was the question Jesus asked them. And how did these men answer Him? They didn’t answer him directly – maybe because they did not know what to say – but they asked where he was staying and Christ answered – “Come, and you will see.” That is the invitation Christ gives to all people – “Come, and you will see.” These men went to the house of Jesus and spent the day with Him and…began to understand who He truly is.

And who is Jesus? The Lamb of God. Indeed, as John had earlier said – “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” And now we finally come to the crux of the matter – because this is who Jesus is – the One who takes away the sin of the world. The One who saves. So what do you seek? Do you seek salvation? If so, this is what Christ offers. He offers freedom from sin. He offers life from death. He offers salvation from this hopeless life that without Him is empty and vain. What do you seek? The Lamb of God – the Savior – is at hand. And as you wonder if Jesus is truly all that…He says, “Come, and you will see.” Come in your darkness and in your shame. Come in all your dirt and filth. Come in your hopelessness. Come. Behold – the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.