Cutting out the Cancer

Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24                          Romans 9:6-8                         John 13:18-30

Cutting out the Cancer

Of all the dreaded diseases in the world, I think I can safely say that cancer is feared the most. The worst thing about it is that it can be living and thriving inside you without you even knowing that it is there. It can be with you for a long time, slowly stealing your life away, while you remain oblivious to its presence.

However, if it is discovered in time, it can often be safely removed from the body putting an end to its destructive design. If it is operable, it must be discovered, exposed, isolated, and removed with the least amount of disturbance to the immediate surrounding areas. This is not to say that the rest of the body doesn’t suffer from this procedure…indeed the stress on the entire body is immense, especially if some kind of radiation or chemotherapy is involved…but this procedure ultimately does protect the rest of the body from being adversely affected in the future. To ensure future health and vitality, the body must suffer temporarily to remove the immediate threat to its continued well-being.

This procedure could be compared with how Jesus dealt with Judas in the closing hours of his earthly ministry. If you recall we discussed how in the foot-washing incident Jesus commissioned his disciples to a sacrificial, servanthood-based ministry of disciple-making. In a sense, he shod their feet with the Gospel of Peace. Judas too had had his feet washed, but his feet would carry him in a very different direction. 

In this passage, Jesus revealed that while all were called to fulfil a purpose, not all were clean. Just like the reprobate King Saul had been called to be Israel’s first king, chosen by God himself, and as the pagan king Cyrus had been commissioned by God to be the instrument by which the exiles would be released from bondage in Babylon, so Judas seems to have been specifically chosen by Jesus to be his betrayer. 

In John 6:64, we are told that Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray him. The Lord reinforced this statement in John 6:70 when he said, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” (ESV)

In one sense this is very comforting and reassuring. Scripture tells us that our Lord knows those who are his own…he knows his sheep…but here we are told that he also knows those who are not his, indeed, even those who will betray him. Jesus chose Judas knowing full well that he would be the instrument through which he would be delivered up to be murdered. Yet in no way was Judas coerced to betray his master. Indeed, he was given more than ample time to repent, but he steadfastly refused even when he was finally exposed at the table. Never make the mistake of placing man’s responsibility over and against God’s sovereignty. Scripture knows of no such contradiction. Instead, the Word repeatedly presents the two as complimentary. An antinomy if you will. Two apparent contradictions working together. 

A New Testament example of this would be Peter’s statement in Acts 2:23. “This Jesus,” Peter said, “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (ESV) Who delivered him up? Judas? Who took his life? The Jews? In John 10:18 Jesus said about his death on the cross: “No one takes (my life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”

Although the crucifixion of the Lamb of God was predestined before the foundation of the world, those who were responsible for putting this decree into motion were held accountable by God and were required to repent. 

However, the exposure of the nature and calling of Judas at this point in the Gospel serves not only to make his act of betrayal more unjustifiable but it also serves to protect the other disciples…that they might not be shaken by his actions and that they might persevere all the more despite his apparent fall. And, indeed, it serves as a warning to all believers – we ought to frequently examine our own hearts to see if any wickedness lurks beneath the surface. 

This exposure can be likened to that first cancer diagnosis where a patient and their family are told about the presence and existence of this sinister killer. How long had Judas not been with them as a friend? 

However, the knowledge that Jesus knows those he has chosen and for what purpose, should also encourage us when we are confronted with “cancer” in the Church. It teaches us that despite our frailty, despite our faults and our failures, our Lord knows us and upholds us. It teaches us that all the schemes of the evil one and his minions cannot prevent us from persevering to the end. The primary difference between believers and unbelievers is that the former are drawn to salvation by the Spirit of adoption, whereas the latter are drawn away by their own rebellion. Indeed, the disciples and believers down through the ages differ from Judas solely by God’s grace and not by our own goodness or merit. 

Furthermore, our Lord reveals that Judas’ betrayal was a fulfilment of Scripture, in this case, Psalm 41:9. “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” (ESV) The quotation serves to heighten the tragedy behind this action. Judas was no stranger. This was a friend who walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and shared life with Jesus and the disciples …for three years. As such his behaviour is all the more reprehensible. 

The metaphor of lifting the heel comes from Genesis 3:15 where the seed of the serpent is said to bruise the heel of the seed of the woman as his heel simultaneously bruises its head. That this image was used of Judas indicates that through him Satan once again attempted to usurp Jesus’ authority with a view to universal control, but even as all the powers of hell rallied against Jesus – acting through Judas, the Sanhedrin, the soldiers, and the Roman government – all of them served merely as instruments that would contribute to the accomplishment of God’s plan for salvation through the death of Jesus.

However, there is a lesson for us in this and that is that if Jesus suffered at the hands of an intimate friend, we too may need to be prepared to face a similar agony. History teaches us that all too often our worst enemies are those within our own hallowed halls. Like the cancer cells that are often undetectably present in the body, wolves in sheep’s clothing or in clerical clothing, for that matter, lurk in our midst waiting for the opportune moment to attack. They will be known by their fruit. 

As painful as this betrayal must have been for Jesus, it did serve in promoting the cause of God in the fulfilment of prophecy, the ultimate demonstration of his love for the world, as well as the final revelation of Jesus as the great I AM. Jesus is not just the author of our faith and salvation. He is the finisher of it too. He directs our steps. As the one who was sent, he is the sender of all and therefore all who receive those whom Jesus sends out into the world, receive him. I don’t know about you, but this encourages me no end when I think about evangelism. Every one of us has been chosen to perform a specific task…to play a specific role. So, pray and ask him to show you the task he has given to you to complete in this life…pursue it, embrace it, and do it wholeheartedly to his glory and his glory alone.

Now, as I said before, knowing the plan and heart of Judas did not make the reality any less painful for Jesus. The idea of an intimate friend, one who outwardly showed all the signs of true “regeneracy”, one who purposefully maintained an aura of respectability in order the further his own goals, one who seemed to be a follower of Jesus…the idea of such a one now turning and unashamedly revealing his true colours, troubled our Lord deeply despite its inevitability. True, Judas did not hesitate to criticize Jesus even publicly on occasion, but those were only the outward symptoms of a far greater disease…a far more serious inner condition which was now uncovered and laid bare. 

The exposure of a cancerous growth is not to be taken lightly…it is painful and potentially fatal and needs to be dealt with decisively and immediately. Procrastination due to the fear of the painful procedure only serves to prolong the danger and the agony. And so, as Jesus confesses here, that agony was very real…at least it was to him.

The disciples seemed to be oblivious to their master’s pain. All they were concerned about was their own reputation…in other words, am I the bad guy? I don’t want to be the bad guy. Is it me? It can’t be me…it must be you! 

So, the Lord’s needs and his pain were blocked from view by their own preoccupation with wanting to look good. Even here, before the trial, before the crucifixion, our Lord stood alone in the strain and in the fight with the enemy.

But neither did Jesus’ distress bother Judas in any way. Peter’s motioning, rather than speaking, requesting John to ask Jesus who the betrayer might be, seems to indicate noise of some kind. Possibly an argument or vehement denials or accusations…so it is possible that Judas did not hear much of what was said, but if one examines his character…one who habitually stole from the communal purse…one who could feign interest in Jesus’ teaching…who could feign friendship with the group despite his apparent agenda…if one examines his character then one sees a man determined to hear nothing except what furthered his own goals. Indeed, there was no remorse until after the grisly deed was completed, but then, because time is linear, it was too late, and he could not undo what he had done. 

How often haven’t I wished to turn back the hands of time? If only I hadn’t done this or if only I hadn’t said that. And the worst of it all is that I never seem to learn from my mistakes.

In answer to John’s enquiry about who the betrayer might be, Jesus exposed Judas by handing him a piece of his own bread dipped in his own bowl. To appreciate the full impact of this action, you need to realise that this is possibly the same bread that Jesus would use later in the institution of the Lord’s Supper…or, at least it was bread that came from the same Passover Table broken and given by the same Lord Jesus. Either way, it is a sign of fellowship…of an understood connectedness…of a friendship, the reality of which is rejected by Judas. In his heart, Judas knew that he was not part of the fellowship and by accepting the symbol of such a connectedness he portrayed an amazing insensitivity and a total inability to discern the unity of the Lord’s body…as such, he ate the morsel of bread to his own damnation.

It is at this point of callous indifference that Satan was permitted to enter Judas and to harden his heart beyond any possible repentance, because, by his own resistance, Judas had chosen to make his own state incurable. This final act of friendship…this final act of love…this offer of a chance to repent…this final reaching out became the decisive instant of judgment. This is Judas’ final capitulation to the forces of darkness.

It is a terrible, terrible tragedy and not one to pass over too quickly. We ought to pause here and ask our all-knowing Lord to examine our hearts to see if there is any wicked way in us. All too often, like the disciples, we too look around us at others, when we ought to be looking within – at ourselves. 

As Paul tells us in Romans, not all are Israel, which are of Israel…just because they are the seed of Abraham, does not mean that are they all children…children of the flesh are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. So, not all who claim to believe are believers. Many are born in the church, live in the church, and participate in the Church for years, but are never one with the Church. 

As Jesus did not wish to prolong the agony, he made a clean and permanent cut to effectively remove the cancer from their midst. With the deftness of an expert vinedresser, he clipped off the fruitless branch and cast it outside. His instruction to Judas was plain and simple: “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

There comes a time when pretence becomes an insult and the inevitable becomes the imperative. Judas’ internal character is brought out to the exterior as Jesus asked him to leave the fellowship he was never part of. Without repentance, without any protestation, without an attempt at reconciliation, there was only one thing left to do. 

The fact that the other disciples remained unaware of his unmasking shows the remarkable depth of his deception. He managed to live his life in such a way that he fooled even those who were closest to him. Every Judas throughout history has had this uncanny ability to cloak his real nature with the wool of the Lord’s sheep.

The conclusion of this tragedy is the removal of the cancerous growth, a shutting out and a closing of the door. Judas, under cover of the darkness that is symbolic of his life, left the fellowship to set in motion the forces that would lead to the arrest, trial, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus. As such, Judas became the prime example of someone who walks with the Lord yet never walks in step with the Holy Spirit…ever living in obedience to all that is contrary to life in the Spirit.

To us, this passage serves as both a warning and a comfort. Like all true believers, we ought to regularly examine ourselves to ensure that we do not take the Lord’s goodness for granted. As Paul warns us, even the smallest piece of yeast will eventually permeate the whole dough. Healthy introspection reveals a spiritually sensitive soul…something that was apparently absolutely absent in Judas. He was so senseless in his malice that he remained untouched by Jesus’ words.

Cancer in any form is an awful thing and, once discovered, its presence ought not to be tolerated. Indeed, even a moment of indecision may very well be the difference between life and death. Likewise, cancer in the Body of Christ must be dealt with decisively and speedily. Delay only serves to aggravate the situation or worse…delay can lead to a deadly form of forbearance, an unhealthy toleration of what the Scripture calls ‘evil’, and eventually to a spiritually lethal compromise. A fruitless branch must be removed for the good of the vine. Cancer must be irradiated for the health of the body. And what must be done, must be done quickly.

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024

The Scripture, the Sacrament, and the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 11:23-26               Luke 24:13-35

The Scripture, the Sacraments, and the Spirit

Years ago, a pastor and biblical scholar lay unconscious on a life-support system in the Intensive Care Unit. Before entering the hospital for his third open-heart surgery, this man had preached on the text, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) The release that death in Christ promised was certainly an attraction for him and yet, on the other hand, for those who waited and prayed, it seemed more necessary for him to remain in the body to complete the important work he was doing. There were still so many books to write, lectures to deliver, debates to engage in, and students to be taught. Surely God would grant him more years to complete his work?

Yet that same afternoon, the surgeons broke the news that his heart was simply too weak and that, when they had tried to wean him off the assisting device, he had peacefully exited this earthly life and entered eternity. 

How does one deal with what to those praying seemed illogical and unreasonable? How does one deal with the perception that God is perhaps not always in control of all events? What is it that keeps us, as believers, on track during those times of apparent failure and chaos? 

I’d like for us to take a walk with two of the otherwise unknown disciples of Jesus as they travelled toward Emmaus. The events during Passover had left them mystified and stunned. They were sorrowful, as those who are without hope. They had followed a man called Jesus for a while firmly believing that he was the long-awaited deliverer – the Messiah. They had walked with him, talked with him, eaten with him, and remained with him even when the crowds deserted him. They had seen him do the impossible. They had seen him turn water into wine, multiply a tiny amount of food to feed more than five thousand people and then later more than four thousand people, and change the hearts of sinners, tax collectors, Samaritans, and prostitutes. He had healed lepers, raised the dead, calmed a storm, driven out legions of demons, and walked on water. They had heard him teach, rebuke those who misinterpreted the Scriptures, and silence his critics. They had heard him expound the Scriptures like no one they had ever heard before.

Surely, he was the one who would finally deliver them from foreign domination and oppression? Surely, it was just a matter of time before he would reveal himself to be the Messiah and lead Israel to victory and a glorious restoration.  

But now their dreams had been shattered. The one in whom they had placed so much hope had died a criminal’s death on a Roman cross. One moment, as they entered Jerusalem along with cheering crowds, they were certain that he would be crowned king…but then the unthinkable happened. 

How could it be that he who could do such great miracles could not avoid such a tragic and pathetic end? How could he who saved others, not save himself? Could he who made all things – he who upholds all things – he who controls all things -could he not have prevented his own murder? Could he not have called on legions of angels to come to his defence?

But as they were discussing these sad thoughts, a man came up from behind them and began to question them about their melancholy conversation. At first, they were amazed that he did not seem to have known about the tragic events that had taken place in Jerusalem, but they revealed their misery and despondency to him anyway. 

They had thought….they had believed…but then something quite contrary to all their hopes and dreams and prayers had happened. Imagine their surprise when the stranger, instead of sympathising with them, rebuked them rather harshly for their dull minds. Then he began to take them through the Scriptures…this was no proof-texting or hopping from one Messianic prophecy to another…no, this was a Bible Study equal to none. 

The stranger began with Moses, the first five books of the Bible, and then moved on to the prophets and the rest of Scripture. This was a low-flying, high-speed summary of the teaching of all of Scripture. The stranger showed them that throughout the Scriptures, a consistent divine purpose was being worked out, a purpose that in the end could only mean the cross. The awfulness of sin is found throughout the pages of the Old Testament, but so is the deep, unfathomable love of God. And it is the combination of these two that made calvary inevitable. 

The two disciples had a faulty understanding of what the Scriptures taught and therefore drew wrong conclusions about the cross. In their attempts to explain the events of life in terms of human logic, they had failed to grasp the significance of divine purpose. 

Can we see something similar in the modern Church of today? To address the changing cultural thought and practice of society, the Church has largely sidestepped the fountain of wisdom found in the Word of God choosing to preach instead from the shallow pots of human wisdom. Many sermons sound more like self-help tracts than biblical exposition. Like Israel of old, we have rejected the living water and hewn out for ourselves broken cisterns that cannot possibly sustain us. The Word of God is the chief source of sustenance for the Church. Man cannot live by bread alone, but rather by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We cannot know life apart from what God reveals in Scripture…indeed, we cannot know him apart from what he reveals about himself in Scripture. 

Without the Word, the Church is just one more human institution offering human solutions to human problems. Without the Word, the Church will wither and shrivel and diminish and decrease as it experiences a severe famine of what alone can provide life in its fullness. It is only the deep, profound, life-changing knowledge of the Scriptures that can cause the Church to stand firm in the face of the onslaught of secularism. It is only faith in his promises that will keep the Church from following the pessimism of the age. Has it ever occurred to you that those who oppose us are often the most angry and depressed and despondent and lost people you have ever met? They are arrogant in their misery. 

But is the modern Church any different? Have we not largely embraced the doom and gloom of our times? Is it perhaps because we have lost sight of the power of God’s Word? For years, mainline seminaries have undermined the Word, teaching that God’s power was relevant only for a bygone era. That we have grown up now and we know those things are not true. 

But let’s continue our journey. As the three travellers approach Emmaus, the two persuade their newfound friend to stay the night. It may be that what he had to say made sense to them or perhaps they were simply concerned for his welfare. But as they sat down to eat dinner, the stranger took bread, something which the host usually would do, said the blessing over it, broke it and gave it to them. This simple action somehow caused them to remember…

Now, I know that many scholars argue that this was not the Eucharist and they have long lists of reasons why it cannot be so…some ask where was the wine while others wonder how these two could have known about the sacrament as they are not mentioned as being present at the last supper. But I humbly wish to differ, and I have a few reasons of my own. The reports of biblical writers do not always satisfy our craving for more information. These two could well have been present in the upper room without being mentioned because they were not the important element of the story…or seeing that they had heard the report of the women regarding the resurrection, they could have been filled in as to what Jesus had said and done at that final meal is they were not present themselves.

However, whether they were present or only heard about the meal afterwards, the important point is that at the institution of the sacrament of holy communion, our Lord instructed his disciples to take of the bread he had broken and to eat it as an intimate symbol of remembrance of what he was about to do for them on the cross. So for me, it doesn’t matter if this was a re-enactment of the Last Supper or not, because the central issue was the intimate nature of what Jesus did. 

Who was seated at the table with them and who broke the bread? Why not let the host break the bread (as would be customary) if the action was not significant? But in breaking the bread and giving the pieces to them, Jesus repeated in illustrated form what he had just been teaching them along the way: that the Christ must suffer these things in order that they might have eternal life. 

Is that not what the sacrament is meant to convey to us who belong to Jesus? The symbols of bread and wine convey to us the reality of our deliverance from sin and our adoption into the family of God. It really is quite a simple ritual, but its significance is foundational to the reality of the Church…it addresses our past, our present, and our future…regardless of what may happen in life, the sacrament teaches us that we are inseparably united with Jesus and his ministry. Holy Communion is at once both a meal of remembrance as well as a meal of proclamation.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:26 that ‘as often as you eat of this bread and drink of this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he returns’. It is in the partaking of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper that we can look past the physical trials of this life and see our Lord triumphing over sin, death, and the devil. The sacrament reminds us that we have been bought at a great price, but it also reminds us that Christ will come again to consummate his kingdom. It is a feast of victory and should instil in us an unshakeable hope, faith, and adoring love.

But it is with the breaking and the sharing of the bread that the eyes of the disciples were opened, and they recognised the stranger as their Lord and Saviour…risen from the dead, just as the women had reported. Then, suddenly, he disappeared.

And immediately joy so overtook them that they abandoned all the human reasons that caused them such great despair and they returned to Jerusalem despite the danger of travelling at night. They burst into the upper room only to discover that the Lord had already appeared to Simon Peter as well. And as the joyful pandemonium that surely ensued reached a near hysteria, the room suddenly fell silent as the Lord himself stood in their midst. 

Observe the graciousness of our Lord at this point. He allowed them to touch him and feed him to prove that he was no mere spirit or phantom or apparition. And then, once again, he opened the Scriptures to them: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Remembrance and proclamation…

These two elements are the essence of what the sacrament of Holy Communion is all about. Remembrance and proclamation. We make a huge mistake if we think this meal is about us. It is all about Jesus and what he has done for the life of the world. For this reason, this meal should propel us out into that world so that all might hear the truth of what it represents. This meal calls us to be witnesses to Jesus.

A daunting task to be sure, but the disciples were told that they would not be alone in this endeavour. They were instructed to wait in Jerusalem until they had received power from God to assist them in their holy vocation. This same Holy Spirit who was poured out upon the Jerusalem Church at Pentecost has been received by all believers ever since. As Paul says, “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not his.” So, if you are a believer, you have the Holy Spirit living in you and therefore you have full access to the power of God. 

But where then is this power in the modern Church? Is it only given to a select part of the Body of Christ? Is it a have-and-have-not situation? Does the power of the Holy Spirit only manifest itself in ecstatic expression and demonstration of the supernatural? And is he bound to our bidding? If this is so, why does the one New Testament Church that appears to exercise every so-called spiritual gift receive some of the strongest rebukes from Paul? Or otherwise stated, if possession of the so-called gifts of the Spirit is the mark of the true Spirit-filled Church why then was the Corinthian Church so corrupt?

The Holy Spirit is the source of power to the Church, but not solely in dispensing gifts and abilities. The main reason for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was to empower and equip the Church for the work of witnessing to the world. To proclaim the Lord’s death until he returns. The power of the Spirit lies in his purpose to serve as a witness to Jesus. It is the Spirit of God who compels us to share the wonderful message of life with the world. It is the Spirit who prepares and changes the hearts of those whom God calls to himself. 

It is the Spirit who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. It is the Spirit who not only inspired the authors of the Scriptures but who also illuminates our minds as we read so that we might clearly understand what was written. Just as we cannot know God apart from the Scriptures, so too we cannot comprehend the Scriptures properly without the work of the Holy Spirit. He also enables us to speak…as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:13, “we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” And it is the Spirit who imparts and sustains life to the Church…he witnesses in our spirit that we are children of God.

Now, we’ve looked at Scripture, the Sacrament, and the Spirit, but what’s the point? I think we find the point in the one thing that connects all three…they all serve as witnesses to Jesus. Scripture points us to Jesus. The sacrament points us to Jesus. And the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. And it is at this juncture that the Church finds her power and her purpose. It is the death and resurrection of Jesus that makes us who we are and that compels us to do what we are called to do. To proclaim the Lord’s death until his return…to be witnesses to Jesus.

Without the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have no life, no message, and no purpose. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15: 14, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.” But thanks be to God as he has led us and will continue to lead us in triumph through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So, how does one deal with what to those praying might appear to be illogical and unreasonable? How does one deal with the perception that God is perhaps not always in control of all events? What is it that keeps us, as believers, on track during those times of apparent failure and chaos? 

If we focus on the world and its events, our answers to such questions may be very similar to the downhearted, dispirited, despairing conversation of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Could it be that we, as the Modern Church, need a divine visitor to come alongside us and to open the Scriptures to us? Do we perhaps also need a reminder of the cosmic implications of the cross portrayed so vividly in the elements of broken bread and poured-out wine? Do we need the inner conviction of the Holy Spirit to enable us to see our Lord Jesus crowned with glory and honour, seated on his universal throne, presently reigning until he has brought all his enemies into subjection to his rule? 

Where is your focus today? Is it on Jesus and his purposes? May I encourage you to saturate your mind with the study of the living Word, having the one who inspired the Word – the Holy Spirit – as your guide and tutor. You might just be pleasantly surprised at the outcome…

Scripture, sacrament, and the Spirit…may they all remind you that while it is true that Jesus died for you, it is equally true that he died for all, and you are the one who is called to proclaim that truth.

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024

Follow the Signs

Exodus 12:3, 5a, 7, 12-13                     Zechariah 9:9-10                        Matthew 21:1-11     

Follow the Signs

Can anyone tell me what is special about today? Yes, it is Palm Sunday. 

That’s a funny name for a day, don’t you think?

Why do you think we call it Palm Sunday?

The Bible often uses pictures to describe things we might not always understand. 

And often those pictures are meant to be signs pointing us in the right direction.

In the passages we read from today, the book of Exodus, the book of the prophet Zechariah, and the Gospel according to Matthew, we find a beautiful picture full of signs pointing to the Messiahship of Jesus.

So, let’s go through some of the signs that helped the people understand that Jesus was their promised King and Saviour…and let’s see if these signs can help us understand more about too, shall we?

SIGN 1: 

 

Our first sign is the humble donkey mentioned in Matthew 21:1-11. 

How was the donkey a sign for the people?

Yes, by entering Jerusalem on a donkey, the people realised that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-10. 

But this sign was a bit of a problem.

Does anyone know why?

Yes, the people had been taught that the Messiah would be a warrior like Joshua or a conquering king like David.

SIGN 2: 

By riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus was telling them that he was not coming as a conquering political warrior on a big horse like the leaders of the day, but as a humble and gentle king, symbolising his message of peace and humility.

You see, Jesus is our King, but not in the earthly sense of power and authority. Jesus came to save us from the power of sin and death. He came to conquer the devil and every evil thing.

But how could Jesus conquer sin and death and the devil?

To answer that question, we need to go back to the sign we read about in Exodus.

Can anyone remember what that sign was?

SIGN 3:

The Passover Lamb, yes.

Can anyone tell me what the Israelites were told to do?

Yes, they had to sacrifice a perfect lamb and spread its blood on their doorposts.

What a funny thing to do! Why did they have to smear the blood of the lamb on the doorposts? 

It was a sign…but what was it for?

For protection, yes! When the angel of death saw the sign then he would pass over the house and move on elsewhere.

In the very same way, Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, his blood serving as a sign to mark us as redeemed and saved.

But how was Jesus offered up like the Passover Lamb? 

SIGN 4: 

Yes, Jesus died for our sins on the cross.

Did he just die for our sins on the cross or did he do something more?

Yes, Paul tells us in Colossians that Jesus cancelled our sins on the cross, but that he also defeated and disarmed the devil and his evil angels. 

So, in that sense, Jesus was a warrior king, wasn’t he? 

But I want you to think about what the sign of the cross means for us today.

The Apostle John tells us that what Jesus did on the cross for us shows how much God loves us!

So, for us, the cross is a sign that God loves us so much that he was willing to be our Passover Lamb…dying for us so that we might be protected and delivered.

But do you think that’s what the disciples understood on that awful day when Jesus was arrested, tried, and executed on the cross?

No, I think they didn’t understand the sign of the cross at all.

What do you think they thought as they stood watching Jesus die on the cross?

They thought it was all over, didn’t they? That this was the end.

They thought they had been following the wrong man…that Jesus wasn’t the Messiah after all.

But they were misunderstanding the sign, weren’t they?

SIGN 5:

 

They thought that when Jesus died on the cross everything, they believed in was not true.

They thought they had been mistaken all along.

And now they were scared and they felt very alone.

Have you ever felt that way?

That everything was going wrong?

That nothing was working out the way you thought it should?

How did you feel then?

Did you feel alone? Did you feel frightened?

But we know that the cross was not the end, don’t we?

How do we know that?

Yes, because Jesus gave us another sign, didn’t he?

SIGN 6:

Yes, Jesus gave us the sign of an empty tomb. 

What does that mean?

Yes, Jesus is not dead anymore! 

The Bible tells us that on the third day, he rose triumphantly from the grave!

But that is the story for next Sunday…

So, what have we learned about signs today?

Signs point us in the way we should go.

Signs point us to Jesus.

But are we always right in the way we understand signs? 

Not always… that's why we need to take all the signs and put them together like one big jigsaw puzzle…when we see all the signs together, then we see the picture more clearly.

So, what shall we pray for?

Ask children to pray…and then close with prayer.

Credentials for Service

Psalm 36:5-12                      John 13:1-17

Credentials for Service

Dwight L. Moody apparently once said: “The measure of a person is not how many servants he has, but how many people he serves.”  Years ago, a friend of mine who went to seminary in Germany told me of an incident that occurred when their septic tank overflowed due to a blockage. Evidently, the person in charge of maintenance was on leave, so as a student, he reported it to the principal’s office. Later, when he returned to the men’s bathrooms, he was pleasantly surprised to see a man hard at work, ankle-deep in the sludge, unplugging the drain with his hands and then washing away the muck. His surprise, however, quickly turned to shame as he saw who it was who was cleaning up the mess. It was the principal of the seminary. 

Needless to say, my friend never forgot his lesson in humility. Now, I think that Jesus taught a similar lesson to his disciples in our Gospel passage for today.

John tells us that the incident took place the day before the Passover…in other words, the Day of Preparation on the 14th of Nissan. Scholars have struggled to correlate John’s timeframe with that of the synoptic Gospels as he seems to place the Last Supper on the evening before the actual Passover, apparently one whole day too early for the slaughtering of the lambs. However, Exodus 12:6 states that the ritual killing of the lamb could take place “between the two evenings”, in other words, sometime between the sunset that would start the Day of Preparation and the following sunset that would start the day of the Passover. 

It is also true that the Pharisees and the people from Galilee counted days from sunrise to sunrise while the Sadducees and the people of Judea counted days from sunset to sunset, so it is possible that Jesus and his Galilean disciples celebrated the Passover a day before those holding to the Judean calendar. 

Others have asserted that due to the sheer volume of pilgrims, the priests out of necessity began to slaughter the lambs a day earlier so that all could be ready for the Feast. Whatever the case may have been, all these explanations allow for Jesus to have been crucified at the same time as lambs were being slaughtered in the Temple.

According to verse one, the foot-washing incident was a direct result of Jesus knowing that his hour had now come. So, there must be some link between Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice on the cross and this action of washing his disciples’ feet. It was because of what he knew that he now did what he did. Bear that in mind as we work our way through this passage.

Chapters 13-17 are what we would call a Farewell Discourse, very much like the latter part of Deuteronomy and other final wills and testaments found in Scripture. The most important point made throughout this discourse is Jesus’ love for his own. John tells us that his love is constant, unchanging, and permanent. His love was not based on the performance of his disciples…if it were, his love would be impossible. 

Our kind of love is so unlike our Lord’s love. Our love is very often performance-oriented, and we tend to mercilessly reject those who do not measure up to our expectations. Even our love for God tends to be subject to his performance…whether or not he has given us what we desire or what we expect him to give. As such our love for God or for others is a poor symbol of his love. As C. S. Lewis has said: “On the whole, God’s love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for him.” 

Never make the mistake of measuring God’s love by the actions of another human being, whether they are believers or not. God’s love cannot be fathomed or measured. As the Psalmist says: “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalms 36:5-7) God’s love for you is infinitely deeper than anything you could ever imagine.

And so we should never lose sight of Jesus’s love for us, even during our most desperate moments. His disciples were about to face the most stressful time of their lives…a time when every one of them thought God had abandoned and forsaken them. But they, like us, could not see into the future…even though he had told them repeatedly about the resurrection, their finite minds could not see beyond the cross…they could not understand that in three days the battle against Satan and sin and death would be won. 

So, don’t measure his love for you by events or by circumstances, whether good or bad. Besides, adverse circumstances are often there because of his love. So rather believe him when he says that he loves all of his own even to the very end.

The act of washing the feet of his disciples was a physical parable, a significant symbol, if you will, demonstrating the love of God revealed on the cross. There are five points in verses 2 through 5 that we need to examine to understand why Jesus washed their feet.

Firstly, we need to understand when this took place. John tells us that it happened “during supper”, not before supper. The custom at the time was for guests to have their feet washed on entry to the home by a servant, then at least one hand had to be washed for appetisers, and then both hands for the main course. Now, even though the text does not explicitly tell us that there was no one to wash their feet, it may be that as the disciples had been arguing about who was to be greatest in the kingdom before this meal (according to Luke 22:24) none of them were willing to assume the role of this foot-washing servant. Nevertheless, my point is, these washings of feet and hands usually took place before supper, not during supper.

Secondly, we need to understand whose feet were washed. John seems to indicate that all the disciples were present at this time, including Judas. So, think about this. Jesus knew that the devil had already put it in the heart of Judas to betray him and yet he still washed his feet. In fact, if any of the disciples ought to have objected to Jesus washing their feet it ought to have been Judas, not Peter! But we will look at Judas later. Let it suffice to say here that Jesus applied this sign to all his disciples to serve as both a blessing and a curse.

Thirdly, we need to understand the basis for this action. John tells us that Jesus performed this action because he knew that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he knew he would soon be returning to the Father. Verse 3 says: “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper…he laid aside his outer garments and taking a towel tied it around his waist”…and then he washed his disciples’ feet. So, his action of foot-washing must somehow relate to this “knowing”. 

Interestingly, we see similar words used at the ascension (when Jesus was about to return to the Father) in Matthew 28:18-20. There Jesus said that all authority in both heaven and earth has been given to him. But it is the command that follows this statement that is of interest to us. Because God the Father had given Jesus supreme authority over all things and because Jesus was about to go back to the Father, he now commissioned his disciples to do to others as he had done to them…to make disciples as he had made them disciples. 

As the wording is very similar, it is possible that what Jesus did in the foot-washing incident somehow ties in with his command before his ascension…or his going back to God…especially since he commanded them after the washing to do what he had done.

Fourthly, we need to understand the role taken on by Jesus, not only here but at his incarnation. His entire life was one of sacrificial servanthood. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. If this act of foot-washing was to serve as an example to his followers, as he states it should, then anyone who claims to follow him should be like him – a servant to others. 

And then fifthly, in the light of all these previous points, we need to understand what Jesus was actually doing. Was this merely an act of hospitality overlooked by the disciples and therefore designed to embarrass them? Did it happen during the meal because Jesus was waiting patiently for someone to swallow their pride and perform the demeaning task? Or is there something more to this action?

Perhaps we should start by understanding a tradition about feet and the ground. In Genesis 3:17-19 God told Adam that the ground would be cursed because of his sin. For this reason, shoes were worn not only to protect the feet but also to prevent contact with what was considered cursed. This is why several biblical characters were told to remove their shoes when coming into the presence of God because his presence hallowed the ground on which they were standing. This is also the same imagery behind the act of shaking the dust off the feet when leaving an inhospitable village…it was a symbolic gesture that indicated that the person departing did not leave behind a blessing.

But, I think, there is an even greater meaning behind the foot-washing. In Exodus 30:17-21, God told Moses to command the priests to wash their hands and their feet before approaching the altar or before they could perform their priestly duties. Is it possible that Jesus was doing something similar here? They were about to be appointed to be disciple-makers of the nations…witnesses to Jesus’ victory on the cross…the final sacrifice on the altar, so to speak. Perhaps this is what Isaiah had in mind when he wrote, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7) 

So, if we put all these images together, we see that the foot-washing event was at once a cleansing to and for service – it was a call, an equipping, a consecration, and a commissioning of the disciples to the ministry of servanthood.

As such, this act symbolised a significant heritage for the disciples…a symbol which Peter misunderstood. It has been said that the measure of a servant-like attitude is how you act when you are treated like a servant…but I think it is equally true in how you react to being served. Peter’s pride would not allow him to submit to the humble service of his Lord. Indeed, there is no parallel in ancient sources of any authority figure doing menial work like this, so one can understand his discomfort. 

Nevertheless, in my humble opinion, Jesus’ reply to Peter’s objection indicates that the washing had a deeper significance than purely customary hospitality. This is, of course, not Peter’s first objection nor will it be his last, as once again he seems to have had the wrong end of the stick, but notice what Jesus said to him. “If I do not wash you, you have no share or part with me.” He does not say Peter would have no part of him or no part in him, but no part with him. 

Why did Jesus use this preposition here? I think the answer lies in his reply to Peter’s characteristic overreaction. The washing was not a sign of regeneration – they were already proverbially ‘clean’. Rather, I think it was a sign of commissioning. Jesus declared Peter, and all the disciples except Judas, to be clean already. According to John 6:70, even before he called his disciples, Jesus knew which one would betray him. So, like the priests in the Old Testament, Peter and the others were considered clean or set apart by virtue of their position and their calling to serve. Still, their feet needed to be washed before they could serve.

To summarize: I believe that here Jesus was commissioning Peter and the others to a life of service, as followers of their servant king. This is why Jesus used the preposition with. Peter had a part with Jesus as a co-worker – as a bearer of his light, his love, and his life to a lost world. 

Now, of course, as I said earlier, if there was one who should have objected to the application of this sign, it was Judas. John tells us that he had already made up his mind to betray Jesus. So, he did have a part to play, but his role would be radically different to that of the other disciples because he had no part with Jesus. 

In verses 12-17, Jesus proceeded to reveal the significant meaning of this humble action. Even though the disciples correctly identified Jesus as Lord, they failed to understand his concept of leadership. He came to serve…to give his life as a ransom for many. That’s the credential for leadership in his kingdom. The greatest is the one who serves.

And I believe we make a big mistake if we think that it is the simple re-enacting of this foot-washing episode that Jesus wants his followers to mimic. That’s not what this is all about. Rather, it is doing whatever service is required in any given situation. 

What will destroy any church is a lack of sacrificial love for God and a lack of sacrificial love for others. Like Judas Iscariot, many in the Church throughout the ages have received the outward signs of grace while harbouring satanic tendencies in their hearts. The measure of a healthy church is not based on how many members they have, but rather on how many members use their God-given gifts for the benefit of all. 

Jesus commissioned the disciples to a ministry of service. What I have done to you, he said, you too must do to each other. This message echoes down through the centuries and applies to each successive generation. 

So, if you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024

Interview: Johannes van der Bijl on his upcoming Narrative Commentary of Galatians

by Brendan Kimbrough | Mar 14, 2024 | Discipleship, Netherlands, SAMS Missionaries

Johannes Vanderbijl is an ordained Anglican priest and SAMS Missionary serving along with his wife, Louise, in the Netherlands, at Christ Church, Heiloo. He has been earnestly writing over the last four years about the life of Simon Peter with two published books to date that have been well received: Breakfast on the Beach (Langham Publishing: 2021) and For the Life of the World (Langham Publishing: 2022). Both books focus on Peter’s ministry of making disciples using Jesus’ four-fold method of discipleship. The books are written chronologically, and Johann situates these early disciples’ lives in the real world, the day-to-day, nitty-gritty of their lived experience.

What follows is an interview with Johann Vanderbijl about his most recent book, a narrative commentary of Galatians, and how it and his other books relate to discipleship.

Johann, thank you for taking the time to discuss your upcoming book. You are focusing your first in a series of commentaries on the Apostle Paul and his Letter to the Galatians, but you have written it in a narrative style. Why did you choose to start with Galatians, and why a narrative style?

After writing in a narrative style about Simon Peter in my first two books, Langham asked if I would consider writing about Paul in the same manner. I’ll be honest – I’ve struggled with Paul all my life. I saw Paul as the John Wayne of the New Testament: a tough guy who never does anything wrong, a ‘cowboys-don’t-cry’ kind of person, whereas Peter was far more relatable to me—more expressive and emotional—hence why I felt I could write about Peter.

So, I thought, how am I going to approach this with Paul? As I was contemplating and praying, I had the idea: why not tell Paul’s story using his letters chronologically? Thus, I draw from what we are told about Paul in Acts and elsewhere, using anything that could describe Paul at that moment. I incorporate elements from his other epistles and utilize his own language as I compose these books. This volume is the first in a series of commentaries, and Galatians was his initial letter; hence, I chose to start with Galatians.

One aspect of my approach is to portray Paul’s childhood, drawing partly from speculation based on some of his previous statements—that he hailed from a family of Pharisees, came from Tarsus, and was taught by Gamaliel, etc. I piece these details together in a conversational form. Sometimes, for example, he converses with Barnabas, while at other times, I incorporate the leaders of the church in Antioch because they were sent out by the Church there. Therefore, the leaders respond to the news they received from the Galatians about the Jewish Christians who had gone there, demanding that they become Jews before becoming Christians. All of this is presented in a conversational style.

What were some of your key takeaways of Galatians?

I am currently writing on First and Second Thessalonians, which have more of a typical Greek style and structure, whereas Galatians feels like an explosion. It reads like a massive rant; Paul hardly greets them before exclaiming, ‘You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?!’ You can sense the emotion, making it a tough book to start with.

I also found that some parts of Galatians don’t flow smoothly because Paul jumps around in his writing. Consequently, I felt the need to fill in some gaps by explaining what he was saying, especially when there was an Old Testament background. In those instances, I would have another character say, “In other words, you are saying…” This approach mirrors other commentaries where a narrator would clarify statements. Since this is a narrative commentary, another character addresses Paul’s statements, shaping how I write it.

As I mentioned before, I always saw Paul as a kind of John Wayne, a super-masculine character. However, I’ve changed my perspective. While I still see him as masculine, of course, I now perceive a lot more emotion from him, especially as I read his other letters. He weeps over those who do not believe, he struggles and longs for Timothy and the Thessalonians. So, my opinion of him has evolved; I now see a much more tender side to this man. The anger he exhibits in Galatians stems from genuine concern for them. It’s essential to remember that Paul was an ancient Middle Eastern man who expressed emotions like rejoicing, and I try to reflect that cultural context appropriately in certain points of the letter.

A narrative style seems very accessible to everyday Christians. Did you have them in mind when you wrote this commentary?

The interesting thing is that when I began writing this, I had oral learners in mind. I thought of places like Gambela (before the Netherlands, Johann and Louise served in Gambela, Ethiopia, where Johann was Dean and Principal at St. Frumentius Anglican Theological College), and other remote areas in Africa. However, it turns out that young Americans have been deeply moved by my narrative books. Some even suggest that Americans are increasingly becoming oral learners, and there seems to be evidence for that.

Here in the Netherlands, people are also reading it because they enjoy stories – they read novels. Whether they believe it is another matter; they may not read the Bible at all, but they will read a story about Peter’s or Paul’s life and ministry.

Another audience I had in mind was those who would never travel to the Middle East. I think of Christians in South Sudan or Ethiopia who, despite their desire to better understand the Bible, are unlikely to travel to Israel, let alone Greece or Rome. Therefore, I wanted to depict Galatians in story form, with as much detail as possible. There are many aspects in the Gospels and the epistles that are specific to certain geographical locations and are taken for granted by Christian authors, making it difficult for someone sitting in Africa to fully grasp. That’s why I endeavor to paint a vivid picture of a particular setting or describe everyday elements like what they might have been drinking, the aroma of cooking, or the light from the burning oil lamp.

You’ve said before that one of your overarching aims in your writing is to help the church to be better disciple-makers. Why does that seem to be such a challenge now, do you think?

Part of the issue is that we’re accustomed to certain methods that no longer yield the same results. We rely too heavily on outdated approaches. The way people engage with truth has evolved. For example, street evangelism in the Netherlands isn’t effective anymore. Here, it’s more of a gradual process. You spend time with friends, discussing mundane topics like the weather or pets. Then, eventually, someone might inquire about your occupation, and that’s when the door opens slightly.

However, you don’t rush in; you proceed cautiously, gradually introducing discussions about faith through storytelling. Why? Because everyone can connect with stories, and it’s less intimidating. I share personal narratives interwoven with Jesus to create opportunities for deeper conversations. It’s about establishing rapport and slowly dismantling barriers. That’s essentially what I aim to achieve in my books and now with the Galatians commentary. They are approachable, readable, and as readers engage with them, they encounter truth in narrative form.

Another factor is the lack of familiarity with Scripture, which is why I write my books – to reconnect people with the Bible through storytelling. However, I believe the issue runs deeper. Many individuals decide to follow Jesus without truly grasping the implications. When we evangelize, our primary focus is often on winning souls, neglecting to convey the profound transformation that following Jesus entails. Jesus frequently emphasized the cost of discipleship to prospective followers. Starting the journey of discipleship on the wrong footing can make the entire journey much more challenging.

It is evident, Johann, that there is a common motivation between your writing and the time you spend with others, wouldn’t you say?

Whether it’s the preparation you invest in writing or spending time with others, it’s all part of a journey. Jesus spent at least three years walking with his disciples before the crucifixion, prompting us to ask: are we truly willing to invest in a small group of individuals until they can replicate our efforts? That’s the essence I glean from the Gospels. Jesus invested time in his disciples, gradually preparing them to carry on his work. It took three years before he felt confident leaving them, instructing them to teach others to do the same.

Paul exemplifies this approach as well. He traveled with disciples like Timothy and Silas, walking alongside them on their journey. Nowadays, however, it often feels more like a microwave process: quick and superficial. We focus on conversions, then pass new believers on to pastors, saying, “They’re your responsibility now.”

In my parish, I’m endeavoring to shift this mindset. I’m teaching parishioners that each of them is a disciple-maker, capable of ministering without constant reliance on the pastor. This aligns with Paul’s emphasis on pastors equipping members to do the work of ministry. The hierarchical model of a professional priesthood has, in many cases, hindered disciple-making. Ordinary Christians are God’s vessels for connecting with diverse individuals. Each person’s journey is unique, requiring tailored approaches to sharing the gospel.

I don’t consider myself special because of seminary training. Anyone can engage in disciple-making if they’re willing to learn how to share their story and the story of Jesus. Therefore, we prioritize training our members in storytelling. In my preaching, teaching, and writing, I strive to present the truth of the gospel through storytelling, encouraging people to walk with Jesus.

Johann, thank you for taking the time to sit down and talk.

Galatians: A Life in Letters by Johannes W.H. van der Bijl, Langham Publishing. Available online through multiple sellers at the end of March.

Johannes and Louise van der Bijl Missionary profile 

 

 

URGENT APPEAL

Johann and Louise: Training Disciples to Make Disciples in the Netherlands In my last newsletter, I said that we may need to replace our old sound system soon. Well, this Sunday, part of the system gave up the ghost. We had no sound, and we could not livestream the service either. This is sad as we use this system for all our outreaches and also as a service to shut-ins and supporters of the church abroad. We need this equipment urgently as we have our Children’s Easter Outreach program on April 1, our Men’s Day Outreach on April 6 and 7 (which we would love to record and livestream), and our Women’s Retreat on June 1. Our estimates range from 3,500 to 5,000 euros, depending on the quality of the equipment. This would include a small laptop for the PowerPoint, a USB hub, an Odyssey FZ1116WDLX rack-table combo (we need the lockable table for security reasons), microphones and receivers, speakers, plugs and cables. Would you please prayerfully consider donating to this cause? You can send tax-deductible donations to SAMS for our project account, but please do stipulate that it is for the sound equipment so that we know what is for outreach expenses and what is for the sound system. Thank you for your love and support. We are truly grateful. Blessings Johann and Louise Support Us Johann and Louise spent two years helping to develop the St. Frumentius Seminary in Gambella, Ethiopia. They then worked in Southern Africa, serving in seven southern African countries, while continuing to work with the Diocese of Egypt, North Africa through engaging in a disciple making movement in order to grow the body of Christ. They are now serving in Heiloo, the Netherlands. We are sent  through the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, a missionary sending community, engaging in building relationships with the worldwide church to experience the broken restored, the wounded healed, the hungry fed, and the lost found through the love and power of Jesus Christ.  Support SAMS Copyright © 2016 Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, All rights reserved. www.sams-usa.org      Our mailing address is: PO Box 399 Ambridge PA 15003 Attention to: Johann and Louise van der Bijl Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

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