Grappling this morning with large concepts. Thinking of portions of the Bible in chunks. Looking then taking a few steps back and then a few more and looking again. The the Bible as a wall tapestry so large that I can not take it in all at once. A tapestry that is beautiful up close as you view a small portion and then equally stunning standing with your back against the far wall.
Christ lives in every inch of the art and science of the book. He Is the Logos. He Is the life. He Is the truth. When people miss Him in the book they miss the point of the book. When He is seen the safe traveling path in the woods is seen. When He is hidden the Bible becomes a dark dangerous forest.
My attention moves to the Gospels and center in on Jesus. He is many things in the Gospels but today I see Him as an evangelist. A shepherd who bring people to the door of the fold but does not go in Himself. Off He goes after the one while leaving the ninety nine and then He gets them through the door into safety and then off He goes again. He shepherds His disciples but does the work of an evangelist. They are with Him as He goes and He does not stop. The book of Mark has that relentless quality to it. Jesus... eating... sleeping... praying... speaking... but always moving. Even on the night of His trial they moved Him from here to there.The nails in His feet and hands didn't stop Him from winning the thief on the cross.
But the epistles show Jesus in a new light. He is seated in Heaven. A physically motionless figure who acts in intercession. He has commissioned others to go. Now He pastors from a seated position. The Spirit however is active and moving. He Is like wind swirling over the Earth.
The Spirit illuminates Christ's life as Jesus prays and waits for the moment when He will stand and then step forward close enough to bring us home but not close enough to stop the events unfolding on the Earth. He will take a bride first then return when the wood is good and dry so that the justice of God can exact judgement on an injustice. He will retake all that was ever lost. Israel will inhabit it's promised borders in fullness and the world will truly prosper for the first time since Adam's fall.
Prophet, Priest and King... Evangelist, Intercessor and returning Monarch. Amazing.
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." - Acts 20:24-27 ESV
Grace is the whole counsel of God. That is the path through the woods... the safe path that brings us from here to there.
Jesus is in every book of the Bible. His name is not mentioned everywhere but He Is there. The Bible only makes sense if we see Him and our lives only make sense if the grace presented in the scriptures is the path we find to navigate life. We are hidden in the prophet. The priest is praying for us. The king will one day come and there will be clear association and connection to the visible kingdom now hidden and not always invisible.
Jesus goes, rests and reigns and the Spirit of God links those that believe to the person of Christ in organic union. We go, rest and reign also. Just like the whole Bible was needed to frame one small verse... our whole history was needed to frame this small moment in time.
Oh God, Let the art and science of the scriptures go with us into the day as we walk the path Your Son has paved for us. Reveal the Prophet, Priest and King to us and through us today. We are in awe of Your skill and handiwork.
--
No comments:
Post a Comment