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Jesus Was Humble (5/5)

From the time we are children we long to be self-sufficient. Getting that first after-school job spells self-sufficiency. Getting our driver's license spells the same thing. Going off to school and moving into an apartment means we are finally our own boss. As time goes on and we mature as individuals, we learn to move further and further away from our parents and we ask for less and less from them. Our goal, our eventual goal, is to get to the point that we don't have to ask anybody for anything – then we are self sufficient! Our…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Was Humble (4/5)

Peter boasted, "You shall never wash my feet!" (John 13.8a). However, Jesus did wash Peter's feet a few minutes later – another about-face by the tempestuous apostle! What was it that changed Peter's mind? Hear Jesus' response to Peter's boast: "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." (John 13.8b). The threat of being cutoff from Messiah was enough to cause Peter to exclaim, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" (John 13.9).

"Jesus… rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Was Humble (3 of 5)

In the military, an "about-face" is a command to make a 180 degree clockwise turn resulting in a precise reversal of direction; in other arenas (moral, spiritual, philosophical, political, etc.) an "about-face" is simply to reverse one's position on one or more important matters. Peter was a man familiar with about-faces. He had been a participant –even a ring-leader- of some in the spiritual arena. We will consider a couple of these as we think about Jesus and humility.

First, consider some of Peter's own inspired statements as…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Was Humble (2/5)

Concerning His own mission here upon this earth, Jesus said, "…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20.28). His entire purpose here had to do with service to others – after all, what was there in this material universe to attract the Christ to it. He had made this entire universe with the breath of His mouth and He could have made ten thousand more should His desire have been such. When He came to serve, He came to do what He could not have done in any other…  ( Click for more )

Jesus was Humble (1 of 5)

An image of Christ without the hands and feet of humility is simply incomplete and incorrect. If there is one essential trait in the image of Christ – one that simply cannot be overlooked – that trait is humility. The scriptures present Christ as the epitome of humility; it is that trait which makes Him so attractive to those who know Him and serve Him from the heart. No passage introduces that concept better than one from Philippians 2 and it is to it we turn as we begin this look at humility as an indispensable part of the image…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Was Compassionate (4/4)

To be Christ-like is to be Christian. To be Christ-like is to posses the attributes of Christ. To be Christ-like is also to be one of God's own. Paul challenged others "…imitate me even as I also imitate Christ." (1 Corinthians 11.1). Christians will be compassionate just as Christ was compassionate – in areas of benevolence as well as spiritual matters. Christians will demonstrate that compassion in the spiritual arena is one of our highest priorities.

Peter wrote, "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion…  ( Click for more )

Christ Was Compassionate (3 of 4)

The church of Christ of the first century was directly guided by the apostles of Christ. As such, the churches we read about in the New Testament, though imperfect, were given perfect direction. These churches, in as much as they submitted themselves to the word of Christ delivered through the apostles and prophets of the New Testament, were compassionate just as Jesus was compassionate.

Not long after the Gentiles had embraced the gospel, the church at Antioch learned of a great famine that was to bring suffering to many, many…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Was Compassionate (2/4)

The compassion exhibited by Christ on behalf of those who were hurting physically was far from the only arena in which He demonstrated that marvelous trait. In fact, the compassion showed in the physical arena pales in comparison to the compassion which He demonstrated in the spiritual affairs of man. Consider the compassion of Christ for the spiritually hurting.

"And He said to them [the apostles], 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Was Compassionate (1/4)

Like all persons, Jesus is the composite of all His features; the whole is the sum of the individual parts. To get a glimpse of Christ, I am forced to look at His individual traits. So, if I intend to have the image of Christ stamped into my heart, I must have a valid view of His character. Subsequent messages will address many of the important character traits of Jesus. From these individual glimpses into the heart of the Savior, we will gain an overall view of the Image of Christ.

One simply cannot read the New Testament scriptures without…  ( Click for more )

The Desire for the Image of Christ

The last line of a popular old hymn reads, "Stamp thine own image deep on my heart." The request in the song is for the image of Christ to be indelibly impressed on the heart of the worshiper. Of course the image of Christ referred to in the song is not a physical image, but rather a spiritual one. The image of Christ is an image which cannot be found in a painting, or sculpture; rather is it found in a book. The book which contains the image of Christ is the Holy Bible. The request to stamp the image of Christ on one's heart…  ( Click for more )

The Image of the Heavenly Man

The resurrection is a pivotal New Testament teaching. Paul defended the literal-historical resurrection of Christ and the surety of a future resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul opined, "For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." (1 Corinthians 15.16-19). Within this same context, Paul…  ( Click for more )

You Think He Looked Like What?

Recently a grilled cheese sandwich made headlines across America and in many foreign countries. The reason it made the front page was because it sold at auction for $28000 on e-bay, an on-line auction concern. The story goes that a lady had made the sandwich, took one bite and then realized that it had an image of the virgin Mary on it. She immediately stashed it away. Ten years later after bringing it out of storage, it reportedly was perfectly preserved – no mold, no deterioration, etc., only adding to its mystique. Well to make a long…  ( Click for more )

He is the Original Icon

Who has not heard of an icon? Every computer user knows about icons. Certain religions revere icons. Some buildings are referred to as icons. Certain sports heroes are recognized as icons. Icons are a part of out 21century culture. Today's article will address the Original Icon!

When man was created, he was created in the image (Gr. = eikon) of God (Genesis 1.26). The designer behind all designs is God; He is the original icon! Everything within this universe that is subject to the laws of this universe had a predecessor. Nothing, not one thing,…  ( Click for more )

A Refiner's Fire & Launderer's Soap (Malachi 3.1-4; 4 of 4)

"But who can endure the day of His [Messiah's] coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap." (Malachi 3.2).

Malachi used fire and soap as figures of purification and cleansing. Messiah was coming to effect spiritual cleansing in Israel. This was sorely needed due to the massive rebellion of God's people against the terms of their covenant. They had agreed to serve the only true and living God, but had gone after the false gods and forbidden…  ( Click for more )

A Refiner's Fire & Launderer's Soap (Malachi 3.1-4; 3 of 4)

"But who can endure the day of His [Messiah's] coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap." (Malachi 3.2).

It is funny how fire is so universally perceived as destructive while soap is almost universally perceived as good (except to a 6 year old boy, of course). The two phrases in the cited verse are actually part of a Hebrew literary tool called parallelism. Simply stated, parallelism is present when two or more phrases in a text are related…  ( Click for more )

A Refiner's Fire & Launderer's Soap (Malachi 3.1-4; 2 of 4)

"But who can endure the day of His [Messiah's] coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap." (Malachi 3.2).

Some see the Lord as destructive in much of what He did in the Old Testament. They perceive Him as a cruel despot poised above the earth, gleefully waiting for someone to mess up so He can smash them under His mighty hand. His motives are seen as sinister at best and down right mean at worst. Granted, there are many, many acts which God…  ( Click for more )

A Refiner's Fire & Launderer's Soap (Malachi 3.1-4; 1 of 4)

"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer…  ( Click for more )

The Righteous Walk in the Ways of the LORD (Hosea 14.9)

"Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them." (Hosea 14.9). The image which Hosea presents in this verse is so familiar that it is easily overlooked as a metaphor. However, there are clearly set forth in this text, two opposing sets of people; one set is righteous and the others are transgressors. The righteous ones walk in the LORD'S ways while the transgressors stumble in…  ( Click for more )

Kiss the Calves (Hosea 13.2)

"Now they sin more and more, And have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; All of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!'" (Hosea 13.2). In our study today we will do a brief review of some deceitful kisses in the Bible and on Hosea's metaphor "kiss the calves."

The kiss, from time immemorial, has signified devotion and adoration. Five passages in the New Testament enjoin the "holy kiss" or the "kiss of love"…  ( Click for more )

When Ephraim Spoke Trembling (Hosea 13.1)

Figures of speech are intended to cause mental images to arise in the minds of the readers/hearers, images which suggest some likeness between the figure and the person or thing being described. The following text is intended to do just that: "When Ephraim spoke, trembling, He exalted himself in Israel; But when he offended through Baal worship, he died." (Hosea 13.1).

It is obvious that the prophet speaks of two vastly different times in the past history of Ephraim (Israel). One time in the more distant past was a time…  ( Click for more )

Break Up Your Fallow Ground (Hosea 10.12-13)

There are passages of great hope in the book of Hosea. The following text is one such passage: "Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men." (Hosea 10.12-13).

The figures in this passage deal with farming – plowing, sowing, plentiful rains,…  ( Click for more )

"They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up." (Hosea 8.7). This figure of speech concerning sowing and reaping will be explored in our study today.

First, consider the law of sowing and reaping. In the very beginning of time, God instituted many "laws of nature." In the Genesis record, one finds a statement like this: "Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields…  ( Click for more )

Ephraim – Weak, Graying and Unaware (Hosea 7.9)

"Aliens have devoured his [Ephraim's] strength, But he does not know it; Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, Yet he does not know it." (Hosea 7.9).

In these metaphors, strength and gray hairs are opposites; one is a sign of vibrant youth and the other is a symbol of declining vitality. Or, to put it as the wise man did, "The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head." (Proverbs 20.29). Unbeknownst to Ephraim, the strength which he had once enjoyed was…  ( Click for more )

Ephraim - a Cake Unturned (Hosea 7.8)

"Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned." (Hosea 7.8). Two background points are needed before exploring this metaphor.

First, Ephraim (a name for the ten rebellious tribes of Israel) had received the same instructions about separateness as had the rest of Israel. God had given strict instructions to Israel against intermarrying with the pagan nations that inhabited the Promised Land. One specific reason for this prohibition was to prevent the Israelites from going after the gods of the heathen…  ( Click for more )