17/06/12

Counter intuitive

Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of man came not to be ministered (served) unto, but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many.


About 2 Sundays back someone came to our church and preached the beautiful message on how the Bible is counter intuitive.

In today's message we read about the Lord came not to be served like other gods. He did not come to receive like other gods do. The Lord showed us by His coming as man and His life on earth as man that He did not come to be served but came to serve. He came not to receive but to give. He came not to judge but was judged by man.

When He said serve it was not about washing people's feet or doing social serve; social service is an integral part of Christian life but not the purpose.

Jesus said He came to give His life as a ransom for the lives of many. I will not go into the constitution of life to explain this, how there is there is difference between an Angel and man but yet in spirit they both as identical. About the simple spirit being like us and complex spirit beings like Cherubim. Even if any human being manage to be perfect as Jesus did, suffers like Jesus did and dies like Jesus did yet he would only save himself and no one else. But Jesus was God who became man and His sacrifice was more than sufficient for all mankind, counting the billions and trillions from Adam to the last being to be born on earth, but only those who abide in the Covenant initiated with Noah will be saved.

We are called to be His disciples and as disciples we follow the way of life of our master and leader. That is the reason Jesus said those who want to have life need to lose it like Him. We are not called to die like Him but we are called not to desire the pleasures of life of this world but to overcome them. To live a life void of pleasure and live a life of needs. This sentence may not be agreeable to most Christians for they have been taught something else about Christianity. They have been taught Christianity is all about being blessed and about receiving and receiving in abundance from the Lord. They have not been told that as a Christian we are called more to give and give. This giving is not like religions like Jainism, Buddhism or some other religions which promote life of penance and solitude. People who do this are not Christians for they do not know the Christ or His sacrifice.

A Christian is called to give with purpose and understanding that is why he is given the Spirit of Truth and blessed with wisdom. He is called to have fellowship to be united with his brethren becoming one in Christ in mind and purpose. We are called to loose things here on earth and empty ourselves here so that we receive the greater things that await us in Heaven and be filled with them.

The race of a Christian is not like races of the world where the goal is to come first. The race of a Christian is all about winning, not just winning but getting more and more to win along with us. It is all about crossing the river Jordan [means descender] which symbolized being sons of God. Without us overcoming and becoming sons of God with the help of Jesus Christ [including Jesus and the Holy Spirit] and each other who become His vessels, none of us will go to Heaven.

Jesus said 'it is finished' on the cross for He knows the success, that we will indeed crossover but now it is up to us as to how many will we take across with us.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, Adam and Eve brought in corruption to our souls by their want of things not of the Spirit. Lord, by your coming as man You showed us that we need to be counter intuitive to this world and its understanding, for this world is corrupted by the nature of Adam. You showed us to receive, first we need to give and to have life we need to lose it. Lord, teach us to be real Christians, we call ourselves Christians but are far from living our lives as a Christian...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Mark 10:42-44
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Matthew 10:32-39
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.


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