Others First

Philemon 15-20

Philemon was a Christian man living in an unbelieving world.  Philemon lived in a world not unlike ours.  In many ways, we have advanced.  Medicine and technology are much different today from what they were in Philemon’s day.  However, the hearts of men and women are much the same.

Working our way through Philemon, we have seen that Jesus and the Gospel unify Christians.  In addition, Christians are compelled by love to serve Jesus in the ministry of the Gospel.  Today, we are going to see how this same Gospel compels us to put others first for the sake of the Gospel.

First, we see that kingdom values compel us to put others first.

In verses 15 and 16, Paul is speaking to Philemon about his slave, Onesimus, and he says:  

15For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.1

Onesimus ran away.  This is the human reason behind why he was parted from Philemon for a while.  I want you to consider this human reason with me.  Onesimus was a slave.  Concerning slavery in the Roman Empire, Professor Keith Bradley wrote:

Their role was to provide labour, or to add to their owners' social standing as visible symbols of wealth, or both.  Some slaves were treated well, but there were few restraints on their owners' powers, and physical punishment and sexual abuse were common.  Owners thought of their slaves as enemies.  By definition slavery was a brutal, violent and dehumanising institution, where slaves were seen as akin to animals.2

Rome acquired slaves by her wars and by conquering foreign lands.  In the same article quoted above, Professor Bradley says:

In Rome and Italy, in the four centuries between 200 BC and 200 AD, perhaps a quarter or even a third of the population was made up of slaves.  Over time millions of men, women, and children lived their lives in a state of legal and social non-existence with no rights of any kind.  They were non-persons … and they couldn't own anything, marry, or have legitimate families.3

As slave and slave-owner, a great gulf separated Onesimus and Philemon from the human point of view.  As was noted in Professor Bradley’s article, slaves were seen as akin to animals.  

Philemon, according to Paul, owed Paul his very soul.  We take this to mean that Philemon was converted under Paul’s ministry.  For this reason, it is obvious that Philemon was not always a Christian.  We do not know what kind of a slave owner Philemon was before he knew Christ.  However, we do know that Onesimus ran away.  Obviously, Onesimus was not content as a slave.  I am not accusing Philemon of abusing Onesimus, but I am saying that slavery was an evil, oppressive institution.  Because of the evil, oppressive nature of the institution, there were huge obstacles to be overcome for Onesimus and Philemon to become brothers.

Paul says, “that you could have him back forever.”  Another way to translate this would be to say, “that you might possess him forever.”  In this statement, Paul plays on the thought of one person possessing another.  However, he continues the sentence with the thought, “no longer as a slave…but as a beloved brother.”  He is switching the discussion from human or earthly values to Kingdom values.

Paul is not saying it in the same words, but he talking about the practical application of Philippians 2:5-8:

5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When he appeared in human form, 8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  NLT4

Philemon was being called upon to lay aside his personal interest, profit and property rights in the higher interest of the Gospel, for Kingdom values.

In our day, the obstacles are many.  There are cultural obstacles, religious obstacles and social obstacles.  

For example, most of us will have only a few opportunities to interact with a Muslim, and then only on a passing basis.  However, what is our attitude toward Muslims?  Are we willing to overcome the obstacles that exist between us for the sake of the Gospel?  

A missionary works for years to overcome obstacles of language, culture, religion and history.  This has been the role of the Church since its beginning.  The Gospel started among the Jews and spread to almost every language and nation on earth.  Someone had to overcome the obstacles of language, culture and religion.  Jesus promised that this work would be accomplished.  He said, “…I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  (Matthew 16:18, ESV)  These gates of hell are the obstacles that humanity and the devil have built, such as slavery, but no such obstacle can stand against the mighty power of the Gospel.  Many men and women of God have given their lives in overcoming various obstacles.

The obstacle of slavery was so great that Paul suggests that it was necessary for Onesimus to be separated from Philemon for a while in order that he could receive him back as a brother.  The higher value was the eternal soul of Onesimus and gaining him as a brother.  Whatever the cost to Philemon, the Kingdom value of the soul of Onesimus was worth more.

Many of us stop short because of the obstacles or the cost of overcoming obstacles.  The gospel calls us to look at Kingdom values, to set our minds on things above, to lay aside self-interest in favor of kingdom interest and to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus.  

Along with Kingdom values we also see our partnership in the Gospel that compels us to put others first.

In verse seventeen, Paul says:

So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.  ESV

The root word for “partner” in this verse is the word that is normally translated “fellowship.”  It references and draws our minds to our fellowship in the Gospel.  The Gospel is the unifying factor among us.  It draws us together and makes us one.  

In writing to the Philippian Church, Paul references this partnership when he says:

3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  (Philippians 1:3-5, ESV)

Jesus, Himself has called us into partnership with Him.  In John 15, He says:

14You are my friends if you do what I command.  15I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.  Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. NLT

As believers, we are tied together by the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.  We have a partnership in the Gospel.  We are ambassadors for Christ, and Jesus calls us His friends.

We will do many things for friends that we will not do for strangers.  When we have worked with others for a number of years, the bonds of friendship grow deep and we become more and more willing to sacrifice on behalf of those we love.  In the case of Jesus, as we walk with Him, we grow in partnership or fellowship.  He died for us.  Is there anything that we would not do for Him?  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  Every day when we get up, He is there.  Every night when we go to bed, he is there.  He supports us in every battle and difficulty we face.  He cares for us when we are weak.  He encourages us when we are discouraged.  We have a partnership with Him that is closer than a brother.  Since Jesus was willing to give all for us, and since He continues to be with us every day, is there anything that we can refuse Him if He asks?

It is based on this partnership that Paul asks Philemon to accept his runaway slave back.  Here is a strong call for Philemon to put others first.  He is being asked as a partner in Gospel ministry to put others first.

As if Paul has not already made a strong enough appeal, he brings up the money.  It is not really about the money though – it is about forgiveness.  Paul says:

18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.  19I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT.  AND I WON’T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!

Here is another huge obstacle.  Onesimus had wronged Philemon.  

When someone has offended us, it makes it difficult to put them first for the sake of the Gospel.  This in a sense is what forgiveness is.  It is putting others first for the sake of the gospel.  

Paul imitates Jesus when he says, “I will repay it.”  Jesus taught us to forgive because God has forgiven us.  It is the same thing Paul is saying when he says, “And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul!”  (verse 19)  The offences of others against us are some of the hardest obstacles to overcome.  There were men who fought the Japanese who were never able to overcome the obstacle of their offences against us, and there were others who became missionaries to Japan and lived their lives for those who had sinned against them.

Your neighbor may have sinned against you and they may owe you money.  Is this an obstacle to the gospel?  

Because of Kingdom values, because of the eternal value of a soul, any price is worth paying.  Jesus was willing to lay aside His glory.  Paul considered all things but rubbish next to the surpassing value of knowing Christ.  Think about what Jesus was willing to pay for you.  He willingly gave up His glory.  He willingly set aside what was His from eternity and took upon Himself your sin.  What are you willing to give up for Him?

The name “Onesimus”  means profitable or useful.  Paul brings his appeal to a close with the statement:

Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.  (Verse 20, NLT)

The word translated “favor” here is translated “benefit” or “profit” by some other translations.  It comes from the same root as the name “Onesimus.”  Paul is using a play on words to ask Philemon to be useful for the sake of the Gospel.

What obstacles are standing between you and usefulness to the Gospel?  What obstacles are you being called upon to overcome for the sake of the Gospel?   

______________________________

1. Unless otherwise marked Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/slavery_01.shtml. Accessed September 21, 2017.

3. Ibid.
4. Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

Compelled by Love

Philemon 8-14

Why do we serve Jesus?

The motivation should be something like Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ controls us…”  ESV

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15, ESV)

The Apostle John taught us, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.  So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters...”  (1 John 3:16, NLT)

In the opening verses of Philemon, we saw that the unifying factor in the mission of the Church is the Gospel.  This week we are looking at the motivation behind our service.

A mission is a job or a task that one has been given to do.  The mission or the task that we have been given to do is all about the Gospel.  Another way to state it is that the mission of the Church is all about Jesus Christ.  It is the first job of any Christian to know Jesus and to love Him.

As we continue on our journey through Philemon, we see that the motivation for our mission is love.

In order to understand this love better, we will look at several aspects of our motivation.  The idea behind these aspects is that our motivation involves the whole person: mind, emotion and will.

The first aspect of our motivation that we see in Paul’s address to Philemon is the authority. Authority has to do with the mind.  Whatever we set out to do, we have to justify it in our minds.  We have to see the reason for it.  We have to believe it is right.

In verse 8, Paul says:

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required…  ESV

Paul is saying that he is confident that he could order Philemon to do what Paul wanted.  This is a reference to Paul’s authority.  In addition to personal authority, Paul also references moral authority by saying, “what is required.” Another way of saying this is, “to do what is proper.”

Let’s look at these in turn.

First, Paul’s authority is derived from his position.  Paul is an Apostle.  He has every right to ask Philemon to do what he is asking.  He was chosen by Jesus and directly instructed and commissioned by Him for the founding of the Church. 

The Apostles were unique in that they were entrusted with the transmitting and recording of the Word of God to the Church, the New Testament.  Their authority was unique.  For example, when Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter, they were struck dead.  (Acts 5)  This same sort of authority was seen in Moses when the followers of Korah rebelled and were consumed by fire form the Lord.  (Numbers 16)  This same sort of authority was seen in Elijah when King Ahaziah sent 50 men to command Elisha to come and the 50 men were struck dead.  (2 Kings 1)  The thing that Moses, Elijah, Peter and Paul all had in common is that they spoke directly for God.

Since the time of the Apostles, there is not a man alive on earth who speaks directly for God.  This is why we see the example and teaching of the New Testament of a plurality of elders.  It is also why the decisions of the Church are made by the whole Church.  In Matthew 18, we see that the authority to remove a person from fellowship belongs to the body of believers as a whole.  The local church’s authority lies in the Word of God, the Bible.  At special times, such as the time of Moses and the time of the Apostles, God invested His chosen instruments with unusual authority.  According to Revelations 11, this authority will once again be given to two witnesses during the time of the Tribulation.

As churches were established under the ministry of the Apostles, there was a group of elders selected to lead each church.  The elders answered to the body of believers, and accusations against elders could be entertained only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  In other words, even the elders were subject to the authority of the Word of God and the body of believers.  This is why we operate as we do in this church.  The elders and pastor are subject to the authority of the Word of God just like everyone else.

Paul was an Apostle.  He could command with authority and therefore he could be bold.  Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18)  With such absolute authority, Paul would have had every right to order Philemon to do what was right, but he chose instead to appeal to Philemon based on love.  However, he points out his authority to Philemon because Philemon’s whole person, including his mind, was involved.

This is instructive for us as a church, as leaders and as parents.  It is easy for a person in a position of authority to abuse that authority.  I should say it is common for authority to be abused.  Anytime we use our position of authority for our own benefit rather than for the benefit of those under us, we misuse our authority.  Authority is given for the benefit of those under it.  It was much, much more beneficial to Philemon to do what was right by Onesimus out of a heart of love than to have done it out of compulsion or grudgingly under orders.

The same can be said of moral authority.  Doing the right thing because it is the right thing often leads to Pharisee-ism. The Pharisees, who set out to be morally perfect, ended up being hypocrites simply because no one is perfect. 

The authority for our mission is there.  The authority for the mission satisfies our minds.  We have every right to proclaim that there is only one way to be saved.  However, the motivation for the proclamation is not our right or authority.  The motivation for the proclamation is love, love for God and love for our neighbor.

The next aspect of our motivation is affection.  Affection has to do with our emotions.

A person is made up of mind, emotion and will.  We are created in the image of God, and we see in Scripture that God also expresses mind, emotion and will.  Each one of these is a gift from God and is to be understood as such.  It is a mistake to emphasize one of these to the detriment of the others.  We see this in what I will term the modern portrayal of love.  Often, television shows and movies portray love as a physical thing or as strong affection, and it is a physical thing and it is a strong affection.  However, it is not strong affection to the exclusion of mind and will.  The results of excluding the mind and will are seen in babies born out of wedlock (mind) and marriages that do not last (will).  True love involves the whole person.

Our motivation for the mission involves the whole person.  Paul’s address to Philemon draws out the strong role that our emotions play in our motivation.

First, we see an appeal to Philemon’s emotions when Paul says, “I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus…”  (Philemon 9)  Next, we see another appeal to Philemon’s emotions when Paul says, “I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.”  (Philemon 10)  Additionally, we see an appeal to Philemon’s emotions when Paul says, “I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.” (Philemon 12)

This is a very emotional appeal.  The Gospel is also a very emotional appeal.  Who among us is not moved to tears at the thought of Jesus, His suffering and death upon the cross?  When Jesus cried out, “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” Was this not an emotional appeal?  If the message of the Gospel does not move our emotions, then we have not understood it, or internalized it.  If the message of the Gospel does not move our emotions, then we have not applied it to ourselves.  Our affections, our emotions should motivate us in our mission.

The Scriptures teach us that we love Him because He first loved us.  (1 John 4:19)

When a sinful woman anointed Jesus’s feet with perfume, kissed His feet and wiped His feet with her hair, the Pharisees around Him were indignant.  They thought that if Jesus knew what kind of woman this was, He would not let her touch Him.  Jesus said to them, “I tell you, her sins--and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love.  But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”  (Luke 7:47) 

We have been forgiven much so our emotional motivation is great.

Since all authority in Heaven and earth has been given to Jesus, and since He has forgiven us so much, we have a tremendous obligation to be about the mission He has given us.  We owe Him our very lives.

Paul talks to Philemon about his obligation to Paul.  He says in verse 19, “…to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.”  From this, we understand that Philemon owes his life to Paul.  Onesimus would have been useful to Paul.  Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him because with Paul in chains, it was useful to have someone to help him with the work.  In verse 11, Paul states that Onesimus is useful, and then in verse 13 he says, “I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.”  (NLT)  Because of authority, because of affection Paul could appeal to Philemon to do what was right.  In addition, Paul could have kept Onesimus and just let Philemon know, “Hey, I have your slave now, thanks.” However, as Paul says, “But I didn't want to do anything without your consent.  I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.” (Philemon 14, NLT) 

We see in this the importance of the will in our motivation for our mission.  We are obligated.  We could be ordered to do what is right.  However, God does not force us.  He rather appeals to us as His children.  He calls us His friends and asks us to obey out of love for Him.

Because He does not force us, many of us live with things in our lives that displease God.

For example, let us imagine that when Paul sent Onesimus back that Philemon had had Onesimus put to death.  Legally, Philemon would have been within his rights as a master.  There would have been no financial consequences for Philemon.  However, what would have been the spiritual consequences?  His relationship with Paul would have been broken.  Would the church in his house have continued to thrive?  How would his family have been affected?  We do not know, but it would have been costly.

In our case, we are called to live for Christ.  First, we are called to know Him and love Him.  Next, we are called to live for Him in this present evil age.  God does not force us.  He invites us to serve Him willingly.  But, what happens when we do not?  Does the world come to an end?  No, and we may not suffer any visible consequences for a while.  But, what about our spiritual health?

You and God know where your will is being challenged.  Perhaps, you have an Onesimus in your life that you have every right not to forgive.  Yet God is gently appealing to your love for Him to give it up for His sake.  He could order you to, but He wants your service to be willing.  The authority of the Word of God should satisfy your mind that it is the right thing to do.  The fact that Jesus has forgiven you of much more should move your emotions to see the obligation you have, but are you willing to forgive?  God will not force you.  He wants our willing service.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says:

¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The Unifying Factor

Philemon 1-7

Let me introduce you to some very diverse people.

First, there is Paul.  Paul is a Jew.  Educated under the top Rabbi of his day, Paul grew up as a Pharisee.  Before becoming a Christian, he was the most zealous Pharisee around.  He is also educated, so educated that the Roman procurator said to him, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”  (Acts 26:24)[i]  Paul is the equivalent of a PhD of our day.

Then there is Timothy.  Timothy is a disciple of Paul.  He is the son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father.  Forbidden by Mosaic Law, mixed marriages were not accepted by Pharisees.  However, this did not stop Paul, the ex-Pharisee, from loving and working with his young protégé.

Next, there is Philemon.  Philemon’s name is Greek.  Of course, normally Jews like Paul would have nothing to do with Greeks.  Philemon lived in Colossae and was well to do, a slave owner.  He had a church in his house.  His wife was Apphia and his son’s name was Archippus.  Philemon was converted under the ministry of Paul and Paul calls him a beloved fellow worker.  Tradition has it that he was martyred for his faith.

Colossae had been a leading city in Asia Minor several hundred years before Paul’s day.  However, by the first century A.D., Colossae had diminished to a second-rate market town and had been surpassed long before in power and importance by the neighboring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis.  During Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus, Epaphras was converted and carried the gospel to Colossae.[ii]

It was in this town of Colossae that Philemon and his family lived and worked.  Here is where there is more about Archippus.  When Paul wrote to the Church in Colossae, he said:

And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”  (Colossians 4:17)

So, not only was his father a leader in the Church, Archippus had a ministry in the church as well.  The word translated “ministry” here is the word “διακονίαν” from  which we get our word “deacon.” Some take this to mean that Archippus was a deacon in the church.  According to tradition, Archippus was later the bishop of Laodicea.

The final character I wish to introduce to you today is Onesimus.  His name means useful.  He is a slave.  Slavery was common in those days.  According to the “Ancient History” website, 1 in 5 people were slaves across the Roman Empire.[iii]

These people were all from different cultural, social and economic backgrounds.  They come from different countries, languages, cities and families.  They are as diverse as can be and should have nothing in common.

However, we will see that they are the most loving and unified group one could imagine.

There was one unifying factor involved and I want to look at it with you and look at how it worked in each of their lives.

The one unifying factor was Christ or the Gospel.

As diverse and different as these people were, they were unified in purpose.  This is the first thing necessary for a mission.  A simple definition of “Mission” is:  a task or job that someone is given to do.[iv]

What we have in Philemon is a picture or a vignette of people living out the mission in their daily lives.  Paul and Timothy were in Rome.  Philemon, Apphia and Archippus were in Colossae, and they were all living out the mission.  Look at how Paul addresses them.  He calls Philemon, “our beloved fellow worker” and he calls Archippus, “our fellow soldier.” They were all workers in the same cause.

Now, as for Paul, he calls himself, “a prisoner for Christ Jesus.”

First of all then, it is important for us as Christians, living in light of our mission, to realize and keep in mind that all of our circumstances can serve and do serve the mission. 

Paul was a prisoner of the Roman Empire, persecuted by Jews who hated the mission he was on and the message he preached.  The very ones who had crucified the Lord Jesus Christ now sought to have Paul put to death.  But, Paul does not consider himself their prisoner.  He considers himself Christ’s prisoner.  In Philippians 1, writing about his imprisonment he says:

¹²I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.  ¹⁴And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

God is in control of all of our circumstances.  Paul rejoiced that his chains served to advance the gospel.  They were all workers in the same cause, fellow soldiers in the cause of Christ.  Paul set the example by seeing every circumstance as a God given opportunity to advance the gospel.  The unifying factor in purpose and circumstances is Christ. 

However, reading Philemon, we see that these people are much more than fellow workers.  They are family.  Timothy is called “our brother.”  Philemon is addressed as beloved and Apphia is called “our sister.”  Look at what Paul says in verses 4 and 5:

⁴I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, ⁵because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

Look at the reference to love and compare it to what Paul says is verse 7.  “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” 

The bonds of our mission run deep. 

We said, “It is important for us as Christians, living in light of our mission, to realize and keep it in mind that all of our circumstances can serve and do serve the mission.”  It is also important to realize and keep it in mind that no one of us should or can go it alone.  Paul was a prisoner, but he had Luke, Timothy, Epaphras, Tychicus, Justus, Mark, Demas and others either with him or delivering messages for him.  (Colossians 4)  Paul was part of a Christian community that he considered his family.  We see this community at work in the exchange of letters, messages and prayers.  At the end of Colossians 4, Paul says, “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”  (Verse 16)  Here, in the exchange of letters and communications between the Laodiceans and the Colossians, we see the tight knit fellowship of the family.

We see the family community in operation as Paul says he derives much joy and comfort from Philemon’s love.  We see the family community in operation as Paul says the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through Philemon.  We see the family community in operation as Paul boldly tells Philemon to prepare a guest room for him in verse 22.

Jesus set the example.  He called His disciples brothers.  In Matthew 28:10 He says, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”  Hebrews 2:11 explains to us, “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father.  That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.”  (NLT)[v]  It is because of Jesus’s example that we know what love is and how to relate to each other as brothers and sisters.  We read in 1 John 3:16, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”

This family community is an essential part of the mission.  We belong.  We are a part of something big, powerful, world changing, and we are important to this family.  The mission is who we are.  We are the people of Christ.  That is why they call us Christians.  When our missionaries are in far off places, they are our flesh and blood serving, on behalf of Christ and on our behalf, our brothers and sisters in Christ who we have yet to meet.  In addition, you and I should be no less dedicated to the service of Christ.  Every day we get to serve Christ wherever we are, and we have a wonderful family to love, support and encourage us, to walk with us along the way.

The unifying purpose in all our circumstances is Christ.  The unifying factor in our relationships is Christ.  Christ is the mission.  He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6)  We find a beautiful expression of this truth in Philemon 6.  I like the King James Version of this verse:

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

The word “communication” here is an interpretation of the Greek word “κοινωνία” which is usually translated “fellowship.”  The idea of verse 6 is closely tied to verse 5 and Paul’s thanksgiving every time he prays for Philemon.  The faith and love expressed by Philemon are going to result in the full knowledge of what is in us because of Christ.  The knowledge of what is in us because of Christ is effective, life changing and powerful.  It breaks down strongholds.  It sets prisoners free.  It changes us into His image.  Let me list a few things that are in us because of Christ.

Because of Christ, we are God’s children.

Because of Christ, we are beloved.

Because of Christ, we have eternal life.

Because of Christ, we have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:4)

Because of Christ, we have the mind of Christ.

Because of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit of God living within us.

Because of Christ, we have the power of God.

These and so much more are ours because of Christ.

Christ is our mission.  Christ is the unifying factor.  All true Christians agree that Jesus is Lord.  He is risen from the dead and He is Lord.  If you find yourself on the outside looking in, then perhaps you do not yet know Jesus.   Perhaps divisions and strife among us mean that we do not yet know Him, as we should.  Our first job or mission or purpose is to know Him.  When we know Him and love Him with all our heart, then we can make disciples, disciples who will know Him and love Him with all their hearts. Philemon actually made disciples as a natural outgrowth of his life because he knew Jesus and loved Jesus with all his heart.

Do you know Jesus?

Do you love Jesus with all your heart?

---

[i] Scripture quotations are taken from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

[ii] The NIV Study Bible, copyright 1985 by the Zondervan corporation, pg. 1851

[iii] http://www.ancient.eu/article/629/, accessed August 28, 2017.

[iv] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mission. Accessed September 1, 2017.

[v] Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

The Resurrection and the Life

John 11

When Lazarus’s sisters sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was ill, they said, “Lord, he who you love is ill.”

The idea that God is love originates with the Bible.  The gods of the Greeks and Romans were not loving.  The gods of the Asians and Africans were not loving.  The gods of the Native Americans were not loving.  Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”[i]  (John 14:9)  Jesus was loving.  Jesus taught that God is love, and said:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

This loving God delayed two days after He received word that Lazarus was sick.  John tells us:

⁵Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  ⁶So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.  (John 11:5-6)

According to this, it was because He loved them that He delayed.

Jesus was working to give them a new perspective on death.  Psalm 116:15 tells us, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”  Jesus taught:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  -- Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  (Matthew 10:29, 31)

Jesus defined Lazarus’s death as “sleep.”  “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”  (John 11:11)  Here we see, Jesus intended to wake Lazarus.  By the time Jesus arrived at the tomb, Lazarus had been dead four days.  His body would have been in a state of decomposition that meant resuscitation was impossible.  This resurrection was a recreation of the body, everything had to be rebuilt and Jesus did just that in an instant.

In this incident, Jesus taught:

I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  (John 11:25-26)

Lazarus was raised from the dead to show us that Jesus is Lord even over death.  For those of us who sleep, there is coming a day of resurrection.  First Corinthians 15:51-54 says:

⁵¹Behold!  I tell you a mystery.  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  ⁵³For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.  ⁵⁴When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

For the believer, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  (Philippians 1:21)

For the person who rejects Jesus and His gift of eternal life, there remains only “a fearful expectation of judgment.”  (Hebrews 10:27)  For this person, there is reason to fear death, because, “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

As long as Jesus does not return, as long as we still wait for that last trumpet, we will all die physically.  To help us understand that we do not cease to exist, Jesus used the metaphor of sleep.  The bad news is that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)  This is why it was necessary for God to give His only Son so that the world would not perish.  This is why Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

It really is not what you know.  It is who you know.  Do you know Jesus?  He is alive.  He physically rose from the grave after having been crucified.  He is the resurrection and the life.

As He told Martha:

I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

---

[i] Scripture quotations are taken from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Fear

Mark 5:21-43

Jairus feared for his little girl’s life.  He said to Jesus, “My little daughter is at the point of death.”  (Mark 5:23, ESV)[i]

The woman, who to this day remains un-named, feared exposure.  Both came to Jesus for deliverance and healing, and had to face their fears.  Both came to Jesus and found so much more than they first sought.  In their fear and desperation, they came to Jesus and found the answers they were looking for.

Mark 5:21 finds Jesus getting out of the boat, presumably on the western shore having just crossed the Sea of Galilee from the region of the Gerasenes.  Jesus had cast a legion of demons from a man.  The demons had left the man and entered some nearby pigs.  When the people saw the man seated and in his right mind and the pigs dead and floating in the sea, they asked Jesus to leave.  Having been rejected by the people of the Decapolis, Jesus got back into the boat and crossed the sea.

By this point in his account, Mark has established the great power of Jesus.  Not only did Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons, but He also drew large crowds to listen to His teaching.  Everywhere Jesus went, large crowds would gather and Jesus would teach them.  His compassion showed itself in Him teaching them.  Jesus stressed the importance of the spiritual over the physical.  He said, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”  (Mark

8:36, ESV) Jesus healed the sick and cared for people’s physical needs, but His focus was always the salvation of their souls.  Because of this focus, Jairus and the woman both faced disappointment or at least the frustration of their plans before experiencing a miracle bigger than anything they had imagined.

First, let’s consider Jairus.

As was usual, a great crowd gathered around Jesus as soon as He got out of the boat.  At this point, a leader of the synagogue came to Jesus.  His name was Jairus.  The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges says:

Each synagogue had a kind of Chapter or College of Elders, presided over by a ruler, who superintended the services, and possessed the power of excommunication.[ii]

Jairus was an important person in the community due to his high position.  It was rare that someone of such status should believe in Jesus, but it was not unheard of.  We also have the example of Nicodemus who was a ruler of the Jews who believed in Jesus.

Notice how Jairus humbled himself.  Mark tells us he fell at Jesus’s feet.  This action reflects the desperation Jairus felt.  One can almost hear the panic in Jairus’s voice as he pleaded urgently with Jesus.  His words were:

“My little daughter is at the point of death.  Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”  (Mark 5:23, ESV)

Can you feel the fear and panic of a father about to lose his little girl?

But, there was hope.  Jesus went with him.  Jesus was going to answer his request.

At this point, Jairus’s story mixes with the story of a woman who was suffering.  While Jairus feared loss and what he could not control, the woman’s fear was different.  Her fear was of exposure.  She had already lost everything.  She was not afraid of the unknown.  She had known her suffering for twelve years.  We have seen the fear and panic of Jairus.  Let’s examine the fear of this woman.

First, we must understand what the condition of this woman meant.  Mark 5:25 tells us that she had a discharge of blood for twelve years.  In order to understand, let’s read Leviticus 15:25-27:

²⁵“If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. ²⁶Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity.  And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity. ²⁷And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.

This means that for twelve years people had avoided touching anything she touched. She was a complete outcast. Everywhere she went she should have been crying out “Unclean.” So that, anyone near her could avoid being touched and thereby made unclean.

On top of this, she had spent everything she had on doctors and was only getting worse.

So, the significance of her quietly touching Jesus takes on new meaning. Not only did she fear being noticed, she also feared the crowd and Jesus’s reaction. They could quite literally have stoned her for making them unclean, for not warning them of her approach. The Bible tells us that people were jostling Jesus. This means for her to get close enough to touch Jesus she would have pushed up against a lot of people.

She just wanted to be healed. She did not want trouble, and she most certainly did not want to be noticed. Notice that in Mark 5:33 it says that she “came in fear and trembling and fell down before him.”

Now comes the part where Jairus and the woman experienced disappointment.

The woman was called out. Jesus stopped and insisted that someone touched Him. She was caught. Her plan to go unnoticed was foiled. And as for Jairus, a messenger arrived and told him his little girl was dead. His plea to Jesus had been to prevent her from dying.

It is important for us to understand how Jesus deals with their fear.

Notice first how tenderly Jesus addresses this woman. He says to her, “Daughter.” This is a tender expression of a father to a child, but Jesus and the woman are both mature adults. Jesus does not use this expression with any other person in the New Testament. You and I do not know her name because Jesus respected her desire for privacy. However, she had a great need for acceptance.  She needed to know that she was not an outcast. Much more than physical healing, she needed to know that she was accepted by Him, the Messiah that she had sought out. Jesus tells her, “…your faith has made you well.” However, the language He used was the language of salvation. According to the dictionary, the word He used means:

properly, deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin – and into His provisions (safety).[iii]

Her faith had saved her!

She was afraid of being rejected, chastised and maybe even stoned, but suddenly found that she was accepted, a daughter and beloved.

For Jairus, Jesus speaks words of encouragement. He says, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36, ESV)

In cases of fear of loss, the unknown and the uncontrollable, Jesus always said this. He might have used different words but the message was the same. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1, ESV) The woman had heard reports of Jesus and her faith was in place before she touched Jesus’s garment. This was not the case with Jairus. Jesus encouraged him to believe and then took the time to build Jairus’s faith. For some reason, Jairus needed to see the power of God. Some of you are like John, who saw the empty tomb and believed. Some of us are like Thomas, who stubbornly refused to believe until he could put his hand in Jesus’s side. Jairus was one of us. He needed to see more to believe.

In Matthew 8 we meet a centurion who understood and believed Jesus could heal without being there, but not Jairus. Jairus wanted Jesus to come and lay His hands on the girl, and then once the girl died, it was only at Jesus’s insistence that Jesus entered the home and healed the girl.  Jesus allowed only the mother, father and Peter, James and John into the room when He raised the girl. It was not yet time for the nation to know. When He raised Lazarus, it was public and the leaders of the nation immediately began making plans to kill Him. It was not time for that yet, so Jesus kept this private.

However, Jesus had allowed the girl to die because He was interested in Jairus’s salvation.

When Jesus took the little girl and t[iv]old her to get up, the ESV says they were overcome with amazement. Mark says they were overcome with a “mega” amazement, meaning very great indeed. In addition, the word Mark uses for amazement means:

a throwing of the mind out of its normal state, alienation of mind, whether such as makes a lunatic, or that of the man who by some sudden emotion is transported as it were out of himself,…

They were in a state of shock, amazement or ecstasy, trying to comprehend what they had just seen. God had just done something far beyond their ability to imagine. Just as Ephesians 3:20 says:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us… ESV

In both Jairus’s case and the woman’s case, their fear was the result of unbelief. The woman believed that Jesus could heal her, but she did not believe He would want to or that He would accept her. Therefore, she was afraid. Jairus believed that once his little girl was dead, Jesus would not be able to help her.

Most of our fears follow these lines.  Either we do not believe God cares, or we do not believe God can.

What fear are you facing today?

Do you believe God knows?

Do you believe God cares?

The words of Jesus to Jairus are for each one of us today.

“Do not fear, only believe.”  (Mark 5:36, ESV)

---

[i] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

[ii] http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/mark/5.htm . Accessed August 15, 2017.

[iii] http://biblehub.com/greek/4982.htm . Accessed August 19, 2017.

[iv] http://biblehub.com/greek/1611.htm . Accessed August 19, 2017.