Faithful on Fridays Blog

Scripture has a fascinating word picture of an old pirate’s telescope coming into full strength and focus as it’s extended one stage at a time: telos. It’s often translated ‘end’ and while Jesus described ‘the end’ that’s the word He chose.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 

His ultimate goal was the ethnos, nations, even though He came to His chosen people first; with their rejection the door of salvation was opened to anyone who believes (Rom. 11:11-12). His foreshadow or preview, earlier in His ministry, indicated the Temple in Jerusalem would be a ‘house of prayer for all nations’ (Mark 11:17 quoting Is. 56:7); the telescope was unfolding. It’s clear that Jesus desires a full house (Luke 14:23) of people (ethnos) who love and obey Him,

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people (nations) producing its fruits. Matthew 21:43 

Those people are the widely diverse nations of the world whom even Caiaphas unknowingly prophesied,

“Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. John 11:50-52 

Who are the scattered people? Remember the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11)? He scattered them, but will eventually gather them again: it’s back to Eden. 

After the resurrection Jesus decided to meet with His disciples in Galilee for 40 days before ascending back into heaven awaiting His final return. Why Galilee and not Jerusalem … Galilee of the Nations; the telescope is unfolding closer to full strength. 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … Matthew 28:19a

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15 

… and He said 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. Luke 24:46-47

It’s amazing that with all of these Scriptures any believer could possibly have an attitude of superiority of their race or ethnic background. Clearly Jesus wanted His Bride, His Church, to be a diverse group of people giving us a ‘taste’ of what eternity will look like on the new earth when the telescope is fully extended and the goal is finally reached. 

Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight … Jesus loves the many nations of the world!

Names of Jesus: Redeemer

Let me get this straight. Adam, therefore all humanity, sinned and deserves punishment. God, in mercy, appeared on earth as a Savior, to receive that due sentence: death. 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 

That makes Jesus a Redeemer. Since we don’t often use the word redeem let’s dive into its meaning. In the Old Testament a redeemer was a relative who would take care of his family by repurchasing land or buying them back from slavery, thus freeing them. He would also be an avenger, taking revenge by standing up for his people, thereby vindicating them. I like that.

That’s the lower story. When we come to the New Testament we read about Jesus (Heb. 9:12) who came to accomplish that same goal: set us free, spiritually, the upper story. He came to pay our ransom, to literally pay off our debt, and restore us into the family. That privilege only comes by faith.

When you recognize your need for a redeemer, whether for the first time or from a situation you’re in right now, He’ll be there for you. 

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:6-7 ESV

Did you get that? Our Redeemer has broken the chains of slavery to sin and any bondage you put yourself under. The Holy Spirit, the verse tells us, was sent by God to give you the privilege of calling Him, Father. We’ve been adopted back into the family: Jesus is our Redeemer, our Rescuer. 

The prophet Zechariah prophesied, 

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. Luke 1:68 

Anna recognized Him,

She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. Luke 2:38 

What about you? Since the ransom has been paid why are you living like you’re in bondage? If you have responded to God’s message then He is your Father and you are sons, literally co-heirs with Christ. Are you living like an heir in the Kingdom or like a slave in the world?

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalms 107:2 

Don’t let fear, anger, or depression keep you in bondage. You’ve been set free. Live like it! Trust, forgive, and experience His joy every day: that’s kingdom living. Let your words echo Job’s,

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25 

The gospel of John is unique, his writings about the life of Christ are more mystical, but still reflect Jesus’ destiny of bringing the light of God into our lives.

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. John 1:4, 9 

This word ‘everyone’ in Greek means all, the whole thing, gathering the whole kit and caboodle. Jesus loved uniting people, making the total picture of salvation available to the Jew, but also to the Gentile (all nations), one piece at a time. God is all about amalgamation: mixing and merging everyone together for the whole picture to finally emerge.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 

The whole world; for all time?

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17 

To the Samaritan woman’s expression of faith the people declared,

 “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves. Now we know that He is indeed the Savior of the world. John 4:42 

It seems to me that John’s ear was tuned in to Jesus’ words regarding the nations of the world; these recorded words are only found in his gospel. That insight into the nations we’ll see later in the Book of Revelation by John, but for now, Jesus proclaimed,

For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh. John 6:33, 51 

Let’s think back … God wanted the world, the cosmos, filled with His glory as mankind enjoyed His presence throughout eternity. The garden in the ‘east’, Eden, a place of delight or paradise, was a picture of where everyone enjoyed relationship with their Maker and that completed the enigma or mystery of eternal life. We won’t be eternally floating around in heaven, but will be inhabiting a complete world, paradise, where everyone has access again to the Tree of Life,

He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden He placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:22

God scattered mankind from paradise one time, but will gather us back in again at just the right time for all eternity.

Names of Jesus: Shepherd

The most widely used lower story or metaphor in the Bible is the shepherd-sheep relationship and with good reason; shepherds and sheep picture our walk with God. Let’s look at a few examples in scripture and find the upper story connecting our relationship with Jesus and bring honor to His name: Shepherd.

Sprinkled throughout the Old Testament we find shepherding from Abel to Abraham,  Jacob to David, and the first evangelists, the shepherds, for the Messiah. Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd, Hebrews’ author described Him as the Great Shepherd, and Peter called Him the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul. That’s an impressive list. How can we, unfamiliar with this shepherd-sheep relationship, understand what God is picturing for us? Let’s give it a shot.

Before David was king, as a young boy he was a shepherd who jeopardized his life as he fought with both lions and bears to protect and deliver his sheep. They were his responsibility, his possession, and he loved them: the lower story. 

Jesus feels the same way about you. He fought for you when He went to the cross and defeated your enemy by purchasing you back with His own blood. You are His responsibility so He delivered you from the grip of Satan … why? Because He loves you; what a great upper story. 

The sound of the shepherd’s voice was recognized by the sheep and they followed it. Even if they strayed while grazing, the shepherd firmly and lovingly returned them to the flock. That kind of intimacy with Jesus is available to us as we progressively learn to recognize His voice, and more importantly, obey it. He may need to use a rod or staff (Ps. 23) but His ultimate purpose is to keep us close to Him. 

Shepherds chose and purchased their sheep, therefore, he knew and loved them. The love and intimacy between the Father and Son was the incentive for our Shepherd:

“… just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:15 

It was the Great Shepherd who paid the ultimate price for you and me.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 

Our Shepherd promises abundant life (John 10:10) for His sheep, one that is filled with purpose and direction. Develop your intimacy with the Chief Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, the One Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Spend time with Him in prayer, read His words to you every day, and expect Him to speak to you. Jesus’ voice, like the shepherd’s, is deep in your heart; learn to recognize it as you grow in Him. 

Let’s never forget God’s original intention for mankind to be fruitful, multiply, subdue, and rule over the earth with Him. His goal was to fill the earth with His glory and our destiny was to re-present Him to the world. That hasn’t changed, however, the timing did. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are now waiting for His return when we get back on track with every nation present in the eternal Kingdom of God on earth.

Jesus, being the Son of Abraham, knew that God’s chosen people were the Jews, however, is there any indication that He knew about ‘the nations’? He said He was sent to the lost sheep of of Israel: what about everyone else? Even His mother prophesied regarding the nations,

He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever. Luke 1:54-55 

Every believer, for all time, is the offspring, or the seed of Abraham. We are the ‘all people’ the angels declared to the shepherds at Jesus’ birth,

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people”. Luke 2:10 

It wasn’t ‘your people’ or the Jewish people, it was all people … who believe; they are the offspring of Abraham and included in the covenant. Simeon was so excited about the birth of Messiah that he prophesied,

Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. Luke 2:29-32 

Jesus opened the way for the Gentiles, the ethnos, the nations of the world to come into the master plan of filling the earth when they believed in Him. Jesus, Himself quoted the prophet Isaiah when He described His ministry tour,

… but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:1-2 

Jesus’ ministry headquarters wasn’t Jerusalem, it was the Galilee region, Galilee of the Gentiles … the nations. As you read the gospels you’ll find many nations, represented by one person, that were foretastes of His original purpose. Jesus ministered to a Roman centurion, Syrians (Damascus and Antioch), Jordanians, a Lebanese woman (Canaanites), and don’t forget Jesus’ parents sought refuge in Egypt! He’s all about the goyim, the ethnos, the nations. 

And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. Luke 13:29 

We’ll all be sitting together at that table; why not appreciate the variety of color, cultures, and foreign lands now?

Names of Jesus: Immanuel 

One of the best gifts of parenting is the privilege of watching your kids grow up. Over time we watch them make decisions, some good-some questionable, choose spouses, careers, and possibly begin their own families. There’s little that brings me greater joy than spending time with my sons. 

The name of Jesus, Immanuel, means ‘God with us’ which tells me God enjoys spending time with His kids too. Undoubtedly, when the Trinity discussed the idea of creating mankind it was primarily for fellowship. God is all about walking and talking with His kids, from Eden to Egypt, from Israel to Indiana; God wants to be ‘with us’: His name is Immanuel. 

A future dad by the name of Joseph had an angel explain that his future wife would carry this One called Immanuel and fulfill the prophecies: God will dwell among His people again. Not in a Tabernacle or Temple, but become a man spending time walking and talking with His people. 

When we call Jesus Immanuel it’s a declaration of our confidence that He wants to be part of our life; He cares about us and enjoys us because we’re His kids. He’s not walking on earth anymore but by His Spirit remains a part of us. 

He explained this new concept while spending time with His disciples; He will abide or remain within us. What? When we spend time with God (abide: John 6:56, 15:1-11) we’re assured that He’s there enjoying our fellowship because He’s Immanuel and by His Spirit He’s still with us.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

John 14:16-17, 20 ESV

I think God, Father, Son, and Spirit, were discussing that amazing truth as they looked down the corridor of time. It was all about relationship to them. Do you get that? God wanted relationship from before the beginning of time and that desire remains. He wants to be Immanuel to you, 

… we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 2 Corinthians 6:16b ESV

The joy I experience while spending quality time with my sons is a picture of how God feels when He spends quality time with you; He’s our Father and we are His kids. Doesn’t that bring a smile to your face?

For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory. Colossians 1:27 NLT

As we continue our jaunt into the mystery of the nations, we arrive at the scene of one man who simply ‘obeyed God’ and formed one, unique nation to carry His Name and authority, filling the earth: Abram. God promised a great nation with a great name from him, providing blessings for the nations of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3). Quite an assignment. That prophetic covenant included a name change from Abram to Abraham, ‘father of many nations’. 

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:8-10 

This foreigner migrated with his family to this gifted land with an eternal city in mind, trusting God to do what He said He’d do. This ‘great nation’ would grow into one that is distinguished, mighty, and extensive. You may not see Israel with that lens today, but when you realize the Church is his offspring it comes into focus. Paul wrote,

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be. Romans 4:11-13, 17-18 

Moses understood that even sin wouldn’t negate God’s covenant with Abraham (Ex. 32:13-14), and the chosen people of Israel realized it, (2 Kings 13:23), as well as the writer of Psalm 105:6-10, and the prophets. God never forgets His promises.

Abraham is the father of many nations, Jewish or non-Jewish, black, white, or brown, but only to those who walk in faith. Being the inheritor of the world means eternal life for all who believe, beginning now and lasting forever. We are many nations, on the same journey back to the city of God, back to Eden, and held together by faith in Jesus Christ, The Son of Abraham. 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 

The mystery is unraveling.

Names of Jesus: Most High God

While surfing the internet for restaurants you don’t typically want a good one; you want the best. It’s the American mindset. God has given us a glimpse into the best by His name, Most High; let’s discover Jesus in this name.

We first read of El Elyon, Most High God, in Gen. 14:19-22. Many theologians agree that Melchizedek was Jesus appearing in the flesh to meet with Abram (Abraham); a supernatural story for sure. Melchizedek declared God to be Most High, four times; that’s significant. God Most High is a superlative; it proclaims the highest order. The Most High is the highest possible position that surpasses all others.

Nebuchadnezzar realized God was Most High after an encounter with Daniel (Dan. 4:2-3). In fact, this name for God was used ten times in his book. That’s important because this pagan king did not trust God alone for his salvation; he had many gods.

When we enter into Jesus’ life do we find El Elyon? We sure do. Mary was visited by an angel declaring the birth of a son by the power of the Most High, who would be the Son of the Most High, and later heralded the birth: Glory to God in the highest! 

Jesus encountered a demon-possessed man in Mark 5. Previously He had entered into a demonic storm, rebuked it, and caused peace to come. Who has that kind of power? The Most High God, the superlative of all gods. When Jesus arrived at His destination He faced off with demons and what did they declare: Jesus, Son of the Most High God! 

As He approached Jerusalem for the last time the people were exuberant and shouted, 

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna was a Hebrew expression that translates as ‘please save us’ but that wasn’t their cry. It had changed when they recognized Him as the Most High; their plea for deliverance became an expression of praise and confidence to El Elyon, Most High God.

Stephen preached his last sermon in Acts 7 which enraged the religious leaders. He also declared God as Most High and rebuked them for resisting the Holy Spirit. How did that happen? They rejected Jesus, the Righteous One. Stephen was executed then and there and persecution of the Church was released.

As Paul picked up the mantle of God’s assignment we find him in Acts 16 encountering a demon-possessed woman. What did she cry out? “These are servants of the Most High God!” Paul commanded the demon to come out and he did.

What’s the point of all this? From beginning to end God holds the quintessence, the highest place, in all of creation. From pagan kings to angels to demon-possessed humans, He retains that position; the question is whether we believe it. If He’s got the best answers to our questions, the best choices in life, or the best decisions available, shouldn’t we go to Him first? Declare Jesus as your Most High God; He won’t disappoint you.

Did you ever wonder where the nations began or how they became unique? In order to understand the ‘nations’ or in Hebrew, the goyim, we need to go back to the beginning of man,

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. Genesis 1:28

Adam and Eve were given an authorized assignment to reproduce and spread out over the earth, keeping everything under control, while ruling over it. Sounds simple enough. 

God wanted His image and likeness bearers to cover the planet, disperse themselves, so His glory would fill the earth as we fellowshipped with Him in the place of delight: Eden. It was a great plan so what went wrong? Sin and rebellion: that’s what went wrong. We veered off the original path of eternity which forced God to drive mankind out of paradise and into the cold, cruel world. For a time. God didn’t scrap Plan A for Plan B, He had already made provision for us to return to Eden and eternity with Him, but with all the sin and violence in the world He chose Noah to begin again. Hence … the flood.

Stay with me as we travel through Genesis concentrating on the nations. When Noah and his family landed back on earth after the flood the nations began again to spread out. It’s what God originally wanted: reproduce and rule. 

These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood. Genesis 10:32

From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations. Genesis 10:5 

And so migration began with people speaking different languages but the variety that God intended, ethnic diversity, disappeared when the leadership in Babel decided on uniformity: one language. However, in His sovereignty, God always triumphs over man’s plans and He, again, dispersed the people with different languages, developing unique cultures, and the first immigration led people all over the globe. That’s where the nations began and it was all God’s doing. Ethnic diversity was His idea because He loves variety, it was His plan from the beginning, and there’s no more value in one than another. I hope you see that His intention was never for superiority based on race or nation, but only on the individual heart.

What He planned in Eden will come back around when Jesus returns and gathers all of us,

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, Revelation 5:9-10