Languages amaze me. As Bible believers we believe that language was invented by God and adjusted at the tower of Babel. As with all things created, and fallen, language decreases instead of increases. It’s true that dialects multiply, but quality and preservation usually doesn’t. Dictionaries are a reasonable tool for us to use to slow that decline, but inevitably it does decline. At the least, it can morph due to circumstances of living or exposure. I have observed that when my immediate family moved from North Texas to Oklahoma. In truth, it’s not much different except some ‘drawl’ as we speak, and a few words. Historically, my family are outdoors, and working people. We rarely end up in sophisticated sectors of our society. Therefore, the terms are unique to the cultures we are from and exposed to, much like your families I’m sure.
Having said that, words and the way they are spoken, intrigue me, especially in their definitions and usages. I’ve been known to use the wrong word to describe something. For instance, when something— ‘runs like a dog’,it means that the thing runs awful. But I have used the phrase in it’s opposite placement. I like dogs. I like the way they run and that gives me joy. So, I would say— ‘my truck runs like a dog’ and people would wonder if I need a ride somewhere. Eventually I learned the phrase meant something entirely different. This is one reason why I define terms so much. When it comes to the Word of God, we need to be as close as possible. You can discover the meaning in a more specific way, by listening or discovering its usage. The context of the phrase or word can enable you to find it’s true meaning.
The word “follow” in the New Testament has several meanings, but the one most often used for discipleship is the one first century Greek speakers used for— ‘on a road with’. If you want to follow someone, you have to be with them, going somewhere. In following Jesus then, you have to be with Him, actively. The degree you want to follow, will be determined by how much you are willing to be with Him. This with-him principle is clearly seen in Mark 3.14. As you walk with someone, you begin to walk in step with them.
Paul verbalized this in Philippians 3.7-12.
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”
When we look at Paul’s life, we see the ultimate of following. In his own words, he was In him (Jesus). Paul said that it’s no longer me… but Jesus! I’m disappeared in Him. Jesus first got a hold of him; then Paul chased after Jesus the rest of his life. Look at Paul’s goal— “That I may know Him…” This is the heart of Paul. Question is— How deep do you want to know Him? How far are you willing to walk to know Him that deeply? Paul said he wanted to know Jesus even, “the fellowship of His suffering…” Who in their right mind would want to do that? Those who want to be with Him that intimately. Before you say— ‘Yeah, me too! I want to love Jesus that much.’ You may want to think a little on his suffering; what that entails exactly. So ask yourself— Am I really willing to follow Him, that far?
The Gospel is defined in 1 Corinthians 15.1-8 as the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, according to the scriptures. This means it predates the New Testament. It is proof from the Old Testament, or rather, evidence in fulfillment. Simply put— Jesus came to die, be buried, and rise again. While here, He demonstrated and taught what it means to be in the Kingdom of Heaven and a member of one of His churches.
Coming to die means that the cross loomed over every aspect of his life— He was born rejected and destined to die. His life of agony was fully, divinely, and sovereignly predicted for Him, by Him, 750 years before He came as a baby in Isaiah 53 alone.
Death. It means separation. To be separated from one’s body is death. As in Adam and Eve in the garden, separated from God. As in all of man kind, separated from God spiritually, due to sin. Buried. In an actual tomb. Dead and gone, as far as man is concerned. Resurrected. Back again, in the flesh and among people. This is the Gospel as we know it, in it’s most basic form. How close do you want to get to it? How close do you want to get to Him? Close enough to know the details, the definitions, and how it felt? Paul said in Philippians 3.7-12… Yes!
First and foremost, you need to know what you’re getting into. He is a rejected, despised and forsaken man. Are you ready for that?
Isaiah 53.1-3— “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
He grew as “a tender plant”. Instead of being tall and prestiges, he was normal and vulnerable like a tender plant. He had a physical body with nerve endings, tear ducts, colored skin, hair, beard, eyes, joints, pain receptors…100% human. He could be moved with compassion, stung by words, and wounded by physical blows. We say we want to be close, but are we willing to be that close? Most believers hate being vulnerable, so we’ll see. He came as “a root through dry ground”, Isaiah said. Being a Jew in 1st century Jerusalem was hard; in a hard place at a hard time to be born—‘parched ground’ you could say. Ready to know Him like that? When nothing around you is pleasant or fun. How about the description— He “hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” Not stately, in fact you wouldn’t look twice if you saw Him come by you on the street, just a normal guy. He received no fan-fare or attention until some miracles were done. There was no apparent reason (humanly) that we should be attracted to Him. You want some of that? He was also “despised and rejected”. They wanted a King on a white horse, not one who was destined for a humiliating death. Anyone want some humiliating rejection? They deplored Him and scorned Him, even His small band of followers left Him at one point. He was truly “a man of sorrows” …and “acquainted with grief”. A man who people hid their face in disgust. They “did not esteem Him”, meaning they saw no value in him. Based on popular opinion poles, He was ‘worthless’.
This is how the world sees Him. Still want to know Him and walk with Him like Paul said He did? Once we define the terms, take our time and search the meanings, we find ourselves in reality. Reality stings, doesn’t it?
When Paul said He wanted to “know” Him, he was speaking of intimate closeness. Today we think if we just pray a little more, give a little more, or show up for an extra thing at the church, it will do it. Not so much. We forget WHO we are getting closer to. Who is this man of sorrows? Are we willing to walk that walk to get that close?
Isaiah 53.4-6— “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
This even goes to verse 10a— “pleased to bruise him”.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s 4000 year sovereign plan to save man-kind from sin. So therefore it “pleased”Him to do this to Himself. Isaiah used vivid language here: suffering, crushed, chastisement, stricken, smitten, pierced, afflicted, scourged. This is pure agony. The Father saw Him as a substitute. Are you willing to sacrifice like that? Wiling to walk with Him into the ministry of rescuing people? You may not be called-on to die for Jesus, but He has asked you to live for Him. Paul was prepared to do whatever it took… and He did.
How close do you want to be?
Isaiah 53.7-9— “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
He said— “Oppressed”, which means to be ‘pressed hard’. The word— “Afflicted”, means to be ‘forced low’. Yet he never opened his mouth…not once! He willingly took it. Shepards will tell you that when you lead sheep to slaughter, they are as passive and quiet as can be. Or as Peter said…
1 Peter 2.21-24— “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
His body was so bruised, swollen and bleeding, that this passage says— He looked completely deformed and no longer like the face of a man. All of those crushing blows, bloody event, after gruesome bloody event. It was all designed by a loving God. Truly a paradox. Like when we sing: “Worthy Is The Lamb” Worthy to die? Worthy to take the blows? Worthy to be mocked? Worthy to suffer? Yes.
Because “Worthy” has two definitions: 1) good enough; suitable. suitable or fit for a specified thing. No one else could have done what He did. The only one sinless and perfect. The only one who’s blood would satisfy the death curse upon man. The only one who would love that much. Yes, suitable. 2) having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in a specified way. deserving effort, attention, or respect. He is the lamb of God in heaven whom we will sing… Worthy Is The Lamb!
How close do you want to follow now? Issac Watts said: “When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.”
“pour contempt on all my pride…” Yes, because I am not worthy. I am not deserving of His love and His life. I should be humbled by His sacrifice for me. To plan to die for man, before mankind even was created, is unfathomable. It is perfect love and I want some of that!