Jesus Christ - Sovereign and Submissive - January 4

31 Dec 2008 06:12 pm

Once again I have just finished listening to the presentation of Dr. John Piper for the week and I want to shout for joy regarding the awesome Savior that He describes. One who is as powerful as a lion yet as meek as a lamb. One who has no need to strut around like a big shot but rather one who walks with sober authority and power on His way to die on the cross for your and I. Amazing. How this thrills my soul. But some of you claim to sleep through these boring presentations. I cannot heip but wonder at God's purpose in this. Why has he muffled your ears and blinded your eyes? We are too close to the end of the age of this present world to allow ourselves not to see, savor, and love Jesus just as if we have seen Him today for the first time. WAKE UP! That is what we need to be shouting from the top of our voices. Teachers, let's not assume all of our class members know Christ and let them die because they were not connected to the vine. Let's show them Jesus.

This week Dr. Piper continues to show the amazing contrasts that exist in Jesus' personality. He is one who is sorrowful for Jerusalem and all those who are lost and dying (Luke 19:41). He knows what He must face and it causes Him to sweat drops of blood in Gethsemane. Yet all of this He faces gladly that we may experience joy (John 15:11 and John 17:13). A measure of joy here today and a fullness of joy in Heaven.

Dr. Piper addresses the theological problem presented by Jesus commanding nature so powerfully that even the wind and the waves obey Him instantly. If that is so then why does He not prevent natural disasters and the atroscities committed by man upon man. One purpose Dr. Piper says is to call you and I to repentance. We all deserve death but He gives us a chance to repent everytime we hear of another calamity. Jesus came as part of the plan He and His Father divised to save us. (John 10:17:1, Jesus life was not taken. He took all of our punishment with its pain and suffering on the cross. No soldier, religious leader, or king took His life. He lay it down of His own accord because He loved us that much (Acts 4:27).

Jesus is indeed Sovereign and Submissive. He did everything that He did with authority whether submitting to death on the cross or defeating death so that you and I can have life. I believe Jesus is interceding for us before the Father just as He did for Peter (Luke 22:31-32).

This week we will discuss lesson 6 and watch session 5 on the video. Assign lesson 7 and chapters 12 and 13 for next week.

By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]