Wednesday, April 14, 2004

 

Dear Family;

 

Many of you know that for years I have studied the history and religions of the world. My purpose was to try to discover why people of the world would kill, destroy and die in the name of a religion. Why would people mangle, mutilate and destroy their own children in the name of their religion or God. Then last night as I studied and listened to a radio program called, Praise until Dawn, I heard the song, "I'm Holding the Master's Hand." What a thought.

 

In all my studies I have not found where the god, prophet or object of any of the world religions walked with, talked with, ate with and cried with their followers.  Christ did.

Never have I seen where they healed the sick, raised the dead or gave sight to the blind. Christ did.

 

In the first chapter of Mark's gospel, Christ was touched with the hands of John the Baptist when John baptized Him.  Christ immediately went into the wilderness to be alone with God and was approached and tempted by satan. Christ went to be alone with God and satan came to disrupt Christ's solitude with God. That is what satan does, he comes and disrupts. He disrupts our fellowship with God, he disrupts our fellowship with our family and friends. He disrupts our happiness and our joy. He disrupts our confidence, our health, our work and our family. But I do not see, in all my studies, where Christ disrupted anyone other than the evil spirits that cause men to be beside themselves and the money changers in the temple.

 

Christ was not about disruption. Christ was about peace, tranquility and calm. The disruption was from man to Him not from Him to man. Disruption comes when man is convicted in his heart for his sin and disobedience.

 

As I read the gospel of Mark I was astonished at all that is contained in just the first chapter.  One of the most astonishing things is Christ's announcement that the kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom of God is not to be confused with the kingdom of heaven although the kingdom of heaven is a part of the kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God refers to the spiritual reign of Christ in the life of those who accept His finished work on the cross. We are sealed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which came into our lives when we believed Christ was our savior and lord. It is exemplified in our water baptism just as it was in Christ's baptism. Christ's baptism signified His death to Himself and His spiritual birth to a new life in the spiritual kingdom on earth. He is signifying the spiritual rebirth. His spiritual reign continues in the hearts of those who have been born again. His baptism is the announcement of the beginning of His physical responsibility which ended at the cross. His resurrection and ascension make possible the Kingdom of heaven which is to come when He returns at the end of the age to set up His earthly reign forever.

 

 

Mark 1:23-24 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are-- the Holy One of God!" (NKJ)

 

 These demons recognized Him as the Holy one of God. Not just a prophet or teacher, not a political leader or warrior and certainly not a statue or image but The Holy One of God who would take away the sins of the world.  This is quite a contrast from Muhammad, Confucius, Buddha or any other religious icons that are in their graves or in their man-made stone or wood figurines. Christ is not in His grave.  He is alive and lives in the hearts of every born-again believer.   

 

Mark 1:29-31 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. (NKJ)

 

 

Notice what this Holy one of God does. This is nothing like the black stone of Islam, which is held together by bands and nails and where the people must come to Mecca to see, kiss or point at it to be cleansed. Christ "came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her."  Christ came to her, touched her, lifted her up and healed her. These are the actions of the Holy one of God. He came to the world to touch, heal, cleanse, love and save all who would invite Him into their lives. You do not have to go to some foreign country to a specific place in hopes of just pointing to Him. No! He is where you are, right now seeking to take hold of your hand to touch you, heal you, cleanse you, love you, save you and lift you up and out of where you are to a new life. It doesn't matter what your circumstances in life are or the sin or problems you have. He can and will take your hand, lift you up and heal your circumstances.

 

Now, notice what Simon's mother-in-law did. "And she served them." She served who? Not just Him but "them"!  When we take His hand, we are to serve Him and take Him to those around us so that He can take their hands too!  Christ is not a black stone held together by bands and nails.   Christ is the force which holds the universe together and the force is His love.

 

He waits for you to take His hand. He wants to walk through eternity with you starting today. He wants to put that song in you heart, "I'm Holding the Masters Hand"!