Finger of God

"Early in the morning [Jesus] came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. The experts in the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?' (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, 'Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.' Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground." –John 8:2-8, NET

Much speculation is made over what Jesus wrote on the ground. I am curious, and would love to have been there to peer over Jesus’ shoulder and been a witness to the words He wrote in the dust. But since the content of His writing is omitted, we should limit our speculation. It is the action itself that should demand our attention, considering the implications of the details provided.

First of all, see that Jesus “bent down.” “Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne? He bends down to look at the sky and the earth,” (Psalm 113:5-6). Man cannot hope to discover God, for he refuses to look up in faith (Job 35:10-11; Rom 3:11; Heb 11:6). However, our LORD humbles Himself by taking on human form, stooping to reveal Himself to us (John 1:14; Phi 2:7).

Let us then take notice that Jesus wrote with His “finger.” Are we not dealing with matters of the Mosaic law (v.5) which were written by “the finger of God” (Exo 31:18; Deu 9:10)?

And take careful note where this takes place. Here, Christ is in the “temple courts” (v.2), “which was of stone” on its foundation (Matthew Poole’s Commentary). Was not the law written on “tablets of stone” (Exo 31:18; Deu 9:10)? Jesus is not writing in dirt, but on the “ground” (v.8), meaning “the pavement, or the dust on the pavement,” (Barnes’ Notes).

Reading this, I could hear the growl of Aslan in Jesus’ actions. “Do not cite the deep magic to me, Witch. I was there when it was written.”

“The solemn silence, as He stooped down in that Temple and wrote upon its pavement, must have spoken in a power greater than that of words,” (Ellicott’s Commentary).

Yet while the implications should strongly resonate with us (it gives me goosebumps), it seems it was no miraculous action, but an intentional gesture that the Pharisees missed. They interpret Jesus’ actions as merely dismissal, His single phrase causing them consternation, and their subsequent withdrawal. It is only after they “heard this” that they “drift away one at a time” (v.9), their eyes catching nothing of significance.

But let us not be so “blind” (Mat 15:14). Behold, the Lamb of God in the flesh that has taken away the sins of the world! What He has written with His finger He has made available to us. The very oracles of God have been written down and preserved for us! Let us not neglect such opportunity and privilege. Peer into it today with awe.

Perfect Peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” –Isaiah 26:3-4. NET

Notice first who keeps one in peace—the LORD. God Himself ensures us that His peace is always there for the taking.

And not just any peace, but supernatural fruit (Gal 5:22)—“perfect peace.” Jesus said, “My peace I give to you,” (Joh 14:27)—“the peace of God that surpasses all understanding” (Phi 4:7).

Let’s consider His peace, which allowed Him to stay sleeping in the back of the boat while His disciples were paddling in a panic, assured they were about to die by drowning.

“On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.’ So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him. Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?’ So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Be quiet! Calm down!’ Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. And he said to them, ‘Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?’ They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!’” –Mark 4:35-41, NET

Notice that when they awoke Him, He confidently told the sea to be still, and inquired to their cowardice (Mark 4:39-40). Not once did He lose peace, even though chaos surrounded him—both outside the boat on the swirling sea and in the boat among his frightened followers. It is THIS peace that He offers to us. If we but have the faith.

Let us consider that Jesus knew and trusted His Father who sent Him across the sea as He followed in total obedience (Joh 5:19). Jesus knew who sent the windstorm (Psa 107:25-26), and He completely trusted its Creator (Luke 22:42; 1Pe 2:23) who knows how to lovingly provide for His Son (Mat 7:9-11). There was never any danger of drowning; the goal was a guarantee (Job 42:2). They were merely experiencing the “thundering” and “thick darkness” of God meant to test His people (Exo 20:18-21) and to build the faith of doubting disciples (1Pe 1:7). Yet they failed the test, and quickly assumed that because they felt their physical lives threatened, that their captain was uncaring (Mark 4:38).

So what were they fearing, and what were they clinging to in value? Their earthly lives. They sought to preserve their physical bodies, and thus shrank away from what demanded its release (Luk 17:33)—the very Source of safety (Psa 37:39) and peace (Rom 16:20).

May we not be found among those that shrink back for fear of losing our flesh (Exo 20:18-19), but walk by faith (Heb 10:38-39). We need not doubt His concern for our wellbeing (Mar 4:38), and we cling not to our own lives (Rev 12:11), but instead we seek to draw nearer His presence (Exo 33:15). Here, our “mind is stayed on” Him, remaining single focused on “the surpassing worth” of knowing Christ (Phi 3:8). HE becomes our consuming emphasis (Col 3:1), and we abide in His love by walking in-step to His every command (John 15:10). Here we “fear Him,” fear being separated from real Life (Psa 51:11-12), drawing us away from sin and closer to the Master of the storm (Exo 20:20-21; Psa 107:28-32). For once we see His value, we joyfully surrender all our earthly trinkets for His eternal treasures (Mat 13:44).

And let us not forget the mission (Mat 28:18-20). See this glorious kingdom secret (Mat 13:11). Though He has departed bodily, Jesus has left His Spirit to continue the assignment through us (Joh 16:7)—to declare the good news (Mark 16:15) that Jesus still “seeks and saves the lost” (Luk 19:10). We are sent as He was sent, still under His protection and set apart in truth (Joh 17:15-19). We are sent as His witnesses throughout the world (Act 1:8)—the very world that is under a dark curse (Gen 3:16-19) and the terrifying wrath of almighty God (Rom 1:18-20). However, we are at peace with our Creator (Eph 2:17-22), and thus having nothing to fear (Psa 91:5-7; 1Jo 4:18). We are His “ambassadors” who have been given “the ministry of reconciliation,” to “reconcile the world” to our compassionate LORD (2Co 5:18-21) so they too can experience His peace (Luk 2:14). But how will they hear unless someone is sent to preach to them (Rom 10:14-15), not just in word, but in deed (Rom 15:18; 1Jo 3:18)?

Though the tumultuous tempest tossed the disciples about, they were not going to drown in the chaos they were commanded to row out into; Jesus ensures the safety of His passengers (Mark 4:35-36; John 6:39). Likewise, our LORD promises to never leave us or forsake us (Deu 31:8). He will remain by our side (Mat 28:20). For we are God’s children (Gal 4:6), intimately known (Gal 4:9), dearly loved (Eph 5:1), and sealed for the day of redemption (Eph 4:20). Our heavenly Father promises to work ALL things for our good (Rom 8:28). Nothing is able to separate us from His love (Rom 8:35-39). Though persecution and hardship and even physical death may come, our life is protected (Psa 121:5-7)—“not a hair of your head will perish,” (Luke 21:18), for He has numbered them and not a bird falls to the ground apart from His will (Mat 10:26-31). We live even if we die (John 11:25-26). With this kind of guarantee, why, my soul, do you ever doubt?

Let us remember that as His Spirit goes with us, so does His peace (Joh 20:21-22). If we but trust in the LORD, all joy and peace is ours to the filling (Rom 15:13)—even in every chaotic storm of this fallen world (ex: Act 27:20-25).

Meet with God, Part 12

“Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” –Hebrews 4:11-13, NET

What does it mean for God’s word to be “living and active”?

See how the author of Hebrews earlier uses the words recorded by David a millennium prior: “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,” (Heb 3:7-8, NET).

David wrote (past), but the Holy Spirit says (present). Thus, it is critical that we do not “forsake the living God” by neglecting His directions and commands (Heb 3:12). Rather, we are to “exhort one another each day, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ that none of [us] may become hardened by sin’s deception.” (Heb 3:13). To neglect what God “speaks” is to willfully join the unbelieving and disobedient rebels whose “dead bodies fell in the wilderness,” shut off from God’s promised rest (Heb 3:15-19).

The plea is real. All was “written for our instruction” (Rom 15:4; 1Co 10:11). Do not “neglect such a great salvation” (Heb 2:3), and “come short” of entering God’s rest (Heb 4:1). “For we have had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.” (Heb 4:2).

Therefore, see and understand that God’s word is “living and active” as much today as when it was first recorded. It’s blade is precise, carefully dividing desires and disclosing deep decay. Not so that He can kill us (see ex: Exo 14:11; 16:3; 17:3), as if God has malicious intent and we need to shrink away from His cutting commands (Exo 20:18-21; Heb 10:38-39). Rather, it is for our good benefit so that we can further surrender to the great physician’s surgery (Mar 2:17). For Jesus “sympathizes with our weaknesses” (Heb 4:14-16), loves to extend mercy (Exo 34:6; Eph 2:4-5), and desires to stretch our hearts to greater capacities of love (Luke 7:42-47).

Again, do not shrink back from His commands, attempting to preserve the decaying flesh (Exo 20:18; Luke 17:33), only to be counted among the perishing (Heb 10:39a). Rather, allow our affections to be severed from this life (Joh 12:25) so that we can draw nearer the sharp blade of God’s word (Heb 4:12). Though God speaks from shrouded darkness (Exo 20:21), let us move closer so that we can be counted among the righteous who LIVE BY FAITH and receive salvation (Heb 10:38-39; Rom 1:17).

Meet with God by drawing near His living word in faith “Today”!

“I can't survive on bread alone

And I hunger and I thirst

For Your words, that give me hope

I stand on the truth

In the living word of God

'Cause every time it moves my soul

And shapes my every thought

It's alive in me, the very breath I breathe

I'm holding on with all I've got

To the living word

The living word of God”

–Jeremy Camp, “Living Word”