In the face of anger we must not become angry but humble ourselves. In the face of unbelief we must not give into unbelief but hold fast to God’s promises. This assures us of victory that is twofold—God will exalt us and we will remain accomplishing what He has purposed for us to do.”
In John 8 after a back and forth as it were with unbelieving people, Jesus experiences a crowd wanting to take His life: Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:59 NKJV)
In chapter 10 it’s more of the same. Jesus has provided for quite some time the evidences or works that revealed God’s will. However, due to unbelief, the crowd only saw and heard what they wanted to see and hear and it resulted in them missing out on Messiah; He who is God’s Son. The end result perpetuates itself, in that they sought to seize Him again. However, the end of John 10 is must excellent and where the quote above is inspired by.
We read: Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” And many believed in Him there. (John 10:39-42 NKJV)
I heard a message that gave a great explanation of this, ‘And He went away again beyond the Jordan.’ Dr. Baruch Korman of (loveisrael.org) is the senior lecturer at the Zera Avraham Institute based in Israel. He was speaking on the verses in John 10:39-42 and what it revealed of the consistent character of Messiah (Jesus of Nazareth).
Although Jesus had experienced the Jews, Pharisees, Sadducees and Judeans wanting to stone Him for His testimony of being one with the Father by way of the message He spoke, the message He lived and the message He revealed as a sign of His equality with the Father, through His miracles, healings and wonders. Jesus still choose to humble Himself rather than grow angry. For His purpose in that time was to preach the Gospel and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Dr. Korman emphasized on this ‘beyond the Jordan’ being of a low place. That is, beyond the Jordan River. Literally this portion of geography and geology, that houses the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee and portions of the Jordan River sits at the lowest sea level in all the earth.
Therefore, when the Messiah went away rather than warring with sinful, rebellious, unbelieving men, He humbled Himself to the lowest degree possible but also returned back to His purpose; His mission, in that, ‘He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.’
Where John was baptizing takes us right back to John 1, where John, looking at Jesus, declares, ‘Behold! the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.’
Dr. Baruch Korman stated that, it was this that began it all. Therefore, Jesus returning back to where it all began, was indicative of Jesus returning back to His purpose for which He came rather than allowing the unbelief and aggression of others in their sinful state to get the better of Him and deter Him from accomplishing the Father’s will.
What was the result of such humility and obedience to fulfilling the Father’s will—Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” And many believed in Him there.
Beloved, God is always faithful but never in the confines of pride, rebellion, disobedience, anger and unfaithfulness. We must possess by way of belief in the Messiah (The Christ; the Son of the Living God) and through the Spirit of Christ, the nature of Christ and His demeanor. We must not give into anger and unbelief. We must be humble, faithful and obedient to His purposes, His message; His Gospel.
In that manner, God will exalt us with His Son. This is why we read in: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-11 NKJV)
Beloved, may the grace and peace of God be with you. May He always help you to return to the purposes to which you were called. May the humility and purposes of the Son be seen through you. May the inner workings and power of the Holy Spirit to obey and exalt the Son be richly at work within you. May the love of the Father enable all of these things to become you. And may God grant you in all His goodness the wisdom, revelation, knowledge and understanding of the scriptures as it pertains to His will and purposes for you to believe and obey His Son. And as it is with the Father who is always at work, and with the Son and Spirit that accomplish great works, may all of this perpetually be at work in you giving you the victory in our Lord, Christ Jesus. Amen.
YOU ARE LOVED.
—F.A. Lugo
6/19/17
10:23am
6/19/17
10:23am
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