I can’t read this passage without thinking of the Byrds’
song, “Turn, turn, turn.” There are
seasons in life when all things are appropriate, such is the way of life. The trick is knowing the season we’re in and
cooperating with God’s will at that time.
A friend send me Oswald Chambers’ writing on The Habit of Enjoying
Adversity which calls us to seek to glorify God when we are in the midst of
adversity. That fits with this
particular message that we need to glorify Him whatever season we happen to be
in. If we would dance with Him we must
appreciate the rhythm of life.
What did Herod believe that made him think John the
Baptist’s spirit had come back from the dead and inhabited the body of
Jesus? It is a very strange idea
indeed. Everyone, it seems, was trying
to sort out what was it that made Jesus able to do amazing things and to have such
wisdom. Yesterday the people couldn’t
figure it out and were upset with Jesus while today Herod believes John has
come back to haunt him for what he has done in killing him. John’s season and mission were complete when
Jesus began to come forward and reveal Himself, the messenger’s time was
done. Herod, unknowingly and
unwillingly, complied with God’s sovereign will. That does not, however, absolve him from his
actions, we are responsible for what we do even though God uses our actions for
His purposes.
Peter was acting very un-Christlike, playing the hypocrite
in order to please men. It is a
dangerous road, I know it well. Peter
didn’t want to alienate the Jews, particularly those who had become Christians.
There was always a party that believed that Jesus added on to the law rather
than fulfilling it. You did your best
and you also believed in him and then you got the eternal reward of salvation based on the
combination of the two. Paul says that
salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone. The law convicts me, it does not justify
me. Jesus is my righteousness and in
giving me life He has brought on my death, the death of the old man, in order
that I might become the righteousness of God but not through the law. The law does not give life, it is the
sentence of guilt and death to me. The
new season of life is life in the Spirit, the law written on our hearts,
enabling us to will and do as God would will and do. Our wills are bound by sin under the law and
freed to be bound in His will in Jesus.
Paschal triumph,
Easter joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From sin’s death do Thou set free
Souls reborn, O Lord, in Thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Father, to Thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,
Ever with the Spirit be.
Only sin can this destroy;
From sin’s death do Thou set free
Souls reborn, O Lord, in Thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Father, to Thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,
Ever with the Spirit be.
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