Isaiah hears the songs of the salvation of God but cannot
join them. He sees the truth all around
him, that there is much corruption, and knows that those who cry for that day
to come are not themselves prepared for it.
There is only one found in heaven or on earth or under the earth who is
worthy to stand in that day on their own merits. Isaiah, who has seen the Lord high and lifted
up, the train of His robe filling the temple, knows something about the
holiness and righteousness of God and the sinfulness of man. He sees that the day of salvation will also
be a terrible day when both the hosts of heaven and the rulers of earth will be
judged and thrown into the pit. Are we
preparing ourselves for that day? When
John the Baptist came he called for repentance and called the religious leaders
a brood of vipers. Jesus said constantly
that we should remain awake and busy at the work we were given to do in
preparation for His coming again. Do we
see what Isaiah saw in ourselves and in the church?
As they head to Jerusalem Jesus calls the twelve to Himself
and tells them once again but very plainly what is about to happen. They knew it in advance in full but did they
believe it? Were they at all prepared
because they knew these things?
Amazingly, the mother of James and John comes with her boys and asks
Jesus if they can be at His right and left hands, his closest advisors, when He
comes into His kingdom. Had they not
told her what He had just said to them?
What kingdom did they think He was about to enter? Jesus' response is certainly more gracious
than I could muster in the circumstances.
He knows all that is going to occur and how difficult this time will be
and here are two of those closest to Him now coming and asking to be exalted
along with Him. His question is apt, can
you drink the same cup. They have no
idea what truly lies in store when they affirm their own ability to do
this. They aren't yet prepared to
suffer, they too will abandon Him in His hour of need. That will come later.
Peter says that baptism saves you. As an Anglican I am always troubled when we
baptize an infant over the language we use that indicates that the child is
regenerate, a new creation, without any confession or acknowledgement of
sin. If I thought that the act of
pouring water on someone saved them I would pour water on everyone I meet,
particularly those I really like. How can
Peter say such things? True baptism is
the new life in Christ that results in a noticeable change in the life of the
baptized. Here, Peter is speaking of
suffering for righteousness, the death of the flesh and its desires for gain
and popularity in the world and life in Christ in pursuit of righteousness no
matter the cost. Peter, like Isaiah
issues a call to a righteous life which will include not applause from the
world but suffering. We must judge sin
in our lives with ruthlessness. We are
to be the righteousness of God, not only positionally in justification but also
through sanctification, the pursuit via the disciplines of the church, of
righteousness in us.
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