Seeing Jesus' Words Played Out

I wanted to share with the folks reading this blog (sorry for the several day hiatus) some of how God may be using this circumstance for His purposes. Jesus does not hold back from us the truth about this life. Sometimes we are led to believe that Jesus only preached about a sense of fulfillment and happiness in following Him but anyone who believes this simply hasn't read Jesus' own words. There will be pain and suffering. There will be fear and even death but this is the why He came.

The news of Austin being lost in the waves came just at the end of our evening worship services on Sunday night, July 1st. Here is an excerpt from the sermon preached that night (Realism, Hope & the Future, Mark 13:1-11; 25, 26):

Things come that cause us great distress. They upset the current system and our present stability gives way to a turbulent future. How should we respond?

First, Jesus seems to be saying, ‘Get real about the future.’ The future for them was going to be quite awful. The future for us may hold uncertainty and pain. The church in America has difficulty in being realistic. Many churches teach Christ as way of being happy and secure. When reality finally does break in we often fall to pieces because we have not been taught and mentored in how to deal with those realities. The uncertainties of life are frightening. Think of the life of this church (Lexington Presbyterian). In 1996 our pastor of fifteen years and the man the Lord used to build this congregation left for another call. How could things get worse? Shortly thereafter the Christian Education Building was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Things will come that cause us great distress.

The second thing Jesus is saying is: ‘Refuse to be distracted by these events!’ They fall within God’s purposes and in God’s control. Can you believe that in the tomorrow that holds upheavals? Can you believe that it is not a hindrance in seeing your true hopes fulfilled but actually a means to that end? If we can’t see this, perhaps our hope is in something other than the work of Christ to redeem us from the grave.

Jesus continues on with the bad news:
Mark 13:9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them."

The disciples will be dragged before councils and beaten in synagogues; they will give testimony before Roman governors and eventual before Caesar himself. We see the fulfillment of this in the Book of Acts (Acts 4; 5; 7; 8; 12; 14; 16; 17; 19; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26). But Jesus seems to say that even though - from a human perspective - the disciples will be on trial, they will actual give testimony on God’s behalf! Frightening, intimidating, but these things that cause us great distress are actually the means by which the Gospel will spread!

What happened in Mexico was not a result of persecution but it was a painful event in the life of the Whetsell family and the church. But Jesus told us such things would come. He also told us that through it the Gospel would be preached. This past Sunday at Austin's funeral, youth intern David Gentino preached as clear a Gospel message as I have ever heard in such a setting. On account of Christ David stood as a witness to the grace of God before friends and relatives certainly but also state legislators, a US congressman and a US senator. That very message was broadcast all over the Midlands through television and newspapers. What the Spirit will do with it is yet to be seen but God has remained true to His word on this score. It gives us reason to believe that He will remain true to His word on other matters. I look forward to the day He makes good on His word at the resurrection!