Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Jan 19 2020 - Luke 9:7-27 – Who is this man?

The feeding of the five thousand is one of the best-known miracles of Jesus. In Luke's gospel it is sandwiched between two sections concerning the identity of Jesus. In the verses immediately preceding this miracle, Luke records Herod's puzzlement as he hears news of what Jesus is doing. Some are saying that this must be John raised from the dead, others that Elijah has appeared and others that another of the ancient prophets has been raised back to life. Herod is perplexed. He knows that he had John beheaded; who then is this man? (Luke 9:9)

Immediately after the feeding of the five thousand, Luke records a private conversation between Jesus and his disciples. Jesus asks them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" (9:18). The same list is repeated: "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." Jesus then asks them what they think, prompting Peter's reply that Jesus is the Messiah (9:20). He is the Christ of God, the one through whom God will establish his kingdom in the earth.

The miraculous feeding of the five thousand is evidently seen by Luke as vital evidence, demonstrating who Jesus truly is. He is the prophet Moses promised that God would raise up in his place – the one who has succeeded him in feeding God’s people in desert places. But Jesus is far greater than Moses, for the food he provides comes from his own hand rather than dropping from heaven. Through Elijah, God had provided food for the widow of Zarephath and her son, but Jesus provides food for thousands; for all who come to him. He is greater than John who preached and baptised in the desert preparing people for the one who was to come. Jesus is the one who was to come. He is the promised Messiah, the one who will save, lead and provide for his people.

But following Jesus is not a perpetual picnic. Jesus warns that he is on his way to the cross and adds, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). Jesus wants us to be clear not only about his identity but also concerning the character of Christian discipleship. It is not enough to know who Jesus is; we are to act upon that knowledge. It is not enough to confess that he is the Christ; we must live in submission to him as glad citizens of his kingdom. The cross-shaped pattern of our lives is to make the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ visible to those around us.

Jesus has a habit of expressing these things in the starkest of terms: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (9:26); “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (9:27). Jesus leaves no room for us to hide behind platitudes and excuses. He calls for willing, wholehearted and joyful discipleship.

Lord Jesus, help me to understand more of who you are and what you have done for me that I may be filled with joy and peace in believing. Help me also to understand what it means to follow you and to follow gladly rather than turning back or dragging my feet. Keep me from half-hearted discipleship and help me never to be ashamed of you but to speak often of you and, by my actions also, make your kingdom visible in all its beauty and glory.

Jan 19 2019 - Genesis 22:1-19 – God himself will provide a lamb

Abraham and Sarah now have the son and heir that God had promised to give them. But then God tested Abraham. He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and ... offer him ... as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (Genesis 22:2). Imagine the turmoil going through Abraham's mind. This was his only son for Ishmael had been sent away; this was his beloved son, the son that he and Sarah had longed for and looked for over many years. But more than that, this was the son in whom all the promises of God were invested. Without this child there would be no great nation, no possessing of the land, no blessing for all the nations of the earth. How would Abraham respond to this test?

We read that Abraham rose early in the morning to travel with Isaac to the place of sacrifice. He rose early! There seems to have been no hesitation; his trust in the Lord is absolute. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that he believed that, if he had to slay the child, God would raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). He had learnt by experience that nothing was too difficult for God and that nothing would prevent God fulfilling what he had promised. When Abraham takes leave of his servants he tells them, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you" (22:5). Abraham is confident that they will both return from the sacrifice. And when Isaac asks his father, "Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" (22:7), Abraham confidently responds, "God will provide for himself the lamb" (22:8).

Having arrived at the place appointed for sacrifice, Abraham prepared the altar and the wood and had raised his knife to kill his son when he is stopped by the angel of the Lord. Abraham's eyes were opened to see a ram caught by its horns in a nearby thicket. The ram is offered in sacrifice in the place of Isaac. The Lord did indeed provide a sacrificial lamb. Neither Abraham nor Isaac could ever forget this provision of God.

Now that Isaac has been spared – returned from death, the Lord repeats his promise concerning Isaac, pronouncing an oath in his own name and promising offspring to Isaac as numerous as the stars of heaven and sand on the seashore. His descendants will possess the land and through them all nations of the earth will be blessed (22:16-18).

This strange incident points us towards the Lord Jesus Christ (see John 8:56). He is God's Son, his only Son, his beloved Son. He is the heir, the one on whom all of the promises of God depend. But for our sake God did not spare his own Son (Romans 8:32). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) – the lamb of God's provision. He is the one whom God has raised from the dead in order that he might bring blessing to all the nations of the earth.

None other Lamb, none other Name,
None other hope in heav’n or earth or sea,
None other hiding-place from guilt and shame,
  None beside Thee.

Father God, help me to understand the greatness of your love towards us in that you did not spare your own Son but gave him up for us all. Thank you that you raised him from the dead and crowned him with glory and honour. Thank you that in him we have become children of God – heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ to all the good things you have in store for your people.

Peter Misselbrook