The Boast & Brag of A Lifetime
You May Not Know It, See It Or Believe It Yet. Allow Me To Surprise You!!!
Every nation of the world has one or a dozen things they rightfully and unquestionably boast about. They glory about their breathtaking and mesmerizing landscapes and natural wonders, their cultural heritage; economic powers and military might and supremacy, among many other things. Different tribes and ethnic grouping set their own glories on culture, physical capabilities and unique industries. Don’t get me started about the individual - Man, woman and the youth within these regions and tribes. Each one in their own peculiar abilities.
We individuals take serious pride and earnestly coast on our personal achievements - economic, educational; wealth, to name a few. We talk about and happily showcase our skills and talents, experiences, creative signatures and special character traits. We also like to talk about our personal growth strides, contribution to community and society, as well as unique strengths and relationships - Our beautiful wives, Moms, rich and handsome Dads. It is human. Handsomely acceptable.
You have something to boast about. Whether you know it, see it, believe it or not. It is real!!!
For the Jewish nation and community, it is their ancestral stock and linage with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; their national heritage as the eternal custodians of the Law of Moses and direct beneficiaries of “The Promise” God’s Promise to Abraham. The entire world, even their mortal enemies shudder at the elegance and expanse of this. Those that have, for ages, attempted to derail it have been squashed and humiliated by divine and eternal design. To every Jew, what a heritage and acclaimed possession to be eternally proud and grateful for!
Ideally, the Jews as individual humans, a community and a nation, see everything about God (His blessings, earthly protection and common provision; His promised Kingdom and salvation) as their birthright. And that’s an eternal statement with verifiable divine authority, not that they are making it up and are presumptuous. It is real. They actually and rightfully demand proofs that a vision and work is from “their God”. Any misbehavior and misrepresentation in this realm is punishable with cruel torture and painful death, among other things.
They did not spare the Lord Jesus or His apostles, who they suspected went too far in their proclamation of the life, teachings; promises and revelation of the Almighty. All that was absurd and punishable with brut force. And we all know how it all ended.
I Corinthians 1:22-23 sets a beautiful scene for you and for me:
“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men”.
When we describe the event and outcome of “The Cross” and attach cruelty to the Jewish religious ideology of those days, the Jews are offended, “Putting this man’s blood upon us OR on our hands!”.
“…Did not we straightly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us”. Acts 5:28.
Culture is here questioned, and birthright authority stepped on. Conversion, healing and physical activity on a Sabbath day, all were troubling and needed to be checked. To the Jews, they had every right to do what they did and question what they would. It was all part of their bragging rights and eternal heritage. But not too fast.
To the Greeks, life was about supernormal human wisdom, elegant logic and skillful speech. It was all about what we could define and put in the best right perspectives, best and right boxes checked and everything lining up symmetrically. New world “experts” now call it synchronicity — Perfect and ultimate synchronicity.
The Gospel, however, did not come to play into any of these group and herd mentalities. It came for the salvation of your soul and mine. It took the sinless Son of God Himself to come into this sinful world and lay down His sinless life, to rescue you and me. Our successful living and progression in this world will need something more and higher than a herd immunity or mentality. It will require God saving us on HIs term - The story of the Cross, through the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ.
Like I said earlier, when we declare the event of the Cross, a changed and transformed life through Christ’s resurrection, it drives both the Jew and the Greek crazy. It does not fit into any of their herd imaginations and logic. When we declare its freedoms and redemptive accreditation, they hate to hear it. It is absurd. Heresy!
To the the Church of Christ and child of God who personally have experienced transformation of life and forgiveness of damnable sin, it is joy and peace towards everlasting life. The event and story of the Cross indeed, have become the power of God revealed in and through men. It is the wisdom of God in a literal human form. How so! You might add.
You can see it, feel it and know it. You can receive, possess, and rightfully celebrate it!!!
He was insulted, bullied, and “destroyed”. But, He conquered death, hell and the grave. He rose again and LIVES to give eternal life. Isn’t it tremendous to note that Christ did not just rise from the death so He or we could talk about it - The fact or the experience? Isn’t it a fact that He did not overcome the grave so we could sing His praise and say what a wonderful Captain He was?
He came out of the grave, having conquered death, hell and the grave, to give eternal life to everyone — Jew, Greek and everyone else in-between. The devil and the depraved world are against that. They want to give some, hate some, and destroy many. Our world is full of divisions and dubious destabilizing mentalities. We use the power of preaching to bring it together. Amen.
Our boast and eternal glory is that we know Him and have His Spirit abiding in us and with us. Let that understanding be your eternal heritage that you glory on, boast about and stand preaching, all the days of your life.
Blessings!!!
Glory to God! As I read your post, I think of a time when there was no question about the sovereignty of God and His chosen people. Now, unfortunately there is a world of people who have forgotten God’s claim over a nation and those who hear him. There is a finality in our promised future which is worth boasting over and shouting it from the mountain tops. Even more the excitement of sharing and spreading this.... the good news that Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice and is the only One worthy to open the Scroll as mentioned in Revelation!