He Continues to Care

Last week, under the heading “He Cares” I was writing about Jesus and ran out of room so here is a “Post Script” to help complete the picture.

Having been in Jesus company for a number of years, his disciples, were devastated when he was suddenly crucified, but he anticipated that and because he cared for people he spoke to John from the cross, even though he was in great pain, and asked him to look after his mother, Mary. Which John did from then on. You will also recall that Peter, who said that he would never forsake Jesus, did actually deny knowing him three times, at Jesus’ trial, and was very upset when the full realisation of what he had done dawned on him. However, Jesus showed his compassion as recorded in Mark 16: 7, where the angel sitting in the empty tomb told the ladies, who had come to anoint Jesus body with spices, that Jesus had risen and to go and tell the disciples and Peter, that he would meet them in Galilee. Jesus subsequently went to a lot of effort to tell Peter to “feed his sheep and feed his lambs”. It is very reassuring that when we let Jesus down without meaning to, we can ask his forgiveness and receive it.

In the last article, I was remarking on the fact that after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples, and many other people, over a period of 40 days, not as a Ghost, but in complete bodily form. John 20 verse 19 is a good example: the disciples were gathered in a locked room for fear of the Jews and Jesus just appeared and showed them his wounded hands, feet and pierced side, and in Chapter 21, seven of the disciples spent the night fishing and caught nothing. Jesus was standing on the shore as they returned, although they didn’t recognise him. He called out to them, asking if they had caught anything and when they replied “no” he told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat and immediately their net was full with 153 large fish.

It was then that John recognised Jesus and told Peter “It is the Lord” and when they came ashore, Jesus already had fish cooking on coals, and some bread ready. A very welcome sight, I’m sure, you see He showed how he cares in that case by providing fish for them to sell as well as a very much appreciated breakfast and they were also astounded that even with such a large catch they were able to pull it ashore without the net tearing.

After his resurrection he spent a lot of time with them; reassuring them and helping them to come to terms with what had happened and explaining what it all meant. Finally, though, he had to go back to the Father, but he didn’t just leave them (and us who have been born since), without help to cope with life and all the difficulties and trials that are a normal part of living. His actual words were “It is expedient for you that I go: because if I don’t go, He cannot come”. The “He” mentioned here is the Holy Spirit, and Jesus told his followers to virtually “do nothing” until they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in a few days’ time. (Luke 24:49 and Acts1:4&5). This confirms what Jesus said prior to his Crucifixion, as recorded in John 14:26, where he promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to be their Comforter and would remind them of the things he had said. We see then that God wants to help Jesus followers in a very special way.

Let me explain how this is to work out in practice: If you have ever been extremely cold and had a hot shower or a hot bath to “thaw out” you will recall that the warmth of the water finds its way into every portion of your body and you feel warm through and through and if you come out and place your hand on someone cold they will exclaim “Oh your hand is so lovely and warm” as you impart some of your warmth to them. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is somewhat similar to that, because the original meaning of “baptism” was to submerse something e.g. a sunken ship was said to be baptised in the sea. Likewise, a piece of cloth submersed in dye to change its colour was said to be baptised in the liquid. Similarly, then, God wants us to be saturated with the characteristics of the Holy Spirit, just as the person in the hot bath absorbed the waters warmth. And just as that absorbing of warmth was a quiet, comforting and exhilarating experience so is the Holy Spirits anointing. The difference being that He doesn’t just help us and then move on as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20, “What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you?” etc. Thus we can be assured of His continuing presence and guidance as we endeavour to live the Christian life. Therefore, the “fruit of the Spirit”: Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self- control, and faithfulness, should become evident in us., with the overall aim of blessing others with love and kindness so they too feel the “warmth” of His love.

Best wishes,  Tom.