God Uses People: The Apostle John

When I was a student back in ‘Preacher School,” I was having a difficult time in one of my classes, which dealt with interpreting the Old Testament.  I didn’t like what the teacher was teaching. I disagreed with his interpretation of a great story from the days of the Hebrew people before Jesus.  At one point in his lecture, the teacher stopped and asked for questions;  I immediately shot up my hand!  He called on me, and I said, a little too aggressively, that I disagreed with what he had said about the story.  This started a very difficult discussion in front of the class that taught me a lesson I have used almost weekly in my 45 years as a Pastor.

           

My professor was very kind and said, “Ok, Mr. Payne. Tell me your thoughts about our story and why you disagree with what I’ve said.  I did so as well as I could.  Even though I had held to my beliefs for some time, they had never been ‘tested.’  As the words came out of my mouth, I realized that my answer didn’t seem to make as much sense as before my involvement in this class. (This upper-level class taught us to read and interpret the Old Testament in the original Hebrew language).  When I finished, the teacher, still kind and patient with me, began to ask me a series of questions.  For instance:  “What are the words in the Bible that have led you to reject my interpretation?” Following my answer, another question:   “Knowing what you know from our studies in Hebrew, is your interpretation supported by the text?”  We had quite a discussion, and he continued to lead me through a thought process that revealed that not only was I wrong in my interpretation, but what I held to be true was completely distorting the passage's meaning! 

           

This experience changed my life!  The fact that I embarrassed myself in front of the class was bad enough, but that was an easy lesson. The greater lesson that affects me today is that if my beliefs and interpretations contradict the scriptures, I am wrong!  As my professor said, pay attention to what the Bible says and what the Bible does not say.’

           

Many of you who are reading this article may have had experiences in life with similar effects.  In the Bible, we can read that John the Apostle had many!  For instance, at one point in Mark 5, Jesus raised from the dead a young girl, the child of a Roman soldier. They had argued with Jesus over this because they thought it was too late; also, they were probably resistant to helping a Roman soldier whom they saw as their enemy.  Jesus’ actions and kindness to the soldier and the raising of the girl from the dead challenged their understanding of life and death. They taught them that even a Roman soldier’s family was worthy of God’s love.  This was one of Jesus’ methods by which he taught his disciples how to live and minister in his name.  The disciples who witnessed this miracle were forever changed – their beliefs and practices concerning ministering to people and offering God’s love to them were forever altered!  

The point of this whole message is that when we follow Jesus and cling to our faith in him, He will change our lives over time!  He will teach, correct, and mature us in the faith.  The goal is for us to live our lives so that He might use us in ministry to a world that desperately needs what only Jesus can give!

           

Here’s a passage that can help us in our journey: 

“If then you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not the things on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

                                                                                   

Colossians 3:1-3

 

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