The Heart of God

John 8:58

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

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We have seen that the purpose of John's gospel is to define who Jesus is and then describe who we are by faith in Him. Another unique aspect to John's account is that it defines a Christian view of metaphysics more clearly than the other three gospels. Where Luke's gospel sought a strong epistemic basis for faith, gathering an orderly eyewitness account of Jesus' historic mission, John is more intetested in defining and interpreting who Jesus is and what that means for our lives.

By metaphysics we mean what is beyond the physical world - what is the nature of God and what is the nature of man. The answers to these two questions are the foundation of the Christian worldview - that God is by nature both infinite and personal, and that man was created in His image and is now both noble and fallen.

So far, John has defined Jesus in the following ways:

- The eternal Word, who created the universe, now made flesh and dwelling among us (chapter 1)
- The lamb of God who takes away sin (chapter 1)
- The temple who would be destroyed and raised again (chapter 2)
- The Son of Man raised like the serpent in the wilderness (chapter 3)
- The Son of God sent into the world that those who believe would have eternal life
- The bridegroom (chapter 3)
- The living water that takes away thirst (chapter 4)
- Equal with God his Father (chapter 5)
- The bread of life who takes away all hunger (chapter 6)
- The Christ, whose teaching and authority is from God (chapter 7)

Now, in chapter 8, we see a surprising act of compassion, followed by several incredible self-descriptions, where Jesus further declares that he is none other than God in the flesh. This chapter describes many ways that Jesus is in fact God Himself:

- He says what God says (8:28-29)
- He does what God does (8:28-29)
- He comes from where God is from (8:23)
- He offers a promise that only God could offer (8:50-51)
- He claims to be God (8:19, 58)

This is the metaphysical nature of God on display in Jesus. His infinite power in word and deed. His miraculous offer of eternal life. His claim to be older than Abraham. His unity with the Father. He is the infinite God.

Yet, this chapter pairs Jesus' infinite nature and divine claims with his personal care and compassion. Verses 1-11 are perhaps the most radical picture of compassion found in scripture. The Jewish worldview was built on law and justice, and anyone claiming divine power would surely judge sin as the law demands. And when called upon him to judge a woman caught in adultery, Jesus did step up and judge - it just wasn't the judgment they expected:

When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ” “No one, Lord,”  she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,”   said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Consider the heart of God on display in Jesus. Infinite in his ability and divine claims. Personal in his intimate care for sinners.

Then consider how you are to respond to his life and his claims. How does it change our priorities? Our dreams? Our plans? Our day today? What does it mean for us to have life in his name?

Follow him and find out.

Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

I Will Fear No Evil

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk 
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

...............

I will fear no evil.

When a passage of scripture becomes so familiar, so recognizable, that it fails to impact the reader with the full weight of its meaning ... it helps to get small.

I will fear no evil.

By singling out one phrase, the weight of meaning begins to return. I have not been able to shake these five words all week. So, I'd like to meditate further on this phrase by considering WHERE and HOW we can fear no evil.

Where?
Walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
Matthew Henry's commentary on this passage takes pains to draw out meaning from each word in this statement: walking, through, valley, shadow, death. By doing so, I was reminded that being under the care of my good Shepherd means that I will keep walking and make it through, no matter how deep or long the valley may be. I also know that valleys are places of fruitfulness, so that my difficulties in life will indeed produce some reward. It is also important to note that this encounter with death is a mere shadow - thanks to the promise of eternal life given in Christ and his finished work.

But we should not merely make light of our trials, for they are indeed a heavy burden. So, how can I truly walk through and have no fear?

How?
For you are with me
There are few truths more precious. To know Immanuel is to know "God with us" and there is no other philosophy or religion in the world that dares make the shocking claim that God is both infinite and personal, transcendent and incarnate, creator and humble redeemer. This is no mystical experience of God either. It is the claim that God walked among us in the flesh, in space-time real human history. He was with us, and he continues to dwell with the believer by His Spirit.

But why does this lead me to not fear ANY evil? I mean, life is filled with many fearful things: physical sickness, emotional stress and deep depression, fragile relationships, financial risk, natural disaster, crimes and injustices against self and loved ones (Our fears for our loved ones are perhaps the most sacred to us).

But this passage says we can live without fear of evil, because God is with us. Specifically, the psalmist points to his rod and his staff - further elements of the shepherd metaphor, symbolizing God's protection and direction. Enemies will be destroyed, even when they appear on your doorstep! Answers to prayer will be granted, even if the silence lasts for decades! He promises real protection and direction for his precious children and this brings a comfort so deep that all fear is subsumed.

How can I live in this? Preach it to myself everyday. Call it to mind. Rest in it. Respond to it. Bank on it in my decisions, great and small. If I know God has laid some purpose on my heart - some good deed or plan - how could I let fear get in the way when I know that God is with me!? If God is for us, who can be against us, Paul asked.

I will walk in this way. I will fear no evil - because of the comfort of God's personal protection and direction, and because I know that he is with me. Amen.