"The Baptism of Christ - A "Fiery Ordeal""
Two of Jesus' disciples were enthusiastic to serve Him in His coming kingdom, so they asked Him for the top places: one to sit at His right hand and the other at His left.
“You don’t know what you’re asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink, or endure the baptism I must endure?”
The two brothers had served alongside Jesus, being involved in extraordinary miracles, learning the mysteries of the faith, witnessing The Spirit of God in contrast to the vitriolic opposition of a world that was not able to see Him for who He truly is.
Jesus had just finished telling them that He was subjecting Himself to be seized, mocked and brutally brought to an end by the very ones who had been the face of evil against Him - and despite all that, He told them that they didn't know what they were asking.
A similar scene once happened when the prophet Elisha sought the blessing of his teacher, Elijah:
Now as they were crossing over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I will do for you before I am taken from you.”
So Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
He replied, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so to you; but if not, it will not be so.”
Why did Elijah say that carrying a double portion of his spirit is a hard thing?
.. Why did Jesus likewise suggest that it is difficult to take part in His portion?
The word of Adonai came to me saying, “Son of man, suppose a land sins against Me by trespassing grievously and I stretch out My hand over it, break off its staff of bread, send famine upon it and cut it off from man and beast. Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—be in it, they would only deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
Answer: Righteousness.
The righteous detest the unjust, and the wicked detest the upright.
The three men Noah, Job and Daniel were especially augmented characters of the faith.
Noah lived in a world that was so wholly evil that God wanted to entirely destroy it, but God saved Noah because Noah found favour in God's eyes.
In a similar way, Daniel refused to stop praying to God even though his enemies had secretly plotted and trapped King Nebuchadnezzar into making a decree against it. Despite the penalty of being thrown into the lion's den, Daniel did not abandon his commitment to God.
As for Job, even though he suffered so much injustice and unfair treatment and nobody was able to console him, he did not use his bitterness to curse God for the injustice - and he glorified God when He finally gave the explanation he had been seeking.
Won’t God do justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He be slow to help them? I tell you, He will quickly give them justice. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
So the faith behind the scriptures has always been of the same nature of endurance against a hostile, blind adversary - and them unwittingly being slaves by their sinfulness, of a greater mastermind having an agenda of destruction.
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 comfort me.
It might sometimes seem that the whole world is against us, and there might seem to be no hope in sight, but we can be encouraged to remember that God does see everything that goes on - even those things that we don't see.
By having confidence in the knowledge that what we are doing is acceptable in His sight, we can have peace in our mind by knowing that He is not against us. Peace is a primary guard of the heart and mind (Philippians 4:5-7).
By considering the promise of Ezekiel 14:12-14, looking at the gain that God makes through the endurance of His servants, be encouraged to trust that He is able to work all things together for good for those who love Him (who are called according to His purpose - Romans 8:28).
* Image Attribution: Sky Furnace by SkyIllusion
- Serving Zion, Jan 07, 2019