In considering the Lord’s presence in this world (as for now those who of us whom are yet in the world) as present in His body is a matter of truth. Here could be’s, should be’s, ought to be’s, might be’s must give way and afford all preeminence to that truth. Simplicity of a matter should never be confused with an ease of it, even when we find simplicity manifest does much (if not all) to make a thing once hard, easy. That almost sounds like paradox, doesn’t it? Perhaps almost is understatement.
In surgical circles I have heard this so often repeated that I cannot but believe its ubiquity among (once) students as learned from masters in their schooling is not confined to any particular region, program, peculiar methods of instruction, or sequestered group. “See one. Do one. Teach one.” in regards to certain procedures. (No doubt it takes more than the seeing of “one” neurosurgery to be let loose upon a next patient)
But the principle of observe, then do, and then teach for both any particular disciple of medicine, and for the passing on of such skill or knowledge to the end of its preservation and promulgation, is sound. But if, and only if, what is first observed is sound in practice and execution, otherwise a promotion of error(s) (if, let’s say, a teacher is shoddy) will ensue. Nevertheless, the first lesson of seeing remains preeminent and unbreakable in consequence(s); if what is seen is right and sound there is a right expectation of benefit, if what is seen is not right…well, you may understand. A student may be corrected…even later by encountering a right practitioner (who might not be able to avoid “Who taught you to do it like that? No wonder you have had to deal with so many post op infections!) but, if he is amenable to changing, even entering as though again to become a “student” he may learn a better way.
Here, of course, the analogy to medicine or surgical practice breaks down irretrievably. It cannot but be so, for there is nothing of the world nor its manner(s) that can either contain nor be fully applicable to the Kingdom we enter. And that as disciples. We are never given papers or certificates of practice that say “such and such a one’s education has been satisfactorily completed to some standard” and then can hang out a shingle. We remain in school. We remain as disciples, being taught. Even if we find ourselves in some area or arena where instruction is called for and we are granted some grace of help(ing) it is always as those still “under” instruction ourselves. We may even find what we once thought a “pull” upon us to give out (to another in seeming lack) was far less for their teaching, than our own. Oh, yes, God has a way. And a way of reminding us we are under instruction, always, as disciples. There’s even hope for the verbose.
But, as with medicine or “doctors” so we may find it amongst ourselves. “I am no novice! I will not again be put under instruction, after all, I am a teacher…(pastor, evangelist, prophet, apostle…etc”), or “I been through some things!” Aha! or ha ha ha? “I am recognized…and therefore recognize myself…” as whatever. Ha, ha, ha. Yes, this school is quite different. “I’ve been a christian for such and such years…therefore…”
No, nothing is of any account here, or Yes, something is of only account here…the Christ of God.
(Do I “beat that horse”…enough…to qualify myself? Ha, ha, ha!)
Of whom it is even spoken (yes, even that Christ, Jesus)
“Though He were a son yet learned He obedience through the things that He suffered”
Listen if you can. If you are made able.
We are not only allowed to question, we are instructed to…ask, seek, knock. And we might even question the sufferings of Christ as to gain some understanding. What are they…these things suffered? Am I even really…allowed to ask? How can I know if they are understood of right depth? Death of material form? Surely…but…all men die, after all. Others have died…in service to ideals. Even Nazis. (too much?) “Good” men have thrown themselves on grenades for comrades. “Good” men have made sacrifices to many an end they deem worthy. “Good” philanthropists. Mere suffering of some consequence to circumstance undeserved? Mandela comes to mind, who was imprisoned for opposing apartheid. There must be something different! There must be something that can be known that will help show the inexplicable depths of this matter upon which some standing is given, some understanding wrought, some insight gleaned.
What O! what is it? I need this answer not even “for others” (as it may seem when my testimony is rebuffed) but when in extremis (or such as I may consider myself in) to know that what I have confessed, have held, have trusted in as true…is true. (Do you doubt a man can be brought to such a place of being pressed to question?)
Do you think “God would not do or allow that…press me to such question!”?
Here’s another question. Do you think Paul was adventurous, or at very least, an explorer of the Kingdom into which he was drafted as a chosen one? Do you even believe Paul was a chosen one? He surely had/has many things to say of his findings there, if you believe him faithful. Do you? Or, do you think him no more than an automatic writer in some sense, a man who sat down with pen to tell (and/or explain) of things while in some trance like state? Of things that came to him apart from any understanding or experience? What do you think? Did he know? Or was he writing on the fly, so to speak? Some of both?
Let’s go deeper, then. What about Jesus (our Christ) in His saying neither the works nor the words were of himself. Did He know a difference? Was there some discerning of what could be said by Him but withheld, so that He would only speak the words given Him to speak, only do the works given Him to do? Some knowing of words that were not his own, yet coming forth from Him? Did He not then also know what not to say that might issue from Himself so that He could honestly say (even being given these very words to say):
…the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
In that case even those words are to be trusted as given from the Father. And someone is “letting us in on” an operation taking place in Jesus the Christ Himself…a knowing discerning between self (and what a man might recognize as his own self) and what is coming from on High from one greater, and as all, is all and only to be said. Or done. Really then, what sort of knowing are we to have of this man, Jesus, God’s Christ, of whom we so often make mention of “having His mind”? Any? None?
And so, we find ourselves coming back to Paul (and any true apostle one may have for reference and instruction) particularly in his declaration:
But we have the mind of Christ.
Now, it is not something so easily repeated, is it, as if learned by rote? For one learns (or may) how that Jesus always speaks in and of absolutes, even if or when such words seem gray or fuzzy to us, not yet clear but nevertheless tell of something there, something real; and we are persuaded by such sensing. Such sensing is gift, treasure it if even (or better, especially when) all things appear turned upside down toward you…for we are being turned…right side up.
Listen to what I find a “funny” story. You may not find it so, but as God is witness to its happening (does that in itself make a thing true?) I find it able to bear repeating. Stop me if you have heard it, for it is not something I have kept secret.
A man on his way to work was talking to and with the Lord one morning of a thing (or things) he was seeking to understand. He had a sensing of their reality and (to him) importance. He was found trying to explain to the Lord his present experience, reduce to words how he was in this “it” that what was, and being sought for clarity. And found himself saying this: “Lord, it’s like something is there for understanding, for seeing, but it’s kinda like “it’s” moving behind a gauzy curtain, I know there’s motion and something real going on there but I just can’t see enough to grasp it, if you know what I mean?
If you know what I mean? Came back to the man before? as soon as? in a moment in the twinkling of an eye? the final “n” in mean was said.
If YOU KNOW, what I mean? Oh, the laughter there! A man asking God if God knows what the man is trying to express. As though the man in his best attempt at explaining his estate, condition, state of mind in relation to a certain matter could wonder if he had done “well enough”, explained sufficiently enough, given an adequate example or analogy…ha ha! That GOD might understand what the man…means.
Yes…the joke was on me! But the laughter was too abundant, too pure, too consuming and enveloping that even that matter sought for understanding is forgotten now as of being any import. The “other” thing that took place (and I am now so convinced was ordained to take place, provoked even by some lack of understanding) was that a far more important matter for understanding might come to that man. Gee, had he always thought like that? God can only “get the man” if the man is precise enough, exact enough, makes use of just the right words to “get God” to understand himself and where the man is in circumstance and situation?
When it becomes plain to the man that he does not even begin to understand the nature and knowing of the One he is addressing…what would you rather have? Laughter…or something else? Is it ever too late to say, or know “Man! but was I all wet, all wrong…all foolish”? And see (and hear) One laughing with you? Even how you were maneuvered to it…thankfully.
And what about…now? Can you find, have you found a “good” laugh…to be found? Good as in absolutely good. What does good cheer look like to you, so much so that we are told to “be of it” when tribulations abound…for another has overcome? Who gets to say such a thing? Who could have such authority…to not only say such a thing and that He also has the power to show it so? To have power over all that appears contradictory? All that appears paradox? All that appears foolish to the senses? Who alone can show what is past, or beyond all these “things”?
Are you in “spirit” with those who have finished their race? Well, an answer could be obvious if one is in spirit with the Finisher. The author even…of “the race”. (Of what race are you? I?…what’s our nationality? Citizenship? From where are we born?) Is the race of faith, that good fight we are told is good, is it a thing, an it, or do we share it, and in it, as in One…person?
Who are you, Lord?
“How” are you, Lord?
Do we share it (this common race hood) with those who once asked a man sleeping in a boat while a storm threatened them with such words as “Lord, do you not care that we perish?”
Really?
That’s a funny one, too.
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