It would be remiss, especially at this point, to allow any confusion as to the entitling of this short treatise on chewing, and that through psyches. I really don’t know whether there is either a greater, nor truly, any other activity to which man has been assigned.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
O! But this may sound too coarse, too crass. No doubt it must. The eating of the Lord, even spoken by the Lord as a necessity to those that followed and some that heard, was a bit too much for them also.
But let’s face it, this is what we do. We react to signaling. We gobble it up.
Yes, we do. We hear a thing and seek its source. What has made that sound? What is, or where is, that noise coming from? What does it mean? Of what nature is it? Hunters do it all the time. Squirrels just ruffling through leaves for acorns? Or the measured and deliberate pace of a buck cautiously treading? Is it heavy? Soft? Moving swiftly?
So do mechanics. The sound of a valve ticking holds a far different signal, and signal of consequence than a rod knocking. But the ear must be trained, for the uninformed will simply say, perhaps to one they trust of some knowledge, “My engine is making a noise…should I be concerned?”
And of course this is no less with matters of sight, or any sense. And no less, in matters of relationship…in matter of coming to know another person.
But apply it anywhere, and to anyone or all as far as senses and sensibilities both inform and allow. From termite exterminators on the job, to particle physicists. From mother’s in kitchens hearing a baby’s cry with a discerning, to astronomers seeing a faint pulsing once not seen. We are signal receivers, seekers…and made by some experience, discerners and judges. And it is far more than how we do jobs, it is how we are. And being who we are…is our job.
We “take in”, to whatever measure we do, process according to knowledge and experience and there assign and judge as to significance. “If she turns around when she hits that door, there will be a second date!”
But lest it become frivolous. Of course we do this with one another, with words received as signals, deeds as signals, judging whether the words line up with tones in which they are delivered, body/facial language, conduct, etc. Of course it is plain, and is to us. So much so that when delivering words to a son in the faith a man would say to consider his way of life and conduct for your testing of whether the things I speak to you are from the heart and shown true.
If there is relationship in any relationship, this exchange takes place. And the deeper the relationship or depth of it, which really is defined to the measure that there has been a mutual “taking in”, the plainer signals may become. An attentive husband knows the difference between “I’m fine” and another, but different “I’m fine”. And no less, should this appear only as reference to a husband, a wife knows when something is troubling to her spouse. Or, when he is bright, buoyant, and content.
Whether either cares about what they know of the other, no less, indicates true level of relationship. And who has not had the experience of another “shutting down”? For when we (by our interpretation of signal) sense another cares not for who we are, we do likewise. We may indeed give back a “something”, but it will not be of any of our vulnerability or what might be understood as that which constitutes our weaker, and deeper self. We hold back a part of portion
But yes, we also might give back. It might be sarcasm, cleverness, even cold harsh words or demeanor…and to extreme the muzzle of a gun. Consider the stalker who has manufactured what he believes is a relationship, but is all and only in fantasy…confronted with the harsh reality of one (that he or she has some desire toward) who neither knows him (or her) nor cares to. And what has, not infrequently, resulted. If the thing sought for a pleasure turns rather to a stark and unacceptable tormenting reality…remove that reality.
Mutuality and relation(ship) cannot but go hand in hand; as both indication of relationship and its depth. And another thing we might as well face, were we to think all our judgments are so well and acutely tuned that this might only happen…to another…of the man who comes home early from work, or the woman who finds a strange pair of panties in the back seat of his car. Someone was either not telling the truth about who they are to an “other”, or that other was either completely deceived and unable to discern. Either way, a deceiver and/or being in the estate of being able to be deceived are equally necessary for working, and of mischief. It matters not, in one sense, whether one eliminates the deceiver or enlightens the one capable of being deceived, “it” no longer works or has any working, in that case.
This has some significance for us. Especially if convinced of any relation(ship) to, and in, the Lord Jesus Christ. O! but what we have entered in finding entrance made in Him!
Are we able to hear this?
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
This is speaking of Jesus’ knowing: “for he knew what was in man.”
Or this:
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Do you not think that in this also knowing…of man, his ways, his contents of heart and its spewings through mouth, how that we all either have, or yet to some extent still do, judge by outward appearance? Yes, Jesus touches deep things of man, things man prefer hidden, or obscured by words and outward showing of pieties and cleanliness, lest the darkness and filth be exposed as where it is, and for what it is. But it’s too late for us, Jesus has chewed through, even in His being as a man, to know and see all that is there.
But, thanks be to God! He tells us the physician comes not for the well, but for the sick. O! but this is a wonder of grace and mercy! For who, knowing of such “hearts”…would themselves be a sacrifice for them? This wonder is all and only that can keep us from darkest cynicism’s overwhelming, this truth, this kindness, is all and only what can save us from being lost to and in that abyss…when we see it, for it would surely suck us in, no less. Even showing we are already…sucked in…decrepit, shameful…and without hope.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Yes, do not let this wonder ever escape us, that only One who has or had ever known the heart of man (who can know it?) is also the only one who saves from its hopeless depths. And yes, it is in all unreasonable to any man’s reason, for the more one knows and sees, the more one is convinced of its rightful judgment and condemnation. Even that that would be only “right” end of such…and without any hope given. “Save that thing in possession of such a heart! Really?”…”Unbelieveable!” But, we are also saved from utter cynicism. It is not merely it would take a miracle to do, it would take something completely not understood…to even care to.
Yet, here’s the thing…we are given Jesus to eat, to take in, to chew upon, to digest, to (God help me) even judge as to whether any fault is found in Him…that we may know who He is, and by and through this, know His God and Father…as even our God…and Father. And something happens in eating…of things taken in as food…that are absorbed to become the us we are.
Listen if you can. Listen if you will, and made able by a will not your own. Consider this working:
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
It should be first clear that the soul being offered, or only soul to offer, is not one’s own. It is a “his” soul of the one being spoken of, a “his soul” given to another as, and for, an offering for sin. O! but this in itself is too marvelous and unspeakably deep! Who can do such, who would do such? Who is able, or has such authority as to make way for, and also tell a man…”you not only have some right to it granted, but you must take what is another’s as your offering (and not one’s own) to be reconciled…and this to the God of all gods, the Creator and Maker of all things…to have or know peace with Him.”
Can you let this wonder work in you? Will…you? There is no other way…it has been settled already and forever. Who gives such right…and how right…is it?
Well, to and for us, a man can do with his own as he pleases. He can keep or give. Share or withhold, horde or distribute, he is under nothing but is own disposition and right to do with his own, as he so cares or is pleased to do. I speak as a man. When another seeks to take from a man what is that man’s apart from assent it is unlawful, criminal, thievery. Of assent he must be sure lest he brought to the courts, he may say (but will not get by saying) “it was on his porch, looking unused as though he didn’t want it; so, I assumed it was for the taking…that’s all” Without some prior contract or affirming “all on my porch is free for taking”…the thief is headed for, and in, judgment.
Of course the above is only example, and poor at that. What we speak of and are given to dealing with and handling in for understanding, are far, far deeper than the mere legalities of things as such legalities might be understood. Especially those of man.
Can you understand this? And then, can you understand this:
To all the world, and those of it and in it, (O! but consider! For the love of Christ, consider) Jesus Christ is a man with no concern for His own life.
He played (or rather lived) especially, or even in His time in the world in being found in fashion as a man, by care for none of the rules that govern all others. He lived by, and in, and because of the Spirit of life…that He is. (Religious growlers, go away, I hear you, come back when you are summoned). No (and for the love of Christ, understand) He was under no compulsion then to break any rule, nor did He go about with intent to do so (in truth the only man who ever keeps the law) not seeking to be offense, in truth, because He already knew and knows what an offense He is. He knew He was that particular stone of stumbling. No need to exaggerate it. It is enough He be whom He is.
He cared not for His own life at all. When authorities were pressed to bring Him under their control, to eke or squeeze out from Him some acquiescence to their authority (which would show He had care to his own life, even as they suffered such necessity to make display of caring…even for remaining) He didn’t care. No show of “I’d better submit to show I want or need to remain in their (even the) world.”
Ahh…Caesar! We’ll send Him to Caesar! Who has more power to bring to bear for breaking…than Caesar? (All the while making big show of their confession of “their” god…as God)
Before Caesar, the same. He didn’t rebel. He didn’t say “you’d better not put me to death, you have no right”, nor “no, I am not going to carry that torture stake, I know your intents when I ascend that hill…why would I comply…what are you going to do anyway if I refuse to carry it?…kill me?”
Ha ha ha. He already knew…even long before they did!
When Jesus spoke of those going about to kill Him well before He was handed over to Caesar, what was the reply?
“Now we know you have a demon, no one is going about to kill you!” Ha ha ha.
O! But we are too plain before the Lord’s sight! Laugh or cry.
Now listen, no doubt some of those same still think “no, we didn’t go about to kill you, you brought this on yourself, that’s all”. “There are rules to follow to show you care and can show you “can be” (even) in the (or our) world…and you follow…none!” Before Caesar, the same. “Don’t you know I have power to kill you or let you go?” (C’mon man…show me a little submission to the game here, my wife already had a bad dream about all of this…) Ha!
What worse thing to say to what thinks it holds all the authority…than to remind it that authority, as it truly is (as you claim it truly is in even having it over me) is all and only granted by the all Authority (if one truly believes authority, of which one may even boast, exists). No He didn’t have to press it, He didn’t have to say, “So tell me, did you make yourself a Caesar? And “Of Caesar”…or were you appointed? Go ahead, tell the Caesar that made you a Procurator...you’ll stand on your own”.
I believe Jesus knew Pilate “got it”. Even if he couldn’t bring himself to fall before such truth…for even he still feared the jews carrying some accusation he was no friend of Caesar if Pilate let Him go. But Jesus was always finding more faith among the heathen. The outsiders, like a Centurion or a Syrophoenician woman who said “even the dogs get the crumbs that fall”, or that Samaritan who showed mercy, or the woman at the well.
In this case Pilate, unable to refute the truth except by question “what is truth?” and got rather clever than submit as the Centurion had, to recognition and confession of how authority operates, and is, and how He saw it by faith, as Jesus operating/working…living, speaking, acting as one under it…(Hey! have you? often found faith where you didn’t suspect…or expect it to be?)
But anyway, Jesus didn’t put out any of the “acceptable” signals we all know, for showing we treasure our lives, or are worthy of “being allowed” by the world…to remain in the world. So hey, yeah, since He’s just leaving it all on the porch and it looks like He doesn’t care about or for it, let’s just take it. So it was. Even according to God’s plan and purpose.
Yes, all the scriptures, all the matters of authority and submission…all are there…and all are lawful. And absolutely so. Yep, Caesar has authority. Pharisees had some authority “do as they say for they sit in Moses seat…but don’t be “like them”…for a lawful thing can be exercised…unlawfully. And don’t care, nor have any at all, God will show.
There is nothing hidden except to be revealed.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
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