Fourth Sunday In Lent

On this blessed fourth, Lord’s Day Sunday in the Season of Lent, we give great praise and thanks to God, as we continue to lift high the Name of Jesus and look to His Name, with undaunted faith, for all that we have been promised.

Having crossed the halfway mark in this journey of forty days and forty nights, with our ever comforting, ever encouraging and ever confirming Saviour, we are filled with the uttermost thankfulness for His undivided Love for us. Our Lord has been unquestionably true and undeniably faithful to His Blood Promises to us, on the most privileged walk. I say privileged, with all the meanings the word carries, because we did not have to be invited to join Jesus on this journey. Never be deceived about this truth. You are not on this walk with Jesus, because you invited yourself. O no! He did the inviting and you did the responding. You never volunteered to join this pilgrimage. Certainly not! He did the choosing and you did the responding. You did not do any great faith works, which gave you favour in the eyes of Jesus, to pick you to accompany Him on His walk to the Cross. Absolutely not! He did the picking and you did the responding.  

For a moment, let’s look at the incomprehensible free ways of our Lord Jesus, with those who belong to Him. Jesus is God and He is Lord, so that whatever He does is initiated, instigated and implemented by Him. Yes, let’s ponder for a moment how free Jesus is to choose from His flock, sheep to be used as He sees fit.

Jesus chose three disciples to go with Him to witness His Transfiguration.  Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and john, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. Mark 9: 2. He had twelve disciples in His special flock, but He chose three. Jesus must do as He pleases.

This one always makes me think deeply and hushes me, when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter. Two examples present themselves here. One is that Jesus is on the road and a huge crowd is following Him. Jairus comes to Jesus and asks Him to heal his little girl. As Jairus takes Jesus to his house, with that large crowd still following, word comes to Jairus that his daughter has died. Jesus overhears it and tells Jairus, Do not be afraid; only believe. And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. Mark 5: 36b – 37.  Jesus chose His travelling companions on that resurrection path.

When they arrived at Jairus’ house, Jesus met a noisy crowd of mourners and wailers, who ridiculed Him for announcing that the child was not dead. However, when Jesus was about to raise the child from the dead, we are told this. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Mark 5: 40b. From a large crowd of well-wishers and mourners Jesus chose not one of them to witness His miracle. Only five people, along with the dead child and Jesus, were in that room. They were all people of Jesus’ choosing.   

Here is one more example which lets us see Jesus in wider, broader light. Jesus is about to go on a specific mission, but He decides to send some of His followers out in pairs, before He gets there. Jesus has hundreds of followers, yet He chooses to send thirty-five pairs. After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He was about to go. Luke 10: 1. Jesus’ wisdom must never be questioned or doubted. In every single instance, Jesus did the choosing or appointing.

The sole purpose for holding these before us, is to remind us that we are following Jesus on this walk to the Cross because He has chosen us. Are we worthy of Him choosing us?  No! A thousand times, no! It is He who desires us. It is He who wants us. It is He who loves us. It is He who makes covenant with us.

For the rest of the week, as His chosen disciples, we shall receive again, Blood Promises in covenant.