The Church

Today’s concluding offering begins with remembering, as we are drawn to what was already brought out about the word, Home. Refresh your memory.

Home, refers to the relationship between Jesus and His twelve disciples. They lived as a close-knit family, learning from their Leader, travelling with Him, listening to Him, laughing and crying with Him, and taking on His attitudes.

Home, signifies the house where Jesus and His disciples lived. In this setting, the word, house, does not first and foremost refer to the physical dwelling, but more important, it refers to the spiritual place, the spiritual house where they all lived as one.

Home speaks of, “let-down-your-hair” times, when the disciples could be free to be themselves with Jesus, away from all public scrutiny.

Home is the place of relaxation and rest, a place to simply be oneself. Then the strikingly obvious question was asked. Do you know Home? It was then pointed out most assuredly, that unless we sincerely and truly know, Home, we cannot expect to share in the beauty and riches of, Home Alone.

Scribes disputing with them. Remember, these are not people who are versed in the law according to tradition and scholarship. Who are you? Are you one who is not versed in Church law, Church history, Church doctrines and more, according to human study? Suffice it to say that you are being schooled, fed and led by God the Holy Spirit. Oftentimes, some of the Church’s leadership, who are fast bound to tradition and law, may confront you with legal matters, because of your emphasis on the spirit of the law, in preference to the letter of the law, which doesn’t always mesh. It’s exactly the same way that grace and law never can agree.

What are we hearing? We are being reminded that the same issues and problems Jesus encountered with the scribes and other legal, lawful minds of His day, will still be issues for His disciples in their day.  

As we conclude, we take another look at the nine disciples of Jesus, whom He left alone, while He and three other disciples went to His Transfiguration. And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.

This verse, in pure singularity, has been brought to all of us, believers and followers of Jesus, clearly showing that disciples were, Home Alone, and were expected to hold the fort, as it were, until Jesus’ return. The verse also assures us that even in Jesus’ physical absence, characteristics associated with His presence were made evident.

Disciple of Jesus, Christ’s Church, He is not with you in flesh and bones as He was long ago, and in this wise, you are, Home Alone. Nevertheless, if we, His Church, have been His true, abiding, receiving, learning disciples, are characteristics of Him being evidenced in us?

Sovereign King Jesus returns as He left. This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. Acts 1: 11b. Yes, when Jesus returns, will He see any images of Himself in you, His Church, among a dark and accusing world?

Jesus has already set His standards and shown Himself to the world, in terms of His Words and His Works. Do you not expect those who are looking for Jesus, whether for noble or ignoble reasons, not to come to you, His Church? Be it known that it is precisely because you are, Home Alone, others are coming to you to hear and see Jesus. Is the multitude around you, the Church? Are the scribes disputing with you, the Church? What characteristic of your Crucified, Risen and soon returning Lord Jesus are you, Christ’s Church, evidencing?