The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 21:18-19,
"'Very truly I [Jesus] tell you [Peter], when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God."
This passage is found in the closing chapter of John's gospel just after Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep. John says Jesus indicated here the "kind of death by which Peter would glorify God." How would, or how could Peter's death glorify God?
Paul alludes to this same theme in Philippians 1:20, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." Here Paul says he hopes his courage will lead to the exaltation of Jesus Christ by either his living or dying. To exalt is to glorify and that is precisely what Paul longed to do for the Lord and did.
"'Very truly I [Jesus] tell you [Peter], when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God."
This passage is found in the closing chapter of John's gospel just after Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep. John says Jesus indicated here the "kind of death by which Peter would glorify God." How would, or how could Peter's death glorify God?
Paul alludes to this same theme in Philippians 1:20, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." Here Paul says he hopes his courage will lead to the exaltation of Jesus Christ by either his living or dying. To exalt is to glorify and that is precisely what Paul longed to do for the Lord and did.
We express our praise, our exaltation of the Lord by giving ourselves to him. We are communicating we value him so highly, and that he is worthy of that height, by the giving of ourselves to him. As we think of our lives here on earth, we do that by living for him, sacrificing what others won't on his behalf. And, were we given the opportunity to give our lives on his behalf, we exalt him in our death.
Jesus was willing to give himself for us. Are we willing to give ourselves to him, whether by living for him or dying for him?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment