Daddy Beyond Doctrine

Jesus' heart broke.  His little child was crying.  He certainly knew the facts, He was God, of course He knew the facts.  And Martha had come out to make ABSOLUTELY sure Jesus knew that her brother, Lazarus, had died.  She was always ready to serve and always ready to "tell it like it is".  Oh and she told Jesus alright!   

We all know at least one Martha.  The faithful servant, always ready to tell you her list of good deeds.  Her faith really works, and you always feel as if maybe she might ask why yours doesn't.  You seem led into a fake show piety when in Martha's presence.

    

Jesus gave Martha what she needed, a reminder:  "Your brother will rise again".   She thinks she has Jesus all figured out.  She knew this doctrine, maybe a little to well.  Christ knew what she was hinting at, but decided to remind her of a greater hope.  Before letting the words of Jesus sink into her soul, Martha stuffed the infinite God in to a box of her own making.  "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.", she says, almost rolling her eyes.  We can almost hear her think, there Jesus goes again, being all spiritual, he had the power to save my brother and didn't, know he's hiding behind eternal hope again.  Why can't Jesus be more practical!  Jesus could feel her frustration and gives her what she needs (but doesn't want): a theology lesson.  

"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who

lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?".  This is one of the most profound theological statements in the Bible.  Jesus is telling Martha that He is the embodiment of the doctrine of the resurrection that she knows so well.  And what does she come back with?  The "right" answer: "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."   Now that Martha has said her peace, she tells Mary that "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."  Isn't that something that is just like a Martha to do... She couldn't talk any sense into Jesus, maybe her sister could.

Mary comes out to Jesus, falls before him and weeps. The Bible tells us that Jesus "groaned in the Spirit", which means, Jesus felt empathy.  The Almighty God feels our pain.  Remembering that when I am going through a hurtful time in my life, always seems to help.  

Mary didn't need doctrine, she needed Daddy (Abba).  Mary comes out and repeats exactly what her sister said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." And bursts into tears.  All the the slogans we say to try to take away the pain meant nothing, all the doctrine in the world didn't matter, she was hurting and she needed her Daddy.  His child was broken, that broke His heart.  "Where have you laid him?"

Too many times we come to Jesus with a Martha attitude.  We come, in almost an accusatory fashion, looking for answers.  Nine times out of ten, proper doctrine will answer those questions, but bring no relief.  Proper doctrine is needed, but when we are hurting, we need to cry out to our Daddy who transcends doctrine. 

Mother's Prayer of Rejoicing

Scripture used: 1 Samuel 2:1-10  
Notes: After giving over her precious son to the Lord and entrusting him to His care, Hannah prays this prayer of joy...

My heart exults in the LORD!
    My horn is exalted in the LORD.
My mouth is enlarged over my enemies,
    because I rejoice in your salvation.
There is no one as holy as the LORD,
    For there is no one besides you,
    nor is there any rock like our God.

Don’t keep talking so exceedingly proudly.
    Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth,
    For the LORD is a God of knowledge.
    By him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken.
    Those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread.
    Those who were hungry are satisfied.
Yes, the barren has borne seven.
    She who has many children languishes.

The LORD kills, and makes alive.
    He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
The LORD makes poor, and makes rich.
    He brings low, he also lifts up.
He raises up the poor out of the dust.
    He lifts up the needy from the dunghill,
    To make them sit with princes,
    and inherit the throne of glory.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s.
    He has set the world on them.
He will keep the feet of his holy ones,
    but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness;
    for no man shall prevail by strength.
Those who strive with the LORD shall be broken to pieces.
    He will thunder against them in the sky.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
    He will give strength to his king,
    and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Living Free

"I strive to live my life with so much freedom and joy, that uptight religious people will doubt my salvation, and the world will see Christ".

This quote from one of my favorite authors, Dr. Steve Brown, has become a motto for my life.  The Bible teaches us that we are in bondage to sin and to this worldly system.  That is why Christ came, "to preach good news to the poor... to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed" (Luke 4:18).  He came to proclaim the acceptance of the Father! (Luke 4:19).  If that doesn't make you want to get up and dance, I don't know what will!

The Scriptures continually tells believers that we are free (Gal 5:1, John 8:32, Heb 9:15, 2 Cor 3:17, Psalm 119:45, etc) and implores us to live as free people (1 Peter 2:16).  So lets live as free people!

Freedom of a Praying Mother - Sermon (audio)

Here is the sermon I preached on Mother's Day 2013.  The scripture is 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10.  At the end of the sermon I read Hannah's prayer found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Click here to download or press play to stream