Jesus In The Details

“When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’” [Deuteronomy 1.6-8]

It's interesting that Moses detailed the Promised Land here. Why? Because the Promised Land symbolizes Jesus and God's Kingdom that He brought to mankind.

Just as Moses detailed the Promised Land, so we should understand the details of Jesus. Matthew gave us a pretty good synopsis:

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” [Matthew 9.35-38]

And, just as Moses repeated God's plan regarding the Promised Land, Matthew recorded God's plan regarding the Kingdom: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

More detailed than Matthew's synopsis, Jesus Himself, in revelatory fashion, was not at all unclear about God's plan regarding His (Jesus') example for all who would follow Him:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” [Matthew 16.19]

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [John 15.16]

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23]

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” [Mark 16.15-18]

It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [Luke 24.47]

We are not left without detailed instructions then as to what our lives are to look like as we represent God's Kingdom. It's time that we "move on" from the time of instructions about what to do and begin to do what we are instructed!

Like it or not, we have a decision to make. Will we "occupy the Promised Land" of Jesus Christ? Will we be "in Christ"? Will we have "Christ in us"? Will we do what Jesus taught, demonstrated and commanded? Will we have faith evidenced by little things like moving mountains?

Or, will we just stay at Mt Sinai? Will we be content just to sit in church listening to the instructions over and over and over again?

Yes, Jesus is very much found in the details. The details point us to Jesus. Jesus points us to the details that define us as His.

Father, may my life be found "in Christ." May the details of Jesus' life be the identifying details of my life. May I not be deceived but rely upon Jesus own words, as rehearsed above, as to what those details are... So be it.