THE LORD TAKING UP NEW POSITIONS

J. Spinks

Matthew 3: 13–17; 4: 18–22; John 20: 17–20

These two sections of scripture set out the Lord taking up certain positions that He had not been in before. Previous to this, He had thirty years of unbroken communion with His Father, in which He afforded Him infinite delight. Scripture does not record much of this, but enough to show us how much the holy perfection of that blessed humanity delighted the heart of the Father. The Spirit would help us to contemplate those hidden years, and increase our appreciation of that blessed Man.

In Matthew we see Him taking up a new position, relating to the testimony of God, and in that position associating others with Himself. It is a position which involves suffering and reproach, because it is clear that the enemy is against all that is of God, and anyone who commits himself to the testimony is sure to meet opposition. We, read in Luke that the Lord advanced in favour with God and men, but when He moves out in testimony, it immediately brings out the opposition and they seek to kill Him.

Here, in Matthew 3, He is acclaimed from heaven, marking the beginning of His public ministry, but He must first do something that no other man had been able to do. He binds the strong man! In the temptations He shows Himself superior to the enemy. Think of the power of the devil, who had had the mastery over every man up, to this time, having to yield to this blessed Man. The Lord meets him at every point, not in divine power, but in the moral power of His holy, sinless humanity. Of course, the complete annulling of the power of the enemy required the Lord’s precious death, but is it not a great comfort, dear brethren, to realise that we are associated in the testimony with such a mighty Victor.

Where we read in chapter 4, we see the Lord calling His disciples. No doubt these beloved men were divinely chosen, and fitted to fulfil a unique place in the testimony, but I think they set out a principle that is true of every believer. That is, they are not in it by way of volunteering, they are called into it. It is questionable if anyone is rightly in the testimony unless they have a sense of being divinely called into it. You feel that these men would have a sense that nothing would ever be the same after this, and so it is, dear brethren, the call of Christ changes everything. Their whole life was to be governed by another authority, another source of direction, another source of supply, another source of comfort. Think of what the Lord was to these disciples for those three and a half years. Every need they had,

He met it! How full is the resource we have in Christ! Everything that is needed for the testimony, both individually and collectively, is in the hands of one blessed Man.

The Lord’s committal to His disciples was total. It was a time of education and instruction.

They were being educated for great things, and I think that in this respect also, our position is similar to theirs. Think of the position of the assembly in the world to come. The Lord would undertake to educate us in view of that day, the glorious day of His public reign. It may be that they were sometimes fearful, as we all are, but that is not recorded to cast any reflection on the disciples, but only to show that the grace with which He had committed Himself to them never failed at any time. Think of the wonderful committal of divine Persons to each one of us, that can never be revoked. “If we are unfaithful, he abides faithful, for he cannot deny himself”, 2 Timothy 2: 13.

When the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea into the wilderness, they had to learn that they were wholly dependent on divine resources. How full they were! The daily provision of manna; the assurance of divine guidance in the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. They also had to learn that there was no provision made to return to Egypt. After they had passed through the sea, the waters returned. It was a wonderful testimony to the power of God in completely annulling the power of the enemy, but it was also a testimony that God jealously guards His rights to His people. We read in Romans, “For sin shall not have dominion over you”, Romans 6: 14. The death of Christ is the means by which God has exercised His claim to His people and He will never let them go. Some, alas, seek to go back, but it is a futile and sorrowful exercise. As we accept the death of Christ as governing our position in this world we come in for wonderful blessing. It is a position that divine Persons have committed themselves irrevocably to, and calls for full committal on our part to

the testimony of our Lord.

I read in John chapter 20 because it sets out the other side of the Christian position. This relates to a sphere of privilege, and again the Lord delights to associate others with Himself.

It is wonderful to read through this gospel and see the desire of the Lord to have His own with Him. Would that we could get a greater understanding of the depth of the Lord’s desire that we should be with Him, not only in support of the testimony, but in this great sphere of privilege. “Go to my brethren”. What precious words these are! This is the first time the Lord uses them in this context and no doubt there would be joy in His heart as He did so.

In the typical scriptures this section may relate more to the crossing of Jordan, the death of Christ providing a way to the enjoyment of heavenly relationships and privileges. I think the key to it lies in affection for Christ. Mary sets out this feature in a wonderful way. She needed adjustment, as we all do, but she had a deep love for the Lord which was altogether trustworthy, and the Lord entrusted her with the greatest message ever conveyed to human ears, feel that formed affection for Christ is the only way into the enjoyment of heavenly blessings. This wonderful passage culminates in the Lord coming into the midst and showing them His hands and His side. It relates, as we have been taught, to the purpose of divine love, that Christ should have a suitable counterpart, that God should have a people in relationship to Christ, brought into His very presence, in the full enjoyment of His love.

I feel we need to lay hold of the importance of the divine call. It is a once and for all matter; it does not allow for, options, and there is no provision made for going back. It is not a call for volunteers, but for those who have been so affected by the love of Christ, that they yield Him undisputed rights over them. I think the

disciples discovered the blessedness of association with Christ in the testimony, the blessedness of finding every resource in Him. Then there is the joy of having part with Him in the sphere of privilege. I believe there is a distinct link between them. May the Lord help us in these things, for His name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Glasgow
15 October 1991