He Said It

Jesus said it,

"Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." This is why He also said it is easier for a camel to pass through the Eye of the Needle (the narrowest gate into Jerusalem whereat camels had to be unloaded before passing through) than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Those of us with little to lose we are more than willing to risk our widow’s mite for "the cause." Once risen to success, however, we tend to be much too fearful of losing those false riches to risk them on any stand for conscience sake. It is a fact of life that trials strengthen us while success tends toward the opposite. There was a point in history when the Church stood at just such a crossroads. On our continuing journey down this stream of discovery which path was chosen will quickly become apparent.

Before pushing off, let’s reacquaint ourselves with the spirit in which Jesus created His "little flock." One of the final lessons that Jesus conveyed to His disciples occurred in the midst of a meal, suggested by many commentators to be at the Last Supper.

John 13:2-5 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. NIV

Matthew Henry’s Commentary explains Jesus’ extraordinary action as follows:

(1) The action itself was mean and servile, and that which servants of the lowest rank were employed in. Let thine handmaid (saith Abigail) be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord; let me be in the meanest employment, 1 Sam 25:41. If he had washed their hands or faces, it had been great condescension (Elisha poured water on the hands of Elijah, 2 Kings 3:11); but for Christ to stoop to such a piece of drudgery as this may well excite our admiration. Thus he would teach us to think nothing below us wherein we may be serviceable to God's glory and the good of our brethren.

(4) He put himself into the garb of a servant, to do it: he laid aside his loose and upper garments, that he might apply himself to this service the more expeditely. We must address ourselves to duty as those that are resolved not to take state, but to take pains; we must divest ourselves of every thing that would either feed our pride or hang in our way and hinder us in what we have to do, must gird up the loins of our mind, as those that in earnest buckle to business.

John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me `Teacher' and `Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. NIV

Luke 22:24-30 a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

As a final example of something to keep in mind as we discuss the treatment accorded to heretics as being apostates consider Peter’s denial of Jesus in His hour of need.

31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Luke 22:54-62 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."

But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.

A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."

"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.

About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. NIV

Yet, Jesus forgave Peter his apostasy and made him head apostle; indeed many feel Jesus said Petros was the rock upon which He would establish His church. Either way, the humble and servile manner in which Jesus instructed and led His disciples, teaching them to do the same, is hardly the manner in which the church behaved as Jesus was gradually turned from example to idol. There is no better time to begin this than that moment in history when the church began to morph from persecutee to persecutor. That adulterous step from ministerium to dominion, from humility to presumption, when the priestly order replaced by Jesus managed to return the favor and regain control. of the sanctuary.

Next : The controversy between Arius and Athenaseus provokes Emperor Constantine into convening The Council of Nicaea turning Faith into the State Religion.

houghfw@aol.com