“FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER!”

 

Luke 14:8-11                 (ESV)

[8] “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, [9] and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. [10] But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, “‘FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER.’” Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. [11] FOR EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.””

The “parable” shown in the Scripture passage above has been entitled The Parable Of The Wedding Feast.  A “parable” is defined as “a concise story that conveys a moral, spiritual, or theological truth by means of everyday illustrations and relatable experiences”.  JESUS used “words” so exquisitely to achieve HIS desired outcome in the particular situation.  It is understandable that in the book of John HE referred to as THE WORD, because HE encapsulated ALL THE GOOD that WORDS can describe!!!

THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES was speaking to THE CREATED and HIS MESSAGE wasn’t very difficult to understand.  My humanity generally doesn’t lend itself to anything that isn’t revealed to me in a relatively short period of time.  But THE KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS was sharing that the people hearing HIS WORDS were being BLESSED to experience.  

JESUS told those who were “listeners” that whenever they were invited to a wedding feast, that they needed to consider themselves BLESSED to be invited!  When “your host” SEES where you are seated, he “may” say to you “FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER “!  But these words might leave you where you are …..FOR A SEASON!!!  

Our “HOST” for the HEAVENLY gathering we are scheduled to attend will be NONE OTHER than the ORATOR of this parable, THE WORD!!!  I will be BLESSED just to be at this gathering!  But I will HONORED to be told “FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER” by the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS…….. if HE so chooses!!!

Bishop Robert E Smith, Sr.

 From @Bishop Robert E Smith Sr!

“Being built up in the faith REQUIRES a life of prayer (Jude 1:20; Eph. 6:18), while stirring up the gift within you requires a sense of responsibility and accountability (Eph. 3:7; 2 Tim. 1:6,7).”

“RABBONI!”

 

John 20:16                 (ESV)

“[16] JESUS said to her, “MARY”. She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).”

Briefly, yet PRECISELY, this morning…..

Mary PRECISELY KNEW WHO JESUS was ONLY when HE said her name!  No questions, no explanations, HE just said “MARY”!!!  She was in a state of emotional distress!  Yet JESUS simply called her name and she KNEW that her “Rabonni” was with her!!

We too need to be able to SEE that JESUS KNOWS and CHERISHES us as well, so much so that HE DIED for our sins when we were SO UNDESERVING!  Can you imagine how IMPERFECT Mary Magdalene (John 20:18)  was before meeting JESUS?  Yet THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES cared enough about her that HE REVEALED HIMSELF to her when she had NO HOPE of SEEING HIM again!!!

HE may, and frequently does, cause us to WAIT FOR HIM until the PERFECT TIMING, until we are ALL ALONE with NO OTHER OPTIONS, to simply GROW OUR FAITH and meet our needs???  HE IS GOD, and HIS greatest GIFT to us is to REVEAL to one of HIS BELIEVERS that HE is there for our DELIVERANCE!!!

Mary Magdalene had known HIM for three years, but she now had EXPERIENCED HIM like NO ONE ELSE!!!  

“RABBONI”!!!

“MARY!”

 

John 20:11-18                 (ESV)

JESUS Appears to Mary Magdalene

“[11] But “MARY” stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of JESUS had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my LORD, and I do not know where they have laid HIM.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw JESUS standing, but SHE DID NOT KNOW that it was JESUS. [15] JESUS said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing HIM to be the gardener, she said to HIM, “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.” [16] JESUS said to her, “MARY”. She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] JESUS said to her, “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.’” [18]  “MARY” Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the LORD”—and that HE  had said these things to her.”

While mowing the lawn yesterday I was ruminating about the Scriptures above, having written about them only a few hours previously.  There were two disciples who had visited the tomb that morning with “MARY”, but they had gone back to tell others the FANTASTIC news about JESUS!   However, “MARY” lingered around the tomb FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON.  AND THEN she had the encounter with THE CREATOR that SHOCKED THE WORLD, at least those of us whose EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED!!!

When JESUS spoke directly to her, she did not realize it was HIM.  Thinking HIM to be the gardener, she replied “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.”  But JESUS simply replied “MARY”, and her EYES were OPENED and she was able to SEE JESUS plainly.  One might think that because of her deep love for JESUS that she would have clung to HIM, but HE said to her “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.”  

Why didn’t JESUS “reveal” HIMSELF to the disciples when they were at the tomb?  Why did HE wait until HE was in the presence of HIS Angels with ONLY “MARY”?  I DON’T KNOW WHY….YET!!!   I only KNOW that “MARY” was CHOSEN to be the first person to RECOGNIZE her Savior since HIS brutal death on Calvary!!!  

“MARY” must have been the sweetest words that she ever heard!!!

“SHE DID NOT KNOW!”

 

John 20:11-18                 (ESV)

JESUS Appears to Mary Magdalene

“[11] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of JESUS had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my LORD, and I do not know where they have laid HIM.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw JESUS standing, but “SHE DID NOT KNOW” that it was JESUS. [15] JESUS said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing HIM to be the gardener, she said to HIM, “SIR, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where you have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.” [16] JESUS said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to HIM in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] JESUS said to her, “Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the FATHER; but go to MY brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my FATHER and your FATHER, to MY GOD and your GOD.’” [18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the LORD”—and that HE  had said these things to her.”

Picture this scene, where Mary and JESUS were near the tomb that had previously “stored” the body of JESUS.  Both of them were more than Spirits, avoiding the misconception that they were unable to be seen.  Mary was weeping (v. 15) and apparently was UNABLE TO SEE that the MAN WHO was talking to her was in fact the SON OF GOD???

In verse 16 JESUS said to her, “Mary”, and only then did she recognize HIM as the SON OF GOD!  Scripture doesn’t state anything additional, only that beforehand “SHE DID NOT KNOW” that it was JESUS talking to her, but he simply said “Mary” and she COULD SEE WHO was talking to her!  

To my knowledge, Scripture doesn’t record any reason why “SHE DID NOT KNOW” JESUS being alive, walking in her midst?  Only that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES spoke her name!  Can you fathom THE ONE WHO simply SPOKE Creation into existence calling out your name?  HIS VOICE must have been altered from the brutal death HE had endured three days prior?  HIS RAVAGED BODY had to have been restored to some degree?  Yet HE simply spoke her name and she was able to SEE HIM!!

It is perfectly fitting that Mary was not able to recognize JESUS, UNTIL HE called her BY NAME with PURPOSE and she was MADE TO SEE HIM!!!  THE CREATOR OF THE WORLDS simply OPENED THE EYES of “SHE DID NOT KNOW” and THEN she DID KNOW!!!  

HE STILL IS THE EYE OPENER!!!

“DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!”

Proverbs 3:5–6                 (ESV)

   “[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

        and “DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.”

    [6] In all your ways acknowledge HIM,

        and HE will make straight your paths.”

Explanation:�FAITH involves surrender—letting GOD lead even when WE DON’T UNDERSTAND HIS ways.

The passage of Scripture listed above doesn’t leave a lot of room for misinterpretation.  As Believers in the SON OF GOD, there are many times where we might prefer “figure out” precisely what GOD is trying to do, but that might remove the need to “stay” in HIS WORD, something that is PRECISELY what we are instructed to do???

Just as GOD gave these WORDS to King Solomon, HE wants this humble servant to “DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”, for to do so would NOT be WAITING FOR HIS DIRECTION!  Sure, “FAITH involves surrender—letting GOD lead even when WE DON’T UNDERSTAND HIS ways”, but WAITING ON HIS TIMING is the MOST DIFFICULT thing for this uneducated being.  BEING STILL (Psalms 46:10) can also mean LET GO, something that you can’t do when you are driving your ship!!

Psalm 27:14 says “WAIT for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage, WAIT for the LORD!”, as written by King David, the father of King Solomon!  

It isn’t rocket science to SEE what GOD is attempting to TEACH me over the past many years!  “DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” isn’t a suggestion that to us, IT IS A COMMAND!!!

“DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”!!!

“I AM CHIEF!”

1 Timothy 1:15-16                 (KJV)

“15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners; of whom “I AM CHIEF”.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first JESUS CHRIST might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on HIM to life everlasting.”

I have a lifelong friend who was been treated for cancer for a long period of time, but then a year or so she went to the physician treating her and was informed that she was cured from the cancer!  However, recently she was “re-diagnosed” with cancer!!!  The treatment center she is using is one of the most respected and reputable in the world, so how is she not winning the battle with cancer???

Similarly, I am a sinner, infected with the “cancerous disease” that keeps coming back and rearing its ugly head!  The Apostle Paul writes in his first letter to Timothy that HE IS THE CHIEF, or the WORST, of sinners!  I don’t want to dispute or challenge anything that such a well-versed man of GOD is saying, but I am CERTAIN that “I AM CHIEF”, as far as sinners!  

Yet, even though my loathsomeness is always right before me, my SAVIOR lives inside of me and HE LOOKS BEYOND my faults, SEEING my NEEDS, washing me CLEAN with HIS BLOOD!  Yes, even though “I AM CHIEF” of all sinners, JESUS CHRIST PAID the price for my sins a long time ago!  

I DON’T KNOW WHY JESUS LOVED, OH, BUT I”M GLAD HE DID!!!