The above image of the Scales of Justice implies for this blog post that Christ is the embodiment of Divine Justice! For through His unique and perpetual ministry is revealed God’s merciful fidelity to all of His Promises. Christ our Lord is whom the Justice of God is revealed and through whom the redeemed of God is made just.
Grace and Peace
Preface
“Do not be one who holds his hand out to take, but shuts it when it comes to giving.”
A quote from the anonymously-written Didache (“The Teaching,” c. 100 CE).
In the Jewish tradition, the term tzedakah is an act of righteousness that comes from our duty to help others in need. It is sometimes understood as “charity,” but the root word means justice or fairness rather than philanthropy or generosity.
Tzedakah means “doing the right thing” by demonstrating Tzedek (justice, fairness) in your life. The Scriptures command Tzedek, Tzedek tirdof: “justice, justice you shall pursue” (Deut. 16:20), and therefore helping others in need is a divine imperative.
[Definition of tzedakah was gleaned from an article from John J. Parsons: The Importance of Giving-https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Meditations/Tzedakah/taedakah.html].
Purpose
Today’s blog post will first, list and discuss five things that Jesus the Son of Man borrowed during His earthly ministry as a divine imperative of the fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus.
Next, our goal is for us to discern practical spiritual lessons that we may learn and incorporated into our lives as His disciples who are willing to display some needed justice in our generation.
Lastly, please keep in mind, as you are reading about the importance of giving, what would have been the potential negative outcomes, if those whom our Lord asked to give, had refused to freely give?
A Vessel of Spiritual Transformation
Luke 5:1-3
He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Shimon [Simon], and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
The Master used Peter’s boat as a vessel of spiritual transformation. In the saying from Pirke Eliezer, “The Holy, Blessed God created seven seas but chose none of them all, but the Sea of Gennesaret.” And indeed, it was this place chosen by Jesus and honored, and forever made famous by Him, by His preaching at it, His miracles upon it, and showing Himself there after His resurrection.
Just as the Master using Peter’s boat for the glory of God in His day, we too are to “offer ourselves as a vessel of sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please Him; it is the logical spiritual service of worship. We are not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, so that we may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”. Romans 12:1-2
The Boys Loaves and Fishes
Matthew 14:14-21
And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” And ordering the multitudes to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
We who are walking and reclining in Christ today can faithfully believe that as long as Christ is with us, by His power, He will provide those things that we require. The loaves and the fish signify that they were enough, that they were sufficient by faith and obedience to Him, as well as having a spirit of sharing with others.
The very best way to have an increase of temporal supplies is to bring what we have and faithfully, and biblically put it into the hands of Christ our Lord. In this manner, not only good is done to others, but that which is an overflow is returned to the giver.
The Donkey and a Colt
Matthew 21:2-5
“Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them, and bring them to Me.“
The donkey and the colt upon which Jesus the Son of Man rode into Jerusalem, prophetically, represent the Old and New Covenants [Testaments]. Just as the donkey gave birth to the colt, the Old Covenant is pregnant with all of the prophecies that were revealed in the presence of the Messiah from heaven, the King in Zechariah 9:9.
“He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Our Master was lowly, humble, meek in His character. He also fulfilled the ancient customs of the previous Kings of Israel [governors, patriarchs, princes, and judges], by Him riding into Jerusalem on the donkey.
For each of us today, God has not called us to place ourselves upon any donkey, yet He does expect us to mirror the very character of Christ if we are called into His ministry of reconciliation due to the fulfillment of HIs salvation for Israel and all other Nations today and in the future.
We are called to put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another.
If one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15
The Upper Room
Mark 14:13-15
“The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?'” And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready, and prepare for us there.”
Historically, the guest chamber was occupied during the Life of the Master, an important central place in the overall custom and tradition in this region. According to Bible Dictionary-the Guest-chamber that Jesus used for His last Passover meal with His disciples, He is on record of utilizing other Upper rooms throughout His ministry.
He used them to anoint, Simon the Pharisee, (Luke 7:36ff), the anointing by Mary of Bethany, (John 12:1ff), Levi’s feast, (Luke 5:27ff), and the miracle and sayings of Jesus, (Luke 14:1ff).
For each of us today, in a very practical way, the upper room is a place of prayer, obedience, reflection, mediation, a special place that you and I set aside for the spiritual habitation of our communion with God.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Highest will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust! Psalms 91:1-2
The Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea
Mark 15:42-46
“And when evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the Kingdom of God; he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.”
Joseph of Arimathea was a “secret disciple” of the Master, in that he was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin Council. This Council was in fact, the very body who condemned Jesus to death on the Cross! He risks everything when went to Pilate, asking for His Master’s body. He brought some linen cloths, took Jesus down from the Cross before the coming Sabbath observance.
He then laid Jesus’ body in the very tomb that he provided for Jesus. The very cost of Jesus’ life and ministry for all of humanity is clearly stated in what is at stake for any would-be disciple of Christ. “And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Luke 9:57-58
Joseph of Arimathea is on record of providing the Son of Man, a place to rest His head in fulfilling the very prophetic reason for His coming into the earth. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Divine Justice!
For through His complete ministry past, present, and the future, is revealed God’s merciful fidelity to all of His Promises. Christ our Lord is whom the Justice of God is revealed and through whom the faithful followers of God are made just.
The act of Joseph freely giving his tomb to Jesus, epitomized love, devotion, faith, and trust. He was at the right place in his relationship as a faithful disciple of His Master. He honored his Lord’s body in the tradition and customs of His day. He as others before him, step up in faith when others had scattered out of fear.
Joseph of Arimathea’s actions also serves as irrefutable historical and biblical evidence that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected from the grave. The Gospel writers and extra-biblical writers all have documented that Jesus’ resurrection is a historical fact.
For us today, as was the case of Joseph, we too will have to publicly identify ourselves with Jesus at all cost! Everything that God has given us as His followers, will have to be placed at Jesus’ disposal to continue the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Amen.
Grace and Peace
Brother Alonzo