Saliva and Mud For Healing?

If I tell you you'd be healed if I put mud from my saliva and some dirt on you, would you let me? You wouldn't. First because I'm a total stranger to you. And even if you knew me well, you wouldn't either because we all know that saliva, no matter where it comes from, is DIRTY. Photo above by manish kumar on Unsplash.

You wouldn't, even if I were your pastor or probably a medical doctor.

But the blind guy Jesus healed with his saliva mixed with dirt did, even if he didn't know who Jesus was. Did he know it was saliva mixed with dirt that Jesus put on his eyes? Yes he did. He clearly stated that:

“The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said. [John 9]

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How did he know there was saliva in it? He heard Jesus "spit on the ground." Spitting definitely would make a sound. Spit on the ground plus mud on your eyes and it's easy to figure out what happened--specifically, what Jesus put on your eyes. Seems more like a prank than a miracle. I would have gotten mad and protested.

Did he protest? Nope. He even followed Jesus' instruction to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash. Now, that's another wonder. Tell a blind man to go to the pool to wash? Jesus didn't bother to assist him even if he was blind. He just let him go there on his own. What would you have said if you saw someone do that to a blind man?

If you were the blind guy and this stranger told you to go to the pool to wash after putting mud in your eyes--would you do it? 

Me? First, I'd ask what on earth did he put mud on my eyes for? Remember, the blind guy never asked for his help. Jesus just did what he did without asking the guy if he would allow him to do something to him. 

Then tell me to go wash in the pool? I'd probably tell him to go there himself and get water to wash my eyes with--since I was blind and the whole thing was his idea anyway. 

But it's a complete wonder that what took place here took place at all. And why the need to go and wash at Siloam? Couldn't the miracle happen right after the mud was put on his eyes? 

And did the mud heal him because Jesus' saliva was on it?

Here's What Really Happened

It was what Jesus saw and heard exactly from the Father. Jesus earlier said he could do nothing except what he saw the Father doing. Much later, he said that "..I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me," [John 14.31]. It was how Jesus did miracles. It's also how we should do miracles.

So the saliva and mud were all the idea of the Father. Even having the blind man go to the pool unassisted. It was part of testing the man's faith. Jesus simply followed everything he heard--trusted and obeyed. He didn't question it, though it sounded weird. Foremost in the principle of miracles is hearing God's voice and obeying it without question. As long as we do as Jesus did, we enjoy "day time" and are able to do the works of HIM who sent us. 

But the moment we think we're smarter and ask questions or theologize or look for logic or a sound reason before we believe or do something, then night has come. Jesus warned:

"Night is coming, when no one can work." 

It's clear that God was in charge of this whole operation from start to finish. No human effort, ways, programs, human theology or human wisdom. It had been in God's agenda and time table all along as a done deal so that all that was needed was mere faithful execution by the Son to glorify the Father in the blind man.

"...but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

And the blind guy following all that Jesus told him even when he was a complete stranger? That says a lot about Jesus' spiritual aura, the spiritual atmosphere he carried around him. He carried the Father's very Presence--which plain, simple, ordinary believers easily appreciate but which the titled, degreed and the wise in this world readily hate, like did the Pharisees and law teachers in Jesus' day. 

Because Jesus later claimed that seeing him was seeing the Father. So if you had a heart simply desiring to know and see God, you'd be sensitive to such aura. You'd easily discern what is God's and what isn't. The blind guy said:

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

And that JESUS is 100 percent in you. We can carry that same aura and atmosphere if we believe that we are co-heirs with Christ.

In our case, if we simply execute, as a faithful son or daughter, what has been in God's plan, agenda and time table (not our own plan or program), then the Father will give us specific instructions on how to go about it. And he will give us enabling grace to hear his voice straight from his mouth, and actually see him.

It was not the saliva or mud or the Siloam Pool, but the supernatural ways and principles of God when doing a miracle. If we genuinely hear God's voice and his instructions are followed to the letter--and the recipient of the miracle has submissive faith--then God's power is released.

 

 

Do You Have HIS Smell?

The smell of Jesus is powerful. For one, it's the only thing that makes our worship acceptable to the Father. Without HIS smell in us, our worship is garbage. I don't care how beautiful your singing or worship program is. No Jesus' smell, garbage worship. Photo by Ruslan Zh on Unsplash.

Among the most powerful blessings we have is Jesus' smell. I have smelled Jesus, in fact, a lot of times. I was so close I would often catch his scent--even his breath. Like when he met the Samaritan woman, Nicodemus, the rich young ruler, Zacchaeus, when he called Peter, when he multiplied bread and fish, when he rebuked the wind and waves--I was there, up close. I smelled HIM. 

Get closer to Jesus and get his smell by being God's flesh on earth. 

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And the smell is yours if you receive him in your life and surrender yourself fully to him.

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. [2 Corinthians 2.15]

To God we have Jesus' smell. We don't just smell "like" Jesus. We have his very smell. If you're not genuinely born again---if you're not a genuine new creation in Christ (the old is past, the new has come)---you don't get his smell, and anything you do for God is zero.

God is smell oriented, especially with worship. He showed this in the old testament. Worshipers had to offer animals prescribed by heaven, without defect, and slain and burned. It's no use bringing a heaven-prescribed offering, even without defect, if it's not slain. It should be slain. And burned.

Burned!

Burned flesh like that is always a "pleasing aroma" to God. Without that aroma worship is nothing. God is after that smell. He looks for it during worship and is found when we worship in spirit and in truth. This pertains to his spoken Word. The words Jesus speaks "are spirit and they are life" [John 6.63], and truth is his spoken Word. And Jesus is The Word, and Jesus was offered as a pleasing sacrifice.

5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. [Leviticus 3]

God rejected Cain's worship because it lacked the smell. And without Jesus' smell in us as we are also offered by fire (Paul said offer your bodies as living sacrifices), we can never please God. The smell is part of genuine faith. God is a consuming Fire, and as we expose ourselves to His presence we become a burnt offering, an aroma of Christ pleasing to the Father, not because of us or anything we do or achieve, but only because of Jesus.

It's not enough to be the right offering passing heaven's prescription. We have to be slain and burned. "Slain" is the Jesus cross (the Jesus Life) and "burned" is the presence of the Father, consuming and transforming us, forming Christ in us. Many believers are merely the right offering--having the right teaching, doctrine, theology, etc. But they're not slain and burned. Their egos still live in them, not Jesus.

So their worship is garbage.

The smell of Jesus is also what scares devils and demons when they see us. We are covered with the blood of Jesus, and blood has a strong smell. Have you ever smelled flesh blood? The moment devils smell Jesus in us (because we are covered by his Blood), they scram, knowing that Jesus is present around somewhere. Well, they either run away or run to us, kneeling, and shouting, "What have you to do with us, son (or daughter) of the living God? Have you come to torture us?"

The smell enables us to be "part with" Jesus. It confirms us being part of him, being part of his body. So we need to be washed by him, not just with water, but with his blood. Because we need to get his smell to be part with him. That's among the spiritual identifying marks of a genuine child of God--the smell of Jesus.

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." [John 13]

Here are other renditions:

“Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

“If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

You want to be light and salt of this world? The vital prerequisite is to have Jesus' smell. Among other things, being light and salt means we become instruments in putting people right with God. We become conduits, helping them connect with their Creator. Jesus is the only Mediator between them--but then Jesus is 100 percent in us. The Mediator should be able to do his work in us. 

Mediating means knowing what appeases God's wrath and what helps people avoid God's wrath. With the smell of Jesus in us, we're able to do this ministry of reconciliation. We are ambassadors, representing Jesus on earth and representing man in heaven. We become blessed peacemakers, called children of God. The smell of Jesus in us quickly soothes God's wrath and easily accesses his favor and mercy.

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. [Genesis 8]

Really Up Close with Jesus

Reading about Jesus in the bible is one thing--so is seriously studying about him--but getting really up close with Jesus is quite another. No more seeing through a glass darkly, but face to face. Like how Peter got a revelation of Jesus and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" [Photo by Anastasia Sklyar on Unsplash].

Why? Hadn't he seen Jesus before? Of course he had. But it was the first time he really saw Jesus up close. And Jesus said Peter had a revelation direct from the Father, not through the teachings of men. Men's teachings and doctrines are good, but they don't help you get up close with Jesus. 

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Head knowledge can never open your eyes to see Jesus. Only God's supernatural revelation can. When God starts opening His Word in Scriptures to you through the breath of His mouth, you suddenly get "transported" to the Gospel times and "appear" right before them. You're right there walking and talking with Jesus and the disciples. You become part of the Gospel, as it were.

Everything comes alive and you personally witness scenes in the bible. This is how the Father designed Word meditation. His plan is for us to become part of His Word through the supernatural revelation of the Holy Spirit. Bible studies we do with our human formula and theologies are NO match compared to God's revelation. 

Just imagine being right there with the Israelites and Moses as they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, or standing right beside Elijah when he called fire down from heaven that consumed the offering on Mt. Carmel. You don't just read about them but take part, too, not to change the bible but to witness it first hand through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is what Jesus said about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Jesus is the Word of God. When we meditate and experience God's Word, we eat it. We "eat" Jesus Christ.

Jesus' Nonchalance

Ever noticed how Jesus never ran after anyone or considered anyone indispensable? I saw these Kingdom principles--the principle of  disinterest and the element of pursuit--which are so vital in evangelism and discipleship. If you don't get this, everything will be in vain. Everything will be man-planted. [Picture above from this site].

And every plant that the Father has not planted will be uprooted, Jesus said. Man-planted churches will be disqualified.

So Jesus never coerced, harassed, pressured or influenced anyone to follow him. There was no such thing as "follow up." He emphasized that by the words "If anyone." If anyone wants to follow him. If anyone has faith in him. If anyone gives a cup of water or gives up everything he has. There was always the big IF. People should be left to themselves to choose. No human intervention, whatsoever. This is important. The moment you mess with it, it becomes man's work, not God's. People have to decide and the decision should be to pursue him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Take It Or Leave It

That's what "following" him means. To pursue. To doggedly go after him at all costs, even if he seems to care nothing about it. And if you're in ministry, you should follow the same things. Never go after people, thinking how you can lure or attract them to you or to your church. And you should always assume an air of disinterest. You care for lost souls but you maintain disinterest.

Him saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" is a show of disinterest.  It was take it or leave it. If you don't want to listen, then don't. Many of his disciples complained about his teaching--eating his flesh and drinking his blood--but he didn't care if they left. He even challenged the disciples who remained: “Do you want to leave, too?” They didn't. Instead, they answered with an element of pursuit:

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, who would we go to? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One from God.”

Who would we go to? That was a clear indication that they were pursuing Jesus, no matter what.  He alone had the words of eternal life. He alone could feed them. People should see this in you if you're a pastor and decide to follow you. Don't look for ways to lure people to attend your church or stay in it. That is deception. If you cannot attract them with Jesus, do not attract them at all.

Many pastors are "loved" by their congregation because they worked hard to make it happen. They pampered them and gave them what they wanted. Some even let their people rule and reign in church and they (the pastors) willingly became their followers. Jesus is the Good Shepherd but he didn't do anything like that.

It should've been enough. I mean, the scene was tensed enough with Jesus challenging them to either follow or leave (making him risk losing all his disciples, which a lot of pastors fear happening to them). It even seemed he was looking for trouble. He should've stopped there. It was quite tough enough, too taxing and nerve-racking. I would've stopped there and changed topic. Confrontation like that is the last thing I want in ministry. 

And anyway, Peter had answered courteously by saying, "We believe and know that you are the Holy One from God.” That would have mellowed you down and tamed you. Praise like that easily calms irked emotions.

But not Jesus. He pushed harder. 

Then Jesus answered, “I chose all twelve of you, but one of you is a devil.”

I saw the disciples' faces twitching in discomfort. They didn't want to leave but the situation was somewhat getting to be a discomfort. Jesus was really provoking them, pushing them to their limit, even calling one of them a devil. If this were to happen today, I'm quite sure more than half (if not all) in church would walk out on you and later accuse you of malice or being judgmental. It's one thing to scold church members, but to call even one of them a devil? You're asking for it.

And to think that Jesus was only around 30 years old when he said this to his contemporaries.

A Potential Member

At another time, there was this young guy who was rich and smart and enterprising, a topnotch in his career. He was a ruler. Moreover, he wanted eternal life and came to Jesus for it. This successful young guy actually came to Jesus! He even called him "Good Teacher." We pastors would easily fall for this today. We'd make sure this guy becomes our member and give him an important position in church. He's what we'd call a "potential."

We'd go after him, visit him and his family and follow him up. He's a potential. And not doing so would be "lacking discernment" about who's really Godly material and can be used powerfully by God. We'd immediately trash the Kingdom principles (principle of disinterest and element of pursuit) and go all-out for this guy, making sure he becomes our church member.

But Jesus didn't.

He intentionally required him something near impossible, told him to give up what he couldn't possibly give up. Would any pastor do this today? Especially if the guy is a potential giver and supporter? We'd give him special treatment. If he shows even a glimpse of reluctance or doubt on what we said about God (like, if it's something he needed to give up for God), we'd quickly re-phrase what we said and make it acceptable to him. 

Or probably talk to him one-on one, or visit him at his house, and carefully explain everything, clarifying a lot of things that he didn't like or found offensive. After all, we don't want anyone to stumble because of our careless words, do we? We're supposed to be good shepherds of the flock. right? 

Well, not him. And Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus told him (not asked him) to give up all his possessions--"sell everything you have and give to the poor." That included his rulership, wealth, position and ego. In fact, that meant losing everything, being zero. That was too much. It was too unreasonable. Did he really have to do that, make things difficult for this young guy who was looking for truth, salvation and had lots of potentials? If I had that much in life, I probably would've been shocked too and walked out, stumbled and wondering why I had to do all that just to be saved.

I mean, this was about salvation! Aren't we supposed to value each soul? Wasn't heaven a free gift? "Didn't he like me?" the young guy must've thought. 

Then religious people would've told Jesus that he'd be responsible for that young man's soul for making him stumble, leaving him all confused. Jesus didn't even bother to explain. What kind of a pastor was that? When finally the guy left (very sadly), Jesus didn't go after him or stop him and tell him to wait or ask him what part he didn't understand and he'd be more than happy to explain it. We'd all do that because it's part of being a good pastor or Christian, right?

Sanhedrin Member

There were many others--the demon-possessed man in Gadarenes who, after being healed, wanted to follow him (but Jesus just told him to "go home" and evangelize to his neighbors, a law teacher who wanted to follow him but whom Jesus turned down [Matthew 8.19], and Nicodemus who he said was a teacher in Israel who knew nothing about being born of spirit.

Imagine saying that to a top-ranking Pharisee of the Sanhedrin? Most pastors would've done everything to keep someone like Nicodemus in their membership, especially when this Pharisee risked himself going to Jesus at night. That was some effort for a Sanhedrin member to do. But Jesus merely told him,

"You are Israel’s teacher and do you not understand these things?"

The others he invited only once. He told them (not asked them) to follow him, and at once they "left everything" to follow Jesus. Where is this in church today, especially this element of pursuit on the part of the church members? Why are pastors pursuing after their members? No wonder then that most members are spoiled brats. They're being pampered instead of being brought up in Kingdom principles.

Wrong Foundation

Church is mostly built on a foundation of compromise. First, during the  the pastor gathers people he invites for a prayer meeting or bible study. That's the first compromise--anything you do to go after people is compromise. Why? Because in principle you're asking them a favor and they give it to you. So you owe them. That becomes embedded deep in the subconscious. It's very seldom mentioned, but it's there working in their minds.

So the pastor visits them regularly and prays for them. He tries to gradually win them over and invites them to church. That's the second compromise. This all looks good, but in principle (in the spirit) this is nothing but begging people to come to your church. This system makes the pastor more and more indebted to people. And indebtedness makes you a hostage.

You know what makes all this so wrong? Because Jesus never did this. And HE is the Way.

Third, people finally try your church. Pastors feel elated with this. Finally, they have something worthy to report in the pastors' annual assembly. The next step is to encourage them to church, which means we make church look nice to them. We give them roles during the church services, make them open or close in prayer at the altar, do Scripture reading and a lot more, and this makes their ego feel good. So they begin to like it in church. 

We make them feel important in church until they decide to become members and occupy sensitive positions. We teach them church politics and the power in it. When they have learned enough, they begin to control us, and later pastors become their hostage, especially when they have created their own little empires in church. Most churches today have little empires ruled by little emperors. Once you offend these emperors they threaten you with boycott or membership transfer.

So the pastor's alternative is to give in, move out or share power. Sharing power is often the case and gives the church a look of unity and harmony. They resort to "voting" because they claim that "church democracy" is important, but what really happens in their elections is that the ruling and dominant emperor and empire have the most number of votes and win. They call that God's will prevailing.

But the truth is, Jesus never did any of these things. They're all man's inventions.

A Real Jesus Church

True church has Jesus as the Foundation, and this does not just mean studying the bible and what Jesus said there. It means the church should be done the way Jesus and the apostles did it. No compromise whatsoever, with people desperately wanting to join them because they see Jesus--his Word and supernatural power. People should see Jesus in church and stubbornly pursue him there while pastors should assume Jesus' seeming nonchalance and disinterest. This leads to a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any blemish but holy and pure.

He Wasn't a Nice Guy

He claimed to be the Messiah. When you make claims, you build expectations in people. It's inevitable. And you have to live up to some bible standards when you do that. You have to be this and that--well, that is as far as people's understanding of Scriptures is concerned. Their unspiritual understanding of Scriptures often make them turn bible standards into their own formulated standards. [Picture above from Alex Plesovskich @aples].

And often, people miss what Scriptures really mean, even the experts and scholars or theologians (or especially them?). Because God's Word can only be understood through the Holy Spirit, exactly the way Jesus understood them.

Matthew quotes Isaiah on the Messiah...

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope. [Matthew 12]

Sounds like Mr. Nice Guy, right? So patient and tolerant. "He will not quarrel or cry out," it says. "A bruised reed he will not break." But there was Jesus, reacting violently in the temple, driving out sellers, buyers, money changers and animals with a whip and turning over tables. He actually reacted unbecoming a man of God. Though he didn't hurt anybody, you'd still call that violent if you were honest. You're a fool if you'd call that peaceful. At another time, he was even branded a glutton and drunkard, someone out of his mind and demon-possessed.

Looked like he didn't pass Isaiah's criteria.

He could've just preached against materialism and warned people who'd turn the temple into a den of robbers. I would've done so. I mean, I'd be conscious about what Isaiah said about the Messiah. To my mind, that meant being a Mr. Nice Guy. We often become conscious about standards when we claim to be somebody--like a Christian or a pastor--thinking we have to maintain quality standard, not realizing they're often adulterated bible standards corrupted by religious ideas and intentions. And then we submit ourselves to them. That's when we totally lose it.

We think the fruit of the Spirit results to a Mr. Nice Guy personality. We see gentleness, patience and kindness in the list, so we equate all that to being nice. Thus, a lot of "spiritual" Christians try their best to have nice, pleasing personalities, talking in gentle and modulated voices, sounding like poets or those doing declamation and displaying formal mannerism behind the pulpit. Always in formal attire. Very seldom getting angry (in public) and always ready with religious niceties or a bible verse.

We think that is Christ-like, and it's primarily because we blind ourselves to the fact that Jesus was not nice--NOT in the way the world defines nice. And anyway, "nice" is not among the fruit of the Spirit. Kind is, and kind is quite different from nice.

I'm irked by folks when they correct you for being honest about your emotions. I tell people when I'm pissed off or irritated by certain behaviors, actuation or even by certain people and honestly say what I feel. And they bombard me with religious advises and bible verses, readily telling me how pastors or spiritual people shouldn't be like that. I should be patient and loving and understanding and gentle. "Self control," they remind me. They think that's spiritual.

Well, did Jesus apologize for his behavior at the temple? We often do that after exhibiting some inappropriate conduct or outburst in church--things against religious norms--because we think it's part of being spiritual. Apologize. Yup, we're all susceptible to unbecoming behavior (I am)--even the most spiritual do (or especially them, I guess)--and most of us think it's wrong. We're supposed to be "civil." But civil is not fruit of the Spirit either. It's what worldly standard calls decency. Jesus was never decent. I mean, spitting on the ground and making a mud and putting it on the blind's eyes? That's decent?

The religious leaders gave him a chance to apologize. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?” I'd have probably said, "Guys, I'm so sorry about yesterday at the temple. I was just tired and stressed out. I didn't mean to do it." Church norm or pressure would make us do that. But not Jesus. He didn't apologize. He was more like arrogant than meek.

And several times, when some Pharisees invited him for dinner, he criticized everyone in the Pharisaic party (even the host) instead of being polite and tame as we would be.

See? He wasn't a Mr. Nice Guy.

And yet Jesus fulfilled every Scripture passage about the Messiah--in the way that God meant it, not as man in his own make-believe wisdom defined the Messiah in their understanding of Scriptures. This is why the bible urges us to rely solely on the Holy Spirit's revelation (we should be Jesus stalkers), not on our erudite theological guesses or speculations, no matter how high the degree. I believe Jesus intended to display a quick blast of anger (indignation actually) to demolish false expectations of what a Messiah should be. Like how he brazenly broke the Sabbath (the religious and theologians won't agree that Jesus broke the Sabbath). It was done intentionally by Jesus to drive home a point.

And anyway, what he broke was a religious standard derived from a corrupted view of the bible standard--which is what theologians do and are good at. So, John was correct when he said Jesus broke the Sabbath law (John 5.18), because he in fact did. Otherwise, John would not have written thus if it were not. And John understood this solely by what the Holy Spirit supernaturally revealed to him, not by any human theology.

You see, the passage "He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out," should be balanced with "zeal for your house consumes me."

We should understand what "consumes" means, and Jesus perfectly demonstrated it at the temple. This is why Paul also tells us to "be angry" and "sin not." Our fake spirituality has given anger a bad, bad name. We think anger is downright just evil, period, forgetting that God displays his wrath as well as his kindness. We should get angry when people (especially in church) wallow in sin or corrupt God's intentions for his Word.

Jesus "will not quarrel or cry out" if you personally attacked him, but it was a different matter if you blasphemed God and the things of God. His zeal for such would surely consume him. You could never hurt his ego because he had none. But his Sonship gives him zeal for the Father and his Kingdom. Bruised reeds and smoldering wicks he chose to have nothing to do with yet, and that's what denominations are--bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. But once the Lord "has brought justice through to victory," then bruised reeds will be broken and smoldering wicks will be snuffed out.

Why? Because zeal for God's house (the genuine house) consumes him, and he won't have second thoughts about driving out money changers from God's true temple as he did in the Gospel.

But don't get me wrong. There are church people who are nothing but spoiled brats. Period. Cranky people. I mean, they're outright ROTTEN. All they can be is sometimes be "nice" because they do not have the fruit of the Spirit. Being angry at sin, corruption and wickedness is having God's anger. And it's good. But man's anger (especially when his ego is hurt) is not.

..because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. [James 1.20]

They're nice to people who are nice to them--or those of the same church denomination as they have. Jesus wasn't like that, to be sure. He purposely didn't look nice (and demolished any ideas of him being nice) because religious people are bound to abuse nice-looking people.

Nice in God's Kingdom looks rude in this world, and meek in the Kingdom looks arrogant in this world. "To the one, we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life." (2 Corinthians 2.16)

His Miracles Promoted His Ministry

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His miracles alone promoted his ministry. But the promotion was incidental. The real intention was to help people get out of spiritual captivity. Jesus said miracles were really meant to convict people and help them repent. That was first in the agenda. Second was promotion.

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." [Mat.11]

Don't use miracles and signs and wonders mainly to promote your ministry. Lots of ministries fall into this trap. Because miracles astound people they're easily lured to these ministries. And the latter are often tempted to squeeze out financial support from them. The support are used more to turn ministries into empires and buy properties and build mansions.

Miracles are designed to convict people of sin. It happened to Peter. Because of Jesus' miracle of abundant catch of fish, Peter realized his sin. "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'" [lk. 5.7]. Isaiah felt the same when he saw the glory of God with his angels. "I'm a man of unclean lips," [Isaiah 6].

Incidentally, Jesus' miracles promoted his ministries to other places so that people from all over sought desperately for him. It was a bonus given. An add-on. He didn't focus on miracles for promotion---so more people would join him and up his membership and church income. That would've been greed. It was an evangelism tool and accreditation from God himself. It proved he had God's full backing.

Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. [Acts 2.22]

And because Jesus is 100 percent in us, we have the same full backing. We can be accredited by God with signs and wonders if we want to. Problem is, we ignore this truth and prefer to get accreditation from other sources, even mundane or secular ones. Getting local government support, for instance, is good. But it's wrong when it's all the support we look for. We even derive our confidence from it. We brag about getting the mayor's or the barangay chairman's support. Why don't we seriously get supernatural support from God?

Jesus had zero support from local authorities. In fact, they despised him. We should get a hint from this. This was not incidental---God pre-planned it to turn out this way. Why? So we'd see that what we should get is heaven's full backing---never mind about other support. Why not conduct supernatural healing missions? But these things are not planned by man. We must be led by the Holy Spirit to do them.

We cannot sit down to meet and decide to do miracles. Even if we pray for them. The thing is to be led. To be sensitive to God's leading, to sense the Lord's healing presence [Lk.5.17]. And the healing presence depends on our faith. We should have the faith of Jesus, which often we lack because of the way the modern church has become too secular. We believe more in what the world can provide us than what God can provide supernaturally.

Of course, what we find in the world are also God's provisions, but they're provision designed to be used and appreciated by those of the flesh---those whose spirits are dead and cannot recognize the spiritual unless their flesh benefits from the experience. In ministry, God provides his supernatural supplies, tools and equipment. Through ministry, spiritual provisions are given flesh in us (like the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among men) so those of the flesh can relate and understand the value system of the Spirit.

Miracles were important to Jesus as he preached the Gospel. Everywhere he went, he performed them along with preaching and teaching. And the astonished people who witnessed God's power in him went everywhere to spread the word. They came (they didn't need to be invited), desperately looking for him with their sick and those possessed by demons, and Jesus healed them ALL.

I don't know if anyone looks for pastors "desperately" these days when they're sick or diabolically pestered with stress. Even some pastors skip church when they don't feel well. In Jesus' days, the sick went out of their houses to seek Jesus. Today, even sick church folks go to hospitals to be cured and skip church.

So, how about it? Church should start being promoted as God leads it to do signs and wonders and miracles.

He Knew What They Were Thinking

Mountain Xpress

The Pharisees thought that Jesus sinned after declaring the paralytic let down from the roof forgiven. God alone could forgive sins, they reasoned to themselves. It was their secret opinion they thought would not be found out. Yet Jesus knew their thoughts—he had “heard” them so clearly as if they had shouted in his ears. Then he challenged them and proved himself right. 

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At another time, when invited for dinner, he allowed a repentant prostitute to pour costly perfume on his feet. Simon, a Pharisee, doubted in his mind if Jesus was truly a prophet, otherwise he would’ve known her to be a sinner. Again, Jesus “heard” his mind talking and debunked him.

Then they tried to trap him. The Pharisees sent their “disciples” (they also had their discipleship) with the Herodians to ask Jesus about paying Ceasar the imperial tax. And they approached him in the guise of asking his opinion because they highly regarded him.

“We know you’re a man of integrity and you teach the way of God according to truth. You aren’t swayed by others because you pay no attention to who they are.”

Wow! Such high compliment! But Jesus knew it was all flattery. We would’ve reacted differently. We would’ve loved it to even compromise our standard and say something too nice about Ceasar. Instead, Jesus told them outright: “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?” He knew what they were thinking.

It wasn’t just mind reading or trying to guess people’s thoughts through their reactions or facial expressions. That’s what we do today. We “psychologize” people, not discern them supernaturally. In fact, we laugh at anything suggesting the spiritual gift of discernment given us by the Holy Spirit. So few in church still believe in actually using the gifts. They’d rather be smart and use the social sciences to figure out or assess people.

Best of all, Jesus knew his betrayer well beforehand. Judas wasn’t able to keep anything secret, not even his occasional theft from the ministry money bag. Jesus knew Peter would deny him thrice despite his superlative claim of total devotion---and that a rooster somewhere would crow right after. He also foretold of his deserting disciples. What really struck me was when he predicted how a man carrying a jar of water would meet Peter and John as they entered the city for the Passover preparation. The man would provide what was needed, without question, once they said the password: “The Teacher asks.”

And sure enough everything went according to his word. Did he talk to this man before and arrange things with him? Some would see it this way. I’d prefer to see it as supernatural. Jesus had shown in previous times how he knew people’s minds supernaturally. How he saw the future. It was the spiritual gift of discernment and prophecy in operation. And Jesus said, anyone who has faith in him will do the same things he did [John 14.12]. Question is, does anyone in church today still believe in this? Does anyone prophecy events or discern people supernaturally?

Nope. They’d mock the gift. They’d think you’re an idiot if you claim to seriously believe and use it. Jesus used these gifts to expose the crookedness of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, and he was labeled “judgmental” and crucified. The same label they’d use on you if you do the same today. Anybody who reveals sin uncompromisingly is labeled judgmental. All they want in church is inspire and motivate. Well, there are fakes who pretend to “prophesy” about people’s sins, but I’m not talking about that.

Unbelievers would even challenge you to prophesy things. The soldiers mocked and beat Jesus while he was blindfolded and demanded that he prophesy who did it. He didn’t. The gift is not for circus entertainment. It’s in aid of ministry, genuine ministry that comes from God. You should know what people are thinking of and not be an unsuspecting victim of the devil. Nope, don’t psychologize them; discern them supernaturally like Jesus did. He knew exactly what they were thinking.

He Very Seldom Prayed

Youtube

This will come as a shock to many (and with violent disagreement, I expect), but Jesus very seldom prayed in public. Unlike what we do today. We pray every step of the way---in public---either to show people how spiritual we are or to avoid offending the religious ones. Or maybe to avoid offending God. We open and close in prayer in bible studies, Sunday school, worship service, and preaching.

Even before each meal. What more if we have a big undertaking, like praying for miraculous healing or driving out demons. We pray a lot in public, in fact, to the extent that we often overkill. We overkill demons with warring prayers. Poor devils. We pray a lot but often show little to nothing for it. We say voluminous prayers for the sick, and they're still sick when we finish. Sometimes, they even get worse.

Jesus just said a word (a word, mind you) and everything went accordingly. Everything and everyone obeyed. No ifs or buts. And this, without praying (in public).

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We should do things as Jesus did things. Anyone who has faith in me will do what I've been doing, he said. Well, we've been doing the exact opposite. We pray a lot in public but very, very seldom (if any) spend quality and intimate time with God in private---the kind that triggers transfiguration or translation to the third heaven. The "walk with God" that raptured Enoch well ahead of time.

When Jesus delivered his famous and powerful Sermon on the Mount, he didn't open or end in prayer. Ever noticed that? And his first miracle in Cana. Did he pray for a miracle first before water turned into wine? And the ten lepers who were healed? And the blind man who received his sight after Jesus prepared a mud pie using his own saliva? The paralyzed man let down from the roof? How about the demon-possessed in Gadarenes?

Don't get me wrong. Prayer is powerful and important in ministry. Jesus prayed powerful prayers. But that's mostly in private with the Father. In public, he was very seldom showy. And he often just said short prayers when he was with people. He merely looked up and said thanks to multiply bread and fish to thousands. Nonetheless, he did pray each step of the way doing his ministry in public but was seldom seen doing it.

Once, they were trapped in a furious squall in a lake. Their boat was about to sink. His disciples urged him to wake up and do something. Probably, they wanted him to worry with them. Often, our prayers are nothing but expressions of uncertainties and worrying. But Jesus calmly stood up and rebuked the wind and waves---and they immediately stopped. Everything was calm. And this, without praying. No even a single word.

See?

There's something powerful when we don't pray---in public. Why? Because we use Jesus authority in us. Jesus prayed a lot in private, but in public he simply assumed the Father's authority in him. The Father in him did it. And CHRIST in you does it when you simply declare things. Truth is, the Father and Son are both in us (really in us)---100 percent---through the Holy Spirit in us.

And because the Spirit is in us 100 percent, we pray without ceasing---because he is the Spirit of supplication. Imagine that? The Holy Spirit of supplication himself is living in you, 100 percent. So your natural nature is to pray continuously. And this was what Jesus did. This was his secret. Aside from his long bouts with the Father in remote places (just being alone with HIM), he prayed continuously without ceasing. He was always talking with the Father, as Enoch walked with God for 300 years.

We get a glimpse of this in Jesus' short prayer:

Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.

With this short prayer (you can pray this prayer within 10 seconds) Lazarus was resurrected from the dead. Imagine? Why such powerful prayer? Because Jesus' prayer life consisted of unceasingly talking with the Father all day. He said, "Father I thank you that you have heard me." Heard him? When? The passage context shows Jesus never prayed before this. And yet, in a sense, he did---privately. While on his way to the grave site, he was praying or talking to the Father inwardly, in his spirit. And being intimate like this with the Father, he was sure the Father had answered his prayer.

So all he had to do was assume that answered prayer---the authority---and declare life to Lazarus. He didn't need to pray in public as we would, asking God to (please) resurrect him. His prayer was a thank prayer for the answer. And the rest is history. That's how we should operate in ministry. That's real ministry as Jesus did it.

What would we have done in this instance? Well, I'm sure we would've asked God to comfort the bereaved family of Lazarus---that they may accept the death of their loved one. Period. The nearest we would pray about supernatural miracle would be "Lord, provide the finances they need for the burial." And a lot more nonsense like that.

Often we overkill. We pray tons of prayers in public, opening and closing, with drama and diction and all, a majestic voice, prosing on theological principles, and with a bunch of so-called "prayer warriors" behind us shouting prayers like crazy---and produce nothing.

Jesus was different. After praying alone on the mountainside one night, Jesus decided to walk on water to catch up with the disciples on the boat. When he got there, Peter wanted to walk on water, too. Jesus simply said, "Come." He didn't say, "Let's pray first." And Peter, indeed walked on water before sinking due to loss of faith.

I heard one pastor pray for food during lunch. And he went on describing how the food would enter the esophagus and land on the stomach and undergo digestive processes to filter out nutrients which would be distributed to the body for health and strength. WOW! Didn't God know all that, that this pastor had to tell him what should happen?

We should seldom pray in public, but pray nonstop in private.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others (in public). Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

He Kept Company with Waiters in a Wedding

Washington Post

Turning water into wine was awesome, to say the least. I saw for myself how the servers had taken plain water from the jars (I often "see" bible events right before my eyes when I meditate God's Word). Yup, just plain water. It didn't turn into wine instantly in the jars. But when the servers (or waiters) took Jesus at his word and served the water to the wedding guests, somewhere along the way it turned into wine.

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The same way the 10 lepers were still leprous when Jesus told them to present themselves to the priests. But they took Jesus' word for it and went. And as they went, they were healed, the Scriptures say. That radical do-or-die act of faith can throw entire mountains into the sea with a word. Really awesome.

But it's not just the water to wine miracle I'm astonished about. It's how my Jesus preferred the company of the waiters during this wedding. He was an invited guest and should have sat at one of the tables for the guests. Or perhaps, even at the presidential table, if there was one. But nope, he preferred to stay in the kitchen with the waiters and cooks.

Here's how the affair went:

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

We see Jesus and Mary clearly in the company of the waiters here. They could not have done this conversation right amid the wedding area but somewhere in the kitchen, specifically where the stone jars of water were kept. Another thing, when Jesus had answered his mother, "My hour has not yet come," Mary was immediately in the company of the waiters saying, "Do whatever he tells you." 

So, putting two and two together, you easily see they were in the kitchen, or some room or area for similar use. Jesus was comfortable to stay in the backdrop or even behind the scene. At once I remembered preachers who wanted to be "properly introduced" in church, their accomplishments are not to be belittled but enumerated.

Though Jesus was sociable and invited to important social functions, he stayed low profile. He preferred to be with servants or simple folks---like waiters, tax collectors and sinners. I'm so impressed that when the master of the banquet tasted the superb wine quality and wondered where it came from, Jesus just kept silent. He just did a major accomplishment and he preferred to stay out of the limelight. Can we do the same?

In fact, even the bridegroom, whom the banquet master called aside, hadn't the faintest idea where the choice wine came from. I bet the top religious leaders were aching to claim the glory for themselves, and they'd do that if they were indeed responsible. They'd never let an opportunity like that just pass them by.

All these were written not as a mere incidental thing. Jesus wants his readers to get something Kingdomly important here. In fact, the topmost thing in the Kingdom values system. The least is the greatest. So stay least.

He Touched Grime and Dirt Then Ate Without Washing His Hands

The Oral Cancer Foundation.

Ever seen a food scavenger? He digs through trash looking for discarded food. When he finds one, it's like a big jackpot. He eats it with delight using unwashed hands he had used to dig through grime and dirt and heaps of garbage. He also brings some to his family. Disgusting, isn't it?

No wonder the religious leaders were disgusted at Jesus. He touched the tongues and ears of people with bare hands---and we don't know if those folks had brushed their teeth, gargled a mouthwash or cleaned their ears. They probably didn't. And even if they did, it'd be repulsive to touch them hands-on just the same. Unless he wore gloves, which he didn't. He touched the sick and the lepers, too. I can imagine he even touched open woulds to heal them.

Then he ate without washing his hands.

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Yup, at one time the Pharisees noticed how he ate without first washing his hands. This was big deal to them because of their religion---and to most of us today because of hygiene. I often bring a small bottle of 70 percent solution isopropyl alcohol in my belt bag and often use it after shaking hands with people. Bacterial or viral contamination is a reality.

Imagine shaking hands with lots of people, grabbing hand supports or handles in public buses and jeeps which multitudes of people have also grabbed onto, handling money---and then eating your meal without washing your hands. What more if you touched people's tongues, mouths, ears and wounds?

But Jesus knew how his manner of healing offended both religion and hygiene. He should at least wash his hands after. Why didn't he? And he's in the habit of doing things on purpose. I'm sure, he had a reason why he displayed the nasty habit. And I'm quite sure, too, it was not to promote dirty living or poor sanitation.

At one time, he spit on the ground and made mud of it. Then he splattered it on the eyes of the blind. I'm sure the blind man had heard him spit saliva on the ground, and I believe he had a good idea what it was that Jesus put on his eyes when he felt the wet, sticky mud. But he just let him. Was all this necessary for the healing? Couldn't Jesus simply pray over the blindness or declare healing?

Worse, at another time, he just plain spit on the eyes of the blind.

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" [Mk. 8.23]

Well, at least this time he did it outside the village where no one could see him. Sometimes, I try to imagine myself doing this. Would it work? Would the blind see? Is it a healing formula? What would people think of me and my ministry? Why would Jesus heal this way? Why is it recorded in the bible for all generations of believers to read? There is a purpose in all this. This is not just accidental.

I'm sure Jesus knew well the implications of his actions on his person and ministry. On his dignity. On his claims for God. Didn't he realize how his messiness would affect his name and ministry---and his church eventually? I'm sure he did. But he did it anyway. In fact, I can imagine how he thought it would do his name and ministry lots of good! It would be best for God's glory that he spit and made a mess of people's sickness and touched grime and dirt and then ate with unwashed hands in plain sight of the Pharisees.

If so, then why wouldn't churches today do this?

As I stalked behind Jesus and watched his unorthodox ways, I remembered Ezekiel and how God told him to cook his food on burning human poop. Now, why would God tell him that? And how God told Peter to kill and eat unclean animals in a huge blanket being lowered from heaven. Well, just now, as I'm writing this article, I remember how Jesus made his 12 disciples drink from the same cup during the last supper. According to Matthew, this was what Jesus said:

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you..."

It didn't say Jesus gave a cup to each of them. There was one cup and they all were to drink from it. Can you imagine that? I tried to do this once but I had to stop it because I pitied the last guy to drink from the cup. Imagine 11 guys drinking from the same cup and leaving their saliva there. And then you're the last to sip. I don't care if they all brushed their teeth and gargled Listerine. But what if they didn't?

I was pondering on this when this thought came:

When God says it, then it's the most decent thing to do, even if the world thinks it isn't. Remember, Jesus said he couldn't do anything except what he heard from the Father or what he saw the Father himself was doing. Jesus knew God's Word or Scriptures (the Old Testament) well and yet he also relied on what he saw and heard direct from the Father. We should operate likewise. We should hear straight from God and "see" him, aside from relying on his Word in the bible.

See this promise:

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. [Jn 14.21]

Jesus promises to "show himself" to the one who is deep in God's Word. He will let us "see" him. We must hear and see God. And once we do, we will see the strange acts of God as Moses and the prophets and patriarchs saw them. Jesus himself saw them and obediently did accordingly---touching people's tongues and ears, spitting and making mud and touching the sick. And then eating with unwashed hands. Or breaking the Sabbath law or some treasured religious tradition.

It's not a formula. You shouldn't go out there and spit at the blind and touch the tongues of the mute or demolish religious rituals or traditions. Make sure first that you heard from God or saw God showing you what to do. And make sure you are deep in the Word---meditating it day and night and living it out daily.

When finally you hear God and see him, then make sure you obey, no matter if it looks weird, stupid or indecent to people. No matter if it offends people's religions---even born-again religion.

He was Totally Sold Out to the Father

Luke 4 says Jesus was filled with the Spirit after being baptized in Jordan and then the Spirit led him to the wilderness to be tempted. I was stalking behind him as he walked then he suddenly stopped and turned to me. He stared, as if knowing that I had a pressing concern. [Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay].

"What do you mean by being filled with the Spirit?" I asked.

He smiled and touched me, and then gestured to follow him. Then a thought came---"it's being totally sold out," a small voice said in my mind. After a moment, another word came: "Totally surrendered." Did that mean I had to be a perfect follower? Nope. You can fail a lot, do things wrong, and yet be totally surrendered in the eyes of God. Peter and Barnabas did wrong and yet were filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas quarreled.

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God's Spirit indwelt them. He (the Spirit) never left them just because they were wrong. Nor was the Spirit decreased in measure in them just because they failed. God's Spirit still dwelt in them 100 percent. So, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Grace makes all that possible. You cannot be 80 percent "filled," mind you, or have the Spirit of God just partially. You're either filled or not.

David did wrong and yet we never read that the Spirit departed from him as the Spirit did from King Saul. It's a different story if you're not totally surrendered. You cannot be lukewarm and claim to be filled. "Filled" doesn't mean perfect. It means totally surrendered. You allow God total free rein to unmold and mold you. Your free will never gets in the way.

These thoughts were in my mind as I followed Jesus to the wilderness. You could see how willing he was to be led there and be tempted by the devil. "Totally sold out" was written all over his face. Being filled made this possible---willing to be degraded, insulted and made fun of by a lesser individual and not retaliate with his divine power, without second thoughts. And surviving the ordeal required nothing less. Then the Word came to me: "If Jesus needed infilling before doing any ministry, how much more human servants?"

Jesus sat where piles of stones were scattered on the desert floor. He was obviously tired and hungry after 40 days of fasting. I knew the devil would appear any time then, but Jesus stared at me before the devil could make an appearance. Then this thought came: "In fact, before doing any ministry for God, you need to defeat the devil in the wilderness."

People pray to be anywhere except the wilderness, but it's in the wilderness where defeating Satan is most strategic. God watches you more when you're in the wilderness---he watches how you forfeit yourself of your rights and privileges there. He watches how you starve your ego. If your ego dies, you defeat Satan. If you defeat Satan in the wilderness, you'll make it anywhere.

If not, don't attempt any ministry. Defeating the devil is what really counts in ministry, not numerical results or achievements. A semblance of success while spiritually succumbing to the devil is zero in the Kingdom.

Hearing this Word in my spirit, I stared back at the Lord. He nodded in agreement. Then the tempter came. We know the rest of the story.