Stone 3--Part 1

Stone 3 – John 3:27

          “John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.’ ”

Throughout his ministry John the Baptist maintained that he was not the Messiah; that pointing to the Messiah was his purpose. He did not decide this on his own. John knew the power in his message didn’t come from natural ability. He was not caught up in himself when the crowds flocked to hear him. Fame did not deter him from his purpose. John pointed his own disciples to Christ. When the crowds coming to Jordan to hear him dwindled, it did not detract from what he had done. John knew it all had been given to him.

Not all men are as receptive to the notion of God’s sovereignty over individual lives as was John. Nebuchadnezzar, “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”

“While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

          It is tempting to believe differing perceptions, like those of John and Nebuchadnezzar, are rooted in personal experiences and preferences. The cause goes deeper than that. It goes to the makeup of Man as a species. The natural man loves to believe that he is master of his own soul and the source of his own vision. The idea stirs the heart; makes great inspirational posters and gets “liked” on Facebook. But, both John and Nebuchadnezzar would tell you this bit of popular thought is nothing more than a mirage; a deception of the natural eye. Seeing the truth requires a focus that does not come from within the self. Few men are willing to admit such focus exists; fewer still are willing to see.

Contrary to modern thought, Christianity embraces diversity. The idea of differing gifts, talents, callings, and worship experiences is woven through the New Testament. This is because Christianity is a way of life; not a set of rules. Nevertheless, every Christian shares a single experience—new birth. No man may one day, and of his own accord, decide to become a Christian. He simply cannot see it unless and until God opens his eyes to the reality beyond the mirage. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Sight and the new birth are the gift of God. No man can possess either unless it is given him from heaven. The root and ground of Christianity is given by God to every individual. If the foundation cannot be laid without it being given by God, how can anything built thereon be less? Thus, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”

Christians look out over the world and see a Creator or listen to a beating heart and hear a Composer. Knowing “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…” (Titus 2:11) it is difficult for Christians to accept that anyone could see things otherwise. The scripture says, “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Nevertheless, we have seen two people go to church on Sunday morning. Both sing the same songs; hear the same scripture; and both are called to repentance.  One falls on the altar seeking salvation while the other wonders what all the fuss is about. It is evident hearing involves more than listening and seeing is more than looking. There must be an internalization of what is seen and heard. The talents and blessings we are born with may be gifts from God, but they are not enough to win heaven. Whatsoever we may know or experience of God must be given to us.

Critics say the dependent nature of Christianity is a crutch men “find” in times of crisis and use thereafter to prop themselves up. There is some truth in the analogy. Perspective is the key. The natural man and the spiritual man see things differently. The natural man sees the cross is an instrument of death and condemnation. Christians see it as a symbol of life and victory. In the same way, critics see a crutch as a symbol of weakness. Meanwhile Christians see a crutch as an instrument of healing. Without a crutch, a man’s broken bones must bear his entire weight and his pain is intensified. Constantly tread upon; the hurt does not heal leaving the man halt and lame. A crutch enables a man to heal. Then, when he is healed within; a man may walk again. Only now he walks with a steady gait and an appreciation of his own weakness.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw repentance as a needless crutch.“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.” Luke 5:31. Christ came to give moral cripples the ability to walk straight and whole. The righteous walk perfectly without healing and have no such need. This is why no man who is right in his own sight comes to Christ. No man who already possesses heaven comes to receive it from another. God has called all men to salvation. The needy hear him--the others do not. “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”