July 25: LET THIS SINK IN
And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things that Jesus did, He said to His disciples, “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” Luke 9:43-44
This scene immediately followed Jesus' healing of a young boy. This boy, his father's only child, had suffered from frightening seizures for years. Although the Lord’s disciples had recently returned from a successful whirlwind tour of preaching the gospel and healing everywhere (v.6), they had not been successful in healing this young boy.
No matter how close we feel to Jesus in our mountaintop moments, He always wants us to draw even closer to Him. When we first taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), we feel as if we could coast into heaven on that glimpse of glory. But there is the matter of developing absolute trust: ‘getting into step with Him’— an ongoing cycle of receiving His blessings, and sharing them with others. When blessings flow through us, others are refreshed. But if we become just a ‘reservoir’ of blessings, they will actually corrupt us. It is like the hoarded manna which bred worms and stank (Exodus 16:20). Selfishness is the enemy of spiritual growth.
“Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”
It is as if Jesus is telling us that our relationship with Him should never be allowed to stagnate, nor given over to others to direct. We must stay personally engaged in a relationship with Him to overcome the confusion and corruption that occurs when He is betrayed into the hands of men.
The pure doctrines of God, spoken into existence by Him, are often compared in the Scriptures to wine (the Greek is oinos, meaning the juice of the grape). Before refrigeration, storage of grape juice was always a challenge. A thin layer of olive oil was poured atop a clay jar of fresh oinos forming a delicate seal. This seal protected it from fermentation for a time. Prompt and proper consumption of the Scriptures has a refreshing, cleansing effect upon the soul. The oil, representative of the Holy Spirit, protects from confusion or misunderstanding. Noah’s blunder provides an illustration of unnoticed corruption (see Genesis 9:21).
On the heels of seeing Jesus glorified on the Mount of Transfiguration (vv.29-31), James and John exhibited a misunderstanding that could have cost the lives of others. But [Jesus] turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of” (v.55). We must remain vigilantly on guard against the misuse of God’s word. It is all too common, especially in these last days. Jesus pointed out that many are like “old wineskins” preferring the corrupted understandings over the pure doctrines from heaven (Luke 5:39).
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
For further study: Proverbs 30:5-6; Jeremiah 23:31; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Timothy 1:5-7; 2 Timothy 3:13-17; 4:3-4; 2 Peter 3:14-17; Jude 3-4,16; Revelation chapters 2 & 3