Who's Your Pilot?

Who's Your Pilot?

Not long ago, I read a story of a pastor who, with his wife and another couple, went for a hot air balloon ride. While he committed to this idea of a beautiful day flying freely around in the air with the woman he loved there were some things that he didn't consider when the ride was being arranged.  The greatest thing that he overlooked was the emotion of fear, the fear of heights.  This husband was able to work through his fear better than his wife, who was short of petrified.  To get his mind off of this fear he struck up a conversation with the pilot in hopes to better settle his and his wife's nerves.  So after a few questions and some conversation, this pastor learned that the pilot was not as experienced nor as passionate about flying hot air balloons as he would have hoped. 

Instead of being calmed and comforted by the pilot, everyone's fears jumped and the wife of the other couple was so fearful that she leaned over to the pastor and said, "you're a pastor, do something religious".

The truth of the matter is that life is, in many ways, like a balloon ride.  It can have it's moments of breathtaking beauty and exhilarating excitement, but also moments where fear takes hold and squeezes the very breath out of you.  Life, like a hot air balloon ride, can and will have bumps along the way where the basket of your life is jostled, shaken and even overturned.  The question is, "when your life is being uncontrollably tossed about, where do you place your trust, your faith"?  The truth is that everyone has a belief in something or someone, regardless of who you are you place your faith somewhere.  How does this affect your life and how is it reflected in and through your life?

If your faith is in Jesus Christ; if He is your pilot (not your co-pilot), what does your faith look like, internally and externally?

We are all living in a world where the days are dark and the times are uncertain, but Jesus came to give proof that there is no storm He can't settle and there is no fear He can't overcome.

Matthew 8:23–27 (HCSB)

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

²³ As He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. ²⁴ Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping. ²⁵ So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

²⁶ But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this?—even the winds and the sea obey Him!”  

For Jesus and His disciples it wasn't a hot air balloon, but a boat; however, Jesus calmed the storm and brought safety to the men. In that moment Jesus didn't just talk the talk, He walked the walk and gave proof of His power and His deity.  How about those of us who follow Jesus and call Him Lord, do we trust Him enough, do we have the faith to not only believe, but to walk the walk in faith?  A wonderful passage to turn to concerning this is James 2.

James 2:18–23 (HCSB)

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.

²⁰ Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. ²³ So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.

If we believe (have faith) we are called to give evidence of it through our works; not that they save us, but that they show others what and in whom we trust.

Life is not always easy and there are moments that will be unsettling in our lives, but if we have faith in Jesus and trust Him to be not only our Savior, but our pilot.  Then we will be able to endure the moments when the basket of our lives is jostled and tossed.  When the waves seem to much to bear, look to the One who is not only able to calm the winds and the sea, but is able to bring calm to our lives and the fears that come upon us from time to time.

Historically in the Gospel of John there are seven “I Am” statements from Jesus.  The reason for them being “I Am” statements is that they each begin with the words “I am”.  But what is of great importance is that each of these statements by Jesus expresses a profound biblical truth with a practical benefit for the life of a Christian.

The first of these “I Am” statements from Jesus is found in John 6:35 where He states, “I am the bread of life".

John 6:35 (HCSB)

³⁵ “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.

But prior to this profound statement from Jesus, we have two miraculous events that hammer this truth of the first “I AM” statement made in John, which is again, “I am the bread of life”. 

John 6 begins with the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000, which bible scholars tell us would have been more acurate to 15,000-20,000 since the only ones counted would have been males and we know that there was at least one child (the boy with 5 loaves of bread and two fish). 

The Feeding of the 5,000—John 6:1-15

From there we shift to another miracle of Jesus and with that we turn attention to the Gospel of Matthew as it gives another perspective than the account in John. 

Walking on Water—Matthew 14:22-33

Now we shift back to John 6 as we come upon Jesus proclaiming the first of the “I AM” statements made by Jesus in the gospel of John. 

The Bread of Life—John 6:22-35

John 6:35 (HCSB)

³⁵ “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.

Incredibly, in reading John 6:22-35, some were still asking for a miraculous sign to help them believe that Jesus was who He claimed to be. All of this on the heels of Jesus feeding 5,000 plus people on a hillside with nothing more than five loaves of bread and two small fish.  Then Jesus mysteriously and miraculously was found by the people who were looking for Him as He was with the disciples in Capurnaum, even though He didn't leave with them in the boat (but the disciples knew the real story: that He got there by coming to them as He walked on water and met them as they were in the heart of a squall that had come up on the water).

Sadly, these two events gives clear evidence that not only did the people on the Hillside not fully see Jesus for who He was, but neither did the disciples (ie. "oh, you of little faith").  Jesus came to give more than physical bread and stave off the "rumbly in my tumbly" and He came to save people from more than the perils of a turbulent boat ride.

Jesus wanted people to see Him as The Bread of Life, the "I AM" (the physical manifestation of God's love, grace and mercy. And because of who Jesus truly was and is He declared that anyone who would come by faith, and take hold of what He offered—would have that very thing and have it in its fullest measure—there would be no lack of or loss in what Jesus offered.   

And what He offered was more than a meal on the hillside or  safe passage on the Sea of Galilee.  What Jesus offered...was Himself; "I AM The Bread of Life."

In William Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, the king wrestles with the burden being the king, “How many thousands of my poorest subjects are a this hour asleep...Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown!”   How true that statement seems to be as I look upon the closest thing we have here in the United States to a king.  Just look at a photo of the Presidents of the U.S. who enter into office and then look at a photo when they leave the office of President at the end of their term.  There almost always seems to be this incredible aging process that takes place and I would imagine that it comes with the position of being a person of great power who is burdened with great responsibility.

Greg Gilbert, in his book, “Who is Jesus”, writes, “I think you could say there’s another kind of person who’s head lies even more uneasily than a king’s—and that’s the man who claims to be a king when nobody else recognizes it”.  This in so many ways was the life of Jesus.  From the time of His birth to this very day, the belief that Jesus is the King of all kings as the Bible proclaims is a statement that has been doubted and discounted through the ages.  But in looking in the Bible you find that much was made over a would-be “poser” and “fraud” to the throne.

IT WAS THE BIRTHDAY OF THE KING

If we look to Jesus’ birth—before He was even able to speak on His own behalf to this claim of being the “King” we see the stir that was caused.

Matthew 2:1–2 (HCSB)

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 

The claim made is not from the mouth of Jesus or even His earthly parents, but of those who were hundreds of miles away and had nothing to gain from their statements.  For them they weren’t going to see Jesus; they were going to see the King; the One who the prophets Isaiah (9:1-7) and Micah (5:2) foretold.  Now how these wise men knew that this Jesus would be “The King”, I do not know, but in hindsight and seeing Jesus life from beginning to end through the Bible—what I can say is that they, without doubt or question, were right.

And maybe the act that started it all after the wise men had arrived was an act of fear from the current king at the time who was Herod.  It was a fear of this baby who was being heralded as the “King of the Jews” that caused Herod to make a royal decree, throughout the land, that all males two years and under be massacred.  Little did Herod know that he was only fulfilling the words of the prophet Jeremiah (31:15) that only gave evidence and proof of—THE ONE, THE ONLY, JESUS who truly is THE KING OF KINGS.

CORONATION DAY

Now Jesus birth was an incredible moment in History, For the Church it is one of the most important and notable events, since all around the world most recognize this day as the celebration Jesus’ birth—“Christmas”.   As well, there is another of these important days in the life of the Church; it is the baptism of Jesus—which we could say was his coronation (act or ceremony of crowning a sovereign).  From this point on Jesus would begin His public ministry and do so many things that were more than just “good” they were “godly”—of God.  In the period of three years, we have recorded in the gospels almost 40 miracles performed by Jesus Himself.  Things such as turning water into wine in John 2:1, Raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Matthew 9:23, healing a demon possessed man in the synagogue in Mark 1:23, healing an official’s son in John 4:46 and raising His dear friend Lazarus from the dead in Luke 11:38.

But before the first of these many miracles was performed there was the moment when John saw this figure coming to him as he was baptizing disciples in the Jordan River at Bethany.

John 1:29–31 (HCSB)

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! [The great burden of the king ]³⁰ This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ ³¹ I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel.” 

It was at this occasion that we see a continuation of what the wise men did some thirty years before.  As they came to recognize the Kingship of Jesus, so did God the Father as we have recorded in the gospels of Matthew (3:17) and Mark (1:11).

Matthew 3:16–17 (HCSB)

¹⁶ After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. ¹⁷ And there came a voice from heaven:

This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! [In whom I am well pleased]

At this moment, Jesus’ public ministry would begin and so would all the things that would solidify Him as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” and rightful heir to the throne not only of the Jews, but off all mankind, as “King of Kings”.

With all that Jesus did to give proof of who He was and is,  we must remember with all that did that we have recorded in the Gospels, there is so much more that we do not have, that continued to give proof to those around Him that He was and is—THE ONE, THE ONLY, JESUS who truly is THE KING OF KINGS.  For it is at the conclusion of the gospel that bears his name that John writes,

John 21:24–25 (HCSB)

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

HIS CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT

In the Hallelujah Chorus, part of the oratorio “Messiah” written in 1741, which is to this day George Frideric Handel's best-known piece and in it we find these words,

The kingdom of this world Is become the kingdom of our Lord, And of His Christ, and of His Christ; And He shall reign for ever and ever, For ever and ever, forever and ever,

At the end of His life, Jesus’ was ushered not as a king, but a criminal to a hill in Jerusalem where He would not take a seat on the throne, but a place on the Cross.  After all that Jesus had done for the good of man and the glory of God, He found Himself nailed to a wooden cross—not being handed a scepter to rule, but rather a branch of hyssop to tend to His suffering and wounds because of crimes He did not commit. 

This, by all earthly standards, was not the King for who the people of Israel had hoped.  This was not the kind of king they laid palm branches before with the herald of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” and because of that there were few who remained with Jesus at the time of His death there at Calvary.  But, again, what we know in hindsight gives evidence that this act in history proves to be the crowning jewel of Christianity.  This jewel is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is as Jesus declared in the gospel of John that He came and died—so that the world might be saved and that those who believe in Him will be saved through Him—because we have believed in THE ONE, THE ONLY, JESUS.  Yes, Jesus died, but on the third day, just as He promised, He was raised from the dead.

John 2:18–22 (HCSB)

¹⁸ So the Jews replied to Him, “What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered, “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.”

²⁰ Therefore the Jews said, “This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?”

²¹ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. ²² So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made. 

It was upon this statement that the Church then and the Church today stands.  This truth is the very sermon that Peter preached at Pentecost where 3,000 came to faith in Jesus Christ in the period of one day.

Acts 2:22–24 (HCSB)

²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. ²³ Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. ²⁴ God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.

Acts 2:32–33 (HCSB)

³² “God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. ³³ Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.

Conclusion:

What we know from Scripture is that not only was Jesus raised from the dead, but that He rules with the Father in heaven and one day He will return again, not as a baby, or even a suffering Savior;  Jesus will return as a King coming to defeat the enemy and claim His prize.

Revelation 19:11–16 (HCSB)

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. ¹² His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. ¹⁵ A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:

KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS. 

In the words of George Frideric Handel from the Messiah:

Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!

This is THE ONE, THE ONLY, JESUS who is KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS!

The One, The Only, Jesus

Throughout the Bible there are more than 200 verses that make reference to Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God…THE ONE, THE ONLY, JESUS! Within these verses, there are many descriptives for Jesus and one is as true and accurate as all the others that we find in the pages of God’s word.  This descriptive is LOVE. 

When we look at Jesus we should, we must always see love.  Love was a central part of Jesus’ 

life and ministry.  Time and time again, Jesus reminds us of love--to Love God, to love our neighbor, even love our enemy.  Jesus not only taught those around Him to love 

but, in his life, He lived this love completely, perfectly and without prejudice. 

Without doubt, one of the most famous passages in all the Bible includes one of if not the most familiar verses that speaks of love.  John 3:14-17 (HCSB)  "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.  For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone 

who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into 

the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

In this passage we are given evidence of the love of God.  But if we continue to read in the NT 

we see that not only does God love—He is love.  John 4: 6 (HCSB)  "And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him."  And from this Love, God sent His Son [His only Son]—Jesus. Jesus speaks of himself as being God incarnate, the fleshly and physical manifestation of God’s love.  In Jesus’—through His act of love—all can have life and all can know love—the love of God found in The One, The Only, Jesus. 

Jesus came: 

In love—for a lost world of sinners 

For love—to show the glory and grace of God the Father 

With love—to redeem us and call us His very own 

Because He is love! 

This is, in part, the story of Jesus—who was more than a good man, an excellent teacher, a political radical or even a delusional martyr.  He was and is the Messiah, the Son of God…THE ONE, THE ONLY, JESUS! 

A wonderful descriptive of Jesus from an unknown author titled "Behold the Man!"

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another

village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an

itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. e never held an office. He never had a family or

owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two-

hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that usually

accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide

of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was

turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross

between two thieves. While He was dying his executioners gambled for his garments, the only

property he had on earth. When he was dead. He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity

of a friend. [Twenty-one] centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of

the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the

parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life

of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life.