Author: Gary Witcher

Characters Six

As we look at a number of Bible characters, our hope is that you are finding examples that you can follow in carrying out what the New Testament teaches.  If you are not able to glean suggestions that you can put into practice in your life, then these discussions are worth very little.
In Matthew 27:27-31 we encounter a group of soldiers.  Luke tells about this same group in chapter 23, verses 36-37 of his Gospel account.  And John 19:2-3 records that Gospel writer's account of these men.
We learn three things from these passages. First, we find that the soldiers slap and hit Jesus.  Then, we notice that, by their actions, they say Jesus is a criminal.  And, finally, they mock the Savior by saying,  "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
Another soldier is mentioned in Matthew 27:54 and Luke 23:47.  Unlike the soldiers in the first group, this centurion glorifies God.  He says that Jesus is righteous.  He acknowledges, "Truly, Jesus was the Son of God."
In Acts l0 we have the story of another soldier by the name of Cornelius.   By sending for Peter to teach him the will of God, Cornelius demonstrates that he is willing to go to God.  1 John 2:1 says that those who turn to Jesus for help with their sins acknowledge Him as righteous and as their advocate with the Father.  By his actions, Cornelius certainly makes this statement about Christ.  Another thing that Cornelius says by being baptized is, "Jesus, you are the Son of God; save me!"
What do we find when we compare these three groups of soldiers?   The first group slaps and hits Jesus, the divine Son of God. The centurion at the cross glorifies God, and Cornelius goes to God.  The first say Jesus is a criminal, the second says He is righteous and the third says He is righteous AND is the advocate with the Father.  The statement of the first group is, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."  The soldier at the cross says, "Truly, Jesus was the Son of God."  But Cornelius says,  "Jesus you are the Son of God; save me!"
	Why do these men react differently to Jesus?  The first soldiers see Jesus alive, so they treat Him with the same contempt that they display toward everyone else.  The centurion at the cross sees Jesus dead, so his acknowledgment falls short of what it should be.  But Cornelius, through the words of Peter, sees a resurrected Jesus.
How do you treat Jesus?  Are you saying to Him, "IF you are the Christ, then do this or that?"  Are you seeing a human Jesus who still has to prove Himself?
Perhaps, like the centurion, you are glorifying God, stating that Jesus is righteous and acknowledging that He is the Son of God.  If so, you are stopping short.  You are still seeing a dead Jesus.
Or, like Cornelius, are you willing to go to God to meet Him on His own terms?   Are you willing to accept Jesus not only as someone who is righteous, but also as your advocate with the Father?  Are you really crying out, "Jesus, you are the son of God; save me?"   Are you seeing a resurrected Lord?
"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?" Paul says in Romans 6:3-9.  "Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him."

	Mark l0:l7-30 records the story of a rich young man who comes to Jesus with a question. In reading the text, one of the first things we notice is that this man runs to meet Jesus. This shows that he sees the importance of finding an answer to his question.   It also indicates that he is determined to find the truth, since he has to hurry to catch Jesus as He is starting on a journey.
The next thing we observe is that the young man bows down before Jesus.  This is an indication of humility on the part of the man.
And he addresses Jesus as "Good Teacher," which makes it clear that he has come to learn.
In John 3:1-12 we have the account of another man who seeks out Jesus to get an answer to his question.
This man, named Nicodemus, comes to Jesus. As is the case with the rich young man, Nicodemus sees the importance of the answer to his question.  He is also determined to find the truth.   We notice also that Nicodemus, because of his position as a Jewish leader, comes to Jesus even with a risk.
Just as the first man calls Jesus  "Good Teacher," Nicodemus acknowledges,  "Rabbi, we know you have come from God as a teacher."  Nicodemus has come to learn.
Comparing the two men, we find that both ask questions.  The first agrees with the answer that Jesus gives.  The second does not say Jesus is right.  In fact, Jesus indicates that Nicodemus is having a hard time understanding what the Master is teaching.  But one thing that both men have in common is that neither accepts Jesus’ teaching, at least at this time.
So, it is not enough to come running to Jesus because we see the importance of His teaching and we are determined to find the truth.  It is not enough to demonstrate humility by bowing down to the Lord.  It is not enough to approach Jesus even though we are running a risk.  It is not enough to come to learn.  It is not even enough to agree with what Jesus says.  We must accept and follow Christ's instructions if they are to do us any good.
	Luke records the story of another man in the first ten verses of chapter 19.  This man, a tax-gatherer named Zaccheus, runs ahead to see Jesus.  Not only does he listen to what the Teacher has to say, but he also receives Jesus gladly into his home.  He accepts what Jesus says, even though it means admitting he has done wrong, changing his life and giving up money.
Starting with the wonderful words of John 3:16, Jesus points out to Nicodemus the importance of not only coming, listening to and accepting the truth, but also practicing it.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
"For God did not send the Son to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him.
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
"And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.
"For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
"But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
Fortunately, it appears from John 7:50 and l9:39 that the story of Nicodemus ends much like the story of Zaccheus.  He gets off to a bad start, but it is what happens in the end that matters.
How is your story going to end?   Do you see the importance of Jesus’ teaching?  Are you determined to find the truth?  Are you humble? Are you willing to run a risk?  Have you come to learn?   Have you stopped here?   If so, you've stopped one step short.  If you do not go any farther, you have been wasting your time.
Jesus says that  "he who practices the truth comes to the light."  To really know the truth is to practice the truth...and this will set you free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."