“He explained” & “He said” & “He Revealed”
Let’s get one thing straight (before we go any further); I am not a student of mathematics. While I enjoyed math as a student sitting in Algebra and Geometry class, and even though I once enjoyed the “systemic process” of watching the answer become revealed on my paper as I worked through the problem, now that I am years away from a mathematics class, my mind can often become lost in the “Problem,” never allowing me to see the answer with clarity. By far, “guessing” an answer and “hoping” for the correct answer or even “trying” my best to at least get close to the answer is my go-to mantra when working with numbers.
So there. My confession.
Mathematics can be delightful (math scholars claim), and the numbers can often reveal the truth that cannot be seen until the process has been completed. In my current university, as I sit grading the WORDS my students write, revealing their PURPOSE for writing, next door, down the hall, and inside every office (except mine) on the third floor where I sit—reside a host of physics, chemistry, and mathematics instructors.
Truly, there is humor found in this.
In my literature course, I even teach a novel that proves one dystopian society creates 2 + 2 = 5 AND NOT 4!
Thus, the other day when a mathematics seminar was offered, I found myself intrigued and in attendance as the mathematics instructor presented. However, it was the topic that drew me to attend (and not the thought of talking math).
Seminar Title—“A Mathematical Perspective on an Infinite God”
Again, let me say, “I was intrigued because I enjoy talking to the presenter each day in our hall and because ‘an Infinite God’ caught my attention, even though it was in the same title as the words ‘A Mathematical Perspective.’ ”
The presenter spoke of the 5 Dimensions: the Dot, the Line, the Cube, Time, & Art, Music, and Enjoyment.
Now, he was speaking my language!
Now, he was living in my world of literature and composition.
Then, the presenter began to intrigue me even more because he began to explain how God was Infinite—Mathematics proved it so!
Fast forward to our study at church of the eternal place of Heaven where all believers in Jesus, where all Christians, and where all of the Redeemed children of God will reside one future day when their time of living here on earth is finished. Amazingly, it took another retired, wise mathematics instructor to explain this truth. Thank you, men of math, for speaking to us Math & for showing us how it does connect to Holy God.
See with me the Scriptures detailing what Jesus revealed to the two men who were walking along the road to Emmaus.
“Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures, . . .”
(Luke 24: 27 NASB)
There are so many dimensions to our Lord Jesus Christ!
He came.
He lived among them.
He reclined at the table with them.
He stayed overnight with them in their home.
He blessed their bread & broke it & gave it to them to eat.
He opened their eyes & they saw HIM—they saw the Risen Lord with their eyes!
They recognized Him, even in His Glorified body & then He vanished from their sight.
Oftentimes we hear the world exclaim:
“How can we know Christianity is the CORRECT way to believe?” OR
“Why can’t we just agree that there are many CORRECT religions?”
When we (who believe in Jesus) hear these questions, we find ourselves immediately responding—
- “We KNOW because we SERVE a RISEN SAVIOR!”
- “We KNOW because JESUS AROSE FROM THE DEAD!”
- “We KNOW because JESUS APPEARED BEFORE SO MANY—AFTER—HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE GRAVE!”
- “We KNOW because JESUS HIMSELF, EXPLAINED, SAID, AND REVEALED—TRUTH TO HIS FOLLOWERS—AFTER HE CAME OUT OF HIS TOMB IN HIS RESURRECTED & GLORIFIED BODY!
See with me the Scriptures detailing what Jesus revealed to His eleven disciples in Jerusalem.
JESUS suddenly stood in their midst—inside the room without walking through the doorway.
JESUS spoke “Peace be to you” knowing they thought He was a ghost.
JESUS showed them His hands and His feet where the spikes had pierced his flesh.
JESUS encouraged the eleven to touch His body, revealing His skin and His bones.
JESUS WAS NOT A GHOST!
JESUS IS OUR RISEN LORD!
JESUS turned over His hands to show the eleven His nail scarred hands.
JESUS kicked off His sandals to show the eleven His feet where the nails had been driven.
JESUS asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
JESUS took the boiled fish in his hand &
JESUS ate the food in their presence.
THEN JESUS SPOKE AGAIN—REVEALING TO THEM & OPENING THEIR MINDS!
“Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
(Luke 24: 44-45 NASB)
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
- The entire Bible points to one man—Jesus!
- The whole Scriptures proclaims the truth about—the Son of God!
- The Law of Moses, the Prophets, & the Psalms—“Must be fulfilled.”
- May we allow Jesus to open our “minds to understand the Scriptures, . . .”
“And He said to them . . .”
(Luke 24: 46a & 48-49 NASB)
“You are witnesses of these things.
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city
[of Jerusalem]
until you are clothed with power from on high.”
We too—
- Must be witnesses because we who believe in Jesus have SEEN JESUS with the eyes of our hearts! &
- Have received the promise of our FATHER—GOD! &
- Have been clothed with the promised Helper—the HOLY SPIRIT! &
- Are called to worship our RISEN SAVIOR WHO ASCENDED BACK TO HEAVEN & WHO SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD!
May we be convicted of our lack of proclamation to the world of people surrounding us each day!
May we be forgiven of our quietness in sharing about our RISEN SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
May we step forward into this day—Explaining, Telling, & Revealing to those we encounter about our SAVIOR NAMED JESUS!
Hallelujah! Thank You, GOD, for a brand-new day to share JESUS with those we will meet!