Marketplace Connect, 27.11.2008
1. Sense God’s final promise re Argentina, see heart of Father in Perth as there, led to
2. John 14:28 “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”
Strong words of Jesus “if you loved me” Greek – they don’t love Jesus. What is it they don’t understand? (Not – about nature of trinity as such.)
3. Where is Jesus going?
John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”
Jesus is going back to heaven viz. “the Father” is always in heaven
Jesus us going to build the “dwelling places/mansions/rooms” of the disciples
4. Heavenly wisdom builds an earthly house
This is to the disciples advantage because “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established” (Prov 24:3) cf. Solomon 1 Ki 10:4 , and heavenly wisdom always exceeds earthly wisdom.“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:9)
This is true for all building e.g. creation of the cosmos ““The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.23 Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.” (Prov 8:22 – 23). Ministry/ building church “According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise (sophos) master builder I laid a foundation,” (1 Cor 3:10) cf. Eph 2:20
5. Wisdom rejected
Serpent possesses corrupted wisdom of an earthly variety, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.” (Gen 3:1).
His ambition is to impart this sort of aspirational wisdom to humanity cf. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3:14-16)
Test between the wisdom of heaven or earth. Having rejected heavenly wisdom, humanity now has a (fallen) heart knowledge of good and evil.
Even Jesus disciples don’t understand the nature of wisdom, can’t grasp that it is better for Jesus, and so for them, that he return to the Father (John 17:5).
6. Wisdom triumphant
Old Testament marketplace figures, Joseph “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.” (Gen 41:39) and Daniel “Then the king gave Daniel high honours and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.” (Dan 2:48) excel in wisdom (not firstly power).
Jesus is the sum total of wisdom, “for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28 cf. Phil 2:5ff) is the humble recognition that while on earth his humanity is not God, because he is not in his eternal place in heaven (viz. opposite of “ “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” (Gen 3:5)). This is the reality of Jesus self-conscious enfleshment (John 1:14).
Jesus way back to the Father (John 14:6 cf. Phil 2:9 – 11) is via humiliation, suffering, death. Yet this is always God’s way e.g. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10 cf. Luke 1:52;14:11;18:14; 1 Peter 4:6)
Now, in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3) cf. “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24).
Now, Jesus has “all authority in heaven and earth” given to him (Matt 28:18), this means “all wisdom in heaven and earth”, the dichotomy between God/heaven – man/earth has been overcome in the perfectly integrated wisdom of Christ. (cf. “The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.” (Ps 115:16).) This wisdom of Christ is for the purpose of making disciples of all nations viz. marketplace disciples.
7. Open Heaven – Subdued Earth
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt 6:10).
How is God’s will done in heaven – by dwelling in humanity a. fully in Jesus b. then in the disciples (John 14:2). This is God’s ultimate intention “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[2] and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Rev 21:3) = union of heaven and earth.
Reality of God’s indwelling/presence and so power comes NOW on earth via the humility that understands and bows before heaven cf. Joseph, Daniel and those whom God has called to transform the marketplace today!