As Was His Custom

 

Picture of Synagogue at Capernaum

Walking in the Way of the King - As Was His Custom

As I start this blog post, a quick thought may arise in some as you read this, that it is written to ‘boost attendance’ or ‘guilt’ people who are not attending church in person to come back. I cannot do anything about those thoughts, but to say it is not written with that purpose. It is also not written to those of you with whom your doctor has told you to be very cautious in these days.

 

I have chosen to write this now for these reasons…

• In the last almost 7 months now, I have had countless conversations in regard to the subject of should a church not meet in person for an extended period of time. Is that Biblical or is it okay for a greater good? Many have asked could I write on this and I have been praying for the right time and that is now – not avoiding but waiting for timing.
• I have waited for I wanted to address it so it would not be from an ‘emotional’ place or one from ‘anger’ at government or health officials, nor from ‘mask’ discussion exhaustion, but purely from a Biblical perspective – what does the Bible say on this subject?
• I want to call us as always to be Biblical in all areas and not give in ever to the culture.

In the last 7 months there have been countless sermons, books, blogs, videos, tweets, etc. on much of these subjects and that is another reason I have waited. I wanted to write from a place that had not really been the content of those addressing this issue. So, I hope that you will see what I have written from a place of patience and what I sense is a fresh good solid perspective from another angle that has not been out there as much in the Christian/Church Internet World. 

 

I get it, some of you will see what I have written here differently and that is okay to a point. Here is what I mean by that – To Be Biblical, then we have to be Biblical. I only ask as you read this, to not argue with or dismiss what the texts actually reveal from the life of Jesus and consider the implications for all of our lives, not just individually, but corporately. What do they mean for all of the church that gathers all over the world.

 

This is a huge issue in regard to this subject for the American Western Mind, where we can to our great detriment, view our faith more individualistic rather than in the greater context of community. Our friends in Asia don’t talk so much of ‘personal’ relationship as we do, but they refer to faith as it relates to the community of gathered believers – corporate sense. I have spent much time there in consersation and observation, and I think they may have a better understanding at times of faith and church life than we do as it is embraced more as community than individualistic.

 

I ask you give me grace as well, for this is written for my understanding of the teaching of Jesus about this subject in His life and the huge implications for us if we ignore what is found in the pages of Scripture that are actually quite clear, regardless of the current state of the church worldwide in regard to gathering publicly. Again, to Be Biblical, then we have to be Biblical

With all that in mind as we begin, as I said, we will look at this issue with some ‘fresher’ eyes from the life of Jesus Himself. In recent weeks I have read things from others on social media where they have said things like this…

• If Jesus were here today, He would be for open borders.
• If Jesus were here today, He would be for this or that political party.
• If Jesus were here today, He would try to advance this law.
• If Jesus were here today, He would spend His days doing __________ in our country.
• If Jesus were here today, He would be for Health Insurance for all.
• If Jesus were here today, He would ___(flll in the blank)_______ .

Every one of these statements is incredibly dangerous to say, for none of us have been given the authority nor permission to speak for Him in regard to what He would be doing today in those issues and others. We should be careful how we speak for Jesus!

 

Here is what I do know, I know that He would be about what we read in the Scriptures in the 4 Gospels and the explanation of His glory for the church in the rest of the New Testament. He would call out religious hypocrisy and call sinners to believe in Him as their sole hope for real genuine life in 2020. That is as far as we should go, for none of us knows where He would necessarily stand on everything except for what we read in the Holy Writ. Some things are clear from the pages of Scripture where He would stand, but we can also really take this too far. Again, the Scriptures reveal what He would be doing and that is where our focus must solely be.

 

How can I say that definitively? Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. I think this verse has layer upon layer of implications including His nature never changing as well as His ways and practices never change. I think the revelation we have in Scripture indicates what He would be doing in 2020 if He were walking our streets. A bit of interesting thought in this ‘if Jesus were here today’ is this – why do we think He would be walking the streets of America and not some other nation? It is a bit arrogant to assume He would be here and not in Saudi Arabia or Yemen.

 

Jesus has done a perfect job speaking for Himself!

Q: What would He be doing? I think what we are about to read in the Scriptures below.

So, in light of that introduction, may we now begin to look at this by examining His life and how the 1^st century church modeled His life.

 

 

            Synagogue Life

In Jewish life, the local synagogue played an important role in the shaping of faith and in the development of life beyond just the immediate family. Everyone in the community and especially for the children, for they grew up seeing the value of gathering together with the people of God for all aspects of life. As they got older, their village & synagogue family were entwined deeply together and could be seen during times of the new births of children, weddings, funerals and areas of commerce. It was also in the midst of synagogue life where the importance of a faith community and religious development was embraced and shaped by the reading of Scripture and worship. 

 

As the Jews were away during the Babylonian and Persian exile for 70 years, the Temple lay in destruction and no worship was taking place for it was gone. Because there was no temple worship, local synagogues were built for worship, reading of Scripture, community life and religious instruction of the local young children.

 

The strategy of the synagogue was that they could be built wherever there were at least 10 Jewish families. They would have been all over Israel and when we read the book of Acts, we find Paul going to synagogues all over Asia Minor and on European Contintent. 

 

Knowing this reality, it is not a false assumption to say that when Christ grew up in Nazareth, Jesus would have Himself experienced all of the typical local synagogue life of a normal Jewish boy. He would have gone there with His family, including His brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55-56). I have a feeling He took His time there serious and focused on the Scripture, prayers and worship. His life of growing up and maturing in Nazareth would have found Him there each Sabbath following the custom and practice of the nation. 

 

I have often wondered what He thought of it all and I imagine He loved being in the midst of people as they read the Holy OT Scriptures that spoke of His coming. What did He think while growing up when the account of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice his young son? When the story of David’s defeat of Goliath, did He smile knowing that in the short years ahead, He would “slay the giant of sin” as His body was strapped to the altar of the cross? What ran through His mind when Isaiah 53 was read? Was He ever in a synagogue with John the Baptist when this was read about John…Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” Did he look at the younger Baptist and nod?

 

Jesus would have experienced many spiritual experiences at the synagogue in Nazareth that He loved and discussed with others of that local community of people.

 

            Jesus in the Synagogues During His Ministry

We know from the other Gospel writers that they wrote of other moments of His being in a synagogue in other cities and villages and you can find those in Matthew 4:23 ; Matthew 9:35 ; Matthew 12:9 ; Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16-20 ; Luke 4:44 ; Luke 6:6-11 ; Luke 13:10-16 ; Luke 14:1-5 ; John 6:59. 

 

 

            As Was His Custom

As we come to Luke’s Gospel, on His first return to Nazareth where He had grown up after He began His public ministry, Luke gives us unique insight not only to that particular day, but the Holy Spirit leads Luke to give us insight on the practice of Jesus in regard to His synagogue practice that marked His life (note my highlighted emphasis)…Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 

This phrase “as was His custom” is only used by Luke and in two places in his Gospel in 

Luke 4:16 and 22:39, where it says Jesus went to the Mount of Olives “as was His custom”.  Here are both Scriptures so we can take them in…

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogueon the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 

Luke 22:39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

 

Let’s not miss how this phrase is used by Luke twice, for they are key insights into the practice of Jesus.

Both uses of “as was His custom” by Luke

had to do with the corporate worship and private prayer life of Jesus.

 

            Our Main Example/Model

The Apostle John instructs us of these Words in 1 John 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

The Apostle John also wrote these words of Christ in John 8:29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." 

The Apostle Paul called us to live considering Jesus in every kind of way in Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. If those are not enough, the Apostle Peter wrote this of Jesus example for us in…1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 

 

These are just 4 texts from John, Paul and Peter concerning Christ being our example in every kind of way, His way of Life is to be our way of Life period. As John wrote in 1 John 2 ‘we ought to walk in the same way in which He walked’.

 

So, in light of those and many others we could pull from, I ask each reader to consider the implications from Luke 4:16 & 22:39…

where Jesus practiced “as His custom” both corporate and private worship.

 

Let’s look first at His private worship.

The Private Worship of Jesus

Luke 22:39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

Jesus seems to have found the Garden of Gethsemane as haven for quiet reflection, prayer, communion with His Father, rest, and embracing to drink all of the cup the Father asked Him to drink. It was there in the Garden where Jesus said, “not my Will but Your will be done”. 

 

This was not the only place Jesus got away from the writers inform us further in these… 

Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 

Mark 6:30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” 

Matthew 14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Luke 9:18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 5:16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Luke 11:1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 

Hebrews 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 

 

Jesus knew that time alone & solitude with the Father

Is never time spent alone.

 

I could share a more, but it is clear that the private worship of Jesus in prayer with His Father was His practice. It was his customary way of living in trust and communion with His Father.

 

Since this is the case, it cannot be a manner of life that we can ignore or discard or think we can do without.

 

Do we practice this as Jesus?

 

Now let’s examine His public worship life.

 

 

The Public Worship of Jesus

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogueon the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 

 

I guess this is where it is going to get a bit more personal and honestly, we should not be afraid of an authentic look at an area of our faith life that Jesus so clearly modeled before us in the pages of Scripture. Maturity comes in living as He lived. 

 

Jesus came to establish the church, a worldwide people of those who believe in Him, but those who believe were not to just live alone, but live together in their culture - speaking, singing, and praying in their heart language to the One who is worthy of our worship. This is to be done together.

 

Ekklesia is the Greek word translated in the NT as "church." It is derived from ek, meaning "out from and to" and ‘kaleo’ meaning "to call", and it points to a gathered group of people called out from one place and to another. The Word meaning also refers to a gathered assembly or a congregation. In the New Testament, ekklesia is a gathered group of redeemed people in Christ who have been called out of the world and to God – this is the church. 

 

This model for gathering is affirmed from His life example. Though He had come to fulfill the Law and institute a New Covenant, Jesus faithfully participated in the practices of the local synagogue and all the festivals of the OT. He did not see them as not relevant to what was about to be instituted in Israel and then spread worldwide, but He spent time at them His whole life. 

 

Bottomline, He gathered when the Jews gathered for worship at the local synagogue and He gathered for the year-round festivals to remember the work of God in the midst of the people historically.

 

We cannot avoid what was His practice nor consider it not applicable for our lives.

 

I think this is also the reason that when the church was birthed at Pentecost, from that moment forward, the church worldwide has done the common practice of continuing to meet together for worship in the midst of suffering, plagues, natural calamities, and in the days of peace.

 

The early church modeled this, for it was a continuation of what was the practice among the Jews and from Jesus, it just really took on a new meaning.  Take a look at these Scriptures…

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Romans 16:5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

Acts 20:20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,

1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.

Colossians 4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Philemon 1 To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

I have much more that I could write and set forth in regard to Scripture research, but what is here is enough from Jesus, the Apostles and the 1^st century church to answer the question whether or not Christians should meet together for worship – yes they should.

 

This is not to be occasional show up to gathering for us, but it is…

To be our very custom that marks a key part of our faith.

 

I have said this from the platform so I will not hesitate to repeat here again – the Scripture guides us, so if anyone says it is irresponsible to meet or the government says we cannot meet, none of those negates the Biblical Command that Jesus affirms the importance of His people gathering together for public corporate worship.

 

I leave us with these words…Romans 12:4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

I have wondered in these days how many hands, feet, fingers, ears, knees, etc. of the body are missing and how strong it would be for every local church for all the parts of the body to be back together in one place, worshiping one Lord, in one faith, in one baptism & in unity with one another in obedience to the mandate for the people of God to meet.

 

So, if Jesus were here today, would He gather with God’s people to worship? 

It seems the pages of Scripture have already answered this for us.

 

It is something worth considering! 

 

The Church at Thyatira - Compromising Church Part 2

 

Revelation 2:18b 

“The Words of…”

As this church is dealt with by Jesus, it is important to know that these are the very Words of Christ, ones that flow from His perfection in nature and divine wisdom. This is one of His great gifts to the church then and today - that we have His Words in the exact way in which we need them.

 

As He speaks, one of the key connections to His speaking is that when He speaks, it is designed so we can learn of more of His nature, which then leads to knowing more of His will. He knew/knows what every church needs and so with Thyatira, we get to see keen revelation that is needful for a church wrestling with the troubling danger of compromise. 

 

They needed a picture of Jesus that addressed their condition, so that vision would convict and cultivate the change needed for them to head straight back to the truth. In this light, Jesus shows them and us 3 vital pieces of His glorious nature.

 

First of all, Jesus says He is the…

Son of God – 2:18b

Revelation 2:18b ‘The words of the Son of God, 

They needed to be reminded of His Deity, so Jesus immediately reminds them He is God’s Son, equal to His Father and the one who came in flesh to reveal the Father. They are supposed to be worshiping Him alone and the emphasis from Christ is that “I am God talking to you, so you need to heed every Word I am about to say to you!” 

 

Shortly, we will clearly behold that this church had greatly corrupted their worship in a really bad way, so the Son of God is recalling to their minds He is their Savior and worthy of their worship in all ways. They had slipped and needed sure footing again.

 

This is the only place in the entire book of Revelation where Jesus is called the Son of God.

 

As He sets forth this reminder that He is the Son, there are two more vital aspects of His nature & deity that Jesus speaks of now…

 

Eyes with Flames of Fire – 2:19c – The One who Searches

Revelation 2:19c who has eyes like a flame of fire,

The look of His eyes that are aflame, reveal that He is going to deal with them in a severe manner as a judge. They are not seen as tender doves, rather they are burning and purifying. His eyes are alive with flames of fire, burning, thereby revealing that nothing will be hidden from Him for He sees through everything they are doing, both the good and bad. 

 

The fire of His eyes will also, just like fire, burn away everything that is false and untrue in the church. He is not going to allow them to pretend any longer for they deeply needed His purifying gaze.

 

It is at this point we should be reminded of this verse affirming what we are reading here...

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:13 is a key - coming out of writing about the power of the Word of God, the  writer of Hebrews affirms that nothing gets to remain hidden from the Lord.  

 

2 powerful and clear instruments do this revealing of our condition...

(1)  The Word of Christ

(2)  The Eyes of Christ

 

Feet with Burnished Bronze – 2:18d

Revelation 2:18d and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

A study of both the OT and NT reveals that there is only one other place these Sacred Words are used and that is also Revelation 1:15a his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace. This image is used again now in the next chapter to Thyatira.

 

In the pages of the Scripture, bronze or brass is a symbol of judgment so the fact that Christ’s feet are like bronze refined in a furnace indicate that He is ready to bring judgment upon this church as He walks among her. 

 

Both Symbols Together

Jesus not only is able to see everything right, indicating He will judge correctly, but with His feet being bronze, He will bring this judgment as He walks among this church, purifying them as He walks in their midst. His holiness and purity will bring about results with each step. He is not going to just let them continue on in their current state without stepping in and doing His work of cleansing toward purity. 

When He returns to the earth at His second coming and sets up His Kingdom, He will use a sword from His mouth to deal with the nations and then He will rule them with a rod of iron.

Revelation 19:15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

 

We will examine in the next post on this church, that they had a woman preacher (Jezebel) who likely was communicating to the people that they could hold onto all of their false pagan beliefs and still serve the Lord at the same time – it was not a big deal to Jesus for He did not mind it at all. She more than likely preached and modeled that they could willfully choose to continue to sin and it was not an indication that they did not love Jesus.  

 

As they embraced her teaching and practices by compromising Biblical truth and righteousness, they did so likely just as today, to make the church more pleasing in its attraction the lost world around them. This message of not having to give up the worldly sinful pleasures has never been Biblical and honestly does not take a lot of discernment to figure out how wrong this practice truly is for people. The church was allowing it by ignoring that clear instruction.

They were saying something along these lines and they are around still in our day…

Come as you are and don’t worry about changing a thing.  

You can keep living as you’ve always lived - you can just add Jesus to your life. 

We’ll accept you just like you are and let you stay that way. 

God loves you and we do too, plus we will not pressure you to change anything. 

 

As we all know, yes, we want those truly wrestling with sin to be around, but we never want them to stay in their sinful condition without coming alongside as we use the chiseling tool of the Gospel for the remedy of what is not God-honoring in their lives. The Gospel is always about life transformation. 

 

            Implication of these 3 Characteristics of Christ

Jesus is Holy, Powerful and Uncompromising in His demand for a holy bride, yet in a culture like ours, that kind of Jesus is not very appealing. Our American culture does not want a mighty and eyes full of fire Jesus, for they want a weak and timid Jesus who pats them on the back and says it is all okay and says “bless your soul”. 

 

He is Strong & Mighty though, and in His holiness He will expose the darkness of sin that so degrades a life and a church. Of this we can be sure, when Jesus arrives at a church or at a life, He will expose it for what it truly is made of by His eyes of fire. 

 

If a life, church or denomination wants to continue in sin, then in time He will let them have just what they want and remove their candle. 

 

Assessment of Jesus – Revelation 2:19

Revelation 2:19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

As we stated in the first post on this church, Jesus had his longest and strongest Words to this church, but until we get to those Words in the next post, let’s see what He does affirm about them.

 

His Affirmation of Thyatira

Works – 4 of

Works – This word means “deeds”. It points to the things they were faithful in living as they reached out to the lost in the city.  

 

              (1)  Love

Some of them were strongly maintaining a deep love for God and for one another.  Incidentally, they are the one church of the seven who are affirmed for their love. With Ephesus, they had lost their first love, but this was not the case in Thyatira, as their love was still alive and moving and did not need any correction.  

 

I will note this though – just because a church loves well does not in turn allow the people to ignore the sin in their midst that is destructive to everyone. Yes, love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), but that has never meant one gets to ignore blatant open sin.

 

                  (2)  Faith

The 2^nd godly characteristic of this church was their faith. In the Greek, faith is “pistis” – meaning “fidelity and faithfulness”.  Faithful Christ-followers in the church are just that - faithful.  This word points to “faithfulness”, leading us to see that some of these believers were trusted to carry things out and remain at the task until completion.  

 

                  (3)  Service

Service here carries the idea of “ministry” and it is the same word we translate “Deacon” in the New Testament.  The Greek means “those who kick up dust”, indicating they were faithful in the task of “kicking up dust” in their ministry work of the church.

 

A church should be faithfully ministering to others and if it does not, then it has stepped away from their calling as a body of believers. 

 

                  (4)  Patient Endurance

Thyatira was not an easy place to live out one’s faith, so as Jesus says these Words, He is pointing to some of those who had not compromised and were maintaining a thriving walk with Christ in spite of opposition and so much sin. 

 

The word “patience” in the Greek means “to remain under”, so patience in this context means they were “remaining the course of their faith”.  For some of them, as the heat upon their faith increased, they did not walk away, but stayed faithful. 

 

            Understanding the Lord’s Sovereignty

When we understand God’s Sovereignty, we see the days of difficulty or days of great faith pressure with fresh eyes and it moves us deeper into a life of a stronger and more pure walk with Christ. 

 

When our confidence rests in the knowledge that God is control, we will in more freedom and confidence move on in our faithfulness to Christ. The reason so many do this as they know God blesses obedience and will work everything out in His perfect timing.

 

“that your latter works exceeded the first”

A quick glance at this church from a distance and we would have been moved by what we saw, for they were hanging in there and active in ministry.  For many in our day, that is the measuring stick for whether a church is effective, but more needs to be examined. 

 

For example, a church may be out in the community and very active, but inside the church it could tolerate things that Christ does not approve of and that is what we find with Thyatira. That church may be teaching bad doctrine and ignoring immorality.

 

They looked really good, but underneath it all, their structure and leadership was allowing something very immoral and ungodly to thrive.

 

We will look at that in detail next time.