Introduction
The theme 'The Transforming Power of God and More' is a theme that is too big for one sessions and possibly endless. However, from three of our scriptures I want to look and reflect at certain aspects and hopefully join them together a little. I think we often look at scripture in a fragmented sort of way rather than seeing it is all part of a whole from the eternal and unchanging God.
Looking at how God gives a vision for life to be transformed into what he has is no bad thing and takes us back to something we considered last week in Jesus statement in John 10:10, part of the Good Shepherd passage, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
We start by going back, again, to the prophet Ezekiel when he is taken into the valley of the dry bones.
1. National Resurrection and More - Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel parallels the time of Jeremiah. The latter was a prophet speaking to the people in Israel up to and during the time of the exile to Babylon. Ezekiel was one of those who was exiled and if he hadn't he would have been a priest in Israel. At the time he would have entered service as a priest God called and appointed him as his spokesman to the exiles in Babylon and as such he too fulfilled the role of a prophet. Some of us will be familiar with this passage from the song, 'dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones . . . ' and I can hear you singing along!
The exiles in Babylon, like many exiles, were away from their homeland in a form of lockdown with serious travel restrictions! As such, and well into an exile which was to last for 70 years, they were disheartened, dejected in many ways and wondering what the future held for them. They felt lost.
As we know God's Spirit. is never under travel restrictions or anything of the like and he takes Ezekiel to a desert with a valley full of dry bones where he is challenges Ezekiel about life and hope.
The picture itself looks a little absurd but, this is how the Lord can transform through His power.
The upshot of the passage is that God gives him a promise:
[12] Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. [13] Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. [14] I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "
Exile did in time happen but, as the accounts show, it wasn't a triumphant second exodus with great victory and expectations. People returned from Babylon in dribs and drabs. It was hard and it took years for many aspects of life to get back into some kind of normal groove.
God, for his part, was looking at a lot more in their future. So, we go to our second passage
2. The Big Result of the more - Revelation 21:1-7
Again, as we read this it seems to be a bit impossible and perhaps just unimaginable. What we are being shown is the transforming power of God in full action restoring life to where he always wanted it to be - life in all its fulness - brimming over and overflowing. The end of the book of Ezekiel brings similar pictures of a fallen world finally set free from sin with all its consequences of death, sickness and decay.
3. The Way to the More - John 14:1-10
In the upper room on the night before the cross Jesus, among others things, outlines the plan of the ultimate exodus from exile where people were / are held captive to sin, decay and death.
The 'more' started with his resurrection after he paid the price for sin and dealt the death blow to death! Here in this part of the discourse some 'policy'!
1. I am going to my Father's house to prepare a place for you. Let's remember that He is speaking to His followers not the world at large. He assures them that having done that he will return so they can share with him but then he confuses them by saying 'you know the way'. Fact is they haven't much clue as to what he's on about at all and rarely did! Thomas speaks for them all and asks the question 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' which leads to the next declaration;
2. Me - v 6 I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
That is the clearest sign you can ever have - want to get to God the Father then you have to come to Jesus. This is very exclusive - only me but, at the same time, totally inclusive because 'anyone' can come through him. There is only one way, there is only one truth and there is only one life, fullness and overflowing life which is intended and designed for us.
The exile in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel happened because of compromise, syncretism, the taking on other gods in this instance alongside the Lord and therefore blatant disobedience - no other gods!
I will be there God and they will be my people - that was a cry from God through many a prophet and part of the declaration made in Rev 21.
Jesus confuses them again by his statement in v 7 - If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. What on earth, splutters Philip, show us the Father, that is all we need.
This is followed by what is, in my mind at least, a bombshell statement which in fact helps understand the rest of his declarations.
3. Again, Jesus has the boldness and effrontery to point to himself.
Catch up guys, you have been with me long enough, you should have the message by now: Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Pause, let it sink in - when we look at Jesus the son, we see God the Father
Hebrews 1:3
[3] The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
It ties right in with what Jesus says in this passage.
4. In v 10 Jesus fleshes it out - the Father is in me, I am under His authority and doing his work! Within hours he is on the cross and in a couple of days after that, resurrected. The price of sin is paid and final exodus starting with Jesus rising.
The transforming power of God kicking in with powerful force.
Conclusion
What about 'NOW'? In this in-between time, are we just kicking our heels or what? No:
God is at work in us personally, we are a new creation, we are indwelt by the Spirit and to bear the fruit of the spirit. God forgives our sin and is bringing new life, freedom, healing and restoration to us an within relationships. Life to the full, life that overflows!
Also, God is working through us personally and corporately: we are ambassadors for Christ, salt, light, harvest workers, called to serve and be in the Kingdom that is breaking in, and, if and when we can't be highly active, praying to the Lord of the harvest for the workers and for more workers that the Kingdom may be yeast in society leavening the whole lot.
I say it again, life to the full and life that overflows.
It's hard, it's challenging and we will continue to be dogged by sin and a sinful world.
Now, if I haven't given you enough to read, here's a little more. Jesus prayer for himself, his disciples and us at the end of the upper room discourse in John 17 from where he goes out and is soon arrested!
The transforming power of God! I have painted a little more on the big canvas. Pray and look to see more of the wonder of what is in that picture.
