"You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
The Lord knows the plans he has for us, plans to give us future success and wellbeing. He's an intimate friend of our family and community. And yet how much time do we spend in prayer, (in communication) with our supernatural friend? Be honest, aren't we mostly halfhearted in our prayers? How often as the days wear on do we stop and seek his wisdom and peace?
How does this happen?
I think the men and women of God have a bad habit of trying to white knuckle their way out of times when they're in trouble or held captive by fear. And another thing we'll try and do is lean on the saints, or superstitious prayers. Almost as if we're afraid to cry out to Christ Jesus himself.
Why would we do this?
I think maybe because we have in our minds a vision of Jesus the lamb, meek and mild, full of grace and compassion, but also a Jesus of judgment. And maybe we're afraid to speak to him because we're afraid he'll judge us for our fear. May he'll say to us in that moment, "oh ye of little faith, why did you fear?"
As Martin Luther tells the story, he was caught in a frightening lightning storm. In a moment of despair, he cries out to St. Anne, 'spare my life', and if she would he would become a monk. After he survived, he made good on the vow, left his study of law and joined an Augustinian order, much to the disapproval of his father. This is where Luther’s spiritual journey truly began. What is ironic is that via this intercessory prayer through the dead, was what followed, the protestant reformation and sola sola.
God gives the people annointed mediators; prophets, priests, kings, preachers, teachers, evangelists, and ultimately Jesus Christ who is fully all of the above. Why isn't Jesus, the fulness of grace, enough for people to seek Jesus himself directly? I don't think it's about him not being enough, I think it's about him being everything, maybe too much.
Think about this. Jesus is prophet, but unlike the others before him he doesn't begin his prophecy with, "thus saith The Lord!" He speaks about the kingdom and things to come as if he's both telling us about it and causing it to come into being. When Jesus, the high priest blesses the people, and forgives their sin, he's not saying, "May The Lord bless you", he just forgives and gives you his peace. When Jesus the king makes proclamations about redemption and reforms, he speaks for himself and annoints himself. He proclaims himself to be the light, the mediator, the progenitor. The head of the church. The supreme high priest. Pontifex maximus (not to be confused with the men in Vatican city who have stolen that title from him).
When was Jesus annointed to become The Annointed One? The only mediator. Pontifex maximus.
The answer is he didn't become annointed. Jesus wasn't born a prince who would one day become a king. Jesus was born, already annointed, even before his birth.
Luke 2:11 - the angel said:
Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
From the very begin of time and creation, Jesus was the Annointed One. Before every spiritual experience meditated on by men, before every religious practice created by men, before every other thing that inspires hope and fidelity in the people, there was Jesus. Sola sola. And because of him we can say, sola sola:
Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone”
Sola fide: “faith alone”
Sola gratia: “grace alone”
Solo Christo: “Christ alone”
Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone”
We have access to him because he was born a man. We have access because he sent The Holy Spirit to bring us remembrance of his life. We have access to the king of king's throne room. We have attained this access in faith alone, sola fide. And it is in him alone, sola Christo, that we seek sustaining grace, sola gratia, and mercy when we have no more hope in ourselves or others.
Now imagine, what does Christ think when we seek hope and instruction elsewhere. What does Jesus think when we go outside the glory of God alone, sola Deo gloria. Imagine what our Holy teacher Jesus thinks when we look to the stars, or the sky and moon, or earth herself for our answers, instead of searching the scriptures, sola scriptura. Instead of his teachings.
Only the Bible was “inspired by God” (2 Peter 1:20-21) and “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We are called to focus on these Scriptures, and accept salvation by grace through faith which comes by the word of God, and then worship in Spirit and truth, magnifying Christ, and living for God’s glory.
The kingdom of God has arrived, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). We have our access to it in Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords. We seek it in him. We search for it with all our heart and find it in him.
Amen amen
God bless you and keep you always.