THE CENTRALITY OF THE WORD OF GOD Christ's residency upon earth was brief, according to God's will. A prolonged tenure in this world would only have served to distract men from God. The physical presence of Jesus provided such a contrast with the temporal order and those within it, that curiosity often supplanted contemplation. Rather than perceiving the significance of Christ's words and works, the multitudes became enamored of the novelty of His deeds. In Divine lament, Jesus once said to an apparently eager multitude, "Ye seek me not because ye SAW the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled" (John 6:26). They had been distracted by appearance. This condition was not owing to a lack of Divine clarity, but rather to human infirmity. Tomorrow:
"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY NAME." (Psa 138:2) ". . . for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!" (Amplified Bible)
Devotion 5 of 30
The existence of this condition was one of the reasons our Lord returned to heaven. Not only was His presence in glory necessary for the mediation of the new covenant and the formal acceptance by God of His sacrifice; it was required for the successful transmission of kingdom knowledge. While men remained in the flesh, their apprehension of heavenly provision and reality must be by faith. That faith required a word from God – an intelligent articulation of Divine purpose.
Jesus chose certain men to be His apostles, twelve in number (Luke 6:13). He selected them "they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach" (Mark 3:14). These were to continue the work following His return to heaven. They were to make known the provisions of redemption and the mind of the Lord. He would send them the Holy Spirit to illuminate their understanding, and make their memories profitable (John 15:26-27; 16:7-15). Before leaving, He commissioned them to "preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15), and to "teach all nations" (Matt. 28:19).
Their preaching was accompanied by signs and wonders. But those external demonstrations were not their mission. They served to confirm their mission. God was "bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost . . ." (Heb. 2:4). Even as Jesus' works testified to the truth of His words, so the "signs of an apostle" (2 Cor. 12:12) confirmed the truth of his doctrine. The rejection or the acceptance of their persons was not the point, but the rejection or acceptance of their message. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them [apostles] that heard Him" (Heb. 2:3).
The apostles have no kingdom value apart from their words. Their works have ceased. Their persons have been removed from the earth. The only thing we have from them now is their word, their doctrine, their message. That message is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and is the means He employs for the conviction of men (John 16:8-11).
Note the absence of apostolic biographies in the scripture. Most of the apostles disappear from the narrative after Christ's ascension. Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Lebbaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Matthias – scarcely a word is said of them after the day of Pentecost had "fully come" (Acts 2:1). We know of the martyrdom of James (Acts 12:2), but little more. We know something of the travels of Paul through the writings of Luke the physician, but little is known of other dominant apostles like Peter and John.
The message of the apostles was consistent; they did not preach different gospels. For this reason, the emphasis is on the "apostles' doctrine" instead of their persons or their travels (Acts 2:42). They were selected to preach, not to make a name for themselves. It is their message that is exalted, not their persons. The next world is the place for personal exaltation, not this one. It is then that "every man shall have praise of God" (I Cor. 4:5).
"Doctrine" is the means God has appointed for the communication of His will, His "eternal purpose," and His mind. If there is no doctrine, there is no communication. This involves an appeal to man's mind, and indicates that God's will can be comprehended. The apostles admonished us, "Be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).
In Christ, God governs His kingdom by intelligent means, not direct power. He does so because He desires – fervently desires – that "all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4).
The appointed interpreters of Divine purpose are the apostles. The church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20). Both apostles and prophets are known for what they said. In fact, neither office would exist if there were no message. Any message that has not been emphasized by the apostles must not be emphasized by men. They provided the focus, not our contemporaries. The put in place the foundation upon which all valid teaching rests. Of course, this has come alarming ramifications!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You revealing precisely who was chosen to convey the message You want heard.