Being Good Friday, I cannot let the opportunity pass without pointing to the Cross of Christ. The Cross where the infinite, eternal Son of God took the full force of the wrath of the infinite, eternal God in a finite amount of time. God is the only one that could accomplish this task. We learn in 2 Co 5:18-21 that, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
John 18:1-11 The Arrest of Christ
Matt. 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which 
He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
I love the "I AM" statements of Jesus in the gospel of John. I love the way that John includes that when they came to arrest Jesus when HE responded "I AM" they fell to the ground.
John 6:35--Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
John 9:5--“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
John 10:7--So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:9--“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:11--“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:14--“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
John 11:25--Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
John 14:6--Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 15:5--“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Alright, in our reading today there were several things that jumped out at me, but the one that really CAUGHT my attention is in Luke 5:8-11. Peter saw something in Jesus, somehow Peter CAUGHT A GLIMPSE of Jesus nature and attributes and something wonderfully painful happened to Peter. I have had the joy of walking through a similar beautifully horrific experience. This same experience we see other places throughout God's precious Word. What is that awe striking hideous experience. It is simply when God in HIS grace and mercy grants an image bearer a glimpse of HIS glory. The glimpse is awe striking, it is beautiful beyond words, it is breathtaking...you find yourself caught up in HIM, delighting in, rejoicing in HIS presence. Mark that sounds wonderful why would you add those other words to the experience? Those words like painful, horrific, hideous...I don't understand. In HIS presence the light emanating from HIM reveals everything! In HIS presence, when HE give you that glimpse of HIS glory, you see HIM more clearly and you see YOURSELF! The experience leaves you repenting, crying out...abhorring yourself in dust and ashes.
Luke 5:8-11
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Isaiah 6:1-10
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”
Job 42:1-6
Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”
The cool thing is that Jesus called and sent Peter, HE called and sent Isaiah and HE called and sent Job to his friends. All of these men were mightily used by God for God's glory and for their own joy in God. For them to be used they had to walk through the beautifully horrific experience. They had to catch the glimpse of God and in the process they saw themselves as they were. So often we entertain flawed thoughts about God and flawed thoughts about ourselves. The glimpse of HIS glory is transforming. Remember, BEHOLDING IS BECOMING!
LOVE,
m