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My beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand.
Song of Solomon 5:10

The Lord Jesus is one in a million; actually, He’s one in several billion since he surpasses anyone and everyone who was ever born on earth. Calling Christ Chief among Ten Thousand seems to be selling Him short. What does this verse actually mean?

The reference comes from Song of Solomon, in which the Shulamite is describing her beloved. She goes on for a long time, describing her feelings for her husband. For centuries, this passage has been interpreted as describing either the sentiments of marital love or the beauty of the Messiah.

The verse is a statement of personal opinion. How many people does someone meet in a lifetime? Counting all classmates in elementary school and then the higher grades, and figuring in friends, family, work associates, acquaintances, and casual contacts, the number would be in the thousands. Some people get  a thousand Facebook friends, but we really  can’t keep up with more than about 150, maximum. In a lifetime, people might interact with  ten thousand others at some level.

To the Shulamite, her beloved was better than anyone she ever met or could possibly meet in the future; He was Chief among Ten Thousand. The phrase communicates the idea of so far surpassing the competition that there is no competition.

Christ loves us so intensely that He was nailed to a cross in order to save us. He also wants us to love Him intensely in return, even to the point that it surpasses the love we have for anyone else.

Jesus told His disciples: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). The question begs to be asked of every Christian: “In my life, in your life, is the Lord Chief among Ten Thousand?”

September 13

 

But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is
your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
Matthew 23:8*

The Hebrew word “Rahbee” and its Greek counterpart “Hrabbi” both mean “my teacher” or “my master.” It was a term of respect and authority given to men of renown who were teachers of the law.

Gamaliel is generally considered the first to officially receive the title “Rabbi” around 30AD. To earn the title, one needed to be the president of the Sanhedrin as Gamaliel was, or receive ordination from that group. It is thought that since the Jewish counsel disapproved of Jesus of Nazareth, they wanted to diminish what people called Him by adding bureaucratic requirements for official recognition.

Christ may not have had a framed diploma or been given an ordination ceremony, but that’s what people called Him (John 6:25). The apostles all addressed Him as Rabbi because they were chosen by Him to be His disciples. It was also the title of honor and respect that Nicodemus chose to give Him when he visited the master by night. Although Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, he was also a seeker of wisdom and truth and didn’t rush to judgment about the Galilean, as did the other council members.

Judas Iscariot also addressed Jesus with this title. It’s never recorded that the betrayer ever called Him Lord, Messiah, or Christ, but “Rabbi, Rabbi” were the last words he spoke before betraying the Savior with a kiss (Mark 14:45). It was like saying, “Nothing personal, but you’re just my teacher and I’m dropping this class.” Judas followed Jesus as a means to a scholarly career. When that didn’t seem to work, he cashed in his chips and bailed.

Charles Darwin, Joseph Stalin, and other atheists have gone to seminary. People can study the teachings of Christ without being transformed by them. It’s quite easy to call Jesus “Rabbi”; it’s something totally different to call Him Lord and Savior.

*plus 14 other times in Matthew, Mark, and John.

September 14

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said
to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
John 20:16

The difference between a Rabbi and a Rabboni is just a matter of degrees. In American universities, there are three levels of academic achievement: Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate. In the same way, teachers of the Torah advanced in their scholarship.

The first level for a Jewish sage was that of a Rab (literally Master). The origin traces back to the development of synagogues during the Babylonian captivity. The Rab was the ruler of the synagogue and was designated by the congregation through the laying on of hands.

The middle level was that of a Rabbi. It was developed after the return of the exiles to Jerusalem. The title means “my master” and referred to a master teacher who would attract disciples to him. They would serve their Rabbi, and he would both teach and provide for them.

The highest level was Rabboni, meaning “my great Master.” Only the most respected sages who would see their disciples for a number of spiritual generations were honored this way.

Mary Magdalene called her Lord “Rabboni.” As a woman of questionable reputation, she was not known for her scholarship. What she was known for was that she was a sinner who was forgiven much. She bestowed the high honor on the Risen Lord.

The only other mention of the title Rabboni was by the blind beggar, Bartimaeus. Again, he was not a direct disciple of Jesus and, being blind, he couldn’t read, much less study the Hebrew scriptures. However, he had great spiritual insight.

When Jesus was passing through Jericho, the blind man called out the Messianic Title, “Son of David,” to Him. When the crowd would hush him up, he called out even louder. When Christ asked him what he wanted, Bartimaeus replied, “Rabboni,” (My Great Master), “That I may receive my sight” (Mark 10:51).

September 15

The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:42

Disparity? Do you think? Today, the 85 richest people on the planet have a higher net worth than 3.5 billion of the poorest (the lowest 50% of all humanity). The wealthiest 1% of the world own 99% of all worldly goods. And yet that’s nothing! King Solomon made Israel’s economy so rich that silver was considered as stones. But, then, he only dealt with gold; he controlled the world supply.

For decades now, the president of the United States has been hailed as the “most powerful man in the world.” However, Ol’ Solomon was the first to own that title, and his place in the history books will remain long after the leaders of today are forgotten.

All that having been said, Christ Jesus is Greater than Solomon in every aspect.

Wisdom… Christ is the “Wisdom of God.”
Wealth… The Lord made all the gold in all the galaxies of the universe.
Long-life… Jesus is eternity years old and has another eternity to go.
Power… All the mighty ones on earth will flee the wrath of the Lamb.
Victory over enemies …The Savior has conquered sin, death, and hell.
Holiness… Solomon was bankrupt in this regard.
Disparity… The Lord of Glory’s great wealth and power are shared with His joint-heirs.

Bottom Line: Christ is Greater than Solomon.

September 16

Simon Peter answered and said, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16

“Denotation” and “Connotation”: Two words that are throw-backs to high school English class. The first is the dictionary meaning of a word, and the second is what it means to the people who hear it.

Technically, the word “Christ” means “anointed one.” It could refer to any prophet, priest, or king who had oil poured on him, but it especially referred to the Jewish Messiah who held all three of these positions.

When Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, Simon Peter just blurted it out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter wasn’t giving the theoretical or politically correct definition of Christ; he was calling it as he saw it.

The Lord Jesus is the one and only Son of the living God, yet He adopts people into His family to make them children of God. It is hard to understand why, but faith accepts it as a miracle of love and grace.

C.S. Lewis once said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” What does that mean, exactly? Each word can be defined and analyzed, but that is no guarantee that someone will really understand what a new relationship with God is all about.

When I was a boy, I heard a Scottish preacher explain it this way: “It’s better felt than telt.” That nails it! Knowing Christ through experience by far surpasses knowing about Him in theory.

Christ came into this world to save sinners, and this only happens when people encounter Christ and experience Him to be the Son of the Living God.

August 27

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will
receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 5:4

The verse above concludes an admonition by the Apostle John to church elders that they “shepherd the flock of God” (1 John 5:1-4). Just like a shepherd taking care of sheep, the overseers of the local church need to feed and care for God’s flock (i.e. believers in Christ).The Latin word for shepherd is “pastor,” which is the origin for the English word for a minister or preacher. Just as the church’s pastor is responsible for his spiritual sheep, he also must be accountable to the head Pastor, or as it is in this verse, the Chief Shepherd.

This title of Christ is unique because it is only used in reference to the leadership of the local church. There could not be a Chief Shepherd unless there were also under-shepherds spread out in different fields looking over literally hundreds of critters who were unable to take care of themselves.

Pastors, elders, and people in full-time ministry sometimes feel that the congregation is their flock, but the truth of the matter is that the spiritual lambs belong to the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11). With some degree of regularity, these under-shepherds must answer to the Chief Shepherd‘s questions: “How are my sheep doing? Are they healthy? Is the flock growing? How many were lost to the wolves?”

1 Peter 5:2 explains other areas in which the Head Pastor will examine the assistant pastors: Attitude and motivation. “Why did you even take this job? Do you feel you have to do it or do you want to do it? Are you in it for the money or status? Or do you want to please me?”

I understand that not everyone will have to answer to the Chief Shepherd, so they might not be interested in the title. Even so, I’m scheduled to meet with Him at the judgment seat of Christ, and I want to get all my sheep in a row. He has an unfading crown of glory to give me, but that’s not why I do any of this. All I really want to do is be pleasing to my Chief Shepherd.

September 17

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and
gracious,  longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Psalm 86:15*

King David viewed the Lord as the strong and powerful God who taught his “hands to make war” (Psalm 18:34), but He was also the God Full of Compassion who forgave him of his terrible sins. David certainly feared the Lord, but even when he faced the wrath and judgment of God for his willful transgressions, the king knew that God would not utterly abandon him if he cried out to the God who was filled with compassion and mercy.

This God that David knew was almost totally forgotten by the children of Israel by the time Jeremiah began to preach. The prophet begged the people of the nation of Judah to humble themselves and repent so that God could hold back His wrath and show them mercy. They refused, so the promised judgment did fall and the nation was destroyed. Only a small number escaped because they were taken captive. God is compassionate, and yet He judges sin. These dual attributes are hard to understand, so Christ was sent to be a clear and understandable object lesson.

Jesus saw the poor and downtrodden and reached out to  them. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead. But the problem is that people still get hungry the next day, or fall victim to any one of the thousands of diseases on another day. Even the resurrected just live to die again. Since Christ was truly God Full of Compassion, He dealt with the core issue, the sin problem.

People need to totally get out of this sin-cursed world and into the presence of holiness, but that is not going to happen if they take their sin with them. For that reason, Christ took on Himself the sin of the world so the sons and daughters of God could take on His righteousness. Now, when believers finally leave this planet, they can go to a place where they will never again be hungry, get sick, or face death, and they will live forever with their God Full of Compassion.

*see also Psalm 111:4

August 28

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know
what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15

Friendship is a mutual relationship. The idea that “If you’re my friend, I’m your friend” was a well-established concept long before Facebook. Christ calls believers friends and goes on to say that He lays His life down for His friends (John 15:13-14). Clearly, this is no ordinary friendship.

Communication, shared interests, and companionship are three aspects that bind friends together. The closer the friendship, the fewer the secrets. Jesus told His disciples that He revealed to them the whole counsel of God. He told them His plans, His schedule, and His method of doing things. Angels don’t know any of that; they’re just servants. Christ shares these things with us, because He’s our Friend.

The Savior is the “friend of sinners” (Matthew 11:19). He wants to save us and we want to be saved. Faith is nothing more than agreeing with Christ that what He says is true and that we’re going along with His plan. We are not servants who earn our favor with the Master by doing work for Him. No, He’s our Friend, and we work together for a common purpose.

He is the “friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), which goes far beyond casual friendship. We can cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). He’s there when we need Him and never seems to get bored when we ramble on in prayer.

Now, we get to the part that I don’t understand. With such a Friend like Jesus, why would anyone “de-friend” Him? Yet it happens all the time. People stop praying, stop talking. They try carrying their load of sin and grief by themselves instead of putting on the Master’s yoke. It boils down to losing faith: No longer agreeing with Him that He’s right. I hear what they’re saying, but that doesn’t mean it makes sense. They just need to return to the Lord. He still wants to be their Friend.

September 21

….You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 5:6*

Talk about job security – forever is a long time. As priest, Christ has offered the sacrifice, atoned for the sins of God’s people, and interceded on our behalf to God. The perfect priest offered the perfect sacrifice, so that part of His service is over; “It is finished” (John 19:30). The intercession aspect of His ministry is ongoing.

The Lord Jesus pleads our case before God when we sin, fail to see his revealed will, or are unthankful. He’s also there to instruct and encourage us, as well as set us apart for God’s service. These are wonderful and necessary things He does, but He won’t be doing them forever.

When the saints of God are called up to glory, our old sinful nature will finally be destroyed and, entering heaven, we will be holy, just as He is holy, never to sin again. We’ll be with Him; we’ll be like Him. At that point, we won’t need an intercessor.

Every time the title “Priest Forever” appears in scripture it’s always followed by the phrase, “according to the order of Melchizedek.” This added information is also very important, or it wouldn’t occur in the Bible five times.

Melchizedek was the Priest/King of Salem that greeted Abraham after his victory over the four mighty kings of the east. He blessed the Patriarch and received tithes from Him. He was God’s representative to Abraham and demonstrated power and authority.

Since the Savior is a Priest Forever according to the order of Melchizedek, He will bless God’s people throughout all eternity. As the King/Priest of the universe, He will reign over everything with justice and raise up the banner of holiness.

*see also Hebrews 6:20, 7:17 and 21; all quoting from Psalm 110:4

August 8

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before
the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,To God our Savior, Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24 and 25

It’s very clear in scripture that grace is the power of God that saves us. The same grace that saves also sanctifies and protects the believer in his walk of faith. Since Jesus is the channel through which grace reaches humanity, Christ is our Savior, Sanctifier, and “Him Who is Able to Keep You From stumbling.”

The very short book of Jude serves as a warning to Christians that apostates (defectors from the faith) will try to throw spiritual roadblocks in their path. He urges the saints to be strong and contend earnestly for the faith.

Progress in the Christian life is like walking or running. Anything thrown on the path, not just false doctrine, can cause a believer to stumble. Believers can fall into sin, get tripped up by doubts, or be sidelined by fears and depression. When a follower of the Lord Jesus goes to Him in moments like these, it not only keeps him from stumbling, but also presents him faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

Through the years, I have counseled many struggling believers. Although their problems might be about doubts, fears, finances, or relationships, sin is usually at its core. Drug addiction, alcoholism, and pornography have huge holds on people, and rarely do generic advice and a simple prayer ever work.

It takes time and a lot of hard work to rebuild trust and dependency on Christ. It’s easy to believe that, as Savior, Jesus can keep you out of hell. It takes desire to grow deeper in the spiritual relationship to trust Him to be your Sanctifier who sets you apart for the Master. Finally, it takes a fresh, new revelation from God to see Christ as Him Who is Able to Keep You From Stumbling. When you do, though, you realize He can give you the power to break free from the things bringing you down.

August 9