Christ the Head
IN John 12 is the, record of the third visit of the Lord Jesus Christ to Bethany. On that occasion Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with costly ointment of spikenard. The house was filled with its odour and that sweet perfume must have been smelled from a distance by the people passing by, it was so strong and sweet. That is how our Christian life should be, and also our Christian home life and our Church life. The sweetness of the Lord Jesus should be smelled and felt by all who pass by. The house speaks of peace and joy and victory, but before it was a house of sorrow, tears, unbelief, and of murmuring almost every day. Now it has become a house of joy, peace and happiness. Before we are born again, we are like a house of mourning, and our lives are full of defeat and failure and many problems, like Bethany was in chapter 11. In some houses the people are full of murmuring and complaints, and this house was once like that, but it is now full of peace and joy, and a house of fellowship, worship, and victory, because His power has come into the family.
In John 11 we saw how they all experienced the power of resurrection collectively. Till that time Martha and Mary had respected the Lord Jesus and loved Him and honoured Him, but they did not have the power of resurrection which the Lord was ready to give them. Just as we see in Job 1:1, Job respected and honoured God from the beginning. In Job 1:1 we are given a description of Job. God's Word says that he was a perfect man. an upright man, a man that feared God and eschewed evil and he had a perfect idea about God as we see later on in Job 42:5, 6. However, after going through sorrow, suffering and pain, he had a personal experience of the living God. It was the same with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. They went through great and extreme sorrow (ch.11). They must have been ridiculed and mocked because, though they had often received the Lord Jesus in their home, and though they had sent for Him when their brother was sick, He did not turn up. So many of the Jews must have mocked and ridiculed them, saying: "See, you honoured Him, respected Him and welcomed Him in your home, and entertained Him, but now in your time of trouble He has not come!" So they had to face extreme difficulties and sorrow and shame, but with the same sorrow they experienced the power of resurrection; and in John 12 we find that the home is entirely different.
Imagine the Lord sitting on one side of the table and Lazarus on the other side and perhaps some other guests also. There, is Martha serving joyfully and Mary pouring the most costly ointment on the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. These five things speak of grace for a triumphant life, a happy home and a Living Church. Very lovingly and joyfully they have made the Lord Jesus Christ the Head of the family. Till that time He had been there as a guest only. Every time he came, they received Him as a guest, honoured Then He was only a guest, but now they have found by experience that He is their Lord and Saviour and Creator, and must be the Head of the home and of their lives, so they have given Him the charge of the whole. When they were in sorrow many came to comfort and console them, but they had no power to take away their sorrow. They could not take Lazarus out from the grave. But the Lord Jesus solved all their problems, wiped their tears, and turned their sorrow into joy; so willingly and joyfully they made Him the Head of the family.
We find on a wall-card in many homes: "Christ is the Head of this house, an unseen Guest at every meal and the silent Listener to every conversation." The Lord is only the "Head" on th* wall, however, but in practice there is somebody else. It may be the wife and not the Lord Jesus. The husband only earns money, but the wife has control. Many important decisions are made by the wives! She can very easily change her husband's mind by screwing his ears!
The Lord Jesus is the head of a happy home. He must be the living Head in all our activities and plans, and whatever we do. Even individually, He must be our Head and we should go to Him and consult Him for everything.
In England the Queen has no power. Everything is settled by the Parliament and not by the Queen. The Parliament has to make the decisions, and when everything is decided, the Queen signs. She is only the "Head" by name, and has no power to change any of the country's laws. Many Christians regard the Lord as Head in the same way, but the Lordship of the Lord Jesus is not evident in their lives. It is only after many failures and defeat that they realize the importance of giving everything over to Him as the Head. I suffered for two years seeking to have that power in my life. I was reading the Bible the whole day, spending many hours in prayer and Bible Study, attending meetings, and keeping myself free from worldly associations. But there was something lacking in my life till the Lord showed me the secret f living a victorious life.
One night the Lord met me and said to me: "Tell me, Bakht Singh, how were your sins forgiven?" I said, "Lord, I acknowledged that I was a great sinner, and I believed that You died for my sins, and have forgiven me for my sins". Then the Lord said to me, "Do you believe that you are the weakest person living and that you have no power over the flesh?" At once I got the secret; that for even the smallest thing I had to consult Him; and that I could depend upon Him for my wisdom, knowledge and strength for every detail, as a child holds the mother at every step because it cannot depend upon itself for anything. if -the-child sees a puppy, it starts to cry, and only the mother can help the child at that time. That is how we have to cast ourselves upon the Lord for everything (John 15:5). For the smallest thing we have to go to Him.
In school when I was a small boy, I had to ask the teacher for permission for every small thing, even to blow my nose. Even so spiritually, we have to ask the Lord about every small thing. We have to acknowledge, the Lord Jesus as the Head of our family life, individual life, and Church life. Before we make any plan for prayer, for Sunday ministry or personal work, we should go to the Lord and make our plans in His presence. In practice however, we go to Him about big things and not about the small things. For our ministry on Sunday we pray two or three times, ut for Open Air meetings we do not pray at all. I have heard many say: "Why should we pray for Open Air meetings?", but to speak at a Sunday meeting they think we need to pray often. That is how men treat lightly the things of God. However for everything we must go and consult Him, whether for family life, individual life or Church life, whether for a small or great ministry. Then we will know new life flowing into us, into the family and into the Church. Lazarus sitting at the table is the type of the power of resurrection which is available for us (Rom.6:5). But remember this: death and the power of resurrection go together.
When we are born again, we are planted or grafted into the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word "planting" is important. Here it means "grafting". You may have seen small trees grafted, like grapes, plums, apples and mangoes. Then the trees which formerly yielded sour fruit begin to yield good, sweet and large fruit. A man will bring a slip from a good tree and graft it on the young tree. He makes a cut, attaches the slip, puts dung on it and wraps it with cloth. After a few years the whole tree changes its fruits, flowers and leaves. Everybody can see how the tree which yielded sour fruit is now yielding sweet fruit and the fruit which was small, is now large.
Paul uses the same words for grafting into the Lord Jesus. Not only has the Lord Jesus forgiven us our sins, but spiritually we are baptized into His death, burial and resurrection, and by the power of His death we are able to die to our old nature, just as a person having cancer must die, so death is the only remedy to cure cancer. Doctors find out the seat of the disease and after many tests they bring electric rays by some process and direct them on that place. Sometimes the process is very painful, but the disease must gradually die by electric rays. There is no other remedy. In the same way, we have to bring by faith into us, the power of Christ's death, and die daily to our old sinful nature.
Many people believe in the death of the Lord Jesus, but they will not die to their old nature, because they fail to appropriate the power of resurrection to make them new. As we are planted into the death of the Lord Jesus (Rom.6:5), we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. It is very important that we claim by faith every moment and every day the power of resurrection for a triumphant and victorious life. Every time we read the Bible, we must pray and begin to read, if there is service to do, we must pray and begin to work. We must receive the power of resurrection by faith for everything. The gift of God must be received every moment. It is an active and living faith as Paul says in Galatians 2:20 "the faith of the Son of God"-not our faith.
Paul testifies that Christ lives in him; "The life which I now live", he says, "I live by the faith of the Son of God". It should be an active and living faith. You must be conscious of the Lord Jesus Christ living in you. and then exercise faith for all your needs, responsibilities and trials. The same power can be received for our daily duties at school, hospital, office or anywhere else. In the same way, we receive the same power for times of temptation or hardship. It is a wonderful power that is available to us. The two things go together; first, we receive into us the power to die to ourselves, and secondly, the power, of resurrection by faith for all our responsibilities, needs and trials.
The Lord Jesus represents the Head. Lazarus represents the power of resurrection. Thirdly, there was food on the table, so lovingly prepared, and Lazarus was sitting at the table with the Lord Jesus, and they were speaking together as they were eating. That food speaks of the Word which God provides for daily strength-His living Word for every day. That food becomes very tasty and enjoyable by fellowship just as when you eat food together, the fellowship becomes very enjoyable. Whenever we eat by ourselves, we do not enjoy our food so much. Brothers and sisters should come together, first to have fellowship with the Lord Jesus, and then with one another.
Lazarus spoke to the Lord Jesus face to face at the table. He must have asked many questions and the Lord Jesus must have answered them. He was no longer shy, nor did he try to avoid the Lord Jesus. Now he is happy to see Him and to ask questions. We too should have the same love for the Lord Jesus, and the desire to talk to Him as friend to Friend. That is true fellowship (1 John 1:2) "Our fellowship is with the Father and the Son," then can we have fellowship among ourselves. Perhaps now you seek fellowship with the Lord Jesus by coming upon your knees to talk to Him about your problems, or questions or difficulties. But then will you wait till he talks to you? Sometimes we talk too much. There are some people who go on talking and talking and others have no chance to say anything. They have to try very hard to get a turn. That is how many people are spiritually. They go on talking and do not allow God to talk to them. Both must go together; first we must open our hearts to Him, telling Him our weakness, difficulties and needs, and then we should let Him speak and tell us why we are weak. He will tell us how to put things right, how to be strengthened and how our need can be met, and His words will become so precious and real. The food on the table speaks of the Word of God which we enjoy through our fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Then there will be true growth, both personally and with the family.
In many preachers people cannot see the person of the Lord Jesus. The sermon may be good, but it does not have a lasting effect. Some preachers want to give the impression that they are good preachers, but they do not spend enough time in prayer to feel the presence of God. We find singing and praying are helpful before a meeting, because it is only as the people feel the presence of God, that they can enjoy the message. Food speaks of that enjoyment of God's Word.
Fourthly, Martha was serving joyfully (Jn.l2:2). The same Martha who in Luke 10:40 was full of jealousy and anger is now serving joyfully. Then she was "cumbered about much serving", which means she was quite tired of serving. She was serving, but not joyfully. At the same time she was jealous and angry because her sister had left her alone to serve. Now the same Martha was serving joyfully. For a triumphant life, a happy home and a living Church, joyful service is necessary. The more we serve others, the more joy we will receive. When our Lord came to Cana of Galilee, He was found among the servants (Jn.2:5). While others were found inside in the place of honour, the Lord Jesus was found among the servants. Some people are happy to be in the front chairs at a wedding party. As they do not get much in a prayer meeting, they like to sit in the last chair, but for a wedding they must be up in the front. The Lord Jesus was among the servants for a purpose. That is why His mother said to the servants: "Whatsoever He saith, do!" On another occasion the Lord Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (Jn.13:5 and Matt.23:12). Here you find Martha serving joyfully. She has become humble now, because the power of resurrection has come into her. She is serving everybody with joy and thanksgiving. The more you serve, the more you grow spiritually. When you go to a place of worship, you have to go to find out what you can do in the house of God. Many persons go only for the sermon. They occupy some place every Sunday, some pillar or some corner. They come regularly and go away. At the same time, they will not lift a tumbler in their hand. They walk this way and that way. They love to find fault. Other people will simply look around. Yet we find that by doing something, whether it be sweeping the floor or spreading the mats, joyous service makes us grow spiritually. It must be true of individual or personal life, home life, or Church life. All this put together makes a happy home.
When I was young I had that longing. I said: "Lord, take me to a happy Christian home. I am not interested in radio, gramophones or furniture. I want a real Christian home, however poor it may be." He answered my prayer. I stayed in such a home for 18 months and I learned many things as I saw humility and service.
Mary was full of devotion and worship (v.3). Before she had been so proud. She got easily hurt and wounded when the Lord delayed to come. Openly she was humble, and inwardly she was proud. So when the Lord Jesus came to Bethany she sat still. Now her pride is broken. Now she is pouring ointment on His feet and wiping His feet with her hair. She is very thankful and grateful because the Lord Jesus has "heard their cry. and has raised Lazarus from the grave and accomplished a change in the whole family. There is no more inward strife in Martha and Mary. Before that they were quarrelling for nothing, but now there is the spirit of love and oneness. In the same way. Lazarus before may have had to be compelled to come for prayer, but now he himself comes for prayer. Mary pours the ointment cut at the feet of our Lord to express her gratitude for what had happened to her and her family. They now all acknowledge Jesus as their Master, Lord, Creator and Resurrection; and say, "Thou art worthy of all worship! When you see Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, honour Him as such.
Now you will not find that devotion in many places. There is plenty of Bible knowledge and teaching in many countries, but very little devotion. People can sing and pray, but they cannot give the Lord true worship. In many places there are very few that worship Him. Many believers find it very hard to kneel in prayer. They sit and pray. They say He looks at the heart and not at our knees. Everywhere it is the same; men bow down before great people and honour them, but not the Lord Jesus. Both are necessary and Scriptural as in Philippians 2:10 and Romans 15:11; "Every knee shall bow to me"; Acts 20:36, Acts 21:5 All knelt down on the sea shore and prayed; Psalm 95:6, 1 Kings 8:54; also Ezra 9:5 and in many other verses in the Bible we read that whether they were prophets or kings, all knelt down before the great God. There was no exception. The more we know our Lord as Lord of Life, the more we want to bow and exalt Him. Humble worship and devotion should be real in our hearts, so both physically and spiritually we must bow down. We must be humble, devoted and full of the worship which leads to growth both in family and in the Church. If there is no real worship, there is no real growth. Many times we have good sermons, good Bible Study, and good singing, but there is not much devotion or real worship. That is why people remain barren.
There are five simple divine principles for a triumphant life, a happy home and a Living Church. Firstly we must go to Him for everything and get His approval for all our plans; secondly we must seek the daily appropriation of the power of resurrection for all our needs and. problems and trials; thirdly, we must have fellowship, and be subject to the Word of God; fourthly, there must be joyful service; and fifthly true devotion and worship with humility and gratitude. This fivefold secret is for a happy home, and a happy home fulfills the divine order. May our Lord give us this experience.