Not Worthy To Be Compared

On Monday I wrote about the faith of Jesus vs. faith in Jesus.

It amazes me how I can read something, hear something, “understand” something, for years, and then suddenly I hear it anew.

Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

I have always “heard” this verse to mean this:

“Here is an example of Christian determination: keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus.”

It’s subtle but makes a large difference! Do you see it?

I thought the verse was telling me to have faith in Jesus. And to me that meant having the faith to believe that He is The Word; that He is the Savior; that He was my example; that He is the Son of God; that He is my friend and wants to spend forever with me. And He is all of those and much more, but I heard a pastor speaking on the topic, and that is not what it is saying.

Look again: faith of Jesus vs. faith in Jesus.

Do I have the faith of Jesus? Do I have the faith that Jesus had when He walked this earth a man?

“…and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”…And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:39-44 NKJV

Do you see it yet? Do you see the faith of Jesus?

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

“He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42

“So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.” Matthew 26:44 NKJV

Matthew records three times Jesus begged His Father to find any other way. Anything but this. But, when it came down to it Jesus had the faith to also say, Your will Father.

“Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the pioneer of our faith. He has the honor of that title because he had untiring faith during his life on earth

Hebrews 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

The word “author” is better translated ‘originator’ and finisher is closer to the definition of ‘perfecter;.

In other words, it could read more like this: “keep your eyes on Jesus who is the originator and perfecter of our faith.”

There is more to verse 2 and it truly reveals the heart of God.

“…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

“Though his family doubted him, his disciples abandoned him, his friend denied him, and his fellow Jews rejected him, Jesus had faith to trust his Father, who would one day (at his resurrection) vindicate him (Isa. 50:6–9). (Source: crossway. org)

“I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. “For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord God will help Me; who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; the moth will eat them up.” Isaiah 50:6-9 NKJV

Christ no doubt loved the words of Psalm 16:1, “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.”

Christ had a particular hope in his own resurrection. He knew he would die, but he also knew he would be raised. Mark 10:33–34 says, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

He knew what was coming and in the pain and agony of Golgotha, Jesus never lost hope. He knew his temporary suffering, as horrific as it was, and it was, would pale in comparison to the glory that would be given to him.

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” NKJV

The glory, the joy, the extreme living forever and ever, my friend, our sufferings pale in comparison.

I would encourage you, and me, to have the faith of Jesus. When times are tough, when money is tight, when friendships and relationships fail, when jobs are scarce and bills are many, when health fails and eye sight dims, when joints no longer work as they should, when your heart is at its heaviest, have the faith of Jesus.

He know where His strength came from and He plugged in to that source of power many times a day.

Psalm 121:2 reminds us “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

We are reminded that the Creator of all things, who suffered and died and rose again on our behalf, is the one who can and will help us. Have faith.

I’m going to leave you with the entire chapter of Psalm 121. (It’s short!)

It’s titled: God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved (slip); He who keeps you will not slumber…The Lord is your keeper (protector); the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve (keep) you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve (keep) your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121 NKJV

by Jeanette Stark – Tuesday, May 31, 2023