How Close Are You

How Close Are You to the Lord...?

A Helpful and Concise Answer By Dr Terry W. Preslar Copyright (C) 2006. Terry W . Preslar All rights reserved. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858

The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved... “And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet (worshiped), and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke 7:38 How close are you to the Lord? The nearness to the Saviour determines many things in the Christian life. At the house of the Pharisee who had invited Jesus to have a meal we are given an illustration of this proximity question. When Jesus sat at meat a woman came in and stood at his feet. This woman, it seems, was known to be a sinner – perhaps an abandoned woman or a prostitute (because she carried the alabaster box of ointment). It is certain that she had much to be forgiven, and she had probably passed her life in crime. There is no evidence that this was the woman commonly called Mary Magdalene (she is not introduced until Luke 8:13). My own opinion is, that this un-name woman had been a mere heathen who dwelt in this city, (probably Capernaum), who, through the ministry of Christ, had been before this converted to God, and came now to give this public testimony of her gratitude to her gracious deliverer from the darkness and guilt of sin (Luke 7:47). She was not there to eat – she was there to see Him. Verse 38 is the text of the illustration. It was custom to wash guest’s feet, yet no such courtesy had been paid our Lord. Located behind Him, she wept because of their disrespect of Him (Heb. 10:29), their rejection of Him (Acts 2:23) and their utter self-righteousness (Rom. 10:3). Being near, as she Wept she observed her tears falling upon His un-washed feet – thus she Washed his feet. Not prepared for the occasion, and having no towel she found that she was close enough to Wipe His feet with the long hair of her had. Bending even closer she Worshiped Him as she kissed His Feet. Oh, what a wonderful illustration of the results of one’s nearness to Christ. How near are we to Him. The dry-eyed services of most churches do not result in Worship and Service is troublesome and renders pride instead of Humility. It all stems from our proximity to the Lord. -1-

We may find other examples of this truth. One notable example is found in the life the Apostle John. He was the youngest of the twelve and most teachable. By this we see several important matters that result from this closeness to his Saviour. In his Gospel account the author of the book of John calls not his own name even once but calls the name of J-E-S-U-S over 159 times in 21 chapters, 879 verses. In his writing, he only identified himself by the phrase the disciple “...whom Jesus loved...” and this leaves a clear impression of his closeness to the Lord. No brash exhibitionism is needed when one has this kind of intimate relationship with the Lord. There are five texts that contain this phrase and tell the story of how close John was: I. He was close enough that he Sat where no other Sat (“Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.” John 13:23) A) He could hear the heartbeat of God B) He could hear the whispers of God C) He could feel the heat of His power II. He was close enough that he Stood where no other Stood (“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!” John 19:26) A) Standing takes courage (2 Tim. 2:1) B) Standing requires one stand in the Sunshine C) Standing then cast a shadow (Acts 5:15) III. He was close enough that he was Sent where other were not Sent (“Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” John 20:2) IV. He was close enough that he Saw what no others Saw (“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.” John 21:7). A) The moving of His Might by His Power (“...to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” Eph. 3:16) B) The making of His Message by His Profession (“...I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25) C) The mastering of His Mystery by His Providence (“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psa. 121:4) V. He was close enough that he Stayed when no others Stayed (“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?” John 21:20). A) Many fall away (“...for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first...” 2 Thes. 2:3). B) Some never receive the seed into the heart (“Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” Luke 8:12). C) Others, close to Him, stay where God Blesses (“...like a tree planted by the rivers of water...” Psa. 1:1-3).

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Preaching

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