SLOW OF HEART
Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
That word, “fools” is the same Greek word translated “unwise” in Romans 1:14. And if we consider the following passage in Galatians, we will more fully see it’s meaning. Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
You can see how our same word “foolish,” used twice in this passage, presents to us our failure to benefit from the graces which the Lord has afforded us. For there were things “evidently set forth” before their very eyes from which they were not benefitting. And the condition of these Galatians was the very same condition of the disciples, at this time of the Lord’s death and resurrection. For if you read Luke 24:13-24, you will clearly see that Christ’s response is highly warranted in calling these two straying sheep, “fools, and slow of heart.” For they, like those Galatians, were only considering the natural, physical things, and not the matters of the spiritual!
And that is the very cause of the slow heartedness of the true church of our own day! 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
But the more serious matter is not only failing to consider the spiritual, but the great damage done to spiritual things believed in a physical way! For religion in our day mostly believes in the same literal concept of the kingdom of God, as did Peter with his sword, trying to raise up a national kingdom of Israel to dominate the earth! And the attempt to approach spiritual words of the God, who is spirit, in only a literal, natural way is of great usage for Satan, the angel of light. For in doing so it is setting forth among us an entirely different religion! – And we don’t even know of the deception!
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The Lord actually promised that there would be an heir of King David to sit on his throne “for ever!” Now do we look at that literally? If so where are those today born of the physical lineage of David? Has God broken his promise? Listen to that which the Holy Spirit set forth in the first gospel message preached by Peter on Pentecost: Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
So it is not the man David physically, but the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of David, who shall continually occupy that throne throughout eternity! Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Therefore, it is the spiritual David – Jesus Christ, ruling a spiritual Israel – the Church! Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. For it is only those who are born of the Holy Spirit – Jew, Gentile, male or female – walking in the spirit and not in the practice of the Mosaic law, who truly are the Israel of God! Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
And so the Lord questioned the manner of these two on the Emmaus road, communing and reasoning. But at least they were talking about the matters of religion! What would he say about us today, sounding like a tree full of birds, chirping about everything under the sun except religion, before our religious services begin? Luke 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
And what of our ‘selfies’ and ‘blogs?’ Everything today is, “About me!” This is a most self-absorbed generation! The Lord called the rich man a ‘fool,’ when he said “I will” three times, and not ‘God willing, I will.’ Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Becoming self-absorbed degenerates a human to the low condition of a beast, for he loses his God-consciousness! And listen to what the Apostle Peter says concerning this: 2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
And that which compounded this problem was that they were looking for a living Jesus among the dead! The angels even questioned this! Luke 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Dear Reader, a christian is not a man on earth, looking towards heaven. A true christian is a man seated in heavenly places, looking back towards the earth! Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
They were only preparing to anoint a dead Jesus according to yesterday’s law, which to them, was still controlling their minds! And they were waiting to do so after their Sabbath, which would now be changed to the first day of the week – the Lord’s day! For the sun rose that morning as the light of the glory of God, with sins fully paid for, arose on that first gospel day! Mark 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
And henceforth he was not to be known as a sacrificial Lamb, but as the ruling sovereign! 2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
For in this unique transition period between the resurrection and the ascension, He has already taken away the sin of the world, finishing his work of securing redemption! Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
He is now introduced to the weeping church in Revelation 5:5 as the Lion of the tribe of Juda, and not as the Lamb of God!
When did Jesus of Nazareth begin to reign sovereignly over the entire universe? According to many religionists, he hasn’t yet! But according to the scriptures, he began his reign after the time of his completed sacrifice on the cross! Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
For he does not commission his gospel army to go forth and conquer men’s souls until he has proclaimed himself to be Sovereign Lord both in heaven and earth! Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Having fulfilled the responsibilities of the Lamb of God, he could not be known in that way again! He is now only to be approached as ascended, reigning Lord! Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
He now appears in “another form” from that which they had always found him to be before redemption was complete. He is not to be “touched” with human emotions, identifying him as he was before. He could only be associated with, and related to, as the ascended Lord! And he had clearly instructed them that this was to be the case! He had told them that they would try to continue with him as the suffering servant which he was before the completed redemption. But they would never be allowed to do so! Luke 17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
For he clearly instructed them that those things of him before the redemption were finished, and would have an end! Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
And none but born again believers would ever see him again! – and that by the eye of faith! John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. And read the list in 1 Corinthians 15:4-8 to see that only believers saw him after his resurrection, before his ascension!
The Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and ascended in a different state, but in the same body! 1 Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
And the next time he shall appear, it shall be in far more glory than in his present glory as Mediator! 1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
And faith having preformed her last duty, all believers shall see Him and be forever changed! 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
All glory to God and the Lamb forever!
Pastor Gene Breed
June 20, 2015
