Greater Than

Written for the Cross Connection blog. Check out online episodes of the show!

I’m thinking of a number:

• Its digits add up to 7. Like 61 (6+1=7) or 232 (2+3+2=7).
• It has two digits. Like 12 or 95.
• It’s a perfect square–that is, it equals a number times itself. Like 9 (3×3) or 100 (10×10).
• It’s less than 20.

Can you figure it out?

Notice, each relation helps us figure out what this mystery number is. Similarly, Jesus gave us relations between himself and historical entities to help us understand who he is. Thus Matthew 12 presents three statements describing Jesus as “greater than…”

Greater than the temple

The context: Jesus’ disciples have been accused of unlawful activity on the Sabbath. Granted, they had just plucked some grain for a snack, but the Pharisees construed it as harvesting and hence a form of work. Jesus replies:

“Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.” (Matt. 12:5,6)

He’s referring to the fact that priests had work to perform on Sabbath; namely, they handled Sabbath sacrifices (see Numbers 28:9). The Pharisees had accepted that this was necessary temple work, similar to how present day churches need pastors to preach on Sabbath. If the work is necessary for the temple–the site of divinity among humanity–of course it was appropriate.

Hence Jesus defends his disciples by explaining he is greater than the temple. Christ is the true site where divinity intersects humanity, so let his disciples work!

Greater than Jonah

Asked for a sign, Jesus responds.

“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” (Matt. 12:40,41)

Jonah’s experience in the fish’s belly is both a historical event and a preview of what Christ would experience. Jonah records: “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice” (Jonah 2:2).

Likewise on the cross, “Jesus cried out with a loud voice… ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” By faith, Jesus must have clung to the promise of Jonah–“and he answered me”–until he received the confirmation three days later.

But not all accepted Jesus as Messiah. Even the wicked city of Nineveh had acknowledged Jonah’s testimony; how tragic that some would fail to recognize the one greater than Jonah.

Greater than Solomon

Jesus reiterates this tragedy:

“The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matt. 12:42)

Great rulers traveled far to hear Solomon’s wisdom. But now, those present in Israel were rejecting the one who had given Solomon his wisdom.

Jesus is greater than the temple, greater than Jonah, and greater than Solomon. These relations inform us to his identity. Then we make a choice. How will we respond?

The Untouchable, Touched

“Hello, a few days ago I got back from spending the summer in a developing country and now I have this really nasty cough,” I told the woman at the hospital’s check-in desk.  I was asked a few questions then immediately put into isolation where I remained for the weekend as tests were run. Fortunately, it was just a case of pneumonia and I was able to go home.

Less fortunate were the first century lepers who had to spend their lives in isolation from the society. Much like modern hospital procedures, this isolation was mandated in the Jewish community as a practical way to stop the spread of skin disease (see Leviticus 13). But these isolated lepers were treated as social outcasts and considered cursed.

Matthew records the account of such a leper:

When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. [Matthew 8:1-3]

The context is immediately following the Sermon on the Mount. There Jesus had “astonished” the people having spoken with “authority” (Matt. 7:28,29). It seems our leper was on the outskirts of that crowd or had heard the reports of Jesus’ authority. Challenging a lifetime of experience, the leper declares by faith, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean”.

Jesus wills and immediately acts.

In preaching on the mountain, Jesus’ authority was evident in his words. But in healing this man, Jesus stepped down and “stretched out his hand”. He could have healed by speaking (as the very next healing story illustrates), but choses instead to touch the untouchable.

Scenes of creation come flashing to mind. For 6 days God had been creating by His words. “Let there be…”. “And there was…”. God’s words have creative power! But when it came time to create man, God stepped down, took His hands, and crafted him from clay. Similarly, He shaped woman. God could have simply declared, “Let there be humanity”, but instead opted for something far more intimate.

What an awesome thought: God longs for an intimate relationship. Not just to create and heal from a distance, but to be close to us.

Granted, there are times when we are overcome with feelings of impurity and fear that it would be wrong for us to approach God and taint His holiness. But notice that when Jesus touched the leper, Jesus didn’t become unclean, but the leper became clean. Jesus’ healing power is more contagious than man’s sickness.

Still today, when we by faith come to Jesus and in recognition of our sinfulness plea, “Make me clean”, Jesus immediately acts. His purity prevails over our impurity.

Let nothing keep you from Jesus. He is longing to extend his healing hand and restore the intimate relationship for which he created us.

Also view on the Cross Connection blog and check out online episodes of the Cross Connection show.

Victory at Sea

I now contribute to the blog for the awesome TV show Cross Connection--check out episodes of the show here. This and future posts labeled "Cross Connection" were originally written for their blog.

Growing up in Florida, I’ve experienced a number of hurricanes. From listening to predictions of the storm’s path to surveying the damage left behind, it is difficult not to be overcome with feelings of powerlessness.

We sometimes label natural disasters as “acts of God”. It is true that God has on some specific occasions executed judgment through natural phenomenon, but these cases are limited and are always preceded by a warning and call to repentance. Before the flood, God sent Noah; before the plagues on Egypt, Moses. Hence, we must be very cautious to label a storm as a judgment of God.

Genesis reveals that God never intended for storms. At creation, God gave man dominion over the earth. But at the fall, man forfeited it. In every natural disaster, we are reminded of that lost dominion as roles are reversed and the earth rules over us.

The dominion we lost, another claimed. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he took him up on a mountain and offered him the world (Matt. 4:9). He was claiming, “Here’s my world, I can give it to whom I please.”

Perhaps this is why the Bible gives the enemy titles such as “prince of the air” and “god of this world” (Eph. 2:2;2 Cor. 4:4).

Some storms indeed are direct attacks by demonic forces (such as in Job 1:19), but in general they seem to be the result of forfeited dominion and the curse of sin. Simply put, the world is falling apart.

Enter Jesus.

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Matt. 8:23-27)

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all immediately follow this account with the story of Jesus casting out demons.  This consistency suggests that the gospel writers viewed the two events as closely connected. Indeed, note here Jesus rebukes the winds. The term “rebuke” often is reserved for when Jesus is exercising authority over the demons (for instance Matt. 17:18).

While it’s not clear if this storm was a direct demonic attack or simply a product of a sinful world, Jesus’ actions reveal his authority over nature. The dominion man lost and Satan claimed belongs to Christ. The winds and the waves recognize his voice above any other.

Furthermore, in calming the storm Jesus was offering a preview of his kingdom. The storms, destruction, and suffering we witness today will have no place there.

Until there, we do not need to fear the storms we face as the disciples did, for we know Who really rules the world!