Called Twice pt. 2

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried about many things, but few things are needed- or indeed only one.- Luke 10:41-42

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you all as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."- Luke 22:31-32

"My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?"- Matthew 27:46 (Psalm 22)

"Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me?" "Who are you Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do"- Acts 9:5-6

        Continuing with the blog I wrote a few months back, here we pick up with the story of Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus, one of several people listed in scripture as being risen from the dead. Jesus has come to their house and Martha is busy preparing the house and the meal while Jesus is there. She gets overwhelmed with the preparations only to realize that her sister Mary is not helping with to get things ready, instead she is sitting beside Jesus, simply listening to his words and being in his presence. As any older sibling would do, (w don't know for sure who was older, but from what we know of Martha's character, she is most likely the oldest), she complains to Jesus that Mary is doing nothing and he should tell her to help instead of just sitting. Instead of rebuking Mary, Jesus explains that she is doing what is right, because Jesus knew, as Mary did, that Jesus would not be on the earth very long. Mary understood that Jesus was more than just a good teacher, and the things he had to say were of more importance than preparing a meal. This is not to say that God does not want us to be prepared for his coming. He just wants to make sure that when he is present, we are not caught up in the busyness of life to distract us from hearing what God has to say.  

        The next instance of being twice called comes to Peter during the Last Supper. Here's the backstory. Peter and John have been sent into town to prepare a place for the Passover meal. Satan has entered Judas in order to use him to betray Jesus. Communion has been taken for the first time and Jesus and the disciples are sitting around talking after the meal. During this time, a dispute arises among the disciples on who is the greatest. Jesus looks at Simon Peter, and assures him that though Satan is trying to get to him, he is covered in prayer in order to strengthen his faith and be an uplifting support for his brothers after him. This conversation takes place right before Jesus tells Peter that he will betray him that very night. I love the picture presented here. Jesus knows that the road ahead for Peter will not be easy, but he also knows that if Peter sticks with it, he will become a great leader and guiding light for his fellow man. Over the course of the time that Jesus is betrayed and crucified, there was some serious growth in Peter despite his seemingly obvious setbacks. Yet even after all these speed bumps, when Jesus comes out of the grave and the angel tells Mary Magdalene that he is risen and to tell the disciples, He says, "Tell the disciples and Peter that He is risen". Jesus needed Peter to know that his failures do not define him, they merely shape him into the Rock that he was destined to be. 

"My God, My God. Why have you forsaken me?"

        Jesus is hanging on the cross. His back torn and bleeding from the beatings of the whip having bled so much that water begins to flow out of Him. He has just carried his death sentence on His back for an excruciating distance and He has a crown of thorns thrust into his skull. His follows have scattered, and there he hangs between 2 criminals, one on the left and on the right. Among several things said on the cross by Jesus, he quotes the psalms asking God why he forsook him. Of course we know that God will never leave us nor forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5), but we also know that when Jesus went to the cross, he went an innocent man, yet carried all of the weight of sin on his shoulders in order that he may take our place in death. The weight of sin was so heavy on this one righteous man that even God himself could not look upon his son in his time of need. He turned his head in so that in our time of need, he no longer sees our sinful nature, but he sees his son who was the sacrificial lamb for us all and Jesus' blood covered us all and that is all God sees when he looks at you and me.

The last time someone in scripture is called twice is in the book of Acts. Saul is on his way to Damascus. He has a warrant to kill all who claim Christ as Lord and he will not hesitate to follow through with his plan. Then suddenly, a light shines from Heaven and Saul hears the voice of God. This encounter radically changes Saul's outlook on life and Paul spends the remainder of his life preaching the gospel and encouraging the believers to stick with it and assures new believers that if God change Paul's heart of stone, there is nothing God cannot do.

Sometimes, in order to get our attention, he has to call our name twice and when he does, it is probably wise to listen, because when he does, something important is about to be said.

Adam Semple- A Young Man in the Word on a Mission from God