February 11, 2007

February 11, 2007

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

People Contrasted

 

Purpose:  Often in the Bible, in the same context, two opposite traits of people will be found.  The aim of this lesson is to point out this teaching technique and to learn some of lessons taught by these biblical examples.

 

Jesus and the Two Thieves

 

There are several contrasting traits found in the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  You have believers (though sometimes timid and afraid) and unbelievers (hardened Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders).  Belief and unbelief are contrasted by the apostle John by the use of the symbols, light and darkness.  There is no greater contrast among men today than faith and unbelief.  At Calvary, we have the apostles who fled due to fear of the Jews and the women who stayed.  We see the manly courage of Jesus and the fear of the apostles.

 

We have two kingdoms contrasted—the Roman Empire and the spiritual Kingdom of the Messiah.  Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  (John 18:36.)  One kingdom uses brutal force and death; the other is built upon love and life.  Jesus once told the apostles that the Gentiles exercise dominion and authority over others, but it shall not be so among you.  Who-soever shall be great among you, let him be your servant.  (Matt. 20:24-28.)

 

Jesus died along with two thieves that day.  At the first both of them charged Jesus with insults.  If you are the Son of God, then take us down from these crosses.  They did not understand that Jesus was dying for the sins of the world; this was the very reason for coming to earth.  Jesus being divine was without sin.  The Hebrew writer said: “For such a high priest became us who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens.”  (Heb. 7:26.)  One thing that all humans have in common is that we are sinners.  (Rom. 3:23.)  What a contrast between Jesus and mankind; Jesus and the thieves.  Jesus was being punished as a common criminal; yet he had not even committed an immoral deed or thought.

For some reason, one of the thieves repented and stopped accusing Jesus.  He asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom.  This man must have heard some of the teachings of Jesus and knew about his Kingdom.  The other man either did not know these things, or knew them and rejected what he heard.  This is the great contrast and difference between men today—what they do with what they have heard about Jesus.  Some men believe and repent of their sins; others continue on to their destruction.  Someone has well said that we have three different concepts in reference to sin represented by the ones dying on the crosses that day.  Jesus died for our sins; one thief died in sin; and the other died to sin.  We are all sinners and therefore represented by one of the two thieves, but it is our choice whether we die in sin or die to sin.

 

Barnabas and Ananias and Sapphira

 

In Acts 4, we are introduced to Joseph or Barnabas (as he was called by the apostles) from the isle of Cyprus.  Barnabas was a Levite.  So many people stayed in Jerusalem after the establishment of the Church on Pentecost; they had basic needs of housing and food.  Christians began to sell possessions to provide for their needs.  Barnabas sold some land and gave the money to the apostles.  (4:35-37.)  It is interesting that Levites did not receive a land allotment in Palestine.  Here is a Levite who owned land.

 

Immediately following, we have the words “but a certain man and his wife.”  (5:1.)  What Barnabas did stands in bold contrast to what Ananias and Sapphira did with the proceeds from their land.  They made others think that they gave all the money from the sale of their possessions to the apostles, but they did not.  Peter pointed out that they had the right to give whatever part they desired.  The Christians were not commanded to sell their possessions or told how much to give by the apostles.  It was a matter of freewill and love for others.

 

This husband and wife lied to God according to Peter.  The penalty was severe.  Such deceit and hypocrisy could not be allowed among believers.  The judgment against them was severe because: 1) doing things to be seen or praised by men instead of God is a serious wrong (Gal. 1:10, Matt. 6:1-8); 2) what they did reveals unbelief (that God knows what we do and think); 3) men need to fear God—this is the beginning of wisdom; 4) doing good things for the wrong reasons is still wrong—the end does not justify the means; 5) Satan was involved.  He tempted them to lie and cause havoc in the early church.  The Church was growing and prospering; Satan wanted to slow it down.

 

Mary and Judas

 

Another context that describes two contrasting traits is Matthew 26 and John 12.  Jesus was a guest in Simon the leper’s house in Bethany, a small village not far from Jerusalem.  (Matt. 26:6-16.)  A woman in this house anointed Jesus with expensive ointment.  Later in John’s Gospel, we learn that this Mary was the sister of Martha and Lazarus who lived in this same village.  (John 11:2.)  The disciples, especially Judas, objected to this waste, as Judas called it.  Judas was a thief and continued this practice while in the presence of Jesus Christ.  When Judas was rebuked by Jesus, he planned from this incident how he could betray Jesus unto death.  This rebuke by the Lord in the front of the apostles hurt his feelings.  Sinners do not like to be rebuked for their sinful behavior.  Covetous people do not like to be exposed by the generosity of others.

 

Mary and Judas stand in bold contrast to one another in this story.  One is generous and free in expressing her love for Jesus Christ; Judas has not changed his heart though in the presence of Jesus who gave everything so that we might be rich.  (2 Cor. 8:9.)  The love of money is still the root of all evil.  When men covet after it, they err from the faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows.  (1 Tim. 6:10.)  Jesus taught that man cannot serve two masters; we cannot serve God and mammon (or riches).  (Matt. 6:24.)

 

Jesus knew that his hour was drawing near.  He counted what Mary did as preparation for his burial; Mary did it as an expression of her love not knowing that his death was near.  Jesus exclaimed that what she did would be told everywhere the Gospel is preached.  Her generosity would inspire millions in their love for the Christ.  Likewise the story of Judas’ love for money and betrayal would be told.  These two disciples forever represent two opposite traits—one a Christian trait extolled by our Lord; the other a sinful and devilish trait that even leads one to betray Jesus Christ.  Indeed, we cannot serve two opposite masters.

Rich Man and Lazarus

 

Another contrast in characters is found in Luke 16:19-31.  One man was rich and the other was poor.  We know from the rest of the story that there was something else that made them different other than riches and poverty.  The rich man died and lifted up his eyes in hell; the poor man died and was carried away by angels into Abraham’s bosom.

 

To be with Abraham, the father of the faithful, signified that the poor man had lived by faith.  Paul wrote about the circumcision and the uncircumcision who walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham.  (Rom. 4:12.)  Those who do so will have righteousness imputed to them, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

 

We know that the rich man and his five brothers had lived in unbelief concerning eternity and the judgment of God.  The rich man pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus back to his five brothers lest they come to the place of torment.  He was told that they have Moses and the prophets; if they do not listen to them they would not be persuaded by someone going to them from the dead.

 

The rich man lived a very calloused life toward the poor.  The poor man was laid at his gates daily hoping just for some crumbs that might fall from his table.  Apparently, the rich man ignored the plight of the poor man.  The only comfort that the poor man received was from a dog who licked his sores.

 

This story teaches us that fortunes will be reversed in eternity.  The poor man received evil things during his life on earth, but in eternity he received good things.  The rich man had a life of comfort on earth, but in eternity he was tormented in the flames of hell.

 

Diotrephes and Demetrius

 

Third John is a small epistle about missionaries and our responsibility to support them, but it is also a contrast between two brothers at the church to which John wrote.  They are Diotrephes and Demetrius.  Diotrephes had the reputation of loving preeminence among others; Demetrius had a good report of all men.  Diotrephes even set himself against the tender apostle John.  Often men who are humble and loving will be abused by brothers who are not.  Sinful and manipulating brothers find a haven in churches because we are taught to be humble and submit to one another.  But Diotrephes and his offspring love for others to submit to them, but they will not submit to anyone.  Mutual submission is not mutual.  There are men and women who are sons and daughters of Diotrephes.  You will them scattered in all the churches.  They displease the Lord; they do not have a good report of their brothers and sisters.  They are well-known for lording it over and bullying others.  We are descendants of Diotrephes if we discourage missionaries and refuse to help them in their work.  We do not know why Diotrephes behaved the way he did.  Could this be another story about covetousness in the early church?  This theme is found often in the New Testament.

 

In this short letter of only fourteen verses, we find another contrast in traits and characters.  Demetrius was a good man.  John could not say enough good about him.  He said that he had a good report of all men, of the truth itself, and John bore record that it was true.

 

Conclusions

 

By using contrasts, we can easily see the difference.  It is a good teaching tool that the Bible uses to make known good from evil.  This method of teaching is seen throughout the Bible.  Revelation has several sets of opposites: a good woman (chapter 12) and a harlot (chapter 17); a good number (144,000) and an evil number (666); a holy trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and an unholy trinity (red dragon, sea beast and earth beast); and a holy city and the great city.

 

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