Jesus Came Out
Jesus Came Out
And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” (Mark 1:38 ESV) I was journaling through the referenced passage last week and as I most often do, I used the S.T.A.R. method to look for how the passage might apply to my life. I found something for me, and it is likely for you as well. First let me share with you how the S.T.A.R. works. “S” is a letter representing the “scripture” I read. “T” is a letter representing the “thought” conveyed in the scripture. “A” represents the personal “Application” the thought has to me and my circumstances. “R” is my “reply or response” to the instruction I received from the process. My response to God is as essential as the input given to me from scripture, for it becomes a conversation which requires both listening and speaking. In this case it is a conversation with God. Now to the insight I found. In the passage Jesus used the words, “why I came out.” Another way to say it is that He revealed Himself. I take it that He was obscure to this point from the world around Him. He was obscure for His own reasons, but not permanently. He “came out” when the time was right. He came out to preach, to show His power, to touch our hearts and souls, and to fulfill His purpose for being born 30 years before. It required that He had to leave the life He was living at the time to become hope to the world and a voice from heaven. This is what Jesus did then, and He is doing now. He “came out” for that purpose, and He comes out for that purpose now. You may ask, “How is He coming out now?” He comes out in His disciples, which would include you and me, if we will let Him out. In fact, if we walk with Him in an unhindered way where He can have full access to our life, He will come out and the world around us will see and hear Him. If we will yield to Him we can’t hold Him from coming out through us. How can this be? How can people see Jesus come out of us? The teaching of Galatians 5: 22-24 answers that question. Read it for yourself. You will see wonderful and beautiful characteristics mentioned in this passage. These characteristics are called, “the fruit of the Spirit.” Focus on “the Spirit,” for these are His characteristics, His nature and not our own. They are also the same characteristics found in Jesus, for Jesus and the Spirit are the same in character. Here’s the good news. When we abide in Him, these characteristics start to show in our life because Jesus is “coming out.” When His fruit begins to show in our life, we see the evidence. He’s revealing Himself through our life to the world around us as He did in His world around Him, and it impacts others now as it did then. Let’s keep applying this verse to our life. Note something is very important for Jesus to “come out” through our life. It is also mentioned in Galatians 5.“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25 ESV)
What we read and apply to our life in this passage is that we too must come out and not hold Jesus back from impacting our world around us. He can make such a difference if He has access to our world around you and me through us. To do this we must crucify our flesh and its passions and hand our life over to Him. The Jesus can have full access to our life and make it to the surface of our life. Back to the S.T.A.R. method. Remember that the “R” (response) is essential for conversation and life change. My question to you is what is your response to what I’ve shared with you? Even better what is your response to what Jesus has spoken to you today? Is He asking you to let Him “come out” of that hidden, obscure place you’ve put Him in so that He can impact your world? If you are hearing Him tell you this, it will be best for you if you respond. He’s waiting. He wants out! Let Him make a difference in you and through you.