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The King Who Makes Your Bed?

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Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…”

When we were dead spiritually to the things of the Spirit and the Word of God – Jesus made us ALIVE by the Spirit. But how did He make us alive? How is He making us alive? Any quick read of Ephesians 2 will cause you to notice one common theme arising from Paul’s focus. What is that theme? – Eph. 2:5 “…[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).”

Eph. 2:7 “He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor)…”

Eph. 2:8 “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith…”

Grace is Paul’s theme, and it is Grace that saved us, is saving us, and will save us. But how would you illustrate this Grace? There’s a beautiful book I have been reading for seminary from the Puritan Classics (Puritans existed back in the 16th and 17th Centuries – think the Mayflower) entitled “The Blessed and Boundless God” by George Swinnock. Swinnock illustrates Grace in a beautiful way. In fact if you read and picture it carefully it should grab a hold of your heart – like it did mine. Swinnock writes, “We would think it a great grace…” Stop right there. We would think it a great grace if what? “For a human king… to take care of a poor beggar; to provide him with food, shelter, medicine, and safety; to supply him in all his needs, support him in all his weaknesses, protect him in all his dangers, and deliver him in all his distresses; to spread his table, provide his food, clothe his body, and make his bed; to protect him, counsel him, and assist him. The King of kings (to whom all earthly kings are but dirt and dung) does more than this!” Swinnock continues, “Oh what grace that the incomparable God (who has millions of glorious angels serving Him) should serve poor worms!” Imagine a king that makes paupers beds and spreads their tables. Is this even fathomable or possible?

What is Grace? Your King, the KING of all kings, and LORD of all lords – spreading your table? Making your bed? What kind of King is this? Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…” In other words this King wants to fellowship with us. This King – who spreads your table, and makes your bed – brings you into union, oneness, with Jesus. Everything that belongs to the King belongs to you; belongs to me. When a man marries a woman everything that belongs to the man now belongs to the wife and everything that belongs to the wife belongs to the husband (unless you have a “pre-nup”). When Jesus united you to Him – He “married” you. All your sins, shame, condemnation, failures, iniquities, transgressions, etc. – became His. But guess what? Everything that is His now belongs to you!!! His righteousness, His resurrection power, His innocence, His purity, His holiness, His Glory, His Kingdom, His dominion, His inheritance, this earth. EVERYTHING… belongs to all those who are in fellowship and union with Christ by the Spirit; by His Word; in and through His precious promises. That’s My King! As S.M. Lockridge once asked, “Do you know Him!?”

Now if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye and make you want to shout, I really don’t know what to do to help you. As the Apostle Paul added, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ….?” (see Rom. 8)

Confession & Declaration 30

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John 15:15 I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]

The term used for “friend” in the Greek simply means an associate. That term is typically associated with someone in business. Yet this word actually implies a partner, companion, and someone you keep company with. John the Baptist shines some light on the meaning of the word in John 3:28-29 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

The phrase, “friend of the Bridegroom” is known simply as one word in the Hebrew, and that word is “shoshben.” I love this word for it describes not only John the Baptist’s association with Jesus but one that we are called to as well. What’s a shoshben? Ellicott’s Commentary for English Reader’s gives us the following explanation: The “friend of the bridegroom”—called by the Hebrews “Shōshbēn,” and by the Greeks “Paranymph”—was charged with the preliminaries of the marriage. He arranged the contract, acted for the bridegroom during the betrothal, and arranged for, and presided at, the festivities of the wedding-day itself. It was a position of honour, in proportion to the position of the bridegroom himself, and was given to his chief friend. That friend then joyed in his joy, and there was none brighter on that day than he. This in John’s thought is an illustration of his own position.

The 11 Disciples of Jesus (Judas had left the room to betray Him) were promoted from servants – who didn’t know what their Master was doing – to friends. Friends of the Bridegroom Jesus. What an honor and a privilege. What you need to understand though – is that this calling is available to all who choose to be true Disciples of Jesus. You are given the privilege to arrange for others to come into a contract or covenant with Jesus. And your responsibilities don’t stop there. You are given the joy of acting on behalf of the Bridegroom, arranging the betrothal, and overseeing the festivities at the wedding day itself. Far greater than all that, though, is that you are invited to be His chief friend. In the terminology of today – you are invited to be Jesus’ “best man.” Now I don’t mean for you to view that term through the modern understanding of that term. No, not at all. What I want you to do is to see it as literal. You literally are called to be His “bestest” of men – His “bestest” of friends.

Let that sink in. Now process what it’s like to be Jesus. People using, accusing, attacking, and ignoring you. Others acting like they know you, but haven’t a clue what you are like. Familiar faces that talk about you, and around you, yet treat you like you aren’t even in the room. Week after week they throw a celebration in your honor – but you’re not invited. The only time they talk to you is when they want something. Once they get it, they walk away, forgetting you were there. In truth most do not welcome you or want you around. They say they love you – yet when you really show up they do not really like you. That’s Jesus heart-breaking life. His life is a lonely life. He has many acquaintances but very few friends. Yet this Lover of your soul invites you to be His friend. What greater privilege and honor can there be? A friend of Jesus.

What does being a friend of God have to do with overcoming the accuser of the brothers? Think about that for a second. You are a friend of Jesus. Let me say it another way, you are friends with the Most High God. He not only loves you, but likes you and wants to be with you – for eternity. He’s crazy about you, and wants His Heaven filled with you. Think of the authority that has over satan. You have been called a friend of Jesus. Let’s take this time to thank Him. And may this challenge you, as it has challenged me.

Declaration 30: Precious Jesus, my friend. I confess to You that I am humbled by the invitation and the designation. By Your Grace and Holy Spirit I humbly receive your invitation. By Your Blood You have declared that I am Your friend. I have overcome satan the accuser by that simple fact. By the Blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – I am a friend of God. Jesus has called me friend. What can any foe do to me? I am His chief friend, His best man, his favorite. He loves me, and likes being with me. He loves my company and I His. I am His “go to” man, His “go between” – from Heaven to earth, from Bridegroom to Bride, from the Lover of Souls to those yet to be betrothed – I am His best friend, and He is mine. You got a problem with me? Take it up with my Friend. You want to attack me? You got to go through my Jesus. Oh, and one more thing: when you come looking for me – look under His Blood – because that’s where you will find me.

Who’s Your One? Day 27, Saturday, February 8