Appointment with Destiny

Montreal/Cornwall

March 21/22, 2009

“It's choice--not chance--that determines your destiny.”

“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped”

“Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”

“Destiny grants us our wishes, but in its own way, in order to give us something beyond our wishes.”- Goethe.

Many people speak about destiny and live their lives in a quest for ‘their destiny.’ Books are written on the subject. A popular book, named “The Alchemist” by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, is about a young Spanish boy’s quest for his destiny. The search takes him far afield before returning him to his starting point in the fields of Andalusia where he finds a physical treasure while realizing that he had found treasure that is much more valuable through the journey he took.

We, Christians, speak of being en route to eternity, understanding that our destiny is to be in God’s Kingdom forever, with different bodies, different abilities, different perspectives, and a far different ‘time frame’ in which to function.

Jesus, our Saviour, was a man with an appointment with destiny. His appointment was one that He had been involved in setting, but like many appointments people can have, was one that could easily be resisted. He did not resist. On an occasion, a man named Nicodemus came to him by night and the two of them spoke about the important idea of Nicodemus’ being born again. Following that discussion, Jesus spoke about his destiny.

John 3.14- to what was Jesus referring here? To a man of letters- a scholar of the Torah- this reference was vivid and clear. However, to many of us, as moderns, it might not be so clear. Today, we will explore the statements that Jesus made to Nicodemus surrounding a discussion about Jesus’ destiny. As context, we need to remind ourselves of an event that occurred during the wandering of Israel in the wilderness, long before inheriting the Promised Land.

Num. 21.4-9- As the people left Mount Hor, Israel travelled south by the way to the Red Sea to skirt the western border of Edom. On the way, the people became impatient. They complained about ‘this worthless food’- that is, the manna. Divine judgment came in the form of desert snakes with a venomous, burning bite- in Hebrew, they are called fiery ones. Many people died. The people confessed (v.7). In answer to Moses’ prayer God revealed that he should make a bronze representation of a serpent and set it on a post, commanding the people to look upon it and live. Through this, Israel was taught that only in God was there deliverance. The simple instruction to look and live was a test of faith by itself. Poisonous snakes could be rendered harmless only by the mercy of God.

Isa.45.22- declares the lesson at another time and in a slightly different and more direct manner for the people of the nation later in its story.

This is the context to which Jesus referred as he continued his teaching of the new disciple named Nicodemus.

John 3.14-15- the incident in the OT of Moses and the brazen snake is cited to illustrate the earthly work of the Son of man. The uplifting clearly refers to the cross and not to glorification. The real force of the reference is the necessity for faith. It is important to understand that the uplifting of the Son of man is stated as an imperative necessity. It was for this purpose that He came. The reference to eternal life may be compared with ‘life in his name’ (20.31), which John mentions in stating the purpose of his Gospel. The adjective ‘eternal’ expresses the indestructibility of the life received. Faith was required for Israel- to believe that nothing more was needed than to look, once bitten, and that one wouldn’t die took faith- so often, people want to ‘do something’. This seems too easy. Similarly, to understand that one need only believe seems too easy for many, yet this is what the plan is all about. We want to ‘do something’. Consequently, it is easy to create all sorts of actions that we believe to be needed in order to attain the Kingdom when Jesus clearly pointed to the need to ‘believe’.

v. 16- the lead statement shows the object of God’s love to be universal. The expression of that love is sacrificial. The purpose of it is eternal life for believers, who must otherwise perish. This verse has been described, actually, as ‘the gospel in a nutshell’. The tense used for the verb ‘have’ shows that believers have a present possession of life- and are not only looking forward to having it. The two following verses explain the same theme.

v.17- the purpose of the Son’s mission was not condemnation but salvation. No, he left that job to his followers- well, not really- and it’s not really funny to even note that. However, it seems to be the role that people take and that Christians take toward one another and toward those who are not active believers. There’s a tone set here- a tone for the whole of living the Christian life and it’s not one of condemnation. It’s one of life and salvation. Can we ‘get’ this? Can we understand this and implement this in our lives? Can we become positive instead of negative- uplifting instead of down-trodding? Can we take Jesus’ attitude rather than one of our own choosing? How positive are you toward and about others? Are you critical and negative? Are you a joy stealer or a joy giver? This is a season of introspection- introspect on this point, please.

v.18- this salvation is available only to those who believe. The specific object of faith is stated to be ‘the name of the only Son of God.’ This again connects with the purpose of the gospel- 20.31- while the adjective ‘only’ echoes the prologue to this Gospel- 1.18.

v.19- another reference to the prologue is introduced in the contrast between ‘light and darkness (1.5)’. Evil deeds are specifically linked with darkness, and judgment follows as a result of men’s preference for darkness rather than light. There is an implied contrast between God loving the world and men loving darkness.

v.20- man’s love of darkness is not for its own sake, but because of what it can hide. Think of how many crime programs on television show crime occurring at night, for instance. On the other hand, those whose deeds are true welcome light because of what it can reveal.

v.21- ‘He who does what is true’- this refers to moral actions. The last expression can be understood as expressing either the content of what is seen- that his deeds have been wrought in God- or the reason why he comes to the light- because his deeds have been wrought in God.

Conclusion

Are we prepared to look and to believe? Is this enough for us? Are we prepared to be living in the light and to be avoiding condemnation as the result? Are we able to adopt Jesus’ attitude toward others or do we want to act toward them as superior beings somehow tolerating their existence? These are some of the questions that Jesus calls us to examine. Perhaps there are others that are more real to you. No matter. We are called to sacrificial living, at the very least. This was what Jesus looked toward, as he anticipated his own appointment with destiny and as he willingly chose that. Will we choose accordingly?