“Large letters” may indicate a refer=
ence
to the physical weakness of poor vision, or as several theologians feel, Pa=
ul
is making a strong emphasis to pay attention to this concluding word of his
epistle. His heart is filled =
with
compassion, energy and determination for those in desperate need of rescue =
from
this present evil age.
In verses 12 and 13 we see the boast =
of the
brothers who had become a troubling to the saints. Those ones desire a good show, a g=
ood
display a good appearance even though circumcision should have been conside=
red
an abasement. =
Their circumcisio=
n was in
man's natural and external being, without the inward reality and spiritual
value, which are in our regenerated spirit. They wanted the Galatians to be
circumcised so that they could boast in their flesh. On the one hand, they
wanted to make a display in their own flesh; on the other hand, they wanted=
to
boast in the flesh of the Galatians.
Paul&#=
8217;s
boast was the cross of Christ. The
cross is truly an abasement, but Paul made it his boast. The world has been
crucified to us, and we to the world. This has taken place not directly, but
through Christ, the One who was crucified. The explanation in verse 15 prov=
es
that the world here refers mainly to the religious world.
=
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &=
nbsp;
It is =
crucial
for us to know the full significance of the cross. According most teachings,
the cross is the place where the Lord Jesus died for us. This is surely tru=
e,
but the cross means much more than this. As the center of the universe, the
cross signifies the all-inclusive death of God, of man, and of all the
creatures. The death of the Lord Jesus on the cross was not the death merel=
y of
one single person; it was an all-inclusive death involving God, man, and all
the creatures (the old creation).
An exa=
mple of
the cross can be found in Ezekiel 43 with the Altar seen as the center of t=
he
temple. There were six gates =
that
were divided into three groups of two indicating that the Triune God became=
a
man, the God-man, and was “split,” or “cut,” in His
crucifixion, and is now in resurrection. He is now the gate through which we
enter into God and into all the things of God. No matter which gate we take to en=
ter
the compound, eventually all gates lead to the altar. There is no exception;
the altar is unavoidable. We have all come in through the wonderful God-man,
who was crucified and who is now in resurrection. We meet the cross every where in o=
ur
Christian life. To come to the altar at the center is to realize that all t=
hat
we are and all that we have were terminated at the cross. In our fellowship
with the Lord, we are brought to the point where we touch the cross in a
definite way and sense that God will no longer allow us to live in our natu=
ral
man. As a result, we will know what the natural life is and what it means f=
or
the old creation to be stripped away. This is the experience of the cross as
the center.
We do not experie=
nce the
cross once for all—we experience the cross again and again. Those who
pursue the Lord will meet the cross at every turn. At one time they will me=
et
the cross through their children. At another time they will meet the cross
through their spouse or through illness. At other times, they may experience
the cross through the church or through the co-workers. The reason that the
cross is every where is that we
must go through the cross in order to contact God.
Thank the Lord that God gives us the cross and that the cross gives us God.=
The
ones who love God the most and experience Him the most are the ones who have
gone through the cross. It=
217;s
through the cross that the religious world has been crucified to Paul. It was through the cross that Paul=
has
been crucified to the religious world.
An exa=
mple of
this can be found in the gospel of John with the blind man who was healed by
Jesus. Eventually the religio=
us
ones rejected this man and in chapter 10 his eyes were opened to follow the
living Shepherd through the living Door out of the religious fold into the
living Pasture. Witness Lee i=
n the
study of John said, =
“If
you follow the Lord as your shepherd, it will stir up a storm that will for=
ce
you out of the fold. You do not need to strive or to exercise any effort to
follow the Lord Jesus out of the fold, for, as long as you follow Him, the =
old
religion will force you to get out. They will cast you out. The more you fo=
llow
this living Jesus, the more religion will force you out. Religion cannot pu=
t up
with Jesus, and Jesus will never remain in religion. These two are absolute=
ly
different, and there is no possibility of reconciling them. Jesus is life, =
and
religion is something other than life. The living Jesus simply cannot toler=
ate
religion. The pasture is outside of the fold. So to enjoy the pasture, you =
must
come out of the fold, once you come out of the fold, you will find yourself=
in
the pasture. Hallelujah!”
For hi=
s whole
life the blindness prevailed and no one was concerned or bothered. But the moment the living word of =
Jesus
touched that mans eyes with life others from the religious world began to
persecute him. From Ezekiel 4=
3 God
becomes a mighty flowing river in chapter 47. The flowing by the side of the alt=
ar is
the living water of life. By the alter indicates that the flow is always by=
the
cross. If we do not have the dealing of the cross, the flow will be frustra=
ted.
If we would have the flow, we must have the dealing of the cross. We need t=
o be
willing to pass through the cross so that the flow may come forth. Where the river flows, every thing=
shall
live and be full of life. This river is the river of life, and only life can
cause things to live. May the=
Lord
rescue us through such a word that we could be carried away in the river of
water of life!