TwelveTwelve: The Leader Blog of North Wake Church

Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Servant of the Lord, who operates like this: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench” (Matt 12:20 quoting Isa 42:3). When you’re low, he doesn’t pile on. He deals tenderly. Dane Ortlund 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; (Matthew 12:20) 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. (Isaiah 42:3)

He said to Zacchaeus, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” He is a seeker, a hunter—and the thing he’s hunting for is “the lost.” Not the best; the lost. Dane Ortlund 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

He said, “Take heart; I have overcome the world." If you have Jesus, the looming darkness in your life is not going to overwhelm you; He is going to overwhelm it. He says he already has. Dane Ortlund 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you." Consider the perfect, overflowing love of God the Father for God the Son; that’s God the Son’s love for you. Dane Ortlund 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:9)

He said “Whoever believes in me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). If you have Jesus, you are carrying around inside you a nuclear powerplant, spiritually speaking. Dane Ortlund 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38)

He said he came “not to call the righteous but sinners” (Mark 2:17). The admissions committee for heaven has declared by unanimous decision all moral resumes inadmissible. Dane Ortlund 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

He is not an idea or a force or a philosophy or a theory or a framework or even a doctrine. He’s a He can be related to, talked to. He delights in that. Dane Ortlund 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach (Mark 3.14)

He no longer calls us servants, but friends, and he is the friend of sinners. He has not only atoned for our sins; he has befriended us sinners. Dane Ortlund 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have

His atoning death means he is free not to scrutinize. He needs not. All has been wiped clean. Faults remain, not just in our past but in our present. But the whole atmosphere in which we live has been transformed from one of scrutiny into one of welcome. “Welcome one another as X has welcomed you." Dane Ortlund 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Rom 15:7)