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A PLACE FOR CHRIST • Nov 21st 1969

When Jesus Christ Is Fully Received | The Meaning of Bethany (Part 1)

Fellowship Gene's Messages to the Church in Isla Vista, CA New Testament Organic Church Paul the Apostle The Epistles The Gospels

What does it mean for Jesus Christ to be fully received—not only by an individual believer, but by an entire church?

In this Bible teaching, Gene Edwards explores Bethany as a remarkable picture of a place where Jesus Christ was welcomed, loved, and received. Moving through passages from Luke, Matthew, John, Acts, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Samuel, Edwards develops a powerful vision of Christian church life centered completely upon the person and Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The message begins with Paul’s words to the church in Corinth. Rather than simply condemning the Corinthians for their problems, Paul first commends them for receiving what had been delivered to them. Edwards argues that beneath their struggles was something profoundly important: they had received Christ Himself into their midst and had given Him a central place in the assembly.

From there, the message turns to the early churches described in Acts. Jerusalem received the apostles’ teaching and fellowship. Lydia opened her home after hearing the message of Christ. In Corinth, the Lord told Paul to remain because He had many people in that city.

But the clearest picture comes from Bethany.

While Jesus was rejected in many places, Bethany became a place where He was received. Martha welcomed Him into her home. Mary sat at His feet. Lazarus shared fellowship with Him. Bethany becomes a picture of what Christ desires among His people—a place where He can be completely welcomed and given His rightful place.

Edwards then connects this truth to David’s departure from Jerusalem and the ark of the covenant, presenting a striking picture of the rightful King and the testimony of His kingship.

This message challenges believers to consider a deeper question: Is Jesus merely part of our Christian life, or have we given Him His rightful place as Lord and Head?

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His head is covered, and man has refused to acknowledge his kingship and his lordship. Therefore, he has covered his head, and he goes out of the city. But as he goes, he says to Zadok as Zadok is coming out of the city. What does Zadok have with him? He bears the ark of the testimony, and he left the city with it. Here stands David with his head covered; by the work of man, his head is covered. The rightful king was pushed out of his town. The city…the city of God. The spiritual Jerusalem to us; the physical Jerusalem to him. This is a spiritual Jerusalem to us. It is a city that belongs to God.

David turns around and says, “Zadok, go back to the city, and take the ark of the covenant with you. Why? Why take the ark of the covenant? What is the ark of the covenant? The ark of the covenant is the witness of Jesus Christ as God’s everything. It is the witness; it is the testimony that Jesus Christ is everything. He said, take the testimony back into what is now a foreign city, so that there may be in that city a place where if I return, I will be received for what I really am.

The city is in the hands of an enemy. That enemy contends that I am not rightfully the king of that city. You and your two sons and the ark have to be there, and if God, in His mercy, lets me come back, you will already be in that city, contending that I have a right to this city – that I am the total king and lord of this city. That when the gates swing open, and I’m out of the tent, they will say, “We have never given up saying that you were the rightful king and lord of this city.”

Go back to the city and take the ark, and you stand there for my kingship and my lordship. That, brethren, is what a church is. He has physically left, but He is here in spirit, and he wants a group of people in this city, not only those who say, “Lord, you’re everything,” but who literally refuse to live under the rulership of that city. Who contend with that man every inch of the way, “You are not the ruler,” who will be a thorn in the side of this foreign intruder, and say, “This is not your city; you are not the Lord, and this is not your place. You do not rightfully belong here. We contend with you. We recognize no human head over us. We recognize our king for our Lord only.”

He wants a group of people who contend, but it is more than just contending. He is here among us and with us in spirit, to hold that kingdom proper in spirit while the physical Lord is gone. He has nonetheless left His Spirit, that we shall conduct ourselves here as though he were not gone. We shall meet as He is in our presence. And we will not bow to the headship of man above us. Our King shall have His head uncovered. He shall be among us…never covered.

(continued in Part 2)

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