Jesus’s Use of the Law of Confession, Part 3

Jesus’s Use of the Law of Confession, Part 3

David W Palmer

In this series of devotional studies, we are looking at what Jesus taught us about the use of our words. He said that if we don’t doubt in our hearts but believe that what we say will happen, we will have what we say. Because he begins with “assuredly,” we have this on God’s assured authority that this principal will work. It will always work the same way every time it is put into practice; it is therefore a law—the law of confession (confession means to say the same thing—the same thing God says):

(Mark 11:23 NKJV) “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

In particular, we are looking at how Jesus used and applied this law himself. This way, we can be sure we know what he meant when he said it, and we can copy his use of it with the full assurance of faith.

Today, we look at a funeral dirge that first turned to scornful laughter and then overwhelming joy when the Lord practiced the principle he taught us in Mark 11:23:

(Matthew 9:23–26 NLT) When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. {24} “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. {25} After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! {26} The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.

Here, the Master stood in front of a young girl’s dead body and said, “The girl isn’t dead.” The force of this confession shattered the usual grief-stricken, sombre decorum of a funeral: “They laughed him to scorn” (Mat. 9:24 KJV).

What a sight this must have been; the orderly, sensitive atmosphere of the funeral was abruptly shattered by an outburst of scornful laughter from the mourners—and right in front of the girl’s parents. We must understand the immature facade-dropping and ridicule that the law of confession can elicit. Their outward show of sympathetic human compassion was instantly abandoned in the face of God’s manifested presence, genuine faith in him, and the law of confession in operation. Persecution leapt from their mouths revealing the overflow of their unregenerate hearts and inherent rebellion against God.

Jesus put them outside the girl’s room. This was so they could not contaminate the faith-filled atmosphere of his confession— “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep”—with their out-of-control unbelief. The parents stayed; their love for their daughter and hope in Jesus held them speechless, until …

(Mark 5:40–43 NKJV) … But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. {41} Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, … “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” {42} Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. {43} But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

Today, I encourage you to take Jesus seriously; learn from his teaching and imitate his actions. He spoke of things that hadn’t happened as though they already had. He spoke to trees, demons, corpses, his Father, as well as to other people. He released faith through his words and actions.

Jesus lived on the highway of holiness built by his confessions—along with the confessions, faith, and prayers of generations of believers—right up to his trial, crucifixion, and subsequent resurrection. He had to keep his heart pure and its overflow producing words of unadulterated faith and confession—even when it led directly to persecution, ridicule, and finally, his execution.

Jesus confessed what God said in the face of grief, unbelief, cultural taboos, facade-wearing pretenders, and in the cold, void, face of death itself; but because he held fast to a pure confession, he got exactly what he said:

(John 11:11-14 TPT) Then Jesus added, “Lazarus, our friend, has just fallen asleep. It’s time that I go and awaken him.” {12} When they heard this, the disciples replied, “Lord, if he has just fallen asleep, then he’ll get better.” {13} Jesus was speaking about Lazarus’ death, but the disciples presumed he was talking about natural sleep. {14} Then Jesus made it plain to them, “Lazarus is dead.”

The Lord began this conversation adhering strictly to the law of confession: “Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11 AKJV). Jesus said what he believed would come to pass. But because the disciples didn’t understand what he was doing as part of raising Lazarus from the dead, he then momentarily dropped his confession so they and we could see what he was doing:

(John 11:12–14 NKJV) Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” {13} However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. {14} Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”

Jesus’s candid, open statement, “Lazarus is dead,” was not what he wanted to say; but to teach the others, he had to reveal the facts behind his confession—the prevailing dark, void, dead circumstance that he was changing with his words and actions. Then Jesus went to Lazarus and raised him from the dead—in line with his initial confession:

(John 11:43–44 NKJV) … He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” {44} And he who had died came out …

Jesus didn’t speak to Lazarus as if he was dead; he spoke an instruction that would be impossible for a dead person to obey. Jesus spoke of him as a living man who needed to be awakened from sleep. Jesus got exactly what he said.

We should renew our minds so we begin to speak and live like Jesus. But, don’t be surprised by the reaction of some others:

(2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

(Acts 14:22 NKJV) strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Even though Jesus’s use of the law of confession is not easy for us to imitate, we must remember that it is essential for salvation:

(Romans 10:8–9 NKJV) … if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

So …

(Hebrews 10:23 NKJV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.