Max McLean as C. S. Lewis
in C. S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/John.1
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
What is more pleasing than our favorite Scripture.
This is coming home.
And one of my favorite things is to hear about our relationships with Jesus.
Tonight, we went to Houston to the George Theater to hear Max McLean (see audio link) tell of C.S. Lewis becoming a reluctant convert of Jesus Christ.
And in warm theatre, we saw windows of the soul inviting relationship to Jesus.
How would we link ourselves, Scout - aka Nell Harper Lee of To Kill a Mockingbird and C.S. 'Jack' Lewis. We'd have the difficulty of time, culture and character. We might even invite Truman Capote. Jem needed his neighbor and he wanted so to tell his sister about the world - how life appeared to him, in danger, seeking help from others he'd feared. The world was turned in a new direction standing on the porch of Boo. Old vistas are suddenly seen in a new opportunity. Expanded. Broadened. Warmed.
Jesus provides us these Windows of the soul. And we would find windows of the soul including Jesus - do this :
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen
C.S. Lewis had been let down by the Lord. His mother had died. His direction of Oxford Don was not smooth. His faith had fled, gladly, because 1930's Oxford was not looking for fierce faith. A man now of English Literature and, always, of books, the men in these windows of the soul had led him to ask the unwanted questions.
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
We might not have the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, if not for Jack Lewis.
But then again we would not have so much of Jack Lewis, if not for the willing words of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Yes, Jack Lewis read and was influenced - yet many of his most convicting moments came from those who Love Jesus Christ.
In fact, for Max McLean, Theater of Jesus Christ is for all. And inviting all - we all invite risk.
For brothers and sisters in Christ - supporting each other and making a path for Conversation - helps us all and the least to the greatest among us all.
One would see deep, sincere and convincing analytical thought. However, if you addressed JRR Tolkien, wouldn't you expect something of the supernatural?
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases.
You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Our Father God took C.S. "Jack" Lewis on a few journeys we would volunteer to stay home from. And in the there and back again, Jack Lewis had to ask himself what he was experiencing. Seeing. Finding. Our Living Father God.
C.S. Lewis was not setting out to be God's, but C.S. Lewis'.
We all know if we seek God with all we have we will find God. God is God the Almighty, and if God desires His Child. God will have the communion of hearts. C.S. Lewis didn't seek the Lord God, and was found. For the greatness of God is warm and good. Steadfast and enduring:
And this is what our God has done:
1 John 4
9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Our Father,
We find as we learn each other's deep, earnest prayers - as we are asked to pray for others - the successes of prayers answered
are fuel and fire - even double burners - for future prayer answered.
Your Success in Jesus is my success in Jesus and we have learned Philippians 2.
Wncouragement in Christ, comfort from love, participation in the Spirit, affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We are Blessed asking Your Blessing Together.
Philippians 2:2
Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
We lift our cares to You, Father God - rejoicing in deliverance.
We lift our loved ones to You, Father God - rejoicing in Steadfast Love and Salvation.
We lift all those we do not know - knowing they pray and Love Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in the millenniums of multitudes fed by You.
And Let All God's Beloved say,
Amen, So be this in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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