DIVINE NECESSITY

Random thoughts on Necessary Will

“Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” Luke 2:49

Hidden in the Greek expression that Luke used to describe this event is the idea of divine necessity. But this is curious? The words “necessary will” aren’t in the English verse at all. So, why are we looking for them here? Be patient. There is something going on in this verse that is quite unusual, almost as unusual as the story that the verse describes.

This is the only story we have about Jesus as a child. We know the account. Jesus remains in the temple; discussing matters with the priests after his parents leave Jerusalem. Panicked when they discover that their twelve-year-old son is missing, they return to Jerusalem and find him in deep theological debate. Understandably upset, they reprimand him for his action. But he replies with this statement that contains the word dei, a word that means, “need” or “necessity” or “inevitability”. Dei indicates that Jesus already understood that the Father was his Father due to the necessary character of the way things are and that he was completely committed to the Father’s will: the divine necessity of his life. His relationship with God was Son to Father by deliberate design, built into the necessity of life.

What is curious about this word is that the idea of necessity found here is a combination of both Greek and Hebrew thought. The Greek word dei summarizes the idea that there is a divine logic behind the universe, that things are not just random accidents. But the Greeks viewed this as an impersonal, neutral divinity much like the concept of a higher principle or law. Centuries later our culture would identify this concept as the Law of Reason. Luke uses the word because it points in the direction of the divine. But that is only half the story.

The Hebrew concept that is combined with this word still points toward a divine design but the divine design is the deliberate direction of a personal God. In this sense, it is God’s personal proclamation that defines the direction of the universe. And in this verse, Jesus, the twelve-year-old boy, says in effect that his very life is directly connected to the design of the personal God. Jesus views everything about himself as defined by this direct relationship. He is who he is because it is God’s will that he is.

This verse gives translators fits. How do you cram all this information into a few translated words? But now that you know something about just one of those words, you can ask yourself if your answer is like his. Can you say, “My choices in life are the direct result of God’s design for me”?

“Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.”” John 3:7

Perhaps you never thought about it but it is true nonetheless. There is a divine necessity to life, written into the structure of existence. When a believer is claimed by the divine will, life can never be lived again as a haphazard wandering through events. Life becomes what God deems necessary.

Jesus says, “Don’t be surprised that I tell you.” He is speaking to Nicodemus, but he uses the plural “you”. His words are for a much bigger audience than the man sitting in the dark. This bit of divine necessity applies to all of us. Jesus understood that the plan of salvation was woven into the fabric of the universe. This plan reflects God’s divine will. There is no other way.

Christians have always espoused the doctrine that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. But the little Greek word dei can tell us a lot more about the other necessities of God’s view of life. This need to be born from above (“born again” is not a very good translation) is only one of many God appointed requirements.

Necessity is written into the celebration of the Passover sacrifice (Luke 22:7). Necessity governs the fulfillment of Scripture (Matthew 26:54). Necessity controls the suffering of the Messiah (Mark 8:31 and Luke 9:22). Divine necessity was the reason for the imprisonment and trial of Jesus (Luke 24:7). Divine necessity was the basis of the glory of the tomb (Luke 24:26). Necessity pushed forward the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy (Luke 24:44). In fact, every facet of the life of Jesus is written with the Father’s hand. He was the man of necessary destiny.

But what a mistake if we should think that dei is a word that describes only that singular life of the man Jesus. Luke doesn’t stop seeing God’s divine necessity in the lives of every believer. Jesus tells his followers that He will tell them what they must do. Their lives are as much governed by the necessary will of the Father as His. Dei is the word that describes you! God’s hand presses you onto the path of His choosing. The man or woman of God knows this and follows willingly. It is necessary because the Father says so.

How much of your life is governed by a consciousness of necessity?

“and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30

It’s worth repeating. Dei, the Greek word for the necessary character of God’s will, is a pivotal word for living. The jailer knew it. “What is necessary for me?” is his cry. Put aside all the clutter, the confusion, the concern for everyday issues. What is really necessary? What must I do to be found within the will of God?

Hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, disasters. Suddenly the really necessary things of life take center stage. There is so much that doesn’t really matter when the wind is tearing away the roof of your home and transformers are lighting up the night sky like fireworks. Life boils down to the essentials. Those of us who live in the select world of American abundance lose perspective so easily. Until a hurricane comes knocking. Then we are propelled into what it is like for most of the rest of our world. No power. No phones. No refrigeration. No transportation. No conveniences. No water. It’s a view of life’s necessities in capital letters.

Do you suppose that God wants us to stay asleep to our complacent existence? Or do you think that God is interested in the crystalline concentration that comes when life is reduced to necessity? What this jailer discovered is that life’s continuation for him meant getting the right answer right now. What does God want from me?

God is the God of crisis. He would much rather that we come to Him out of reasonable obedience and joy. But we are an obstinate species. We lapse into mental apathy as soon as life rises above necessity. Crisis is necessary. It focuses us on the critical questions. Crisis is the doorway that God opens in order for us to see the reality of life: it is firmly and inevitably in His hands. If you ever thought anything else, you need to stand with that jailer and ask for the real answer. “What must I do?”

Does God’s divine necessity form the unshakeable foundation of your life?

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.” Luke 18:1

By now you should have guessed what word we find in the Greek? God’s divine requirement. The little word dei.

Jesus knew what it meant to carry out God’s necessary will for his life.

The jailer knew that he had to find God’s will for his life.

And now Jesus gives us a story. The story of the unjust judge. What is the purpose of this story? Luke tells us. The purpose of this story is to show us that prayer is part of God’s divine necessity. It is not an option for believers. It is not for the eloquent, the educated or the erudite. It is an absolute necessity for everyone who wants to know God. Prayer is written into God’s view of life. It is the DNA code of relationship.

Consider the role of prayer in the life of Jesus. Essential. Continuous. Effectual. Instantaneous. Uninhibited. First. Last. The breathing of the Spirit.

Is that your life with God, hidden in prayer? Jesus allows no exemptions. “They must of divine necessity pray and not lose heart.” It is God’s way. It is the only way.

If I told you that prayer held the sub-atomic structure of the universe together, would it suddenly become an essential? If you knew that prayer was the basis of every achievement in God’s kingdom, that prayer brought with it the power of the Creator, that prayer alters every event – past, present and future – would it rise above the need to answer the phone?

Dei says prayer is on God’s top priority list. If you are going to live the life governed by His divine necessity, His priorities must (there it is again) become yours.

These brief encounters with divine necessity should point us toward one of the critical questions of life: are you consciously experiencing God’s divine necessity? It is clear that Jesus was fully aware of God’s necessity in his life. It is also clear that he expects us to enjoy that same awareness. Can you say with the Master, “Don’t you know that I must be about His things?”