Jesus Only
Mount Carmel has a history of emphasizing the phrase “Jesus Only”. This emphasis started with a song written by Dr. Samuel Miller, one of the founders of The Lutheran Bible Institute:
Jesus only, on the mountain, Jesus only, on the sea,
Jesus only, in the valley there in dark Gethsemane
Jesus only up to Calvary, Jesus only on the Cross
Jesus only in life’s suffering, all things else are empty dross.
Jesus only in life’s evening, Jesus only gives me rest.
Jesus only can support me when the sun sinks in the west
Jesus only in the morning of that vast eternity.
There revealed in glorious splendor, in the home He won for me!
We realize that this phrase “Jesus Only” may give people an incorrect idea about what we believe at Mount Carmel. If you look for “Jesus Only” on Wikipedia, you will find that there is a “Jesus Only Movement” that is a form of Christianity that rejects the orthodox teaching regarding the Trinity. Mount Carmel is definitely not a part of the “Jesus Only Movement.” Mount Carmel agrees fully with the orthodox Christian teaching regarding the Trinity as it appears in the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.
At Mount Carmel we celebrate the Holy Spirit that Jesus has given us. We celebrate everything the Holy Spirit is doing. And we rejoice in worshiping our Heavenly Father, who has made us and blessed us with all His Creation.
We use the phrase “Jesus Only” in a way that is identical to the traditional use of the term “Christ Alone.” We believe that Jesus is the only source of our salvation, the only mediator between God and humanity, and the only way we receive the Grace of God. Jesus is the one who reveals to us our Heavenly Father and the one who sends us the Holy Spirit. We join the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration who heard the voice from heaven saying “This is my own dear Son! Listen to Him!” and then saw “Jesus only.”
Samuel Miller’s song points us to our need for Jesus. He is the one who was with his disciples and taught them on the mountain and by the sea. He was the one who prayed alone in Gethsemane. He was alone on the Cross, suffering for our sin. He is the only one who really understands us during the times of suffering in our lives.
At the end of life, “in life’s evening,” we cannot depend on our own strength or on any of our friends and family members. But we can depend on Jesus. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Jesus will be the one we will see when we are raised to eternal life. Then we will really see him – “revealed in glorious splendor!”