Nearly all the wisdom we posses, that is to say sound and true wisdom, consists of two parts; the knowledge of God and ourselves. The first few verses of John are among the most popular in the "Bible." They speak of heaven. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. (the promise). He was in the beginning with God, but the reason for their popularity is not that they reveal details of heaven or life beyond the grave. They do not. Nor is it that other, more extensive passages on the subject of "Heaven" are lacking The book of revelation describes heaven as a glorious city, a country, God's Kingdom, paradise It abounds in walls, thrones, precious jewels, choir, angels. So why is John 14 so popular? The answer is probably because of the warm image that is found there: Heaven is "home" We need a final home. Jesus calmly told his troubled disciples that we have one. Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father's house are may rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, when you are ready, I will come again and take you to myself. That where I am you may be also (John 14:1-3). Whoever does not believe that is calling Jesus a liar! Our need for a home arises from the fact that we lost a home. We had a home once in Eden. But sin caused the loss of that home. and ever since, the human race has been wandering. We think of Cain, who killed his brother and was condemned to a life of drifting. He had no home. In Genesis 11, we find men trying to create a city in which homes would be established But the men of Babel were in opposition to God, and God scattered them. They were made homeless.
With the coming of Abraham we find a new heartening element. To be sure, God's first dealings with Abraham was to take him from his home- it was a sinful place filled with idols, and idol worshipers. But in place of the home he lost, God promised Abraham a new place: the land I will show you (Gen 12:1). But even though Abraham was brought into the promise land, even though Abraham, even though his descendants settle their large numbers, it was ultimately inadequate, because he looked forward to a heavenly home.
We don't know much about heaven except that it is where we shall be with Jesus. When we talk to children, they want to know where heaven fits in. Was it between the stars? Was it beyond the them ? The only valid answer, was that heaven is where God is, and where Jesus has gone to prepare a place which He has promised us. ( Plays right into John 14: 1-3).
This is the focal point of Revelation 5. It speaks of the four-and twenty-elders, the angels and a vast amount of other creatures from everywhere, in the universe. These being mention, not for descriptive purposes, but because each bore testimony to Christ nd thus served to show how he is prominent.
The four and twenty elders praised him with this song. ' worthy are you to take the scroll and to pen its seals, for you were slain and by thy blood, didst ransom men for God from every tribe and nation and tongue and, has made them a kingdom and priests to out god., and they shall reign on earth. (vv 9-10). Then the angels gave their testimony: " worthy is the lamb who was slain (Jesus), to receive
power and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (v12). At last the remaining creatures joined in-
" to him who sits upon the throne and to the lamb be blessing honor glory and might, Forever and ever! that is a Christian destiny. Remember heaven id where God is. It is the presence ( and not some high concentration of golden streets or jewels) that makes it heaven.
The words of Jesus were a great comfort to the disciples and are precious to us.
They were going to lose the presence of Jesus for a time, But He told them one day they would be united with him in his father's house. Heaven would be their home for they would be with Jesus.
[story]. This mother became very sick. While the mother was sick, one of the neighbors took the child away to stay with her. until her mother got well. But the mother grew worse and died. The neighbors would take the child home after the funeral, but would not tell her that her mother had died. After a while they brought the little girl home. At once she went to find her mother. First she went into the parlor, then the sitting room to find her mother; he went from one end of the house to the other. At last she asked, " Where is my mama?" When they told her that her mother was gone, the little girl wanted to go back to the neighbor's house again. Home had lost its attraction for her since her mother was not there any longer. "No its not the jasper walls and the pearly gates that are going to make heaven attractive. It is being with God." Will there be a reunion in heaven with the ones who went before us? Many Christian people are anxious about whether they will recognize family, friends, in heaven. They have no doubt that they will be in heaven; to be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord. ( 2 Cor. 5:8 KJV). Still they are confused about what is to happen in the life to come. If we could not recognize our friends or family, then like the little girl who couldn't find her Mother, then heaven would lose much of its attractiveness. But the word of God is explicit. We will know each other. We will know parents and children, friends and relatives, and those who have died in the" LORD" before us!
"It shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
that I will pour a portion of my spirit on all mankind:
your son's and daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions
your old men shall dream dreams...
Then shall everyone be saved who calls on the name of the Lord."
Friday, May 26, 2017
Good Shepherd. [John 10: 11-18]
In language that recalls the twenty- third Psalm, Jesus describes himself as the shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is willing to die for them, and is able to overcome death for them. ( John 10:11).
One of the most familiar pictures the bible uses to teach us about our relationship to God is that of a shepherd and his sheep.
It has it's roots in the Old Testament, in the most popular psalm, Psalm 23, where the author declares, " The Lord is my shepherd." He describes his lord as a good shepherd who takes care of his faithful believers who are his sheep. Jesus uses this same picture in the gospel for the fourth Sunday of Easter when he says,: " I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." his listeners knew that a real shepherd is concerned first and foremost with the welfare of his flock. He would provide it the necessities of life such as food and drink. when a wild animal would attack, he would risk his life for the sheep. He would put his own life in Jeopardy to protect his flock.
But Jesus is doing more than telling pretty stories about heroic shepherds who rescues loveable little lambs from the mouths of hungry lions. He is claiming his own. he is saying, " I am the Lord to whom the psalmist looked in all his needs." I am the one who goes with you through the "valley of the shadow of death". I prepare a banquet table before you in the presence of your enemies. I fill your life with goodness and mercy and lead you to dwell in my house forever.
He calls himself the good shepherd, with emphasis, as the only one that may bear this name with full justice. In this sense the name is applicable to Christ alone; He is the one most excellent shepherd of the spiritual sheep. The first feature which distinguishes him as the true shepherd of souls is this, that he gives his life, his own soul as a ransom, as the one complete sacrifice, for the guilt of all sinners, who have earned eternal damnation.
He became our substitute; He took upon himself our transgressions and died in our stead. thus the guilty, the sinners, are delivered from sin and destruction. He places himself in deliberate contrast to the hirelings, the false teachers, the Pharisees. the sole concern of these is the money and the desire to take everything they can using the name of God, and to give back little and have no interest in the souls of men entrusted to their care. They are strictly mercenary and will serve Christ in truth only so long as their lives and well being seem to be safe. At the first sign of the wolf, at the first indication of real danger, of probable persecution, suffering, and even martyrdom, they turn in flight.Whoever serves Christ let them love the work with all their heart, that they should seek only God's honor and the welfare of their neighbor.
The second feature that distinguishes Jesus as the good shepherd, in contrast to all others, is the fact of the intimate acquaintance and knowledge between Christ and his sheep. (us).
Just as Jesus knows them that are his, according to body, mind, and heart, so the believers know Jesus, rests in Jesus. intimacy and communion is as close and embracing which exists between father and Son. Thus it is between Christ and the believers. We confess with Peter, " There is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12). It is not by accident that the Lord compares us to sheep.. "I am the good shepherd and know my own sheep.
There is a story about a boy who lived on a farm in Minnesota, whose father raised some sheep as hobby. his little flock grew to about thirty in number when it was attacked by a pack of roving dogs.
instead of staying together or fleeing to the shelter of the barn yard, they would panic and scatter in every direction. The swift footed dog's could out run them and destroyed them one by one. This also happened to the disciples when Jesus was crucified. Jesus knows our weakness, and how we love to wander and stray, but Jesus always call us back to the Church. He wants us to be one flock gathered around him. He wants us to be "Lord of our life," but what happens? We have our own wills, and do what we want without regard for the Lord's will or the consequences. You can always expose the hired man, but Jesus calls our attention to himself as the good shepherd and follow his example.
A wonderful example of this is told in the story of a Priest, Father Kolbe.
By the end of July 1941, Auschwitz was working like a well organized killing machine, and the Nazis congratulated themselves on their efficiency. On this night, a prisoner from the work side of the camp who would figure out a way to escape. When these escapees were caught, as they usually were, they would hung be with special nooses, that choked out their miserable lives very slowly- a grave warning to others who might be tempted to try One night the air was filled with baying dogs, curses of soldiers and the roar of motorcycles, for a prisoner had escaped from barracks. 14. Soon there ten-men listed on the death-roll. The chosen groaned, sweating with fear, " my poor wife!" My poor children! What will the do." Suddenly there was a commotion in the ranks, a prisoner had broken out of line, calling for the commandant... The prisoners gasped. It was their beloved Father Kolbe, the priest who shared his last crust, who comforted the dying, who heard their confessions and nourished their souls. this frail priest spoke softly, even calmly, to the Nazi butcher.
"I would like to die in place of one of the men you condemned..."
" Why snapped the commandant?" " I am a old man, sir, and good for nothing. My life will serve no purpose. His ploy triggered the response Kolbe wanted. " In whose place do you want to die?" asked Fritsch.
" For that one," Kolbe responded, pointing to the weeping prisoner who had bemoan his wife and children.
Kolbe's place on the death ledger was set... Kolbe wasn't looking for gratitude. If he was to lay down for another, the fulfillment had to be an act of obedience itself. For this time the prisoners had a shepherd to lead them through the valley of the shadow of death., pointing them to the "Great Shepherd." Perhaps for that reason Father Kolbe was the last to die....
For those with eyes to see, it points to the man who laid down his life for his friends, on the cross. To the only "King" who died for his subjects. The parable of the good shepherd describes Jesus role perfectly. Unlike a hired worker, Jesus through love and affection, offered to lay down his life for his flock. I' sure the "Spirit put this on Father' Kolbe's heart when that man cried out " My poor wife!"
One of the most familiar pictures the bible uses to teach us about our relationship to God is that of a shepherd and his sheep.
It has it's roots in the Old Testament, in the most popular psalm, Psalm 23, where the author declares, " The Lord is my shepherd." He describes his lord as a good shepherd who takes care of his faithful believers who are his sheep. Jesus uses this same picture in the gospel for the fourth Sunday of Easter when he says,: " I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." his listeners knew that a real shepherd is concerned first and foremost with the welfare of his flock. He would provide it the necessities of life such as food and drink. when a wild animal would attack, he would risk his life for the sheep. He would put his own life in Jeopardy to protect his flock.
But Jesus is doing more than telling pretty stories about heroic shepherds who rescues loveable little lambs from the mouths of hungry lions. He is claiming his own. he is saying, " I am the Lord to whom the psalmist looked in all his needs." I am the one who goes with you through the "valley of the shadow of death". I prepare a banquet table before you in the presence of your enemies. I fill your life with goodness and mercy and lead you to dwell in my house forever.
He calls himself the good shepherd, with emphasis, as the only one that may bear this name with full justice. In this sense the name is applicable to Christ alone; He is the one most excellent shepherd of the spiritual sheep. The first feature which distinguishes him as the true shepherd of souls is this, that he gives his life, his own soul as a ransom, as the one complete sacrifice, for the guilt of all sinners, who have earned eternal damnation.
He became our substitute; He took upon himself our transgressions and died in our stead. thus the guilty, the sinners, are delivered from sin and destruction. He places himself in deliberate contrast to the hirelings, the false teachers, the Pharisees. the sole concern of these is the money and the desire to take everything they can using the name of God, and to give back little and have no interest in the souls of men entrusted to their care. They are strictly mercenary and will serve Christ in truth only so long as their lives and well being seem to be safe. At the first sign of the wolf, at the first indication of real danger, of probable persecution, suffering, and even martyrdom, they turn in flight.Whoever serves Christ let them love the work with all their heart, that they should seek only God's honor and the welfare of their neighbor.
The second feature that distinguishes Jesus as the good shepherd, in contrast to all others, is the fact of the intimate acquaintance and knowledge between Christ and his sheep. (us).
Just as Jesus knows them that are his, according to body, mind, and heart, so the believers know Jesus, rests in Jesus. intimacy and communion is as close and embracing which exists between father and Son. Thus it is between Christ and the believers. We confess with Peter, " There is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12). It is not by accident that the Lord compares us to sheep.. "I am the good shepherd and know my own sheep.
There is a story about a boy who lived on a farm in Minnesota, whose father raised some sheep as hobby. his little flock grew to about thirty in number when it was attacked by a pack of roving dogs.
instead of staying together or fleeing to the shelter of the barn yard, they would panic and scatter in every direction. The swift footed dog's could out run them and destroyed them one by one. This also happened to the disciples when Jesus was crucified. Jesus knows our weakness, and how we love to wander and stray, but Jesus always call us back to the Church. He wants us to be one flock gathered around him. He wants us to be "Lord of our life," but what happens? We have our own wills, and do what we want without regard for the Lord's will or the consequences. You can always expose the hired man, but Jesus calls our attention to himself as the good shepherd and follow his example.
A wonderful example of this is told in the story of a Priest, Father Kolbe.
By the end of July 1941, Auschwitz was working like a well organized killing machine, and the Nazis congratulated themselves on their efficiency. On this night, a prisoner from the work side of the camp who would figure out a way to escape. When these escapees were caught, as they usually were, they would hung be with special nooses, that choked out their miserable lives very slowly- a grave warning to others who might be tempted to try One night the air was filled with baying dogs, curses of soldiers and the roar of motorcycles, for a prisoner had escaped from barracks. 14. Soon there ten-men listed on the death-roll. The chosen groaned, sweating with fear, " my poor wife!" My poor children! What will the do." Suddenly there was a commotion in the ranks, a prisoner had broken out of line, calling for the commandant... The prisoners gasped. It was their beloved Father Kolbe, the priest who shared his last crust, who comforted the dying, who heard their confessions and nourished their souls. this frail priest spoke softly, even calmly, to the Nazi butcher.
"I would like to die in place of one of the men you condemned..."
" Why snapped the commandant?" " I am a old man, sir, and good for nothing. My life will serve no purpose. His ploy triggered the response Kolbe wanted. " In whose place do you want to die?" asked Fritsch.
" For that one," Kolbe responded, pointing to the weeping prisoner who had bemoan his wife and children.
Kolbe's place on the death ledger was set... Kolbe wasn't looking for gratitude. If he was to lay down for another, the fulfillment had to be an act of obedience itself. For this time the prisoners had a shepherd to lead them through the valley of the shadow of death., pointing them to the "Great Shepherd." Perhaps for that reason Father Kolbe was the last to die....
For those with eyes to see, it points to the man who laid down his life for his friends, on the cross. To the only "King" who died for his subjects. The parable of the good shepherd describes Jesus role perfectly. Unlike a hired worker, Jesus through love and affection, offered to lay down his life for his flock. I' sure the "Spirit put this on Father' Kolbe's heart when that man cried out " My poor wife!"
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Call of Matthew [9: 9-13.]
As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and said to him " follow me." So he arose and followed him. When Jesus says, " Come to me," he doesn't say come to religion, come to a system or come to a certain doctrine. This is a very personal invitation to a God, an invitation from our Savior. In essence, Christianity, is nothing more, nothing less than a desire and an effort to see Jesus. That's all it is. we are trying to catch a glimpse of a man, not a program, not a plan, not a system,, not a doctrine. We are trying to see a man who called himself the Son of God. Our God is not aloof- he's not so far above us that He can't see and understand our problems. Jesus is not a God who stayed on a mountaintop-- he's a savior who came down and lived and worked with the people. Everywhere He went people followed, drawn together by the magnet that was-- and is-- the Savior. The life of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a message of mercy, a message of life in a dark world.
Now it happened: As Jesus set at the table in the house, that behold many tax collectors and many sinners came and sat down with him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, " why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? When Jesus heard that, He said to them, " Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means; ' I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' for I did not come for the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Although he was neither rude or arrogant, Jesus aggravated the teachers of the law when He exercised his privileges as the Son of God. When Jesus forgave sins, mingled with sinners, raised the dead, and healed the sick, the teachers thought his actions were inappropriate.
The kingdom of God had come. Jesus used his power over sickness and death to show his compassion for needy humanity. As a true friend, He meets the needs we bring him. He asks us to join his mission,and reach out to those around us.
Tell me, why are those stories in the Bible? Why are the gospels full of such people? Such hopeless people? Though their situations vary, their conditions don't. They are trapped. Estranged, Rejected. They have nowhere to turn. On their lips, a desperate prayer. In their hearts, desolate dreams, and in their hands a broken rope. But before their eyes a-never say-die- Galilean who majors in stepping in when everyone else steps out. The purpose of these stories is not to tell what Jesus did. No! Their purpose is to tell us what Jesus does! Why are these portraits, a weary hand on a shoulder, fingers on sightless eyes, words for sad hearts,... all to fulfilling the prophecy! " A bruised reed he will not break., and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." Why are all these portraits in the Bible? Why did God leave us one tale after another of wounded lives being restored? Everything written in the past was written to teach us. Paul penned, " The scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we have hope. (Rom.15:4)
These are not Sunday school stories. Not romantic fables? They are historic moments where God met real pain,
listen as Jesus speaks to Emmaus bound disciples. " Now behold two of them were traveling the same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem and they talked together of all the thing's which happened. So it was while they talked and reasoned Jesus drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so they didn't know him and he said too them, " what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another that makes you sad?" Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to him," are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?" So they said to him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified him and we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since all these things happened. yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early astonished us. When they did not find a body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of Angels who said he was alive, and certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." Then he said to them, " Foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken!" Ought not Christ have suffered thee things and to enter into his glory?" Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and he indicated that he would have gone further, but they constrained him, saying, abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent" and he went in to stay with them.
Now it came to pass, as he set at table with them, that he took bread , blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished from their sight, and they said to one another, " Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened the scriptures to us ?" Bible stories goal is not to help us look back with amazement, but forward with faith. The God who spoke, still speaks, the God who forgave still forgives. The God who came still comes, and Jesus is still in our world. Jesus call to Matthew, is a call to all! When Jesus confronted the Pharisees it was not because they weren't devout enough about their relationship with God; it was their devotion to God that had separated them from the needs and suffering of others. they had distanced themselves from the suffering and needs of others who needed their mercy.
An African proverb puts it this way: " You cannot wipe another's tears away without getting wet yourself!
Now it happened: As Jesus set at the table in the house, that behold many tax collectors and many sinners came and sat down with him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, " why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? When Jesus heard that, He said to them, " Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means; ' I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' for I did not come for the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Although he was neither rude or arrogant, Jesus aggravated the teachers of the law when He exercised his privileges as the Son of God. When Jesus forgave sins, mingled with sinners, raised the dead, and healed the sick, the teachers thought his actions were inappropriate.
The kingdom of God had come. Jesus used his power over sickness and death to show his compassion for needy humanity. As a true friend, He meets the needs we bring him. He asks us to join his mission,and reach out to those around us.
Tell me, why are those stories in the Bible? Why are the gospels full of such people? Such hopeless people? Though their situations vary, their conditions don't. They are trapped. Estranged, Rejected. They have nowhere to turn. On their lips, a desperate prayer. In their hearts, desolate dreams, and in their hands a broken rope. But before their eyes a-never say-die- Galilean who majors in stepping in when everyone else steps out. The purpose of these stories is not to tell what Jesus did. No! Their purpose is to tell us what Jesus does! Why are these portraits, a weary hand on a shoulder, fingers on sightless eyes, words for sad hearts,... all to fulfilling the prophecy! " A bruised reed he will not break., and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." Why are all these portraits in the Bible? Why did God leave us one tale after another of wounded lives being restored? Everything written in the past was written to teach us. Paul penned, " The scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we have hope. (Rom.15:4)
These are not Sunday school stories. Not romantic fables? They are historic moments where God met real pain,
listen as Jesus speaks to Emmaus bound disciples. " Now behold two of them were traveling the same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem and they talked together of all the thing's which happened. So it was while they talked and reasoned Jesus drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so they didn't know him and he said too them, " what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another that makes you sad?" Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to him," are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?" So they said to him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified him and we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since all these things happened. yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early astonished us. When they did not find a body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of Angels who said he was alive, and certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." Then he said to them, " Foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken!" Ought not Christ have suffered thee things and to enter into his glory?" Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and he indicated that he would have gone further, but they constrained him, saying, abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent" and he went in to stay with them.
Now it came to pass, as he set at table with them, that he took bread , blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished from their sight, and they said to one another, " Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened the scriptures to us ?" Bible stories goal is not to help us look back with amazement, but forward with faith. The God who spoke, still speaks, the God who forgave still forgives. The God who came still comes, and Jesus is still in our world. Jesus call to Matthew, is a call to all! When Jesus confronted the Pharisees it was not because they weren't devout enough about their relationship with God; it was their devotion to God that had separated them from the needs and suffering of others. they had distanced themselves from the suffering and needs of others who needed their mercy.
An African proverb puts it this way: " You cannot wipe another's tears away without getting wet yourself!
Monday, May 22, 2017
Divine Man?
At several points we mention the phenomenon of the "divine man," the hero or philosopher who was regarded as embodying the power of God and who exhibited that power by various miracles, divination, foretelling the future and so on. one of the most famous of these was Apollonius of Tyana. He lived through most of the first century and shortly after 217 a "life" of him written by Philostraus, from which we quote an incident. It is a deliberately literary work and hence rather difference from the directness and brevity of the Christian stories, which are only one stage or so removed from oral tradition.
Now while he was discussing libations, there chanced to be present in his audience a young dandy who bore so evil a reputation for licentiousness, that his conduct had once been the subject of coarse street- corner songs. His home was Corcyra, and he traced his pedigree to Alcinous the Phaeacian who entertained Odysseus. Apollonius was then talking about libations, and was urging them not to drink out of a particular cup, but to reserve for the gods, without ever touching it or drinking. But when he also urged them to have handles on the cup, because that is part of the cup at which men are least likely to drink, the you youth burst out into loud and coarse laughter, and quite drowned his voice. Then Apollonius looked up at him and said: " It is not yourself that perpetrates this insult, but the demon, who drives you on without you knowing it." and in fact the youth was, without knowing it possessed by the devil ; for he would laugh at things that no one else laughed at, and then he would fall to weeping for no reason at all, and he would talk and sing to himself. Now most people thought that it was the boisterous humor of youth which led him into such excesses; but he was really the mouthpiece of a devil, though it only seemed a drunken frolic in which on that occasion he was indulging. Now when Apollonius gazed on him, the ghost in him began to utter cries and anger, as a master might a shifty, rascally, shameless slave, such as one hears from people who are being branded or racked, and the ghost swore that he would leave the young man alone and never take possession of any man again. bur Apollonius addressed him with anger, as a master might a shifty,
rascally, and shameless slave and so on and ordered him to quit the young man and show by a visible sign that he had done so. " I will throw down yonder statue said the devil and pointed to one of the images which was I the King's portico, for there it was that the scene took place. Bu when the statue began moving gently, and then fell down, it would defy anyone to describe the hubbub which arose there at and the way they clapped their hands in wonder. but the young man rubbed his eyes as though he had just woke up, and he looked toward the rays of the sun, and won the consideration of all who now had turned their attention to him; for He no longer showed himself licentious, nor did he stare madly about, but he returned to his own self, as thoroughly as if he had been treated with drugs;
and he gave up his dainty dress and summery garments and the rest of his sybaritic way of life, and he fell in love with the austerity of philosophers, and donned their cloak and stripping off his old self modelled his life in future upon that of Apollonius.
Now while he was discussing libations, there chanced to be present in his audience a young dandy who bore so evil a reputation for licentiousness, that his conduct had once been the subject of coarse street- corner songs. His home was Corcyra, and he traced his pedigree to Alcinous the Phaeacian who entertained Odysseus. Apollonius was then talking about libations, and was urging them not to drink out of a particular cup, but to reserve for the gods, without ever touching it or drinking. But when he also urged them to have handles on the cup, because that is part of the cup at which men are least likely to drink, the you youth burst out into loud and coarse laughter, and quite drowned his voice. Then Apollonius looked up at him and said: " It is not yourself that perpetrates this insult, but the demon, who drives you on without you knowing it." and in fact the youth was, without knowing it possessed by the devil ; for he would laugh at things that no one else laughed at, and then he would fall to weeping for no reason at all, and he would talk and sing to himself. Now most people thought that it was the boisterous humor of youth which led him into such excesses; but he was really the mouthpiece of a devil, though it only seemed a drunken frolic in which on that occasion he was indulging. Now when Apollonius gazed on him, the ghost in him began to utter cries and anger, as a master might a shifty, rascally, shameless slave, such as one hears from people who are being branded or racked, and the ghost swore that he would leave the young man alone and never take possession of any man again. bur Apollonius addressed him with anger, as a master might a shifty,
rascally, and shameless slave and so on and ordered him to quit the young man and show by a visible sign that he had done so. " I will throw down yonder statue said the devil and pointed to one of the images which was I the King's portico, for there it was that the scene took place. Bu when the statue began moving gently, and then fell down, it would defy anyone to describe the hubbub which arose there at and the way they clapped their hands in wonder. but the young man rubbed his eyes as though he had just woke up, and he looked toward the rays of the sun, and won the consideration of all who now had turned their attention to him; for He no longer showed himself licentious, nor did he stare madly about, but he returned to his own self, as thoroughly as if he had been treated with drugs;
and he gave up his dainty dress and summery garments and the rest of his sybaritic way of life, and he fell in love with the austerity of philosophers, and donned their cloak and stripping off his old self modelled his life in future upon that of Apollonius.
Friday, May 19, 2017
Tremendous Prophecy Dan. 9:25
Chapter 9 contains a Tremendous prophecy. Because of the intricate accuracy of its fulfillment, we have confidence in the historic accuracy of the "Book Daniel." reading in 9:25 " Know therefore and understand, that from going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince. shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." Sixty- two weeks and seven weeks total sixty-nine weeks. The Hebrew word here is Shabua, which simply means a "period of seven." Most scholars will agree that this is a period of seven years each. Multiplying 69 x7 we get a total of 483 years. We know the commandment to rebuild the city and wall, recorded in Nehemiah 2:1 was on the first of March, 444 B.C. The day on which Messiah was cut off was on March 25, 33 A.D. The prophetic calendar consists of 360 days per year, so we must multiply 360 x 483 prophet years for a total of 173,880 predicted days. As we begin to check this out on the Julian Calendar, we must take the 444 years from the command to rebuild the wall of the city down to the year O, then add the 33 years A.D. from the year O to the crucifixion of Christ for a total of 477. however, since the year O, counts 1B.C. and 1 A.D., we must subtract one year, leaving a total of 476 years according to the Julian calendar When we multiply 476 years x 365 days, we get 173,740 days. There were 116 leap year days, so we add those and also the 24 covering the interlude between March 1, date for the command to build the city and the wall, and the March 25, date of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. By counting every day , we end up with a total of 173,880 days, predictive days prophesied by Daniel 9:25. This is one of the most tremendous prophecies in the entire Old Testament. Daniel tells us to the day the time of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ,
173,880 days in the future.
173,880 days in the future.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
The Trial. John 18:-28
This text records what may have been the last intimate, personal conversation that Jesus had with another individual before He was crucified. In this exchange between the Lord Jesus Christ and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, we see two men with opposing agendas. Pilate comes across as one who is agitated at having been placed in the middle of what he sees as a religious dispute between Jews. His sarcasm and short answers reveal his irritation. Jesus on the other hand, uses this conversation to reveal his true identity to Pilate. When asked if He is really the King of the Jews,
Jesus pulls no punches, but responds in the affirmative. Then Jesus tells Pilate that his mission in coming to this world was that of going to the cross and dying to bear witness to the truth. At this point, Pilate asks a question born out of pure cynicism He asks Jesus "What is Truth?" This was a rhetorical question. Pilate did not want an answer, and he did not wait around for one. In essence, he was telling Jesus, " What is true for you may not be true for me! Don't talk to me about truth for truth can not really be known!. So, Pilate threw away a glorious opportunity to come to know the truth for himself. He looked truth in the face, refused to see it and walked away, forever lost in his sins!
I would Like to take Pilate's question and ponder it for a few minutes. I believe the Bible gives us enough information about truth so that we can answer this question for ourselves. In fact, I want to take the texts and I will use to examine truth from just the "Book of John", Of the 222 verses in the Bible that contain the word "truth,"
22 or 10% are found in the gospel according to John. What is truth? Lets look at John and find out.
some professing Christians who cannot accept the idea of absolute truth. They can believe what they will, but there is such a thing as absolute truth! Jesus himself, in this passage, stated that he came " to bear witness to the truth." So what is truth? The word from which it is translated means, " that which is accurate or true in any matter under consideration. It is the opposite of that which is feigned, fictitious or false. For instance, suppose I tell you that there is a truth called Law of Gravity. This law states that whatever goes up must come down. Now, suppose that you reject that as being just "my truth."
The world, on the other hand, has a spirit within them which blinds them to the truth, 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Cor. 2:14. This accounts for the fact that they will consistently reject the truth and choose lies instead.
So, you decide to test your theory and leap from a building. It will not take you long to learn that there is such a thing as absolute truth, and that it can be known!
Abraham Lincoln once used a very clever ploy to teach some people about truth. They had come to him with a decision that was based on suppositions rather than truth. After hearing their logic, Lincoln asked, " how many legs would a sheep have if you called its tail a leg?" They quickly answered, "Five!" The President then said, (No, it would only have four legs. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one.")
I for one, believe in absolute truth! I believe that black is black; white is white; up is up; down is down; left is left; right is right in is in and out is out. I believe absolute truth can be known. But, if there is truth and truth can be known, then how can we learn the truth.
Well, for those of us who are saved it is a task made easier by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus tell us three times in John's gospel, that the spirit of God is the" Spirit of truth John 14:17; 1526: 16;13; is especially important, " How be it when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself. The scripture of truth, is thy word. John 17:17. everything stands or falls right here.! If the Bible is inspired, infallible, inerrant word of God as it claims.2:Tim. 3:16, then it and it alone is the final authority and standard of living of all life.
not the opinions of men;; not the musing of great philosophers; not the teachings of great religious leaders, but the Bible is the final word in all manners of life. All scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
However, if the Bible is wrong and cannot be believed, then our foundations are destroyed and we have no faith, no hope and no rules. Psa. 11:3. If the Bible is a lie, then there is no absolute truth!
Yet we have raised a generation that has been taught to "doubt" the truth of this book! When a child sits in a classroom and hears that the earth is billions of years old and that man evolved from a single--- cell organism over a million of years, the foundations have been destroyed! God did not make man in His image then it is not wrong to kill babies through abortions. it is not wrong to rape and murder other people because we are just animals. If man evolved, then there is no sin, there is no right and wrong, there are no absolutes. You might as well live like you want to go to hell; there is no accounting to God; there is no after-life. If the first 11 chapters of Genesis are not true then you might as well junk the whole book! If God lied in Genesis 1:11, then I can't trust him in John 3:16. You need the foundation of the Old Testament (for it was Jesus Bible!) HE DEFENDED IT IN THE TEMPLE. ( at the age of twelve years old.) Scholars pretty much agree, that Jesus never read the New Testament!
When we take the Ten commandments and say they are not relevant for today, we have undermined the foundation's. When we tell society that the Bible cannot be trusted we undermine the foundations. When we treat the Bible like a giant buffet and choose the parts we like and ignore the parts that bother us personally, then we undermine the foundations. There is a price to pay for our haughtiness and that price is the absence of truth in America!
Do you see why being able to trust the Bible is so important? In its pages, we learn about God, the creation of man ( I don't know if that was a smart move!), sin, salvation, good, evil, the family, etc. If that foundation is destroyed, then there is no basis for truth and if there is no truth then everybody is right and nobody is wrong. Thank God we can trust the Bible! It is the word of God! Praise God, it
can be believed for it is forever settled in glory Isa 40:8. ( the grass dies. the flower faded, but the word shall stand forever!) Psa. 119:89 ( Forever Lord thy word is settled in Heaven!) AMen!
Jesus pulls no punches, but responds in the affirmative. Then Jesus tells Pilate that his mission in coming to this world was that of going to the cross and dying to bear witness to the truth. At this point, Pilate asks a question born out of pure cynicism He asks Jesus "What is Truth?" This was a rhetorical question. Pilate did not want an answer, and he did not wait around for one. In essence, he was telling Jesus, " What is true for you may not be true for me! Don't talk to me about truth for truth can not really be known!. So, Pilate threw away a glorious opportunity to come to know the truth for himself. He looked truth in the face, refused to see it and walked away, forever lost in his sins!
I would Like to take Pilate's question and ponder it for a few minutes. I believe the Bible gives us enough information about truth so that we can answer this question for ourselves. In fact, I want to take the texts and I will use to examine truth from just the "Book of John", Of the 222 verses in the Bible that contain the word "truth,"
22 or 10% are found in the gospel according to John. What is truth? Lets look at John and find out.
some professing Christians who cannot accept the idea of absolute truth. They can believe what they will, but there is such a thing as absolute truth! Jesus himself, in this passage, stated that he came " to bear witness to the truth." So what is truth? The word from which it is translated means, " that which is accurate or true in any matter under consideration. It is the opposite of that which is feigned, fictitious or false. For instance, suppose I tell you that there is a truth called Law of Gravity. This law states that whatever goes up must come down. Now, suppose that you reject that as being just "my truth."
The world, on the other hand, has a spirit within them which blinds them to the truth, 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Cor. 2:14. This accounts for the fact that they will consistently reject the truth and choose lies instead.
So, you decide to test your theory and leap from a building. It will not take you long to learn that there is such a thing as absolute truth, and that it can be known!
Abraham Lincoln once used a very clever ploy to teach some people about truth. They had come to him with a decision that was based on suppositions rather than truth. After hearing their logic, Lincoln asked, " how many legs would a sheep have if you called its tail a leg?" They quickly answered, "Five!" The President then said, (No, it would only have four legs. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one.")
I for one, believe in absolute truth! I believe that black is black; white is white; up is up; down is down; left is left; right is right in is in and out is out. I believe absolute truth can be known. But, if there is truth and truth can be known, then how can we learn the truth.
Well, for those of us who are saved it is a task made easier by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus tell us three times in John's gospel, that the spirit of God is the" Spirit of truth John 14:17; 1526: 16;13; is especially important, " How be it when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself. The scripture of truth, is thy word. John 17:17. everything stands or falls right here.! If the Bible is inspired, infallible, inerrant word of God as it claims.2:Tim. 3:16, then it and it alone is the final authority and standard of living of all life.
not the opinions of men;; not the musing of great philosophers; not the teachings of great religious leaders, but the Bible is the final word in all manners of life. All scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
However, if the Bible is wrong and cannot be believed, then our foundations are destroyed and we have no faith, no hope and no rules. Psa. 11:3. If the Bible is a lie, then there is no absolute truth!
Yet we have raised a generation that has been taught to "doubt" the truth of this book! When a child sits in a classroom and hears that the earth is billions of years old and that man evolved from a single--- cell organism over a million of years, the foundations have been destroyed! God did not make man in His image then it is not wrong to kill babies through abortions. it is not wrong to rape and murder other people because we are just animals. If man evolved, then there is no sin, there is no right and wrong, there are no absolutes. You might as well live like you want to go to hell; there is no accounting to God; there is no after-life. If the first 11 chapters of Genesis are not true then you might as well junk the whole book! If God lied in Genesis 1:11, then I can't trust him in John 3:16. You need the foundation of the Old Testament (for it was Jesus Bible!) HE DEFENDED IT IN THE TEMPLE. ( at the age of twelve years old.) Scholars pretty much agree, that Jesus never read the New Testament!
When we take the Ten commandments and say they are not relevant for today, we have undermined the foundation's. When we tell society that the Bible cannot be trusted we undermine the foundations. When we treat the Bible like a giant buffet and choose the parts we like and ignore the parts that bother us personally, then we undermine the foundations. There is a price to pay for our haughtiness and that price is the absence of truth in America!
Do you see why being able to trust the Bible is so important? In its pages, we learn about God, the creation of man ( I don't know if that was a smart move!), sin, salvation, good, evil, the family, etc. If that foundation is destroyed, then there is no basis for truth and if there is no truth then everybody is right and nobody is wrong. Thank God we can trust the Bible! It is the word of God! Praise God, it
can be believed for it is forever settled in glory Isa 40:8. ( the grass dies. the flower faded, but the word shall stand forever!) Psa. 119:89 ( Forever Lord thy word is settled in Heaven!) AMen!
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Job. 38:1-11
Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! now we are in the storm, our life is almost swamped; but Jesus is here now, and when we call him he will calm the storm. Even the wind and the waves listen to him. as they would their creator. We are to listen to him and are called to believe in the power of God's word, a power greater then all that we fear. In the creation story from Job 38, God describes primal ordering of the universe very differently from what we find in Gen 1 or Gen 2. Who is this Job from our text today. Well, he lived in the land of Uz, a good man who feared God and stayed away from evil. He had a large family of seven sons and three daughters and was immensely wealthy, for he owned 7,000 sheep, 3000 camels,, 500 teams of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and employed many servants. He was the richest cattleman in the entire area. He had a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. Satan hoped to convince God that Job was only righteous, because God gave him a comfortable life. Every year when each of job's sons had a birthday, he invited his brothers and sisters to his home for a celebration, and they would eat and drink with great Joy. One day as the angels ( sons of God) came to present themselves, before the Lord, Satan the accuser came with them to bring disaster upon Job. Where have you come from the Lord asked Satan, And servant replied, from patrolling the earth " Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth (a good man) who fears God and will have nothing to do with evil. " Why shouldn't he, when you pay him so well? Satan scoffed. " Skin for skin," Satan replied. A man will do anything to save his life. Touch his body with sickness and he will curse you to your face. You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he touches, look how rich he is! The Lord replied to Satan, " you may do anything you want to his wealth, but don't harm him physically. So Satan went away; and sure enough not long afterwards when Job's son and daughter were dining at the oldest brother's house tragedy struck. A messenger rushed to Job's home with this news.: your oxen were plowing, with all the donkey's feeding beside, when the Sabeans raided us, drove away the animals and killed all the farmhands except me. I am the only one left. While this messenger was still speaking, another arrived with more bad news: " The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up all your sheep and killed all the herdsmen and I alone have escaped to tell you." Before this man finished, still another messenger rushed in; " Three bands of Chaldeans have driven off your camels and killed off your servants and I alone have escaped to tell you. As he was speaking another arrived to say, your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brothers home, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and engulfed the house so that the roof fell in on them and all are dead and I alone escaped to tell you. Then Job stood up tore his robe in grief and fell down before God. ' I came naked from my mother's womb,' he said and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord, In all of this, Job did not sin.
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with a terrible case of boils from head to foot. Then Job took a broken piece of pottery to scape himself, and sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, are you still trying to be godly when God has done all this to you? " Curse him and die." But he replied, " you talk like a heathen women. What? Shall we receive only pleasant things from the hand of God and never anything unpleasant. So in all this Job said nothing wrong.
When three of Jobs friends heard of all the tragedy that had befallen him, they got in touch with each other and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad, the Shuite, Zophar the Naamathite. Job was so changed that they scarcely recognize him. Wailing loudly in despair, they tore their robes and threw dust upon their heads, then they sat on the ground with him silently for seven days and nights, no one speaking a word; for they saw that his suffering was to great for words. At last Job spoke, and cursed the day of his birth.
Let the day of my birth be cursed he said, and the night I was conceived. Let that day be forever forgotten. Let it even be loss to God, shrouded in external darkness. May it be blotted of the calendar.
Let the stars of the night disappear. Let it long for light but never see it., never see the morning light.
Curse it for the failure to shut my mother's womb for letting me be born to come to all this trouble.
Why is man allowed to be born if God is only going to give him a hopeless life of uselessness and frustration? I can not eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. What I always feared has happened to me. I was not fat or lazy, yet trouble struck me down. A reply From Elipkaz the Temanite: " Will you let me say a word? then Eliphaz answered and said: " Should a wise men answer with empty knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind? Should he answer with unprofitable talk, or by speeches with which he can do no good?
Yes you cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God. Yes your own lips testify against you.
are you the first man who was born? Eliphaz and Jobs three friends, give their opinion concerning the reason for Job's troubles. (1). Eliphaz argued that suffering resulted from sin. Job answered, hurt and grieved by his friend's harsh words. Eliphaz could not comfort his friend. But now when trouble strikes, you are faint and broken? At such a time as this should you not trust in God to be your confidence? Shouldn't those who are good believe that God will care for them. In John 9, the followers of Jesus pointed to a man born blind and asked, " Who sinned, this man or his parents?"
Jesus told them neither his parents or this man sinned, " but this happened so the work of God might be displayed in his life." Jesus pointed that even suffering can be used to glorify God. Jesus pointed them to the future!
(2.) Zophar replies to Job: I realize you know everything! Well, I know a few things myself- you are no better than I am. All wisdom will die with you! You have accused me without the greatest fear of God ( without proof). Tell me what I have done wrong?
Here I sit in sackcloth; and have laid all hope in the dust, my eyes are red from weeping and on my eyelids is the shadow of death. Yet I am innocent and my prayer is pure.(3.) Bildad the Shuhite replies. Just because you tear your clothes in anger, is this going to start an earth-quake? The truth remains, that if you do not prosper, it is because you are wicked. The " theme" around which the " whole book of Job" revolves is the mystery inherent in the unmerited suffering providence of a just man. How can a just God permit an innocent man to suffer? Since nothing can happen independent
of the will and knowledge of God?
The final solution the author of " Job" gives us is that the question is too big to answer for man.
Man cannot comprehend God's purpose in inflicting suffering of a just man. Man cannot penetrate the secrets of God's providence. He must adore divine wisdom even when he doesn't understand it. Therefore, until God chooses to explain why the just must suffer and the wicked prosper, man must trust in God's goodness and justice. And not claim the right to know, what God does choose to reveal.
Who are you trying to fool? Speak some sense if you want us to answer. Just because you tear your
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with a terrible case of boils from head to foot. Then Job took a broken piece of pottery to scape himself, and sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, are you still trying to be godly when God has done all this to you? " Curse him and die." But he replied, " you talk like a heathen women. What? Shall we receive only pleasant things from the hand of God and never anything unpleasant. So in all this Job said nothing wrong.
When three of Jobs friends heard of all the tragedy that had befallen him, they got in touch with each other and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad, the Shuite, Zophar the Naamathite. Job was so changed that they scarcely recognize him. Wailing loudly in despair, they tore their robes and threw dust upon their heads, then they sat on the ground with him silently for seven days and nights, no one speaking a word; for they saw that his suffering was to great for words. At last Job spoke, and cursed the day of his birth.
Let the day of my birth be cursed he said, and the night I was conceived. Let that day be forever forgotten. Let it even be loss to God, shrouded in external darkness. May it be blotted of the calendar.
Let the stars of the night disappear. Let it long for light but never see it., never see the morning light.
Curse it for the failure to shut my mother's womb for letting me be born to come to all this trouble.
Why is man allowed to be born if God is only going to give him a hopeless life of uselessness and frustration? I can not eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. What I always feared has happened to me. I was not fat or lazy, yet trouble struck me down. A reply From Elipkaz the Temanite: " Will you let me say a word? then Eliphaz answered and said: " Should a wise men answer with empty knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind? Should he answer with unprofitable talk, or by speeches with which he can do no good?
Yes you cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God. Yes your own lips testify against you.
are you the first man who was born? Eliphaz and Jobs three friends, give their opinion concerning the reason for Job's troubles. (1). Eliphaz argued that suffering resulted from sin. Job answered, hurt and grieved by his friend's harsh words. Eliphaz could not comfort his friend. But now when trouble strikes, you are faint and broken? At such a time as this should you not trust in God to be your confidence? Shouldn't those who are good believe that God will care for them. In John 9, the followers of Jesus pointed to a man born blind and asked, " Who sinned, this man or his parents?"
Jesus told them neither his parents or this man sinned, " but this happened so the work of God might be displayed in his life." Jesus pointed that even suffering can be used to glorify God. Jesus pointed them to the future!
(2.) Zophar replies to Job: I realize you know everything! Well, I know a few things myself- you are no better than I am. All wisdom will die with you! You have accused me without the greatest fear of God ( without proof). Tell me what I have done wrong?
Here I sit in sackcloth; and have laid all hope in the dust, my eyes are red from weeping and on my eyelids is the shadow of death. Yet I am innocent and my prayer is pure.(3.) Bildad the Shuhite replies. Just because you tear your clothes in anger, is this going to start an earth-quake? The truth remains, that if you do not prosper, it is because you are wicked. The " theme" around which the " whole book of Job" revolves is the mystery inherent in the unmerited suffering providence of a just man. How can a just God permit an innocent man to suffer? Since nothing can happen independent
of the will and knowledge of God?
The final solution the author of " Job" gives us is that the question is too big to answer for man.
Man cannot comprehend God's purpose in inflicting suffering of a just man. Man cannot penetrate the secrets of God's providence. He must adore divine wisdom even when he doesn't understand it. Therefore, until God chooses to explain why the just must suffer and the wicked prosper, man must trust in God's goodness and justice. And not claim the right to know, what God does choose to reveal.
Who are you trying to fool? Speak some sense if you want us to answer. Just because you tear your
Monday, May 1, 2017
Hypocrisy. [ Mark 7: 1-23].
One Sunday a man sat through a church service and then on the way home he fussed about the sermon, he griped about the traffic, he complained about the heat, and he made a big fuss about how late the lunch meal was served. Then he bowed and prayed, giving God thanks for the food. His son watched him all the way through this post-church experience. Just as they were beginning to pass the food he said, " Daddy, did God hear you when we left the church. and you started fussing about the sermon, and about the traffic, and about the heat? The father blushed and said, " Well yes son, He heard me." Well, daddy, did God hear you when you just prayed for this food right now?" And he says, " well, yes, son, He...heard me." " Well, daddy, which one did God believe?"
Text: Then came together unto him Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem, and when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled hand, ( that is to say, with unwashen hands, ) they found fault. For the "Pharisees, " and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And may other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, well hath " Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, this people honor me with their lips, but their hearts our far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,
as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. And he said unto them, full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
For Moses said, honor your father and Mother; and, whoso curses his father and thy Mother, let him die the death. But you say, if a man shall say to his father and mother; making the word of God, it is corban, that it is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; he shall be free. and ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many more such things like you do. When He called all the people unto him, He said unto them, hearken unto me every one of you, and understand. There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he has entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him. Hypocrites are nothing new. Jesus has an encounter with a whole group, who have come to Jerusalem which was like Vatican of its day. They came to watch him, in order to find fault with him and his ministry. when they arrived and began to watch Jesus, it does not take them long to find something to complain about. These men see the disciples eating with out washing their hands and they were offended.
They attack Jesus over this issue, but He turns the tables on them. They think the issue of clean hands, But Jesus shows them that the issue, is really about clean hearts. This text has something to say to us today. Jesus is going to teach us that the inside of person, should match the outside of that person. He is going to teach us what we are in our heart is what we really are! He is going to teach us that " Hypocrisy" and legalism have no place in our lives. He is going to teach us that true defilement comes from the inside not from the outside. I want to talk on these verses: about clean hands or clean hearts. Jesus reveals to these hypocrites for what they are. Be careful that in your quest for clean hands, you still have a dirty heart. As these Pharisees had watched Jesus and his men, they noticed that his disciples were eating without washing their hands. When they saw this, they found fault ( a means to place blame). They turned their attention to Jesus, because He was the leader of disciples, he was a Rabbi and as such, He was responsible for their behavior; in other words to keep them from spreading germs. Now, the disciples were not eating with dirty hands. The problem is brought to light as Mark continues His narrative. According to verses 3-4, the Pharisees and all religious Jews would not eat unless they washed their hands a certain way. This was especially true when they returned from the market place, as they might have brushed shoulders with a "gentile" and been defiled. for the Jews, and all religious people, everything revolves around ritual. This washing had nothing to do with cleaning the hands. It was a ceremonial cleansing. This ceremony involved some one pouring out water of a jar onto another's hands, whose fingers must be pointing up. As long as the water dripped off at the wrist, the person could proceed to the next step. He then had water poured over both hands with the fingers pointing down. Then each hand was to be rubbed with the fist of the other hand. It is said that one Jewish Rabbi was arrested by the Romans and nearly died in prison because he used up his daily ration of water trying to wash his hands after the prescribed manner. According to Mark, they not only had rules about their hands, they also had elaborate rules about washing pots, pans, plates, etc. In all, the Jewish " Mishnah", a compilation
of Jewish oral law made around 200 A.D. has 35 pages of instructions devoted to washing alone. The problem with their rules is they were not from God, they were " the traditions of the elders." The "traditions of the elders came into being with good intentions. The Mishnah says that "tradition is a fence around the law." in an effort to protect the "Law from the people, the ancient Jews added to that "Law." They added to the restrictions that went beyond the letter of the law. The Jewish leaders believed that their traditions protected the law from the peopled. One writer shares the following " "fences" created by the Jews. for example looking into a mirror was forbidden, because if you looked into the mirror on the Sabbath day and you saw a grey hair, you might be tempted to pull it out and thus perform work on the Sabbath. You also could not wear your false teeth, if they fell out, you would have to pick them up and you would be working. In regard to carrying a burden, you could not carry a handkerchief on the Sabbath, but you could wear a handkerchief on the Sabbath. That meant if you were upstairs and wanted to take the handkerchief downstairs, you would have to tie it around your neck, walk downstairs, and untie it. Then you could blow your nose downstairs!
The rabbis debated about a man with a wooden leg: If his house caught on fire, could he carry his leg out of the house on the Sabbath? One could spit on the Sabbath, but you had to be careful where it landed on the dirt and you scuffed it with your sandal, you would be cultivating the soil and thus performing work. Its easy to see how foolish such man made rules had become. Again, the problem with their rules, is they came from man, not God. Their rules were not God rules; they were rules made by men seeking to control other men! Sounds like the ?
We still have the Pharisees with us today, wanting us to follow man's rules, not God's rules.
1 Cor. 6;12 " All things are law full to me; but all things are not good for me.!
1Cor, 10:23, all things are lawful for me; but all things do not build me up!
So, these men are upset with Jesus because His disciples do not perform the ritual washings of the Jews. In these verses, Jesus reveal the hypocrisy of their hearts!
In verses 6-9 Jesus condemns their legalism. He accuses these men of being hypocrites. He quotes Isaiah 29:13 and accuses them of elevating their traditions to the point that they carry more weight then the "Word of God!" According to Rabbi Eleazer who expounds the scriptures in opposition to the tradition has no share in the world to come, ' the Mishnah, a collection of Jewish traditions in the Talmud, records, it is a greater offense to teach anything contrary to the voice of the Rabbis than to contradict scriptures itself.
In verse 8-9, He even tells them that they have "laid aside the commandments of God, " in favor" of the man made rules and tradition. In verse 9, He tells them they have actually "rejected" the commandments of God, so they can keep their traditions. Jesus condemns their blatant Hypocrisy!
Text: Then came together unto him Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem, and when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled hand, ( that is to say, with unwashen hands, ) they found fault. For the "Pharisees, " and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And may other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, well hath " Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, this people honor me with their lips, but their hearts our far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,
as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. And he said unto them, full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
For Moses said, honor your father and Mother; and, whoso curses his father and thy Mother, let him die the death. But you say, if a man shall say to his father and mother; making the word of God, it is corban, that it is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; he shall be free. and ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many more such things like you do. When He called all the people unto him, He said unto them, hearken unto me every one of you, and understand. There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he has entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him. Hypocrites are nothing new. Jesus has an encounter with a whole group, who have come to Jerusalem which was like Vatican of its day. They came to watch him, in order to find fault with him and his ministry. when they arrived and began to watch Jesus, it does not take them long to find something to complain about. These men see the disciples eating with out washing their hands and they were offended.
They attack Jesus over this issue, but He turns the tables on them. They think the issue of clean hands, But Jesus shows them that the issue, is really about clean hearts. This text has something to say to us today. Jesus is going to teach us that the inside of person, should match the outside of that person. He is going to teach us what we are in our heart is what we really are! He is going to teach us that " Hypocrisy" and legalism have no place in our lives. He is going to teach us that true defilement comes from the inside not from the outside. I want to talk on these verses: about clean hands or clean hearts. Jesus reveals to these hypocrites for what they are. Be careful that in your quest for clean hands, you still have a dirty heart. As these Pharisees had watched Jesus and his men, they noticed that his disciples were eating without washing their hands. When they saw this, they found fault ( a means to place blame). They turned their attention to Jesus, because He was the leader of disciples, he was a Rabbi and as such, He was responsible for their behavior; in other words to keep them from spreading germs. Now, the disciples were not eating with dirty hands. The problem is brought to light as Mark continues His narrative. According to verses 3-4, the Pharisees and all religious Jews would not eat unless they washed their hands a certain way. This was especially true when they returned from the market place, as they might have brushed shoulders with a "gentile" and been defiled. for the Jews, and all religious people, everything revolves around ritual. This washing had nothing to do with cleaning the hands. It was a ceremonial cleansing. This ceremony involved some one pouring out water of a jar onto another's hands, whose fingers must be pointing up. As long as the water dripped off at the wrist, the person could proceed to the next step. He then had water poured over both hands with the fingers pointing down. Then each hand was to be rubbed with the fist of the other hand. It is said that one Jewish Rabbi was arrested by the Romans and nearly died in prison because he used up his daily ration of water trying to wash his hands after the prescribed manner. According to Mark, they not only had rules about their hands, they also had elaborate rules about washing pots, pans, plates, etc. In all, the Jewish " Mishnah", a compilation
of Jewish oral law made around 200 A.D. has 35 pages of instructions devoted to washing alone. The problem with their rules is they were not from God, they were " the traditions of the elders." The "traditions of the elders came into being with good intentions. The Mishnah says that "tradition is a fence around the law." in an effort to protect the "Law from the people, the ancient Jews added to that "Law." They added to the restrictions that went beyond the letter of the law. The Jewish leaders believed that their traditions protected the law from the peopled. One writer shares the following " "fences" created by the Jews. for example looking into a mirror was forbidden, because if you looked into the mirror on the Sabbath day and you saw a grey hair, you might be tempted to pull it out and thus perform work on the Sabbath. You also could not wear your false teeth, if they fell out, you would have to pick them up and you would be working. In regard to carrying a burden, you could not carry a handkerchief on the Sabbath, but you could wear a handkerchief on the Sabbath. That meant if you were upstairs and wanted to take the handkerchief downstairs, you would have to tie it around your neck, walk downstairs, and untie it. Then you could blow your nose downstairs!
The rabbis debated about a man with a wooden leg: If his house caught on fire, could he carry his leg out of the house on the Sabbath? One could spit on the Sabbath, but you had to be careful where it landed on the dirt and you scuffed it with your sandal, you would be cultivating the soil and thus performing work. Its easy to see how foolish such man made rules had become. Again, the problem with their rules, is they came from man, not God. Their rules were not God rules; they were rules made by men seeking to control other men! Sounds like the ?
We still have the Pharisees with us today, wanting us to follow man's rules, not God's rules.
1 Cor. 6;12 " All things are law full to me; but all things are not good for me.!
1Cor, 10:23, all things are lawful for me; but all things do not build me up!
So, these men are upset with Jesus because His disciples do not perform the ritual washings of the Jews. In these verses, Jesus reveal the hypocrisy of their hearts!
In verses 6-9 Jesus condemns their legalism. He accuses these men of being hypocrites. He quotes Isaiah 29:13 and accuses them of elevating their traditions to the point that they carry more weight then the "Word of God!" According to Rabbi Eleazer who expounds the scriptures in opposition to the tradition has no share in the world to come, ' the Mishnah, a collection of Jewish traditions in the Talmud, records, it is a greater offense to teach anything contrary to the voice of the Rabbis than to contradict scriptures itself.
In verse 8-9, He even tells them that they have "laid aside the commandments of God, " in favor" of the man made rules and tradition. In verse 9, He tells them they have actually "rejected" the commandments of God, so they can keep their traditions. Jesus condemns their blatant Hypocrisy!
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