IT IS A SATISFYING EXPERIENCE, WHEN AFTER A LONG JOURNEY, WE HAVE FINALLY, BY CAREFUL PLANNING AND COMPETENT DIRECTION, ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION, SAFE AND SOUND. IT COULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE. THE LIFE WE LIVE NOW IS A JOURNEY. WE ARE PILGRIMS AND THE EARTHLY TABERNACLE, OUR BODY, WILL SOME DAY BE DISSOLVED. SOMETIMES IT IS A LONG JOURNEY, AND SOMETIMES IT IS A SHORT WHEN MEASURED IN TERMS OF YEARS, MONTHS AND DAYS; BUT MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE ENDLESS AND UNENDING ETERNITY IT IS VERY SHORT. IT IS NOT A PLEASENT JOURNEY. IT IS A JOURNEY THROUGH A LONG AND DREARY WILDERNESS, FILLED WITH DANGEOUS PIT FALLS, ON ALL SIDES. THE ROAD IS POSTED WITH MISDIRECTIONS SET UP BY SATAN AND HIS AGENTS, DESIGNED TO LEAD US ATRAY. IT IS A JOURNEY THROUGH A WORLD FILLED WITH WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS, DISHONESTY, SELFISHNESS HATE, SLANDER- A WORLD OF SIN WHICH CAN GIVE TO THE WANDERER ONLY A SPIRIT OF FRUSTRATION, DISMAY, AND INSECURITY. AND THE DESTINATION OF THAT JOURNEY? IT IS A JOURNEY BACK TO GOD. FROM GOD WE CAME, AND BACK TO HIM WE MUST GO WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. ALL OF US MUST SOMEDAY COME INTO HIS PRESENCE. " IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS JUDGMENT. GOD! IS GOD FORGIVING? FOR OUR MISTAKES AND SINS? BIBLE SAYS SO! THE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS: CAN WE STAND IN HIS PRESENCE? WILLWE BE
PERMITTED TO STAY IN HIS PRESENCE ETERNALLY. DOES THIS FILL OUR HEARTS WITH FEAR OR PEACE. IN PEACE IF CHRIST IS OUR ADVOCATE. HE WILL SAY HE IS ONE OF OURS. EVEN MOSES HAD TO CONFESS, I EXCEEDLY FEAR AND QUAKE.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A STORY! HAVE YOU EVER HAD THE HEART-WARMING EXPERIENCE IN LIFE OF HAVING A LITTLE CHILD CUDDLE UP IN YOU LAP WITH THE REQUEST TO TELL THEM A STORY. IN ONE RESPECT, I SUPPOSE, CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE VERY MUCH THE SAME. IN EVERY AGE THEY HAVE LOVED TO LISTEN TO THRILLING TALES OF ADVENTURE AND DARING, STRIKING LEGENDS OF FANTASY AND MAKE BELIEVE. EVEN UNBELIEVERS WHO HEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THE STORY OF HOPE AND SALVATION READILY AD MIT THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN HISTORY, FOLKLORE, FABLE, OR LEGEND WHICH CAN EVER BEGIN TO COMPARE WITH THIS RECORD OF MANS REDEMPTION FROM SIN AND ITS CURSE. WITHOUT DOUBT, THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF GOD'S SON.
THE APOSTLE PAUL, THE AUTHOR OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY, HAD ONE AIM AND PURPOSE IN LIFE. FROM THE DRAMATIC MOMENT OF CONVERSATION, ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD, HE WAS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, PREACHING ABOUT JESUS, WITNESSING TO JESUS, SUFFERING FOR JESUS AN THE REASON FOR IT ALL? PAUL EXPRESSES HIS GOAL IN LIFE, AND INCIDENTALLY GIVES EVERY CHRISTIAN SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT., WHEN HE PRAYS IN THE FIRST VERSE OF THE TENTH CHAPTER, OF ROMANS " THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED." EVEN THOUGH GOD HAD CALLED HIM AS THE APOSTLES TO THE GENTILES, HE WAS NONETHELESS INTENSELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SALVATION OF HIS OOWN COUNTRYMEN, THE JEWS. THEIR ETERNAL WELFARE WAS ALWAYS ON HIS HEART AND IN HIS PRAYERS.
OH, THESE JEWS WERE A RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ALL RIGHT. PAUL ADMITS THAT THEY VERY ZEALOUS TOWARD GOD. THEY WERE STRIVING CONSTANLY TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEIR TIME WAS TAKEN UP WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS, SACRIFICES, AND WASHINGS. THEIR LIVES WERE CAREFULLY AND METICULOUSLY CONTROLLED BY THE PROHIBITIONS AND PRECEPTS OF THE LAW. THE PHARISEES KEPT THEMSELVES BUSY INVENTING NEW COMMANDMENTS FOR THE PEOPLE TO KEEP. LONG BEFORE THE COMING OF CHRIST THERE WERE SOME WHO WORSHIPED THE FIRE god MOLOCH. AS PART OF THEIR RELIGIOUS RITUAL, THEY WOULD BUILD A FIRE INSIDE THE HOLLOW METAL STATUE OF THEIR IDOL, AND WHEN IT GLOWED RED-HOT, THEY WOULD CAST HELP-LESS INFANTS INTO HIS OUT STRETCHED ARMS, THUS FRYING THEM TO DEATH AS A TOKEN OF THEIR LOVE AND DEVOTIONS. WHEN A VOLCANO WOULD ERUPT IN THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MAIDEN WOULD SOMETIMES BE CAST AS A LIVING SACRIFICE INTO THE CALDRON OF THE CRATER TO APPEASE THE WRATH OF THE DEITIES. UNTIL THE BRITISH SUCCEEDED IN STOPPING THE CUSTOM A GENERATION AGO. MANY HINDUS SOUGHT WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS OBLIVION OF THE HEREAFTER. THEY NEEDED TO BE TOLD THE "GREAT STORY" AND TO BE RID OF THESES HORRIBLE PRACTICES, AND LOOK AT ROMANS 1); VERSE 9: IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS
AND SHALL BELIEVE IN THY HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU SHALL BE SAVED. WE MUST TELL THE WORLD THAT NO ONE BUT CHRIST SAVES US.
WHEN WE KNOW BY OUR OWN EXPERIENCE WHAT " THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE," CAN DO FOR US., THEN WE WILL BE READY TO TELL OTHERS WHAT CHRIST CAN DO FOR THEIR SOULS. THAT'S GOD PLAN. CENTURIES AGO GOD CAME TO EZEKIEL, HANDED HIM A SCROLL WHICH HAD HIS MESSAGE TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WRITTEN UPON IT, THEN SPOKE THESE STRANGE WORDS, " EAT THE ROLL!"
WELL HOW COULD EZEKIEL EAT A BOOK. " IMPOSIBLE," YOU SAY. WHAT THE LORD MEANT IS THIS. THAT HIS MESSAGE WAS TO ENTER INTO THE PROPHETS INNERMOST LIFE, EVEN AS THE FOOD WE EAT IS DIGESTED AND BECOMES PART OF US. THE WORD OF GOD WAS TO BE NOURISHMENT TO OUR SOUL. IT WAS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO HIS VERY NATURE. HE WAS TO LIVE, NOT BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDED OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. WE MUST MAKE GOD'S WORD PART OF OUR VERY NATURE, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE GOD'S WORD PART OF OUR VERY NATURE, SO THAT WE CAN PROCLAIM IT TO OTHERS.
ONLY THEN CAN WE BE SURE THAT WHEN WE SPEAK, WE ARE SPEAKING LITERALLYSPEAKING THE LORD'S, WORD TO OTHERS. THESE WORDS WERE NOT WRITTEN FOR THE HEBREWS ONLY: FOR THE LORD SAYS: "IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORD," THEN YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES. INDEED." THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN FOR ALL BELIEVERS IN 1957. OUR LIFE IS A PILGRIMAGE. LOOK OVER YOUR PAST LIFE AND COUNT THE MANY TIMES YOU EXPERIENCED THE GUIDING AND SUSTAINING HAND OF THE LORD. THROUGH OUR FEAR AND DOUBT GOD HAS ASSURED US, AS HE DID THE DISCIPLES: " LO I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD." REMEMBER YOUR LIFE BELONGS TO GOD.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Friday, August 25, 2017
Romans 8:12-18.
ROMANS 8:12-18 IS ONE OF THE RICHEST CHAPTERS IN THE BIBLE. THIS CHAPTER IS A PASSAGE OF HOPE, BLESSING, ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMFORT. FORGIVENESS SETS THE TONE FOR THE REST OF THE CHAPTER WHEN IT SAYS," LET THOSE WORDS SINK IN FOR A MOMENT! THEY REMIND US THAT THE CHLD OF GOD IS NO LONGER UNDER GOD'S WRATH OR IN DANGER OF GOD'S JUDGMENT. THE BELIEVER HAS FOREVER BEEN DLIVERED FROM THR THREAT OF HELL AND FROM ETERNAL PUNISHMENT OF SIN. THE BELIEVER IS NO LONGER SEPERATED FROM GOD BY A WIDE GULF OF SIN, "BUT IS MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST," " NOT GUILTY!"
AS OUR TEXT UUNFOLDS, THE WEIGHT OF OUR BLESSINGS IN JESUS CHRIST BECOMES ABUNDANTLY CLEAR: BELIEVERS ARE THE SONS OF GOD.
BELIEVERS ARE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST.
BELIEVERS WILL BE GLORIFIED WITH CHRIST.
EVERY EVENT IN THE BELIEVERS LIFE IS BEING WORKED OUT FOR GOOD BY GOD.
BELIEVERS ARE ACTIVELY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
BELIEVERS ARE ETERNALLY SECURE IN THEIR SALVATION.
BELIEVERS ENJOY THE LORD'S SUPPORT AGAINST EVERY ADVERSARY THEY FACE IN LIFE.
BELIEVERS WILL NEVER BE SEPARATED FROM THE PERFECT, BOUNDLESS, UNCONDITIONAL, ETERNAL LOVE OF GOD.
THOSE TRUTHS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE US TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE. THE TEXT TODAY ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF BLESSING THAT SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE HEARTS OF EVERY CHILD OF GOD. THIS VERSE CONTAINS A PRECIOUS PROMISE TO EVERY BELIEVER WHO SUFFER IN THIS LIFE. WE ARE PROMISED A MAGNIFICENT FUTURE THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US.
WHILE THEY MAY BE GROANING HERE, THERE WILL BE GLORY THERE. THAT IS THE THOUGHT I WANT TO MAGNIFY TODAY. NOTICE SOME OF COMFORT THAT PRESENT THESELVES IN THIS VERSE: GOD IS THINKING OF US, AND WHAT IS BEST FOR US, NOW AND AT THE END, WHEN HE COMES TO TAKE US HOME!
NO "CONDEMNATION" HANGS OVER OUR HEADS WHO ARE IN CHRIST.
PAUL USES THE WORD "JUDGMENT" THIS IS AN EXPRESSIVE WORD THAT REFERS:
CONDEMNING.
CHRIST HAS ALREADY CLEARED US FOR HEAVEN.
CHRIST LIFTS US OUT OF THE OLD VICIOUS CIRCLE OF SIN AND DEATH!
AS WE ALL KNOW, EVERYONE ENDURES SUFFERING TO SOME DEGREE. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE SUFFERINGS OF JOB, PAUL, AND OUR LORD JESUS, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE OUR SHARE AS WELL.
EVERY HOSPITAL REMINDS US THAT THERE IS SUFFERING NOW. (BEEN THERE! THEY ALSO CAN BE A BLESSING.)
EVERY CEMETERY STANDS AS A VIVID REMINDER THAT SUFFERING AND PAIN ATTENDS OUR EARTHLY LIVES. ( BUT OUR SOUL DOES NOT RESIDE THERE).
EVERY SIREN WE HEAR REMINDS US THAT THIS WORLD IS A PLACE OF PAIN, SUFFERING, DEATH, AND HEARTACHE. MY WIFE AND I LIVE VERY CLOSE WHERE THE AMBULANCES WAIT FOR CALLS. EVERYTIME WE HEAR THE SIRENS, IT IS A REMINDER WE ARE STILL HUMAN.
THE BIBLE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT SUFFERING IS A PART OF EARTHLY EXISTENCE.
WE SUFFER AT TIMES BECAUSE WE MAKE FOOLISH MISTAKES.
WE SUFFER AT TIMES BECAUSE THOSE AROUND US MAKE FOOLISH DECISIONS,
WE SUFFER AT TIMES BECAUSE OF OUR ASSOCIATION WITH JESUS " IS DISTANT. OUR PRAY LIFE IS WEAK./ AT TIMES OF TRIAL AND TRIBULATION, WE SUFFER PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. WE ARE NEVER ALONE IN OUR SUFFERINGS. CHRIST IS IN THE MIDST OF OUR SUFFERINGS.
PAUL KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO SUFFER. BEATINGS, TEMPORARY BLINDNESS, FEVER, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS IN PRAYER; GIVING GLORY TO GOD. FINALLY BEING. BEHEADED.
PAUL TELLS US THAT HE IS ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER MESSENGER OFHEAVEN, NOR MONARCH OF EARTH, THAT HAPPENS TOMORROW, NEITHER POWER ON HIGH, NOR FROM BELOW, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN GOD'S WORLD: " CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!"
THIS LOOKS FORDWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE ARE HOME, WITH THE LORD IN HEAVEN. IT LOOKS FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN THIS EARTHLY LIFE, WITH ALL ITS PROBLEMS, PAIN AND SUFFERING WILL END AND THE CHILD OF GOD WILL GO TO BE WITH THE LORD. THIS FULFILLING SCRIPTURES: (JOHN 14:2 OF THE PROMISE WHICH TELLS US: " DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED, HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND FAITH IN ME! IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS, AND I'M GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU; AND THEN I SHALL COME BACK TO TAKE YOU WITH ME, THAT WHERE I AM YOU ALSO MAY BE.
YOU KNOW THE WAY THAT LEADS WHERE I GO."
"LORD" SAID THOMAS,"
"WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING. HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?"
" I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME. IF YOU TRUELY KNEW ME, YOU WOULD KNOW MY FATHER ALSO.
FROM THIS POINT ON YOU KNOW HIM; YOU HAVE SEEN HIM."
"LORD" PHILIP SAID TO HIM SHOW US THE FATHER AND THAT WILL BE ENOUGH FOR US." " PHILIP," JESUS REPLIED, " AFTER I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU ALL THIS TIME, YOU STILL DON'T KNOW ME? " WHOEVER HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER. HOW CAN YOU SAY, "SHOW US THE FATHER?" DO YOU NOT BELIEVE THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IS IN ME? THE WORDS I SPEAK ARE NOT SPOKEN OF MYSELF; IT IS THE FATHER WHO LIVES IN ME ACCOMPLISHING HIS WORKS. BELIEVE THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IS IN ME. OR ELSE, BELIEVE THE WORKS I DO. IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS BECAUSE I HAVE LIFE, YOU ALSO WILL HAVE LIFE.
AS OUR TEXT UUNFOLDS, THE WEIGHT OF OUR BLESSINGS IN JESUS CHRIST BECOMES ABUNDANTLY CLEAR: BELIEVERS ARE THE SONS OF GOD.
BELIEVERS ARE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST.
BELIEVERS WILL BE GLORIFIED WITH CHRIST.
EVERY EVENT IN THE BELIEVERS LIFE IS BEING WORKED OUT FOR GOOD BY GOD.
BELIEVERS ARE ACTIVELY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
BELIEVERS ARE ETERNALLY SECURE IN THEIR SALVATION.
BELIEVERS ENJOY THE LORD'S SUPPORT AGAINST EVERY ADVERSARY THEY FACE IN LIFE.
BELIEVERS WILL NEVER BE SEPARATED FROM THE PERFECT, BOUNDLESS, UNCONDITIONAL, ETERNAL LOVE OF GOD.
THOSE TRUTHS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE US TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE. THE TEXT TODAY ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF BLESSING THAT SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE HEARTS OF EVERY CHILD OF GOD. THIS VERSE CONTAINS A PRECIOUS PROMISE TO EVERY BELIEVER WHO SUFFER IN THIS LIFE. WE ARE PROMISED A MAGNIFICENT FUTURE THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US.
WHILE THEY MAY BE GROANING HERE, THERE WILL BE GLORY THERE. THAT IS THE THOUGHT I WANT TO MAGNIFY TODAY. NOTICE SOME OF COMFORT THAT PRESENT THESELVES IN THIS VERSE: GOD IS THINKING OF US, AND WHAT IS BEST FOR US, NOW AND AT THE END, WHEN HE COMES TO TAKE US HOME!
NO "CONDEMNATION" HANGS OVER OUR HEADS WHO ARE IN CHRIST.
PAUL USES THE WORD "JUDGMENT" THIS IS AN EXPRESSIVE WORD THAT REFERS:
CONDEMNING.
CHRIST HAS ALREADY CLEARED US FOR HEAVEN.
CHRIST LIFTS US OUT OF THE OLD VICIOUS CIRCLE OF SIN AND DEATH!
AS WE ALL KNOW, EVERYONE ENDURES SUFFERING TO SOME DEGREE. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE SUFFERINGS OF JOB, PAUL, AND OUR LORD JESUS, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE OUR SHARE AS WELL.
EVERY HOSPITAL REMINDS US THAT THERE IS SUFFERING NOW. (BEEN THERE! THEY ALSO CAN BE A BLESSING.)
EVERY CEMETERY STANDS AS A VIVID REMINDER THAT SUFFERING AND PAIN ATTENDS OUR EARTHLY LIVES. ( BUT OUR SOUL DOES NOT RESIDE THERE).
EVERY SIREN WE HEAR REMINDS US THAT THIS WORLD IS A PLACE OF PAIN, SUFFERING, DEATH, AND HEARTACHE. MY WIFE AND I LIVE VERY CLOSE WHERE THE AMBULANCES WAIT FOR CALLS. EVERYTIME WE HEAR THE SIRENS, IT IS A REMINDER WE ARE STILL HUMAN.
THE BIBLE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT SUFFERING IS A PART OF EARTHLY EXISTENCE.
WE SUFFER AT TIMES BECAUSE WE MAKE FOOLISH MISTAKES.
WE SUFFER AT TIMES BECAUSE THOSE AROUND US MAKE FOOLISH DECISIONS,
WE SUFFER AT TIMES BECAUSE OF OUR ASSOCIATION WITH JESUS " IS DISTANT. OUR PRAY LIFE IS WEAK./ AT TIMES OF TRIAL AND TRIBULATION, WE SUFFER PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. WE ARE NEVER ALONE IN OUR SUFFERINGS. CHRIST IS IN THE MIDST OF OUR SUFFERINGS.
PAUL KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO SUFFER. BEATINGS, TEMPORARY BLINDNESS, FEVER, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS IN PRAYER; GIVING GLORY TO GOD. FINALLY BEING. BEHEADED.
PAUL TELLS US THAT HE IS ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER MESSENGER OFHEAVEN, NOR MONARCH OF EARTH, THAT HAPPENS TOMORROW, NEITHER POWER ON HIGH, NOR FROM BELOW, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN GOD'S WORLD: " CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!"
THIS LOOKS FORDWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE ARE HOME, WITH THE LORD IN HEAVEN. IT LOOKS FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN THIS EARTHLY LIFE, WITH ALL ITS PROBLEMS, PAIN AND SUFFERING WILL END AND THE CHILD OF GOD WILL GO TO BE WITH THE LORD. THIS FULFILLING SCRIPTURES: (JOHN 14:2 OF THE PROMISE WHICH TELLS US: " DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED, HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND FAITH IN ME! IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS, AND I'M GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU; AND THEN I SHALL COME BACK TO TAKE YOU WITH ME, THAT WHERE I AM YOU ALSO MAY BE.
YOU KNOW THE WAY THAT LEADS WHERE I GO."
"LORD" SAID THOMAS,"
"WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING. HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?"
" I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME. IF YOU TRUELY KNEW ME, YOU WOULD KNOW MY FATHER ALSO.
FROM THIS POINT ON YOU KNOW HIM; YOU HAVE SEEN HIM."
"LORD" PHILIP SAID TO HIM SHOW US THE FATHER AND THAT WILL BE ENOUGH FOR US." " PHILIP," JESUS REPLIED, " AFTER I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU ALL THIS TIME, YOU STILL DON'T KNOW ME? " WHOEVER HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER. HOW CAN YOU SAY, "SHOW US THE FATHER?" DO YOU NOT BELIEVE THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IS IN ME? THE WORDS I SPEAK ARE NOT SPOKEN OF MYSELF; IT IS THE FATHER WHO LIVES IN ME ACCOMPLISHING HIS WORKS. BELIEVE THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IS IN ME. OR ELSE, BELIEVE THE WORKS I DO. IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS BECAUSE I HAVE LIFE, YOU ALSO WILL HAVE LIFE.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
RAISING OF THE WIDOW'S SON. [LUKE 7:11-17].
FROM ALL APPEARANCES THE YOUNG MAN FROM THE TOWN OF NAIN WAS DEAD. THE FUNERAL PROCESSION MOVES ALONG UNTIL JESUS STOPS IT WITH A WORD-" "DO NOT WEEP- AND A TOUCH ANOTHER WORD" I SAY TO YOU ARISE!" AND THE YOUNG MAN IS RESTORED TO LIFE; MIRACLES WAS THE STRENGTH THAT KEPT THE APOSTLES IN THEIR FAITH AS THEY WENT WITH JESSUS, UNTIL THE DAY OF PENTECOST, AND THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, E ARE TOLD ALSO HOW ELIJAH REVIVES A WIDOW'S SON. NOW SCIENTISTS HAVE ALWAYS DISPUTED THE MIRACLES IN THE BIBLE, AS THEY HAVE ALSO DISPUTED THE BIBLE ITSELF. ONCE SCIENTISTS HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTION OF WHY WE AND THE UNIVERSE EXIST, " THEN WE WOULD KNOW THE MIND OF GOD." BUT , DISCOVERING THE PURPOSES AND WORKINGS OF GOD IS SIMPLY NOT THAT EASY, AS WE SHALL SEE, AS WE EXAMINE THE CONTEXT AND HISTORICITY OF THE GOSPEL OF MIRACLES.
IN THE BIBLE, AS THEY ALSO DISPUTED THE BIBLE ITSELF. ONCE SCIENTISTS HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTION OF WHY WE AND THE UNIVERSE EXIST, " THEN WE WOULD KNOW THE MIND OF GOD. " BUT DISCOVERING THE PURPOSES AND WORKINGS OF GOD IS SIMPLY NOT THAT EASY, AS WE SHALL SEE AS WE EXAMINE THE CONTEXT AND HISTORICITY OF THE GOSPEL MIRACLES.
THAT JESUS IS PORTRAYED AS A WORKER OF MIRACLES.
THAT JESUS IS PORTRAYED AS A WORKER OF MIRACLES IS UNUSUAL IN JUDISM, FOR MIRACLES ARE NOT COMMON AMONG THE JEWS AS SOME SCHOLARS LED US TO BELIEVE. IN THE THOUSAND OF YEARS OF HEBREW TRADITION, THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTS OF MIRACLES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MOSES DURING THE TIME OF EXODUS, WITH ELIJAH AND ELISHA CYCLE IN THE BOOK OF KINGS, AND ACCOUNTS IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL. MOST OF THE STORIES ARE CONCERNED WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS, SUCH AS PARTING OF THE RED SEA IN EXDOUS 14, THE SAVING OF THE OF THE FAITHFUL FROM THE FIERY FURNACE AND THE LIONS DEN IN DAN 3: 1-25. AND THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE-HUNDREAD WITH TWENTY-BARLEY LOAVES IN 2ND KINGS 4: 42-44.
STORIES OF HEALING ARE RELATIVELY RARE, AND THEY INCLUDE THE HEALING OF ABIMELECH AND HIS HOUSEHOLD GEN: 20:18. SAUL BEING HEALED OF AN EVIL SPIRIT, I SAMUEL 16. WE DO NOT FIND ANYONE WITH THE NUMBER OR SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MIRACLES, HOWEVER, NOWHERE IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES, WHO ARE COMPARABLE TO JESUS. MOREOVER, THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FO THE CURING OF THE BLIND., LAME, AND MUTE AS JESUS DOES
IN HIS MINISTRY.
THERE WAS A TRADITION IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES THAT YAHWEH WAS THE SENDER OF SICKNESS AS WELL AS BEING THE HEALER. IN EXDOUS, YAHWEH IS DEPICTED AS SAYING: " I KILL AND MAKE ALIVE; I WOUND AND I HEAL; AND THERE IS NONE TO DELIVER OUT OF MY HAND. IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY JESUS HEALING AND EXORCISMS, WHICH SO DRAMATICALLY REVEALED THE UTTER DEFEAT OF SATAN (AMEN!) JESUS CAME TO THE SICK AND DISABLED AS SUCH GOOD NEWS.
LIKE MAGICIANS OF HIS TIME WHO CLAIMED TO POSSESS MYSTERIOUS ARCANE KNOWLEDGE AND POWER ALWAYS WORKED IN PRIVATE. JESUS DOES NOT WORK IN "SECRET" AS THOUGH TO PRESERVE ARCANE KNOWLEDGE AND POWERS. MANY OF HIS MIRACLES ARE DONE PUBLICLY AAAND THEY ARE TO PROCLAIM THE LOVING HEALING POWERS OF GOD. IF JESUS AT TIMES ASK THOSE HEALED, TO BE SECRETIVE ( NOT TO TELL ANYONE.), IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HIDE HIS METHORDS FROM THE PUBLIC. INSTEAD, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BEING PROCLAIMED A MESSIAH-KING. IN THE APOCRYPHAL MIRACLES, (BOOKS THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTED INTO THE CANON OF THE CHURCH AS AUTHENTIC).
IN INFANCY THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE YOUNG JESUS IS CHALLENGED FOR SHAPING SOME PIGEONS ON THE SABBATH, AND SO, IN RESPONSE
TO THE CHALLENGE, HE SIMPLY CLAPS HIS HANDS AND THE BIRDS COME TO LIFE AND FLY AWAY. THEY ARE OUT OF CHARACTER FOR JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES.
PERHAPS THE MOST CONVINCING ARGUMENT FOR THE HISTORICITY OF THE MIRACLE STORIES IS THE CENTRAL THEY PLAY IN THE GOSPELS THEMSELVES.
ABOUT 1/5TH OF THE LITERARY UNITS IN THE SYNOPTICS ALLUDE TO MIRACLES OF HEALING AND EXORCISM AND A LARGE PORTION OF JOHN'S GOSPEL IS CONCERNED WITH MIRACULOUS SIGNS. THE STORIES OF JESUS MIRACLES CARRIED THE FAITH OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, THEY ALSO CONVEYED THEIR STRUGGLE WITH DOUBT.
THERE WERE STILL THOSE WHO DEMANDED SIGNS, JUST AS THE PHARISEES HAD DONE EARLIER.
THERE WERE THOSE WHO WERE NOT OPEN TO JESUS AS THE CHRIST BECAUSE THEY NEEDED EVIDENCE. THE FASCINATING STORY OF THE BLIND BARTIMAEUS
DEPICTS THE STRUGGLE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS TO SEE THE LORD IN FAITH.
THE BLIND BEGGAR CALLS OUT IN HIS DARKNESS AND ASKS FOR MERCY OF JESUS.
WHEN JESUS SUMMONS HIM HE JUMPS UP AND SAYS: "TEACHER, I WANT TO SEE AGAIN." JESUS RESTORES HIS SIGHT, AND MARK WRITES." AT ONCE HE WAS ABLE TO SEE AND FOLLOWED JESUS DOWN THE ROAD. FOR THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, FAITH WAS THE POWER TO SEE JESUS, AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO FOLLOW HIM WITHOUT IT. BUT FAITH ALWAYS INCLUDED DARKNESS AND STRUGGLE.
THE BIGGEST OF THE MIRACLES RAISING PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD HELP TO PROCLAIM THAT THE RISEN JESUS IS LORD. TRAUMATIC, TRAGIC, AND DEATH-DEALING EVENTS IN LIFE CAN FIND HOPE AND NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. DEATH, BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYISCAL, WAS OVERCOME WHEN JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND GLORIFIED AS THE SON OF GOD AND SAVIOR. HE IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE.
THIS TEXT TELLS US, TWO CROWDS, ONE ENTERING THE CITY AND ONE LEAVING.
THEY COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT. THE GROUP ARRIVING BUZZES WITH LAUGHTER AND CONVERSATION. THEY FOLLOW JESUS. THE GROUP LEAVING THE CITY IS SOLEMN. A HEARD OF SADNESS. DRIVEN BY THE CLOUD OF DEATH. THE REASON A COLD BODY ON A STRETCHER. JESUS SPOKE TO THE MOTHER, " DON'T CRY." JESUS STEPPED TOWARD THE BIER AND TOUCHED IT. THE PALL- BEARERS STOPPED MARCHING. JESUS STARED AT THE BOY, THE CROWD WAS SILENT. JESUS TURNED TOWARD THE DEAD BODY," YOUNG MAN," HIS VOICE WAS CALM, YOUNG MAN I SAY ARISE. EVERY BODY FROZE SILENT. JESUS GAVE THE MOTHER MORE THAN HER SON, HE SHOWED HER THE POWER OF GOD!
IN THE BIBLE, AS THEY ALSO DISPUTED THE BIBLE ITSELF. ONCE SCIENTISTS HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTION OF WHY WE AND THE UNIVERSE EXIST, " THEN WE WOULD KNOW THE MIND OF GOD. " BUT DISCOVERING THE PURPOSES AND WORKINGS OF GOD IS SIMPLY NOT THAT EASY, AS WE SHALL SEE AS WE EXAMINE THE CONTEXT AND HISTORICITY OF THE GOSPEL MIRACLES.
THAT JESUS IS PORTRAYED AS A WORKER OF MIRACLES.
THAT JESUS IS PORTRAYED AS A WORKER OF MIRACLES IS UNUSUAL IN JUDISM, FOR MIRACLES ARE NOT COMMON AMONG THE JEWS AS SOME SCHOLARS LED US TO BELIEVE. IN THE THOUSAND OF YEARS OF HEBREW TRADITION, THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTS OF MIRACLES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MOSES DURING THE TIME OF EXODUS, WITH ELIJAH AND ELISHA CYCLE IN THE BOOK OF KINGS, AND ACCOUNTS IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL. MOST OF THE STORIES ARE CONCERNED WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS, SUCH AS PARTING OF THE RED SEA IN EXDOUS 14, THE SAVING OF THE OF THE FAITHFUL FROM THE FIERY FURNACE AND THE LIONS DEN IN DAN 3: 1-25. AND THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE-HUNDREAD WITH TWENTY-BARLEY LOAVES IN 2ND KINGS 4: 42-44.
STORIES OF HEALING ARE RELATIVELY RARE, AND THEY INCLUDE THE HEALING OF ABIMELECH AND HIS HOUSEHOLD GEN: 20:18. SAUL BEING HEALED OF AN EVIL SPIRIT, I SAMUEL 16. WE DO NOT FIND ANYONE WITH THE NUMBER OR SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MIRACLES, HOWEVER, NOWHERE IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES, WHO ARE COMPARABLE TO JESUS. MOREOVER, THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FO THE CURING OF THE BLIND., LAME, AND MUTE AS JESUS DOES
IN HIS MINISTRY.
THERE WAS A TRADITION IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES THAT YAHWEH WAS THE SENDER OF SICKNESS AS WELL AS BEING THE HEALER. IN EXDOUS, YAHWEH IS DEPICTED AS SAYING: " I KILL AND MAKE ALIVE; I WOUND AND I HEAL; AND THERE IS NONE TO DELIVER OUT OF MY HAND. IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY JESUS HEALING AND EXORCISMS, WHICH SO DRAMATICALLY REVEALED THE UTTER DEFEAT OF SATAN (AMEN!) JESUS CAME TO THE SICK AND DISABLED AS SUCH GOOD NEWS.
LIKE MAGICIANS OF HIS TIME WHO CLAIMED TO POSSESS MYSTERIOUS ARCANE KNOWLEDGE AND POWER ALWAYS WORKED IN PRIVATE. JESUS DOES NOT WORK IN "SECRET" AS THOUGH TO PRESERVE ARCANE KNOWLEDGE AND POWERS. MANY OF HIS MIRACLES ARE DONE PUBLICLY AAAND THEY ARE TO PROCLAIM THE LOVING HEALING POWERS OF GOD. IF JESUS AT TIMES ASK THOSE HEALED, TO BE SECRETIVE ( NOT TO TELL ANYONE.), IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HIDE HIS METHORDS FROM THE PUBLIC. INSTEAD, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BEING PROCLAIMED A MESSIAH-KING. IN THE APOCRYPHAL MIRACLES, (BOOKS THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTED INTO THE CANON OF THE CHURCH AS AUTHENTIC).
IN INFANCY THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE YOUNG JESUS IS CHALLENGED FOR SHAPING SOME PIGEONS ON THE SABBATH, AND SO, IN RESPONSE
TO THE CHALLENGE, HE SIMPLY CLAPS HIS HANDS AND THE BIRDS COME TO LIFE AND FLY AWAY. THEY ARE OUT OF CHARACTER FOR JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES.
PERHAPS THE MOST CONVINCING ARGUMENT FOR THE HISTORICITY OF THE MIRACLE STORIES IS THE CENTRAL THEY PLAY IN THE GOSPELS THEMSELVES.
ABOUT 1/5TH OF THE LITERARY UNITS IN THE SYNOPTICS ALLUDE TO MIRACLES OF HEALING AND EXORCISM AND A LARGE PORTION OF JOHN'S GOSPEL IS CONCERNED WITH MIRACULOUS SIGNS. THE STORIES OF JESUS MIRACLES CARRIED THE FAITH OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, THEY ALSO CONVEYED THEIR STRUGGLE WITH DOUBT.
THERE WERE STILL THOSE WHO DEMANDED SIGNS, JUST AS THE PHARISEES HAD DONE EARLIER.
THERE WERE THOSE WHO WERE NOT OPEN TO JESUS AS THE CHRIST BECAUSE THEY NEEDED EVIDENCE. THE FASCINATING STORY OF THE BLIND BARTIMAEUS
DEPICTS THE STRUGGLE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS TO SEE THE LORD IN FAITH.
THE BLIND BEGGAR CALLS OUT IN HIS DARKNESS AND ASKS FOR MERCY OF JESUS.
WHEN JESUS SUMMONS HIM HE JUMPS UP AND SAYS: "TEACHER, I WANT TO SEE AGAIN." JESUS RESTORES HIS SIGHT, AND MARK WRITES." AT ONCE HE WAS ABLE TO SEE AND FOLLOWED JESUS DOWN THE ROAD. FOR THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, FAITH WAS THE POWER TO SEE JESUS, AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO FOLLOW HIM WITHOUT IT. BUT FAITH ALWAYS INCLUDED DARKNESS AND STRUGGLE.
THE BIGGEST OF THE MIRACLES RAISING PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD HELP TO PROCLAIM THAT THE RISEN JESUS IS LORD. TRAUMATIC, TRAGIC, AND DEATH-DEALING EVENTS IN LIFE CAN FIND HOPE AND NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. DEATH, BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYISCAL, WAS OVERCOME WHEN JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND GLORIFIED AS THE SON OF GOD AND SAVIOR. HE IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE.
THIS TEXT TELLS US, TWO CROWDS, ONE ENTERING THE CITY AND ONE LEAVING.
THEY COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT. THE GROUP ARRIVING BUZZES WITH LAUGHTER AND CONVERSATION. THEY FOLLOW JESUS. THE GROUP LEAVING THE CITY IS SOLEMN. A HEARD OF SADNESS. DRIVEN BY THE CLOUD OF DEATH. THE REASON A COLD BODY ON A STRETCHER. JESUS SPOKE TO THE MOTHER, " DON'T CRY." JESUS STEPPED TOWARD THE BIER AND TOUCHED IT. THE PALL- BEARERS STOPPED MARCHING. JESUS STARED AT THE BOY, THE CROWD WAS SILENT. JESUS TURNED TOWARD THE DEAD BODY," YOUNG MAN," HIS VOICE WAS CALM, YOUNG MAN I SAY ARISE. EVERY BODY FROZE SILENT. JESUS GAVE THE MOTHER MORE THAN HER SON, HE SHOWED HER THE POWER OF GOD!
"THE VISION OF ZECHARIAH". [THE ANGEL IN THE MYTLE TREES.]
UPON THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH, WHICH IS THE MONTH SEBAT, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS, CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO ZECHARIAH, THE SON OF BERECHIAH, THE SON OF IDDO THE PROPHET, SAYING, "I SAW BY NIGHT, AND BEHELD A MAN RIDING UPON A RED HORSE, AND HE STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES THAT WERE IN THE BOTTOM; AND BEHIND HIM WERE THERE RED HORSES, SPECKLED, AND WHITE. THEN SAID I, ' O MY LORD, WHAT ARE THESE?' AND THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, AND SAID UNTO ME, ' I WILL SHOW THEE WHAT THESE BE'.
AND THE MAN THAT STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES ANSWERED AND SAID,' 'THESE ARE THEY WHOM THE LORD HATH SENT TO WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH, AND BEHOLD, ALL THE EARTH SITTETH STILL, AND IS AT REST.
THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ANSWERED AND SAID, 'O LORD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU HAVE MERCY ON JERUSALEM, AND ON THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AGAINST WHICH THOU HAS HAD INDIGNATION THESE THREE SCORE AND TEN YEARS?' AND THE LORD ANSWERED THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WITH GOODWORDS AND COMFORTABLE WORDS. SO THE ANGEL THAT COMMUNED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, ' CRY THOU SAYING, " THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOST; ' I AM JEALOUS FOR JERUSALEM AND FOR ZION WITH A GREAT JEALOUSY. AND I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED WITH THE HEATHEN THAT ARE AT EASE FOR I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED, AND THEY HELPED FORWARD, THE AFFLICTION. THEREFORE,' THUS SAITH THE LORD; 'I AM RETURNED TO JERUSALEM. WITH MERCIES: MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT,' SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, ' MY CITIES THROUGH PROSPERITY SHALL YET BE SPREAD ABROAD; AND THE LORD; SHALL COMFORT ZION, AND YET SHALL CHOOSE JERUSALEM." " THEN LIFTED I UP MINE EYES, AND SAW AND BEHELD FOUR HORNS. AND I SAID UNTO THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, ' WHAT BE THESE?' AND HE ANSWERED ME, ' THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, ISRAEL, AND JERUSALEM. " AND THE LORD SHOWED ME FOUR CARPENTERS." THEN SAID I, 'WHAT COME THOSE TO DO?' AND HE SPOKE, SAYING, "THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, SO THAT NO MAN DID LIFT UP HIS HEAD: BUT THESE ARE COME TO FRAY THEM, TO CAST OUT THE HORNS OF THE GENTILES, WHICH LIFTED UP THEIR HORN OVER THE LAND OF JUDAH TO SCATTER IT.
I LIFTED UP MY EYES AGAIN, AND LOOKED, AND BEHELD A MAN WITH A MEASURING ROD IN HIS HAND.. THEN SAID I, ' WHITHER GOEST THOU? AND HE SAID TO ME, 'TO MEASURE JERUSALEM, TO SEE WHAT THE BREADTH THEREOF, AND WHAT IS THE LENGTH HEREOF. 'AND, BEHOLD, THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WENT FORTH; AND ANOTHER WENT OUT TO MEET HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM' RUN SPEAK TO THIS YOUNG MAN, SAYING, JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AS TOWNS WITHOUT WALLS FOR THE MULTITUDE OF MEN AND CATTLE THEREIN;" ' FOR I SAITH THE LORD 'WILL BE UNTO HER A WALL OF FIRE ROUND ABOUT, AND WILL BE THE GLORY IN THE MIDST OF HER."
AND THE MAN THAT STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES ANSWERED AND SAID,' 'THESE ARE THEY WHOM THE LORD HATH SENT TO WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH, AND BEHOLD, ALL THE EARTH SITTETH STILL, AND IS AT REST.
THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ANSWERED AND SAID, 'O LORD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU HAVE MERCY ON JERUSALEM, AND ON THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AGAINST WHICH THOU HAS HAD INDIGNATION THESE THREE SCORE AND TEN YEARS?' AND THE LORD ANSWERED THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WITH GOODWORDS AND COMFORTABLE WORDS. SO THE ANGEL THAT COMMUNED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, ' CRY THOU SAYING, " THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOST; ' I AM JEALOUS FOR JERUSALEM AND FOR ZION WITH A GREAT JEALOUSY. AND I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED WITH THE HEATHEN THAT ARE AT EASE FOR I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED, AND THEY HELPED FORWARD, THE AFFLICTION. THEREFORE,' THUS SAITH THE LORD; 'I AM RETURNED TO JERUSALEM. WITH MERCIES: MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT,' SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, ' MY CITIES THROUGH PROSPERITY SHALL YET BE SPREAD ABROAD; AND THE LORD; SHALL COMFORT ZION, AND YET SHALL CHOOSE JERUSALEM." " THEN LIFTED I UP MINE EYES, AND SAW AND BEHELD FOUR HORNS. AND I SAID UNTO THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, ' WHAT BE THESE?' AND HE ANSWERED ME, ' THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, ISRAEL, AND JERUSALEM. " AND THE LORD SHOWED ME FOUR CARPENTERS." THEN SAID I, 'WHAT COME THOSE TO DO?' AND HE SPOKE, SAYING, "THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, SO THAT NO MAN DID LIFT UP HIS HEAD: BUT THESE ARE COME TO FRAY THEM, TO CAST OUT THE HORNS OF THE GENTILES, WHICH LIFTED UP THEIR HORN OVER THE LAND OF JUDAH TO SCATTER IT.
I LIFTED UP MY EYES AGAIN, AND LOOKED, AND BEHELD A MAN WITH A MEASURING ROD IN HIS HAND.. THEN SAID I, ' WHITHER GOEST THOU? AND HE SAID TO ME, 'TO MEASURE JERUSALEM, TO SEE WHAT THE BREADTH THEREOF, AND WHAT IS THE LENGTH HEREOF. 'AND, BEHOLD, THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WENT FORTH; AND ANOTHER WENT OUT TO MEET HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM' RUN SPEAK TO THIS YOUNG MAN, SAYING, JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AS TOWNS WITHOUT WALLS FOR THE MULTITUDE OF MEN AND CATTLE THEREIN;" ' FOR I SAITH THE LORD 'WILL BE UNTO HER A WALL OF FIRE ROUND ABOUT, AND WILL BE THE GLORY IN THE MIDST OF HER."
Thursday, August 17, 2017
NOT EVERYONE WALKS AWAY. [JOHN 6: 56-69].
EVERY MINISTRY FACES DIFFICULT TIMES. IT JUST A GIVEN! THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THIINGS ARE UP AND THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THINGS ARE DOWN. DURING ALL THOSE TIMES THERE ARE FEW MINISTRY LEADERS WHO ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO SEE THAT THE MINISTRY DOES NOT LOSE LOSES SUPPORTERS. IN FACT, THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE CHURCH AND OTHER CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SUCCESS AND GROWTH OF THE MINISTRY.
IN JOHN CHAPTER 6, JESUS SEEMS TO BE DOING ALL HE CAN TO DRIVE AWAY AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE CAN FROM HIS MINISTRY. EVIDENTLY, HE DIDN'T READ SOME OF THE BOOKS I HAVE READ ON THE SUBJECT OF LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS IN MINISTRY. I MEAN, WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND A SUCCESSFUL "ENGLARGMENT" CAMPAIGN, HERE. JESUS RAN AN SMALLMENT CAMPAIGN! WHEN JOHN CHAPTER 6 OPENS, JESUS HAS OVER 5,OOO PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIM AND LISTENING TO HIM SPEAK. WHEN THIS CHAPTER CLOSES, HE ONLY HAS 12 MEN WITH HIM AND ONE OF THEM IS NOT EVEN SAVED. IF JESUS IS DOING ANYTHING IN THESE VERSES, HE IS ISSUIING A CALL TO COMMITMENT. HE KNOWS MANY OF THESE FOLLOWERS ARE MERELY THERE FOR WHAT THEY CAN GET FOR THEIR FLESH. JESUS LAYS DOWN THE GAUNTLET AND CALLS FOR EVERYONE OF THOSE FOLLOWERS TO COMMIT TO HIM AND HIM ALONE. HIS CALL TO COMMIMENT HAS A TWO FOLD OUTCOME. FIRST, IT CLARIFIES HIS CALL. HIS MISSION AND HIS MINISTRY FOR THOSE WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM. SECOND, IT PURIFIES THE RANKS OF HIS DISCIPLES EFFECTIVELY WEEDING OUT MOST OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT GENUINE IN THEIR FAITH OR COMMITMENT.
OUR TEXT VERSES REVEAL JESUS CLEARLY STATING THE TRUTH ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS MINISTRY. HERE WE ARE ALLOWED TO SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURN THEIR BACKS ON HIM AND WALK AWAY. AFTER THE CROWDS LEAVE, V.66, JESUS IMMEDIATELY TURNS TO HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES, IN VERSE 67, AND ASKS THEM TO MAKE A PERSONAL COMMITMET AS WELL. ONE CAN ALMOST HEAR HIS HEART BREAK AS HE ASKS THEM, " WILL YOU ALSO GO AWAY?"
FRIENDS, WE ARE LIVING IN AN HOUR WHEN MANY ARE WALKING AWAY FROM THE THIINGS OF THE LORD. THIS SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US BECAUSE IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BIBLE SAID WOULD HAPPEN IN THE LAST DAYS. WE ARE TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE A "FALLING AWAY", 2 THES. 2:3. WE ARE ALSO TOLD THAT IN THE ENDTIMES, MEN WILL "HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF." 2 TIM. 3;5. YET WHEN WE SEE IT HAPPENING ALL AROUND US, WE ARE SURPRISED. WE ARE SHOCKED! IN VERY TRUTH, ANYONE WHO GIVES HEED TO WHAT JESUS SAYS AND PUTS HIS TRUST IN HIM WHO SENT ME HAS A HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE, DOES NOT COME UP FOR JUDGEMENT, BUT HAS ALREADY PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE. IN TRUTH, IN VERY TRUTH I TELL YOU, A TIME IS COMING, INDEED IT IS ALREADY HERE, WHEN THE DEAD SHALL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD, AND ALL WHO HEAR SHALL COME TO LIFE. FOR AS THE FATHER HAS LIFE-GIVING POWER IN HIMSELF, SO HAS THE SON, BY THE FATHER'S GIFT. AS THE SON OF MAN, HE HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN THE RIGHT TO PASS JUDGEMENT.
DO NOT WONDER AT THIS, BECAUSE THE TIME IS COMING WHEN ALL WHO ARE IN THE GRAVE SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE AND MOVE FORTH: THOSE WHO HAVE DONE RIGHT WILL RISE TO LIFE; AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE WRONG SHALL RISE TO HEAR THEIR DOOM. I CANNOT ACT BY MYSELF; I JUDGE AS I AM BIDDEN, AND MY VERDICT IS JUST, BECAUSE MY AIM IS NOT MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME.
IF I TESTIFY ON MY OWN BEHALF, THAT TESTIMONY DOES NOT HOLD GOOD. THERE IS ANOTHER WHO BEARS WITNESS FOR ME, AND I KNOW THAT HIS TESTIMONY HOLDS. ALTHOUGH THEIR TESTIMONY POINTS TO ME, YOU REFUSE TO COME TO ME FOR THAT LIFE. I DO NOT LOOK TO MEN FOR HONOR. FOR YOU HAVE NO LOVE OF GOD IN YOU. YOUR ACCUSER IS MOSES, THE VERY MOSES ON WHOM YOU HAVE SET YOUR HOPE. IF YOU BELIEVED MOSES YOU WOULD BELIEVE WHAT I TELL YOU, FOR IT WAS ABOUT ME THAT HE WROTE, I AM "CHRIST THE GIVER OF LIFE." AMEN!
BUT IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE WROTE, HOW ARE YOU TO BELIEVE WHAT I SAY. THEN WHAT MUST WE DO? THEY ASKED HIM, ' IF WE ARE TO WORK AS GOD WOULD HAVE US WORK? THIS IS THE WORK THAT GOD REQUIRES; BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHOM HE HAS SENT; AS LUTHER SAID, THE "GREATEST OF ALL SINS" IS THE SIN OF UNBELIEF! THE MAN WHO COMES TO ME I WILL NEVER TURN AWAY. I HAVE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, NOT TO DO MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME. IT IS HIS WILL THAT I SHOULD NOT LOSE ONE EVEN ONE OF ALL THAT HE HAS GIVEN ME, BUT RAISE THEM ALL UP ON THE LAST DAY. AT THIS THE JEWS BEGAN TO MURMUR: SURELY THIS IS JESUS SON OF JOSEPH; WE KNOW HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. HOW CAN HE NOW SAY, " I HAVE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN"? JESUS ANSWERED, ' STOP THE MURMURING AMONG YOUR SELVES. NO MAN CAN COME TO ME UNLESS HE IS DRAWN BY THE FATHER WHO SENT ME; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP ON THE LAST DAY. IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS: " AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD."
THIS WAS SPOKEN IN SYNAGOGUE WHEN JESUS WAS TEACHING IN CAPERNAUM. MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES ON HEARING EXCLAIMED, THIS IS MORE THAN WE CAN STOMACH! WHY LISTEN TO SUCH WORDS? JESUS WAS AWARE HIS DISCIPLES WERE NOW MURMURING ABOUT IT AND ASKED THEM, ' DOES THIS SHOCK YOU' ? WHAT IF YOU SEE THE SON OF MAN ASCENDING TO THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS BEFORE? THE SPIRIT ALONE GIVES LIFE; THE FLESH IS OF NO AVAIL. THE WORDS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE BOTH SPIRIT AND LIFE. AND YET THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE NO FAITH.' FOR JESUS KNEW ALL ALONG WHO WERE WITHOUT FAITH AND WHO WAS TO BETRAY HIM. SO HE SAID, ' THIS IS WHY I TOLD YOU THAT NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT HAS BEEN GRANTED TO HIM BY THE FATHER.' FROM THAT TIME ON, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WITHDREW AND NO LONGER WENT ABOUT WITH HIM. SO JESUS ASKED THE TWELVE, ' DO YOU ALSO WANT TO LEAVE ME? SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, ' LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOUR WORDS ARE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. WE HAVE FAITH, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE HOLY ONE OF GOD. JESUS ANSWERED, ' HAVE I NOT CHOSEN YOU, ALL TWELVE? YET ONE OF YOU IS A DEVIL.' HE MEANT JUDAS, SON OF SIMON ISCARIOT. HE IT WAS WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM, AND HE WAS ONE OF TWELVE.
IN JOHN CHAPTER 6, JESUS SEEMS TO BE DOING ALL HE CAN TO DRIVE AWAY AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE CAN FROM HIS MINISTRY. EVIDENTLY, HE DIDN'T READ SOME OF THE BOOKS I HAVE READ ON THE SUBJECT OF LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS IN MINISTRY. I MEAN, WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND A SUCCESSFUL "ENGLARGMENT" CAMPAIGN, HERE. JESUS RAN AN SMALLMENT CAMPAIGN! WHEN JOHN CHAPTER 6 OPENS, JESUS HAS OVER 5,OOO PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIM AND LISTENING TO HIM SPEAK. WHEN THIS CHAPTER CLOSES, HE ONLY HAS 12 MEN WITH HIM AND ONE OF THEM IS NOT EVEN SAVED. IF JESUS IS DOING ANYTHING IN THESE VERSES, HE IS ISSUIING A CALL TO COMMITMENT. HE KNOWS MANY OF THESE FOLLOWERS ARE MERELY THERE FOR WHAT THEY CAN GET FOR THEIR FLESH. JESUS LAYS DOWN THE GAUNTLET AND CALLS FOR EVERYONE OF THOSE FOLLOWERS TO COMMIT TO HIM AND HIM ALONE. HIS CALL TO COMMIMENT HAS A TWO FOLD OUTCOME. FIRST, IT CLARIFIES HIS CALL. HIS MISSION AND HIS MINISTRY FOR THOSE WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM. SECOND, IT PURIFIES THE RANKS OF HIS DISCIPLES EFFECTIVELY WEEDING OUT MOST OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT GENUINE IN THEIR FAITH OR COMMITMENT.
OUR TEXT VERSES REVEAL JESUS CLEARLY STATING THE TRUTH ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS MINISTRY. HERE WE ARE ALLOWED TO SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURN THEIR BACKS ON HIM AND WALK AWAY. AFTER THE CROWDS LEAVE, V.66, JESUS IMMEDIATELY TURNS TO HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES, IN VERSE 67, AND ASKS THEM TO MAKE A PERSONAL COMMITMET AS WELL. ONE CAN ALMOST HEAR HIS HEART BREAK AS HE ASKS THEM, " WILL YOU ALSO GO AWAY?"
FRIENDS, WE ARE LIVING IN AN HOUR WHEN MANY ARE WALKING AWAY FROM THE THIINGS OF THE LORD. THIS SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US BECAUSE IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BIBLE SAID WOULD HAPPEN IN THE LAST DAYS. WE ARE TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE A "FALLING AWAY", 2 THES. 2:3. WE ARE ALSO TOLD THAT IN THE ENDTIMES, MEN WILL "HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF." 2 TIM. 3;5. YET WHEN WE SEE IT HAPPENING ALL AROUND US, WE ARE SURPRISED. WE ARE SHOCKED! IN VERY TRUTH, ANYONE WHO GIVES HEED TO WHAT JESUS SAYS AND PUTS HIS TRUST IN HIM WHO SENT ME HAS A HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE, DOES NOT COME UP FOR JUDGEMENT, BUT HAS ALREADY PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE. IN TRUTH, IN VERY TRUTH I TELL YOU, A TIME IS COMING, INDEED IT IS ALREADY HERE, WHEN THE DEAD SHALL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD, AND ALL WHO HEAR SHALL COME TO LIFE. FOR AS THE FATHER HAS LIFE-GIVING POWER IN HIMSELF, SO HAS THE SON, BY THE FATHER'S GIFT. AS THE SON OF MAN, HE HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN THE RIGHT TO PASS JUDGEMENT.
DO NOT WONDER AT THIS, BECAUSE THE TIME IS COMING WHEN ALL WHO ARE IN THE GRAVE SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE AND MOVE FORTH: THOSE WHO HAVE DONE RIGHT WILL RISE TO LIFE; AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE WRONG SHALL RISE TO HEAR THEIR DOOM. I CANNOT ACT BY MYSELF; I JUDGE AS I AM BIDDEN, AND MY VERDICT IS JUST, BECAUSE MY AIM IS NOT MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME.
IF I TESTIFY ON MY OWN BEHALF, THAT TESTIMONY DOES NOT HOLD GOOD. THERE IS ANOTHER WHO BEARS WITNESS FOR ME, AND I KNOW THAT HIS TESTIMONY HOLDS. ALTHOUGH THEIR TESTIMONY POINTS TO ME, YOU REFUSE TO COME TO ME FOR THAT LIFE. I DO NOT LOOK TO MEN FOR HONOR. FOR YOU HAVE NO LOVE OF GOD IN YOU. YOUR ACCUSER IS MOSES, THE VERY MOSES ON WHOM YOU HAVE SET YOUR HOPE. IF YOU BELIEVED MOSES YOU WOULD BELIEVE WHAT I TELL YOU, FOR IT WAS ABOUT ME THAT HE WROTE, I AM "CHRIST THE GIVER OF LIFE." AMEN!
BUT IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE WROTE, HOW ARE YOU TO BELIEVE WHAT I SAY. THEN WHAT MUST WE DO? THEY ASKED HIM, ' IF WE ARE TO WORK AS GOD WOULD HAVE US WORK? THIS IS THE WORK THAT GOD REQUIRES; BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHOM HE HAS SENT; AS LUTHER SAID, THE "GREATEST OF ALL SINS" IS THE SIN OF UNBELIEF! THE MAN WHO COMES TO ME I WILL NEVER TURN AWAY. I HAVE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, NOT TO DO MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME. IT IS HIS WILL THAT I SHOULD NOT LOSE ONE EVEN ONE OF ALL THAT HE HAS GIVEN ME, BUT RAISE THEM ALL UP ON THE LAST DAY. AT THIS THE JEWS BEGAN TO MURMUR: SURELY THIS IS JESUS SON OF JOSEPH; WE KNOW HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. HOW CAN HE NOW SAY, " I HAVE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN"? JESUS ANSWERED, ' STOP THE MURMURING AMONG YOUR SELVES. NO MAN CAN COME TO ME UNLESS HE IS DRAWN BY THE FATHER WHO SENT ME; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP ON THE LAST DAY. IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS: " AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD."
THIS WAS SPOKEN IN SYNAGOGUE WHEN JESUS WAS TEACHING IN CAPERNAUM. MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES ON HEARING EXCLAIMED, THIS IS MORE THAN WE CAN STOMACH! WHY LISTEN TO SUCH WORDS? JESUS WAS AWARE HIS DISCIPLES WERE NOW MURMURING ABOUT IT AND ASKED THEM, ' DOES THIS SHOCK YOU' ? WHAT IF YOU SEE THE SON OF MAN ASCENDING TO THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS BEFORE? THE SPIRIT ALONE GIVES LIFE; THE FLESH IS OF NO AVAIL. THE WORDS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE BOTH SPIRIT AND LIFE. AND YET THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE NO FAITH.' FOR JESUS KNEW ALL ALONG WHO WERE WITHOUT FAITH AND WHO WAS TO BETRAY HIM. SO HE SAID, ' THIS IS WHY I TOLD YOU THAT NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT HAS BEEN GRANTED TO HIM BY THE FATHER.' FROM THAT TIME ON, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WITHDREW AND NO LONGER WENT ABOUT WITH HIM. SO JESUS ASKED THE TWELVE, ' DO YOU ALSO WANT TO LEAVE ME? SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, ' LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOUR WORDS ARE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. WE HAVE FAITH, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE HOLY ONE OF GOD. JESUS ANSWERED, ' HAVE I NOT CHOSEN YOU, ALL TWELVE? YET ONE OF YOU IS A DEVIL.' HE MEANT JUDAS, SON OF SIMON ISCARIOT. HE IT WAS WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM, AND HE WAS ONE OF TWELVE.
Monday, August 14, 2017
APPLYING THE THEOLOGY. OF THE CROSS. PART TWO].
LET US APPLY THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS TO A FEW COMMON AND POPULAR POINTS OF VIEW. IN THE LIFE OF PRAYER, FOR EXAMPLE, A PERSON MAY DEDUCE A CONNECTION BETWEEN PETITION AND ANSWERS. THE PERSON IDENTIFIES SOME EVENT OR BEHAVIOR AS GOD'S DIRECT, VISIBLE ANSWER TO A PERSONAL REQUEST.
EVEN THOUGH THE EVENT OR WORD COULD BE COINCIDENTAL OR ACCIDENTAL, THE INDIVIDUAL NEVERTHELESS ATTRIBUTES IT TO GOD MATTER OF FACTLY. INDEED GOD DOES RESPOND TO OUR FAITHFUL SEEKING, KNOCKING, AND ASKING.
BUT, PRAYER IS UTTERED WITH THE "AMEN" "LET IT BE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL." IT IS THEREFORE UNNECESSARY TO SINGLE OUT AN ANSWER FOR A SPECIFIC PETITION. TRUST IMPLIES A CERTAIN INABILITY TO SEE OR COMPREHEND. TRUST RELATES TO GOD'S PROMISE THAT IN HIS GRACIOUSNESS HE WILL HEAR US, FORGIVE US, EMPOWER US, HEAL US, AND TRANSFORM US, SOMEHOW SOME WAY.
GOD'S GRACIOUS PROMISE IS SUFFICIENT, AND IT IS PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS.
ACCORDING TO THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS, OUR CERTAINY ABOUT HOW GOD WILL ACT IN A PARTICULAR INSTANCE IS NOT GREAT. TRUST CANNOTES A MEASURE OF RISK AND COURAGE, A LETTING GO AND LETTING BE.. OUR OWN CERTAINY OF GOD WILL NEVER MAKE THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD MORE CERTAIN.
GOD'S GRACIOUSNESS IS THERE. WE CANNOT CAUSE IT, AFFECT IT,
AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, HIS FOLLOWERS WERE FACED WITH SOME HARD CHOICES. THE PREVIOUS TWO OR THREE YEARS HAD BEEN THE MOST EXCITING TIME OF THEIR LIVES. THEY HAD LISTENED WITH WONDER TO HIS TEACHING, AND WATCHED WITH GROWING EXPECTANCY, AS JESUS ACTIONS MADE IT PLAIN THAT GOD'S LONG AWAITED NEW SOCIETY HAD REALLY AND TRUELY ARRIVED. THE KINGDOM WAS HERE, BECAUSE JESUS WAS THE KING! THEN CAME THE CRUCIFIXION, AND WITH IT ALL THEY HAD HOPED FOR SEEMED DOOMED TO CERTAIN FAILURE. EVEN THE RESURRECTION LEFT THEM AFRAID AND DISILLUSIONED, AND WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT JESUS WOULD BE NO LONGER PHYISCALLY PRESENT WITH THEM, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE SIMPLY TO FORGET HIM. NOT TO FORGET HIM ENTIRELY, PERHAPS- BUT TO WRITE OFF THOSE THREE YEARS AS AN EXPERIENCE WHICH HAD TAUGHT THEM ALOT, BUT WHICH WAS NO LONGER OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN TO THEIR CONTINUING LIFE-STYLE.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT TEMPTATION FOR THEM TO DRIFT BACK HOME AND PICK UP THE THREADS OF THEIR WORKING LIVES WHERE THEY HAD LEFT OFF BEFORE THEY JOINED JESUS. THERE, THEY COULD STILL SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF HIM-AND PERHAPS EVEN TRY TO PUT SOME OF HIS TEACHING INTO PRACTICE IN THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUES OF RURAL PALESTINE.
YET THE MORE THEY THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS, THE MORE THEY KNEW HOW IMPOSSIBLE SUCH A REACTION WOULD BE. JESUS HAD DEMANDED THEIR RADICAL AND WHOLEHEARTED OBEDIENCE WHEN THEY FIRST MET HIM. AND HIS FINAL MESSAGE TO THEM WAS JUST AS CHALLENGING AND UNCOMPROMISING: GO
THEN, TO ALL PEOPLES EVERYWHERE AND MAKE THEM MY DISCIPLES....YOU WILL BE WITNESSES FOR ME IN JERUSALEM, ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH... MATTHEW 28:19, ACTS 1:8.]LETS GET BACK TO JESUS:
JESUS HAD NEVER BEEN AN ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE. PEOPLE WHO MET HIM OFTEN RECOGNIZED HIM AS 'RABBI,' AND GAVE HIM THAT TITLE. BUT RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THEY ALL KNEW THAT HE WAS DIFFERENT AND THAT HIS MESSAGED WAS DISTINCTIVE. IN HIS VERY FIRST REPORT OF JESUS PUBLIC SPEAKING, MARK COMMENTS: " THE PEOPLE WHO HEARD HIM WERE AMAZED AT THE WAY HE TAUGHT, FOR HE WASN'T LIKE THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW; MARK [1:22] INSTEAD HE TAUGHT WITH AUTHORITY. LUKE: [9:25; 19;18,39.].
THAT DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT HIS TEACHING WAS COMPLETELY NEW AND UNIQUE. MANY JEWISH WRITERS HAVE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE FAITHFUL ' SHEPHERDS' OF THE CHURCH, [MATTHEW 18: 12-14]. IT IS OF COURSE NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT JESUS MAY HAVE TOLD THE SAME STORY MORE THAN ONCE, DRAWN FROM DIFFERNT LESSONS ON EACH OCCASION. MANY PREACHERS RE-USE A GOOD ILLUSTRATION.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT THESE PARABLES ARE EXCEPTIONAL IN HAVING ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION AT ALL ATTACHED TO THEM. WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH JESUS FIRST TOLD MOST OF THE PARABLES.
WHY DID JESUS TEACH IN PARABLES? THERE IS A STATEMENT IN MARK [4: 11-12]. WHICH SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT JESUS TOLD PARABLES WITH THE DELIBERATE INTENTION OF MAKING HIS TEACHING OBSCURE TO THOSE WHO WERE NOT ALREADY HIS DISCIPLES, SO THAT, ECHOING THE WORDS OF ISAIAH, " THEY MAY INDEEDS SEE BUT NOT PERCEIVE, AND MAY INDEED HEAR BUT NOT UNDERSTAND;
LEST THEY SHOULD TURN AGAIN, AND BE FORGIVEN. ' SUCH AN IDEA IS SO CONTRARY TO ALL WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS.
EVEN THOUGH THE EVENT OR WORD COULD BE COINCIDENTAL OR ACCIDENTAL, THE INDIVIDUAL NEVERTHELESS ATTRIBUTES IT TO GOD MATTER OF FACTLY. INDEED GOD DOES RESPOND TO OUR FAITHFUL SEEKING, KNOCKING, AND ASKING.
BUT, PRAYER IS UTTERED WITH THE "AMEN" "LET IT BE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL." IT IS THEREFORE UNNECESSARY TO SINGLE OUT AN ANSWER FOR A SPECIFIC PETITION. TRUST IMPLIES A CERTAIN INABILITY TO SEE OR COMPREHEND. TRUST RELATES TO GOD'S PROMISE THAT IN HIS GRACIOUSNESS HE WILL HEAR US, FORGIVE US, EMPOWER US, HEAL US, AND TRANSFORM US, SOMEHOW SOME WAY.
GOD'S GRACIOUS PROMISE IS SUFFICIENT, AND IT IS PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS.
ACCORDING TO THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS, OUR CERTAINY ABOUT HOW GOD WILL ACT IN A PARTICULAR INSTANCE IS NOT GREAT. TRUST CANNOTES A MEASURE OF RISK AND COURAGE, A LETTING GO AND LETTING BE.. OUR OWN CERTAINY OF GOD WILL NEVER MAKE THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD MORE CERTAIN.
GOD'S GRACIOUSNESS IS THERE. WE CANNOT CAUSE IT, AFFECT IT,
AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, HIS FOLLOWERS WERE FACED WITH SOME HARD CHOICES. THE PREVIOUS TWO OR THREE YEARS HAD BEEN THE MOST EXCITING TIME OF THEIR LIVES. THEY HAD LISTENED WITH WONDER TO HIS TEACHING, AND WATCHED WITH GROWING EXPECTANCY, AS JESUS ACTIONS MADE IT PLAIN THAT GOD'S LONG AWAITED NEW SOCIETY HAD REALLY AND TRUELY ARRIVED. THE KINGDOM WAS HERE, BECAUSE JESUS WAS THE KING! THEN CAME THE CRUCIFIXION, AND WITH IT ALL THEY HAD HOPED FOR SEEMED DOOMED TO CERTAIN FAILURE. EVEN THE RESURRECTION LEFT THEM AFRAID AND DISILLUSIONED, AND WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT JESUS WOULD BE NO LONGER PHYISCALLY PRESENT WITH THEM, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE SIMPLY TO FORGET HIM. NOT TO FORGET HIM ENTIRELY, PERHAPS- BUT TO WRITE OFF THOSE THREE YEARS AS AN EXPERIENCE WHICH HAD TAUGHT THEM ALOT, BUT WHICH WAS NO LONGER OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN TO THEIR CONTINUING LIFE-STYLE.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT TEMPTATION FOR THEM TO DRIFT BACK HOME AND PICK UP THE THREADS OF THEIR WORKING LIVES WHERE THEY HAD LEFT OFF BEFORE THEY JOINED JESUS. THERE, THEY COULD STILL SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF HIM-AND PERHAPS EVEN TRY TO PUT SOME OF HIS TEACHING INTO PRACTICE IN THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUES OF RURAL PALESTINE.
YET THE MORE THEY THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS, THE MORE THEY KNEW HOW IMPOSSIBLE SUCH A REACTION WOULD BE. JESUS HAD DEMANDED THEIR RADICAL AND WHOLEHEARTED OBEDIENCE WHEN THEY FIRST MET HIM. AND HIS FINAL MESSAGE TO THEM WAS JUST AS CHALLENGING AND UNCOMPROMISING: GO
THEN, TO ALL PEOPLES EVERYWHERE AND MAKE THEM MY DISCIPLES....YOU WILL BE WITNESSES FOR ME IN JERUSALEM, ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH... MATTHEW 28:19, ACTS 1:8.]LETS GET BACK TO JESUS:
JESUS HAD NEVER BEEN AN ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE. PEOPLE WHO MET HIM OFTEN RECOGNIZED HIM AS 'RABBI,' AND GAVE HIM THAT TITLE. BUT RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THEY ALL KNEW THAT HE WAS DIFFERENT AND THAT HIS MESSAGED WAS DISTINCTIVE. IN HIS VERY FIRST REPORT OF JESUS PUBLIC SPEAKING, MARK COMMENTS: " THE PEOPLE WHO HEARD HIM WERE AMAZED AT THE WAY HE TAUGHT, FOR HE WASN'T LIKE THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW; MARK [1:22] INSTEAD HE TAUGHT WITH AUTHORITY. LUKE: [9:25; 19;18,39.].
THAT DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT HIS TEACHING WAS COMPLETELY NEW AND UNIQUE. MANY JEWISH WRITERS HAVE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE FAITHFUL ' SHEPHERDS' OF THE CHURCH, [MATTHEW 18: 12-14]. IT IS OF COURSE NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT JESUS MAY HAVE TOLD THE SAME STORY MORE THAN ONCE, DRAWN FROM DIFFERNT LESSONS ON EACH OCCASION. MANY PREACHERS RE-USE A GOOD ILLUSTRATION.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT THESE PARABLES ARE EXCEPTIONAL IN HAVING ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION AT ALL ATTACHED TO THEM. WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH JESUS FIRST TOLD MOST OF THE PARABLES.
WHY DID JESUS TEACH IN PARABLES? THERE IS A STATEMENT IN MARK [4: 11-12]. WHICH SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT JESUS TOLD PARABLES WITH THE DELIBERATE INTENTION OF MAKING HIS TEACHING OBSCURE TO THOSE WHO WERE NOT ALREADY HIS DISCIPLES, SO THAT, ECHOING THE WORDS OF ISAIAH, " THEY MAY INDEEDS SEE BUT NOT PERCEIVE, AND MAY INDEED HEAR BUT NOT UNDERSTAND;
LEST THEY SHOULD TURN AGAIN, AND BE FORGIVEN. ' SUCH AN IDEA IS SO CONTRARY TO ALL WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS.
Saturday, August 12, 2017
LUTHER'S THESES:THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS.
ON APRIL 25, 1518 AN ASSEMBLY OF AUGUSTIANS MET AT HEIDELBERG, GERMANY. LUTHER'S NINETY- FIVE THESES, POSTED SOME SIX-MONTHS BEFORE HAND, HAD STIRRED CRIES OF PROTEST. LEO X ASKED FOR AN ASSSEMBLY THROUGH ESTABLISHED CHANNELS OF LUTHER'S ORDER, THE AGUSTIANS. IN PREPARATIONS FOR THE DISPUTATIONS, LUTHER WROTE 28 THEOLOGICAL AND 12 PHILOSOPHICAL THESES. THESE ARE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "HEIDELBERG DISPUTATION OF 1518." THESES 18-24 CONTAIN LUTHER'S "THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS" IN EXPLICIT
CONTRAST TO WHAT LUTHER CALL S "THEOLOGY OF GLORY.":
18. IT IS CERTAIN THAT MAN MUST UTTERLY DISPAIR OF HIS OWN ABILITY BEFORE HE IS PREPARED TO RECIEVE THE GRACE OF CHRIST.
19. THAT PERSON DOES NOT RECIEVE TO BECALLED A THEOLOGIAN WHO LOOKS UPON THE INVISBLE THINGS OF GOD AND AS THOUGH THEY WERE CLEARLY PERCEPTABLE IN THOSE THINGS WHICH HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED [ROM 1:20].
2O. HE DESERVES TO BE CALLED A THEOLOGIAN, HOWEVER, WHO COMPREHENDS THE VISIBLE AND MANIFEST THINGS OF GOD SEEN THROUGH SUFFERING AND THE CROSS.
21. A THEOLOGIAN OF GLORY CALLS EVIL GOOD AND GOOD EVIL. A THEOLOGIAN OF THE CROSS CALLS THE THING WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
22. THE WISDOM WHICH SEES THE INVISABLE THINGS OF GOD IN WORKS AS PERCIEVED BY MAN IS COMPLETELY PUFFED UP, BLINDED, AND HARDENED,
23.THE LAW BRINGS THE WRATH OF GOD, KILLS, REVILES, ACCUSES, JUDGES AND CONDEMNS, EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT IN CHRIST. [ROM. 4:15].
24. YET THAT WISDOM IS NOT OF EVIL ITSELF, NOR IS THE LAW TO BE EVADED; BUT WITHOUT THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS MAN MISUSES THE BEST IN THE WORST MANNER.
LUTHER SUMMARIZED HIS THESES IN THE STATEMENT: " THE CROSS PUTS EVERYTHING TO THE TEST." ON THE BASIS OF THESE WORDS OF LUTHER, HEINRICH BORNKAMM COULD SAY THAT LUTHER MADE THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS. " THE CORNERSTONE ON WHICH MINDS DIVIDE AND GO THEIR DIFFERENT WAYS." IT IS A MATTER OF WHERE ONE BEGINS--WITH THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY OR WITH THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS. THE STARTING POINT IS CRUCIAL; IT DETERMINES ONE'S UNDERSTANDING AND THE DIRECTION IN WHICH ONE PROCEEDS. WALTHER VON LOEWENICH REMARKED, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS IS "A PRINCIPLE OF LUTHER'S ENTIRE THEOLOGY." THOUGH LUTHERANS MAY NOD IN FULL ASSENT, VON LOEWENICH SPOKE A WORD OF CAUTION:
AND NOW IT MUST BE SAID: WHILE THE LUTHERAN CHURCH HAS CLUNG FAITHFULLY TO THE " FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST' (PROPER CHRISTUM) IT SURRENDERED LUTHER'S THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS ALL TOO QUICKLY. THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY THAT LUTHER OPPOSED HAS MADE A TRIUMPHAL ENTRY ALSO UNTO HIS CHURCH. ONE OCCASIONALLY WONDERS WETHER THE DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE CROSS HAS NOT EVEN BEEN FORCED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THIS THEOLOGY OF GLORY. WE ARE NOT TO ARGUE VON LOEWENICH'S CONTENTION. IT IS MERELY CITED TO CREATE AN AWARENESS OF HOW EASILY WE CAN SLIP INTO THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY, REGARDLESS OF ONE'S LUTHERAN IDENITY.
THE THEOLOGY OF THE GLORY BEGINS FROM BELOW AND PROCEEDS TO ABOVE, FROM THE VISIBLE TO THE INVISIBLE, FROM THE HUMAN TO THE DIVINE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY BEGINS FROM THE ORDER AND BEAUTY OF CREATION OR FROM A GREAT EVENT OF HISTORY AND THEN POINTS TO THE SPIRITUAL POWER BEHIND. GOD IS SEEN TO BE MANIFEST FROM HIS WORKS. LUTHER CALLED THIS A PROCESS OF DEDUCTION. BUT LUTHER INSISTED THAT GOD IS HIDDEN IN SUFFERING. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF NOT THROUGH THE "BEST AND BRIGHEST" BUT RATHER THROUGH WEAK AND FOOLISH THINGS, THOUGH HIS "OPPOSITE," THE VERY EVENT THAT APPARENTLY DENIES HIM. WE SEE GOD'S GLORY IN THE PLACE WHERE TO ALL HUMAN APPEARANCES THERE IS NO GLORY.
AT THE CENTER OF LUTHER'S UNDERSTANDING IS THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST, WHERE WE COMPREHEND " THE VISIBLE AND MANIFEST THINGS OF GOD. SEEN THROUGH SUFFERING AND THE CROSS."
WHY SHOULD THE CROSS, CRUCIFIXION, SUFFERING, WEAKNESS, AND SHAME, HUMILITY, TROUBLE, ANGUISH, DARKNESS, AND FOOLISHNESS, BE THE FOCUS OF GOD'S GLORY. WHY SHOULD NOT THE BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS FEATURES OF LIFE BE THE VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF GOD'S INVISIBLE POWER? LUTHER RESPONDS, "LET GOD BE GOD." THAT IS, THE MATTER PERTAINS TO GOD'S MYSTERY AND HOLINESS. HE WILL BE WHO HE WILL BE. FROM ANOTHER VANTAGE POINT, HOWEVER, LUTHER MAKES A FEW SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE "WHY" OF GOD'S "HOW." THE CROSS PUTS AN END TO EVERY HUMAN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN FINDING GOD, WETHER THROUGH EXPERIENCE, ACHIEVEMENT, SIGHT, EMOTION, OR WILL.
THE CROSS PUTS TO THE TEST ANY AND EVERY HUMAN INSINUATION OF "SEEING"
GOD. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE GOD IN FULL VIEW AND WITH COMPLETE CERTAINITY. THIS IS MERELY AN EXPRESSION OF HUMAN FEAR AND DESIRE. MOREOVER, THE CREATURE WHO LOVES GLORY AND THE GLAMOUR OF HUMAN WORK PROJECTS THIS ONTO THE VERY ESSENCE OF GOD. HUMANITY PUTS GOD AT THE MERCY OF HUMAN VALUES. GOD BECOMES A GLORIOUS PRODUCTION OF HUMAN DEDUCTION-SCARCELY A GOD OF FREEDOM, HUMILIATION, REVELATION, OR INITIATIVE.
WHY DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF THROUGH SUFFERING? ONE REASON, ACCORDING TO LUTHER, IS OUR NEED TO BE PURGED OF SIN, THE NEED OF THE PROUD TO BE HUMBLED. SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION ALLOW FAITH TO TRUST THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD' GRACE. THE WORST KIND OF TROUBLE IS TO HAVE NO TROUBLE. TROUBLE KEEPS FAITH IN MOTION-HOPING, TRUSTING, LOVING. " THE CROSS PUTS EVERY THING TO THE TEST. NONETHELESS, LUTHER REJECTS SUFFERING ITSELF AS BEING GOOD WORK OR ANOTHER DEDUCTION OF GOD'S PRESENCE. LUTHER WOULD NOT BOAST OF HIS OWN CROSS.
CONTRAST TO WHAT LUTHER CALL S "THEOLOGY OF GLORY.":
18. IT IS CERTAIN THAT MAN MUST UTTERLY DISPAIR OF HIS OWN ABILITY BEFORE HE IS PREPARED TO RECIEVE THE GRACE OF CHRIST.
19. THAT PERSON DOES NOT RECIEVE TO BECALLED A THEOLOGIAN WHO LOOKS UPON THE INVISBLE THINGS OF GOD AND AS THOUGH THEY WERE CLEARLY PERCEPTABLE IN THOSE THINGS WHICH HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED [ROM 1:20].
2O. HE DESERVES TO BE CALLED A THEOLOGIAN, HOWEVER, WHO COMPREHENDS THE VISIBLE AND MANIFEST THINGS OF GOD SEEN THROUGH SUFFERING AND THE CROSS.
21. A THEOLOGIAN OF GLORY CALLS EVIL GOOD AND GOOD EVIL. A THEOLOGIAN OF THE CROSS CALLS THE THING WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
22. THE WISDOM WHICH SEES THE INVISABLE THINGS OF GOD IN WORKS AS PERCIEVED BY MAN IS COMPLETELY PUFFED UP, BLINDED, AND HARDENED,
23.THE LAW BRINGS THE WRATH OF GOD, KILLS, REVILES, ACCUSES, JUDGES AND CONDEMNS, EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT IN CHRIST. [ROM. 4:15].
24. YET THAT WISDOM IS NOT OF EVIL ITSELF, NOR IS THE LAW TO BE EVADED; BUT WITHOUT THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS MAN MISUSES THE BEST IN THE WORST MANNER.
LUTHER SUMMARIZED HIS THESES IN THE STATEMENT: " THE CROSS PUTS EVERYTHING TO THE TEST." ON THE BASIS OF THESE WORDS OF LUTHER, HEINRICH BORNKAMM COULD SAY THAT LUTHER MADE THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS. " THE CORNERSTONE ON WHICH MINDS DIVIDE AND GO THEIR DIFFERENT WAYS." IT IS A MATTER OF WHERE ONE BEGINS--WITH THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY OR WITH THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS. THE STARTING POINT IS CRUCIAL; IT DETERMINES ONE'S UNDERSTANDING AND THE DIRECTION IN WHICH ONE PROCEEDS. WALTHER VON LOEWENICH REMARKED, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS IS "A PRINCIPLE OF LUTHER'S ENTIRE THEOLOGY." THOUGH LUTHERANS MAY NOD IN FULL ASSENT, VON LOEWENICH SPOKE A WORD OF CAUTION:
AND NOW IT MUST BE SAID: WHILE THE LUTHERAN CHURCH HAS CLUNG FAITHFULLY TO THE " FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST' (PROPER CHRISTUM) IT SURRENDERED LUTHER'S THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS ALL TOO QUICKLY. THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY THAT LUTHER OPPOSED HAS MADE A TRIUMPHAL ENTRY ALSO UNTO HIS CHURCH. ONE OCCASIONALLY WONDERS WETHER THE DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE CROSS HAS NOT EVEN BEEN FORCED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THIS THEOLOGY OF GLORY. WE ARE NOT TO ARGUE VON LOEWENICH'S CONTENTION. IT IS MERELY CITED TO CREATE AN AWARENESS OF HOW EASILY WE CAN SLIP INTO THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY, REGARDLESS OF ONE'S LUTHERAN IDENITY.
THE THEOLOGY OF THE GLORY BEGINS FROM BELOW AND PROCEEDS TO ABOVE, FROM THE VISIBLE TO THE INVISIBLE, FROM THE HUMAN TO THE DIVINE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE THEOLOGY OF GLORY BEGINS FROM THE ORDER AND BEAUTY OF CREATION OR FROM A GREAT EVENT OF HISTORY AND THEN POINTS TO THE SPIRITUAL POWER BEHIND. GOD IS SEEN TO BE MANIFEST FROM HIS WORKS. LUTHER CALLED THIS A PROCESS OF DEDUCTION. BUT LUTHER INSISTED THAT GOD IS HIDDEN IN SUFFERING. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF NOT THROUGH THE "BEST AND BRIGHEST" BUT RATHER THROUGH WEAK AND FOOLISH THINGS, THOUGH HIS "OPPOSITE," THE VERY EVENT THAT APPARENTLY DENIES HIM. WE SEE GOD'S GLORY IN THE PLACE WHERE TO ALL HUMAN APPEARANCES THERE IS NO GLORY.
AT THE CENTER OF LUTHER'S UNDERSTANDING IS THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST, WHERE WE COMPREHEND " THE VISIBLE AND MANIFEST THINGS OF GOD. SEEN THROUGH SUFFERING AND THE CROSS."
WHY SHOULD THE CROSS, CRUCIFIXION, SUFFERING, WEAKNESS, AND SHAME, HUMILITY, TROUBLE, ANGUISH, DARKNESS, AND FOOLISHNESS, BE THE FOCUS OF GOD'S GLORY. WHY SHOULD NOT THE BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS FEATURES OF LIFE BE THE VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF GOD'S INVISIBLE POWER? LUTHER RESPONDS, "LET GOD BE GOD." THAT IS, THE MATTER PERTAINS TO GOD'S MYSTERY AND HOLINESS. HE WILL BE WHO HE WILL BE. FROM ANOTHER VANTAGE POINT, HOWEVER, LUTHER MAKES A FEW SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE "WHY" OF GOD'S "HOW." THE CROSS PUTS AN END TO EVERY HUMAN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN FINDING GOD, WETHER THROUGH EXPERIENCE, ACHIEVEMENT, SIGHT, EMOTION, OR WILL.
THE CROSS PUTS TO THE TEST ANY AND EVERY HUMAN INSINUATION OF "SEEING"
GOD. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE GOD IN FULL VIEW AND WITH COMPLETE CERTAINITY. THIS IS MERELY AN EXPRESSION OF HUMAN FEAR AND DESIRE. MOREOVER, THE CREATURE WHO LOVES GLORY AND THE GLAMOUR OF HUMAN WORK PROJECTS THIS ONTO THE VERY ESSENCE OF GOD. HUMANITY PUTS GOD AT THE MERCY OF HUMAN VALUES. GOD BECOMES A GLORIOUS PRODUCTION OF HUMAN DEDUCTION-SCARCELY A GOD OF FREEDOM, HUMILIATION, REVELATION, OR INITIATIVE.
WHY DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF THROUGH SUFFERING? ONE REASON, ACCORDING TO LUTHER, IS OUR NEED TO BE PURGED OF SIN, THE NEED OF THE PROUD TO BE HUMBLED. SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION ALLOW FAITH TO TRUST THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD' GRACE. THE WORST KIND OF TROUBLE IS TO HAVE NO TROUBLE. TROUBLE KEEPS FAITH IN MOTION-HOPING, TRUSTING, LOVING. " THE CROSS PUTS EVERY THING TO THE TEST. NONETHELESS, LUTHER REJECTS SUFFERING ITSELF AS BEING GOOD WORK OR ANOTHER DEDUCTION OF GOD'S PRESENCE. LUTHER WOULD NOT BOAST OF HIS OWN CROSS.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
" They never heard it like this before.
A DISTINGUISHED PRINCETON PSYCHOLOGIST USED TO TELL HIS STUDENTS, THAT THE "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROPAGANDA IN HISTORY. HE DEFINED PROPAGANDA AS INFORMATION THAT IFLUNECES AND CONTROLS OPINION FOR GOOD OR FOR BAD, AND THEN DEMONSTRATED " THAT THE " SERMON ON THE MOUNT" PROBABLY CONTAINED THE MOST COMPELLING AND POWERFUL WORDS EVER UTTERED. NO WORDS EVER SPOKEN BY ANYONE HAVE ATRACKED SUCH UNIVERSAL ADMIRATION. YET THE "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" AS WE HAVE IT, IS ONLY 15 MINUTES LONG AND ONLY A SAMPLE OF THE MANY TALKS JESUS GAVE. MATTHEW AND LUKE BOTH RECORD THE SERMON, BUT THEIR REPORTS DIFFER, FROM EACH OTHER AT SOME POINTS BECAUSE THEY TRANSLATED JESUS REMARKS FROM SPOKEN ARAMAIC INTO WRITTEN GREEK, AND THEY CONDENSED DIFFERENTLY FOR THEIR PARTICULAR READERS. JESUS WAS THIRTY YRS OLD WHEN HE STARTED HIS MINISTRY. HOWEVER, THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARED THE WAY FOR HIM. THE ARCH ANGEL GABRIEL CAME
TO ZACHARIAS AND HIS WIFE ELIZABETH SAYING SHE WOULD HAVE A CHILD, A SON,
WHO WOULD BE A GREAT MAN OF GOD, BUT ZACHARIAS DIDN'T BELIEVE THE ANGEL, AND FOR THIS REASON WAS MADE DEAF AND DUMB, UNTIL ELIZABETH DELIVERED A SON AND NAMED HIM JOHN. JOHN BECAME A PREACHER AND LED A ASCETIC LIFE IN THE DESERT AND SPOKE OF A GREATER ONE TO COME AND SPOKE OF REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM. AFTER JESUS BAPTISM HE WENT INTO THE DESERT, WHERE HE WAS TESTED BY THE DEVIL. AT THE TIME JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE FORM OF A DOVE, DESCENDED ON HIM AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN SAYING: " THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. JOHN KEPT ON PREACHING UNTIL HIS DEATH. THE DEVIL TEMPTED JESUS IN THE DESERT 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS, AND SAYING IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD CHANGE THESE STONES INTO BREAD, AND THE DEVIL WOULD GIVE HIM POWER AND WEALTH OVER ALL THE NATIONS SATAN RULED. JESUS DECLINED THE OFFER. WHILE IN GALILEE JESUS CREATED A MOVEMENT ALLOWING A CIRCLE OF DISCIPLES AND FOLLOWERS TO SHARE IN HIS MINISTRY AND THEY LATER BECAME CALLED HIS 12 APOSTLES.
PROBABLY THE MOST MEMORABLE OF JESUS SERMONS WAS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, DELIVERED TO HIS DISCIPLES AND A LARGE CROWD WHO HAD GATHERED
TO LISTEN. IT WAS A REVOLUTIONARY SERMON, STARTING WITH THE "BEATITUDES",
WHERE JESUS STATES THAT HAPPINESS, DOES NOT LIE IN WEALTH, HEALTH, OR SUCCESS, BUT HUMILITY, MERCY, PEACE MAKING, AND SPIRITUAL HUNGER. JESUS WENT ON TO SAY THAT ANGER IS AS GREAT A SIN AS MURDER, AND LUSTFUL THOUGHTS AS HAD AS ADULTERY. HE URGED LOVE FOR ONE ENEMIES, DISREGARD
FOR MONEY POSSESSIONS AND ATTENTION TO OUR OWN SINS, RATHER THEN CONDEMNATION ON THE SINS OF OTHERS. HE WARNED HIS HEARERS TO AVOID HYPOCRITICAL, OSTENTATIOUS, WORSHIP AND PRAYER AND TAUGHT THEM THE PRAYER, THAT HAS BECOME THE LORD'S PRAYER. JESUS SPOKE THESE WORDS FROM A LEVEL SPOT ON A GRASSY HILL OVER-LOOKING THE SEA OF GALILEE.
GROUPED AROUND HIM WERE HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES, WHILE SOME OF THE POPULACE SAT ATTENTIVELY BEHIND THE DISCIPLES. ON THE EDGE OF THE CROWD, NO DOUBT WERE SCRIBES, PHARISEES, WHO HAD COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO KEEPING JESUS UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
JESUS BEGAN WITH WHAT ARE CALLED THE "BEATITUDES."
HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRITS, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
HAPPY ARE THE MOURNERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.
HAPPY ARE THE SELF CONTROLLED, FOR THEY SHALL INHERITED THE EARTH..
HAPPY ARE THOSE HUNGERING AND THIRSTING AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED.
HAPPY ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.
HAPPY ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.
HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED GOD'S SONS.
HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
HAPPY ARE YOU WHEN THEY INSULT YOU AND PERSECUTE AND SPEAK ALL KINDS OF EVIL FALSELY BECAUSE OF ME. REJOICE AND BE GLAD, BECAUSE YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN, FOR THIS IS HOW THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS BEFORE YOU. (MATT. 5:3-12).
NOW THE POOR IN SPIRIT ARE THOSE WHO RECOGNIZE THEY SUFFER SPIRITUAL POVERTY.
THE MOURNERS ARE THOSE LIKE KING DAVID, DEEPLY REGRET THEIR OWN SINS AND THE SINS OF THEIR NATION. THE SELF-CONTROLLED (USUALLY TRANSLATED
"MEEK") ARE THOSE WHO CONTROL THEIR ANGER, AND SUBMIT TO GOD AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES HE ALLOTS THEM.
THOSE WORDS WAS USED OF AN ANIMAL WHO SUBMITTED TO ITS MASTER.
JESUS EXERCISED SUCH SELF-CONTROL. WHEN HE SUBMITTED TO THE CROSS.
THE PURE HEART POSSES INWARD PURITY, IN CONTRAST TO THOSE WHO SEEK PURITY THROUGH OBSERVING EXTERNAL RITUALS. THE PEACE MAKERS DO MORE THAN LIVE PEACEFULLY; THEY PROMOTE PEACE AMONG OTHERS AND RESTORE HARMONY BETWEEN FORMER ENEMIES, THE PERSECUTED ARE THOSE WHO SUFFER REJECTION BECAUSE OF THEIR DEVOTION TO JESUS. THEY SHOULD FEEL PRIVILEGED, JESUS SAID, TO FOLLOW IN THE GREAT TRADITION OF OUR SPIRITUAL ANCESTORS, LIKE ELIJAH, ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, WHO WERE ALSO PERSECUTED.
TO SPEAK OF HAPPY MOURNERS AND REJOICING SUFFERS MUST HAVE STARTLED JESUS AUDIENCE! HIS WORDS GRATED ON SELF-SATISFIED SUCCESS- OF TYPES WHO TRAMPLED ON OTHERS TO ATTAIN STATUS. HOW MANY OF THE RICH, FAMOUS, AND POWERFUL, IN JESUS AUDIENCE, AND OUR WORLD TODAY ARE SENSITIVE, SUBMISSIVE, MERCIFUL?
JESUS WORDS REVERSES THE WORLD'S- VALUES-THE ARROGANT, COLD BLOODED, SUCCESSES BECOME ETERNAL FAILURES, AND THE TRULY "MEEK" INHERIT THE EARTH. LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THHE DISCIPLES, JESUS INFORMED THEM: YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH, BUT IF SALT LOSES IT FLAVOR, HOW CAN IT BECOME SALTY AGAIN? IT IS GOOD FOR NOTHING, BUT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY BUILT ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN, NOR DO PEOPPLE LIGHT A LAMP AND PUT IT UNDER A BASKET, BUT ON A LAMP STAND SO IT LIGHTS THE WHOLE HOUSE. OUR LIFE AS MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, SHOULD RADIATE OUR LEADER JESUS CHRIST. WHEN THEY SEE US, THEY SHOULD SEE JESUS. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN IN SUCH AWAY, THAT THEY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND HONOR YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
JESUS PUNGENT AND EARTHLY ILLUSTRATIONS DREW FROM THE DAILY LIFE OF HIS AUDIENCE. THE ISRAELIS USED SALT TO PRESERVE AND FLAVOR FOOD, BUT THE SALT THEY GATHERED FEOM THE DEAD SEA MARSHES OFTEN CONTAINED OTHER SUBSTANCES WHICH RENDERED IT TASTELESS. JESUS DISCIPLES WERE TO PURIFY AND ENLIGHTEN A CORRUPT WORLD BY LIVING IN ITS MIDST, INSTEAD OF RETREATING TO THE DEAD SEA CAVES. TO PURSUE SAINTHOOD, LIKE THE QUMRAM COMMUNITY.
TO ZACHARIAS AND HIS WIFE ELIZABETH SAYING SHE WOULD HAVE A CHILD, A SON,
WHO WOULD BE A GREAT MAN OF GOD, BUT ZACHARIAS DIDN'T BELIEVE THE ANGEL, AND FOR THIS REASON WAS MADE DEAF AND DUMB, UNTIL ELIZABETH DELIVERED A SON AND NAMED HIM JOHN. JOHN BECAME A PREACHER AND LED A ASCETIC LIFE IN THE DESERT AND SPOKE OF A GREATER ONE TO COME AND SPOKE OF REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM. AFTER JESUS BAPTISM HE WENT INTO THE DESERT, WHERE HE WAS TESTED BY THE DEVIL. AT THE TIME JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE FORM OF A DOVE, DESCENDED ON HIM AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN SAYING: " THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. JOHN KEPT ON PREACHING UNTIL HIS DEATH. THE DEVIL TEMPTED JESUS IN THE DESERT 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS, AND SAYING IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD CHANGE THESE STONES INTO BREAD, AND THE DEVIL WOULD GIVE HIM POWER AND WEALTH OVER ALL THE NATIONS SATAN RULED. JESUS DECLINED THE OFFER. WHILE IN GALILEE JESUS CREATED A MOVEMENT ALLOWING A CIRCLE OF DISCIPLES AND FOLLOWERS TO SHARE IN HIS MINISTRY AND THEY LATER BECAME CALLED HIS 12 APOSTLES.
PROBABLY THE MOST MEMORABLE OF JESUS SERMONS WAS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, DELIVERED TO HIS DISCIPLES AND A LARGE CROWD WHO HAD GATHERED
TO LISTEN. IT WAS A REVOLUTIONARY SERMON, STARTING WITH THE "BEATITUDES",
WHERE JESUS STATES THAT HAPPINESS, DOES NOT LIE IN WEALTH, HEALTH, OR SUCCESS, BUT HUMILITY, MERCY, PEACE MAKING, AND SPIRITUAL HUNGER. JESUS WENT ON TO SAY THAT ANGER IS AS GREAT A SIN AS MURDER, AND LUSTFUL THOUGHTS AS HAD AS ADULTERY. HE URGED LOVE FOR ONE ENEMIES, DISREGARD
FOR MONEY POSSESSIONS AND ATTENTION TO OUR OWN SINS, RATHER THEN CONDEMNATION ON THE SINS OF OTHERS. HE WARNED HIS HEARERS TO AVOID HYPOCRITICAL, OSTENTATIOUS, WORSHIP AND PRAYER AND TAUGHT THEM THE PRAYER, THAT HAS BECOME THE LORD'S PRAYER. JESUS SPOKE THESE WORDS FROM A LEVEL SPOT ON A GRASSY HILL OVER-LOOKING THE SEA OF GALILEE.
GROUPED AROUND HIM WERE HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES, WHILE SOME OF THE POPULACE SAT ATTENTIVELY BEHIND THE DISCIPLES. ON THE EDGE OF THE CROWD, NO DOUBT WERE SCRIBES, PHARISEES, WHO HAD COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO KEEPING JESUS UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
JESUS BEGAN WITH WHAT ARE CALLED THE "BEATITUDES."
HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRITS, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
HAPPY ARE THE MOURNERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.
HAPPY ARE THE SELF CONTROLLED, FOR THEY SHALL INHERITED THE EARTH..
HAPPY ARE THOSE HUNGERING AND THIRSTING AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED.
HAPPY ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.
HAPPY ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.
HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED GOD'S SONS.
HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
HAPPY ARE YOU WHEN THEY INSULT YOU AND PERSECUTE AND SPEAK ALL KINDS OF EVIL FALSELY BECAUSE OF ME. REJOICE AND BE GLAD, BECAUSE YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN, FOR THIS IS HOW THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS BEFORE YOU. (MATT. 5:3-12).
NOW THE POOR IN SPIRIT ARE THOSE WHO RECOGNIZE THEY SUFFER SPIRITUAL POVERTY.
THE MOURNERS ARE THOSE LIKE KING DAVID, DEEPLY REGRET THEIR OWN SINS AND THE SINS OF THEIR NATION. THE SELF-CONTROLLED (USUALLY TRANSLATED
"MEEK") ARE THOSE WHO CONTROL THEIR ANGER, AND SUBMIT TO GOD AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES HE ALLOTS THEM.
THOSE WORDS WAS USED OF AN ANIMAL WHO SUBMITTED TO ITS MASTER.
JESUS EXERCISED SUCH SELF-CONTROL. WHEN HE SUBMITTED TO THE CROSS.
THE PURE HEART POSSES INWARD PURITY, IN CONTRAST TO THOSE WHO SEEK PURITY THROUGH OBSERVING EXTERNAL RITUALS. THE PEACE MAKERS DO MORE THAN LIVE PEACEFULLY; THEY PROMOTE PEACE AMONG OTHERS AND RESTORE HARMONY BETWEEN FORMER ENEMIES, THE PERSECUTED ARE THOSE WHO SUFFER REJECTION BECAUSE OF THEIR DEVOTION TO JESUS. THEY SHOULD FEEL PRIVILEGED, JESUS SAID, TO FOLLOW IN THE GREAT TRADITION OF OUR SPIRITUAL ANCESTORS, LIKE ELIJAH, ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, WHO WERE ALSO PERSECUTED.
TO SPEAK OF HAPPY MOURNERS AND REJOICING SUFFERS MUST HAVE STARTLED JESUS AUDIENCE! HIS WORDS GRATED ON SELF-SATISFIED SUCCESS- OF TYPES WHO TRAMPLED ON OTHERS TO ATTAIN STATUS. HOW MANY OF THE RICH, FAMOUS, AND POWERFUL, IN JESUS AUDIENCE, AND OUR WORLD TODAY ARE SENSITIVE, SUBMISSIVE, MERCIFUL?
JESUS WORDS REVERSES THE WORLD'S- VALUES-THE ARROGANT, COLD BLOODED, SUCCESSES BECOME ETERNAL FAILURES, AND THE TRULY "MEEK" INHERIT THE EARTH. LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THHE DISCIPLES, JESUS INFORMED THEM: YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH, BUT IF SALT LOSES IT FLAVOR, HOW CAN IT BECOME SALTY AGAIN? IT IS GOOD FOR NOTHING, BUT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY BUILT ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN, NOR DO PEOPPLE LIGHT A LAMP AND PUT IT UNDER A BASKET, BUT ON A LAMP STAND SO IT LIGHTS THE WHOLE HOUSE. OUR LIFE AS MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, SHOULD RADIATE OUR LEADER JESUS CHRIST. WHEN THEY SEE US, THEY SHOULD SEE JESUS. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN IN SUCH AWAY, THAT THEY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND HONOR YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
JESUS PUNGENT AND EARTHLY ILLUSTRATIONS DREW FROM THE DAILY LIFE OF HIS AUDIENCE. THE ISRAELIS USED SALT TO PRESERVE AND FLAVOR FOOD, BUT THE SALT THEY GATHERED FEOM THE DEAD SEA MARSHES OFTEN CONTAINED OTHER SUBSTANCES WHICH RENDERED IT TASTELESS. JESUS DISCIPLES WERE TO PURIFY AND ENLIGHTEN A CORRUPT WORLD BY LIVING IN ITS MIDST, INSTEAD OF RETREATING TO THE DEAD SEA CAVES. TO PURSUE SAINTHOOD, LIKE THE QUMRAM COMMUNITY.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
LEAVES OF GOLD [FOR RUTH].
THE PARSON'S PRAYER.
I DO NOT ASK
THAT CROWDS MAY THRONG THE TEMPLE,
THAT STANDING ROOM BE PRICED,
I ONLY ASKED THAT AS I VOICE THE MESSAGE,
THEY MAY SEE CHRIST.
I DO NOT ASK
FOR CHUCHLY POMP OR PAGEANT
OR MUSIC SUCH AS WEALTH ALONE CAN BUY,
I ONLY ASK THAT AS I VOICE THE MESSAGE,
HE MAY BE NIGH!
I DO NOT ASK
THAT MEN MAY SING MY PRAISES
OR HEADLINES SPREAD MY NAME ABROAD,
I ONLY PRAY THAT AS I VOICE THE MESSAGE,
HEARTS MY FIND GOD!
I DO NOT ASK
FOR EARTHLY PLACE OR LAUREL
OR OF THIS WORLD'S DISTINCTIONS ANY PART
I ONLY ASK WHEN I HAVE VOICE THE MESSAGE
MY SAVIOR'S HEART!
Ra R.S CUSHMAN.
I DO NOT ASK
THAT CROWDS MAY THRONG THE TEMPLE,
THAT STANDING ROOM BE PRICED,
I ONLY ASKED THAT AS I VOICE THE MESSAGE,
THEY MAY SEE CHRIST.
I DO NOT ASK
FOR CHUCHLY POMP OR PAGEANT
OR MUSIC SUCH AS WEALTH ALONE CAN BUY,
I ONLY ASK THAT AS I VOICE THE MESSAGE,
HE MAY BE NIGH!
I DO NOT ASK
THAT MEN MAY SING MY PRAISES
OR HEADLINES SPREAD MY NAME ABROAD,
I ONLY PRAY THAT AS I VOICE THE MESSAGE,
HEARTS MY FIND GOD!
I DO NOT ASK
FOR EARTHLY PLACE OR LAUREL
OR OF THIS WORLD'S DISTINCTIONS ANY PART
I ONLY ASK WHEN I HAVE VOICE THE MESSAGE
MY SAVIOR'S HEART!
Ra R.S CUSHMAN.
Forgiveness and Community. [LUKE. 17:1-:10]
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE FOR TODAY IS A COLLECTION OF 4 APHORISMS. ATTIBUTED TO JESUS ABOUT FORGIVENESS AND FAITH.
WHEN THE COVENTRY CATHEDDRAL IN ENGALAND WAS BLITZED NOVEMBER 1940, DURING WORLD WAR II AND DETROYED BY FIRE, A LARGE NUMBER OF NAILS FROM MEDIEVAL TIMES WAS FOUND IN THE RUBBLE. MANY OF THESE WERE GATHERED AND MADE INTO SILVER PLATED CROSSES. ONE OF THESE IS SET UP ON AN ALTAR IN THR RUINS OF THE OLD CATHEDRAL. BEHIND IT IS A CHARRED CROSS, AND WRITTEN ON THE WALL BEHIND THAT, THE WORDS, "FATHER FORGIVE." MANY LITTLE CROSSES OF NAILS HAVE BEEN SENT TO CHURCHES IN OTHE COUNTRIES WHICH HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR. THE COVENTRY CROSS AND EXPERIENCE HAD BECOME A SYBOL OF FORGIVENESS, AND NEW LIFE OF RECONCILIATION. I FIRST LEARNED OF THIS WHEN I READ THE BOOK FROM AUGSBURG, 'FIRE IN COVENTRY," TO FIND HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE LIFE OF FORGIVENESS. IT IS THE EXCITING NEWS OF LIFE FROM DEATH.: OF RENEWAL AND THE LIFE AND FAITH OF ALL CONGREGATIONS, THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE MUST BELIEVE THAT WE IN OUR LIFE, IN OUR TIME, ARE TO LIVE BY FORGIVENESS, WHICH IS THE GOOD NEWS: FORGIVENESS,FAITH AND RECONCILIATION; WITH GOD. OUR NEIGHBOR AND WITH OUR SURROUNDINGS. OVER THE LAST FEW TEXTS FOR THE MONTH, LIKE ALL GOOD NEWS TEXT, ARE THERE TO REINFORCE THIS CENTRAL ACT OF GOD AND TO INVITE OUR RESPONSE.
SOMETIMES WE SEE IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GOD WHO TAKES THE INITIATIVE AND SHOWS HIS LOVE AND CARE FOR US. AMEN!
SOMETIMES WE SPEAK IN TERMS OF GOD'S DEED IN JESUS CHRIST; HOW LIFE, WORDS, HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HIS PRESENSE IN OUR MIDST AND HIS PROMISES AT THE CENTER. SOMETIMES WE SPEAK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GOD'S DEED IN JESUS CHRIST; HOW HIS LIFE, WORDS, DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HIS PRESENSE IN OUR MIDST AND HIS PROMISES ARE AT THE CENTER. SOME TIMES WE SPEAK OF IT FROM THE HUMAN VIEW OF FRUSTRATIONS AND IMPATIENCE ABOUT INJUSTICES OF LIFE WE SEE EVERYWHERE THROUGH THE EVENING NEWS; UNRIGHTED OR UNFORGIVEN WRONGS; THE SUFFERING OF THE INNOCENT.
SOMETIMES WE SPEAK OF IT IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TERMS, , LIKE A NORMAL VS ABNORMAL SINNER; GUILT COMPLEXES AND SCARS; HIDDEN HOSTILITIES; THE DIFFICULTES IN DEALING WITH THE PROPER PROBLEM. RATHER THAN IMAGINED OR DISTORTED MISDEEDS. WHEN IS SIN A SICKNESS, AND WHEN IS FORGIVENESS A HEALING?
SOMETIMES IT IS THE POIGNANT STORY WE HEAR OR THE KNOWLEDGE OF SOMEONE NEAR US THAT DEMONSTRATES THE INTENSE FEELINGS INVOLVED IN FORGIVENESS AND RECOCILIATION.
LUKE SEVEN TELLS THE STORY OF THE WOMEN IDENIFIED SIMPLY AS A SINNER WHO POURED OINTMENT ON JESUS FEET, KISSED THEM, AND WIPED THEM WITH HER HAIR. JESUS SAYS SHE LOVES MUCH BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD VERSIONS OF THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO WRONGED HIS FAMILY AND SOCIETY AND WAS RIGHTFULLY SENTENCED TO PRISON. WILLING TO BOW OUT OF THE LIFE OF HIS FAMILY WHOM HE HAD CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN HE WROTE TO HIS WIFE THAT IF SHE WAS READY TO FORGIVE HIM AND RECIEVE HIM BACK SHE SHOULD HANG A WHITE CLOTH ON A TREE THEY BOTH REMEMBERED, (ONE WELL KNOWN VISION TIE A YELLOW RIBBON AROUND THE TREE).
THE BIBLE IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE STORY OF FORGIVENESS SEEN FROM A THOUSAND PERSPECTIVES, SOMETIMES INDIVIDUAL, SOMETIMES CORPORATE, SOMETIMES LONG INVOLVED SITUATIONS THAT END HAPPILY, SOMETIMES TRAGIC
CONCLUSIONS. THEIR IS AN OLD TESTAMENT LESSON WHICH SPEAKS OF THE IMPATIENT CRY OF HABAKKUK WHO FINDS THE LONG DELAYED RIGHTING OF WRONG INTOLERABLE. IN DIALOG WITH GOD TAKEN FROM THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK, HABAKKUK RECIEVES A DOUBLE ANSWER: "JUSTICE WILL SURELY COME; THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
IN MATTERS OF LIFE, ALMOST OVERWHELMING REAL -LIFE SITUATION, THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE, TO LIVE, IS TO HOLD FAST TO THE CENTER LIFE OF GOD.
DANIEL MADE THE SAME POINT WITH A DREAM OF AN IMAGE. IT HAD A GOLDEN HEAD, SILVER CHEST, BRONZE TORSO, IRON LEGS, THIS REPRESENTED FOUR ANCIENT KINGDOMS, BUT IT COULD BE CRUSHED WITH A HUGE STONE! IT IS NOT A MATTER OF INTENSITY OF OUR FAITH BUT THE GOD OF OUR FAITH, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, Isaac, JACOB, THAT IS WHY FORGIVENESS IS POSSIBLE. YOU MUST HAVE FAITH IN THE ONE WHO SPEAKS THE WORDS, " I FORGIVE YOU.," OR IT IS OF LITTLE COMFORT.
YOU PERHAPS REMEMBER WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GO TO SOMEONE YOU FEAR WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN CAUGHT. A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, A JUDGE, A STORE OWNER WHEN YOU TOOK A CANDY BAR, AT TIMES YOUR OWN PARENTS. IT IS NOT THE SAME THING. AS GOING TO ONE WHOM IS LOVING AND CARING, AND FORGIVING!
WHEN THE COVENTRY CATHEDDRAL IN ENGALAND WAS BLITZED NOVEMBER 1940, DURING WORLD WAR II AND DETROYED BY FIRE, A LARGE NUMBER OF NAILS FROM MEDIEVAL TIMES WAS FOUND IN THE RUBBLE. MANY OF THESE WERE GATHERED AND MADE INTO SILVER PLATED CROSSES. ONE OF THESE IS SET UP ON AN ALTAR IN THR RUINS OF THE OLD CATHEDRAL. BEHIND IT IS A CHARRED CROSS, AND WRITTEN ON THE WALL BEHIND THAT, THE WORDS, "FATHER FORGIVE." MANY LITTLE CROSSES OF NAILS HAVE BEEN SENT TO CHURCHES IN OTHE COUNTRIES WHICH HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR. THE COVENTRY CROSS AND EXPERIENCE HAD BECOME A SYBOL OF FORGIVENESS, AND NEW LIFE OF RECONCILIATION. I FIRST LEARNED OF THIS WHEN I READ THE BOOK FROM AUGSBURG, 'FIRE IN COVENTRY," TO FIND HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE LIFE OF FORGIVENESS. IT IS THE EXCITING NEWS OF LIFE FROM DEATH.: OF RENEWAL AND THE LIFE AND FAITH OF ALL CONGREGATIONS, THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE MUST BELIEVE THAT WE IN OUR LIFE, IN OUR TIME, ARE TO LIVE BY FORGIVENESS, WHICH IS THE GOOD NEWS: FORGIVENESS,FAITH AND RECONCILIATION; WITH GOD. OUR NEIGHBOR AND WITH OUR SURROUNDINGS. OVER THE LAST FEW TEXTS FOR THE MONTH, LIKE ALL GOOD NEWS TEXT, ARE THERE TO REINFORCE THIS CENTRAL ACT OF GOD AND TO INVITE OUR RESPONSE.
SOMETIMES WE SEE IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GOD WHO TAKES THE INITIATIVE AND SHOWS HIS LOVE AND CARE FOR US. AMEN!
SOMETIMES WE SPEAK IN TERMS OF GOD'S DEED IN JESUS CHRIST; HOW LIFE, WORDS, HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HIS PRESENSE IN OUR MIDST AND HIS PROMISES AT THE CENTER. SOMETIMES WE SPEAK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GOD'S DEED IN JESUS CHRIST; HOW HIS LIFE, WORDS, DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HIS PRESENSE IN OUR MIDST AND HIS PROMISES ARE AT THE CENTER. SOME TIMES WE SPEAK OF IT FROM THE HUMAN VIEW OF FRUSTRATIONS AND IMPATIENCE ABOUT INJUSTICES OF LIFE WE SEE EVERYWHERE THROUGH THE EVENING NEWS; UNRIGHTED OR UNFORGIVEN WRONGS; THE SUFFERING OF THE INNOCENT.
SOMETIMES WE SPEAK OF IT IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TERMS, , LIKE A NORMAL VS ABNORMAL SINNER; GUILT COMPLEXES AND SCARS; HIDDEN HOSTILITIES; THE DIFFICULTES IN DEALING WITH THE PROPER PROBLEM. RATHER THAN IMAGINED OR DISTORTED MISDEEDS. WHEN IS SIN A SICKNESS, AND WHEN IS FORGIVENESS A HEALING?
SOMETIMES IT IS THE POIGNANT STORY WE HEAR OR THE KNOWLEDGE OF SOMEONE NEAR US THAT DEMONSTRATES THE INTENSE FEELINGS INVOLVED IN FORGIVENESS AND RECOCILIATION.
LUKE SEVEN TELLS THE STORY OF THE WOMEN IDENIFIED SIMPLY AS A SINNER WHO POURED OINTMENT ON JESUS FEET, KISSED THEM, AND WIPED THEM WITH HER HAIR. JESUS SAYS SHE LOVES MUCH BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD VERSIONS OF THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO WRONGED HIS FAMILY AND SOCIETY AND WAS RIGHTFULLY SENTENCED TO PRISON. WILLING TO BOW OUT OF THE LIFE OF HIS FAMILY WHOM HE HAD CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN HE WROTE TO HIS WIFE THAT IF SHE WAS READY TO FORGIVE HIM AND RECIEVE HIM BACK SHE SHOULD HANG A WHITE CLOTH ON A TREE THEY BOTH REMEMBERED, (ONE WELL KNOWN VISION TIE A YELLOW RIBBON AROUND THE TREE).
THE BIBLE IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE STORY OF FORGIVENESS SEEN FROM A THOUSAND PERSPECTIVES, SOMETIMES INDIVIDUAL, SOMETIMES CORPORATE, SOMETIMES LONG INVOLVED SITUATIONS THAT END HAPPILY, SOMETIMES TRAGIC
CONCLUSIONS. THEIR IS AN OLD TESTAMENT LESSON WHICH SPEAKS OF THE IMPATIENT CRY OF HABAKKUK WHO FINDS THE LONG DELAYED RIGHTING OF WRONG INTOLERABLE. IN DIALOG WITH GOD TAKEN FROM THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK, HABAKKUK RECIEVES A DOUBLE ANSWER: "JUSTICE WILL SURELY COME; THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
IN MATTERS OF LIFE, ALMOST OVERWHELMING REAL -LIFE SITUATION, THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE, TO LIVE, IS TO HOLD FAST TO THE CENTER LIFE OF GOD.
DANIEL MADE THE SAME POINT WITH A DREAM OF AN IMAGE. IT HAD A GOLDEN HEAD, SILVER CHEST, BRONZE TORSO, IRON LEGS, THIS REPRESENTED FOUR ANCIENT KINGDOMS, BUT IT COULD BE CRUSHED WITH A HUGE STONE! IT IS NOT A MATTER OF INTENSITY OF OUR FAITH BUT THE GOD OF OUR FAITH, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, Isaac, JACOB, THAT IS WHY FORGIVENESS IS POSSIBLE. YOU MUST HAVE FAITH IN THE ONE WHO SPEAKS THE WORDS, " I FORGIVE YOU.," OR IT IS OF LITTLE COMFORT.
YOU PERHAPS REMEMBER WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GO TO SOMEONE YOU FEAR WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN CAUGHT. A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, A JUDGE, A STORE OWNER WHEN YOU TOOK A CANDY BAR, AT TIMES YOUR OWN PARENTS. IT IS NOT THE SAME THING. AS GOING TO ONE WHOM IS LOVING AND CARING, AND FORGIVING!
Saturday, August 5, 2017
The SIXTH CHAPTER OF ST.JOHN
LET US LOOK IMMEDIATELY AT THE GOSPEL STORY ST. JOHN TELLS US HOW OUR LORD HAD JUST WORKED TWO SPECTACULAR MIRACLES; HE HAD FED A GREAT MULTITUDE CONTAINING FIVE THOUSAND MEN AND HE HAD WALKED ON THE WATER OF THE SEA OF GALILEE AND QUELLED A STORM. HAVING RETURNED TO CPHARNAUM, HE WAS SOUGHT OUT BY THE JEWS, WHO IMMEDIATELY ASKED, "MASTER, WHEN DIDST THOU MAKE THY WAY HERE?" OUR LORD FULLY AWARE OF THEIR INSINCERITY, REPLIED: " IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ME NOW, IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE MIRACLES YOU HAVE SEEN; IT IS BECAUSE YOU WERE FED WITH LOAVES, AND HAD YOUR FILL." AND HE WENT ON TO DEMAND THEIR FAITH: THIS IS THE SERVICE THAT GOD ASKS OF YOU, TO BELIEVE IN THE MAN WHOM HE HAS SENT. " THEY REPLIED BY DEMANDING A SIGN. MOSES HAD GIVEN MANNA IN THE DESERT, COULD JESUS DO SOMETHING COMPARABLE TO ASSERT HIS SUPERIORITY? HE REPLIED:THE BREAD THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN IS GIVEN ONLY BY THE FATHER. IT IS I WHO AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, HE WHO COMES TO ME WILL NEVER BE HUNGRY, HE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL NEVER KNOW THIRST." AFTER THIS THEY PARTED, BUT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT JESUS SAID.
DESIROUS OF HEARING HIM FURTHER, THEY INVITED HIM TO EXPLAIN HIS TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE. THERE HE EXPOUNDED IT IN A MANNER WHICH LEFT NO DOUBT AS TO HIS MEANING: " BELIEVE IN ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: THE MAN WHO HAS FAITH IN ME ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE. IT IS I WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE., YOUR FATHERS WHO ATE MANNA IN THE DESERT, DIED NONE THE LESS; THE BREAD WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN. IF ANYONE EATS OF THIS BREAD, HE SHALL LIVE FFOREVER.. AND NOW, WHAT IS THIS BREAD WHICH I AM GOING TO GIVE? IT IS MY FLESH, GIVEN FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD."
IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS AN UPROAR. THE JEWS REALIZE THAT THIS AT LEAST WAS INCAPABLE OF A METAPHORIAL EXPLANATION AND SO, WITH PERFECT LOGIC, THEY ASKED: "HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVES US HIS FLESH TO EAT?" JESUS ANSWERED CLEARLY AND EMPHATICALLY: "BELIEVE IN ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: YOU CAN HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES, UNLESS YOU EAT OF THE SON OF MAN, AND DRINK HIS BLOOD. THE MAN WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD, LIVES CONTINUALLY IN ME. AND I IN HIM. AS I LIVE BECAUSE OF THE FATHER, THE LIVING FATHER WHO HAS SENT ME, SO HE WHO EATS ME WILL LIVE, INN HIS TURN, BECAUSE OF ME. SUCH IS THE BREAD WHICH HAS COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; IT IS NOT WHAT IT WAS WITH YOUR FATHERS , WHO ATE MANNA AND DIED ANY WAY.
THE MAN WHO EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE ETERNALLY.
DESIROUS OF HEARING HIM FURTHER, THEY INVITED HIM TO EXPLAIN HIS TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE. THERE HE EXPOUNDED IT IN A MANNER WHICH LEFT NO DOUBT AS TO HIS MEANING: " BELIEVE IN ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: THE MAN WHO HAS FAITH IN ME ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE. IT IS I WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE., YOUR FATHERS WHO ATE MANNA IN THE DESERT, DIED NONE THE LESS; THE BREAD WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN. IF ANYONE EATS OF THIS BREAD, HE SHALL LIVE FFOREVER.. AND NOW, WHAT IS THIS BREAD WHICH I AM GOING TO GIVE? IT IS MY FLESH, GIVEN FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD."
IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS AN UPROAR. THE JEWS REALIZE THAT THIS AT LEAST WAS INCAPABLE OF A METAPHORIAL EXPLANATION AND SO, WITH PERFECT LOGIC, THEY ASKED: "HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVES US HIS FLESH TO EAT?" JESUS ANSWERED CLEARLY AND EMPHATICALLY: "BELIEVE IN ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: YOU CAN HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES, UNLESS YOU EAT OF THE SON OF MAN, AND DRINK HIS BLOOD. THE MAN WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD, LIVES CONTINUALLY IN ME. AND I IN HIM. AS I LIVE BECAUSE OF THE FATHER, THE LIVING FATHER WHO HAS SENT ME, SO HE WHO EATS ME WILL LIVE, INN HIS TURN, BECAUSE OF ME. SUCH IS THE BREAD WHICH HAS COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; IT IS NOT WHAT IT WAS WITH YOUR FATHERS , WHO ATE MANNA AND DIED ANY WAY.
THE MAN WHO EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE ETERNALLY.
Friday, August 4, 2017
'" TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD'" John 1: 1-18..
FEW WORDS IN SCRIPTURE HAVE GRIPPED THE HUMAN MIND WITH THE POWER OF THE OPENING LINES OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL:
INTHE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
THESE WORDS ARE SO MAGICAL, THE WESTERN CHURCH USED THEM FOR CENTURIES AS A BLESSING FOR THE SICK AND FOR NEWLY BAPIZED CHILDREN. IT WAS EVEN PLACED ON AMULETS AND HUNG AROUND THE NECK TO PROTECT ONE FROM SICKNESS. LIKE ALL HUMAM WORDS,, THEY ARE MEANT TO BEAR A MESSAGE, AND THAT MESSAGE BECOMES CLEAR, ONLY AT THE END OF THIS PASSAGE: NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD;
IT IS GOD THE ONLY SON, EVER AT THE FATHER'S SIDE.
WHO HAS REVEALED HIM.
JESUS CHRIST HAS SOLVED THE RIDDLE OF GOD. RIDDLES ARE NOT SIMPLLY CHILDISH JOKES. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN HUMANITY'S QUEST TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE "RIDDLE OF THE SPINX?"
THE ANCIENT GREEKS TOLD OF A MONSTER WHICH CAME TO THE CITY EACH YEAR WITH A RIDDLE. "WHAT SPEAKS WITH ONE VOICE, BUT WALKS ON FOUR LEGS,TWO LEGS AND ON THREE LEGS?" AND HOBBLES WITH A CANE WHEN OLD. BY ANSWERING THE RIDDLE HE SAVED THE CITY.
WE STILL USE THE IDEA IN THIS SERIOUS SENSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE "RIDDLE OF LIFE.," OR THE RIDDLE OF SUFFERING." FOR MANY PEOPLE GOD IS A RIDDLE. THEY WOULD POSE THE QUESTION LIKE THIS: IF THERE IS A GOD, WHY DO THE INNOCENT SUFFER? WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PAIN AND SORROW IN THE WORLD; OR THEY ASK, WHY DOES GOD ASK SO MUCH OF US, WHEN HE DIDNT CREATE US PERFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE?" WE OUGHT TO TAKE THESE QUESTIONS SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY REMIND US THAT THE EVIL, BECOMES AN ACUTE PROBLEM WHEN WE DARE TALK ABOUT LOVING GOD. WE BARELY HAVE TIME TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING ABOUT "PEACE ON EARTH." BEFORE WE ARE REMINDED THAT PEOPLE LIKE STEPHEN WERE STONED FOR THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH BY THE EXISTANCE OF EVIL, BY A KING WHO SO FEARED THE COMING OF CHRIST THAT HE KILLED ALL THE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE. FOR A CHRISTIAN, THEN, THE RIDDLE WOULD BE:" WHAT KIND OF A GOD WOULD LET HIMSELF AND HIS FOLLOWERS BE PUSHED AROUND BY A HARD CRUEL WORLD?
WE ARE NOT THE FIRST ONES TO PUZZLE OVER THIS QUESTION. THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR TODAY REMINDS US THAT CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING HAVE CLOUDED THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD FROM THE BEGINNING. " HE WAS IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT," SAYS OUR TEXT." HE CAME TO HIS OWN HOME, HIS OWN PEOPLE RECEIVED HIM NOT."
THE REST OF THE BOOK OF JOHN REPEATEDLY CALLS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE MISUNDERSTOOD JESUS-FROM NICODEMUS ASKING " HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN AGAIN WHEN HE IS OLD? " TO PILATE IMPATIENTLY SNAPPING, " WHAT IS TRUTH?"
AND YET THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE WAS THERE. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WITH GOOD RIDDLES. WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER. THE RIDDLE OF GOD IS A LOT LIKE THAT.ONCE WE GRASP THE KEY WORD,
QUESTONS ABOUT HIS POWER AND HIS WILL CAN BE ANSWERED. THE TEXT FOR TODAY SAYS THAT JESUS IS THAT KEY WORD; AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US. WHEN WE TRY TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD, IF WE TRY TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD FROM ANY OTHER STARTING POINT, WE RUN INTO A DEAD END. THAT'S WHAT JESUS MEANT WHEN HE SAID,"NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.." HOW DOES JESUS SOLVE THE RIDDLE? HE SHOWS HOW GOD'S POWER DIFFERS FROM OUR USUAL CONCEPT OF POWER. JESUS RESURRECTION ILLUSTRATES HOW GOD'S POWER WORKS. IT DOES NOT ELIMATE DEATH. IT SIMPLY TAKES AWAY DEATH'S FINALITY. AND THAT'S THE WAY HE DEALT WITH SIN TOO. HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF AND USED IT, IN THE CROSS, AS A MEANS OF BREAKING SIN'S HOLD ON THE WORLD SO JESUS BECOMES THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT A LOVING GOD CAN DO FOR A SUFFERING AND SINFUL WORLD
RECENTLY A DEAR FRIEND OF OURS (PASTOR BOB FROM CALIF) SENT HIS MONTHLY LETTER, AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO PASS IT ON. IT STARTS OUT, RECENTLY; "I COMPLETED A NOVEL ENTITLED. " A SKELETON" IN GO'D'S CLOSET BY PAUL. MAIER." IT RAISES THE QUESTION AS TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE BONES OF JESUS WERE DISCOVERED. WHILE THE CHRISTIAN WORLD IS PLUNGED INTO CHAOS, AN ARCHEOLOGIST RISKS HIS REPUTATION, AND EVEN HIS LIFE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS TRUTH OR A HOAX. ( I WON'T GIVE AWAY THE REST OF THE STORY, IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF!).
ALTHOUGH IT IS A NOVEL, THIS BRINGS TO LIGHT A VERY IMPORTANT POINT!:) THE BODLY RESURRECTION IS CRUCIAL TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. FOR ALMOST 2000 YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DISPROVE THE RESURECTION AND THEREBY DISCREDIT CHRISTANITY . ALL HAVE FAILED.
INTERESTINGLY, IN MANY CASES, THE OPPOSITE HAS HAPPENED. JAMES, THE HALF BROTHER OF JESUS WENT FROM THINKING JESUS WAS CRAZY, TO PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL AS THE HEAD OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, AFTER ENCOUNTING THE RISEN CHRIST. PAUL WENT FROM PERSECUTOR OF CHRISTIANS TO MISSIONARY TO THE ROMAN WORLD.FOR THE SAME REASON. (FOR MORE ON THIS SEE, 1CORINTHIANS 15)
THE SAME THING IS TRUE IN RECENT TIMES. IN MID-18th CENTURY, TWO STUDENTS AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY BECAME PROMINENT LEADERS IN BRITAIN, SET OUT TO PROVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS,THAT JESUS NEVER ROSE FROM THE DEAD.THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS TRUE, AND BOTH BECAME CHRISTIANS. IN THE 1930'S, A JOURNALISTS NAMED FRANK MORRISON, WHO DOUBTED ANY MIRACULOUS ELEMENTS IN THE GOSPELS, SET OUT TO WRITE A B00K STRIPPING THE LIFE OF JESUS OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT HE WAS MORE THEN A GOOD TEACHER. HE ENDED UP WRITING ONE OF THE MOST ABLE DEFENCES OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.WHO MOVED THE STONE?" C.S. LEWIS,CAMBRIDGE, SCHOLAR, AUTHOR, AND A ONE TIME ATHIEST WAS COVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY ON THE BASIS OF WHAT HE CONSIDERED COMPELLING EVIDENCE.MERE CHRISTISNITY WAS THE RESULT. THE RESULT WAS TOLD TO US BY JOHN (14:19). "BECAUSE I LIVE,YOU WILL LIVE ALSO." 0UR RESPONSE SHOULD BE THE SAME ACCLAMAION THAT PAUL MADE( IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15-57).... "BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
INTHE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
THESE WORDS ARE SO MAGICAL, THE WESTERN CHURCH USED THEM FOR CENTURIES AS A BLESSING FOR THE SICK AND FOR NEWLY BAPIZED CHILDREN. IT WAS EVEN PLACED ON AMULETS AND HUNG AROUND THE NECK TO PROTECT ONE FROM SICKNESS. LIKE ALL HUMAM WORDS,, THEY ARE MEANT TO BEAR A MESSAGE, AND THAT MESSAGE BECOMES CLEAR, ONLY AT THE END OF THIS PASSAGE: NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD;
IT IS GOD THE ONLY SON, EVER AT THE FATHER'S SIDE.
WHO HAS REVEALED HIM.
JESUS CHRIST HAS SOLVED THE RIDDLE OF GOD. RIDDLES ARE NOT SIMPLLY CHILDISH JOKES. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN HUMANITY'S QUEST TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE "RIDDLE OF THE SPINX?"
THE ANCIENT GREEKS TOLD OF A MONSTER WHICH CAME TO THE CITY EACH YEAR WITH A RIDDLE. "WHAT SPEAKS WITH ONE VOICE, BUT WALKS ON FOUR LEGS,TWO LEGS AND ON THREE LEGS?" AND HOBBLES WITH A CANE WHEN OLD. BY ANSWERING THE RIDDLE HE SAVED THE CITY.
WE STILL USE THE IDEA IN THIS SERIOUS SENSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE "RIDDLE OF LIFE.," OR THE RIDDLE OF SUFFERING." FOR MANY PEOPLE GOD IS A RIDDLE. THEY WOULD POSE THE QUESTION LIKE THIS: IF THERE IS A GOD, WHY DO THE INNOCENT SUFFER? WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PAIN AND SORROW IN THE WORLD; OR THEY ASK, WHY DOES GOD ASK SO MUCH OF US, WHEN HE DIDNT CREATE US PERFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE?" WE OUGHT TO TAKE THESE QUESTIONS SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY REMIND US THAT THE EVIL, BECOMES AN ACUTE PROBLEM WHEN WE DARE TALK ABOUT LOVING GOD. WE BARELY HAVE TIME TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING ABOUT "PEACE ON EARTH." BEFORE WE ARE REMINDED THAT PEOPLE LIKE STEPHEN WERE STONED FOR THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH BY THE EXISTANCE OF EVIL, BY A KING WHO SO FEARED THE COMING OF CHRIST THAT HE KILLED ALL THE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE. FOR A CHRISTIAN, THEN, THE RIDDLE WOULD BE:" WHAT KIND OF A GOD WOULD LET HIMSELF AND HIS FOLLOWERS BE PUSHED AROUND BY A HARD CRUEL WORLD?
WE ARE NOT THE FIRST ONES TO PUZZLE OVER THIS QUESTION. THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR TODAY REMINDS US THAT CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING HAVE CLOUDED THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD FROM THE BEGINNING. " HE WAS IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT," SAYS OUR TEXT." HE CAME TO HIS OWN HOME, HIS OWN PEOPLE RECEIVED HIM NOT."
THE REST OF THE BOOK OF JOHN REPEATEDLY CALLS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE MISUNDERSTOOD JESUS-FROM NICODEMUS ASKING " HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN AGAIN WHEN HE IS OLD? " TO PILATE IMPATIENTLY SNAPPING, " WHAT IS TRUTH?"
AND YET THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE WAS THERE. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WITH GOOD RIDDLES. WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER. THE RIDDLE OF GOD IS A LOT LIKE THAT.ONCE WE GRASP THE KEY WORD,
QUESTONS ABOUT HIS POWER AND HIS WILL CAN BE ANSWERED. THE TEXT FOR TODAY SAYS THAT JESUS IS THAT KEY WORD; AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US. WHEN WE TRY TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD, IF WE TRY TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD FROM ANY OTHER STARTING POINT, WE RUN INTO A DEAD END. THAT'S WHAT JESUS MEANT WHEN HE SAID,"NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.." HOW DOES JESUS SOLVE THE RIDDLE? HE SHOWS HOW GOD'S POWER DIFFERS FROM OUR USUAL CONCEPT OF POWER. JESUS RESURRECTION ILLUSTRATES HOW GOD'S POWER WORKS. IT DOES NOT ELIMATE DEATH. IT SIMPLY TAKES AWAY DEATH'S FINALITY. AND THAT'S THE WAY HE DEALT WITH SIN TOO. HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF AND USED IT, IN THE CROSS, AS A MEANS OF BREAKING SIN'S HOLD ON THE WORLD SO JESUS BECOMES THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT A LOVING GOD CAN DO FOR A SUFFERING AND SINFUL WORLD
RECENTLY A DEAR FRIEND OF OURS (PASTOR BOB FROM CALIF) SENT HIS MONTHLY LETTER, AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO PASS IT ON. IT STARTS OUT, RECENTLY; "I COMPLETED A NOVEL ENTITLED. " A SKELETON" IN GO'D'S CLOSET BY PAUL. MAIER." IT RAISES THE QUESTION AS TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE BONES OF JESUS WERE DISCOVERED. WHILE THE CHRISTIAN WORLD IS PLUNGED INTO CHAOS, AN ARCHEOLOGIST RISKS HIS REPUTATION, AND EVEN HIS LIFE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS TRUTH OR A HOAX. ( I WON'T GIVE AWAY THE REST OF THE STORY, IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF!).
ALTHOUGH IT IS A NOVEL, THIS BRINGS TO LIGHT A VERY IMPORTANT POINT!:) THE BODLY RESURRECTION IS CRUCIAL TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. FOR ALMOST 2000 YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DISPROVE THE RESURECTION AND THEREBY DISCREDIT CHRISTANITY . ALL HAVE FAILED.
INTERESTINGLY, IN MANY CASES, THE OPPOSITE HAS HAPPENED. JAMES, THE HALF BROTHER OF JESUS WENT FROM THINKING JESUS WAS CRAZY, TO PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL AS THE HEAD OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, AFTER ENCOUNTING THE RISEN CHRIST. PAUL WENT FROM PERSECUTOR OF CHRISTIANS TO MISSIONARY TO THE ROMAN WORLD.FOR THE SAME REASON. (FOR MORE ON THIS SEE, 1CORINTHIANS 15)
THE SAME THING IS TRUE IN RECENT TIMES. IN MID-18th CENTURY, TWO STUDENTS AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY BECAME PROMINENT LEADERS IN BRITAIN, SET OUT TO PROVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS,THAT JESUS NEVER ROSE FROM THE DEAD.THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS TRUE, AND BOTH BECAME CHRISTIANS. IN THE 1930'S, A JOURNALISTS NAMED FRANK MORRISON, WHO DOUBTED ANY MIRACULOUS ELEMENTS IN THE GOSPELS, SET OUT TO WRITE A B00K STRIPPING THE LIFE OF JESUS OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT HE WAS MORE THEN A GOOD TEACHER. HE ENDED UP WRITING ONE OF THE MOST ABLE DEFENCES OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.WHO MOVED THE STONE?" C.S. LEWIS,CAMBRIDGE, SCHOLAR, AUTHOR, AND A ONE TIME ATHIEST WAS COVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY ON THE BASIS OF WHAT HE CONSIDERED COMPELLING EVIDENCE.MERE CHRISTISNITY WAS THE RESULT. THE RESULT WAS TOLD TO US BY JOHN (14:19). "BECAUSE I LIVE,YOU WILL LIVE ALSO." 0UR RESPONSE SHOULD BE THE SAME ACCLAMAION THAT PAUL MADE( IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15-57).... "BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
OF THE CONJUGAL UNION AS [ INSTITUTED AND BLESSED BY GOD]. BY ST. AUGUSTINE
; But we for our part, have no manner of doubt.That to increase and multiply and replenish the earth in virtue of the blessing of God, is a gift of God. instituted from the beginning before man sinned, When he created them male and female- In other words, two sexes manifestly distinct, and it was this work of God on which his blessings was pronounced. For sooner had scripture, "Male and female created He them, then it immediately continues," But we for that the apostle admonishes all husbands to love their own wives in particular! "and God blessed them" and God said unto them, increase and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it," and all these things may not unsuitably be interpreted in a spiritual sense, yet Male female cannot be understood of two things in one male
if there were in him one thing which rules, another which is ruled. But it is quite clear that they were created Male and female with bodies, of different sexes, for the very purpose of begetting offspring, and so increasing, Multiplying, and replenishing the earth; and it is great folly to oppose so plain a fact. It was not of the spirit which commands and the body obeys, nor of the rational soul which rules and the irrational desire which is ruled, nor of contemplative virtue which is supreme and the active which is subject, nor of the understanding of the mind and sene of the body, but plainly of the matrimonial union by which sexes are mutually bound together, that our Lord, when asked whether it was lawful for any cause to put away one's wife (for on account of the hardness of the hearts of the Israelites Moses permitted a bill of divorcement to be given)., answered and said, " Have you not read that he which made them in the beginning made them male and female,and said, For this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh. What, therefore, God has joined together, Let not man out asunder. It is certain, then that from the first men were created, as we see, and know them to be now, of two sexes, male and female and that they are called one, either on account of the matrimonial union, or on account of the origin of the women, who was created from the side of man. And it is by this original example which God himself instituted.
By St. Augustine Died 430.
if there were in him one thing which rules, another which is ruled. But it is quite clear that they were created Male and female with bodies, of different sexes, for the very purpose of begetting offspring, and so increasing, Multiplying, and replenishing the earth; and it is great folly to oppose so plain a fact. It was not of the spirit which commands and the body obeys, nor of the rational soul which rules and the irrational desire which is ruled, nor of contemplative virtue which is supreme and the active which is subject, nor of the understanding of the mind and sene of the body, but plainly of the matrimonial union by which sexes are mutually bound together, that our Lord, when asked whether it was lawful for any cause to put away one's wife (for on account of the hardness of the hearts of the Israelites Moses permitted a bill of divorcement to be given)., answered and said, " Have you not read that he which made them in the beginning made them male and female,and said, For this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh. What, therefore, God has joined together, Let not man out asunder. It is certain, then that from the first men were created, as we see, and know them to be now, of two sexes, male and female and that they are called one, either on account of the matrimonial union, or on account of the origin of the women, who was created from the side of man. And it is by this original example which God himself instituted.
By St. Augustine Died 430.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)