WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WAS BORN IN PARADISE, WHICH IS CALIFORNIA, GOD HAD GIVEN US ANOTHER TREAT, BLESSING), WHILE OUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY WAS BACK
EAST,(CONN.), A FAMILY FROM OUR CHURCH ADOPTED US, FOR MANY OF THE HOLIDAYS. THE BEST ONE WAS THE THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION. THE WONDERFUL SMELLS OF THE TURKEY, IN THE OVEN AND THE BAKED GOODS THAT MY WIFE LOVED TO MAKE. AFTER THE DINNER, WE ALL WENT IN TO THE T.V.PLUMPED DOWN, UNLOOSSED OUR BELTS, BELCHED A FEW TIMES AND SETTLED IN TO WATCH FOOTBALL
THE PSALMIST HAD IT RIGHT WHEN HE WROTE:
HOW GOOD AND PLEASENT IT IS
WHEN BROTHERS LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY!
IT IS LIKE PRECIOUS oil POURED ON THE HEAD,
RUNNING DOWN ON THE BEARD,
DOWN UPON THE COLLAR OF HIS ROBES.
RUNNING DOWN ON Aaron's BEARD,
IT IS AS IF THE DEW OF HERMON
WERE FALLING ON MOUNT ZION
FOR THERE THE LORD BESTOWS HIS BLESSING,
EVEN LIFE EVERMORE ( PSALM 133: 1-3).
THE IMAGERY OF THIS TEXT IS PROFOUND. IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, PEOPLE CELEBRATED GUESTS OF HONOR BY ANOINTING THEM WITH OIL. THE MORE HIGHLY HONORED THE GUEST, THE MORE EXPENSIVE THE OIL. EXPENSIVE OILS WERE FILLED WITH EXOTIC AROMATIC HERBS, AND THESE ANOINTING'S WERE NOT SPARSE CEREMONIAL SPRINKLINGS. THE RICHLY FRAGRANT OILS WOULD BE GENEROUSLY POURED ON THE HEAD OF THE GUEST, RUNNING DOWN INTO HIS ROBES. FOR DAYS AND EVEN WEEKS LATER THE ROBES OF THE ANOINTED ONE WOULD CARRY THE FRAGRANCE OF THE HONOR, THEREBY BLESSING THE OTHERS WHO FOUND THEMSELVES IN THEIR COMPANY.
PSALMIST REFERS TO THE ANOINTING OF' Aaron', WHICH WAS AN OLD TESTAMENT SYMBOL OF THE HIGEST LEVEL OF THE PRIESTHOOD. IT WAS THE CLEAREST STATEMENT YET OF GOD'S PRESENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN TERMS OF HUMAN MEDIATOR. WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY COME TO BELIEVE THAT A WATCHING WORLD WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY THE WORDLY THINGS WE AVOID OR BY THE CHURCH THINGS WE DO.NOT ONLY IS OUR UNITY IMPORTANT TO GOD AS A WITNESS TO A WATCHING WORLD, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES TANGIBLE EVIDENCE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS INDEED ONE SENT BY HIM (JOHN 17-21). IN ADDITION, PAUL ARGUES THAT UNITY ACROSS NORMALLY IMPENETRABLE LINES IS ONE FUNDAMENTAL OUTCOMES OF BEING IN CHRIST.
HE WRITES THAT HAVING " CLOTHED OURSELVES WITH CHRIST, THEIR IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, SLAVE OR FREE, MALE OR FEMALE, FOR WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS" (GAL.3-27-28). LATER IN THE BOOK PAUL ADDS, " FOR IN CHRIST JESUS NEITHER CIRCUMCISION HAS ANY VALUE. THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE (GAL 2;6). AS LUTHER SAYS: BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, FOR LOVE TO DO WORKS. PAUL CONCLUDES BY SAYING THAT THESE THREE ULTIMATE PRINCIPLES; FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. BUT, HE SAYS THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. TO BE HEALTHY TODAY IN ONE'S SOUL, THERE CAN BE NO MORE IMPORTANT PRESCRIPTION THAN THAT GIVEN BY THE GOSPELS AND BY WHAT IS STILL THE HIGHEST WITHIN OUR CONSCIENCE. IF WE ARE HONEST, EVENTUALLY, TRUTH AND LOVE WILL FIND US.
WE ARE REMINDED THAT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IN LIFE, WE ARE TO GATHER IN PRAYER. JESUS PROMISED THAT WHEN EVER A GROUP OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN PRAYER, HE WILL BE THERE. EARLY CHURCH TOOK THE PROMISE LITERALLY. THE FIRST DISCIPLES HAD BEEN USE TO HAVING JESUS PHYISCALLY AMONG THEM. THEN AFTER HIS ASCENSION, THEY OFTEN STRUGGLED TO KNOW WHAT JESUS WANTED THEM TO DO. THEY WOULD GATHER AROUND THE WORD AND THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND, THERE, LET JESUS MAKE HIS PRESENCE FELT. CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT SUSTAINED ONLY BY PRIVATE ACTS OF PRAYER, JUSTICE, AND VIRTUE. BUT AT JESUS INVITATION WITHIN COMMUNITY WORSHIP, TO LET JESUS DO THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE POWER, THAT HAS SUSTAIN CHRISTANITY FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS. HOW WAS IT ACCOMPLISHED? WE UNCOVER A SECRET WORTH KNOWING. FAITH SUSTAINS ITSELF THROUGH RITUAL GATHERING AROUND THE WORD OF GOD AND THE BREAKING OF BREAD. WITHOUT RITUAL GATHERING WE WILL, LIKE ANY FAMILY, SOON FALL APART. IN AN AGE WHEN IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN FAITH AND COMMUNITY, THERE CAN BE NO BETTER ADVICE TO US THAN THAT OF JESUS HIMSELF: GATHER AROUND THE WORD OF GOD, AND BREAKING OF BREAD. WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE. WHAT KIND OF GOD DID JESUS REVEAL?
ONE OF THE GREAT CHRISTIAN MYSTICS, JULIAN NORWICH ONCE DESCRIBED GOD THIS WAY: COMPLETELY RELAXED AND COURTEOUS, HE WAS HIMSELF THE HAPPINESS AND PEACE OF HIS DEAR FRIENDS, HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE, RADIATING MEASURELESS LOVE, LIKE A MARVELOUS SYMPHONY. IN THE PAST PICTURE OF GOD WAS A PROJECTION OF OUR OWN ANGER, WE TENDED TO PAINT GOD AS A PUNISHING GOD, A GOD WITH A RECORDING BOOK WITH A STRICT WAY FOR SALVATION. HELL FIRE WAITED FOR THOSE WHO LIVED IN FEAR OF THAT GOD.
TODAY THAT GOD HAS FALLEN ON HARD TIMES, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CHURCHES. WHEN WE READ THE FIRST PAGES OF THE BIBLE, WE SEE THAT,IMMEDIATELY UPON CREATING EACH ITEM WITHIN CREATION, GOD LOOKS AT IT AND SAYS: "IT IS VERY GOOD! THAT ORIGINAL BLESSING, HAS NEVER CHANGED, DESPITE THE EXISTANCE OF EVIL AND SIN. THERE IS A CONTEMPORARY BUDDHIST PARABLE THAT CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE.
ONE DAY THE BUDDHA, BADLY OVERWEIGHT, WAS SITTING UNDER TREE. A YOUNG SOLDIER, TRIM AND HANDSOME, CAME ALONG, LOOKED AT THE BUDDHA, AND SAID: " YOU LOOK LIKE A PIG!" THE BUDDA REPLIED: " WELL YOU LOOK LIKE GOD!" " WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?" ASKED THE SUPRISED YOUNG SOLDIER,, WELL, REPLIED THE BUDDHA, WE SEE WHAT'S INSIDE US. I THINK ABOUT GOD ALL DAY AND WHEN I LOOK OUT THAT IS WHAT I SEE. YOU, OBVIOUSLY, MUST THINK ABOUT OTHER THINGS. WHAT WE SEE OUTSIDE OURSELVES IS VERY MUCH COLORED BY WHAT IS, FIRST OF ALL, INSIDE US. JESUS HAD WITHIN HIM A CONCEPT
THAT LET HIM SEE OF CREATION, THAT WAS WORTH BLESSING.
A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE HE DIED, HENRI NOUWEN, PERHAPS THE BEST SPIRITUAL WRITER OF OUR GENERATION, WROTE A BOOK THAT MANY CONSIDER TO BE A SPIRITUL MASTERPIECE. IT IS ENTITLED " THE RETURN OF THE PRODICAL SON, NOUWEN POINTS OUT THAT THE PAINTING BY REMBRANDT OF THE FATHER OF THE PRODICAL SON, HAS MANY INTERESTING FEATURES: 1).HE IS DEPICTED AS BLIND. HIS EYES ARE SHUT AND HE SEES THE PRODICAL SON NOT WITH EYES BUT WITH HIS HEART. ( TO WHICH HE IS TENDERLY HOLDING HIS SON'S HEAD.). THE IMPLICATION IS OBVIOUS, GOD SEES WITH THE HEART. MOREOVER, THE FIGURE
REPESENTING GOD HAS ONE MALE HAND( WHICH IS PULLING THE WAYWARD SON TO HIMSELF) AND ONE FEMALE HAND ( WHICH IS CARESSING THE SON'S BACK). THUS GOD IS PRESENTED HERE AS BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER). WE KNOW LIKE THE YOUNGER SON, WE ARE OFTEN AWAY FROM GOD'S HOUSE.
THUS, GIVEN THAT WE LIVE UNDER A SMILING, RELAXED, ALL FORGIVING, AND ALL POWERFUL GOD, WE, TOO SHOULD RELAX AND SMILE.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Sunday, September 3, 2017
BAPTISM OF OUR LORD.
OUR RECREATION IN BAPTISM IS AN IMAGE OF THE GENESIS CREATION, WHERE THE SPIRIT/ WIND MOVED OVER THE WATERS. BOTH MARK'S GOSPEL AND THE STORY OF ACTS MAKE CLEAR THAT IT IS THE SPIRIT'S MOVEMENT THAT DISTINGUISHES JESUS BAPTISM FROM JOHN'S. THE SPIRIT HAS COME UPON US AS JESUS AND THE EPHESIANS, CALLING US GOD'S CHILDREN AND SETTING US ON JESUS MISSION TO RE-CREATE THE WORLD IN THE IMAGE OF GOD'S VISION OF JUSTICE AND PEACE.
AT THAT TIME JESUS CAME FROM NAZERTH IN GALILEE AND WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE RIVER JORDAN. AS JESUS WAS COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW HEAVEN BEING TORN OPEN AND THE SPIRIT DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE. 'AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN; " YOU ARE MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.
MARK, IN TELLING OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS WITH THE SUBSEQUENT BESTOWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE FATHER'S COMMENDATION, OFFERS A SECOND CREDENTIAL TO ASSURE US JESUS OF NAZRETH IS INDEED". JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD." NOTE THAT SCRIPTURE NOWHERE PRESCRIBES THE MODE OF BAPTISM WETHER BY IMMMERSION, POURING, OR SPRINKLING. RATHER, IT CONCERNS ITSELF WITH WHAT GOD DOES FOR US THROUGH BAPTISM. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S ACTIVITY AND POCLAMATION WAS A SIGN TO JESUS HIS HOUR HAD COME FOR HIM TO ENTER UPON HIS REDEPMTIVE WORK, THUS HE LEFT NAZARETH AND CAME TO JOHN AT THE JORDAN RIVER, WITHOUT BEING COMPELLED OR SUMMONED.
HE ASKED JOHN TO BAPTIZE HIM AND THUS TO INAUGURATE HIM INTO HIS OFFICE,
NO SHEPHERDS. NO ANGELS, NO MAGI. NO STAR. NO STABLE. NOT A WORD ABOUT MARY AND JOSEPH. "MARK'S STORY OF JESUS BEGINS AT THE RIVER;" IN THOSE DAYS JESUS CAME FROM NAZARETH OF GALILEE AND WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE JORDAN. THERE'S NO LIST OF ANCESTORS. NONE OF COSMIC WONDERS THAT OPEN'S JOHN GOSPEL. 'IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. MARK'S WORD IS FAR MORE ORDINARY AND DIRECT. " IN THOSE DAYS JESUS CAME FROM NAZARETH OF GALILEE AND WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE JORDAN."
THERE'S NO LIST OF ANCESTORS. NONE OF COSMIC WONDER THAT OPEN'S JOHN' GOSPEL. JESUS ENTERED THE RIVER WITH OTHER'S TO BE WASHED IN A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL JOHN ARGUES WITH JESUS: " OH, I SHOULD BE BAPTIZED BY YOU." HE SAID. IT WAS JOHN'S OBLIGATION AS GOD'S MESSENGER AND JESUS OBLIGATION AS THE PROMISE ONE TO INAUGURATE. GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION.
BY INSISTING ON BEING BAPTIZED, JESUS DELIBERATELY TOOK OUR PLACE AS GOD.
THE FATHER SENT HIM TO DO. GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
SOME OF US MAY JOIN THE ARGUMENT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK IF JESUS SUBMITS TO A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE? BUT, THIS IS WHERE JESUS WOULD SPEND HIS EARTHLY LIFE-IN THE MIDST OF SINNERS EATING- EATING WITH THEM, TALKING WITH THEM, HEALING THEM, CALLING THEM. WHY SHOULD HIS BAPTISM BE ANY DIFFERENT? JESUS WENT UNDER THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN AS OTHERS-HAD.UNDER THE WATERS HIS ANCESTORS CROSSED AFTER 40 YEARS WILDERNESS WANDERING, HISTORIC WATERS, YET THEY LOOKED QUITE ORDINARY.
DID JESUS LOOK AT THE SKY BEFORE HE WENT UNDER THE WATER? THE NARRATOR DOSEN'T SAY,BUT WHEN JESUS CAME OUT OF THE WATER, WET FROM THE JORDAN, HE DID LOOK UP, AND HE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART AND THE SPIRIT DESCENDING ON HIM LIKE A DOVE.
THIS WAS NOT A VISION GRANTED TO JESUS, BUT WAS SEEN BY JOHN, 1:32 JOHN THE BAPTIST TESTIFIES HE SAW THE SPIRIT DESCEND ON JESUS. HE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART, NOT OPEN AS IN MATTHEW OR LUKE, BUT TORN APART. THE GREEK WORD THERE IS A FORM OF THE VERB SCHITZO AS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA, IT IS NOT THE SAME WORD AS OPEN, I OPEN THE DOOR. I CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DOOR LOOKS THE SAME, BUT SOMETHING TORN APART IS NOT EASILY CLOSED AGAIN. THE RAGGED EDGES NEVER GO BACK TOGETHER AS THEY WERE. MARK WASN'T CARELESS IN USING THAT WORD: SCHITZO. HE REMEMBERS ISAIAH'S PLEA CENTURIES BEFORE WHEN THE PROPHET CRIED OUT TO GOD, ' O THAT YOU WOULD TEAR THE HEAVENS OPEN AND COME DOWN TO MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN TO YOUR ENEMIES AND MAKE THE NATIONS TREMBLE AT YOUR PRESENCE. NOW JESUS, STOOD IN THE JORDAN,DRIPPING WET, WITHOUT A HINT THAT ANYONE ELSE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART OR SAW A DOVE OR HEARD A VOICE. AND THERE WASN'T A CLUE THAT THE NATIONS WERE TREMBLING. THOUGH THAT DID NOT MEAN THAT NOTHING HAD CHANGED. THOUGH WE USUALLY IMAGINE GOD SPEAKING IN A BOOMING VOICE, RESONANT AND DEEP, THAT VOICE IS MORE OFTEN HEARD IN MOVIES THAN IN SCRIPTURE. GOD'S VOICE CAN BE A WHISPER, A BREATH, QUIET AS THE STILL SMALL VOICE THAT REACHED ELIJAH HIDING IN HIS CAVE.
AT THE JORDAN THE VOICE THAT CAME FROM HEAVEN SPOKE TO JESUS ALONE.
IT WAS INTIMATE, DIRECT " YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED. WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED. IN YOU MY SPIRIT WILL BE PRESENT ON THE EARTH IN A NEW WAY."
THE HEAVENS WERE TORN APART, AND THEY WOULD NEVER CLOSE AGAIN. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE THAT THE SPIRIT DESCENDED ON JESUS. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE AND WHY? THE PURPOSE WE LEARN (ACTS I0:38). GOD ANOITED JESUS OF NAZRETH WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER. AT JESUS BAPTISM GOD PUBLICLY PRESENTED FOR HIM HIS GREAT TASK. AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SPIRIT AT HIS SIDE, HE WAS EMPOWERED TO CARRY OUT THE TASK. THIS EXPLAINS MUCH OF THE AGONY IN GETHSEMANE AND LETS US UNDERSTAND HOW HE WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THOUGH A TRUE HUMAN BEING, OUR SUBSTITUTE. HERE THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON HIM IS ALSO THE SPIRIT'S DESIGNATION THAT THIS HUMAN BEING IS INDEED THE PROMISE SAVIOR, THE "SON OF GOD."
BUT THE TORN PLACE IS WHERE GOD COMES THROUGH THE PLACE THAT NEVER AGAIN CLOSES AS NEATLY AS BEFORE. FROM THE DAY HE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART, THE PICTURES OF WHOM THE MESSIAH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE-
TEARING APART THE SOCIAL FABRIC THAT SEPARATED RICH FROM THE POOR.
BREAKING THROUGH HARDNESS OF HEART TO BRING FORTH COMPASSION.
BREAKING THROUGH RITUALS THAT HAD GROWN RIGID OR ROUTINE.
NOTHING WOULD EVER BE THE SAME, FOR THE HEAVENS WOULD NEVER AGAIN COSE SO TIGHTLY.
AT THE END OF HIS LIFE JESUS HUNG ON THE CROSS. BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND WHE HE BREATHED HIS LAST, THE CURTAIN OF THE TEMPLE WAS TORN IN TWO FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, TORN APART AS THE HEAVENS HAD BEEN TORN APART. THE HOLY OF HOLIES NO LONGER SEPARATED THE SANCTUARY FROM THE PEOPLE. THE CURTAIN COULD NEVER BE REPAIRED. THERE WAS NO VOICE FROM THE DARKENED HEAVENS THAT DAY. GOD WAS SILENT, NOT EVEN A WHISPER.
BUT THERE WAS A VOICE NOT FAR OFF BUT CLOSE. NOT UP BUT DOWN. A CENTURION SOLDIER STOOD AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS KEEPING, MARKING TIME, WAITING TO PRONOUNCE DEATH. WHEN HE SAW JESUS DRAW HIS LAST, HE SAID, "TRUELY THIS MAN WAS GOD'S SON!" WHO GAVE HIM THAT WORD? HEAVEN KNOWS. THAT SOLDIER HAD SOMEHOW HEARD FOR HIMSELF THE WORDS WHISPERED TO JESUS ALONE AT THE JORDAN. THE WORD CAME THROUGH THE TORN PLACE IN THE SKY, THROUGH THE TORN CURTAIN:" "THIS IS MY SON." THE BELOVED, WITH WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED."
IS THERE A TORN PLACE IN, YOUR LIFE?
AT THAT TIME JESUS CAME FROM NAZERTH IN GALILEE AND WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE RIVER JORDAN. AS JESUS WAS COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW HEAVEN BEING TORN OPEN AND THE SPIRIT DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE. 'AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN; " YOU ARE MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.
MARK, IN TELLING OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS WITH THE SUBSEQUENT BESTOWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE FATHER'S COMMENDATION, OFFERS A SECOND CREDENTIAL TO ASSURE US JESUS OF NAZRETH IS INDEED". JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD." NOTE THAT SCRIPTURE NOWHERE PRESCRIBES THE MODE OF BAPTISM WETHER BY IMMMERSION, POURING, OR SPRINKLING. RATHER, IT CONCERNS ITSELF WITH WHAT GOD DOES FOR US THROUGH BAPTISM. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S ACTIVITY AND POCLAMATION WAS A SIGN TO JESUS HIS HOUR HAD COME FOR HIM TO ENTER UPON HIS REDEPMTIVE WORK, THUS HE LEFT NAZARETH AND CAME TO JOHN AT THE JORDAN RIVER, WITHOUT BEING COMPELLED OR SUMMONED.
HE ASKED JOHN TO BAPTIZE HIM AND THUS TO INAUGURATE HIM INTO HIS OFFICE,
NO SHEPHERDS. NO ANGELS, NO MAGI. NO STAR. NO STABLE. NOT A WORD ABOUT MARY AND JOSEPH. "MARK'S STORY OF JESUS BEGINS AT THE RIVER;" IN THOSE DAYS JESUS CAME FROM NAZARETH OF GALILEE AND WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE JORDAN. THERE'S NO LIST OF ANCESTORS. NONE OF COSMIC WONDERS THAT OPEN'S JOHN GOSPEL. 'IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. MARK'S WORD IS FAR MORE ORDINARY AND DIRECT. " IN THOSE DAYS JESUS CAME FROM NAZARETH OF GALILEE AND WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE JORDAN."
THERE'S NO LIST OF ANCESTORS. NONE OF COSMIC WONDER THAT OPEN'S JOHN' GOSPEL. JESUS ENTERED THE RIVER WITH OTHER'S TO BE WASHED IN A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL JOHN ARGUES WITH JESUS: " OH, I SHOULD BE BAPTIZED BY YOU." HE SAID. IT WAS JOHN'S OBLIGATION AS GOD'S MESSENGER AND JESUS OBLIGATION AS THE PROMISE ONE TO INAUGURATE. GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION.
BY INSISTING ON BEING BAPTIZED, JESUS DELIBERATELY TOOK OUR PLACE AS GOD.
THE FATHER SENT HIM TO DO. GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
SOME OF US MAY JOIN THE ARGUMENT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK IF JESUS SUBMITS TO A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE? BUT, THIS IS WHERE JESUS WOULD SPEND HIS EARTHLY LIFE-IN THE MIDST OF SINNERS EATING- EATING WITH THEM, TALKING WITH THEM, HEALING THEM, CALLING THEM. WHY SHOULD HIS BAPTISM BE ANY DIFFERENT? JESUS WENT UNDER THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN AS OTHERS-HAD.UNDER THE WATERS HIS ANCESTORS CROSSED AFTER 40 YEARS WILDERNESS WANDERING, HISTORIC WATERS, YET THEY LOOKED QUITE ORDINARY.
DID JESUS LOOK AT THE SKY BEFORE HE WENT UNDER THE WATER? THE NARRATOR DOSEN'T SAY,BUT WHEN JESUS CAME OUT OF THE WATER, WET FROM THE JORDAN, HE DID LOOK UP, AND HE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART AND THE SPIRIT DESCENDING ON HIM LIKE A DOVE.
THIS WAS NOT A VISION GRANTED TO JESUS, BUT WAS SEEN BY JOHN, 1:32 JOHN THE BAPTIST TESTIFIES HE SAW THE SPIRIT DESCEND ON JESUS. HE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART, NOT OPEN AS IN MATTHEW OR LUKE, BUT TORN APART. THE GREEK WORD THERE IS A FORM OF THE VERB SCHITZO AS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA, IT IS NOT THE SAME WORD AS OPEN, I OPEN THE DOOR. I CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DOOR LOOKS THE SAME, BUT SOMETHING TORN APART IS NOT EASILY CLOSED AGAIN. THE RAGGED EDGES NEVER GO BACK TOGETHER AS THEY WERE. MARK WASN'T CARELESS IN USING THAT WORD: SCHITZO. HE REMEMBERS ISAIAH'S PLEA CENTURIES BEFORE WHEN THE PROPHET CRIED OUT TO GOD, ' O THAT YOU WOULD TEAR THE HEAVENS OPEN AND COME DOWN TO MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN TO YOUR ENEMIES AND MAKE THE NATIONS TREMBLE AT YOUR PRESENCE. NOW JESUS, STOOD IN THE JORDAN,DRIPPING WET, WITHOUT A HINT THAT ANYONE ELSE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART OR SAW A DOVE OR HEARD A VOICE. AND THERE WASN'T A CLUE THAT THE NATIONS WERE TREMBLING. THOUGH THAT DID NOT MEAN THAT NOTHING HAD CHANGED. THOUGH WE USUALLY IMAGINE GOD SPEAKING IN A BOOMING VOICE, RESONANT AND DEEP, THAT VOICE IS MORE OFTEN HEARD IN MOVIES THAN IN SCRIPTURE. GOD'S VOICE CAN BE A WHISPER, A BREATH, QUIET AS THE STILL SMALL VOICE THAT REACHED ELIJAH HIDING IN HIS CAVE.
AT THE JORDAN THE VOICE THAT CAME FROM HEAVEN SPOKE TO JESUS ALONE.
IT WAS INTIMATE, DIRECT " YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED. WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED. IN YOU MY SPIRIT WILL BE PRESENT ON THE EARTH IN A NEW WAY."
THE HEAVENS WERE TORN APART, AND THEY WOULD NEVER CLOSE AGAIN. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE THAT THE SPIRIT DESCENDED ON JESUS. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE AND WHY? THE PURPOSE WE LEARN (ACTS I0:38). GOD ANOITED JESUS OF NAZRETH WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER. AT JESUS BAPTISM GOD PUBLICLY PRESENTED FOR HIM HIS GREAT TASK. AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SPIRIT AT HIS SIDE, HE WAS EMPOWERED TO CARRY OUT THE TASK. THIS EXPLAINS MUCH OF THE AGONY IN GETHSEMANE AND LETS US UNDERSTAND HOW HE WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THOUGH A TRUE HUMAN BEING, OUR SUBSTITUTE. HERE THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON HIM IS ALSO THE SPIRIT'S DESIGNATION THAT THIS HUMAN BEING IS INDEED THE PROMISE SAVIOR, THE "SON OF GOD."
BUT THE TORN PLACE IS WHERE GOD COMES THROUGH THE PLACE THAT NEVER AGAIN CLOSES AS NEATLY AS BEFORE. FROM THE DAY HE SAW THE HEAVENS TORN APART, THE PICTURES OF WHOM THE MESSIAH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE-
TEARING APART THE SOCIAL FABRIC THAT SEPARATED RICH FROM THE POOR.
BREAKING THROUGH HARDNESS OF HEART TO BRING FORTH COMPASSION.
BREAKING THROUGH RITUALS THAT HAD GROWN RIGID OR ROUTINE.
NOTHING WOULD EVER BE THE SAME, FOR THE HEAVENS WOULD NEVER AGAIN COSE SO TIGHTLY.
AT THE END OF HIS LIFE JESUS HUNG ON THE CROSS. BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND WHE HE BREATHED HIS LAST, THE CURTAIN OF THE TEMPLE WAS TORN IN TWO FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, TORN APART AS THE HEAVENS HAD BEEN TORN APART. THE HOLY OF HOLIES NO LONGER SEPARATED THE SANCTUARY FROM THE PEOPLE. THE CURTAIN COULD NEVER BE REPAIRED. THERE WAS NO VOICE FROM THE DARKENED HEAVENS THAT DAY. GOD WAS SILENT, NOT EVEN A WHISPER.
BUT THERE WAS A VOICE NOT FAR OFF BUT CLOSE. NOT UP BUT DOWN. A CENTURION SOLDIER STOOD AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS KEEPING, MARKING TIME, WAITING TO PRONOUNCE DEATH. WHEN HE SAW JESUS DRAW HIS LAST, HE SAID, "TRUELY THIS MAN WAS GOD'S SON!" WHO GAVE HIM THAT WORD? HEAVEN KNOWS. THAT SOLDIER HAD SOMEHOW HEARD FOR HIMSELF THE WORDS WHISPERED TO JESUS ALONE AT THE JORDAN. THE WORD CAME THROUGH THE TORN PLACE IN THE SKY, THROUGH THE TORN CURTAIN:" "THIS IS MY SON." THE BELOVED, WITH WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED."
IS THERE A TORN PLACE IN, YOUR LIFE?
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