THE SEAL OF JUDGMENT.

FINALLY, THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IS ALSO A PLEDGE OF A FINAL JUDGMENT UPON ALL WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL. OM MARS HILL PAUL PROCLAIMED THAT GOD" HAS FIXED A DAY ON WHICH HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY AMAN HE HAS APPOINTED, AND OF THIS HE HAS GIVEN ASSURANCE  TO ALL MEN BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD." (ACTS 17:31. CHRIST SPOKE OF A FINAL JUDGMENT WHEN HE WAS ON EARTH, CLAIMING THAT HE WOULD BE THE JUDGE. THE FACT THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD IS PROOF OF HIS CLAIMS.  IT IS A PLEDGE THAT THE JUDGMENT DAY IS COMING.  MEN AND WOMEN IMAGINE THAT DEATH IS THE END OF ALL THINGS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT STRIKES THEIR ENEMIES. A MOSQUITO BITES US, WE ARE ANNOYED; WE SWAT IT AND CONGRATULATE OURSELVES THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE END OF THAT MOSQUITO. A FOX BREAKS INTO CHICKEN COUP AND WE SHOOT IT. SO MUCH FOR THE FOX. WE HAVE AN ENEMY, BUT WHEN HE IS DEAD WE DISMISS HIM FROM OUR MINDS. SO IT WAS WITH CHRIST. JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD DOING GOOD AND PEOPLE RESENTED HIS HOLINESS. THEY RESENTED IT SO MUCH THAT THEY TRIED TO FIND SOMETHING OF WHICH TO ACCUSE HIM, HE CLAIMED TO BE GOD'S SON; THEY CALLED IT BLASPHEMY. HE SPOKE OF THEIR SIN  AND A COMING DAY IN WHICH HE WOULD JUDGE ALL HUMANKIND; THEY HATED HIM FOR IT. EVENTUALLY THEY KILLED HIM. WE CAN IMAGINE THE JUBILATION IN JERUSALEM ON THE HIGH FEAST DAY. FOLLOWING THE  CRUCIFIXION. THOSE WHO HAD DISPOSED OF CHRIST CONGRATULATED THEMSELVES. AT LAST THEY WERE DONE WITH HIM. THEY WERE SECURE; THEY WOULD NEVER NEED ENDURE HIS ARROGANCE. THEN CAME THE RESURRECTION, AND BY THAT ACT GOD DECLARED THAT DEATH WOULD NEVER BE THE END OF CHRIST. IT COULD NEVER BE THE END FOR HIM, FOR HE IS HIMSELF THE LIFE. EVIL IS IN THE WORLD, BUT NOTHING OPPOSED TO GOD WILL FINALLY CONQUER. SIN TRIUMPHED AT THE CROSS,  BUT GOD TRIUMPHED AT THE RESURRECTION.  "CHRIST APPEARED ONCE AND FOR ALL AT THE END OF THE AGE
TO PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF... AND AFTER THAT COMES JUDGMENT (HEB .9:26-27)
FINALLY, ACCOUNTS, EVIDENCE A FUNDAMENTAL HONESTY AND ACCURACY THROUGH WHAT WE CAN ONLY CALL THEIR NATURAL SIMPLICITY. COULD' WE RESIST TO SPREAD CHRIST'S RESURRECTION AND RESURRECTION APPEARANCES, AND THE URGE OF HOW IT APPEARED TO PILATE AND CONFOUNDED HIM?  THE DESCENT OF THE ANGEL, THE MOVING OF THE STONE OR HOW HE APPEARED CAIAPHAS AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SANHEDRIN. THE APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS ( THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWS, THE GOSPEL OF PETER, THE ACTS OF PILATE., WHO LOOKS UP FROM HELL, BEGGING FOR MERCY! YET THE GOSPEL WRITERS INCLUDE NONE. THE GOSPELS DO NOT DESCRIBE THE RESURRECTION BECAUSE NO ONE WITNESSED IT. THE DISCIPLES ALL ARRIVED AT THE TOMB AFTER JESUS WAS RAISED. THE AUTHORITIES HATED THE GOSPEL, AND TRIED TO DESTROY IT AND STOP IT FROM BEING SPREAD. THEY ARRESTED THE DISCIPLES, AND EVENTUALLY KILLED SOME.ACCORDING TO JOHN, THE TOMB WAS QUITE EMPTY THE BODY OF JESUS WAS GONE BUT THE GRAVE CLOTHES REMAINED, AND WHEN HE SAW THEM BELIEVED IN THE RESURRECTION. EVERY SOCIETY HAS ITS DISTINCT MODES OF BURIAL IN ANCIENT CULTURES AS TODAY. IN EGYPT BODIES ARE EMBALMED. IN ITALY AND GREECE THEY WERE OFTEN CREMATED. IN PALESTINE  THEY WERE WRAPPED IN LINEN BANDS THAT ENCLOSED  DRY SPICES AND WERE PLACED FACE UP WITHOUT A COFFIN IN TOMBS GENERALLY CUT FROM THE ROCK IN THE JUDEAN AND GALILEAN HILLS. LUKE TELLS US WHEN JESUS WAS APPROACHING  THE VILLAGE OF NAIM EARLIER IN HIS MINISTRY, HE MET A FUNERAL PROCESSION LEAVING THE CITY. THE ONLY SON OF A WIDOW HAD DIED. LUKE SAYS WHEN JESUS RAISED HIM FROM DEATH TWO THINGS HAPPEN. FIRST, THE YOUNG MAN SAT UP, THAT IS, HE WAS LYING ON HIS BACK ON THE BIER WITHOUT A COFFIN. SECOND HE AT ONCE BEGAN TO SPEAK. THE GRAVE CLOTHES DID NOT COVER HIS FACE SPERATE COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD AND BODY WERE ALSO USED IN THE BURIAL OF LAZARUS  (JN.11:44.). IT MUST HAVE BEEN A SIMILAR MANNER THAT JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA AND NICODEMUS BURIED CHRIST. THE BODY OF JESUS WAS REMOVED FROM THE CROSS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE JEWISH SABBATH, WAS WASHED, AND THEN WAS WRAPPED IN LINEN BANDS.   ONE HUNDRED POUNDS OF DRY SPICES WERE CAREFULLY INSERTED INTO THE FOLDS OF THE LINEN. ONE OF THEM, ALOES, WAS A POWERED WOOD. LIKE FINE SAWDUST WITH  AROMATIC FRAGRANCE. JESUS BODY WAS THE ENCASED HIS HEAD NECK AND UPPER SHOULDERS WERE LEFT BARE. A LINEN CLOTH WAS WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD LIKE A TURBAN.  THE BODY WAS PLACED WITHIN THE TOMB WHERE IT LAY UNTIL SOMETIME ON SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY MORNING. WHAT WOULD WE HAVE SEEN IF WE WERE THERE AT THE MOMENT JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD?.  JESUS HAD BEEN RAISED IN A NATURAL BODY RATHER THEN A SPIRITUAL BODY.
 WATCHING JESUS ESCAPE FROM THE BANDAGES.  THERE (JN.20:7).  WHAT DID JOHN BELIEVE?  HE MIGHT HAVE EXPLAINED IT TO PETER  LIKE THIS. " DON'T YOU SEE, PETER, THAT NO ONE HAS MOVED THE BODY OR DISTURBED THE GRAVE CLOTHES.
 THEY ARE LYING EXACTLY AS NICODEMUS AND JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA LEFT THEM ON THE EVE OF THE SABBATH.   YET THE BODY IS GONE!   AMEN.     

GUEST OF A PHARISEE. ST. LUKE 1-14].

THE PHARISEES CONTINUED THEIR METHOD OF ATTEMPTING TO PROVOKE JESUS TO SOME RASH UTTERANCE , AND AFTER JESUS LEFT THE GATHERING, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES BEGAN TO MANIFEST FIERCE HOSTILITY TO HIM AND MAKE HIM SPEAK ON A MULTITUDE OF QUESTIONS, SETTING TRAPS TO CATCH HIM IN HIS SPEECH. IT WAS THE REASON JESUS WAS INVITED BY ONE OF THEIR NUMBER , AS ONCE BEFORE. HIS HOST WAS ONE OF THE CHIEF, OR FIRST AMONG THEIR NUMBER, AS ONCE BEFORE. HE WAS STARTING TO GAIN IN POPULARITY, CUTTING INTO THEIR REVENUE. THIS PHARISEE MAY HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE SANHEDRIN, THE HIGHEST COUNCIL OF THE JEWISH CHURCH. AND HAD BEEN KNOWN FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF HIS LEARNING. IN THE HOUSE OF THIS MAN JESUS WAS A GUEST.: FOR FEASTING ON THE SABBATH WAS COMMON WITH THE JEWS, BUT THEY WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO EAT COLD DISHES. THE PHARISEES HAD A PURPOSE FOR INVITING OUR LORD, FOR THEY WERE OBSERVING HIM VERY CLOSELY AND SUSPICIOUSLY.  THEY HAD A TRAP SET FOR HIM. FOR WHEN JESUS CAME INTO THE HOUSE, THERE WAS, AS THOUGH BY CHANCE, AND YET BY THE MOST CUNNING PLANNING A DROPSY MAN. THE OMNISCIENT CHRIST KNEW THEIR THOUGHTS AND THE GAME THEY WANTED TO PLAY, ANSWERING THEM AS THOUGH THEY HAD SPOKEN ALOUD. HE ADDRESSED HIMSELF TO ALL THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES PRESENT FOR THEY WERE ALL EQUALITY GUILTY. HIS QUESTION WAS THE SAME AS HE HAD ASKED ON OTHER OCCASIONS, WHETHER IT WAS RIGHT, THE PROPER, OR THE OBLIGATORY THING TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH DAY OR NOT. HIS QUESTION IMPLIED AN ASSERTION IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, AND THEY FOUND THEY COULD NOT CONTRADICT HIM. WORKS OF LOVE WERE INDEED PERMITTED ON THE SABBATH DAY, EVEN ACCORDING TO THE STRICTEST MOSAIC LAW. AND SO JESUS FULFILLED
 THE GREATEST LAW OF ALL, PUTTING HIS HAND UPON A SICK MAN, HE HEALED HIM AND SENT. THEN THE LORD TURNED ONCE MORE TO THE PHARISEES AND ANSWERED THEIR UNSPOKEN THOUGHTS, WHICH CONDEMNED THEIR JESUS HEALING ON THE SABBATH. HE ASKED THE WHETHER IT WOULD NOT BE SELF-EVIDENT FOR THEM, IN CASE OF ONE OF THEIR DOMESTIC ANIMALS, A MERE BEAST OF BURDEN SHOULD FALL INTO A PIT, AN EMPTY CISTERN, TO DRAW THE POOR VICTIM OF THE ACCIDENT UP AT ONCE, WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST HESITATION, WITHOUT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT IT MIGHT BE ON THE SABBATH.
ONCE MORE THEY WERE SILENCE, NOT BEING ABLE TO TO CONTRADICT THE STATEMENT OF THE LORD, SINCE I WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUTH OF HIS ARGUMENT.  NOTE THIS: THE PHARISEE, IN INVITING JESUS, PROFESSED FRIENDSHIP, AFFECTION, AND RESPECT FOR HIM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS PREPARING SNARES TO CATCH HIM. THUS MANY CHILDREN CHILDREN OF THE WORLD WILL SIMULATE INTEREST AND REGARD FOR THE GOSPEL AND ITS MINISTRY, WHILE IN REALITY THEY ARE TRYING TO DRAW OUT THE CHRISTIANS. " REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY BY KEEPING IT HOLY.  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?  WE SHOULD FEAR AND LOVE GOD SO THAT WE DO NOT DESPISE PREACHING AND HIS WORD., BUT HOLD IT SACRED AND GLADLY HEAR AND LEARN
 IT. ( THIS DAY IS GOOD FRIDAY)GET TO CHURCH!

WHAT SHALL WE DO.? [LUKE 3: 7-18]

 WHAT SHALL WE DO? WE HAVE HEARD THAT QUESTION MANY TIMES BEFORE AND WE HAVE ASKED IT MANY TIMES. WHAT SHALL WE DO?  USUALLY IT WAS A TIME OF CRISIS THAT REQUIRED ACTION, AND THE QUESTION HAD NO EASY  ANSWERS. THERE WERE DECISIONS TO BE MADE AND ACTION TO BE TAKEN, BUT THE ALTERNATIVES WERE FUZZY, NONE OF THEM ATTRACTIVE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PERSONAL CRISIS WHEN OUR CHOICE COULD HAVE ALTER OUR LIVES. THESE QUESTIONS AROSE AND CAUSED THE CRISIS THAT JOHN FACED AS HE WENT INTO THE WHOLE COUNTRY ROUND ABOUT THE JORDAN PROCLAIMING BAPTISM AS A MARK OF COMPLETE CHANGE OF HEART; REPENT!  (CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING), AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AS THE BOOK OF ISAIAH SAYS-
 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS
 MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
 MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT
 EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED,
 AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE BROUGHT LOW:
 AND THE CROOKED SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT,
AND THE ROUGH WAYS SMOOTH:
AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.
SO JOHN USED TO SAY TO THE CROWDS WHO CAME OUT TO BE BAPTIZED BY HIM.
 " WHO WARNED YOU, YOU SERPENT'S BROOD, TO ESCAPE FROM THE WRATH TO COME? SEE THAT YOU DO SOMETHING TO SHOW THAT YOUR HEARTS ARE REALLY CHANGED!   DON'T START THINKING THAT YOU CAN SAY TO YOURSELVES, ' WE ARE ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN,'  FOR I TELL YOU THAT GOD COULD PRODUCE CHILDREN OUT OF THESE STONES!
THE AXE ALREADY LIES AT THE ROOT OF THE TREE, AND THE TREE THAT FAILS TO PRODUCE  GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE.
 THEN THE CROWDS WOULD ASK HIM, " THEN WHAT SHALL WE DO?"
 GOOD QUESTION, ISN'T IT!
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
BEYOND REPENTANCE, THEN WHAT? CONFRONTED BY CHRIST AS WE ARE NOW-THE CHRIST OF BETHLEHEM , THE  CHRIST OF CALVARY, THE RISEN CHRIST, THE RULING CHRIST, THE CHRIST WHO CAME TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM, THE CHRIST WHO COMES IN WORD AND SACRAMENT, THE CHRIST WHO COMES AGAIN TO GATHER IN THE WHEAT AND BURN THE CHAFF-WHAT SHALL WE DO?
BEYOND THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TASTED THE LORD AND KNOW THAT HE IS GRACIOUS IN HIS COMING, SLOW TO WRATH, MERCIFUL, FORGIVING-WHAT SHALL WE DO?
 WE CAN TURN OUR FACES TOWARD HIM. WE CAN TURN OUR BACKS AGAINST HIM.
HIS COMING IS A CRISIS SITUATION FOR EACH ONE OF US. ETERNITY IS IN THE BALANCE.
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
NATURALLY WE HAVE A FEW IDEAS, AND I DO MEAN NATURALLY. THE CHRIST WHOSE WAY THE PREACHER IN THE WILDERNESS PREPARED HAS COME, BUT IF THE CHRIST HAS NEVER COME TO US, WE HAVE A FEW IDEAS NATURALLY, WE, TOO, CAN SLITHER LIKE A BROOD OF VIPERS FROM THE FIRE IN THE GRASS THAT SHELTERS US. WE CAN RUSH FOR REFUGE TO THE DRAWS WHERE WE KEEP OUR SACRED PAPERS, OUR BAPTISMAL RECORDS, WAVE THEM IN HIS FACE. WE CAN CLIMB THE LADDER TO THE TOP SHELVE OF THE BOOK SHELVES, TAKE THE BIBLE DOWN FROM ITS EXALTED PERCH, AND QUICKLY RUMMAGE THROUGH THE PAGES FOR A MAGIC WORD. WE CAN GO BACK TO CHURCH AGAIN AND MUMBLE THROUGH OUR LITURGIES, CONFESSIONS, PRAYERS. THAT'S A DRASTIC STEP, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO FLEE THE WRATH TO COME, TO GET SHAPED UP PROPERLY ADJUSTED, OR IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO ESCAPE THE CRISIS OF THE MOMENT, SO LET IT BE. WE HAVE OUR LITTLE RITUALS AND OUR TRADITIONAL SECURITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO GIVE THE MAXIMUM GOOD FEELING AT A MINIMUM OF  INCONVENIENCE. WE CAN ARRANGE THIS OD BIT AND RELIGION ON THE EASY-PAYMENT PLAN, AND SPREAD IT OUT ACROSS THE YEARS SO THAT IT CAN'T COMMAND TOO LARGE A CHUNK OF OUR RESOURCES  EVERY MONTH. AND THAT WAY, TOO, WE CAN BUILD UP EQUITY IN HEAVEN FOR THE DAY WE RETIRE. WHAT SHALL  WE DO? NATURALLY, WE HAVE FEW IDEAS AND EACH ONE US COULD PROBABLY LIST MORE. WE ARE ADEPT AT PLAYING ROMAN WAR GAMES WITH THE LORD, EACH OF US BEHIND HIS SHIELD THAT KEEPS A WORD FROM GETTING AT US. AGAIN I SAY: PREPARE THE WAY: " WHAT SHALL WE DO?  BUT PERHAPS YOU WILL RECALL THAT DAY IN ANCIENT ISRAEL WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY TO SELECT A MAN WHO WOULD SUCCEED SAUL AS KING. AND THE LORD SENT SAMUEL TO BETHLEHEM TO A MAN NAMED JESSE, FATHER OF 8 SONS, ONE OF WHOM WAS GOD'S OWN CHOICE. '' WHEN SAMUEL SAW THE FIRST OF JESSE' SONS HE WAS IMPRESSED AND THOUGHT THAT SURELY THIS YOUNG MAN WAS THE APPOINTED ONE. BUT THE LORD TOLD SAMUEL, THE "PROPHET,"  " DO NOT LOOK ON HIS APPEARANCE, OR HIS HEIGHT OR STATUE. I HAVE REJECTED HIM. THE LORD SEES NOT AS A MAN SEES. MAN LOOKS ON THE APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS ON THE HEART. THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A DAY IN ANCIENT ISRAEL, BUT IT ISN'T REALLY ANCIENT. GOD STILL LOOKS ON THE HEART, NOT TH APPEARANCE. DOWN THE CENTURIES TO JOHN THE BAPTIST-THAT'S WHAT HE SAID, TOO. THERE WERE THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES WHO HEARD HIS WARNING CRY AND WHO REPLIED, " WE ARE THE SONS OF ABRAHAM. WE ARE HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH US. HE IS OUR PRIVATE PIECE OF REAL ESTATE, AND WE ARE NOT ABOUT TO STAND BY WHILE YOU CONFISCATE IT"  BUT GOD WILL NOT BE HAD THAT WAY. WHEN WE ARE BROUGHT BEFORE GOD, WE ARE NOT STANDING AT A BARGAIN COUNTER. REFUGE CAN'T BE PURCHASED  WITH A PENNY. THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES WERE SONS OF ABRAHAM COULD CARRY NO MORE WEIGHT THAN THAT WE HAVE OUR NAMES DRAPED PRETTILY ACROSS THE PAGES OF A MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY AND THAT WE HAVE MARTIN LUTHER AS OUR GUIDE.  CHRIST IS NO LONGER IN THE MANGER. HE IS ON THE THRONE. HE IS NO LONGER BABY JESUS. HE IS KING OF ALL.
 AND WE MEET HIM NOW- HE COMES TO US IN HIS WORD? INDEED! AND IN HIS HOLY SUPPER? CENTAINLY! BUT HE WILL NOT BE BOXED INSIDE THE COVERS OF A CATECHISM, OR WRAPPED IN WORDS OF CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED DOCTRINES'
(RABBI HERSHEL PUTS IN INTO PERSPECTIVE, WHEN HE SAYS:
                                          GOD IS GREATER THAN RELIGION;
                                          FAITH IS GREATER THAN DOGMA!

THE PREACHER JOHN THE BAPTIST, IS HIS OWN BEST ILLUSTRATION OF THE ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION, "WHAT SHALL WE DO?" HIS LIFE WAS CHRIST'S. HE COULDN'T CLAIM IT AS HIS OWN.  " ONE MIGHTIER THAN I IS COMING
 I AM NOT WORTHY TO UNTIE THE LACES OF HIS SANDALS." HE MUST INCREASE. I MUST DECREASE" JOHN'S LIFE WAS AT GOD'S DISPOSAL. " WHAT THEN SHALL I DO?
                                   VIGILANCE IS ESSENTIAL



 

MUSTARD SEED [MATTHEW 17:2O]

MATTHEW'S READINGS OF THE GOSPEL TEXT PRESENTS THE IMAGE OF THE SEED. THOUGH IT IS VERY SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT, THE SEED CONTAINS ITS ENTIRE FUTURE; WITH LIGHT AND NOURISHMENT IT WILL GROW AND PROSPER. THE SEED IS A VITAL IMAGE OF FAITH IN GOD, BAPTISM, THE WORD, AND THE GREAT PARADOX AT THE CENTER OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.  GOD BRINGS FLOURISHING LIFE OUT OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE LITTLE, DORMANT, EVEN DEAD. IT IS PRIMARY IMAGE OF FAITH'S CENTRAL MYSTERY: THE YING AND RISING OF CHRIST.
THE PROGENY OF THE SPECIES HOMO SAPIENS WAS ALSO REGARDED AS "SEED."
 THUS THE SEED OF ABRAHAM CONSTITUTED ISAAC AND HIS DESCENDANTS.  THE RELATIONSHIP GOD AND HIS PEOPLE PROVIDED A PERPETUAL ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE SEED OF ISRAEL. THE ONE STORY THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE SEED, IS FOUND IN MT. 17:20; WHERE JESUS TALKS ABOUT A "MUSTARD SEED," THE SMALLEST OF ALL SEEDS. WHEN THEY CAME TO A CROWD, A MAN CAME TO HIM, KNELT BEFORE HIM, AND SAID, " LORD HAVE MERCY ON MY SON, FOR HE IS EPILEPTIC AND HE SUFFERS TERRIBLY, HE OFTEN FALLS INTO THE FIRE AND OFTEN INTO THE WATER, AND I BROUGHT HIM TO YOUR DISCIPLES, BUT THEY COULD NOT CURE HIM. JESUS ANSWERED, YOU FAITHLESS AND PERVERSE GENERATION, HOW MUCH LONGER MUST I PUT UP WITH YOU?  BRING HIM HERE TO ME. AND JESUS REBUKED THE DEMON, AND IT CAME OUT OF HIM. THEN THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS PRIVATELY AND SAID, " WHY COULD WE NOT CAST IT OUT?  HE SAID TO THEM, " BECAUSE OF YOUR LITTLE FAITH."  FOR TRULY I TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVE FAITH THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED, YOU WILL SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN, MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE', AND IT WILL MOVE; AND NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US.
 JESUS AGAIN EXPLAINS THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTER 4. JESUS ALSO SAYS, " THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AS IF SOMEONE WOULD SCATTER SEED ON THE GROUND, AND WOULD SLEEP AND RISE NIGHT AND AND DAY, AND  THE SEED WOULD SPROUT AND GROW, HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW. THE EARTH PRODUCES ITSELF, FIRST THE STALK, THEN THE HEAD, THEN FULL GRAIN IN THE HEAD. BUT WHEN THE GRAIN IS RIPE, AT ONCE HE GOES IN WITH THE SICKLE, BECAUSE THE HARVEST HAS COME. JESUS ALSO SAYS: WITH WHAT CAN WE COMPARE THE KINGDOM, OR WHAT PARABLE WILL WE USE FOR IT?  IT IS LIKE A MUSTARD SEED, WHICH WHEN SOWN UPON THE GROUND, IS THE SMALLEST OF ALL SEEDS ON EARTH; YET WHEN IT IS SOWN IT GROWS UP AND BECOMES THE GREATEST OF ALL SHRUBS, AND PUT FORTH LARGE BRANCHES, SO THAT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR CAN MAKE NESTS IN ITS SHADE JESUS USED PARABLES AS A TEACHING TOOL FOR THE DISCIPLES. IN OUR DAY AND AGE; PARABLES HAVE TURNED INTO RIDDLES.
EXAMPLES: FOR MANY PEOPLE GOD IS A RIDDLE. THEY WOULD POSE QUESTIONS 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 DEMAND SO MUCH OF US, WHEN HE DIDN'T CREATE US PERFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE?"
WE OUGHT TO TAKE THESE QUESTIONS SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY REMIND US THAT THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL AND IMPERFECTIONS BECOMES AN ACUTE PROBLEM WHEN WE DARE TO TALK ABOUT A LOVING GOD. EVEN THE CHURCH CALENDER POSES THIS RIDDLE WHEN IT PLACES OBSERVANCE OF ST. STEPHEN DAY AND HOLY INNOCENTS DAY RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY. IT'S AS THOUGH 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, AND THAT A KING SO FEARED THE COMING OF CHRIST THAT HE TRIED TO KILL ALL CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE. FOR A CHRISTIAN NOW, AND THE DISCIPLE OF JESUS TIME 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 TO PUZZLE OVER THESE QUESTIONS. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN REMINDS US OF CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING AND HAVE CLOUDED THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD FROM THE BEGINNING. " HE WAS IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT, " SAYS JOHN'S GOSPEL." " HE CAME TO HIS OWN HOME AND HIS OWN PEOPLE RECEIVED HIM NOT, " SAYS JOHN GOSPEL. 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 REALLY UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT OLD FAVORITE  ABOUT " WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND READ ALL OVER?" THE SECRET TO THE RIDDLE WAS THE SOUND OF THE WORD "READ." ONCE YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT IT DID NOT REFER TO A COLOR, THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE MADE SENSE. OR TAKE THE ONE THAT WENT: " RAILROAD CROSSING, LOOK OUT FOR THE CARS CAN YOU SPELL "IT" WITHOUT ANY R'S? "
WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT THE TASK IS TO SPELL "IT' RATHER THAN RAILROAD CROSSING." THE ANSWER BECOMES SELF EVIDENT. LIKE THE PARABLES JESUS USED TO TEACH HIS DISCIPLES, SO ARE THE RIDDLES OF GOD IS A LOT LIKE THAT. ONCE WE GRASP THE KEY-WORD, QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS POWER AND HIS WILL CAN BE ANSWERED. SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT "JESUS' IS THE KEY "WORD." IN JOHN'S GOSPEL HE SPEAKS OF JESUS AS THE WORD BECOMING FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US." JESUS CHRIST HAS SOLVED THE RIDDLE OF GOD. WHEN 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 MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME" HOW DOES JESUS SOLVE THE RIDDLE? HE SHOWS US HOW GOD'S POWER DIFFERS FROM OUR USUAL CONCEPT OF POWER. FOR US POWER MEANS THE STRENGTH TO HAVE IT OUR WAY, NO MATTER WHO OPPOSES US, IT IS THE ABILITY
TO BLOT OUT EVIL, PROTECT HIS FOLLOWERS, AND ELIMINATE SUFFERING. BUT JESUS CHRIST SHOWS US THAT GOD EXPRESSES HIS POWER IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
INSTEAD OF DESTROYING, HE SHOWS SUFFERING CAN NOT DESTROY US. CHRIST MET HUMAN ANGER, BETRAYAL, EVEN DEATH, BY ACCEPTING THE WORST WE COULD DISH OUT. JESUS SPENT MOST OF HIS MINISTRY URGING PEOPLE TO SEE THAT SUFFERING DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. GOD MARKS THE FALL OF A SPARROW AND THE PLIGHT OF THE LEPER. GOD'S WAY OF DEALING WITH OUR SUFFERING IS TO ACCEPT IT, TO SHARE, AND THEN USE IT.   

END! {ECCLESIASTES] [PSALM 90].

JESUS GIVE US WORK TO DO, ALL OUR DAYS,
 AND GIVE US GOOD TO DO IN OUR WORK.
GIVE US THE GRACE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
CREATED FOR MORE THAN WORK.
HELP US TO MAKE OUR WORK INTO OUR MINISTRY.
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND FOR HUMAN GOOD.

"IN THE END THE MEANING OF THE BOOK; IS A SEARCH FOR THE KEY TO THE MEANING OF OUR LIFE. FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE IS NOT TO BE FOUND"  IN THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE, MONEY, SENSUAL PLEASURES, OPPRESSION,  OR RELIGIOUS FOLLY.  THESE PROVE EMPTY, OR SOMETHING HAPPENS AGAINST WHICH THEY ARE HELPLESS.  SO THE PLAN FOR US IS TO TAKE OUR LIFE EACH DAY FROM THE HAND OF GOD, AND ENJOY IT FROM HIM AND FOR HIM.

                                                         "ECCLESIASTES.
THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE "SON OF DAVID", KING IN JERUSALEM.
VANITY OF VANITIES, SAITH THE PREACHER, VANITY OF VANITIES; ALL IS VANITY.      WHAT PROFIT HATH A MAN OF ALL HIS LABOR WHICH HE TAKETH ( PERFORMS) UNDER THE SUN? ONE GENERATION PASSETH AWAY, AND ANOTHER GENERATION COMETH: BUT THE EARTH ABIDETH FOREVER. THE SUN ALSO ARISETH , AND THE SUN GOETH DOWN, AND HASTETH TO HIS PLACE WHERE HE AROSE. THE WIND GOETH TOWARD THE SOUTH, AND TURNETH ABOUT INTO THE NORTH; IT WHIRLETH ABOUT CONTINUALLY, AND THE WIND RETURNETH AGAIN ACCORDING TO HIS CIRCUITS. ALL THE RIVERS RUN INTO THE SEA; YET THE SEA IS NOT FULL; UNTO THE PLACE FROM WHENCE THE RIVERS, THITHER THEY RETURN AGAIN. ALL THINGS ARE FULL OF LABOR; (WEARINESS) MAN CANNOT UTTER IT: THE EYE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SEEING, NOR THE EAR FILLED WITH HEARING. THE THING THAT HATH BEEN, IT IS THAT WHICH SHALL BE AND THAT WHICH IS DONE IS THAT WHICH SHALL BE DONE: AND THERE IS NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN. IS THERE ANYTHING WHERE OF IT MAY BE SAID, SEE, THIS IS NEW? IT HATH BEEN OF OLD TIME, WHICH WAS BEFORE US. THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF FORMER THINGS; NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS THAT ARE TO COME WITH THOSE, THAT SHALL COME AFTER. I THE PREACHER WAS KING OVER ISRAEL IN JERUSALEM. I GAVE MY HEART TO SEEK AND SEARCH OUT BY WISDOM CONCERNING ALL THINGS THAT ARE DONE UNDER HEAVEN: THIS SORE TRAVAIL HATH GOD GIVEN TO THE SONS OF MAN TO BE EXERCISED THEREWITH (BUSY WITH).
I HAVE SEEN ALL THE WORKS THAT ARE DONE UNDER THE SUN; AND, BEHOLD,  ALL IS VANITY AND A VEXATION OF THE SPIRIT. THAT WHICH IS CROOKED CANNOT BE MADE STRAIGHT AND THAT WHICH IS WANTED CANNOT BE NUMBERED.
I COMMUNED WITH MINE OWN HEART, SAYING LO, I AM COME TO GREAT ESTATE, AND HAVE GOTTEN MORE WISDOM THAN ALL THEY THAT HAVE BEEN BEFORE ME IN JERUSALEM: YEA, MY HEART HAD GREAT EXPERIENCE OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, AND I GAVE MY HEART TO KNOW WISDOM, AND TO KNOW MADNESS AND FOLLY: I PERCEIVED THAT THIS ALSO IS A VEXATION OF  SPIRIT. FOR IN MUCH WISDOM IS MUCH GRIEF. AND HE THAT INCREASETH KNOWLEDGE INCREASETH SORROW. (ECCLESIASTES 1-18).
 WILLIAM BROWN IN HIS BOOK ( CHARACTER IN CRISIS) SAYS THIS ABOUT THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES: THAT IT IS AT ROOT A CONFESSION OF DISILLUSION ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL AND THE FRUSTRATION OF WORK IN PARTICULAR FOR AN ACHIEVEMENT- ORIENTED SOCIETY. Q0HELETH'S MESSAGE SPEAKS TO THOSE WHO WITH GREAT AND AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR SUCCESS ARE RIPE FOR DISILLUSIONMENT, WHETHER IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, POLITICS, RAISING CHILDREN, MINISTRY, OR ACADEMIA. IN EVERY VOCATION THERE IS STRUGGLES OVER THE PERCEIVED LACK OF EFFECTIVENESS  AND PROGRESS THAT CAN BRING ONE TO THE BRINK OF BURNOUT AND CLEARLY. MISGUIDED REASONS, QOHELETH POINTS OUT, IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO FALL INTO A TRAP OF PINNING ONE'S HOPE ON THE HUMAN CAPACITY TO FULFILL DREAMS AND GOALS. NO MATTER HOW LOFTY AND WORTHY, ONLY TO HAVE MANY OF THEM SACRIFICED  UPON THE ALTAR
QOHELETH IS NOT SAYING THAT ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
WORK COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THEM. RATHER, THE DANGER LIES IN ATTACHING PERSONAL FULFILLMENT TO THE END RESULT,  FOR GOD ALONE KNOWS WHAT THE RESULT MIGHT HOLD. PERHAPS THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THERE IS SO MUCH MODERN WORK THAT IS DULL, BORING, AND REPETITIVE. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BOREDOM OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE WITH PERHAPS THE GREATER BOREDOM OF THE COMPUTER TERMINAL. OUR ANCIENT SAGE IN ECCLESIASTES NAMED QOHELETH STARES AT THE WORK OF HIS HANDS, HIS HUMAN LABOR, AND DECLARES IT IS ALL "CHASING AFTER THE WIND." HE GIVES US A LITANY OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS: " I BUILD, AND  I MADE GREAT, I PLANTED, I MADE, I BOUGHT, I GATHERED. ANYTHING THAT WAS WORTH DOING, HE SAID HE DID. HOWEVER, ALL OF THIS DOING IS MERE ILLUSION. IT ALL GOES DOWN TO DEATH. I READ THIS STORY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WHO VISITED THIS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION , WHERE THEY WERE RAISING A CONSIDERABLE SUM TO BY A  PORTRAIT OF THEIR PRESIDENT, AS HE ENTERED RETIREMENT. THE YOUNG MAN OVERHEARD THE HOST ASKING, " I WONDER WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PUT UP PORTRAITS OF OURSELVES AT COLLEGES? I SUPPOSE IT IS BECAUSE, SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO BECOMES QUICKLY DATED AND FORGOTTEN. MOST OF IT IS INVISIBLE, FRAGILE. BY ADORNING OUR WALLS WITH PORTRAITS OF OURSELVES, THERE IS AN ILLUSION, THAT SOME OF THIS LASTS. IT IS INTERESTING THAT ECCLESIASTES, RATHER THAN SAYING WORK IS POINTLESS AND THEREFORE OUGHT TO BE AVOIDED, URGES ENTHUSIASTIC, VIGOROUS ENGAGEMENT IN WORK. WORK IS ONE OF THE THINGS GOD GIVES US TO DO. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME GOD WORKED THROUGH YOU IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU KNEW BEYOND DOUBT GOD HAD DONE IT. SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE "OPUS DEI" SNEAKING IN. NOTHING, BUT GOD'S FULLEST BLESSING WILL DO.
WHILE THE RESULTS OF OUR WORK MAY NOT LAST FOREVER, IN THE MEANTIME, WORK IS JOYOUS, ACTIVE CREATION. Q0HELETH'S VIEW OF WORK, IS THAT IT OUGHT TO BE ENJOYED FOR ITS OWN SAKE; AND GIVEN TO GOD'S GLORY.
QOHELETH SAYS: WORK CAN RENDER ENJOYMENT. THERE IS JOY IN WORK BORN OUT OF A SENSE OF ACCEPTANCE OF LIFE'S LIMITS. WE CAN CHERISH THE TIME WE HAVE TO WORK. LET'S FACE IT, MOST OF THE TROUBLE WE GET INTO WITH OUR WORK IS WHEN WE FAIL TO KEEP WORK IN TS PLACE. WE BECOME OBSESSIVE,  THROUGH OUR WORK, MAKING OUR WORK AN IDOL PRESUMING TO SECURE OURSELVES THROUGH OUR WORK. TO QoHELETH, ALL OF THIS MERE "CHASING AFTER THE WIND."  BETTER TO ENJOY THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF LIFE,  THE DAY TO DAY ROUTINE OF IT ALL.S OF, THE RHYTHM OF IT ALL. NOW THAT I'M RETIRED, HOW MANY MORNINGS, GOING TO WORK I REALIZE THE SIMPLE JOY, JUST HAVING A PLACE TO GO, A REASON TO GET UP: THEN I DECIDED TO SPEND MY TIME HAVING FUN, BECAUSE I FELT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING BETTER IN ALL THE EARTH (UNDER THE SUN.) THAT MAN SHOULD EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY, WITH THE HOPE THAT THIS HAPPINESS WOULD STICK WITH HIM IN ALL THE HARD WORK WHICH GOD GIVES TO  MANKIND EVERYWHERE. IN MY SEARCH FOR WISDOM, I OBSERVED ALL THAT WAS GOING ON EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE EARTH--CEASELESS ACTIVITY, DAY AND NIGHT. ( OF COURSE, ONLY GOD CAN SEE EVERYTHING, AND EVEN THE WISEST MAN WHO SAYS HE KNOW EVERYTHING DOESN'T!) ECCL. 8:15-17). THE WORST TROUBLE WE GET INTO IS DUE TO OUR PRETETIONS, OUR OBSESSIVE NEED AND DESIRE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT LASTS BEYOND OUR OWN DAILY EFFORTS.
 NO IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER. BUT FOR THE MOMENT, TODAY, IT IS JOY ENOUGH.
THUS THE PLEASURES OF OUR EFFORTS ARE MUNDANE, AND YET STILL WORTH APPRECIATING. THE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OFTEN SET AS A TEST FOR TRUTH, THAT  TRUTH MUST BE"NONCONTINGENT"  MUST BE NOT DEPENDENT UPON ANYTHING ELSE, MUST STAND ALONE, MUST STAND ETERNALLY ALONE,MUST BE FREE FROM THE RAVAGES OF TIME AND THE CHANGES OF THE SEASONS.  BUT THIS IS A PAGAN TEST. FOR CHRISTIANS, TRUTH,  THE VALUE OF AN IDEA, OR THE VALUE OF US AND WHAT WE DO IS CONTINGENT, DEPENDENT UPON GOD TO GIVE US SIGNIFICANCE.
THE GREATEST WISDOM IS NOT IN ACCUMULATION OF ETERNALLY UNASSAILABLE
 TRUTH, BUT RATHER IN OBTAINING A PROPER REVERENCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF LIFE ON ITS OWN TERMS, ALONG WITH ITS LIMITS. WHICH ARE OFTEN MIXED WITH JOY DESPITE THE LIMITS. GOD IS ETERNAL. WE ARE NOT. WE NEED TO LIVE ANXIOUSLY  BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FINITUDE , WITH CONTINUAL CALCULATION AND WORRY. JOY COMES TO US SERENDIPITOUSLY. AS SURPRISE. A GIFT. GRACE. WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY  OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ACQUISITION. WE ARE AMBITIOUS, CONSTANTLY MAKING PLANS, SETTING GOALS, STRIVING AND MOVING AND MOVING FORWARD. BUT WHERE DOES IT LEAD?  OUR GOALS, OUR GREAT OBJECTIVE ARE OFTEN "CHASING AFTER THE WIND."  OUR WORK BECOMES OPPRESSIVE WHEN WE ASK TOO MUCH OF IT, WHEN WE INSIST THAT WHAT WE DO LASTS FOREVER, THAT IT BE THE SOLE MEANING AND PURPOSE. WE MUST DO MORE THEN  WORK. WE MUST LEARN HOW TO HAVE LIFE, MORE THAN SIMPLY MAKING A LIVING. THUS PSALM 90 SAYS: " PROSPER FOR US THE WORK OF OUR HANDS---------- O PROSPER THE WORK OF OUR HANDS." IN THE END, ALL OF THIS MAY, IN GOD'S GRACIOUS PLAN, COUNT FOR SOMETHING. THIS IS OUR LAST BEST HOPE.   

THE GREAT TRIBULATION. [MARK 13:1-8].

WHEN WE ANTICIPATE CHRIST'S COMING AGAIN. SO THE READINGS TODAY TELL OF THE FINAL RESURRECTION AND THE END OF TIME. IN THE TURMOIL OF HOPE, FEAR, AND DISBELIEF THAT THESE PREDICTIONS PROVOKE IN US. HEBREWS SOUND A NOTE OF CONFIDENT TRUST. CHRIST MAKES  A WAY FOR US WHERE THERE IS NO  WAY, AND WE WALK IT CONFIDENTLY, OUR HEARTS AND BODIES WASHED IN BAPTISMAL WATER, TRUSTING THE ONE WHO HAS PROMISED. THE MORE WE SEE THE LAST DAY APPROACHING, THE MORE IMPORTANT IT IS TO MEET TOGETHER TO PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER TO LOVE.
AS JESUS CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE, ONE OF THE DISCIPLES SAID TO HIM, " LOOK, TEACHER,  WHAT LARGE STONES, AND WHAT LARGE BUILDINGS! THEN JESUS ASKED THEM, " DO YOU SEE THESE GREAT BUILDINGS? NO STONE WILL BE LEFT HERE UPON ANOTHER; ALL WILL BE THROWN DOWN. AT THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY, THE CLUE  TO ITS ASTONISHING HISTORY AND PERSISTENT POWER, WE FIND A CONTRAST, IN A CRISIS, A TRANSITION IS THE PASSION; THE GREAT GESTURE OF UNBLEMISHED CHARITY IN WHICH ST.JOHN SAYS : " WE KNOW LOVE."  " SERVING THE CALL." THE TRANSFORMATION IS THAT OF A MAN'S LIMITED NATURE, HIS NARROW SELF, AS WE KNOW IT HERE, INTO SOMETHING NEW, STRANGE AND LOVELY; POSSESSED OF A MYSTERIOUS POWER AND FREEDOM, A FRESH KIND OF LIFE, AND SPENDING THIS LIFE WITHIN OUR EVERYDAY EXISTENCE TO SERVE AND SAVE. ONLY A SPIRITUAL SEQUENCE WHICH IS COMPLETED IN THIS-LIFE GIVING LIFE IS FULLY SANE FULLY CHRISTIAN. THE PATTERN WHICH IS SHOWN TO US IS A PATTERN WHICH LIVES AND MOVES AND CHANGES AS WE MUST LIVE AND MOVE AND CHANGE. THOSE WHO GIVE THEMSELVES  TO THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT ARE BROUGHT BIT BY BIT, AS THEY CAN BEAR IT, RESPOND TO IT,  TO THAT CRISIS IN WHICH ALL THEY HAVE WON SEEMS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM; AND THEY ARE FACED BY THE DEMAND FOR COMPLETE SURRENDER, AN ACT OF UNCONDITIONAL TRUST. BUT THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY.  THE SELF-ABANDONMENT OF THE CROSS IS A TRANSITION FROM HALF REAL TO REAL; IT IS THE SURRENDER OF OUR SELF, EVEN, OUR SPIRITUAL SELF- THE MOST AND LASTING THE DIFFICULT OFFERING OF LOVE. WE MUST DO THE LORD'S WORK WEARING THE COAT OF LOVE, FOR HOW WILL THEY KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY A LOVE, LOVE THAT SHOWS
 CHRIST WITHIN US, SO THAT WE MAY ENTER BY THE STRAIGHT GATE, SO HARD TO FIND AND SO UNPROMISING IN APPEARANCE, THAT LIFE-GIVING LIFE OF TRIUMPHANT CHARITY FOR WHICH HUMANITY IS MADE. ONLY THOSE WHO ARE GENEROUS UP TO THE LIMITS OF SELF-LOSS CAN HOPE TO BECOME CHANNELS OF THE GENEROSITY OF GOD. THIS MEANS THAT THE THOUGHT OF GOD, PENETRATING
OUR TANGLED WORLD AND ENTERING INTO UNION WITH OUR IMPERFECT NATURE, SAVES AND TRANSFORMS THAT NATURE, RAISES TO A NEW LEVEL, NOT BY POWER, BUT BY FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF THAT HOLY LIFE. "AS DYING AND BEHOLD WE LIVE, IS A LITERAL FACT FOR THE GENUINE CHRISTIAN,WHO BELIEVES IN GOD.       A CHRISTIAN BELIEVES IN GOD, BUT ALSO IN A GOD WHO IS INCARNATE. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? TO PUT THE MATTER INTO STREET LANGUAGE, ONE MIGHT SAY: A THEIST BELIEVES IN A GOD IN HEAVEN WHERE AS A CHRISTIAN BELIEVES IN A GOD IN HEAVEN WHO IS ALSO PHYSICALLY PRESENT ON THIS EARTH INSIDE HUMAN BEINGS.  THE THEISTIC  GOD IS TRANSCENDENT, AND IF NOT WHOLLY SO, PRESENT IN MATTER ONLY AS SOME VAGUE GROUND OF BEING. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, WHEN YOU FORGIVE SOMEONE, THEY ARE FORGIVEN;  IF YOU HOLD SOME ONE IN LOVE, HE OR SHE IS HELD TO THE BODY OF CHRIST. HEL IS ONLY POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN ONE HAS PUT ONESELF TOTALLY OUT OF RANGE OF LOVE, FORGIVENESS, HUMAN LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. IF A CHILD ORA BROTHER, OR A SISTER OR A LOVED ON OF YOURS STRAYS FROM THE CHURCH IN TERMS OF FAITH PRACTICE AND MORALITY, AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE TO LOVE THAT PERSON, AND HOLD HIM OR HER IN UNION, HE OR SHE IS TOUCHING THE HEM OF THE GARMENT, AND IS HELD TO THE BODY OF CHRIST AND IS FORGIVEN BY GOD. YOUR TOUCH IS CHRIST'S TOUCH.
ONE OF THE GREAT CHRISTIAN APOLOGISTS, G.K. CHESTERTON, ONCE WROTE A LITTLE PARABLE ON THIS: A MAN WHO WAS ENTIRELY CARELESS OF SPIRITUAL AFFAIRS DIED AND WENT TO HELL. AND HE WAS MUCH MISSED ON EARTH BY HIS OLD FRIENDS. HIS BUSINESS AGENT WENT DOWN TO THE GATES OF HELL TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY CHANCE OF BRINGING HIM BACK. BUT THOUGH HE PLEADED FOR THE GATES TO BE OPEN, THE IRON BARS NEVER YIELDED. HIS PASTOR WENT AND ARGUED: " HE WAS NOT A BAD FELLOW, GIVEN TIME HE WOULD HAVE MATURED. LET HIM OUT PLEASE!"  HE GATES REMAINED STUBBORNLY CLOSED. AGAINST THEIR VOICES. FINALLY,  HIS MOTHER CAME; SHE DID NOT BEG FOR HIS RELEASE. QUIETLY, WITH A STRANGE CATCH IN HER VOICE, SHE SAID TO SATAN: " LET ME IN."  IMMEDIATELY THE GREAT DOORS SWUNG OPEN. UPON THEIR HINGES. FOR LOVE GOES DOWN THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL AND THERE REDEEMS THE DEAD.
 THE INCREDIBLE GRACIOUSNESS, POWER, AND MERCY, THAT CAME INTO OUR WORLD THROUGH JESUS, AT LEAST POTENTIALLY, SO, IN OUR WORLD IN US,  WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. WHAT JESUS DID WE TOO CAN DO;  WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO.

LUKE'S STORIES.

ALMIGHTY GOD SOURCE OF EVERY BLESSING, YOUR GENEROUS GOODNESS COMES TO US ANEW EVERY DAY BY THE WORK OF YOUR SPIRIT, THAT LEADS US TO  ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GOODNESS AND GIVE THANKS FOR THE BENEFITS. EXCEPT FOR A FEW SUNDAYS WE WILL STAY IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. " TELL ALL THE TRUTH BUT TELL IT SLANT." THUS BEGINS EMILY DICKERSON'S DEEPLY RELIGIOUS POEM. ST. LUKE KNEW HOW TO TELL THE TRUTH ON A SLANT. HIS GOSPEL EASILY READ IN ONE SETTING PROVIDES ONE OF THE GREAT ADVENTURES IN BIBLICAL LITERATURE. FROM THE CYCLE THAT RECOUNTS THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THROUGH HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY, HIS PARABLES, HIS MIRACLES, AND HIS TEACHING, TO HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. WE ARE ENVELOPED IN THE POWERFUL PRESENCE OF GOD AT WORK IN THE WORLD. STORIES OF THE UNFATHOMABLE LOVE OF GOD FOR US AND FOR ALL CREATION COME IN A SLANTED PROFUSION THAT BRINGS US EVER INTO THE FOLD OF THE FAITHFUL. THIS IS NOT A STRAIGHT FORWARD LECTURE IN THEOLOGY. IT IS INSTEAD, AN ACCOUNT OF JESUS, INCARNATE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, AND NOW IN OUR LIVES. WE LOOK AT LUKE'S STORIES, AND ON THAT SLANT, WE SEE THE UNSEEABLE FACE OF GOD. PERHAPS ONE OF THE STRONGEST IMPRESSIONS GIVEN BY LUKE'S GOSPEL IS THAT STORIES OF PEOPLE ABOUND. THE JESUS OF LUKE IS ONE WHO IS DECIDEDLY  INCARNATE. THIS JESUS IS VERY HUMAN, LIVING, LOVING, AND SUFFERING.  THIS JESUS IS, AT THE SAME TIME, GOD, BECOMES A PERSON, ONE OF US. THE HUMANITY OF JESUS IS UNDERLINED IN HIS CONSTANT ENCOUNTERS WITH PEOPLE LIKE HIS MOTHER MARY; HIS DISCIPLES; THE JEWISH AND ROMAN LEADERS OF HIS TIME.; AND MOST OF ALL, WITH EVERY DAY, NORMAL HUMAN BEINGS LIKE THE WOMEN WHO WASHES HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS, DRIES THEM WITH HER HAIR, AND ANOINTS WITH COSTLY OINTMENT; THE WOMEN WHO WAS CRIPPLED FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS AND IS HEALED; AND ZACCHAEUS, THE RICH TAX COLLECTOR WHO REPENTED OF HIS ABUSE OF OTHERS AND IS FORGIVEN. LUKE THE PHYSICIAN  CALLS OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT JESUS IS REGULARLY AND DEEPLY IMMERSED IN HEALING. NOT ONLY DOES HE CURE THE CRIPPLED WOMEN, BUT, AMONG OTHER MIRACLES HE ALSO HEALS THE CENTURIAN'S  SLAVE; HE CAST OUT A DEMON THAT IS MUTE;  HE RELIEVES  A MAN OF DROSPY ON THE SABBATH. JESUS HEALINGS REVEAL HIS DEEP LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE, FOR THE WEAK AND THE LAME, FOR THOSE WHO KNOW NO OTHER HOPE, AND THEY REVEAL HIS MISSION TO BRING WHOLENESS AND COMPASSION TO ALL THE WORLD. GRABBED BY THE POWER OF GOODNESS, WE ASK, "ISN'T THIS THE ONE
WHO HEALED... WHO TAUGHT... WHO PROPHESIED.. WHO DIED? ISN'T THIS THE ONE LUKE'S GOSPEL TELLS US HE IS. JESUS ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAVE A WAY TO ARREST OUR ATTENTION. THIS ACCOUNT OF HEALING IN THE MESSAGE TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION, FOR WE ARE PERCENTAGE CONSCIOUS THESE DAYS. WE BECAME A NATION OF POLL WATCHERS. WE LIVE IN A AGE WHEN NUMBERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN LIFE AND WE BETTER GET WITH IT, IF WE ARE TO GET BY IN OUR COMPUTERIZED SOCIETY. WE CAN BE GRATEFUL OUR LORD KEPT MATH SIMPLE FOR US AS WE DEAL WITH THE TEN LEPERS. WE SCARCELY  NEED PEN OR PENCILS TO FIGURE THIS OUT  ONE OUT OF TEN RETURNED. A LITTLE COMMENTARY ON THE LEPER. HE WAS THE OUTCAST, FROM THE TIME HE OR SHE CONTACTED THE DISEASE. LIFE WAS OVER. THEY DRESSED IN RAGS, CARRIED A LITTLE BELL WITH THEM, WHICH THEY RANG AS THEY WALKED DOWN THE STREET AND EVERYONE WHO HEARD THE BELL RAN FOR COVER, AND IF THE LEPER  DID GET CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE THEY THREW ROCKS AT THEM TO HOLD THEM AT BAY. FROM BIRTH TO DEATH, THE LEPER LIVED A LIFE OF LONELINESS, NEVER A KIND WORD, A WARM TOUCH, A HUG, NO HUMAN CONTACT  AT ALL, UNTIL JESUS TOUCHED THIS ONE LEPER. THE SCENE IS PATHETIC ONE- ONE THAT TRAVELERS ENCOUNTERED OFTEN IN THE DAY OF JESUS  WE DON'T SEE SCENES LIKE THIS ONE TODAY, BECAUSE WE ARE SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH IN OUR AGE TO HIDE THE WASTING ELEMENTS OF HUMANITY INSIDE COMPOUNDS WITH WALLS HIGH ENOUGH TO SHUT OUT THE VIEW. WE DON'T LOOK UPON- AND BE HORRIFIED   BY- THE CONTEMPORARY COUNTER PARTS OF THE LEPER SOCIETY. OH WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE- THE DISENFRANCHISED , THE REJECTED. TOO OFTEN THEY ARE MASKED FROM OUR VIEW BY THE BARRIERS OUR CULTURE THAT HAS INVENTED TO PROTECT UNINFECTED. BUT AS JESUS AND HIS FRIENDS WALKED DOWN THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM, TEN LEPERS STOPPED HIM WITH THEIR CRY FOR MERCY. THE ONLY WALL THAT ISOLATED THOSE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE WAS THE CRY "UNCLEAN" THAT RANG OUT TO GUARANTEE THE PUBLIC HEALTH. JEWISH LAW ORDERED  UNCLEAN TO KEEP THEIR DISTANCE  THEY WERE 'DIFFERENT' THEY CARRIED A COMMUNICABLE DISEASE. THEY WERE TO REMAIN SEPARATE FOR LIFE. WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT NINE OF THESE DISEASE LEPERS.  BUT LUKE TELLS US ONE OF THEM WAS SAMARITAN.  REMEMBER, THE SAMARITANS WERE THE UNSAVORY ONES- THE OUT CASTS- THE ONES WHOM THE JEWS SOUGHT TO AVOID. BECAUSE  LUKE TAKES PAINS TO IDENTIFY ONE OF THE TEN SAMARITAN, IT SEEMS THE REMAINING NINE WERE PROBABLY JEWS. THIS DESPISED  SAMARITAN  HAD DISSOLVED IN THAT GROUP BY THE COMMON DISASTER THAT HAD STRUCK THEM ALL. THEIR DREAD SICKNESS HAD FORMED A BOND BETWEEN THEM AND THEY SEEMED TO SAY, "WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?"  THE RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM APART HAD THEY BEEN WELL., SEEMED PRETTY PUNY ALONGSIDE THEIR COMMON LEPROSY.  IT IS SAID THAT WHEN A FLOOD STRIKES THE JUNGLE, THE ANIMALS WHO ARE COMMON ENEMIES  SHARE THE HIGH GROUND OF PEACE. PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE IN A BOMB SHELTER PAY NO ATTENTION TO RANK OR RACE, OF THOSE HUDDLED TOGETHER WITH THEM IN TERROR. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE ANYWAY?  THE TEN LEPERS FROM THEIR COMMON MISERY, RAISED THEIR COMMON CRY, " JESUS "JESUS, MASTER HAVE MERCY UPON US.  WITHIN THE COMMON CRY FOR MERCY LIES A COMMON FAITH- A FAITH THAT THIS NAZARENE , WHOSE FAME HAD INTO THE ISOLATED  OF THE MORTALLY ILL POSSESSED THE POWER TO HEAL THEIR DISEASE. THE TEN TURNED TO JESUS AND WERE HEALED. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT TAKES PLACE AFTER THEIR CRY FOR MERCY WAS WRETCHED FROM A BLIND RESPONSE TO THE VOICE OF JESUS.  JESUS TOLD THEM TO GO SHOW THEMSELVES TO THE PRIESTS. "NOTE." IT WAS  NECESSARY FOR A CLEANSED TO PRESENT HIMSELF IN THE TEMPLE IN ORDER THAT THE PRIESTS MIGHT CERTIFY HIS CLEANESS. IT IS OF GREATEST SIGNIFICANCE
 THAT THE  TEN LEPERS STARTED OFF TO THE PRIESTS  AT THE WORD OF JESUS. BUT THE HEALING DIDN'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY. THE TEXT: SAYS, " AS THEY WENT, THEY WERE CLEANSED, HEALED.  THIS IS THE GREAT DIFFERENCE THAT FAITH MAKES- FOR FAITH IS TESTED FINALLY IN THE CRUCIBLE OF ACTION. WHATEVER IT WAS THAT MIGHT HAVE KEPT 90 PERCENT OF THESE MEN FROM RETURNING TO PRAISE GOD AS THEY SHOULD, WE SHOULD SAY THAT THIS ACT OF TURNING AROUND AND HEADING FOR THE TEMPLE BEFORE THE ACT OF HEALING HAD TAKEN PLACE, IS A GREAT DEMOSTRATION OF FAITH AND IT PAID OFF, FOR FINALLY THEY WERE FREED THEY  NO LONGER BELONGED TO THE WALKING DEAD. WE SEE HERE THE MERCY OF GOD ALIVE-INCARNATE, THAT WENT ALL THE WAY  TO "CALVARY."   

CHRIST TEACHES NICODEMUS. [JOHN 3: 14-21]

AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS, EVEN SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP. THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. HE THAT BELIEVETH  ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH  NOT IS CONDEMN ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, THAT LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. FOR EVERYONE THAT DOETH EVIL HATETH THE LIGHT, NEITH COMETH TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE REPROVED. BUT HE THAT DOETH TRUTH COMETH TO THE LIGHT, THAT HIS DEEDS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST, THAT THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD.  IN THE ABOVE GOSPEL TEXT OF JOHN USUALLY READ AT LENT, BUT MY FRIEND BROTHER FRANK READ ONE SUNDAY TO EXPLAIN THE SALVATION OF GOD TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADER, NICODEMUS, JESUS REFERS TO THE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE QUOTED IN TODAY'S FIRST  O.T.READING ( NUMBERS 21: 4-9), THOUGH GOD PROVIDES FOOD AND WATER FOR THE ISRAELITES IN THE WILDERNESS, THEY WHINE AND GRUMBLE. THEY FORGET ABOUT THE SALVATION THEY EXPERIENCED IN THE EXODUS. GOD PUNISHES THEM FOR THEIR SIN, BUT WHEN THEY REPENT GOD ALSO PROVIDES A MEANS OF HEALING: A BRONZE SERPENT LIFTED UPON A POLE.  THEY JOURNEYED FRO FROM MOUNT HOR BY THE WAY OF THE RED SEA, TO COMPASS THE LAND OF EDOM: AND THE SOUL OF THE PEOPLE WAS MUCH DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE WAY. AND THE PEOPLE SPAKE AGAINST GOD, AND AGAINST MOSES. WHEREFORE HAVE YOU BROUGHT US UP OUT OF EGYPT TO DIE IN THE WILDERNESS?   FOR THEIR IS NO BREAD NEITHER IS THERE ANY WATER: AND OUR SOUL LOATHETH THIS LIGHT BREAD. AND THE LORD SENT FIERY SERPENTS AMONG THE PEOPLE., AND THEY BIT THE PEOPLE, MUCH PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DIED ( BETWEEN 18-AND 35).THEREFORE THE PEOPLE CAME TO MOSES AND SAID WE HAVE SINNED, FOR WE HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE LORD., AND AGAINST THEE. PRAY UNTO THE LORD TO TAKE AWAY THE SERPENTS  FROM US. AND MOSES PRAYED FOR THE PEOPLE. THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES MAKE THEE A FIERY SERPENT, SET IT UPON A POLE AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, IF A SERPENT HAS BITTEN ANY MAN AND LOOKED AT THE POLE HE SHALL BE SAVED. ( NUMBERS 21:4-9).
 THIS IS THE PROMISE GOD MAKES TO MOSES, THOSE WHO LOOK  UPON THE BRONZE SERPENT  WILL BE HEALED, IS A MESSAGE THAT IS USED AT LENT. IN OUR GOSPEL TEXT FROM JOHN, TO EXPLAIN THE SALVATION OF GOD TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADER, NICODEMUS JESUS REFERS TO THE SCRIPTURE PASSAGE QUOTED TODAY IN NUMBERS 21: 4-9). JUST AS THOSE WHO LOOKED UPON THE BRONZE SERPENT WERE HEALED, SO THE PEOPLE WILL BE SAVED WHEN THEY BEHOLD CHRIST LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS. WHEN WE RECEIVE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AT BAPTISM, THAT CROSS BECOMES THE SIGN WE CAN LOOK TO IN FAITH, FOR HEALING, FOR RESTORED RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, FOR HOPE WHEN WE ARE DYING. IN THE O.T. NARRATIVE, THE PEOPLE TURNED A SYMBOL OF LIFE -MANNA FROM HEAVEN " DAMNED BREAD"
IN RETURN, GOD TURNED A SYMBOL OF DEATH-A POISONOUS SNAKE INTO ( OR A CROSS.). INTO A SYMBOL OF LIFE. THE SERPENT ON THE POLE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MANY LAYERS THAT A METAPHOR CAN ACQUIRE. IN CANAAN, AS IN SOME OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS, THE GODDESS OF LIFE WAS IMAGED AS A SERPENT.
 THUS TO OPPOSE DEVOTIONS TO OTHER DEITIES, IN THE BIBLE THE SERPENT IS USED TO SIGNIFY  EVIL. IN THE NARRATIVE, THE SERPENTS ARE GIVING OUT DEATH.
SO FOR CHRISTIANS, THE MAN DYING OF EXECUTION ON THE CROSS, GIVES LIFE TO THE WORLD. FOR THE CRUCIFIXIONS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE, A POLE WAS PERMANENTLY, SET INTO THE GROUND AND THE VICTIM ATTACHED TO THE CROSS PIECE. IN OUR SANITIZED CULTURE, BLOOD AND GUILT AND SIN AND DEATH ARE GLOSSED OVER,  PASSED OVER,  AND DOWNRIGHT IGNORED.  BUT DURING THE TIME OF "LENT"  WE CAN LOOK AT THE CROSS AND FACE WHAT OUR SIN TRULY MEANS "DEATH:"  PRAISE THE LORD THAT THE DEATH IS NOT MINE! IT IS NOT YOURS!   IN HIS LOVE THAT DEATH, WAS JESUS. CROSSES AND GUILT ARE UNPOPULAR TOPICS NOWADAYS, BUT SIN AND DEATH ARE VERY VISUAL FOR BELIEVERS DURING OLD TESTAMENT TIMES, WHEN PRIESTS WOULD LAY THEIR HANDS ON A BULL, FOR INSTANCE AND PLACE THE SINS ON IT.  THEY WOULD THEN SACRIFICE THE BULL, WHICH PAID FOR THEIR SIN AND GUILT. OUR SINS ARE NOT ON THE HEAD OF A BULL,  BUT ON THE HEAD OF OUR GOD.  WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE CROSS, WE CANNOT HELP, BUT WHEN TO CONFESS OUR SIN, OUR SORRY AND SO THANKFUL; WHEN ASKING FORGIVENESS " IS MET WITH GOD'S "I FORGIVE YOU."
WE WERE DEAD BEFORE BAPTISM. THE STARK BIBLICAL LANGUAGE THAT DESCRIBES  THE LIFE THAT COMES ONLY FROM GOD, HELPS BELIEVERS TO FACE PHYSICAL DEATH IN THE PEACE OF CHRIST: IN BAPTISM WE HAVE ALREADY DIED, AND WE ALREADY EXPERIENCE LIFE THAT IS ETERNAL. FOR BAPTISM IS SOMETIMES CALLED "ENLIGHTENMENT."  THE CHURCH HAS RECOVERED THE ANCIENT UNDERSTANDING OF BAPTISM AS "ILLUMINATION"  OR ENLIGHTENMENT."
LENT WAS A TIME FOR BELIEVERS TO ENGAGE IN A PROCESS OF TURNING AWAY FROM DARKNESS AND COMING TO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST.  WE ARE TOLD IN OUR BAPTISM, TO LEAVE THE OLD AND TURN TOWARD THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. JOHN THE APOSTLE IS MAKING AN EARNEST PLEA AGAINST CHRISTIANS LIVING IN SIN, GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS. IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORDS WAS GOD. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM, WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE. TAKING UP THE CROSS SEEMS NOBLE. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO SHOW JESUS HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM. THE CROSS KEEPS US HUMBLE AND RELIANT ON HIM, NOT LOOKING WHO WE ARE, BUT WHOSE WE ARE. AMEN!
     

RESURRECTION. [JOHN 20:19: 31]

 BY ANY STANDARD  AVAILABLE , THE RESURRECTION IS A MIRACLE- THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES. DEAD MEN DO NOT RISE. A PERSON MIGHT GIVE AN APPEARANCE OF DEATH, PERHAPS, AN EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN REVIVAL, OR SOMEONE MIGHT LOSE A FEW HEARTBEATS ON THE OPERATING TABLE AND BE SHOCKED BACK TO LIFE. BUT WITH JESUS IT WAS NEITHER AN APPEARANCE OF DEATH NOR A TEMPORARY  SET-BACK- HE WAS DEAD, DEAD AS A DOOR-NAIL FOR THREE DAYS, DYING AFTER PRELIMINARY TORTURE , CRUCIFIXION  AND FINALLY A SPEAR IN THE SIDE. THERE WASN'T ANY DOUBT ABOUT IT. BUT HE ROSE AGAIN.
AND YET, MIRACLE THOUGH IT MUST BE AND THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES AT THAT, THERE IS SOMETHING DEEPLY MYSTERIOUS ABOUT CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
THINK ABOUT IT NOW. AFTER JESUS FED THE FIVE THOUSAND, THEY TRIED TO TAKE HIM BY FORCE AND MAKE HIM THEIR KING. AND IF THE CROWDS TRIED THAT FOR A FEW SLICES OF BREAD AND SOME FISH, WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A RESURRECTION LIKE HIS? BREAD AND FISH CAN BE  BOUGHT IN A MARKET; RESURRECTION CAN'T BE BOUGHT AT ANY PRICE.
A FETE LIKE THAT, BREAKING DEATH'S CHAINS TO WALK FROM THE GRAVE, SHOULD HAVE GUARANTEED JESUS ALL THE GLORY IMAGINABLE. HE COULD HAVE RUN A CRUSADE IN JERUSALEM COLISEUM THAT NEVER ENDED. PACKING THE HOUSE DAY AND NIGHT. HE COULD HAVE BECOMES A FRIEND TO KINGS AND EMPERORS, OR WITH THE FLICK OF THE WRIST, EMPEROR HIMSELF. HE COULD OF GOT EVEN WITH THE PHARISEES  AND THEN SOME-SHAMING THEM INTO HUMBLE CONFESSION OF JUST HOW WRONG THEY'D BEEN, LETTING THEM STEW WHILE HE SAVORED  HIS GREATEST TRIUMPH, OR, IF HE HAD BEEN OF THE SAME MIND, LIKE TOM SAWYER
 HE COULD HAVE ATTENDED HIS OWN FUNERAL,  CHUCKLING SOFTLY WHILE LISTENING TO EULOGIES ABOUT POOR DEAD JESUS.  BUT WHAT HAPPENED? HOLDING A ONE- WAY TICKET TO GLORY, JESUS TURNED AROUND AND DID SOME VERY STRANGE THINGS. AS JOHN TELLS IT, MARY MAGDALENE WAS THE FIRST TO DISCOVER THE TOMB WAS EMPTY. THE DISCIPLES SCARED SPIT-LESS OF THE SOLDIERS, WERE HIDING IN A ROOM IN JERUSALEM. WHEN MARY TOLD TOLD SIMON PETER AND THE DISCIPLES JESUS LOVED, THEY RACED TO THE TOMB TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOUND ONLY LINEN CLOTHS AND A NAPKIN.  MEANWHILE WHILE MARY STOOD OUTSIDE THE TOMB WAITING, SHE MISTOOK JESUS FOR THE GARDNER. BUT BEFORE SHE COLD REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM, HE DISAPPEARED. THE SAME NIGHT, JESUS APPEARED IN THE ROOM WHERE THE DISCIPLES WERE IN HIDING- THE FIRST APPEARANCE IN OUR GOSPEL FOR TODAY.  THEN A WEEK LATER, HE APPEARED TO THE DISCIPLES AGAIN, THIS TIME CONFRONTING THOMAS- THE SECOND- APPEARANCE IN OUR GOSPEL FOR TODAY. FINALLY AS A AFTER-THOUGHT,
 JOHN REPORTS ON ANOTHER APPEARANCE IN OUR GOSPEL FOR TODAY. THE DISCIPLES WERE OUT FISHING. JESUS CAME AND STOOD ON THE SEASHORE, TOLD THEM TO CAST THEIR NETS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOAT, AND LATER, HE  BARBECUED SOME FISH AND SOME BREAD FOR THEM OVER CHARCOAL. AFTER THAT ACCORDING TO JOHN HE DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY.
THE OTHER GOSPELS REPORT SOME MORE APPEARANCES OF JESUS AFTER THE RESURRECTION, BUT THERE ALL IN THE SAME VEIN.
MATTHEW SAYS THAT AFTER JESUS APPEARED TO THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB, HE APPEARED TO THE ELEVEN REMAINING DISCIPLES (NOT COUNTING JUDAS). ON A MOUNTAIN IN GALILEE. LUKE  REPORTS A CONVERSATION WITH  CLEOPAS AND ANOTHER DISCIPLE IN JERUSALEM, TAKING THEM ALONG TO BETHANY WHERE HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. THE ONLY OTHER REPORT WE HAVE IS PAUL, IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15, HE TELLS A WHOLE SERIES OF APPEARANCES OF JESUS AFTER THE RESURRECTION- FIRST TO PETER, THEN THE TWELVE, THEN TO FIVE HUNDRED TO THE BRETHREN; TO JAMES; TO THE REST OF THE APOSTLES AND LAST OF ALL TO PAUL HIMSELF. ALL OF THESE APPEARANCES  POINT TO OUR MYSTERY. HAVING RISEN TRIUMPHICALLY  FROM THE DEAD, WITH ALL THE GLORY IN THE WORLD AT HIS BECK AND CALL, IT ALMOST LOOK LIKE JESUS WAS HIDING. THERE WAS NO CHEERING CROWD TO PACK JERUSALEM COLISEUM, CARRYING HIM AWAY ON THEIR SHOULDERS; THERE WERE NO OFFERS OF PROOF TO CONVINCE FRIENDS  AND CONFOUND ENEMIES; NO ATTEMPTS AT GLORY WHATSOEVER. HE APPEARED TO SOME WOMEN, TO HIS DISCIPLES, TO SOME OF HIS BROTHERS. THEN HE DISAPPEARED FROM SIGHT, LEAVING  ONLY A WORD-SOME RUMORS AND REPORTS- TO INDICATE THAT HE HAD BEEN RAISED AT ALL. THE GREATEST, THE MOST MIRACULOUS EVENT IN WORLD HISTORY AND WE'RE LEFT ONLY WITH A FEW SMATTERINGS- SOME REPORTS FROM FRIENDS, AND WHAT'S MORE, IT SEEMS INTENTIONAL- AS IF JESUS WANTED IT THAT WAY.
MAYBE THESE TWO APPEARANCES IN TODAY'S GOSPEL CAN GIVE US SOME HELP.
 IN THE FIRST, JESUS APPEARS TO COMMISSION HIS DISCIPLES, TO EQUIP THEM SEND THEM OUT ON THEIR MISSION. I THE SECOND HE APPEARS TO THOMAS.
MAYBE THESE EVENTS MAY SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT JESUS WAS UP TO AND WHY.
 IT WAS SUNDAY NIGHT. THE DISCIPLES HAD HERD THE WORD FROM MARY ABOUT HOW SHE HAD SEEN JESUS IN THE GARDEN, MISTAKING HIM FOR THE GARDENER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THEM THEMSELVES. THEY HAD THE DOORS LOCKED AND PROBABLY SOME GUARDS  POSTED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM ANYONE WHO HAD IDEAS OF GIVING THEM THE SAME FATE JESUS HAD RECEIVED. SUDDENLY JESUS WAS THERE, STANDING AMONG THEM. HE SHOWED THEM THE WOUNDS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET LIKE AN AMBASSADOR  PRESENTING HIS CREDENTIALS TO A KING: HERE ITS ME. I WHO WAS CRUCIFIED, AM RISEN.
THEN WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A SINGLE WORD OF EXPLANATION-HOW HE'D DONE, WHERE HE HAD BEEN, OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT-JESUS WENT RIGHT TO WORK.AS THE "FATHER HAS SENT ME EVEN SO I SEND YOU," THEN HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID, RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. IF YOU FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY THEY ARE FORGIVEN, IF YOU RETAIN SINS, THEY ARE RETAINED. THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS WHICH JESUS EARNED BY THE POWER OF HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH SHOULD BE IMPARTED AND GIVEN TO MEN THROUGH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL, PUBLICLY, AND PRIVATELY, IF WE LOOK AT OURSELVES, WHAT DO WE SEE? MORE MYSTERY. WE HEAR THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS AND SEE THE OLD ADAM RISING IN US TO STRANGLE US WITH GUILT, ROBBING US OF JOY, OF LOVE. WE HEAR A WORD OF LIFE. MYSTERY IS COMPOUNDED BY MYSTERY. UNTIL SIGHT IS FINALLY LOST BUT IT IS JUST HERE, IN THE MYSTERY, THAT FAITH IS BORN. WHEN WE DISCOVER OUR OWN BLINDNESS, WE ARE PREPARED FOR THIS WORD:
" BLESSED IS HE WHO HAS NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVES."  AND THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO SAY WITH LUTHER." I BELIEVE THAT I CANNOT BY MY OWN UNDERSTANDING OR EFFORT, BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST MY LORD OR COME TO HIM.     
 

GOD HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST'S FEET. [EPHESIANS].

 IN EPHESIANS 1:22 , PAUL WRITES"... AND HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST'S FEET. AND HAS MADE HIM HEAD OVER ALL THINGS FOR THE CHURCH." ONCE AGAIN ANCIENT PRACTICES UNDERLIE PAUL'S MEANING. IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST, A KING HAD THE FACES AND FIGURES OF ENEMIES HE HAD OVERCOME CARVED OR WOVEN ONTO HIS FOOTSTOOL. THE VISUAL MESSAGE IN RESTING HIS FEET ON THE FOOTSTOOL WAS OBVIOUS- THOSE WHOSE IMAGES APPEARED ON THE FOOTSTOOL WERE UNDER HIS AUTHORITY.
PAUL'S MESSAGE, THEN, IS THAT EVERY POWER , RULE, NAME AUTHORITY, PRINCIPALITY IN THE UNIVERSE-WHETHER PRESENT OR FUTURE- IS "UNDER CHRIST'S FEET. "   THE APOSTLE GOES ON TO STRESS THAT CHRIST RULES ALL THINGS "FOR THE CHURCH, " (1:22.) I HAVE A PICTURE OF CHRIST'S FEET RESTING ON A FOOTSTOOL, WITH  A CROWN SUPER IMPOSED ON THE FEET POINTS TO CHRIST'S ROLE AND AUTHORITY AS THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE. THEIR IS ALSO SIX SYMBOLS ON THE SIDE OF THE FOOT STOOL (READING CLOCKWISE AND BEGINNING WITH
THE POWER OF SIN. (circle). JESUS DID NOT SUBMIT TO IT ON ANY OCCASION, (JOHN 8:46) THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE HE WAS HUMBLE, OBEDIENT SERVANT WHO SOUGHT ONLY TO DO HIS FATHER'S WILL, ( LUKE 22:42). HE BREAKS ITS HOLD ON US BY DECLARING US FORGIVEN, ( LUKE 7:48-50). JESUS KEPT THE LAW PERFECT( REPRESENTED BY A PICTURE OF A ROMAN GENERAL, IN THE PROCESS HAVING DESTROYED AUTHORITY OVER HUMANITY IN COLOSSIANS (2:13-15,) PAUL USES A PICTURE OF A ROMAN GENERAL RETURNING IN TRIUMPHANT PROCESSION AFTER CONQUERING HIS FOES TO STATE THAT CHRIST CONQUERED THE LAW.. IT"DIED" WITH HIM.
CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER THE LAW DESTROYED ITS AUTHORITY TO JUDGE AND CONDEMN THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM. ROMANS (8: 1,2, 33,34.)
CHRIST MINISTRY WAS A STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME SATAN AND HIS REALM.
CHRIST WON. (MARK 3:22-27).; 1 JOHN 3:8). PAUL USES EPHESIANS 1:21;  6:12; COLOSSIANS 1:16; ROMANS 8:38. CHRIST HAS THE AUTHORITY OVER EVERY SO-CALLED POWER IN THE UNIVERSE. HE IS LORD OF ALL.
DEATH: CHRIST IS LORD OF DEATH AND THE GRAVE. IT MUST OBEY HIS COMMAND TO GIVE UP ITS VICTIMS. (LUKE 7:11-17; JOHN. 5:25-29; 11: 25,26.)
IN PHILIPPIANS 2: (9-11), PAUL WRITES:  " GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED CHRIST , AND BESTOWED ON HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. 

ACCEPTANCE. "I HOPE SO" OR I KNOW?"

BY NATURE PEOPLE ARE INCLINED TO LIMIT GOD'S GRACE AND THINK THEY MUST CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TO THEIR ACCEPTANCE BY GOD. IT IS ALL TOO HUMAN TO THINK THAT GOD HAS DONE 9O% OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION, BUT THAT WE MUST ALSO CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING-EVEN IF IT IS ONLY 10% . PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS WAY SAY THINGS LIKE: "YES, I WAS BAPTIZED AND ALL THAT, BUT HOW DO I KNOW THAT I HAVE DONE ENOUGH FOR GOD TO ACCEPT ME?  HOW CAN ANYONE KNOW? THEY ARE NOT SURE ABOUT SALVATION, AND CANNOT BE SURE AS THEY THINK THAT SALVATION IS IN PART A "DO IT YOURSELF" PROCESS.
 WE KNOW THAT THE BIBLE SAYS THE FOLLOWING ABOUT OUR STATUS BEFORE GOD.. "BELOVED, WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN NOW, ... ("JOHN 1 3:2. "THERE IS, THEREFORE, NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS."
(ROMANS 8:1). " WHO SHALL BRING ANY CHARGE AGAINST GOD'S ELECT? IT IS GOD WHO JUSTIFIES ("ROMANS 8:33).
" I AM SURE THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR POWERS, NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPERATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD," ( ROMANS 8: 38,39.). LETS' LOOK AT TWO VIEWS DESCRIBED:  THE PERSON ON THE LEFT THINKS THAT THOUGH SHE HAS BEEN BAPTIZED, SHE MUST STRIVE TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS  TO PERSUADE GOD TO ACCEPT HER. SHE IS NOT SURE IF SHE WILL MAKE IT TO HEAVEN.
THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL TELL US, HOWEVER, THAT GOD ACCEPTED US IN OUR BAPTISM. HE FREED US FROM THE WORRYING BONDAGE OF STRIVING TO MAKE OURSELVES ACCEPTABLE TO HIM THROUGH OUR GOOD DEEDS; THIS ATTITUDE IS BASICALLY ONE OF SELF-SERVICE. HE FREED US IN CHRIST TO SERVE HIM WITH JOY, TO BECOME WHAT WE ARE. 
GOD'S DECISION TO ACCEPT US IS BASED ON HIS MERCIFUL KINDNESS IN CHRIST (GRACE). AND NOTHING ELSE.
HE IS NOT INFLUENCED BY :  1. THE AMOUNT OF WATER USED IN OUR BAPTISM OR THE MANNER IN WHICH WE COME INTO CONTACT WITH THAT WATER. HIS WORD OF PROMISE, SPOKEN TOGETHER WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE WATER, SAVES US.
OUR AGE AT BAPTISM. , DOES NOT MATTER. CHILDREN BY HIS GRACE, WE ARE GIVEN HIS POWER TO SAVE IS NOT AFFECTED BY OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE GREAT THINGS HE DOES IN BAPTISM. OUR PERFORMANCE IN MAKING A DECISION FOR HIM AT BAPTISM. GOD MAKES A DECISION FOR US AND HE COMMITS HIMSELF TO US IN BAPTISM. SEE TITUS (3:4-7; 1 PETER 3:21). DECISION "THEOLOGY IS OUT"
IT'S GOD'S CALL! NOT OURS.

IN CHRIST.

 THE OLD SPIRITUAL ASKS,, " WERE YOU THERE WHEN THEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD? THE ANSWER IT EXPECTS IS, "YES I WAS THERE. I SAW IT HAPPEN." NO DOUBT THE WRITER HAD IN MIND BEING THERE IN MEMORY RATHER THAN FACT. HIS QUESTION MAKES A STRONG APPEAL.TO TAKE THE EVENTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION PERSONALLY AND SERIOUSLY.
THE NEW TESTAMENT ASSURES US AS BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS WE WERE NOT MERELY SPECTATORS OF THE CRUCIFIXION. WE WERE PARTAKERS OF THE EVENT. WE DID NOT MERELY WITNESS THE CRUCIFIXION WE EXPERIENCED IT. ROMANS  6:3,4)  St.PAUL WRITES.: " FOR SURELY YOU KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE BAPTIZED INTO UNION WITH CHRIST JESUS, WE WERE BAPTIZED INTO UNION WITH HIS DEATH. BY OUR BAPTISM, THEN, WE WERE BURIED WITH HIM AND SHARED HIS DEATH, IN ORDER THAT, JUST AS CHRIST. WAS RAISED FROM DEATH BY THE GLORIOUS POWER OF THE FATHER, SO ALSO WE MAY LIVE A NEW LIFE.
THE APOSTLE USES SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS ELSEWHERE IN THIS CHAPTER.  " FOR SINCE WE HAVE BECOME ONE WITH HIM BY DYING AS HE DID, IN THE SAME WAY WE SHALL BE ONE WITH HIM BY BEING RAISED TO LIFE AS HE WAS,' 6:5). ( FOR IF WE HAVE BEEN PLANTED TOGETHER IN LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH, WE SHALL BE ALSO IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION).  SINCE WE HAVE DIED WITH CHRIST, WE BELIEVE  THAT WE SHALL LIVE WITH HIM. (6:8). WHEN WE WERE BAPTIZED, GOD MADE US SHARE IN ALL THAT CHRIST WAS, SUFFERED AND ACCOMPLISHED. BY VIRTUE OF PHYSICAL BIRTH, BEING BORN IN SIN, WE SHARE WITH "ADAM.".
BY VIRTUE OF OUR SECOND BIRTH IN BAPTISM, WE SHARE IN CHRIST, ( ETERNAL LIFE.)
WHEN CHRIST LED A SINLESS LIFE, WE, BY VIRTUE OF OUR BAPTISM, LED IT WITH HIM. WHEN CHRIST WAS PUT TO DEATH TO SUFFER FOR HUMAN SIN, WE SHARED THAT DEATH WITH HIM. WHEN CHRIST WAS PLACED IN THE GRAVE WHICH SIN BRINGS, WE WENT INTO THE TOMB WITH HIM.  WHEN HE ROSE VICTORIOUS  FROM THE TOMB, WE ROSE WITH HIM, (EPHESIANS 2: 5,6). IN CHRIST, GOD GATHERED THE HUMAN RACE  INTO ONE PERSON. HE LET THAT ONE PERSON BE WHAT HE INTENDED THE HUMAN RACE TO BE, AND SUFFER WHAT THE HUMAN RACE DESERVES TO SUFFER. IN OUR BAPTISM, GOD MADE US SHARERS IN ALL THAT ONE PERSON WAS, SUFFERED, ENDURED AND CONQUERED. HE " INCORPORATED" US INTO CHRIST  SAVING MINISTRY AND MISSION. NOW: ARE YOU READY TO BECOME ""WHAT YOU ARE. IN CHRIST, GOD HAS DECLARED US TO BE "HOLY" "(1 CORINTHIANS 1:2). IN OUR BAPTISM, HE GAVE US CHRIST SINLESS LIFE AS A SET OF CREDENTIALS TO POSSESS AS OUR VERY OWN. WHEN FINALLY WE STAND BEFORE HIM ON THE LAST DAY OF HISTORY, WE SHALL SHOW HIM CHRIST'S CREDENTIALS, NOT OUR OWN. HE WILL WELCOME US HOME, NOT ON THE BASIS OF WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED, BUT WHAT CHRIST ACHIEVED. WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE LAST GREAT DAY. " HIS APPEAL IS: SEEK TO MAKE THE CREDENTIALS I HAVE GIVEN YOU IN GRACE DESCRIBE YOU PERSONALLY MORE AND MORE SEEK TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN. " BECOME WHAT YOU ARE!" TO GRASP THE MEANING OF THIS IS TO POSSESS A KEY THAT UNLOCKS MUCH OF SCRIPTURES. WHILE WE WAIT TO CROSS OVER THAT "FINAL JORDAN" AT DEATH, WE TRY TO LIVE AS THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY CITIZENS OF THEIR ETERNAL PROMISED LAND, (1 PETER 2; 9, 10). WE KNOW WHEN WE MAKE THAT "FINAL CROSSING,"  ALL IS WELL. THE HYMN WRITER PUT IT THIS WAY':
           WHEN I TREAD THE VERGE OF JORDAN,
            BID MY ANXIOUS FEARS SUBSIDE;
           DEATH OF DEATH AND HELL'S DESTRUCTION,
           LAND ME SAFE ON CANAAN'S SIDE.
           SONGS OF PRAISES.
           I WILL EVER GIVE TO THEE.          LH 347, V.3.

"REMEMBERING"

HOLY BAPTISM IS AN EXCITING EVENT! WE UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR US WHEN WE KNOW HOW OLD TESTAMENT ISRAEL 'REMEMBERED PAST EVENTS. THE PILGRIM FATHERS CAME TO AMERICA ON THE MAY FLOWER IN 1620. WERE YOU ON BOARD?  CAPTAIN JAMES COOK EXPLORED THE EST COAST OF AUSTRALIA IN 1770. WERE YOU ON THE ENDEAVOR WITH HIM ? OF COURSE NOT!
 THOSE EVENTS HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO. THE PAST IS PAST, AND THAT'S IT.
WHEN WE REMEMBER THE PAST, WE MERELY CONJURE UP IN OUR MINDS MEMORIES OF EVENTS WHICH ARE OVER AND DONE WITH.
IF YOU WERE TO ASK A PIOUS JEW HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT OF EGYPT IN THE EXODUS HE MIGHT SAY, " PERHAPS A BILLION OR SO." HIS ANSWER WOULD REFLECT THE JEWISH ATTITUDE THAT ALL JEWS WHO HAVE LIVED SINCE THE TIME OF THE EXODUS TOOK PART IN THAT EVENT, AND WERE PRESENT AT SINAI WHEN GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH ISRAEL. FOR NUMBERS GIVEN IN THE BIBLE, SEE EXODUS (12:37,38 AND DEUTERONOMY 7:7,8). ANCIENT HISTORY- OUR HISTORY.
 AN IMPORTANT CREED IS PRESERVED IN DEUTERONOMY 26:5-9. IN IT, THE ANCIENT ISRAELITE IS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT OFFERING FIRST FRUITS TO GOD, AND IS THEN INSTRUCTED TO CONFESS."
 "YOU SHALL MAKE RESPONSE BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD, ' A WANDERING  ARAMEAN (JACOB) WAS MY FATHER; AND HE WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT AND SOJOURNED THERE, FEW IN NUMBER; AND THERE HE BECAME A NATION., GREAT AND MIGHTY AND POPULOUS. AND THE EGYPTIANS TREATED US HARSLY, AND AFFLICTED US, AND LAID ON US HARSH BONDAGE  THEN WE CRIED TO THE LORD, THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS, AND THE LORD HEARD OUR VOICE, AND SAW OUR AFFLICTION, OUR TOIL, AND OUR OPPRESSION:  AND THE LORD BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT WITH A MIGHTY HAND AND AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, WITH GREAT TERROR, WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS:  AND HE BROUGHT US INTO THIS PLACE AND GAVE US THIS LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.
THE WORDS EMPHASIZE THE CHANGE IN THE PERSON THAT TAKES PLACE.-FROM THIRD TO FIRST. THE "HE" AND "THEY" BECOME "US"AND "OUR."  THIS WAY OF "REMEMBERING"  IS WOVEN INTO THE LITURGY STILL USED TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER:
      IN EVERY GENERATION ONE MUST LOOK UPON HIMSELF AS IF HE PERSONALLY HAD COME FORTH FROM EGYPT, IN KEEPING WITH THE BIBLICAL COMMAND. 'AND THOU SHALL TELL THY SON IN THAT DAY, SAYING, " IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT WHICH THE LORD DID TO ME WHEN I WENT FORTH FROM EGYPT"  ' FOR IT WAS NOT ALONE OUR FATHER'S WHOM THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, REDEEMED BUT ALSO US WHOM HE REDEEMED WITH THEM, AS IT IS SAID, AND US HE BROUGHT OUT THENCE, THAT HE MIGHT LEAD US TO, AND GIVE TO US, THE LAND WHICH HE SWORE TO OUR FATHER'S ( SEE DEUTERONOMY (6: 20-25).
THESE TWO QUOTATIONS INDICATE THAT WHEN A ISRAELITE "REMEMBERED," HE DID NOT DRAW A SHARP DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT. HE SHARED IN THE EVENTS OF THE PAST. HE CELEBRATING THEIR MEANING FOR HIS OWN LIFE. EVEN THOUGH HE LIVED HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AFTER THE EVENTS CONCERNED, HE REJOICED THAT GOD CHOSE HIM, RESCUED HIM IN THE EXODUS, AND MADE A COVENANT WITH HIM AT SINAI. WE MUST WEAR "JEWISH SHOES AS WE WALK THROUGH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT BAPTISM. THE OLD TESTAMENT  ISRAELITE "REMEMBERED" THE EVENTS OF THE EXODUS, WILDERNESS WANDERING AND ENTRY INTO THE PROMISED LAND. BUILD ON THIS UNDERSTANDING OF "REMEMBERING" TO EXPLAIN POINTS St PAUL MAKES IN ROMANS 5 AND 6. EDEN WAS CROWED! IN ROMANS 5 PAUL USES THE TERM "IN ADAM" NOTE WHAT HE SAYS:
" THEREFORE AS SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND SO DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN BECAUSE ALL MEN SINNED,... 5:12. "FOR IF MANY DIED THROUGH ONE MAN'S (ADAM'S) TRESPASS,..." 15b.
 " FOR THE JUDGMENT FOLLOWING ONE'S MAN TRESPASS,... BOUGHT CONDEMNATION 5:16B.
 "IF, BECAUSE OF TRESPASS, DEATH REINED THROUGH THAT ONE MAN,... "
5:17.
  " THEN AS ONE MAN'S TRESPASS LED TO CONDEMNATION FOR ALL MEN., SO ONE MAN'S ACT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO ACQUITTAL AND LIFE FOR ALL MEN, FOR AS BY ONE MAN'S DISOBEDIENCE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, SO BY ONE MAN'S OBEDIENCE MANY WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS.(5:18,19).         
PAUL SAYS SIMILAR THINGS ELSEWHERE IN HIS LETTERS--- FOR EXAMPLE:
" FOR AS BY A MAN CAME DEATH, BY A MAN HAS ALSO COME THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. FOR AS IN ADAM ALL DIE, SO ALSO IN CHRIST SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE." 1 CORINTHIANS 15: 21,2.
THE ANCIENT ISRAELITE COULD SAY, " THE HISTORY OF THE FATHERS IS MY HISTORY. I WAS THERE!"
 PAUL SAYA, "ADAM'S HISTORY IS OUR HISTORY. WE SHARE IN ITS EVENTS AND CONSEQUENCE." THE HUMAN RACE TOOK PART IN THE FALL INTO SIN IN EDEN.
ADAM'S LOT IS OUR LOT. ALL HUMANITY SHARES ADAM'S SIN. HE BROUGHT ON ALL HUMANITY THE JUDGMENT AND DEATH HE BROUGHT ON HIMSELF. WHEN HE SINNED, ALL HUMANITY SINNED. WHEN HE MADE HIMSELF SUBJECT TO JUDGMENT, HE MADE ALL HUMANITY SUBJECT TO JUDGMENT. WHEN HE MADE DEATH PART OF LIFE'S LOT FOR HIMSELF, HE MADE IT PART OF LIFE'S LOT FOR ALL HUMANITY..
PAUL'S AWARENESS OF HIS SHARING IN ADAM'S PLIGHT, AND HIS INABILITY TO GET HIMSELF OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT CAUSED HIM TO CALL OUT, " WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM!  WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?" ROMANS 7:24. HE HAS A MOST EXCITING ANSWER TO SHARE WITH US!  HE THANKS GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

MIRACLES.

IN MARK'S GOSPEL, JESUS DOES NOT DECLARE IN WORDS THAT HE IS GOD OR MESSIAH.  HOWEVER, HE DOES A SERIES OF ACTIONS THAT STATE THOSE TRUTHS ABOUT HIM., AND CHALLENGES  HIS DISCIPLES AND THE PEOPLE TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS ABOUT HIS IDENTITY AND THE NATURE OF HIS MISSION.
IN THE FIRST EIGHT CHAPTERS OF MARK JESUS DEVOTES HIS LIFE TO MOSTLY DOING MIRACLES. THESE CAN BE DIVIDED UP INTO FOUR GROUPS.
1. MIRACLES OVER SICKNESS. JESUS DID THE "SIGNS"  ISAIAH SAID WOULD BE PRESENT WHEN THE MESSIANIC AGE BROKE IN AMONG MEN,  (ISAIAH 35:5,6; MARK 7:31-37; 8:22-26).  WHEN WE SEE A SERPENT ENTWINED AROUND THE STAFF IS A SYMBOL OF HEALING. (LOGO FOUND ON HOSPITAL SETTING WORN BY DOCTORS OR NURSES GOWNS.
2. MIRACLES OVER NATURE. JESUS DID THE VERY THINGS GOD DID IN THE OLD TESTAMENT; ( COMPARE MARK 4: 35-41 WITH PSALM 107:23-32). THE CONCLUSION MUST BE THAT THE GOD OF ISRAEL HAD COME AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN JESUS. COMPARE O.T. PASSAGES (EXODUS 16, NUMBERS 11 WITH MARK 6:30-44 AND 8:1-1O.)
3. MIRACLES OVER DEMONS HE WHO UNTIL JESUS TIME HAD AUTHORITY OVER HUMANKIND IS NOW OVER COME 3:27.MANY OF JESUS MIRACLES INVOLVED CASTING OUT DEMONS, (MARK (1:23, 32, 34, 39, 3:11; 5:2; 7;25; 8:17).
4. MIRACLES OVER DEATH IN MARK, (5:21-24, 35-43), JESUS DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER OVER MAN'S GREATEST FOE,  AND SHOWED WHAT HE WOULD FINALLY DO FOR ALL MEN. THE PHARISEES BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE MESSIANIC AGE BROKE IN, THE DEAD WOULD BE RAISED , DANIEL 12:2. JESUS ACTION IN RAISING JAIRUS'  DAUGHTER WAS MORE THAN A MERE WONDER. IT WAS A POWERFUL STATEMENT THAT THE MESSIANIC AGE HAD BROKEN IN WITH JESUS; JESUS WAS THEREFORE THE MESSIAH.
THERE ARE OTHER OVERTONES IN JESUS MIRACLES. IN JESUS DAY, JEWISH TEACHERS TAUGHT THAT A PERSON SUFFERING FROM LEPROSY OR A DISCHARGE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ISRAEL. ANYONE TOUCHING SUCH A PERSON OR A DEAD BODY WAS EXCLUDED FROM ISRAEL, AND HAD TO GO THROUGH PURIFICATION RITUALS TO BE RESTORED TO THE COMMUNITY. JESUS TOUCHED SUCH PEOPLE; SEE MARK (1;40-45; 5:21-24, 35-43; 5: 25-34; ; ISAIAH 56:8.)
SOME TEACHERS IN JESUS DAY BELIEVED THAT THE MESSIAH HAD ALREADY COME, BUT CHOSE TO REMAIN IN HIDING BECAUSE "PEOPLE WERE TO WICKED."
IF ONLY ALL ISRAEL WOULD OBSERVE THE LAW  PROPERLY FOR ONE DAY, OR KEEP TWO SABBATHS IN A ROW AS THEY SHOULD BE KEPT, THE MESSIAH WOULD REVEAL HIMSELF. JESUS BY THE WAY OF CONTRAST, BROKE TWO SUCCESSIVE SABBATHS: HIS ACTION MOVED HIS OPPONENTS TO SEEK DEATH  (MARK 2:23-3:6.)
 IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE "DEMONS"  CONSISTENTLY RECOGNIZED JESUS, ( 1:24, 34; 5:7) EVEN A BLIND MAN, RECOGNIZED HIM (10: 46-42.)  HIS OWN PEOPLE, HOWEVER, COULD NOT "SEE" WHO HE WAS, THOUGH THEY COULD SEE, THEY WERE BLIND, BEING LED BY THE BLIND WHO COULD "SEE".
  JESUS REPEATEDLY COMMANDED THOSE WHOM HE HELPED, AND THE DEMONS WHO RECOGNIZED HIM, TO SAY NOTHING TO ANYONE ABOUT WHO HE WAS, (1:34, 44, 3:12: 9:9). WHY ?  HE WANTED PEOPLE TO HAVE TIME TO NOTE CLEARLY WHAT KIND OF MESSIAH HE WAS. AND WHAT KIND OF A KINGDOM HE HAD COME TO ESTABLISH. THE JEWS WERE, AFTER ALL, EXPECTING A POLITICAL MESSIAH, THE ROMANS WOULD HAVE LOST LITTLE TIME IN CUTTING THE MOVEMENT DOWN. JESUS HAD COME TO BE A MESSIANIC "SERVANT-KING,"  AND TO SUMMON PEOPLE TO FOLLOW HIM
 IN SERVANT HOOD.

JESUS WHOLE LIFE WAS A SERMON!

THE WORDS SPOKEN AT JESUS BAPTISM DEFINE THE NATURE OF HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY. THE VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAID, "THOU ART MY BELOVED SON, WITH THEE I AM WELL PLEASED."  THE FIRST PHRASE IS FROM PSALM 2:7. IT WAS USED IN CORONATION CEREMONIES WHEN DESCENDANTS OF DAVID WERE ANOINTED INTO OFFICE AS KING. ITS USE AT JESUS BAPTISM STATED THAT, IN JESUS, THE LONG AWAITED DESCENDANT OF DAVID HAD FINALLY COME. THE SECOND PHRASE IS FROM ISAIAH (42:1) THE FIRST OF ISAIAH'S "SERVANT SONGS." ITS USE AT JESUS BAPTISM DEFINED THE KIND OF KING JESUS WOULD BE. HE WOULD BE A SERVANT KING.
MARK'S ACCOUNT OF THE TEMPTATION CONSISTS OF ONLY HALF SENTENCE, " AND HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY DAYS, TEMPTED BY SATAN, ( MARK 1: 13A).  MARK'S ACCOUNT OF THE TEMPTATION CONSISTS OF ONLY A HALF A SENTENCE. THE TEMPTATION ACCOUNTS IN MATTHEW (4:1-11) AND LUKE (4:1-13) ARE  MUCH LONGER; BOTH SPEAK OF SATAN LEAVING JESUS. MARK MAKES NO MENTION OF SATAN LEAVING JESUS. WHY NOT?  HIS ENTIRE GOSPEL IS A TEMPTATION ACCOUNT    JESUS AND SATAN ARE LOCKED IN MORTAL COMBAT THROUGHOUT. IN JESUS, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DOING BATTLE WITH THE KINGDOM OF SATAN. (3:23-27).  SATAN SEEKS TO ENLIST THE AID EVEN OF JESUS OWN DISCIPLES (8: 31-33.). AT THE CROSS, IT APPEARS THAT SATAN HAS WON THE STRUGGLE.. HOWEVER, IT JUST WHEN JESUS APPEARS TO BE AT HIS WORST ( ON THE CROSS) THAT HE IS AT HIS VERY BEST, FOR HE HAS A SERVED TO THE POINT OF GIVING UP LIFE ITSELF. HIS DEATH IS NOT DEFEAT, BUT VICTORY! AFTER HEROD ANTIPAS ARRESTED JOHN THE BAPTIST (1: 14; 6:14-29). JESUS BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY. THE SETTING WAS THE NORTHERN PROVINCE OF GALILEE. HE LEFT THERE ONLY TO TRAVEL TO THE REGION OF PHOENICIA (7: 24-3O).  SOUTH TO THE DECAPOLIS (TEN TOWNS, 7:32), AND NORTH AGAIN TO THE VICINITY CAESAREA PHILIPPI, BEGINNING OF HIS GALILAEAN MINISTRY
( 8:27-30). FINALLY HE SET OUT FOR JERUSALEM (1O:1), AND ENTERED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME ON PALM SUNDAY (11:1), WHEN JESUS CAME TO THE COASTS OF CAESAREA PHILIPPI,  HE ASKED HIS DISCIPLES, SAYING, WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT I SON AM?  SOME SAY THOU  ARE JOHN THE BAPTIST, SOME ELIAS,; AND OTHERS, JEREMIAS, OR ONE OF THE PROPHETS. BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?
 AND SIMON PETER ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, THOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. (MATT, 16: 13-23).  HE WAS CRUCIFIED FIVE DAYS LATER.
IN MARK'S GOSPEL, JERUSALEM IS THE CITY OF JESUS ENEMIES , THE CITY OF OPPOSITION AND DEATH. WHENEVER THE JEWS FROM JERUSALEM CAME TO WHERE JESUS WAS WORKING IN GALILEE, THEY CAME TO ENSNARE AND TRAP HIM.(3:6,22). MATTHEW FOLLOWS MARK'S GEOGRAPHICAL  OUT LINE CLOSELY. LUKE FOLLOWS IT APPROXIMATELY, BUT DOES NOT MENTION JESUS LEAVING GALILEE PRIOR TO HIS FINAL JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (9: 51). WHEN JESUS APPEALED TO HIS AUDIENCE  TO REPENT. HE WAS SUMMONING THEM TO RETHINK RADICALLY GOD'S WILL FOR THEIR LIVES, AND THEIR MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE FIRST HALF OF HIS GOSPEL, MARK TELLS US WHAT JESUS TAUGHT. HE DOES NOT TELL US WHAT JESUS SAID.
HOWEVER, JESUS, " WHOLE LIFE WAS A SERMON." HE WAS A KING WHO WALKED THE WAY OF A SERVANT. THAT SAID VOLUMES ABOUT HIS KIND OF KINGSHIP AND THE LIFE TO WHICH HE SUMMONED PEOPLE. 
                                                                                                         
             

KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND. ["WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE AT BEST; BUT IGNORANCE WITH A LIBRARY!]

 THE NEW TESTAMENT STATES THAT JESUS FULFILLED THE HOPES THE JEWS HAD CHERISHED FOR CENTURIES. IT INSISTS HE WAS THE MESSIAH. THAT CLAIM RAISES SOME CRUCIAL QUESTIONS: WHAT KIND OF A MESSIAH WAS JESUS? WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE MESSIANIC AGE HE ESTABLISHED?  THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST.MARK PROVIDES ANSWERS TO THESE AND RELATED QUESTIONS.
 MARK GIVES NO INFORMATION ABOUT JESUS BIRTH. HE BEGINS HIS ACCOUNT OF JESUS LIFE WITH THE SIMPLE WORDS" THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD," MARK 1:1.
THE "GOSPEL" (GOOD NEWS) IS THAT THE NEW AGE THE JEWS HAVE BEEN EXPECTING FOR CENTURIES HAS ARRIVED. JESUS (SAVIOR) CHRIST (" THE ANOINTED ONE", " (THE MESSIAH")  MESHACH) HAS COME. (  HE IS  THE "SON OF GOD,"  AND THAT MEANS THAT OLD ISRAEL IS NO LONGER " THE SON OF GOD." EXODUS 4:22.
WHEN MARK USES THE TERM "GOSPEL" HE IS NOT SAYING THAT WHEN JESUS CAME, GOD BEGAN TO FORGIVE SINS IN EARNEST, OR SAVE PEOPLE ON SOME NEW WAY. GOD ALWAYS HAS, AND ALWAYS WILL, SAVE PEOPLE BY GRACE THROUGH FORGIVENESS OF SINS. HE IS SAYING THAT IN JESUS THE JEWS DREAMS WERE FINALLY FULFILLED. THE MESSIAH  AND THE AGE OF THE MESSIAH HAD FINALLY COME TO SUPPORT HIS CLAIM, MARK QUOTES EXODUS 23:20 AND MALACHI 3:1 IN VERSE 2, AND ISAIAH 40:3 IS RICH IN MEANING ADDRESSED TO THE EXILES IN BABYLON JUST PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE FROM EXILE AND RETURN TO THEIR OWN LAND. IN QUOTING IT, MARK STATES THAT JESUS WAS ABOUT TO CARRY OUT A RESCUE MISSION THAT WOULD FAR SURPASS THOSE WHICH HAD FREED GOD'S PEOPLE FROM EGYPT AND BABYLON. GOD PREPARED HIS PEOPLE FOR JESUS MINISTRY THROUGH THE WORK OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 1:4-8. " IN HIM WAS LIFE; AND THE LIGHT WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN AND THE LIGHT SHINETH IN DARKNESS;  AND THE DARKNESS COMPREHENDED IT NOT. THERE WAS A MAN SENT FROM GOD, WHOSE NAME WAS JOHN. THE SAME CAME FOR A WITNESS TO BEAR WITNESS OF THE LIGHT, THAT ALL MEN THROUGH HIM MIGHT BELIEVE. JOHN CONDUCTED HIS WORK IN THE WILDERNESS, THE PLACE OF EXPECTATIONS AND NEW BEGINNINGS, THE PLACE WHERE GOD TAKES PEOPLE TO TEAR THEM AWAY FROM THE DISTRACTIONS OF DAILY LIFE. JOHN 1:28 STATES THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WORKED ON THE EAST BANK OF THE JORDAN RIVER., THUS INVITING HIS AUDIENCE TO LEAVE THE PROMISED LAND AND ENTER IT AGAIN THROUGH A BAPTISMAL EXODUS AND CROSSING OF THE JORDAN. "NOTE WELL":  JOHN BAPTIZED JEWS, MATTHEW 3:1-1O; MARK 1:4,5.  THIS PRACTICED WAS UNHEARD OF, FOR ONLY GENTILES WERE BAPTIZED  WHEN THEY CONVERTED TO JUDAISM. JOHN SUMMONS TO BAPTISM REMINDED JEWS THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTOMATICALLY  CHILDREN OF GOD BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PHYSICAL DESCENT FROM (ABRAHAM, MATTHEW 3:9) GOD WAS NOT INTERESTED IN NATIONAL CREDENTIALS. HE WAS LOOKING FOR REPENTANCE!
 JOHN POINTED BEYOND HIMSELF TO SOMEONE MUCH GREATER WHOSE MISSION WOULD TOTALLY TRANSCEND HIS OWN. THEN SAID JESUS TO THOSE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM, IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED; JOHN 8:31).  JESUS DID NOT SUBMIT TO JOHN'S BAPTISM TO RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. HE DID NOT SIN, AND NEEDED NO FORGIVENESS, JOHN 8:46.
 HE SUBMITTED TO IDENTIFY WITH THE NEW MOVEMENT HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN WAS BEGINNING THROUGH JOHN'S WORK, WHICH WOULD CULMINATE IN HIS OWN DEATH AND, BURIAL, RESURRECTION. THE EVENTS OF JESUS' LIFE REPEATED IN BROAD OUTLINE THOSE OF OLD ISRAEL. HE PASSED THROUGH WATER IN HIS BAPTISM, AND THEN WENT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TESTED BY SATAN.

THE DIVINE PLAN.

 " IN THE BEGINNING..., GENESIS 1:1. "THEN GOD SAID ' LET US MAKE MAN,'  "GENESIS 1:26 . " MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM,  GENESIS 1:27. THE CROWNING GLORY OF CREATION., MALE AND FEMALE, IS PLACED ON EARTH.
"... IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS," GENESIS 1:26. " SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND SO DEATH SPREAD THROUGH TO ALL MEN BECAUSE ALL HAVE SINNED. ," ROMANS 5: 12. " THE WAGES OF SIN. IS DEATH," ROMANS 6:23. AFTER MAN PLUNGED HIMSELF INTO SIN, AND BECAME SUBJECT TO JUDGMENT AND DEATH, GOD DID NOT HOLD HIMSELF ALOOF FROM THE HUMAN SCENE. HE ACTED IN LOVE AND MERCY.  HE HIMSELF BECAME INCARNATE (INTO FLESH) IN CHRIST, AND REDEEMED (RESCUED) THE FALLEN HUMAN RACE FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS SIN, GALATIANS 4:4,5. CHRIST'S SAVING ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF MEN ARE TRADITIONALLY DIVIDED INTO (ACTIVE OBEDIENCE). HIS PASSIVE (OBEDIENCE).
HIS ACTIVE OBEDIENCE, CHRIST DID FOR US WHAT WE, SINCE ADAM'S FALL, CANNOT DO. HE KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS ON BEHALF OF SINFUL MAN. HIS SAVING MISSION WAS TOTALLY A SERVANT MISSION.
IN HIS PASSIVE OBEDIENCE, CHRIST DID FOR US WHAT WE, SINCE ADAM'S FALL, CANNOT DO. HE KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS ON BEHALF OF SINFUL MAN. HIS SAVING MISSION WAS TOTALLY A SERVANT MISSION.
IN HIS PASSIVE OBEDIENCE, HE WHO WAS NOT A SINNER BECAME A SINNER AND SUFFERED THE PUNISHMENT THE HUMAN RACE DESERVES FOR ITS SINFUL REBELLION AGAINST GOD, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-21.
AS "CHRIST"-IANS, THEN WE DO NOT TRUST IN WHAT WE ARE OR DO AS A REASON WHY GOD SHOULD ACCEPT US. WE PUT OUR TRUST IN WHAT GOD DID FOR US, THROUGH CHRIST. CHRIST LIVED, DIED, AND ROSE AGAIN FOR US. HE REMAINS WITH US THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT (DOVE), TO FORGIVE US, AND TO HELP US TRY TO DO WHAT WE WERE FIRST CREATED TO DO. TO KEEP OUR IMPERFECT OBEDIENCE THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY). DEATH HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM THE "GRIM END" INTO THE DOORWAY TO ETERNAL LIFE;" CHRIST RESURRECTION IS THE GUARANTEE OF THAT, EPHESIANS 1:13,14. FURTHERMORE, CHRIST HERE, AND NOW GIVES US A GLIMPSE INTO  THE LIFE TO COME. IN THE LIFE TO COME, GOD WILL ONCE AGAIN MAKE ALL THINGS NEW AND PERFECT FOR HIS CHILDREN. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, AND MAN AND MAN, WILL BE AS GOD INTENDED THEM TO BE PRIOR TO THE FALL IN SIN, REVELATION 5:11-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 13:13. IN THE LATTER TEXT, PAUL'S POINT IS THAT LOVE IS THE GREATEST OF THE SPIRIT'S BECAUSE IT WILL CONTINUE INTO LIFE THE LIFE TO COME.

"IMAGE" A REPRODUCTION OF THE APPEARANCE OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING; ESPECIALLY , A SCULPTURED LIKENESS.
 ONE THAT CLOSELY RESEMBLES ANOTHER.      (NEW COLLEGE DICTIONARY.)

HIM ONLY SHALL THOU SERVE.

GOD DOES NOT PERMIT US THE LUXURY OF PUTTING HIM FIRST IN OUR LIVES. AFTER ALL, IF WE PUT HIM FIRST WHAT DO WE PUT SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH SEVENTH, NINTH, FIFTIETH,, ETC?  JESUS SAYS THAT MAN IS TO SERVE GOD ONLY, [MATT 4:10]. MAN SERVES GOD BY SERVING THOSE ABOUT HIM, [MARK 12: 30,31].  SERVICE TO GOD AND SERVICE TO NEIGHBOR ARE THE TWO SERVING ARMS OF A SINGLE COMMAND, [LUKE 10:25-28].  GOD SAYS TO EACH ONE OF US, " I WANT PEOPLE SERVED AND CARED FOR. YOU ARE MY INSTRUMENT  FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS?"  WE MAY WELL RESPOND, " THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT WHOSE GOING TO CARE FOR ME IN ALL THIS?  GOD ANSWERS, "I WILL, THROUGH OTHERS"
WE CAN ACCEPT AND REJOICE IN WHAT WE ARE. AFTER ALL, GOD MADE US, OWNS US, AND WANTS TO US US. AS  HIS INSTRUMENTS TO SERVE OTHER PEOPLE.  IF WE ARE GOD'S CREATION, POSSESSION  AND INSTRUMENTS, WE HAVE SOME VERY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS OURSELVES. SURPRISINGLY, THESE ARE LISTED IN THE FIRST COMMANDANT, " YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND," [ MARK 12:30,31]. IT IS NOT EASY TO EQUATE THE HEBREW WORDS " HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH, AND MIND."  WITH PRECISE ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS. THE BIBLE USES THIS COLLECTION OF TERMS TO STRESS THAT MAN IS TO  SERVE GOD WITH HIS TOTAL BEING. TO MAKE THESE TERMS MEANINGFUL, WE SHALL EXAMINE THEM, IN WORD.
WITH ALL YOUR HEART. ( OR "POWERS OF WILL"). GOD WANTS US TO HAVE INFORMED WILLS EQUIPPED TO WEIGH UP MORAL ISSUES, WILLS ABEL TO RECOGNIZE WHEN NOT TO PROCEED, WHEN TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION, AND WHEN TO PROCEED WITH A GOOD CONSCIENCE.
2. WITH ALL YOUR SOUL. THE WORD "SOUL" IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IS DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH. IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR "INNER LIFE FORCE."  THE IMPLICATION IS THAT OUR LIFE'S INNER POWERS NEED TO BE CONTROLLED BY CHRIST. WHEN THIS IS THE CASE, OUR OUTER EMOTIONS POINT TO A HAPPY STATE WITHIN, AND ENABLES US TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS MORE EFFECTIVELY.
3. WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH (OR "PHYSICAL STRENGTH") . WHAT, AND HOW MUCH, WE FORK OR POUR INTO OUR BODIES. HOW FIT WE KEEP OURSELVES, HAVE A BERING ON WHETHER WE ARE A ASSET FOR THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, OR A LIABILITY OTHERS MAY SERVE.
4 WITH ALL YOUR MIND. (OR "POWERS OF INTELLECT)."   GOD WANTS US TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WHICH BEST EQUIP US TO SERVE OTHERS.
IN SHORT, GOD WISHES US TO HAVE A GOD-PLEASING WILL, INNER LIFE, PHYSICAL LIFE, AND INTELLECT. WHY? THE BETTER TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR! "THOU SHALL LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF."
   

EMMANUEL!

 A YOUNG MAN IN THE CROWD ASKED BISHOP SHEEN, WHO WAS PREACHING  HOW DID JONAH GET INTO THAT WHALE, BISHOP SHEEN ANSWERED " WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN I' LL ASK HIM. THE YOUNG MAN REPLY'S, WHAT IF HE IS NOT THERE; THEN YOU CAN ASK HIM.
 IN THE FOOTHILL REGION OF MOUNT HERMON, JESUS ONCE ASKED HIS DISCIPLES, "WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?"  THEY TOLD HIM THAT MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATED HIM WITH THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL. WHEN HE PRESSED THEM FURTHER, " AND HOW ABOUT YOU. WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? PETER RESPONDED, " YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD." MEN HAVE GIVEN A THOUSAND ANSWERS TO JESUS QUESTION. SOME HAVE SAID, " HE IS AN USUAL JEWISH RABBI PREACHING
 "A KINGDOM OF LOVE. " OTHERS ANSWER, "NO HE IS A SOCIAL REVOLUTIONARY WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS THE OVERTHROW OF ROME'S TYRANNICAL RULE . "STILL OTHERS CLAIM, " HE IS A MISGUIDED DREAMER WHO LOOKED FOR GOD TO STEP INTO HISTORY AND ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON EARTH."
 WHATEVER THE VIEWS OF MEN, THE CHURCH THROUGH CENTURIES. HAS CONFESSED WITH PETER: "JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. HE IS MORE THAN A SUBJECT FOR CHRISTIAN STUDY: HE IS THE OBJECT OF CHRISTIAN DEVOTION.. THEOLOGIANS CALL THIS MYSTERY THE INCARNATION, "THE ENFLESHMENT" OF GOD. HYMN WRITERS EXTOL THE MERITS OF "EMMANUEL", MEANING " GOD WITH US."
DURING THE IMPERIAL AGE OF THE CHURCH, WHEN EMPERORS PRESSED THE PASTORS FOR CREEDAL STATEMENTS ACCURATELY EXPRESSING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, THE CHURCH CAME TO SPEAK OF THE GOD-MAN. IN 451 A GENERAL COUNCIL AT CHALCEDON , NOT FAR FROM CONSTANTINOPLE, AFFIRMED THAT JESUS CHRIST  WAS COMPLETE IN GODHEAD AND COMPLETE IN MANHOOD., TRULY GOD TRULY MAN,... IN TWO NATURES, WITHOUT CONFUSION, WITHOUT CHANGE, WITHOUT DIVISION OR WITHOUT SEPARATION... COMING TOGETHER TO FORM ONE PERSON.".
MOST ROMAN CATHOLIC, EASTERN ORTHODOX AND PROTESTANT CHRISTIANS, TO THIS DAY, CONSIDER THAT STATEMENT ORTHODOX BELIEF. SOME CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT AND SYRIA AND INDIA DO NOT. THE REASON FOR THEIR DISAGREEMENT
 LIE IN THE FIFTH-CENTURY ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK CLEARLY ABOUT THE EVENT. HOW DID THE CLASSIC DOCUMENT OF THE INCARNATION COME TO BE FORMULATED?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN. "THE WORD BECAME FLESH."
WE CALL THIS AREA OF THEOLOGY " CHRISTOLOGY BECAUSE IT RAISES THE QUESTION, "WHO WAS JESUS CHRIST"  WHAT WAS THE RELATION OF THE DIVINE LIFE AND THE HUMAN LIFE. IN THIS UNIQUE PERSON, THE CHRISTIAN SAVIOR? THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THIS QUESTION IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IS PROFOUNDLY SIGNIFICANT. SO FAR AS I KNOW, ISLAM HAS NO MOHAMMEDOLOGY AND BUUDDHISM HAS NO BUDDHOLOGY. THE DEBATE IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IS A MONUMENT TO THE UNIQUENESS OF THE ONE CHRISTIANS CALL THE SON OF GOD. THE IMPERIAL AGE DID NOT CREATE THE QUESTION OF THE INCARNATION; IT SIMPLY DEBATED IT. THE MYSTERY OF THE GOD-MAN WAS CENTRAL TO CHRISTIAN WORSHIP LONG BEFORE IT BECAME CENTRAL TO CHRISTIAN THINKING.  "A DEEP INSTINCT," J.S. WHALE ONCE TOLD THE UNDERGRADUATES AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HAS ALWAYS TOLD THE CHURCH THAT OUR THAT OUR SAFEST ELOQUENCE CONCERNING THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST IS IN OUR PRAISE. A LIVING CHURCH IS A WORSHIPING, SINGING CHURCH; NOT A SCHOOL OF PEOPLE HOLDING ALL THE CORRECT DOCTRINES" WHALE MEANT THAT THE MOST TREASURED HYMNS OF THE CHURCH HAVE ALWAYS TREATED CHRIST AS THE OBJECT OF WORSHIP. WE FIND THE BEATING HEART OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE NOT IN THE  CHURCH'S CREED BUT IN ITS MUSIC. A MAJOR TASK REMAINS FOR DEVOUT SCHOLARSHIP, HOWEVER, BECAUSE GOD IN FLESH IS MORE THAN CHRISTIAN SENTIMENT, HE IS CHRISTIAN REALITY. THE APOSTLES SPOKE OF THE "IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD." " THE WORD MADE FLESH;"  AND THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD." SECOND AND THIRD CENTURY BELIEVERS REJECTED EBIONISM AND GNOSTICISM  BECAUSE THEY WERE SO CLEARLY DISTORTIONS OF THIS TRUTH. DEBATES. THE FOURTH AND FIFTH CENTURY DEBATES ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE INCARNATION WERE NOT AIMED AT AN "EXPLANATION" OF CHRIST. IT IS NO SURPRISE, HOWEVER,  THAT THE HUMAN MIND REVOLTS  AGAINST THESE CREEDS FROM NICEA AND CHALCEDON. AS A RESULT WE HAVE THE IMMATURE AND ROMANTIC DEVOTIONS TO" THE SIMPLE JESUS, THE SPIRITUAL GENIUS JESUS, THE FALLING SPARROW. THESE WILL NOT SERVE THE FAITH BECAUSE THE CHRISTIAN IDEA FROM THE BEGINNING BELIEVED THAT IN JESUS CHRIST EARTH AND HEAVEN MEET, BOT MAN AND GOD. LATER CHRISTIANS DEVELOPED THIS MYSTICAL IDEA. ONE OF THE CAPPADOCIAN FATHERS, GREGORY OF NYSSA, TAUGHT THAT IN CHRIST THE LOGOS- THE ONE DIVINE PERSON. THE WORD LODGED   IN THE MAN JESUS AS IN THE TEMPLE.

EZEKIEL. PROPHET PRIEST

ONE OF THE PRIESTS DEPORTED FROM JERUSALEM TO BABYLON IN THE DEPORTATION OF 597, EZEKIEL WAS CALLED TO THE PROPHETIC OFFICE IN 592 (1;2). NOW IT CAME TO PASS IN THE THIRTIETH YEAR, IN THE FOURTH MONTH, IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE MONTH, AS I WAS AMONG THE CAPTIVES BY THE RIVER CHE-BAR, THE THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED, AND I SAW VISIONS OF GOD. IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE MONTH, WHICH WAS THE FIFTH YEAR OF KING JEHOI-A-CHIN'S CAPTIVITY. THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME EXPRESSLY UNTO EZEKIEL THE PRIEST IN THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS. [ZECH. 7:12] 3:14. EZEKIEL PREACHED AMONG THE EXILES UNTIL 570, THE YEAR OF HIS LAST DATED SERMON. HE WAS MARRIED, BUT LOST HIS WIFE THE SAME YEAR THAT JERUSALEM FELL TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR. (24:15-19).
UNQUESTIONABLY ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL PERSONALITIES IN THE BIBLE, EZEKIEL'S OWN PEOPLE LABELLED HIM AS " THE ONE WHO IS FOREVER SPINNING PARABLES' (21:5). AND RECOGNIZED IN HIM AN IRREPRESSIBLE PANTOMIMIST AND ACTOR.-A MAN WHOSE IMAGINATION WAS CONTINUALLY ON FIRE.  IN HIS INAUGURAL VISION HE SEES THE WEIRDEST OF THEOPHANIES (1:4ff) WHEN HE IS COMMISSIONED A PROPHET, THERE IS NO TOUCHING HIS LIPS AS IN THE CASE OF JEREMIAH, OR ISAIAH. HE IS GIVEN A SCROLL WITH THE MESSAGE HE IS TO PREACH WRITTEN UPON IT, TOLD TO EAT AND DIGEST IT, AND THEN TO PREACH (2:1ff)!
LIKE JEREMIAH HE FORETELLS THE SIEGE AND FALL OF JERUSALEM, BUT UNLIKE JEREMIAH HE ACTS OUT IN PANTOMIME (4-5) AND MIMICS THE ESCAPE OF THE FUGITIVES FROM JERUSALEM BY DIGGING THROUGH THE WALL OF HIS HOUSE AND FLEEING INTO THE NIGHT. (12). WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S  ARMIES TO MARCH UPON JERUSALEM, EZEKIEL PANTOMIMES THE MARCH WITH A SWORD, SETTING UP GUIDE POSTS FOR THE SWORD O TAKE AS IT LEAVES BABYLON ON ITS WAY TO JERUSALEM (21: 14-19). WHEN HE PREACHES, HE CLENCHES HIS FISTS, STAMPS HIS FET AND CRIES "ALAS" 6:11), OR GROANS HEART-RENDERING UNTIL THE EXILES OUT OF CURIOSITY BEG THE REASON (21:11-12). WHAT ARE WE TO THINK OF SO STRANGE A PROPHET? AS WE KNOW FROM THE HISTORY OF THE OTHER PROPHETS, GOD USED PROPHETS AS THEY WERE, ADAPTING THEIR PERSONALITIES TO SUIT HIS PURPOSE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EXILE HE NEEDED A MAN WHO WOULD MAKE A STRONG AND VIVID IMPRESSION ON THE MINDS OF THE DOUBTING AND DISCOURAGED EXILES EZEKIEL  FITTED THE ROLE TO PERFECTION. WORDS ARE EASILY FORGOTTEN. WHILE ONLY A FEW OF THE EMBITTERED EXILES CAME TO HIS HOME AT FIRST TO CONSULT AND LISTEN TO HIM (8:1).
; 14:1;  20:1), HE SUCCEEDED EVENTUALLY IN INTERESTING  THE CROWD BY HIS ECCENTRIC BEHAVIOR , AND BEFORE LONG HIS WORDS AND ACTIONS WERE BEING DISCUSSED FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE IN THE STREETS AND LANES (33:30-33).
WHEN JERUSALEM FELL IN 587, THE FULL SIGNIFICANCE OF EZEKIEL'S BEHAVIOR BECAME APPARENT TO ALL, AND HIS POSITION AS A TRUE PROPHET WAS ESTABLISHED FROM THAT TIME ON THERE WAS LITTLE PANTOMIME, MUCH SERIOUS
PREACHING, AND ELABORATE PLANNING FOR ISRAEL'S PROPHETICALLY ASSURED RETURN AND RESTORATION.