A WOMEN IN PAIN COME FORWARD OUT OF THE CROWD AND TOUCHES JESUS. SHE IS HEALED. LET THIS BIBLICAL STORY BE FOR US A PARABLE OF JESUS AND HIS CARE FOR US. JESUS EXUDES LIFE, LIFE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH., IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHOM THE WORLD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IN THEIR PAIN. IN TODAY'S TEXT, WE SEE A TECHNIQUE. THAT IS TYPICAL OF MARK, A BRACKETING. BASICALLY " BRACKETING" MEANS THAT MARK BEGINS A STORY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER STORY IS TOLD WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE ORIGINAL STORY. THE FIRST STORY, THE STORY OF THE HEALING OF THE DAUGHTER OF THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, TH IS THE STORY ABOUT A PROMINENT MAN WHO BESEECHES JESUS TO COME AND HEAL HIS DAUGHTER. ON THE WAY, JESUS IS INTERRUPTED, DISTRACTED BY THE WOMEN WHO TOUCHES HIM, SEEKING HEALING FOR HERSELF. UNLIKE THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, SHE IS A NOBODY. SHE HAS NO NAME. WE ARE ONLY INTRODUCED TO HER AS A WOMAN WHO HAD AN ISSUE OF BLOOD FOR TWELVE YEARS. SHE HAD SUFFERED UNDER THE MINISTRATIONS OF MAN AND AND DOCTORS. BY INTERRUPTING ONE STORY WITH ANOTHER, MARK HAS THE EFFECT OF EXPANDING THE IMAGE OF JESUS AS THE HEALER. JESUS IS NOT ONLY SOMEONE WHO TURNS TO THOSE IN POSITION OF POWER, LIKE THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, BUT HE IS OPEN TO BEING TOUCHED, INTERRUPTED BY A WOMEN WHO IS AN ANONYMOUS SUFFER. . A POOR [MARINAL, SICK WOMEN] ON HER WAY TO DEATH, HER LIFE BLOOD LEAVING HER, TOUCHES JESUS. IN SO DOING, SHE IS TOLD TO GO IN PEACE. SO MIGHT WE. SOMETIMES THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, IN LIFE ARE THE INTRUSIONS. YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY SOMEWHERE, WITH AN AGENDA, A CLEAR, DIRECT PURPOSE IN MIND, AND YOU GET DISTRACTED. SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP THAT DEMANDS YOUR ATTENTION, AND THAT "SOMETHING ELSE" TURNS OUT TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE JOURNEY ON WHICH YOU ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED. TODAYS TEXT FROM MARK IS A STORY ABOUT A WOMAN WHO HAS A INTRUSION. HERE IN THE SECTION OF SCRIPTURE, JESUS IS ABOUT IMPORTANT BUSINESS IN THE VERSES JUST BEFORE THE INTRUSIONS. HERE IN THE SECTION OF SCRIPTURE, JESUS IS ABOUT IMPORTANT BUSINESS. IN THE VERSES JUST BEFORE THE INTRUSIONS, A LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, AN IMPORTANT AND IMPRESSIVE MAN, PERSUADES JESUS TO MAKE A VISIT ON HIS DAUGHTER WHO IS AILING. ON THE WAY TO DO SOMETHING VERY GOOD, FOR THIS PERSON AND HIS DAUGHTER, JESUS GETS DISTRACTED, THIS WOMEN APPEARS FROM THE MARGINS AND DEMANDS TO BE NOTICED AS SHE MAKES HER WAY INTO THE STORY. WE DON'T KNOW THE WOMAN'S NAME. WE KNOW NOTHING OF HER FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES. ALL WE ARE TOLD IS THAT SHE IS A WOMAN IN PAIN. FOR TWELVE YEARS SHE HAS BEEN HEMORRHAGING , THAT IS LOT OF BLOOD TO LOSE. SHE MAKES HER LAST EFFORT TO LIVE, SHE REACHES OUT FROM THE MARGINS TO MOVE NEAR THE POWER, HER HAND MOVING TO TOWARD JESUS?
YOU KNOW THE THE PICTURE BY MICHEAL ANGELO OF THE CREATION OF ADAM IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL? THERE, THE ALMIGHTY GOD, THE FATHER REACHES OUT TO TOUCH THE LIFELESS BODY OF ADAM, TO GIVE HIM THE SPARK OF LIFE.
HERE THE ACTION MOVES IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. AS THE WOMAN REACHES OUT WITH HER BLOODY FINGER TOWARD JESUS, TOWARD LIFE.
SHE HAS SAID TO HERSELF, " IF I CAN ONLY TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT, I WILL BE WELL."
THIS IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST IMAGES OF FAITH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT- HER HAND REACHING OUT FROM THE MARGINS OF THE CROWD TO WHERE SHE WAS PUSHED BY HER POVERTY, HER PAIN, HER GENDER, REACHING OUT TO TOUCH JESUS, THE LORD, THE GIVER OF LIFE. SHE REACHES OUT AND RECEIVES THE LIFE FOR WHICH SHE HOPED.
IMMEDIATELY ( ONE OF MARK'S FAVORITE WORDS, euthus) SHE IS HEALED, FOR THE ONE PUSHED TO THE MARGINS OF LIFE. NOW JESUS SPEAKS. YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THE TONE OF HIS VOICE IF HE IS UPSET, BECAUSE SOME OF THE POWER LEFT HIM TOWARD THIS HURTING PERSON. PERHAPS HE SPEAKS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO KNOW WHO KNOW THIS PERSON IS WITH SUCH FAITH THAT SHE DEMANDED A "BLESSING." PERHAPS THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST HEALING MOMENTS IN THE WHOLE STORY. THIS WOMAN WAS AN UNKNOWN, IDENTIFIED ONLY BY HER BLEEDING AND HER PAIN, IS NOW GOING TO BE KNOWN BY FACE, BY NAME AND HER INDIVIDUALITY. AGAIN SHE TAKES MATTERS IN HAND AND IDENTIFIES HERSELF.
HE PRAISE HER ACTION, BLESSES HER, WHICH PLACES HER "IN THE FAMILY OF GOD" WHEN JESUS SAYS: " YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL." MARK GOES BACK TO THE BIG STORY. THE STORY ABOUT THE DAUGHTER OF THE LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE. " IF FOR THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPED IN CHRIST," PAUL WRITES, " "WE ARE ALL PEOPLE MOSTO BE PITIED." (1 COR 15:19) JESUS CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE, TAKING ON OUR POVERTY THAT WE MIGHT SHARE HIS RICHES (2COR. 8:9). DYING THAT WE MAY LIVE NOW, AND IN THE LIFE TO COME.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Friday, April 27, 2018
BEHEADING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. [MARK 6:14-29
KING HEROD HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS JESUS WHO HAD BECOME WELL KNOWN. SOME WERE SAYING, " JOHN THE BAPTIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD, AND THAT IS WHY MIRACULOUS POWERS ARE AT WORK IN HIM.
OTHERS SAID, " HE IS ELIJAH."
AND STILL OTHERS CLAIMED, " HE IS A PROPHET, LIKE ONE OF THE PROPHETS OF LONG AGO.
BUT WHEN HEROD HEARD THIS, HE SAID, JOHN THE MAN I BEHEADED, HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD!" FOR HEROD HIMSELF HAD GIVEN ORDERS TO HAVE JOHN ARRESTED AND HAD HIM BOUND AND PUT IN PRISON. HE DID THIS BECAUSE HERODIAS, HIS BROTHER PHILIP'S WIFE, WHOM HE HAD MARRIED. JOHN HAD BEEN SAYING, " IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR BROTHER'S WIFE." SO HERODIAS NURSED A GRUDGE AGAINST JOHN AND WANTED TO KILL HIM. BUT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO, BECAUSE HEROD FEARED JOHN AND PROTECTED HIM, KNOWING HIM TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN. WHEN HEROD HEARD JOHN, HE WAS GREATLY PUZZLED, YET HE LIKED TO LISTEN TO HIM. FINALLY THE OPPORTUNE TIME CAME. HEROD ON HIS BIRTHDAY GAVE A BANQUET FOR HIGH OFFICIALS AND MILITARY COMMANDERS AND THE LEADING MEN OF GALILEE.
WHEN THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS CAME IN AND DANCED, SHE PLEASED HEROD AND HIS DINNER GUESTS.
THE KING SAID TO THE GIRL, ASK ME ANYTHING YOU WANT, AND I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. AND HE PROMISED HER WITH AN OATH. " WHATEVER YOU ASK I WILL GIVE YOU, UP TO HALF OF MY KINGDOM." SHE WENT OUT AND ASKED HER MOTHER, ' WHAT SHALL I ASK FOR?"
"THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST." SHE ANSWERED.
AT ONCE THE GIRL HURRIED INTO THE KING WITH THE REQUEST: " I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME RIGHT NOW THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ON A PLATTER.
THE KING WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE OATH AND HIS DINNER GUESTS, HE DID NOT WANT TO REFUSE HER. SO HE IMMEDIATELY SENT AN EXECUTIONER WITH ORDERS TO BRING JOHN'S HEAD. THE MAN WENT, BEHEADED JOHN IN PRISON AND BROUGHT BACK HIS HEAD ON A PLATTER. HE PRESENTED IT TO THE GIRL, AND SHE GAVE IT TO HER MOTHER. ON HEARING THIS, JOHN'S DISCIPLES CAME AND TOOK HIS BODY AND LAID IT IN A TOMB.
THIS INCREASED ACTIVITY OF OUR LORD, HIS SENDING THE APOSTLES OUT ON PREACHING MISSIONS, DID NOT GO UNNOTICED. WHEN KING HEROD HEARD ABOUT IT, HE WAS REMINDED OF JOHN'S ACTIVITIES. IN FACT, HE WAS CONVINCED THAT JESUS WAS JOHN "RAISED FROM THE DEAD."
THE STORY OF HEROD AND HERODIAS HAD ALL HE EARMARKS OF A T.V. SOAP OPERA. ONLY IT WAS REAL LIFE. A BRIEF REVIEW FROM THE HISTORIAN "JOSEPHUS" WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND HERODIAS HATRED FOR JOHN. HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE SON OF HEROD THE GREAT, WHO RULED AT THE TIME OF JESUS BIRTH. HIS MOTHER WAS MALTHACE ONE OF THE TEN WOMEN WHO AT SOME TIME OR OTHER WERE WIVES OF HEROD THE GREAT. HEROD ANTIPAS, POPULARLY KNOWN AS KING, WAS ACTUALLY TETRARCH AND RULED OVER GALILEE AND PEREA FROM 4.B.C. TO A.D. 39. HIS FIRST WIFE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF ARETAS IV RULER OF NABATAEA, AN ARAB KINGDOM SOUTHEAST OF PALESTINE HAVING ITS CAPITAL AT PETRA. ARETAS IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN 2ND CORINTHIANS [11:32] AND AT THAT TIME SEEMS TO HAD CONTROL OF DAMASCUS AS WELL. IN [A.D. 27]. HEROD ANTIPAS VISITED ROME AND THERE MET THE BEAUTIFUL AND AMBITIOUS HERODIAS, DAUGHTER OF HIS HALF-BROTHER ARISTOBULUS ( THUS HIS NIECE) WHO WAS THEN MARRIED, TO ANOTHER OF HIS HALF BROTHERS, HEROD PHILIP. THEY DESERTED THEIR SPOUSES AND MARRIED, THOUGH RELATED IN A DEGREE FORBIDDEN IN LEVITICUS [18:16] AND [20:21]. THE FIRST WIFE OF ANTIPAS UPON HEARING ABOUT IT FLED BACK TO HER FATHER'S COURT, AND THAT LATER LED TO A WAR IN WHICH HEROD WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED IN [A.D. 36]. HEROD'S MARITAL ESCAPADE BECAME TALK OF THE ENTIRE REGION. JOHN THE BAPTIST ALSO CENTURED THE INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP. THIS ENRAGED HERODIAS AND LED TO JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT AND TO HIS MURDER. HOW OFTEN MURDER AND ADULTERY GO TOGETHER.
WHEN HEROD HEARD OF JESUS ACTIVITY AND THAT OF HIS DISCIPLES, HE WAS CONVINCED THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT JOHN HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE. NOT ONLY HEROD THOUGHT SO, BUT MANY ALSO. THAT'S HOW THEY EXPLAINED THE MIRACLES DONE BY CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES. NOTE, THEY DID NOT DENY THE RESURRECTION.
WHEN JOHN HAD ORIGINALLY APPEARED PREACHING AND BAPTIZING, PRIESTS AND LEVITES FROM JERUSALEM, MINDFUL OF THE PROPHECY IN MALACHI [4:5,6,]
HAD QUESTIONED JOHN. THEY ASKED WHETHER HE WAS THE PROMISED MESSIAH OR ELIJAH OR ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. JOHN DENIED BEING ANY OF THEM AND STATED THAT HE WAS THE ONE SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE MESSIAH.
BUT THE RUMORS DID NOT STOP, AND, WHEN HE DIED AND JESUS ACTIVITY INCREASED, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO IDENTIFY JESUS AS JOHN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE, AS ELIJAH, AS THE PROPHET OF DEUTERONOMY [18:15], OR AS THE ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. MARK [8:27,28]. THOUGH ALL THIS FELL SHORT OF REALITY, IT TESTIFIES TO THE IMPRESSION CHRIST MADE ON THOSE WHO HEARD ABOUT HIM.
HEROD'S REACTION WAS DICTATED BY AN EVIL CONSCIENCE.
AT THIS POINT MARK RECORDS WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN SOMETIME BEFORE THIS IN THE FORTRESS OF MACHAERUS NEAR THE DEAD SEA. HEROD HAD IMPRISONED JOHN TO SATISFY HIS "WIFE'S DEMANDS. HEROD HAD WANTED TO KILL JOHN, BUT FEARED TO DO SO, BECAUSE, HE KNEW JOHN TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN (MATTHEW 14:5). STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, HEROD LIKE TO LISTEN TO JOHN, ALTHOUGH HE WAS "GREATLY PUZZLED," SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED OF A MAN WHO HAD VIOLATED EVERYTHING GOD HAD ORDERED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THIS EXPLAINS WHY JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT WAS LESS HARSH THAN USUAL MATTHEW [11:2] AND LUKE [ 7:19] RECORD THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE PERMITTED TO VISIT HIM. THIS INFURIATED HERODIAS. FINALLY HER CHANCE FOR REVENGE CAME AND HER PLANNING PAID OFF. BUT THE MOST TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THIS SOAP- OPERA- LIKE AFFAIR WAS HEROD. DISTRESSED, YES! BUT HIS PRIDE DID NOT PERMIT HIM TO RECANT HIS OATH. HE FEARED MEN MORE THAN GOD. WHAT A WARNING FOR US TO READ IT!
AND JOHN? HE HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE FOR DEATH. IN WALKED A SOLDIER, AND OFF CAME JOHN'S HEAD. BUT HE WAS PREPARED, HE KNEW HIS SAVIOR. WHILE IN PRISON, WHEN HIS MIND ONCE RAISED QUESTIONS, HE SENT HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST., "ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS TO COME; OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER"? JESUS SAID: " GO TELL JOHN WHAT YOU HEAR AND SEE. THE BLIND REGAIN THEIR SIGHT, THE LAME WALK, LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, THE DEAF HEAR, THE DEAD ARE RAISED, AND THE POOR HAVE THE "GOOD NEWS" PROCLAIMED TO THEM, AND BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TAKES NO OFFENSE AT ME. MATT. [12:5]
THOUGH JOHN DIED AT [33], WE NEED NOT FEEL SORRY FOR HIM. HE DIED TRUSTING AND BELIEVING IN THE "SAVIOR" WHOSE WAY HE PREPARED. IT IS HEROD, HERODIAS, SALOME, AND THE GUESTS AT THE BANQUET WHOM WE FEEL SORRY FOR. LATER IN HOLY WEEK, HEROD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF QUESTIONING CHRIST PERSONALLY, BUT HIS RECORD THEN IS NO BETTER THAN IT WAS WITH JOHN. THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN, CLEARLY WITH HEROD'S PERMISSION CAME AND TOOK THE BODY AND BURIED IT. "AMEN."
OTHERS SAID, " HE IS ELIJAH."
AND STILL OTHERS CLAIMED, " HE IS A PROPHET, LIKE ONE OF THE PROPHETS OF LONG AGO.
BUT WHEN HEROD HEARD THIS, HE SAID, JOHN THE MAN I BEHEADED, HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD!" FOR HEROD HIMSELF HAD GIVEN ORDERS TO HAVE JOHN ARRESTED AND HAD HIM BOUND AND PUT IN PRISON. HE DID THIS BECAUSE HERODIAS, HIS BROTHER PHILIP'S WIFE, WHOM HE HAD MARRIED. JOHN HAD BEEN SAYING, " IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR BROTHER'S WIFE." SO HERODIAS NURSED A GRUDGE AGAINST JOHN AND WANTED TO KILL HIM. BUT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO, BECAUSE HEROD FEARED JOHN AND PROTECTED HIM, KNOWING HIM TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN. WHEN HEROD HEARD JOHN, HE WAS GREATLY PUZZLED, YET HE LIKED TO LISTEN TO HIM. FINALLY THE OPPORTUNE TIME CAME. HEROD ON HIS BIRTHDAY GAVE A BANQUET FOR HIGH OFFICIALS AND MILITARY COMMANDERS AND THE LEADING MEN OF GALILEE.
WHEN THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS CAME IN AND DANCED, SHE PLEASED HEROD AND HIS DINNER GUESTS.
THE KING SAID TO THE GIRL, ASK ME ANYTHING YOU WANT, AND I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. AND HE PROMISED HER WITH AN OATH. " WHATEVER YOU ASK I WILL GIVE YOU, UP TO HALF OF MY KINGDOM." SHE WENT OUT AND ASKED HER MOTHER, ' WHAT SHALL I ASK FOR?"
"THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST." SHE ANSWERED.
AT ONCE THE GIRL HURRIED INTO THE KING WITH THE REQUEST: " I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME RIGHT NOW THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ON A PLATTER.
THE KING WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE OATH AND HIS DINNER GUESTS, HE DID NOT WANT TO REFUSE HER. SO HE IMMEDIATELY SENT AN EXECUTIONER WITH ORDERS TO BRING JOHN'S HEAD. THE MAN WENT, BEHEADED JOHN IN PRISON AND BROUGHT BACK HIS HEAD ON A PLATTER. HE PRESENTED IT TO THE GIRL, AND SHE GAVE IT TO HER MOTHER. ON HEARING THIS, JOHN'S DISCIPLES CAME AND TOOK HIS BODY AND LAID IT IN A TOMB.
THIS INCREASED ACTIVITY OF OUR LORD, HIS SENDING THE APOSTLES OUT ON PREACHING MISSIONS, DID NOT GO UNNOTICED. WHEN KING HEROD HEARD ABOUT IT, HE WAS REMINDED OF JOHN'S ACTIVITIES. IN FACT, HE WAS CONVINCED THAT JESUS WAS JOHN "RAISED FROM THE DEAD."
THE STORY OF HEROD AND HERODIAS HAD ALL HE EARMARKS OF A T.V. SOAP OPERA. ONLY IT WAS REAL LIFE. A BRIEF REVIEW FROM THE HISTORIAN "JOSEPHUS" WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND HERODIAS HATRED FOR JOHN. HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE SON OF HEROD THE GREAT, WHO RULED AT THE TIME OF JESUS BIRTH. HIS MOTHER WAS MALTHACE ONE OF THE TEN WOMEN WHO AT SOME TIME OR OTHER WERE WIVES OF HEROD THE GREAT. HEROD ANTIPAS, POPULARLY KNOWN AS KING, WAS ACTUALLY TETRARCH AND RULED OVER GALILEE AND PEREA FROM 4.B.C. TO A.D. 39. HIS FIRST WIFE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF ARETAS IV RULER OF NABATAEA, AN ARAB KINGDOM SOUTHEAST OF PALESTINE HAVING ITS CAPITAL AT PETRA. ARETAS IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN 2ND CORINTHIANS [11:32] AND AT THAT TIME SEEMS TO HAD CONTROL OF DAMASCUS AS WELL. IN [A.D. 27]. HEROD ANTIPAS VISITED ROME AND THERE MET THE BEAUTIFUL AND AMBITIOUS HERODIAS, DAUGHTER OF HIS HALF-BROTHER ARISTOBULUS ( THUS HIS NIECE) WHO WAS THEN MARRIED, TO ANOTHER OF HIS HALF BROTHERS, HEROD PHILIP. THEY DESERTED THEIR SPOUSES AND MARRIED, THOUGH RELATED IN A DEGREE FORBIDDEN IN LEVITICUS [18:16] AND [20:21]. THE FIRST WIFE OF ANTIPAS UPON HEARING ABOUT IT FLED BACK TO HER FATHER'S COURT, AND THAT LATER LED TO A WAR IN WHICH HEROD WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED IN [A.D. 36]. HEROD'S MARITAL ESCAPADE BECAME TALK OF THE ENTIRE REGION. JOHN THE BAPTIST ALSO CENTURED THE INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP. THIS ENRAGED HERODIAS AND LED TO JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT AND TO HIS MURDER. HOW OFTEN MURDER AND ADULTERY GO TOGETHER.
WHEN HEROD HEARD OF JESUS ACTIVITY AND THAT OF HIS DISCIPLES, HE WAS CONVINCED THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT JOHN HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE. NOT ONLY HEROD THOUGHT SO, BUT MANY ALSO. THAT'S HOW THEY EXPLAINED THE MIRACLES DONE BY CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES. NOTE, THEY DID NOT DENY THE RESURRECTION.
WHEN JOHN HAD ORIGINALLY APPEARED PREACHING AND BAPTIZING, PRIESTS AND LEVITES FROM JERUSALEM, MINDFUL OF THE PROPHECY IN MALACHI [4:5,6,]
HAD QUESTIONED JOHN. THEY ASKED WHETHER HE WAS THE PROMISED MESSIAH OR ELIJAH OR ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. JOHN DENIED BEING ANY OF THEM AND STATED THAT HE WAS THE ONE SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE MESSIAH.
BUT THE RUMORS DID NOT STOP, AND, WHEN HE DIED AND JESUS ACTIVITY INCREASED, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO IDENTIFY JESUS AS JOHN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE, AS ELIJAH, AS THE PROPHET OF DEUTERONOMY [18:15], OR AS THE ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. MARK [8:27,28]. THOUGH ALL THIS FELL SHORT OF REALITY, IT TESTIFIES TO THE IMPRESSION CHRIST MADE ON THOSE WHO HEARD ABOUT HIM.
HEROD'S REACTION WAS DICTATED BY AN EVIL CONSCIENCE.
AT THIS POINT MARK RECORDS WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN SOMETIME BEFORE THIS IN THE FORTRESS OF MACHAERUS NEAR THE DEAD SEA. HEROD HAD IMPRISONED JOHN TO SATISFY HIS "WIFE'S DEMANDS. HEROD HAD WANTED TO KILL JOHN, BUT FEARED TO DO SO, BECAUSE, HE KNEW JOHN TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN (MATTHEW 14:5). STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, HEROD LIKE TO LISTEN TO JOHN, ALTHOUGH HE WAS "GREATLY PUZZLED," SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED OF A MAN WHO HAD VIOLATED EVERYTHING GOD HAD ORDERED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THIS EXPLAINS WHY JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT WAS LESS HARSH THAN USUAL MATTHEW [11:2] AND LUKE [ 7:19] RECORD THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE PERMITTED TO VISIT HIM. THIS INFURIATED HERODIAS. FINALLY HER CHANCE FOR REVENGE CAME AND HER PLANNING PAID OFF. BUT THE MOST TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THIS SOAP- OPERA- LIKE AFFAIR WAS HEROD. DISTRESSED, YES! BUT HIS PRIDE DID NOT PERMIT HIM TO RECANT HIS OATH. HE FEARED MEN MORE THAN GOD. WHAT A WARNING FOR US TO READ IT!
AND JOHN? HE HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE FOR DEATH. IN WALKED A SOLDIER, AND OFF CAME JOHN'S HEAD. BUT HE WAS PREPARED, HE KNEW HIS SAVIOR. WHILE IN PRISON, WHEN HIS MIND ONCE RAISED QUESTIONS, HE SENT HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST., "ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS TO COME; OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER"? JESUS SAID: " GO TELL JOHN WHAT YOU HEAR AND SEE. THE BLIND REGAIN THEIR SIGHT, THE LAME WALK, LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, THE DEAF HEAR, THE DEAD ARE RAISED, AND THE POOR HAVE THE "GOOD NEWS" PROCLAIMED TO THEM, AND BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TAKES NO OFFENSE AT ME. MATT. [12:5]
THOUGH JOHN DIED AT [33], WE NEED NOT FEEL SORRY FOR HIM. HE DIED TRUSTING AND BELIEVING IN THE "SAVIOR" WHOSE WAY HE PREPARED. IT IS HEROD, HERODIAS, SALOME, AND THE GUESTS AT THE BANQUET WHOM WE FEEL SORRY FOR. LATER IN HOLY WEEK, HEROD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF QUESTIONING CHRIST PERSONALLY, BUT HIS RECORD THEN IS NO BETTER THAN IT WAS WITH JOHN. THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN, CLEARLY WITH HEROD'S PERMISSION CAME AND TOOK THE BODY AND BURIED IT. "AMEN."
Thursday, April 26, 2018
BUT WHERE IS HE?
THERE'S AN OLD STORY ABOUT AN ABBOT OF A MONASTERY WHO BECAME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LOW MORALE OF HIS COMMUNITY, WHERE THE ATTITUDES AMONG THE MONKS WERE VERY LOW. IT WAS SO BAD, IN FACT, THAT FEW VISITORS WERE COMING TO DO RETREATS BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF WARMTH, LOVE, AND ENTHUSIASM. OUT OF SHEER DESPERATION. THE ABBOT SOUGHT OUT A JEWISH HERMIT, THAT IT WASN'T EASY FOR HIM TO COME FOR COUNSEL. BUT SWALLOWING HIS FALSE PRIDE, HE DID SO NONE-THE -LESS. THE HERMIT DIDN'T SEEM INTERESTED IN THE FEELING STATE OF THE ABBOT. RATHER ,HE TOOK HIM TO A ROCK. AND SAID..."THERE IS YOUR ANSWER." HE WENT ON TO SAY: "I HAVE BEEN GUARDING THIS SECRET FOR MANY YEARS. "I ALSO HAVE BEEN MEDITATING ON THE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS, "THE REDEEMER LIVES!" POINTING TO THE HEBREW CHARACTERS ENGRAVED ON THE STONE. "WHAT DOES THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PROBLEMS I HAVE AT THE MONASTERY, THE POOR MORALE, THE LACK OF SENSE OF CALLING?" THE ABBOT WANTED TO KNOW. "I HAVE BROODED OVER THESE WORDS FOR MANY YEARS," SAID THE HERMIT, AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THE REDEEMER IS NOW HERE ON EARTH AND LIVING IN YOUR MONASTERY. "." CHRIST HAS COME BACK AND IS ONE OF MY MONKS?" THE ABBOT ASKED WITH ASTONISHMENT, BUT THE HERMIT REFUSED TO ANSWER. HE SIMPLY LOOKED UPON THE ABBOT TENDERLY, BUT WITH SOME SADNESS. THE ABBOT RETURNED TO HIS MONASTERY AND BEGAN TO LOOK AT EACH MONK WITH WONDER AND FEAR; STUDYING EACH FACE CAREFULLY, LOOKING FOR A SIGN; AND EVERY MONK SEEMED TO BE CHARGED WITH MYSTERY. THE ABBOT WONDERED WHICH ONE WAS THE CHRIST AND HOW HE SHOULD TREAT HIM IF HE EVER FOUND OUT. FINALLY HE COULD KEEP THE SECRET NO LONGER, SHARING IT WITH THE ELDEST OF THE MONKS. AND SOON THE WORD OF THIS ASTONISHING NEWS SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
THEN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE MONKS BEGAN TO CHANGE. EVERYONE TREATED THE OTHER AS SOMEONE SPECIAL, WITH LOVE, A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE, AND READINESS TO SACRIFICE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WHEN PILGRIMS CAME TO THE MONASTERY THEY WERE QUICKLY TAKEN BY THE WHOLESOME ATTITUDE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE ENERGY, THE LOVE, AND THE DEEP CONCERN EXPRESSED FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL. SOON THE MONASTERY WAS THRONGING WITH VISITORS. YEARS LATER ON HIS DEATH BED THE ABBOT ASKED FOR THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT CAME, LOOKING YOUNGER THAN EVER. "YOU MUST TELL ME, THE ABBOT SAID." WHICH ONE IS MY REDEEMER?" THEY ARE ALL SO ORDINARY AND YET SO SPECIAL. I SEE SO MUCH GOOD IN EVERYONE OF THEM,
SOMETHING DIVINE. THEY ALL REMIND ME OF CHRIST."
" AND YOU HAVEN'T DISCOVERED THE SECRET?" THE HERMIT ASKED.
"PERHAPS I HAVE.," THE ABBOT SMILED. FOR HE KNEW THAT THE REDEEMER WAS LIVING IN THE MONASTERY AND THAT HIS DWELLING PLACE WAS IN THE ABBOT'S HEART AND THE HEARTS OF ALL HE LOVED AND SERVED. "NOW I CAN DEPART IN PEACE," HE SAID, AND SO HE DID.
THE HERMIT RETURNED, TO HIS CAVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, BUT LEFT, THESE "SPIRITUAL PROMISES" FOR THE REMAINING MONKS:
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BEGIN TO CHANGE: WHAT HAS BEEN STALE BECOMES FRESH AGAIN AND YOU ARE NEVER BORED.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, GOD IS READY ( HE'S ONLY A PRAYER AWAY!)
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU EXPERIENCE MANY SURPRISES AN ARE ABLE TO REJOICE IN THE UNEXPECTED.
STAY CLOSE TO GOD.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BECOME SENSITIZED TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT IS FILLED WITH THE NEW EXPECTATION TO SEE AND TO HEAR.
GOD IS VERY DETERMINED TO HAVE YOU.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE SET FREE TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE NEWNESS THAT HAS INFILTRATED YOUR LIFE. YOU SEE NEW COLORS, HEAR NEW SOUNDS, TASTE NEW TASTES, AND FEEL NEW SENSATIONS OF JOY.
DEVELOP YOUR INNER SILENCE AND GOD WILL MEET YOU THERE.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOUR WORLD OF EXPERIENCE IS FILLED WITH SURPRISES OF JOY BECAUSE OF GIFTS YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE AND FOR WHICH YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
ASK FOR INSPIRATION AND ASPIRATION WILL FOLLOW.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE MORE OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD, TOGETHER WITH ALL SURPRISES, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE UNEXPECTED JOYS OF LIFE, BY BECOMING A "YANKEE FAN." EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SORROW!
FAME AND RICHES ARE NOT IN JESUS CLASSIFICATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND BENEFITS.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO FEEL NEW STIRRINGS OF LIFE WITHIN YOURSELF WHICH RESULT IN NEW EXCITEMENT BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN AWAKENED TO THE BOUNTIFUL MYSTERIES OF GOD WHICH ARE ACTIVE IN EVERY SURGE OF LIFE.. "AMEN!"
THEN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE MONKS BEGAN TO CHANGE. EVERYONE TREATED THE OTHER AS SOMEONE SPECIAL, WITH LOVE, A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE, AND READINESS TO SACRIFICE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WHEN PILGRIMS CAME TO THE MONASTERY THEY WERE QUICKLY TAKEN BY THE WHOLESOME ATTITUDE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE ENERGY, THE LOVE, AND THE DEEP CONCERN EXPRESSED FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL. SOON THE MONASTERY WAS THRONGING WITH VISITORS. YEARS LATER ON HIS DEATH BED THE ABBOT ASKED FOR THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT CAME, LOOKING YOUNGER THAN EVER. "YOU MUST TELL ME, THE ABBOT SAID." WHICH ONE IS MY REDEEMER?" THEY ARE ALL SO ORDINARY AND YET SO SPECIAL. I SEE SO MUCH GOOD IN EVERYONE OF THEM,
SOMETHING DIVINE. THEY ALL REMIND ME OF CHRIST."
" AND YOU HAVEN'T DISCOVERED THE SECRET?" THE HERMIT ASKED.
"PERHAPS I HAVE.," THE ABBOT SMILED. FOR HE KNEW THAT THE REDEEMER WAS LIVING IN THE MONASTERY AND THAT HIS DWELLING PLACE WAS IN THE ABBOT'S HEART AND THE HEARTS OF ALL HE LOVED AND SERVED. "NOW I CAN DEPART IN PEACE," HE SAID, AND SO HE DID.
THE HERMIT RETURNED, TO HIS CAVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, BUT LEFT, THESE "SPIRITUAL PROMISES" FOR THE REMAINING MONKS:
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BEGIN TO CHANGE: WHAT HAS BEEN STALE BECOMES FRESH AGAIN AND YOU ARE NEVER BORED.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, GOD IS READY ( HE'S ONLY A PRAYER AWAY!)
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU EXPERIENCE MANY SURPRISES AN ARE ABLE TO REJOICE IN THE UNEXPECTED.
STAY CLOSE TO GOD.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BECOME SENSITIZED TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT IS FILLED WITH THE NEW EXPECTATION TO SEE AND TO HEAR.
GOD IS VERY DETERMINED TO HAVE YOU.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE SET FREE TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE NEWNESS THAT HAS INFILTRATED YOUR LIFE. YOU SEE NEW COLORS, HEAR NEW SOUNDS, TASTE NEW TASTES, AND FEEL NEW SENSATIONS OF JOY.
DEVELOP YOUR INNER SILENCE AND GOD WILL MEET YOU THERE.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOUR WORLD OF EXPERIENCE IS FILLED WITH SURPRISES OF JOY BECAUSE OF GIFTS YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE AND FOR WHICH YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
ASK FOR INSPIRATION AND ASPIRATION WILL FOLLOW.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE MORE OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD, TOGETHER WITH ALL SURPRISES, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE UNEXPECTED JOYS OF LIFE, BY BECOMING A "YANKEE FAN." EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SORROW!
FAME AND RICHES ARE NOT IN JESUS CLASSIFICATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND BENEFITS.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO FEEL NEW STIRRINGS OF LIFE WITHIN YOURSELF WHICH RESULT IN NEW EXCITEMENT BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN AWAKENED TO THE BOUNTIFUL MYSTERIES OF GOD WHICH ARE ACTIVE IN EVERY SURGE OF LIFE.. "AMEN!"
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
CHRIST BAPTISM AND OURS. [LUKE 3 15=17] [21-22] [1/13/08]
AND AS THE PEOPLE WERE IN EXPECTATION, AND ALL MEN MUSED IN THEIR HEARTS OF JOHN, WETHER HE WAS THE CHRIST OR NOT; JOHN ANSWERED, SAYING UNTO THEM ALL, I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER; BUT ONE MIGHTIER THAN I COMETH, THE LATCHET OF WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO UNLOOSE: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE "HOLY GHOST" AND WITH FIRE.
AS JOHN PREPARES FOR ANOTHER BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN, HE PROTESTS- NOT BECAUSE HE ENCOUNTERS UNREPENTANCE BUT BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE IS JESUS HIMSELF. AND JOHN THINKS HE SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. A FEW VERSES AGO JOHN WAS NOT " WORTHY TO CARRY HIS SANDALS" (MATT.3:11), YET JESUS EMPOWERS JOHN TO BE PART OF HIS WORLD-TRANSFORMING MINISTRY, AS HE DOES TO ALL OF US IN BAPTISM. BEFORE WE WERE WASHED CLEAN OF OUR SINS, GOD COULD NOT HAVE DECLARED, " I AM WELL PLEASED" WITH ANY OF US; AFTERWARD, THROUGH THE SON WHO LET HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN, WE JOIN COMPANY WITH THIS BELOVED. IN THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN, JESUS IS REVEALED AS THE BELOVED SON OF GOD. THROUGH THIS GREAT EPIPHANY, JESUS FULFILLS ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND BECOMES THE SERVANT OF GOD WHO WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE AND BE A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS. WE MUST REMEMBER IN THE WATERS OF OUR BAPTISM, WE TOO ARE WASHED BY THE WORD, ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT, RECEIVE THE NAME "GOD'S BELOVED CHILDREN". OUT OF THIS, OUR BAPTISMAL MISSION, COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL WHO ARE OPPRESSED OR IN NEED OF GOD'S HEALING. EPIPHANY BEGAN TO MEAN THE SAVING PRESENCE OF CHRIST WHICH BEGAN TO ASSERT ITSELF WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHICH FORMED AROUND JESUS. FOR MANY YEARS ( 21) SINCE 1975- I'VE BEEN A REV. DEACON OR TEACHER OR TEACHER DEACON. NEEDED SOMEONE WITH WHOM WE CAN IDENTIFY TO SUSTAIN AND INSPIRE US. THE PERSON I CHOSE MUST HAVE POSSESS AN HONEST HUMANITY. FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH A MAN NAMED JONAH. THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JONAH AND ASKED HIM TO GO TO "NINEVEH," WHICH WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. HE WAS TO GO AND PROCLAIM THE WORD OF THE LORD AT THIS PLACE.
JONAH WENT DOWN TO JOPPA WHERE HE FOUND A SHIP WHICH WAS ABOUT TO DEPART FOR TARSHISH, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. OUT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA A STORM CAME UPON THEM. THE CREW BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TRAGEDY. THEY CAST LOTS AND IT FELL UPON JONAH. THE SAILORS ASKED HIM, WHO ARE YOU? HE REPLIED, " I AM A HEBREW AND I FEAR THE LORD WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH." THEN THE SAILORS ASKED A FURTHER QUESTION. "WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH YOU?" JONAH SUGGESTED THAT THEY CAST HIM IN THE SEA. THIS THEY DID AND THE STORMED BEGAN TO SUBSIDE. A SEA MONSTER WHICH THE BIBLE CALLS (A HUGE FISH), JONAH PRAYED TO THE LORD HIS GOD FROM INSIDE THE BELLY OF THE FISH, SAYING " I CALLED TO THE LORD OUT OF MY DISTRESS AND HE ANSWERED ME OUT OF THE BELLY OF SHEOL. I CRIED, AND YOU HEARD MY VOICE. YOU MUST CAST ME INTO THE DEEP, INTO THE HEART OF THE SEAS, AND THE FLOOD SURROUND ME.; ALL YOUR WAVES AND YOUR BILLOWS PASSED OVER ME. THE WATER CLOSED OVER ME. THE WEEDS WERE WRAPPED AROUND MY HEAD. MY PRAYER CAME TO YOU INTO YOUR HOLY TEMPLE AND YOU SPOKE TO THE FISH, AND IT SPEWED JONAH OUT UPON THE DRY LAND. (JONAH 2). THE WORD CAME TO JONAH A SECOND TIME.
AND HE WENT TO "NINEVEH" AND PROCLAIMED THE MESSAGE ABOUT IMPENDING JUDGMENT. THE KING AND THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH COVERED THEMSELVES WITH SACKCLOTH AND SAT IN ASHES. GOD REPENTED AND THE DRAMATIC JUDGMENT DID NOT TAKE PLACE, BUT EXPRESS ITSELF AS GRACE, AND JONAH IN HIS DESPONDENCY OVER THE GRACE, FOR HE WAS LOOKING FOR JUDGMENT AND DESTRUCTION ON NINEVEH. JONAH SET NEAR NINEVEH , IN A BOOTH, AND A PLANT GREW UP WHICH SHADED HIM. IN THIS COMFORT, JONAH'S SPIRIT WAS REVIVED. THEN A WORM DESTROYED THE PLANT, AND JONAH FELT SORRY FOR HIMSELF.
THE LORD SPOKE THESE WORD' OF REBUKE TO HIM:" YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE PLANT; OUGHT NOT I, THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON "NINEVEH?" THE BOOK OF JONAH IS NOT DATED; BUT SCHOLARS FEEL SOMETIME IN THE FIFTH OR FOURTH CENTURY.
WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MOMENT IN JUDAH'S LIFE WHEN THIS BOOK SPOKE TO THIS PEOPLE. GOD HAS ELECTED AND HAD CHOSEN THIS PEOPLE TO LIVE
ON THIS LAND WHICH HAD BEEN PROMISED TO THEIR FATHER ABRAHAM. BUT ISRAEL REBELLED AND HAD CHOSEN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IN THE COURSE OF TIME, JUDAH WAS DEVOURED BY A MONSTER BY THE NAME OF BABYLON. IN 587 B.C. THE SECOND DEPORTATION OF THESE PEOPLE TOOK PLACE FROM JERUSALEM TO BABYLON. FROM THE BELLY OF THIS MONSTER, THESE PEOPLE CRIED TO THE LORD, AS THE MONSTER SPEWED THEM FORTH WHEN CYRUS OF PERSIA CONQUERED BABYLON IN 539 B.C. ANOTHER PROPHET LIVED WITH THESE PEOPLE AT BABYLON AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR MISSION AND PURPOSE AS THEY LIVED ON FOREIGN SOIL. WE HAVE HIS SERMONS IN ISAIAH 40 THROUGH 46.
THERE IS AN OLD STORY THAT IS, AS FAR AS I KNOW IS TRUE. IT TEACHES US AN IMPORTANT LESSON. WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE CONCERT WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN, THE MOTHER RETURNED TO HER SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT HER CHILD WAS MISSING. SUDDENLY, THE CURTAINS PARTED AND SPOTLIGHTS FOCUSED ON THE IMPRESSIVE STEINWAY ON STAGE. IN HORROR, THE MOTHER SAW HER LITTLE BOY SITTING AT THE KEYBOARD, INNOCENTLY PICKING OUT " TWINKLE, TWINKLE,, LITTLE STAR."
AT THAT MOMENT, THE PIANO MASTER MADE HIS ENTRANCE, QUICKLY MOVED TO THE PIANO, AND WHISPERED IN THE BOY'S EAR, " DON'T QUIT. KEEP PLAYING"
THEN LEANING OVER, THE GREAT [PADEREWSKI] REACHED DOWN WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND BEGAN FILLING THE BASE PART. SOON HIS RIGHT ARM REACHED AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHILD, AND HE ADDED A RUNNING OBBLIGATO . TOGETHER, WITH THE OLD MASTER AND THE YOUNG NOVICE TRANSFORMED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FRIGHTENING SITUATION INTO A WONDERFULLY CREATIVE EXPERIENCE . THE AUDIENCE WAS SO MESMERIZED THAT THEY COULDN'T RECALL WHAT ELSE THE GREAT MASTER PLAYED, ONLY THE CLASSIC, " TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR."
WE STARTED WITH A REFERENCE TO JONAH. HE WAS VERY HUMAN. HE DID THE LORD'S WORK AND AT THE SAME TIME KICKED AGAINST GOD'S PURPOSE.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT WOULD TEND TO DISCOURAGE US: ILL HEALTH, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, FAMILY PROBLEMS, STRUGGLES AT WORK, BOREDOM, ALL OF WHICH MAY TEMP US TO THROW IN "THE TOWEL" BUT LISTEN TO THE WHISPER OF THE MASTER, "DON'T QUIT, KEEP PLAYING."
GOD DOESN'T SEEM TO CALL THE EQUIPPED, RATHER, HE EQUIPS THE CALLED!
AS JOHN PREPARES FOR ANOTHER BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN, HE PROTESTS- NOT BECAUSE HE ENCOUNTERS UNREPENTANCE BUT BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE IS JESUS HIMSELF. AND JOHN THINKS HE SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. A FEW VERSES AGO JOHN WAS NOT " WORTHY TO CARRY HIS SANDALS" (MATT.3:11), YET JESUS EMPOWERS JOHN TO BE PART OF HIS WORLD-TRANSFORMING MINISTRY, AS HE DOES TO ALL OF US IN BAPTISM. BEFORE WE WERE WASHED CLEAN OF OUR SINS, GOD COULD NOT HAVE DECLARED, " I AM WELL PLEASED" WITH ANY OF US; AFTERWARD, THROUGH THE SON WHO LET HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN, WE JOIN COMPANY WITH THIS BELOVED. IN THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN, JESUS IS REVEALED AS THE BELOVED SON OF GOD. THROUGH THIS GREAT EPIPHANY, JESUS FULFILLS ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND BECOMES THE SERVANT OF GOD WHO WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE AND BE A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS. WE MUST REMEMBER IN THE WATERS OF OUR BAPTISM, WE TOO ARE WASHED BY THE WORD, ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT, RECEIVE THE NAME "GOD'S BELOVED CHILDREN". OUT OF THIS, OUR BAPTISMAL MISSION, COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL WHO ARE OPPRESSED OR IN NEED OF GOD'S HEALING. EPIPHANY BEGAN TO MEAN THE SAVING PRESENCE OF CHRIST WHICH BEGAN TO ASSERT ITSELF WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHICH FORMED AROUND JESUS. FOR MANY YEARS ( 21) SINCE 1975- I'VE BEEN A REV. DEACON OR TEACHER OR TEACHER DEACON. NEEDED SOMEONE WITH WHOM WE CAN IDENTIFY TO SUSTAIN AND INSPIRE US. THE PERSON I CHOSE MUST HAVE POSSESS AN HONEST HUMANITY. FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH A MAN NAMED JONAH. THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JONAH AND ASKED HIM TO GO TO "NINEVEH," WHICH WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. HE WAS TO GO AND PROCLAIM THE WORD OF THE LORD AT THIS PLACE.
JONAH WENT DOWN TO JOPPA WHERE HE FOUND A SHIP WHICH WAS ABOUT TO DEPART FOR TARSHISH, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. OUT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA A STORM CAME UPON THEM. THE CREW BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TRAGEDY. THEY CAST LOTS AND IT FELL UPON JONAH. THE SAILORS ASKED HIM, WHO ARE YOU? HE REPLIED, " I AM A HEBREW AND I FEAR THE LORD WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH." THEN THE SAILORS ASKED A FURTHER QUESTION. "WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH YOU?" JONAH SUGGESTED THAT THEY CAST HIM IN THE SEA. THIS THEY DID AND THE STORMED BEGAN TO SUBSIDE. A SEA MONSTER WHICH THE BIBLE CALLS (A HUGE FISH), JONAH PRAYED TO THE LORD HIS GOD FROM INSIDE THE BELLY OF THE FISH, SAYING " I CALLED TO THE LORD OUT OF MY DISTRESS AND HE ANSWERED ME OUT OF THE BELLY OF SHEOL. I CRIED, AND YOU HEARD MY VOICE. YOU MUST CAST ME INTO THE DEEP, INTO THE HEART OF THE SEAS, AND THE FLOOD SURROUND ME.; ALL YOUR WAVES AND YOUR BILLOWS PASSED OVER ME. THE WATER CLOSED OVER ME. THE WEEDS WERE WRAPPED AROUND MY HEAD. MY PRAYER CAME TO YOU INTO YOUR HOLY TEMPLE AND YOU SPOKE TO THE FISH, AND IT SPEWED JONAH OUT UPON THE DRY LAND. (JONAH 2). THE WORD CAME TO JONAH A SECOND TIME.
AND HE WENT TO "NINEVEH" AND PROCLAIMED THE MESSAGE ABOUT IMPENDING JUDGMENT. THE KING AND THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH COVERED THEMSELVES WITH SACKCLOTH AND SAT IN ASHES. GOD REPENTED AND THE DRAMATIC JUDGMENT DID NOT TAKE PLACE, BUT EXPRESS ITSELF AS GRACE, AND JONAH IN HIS DESPONDENCY OVER THE GRACE, FOR HE WAS LOOKING FOR JUDGMENT AND DESTRUCTION ON NINEVEH. JONAH SET NEAR NINEVEH , IN A BOOTH, AND A PLANT GREW UP WHICH SHADED HIM. IN THIS COMFORT, JONAH'S SPIRIT WAS REVIVED. THEN A WORM DESTROYED THE PLANT, AND JONAH FELT SORRY FOR HIMSELF.
THE LORD SPOKE THESE WORD' OF REBUKE TO HIM:" YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE PLANT; OUGHT NOT I, THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON "NINEVEH?" THE BOOK OF JONAH IS NOT DATED; BUT SCHOLARS FEEL SOMETIME IN THE FIFTH OR FOURTH CENTURY.
WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MOMENT IN JUDAH'S LIFE WHEN THIS BOOK SPOKE TO THIS PEOPLE. GOD HAS ELECTED AND HAD CHOSEN THIS PEOPLE TO LIVE
ON THIS LAND WHICH HAD BEEN PROMISED TO THEIR FATHER ABRAHAM. BUT ISRAEL REBELLED AND HAD CHOSEN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IN THE COURSE OF TIME, JUDAH WAS DEVOURED BY A MONSTER BY THE NAME OF BABYLON. IN 587 B.C. THE SECOND DEPORTATION OF THESE PEOPLE TOOK PLACE FROM JERUSALEM TO BABYLON. FROM THE BELLY OF THIS MONSTER, THESE PEOPLE CRIED TO THE LORD, AS THE MONSTER SPEWED THEM FORTH WHEN CYRUS OF PERSIA CONQUERED BABYLON IN 539 B.C. ANOTHER PROPHET LIVED WITH THESE PEOPLE AT BABYLON AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR MISSION AND PURPOSE AS THEY LIVED ON FOREIGN SOIL. WE HAVE HIS SERMONS IN ISAIAH 40 THROUGH 46.
THERE IS AN OLD STORY THAT IS, AS FAR AS I KNOW IS TRUE. IT TEACHES US AN IMPORTANT LESSON. WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE CONCERT WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN, THE MOTHER RETURNED TO HER SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT HER CHILD WAS MISSING. SUDDENLY, THE CURTAINS PARTED AND SPOTLIGHTS FOCUSED ON THE IMPRESSIVE STEINWAY ON STAGE. IN HORROR, THE MOTHER SAW HER LITTLE BOY SITTING AT THE KEYBOARD, INNOCENTLY PICKING OUT " TWINKLE, TWINKLE,, LITTLE STAR."
AT THAT MOMENT, THE PIANO MASTER MADE HIS ENTRANCE, QUICKLY MOVED TO THE PIANO, AND WHISPERED IN THE BOY'S EAR, " DON'T QUIT. KEEP PLAYING"
THEN LEANING OVER, THE GREAT [PADEREWSKI] REACHED DOWN WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND BEGAN FILLING THE BASE PART. SOON HIS RIGHT ARM REACHED AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHILD, AND HE ADDED A RUNNING OBBLIGATO . TOGETHER, WITH THE OLD MASTER AND THE YOUNG NOVICE TRANSFORMED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FRIGHTENING SITUATION INTO A WONDERFULLY CREATIVE EXPERIENCE . THE AUDIENCE WAS SO MESMERIZED THAT THEY COULDN'T RECALL WHAT ELSE THE GREAT MASTER PLAYED, ONLY THE CLASSIC, " TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR."
WE STARTED WITH A REFERENCE TO JONAH. HE WAS VERY HUMAN. HE DID THE LORD'S WORK AND AT THE SAME TIME KICKED AGAINST GOD'S PURPOSE.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT WOULD TEND TO DISCOURAGE US: ILL HEALTH, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, FAMILY PROBLEMS, STRUGGLES AT WORK, BOREDOM, ALL OF WHICH MAY TEMP US TO THROW IN "THE TOWEL" BUT LISTEN TO THE WHISPER OF THE MASTER, "DON'T QUIT, KEEP PLAYING."
GOD DOESN'T SEEM TO CALL THE EQUIPPED, RATHER, HE EQUIPS THE CALLED!
Monday, April 23, 2018
TIME AFTER PENTECOST. [7/2/13]. {LUKE 7:1-10]
GOD HEARS EVERY PRAYER- THE PRAYER OF THE OUTSIDER AS WELL OF THE PRAYER OF THE INSIDER. THE ATTENTIVE NATURE OF OUR GOD IS EVIDENT S GOD COMES TO US AGAIN (IN THE WORD AND IN THE SUPPER. ASCRIBE TO THE LORD THE HONOR DUE THE "HOLY NAME;) BRING OFFERINGS AND ENTER THE COURTS OF THE LORD." IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT READING FOR TODAY, KING SOLOMON PRAYS AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, BUILT UNDER HIS DIRECTION. SOLOMON PRAYS THAT THE TEMPLE WILL BE A SIGN OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND POWER, NOT ONLY TO THE ISRAELITES, BUT TO ALL PEOPLES. IN OUR TEXT A ROMAN CENTURION STANDS TO LOSE A HIGHLY VALUED SLAVE. JEWISH LEADERS IN CAPERNAUM CONSIDER HIMSELF UNWORTHY. IN THE MIDST OF THIS TANGLE OF ATTITUDES, THE CENTURION SHOWS HIS UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY AND HIS TESTIMONY THAT JESUS HAS IT, EVEN AUTHORITY OVER ILLNESS AND DEATH. THERE ARE MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OUR GOSPEL TEXT, AND THE ONE RECORDED IN THE O.T. READING ( 1 KINGS 17: 8-24;). THE LOCATION AND THE NATURE OF THE MIRACLE CAUSED THE TOWNSPEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT A "GREAT PROPHET" WAS AMONG THEM. BUT: "ELIJAH" HAD TO STRETCH HIS BODY OVER THE DEAD BOY THREE TIMES AND CRY OUT TO THE LORD (2nd KINGS 4: 32-35).
BUT IN THE GOSPEL TEXT, JESUS RAISED A BOY FROM THE DEAD, THE ONLY SON OF A WIDOW IN NAIN. SCHOLAR'S PLACE NAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL OF MOREH FROM SHUNEM, THUS PLACING THE MIRACLE IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION AS ELISA'S. THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THIS FROM SCRIPTURE AND THE LIFE OF THE GREAT PROPHET ELISHA.. HOWEVER: JESUS MERELY HAD TO SPEAK A WORD OF COMMAND. JESUS SPOKE AND THE BOY CAME BACK TO LIFE. JESUS POWER WAS CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE GREATEST O.T. PROPHETS.
AFTER FINISHING HIS TEACHING TO THE MULTITUDES, JESUS RETURNS ONCE MORE TO THE CITY OF CAPERNAUM PREVIOUSLY IN [.4:31]. ON THAT OCCASION JESUS HAD GONE TO A SYNAGOGUE WHERE HE CURED A MAN POSSESSED BY A DEMON. THAT VERY SYNAGOGUE HAD BEEN BUILT BY THE ROMAN CENTURION IN OUR GOSPEL TEXT. THE WORD CENTURION MEANS CAPTAIN OF A COMPANY OF 1OO SOLDIERS.
SINCE HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE RULER OF GALILEE IN WHICH PROVINCE CAPERNAUM WAS LOCATED, THIS CENTURION MAY HAVE BEEN IN HIS SERVICE IN SOME OFFICIAL CAPACITY. A WARM FEELING HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN THIS CENTURION AND THE JEWISH ELDERS WHO HAD CHARGED OF THE SYNAGOGUE.
LUKE HAD SEVERAL TIMES REPORTED JESUS HEALING NUMBERS OF SICK WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAIL. HERE HE GIVES US THE FULL STORY FOR SEVERAL REASONS: THIS CENTURION WAS NO DOUBT A GENTILE; THIS MAN SHOWS GREAT FAITH IN THE POWER OF JESUS WORD. HE IS A MODEL FOR THE MANY GENTILE BELIEVERS WHO WOULD BE COMING INTO THE CHURCH IN FUTURE YEARS. THE MORAL TEACHING OF JESUS DISTURBED NOT ONLY THOSE WHO WERE THE FIRST FOLLOWERS WHO UNDERTOOK TO WRITE DOWN HIS WORDS BUT THE MANY GENERATIONS OF CHRISTIANS, IN A GREAT VARIETY OF WAYS HAVE ENDEAVORED TO BEND THEIR LIVES TO HIS TEACHINGS. AFTERWARD JESUS WENT TO NAIN. AS JESUS APPROACHED IT FROM THE MAIN ROAD HE WOULD OF HAVE BEFORE HIM THE PRINCIPAL GATE OF THE TOWN. OUT OF THE GATE WAS COMING A FUNERAL PROCESSION. THE JEWS NORMALLY BURIED WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF DEATH. THE BODY WRAPPED IN A LINEN CLOTH, WAS CARRIED FROM THE HOUSE ON A BIER (F0R COFFINS WERE NOT USED TO A FAMILY GRAVE CUT FROM A ROCK;) AND SINCE GRAVES WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE TOWN, THE PROCESSION HAD AT SOME STAGE TO PASS THROUGH THE GATE. THIS WAS THE MOMENT JESUS INTERVENED AND PERFORMED WHAT WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES, THAT OF BRINGING A DEAD PERSON BACK TO LIFE. TWO SUCH MIRACLES ARE RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS APART FROM THIS ONE: JARIUS DAUGHTER ( LUKE 8:40, MARK 5:21, MATTHEW 9:18) AND LAZARUS, (JOHN 11).
HERE THE STORY IS TOLD QUITE SIMPLY AND THERE IS LITTLE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHER STORIES TOLD ABOUT OTHER MIRACLE-WORKERS IN ANTIQUITY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REACTION OF THE BYSTANDERS WERE CONDITIONED BY THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. A GREAT PROPHET HAS RISEN AMONG US. ELIJAH AND ELISHA, THE FIRST GREAT PROPHETS HAD PERFORMED SIMILAR MIRACLES; JESUS MUST BE ANOTHER OF THE SAME CALIBRE, MOREOVER RAISING FROM THE DEAD WAS A SIGN OF THE NEW AGE THAT WAS TO COME.: GOD HAS SHONE HIS CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE. THE MIRACLE WAS EVIDENCE OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP BEGINNING BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. WHEN THE CENTURION ASKS JESUS TO HEAL HIS WOUNDED SLAVE, THE NARRATIVE EXPLORES WHETHER THE CENTURION IS WORTHY." THE GREEK WORD IN LUKE FOR "WORTHY" IS "SUFFICIENT" THE JEWISH ELDERS SAY HE HAS PROVEN HIS WORTHINESS, BY HIS GOODNESS TO THE JEWS; IN CONTRAST, THE CENTURION HIMSELF SAYS HE IS NOT "WORTHY" OF JESUS. PRESENCE. ARE WE "WORTHY" OF HIS PRESENCE AND HELP? THE CENTURION REVEALS A PARADOX OF CHRISTIAN FAITH: AS SINNERS WE ARE NOT "WORTHY", BUT AS REDEEMED SAINTS WE KNOW THAT JESUS DEEMED US ALL "WORTH"
SAVING, THROUGH GRACE ALONE.
BUT IN THE GOSPEL TEXT, JESUS RAISED A BOY FROM THE DEAD, THE ONLY SON OF A WIDOW IN NAIN. SCHOLAR'S PLACE NAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL OF MOREH FROM SHUNEM, THUS PLACING THE MIRACLE IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION AS ELISA'S. THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THIS FROM SCRIPTURE AND THE LIFE OF THE GREAT PROPHET ELISHA.. HOWEVER: JESUS MERELY HAD TO SPEAK A WORD OF COMMAND. JESUS SPOKE AND THE BOY CAME BACK TO LIFE. JESUS POWER WAS CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE GREATEST O.T. PROPHETS.
AFTER FINISHING HIS TEACHING TO THE MULTITUDES, JESUS RETURNS ONCE MORE TO THE CITY OF CAPERNAUM PREVIOUSLY IN [.4:31]. ON THAT OCCASION JESUS HAD GONE TO A SYNAGOGUE WHERE HE CURED A MAN POSSESSED BY A DEMON. THAT VERY SYNAGOGUE HAD BEEN BUILT BY THE ROMAN CENTURION IN OUR GOSPEL TEXT. THE WORD CENTURION MEANS CAPTAIN OF A COMPANY OF 1OO SOLDIERS.
SINCE HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE RULER OF GALILEE IN WHICH PROVINCE CAPERNAUM WAS LOCATED, THIS CENTURION MAY HAVE BEEN IN HIS SERVICE IN SOME OFFICIAL CAPACITY. A WARM FEELING HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN THIS CENTURION AND THE JEWISH ELDERS WHO HAD CHARGED OF THE SYNAGOGUE.
LUKE HAD SEVERAL TIMES REPORTED JESUS HEALING NUMBERS OF SICK WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAIL. HERE HE GIVES US THE FULL STORY FOR SEVERAL REASONS: THIS CENTURION WAS NO DOUBT A GENTILE; THIS MAN SHOWS GREAT FAITH IN THE POWER OF JESUS WORD. HE IS A MODEL FOR THE MANY GENTILE BELIEVERS WHO WOULD BE COMING INTO THE CHURCH IN FUTURE YEARS. THE MORAL TEACHING OF JESUS DISTURBED NOT ONLY THOSE WHO WERE THE FIRST FOLLOWERS WHO UNDERTOOK TO WRITE DOWN HIS WORDS BUT THE MANY GENERATIONS OF CHRISTIANS, IN A GREAT VARIETY OF WAYS HAVE ENDEAVORED TO BEND THEIR LIVES TO HIS TEACHINGS. AFTERWARD JESUS WENT TO NAIN. AS JESUS APPROACHED IT FROM THE MAIN ROAD HE WOULD OF HAVE BEFORE HIM THE PRINCIPAL GATE OF THE TOWN. OUT OF THE GATE WAS COMING A FUNERAL PROCESSION. THE JEWS NORMALLY BURIED WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF DEATH. THE BODY WRAPPED IN A LINEN CLOTH, WAS CARRIED FROM THE HOUSE ON A BIER (F0R COFFINS WERE NOT USED TO A FAMILY GRAVE CUT FROM A ROCK;) AND SINCE GRAVES WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE TOWN, THE PROCESSION HAD AT SOME STAGE TO PASS THROUGH THE GATE. THIS WAS THE MOMENT JESUS INTERVENED AND PERFORMED WHAT WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES, THAT OF BRINGING A DEAD PERSON BACK TO LIFE. TWO SUCH MIRACLES ARE RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS APART FROM THIS ONE: JARIUS DAUGHTER ( LUKE 8:40, MARK 5:21, MATTHEW 9:18) AND LAZARUS, (JOHN 11).
HERE THE STORY IS TOLD QUITE SIMPLY AND THERE IS LITTLE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHER STORIES TOLD ABOUT OTHER MIRACLE-WORKERS IN ANTIQUITY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REACTION OF THE BYSTANDERS WERE CONDITIONED BY THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. A GREAT PROPHET HAS RISEN AMONG US. ELIJAH AND ELISHA, THE FIRST GREAT PROPHETS HAD PERFORMED SIMILAR MIRACLES; JESUS MUST BE ANOTHER OF THE SAME CALIBRE, MOREOVER RAISING FROM THE DEAD WAS A SIGN OF THE NEW AGE THAT WAS TO COME.: GOD HAS SHONE HIS CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE. THE MIRACLE WAS EVIDENCE OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP BEGINNING BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. WHEN THE CENTURION ASKS JESUS TO HEAL HIS WOUNDED SLAVE, THE NARRATIVE EXPLORES WHETHER THE CENTURION IS WORTHY." THE GREEK WORD IN LUKE FOR "WORTHY" IS "SUFFICIENT" THE JEWISH ELDERS SAY HE HAS PROVEN HIS WORTHINESS, BY HIS GOODNESS TO THE JEWS; IN CONTRAST, THE CENTURION HIMSELF SAYS HE IS NOT "WORTHY" OF JESUS. PRESENCE. ARE WE "WORTHY" OF HIS PRESENCE AND HELP? THE CENTURION REVEALS A PARADOX OF CHRISTIAN FAITH: AS SINNERS WE ARE NOT "WORTHY", BUT AS REDEEMED SAINTS WE KNOW THAT JESUS DEEMED US ALL "WORTH"
SAVING, THROUGH GRACE ALONE.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
HIDDEN BLESSINGS. [GOSPEL TEXT 8/7/2011] [MATT. 22-33].
IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE, WE FIND THE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD TRAPPED IN THE GRIP OF A FIERCE STORM. THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT STORM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN COMMANDED BY THE LORD TO CROSS THE SEA OF GALILEE (V.22).
THESE MEN ARE IN THE WILL OF THE LORD AND YET, WE SEE THEM STRUGGLING AGAINST THE STORM. TRY AS THEY MIGHT, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY. THE WIND IS IN THEIR FACES (V.24). THESE 12 MEN ARE STUCK IN A STORM AND ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT. HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF IN THAT PLACE? HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF STUCK IN ONE OF LIFE'S STORMS, AND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IT SEEMS THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY HEADWAY? WELL, WE ALL HAVE TIMES LIKE THAT! IT MAY SEEM TO YOU LIKE THE STORM MAY NEVER END AND THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBLE GOOD THAT CAN COME FROM WHAT YOU ARE FACING. THANKFULLY, HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR US TODAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD. WHILE THE STORM'S OF LIFE ARE NEVER PLEASANT, THEY DO PRODUCE CERTAIN BENEFITS IN OUR LIVES THAT WE WOULD DO WELL TO MAKE NOTE OF THIS MESSAGE. " NOW NO CHASTENING ( INFLICTION OF PAIN) FOR THE PRESENT SEEMS TO BE A HAPPY, JOYOUS, BUT GRIEVOUS: BUT NEVERTHELESS AFTERWARD IT YIELDETH THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO THEM WHICH ARE TRAINED THEREBY. (HEBREWS 12:11).
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JOIN THE DISCIPLES IN THEIR STORM. AS WE DO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT EVER KIND OF A STORM YOU ARE FACING, THAT THE LORD HAS A PURPOSE IN ALLOWING THAT STORM TO RAGE IN YOUR LIFE, AND THAT HIDDEN BLESSINGS WILL SHINE FORTH. THE VERY THING THE DISCIPLES FEARED. THE SEA, THE VERY THING THE LORD USED AS THE VEHICLE TO REVEAL HIMSELF UNTO THEM. HE WILL DO THE SAME IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE. LET US LOOK, HOW JESUS CAME TO THEM THAT NIGHT.
HE COMES IN THE FACE OF DARKNESS- THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME TO THEM IN THE FOURTH WATCH" SOMETIME BETWEEN 3 AM AND 6 AM, DURING THE DARKEST HOURS OF THE NIGHT, JESUS CAME WALKING ON THE WATER! YOU MAY BE WALKING IN DARKNESS AND WONDER WHERE JESUS IS, BE STILL AND KNOW HE IS EVER WITH YOU IN YOUR DARKNESS (HEB. 13:5). IN THE DARKEST HOURS GOD IS STILL GOD AND HE IS STILL IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. (1 KINGS 8:12),
EVEN THE DARKEST HOURS OF LIFE CANNOT HIDE YOU FROM THE FACE OF GOD.
WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE HIM, OR FEEL HIS PRESENCE HE IS THERE.
HE CAME TO THEM WITH A WORD OF PEACE, WALKING ON WATER WITH A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND POWER., " BE OF GOOD CHEER", "IT IS I". HE CAME TO THEM, " BE NOT AFRAID." THEY WERE STILL IN THE STORM WHEN HE TOLD THEM TO CHEER UP.. THAT IS THE PEACE HE REFERS TO IN PHIL (4:6-7). HE DECLARED HIS IDENTITY "IT IS I" IT IS THE SAME STATEMENT JESUS USED WHEN HE SAID, " I AM THE DOOR; "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,"; "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"; "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD." GET THE PICTURE? THE TRUTH JESUS IS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES TO CHEER UP, "GOD IS HERE!" THE GREAT I AM! STOP FEARING, HE HAS ALL POWER, IN HEAVEN AND EARTH. (MATT. 28:18), THEN WE CAN ENJOY PEACE IN THE MIDST OF OUR STORMS AND THROUGH THEM BLESSINGS COMES AS THE SAVIOR IS REVEALED.
THESE MEN ARE IN THE WILL OF THE LORD AND YET, WE SEE THEM STRUGGLING AGAINST THE STORM. TRY AS THEY MIGHT, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY. THE WIND IS IN THEIR FACES (V.24). THESE 12 MEN ARE STUCK IN A STORM AND ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT. HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF IN THAT PLACE? HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF STUCK IN ONE OF LIFE'S STORMS, AND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IT SEEMS THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY HEADWAY? WELL, WE ALL HAVE TIMES LIKE THAT! IT MAY SEEM TO YOU LIKE THE STORM MAY NEVER END AND THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBLE GOOD THAT CAN COME FROM WHAT YOU ARE FACING. THANKFULLY, HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR US TODAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD. WHILE THE STORM'S OF LIFE ARE NEVER PLEASANT, THEY DO PRODUCE CERTAIN BENEFITS IN OUR LIVES THAT WE WOULD DO WELL TO MAKE NOTE OF THIS MESSAGE. " NOW NO CHASTENING ( INFLICTION OF PAIN) FOR THE PRESENT SEEMS TO BE A HAPPY, JOYOUS, BUT GRIEVOUS: BUT NEVERTHELESS AFTERWARD IT YIELDETH THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO THEM WHICH ARE TRAINED THEREBY. (HEBREWS 12:11).
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JOIN THE DISCIPLES IN THEIR STORM. AS WE DO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT EVER KIND OF A STORM YOU ARE FACING, THAT THE LORD HAS A PURPOSE IN ALLOWING THAT STORM TO RAGE IN YOUR LIFE, AND THAT HIDDEN BLESSINGS WILL SHINE FORTH. THE VERY THING THE DISCIPLES FEARED. THE SEA, THE VERY THING THE LORD USED AS THE VEHICLE TO REVEAL HIMSELF UNTO THEM. HE WILL DO THE SAME IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE. LET US LOOK, HOW JESUS CAME TO THEM THAT NIGHT.
HE COMES IN THE FACE OF DARKNESS- THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME TO THEM IN THE FOURTH WATCH" SOMETIME BETWEEN 3 AM AND 6 AM, DURING THE DARKEST HOURS OF THE NIGHT, JESUS CAME WALKING ON THE WATER! YOU MAY BE WALKING IN DARKNESS AND WONDER WHERE JESUS IS, BE STILL AND KNOW HE IS EVER WITH YOU IN YOUR DARKNESS (HEB. 13:5). IN THE DARKEST HOURS GOD IS STILL GOD AND HE IS STILL IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. (1 KINGS 8:12),
EVEN THE DARKEST HOURS OF LIFE CANNOT HIDE YOU FROM THE FACE OF GOD.
WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE HIM, OR FEEL HIS PRESENCE HE IS THERE.
HE CAME TO THEM WITH A WORD OF PEACE, WALKING ON WATER WITH A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND POWER., " BE OF GOOD CHEER", "IT IS I". HE CAME TO THEM, " BE NOT AFRAID." THEY WERE STILL IN THE STORM WHEN HE TOLD THEM TO CHEER UP.. THAT IS THE PEACE HE REFERS TO IN PHIL (4:6-7). HE DECLARED HIS IDENTITY "IT IS I" IT IS THE SAME STATEMENT JESUS USED WHEN HE SAID, " I AM THE DOOR; "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,"; "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"; "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD." GET THE PICTURE? THE TRUTH JESUS IS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES TO CHEER UP, "GOD IS HERE!" THE GREAT I AM! STOP FEARING, HE HAS ALL POWER, IN HEAVEN AND EARTH. (MATT. 28:18), THEN WE CAN ENJOY PEACE IN THE MIDST OF OUR STORMS AND THROUGH THEM BLESSINGS COMES AS THE SAVIOR IS REVEALED.
Friday, April 20, 2018
"THE CALL" [JOHN 1:43-51].
THE NEXT DAY JESUS DECIDED TO GO TO GALILEE. HE FOUND PHILIP AND SAID TO HIM "FOLLOW ME." NOW PHILIP WAS FROM BETHSAIDA, THE CITY OF ANDREW AND PETER. PHILIP FOUND NATHANAEL AND SAID TO HIM, " WE HAVE FOUND HIM ABOUT WHOM MOSES IN THE LAW AND ALSO THE PROPHETS WROTE,
JESUS SON OF JOSEPH FROM NAZARETH, NATHANAEL SAID TO HIM, " CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?" PHILIP SAID TO HIM, " COME AND SEE." WHEN JESUS SAW NATHANAEL COMING TOWARD HIM, HE SAID OF HIM, " HERE IS TRULY AN ISRAELITE IN WHOM IS NO DECEIT!"
NATHANAEL REPLIED, " RABBI, YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD! YOU ARE THE KING OF ISRAEL."
DO YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE I TOLD YOU THAT I SAW YOU UNDER THE FIG TREE? YOU WILL SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE." AND HE SAID TO HIM, " VERY TRULY I TELL YOU," YOU WILL SEE HEAVEN OPENED AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN."
IF YOU HEARD THIS SOMEWHERE BEFORE, IT SHOULD RING A BELL; FOR JACOB ON HIS JOURNEY FROM BEERSHEBA TO HARAN, CAME TO A CERTAIN PLACE AND STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT, FOR THE SUN HAD SET, TAKING SOME STONES FOR A PILLOW LAID DOWN TO SLEEP. HE DREAMT HE SAW A LADDER, WHICH RESTED ON THE GROUND WITH ITS TOP REACHING TO HEAVEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD WERE GOING UP AND DOWN UPON IT. THE LORD WAS STANDING BESIDE HIM AND SAID, " I AM THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC. WHAT JACOB SAW IN A VISION IS NOW A REALITY IN JESUS. (GEN. 28:12).
THERE IS HERE AN IMPLIED CONTRAST WITH JACOB, FROM WHOM OF COURSE, THE ISRAELITES DERIVED THEIR NAME. THERE IS A CLAIM FOR JESUS THE POWER TO READ THE HEARTS OF MEN. NATHANAEL IS DEEPLY IMPRESSED AND ACCLAIMS JESUS THE "SON OF GOD AND THE KING OF ISRAEL." JESUS TELLS HIM THAT, BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS FAITH, HE WOULD BE GRANTED A DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING AND A CLEARER VISION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH'S WORK. THE VISION OF THE GLORY OF THE SON OF MAN WAS TO BE A REWARD OF FAITH. JESUS DESCRIBES THE NEW MESSIANIC ORDER WHICH HE WAS TO USHER IN WITH HIS COMING. IN GOD'S CASE, THE "CALL" WE RECEIVE ACTUALLY
BRINGS ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE ONE SUMMONED.
MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE SHOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD "CALL," BUT NONE MORE CLEARLY THAN THOSE IN ROMANS [ 8]. JOHN MURRAY WRITES, NOTHING CLINCHES THE ARGUMENT FOR THIS FEATURE OF THE "CALL," MORE CLEARLY THAN THE TEACHING OF ROMANS [ 8:28-30]. LISTEN: " GOD WHO SEARCHES OUR INMOST BEING KNOWS WHAT THE SPIRIT MEANS, BECAUSE HE PLEADS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE IN GOD'S OWN WAY; AND IN EVERYTHING, AS WE KNOW, HE CO-OPERATES FOR GOOD WITH THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE "CALLED" ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. FOR GOD KNEW HIS OWN BEFORE EVER THEY WERE,, AND ALSO ORDAINED THAT THEY SHOULD BE SHAPED TO THE LIKENESS OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE ELDEST AMONG A LARGE FAMILY OF BROTHERS. THE "CALL" IS STATED ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE AND FINDS ITS PLACE IN THE CENTER OF THAT UNBREAKABLE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH HAS ITS BEGINNINGS IN THE DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE. THIS IS JUST SAYING THAT, THE EFFECTUAL "CALL" INSURES PERSEVERANCE BECAUSE IT IS GROUNDED IN THE SECURITY OF GOD'S GRACE AND PURPOSE. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD AND BROUGHT TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST BY THE POWER OF THIS SUMMONS ARE THOSE "CALLED" TO BELONG. TO JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE "CALLED TO BE SAINTS." ( ROM.1:7), THAT IS TO BE SET APART TO GOD BY HIS "CALL." WE ARE TO LIVE "HOLY LIVES" . THIS IS THE POINT OF PAUL'S ADMONITION TO THE BELIEVERS IN "EPHESUS"; I THERE, A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, BEG YOU TO LEAD A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN "CALLED." (EPH. 4:1).
LAZARUS WAS DEAD BEFORE CHRIST CALLED HIM FROM THE TOMB. HE WAS IMPERVIOUS TO ANY "CALL." IF YOU OR I WERE PRESENT, WE COULD OF CALLED LOUDLY, PERSUASIVELY, BUT LAZARUS WOULD STILL NOT HAVE RESPONDED. WHEN JESUS CALLED, IT WAS DIFFERENT. HIS "CALL" HAD POWER TO BRING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE. IN THE SAME WAY HIS 'CALL" QUICKENS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE HIS PEOPLE, AND NONE FAILED TO QUICKEN (HAS NOT COME ALIVE.) AS JESUS SAID, " MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME." (JN. 10:27). THE CIRCLE IS NOW WIDENING AND IN THE GOSPEL TEXT (1:43-51), WE HAVE THE CALL OF PHILIP AND NATHANAEL. ON THE FOURTH DAY,
JESUS IS MINDED TO SET OUT ON A JOURNEY TO GALILEE. HE FINDS PHILIP, WHO IN TURN FIND NATHANAEL. PHILIP MAKES THE CONFESSION THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, WHO WAS FORETOLD BY MOSES AND THE PROPHETS. GOD IS A TALKER. IN MANY AND VARIED WAYS, THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS TELLS US, GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE OF OLD BY THE PROPHETS, BUT IN THE LAST DAYS [GOD] HAS SPOKE TO US BY A SON. (HEBREWS 1:2). LOQUACIOUS (TALKATIVE) IS GOD THAT GOD'S WORD BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US. GOD IS STILL LISTENING AND TALKING BACK. JESUS IS EVIDENCED OF GOD'S LISTENING AND TALKING. HE IS THE WORD THAT PERSISTS TO THE GRAVE AND "CALLS" US TO NEW LIFE. HOW WILL WE DISCERN THE WORD'S OF THE LORD? SAMUEL DID SO BY FEELING HIS WAY IN THE DARK, BY PERSISTING IN ANSWERING THE "CALL" EVEN WHEN HE FIRST MISTOOK ITS SOURCE. GOD PERSISTED IN CALLING. SAMUEL PERSISTED IN RESPONDING TO THE "CALL." WE WALK IN THE DARK IN FEELING OUR WAY ALONG THE CONTOURS OF OUR BAPTISM, THE LORD'S SUPPER, OUR PRAYERS, THE READING AND HEARING OF GOD'S WORD IN SCRIPTURE. SAMUEL, PHILIP, NATHANAEL, WERE AVAILABLE TO GOD'S "CALL."
ARE WE?
JESUS SON OF JOSEPH FROM NAZARETH, NATHANAEL SAID TO HIM, " CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?" PHILIP SAID TO HIM, " COME AND SEE." WHEN JESUS SAW NATHANAEL COMING TOWARD HIM, HE SAID OF HIM, " HERE IS TRULY AN ISRAELITE IN WHOM IS NO DECEIT!"
NATHANAEL REPLIED, " RABBI, YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD! YOU ARE THE KING OF ISRAEL."
DO YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE I TOLD YOU THAT I SAW YOU UNDER THE FIG TREE? YOU WILL SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE." AND HE SAID TO HIM, " VERY TRULY I TELL YOU," YOU WILL SEE HEAVEN OPENED AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN."
IF YOU HEARD THIS SOMEWHERE BEFORE, IT SHOULD RING A BELL; FOR JACOB ON HIS JOURNEY FROM BEERSHEBA TO HARAN, CAME TO A CERTAIN PLACE AND STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT, FOR THE SUN HAD SET, TAKING SOME STONES FOR A PILLOW LAID DOWN TO SLEEP. HE DREAMT HE SAW A LADDER, WHICH RESTED ON THE GROUND WITH ITS TOP REACHING TO HEAVEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD WERE GOING UP AND DOWN UPON IT. THE LORD WAS STANDING BESIDE HIM AND SAID, " I AM THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC. WHAT JACOB SAW IN A VISION IS NOW A REALITY IN JESUS. (GEN. 28:12).
THERE IS HERE AN IMPLIED CONTRAST WITH JACOB, FROM WHOM OF COURSE, THE ISRAELITES DERIVED THEIR NAME. THERE IS A CLAIM FOR JESUS THE POWER TO READ THE HEARTS OF MEN. NATHANAEL IS DEEPLY IMPRESSED AND ACCLAIMS JESUS THE "SON OF GOD AND THE KING OF ISRAEL." JESUS TELLS HIM THAT, BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS FAITH, HE WOULD BE GRANTED A DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING AND A CLEARER VISION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH'S WORK. THE VISION OF THE GLORY OF THE SON OF MAN WAS TO BE A REWARD OF FAITH. JESUS DESCRIBES THE NEW MESSIANIC ORDER WHICH HE WAS TO USHER IN WITH HIS COMING. IN GOD'S CASE, THE "CALL" WE RECEIVE ACTUALLY
BRINGS ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE ONE SUMMONED.
MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE SHOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD "CALL," BUT NONE MORE CLEARLY THAN THOSE IN ROMANS [ 8]. JOHN MURRAY WRITES, NOTHING CLINCHES THE ARGUMENT FOR THIS FEATURE OF THE "CALL," MORE CLEARLY THAN THE TEACHING OF ROMANS [ 8:28-30]. LISTEN: " GOD WHO SEARCHES OUR INMOST BEING KNOWS WHAT THE SPIRIT MEANS, BECAUSE HE PLEADS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE IN GOD'S OWN WAY; AND IN EVERYTHING, AS WE KNOW, HE CO-OPERATES FOR GOOD WITH THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE "CALLED" ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. FOR GOD KNEW HIS OWN BEFORE EVER THEY WERE,, AND ALSO ORDAINED THAT THEY SHOULD BE SHAPED TO THE LIKENESS OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE ELDEST AMONG A LARGE FAMILY OF BROTHERS. THE "CALL" IS STATED ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE AND FINDS ITS PLACE IN THE CENTER OF THAT UNBREAKABLE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH HAS ITS BEGINNINGS IN THE DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE. THIS IS JUST SAYING THAT, THE EFFECTUAL "CALL" INSURES PERSEVERANCE BECAUSE IT IS GROUNDED IN THE SECURITY OF GOD'S GRACE AND PURPOSE. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD AND BROUGHT TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST BY THE POWER OF THIS SUMMONS ARE THOSE "CALLED" TO BELONG. TO JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE "CALLED TO BE SAINTS." ( ROM.1:7), THAT IS TO BE SET APART TO GOD BY HIS "CALL." WE ARE TO LIVE "HOLY LIVES" . THIS IS THE POINT OF PAUL'S ADMONITION TO THE BELIEVERS IN "EPHESUS"; I THERE, A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, BEG YOU TO LEAD A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN "CALLED." (EPH. 4:1).
LAZARUS WAS DEAD BEFORE CHRIST CALLED HIM FROM THE TOMB. HE WAS IMPERVIOUS TO ANY "CALL." IF YOU OR I WERE PRESENT, WE COULD OF CALLED LOUDLY, PERSUASIVELY, BUT LAZARUS WOULD STILL NOT HAVE RESPONDED. WHEN JESUS CALLED, IT WAS DIFFERENT. HIS "CALL" HAD POWER TO BRING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE. IN THE SAME WAY HIS 'CALL" QUICKENS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE HIS PEOPLE, AND NONE FAILED TO QUICKEN (HAS NOT COME ALIVE.) AS JESUS SAID, " MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME." (JN. 10:27). THE CIRCLE IS NOW WIDENING AND IN THE GOSPEL TEXT (1:43-51), WE HAVE THE CALL OF PHILIP AND NATHANAEL. ON THE FOURTH DAY,
JESUS IS MINDED TO SET OUT ON A JOURNEY TO GALILEE. HE FINDS PHILIP, WHO IN TURN FIND NATHANAEL. PHILIP MAKES THE CONFESSION THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, WHO WAS FORETOLD BY MOSES AND THE PROPHETS. GOD IS A TALKER. IN MANY AND VARIED WAYS, THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS TELLS US, GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE OF OLD BY THE PROPHETS, BUT IN THE LAST DAYS [GOD] HAS SPOKE TO US BY A SON. (HEBREWS 1:2). LOQUACIOUS (TALKATIVE) IS GOD THAT GOD'S WORD BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US. GOD IS STILL LISTENING AND TALKING BACK. JESUS IS EVIDENCED OF GOD'S LISTENING AND TALKING. HE IS THE WORD THAT PERSISTS TO THE GRAVE AND "CALLS" US TO NEW LIFE. HOW WILL WE DISCERN THE WORD'S OF THE LORD? SAMUEL DID SO BY FEELING HIS WAY IN THE DARK, BY PERSISTING IN ANSWERING THE "CALL" EVEN WHEN HE FIRST MISTOOK ITS SOURCE. GOD PERSISTED IN CALLING. SAMUEL PERSISTED IN RESPONDING TO THE "CALL." WE WALK IN THE DARK IN FEELING OUR WAY ALONG THE CONTOURS OF OUR BAPTISM, THE LORD'S SUPPER, OUR PRAYERS, THE READING AND HEARING OF GOD'S WORD IN SCRIPTURE. SAMUEL, PHILIP, NATHANAEL, WERE AVAILABLE TO GOD'S "CALL."
ARE WE?
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
" THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE. [JOHN 14: 1-7].
LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME .
[ v.27].
IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS (ROOMS). IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF;
THAT WHERE I AM, , THERE YOU MAYBE ALSO. [ ACTS 1 :11] AND WITHER I GO YE KNOW, (UNDERSTAND) AND THE WAY YE KNOW.
THOMAS SAITH UNTO HIM, LORD, WE KNOW NOT WHITHER THOU GOEST; AND HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY? JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE:" (11:16). NO ONE COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME. IF YE HAD KNOWN ME, YE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN MY FATHER ALSO: AND FROM HENCE FORTH YE KNOW HIM, AND HAVE SEEN HIM. ( JOHN 14: 1-7). [KJV].
THE FIRST FEW VERSES OF JOHN 14 ARE AMONG THE MOST POPULAR IN THE BIBLE. THEY SPEAK ABOUT HEAVEN, BUT THE REASON FOR THEIR POPULARITY IS NOT THAT THEY REVEAL DETAILS ABOUT HEAVEN OR EVEN ABOUT LIFE BEYOND THE GRAVE. THEY DO NOT. NOR IS IT THAT OTHER, MORE EXTENSIVE PASSAGES ON THE SUBJECT OF HEAVEN. ARE LACKING. THE "BOOK" OF REVELATION DESCRIBES HEAVEN AS A GLORIOUS CITY, A COUNTRY, GOD'S KINGDOM, PARADISE, IT ABOUNDS IN WALLS, THRONES, PRECIOUS JEWELS, CHOIRS, ANGELS. WHY IS JOHN 14 SO POPULAR? THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE WARM IMAGE THAT IS FOUND THERE: HEAVEN IS A HOME. WE NEED A HOME, WE LONG FOR A HOME. JESUS CALMLY TOLD HIS TROUBLED DISCIPLES THAT WE HAVE ONE. " LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED; BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. OUR NEED FOR A HOME ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LOST ONE. WE HAD A HOME ONCE, IN EDEN. BUT SIN CAUSED THE LOSS OF THAT HOME AND, EVER SINCE THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE HAS BEEN ONE OF WANDERING. WE THINK OF CAIN, WHO KILLED HIS BROTHER AND WAS CONDEMNED TO A LIFE OF DRIFTING. HE HAD NO HOME. IN GENESIS 11 WE FIND MEN TRYING TO CREATE A CITY IN WHICH HOLMES WOULD BE ESTABLISHED, BUT THE MEN OF BABEL WERE IN OPPOSITION TO GOD, ( CAIN AND HIS FRIENDS WERE GOING TO GIVE GOD A PIECE OF THEIR MIND FOR DESTROYING THE EARTH, THEIR FRIENDS, AND AS THE TOWER WAS GETTING CLOSER TO GOD IN HEAVEN, HE CONFUSED THEIR LANGUAGE, AND THE BUILDING STOPPED. THEY WERE MADE HOMELESS. WE FIND WITH THE COMING OF ABRAHAM, WE FIND A NEW HEARTENING ELEMENT. TO BE SURE GOD'S FIRST DEALINGS WITH ABRAHAM WERE
TO TAKE HIM FROM HIS HOME- IT WAS A SINFUL PLACE FILLED WITH IDOLS AND IDOLS WORSHIPPERS. BUT IN THE PLACE OF THE HOME HE LOST, GOD PROMISED ABRAHAM A NEW PLACE.: " THE LAND I WILL SHOW YOU (GEN 12:1), WHAT IS MORE GOD GAVE THE BOUNDARIES AND INDICATED THE SPECIFIC TERRITORY. IT WAS "FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER, THE RIVER EUPHRATES, THE LAND OF THE KENITES, THE KENIZZITES, THE KADMONITES, THE HITTITES, PERIZZITES, BUT EVEN THOUGH ABRAHAM WAS BROUGHT INTO THE LAND AND EVEN THOUGH HIS DESCENDANTS WERE LATER SETTLED THERE IN LARGE NUMBERS, EVEN AS GREAT A LAND AS THE PROMISED LAND WAS ULTIMATELY
INADEQUATE. ABRAHAM IS PRAISED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, NOT BECAUSE HE FIXED HIS HOPE ON SOME EARTHLY HOME ( IMPORTANT AS THAT MAY BE), HE LOOKED FOR A HEAVENLY HOME. " HE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE CITY WHICH HAS FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD" ( HEB. 11: 1O).
ALTHOUGH OUR EARTHLY HOMES ARE NECESSARY AND SIGNIFICANT, THEY ARE NOT PERMANENT. OUR BASIC NEED FOR A HOME IS FULLY MET ONLY WHEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST PREPARES A HOME FOR US IN HEAVEN. NOW WE ARE IN A STRANGE LAND EVEN IN ENEMY COUNTRY. IN THAT DAY WE SHALL BE IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE AND SHALL BE HOME. THAT IS A CHRISTIAN'S DESTINY.
WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HEAVEN EXCEPT THAT IT IS WHERE WE SHALL BE AND WHERE WE SHALL BE WITH JESUS. ONE DAY I WAS IN THE POOL WITH MY TWELVE- YEAR OLD MIDDLE GRANDSON, AND I LOOKING UP TOWARD THE SKY FILLED WITH CLOUDS, I SAID WHERE DO YOU THINK GOD IS? HE SAID: WITH THE STARS? CONVERSATION DRIFTED AROUND TO HEAVEN AND WHERE GOD IS? AND WHERE HEAVEN FIT IN. AND WHERE JESUS HAS GONE TO PREPARE THAT PLACE WHICH HE HAS PROMISED US. THIS IS THE FOCAL POINT OF REVELATIONS 5. IT SPEAKS OF THE THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS, THE ANGELS AND A VAST HOST OF OTHER CREATURES FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE. THESE BEINGS WERE MENTIONED, NOT FOR DESCRIPTIVE PURPOSES, BUT BECAUSE EACH BORE TESTIMONY TO CHRIST, AND THUS SERVED TO SHOW HOW HE IS PROMINENT. THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS PRAISED HIM WITH THIS SONG: " WORTHY ART THOU TO TAKE THE SCROLL AND TO OPEN ITS SEALS, FOR THOU WAS SLAIN AND BY THY BLOOD DIDST RANSOM MEN FOR GOD FROM EVERY TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE AND NATION, AND HAS MADE THEM A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD, AND THEY SHALL REIGN ON EARTH (vv 9-10). THEN THE ANGELS GAVE THEIR TESTIMONY: " WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN, TO RECEIVE POWER AND WEALTH AND WISDOM AND MIGHT AND HONOR AND GLORY AND BLESSING (v12). AT LAST THE REMAINING CREATURES JOINED IN: " TO HIM WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE AND TO THE LAMB BE BLESSING AND HONOR AND GLORY AND MIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER! (v13). HEAVEN IS WHERE GOD IS. IT IS HIS PRESENCE! (AND NOT SOME HIGH CONCENTRATION OF GOLDEN STREETS OR JEWELS) THAT MAKES IT HEAVEN. THESE WORDS WERE A GREAT COMFORT TO THE DISCIPLES AND ARE PRECIOUS TO US. THE DISCIPLES WERE GOING TO LOSE THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF JESUS FOR A TIME, BUT HE TOLD THEM THAT ONE DAY THEY WOULD BE REUNITED WITH HIM IN HIS FATHER'S HOME. HEAVEN WOULD BE A HOME FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE WITH JESUS.
STILL THEY ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IS TO HAPPEN, IN THE LIFE TO COME. DO YOU THINK WE WILL KNOW MY FAMILY WHO WENT BEFORE, WILL I KNOW MY BILL,?" MY BROTHER.?
IF WE COULD NOT RECOGNIZE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THEN HEAVEN INEVITABLY WOULD LOSE MUCH OF ITS ATTRACTIVENESS. WE WILL KNOW FAMILY, FRIENDS,PARENTS, CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LORD BEFORE US.
CHRIST STORY ABOUT THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS MAKES A SIMILAR POINT. THE LORD TOLD HOW THE RICH MAN WENT TO HELL AND, BEING IN TORMENT, LIFTED UP HIS EYES AND "SAW ABRAHAM FAR OFF AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM (LK. 16:23) HERE IS A CASE THAT INVOLVES RECOGNITION OF THE DEPARTED, NOT ONLY AS THEY APPEAR IN THIS LIFE, BUT AS THEY APPEAR IN THE LIFE TO COME.
FINALLY, THERE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS IN WHICH HE SPEAKS OF THE GENTILES JOINING WITH BELIEVING JEWS IN A GREAT REUNION IN HEAVEN." I TELL YOU, MANY WILL COME FROM EAST AND WEST AND SIT AT THE TABLE WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (MT. 8:11). MANY HAVE LOST LOVED ONES. IF WE LIVE LONG ENOUGH, WE WILL ALL LOSE LOVED ONES. YET WE HAVE NOT LOST THEM ULTIMATELY. THEY ARE WITH JESUS, AND WE WILL BE UNITED WITH THEM. IN THAT DAY WE MAY BE SURPRISED AT WHO IS IN HEAVEN, FOR MANY WILL BE THERE WHOM WE DO NOT EXPECT TO BE THERE. AND WE WILL PROBABLY BE SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MANY WHOM WE THOUGHT WOULD BE THERE ARE NOT PRESENT.
[ v.27].
IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS (ROOMS). IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF;
THAT WHERE I AM, , THERE YOU MAYBE ALSO. [ ACTS 1 :11] AND WITHER I GO YE KNOW, (UNDERSTAND) AND THE WAY YE KNOW.
THOMAS SAITH UNTO HIM, LORD, WE KNOW NOT WHITHER THOU GOEST; AND HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY? JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE:" (11:16). NO ONE COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME. IF YE HAD KNOWN ME, YE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN MY FATHER ALSO: AND FROM HENCE FORTH YE KNOW HIM, AND HAVE SEEN HIM. ( JOHN 14: 1-7). [KJV].
THE FIRST FEW VERSES OF JOHN 14 ARE AMONG THE MOST POPULAR IN THE BIBLE. THEY SPEAK ABOUT HEAVEN, BUT THE REASON FOR THEIR POPULARITY IS NOT THAT THEY REVEAL DETAILS ABOUT HEAVEN OR EVEN ABOUT LIFE BEYOND THE GRAVE. THEY DO NOT. NOR IS IT THAT OTHER, MORE EXTENSIVE PASSAGES ON THE SUBJECT OF HEAVEN. ARE LACKING. THE "BOOK" OF REVELATION DESCRIBES HEAVEN AS A GLORIOUS CITY, A COUNTRY, GOD'S KINGDOM, PARADISE, IT ABOUNDS IN WALLS, THRONES, PRECIOUS JEWELS, CHOIRS, ANGELS. WHY IS JOHN 14 SO POPULAR? THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE WARM IMAGE THAT IS FOUND THERE: HEAVEN IS A HOME. WE NEED A HOME, WE LONG FOR A HOME. JESUS CALMLY TOLD HIS TROUBLED DISCIPLES THAT WE HAVE ONE. " LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED; BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. OUR NEED FOR A HOME ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LOST ONE. WE HAD A HOME ONCE, IN EDEN. BUT SIN CAUSED THE LOSS OF THAT HOME AND, EVER SINCE THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE HAS BEEN ONE OF WANDERING. WE THINK OF CAIN, WHO KILLED HIS BROTHER AND WAS CONDEMNED TO A LIFE OF DRIFTING. HE HAD NO HOME. IN GENESIS 11 WE FIND MEN TRYING TO CREATE A CITY IN WHICH HOLMES WOULD BE ESTABLISHED, BUT THE MEN OF BABEL WERE IN OPPOSITION TO GOD, ( CAIN AND HIS FRIENDS WERE GOING TO GIVE GOD A PIECE OF THEIR MIND FOR DESTROYING THE EARTH, THEIR FRIENDS, AND AS THE TOWER WAS GETTING CLOSER TO GOD IN HEAVEN, HE CONFUSED THEIR LANGUAGE, AND THE BUILDING STOPPED. THEY WERE MADE HOMELESS. WE FIND WITH THE COMING OF ABRAHAM, WE FIND A NEW HEARTENING ELEMENT. TO BE SURE GOD'S FIRST DEALINGS WITH ABRAHAM WERE
TO TAKE HIM FROM HIS HOME- IT WAS A SINFUL PLACE FILLED WITH IDOLS AND IDOLS WORSHIPPERS. BUT IN THE PLACE OF THE HOME HE LOST, GOD PROMISED ABRAHAM A NEW PLACE.: " THE LAND I WILL SHOW YOU (GEN 12:1), WHAT IS MORE GOD GAVE THE BOUNDARIES AND INDICATED THE SPECIFIC TERRITORY. IT WAS "FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER, THE RIVER EUPHRATES, THE LAND OF THE KENITES, THE KENIZZITES, THE KADMONITES, THE HITTITES, PERIZZITES, BUT EVEN THOUGH ABRAHAM WAS BROUGHT INTO THE LAND AND EVEN THOUGH HIS DESCENDANTS WERE LATER SETTLED THERE IN LARGE NUMBERS, EVEN AS GREAT A LAND AS THE PROMISED LAND WAS ULTIMATELY
INADEQUATE. ABRAHAM IS PRAISED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, NOT BECAUSE HE FIXED HIS HOPE ON SOME EARTHLY HOME ( IMPORTANT AS THAT MAY BE), HE LOOKED FOR A HEAVENLY HOME. " HE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE CITY WHICH HAS FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD" ( HEB. 11: 1O).
ALTHOUGH OUR EARTHLY HOMES ARE NECESSARY AND SIGNIFICANT, THEY ARE NOT PERMANENT. OUR BASIC NEED FOR A HOME IS FULLY MET ONLY WHEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST PREPARES A HOME FOR US IN HEAVEN. NOW WE ARE IN A STRANGE LAND EVEN IN ENEMY COUNTRY. IN THAT DAY WE SHALL BE IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE AND SHALL BE HOME. THAT IS A CHRISTIAN'S DESTINY.
WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HEAVEN EXCEPT THAT IT IS WHERE WE SHALL BE AND WHERE WE SHALL BE WITH JESUS. ONE DAY I WAS IN THE POOL WITH MY TWELVE- YEAR OLD MIDDLE GRANDSON, AND I LOOKING UP TOWARD THE SKY FILLED WITH CLOUDS, I SAID WHERE DO YOU THINK GOD IS? HE SAID: WITH THE STARS? CONVERSATION DRIFTED AROUND TO HEAVEN AND WHERE GOD IS? AND WHERE HEAVEN FIT IN. AND WHERE JESUS HAS GONE TO PREPARE THAT PLACE WHICH HE HAS PROMISED US. THIS IS THE FOCAL POINT OF REVELATIONS 5. IT SPEAKS OF THE THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS, THE ANGELS AND A VAST HOST OF OTHER CREATURES FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE. THESE BEINGS WERE MENTIONED, NOT FOR DESCRIPTIVE PURPOSES, BUT BECAUSE EACH BORE TESTIMONY TO CHRIST, AND THUS SERVED TO SHOW HOW HE IS PROMINENT. THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS PRAISED HIM WITH THIS SONG: " WORTHY ART THOU TO TAKE THE SCROLL AND TO OPEN ITS SEALS, FOR THOU WAS SLAIN AND BY THY BLOOD DIDST RANSOM MEN FOR GOD FROM EVERY TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE AND NATION, AND HAS MADE THEM A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD, AND THEY SHALL REIGN ON EARTH (vv 9-10). THEN THE ANGELS GAVE THEIR TESTIMONY: " WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN, TO RECEIVE POWER AND WEALTH AND WISDOM AND MIGHT AND HONOR AND GLORY AND BLESSING (v12). AT LAST THE REMAINING CREATURES JOINED IN: " TO HIM WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE AND TO THE LAMB BE BLESSING AND HONOR AND GLORY AND MIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER! (v13). HEAVEN IS WHERE GOD IS. IT IS HIS PRESENCE! (AND NOT SOME HIGH CONCENTRATION OF GOLDEN STREETS OR JEWELS) THAT MAKES IT HEAVEN. THESE WORDS WERE A GREAT COMFORT TO THE DISCIPLES AND ARE PRECIOUS TO US. THE DISCIPLES WERE GOING TO LOSE THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF JESUS FOR A TIME, BUT HE TOLD THEM THAT ONE DAY THEY WOULD BE REUNITED WITH HIM IN HIS FATHER'S HOME. HEAVEN WOULD BE A HOME FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE WITH JESUS.
STILL THEY ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IS TO HAPPEN, IN THE LIFE TO COME. DO YOU THINK WE WILL KNOW MY FAMILY WHO WENT BEFORE, WILL I KNOW MY BILL,?" MY BROTHER.?
IF WE COULD NOT RECOGNIZE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THEN HEAVEN INEVITABLY WOULD LOSE MUCH OF ITS ATTRACTIVENESS. WE WILL KNOW FAMILY, FRIENDS,PARENTS, CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LORD BEFORE US.
CHRIST STORY ABOUT THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS MAKES A SIMILAR POINT. THE LORD TOLD HOW THE RICH MAN WENT TO HELL AND, BEING IN TORMENT, LIFTED UP HIS EYES AND "SAW ABRAHAM FAR OFF AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM (LK. 16:23) HERE IS A CASE THAT INVOLVES RECOGNITION OF THE DEPARTED, NOT ONLY AS THEY APPEAR IN THIS LIFE, BUT AS THEY APPEAR IN THE LIFE TO COME.
FINALLY, THERE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS IN WHICH HE SPEAKS OF THE GENTILES JOINING WITH BELIEVING JEWS IN A GREAT REUNION IN HEAVEN." I TELL YOU, MANY WILL COME FROM EAST AND WEST AND SIT AT THE TABLE WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (MT. 8:11). MANY HAVE LOST LOVED ONES. IF WE LIVE LONG ENOUGH, WE WILL ALL LOSE LOVED ONES. YET WE HAVE NOT LOST THEM ULTIMATELY. THEY ARE WITH JESUS, AND WE WILL BE UNITED WITH THEM. IN THAT DAY WE MAY BE SURPRISED AT WHO IS IN HEAVEN, FOR MANY WILL BE THERE WHOM WE DO NOT EXPECT TO BE THERE. AND WE WILL PROBABLY BE SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MANY WHOM WE THOUGHT WOULD BE THERE ARE NOT PRESENT.
Monday, April 16, 2018
PREPARING FOR THE BANQUET. {MARK 14:22-24].
IN MARK WE READ"" AND AS THEY WERE EATING IT ( THE PASSOVER), JESUS TOOK BREAD ; AND BLESSED IT AND BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT TO THEM AND SAID, "TAKE THIS IS MY BODY." AND HE TOOK A CUP AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE GAVE IT TO THEM, AND THEY ALL DRANK IT. AND HE SAID TO THEM, " THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE COVENANT," WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR MANY."
ST. PAUL SAYS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER:
THE CUP OF BLESSING WHICH WE BLESS, IS IT NOT A PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? "THE BREAD WHICH WE BREAK, IS IT NOT A PARTICIPATION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.?" (1 CORINTHIANS 10:16).
THOUGH RITUALS WHICH DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS USE AS THEY CELEBRATE THE LORD'S SUPPER ARE OFTEN SIMILAR, VIEWS CONCERNING WHAT THE WORSHIPPER RECEIVES WHEN HE OR SHE EATS THE BREAD AND DRINKS THE WINE DIFFER. THREE MAIN VIEWS PREVAIL WITHIN CHRISTENDOM CONCERNING WHAT THE COMMUNICANT RECEIVES.
1.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE CHANGED.
SOME TEACH THAT DURING THE WORSHIP SERVICE, THE PRIEST, PASTOR, MINISTER, CHANGE THE BREAD AND WINE INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OF JESUS CHRIST.. THOUGH THAT WHICH THE WORSHIPPER EATS AND DRINKS HAS ALL THE OUTWARD APPEARANCES OF BREAD AND WINE (ACCIDENS), IT IS NO LONGER BREAD AND WINE, BUT THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST (SUBSTANS). THIS PARTICULAR TEACHING IS CALLED "TRANSUBSTANTIATION."
2.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE SYMBOLS
SOME TEACH THAT THE BREAD AND WINE (OFTEN GRAPE JUICE) SYMBOLS AND REMINDERS OF JESUS BODY AND BLOOD. IN THIS VIEW, THE BREAD "REPRESENTS" CHRIST'S ABSENT BODY, AND THE WINE "REPRESENTS" CHRIST'S ABSENT BLOOD.
3.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE BEARERS OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD.
SOME TEACH THAT THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION, THE BREAD REMAINS BREAD AND THE WINE REMAINS WINE. HOWEVER, TOGETHER WITH THE BREAD, CHRIST GIVES US HIS TRUE BODY, AND TOGETHER WITH THE WINE, HE GIVES US HIS TRUE BLOOD. EVEN SO, ONE COULD NOT TAKE ANY BREAD AND WINE USED IN A COMMUNION SERVICE AND FIND A LITERAL PORTION OF CHRIST'S BODY WITHIN THE WAFER, OR A DROP OF CHRIST'S BLOOD WITHIN THE WINE. THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD IS "REAL, BUT SPIRITUAL, SACRAMENTAL, AND A MYSTERY."
THE NEED FOR PREPARATION
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:27-29, PAUL WRITES:
" WHOEVER EATS THIS BREAD AND DRINKS THE CUP OF THE LORD IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER WILL BE GUILTY OF PROFANING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. LET A MAN OR WOMEN EXAMINE HIMSELF, HERSELF, AND SO EAT OF THE BREAD AND DRINK OF THE CUP. FOR ANYONE WHO EATS AND DRINKS WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT UPON HIM OR HER SELF.
IN THIS PASSAGE, PAUL SAYS THAT A PERSON WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER SHOULD EXAMINE HIMSELF PRIOR TO DOING SO. HE POINTS OUT THAT HE WHO DOES NOT DO THIS RUNS THE RISK OF PARTICIPATING " IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER." HOW DO WE EXAMINE OURSELVES?
HOW DO WE DETERMINE OUR WORTHINESS TO ATTEND THE "LORD'S SUPPER?"
BY INCREASING OUR FERVENCY OF FAITH? BY TRYING TO OVERCOME TROUBLESOME SINS?
PAUL WORDS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY WERE WRITTEN. MEMBERS OF THE EARLY CHURCH USED TO GATHER TOGETHER FOR A COMMUNITY MEAL CALLED ("LOVE FEAST" AND CELEBRATE THE LORD'S). WHEN THE COMMUNITY MEAL WAS OVER. SOME MEMBERS OF THE CORINTHIAN CONGREGATION WERE ABUSING THE PRACTICE. THE RICH BROUGHT THEIR ABUNDANCE, SOUGHT THE FELLOWSHIP OF THEIR OWN KIND AND GORGED THEMSELVES. THE POOR WHO CAME TO THE OBSERVANCE BROUGHT NOTHING WITH THEM-BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING TO BRING-AND WERE LEFT TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR HUNGER. 1 CORINTHIANS 11: 17-22). PAUL REBUKED THE WEALTHY FOR THEIR HEARTLESS BEHAVIOR, THEIR NEGLECT OF THE NEEDY BROTHER.
PAUL EXPLAINS THE TRUTH CONCERNING THE INSTITUTION OF HIS HOLY SUPPER 1 CORINTHIANS (11:23-26). HE STATES THAT HE WHO PARTAKES OF IT LOOKS IN TWO DIRECTION: BACKWARDS TO CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION. AND FORWARD TO HIS COMING AGAIN.
LUTHER SAYS THAT A PERSON IS "TRULY WORTHY AND WELL PREPARED" TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE WORDS, " GIVEN AND SHED FOR YOU FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, " MATTHEW ( 6:26-28). THE LORD INVITES US TO SHARE IN HIS HOLY SUPPER TO CELEBRATE HIS RICH MERCY TOWARDS US. BECAUSE GOD HAS LAVISHED HIS KINDNESS ON US WE WILL WANT TO GO FORTH TO THANK AND PRAISE HIM BY SERVING OTHERS AS HE HAS SERVED US.
THE PERSON WHO ADOPTS AN INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS DESIRED OUTCOME OF THE LORD'S SUPPER EATS AND DRINKS IN AN "UNWORTHY MANNER" HE FAILS TO TAKE HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS OTHER MEMBERS OF "THE BODY." OF BELIEVERS SERIOUSLY. NOT THINKING OF THE HEAVENLY OUTCOME OF THE HEAVENLY MEAL. IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT CHRIST HAS GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US, HAS FORGIVEN US, AND GIVES US ETERNAL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIMSELF. WE ARE MOVED TO RESPOND IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. TOWARD THE CLOSE OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IS USUALLY OFFERED. IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT IN CHRIST WE ARE ALREADY PART OF THE HEAVENLY HOST. WE ASK GOD TO MOVE US TO PRACTICE FERVENT LOVE AND SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO GIVE THIS MATTER SERIOUS THOUGHT, LEST WE REDUCE WORSHIP FORMS TO RITUALS DONE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE.
ST. PAUL SAYS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER:
THE CUP OF BLESSING WHICH WE BLESS, IS IT NOT A PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? "THE BREAD WHICH WE BREAK, IS IT NOT A PARTICIPATION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.?" (1 CORINTHIANS 10:16).
THOUGH RITUALS WHICH DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS USE AS THEY CELEBRATE THE LORD'S SUPPER ARE OFTEN SIMILAR, VIEWS CONCERNING WHAT THE WORSHIPPER RECEIVES WHEN HE OR SHE EATS THE BREAD AND DRINKS THE WINE DIFFER. THREE MAIN VIEWS PREVAIL WITHIN CHRISTENDOM CONCERNING WHAT THE COMMUNICANT RECEIVES.
1.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE CHANGED.
SOME TEACH THAT DURING THE WORSHIP SERVICE, THE PRIEST, PASTOR, MINISTER, CHANGE THE BREAD AND WINE INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OF JESUS CHRIST.. THOUGH THAT WHICH THE WORSHIPPER EATS AND DRINKS HAS ALL THE OUTWARD APPEARANCES OF BREAD AND WINE (ACCIDENS), IT IS NO LONGER BREAD AND WINE, BUT THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST (SUBSTANS). THIS PARTICULAR TEACHING IS CALLED "TRANSUBSTANTIATION."
2.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE SYMBOLS
SOME TEACH THAT THE BREAD AND WINE (OFTEN GRAPE JUICE) SYMBOLS AND REMINDERS OF JESUS BODY AND BLOOD. IN THIS VIEW, THE BREAD "REPRESENTS" CHRIST'S ABSENT BODY, AND THE WINE "REPRESENTS" CHRIST'S ABSENT BLOOD.
3.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE BEARERS OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD.
SOME TEACH THAT THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION, THE BREAD REMAINS BREAD AND THE WINE REMAINS WINE. HOWEVER, TOGETHER WITH THE BREAD, CHRIST GIVES US HIS TRUE BODY, AND TOGETHER WITH THE WINE, HE GIVES US HIS TRUE BLOOD. EVEN SO, ONE COULD NOT TAKE ANY BREAD AND WINE USED IN A COMMUNION SERVICE AND FIND A LITERAL PORTION OF CHRIST'S BODY WITHIN THE WAFER, OR A DROP OF CHRIST'S BLOOD WITHIN THE WINE. THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD IS "REAL, BUT SPIRITUAL, SACRAMENTAL, AND A MYSTERY."
THE NEED FOR PREPARATION
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:27-29, PAUL WRITES:
" WHOEVER EATS THIS BREAD AND DRINKS THE CUP OF THE LORD IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER WILL BE GUILTY OF PROFANING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. LET A MAN OR WOMEN EXAMINE HIMSELF, HERSELF, AND SO EAT OF THE BREAD AND DRINK OF THE CUP. FOR ANYONE WHO EATS AND DRINKS WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT UPON HIM OR HER SELF.
IN THIS PASSAGE, PAUL SAYS THAT A PERSON WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER SHOULD EXAMINE HIMSELF PRIOR TO DOING SO. HE POINTS OUT THAT HE WHO DOES NOT DO THIS RUNS THE RISK OF PARTICIPATING " IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER." HOW DO WE EXAMINE OURSELVES?
HOW DO WE DETERMINE OUR WORTHINESS TO ATTEND THE "LORD'S SUPPER?"
BY INCREASING OUR FERVENCY OF FAITH? BY TRYING TO OVERCOME TROUBLESOME SINS?
PAUL WORDS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY WERE WRITTEN. MEMBERS OF THE EARLY CHURCH USED TO GATHER TOGETHER FOR A COMMUNITY MEAL CALLED ("LOVE FEAST" AND CELEBRATE THE LORD'S). WHEN THE COMMUNITY MEAL WAS OVER. SOME MEMBERS OF THE CORINTHIAN CONGREGATION WERE ABUSING THE PRACTICE. THE RICH BROUGHT THEIR ABUNDANCE, SOUGHT THE FELLOWSHIP OF THEIR OWN KIND AND GORGED THEMSELVES. THE POOR WHO CAME TO THE OBSERVANCE BROUGHT NOTHING WITH THEM-BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING TO BRING-AND WERE LEFT TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR HUNGER. 1 CORINTHIANS 11: 17-22). PAUL REBUKED THE WEALTHY FOR THEIR HEARTLESS BEHAVIOR, THEIR NEGLECT OF THE NEEDY BROTHER.
PAUL EXPLAINS THE TRUTH CONCERNING THE INSTITUTION OF HIS HOLY SUPPER 1 CORINTHIANS (11:23-26). HE STATES THAT HE WHO PARTAKES OF IT LOOKS IN TWO DIRECTION: BACKWARDS TO CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION. AND FORWARD TO HIS COMING AGAIN.
LUTHER SAYS THAT A PERSON IS "TRULY WORTHY AND WELL PREPARED" TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE WORDS, " GIVEN AND SHED FOR YOU FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, " MATTHEW ( 6:26-28). THE LORD INVITES US TO SHARE IN HIS HOLY SUPPER TO CELEBRATE HIS RICH MERCY TOWARDS US. BECAUSE GOD HAS LAVISHED HIS KINDNESS ON US WE WILL WANT TO GO FORTH TO THANK AND PRAISE HIM BY SERVING OTHERS AS HE HAS SERVED US.
THE PERSON WHO ADOPTS AN INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS DESIRED OUTCOME OF THE LORD'S SUPPER EATS AND DRINKS IN AN "UNWORTHY MANNER" HE FAILS TO TAKE HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS OTHER MEMBERS OF "THE BODY." OF BELIEVERS SERIOUSLY. NOT THINKING OF THE HEAVENLY OUTCOME OF THE HEAVENLY MEAL. IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT CHRIST HAS GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US, HAS FORGIVEN US, AND GIVES US ETERNAL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIMSELF. WE ARE MOVED TO RESPOND IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. TOWARD THE CLOSE OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IS USUALLY OFFERED. IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT IN CHRIST WE ARE ALREADY PART OF THE HEAVENLY HOST. WE ASK GOD TO MOVE US TO PRACTICE FERVENT LOVE AND SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO GIVE THIS MATTER SERIOUS THOUGHT, LEST WE REDUCE WORSHIP FORMS TO RITUALS DONE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE.
Thursday, April 12, 2018
TRANSFIGURATION!
TODAY WE TAKE A LOOK FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF TRANSFIGURING LIGHT, CHRIST GOES FORTH TO JERUSALEM AND LEADS US TO THE PASSOVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE. HERE WE FIND THE MEANING OF HIS BIRTH AND UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE OF YESTERDAY'S TEXT ON BAPTISM: HE WAS BORN TO DIE, SO THAT IN OUR DEATH, WE MIGHT BE BORN TO ETERNAL LIFE. DO YOU EVER HAVE THE PROBLEM I OFTEN HAVE? SOMEONE WILL TELL JOKE AND THINK IT IS HILARIOUS, BUT I MISS THE POINT. THINGS JUST DON'T MAKE SENSE AT TIMES. WE HAVE DISAPPOINTMENT. WE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT, AND THIS CAN HAPPEN EVEN MORE EASILY WITH OUR LIFE IN CHRIST. JESUS SAID THINGS LIKE, " GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU, "OR" YOU HAVE TO LOSE YOUR LIFE IN ORDER TO FIND IT." UNFORTUNATELY, WE OFTEN MISS THE POINT IN WHAT, OR MAYBE LOSE IT EVEN THOUGH WE ONCE HAD IT. AS A RESULT, EVERYTHING GETS SHORT CIRCUITED; THE GOAL ISN'T REACHED. THE RESULTS DON'T HAPPEN WHEN WE DON'T GET THE JOKE. WE FAIL TO LAUGH AND SO MISS OUT ON THE FUN. WHEN WE MISS THE POINT IN WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US, OUR LIVES CAN SEEM QUITE MEANINGLESS. BUT WORST OF ALL, AND MOST TRAGIC, IS TO FIND NO JOY IN FOLLOWING CHRIST. BECAUSE WE HAVE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPLETELY MISSED THE POINT HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE. THIS LESSON IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS. JESUS TAKES PETER, JAMES AND JOHN UP ON A MOUNTAIN TOP, EVIDENTLY TO GIVE THESE THREE CHIEF DISCIPLES A SPECIAL REVELATION OF JUST WHO THEIR TEACHER REALLY IS. PERHAPS, IT IS ALSO TO CONFIRM THE CONFESSION OF FAITH PETER HAD MADE FOR THE OTHER DISCIPLES JUST SIX DAYS EARLIER WHEN HE SAID TO JESUS, " YOU ARE THE CHRIST." THIS REVELATION WOULD HELP THESE DISCIPLES TO GET THE POINT, TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING WHAT IS SOON TO HAPPEN IN CHRIST'S LIFE- HIS GOING UP TO JERUSALEM TO OFFER HIMSELF AS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB OF GOD WHOSE BLOOD WOULD TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS ON THAT MOUNTAIN TOP? PETER AND HIS FRIENDS COMPLETELY MISS THE POINT! LET'S TUNE IN ON THE STORY. SUDDENLY, RIGHT BEFORE THE DISCIPLES EYES, THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS IS TRANSFIGURED, "CHANGED." HE LOOKS DIFFERENT. HIS FACE GLOWS BRIGHTLY AND HIS CLOTHES BECOME DAZZLING WHITE. THEN MOSES AND ELIJAH ARE STANDING WITH JESUS. SO WHAT DO WE HEAR PETER SAYING? "ISN'T THIS NICE!" LORD, IT IS WELL THAT WE ARE HERE. WHAT A SHOW! IN FACT THROUGH OUT THE GOSPEL OF MARK THE DISCIPLES FAIL TO UNDERSTAND JESUS. WHY? WE HAVE A RINGSIDE SEAT ON HEAVEN ITSELF. HEY, THERE'S MOSES AND ELIJAH OVER THERE. NOW IF EVER THERE WERE GREAT MEN OF FAITH, THEY CERTAINLY FILL THE BILL. WHAT WAS HAPPENING SOUNDS LIKE THEATER-IN THE ROUND WHERE YOU GET INTO THE ACTION, THE ACTORS ARE RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN REACH OUT AND TOUCH THEM, AND AT TIMES THE AUDIENCE ACTUALLY GETS TO BE PART OF THE ACTION OF COURSE, YOU KNOW AND EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS THAT YOU AREN'T AN ACTOR.
BUT STILL, YOU CAN GO HOME AND SAY, "WASN'T THAT GREAT!" WELL, PETER THOUGHT IT WAS SO GREAT THAT HE WANTED TO STAY AROUND AWHILE AND ENJOY IT. " LORD HOW ABOUT IF WE SET UP SOME LITTLE SHELTERS HERE." THIS IS JUST TOO GREAT." PETER MISSING THE POINT, WANTED TO SETTLE DOWN AND ENJOY THE SHOW. PETER MISTAKES THE FUTURE FOR THE PRESENT.
AREN'T WE THAT WAY TOO? WE HAVE ALL THE GREAT DRAMA GOING ON IN SCRIPTURES. NOAH, ABRAHAM, THE GREAT MEN OF FAITH, ISAAC, JACOB, MOSES, THE DIVIDING OF THE WATERS OF THE RED SEA, MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS, GREAT BATTLES, INTRIGUE, DAVID AND HIS ADVENTURES! THEN THEIR IS CHRIST'S LIFE- STILLING OF THE WATERS, FEEDING OF THE THOUSANDS, HEALING'S, EVEN PEOPLE COMING BACK FROM DEATH. OR THERE ARE THE STORIES OF PAUL AND OTHER APOSTLES-SHIPWRECKS, ESCAPES, DANGER. THEN THERE IS THE GREAT DRAMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH-THE MEN OF FAITH WHO FACED LIONS AND GLADIATORS AND ALL THE REST-MORE DRAMA AND ADVENTURE AN CRISIS, WHAT A THING TO SIT ON! ISN'T THAT GREAT! AND WITH PETER WE MIGHT GET TO SET UP A PERMANENT THEATER FOR THIS ON GOING DRAMA, WITH COMFORTABLE BOX SEATS INTO WHICH WE MIGHT SETTLE BACK TO ENJOY IT ALL. THAT'S WHAT PETER SEEMS TO HAVE HAD IN MIND AND WE SHOULD DO THE SAME. "MASTER, SHALL WE
BUILD SOME SHELTERS?" BUT JESUS DID NOT ANSWER PETER AND HE WON'T ANSWER US.
JESUS DIDN'T ANSWER BECAUSE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE WERE YET TO HAPPEN. SUDDENLY, THE CLOUD OF GLORY BETTER KNOWN AS THE (SHEKINAH)
PRESENCE OF GOD COVERS THE MOUNTAIN AND THE VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAYS: " THIS IS MY BELOVED SON; LISTEN TO HIM." WHAT'S ALL HAPPENING HERE?
MOSES, ELIJAH, JESUS TRANSFIGURED! GOD IS TELLING THESE DISCIPLES SOMETHING. THINK ABOUT IT. ISN'T THIS THE SEQUENCE OF GOD REVEALING HIMSELF TO HIS PEOPLE. GOD'S FIRST REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE WAS AT MT. SINAI, WHEN GOD CALLED MOSES ONTO THE MOUNTAIN TO RECEIVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. THE MOUNTAIN WAS COVERED WITH FIERY LIGHTENING FLASHED AND THUNDER SOUNDED. WHEN MOSES CAME BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN HIS FACE GLOWED BRIGHTLY BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S GLORY.
THEN THERE WAS ELIJAH, THE GREATEST OF ALL PROPHETS. WE HEARD ABOUT HIS FIERY ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN. ELIJAH ALSO EXPERIENCED GOD'S GLORY ON A MOUNTAIN. IT WAS Mt. CARMEL. REMEMBER HOW ELIJAH ONCE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON LEFT IN ISRAEL STILL WORSHIPPING THE TRUE GOD AND THAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS WORSHIPPING BAAL., AN IDOL. AND REMEMBER HOW GOD ARRANGED A CONTEST BETWEEN BAAL AND HIMSELF. THE FOLLOWERS OF BAAL SET UP AN ALTAR WITH AN OFFERING. THEN THEY PRAYED TO THEIR gods OFFERING, BUT NOTHING HAPPENING. THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY ELIJAH SET UP
HIS ALTAR AND PRAYED TO GOD, AND GOD REVEALED HIS GLORY. HE SENT DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN AND BURNED UP THE OFFERING, AND THE STONE ALTAR, AND EVEN THE WATER WHICH ELIJAH HAD SOAKED HIS OFFERING AND THE ALTAR AND THE GROUND ON WHICH IT STOOD.
YES, GOD HAD REVEALED HIS GLORY IN THE PAST IN THE PRESENCE OF MOSES, THE GREAT-LAW GIVER AND LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE. HE ALSO HAD REVEALED IT TO HIS
PROPHET ELIJAH. BUT NOW GOD'S GLORY IS REVEALED NOT TO A MAN- BUT IN AND THROUGH A MAN. SUDDENLY, RIGHT BEFORE THE EYES OF THE THREE DISCIPLES, JESUS FACE AND CLOTHES ARE CHANGED INTO A GLOWING, DAZZLING WHITENESS.
NEXT THE VOICE OF GOD FROM HEAVEN CONFIRMS IT, " THIS IS MY BELOVED." GOD HAD COME DIRECTLY INTO THE MIDST OF HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, NO INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE LAW GIVEN TO MOSES OR IN THE WORD SPOKEN BY THE PROPHETS
, BUT IN PERSON. WHAT COULD BE MORE FANTASTIC? YET, PETER SEEMS TO MISS THE POINT. " LET'S SIT DOWN AND ENJOY THIS FOR AWHILE." BUT JESUS DOESN'T LET THIS HAPPEN. GOD REMOVES HIS GLORY FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP, MOSES AND ELIJAH ARE GONE. JESUS IMMEDIATELY TAKES THE DISCIPLES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO LEAD THEM INTO EVER MORE EXPERIENCES OF GOD'S GLORIOUS PRESENCE AMONG MEN.- THE GREATEST OF WHICH IS TO COME.
IN THIS MAN JESUS, THE DISCIPLES ARE TO EXPERIENCE THEIR GOD IN A MOST DRAMATIC WAY. YET, IT WASN'T TO MUCH LATER THAT THEY FINALLY DO GET THE POINT OF IT ALL. THAT WAS ON PENTECOST WHEN THE SAME GLORY OF GOD WHICH THEY HAD SEEN IN JESUS CAME TO EACH ONE OF THEM IN THE FORM OF LITTLE FLAMES OF FIRES OF FIRES.- AND THEY BECAME CHANGED MEN. SUDDENLY, THOSE DISCIPLES STARTED DOING THINGS JESUS HAD DONE. THEY BECAME LOVING, FORGIVING, HELPING PEOPLE. THEY EVEN DID MIRACLES HE HAD DONE, BUT MOST OF ALL THEY BECAME WITNESSES TO THIS GOD OF GLORY WHO HAD BEEN WITH THEM IN JESUS AND NOW ACTUALLY WITHIN THEM. JESUS TRANSFIGURATION IS A FORESHADOWING OF HOW THE STORY ENDS. FOR US TOO. CALLING IT A "FORELIGHTING" WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE. GOD SHOWS US HOW IT TURNS OUT IN RESURRECTION AND A NEW CREATION SO THAT WE RECOGNIZE TRANSFIGURATIONS WHEN THEY TAKE PLACE. RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THE MUDDLE OF OUR LIVES. SOMETIMES DEATH LOOMS SO LARGE AND UGLY THAT WE CANNOT SEE BEYOND IT. GOD SPEAKS TO US OUT OF THE FOG AND ENCOURAGES US WITH A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE. ST. PAUL SUMS IT UP IN, (2COR 3:18). BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING, AS A GLASS, THE GLORY OF THE LORD; ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. (AMEN!
BUT WHAT HAPPENS ON THAT MOUNTAIN TOP? PETER AND HIS FRIENDS COMPLETELY MISS THE POINT! LET'S TUNE IN ON THE STORY. SUDDENLY, RIGHT BEFORE THE DISCIPLES EYES, THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS IS TRANSFIGURED, "CHANGED." HE LOOKS DIFFERENT. HIS FACE GLOWS BRIGHTLY AND HIS CLOTHES BECOME DAZZLING WHITE. THEN MOSES AND ELIJAH ARE STANDING WITH JESUS. SO WHAT DO WE HEAR PETER SAYING? "ISN'T THIS NICE!" LORD, IT IS WELL THAT WE ARE HERE. WHAT A SHOW! IN FACT THROUGH OUT THE GOSPEL OF MARK THE DISCIPLES FAIL TO UNDERSTAND JESUS. WHY? WE HAVE A RINGSIDE SEAT ON HEAVEN ITSELF. HEY, THERE'S MOSES AND ELIJAH OVER THERE. NOW IF EVER THERE WERE GREAT MEN OF FAITH, THEY CERTAINLY FILL THE BILL. WHAT WAS HAPPENING SOUNDS LIKE THEATER-IN THE ROUND WHERE YOU GET INTO THE ACTION, THE ACTORS ARE RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN REACH OUT AND TOUCH THEM, AND AT TIMES THE AUDIENCE ACTUALLY GETS TO BE PART OF THE ACTION OF COURSE, YOU KNOW AND EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS THAT YOU AREN'T AN ACTOR.
BUT STILL, YOU CAN GO HOME AND SAY, "WASN'T THAT GREAT!" WELL, PETER THOUGHT IT WAS SO GREAT THAT HE WANTED TO STAY AROUND AWHILE AND ENJOY IT. " LORD HOW ABOUT IF WE SET UP SOME LITTLE SHELTERS HERE." THIS IS JUST TOO GREAT." PETER MISSING THE POINT, WANTED TO SETTLE DOWN AND ENJOY THE SHOW. PETER MISTAKES THE FUTURE FOR THE PRESENT.
AREN'T WE THAT WAY TOO? WE HAVE ALL THE GREAT DRAMA GOING ON IN SCRIPTURES. NOAH, ABRAHAM, THE GREAT MEN OF FAITH, ISAAC, JACOB, MOSES, THE DIVIDING OF THE WATERS OF THE RED SEA, MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS, GREAT BATTLES, INTRIGUE, DAVID AND HIS ADVENTURES! THEN THEIR IS CHRIST'S LIFE- STILLING OF THE WATERS, FEEDING OF THE THOUSANDS, HEALING'S, EVEN PEOPLE COMING BACK FROM DEATH. OR THERE ARE THE STORIES OF PAUL AND OTHER APOSTLES-SHIPWRECKS, ESCAPES, DANGER. THEN THERE IS THE GREAT DRAMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH-THE MEN OF FAITH WHO FACED LIONS AND GLADIATORS AND ALL THE REST-MORE DRAMA AND ADVENTURE AN CRISIS, WHAT A THING TO SIT ON! ISN'T THAT GREAT! AND WITH PETER WE MIGHT GET TO SET UP A PERMANENT THEATER FOR THIS ON GOING DRAMA, WITH COMFORTABLE BOX SEATS INTO WHICH WE MIGHT SETTLE BACK TO ENJOY IT ALL. THAT'S WHAT PETER SEEMS TO HAVE HAD IN MIND AND WE SHOULD DO THE SAME. "MASTER, SHALL WE
BUILD SOME SHELTERS?" BUT JESUS DID NOT ANSWER PETER AND HE WON'T ANSWER US.
JESUS DIDN'T ANSWER BECAUSE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE WERE YET TO HAPPEN. SUDDENLY, THE CLOUD OF GLORY BETTER KNOWN AS THE (SHEKINAH)
PRESENCE OF GOD COVERS THE MOUNTAIN AND THE VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAYS: " THIS IS MY BELOVED SON; LISTEN TO HIM." WHAT'S ALL HAPPENING HERE?
MOSES, ELIJAH, JESUS TRANSFIGURED! GOD IS TELLING THESE DISCIPLES SOMETHING. THINK ABOUT IT. ISN'T THIS THE SEQUENCE OF GOD REVEALING HIMSELF TO HIS PEOPLE. GOD'S FIRST REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE WAS AT MT. SINAI, WHEN GOD CALLED MOSES ONTO THE MOUNTAIN TO RECEIVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. THE MOUNTAIN WAS COVERED WITH FIERY LIGHTENING FLASHED AND THUNDER SOUNDED. WHEN MOSES CAME BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN HIS FACE GLOWED BRIGHTLY BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S GLORY.
THEN THERE WAS ELIJAH, THE GREATEST OF ALL PROPHETS. WE HEARD ABOUT HIS FIERY ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN. ELIJAH ALSO EXPERIENCED GOD'S GLORY ON A MOUNTAIN. IT WAS Mt. CARMEL. REMEMBER HOW ELIJAH ONCE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON LEFT IN ISRAEL STILL WORSHIPPING THE TRUE GOD AND THAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS WORSHIPPING BAAL., AN IDOL. AND REMEMBER HOW GOD ARRANGED A CONTEST BETWEEN BAAL AND HIMSELF. THE FOLLOWERS OF BAAL SET UP AN ALTAR WITH AN OFFERING. THEN THEY PRAYED TO THEIR gods OFFERING, BUT NOTHING HAPPENING. THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY ELIJAH SET UP
HIS ALTAR AND PRAYED TO GOD, AND GOD REVEALED HIS GLORY. HE SENT DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN AND BURNED UP THE OFFERING, AND THE STONE ALTAR, AND EVEN THE WATER WHICH ELIJAH HAD SOAKED HIS OFFERING AND THE ALTAR AND THE GROUND ON WHICH IT STOOD.
YES, GOD HAD REVEALED HIS GLORY IN THE PAST IN THE PRESENCE OF MOSES, THE GREAT-LAW GIVER AND LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE. HE ALSO HAD REVEALED IT TO HIS
PROPHET ELIJAH. BUT NOW GOD'S GLORY IS REVEALED NOT TO A MAN- BUT IN AND THROUGH A MAN. SUDDENLY, RIGHT BEFORE THE EYES OF THE THREE DISCIPLES, JESUS FACE AND CLOTHES ARE CHANGED INTO A GLOWING, DAZZLING WHITENESS.
NEXT THE VOICE OF GOD FROM HEAVEN CONFIRMS IT, " THIS IS MY BELOVED." GOD HAD COME DIRECTLY INTO THE MIDST OF HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, NO INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE LAW GIVEN TO MOSES OR IN THE WORD SPOKEN BY THE PROPHETS
, BUT IN PERSON. WHAT COULD BE MORE FANTASTIC? YET, PETER SEEMS TO MISS THE POINT. " LET'S SIT DOWN AND ENJOY THIS FOR AWHILE." BUT JESUS DOESN'T LET THIS HAPPEN. GOD REMOVES HIS GLORY FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP, MOSES AND ELIJAH ARE GONE. JESUS IMMEDIATELY TAKES THE DISCIPLES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO LEAD THEM INTO EVER MORE EXPERIENCES OF GOD'S GLORIOUS PRESENCE AMONG MEN.- THE GREATEST OF WHICH IS TO COME.
IN THIS MAN JESUS, THE DISCIPLES ARE TO EXPERIENCE THEIR GOD IN A MOST DRAMATIC WAY. YET, IT WASN'T TO MUCH LATER THAT THEY FINALLY DO GET THE POINT OF IT ALL. THAT WAS ON PENTECOST WHEN THE SAME GLORY OF GOD WHICH THEY HAD SEEN IN JESUS CAME TO EACH ONE OF THEM IN THE FORM OF LITTLE FLAMES OF FIRES OF FIRES.- AND THEY BECAME CHANGED MEN. SUDDENLY, THOSE DISCIPLES STARTED DOING THINGS JESUS HAD DONE. THEY BECAME LOVING, FORGIVING, HELPING PEOPLE. THEY EVEN DID MIRACLES HE HAD DONE, BUT MOST OF ALL THEY BECAME WITNESSES TO THIS GOD OF GLORY WHO HAD BEEN WITH THEM IN JESUS AND NOW ACTUALLY WITHIN THEM. JESUS TRANSFIGURATION IS A FORESHADOWING OF HOW THE STORY ENDS. FOR US TOO. CALLING IT A "FORELIGHTING" WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE. GOD SHOWS US HOW IT TURNS OUT IN RESURRECTION AND A NEW CREATION SO THAT WE RECOGNIZE TRANSFIGURATIONS WHEN THEY TAKE PLACE. RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THE MUDDLE OF OUR LIVES. SOMETIMES DEATH LOOMS SO LARGE AND UGLY THAT WE CANNOT SEE BEYOND IT. GOD SPEAKS TO US OUT OF THE FOG AND ENCOURAGES US WITH A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE. ST. PAUL SUMS IT UP IN, (2COR 3:18). BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING, AS A GLASS, THE GLORY OF THE LORD; ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. (AMEN!
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
BAPTISM OF OUR LORD [LUKE 2: 22-40}.
WE ARE GOING TO LOOK THIS DAY ABOUT BAPTISM, THE BAPTISM OF JESUS AND OURS. LIFE ON PLANET EARTH MUST HAVE WATER. CHRISTIANS SEE IN THE WATERS OF BAPTISM THE MATRIX OF OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. THE FONT IS LIKE THE JORDAN RIVER THAT LEADS US TO THE NEW LAND OF PROMISE, LIKE THE PRIMEVAL WATERS OVER WHICH THE SPIRIT OF GOD HOVERED IN CREATION. WE STAND IN THE RIVER, BUT WE ARE WITH THE BAPTIZER IN THE WILDERNESS HEARING THE ACCLAMATION OF JESUS BAPTISM AND OURS. A BRIDE PUTS ON A WEDDING DRESS TO GET MARRIED. THE PRIESTS OF LEVI, BEFORE THEY SERVE, BATHED AND PUT ON FRESH LINEN ROBES. BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING SPECIAL, YOU GET READY.
THE FIRST EVENT IN JESUS ADULT LIFE WAS HIS BAPTISM. THE FOUR GOSPELS RECORD THE EVENT. IT WAS THE LAUNCHING PAD OF HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY.
IT WAS HOW HE GOT READY THE GOSPEL OF LUKE {3:3] SAYS THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST...CAME INTO ALL THE DISTRICT AROUND THE JORDAN, PREACHING BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
THEN VERSES [21-23]; NOW IT CAME ABOUT THAT WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED, THAT JESUS ALSO WAS BAPTIZED, AND WHILE HE WAS PRAYING, HEAVEN WAS OPENED, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED UPON HIM BODILY FORM LIKE A DOVE, AND A VOICE CAME OUT OF HEAVEN, " THOU ART MY BELOVED SON; IN THEE I AM WELL PLEASED." AND WHEN HE BEGAN HIS MINISTRY, JESUS HIMSELF WAS ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE. AFTER THE DETAILS OF JESUS BIRTH, WE ARE GIVEN VERY LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS FIRST THIRTY YEARS. WE HAVE TWO GLIMPSES. ONE IS THE STORY OF HIS VISIT TO THE TEMPLE AS A TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY DESCRIBED IN LUKE [2:41-51]. THE OTHER IS A PAIR OF VERSES AND AFTER THIS STORY WHICH RECORD HIS DEVELOPMENT. THE EARLIER VERSE SAYS HE GREW IN THREE WAYS. AND THE CHILD CONTINUE TO GROW AND BECOME STRONG-PHYSICALLY; " INCREASING IN-WISDOM;" MENTALLY; " AND STATURE," 'AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD." SPIRITUALLY; WITH MEN-SOCIALLY {LUKE 2: 52]. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SEEMS TO EMERGE FROM THE AGE OF TWELVE ON. BUT GENERALLY, THESE WERE THE YEARS OF SECLUSION AND PREPARATION. THEN CAME THE BOOM, SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE, JESUS APPEARS ON THE SCENE AND IS BAPTIZED, WHY BY JOHN? LET'S THINK ABOUT WHERE THIS WAS IN HISTORY. JUDAISM HAD BEEN IN A LONG SPIRITUAL SLUMP.. FOUR HUNDRED YEARS THERE HAD BEEN NOTHING BUT SILENCE, FROM GOD, AND IT SEEMED AS IF NONE OF GOD'S PROMISES COULD EVER COME TRUE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PROPHET, NO VOICE FROM HEAVEN, NO FRESH WORD OF GOD. HEAVENS SILENCE HAD BEEN EXCRUCIATING. THE ISRAELITES HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME. BUT AS HEBREWS: [1:1 SAYS] GOD AFTER HE SPOKE LONG AGO TO THE FATHERS IN THE PROPHETS IN MANY PORTIONS AND IN MANY WAYS, IN THE LAST DAYS HAS SPOKEN TO US IN HIS SON.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BROKE THE SILENCE! HIS NAME WAS THE WORD, GOD SPEAKING TO MEN AGAIN AT LAST.
BUT FIRST, GOD SENT JOHN THE BAPTIST TO ANNOUNCE HIM, TO BE HIS FORERUNNER. JUST HAVING THE HONOR. OF INTRODUCING HIM MADE JOHN THE BAPTIST THE GREATEST OF ALL PROPHETS! JOHN BECAME, THEN, THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS, THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. HIS WORD WAS THAT ONE WAS COMING WHO WAS THE END OF ALL THE MILLIONS OF OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES AND THE FULFILLMENT OF ALL THE THOUSANDS OF OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES.
NOW ONLY A REPENTANT, FORGIVEN CLEANSED PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST AND COMPREHEND WHAT HE WAS SAYING. SO JOHN'S CALL WAS FOR ISRAEL TO COME TO, TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THIS MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD.
IT SEEMED SO STRANGE THAT JESUS WOULD HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED, AS THOUGH HE, TOO, NEEDED TO REPENT. CERTAINLY IT LINKED HIM PUBLICLY WITH JOHN AND PUT HIS SEAL OF APPROVAL ON WHAT JOHN WAS DOING. JOHN'S MESSAGE IS ALWAYS NEEDED; YOU AND I NEED IT AT THIS VERY MOMENT IT IS A WAY TO A FRESH ENTRANCE OF JESUS INTO OUR LIFE, A NEW BEGINNING AGAIN WITH HIM, TO HUMBLE OUR HEART AND CONFESS YOUR SINS AND SEEK HIS FACE ANEW. JESUS WAS MORE THAN SIMPLY TO SAY JOHN WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. JESUS REASON FOR HAVING JOHN BAPTIZE HIM WAS MORE THAN SIMPLY TO SAY, JOHN WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. JESUS ALSO, WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. IN BAPTISM, THOUGH HE WAS SINLESS, HE WAS IDENTIFYING WITH US SINNERS WHOM HE CAME TO SAVE., SO HE ENTERED INTO OUR SCENE, EVEN THE SCENE OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL IN THEIR BAPTISM, AND "FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS," AS MATTHEW [3:15] SAYS: THAT CHRIST CAME TO DO EVERY GOOD WORK. THAT GOOD NEWS IS THAT ALL CHRIST DID IN HIS BIRTH, IN HIS THIRTY-THREE YEARS AND IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, WAS FOR US! YOU SEE HE IS NOT ONLY OUR SAVIOR FROM SIN, BUT OUR SAVIOR FOR LIFE. HE NOT ONLY SAVES US FROM HELL, BUT HE GIVES US HIS RIGHTEOUS LIFE. HE NOT ONLY QUALIFIES US FOR HEAVEN, HE COMES INTO US TO, LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH US AND BECOMES TRULY " THE LIFE" FOR US. A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE, THE PSALMIST, DAVID HAD CALLED HIM, " THE ANOINTED ONE,' AND PROPHESIED THE FATHER'S WORDS OUT OF HEAVEN, " THOU ARE MY SON" (PS. 2,2,7). IT ALL STARTED FOR JESUS, AS WE SEE THAT HE WAS IN THE ATTITUDE OF PRAYER, WHILE HE WAS PRAYING [LUKE 3:21]. SO MANY OF GOD'S PEOPLE ARE NOT PEOPLE OF PRAYER! FOR THIRTY YEARS, ALL JESUS DID AND THOUGHT WAS A DELIGHT TO THE FATHER, AND GOD COULD SAY, " I AM WELL PLEASED," BUT NOW HE NEEDED THIS SPECIAL WORK OF THE "HOLY SPIRIT" TO PREPARE HIM FOR THESE THREE YEARS OF MINISTRY, DEATH AND HIS RESURRECTION. THIS COVERING WITH THE SPIRIT, THIS PUBLIC AUTHENTICATING BY THE FATHER, THIS BAPTISM OF JESUS WAS A LAUNCHING PAD, AND IT WAS A STUPENDOUS EVENT IN HIS LIFE. WITHOUT IT HE COULD NOT HAVE GONE ON. HEBREWS (9:14). AND WONDERS OF WONDERS, JESUS, SAID THAT NOW HE GIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE TO THOSE WHO COME TO HIM!
"AND IT ALL STARTED WITH HIS BAPTISM."
THE FIRST EVENT IN JESUS ADULT LIFE WAS HIS BAPTISM. THE FOUR GOSPELS RECORD THE EVENT. IT WAS THE LAUNCHING PAD OF HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY.
IT WAS HOW HE GOT READY THE GOSPEL OF LUKE {3:3] SAYS THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST...CAME INTO ALL THE DISTRICT AROUND THE JORDAN, PREACHING BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
THEN VERSES [21-23]; NOW IT CAME ABOUT THAT WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED, THAT JESUS ALSO WAS BAPTIZED, AND WHILE HE WAS PRAYING, HEAVEN WAS OPENED, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED UPON HIM BODILY FORM LIKE A DOVE, AND A VOICE CAME OUT OF HEAVEN, " THOU ART MY BELOVED SON; IN THEE I AM WELL PLEASED." AND WHEN HE BEGAN HIS MINISTRY, JESUS HIMSELF WAS ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE. AFTER THE DETAILS OF JESUS BIRTH, WE ARE GIVEN VERY LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS FIRST THIRTY YEARS. WE HAVE TWO GLIMPSES. ONE IS THE STORY OF HIS VISIT TO THE TEMPLE AS A TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY DESCRIBED IN LUKE [2:41-51]. THE OTHER IS A PAIR OF VERSES AND AFTER THIS STORY WHICH RECORD HIS DEVELOPMENT. THE EARLIER VERSE SAYS HE GREW IN THREE WAYS. AND THE CHILD CONTINUE TO GROW AND BECOME STRONG-PHYSICALLY; " INCREASING IN-WISDOM;" MENTALLY; " AND STATURE," 'AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD." SPIRITUALLY; WITH MEN-SOCIALLY {LUKE 2: 52]. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SEEMS TO EMERGE FROM THE AGE OF TWELVE ON. BUT GENERALLY, THESE WERE THE YEARS OF SECLUSION AND PREPARATION. THEN CAME THE BOOM, SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE, JESUS APPEARS ON THE SCENE AND IS BAPTIZED, WHY BY JOHN? LET'S THINK ABOUT WHERE THIS WAS IN HISTORY. JUDAISM HAD BEEN IN A LONG SPIRITUAL SLUMP.. FOUR HUNDRED YEARS THERE HAD BEEN NOTHING BUT SILENCE, FROM GOD, AND IT SEEMED AS IF NONE OF GOD'S PROMISES COULD EVER COME TRUE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PROPHET, NO VOICE FROM HEAVEN, NO FRESH WORD OF GOD. HEAVENS SILENCE HAD BEEN EXCRUCIATING. THE ISRAELITES HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME. BUT AS HEBREWS: [1:1 SAYS] GOD AFTER HE SPOKE LONG AGO TO THE FATHERS IN THE PROPHETS IN MANY PORTIONS AND IN MANY WAYS, IN THE LAST DAYS HAS SPOKEN TO US IN HIS SON.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BROKE THE SILENCE! HIS NAME WAS THE WORD, GOD SPEAKING TO MEN AGAIN AT LAST.
BUT FIRST, GOD SENT JOHN THE BAPTIST TO ANNOUNCE HIM, TO BE HIS FORERUNNER. JUST HAVING THE HONOR. OF INTRODUCING HIM MADE JOHN THE BAPTIST THE GREATEST OF ALL PROPHETS! JOHN BECAME, THEN, THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS, THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. HIS WORD WAS THAT ONE WAS COMING WHO WAS THE END OF ALL THE MILLIONS OF OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES AND THE FULFILLMENT OF ALL THE THOUSANDS OF OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES.
NOW ONLY A REPENTANT, FORGIVEN CLEANSED PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST AND COMPREHEND WHAT HE WAS SAYING. SO JOHN'S CALL WAS FOR ISRAEL TO COME TO, TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THIS MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD.
IT SEEMED SO STRANGE THAT JESUS WOULD HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED, AS THOUGH HE, TOO, NEEDED TO REPENT. CERTAINLY IT LINKED HIM PUBLICLY WITH JOHN AND PUT HIS SEAL OF APPROVAL ON WHAT JOHN WAS DOING. JOHN'S MESSAGE IS ALWAYS NEEDED; YOU AND I NEED IT AT THIS VERY MOMENT IT IS A WAY TO A FRESH ENTRANCE OF JESUS INTO OUR LIFE, A NEW BEGINNING AGAIN WITH HIM, TO HUMBLE OUR HEART AND CONFESS YOUR SINS AND SEEK HIS FACE ANEW. JESUS WAS MORE THAN SIMPLY TO SAY JOHN WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. JESUS REASON FOR HAVING JOHN BAPTIZE HIM WAS MORE THAN SIMPLY TO SAY, JOHN WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. JESUS ALSO, WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. IN BAPTISM, THOUGH HE WAS SINLESS, HE WAS IDENTIFYING WITH US SINNERS WHOM HE CAME TO SAVE., SO HE ENTERED INTO OUR SCENE, EVEN THE SCENE OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL IN THEIR BAPTISM, AND "FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS," AS MATTHEW [3:15] SAYS: THAT CHRIST CAME TO DO EVERY GOOD WORK. THAT GOOD NEWS IS THAT ALL CHRIST DID IN HIS BIRTH, IN HIS THIRTY-THREE YEARS AND IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, WAS FOR US! YOU SEE HE IS NOT ONLY OUR SAVIOR FROM SIN, BUT OUR SAVIOR FOR LIFE. HE NOT ONLY SAVES US FROM HELL, BUT HE GIVES US HIS RIGHTEOUS LIFE. HE NOT ONLY QUALIFIES US FOR HEAVEN, HE COMES INTO US TO, LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH US AND BECOMES TRULY " THE LIFE" FOR US. A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE, THE PSALMIST, DAVID HAD CALLED HIM, " THE ANOINTED ONE,' AND PROPHESIED THE FATHER'S WORDS OUT OF HEAVEN, " THOU ARE MY SON" (PS. 2,2,7). IT ALL STARTED FOR JESUS, AS WE SEE THAT HE WAS IN THE ATTITUDE OF PRAYER, WHILE HE WAS PRAYING [LUKE 3:21]. SO MANY OF GOD'S PEOPLE ARE NOT PEOPLE OF PRAYER! FOR THIRTY YEARS, ALL JESUS DID AND THOUGHT WAS A DELIGHT TO THE FATHER, AND GOD COULD SAY, " I AM WELL PLEASED," BUT NOW HE NEEDED THIS SPECIAL WORK OF THE "HOLY SPIRIT" TO PREPARE HIM FOR THESE THREE YEARS OF MINISTRY, DEATH AND HIS RESURRECTION. THIS COVERING WITH THE SPIRIT, THIS PUBLIC AUTHENTICATING BY THE FATHER, THIS BAPTISM OF JESUS WAS A LAUNCHING PAD, AND IT WAS A STUPENDOUS EVENT IN HIS LIFE. WITHOUT IT HE COULD NOT HAVE GONE ON. HEBREWS (9:14). AND WONDERS OF WONDERS, JESUS, SAID THAT NOW HE GIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE TO THOSE WHO COME TO HIM!
"AND IT ALL STARTED WITH HIS BAPTISM."
FREEDOM. [MARK 1:29:39]
TO BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT FREE THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, IN JESUS NAME. LET'S LOOK AT SOME BACKGROUND OF MARK, WHO WAS NOT AN APOSTLE, HE WAS THE PUPIL AND COMPANION OF TWO GREAT APOSTLES, PETER AND PAUL, HE WAS A JEW BY BIRTH, (COL. 4, 10), AND HIS JEWISH NAME WAS JOHN WHICH MEANS " GOD IS GRACIOUS." HIS SURNAME WHICH HE ADOPTED WHEN HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN WAS MARK, WHICH MEANS "MALLET," ACTS 12, 12,25; 13, 5. 13; 15,37) HE WAS THE SON OF A WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WHO LATER BECAME A PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION IN THAT CITY. HER NAME WAS MARY, ACTS 1, 12-17). IT WAS SHE WHO OFFERED HER HOUSE, AT THE FIRST CRITICAL PERIOD IN THE HISTORY OF THE YOUNG CONGREGATION, FOR DEVOTIONAL MEETINGS. IT WAS TO HER HOUSE PETER WENT AFTER HIS MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE FROM PRISON, (ACTS 12,12-170.) MANY COMMENTATORS THINK THAT HE IS IDENTICAL WITH THE YOUNG MAN WHO ACCORDING TO HIS OWN REPORT LEFT THE LINEN CLOTH WITH WHICH HE WAS CLOTHED ON THE NIGHT OF CHRIST'S CAPTURE AND FLED NAKED FROM GETHSEMANE, CHAPTER (14,51). MARK WAS ESPECIALLY INTIMATE WITH PETER, BY WHOM HE HAD BEEN CONVERTED, IF THE USUAL MANNER OF SPEAKING OF THIS EVENT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED IN THIS CASE, (1 PET. 5, 13; ACTS 12,12.) THROUGH BARNABAS HE CAME IN CLOSER CONTACT WITH PAUL, AND HE ACCOMPANIED PAUL AND BARNABAS ON THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY AS AN ATTENDANT OR ASSISTANT. AT THAT TIME, HOWEVER, HE WAS NOT YET FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN CHRISTIAN FORTITUDE, FOR HE LEFT THEM AT PERGA, IN PAMPHYLIA, AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM, MUCH TO THE DISPLEASURE OF PAUL, (ACTS 13, 5, 13.) FOR THIS REASON PAUL REFUSED TO TAKE HIM ON THE NEXT JOURNEY, WHILE BARNABAS WAS WILLING TO OVERLOOK THE TEMPORARY WEAKNESS , (ACTS, 38. ) THERE WAS A SHARP CONTENTION OVER THE MANNER AT THE TIME, WITH THE RESULT THAT PAUL AND BARNABAS PARTED COMPANY. BARNABAS TAKING MARK WITH HIM TO CYPRUS, WHILE PAUL CHOSE SILAS, (ACTS 15, 36-40), THE ESTRANGEMENT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY, FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AFTERWARDS MARK WAS IN ROME AS ONE OF PAUL'S FELLOW WORKERS UNTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AND A COMFORT IN HIS IMPRISONMENT (COL.4, 10, 11; PHILEMON 24; 2 TIM.4,11;)
IN ISAIAH,WE SEE THE JUDEANS WHO IN EXILE HAVE A REASON TO BE HOPEFUL; THE ONE WHO WILL BRING THEM TO FREEDOM, IS THE GOD WHO CREATED THE WORLD AND GIVES STRENGTH TO THOSE WHO ARE WEARY. MARK SAYS: " THAT EVERYWHERE JESUS GOES, MANY PEOPLE EXPECT HIM TO SET THEM FREE FROM OPPRESSION. EVERYWHERE HE GOES, MANY PEOPLE (SICK) EXPECTS JESUS TO HEAL THEM AND SET THEM FREE. DISEASE, DEVILS, AND DEATH ARE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. THE FORCES THAT DIMINISHES HUMAN LIFE ARE RENDERED POWERLESS BY JESUS. THERE IS A SEEMING PARADOX AT THE HEART OF CHRISTIAN LIFE; WE MUST DIE TO SELF IN ORDER TO LIVE TO GOD. THERE IS ANOTHER AS WELL: WE MUST BECOME CHRIST'S SLAVE BEFORE WE CAN BE TRULY FREE. THESE ARE ONLY APPARENT PARADOXES. HOWEVER. IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE THERE ARE NO PARADOXES IN SCRIPTURE. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY MIGHT BE THOUGHT TO BE A PARADOX, BUT IT IS NOT REALLY. WHEN WE SAY THAT GOD IS BOTH TRINITY AND UNITY, WE MEAN ONLY THAT HE IS THREE IN ONE SENSE AND ONE IN ANOTHER. SIMILARLY, WHEN WE SPEAK IN CHRISTIANS BEING SLAVES TO CHRIST AND YET FREE, WE MEAN THAT THEY CAN BECOME ALL THAT GOD INTENDS THEM TO BE.
CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS LIKE THAT OF A MAN OR WOMEN IN MARRIAGE, IN ONE SENSE THEY ARE BOUND TO EACH OTHER; THEY ARE FREE TO LOVE AND RELATE TO OTHERS IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE OBLIGED TO LOVE AND RELATE TO THEIR SPOUSE. BUT IN ANOTHER SENSE THEY REALLY ARE FREE. THEY ARE FREE TO BE THEMSELVES WITHIN THE MARRIAGE, ACTING AS WHAT THEY REALLY ARE- A MARRIED MAN AND WOMEN. THEY ARE FREE FROM THE FEAR OF REJECTION. BECAUSE OF THEIR MUTUAL COMMITMENT. THEY ARE EVEN FREE TO LOVE OTHERS WITH A LOVE THAT COMPLEMENTS THEIR LOVE IN MARRIAGE. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
THE KEY TO DISCOVERING "FREEDOM" IS TO BE WHAT ONE HAS BEEN CREATED TO BE "OBEDIENT AND "GRATEFUL" SERVANT OF THE MOST HIGH. THE DIFFICULTY FOR MANY OF US IS THAT WE WISH TO BE WHAT WE ARE NOT OR NEVER CAN BE. THUS WE ARE DOOMED TO A LIFE OF FRUSTRATION. "FREEDOM HAS BEEN DEFINED BY ROGER NICOLE IN HIS ARTICLE "1976" AS THE ABILITY TO FULFILL ONE'S DESTINY, TO FUNCTION IN TERMS OF ONE'S ULTIMATE GOAL. IN MODERN CULTURE FREEDOM HAS MORE OFTEN BEEN CONCEIVED AS AUTONOMY. BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A UNIVERSE CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY A SOVEREIGN GOD, NO CREATURE IS OR CAN BE AUTONOMOUS. THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH IS ONE ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE "FREEDOM" APART FROM GOD OR EVEN FROM GOD HIMSELF. IT IS PROBABLY THE DOMINANT GOAL OF MOST IN THE WEST AND INCREASINGLY OF THE REST OF WORLD AS WELL. IF ASKED, MOST WHO PURSUE THIS GOAL WOULD DENY THAT THEIR INTEREST IS IN MONEY ITSELF.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT "FREEDOM" APART FROM THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST WE ARE NOT "FREE." JESUS HIMSELF SAYS, " EVERYONE WHO COMMITS SIN IS A SLAVE TO SIN (JN.8:34) FREEDOM IS FOUND IN OBEYING THE LAWS OF GOD, BUT WE DISOBEY THOSE LAWS. IN FACT WE HAVE LOST OUR ABILITY TO OBEY AND SO HAVE LOST OUR ABILITY TO BE "FREE," EVER SINCE ADAM AND EVE FELL IN PARADISE, THE WHOLE OF MANKIND BY NATURAL GENERATION IS ENCOMPASSED IN A TERRIBLE REBELLION, CORRUPTION, AND SLAVERY IN WHICH, EVEN IN SPITE OF SOME DESIRES THAT WE MAY HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. WE ARE CARRIED ALONG. WE SIGH DEEPLY IN OUR HEART, " WHAT A WRETCHED MAN AM I! WHO WILL RESCUE ME (ROM. 7:24) GIVE ME LIBERTY, BECAUSE I AM, BECAUSE I AM ALREADY ENCOMPASSED IN DEATH. THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST SAYS THAT WE CAN BE "FREE" TO FULFILL THAT DESTINY FOR WHICH GOD HAS CREATED US. FIRST THE GOSPEL PROVIDES US WITH FREEDOM FROM CONDEMNATION BY GOD'S LAW AND THUS "FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE. "FREEDOM MUST BEGIN HERE. OTHER "FREEDOMS" WILL BE SHALLOW UNLESS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM THIS CONDEMNATION. WE GAIN THIS "FREEDOM" THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED IN OUR PLACE TAKING OUR CONDEMNATION ON HIMSELF. WHEN WE LOOK TO OURSELVES WE MUST ADMIT AS DOES THE "1848" CONFESSION OF THE EVANGELICAL "FREE" CHURCH OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: " ALL MEN ARE BORN SINNER'S, UNABLE TO DO GOOD BEFORE GOD, INCLINED TO EVIL, BRINGING CONDEMNATION AND DEATH ON THEMSELVES BY A JUST JUDGMENT." BUT WHEN WE LOOK TO CHRIST WE FIND ONE WHO HAS "FREED" US FROM THAT CONDEMNATION BY DYING FOR OUR SINS. HE HAS PAID THE FULL PENALTY REQUIRED BY LAW FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND HAS GIVEN US A STANDING BEFORE GOD WHICH IS THE SAME AS IF WE HAD NEVER SINNED AT ALL.
THE LAW OF GOD IS NO LONGER A THREAT TO US. IT IS TRUE WE DISOBEYED IT, BUT IT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH. WE NOW STAND BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD WITH CLEAN RECORDS, AND LIBERATED CONSCIENCES. IT WAS THIS "FREEDOM" THAT IMPRESSED THE APOSTLE PAUL SO DEEPLY, HE HAD GIVEN HIMSELF TO OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW. BUT THE LAW WAS A STERN TASKMASTER, AND HE HAD BEEN BURDENED BY IT. HE MAY HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE KEPT THE LAW PERFECTLY, ACCORDING TO HUMAN INTERPRETATIONS (PHIL 3:6). BUT HE WAS STILL NOT RIGHTEOUS AS GOD COUNTS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HE SENSED IT (ACTS 26:14). WHAT WAS HE TO DO? THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST HE DISCOVERED A RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM THE LAW, WHICH MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD PERFECTLY. AT THIS POINT HE CRIED." WE MUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT, NOT IN THE FLESH . (ROM. 8-1-4). FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH. TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE.
SIMILARLY, IN GALATIANS, AFTER A SPIRITED DEFENSE OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE, PAUL RHAPSODIZES, " FOR FREEDOM" CHRIST HAS SET US FREE!
IN ISAIAH,WE SEE THE JUDEANS WHO IN EXILE HAVE A REASON TO BE HOPEFUL; THE ONE WHO WILL BRING THEM TO FREEDOM, IS THE GOD WHO CREATED THE WORLD AND GIVES STRENGTH TO THOSE WHO ARE WEARY. MARK SAYS: " THAT EVERYWHERE JESUS GOES, MANY PEOPLE EXPECT HIM TO SET THEM FREE FROM OPPRESSION. EVERYWHERE HE GOES, MANY PEOPLE (SICK) EXPECTS JESUS TO HEAL THEM AND SET THEM FREE. DISEASE, DEVILS, AND DEATH ARE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. THE FORCES THAT DIMINISHES HUMAN LIFE ARE RENDERED POWERLESS BY JESUS. THERE IS A SEEMING PARADOX AT THE HEART OF CHRISTIAN LIFE; WE MUST DIE TO SELF IN ORDER TO LIVE TO GOD. THERE IS ANOTHER AS WELL: WE MUST BECOME CHRIST'S SLAVE BEFORE WE CAN BE TRULY FREE. THESE ARE ONLY APPARENT PARADOXES. HOWEVER. IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE THERE ARE NO PARADOXES IN SCRIPTURE. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY MIGHT BE THOUGHT TO BE A PARADOX, BUT IT IS NOT REALLY. WHEN WE SAY THAT GOD IS BOTH TRINITY AND UNITY, WE MEAN ONLY THAT HE IS THREE IN ONE SENSE AND ONE IN ANOTHER. SIMILARLY, WHEN WE SPEAK IN CHRISTIANS BEING SLAVES TO CHRIST AND YET FREE, WE MEAN THAT THEY CAN BECOME ALL THAT GOD INTENDS THEM TO BE.
CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS LIKE THAT OF A MAN OR WOMEN IN MARRIAGE, IN ONE SENSE THEY ARE BOUND TO EACH OTHER; THEY ARE FREE TO LOVE AND RELATE TO OTHERS IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE OBLIGED TO LOVE AND RELATE TO THEIR SPOUSE. BUT IN ANOTHER SENSE THEY REALLY ARE FREE. THEY ARE FREE TO BE THEMSELVES WITHIN THE MARRIAGE, ACTING AS WHAT THEY REALLY ARE- A MARRIED MAN AND WOMEN. THEY ARE FREE FROM THE FEAR OF REJECTION. BECAUSE OF THEIR MUTUAL COMMITMENT. THEY ARE EVEN FREE TO LOVE OTHERS WITH A LOVE THAT COMPLEMENTS THEIR LOVE IN MARRIAGE. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
THE KEY TO DISCOVERING "FREEDOM" IS TO BE WHAT ONE HAS BEEN CREATED TO BE "OBEDIENT AND "GRATEFUL" SERVANT OF THE MOST HIGH. THE DIFFICULTY FOR MANY OF US IS THAT WE WISH TO BE WHAT WE ARE NOT OR NEVER CAN BE. THUS WE ARE DOOMED TO A LIFE OF FRUSTRATION. "FREEDOM HAS BEEN DEFINED BY ROGER NICOLE IN HIS ARTICLE "1976" AS THE ABILITY TO FULFILL ONE'S DESTINY, TO FUNCTION IN TERMS OF ONE'S ULTIMATE GOAL. IN MODERN CULTURE FREEDOM HAS MORE OFTEN BEEN CONCEIVED AS AUTONOMY. BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A UNIVERSE CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY A SOVEREIGN GOD, NO CREATURE IS OR CAN BE AUTONOMOUS. THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH IS ONE ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE "FREEDOM" APART FROM GOD OR EVEN FROM GOD HIMSELF. IT IS PROBABLY THE DOMINANT GOAL OF MOST IN THE WEST AND INCREASINGLY OF THE REST OF WORLD AS WELL. IF ASKED, MOST WHO PURSUE THIS GOAL WOULD DENY THAT THEIR INTEREST IS IN MONEY ITSELF.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT "FREEDOM" APART FROM THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST WE ARE NOT "FREE." JESUS HIMSELF SAYS, " EVERYONE WHO COMMITS SIN IS A SLAVE TO SIN (JN.8:34) FREEDOM IS FOUND IN OBEYING THE LAWS OF GOD, BUT WE DISOBEY THOSE LAWS. IN FACT WE HAVE LOST OUR ABILITY TO OBEY AND SO HAVE LOST OUR ABILITY TO BE "FREE," EVER SINCE ADAM AND EVE FELL IN PARADISE, THE WHOLE OF MANKIND BY NATURAL GENERATION IS ENCOMPASSED IN A TERRIBLE REBELLION, CORRUPTION, AND SLAVERY IN WHICH, EVEN IN SPITE OF SOME DESIRES THAT WE MAY HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. WE ARE CARRIED ALONG. WE SIGH DEEPLY IN OUR HEART, " WHAT A WRETCHED MAN AM I! WHO WILL RESCUE ME (ROM. 7:24) GIVE ME LIBERTY, BECAUSE I AM, BECAUSE I AM ALREADY ENCOMPASSED IN DEATH. THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST SAYS THAT WE CAN BE "FREE" TO FULFILL THAT DESTINY FOR WHICH GOD HAS CREATED US. FIRST THE GOSPEL PROVIDES US WITH FREEDOM FROM CONDEMNATION BY GOD'S LAW AND THUS "FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE. "FREEDOM MUST BEGIN HERE. OTHER "FREEDOMS" WILL BE SHALLOW UNLESS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM THIS CONDEMNATION. WE GAIN THIS "FREEDOM" THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED IN OUR PLACE TAKING OUR CONDEMNATION ON HIMSELF. WHEN WE LOOK TO OURSELVES WE MUST ADMIT AS DOES THE "1848" CONFESSION OF THE EVANGELICAL "FREE" CHURCH OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: " ALL MEN ARE BORN SINNER'S, UNABLE TO DO GOOD BEFORE GOD, INCLINED TO EVIL, BRINGING CONDEMNATION AND DEATH ON THEMSELVES BY A JUST JUDGMENT." BUT WHEN WE LOOK TO CHRIST WE FIND ONE WHO HAS "FREED" US FROM THAT CONDEMNATION BY DYING FOR OUR SINS. HE HAS PAID THE FULL PENALTY REQUIRED BY LAW FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND HAS GIVEN US A STANDING BEFORE GOD WHICH IS THE SAME AS IF WE HAD NEVER SINNED AT ALL.
THE LAW OF GOD IS NO LONGER A THREAT TO US. IT IS TRUE WE DISOBEYED IT, BUT IT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH. WE NOW STAND BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD WITH CLEAN RECORDS, AND LIBERATED CONSCIENCES. IT WAS THIS "FREEDOM" THAT IMPRESSED THE APOSTLE PAUL SO DEEPLY, HE HAD GIVEN HIMSELF TO OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW. BUT THE LAW WAS A STERN TASKMASTER, AND HE HAD BEEN BURDENED BY IT. HE MAY HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE KEPT THE LAW PERFECTLY, ACCORDING TO HUMAN INTERPRETATIONS (PHIL 3:6). BUT HE WAS STILL NOT RIGHTEOUS AS GOD COUNTS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HE SENSED IT (ACTS 26:14). WHAT WAS HE TO DO? THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST HE DISCOVERED A RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM THE LAW, WHICH MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD PERFECTLY. AT THIS POINT HE CRIED." WE MUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT, NOT IN THE FLESH . (ROM. 8-1-4). FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH. TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE.
SIMILARLY, IN GALATIANS, AFTER A SPIRITED DEFENSE OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE, PAUL RHAPSODIZES, " FOR FREEDOM" CHRIST HAS SET US FREE!
Saturday, April 7, 2018
MATTHEW: [ 27:53] EZEKIEL [37:12] CHEW ON THIS !
THE WEIRDEST MOMENT IN MATTHEW- POSSIBILITY , THE WEIRDEST MOMENT, IN HE ENTIRE GOSPEL TRADITION IS DESCRIBED IN MATTHEW (27:53). AS JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS,WE ARE TOLD NEAR BY "TOMBS" WERE OPEN AND MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP, WERE RAISED. AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, THEY CAME OUT OF THE "TOMBS' AND ENTERED THE HOLY CITY., AND "APPEARED TO MANY." IN OTHER WORDS AN UNSPECIFIED BUT LARGE NUMBER OF UNNAMED PROPHETS AND HOLY FIGURES FROM THE TRADITIONS OF JUDAISM SPRANG TO LIFE AND ZOMBIED THEIR WAY THROUGH JERUSALEM. THE ASTONISHING SO- CALLED RISEN ONES NEVER COMES UP AGAIN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH RATTLED CHRISTIAN CAGES FOR GENERATIONS. VARIOUS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO EXPLAIN THE PASSAGE, THE MOST POPULAR- SUPPORTED, AUGUSTINE, TERTULLIAN, AND JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, AMONG OTHERS-- BEING THAT MATTHEW DESCRIBED NOT A LITERAL RAISING BUT A SPIRITUAL ONE. THE LIKELIEST SOURCE OF THIS STRANGE PASSAGE? OF COURSE, JEWISH SCRIPTURE EZEKIEL [37:12]. " THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD: I AM GOING TO OPEN YOUR GRAVES, AND BRING YOU UP FROM YOUR GRAVES,
" O MY PEOPLE".
AND I WILL BRING YOU BACK TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL." EXCERPT FROM THE "APOSTLE" BY TOM BISSELL. ( AMONG THE TOMBS OF THE TWELVE.)
" O MY PEOPLE".
AND I WILL BRING YOU BACK TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL." EXCERPT FROM THE "APOSTLE" BY TOM BISSELL. ( AMONG THE TOMBS OF THE TWELVE.)
ATTESTED FISH STORIES. INDEPENDENT BAPTIST MISSIONARY MESSENGER.
WRITTEN BY J, SIDLOW BAXTER. I QUOTE: IN THE DAILY MAIL, A NEWSPAPER OF DECEMBER 14, 1928, MR. G.H. HANN, A RESIDENT OF BIRMINGHAM, GAVE THE FOLLOWING TESTIMONY. " MY OWN EXPERIENCE WAS IN BIRMINGHAM , ENGLAND, ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THE CARCASS OF A WHALE WAS DISPLAYED FOR A WEEK. I WAS ONE OF TWELVE MEN WHO WENT INTO HIS MOUTH, PASSED THROUGH ITS THROAT AND MOVED ABOUT IN WHAT WAS EQUIVALENT TO A FAR SIZE ROOM. ITS THROAT WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO SERVE AS A DOOR. OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD BE QUITE EASY FOR A WHALE OF THIS KIND TO SWALLOW A MAN."
IN THE LATE SIR FRANCIS FOX'S BOOK, SIXTY- YEARS OF ENGINEERING, THE MANAGER OF A WHALING STATION INFORMS US THAT THE SPERM WHALE SWALLOWS LUMPS OF FOOD EIGHT FEET IN DIAMETER AND THAT IN ONE OF THESE WHALES THEY ACTUALLY FOUND A SHARK SIXTEEN IN LENGTH. THERE IS A INCIDENT RELATED BY FOX WHICH, ASSURES US, WAS INVESTIGATED BY TWO SCIENTISTS , ONE OF WHOM WAS M.dePARVILLE, THE SCIENTIFIC EDITOR OF JOURNAL d' DUBOIS, OF PARIS, WELL KNOWN AS A MAN OF SOUND JUDGMENT AND A CAREFUL WRITER. THE INCIDENT IS AS FOLLOWS: IN FEBRUARY, 1891, THE WHALESHIP "STAR OF THE EAST" WAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WHEN THE LOOKOUT SPOTTED A LARGE SPERM WHALE THREE MILES AWAY. TWO BOATS WERE LOWERED, AND IN A SHORT TIME ONE OF THE HARPOONERS WAS ENABLED TO SPEAR THE FISH. THE SECOND BOAT ATTACKED THE WHALE BUT WAS UP SET BY A LASH OF ITS TAIL AND THE MEN THROWN INTO THE SEA, ONE BEING DROWNED AND ANOTHER, JAMES BARTLEY, HAVING DISAPPEARED, COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE WHALE WAS KILLED AND IN A FEW HOURS THE GREAT BODY WAS LYING IN THE SHIP'S SIDE AND THE CREW WAS BUSY WITH AXES AND SPADES REMOVING THE BLUBBER. THEY WORKED ALL DAY AND PART OF THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THEY ATTACHED SOME TACKLE TO THE STOMACH WHICH WAS HOISTED ON DECK. THE SAILORS WERE STARTLED BY SPASMODIC SIGNS OF LIFE AND INSIDE THE STOMACH WAS FOUND THE MISSING SAILOR DOUBLED UP AND UNCONSCIOUS. HE WAS LAID ON THE DECK AND TREATED TO A BATH OF SEA WATER WHICH SOON REVIVED HIM, BUT HIS MIND WAS NOT CLEAR AND HE WAS PLACED IN THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS WHERE HE REMAINED FOR TWO WEEKS, A RAVING LUNATIC. HE WAS KINDLY AND CAREFULLY TREATED BY THE CAPTAIN AND BU OFFICERS OF THE SHIP AND GRADUALLY REGAINED POSSESSION OF HIS SENSES. AT THE END OF THE THIRD WEEK HE HAD ENTIRELY RECOVERED FROM SHOCK. DURING HIS SOJOURN IN THE WHALES STOMACH, BARTLEY'S SKIN, WHERE EXPOSED TO THE ACTION OF THE GASTRIC JUICE UNDERWENT A STRIKING CHANGE. HIS FACE, NECK, AND HANDS WERE BLEACHED TO A DEADLY WHITENESS AND TOOK ON THE APPEARANCE OF PARCHMENT BARTLEY'S AFFIRMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE STARVED, FOR HE LOST HIS SENSES THROUGH FRIGHT, AND NOT FOR LACK OF AIR. BARTLEY ALSO SAID AFTER BEING HURLED INTO THE SEA, THE LASHING OF THE WHALE'S TAIL, HE WAS DRAWN ALONG IN DARKNESS AND FOUND HIMSELF IN A GREAT PLACE WHERE THE HEAT WAS INTENSE. HE FELT AROUND FOR AN EXIT AND FOUND ONLY SLIMY WALLS AROUND HIM. THE AWFUL TRUTH RUSHED INTO HIS MIND AND HE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS UNTIL THE SEAWATER BATH REVIVED HIM ON THE SHIP'S DECK.
AND NOW WHERE ARE THE CRITICS WHO HAVE DECLARED THE SWALLOWING UP OF JONAH TO BE AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT.
IN THE LATE SIR FRANCIS FOX'S BOOK, SIXTY- YEARS OF ENGINEERING, THE MANAGER OF A WHALING STATION INFORMS US THAT THE SPERM WHALE SWALLOWS LUMPS OF FOOD EIGHT FEET IN DIAMETER AND THAT IN ONE OF THESE WHALES THEY ACTUALLY FOUND A SHARK SIXTEEN IN LENGTH. THERE IS A INCIDENT RELATED BY FOX WHICH, ASSURES US, WAS INVESTIGATED BY TWO SCIENTISTS , ONE OF WHOM WAS M.dePARVILLE, THE SCIENTIFIC EDITOR OF JOURNAL d' DUBOIS, OF PARIS, WELL KNOWN AS A MAN OF SOUND JUDGMENT AND A CAREFUL WRITER. THE INCIDENT IS AS FOLLOWS: IN FEBRUARY, 1891, THE WHALESHIP "STAR OF THE EAST" WAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WHEN THE LOOKOUT SPOTTED A LARGE SPERM WHALE THREE MILES AWAY. TWO BOATS WERE LOWERED, AND IN A SHORT TIME ONE OF THE HARPOONERS WAS ENABLED TO SPEAR THE FISH. THE SECOND BOAT ATTACKED THE WHALE BUT WAS UP SET BY A LASH OF ITS TAIL AND THE MEN THROWN INTO THE SEA, ONE BEING DROWNED AND ANOTHER, JAMES BARTLEY, HAVING DISAPPEARED, COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE WHALE WAS KILLED AND IN A FEW HOURS THE GREAT BODY WAS LYING IN THE SHIP'S SIDE AND THE CREW WAS BUSY WITH AXES AND SPADES REMOVING THE BLUBBER. THEY WORKED ALL DAY AND PART OF THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THEY ATTACHED SOME TACKLE TO THE STOMACH WHICH WAS HOISTED ON DECK. THE SAILORS WERE STARTLED BY SPASMODIC SIGNS OF LIFE AND INSIDE THE STOMACH WAS FOUND THE MISSING SAILOR DOUBLED UP AND UNCONSCIOUS. HE WAS LAID ON THE DECK AND TREATED TO A BATH OF SEA WATER WHICH SOON REVIVED HIM, BUT HIS MIND WAS NOT CLEAR AND HE WAS PLACED IN THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS WHERE HE REMAINED FOR TWO WEEKS, A RAVING LUNATIC. HE WAS KINDLY AND CAREFULLY TREATED BY THE CAPTAIN AND BU OFFICERS OF THE SHIP AND GRADUALLY REGAINED POSSESSION OF HIS SENSES. AT THE END OF THE THIRD WEEK HE HAD ENTIRELY RECOVERED FROM SHOCK. DURING HIS SOJOURN IN THE WHALES STOMACH, BARTLEY'S SKIN, WHERE EXPOSED TO THE ACTION OF THE GASTRIC JUICE UNDERWENT A STRIKING CHANGE. HIS FACE, NECK, AND HANDS WERE BLEACHED TO A DEADLY WHITENESS AND TOOK ON THE APPEARANCE OF PARCHMENT BARTLEY'S AFFIRMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE STARVED, FOR HE LOST HIS SENSES THROUGH FRIGHT, AND NOT FOR LACK OF AIR. BARTLEY ALSO SAID AFTER BEING HURLED INTO THE SEA, THE LASHING OF THE WHALE'S TAIL, HE WAS DRAWN ALONG IN DARKNESS AND FOUND HIMSELF IN A GREAT PLACE WHERE THE HEAT WAS INTENSE. HE FELT AROUND FOR AN EXIT AND FOUND ONLY SLIMY WALLS AROUND HIM. THE AWFUL TRUTH RUSHED INTO HIS MIND AND HE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS UNTIL THE SEAWATER BATH REVIVED HIM ON THE SHIP'S DECK.
AND NOW WHERE ARE THE CRITICS WHO HAVE DECLARED THE SWALLOWING UP OF JONAH TO BE AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT.
Friday, April 6, 2018
PETER'S SPEECH.
OUR STORY BEGINS IN JERUSALEM, AND REPORTS THE WORK IN THE HOLY LAND. THE TIME SPAN OF ALL THIS IS FROM A.D. 30 TO ABOUT 62. OUR STORY COVERS THE TIME FROM PENTECOST TO THE TIME OF PAUL'S ARREST IN ROME. THE BOOK OF ACTS ( STORY OF THE CHURCH BEGINNINGS). THE BOOK IS REALLY AN ACCOUNT OF " SOME OF THE APOSTLES." THROUGHOUT THE BOOK WE HAVE THE RECORD OF HOW JESUS WAS PRESENT WITH HIS GRACE AND POWER TO SPREAD ABROAD THE SALVATION WHICH HE HAD WON. OTHERS HAVE PROPOSED THAT IT BE CALLED " THE ACTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." THE SPIRIT HAD EMPOWERED THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS TO WITNESS TO THEIR SAVIOR. LUKE SPEAKS TO THEOPHILUS A HIGH OFFICIAL IN GOVERNMENT, WHO WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PERSON CALLED CHRIST, WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED HIM TO WRITE FOR OUR SAKES ALSO. 1) HE REPORTS JESUS CONTINUING ACTIVITY IN THE INTEREST OF HIS CHURCH AND FOR SALVATION OF SINNERS, THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE POWER HE GAVE TO THE BELIEVERS TO WITNESS.
2) LUKE RECORDS WHAT CHRIST MESSAGE FOR THE CHURCH WAS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WE LEARNED IT FOCUSED ON THE CRUCIFIED AND RISEN SAVIOR, THAT IT WAS A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THAT THE APOSTLES BASED THEIR MESSAGE ON OLD TESTAMENT, SCRIPTURE AND THE FACTS OF SALVATION HISTORY. ACTS IS FULL OF EXAMPLES OF THEIR PREACHING AND TEACHING. NOW THERE WAS STAYING IN JERUSALEM, GOD FEARING JEWS WHO HAD COME FROM EVERY NATION UNDER HEAVEN, FOR THE FEAST. SOME OF THEM HAD COME TO LIVE OUT THEIR DAYS IN THEIR HOMELAND. ALL OF THEM WERE "GOD-FEARING," THAT IS, THEY TRIED TO LIVE IN FAITHFULNESS TO THE GOD OF ISRAEL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW OF MOSES. WHEN THEY HEARD THE SOUND, A CROWD CAME TOGETHER IN BEWILDERMENT, BECAUSE EACH ONE HEARD THEM SPEAKING IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE. UTTERLY, AMAZED, THEY ASKED:
" ARE NOT ALL THESE MEN " ( APOSTLES WHO ARE SPEAKING GALILEANS?) THEN HOW IS IT THAT EACH OF US HEARS THEM IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE? EACH PERSON IN THE CROWD HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE APOSTLES SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF HIS HOMELAND. HOW COULD NATIVES OF A SMALL AND RUSTIC REGION SPEAK IN LANGUAGES OF MANY NATIONS. THE APOSTLES SPEECH WAS NOT A BABBLING WHICH THE HEARERS THEN INTERPRETED. IT WAS COHERENT AND INTELLIGIBLE SPEAKING. THE APOSTLES WERE TO GO INTO ALL THE WORLD, BUT ON THIS DAY PEOPLE FROM ALL THE WORLD WERE GATHERING AROUND THEM IN JERUSALEM. AMAZED AND PERPLEXED, THEY ASKED ONE ANOTHER, " WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?" SOME HOWEVER MADE FUN OF THEM AND SAID, " THEY HAD TO MUCH WINE.
THEN THE SPIRIT MOVED MEN TO GLORIFY GOD IN LANGUAGES THAT WERE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL WHO HEARD. " THIS REVERSAL OF BABEL" (WHERE GOD CONFUSED THEIR LANGUAGES), THEY WERE TRYING TO BUILD A TOWER TO HEAVEN, TO CONFRONT GOD, FOR DESTROYING THE EARTH BY THE FLOOD. STILL OCCURS WHEN MISSIONARIES LEARN NEW LANGUAGES IN ORDER TO DECLARE THE WONDERS OF GOD TO PEOPLE IN A WORLD MISSION FIELD'S. IT WAS NATURAL FOR EVERYONE WHO HEARD IN THEIR OWN TONGUE, TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH AN EVENT, SOME REFUSED TO BELIEVE EITHER THE MESSAGE OR THE MIRACLE. THEY PREFERRED TO DISCREDIT BOTH BY AN " EXPLANATION" THAT SLANDERED THE LORD'S SPOKESMEN. THEY ACCUSED THEM OF DRUNKENNESS. PETER COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND STOOD UP AND ADDRESSED THE CROWD: " FELLOW JEWS AND ALL WHO LIVE IN JERUSALEM, LET ME EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU; LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT I SAY." THESE MEN ARE NOT DRUNK, AS YOU SUPPOSE, ITS ONLY NINE IN THE MORNING! PETER ADDRESSED THE CROWD IN A MANNER AND WITH A MESSAGE THAT SHOWED THE CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS TO BE FALSE. THE ELEVEN STOOD WITH HIM IN SUPPORT OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. WHAT HE SAID WAS THE TESTIMONY OF ALL THE APOSTLES.
NINE IN THE MORNING WAS THE HOUR OF MORNING PRAYER. WINE WAS DRUNK AT
MEALS ONLY, SINCE IT WAS TOO EARLY TO HAVE TOO MUCH WINE, SINCE IT WAS TOO EARLY TO HAVE BREAKFAST. . PETER DEFENDED "THESE MEN" THE ELEVEN WHO WERE STANDING SILENT WHILE HE SPOKE. PETER CONTINUED:
ON, THIS IS WHAT WERE SPOKE BY THE PROPHET JOEL:
IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS,
I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE,
YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY,
YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
YOUR OLD MAN WILL DREAM DREAMS.
EVEN ON MY SERVANTS, BOTH MEN, AND WOMEN,
I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS,
AND THEY WILL PROPHESY.
I WILL SHOW WONDERS IN THE HEAVEN ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, FIRE, AND BILLOWS OF SMOKE.
THE SUN WILL BE TURNED TO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON TO BLOOD.
BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD.
AND EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
WILL BE SAVED.
PETER'S REAL ANSWER TO THE CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS LAY IN HIS EXPLANATION OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
THE SPEAKING IN THE OTHER LANGUAGES WAS THE "SIGN" THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
WAS BEING POURED OUT, AS GOD HAD PROMISED THROUGH THE PROPHET JOEL.
THE PROPHET UTTERED THESE WORDS ABOUT 87O B.C.
THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT IN THE MIRACLE OF LANGUAGES.
NOT EVERYTHING JOEL PROPHESIED WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT DAY, BUT WOULD BE FULFILLED IN GOD'S GOOD TIME. AND IN HIS WAY.
GOD'S PROMISED THROUGH JOEL THAT ALL PEOPLE, MALE, FEMALE, YOUNG, OLD WOULD RECEIVE THE SPIRIT. ALL WHOM THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL.
THIS OUTPOURING WHICH BEGAN AT PENTECOST, CONTINUES TODAY WHERE EVER
THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED. JOEL'S PROPHECY SPEAKS OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING,
HIS COMING IN JUDGMENT. JESUS SPOKE OF IT IN SIMILAR LANGUAGE. " WHEN YOU HEAR OF WARS AND REVOLUTIONS, DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED. THESE THINGS MUST HAPPEN FIRST, BUT THE END WILL NOT COME RIGHT AWAY.... THERE WILL BE FEARFUL EVENTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN. (WATCH).
2) LUKE RECORDS WHAT CHRIST MESSAGE FOR THE CHURCH WAS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WE LEARNED IT FOCUSED ON THE CRUCIFIED AND RISEN SAVIOR, THAT IT WAS A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THAT THE APOSTLES BASED THEIR MESSAGE ON OLD TESTAMENT, SCRIPTURE AND THE FACTS OF SALVATION HISTORY. ACTS IS FULL OF EXAMPLES OF THEIR PREACHING AND TEACHING. NOW THERE WAS STAYING IN JERUSALEM, GOD FEARING JEWS WHO HAD COME FROM EVERY NATION UNDER HEAVEN, FOR THE FEAST. SOME OF THEM HAD COME TO LIVE OUT THEIR DAYS IN THEIR HOMELAND. ALL OF THEM WERE "GOD-FEARING," THAT IS, THEY TRIED TO LIVE IN FAITHFULNESS TO THE GOD OF ISRAEL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW OF MOSES. WHEN THEY HEARD THE SOUND, A CROWD CAME TOGETHER IN BEWILDERMENT, BECAUSE EACH ONE HEARD THEM SPEAKING IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE. UTTERLY, AMAZED, THEY ASKED:
" ARE NOT ALL THESE MEN " ( APOSTLES WHO ARE SPEAKING GALILEANS?) THEN HOW IS IT THAT EACH OF US HEARS THEM IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE? EACH PERSON IN THE CROWD HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE APOSTLES SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF HIS HOMELAND. HOW COULD NATIVES OF A SMALL AND RUSTIC REGION SPEAK IN LANGUAGES OF MANY NATIONS. THE APOSTLES SPEECH WAS NOT A BABBLING WHICH THE HEARERS THEN INTERPRETED. IT WAS COHERENT AND INTELLIGIBLE SPEAKING. THE APOSTLES WERE TO GO INTO ALL THE WORLD, BUT ON THIS DAY PEOPLE FROM ALL THE WORLD WERE GATHERING AROUND THEM IN JERUSALEM. AMAZED AND PERPLEXED, THEY ASKED ONE ANOTHER, " WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?" SOME HOWEVER MADE FUN OF THEM AND SAID, " THEY HAD TO MUCH WINE.
THEN THE SPIRIT MOVED MEN TO GLORIFY GOD IN LANGUAGES THAT WERE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL WHO HEARD. " THIS REVERSAL OF BABEL" (WHERE GOD CONFUSED THEIR LANGUAGES), THEY WERE TRYING TO BUILD A TOWER TO HEAVEN, TO CONFRONT GOD, FOR DESTROYING THE EARTH BY THE FLOOD. STILL OCCURS WHEN MISSIONARIES LEARN NEW LANGUAGES IN ORDER TO DECLARE THE WONDERS OF GOD TO PEOPLE IN A WORLD MISSION FIELD'S. IT WAS NATURAL FOR EVERYONE WHO HEARD IN THEIR OWN TONGUE, TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH AN EVENT, SOME REFUSED TO BELIEVE EITHER THE MESSAGE OR THE MIRACLE. THEY PREFERRED TO DISCREDIT BOTH BY AN " EXPLANATION" THAT SLANDERED THE LORD'S SPOKESMEN. THEY ACCUSED THEM OF DRUNKENNESS. PETER COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND STOOD UP AND ADDRESSED THE CROWD: " FELLOW JEWS AND ALL WHO LIVE IN JERUSALEM, LET ME EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU; LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT I SAY." THESE MEN ARE NOT DRUNK, AS YOU SUPPOSE, ITS ONLY NINE IN THE MORNING! PETER ADDRESSED THE CROWD IN A MANNER AND WITH A MESSAGE THAT SHOWED THE CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS TO BE FALSE. THE ELEVEN STOOD WITH HIM IN SUPPORT OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. WHAT HE SAID WAS THE TESTIMONY OF ALL THE APOSTLES.
NINE IN THE MORNING WAS THE HOUR OF MORNING PRAYER. WINE WAS DRUNK AT
MEALS ONLY, SINCE IT WAS TOO EARLY TO HAVE TOO MUCH WINE, SINCE IT WAS TOO EARLY TO HAVE BREAKFAST. . PETER DEFENDED "THESE MEN" THE ELEVEN WHO WERE STANDING SILENT WHILE HE SPOKE. PETER CONTINUED:
ON, THIS IS WHAT WERE SPOKE BY THE PROPHET JOEL:
IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS,
I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE,
YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY,
YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
YOUR OLD MAN WILL DREAM DREAMS.
EVEN ON MY SERVANTS, BOTH MEN, AND WOMEN,
I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS,
AND THEY WILL PROPHESY.
I WILL SHOW WONDERS IN THE HEAVEN ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, FIRE, AND BILLOWS OF SMOKE.
THE SUN WILL BE TURNED TO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON TO BLOOD.
BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD.
AND EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
WILL BE SAVED.
PETER'S REAL ANSWER TO THE CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS LAY IN HIS EXPLANATION OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
THE SPEAKING IN THE OTHER LANGUAGES WAS THE "SIGN" THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
WAS BEING POURED OUT, AS GOD HAD PROMISED THROUGH THE PROPHET JOEL.
THE PROPHET UTTERED THESE WORDS ABOUT 87O B.C.
THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT IN THE MIRACLE OF LANGUAGES.
NOT EVERYTHING JOEL PROPHESIED WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT DAY, BUT WOULD BE FULFILLED IN GOD'S GOOD TIME. AND IN HIS WAY.
GOD'S PROMISED THROUGH JOEL THAT ALL PEOPLE, MALE, FEMALE, YOUNG, OLD WOULD RECEIVE THE SPIRIT. ALL WHOM THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL.
THIS OUTPOURING WHICH BEGAN AT PENTECOST, CONTINUES TODAY WHERE EVER
THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED. JOEL'S PROPHECY SPEAKS OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING,
HIS COMING IN JUDGMENT. JESUS SPOKE OF IT IN SIMILAR LANGUAGE. " WHEN YOU HEAR OF WARS AND REVOLUTIONS, DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED. THESE THINGS MUST HAPPEN FIRST, BUT THE END WILL NOT COME RIGHT AWAY.... THERE WILL BE FEARFUL EVENTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN. (WATCH).
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
TRUE GREATNESS [MARK 9: 30-37]
HE CAME TO CAPERNAUM; AND BEING IN THE HOUSE HE ASKED THEM, WHAT WAS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AMONG YOURSELVES BY THE WAY. IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS KNEW THEY HAD BEEN ARGUING, AS THEY WERE WALKING THROUGH GALILEE, TO CAPERNAUM. BUT THEY HELD THEIR PEACE; FOR THEY HAD ASKED AMONG THEMSELVES WHO SHOULD BE THE GREATEST, AND HE SET DOWN AND CALLED THE TWELVE, AND SAID UNTO THEM, IF ANY MAN DESIRES TO BE FIRST, THE SAME SHALL BE LAST OF ALL AND SERVANT OF ALL.
AFTER A HURRIED TRIP THROUGH GALILEE, FOR THE LAST TIME, JESUS WAS ABOUT TO CONTINUE THEIR THEOLOGICAL TRAINING. THE HEARTS AND HEADS OF THE DISCIPLES WERE YET FILLED WITH THE FALSE MESSIANIC HOPES, AND THIS WAS THE MATTER THEY HAD DISCUSSED ON THE WAY AMONG THEMSELVES, DISPUTING ABOUT RANK, QUARRELING ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE GREATEST IN THEIR MIDST. THE QUESTION MAY HAVE BEEN BROACHED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE JESUS HAD TAKEN ONLY THREE OF THEM ALONG TO THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION . JESUS KNEW OF THE DISCUSSION AND, BY HIS OMNISCIENCE, HE KNEW ALSO ITS TOPIC. THEREFORE THE LORD TAKES OCCASION TO TEACH THEM A BADLY NEEDED LESSON. WHILE HE HAD GONE BEFORE THEM, BUSY WITH THOUGHTS TO THE WAY OF REDEMPTION, THEY HAD BEEN ENGROSSED WITH THEIR VAIN THOUGHTS, HOW THEY MIGHT ENHANCE THEIR OWN GLORY. HE CALLED THE TWELVE BEFORE HIM, THAT THEY SHOULD, FOR ONCE GET THE MESSAGE. DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL. IF JESUS SAYS SOMETHING ALARMING, DON'T ASK WHAT IT MEANS, BECAUSE SAYING IT OUT LOUD MAKES THEM REAL AND SCARIER. IF JESUS ASKS WHAT YOU WERE ARGUING ABOUT, DON'T TELL HIM, SO YOU CAN PRETEND THE ARGUMENT NEVER HAPPENED. SILENCE: THE TIME HONORED " CHRISTIAN" RESPONSE TO CONFLICT, PAIN, AND FEAR. THE BEST WAY TO STOP LISTENING IS TO START TALKING. IT'S THE INTERMISSION THAT BRINGS SOME PEOPLE TO THE CONCERT. THE DISCIPLES STARTED THEIR OWN CONVERSATION WHEN THE ORCHESTRATED THEME OF HIS SACRIFICE PROVED TOO DISTURBING TO THEM. TO OVERCOME THEIR ANXIETY, THEIR ABILITY TO IMAGINE, THEY ATTEMPTED TO FORTIFY THEIR SPIRITS WITH TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN WORTH. REPLAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER THE ASSERTS EACH OF THEM POSSESSED, THEY ARGUED ABOUT WHO WAS THE GREATEST AMONG THEM. WHEN PERSONS SENSE THAT THEY HAVE MISSED THE MARK, THE EASIEST WAY TO RESTORE RESPECTABILITY IS TO COMPARE THEMSELVES WITH OTHER PERSONS. THE PHARISEE IN THE TEMPLE COULD FIND CHEAP ABSOLUTION IN COMPARING HIMSELF TO THE PUBLICAN. EACH ONE OF US CAN EASILY FIND SOMEONE TO COMPARE OURSELVES AND IN THE PROCESS MAKE OURSELVES LOOK GOOD. IT MAY BE TRUE OF ME THAT I HAVE LOVED THINGS AND USED PEOPLE, RATHER THAN LOVING PEOPLE AND USING THINGS, BUT LOOK AT HIM. HE'S GOT TWICE AS MUCH AS I HAVE. EVERYBODY HE EVER MET WAS USED TO HELP HIM ACQUIRE WHAT HE'S GOT. BY COMPARISON, I LOOK PRETTY GOOD,
THE DISCIPLES UNCOMFORTABLENESS IN MAKING WIDE CONVERSATIONAL DETOUR AROUND THE SUBJECT OF THE CROSS WAS EXPOSED BY JESUS QUESTION, " WHAT WERE YOU DISCUSSING?" NONE WAS WILLING TO SHARE WITH HIM THE SUBJECT OF THEIR CONVERSATION. THEY WERE INTUITIVELY ASHAMED. THEIR DISCUSSION HAD WANDERED INTO A VERY DISTANT PLACE, FROM THE AREA HE HAD SUGGESTED HE HAD HOPED THAT THEY WOULD REFLECT UPON HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
THEY WERE CONVERSING ABOUT GREATNESS WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CROSS. THEY COULD NOT KNOW ON THEIR SIDE OF CALVARY WHAT WE KNOW BOUT IT FROM OUR SIDE. FROM OUR SIDE OF TIME., BUT THEY HAD BEEN WITH THEM LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THE LIFE JESUS CAME TO BRING WAS TO BE FOUND IN LOSING LIFE ON LESSER TERMS. IF THEY WERE TO FOLLOW HIM, THEY WERE TO DENY THEMSELFS IN ORDER TO LIBERATE IT. JESUS BECAME A MAN NOT TO DENY OUR HUMANNESS BUT TO REVEAL IT. THEIR IS AN ANCIENT LEGEND WHICH TELLS OF THE DAY WHEN THE gods FELT THEMSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF A THREAT TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR DIVINITY. SO A CONVENTION WAS ARRANGED ( AT THE HEAVENLY HILTON?) AND ALL THE gods WERE INVITED. THE AGENDA WAS FOCUSED ON ONE QUESTIONED, WHERE SHALL WE HIDE THE SPARK OF DIVINITY WHERE MORTALS CAN NEVER FIND IT ? THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF ANSWERS, BUT NONE SATISFIED THE CONVENTION. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA? HARDLY, FOR IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HUMANS REACHED THE OCEAN DEPTH. IN THE FAR RESIDENCES OF THE GALAXIES BEYOND THE HIGHEST REACH?" WOULD THE SPARK BE SAFE THERE?" NOT REALLY, THESE MORTALS WHO HAD LEARNED TO OUT SWIM THE FISH, AND SOON WOULD OUTRUN THE GAZELLE, WOULD ONE DAY OUT FLY THE EAGLE. THE MEETING WAS ABOUT TO ADJOURN IN FRUSTRATION ( AS SO MANY CONVENTIONS DO!) WHEN ONE OF THE MORE TIMID DELEGATES SUGGESTED THAT HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE THE ANSWER." LET US HIDE THE SPARK OF DIVINITY IN THE HUMAN HEART." THE VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION WAS UNANIMOUS.
JESUS CAME TO REVEAL THE SPARK OF DIVINITY; NOT TO HIDE IT. IN HIM WAS REVEALED GOD'S POSSIBILITY FOR PERSONS. NO ONE COULD THINK OF HERSELF OR HIMSELF IN THE SAME WAY NOW THAT HE HAD COME. GOD KNEW WE COULD ONLY LOVE THAT WHICH WE COULD GET OUR ARMS AROUND; SO HE BECAME A BABE AND WAS WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES. THEN PEOPLE COULD SAY, " THIS IS EMMANUEL . "THIS IS GOD WITH US".
JESUS MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
AFTER A HURRIED TRIP THROUGH GALILEE, FOR THE LAST TIME, JESUS WAS ABOUT TO CONTINUE THEIR THEOLOGICAL TRAINING. THE HEARTS AND HEADS OF THE DISCIPLES WERE YET FILLED WITH THE FALSE MESSIANIC HOPES, AND THIS WAS THE MATTER THEY HAD DISCUSSED ON THE WAY AMONG THEMSELVES, DISPUTING ABOUT RANK, QUARRELING ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE GREATEST IN THEIR MIDST. THE QUESTION MAY HAVE BEEN BROACHED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE JESUS HAD TAKEN ONLY THREE OF THEM ALONG TO THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION . JESUS KNEW OF THE DISCUSSION AND, BY HIS OMNISCIENCE, HE KNEW ALSO ITS TOPIC. THEREFORE THE LORD TAKES OCCASION TO TEACH THEM A BADLY NEEDED LESSON. WHILE HE HAD GONE BEFORE THEM, BUSY WITH THOUGHTS TO THE WAY OF REDEMPTION, THEY HAD BEEN ENGROSSED WITH THEIR VAIN THOUGHTS, HOW THEY MIGHT ENHANCE THEIR OWN GLORY. HE CALLED THE TWELVE BEFORE HIM, THAT THEY SHOULD, FOR ONCE GET THE MESSAGE. DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL. IF JESUS SAYS SOMETHING ALARMING, DON'T ASK WHAT IT MEANS, BECAUSE SAYING IT OUT LOUD MAKES THEM REAL AND SCARIER. IF JESUS ASKS WHAT YOU WERE ARGUING ABOUT, DON'T TELL HIM, SO YOU CAN PRETEND THE ARGUMENT NEVER HAPPENED. SILENCE: THE TIME HONORED " CHRISTIAN" RESPONSE TO CONFLICT, PAIN, AND FEAR. THE BEST WAY TO STOP LISTENING IS TO START TALKING. IT'S THE INTERMISSION THAT BRINGS SOME PEOPLE TO THE CONCERT. THE DISCIPLES STARTED THEIR OWN CONVERSATION WHEN THE ORCHESTRATED THEME OF HIS SACRIFICE PROVED TOO DISTURBING TO THEM. TO OVERCOME THEIR ANXIETY, THEIR ABILITY TO IMAGINE, THEY ATTEMPTED TO FORTIFY THEIR SPIRITS WITH TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN WORTH. REPLAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER THE ASSERTS EACH OF THEM POSSESSED, THEY ARGUED ABOUT WHO WAS THE GREATEST AMONG THEM. WHEN PERSONS SENSE THAT THEY HAVE MISSED THE MARK, THE EASIEST WAY TO RESTORE RESPECTABILITY IS TO COMPARE THEMSELVES WITH OTHER PERSONS. THE PHARISEE IN THE TEMPLE COULD FIND CHEAP ABSOLUTION IN COMPARING HIMSELF TO THE PUBLICAN. EACH ONE OF US CAN EASILY FIND SOMEONE TO COMPARE OURSELVES AND IN THE PROCESS MAKE OURSELVES LOOK GOOD. IT MAY BE TRUE OF ME THAT I HAVE LOVED THINGS AND USED PEOPLE, RATHER THAN LOVING PEOPLE AND USING THINGS, BUT LOOK AT HIM. HE'S GOT TWICE AS MUCH AS I HAVE. EVERYBODY HE EVER MET WAS USED TO HELP HIM ACQUIRE WHAT HE'S GOT. BY COMPARISON, I LOOK PRETTY GOOD,
THE DISCIPLES UNCOMFORTABLENESS IN MAKING WIDE CONVERSATIONAL DETOUR AROUND THE SUBJECT OF THE CROSS WAS EXPOSED BY JESUS QUESTION, " WHAT WERE YOU DISCUSSING?" NONE WAS WILLING TO SHARE WITH HIM THE SUBJECT OF THEIR CONVERSATION. THEY WERE INTUITIVELY ASHAMED. THEIR DISCUSSION HAD WANDERED INTO A VERY DISTANT PLACE, FROM THE AREA HE HAD SUGGESTED HE HAD HOPED THAT THEY WOULD REFLECT UPON HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
THEY WERE CONVERSING ABOUT GREATNESS WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CROSS. THEY COULD NOT KNOW ON THEIR SIDE OF CALVARY WHAT WE KNOW BOUT IT FROM OUR SIDE. FROM OUR SIDE OF TIME., BUT THEY HAD BEEN WITH THEM LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THE LIFE JESUS CAME TO BRING WAS TO BE FOUND IN LOSING LIFE ON LESSER TERMS. IF THEY WERE TO FOLLOW HIM, THEY WERE TO DENY THEMSELFS IN ORDER TO LIBERATE IT. JESUS BECAME A MAN NOT TO DENY OUR HUMANNESS BUT TO REVEAL IT. THEIR IS AN ANCIENT LEGEND WHICH TELLS OF THE DAY WHEN THE gods FELT THEMSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF A THREAT TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR DIVINITY. SO A CONVENTION WAS ARRANGED ( AT THE HEAVENLY HILTON?) AND ALL THE gods WERE INVITED. THE AGENDA WAS FOCUSED ON ONE QUESTIONED, WHERE SHALL WE HIDE THE SPARK OF DIVINITY WHERE MORTALS CAN NEVER FIND IT ? THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF ANSWERS, BUT NONE SATISFIED THE CONVENTION. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA? HARDLY, FOR IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HUMANS REACHED THE OCEAN DEPTH. IN THE FAR RESIDENCES OF THE GALAXIES BEYOND THE HIGHEST REACH?" WOULD THE SPARK BE SAFE THERE?" NOT REALLY, THESE MORTALS WHO HAD LEARNED TO OUT SWIM THE FISH, AND SOON WOULD OUTRUN THE GAZELLE, WOULD ONE DAY OUT FLY THE EAGLE. THE MEETING WAS ABOUT TO ADJOURN IN FRUSTRATION ( AS SO MANY CONVENTIONS DO!) WHEN ONE OF THE MORE TIMID DELEGATES SUGGESTED THAT HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE THE ANSWER." LET US HIDE THE SPARK OF DIVINITY IN THE HUMAN HEART." THE VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION WAS UNANIMOUS.
JESUS CAME TO REVEAL THE SPARK OF DIVINITY; NOT TO HIDE IT. IN HIM WAS REVEALED GOD'S POSSIBILITY FOR PERSONS. NO ONE COULD THINK OF HERSELF OR HIMSELF IN THE SAME WAY NOW THAT HE HAD COME. GOD KNEW WE COULD ONLY LOVE THAT WHICH WE COULD GET OUR ARMS AROUND; SO HE BECAME A BABE AND WAS WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES. THEN PEOPLE COULD SAY, " THIS IS EMMANUEL . "THIS IS GOD WITH US".
JESUS MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)