THE NEW TESTAMENT STATES THAT JESUS FULFILLED THE HOPES THAT JEWS HAD CHERISHED FOR CENTURIES. IT INSISTS THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH. THAT CLAIM RAISES SOME CRUCIAL QUESTIONS: WHAT KIND OF A MESSIAH WAS JESUS? WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE MESSIANIC AGE HE ESTABLISHED? THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST.MARK PROVIDES ANSWERS TO THESE AND RELATED QUESTIONS.
MARK GIVES NO INFORMATION ABOUT JESUS BIRTH. HE BEGINS HIS ACCOUNT OF JESUS LIFE WITH THE SIMPLE WORDS, " THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD," [MARK 1:1]. THE "GOSPEL" [GOOD NEWS} IS THAT THE NEW AGE THE JEWS HAD BEEN EXPECTING FOR CENTURIES HAS ARRIVED. JESUS (SAVIOR) CHRIST ( "THE ANOINTED ONE," ( "THE MESSIAH") HAS COME. HE IS THE "SON OF GOD," AND THAT MEANS THAT OLD ISRAEL IS NO LONGER " THE SON OF GOD." [ EXODUS 4:22].
WHEN MARK USES THE TERM "GOSPEL" HE IS NOT SAYING THAT WHEN JESUS CAME, GOD BEGAN TO FORGIVE SINS IN EARNEST, OR SAVE PEOPLE IN SOME NEW WAY. GOD ALWAYS HAS, AND ALWAYS WILL, SAVE PEOPLE BY GRACE THROUGH THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. HE IS SAYING THAT IN JESUS THE JEWS DREAMS WERE FINALLY FULFILLED. THE MESSIAH AND THE AGE OF THE MESSIAH HAD FINALLY COME. TO SUPPORT HIS CLAIM, MARK QUOTES [EXODUS 23:2O] AND [MALACHI 3:1] IN VERSE 2, AND [ISAIAH 40:3] IS RICH IN MEANING. IT WAS ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED TO THE EXILES IN BABYLON JUST PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE FROM EXILE AND RETURN TO THEIR OWN LAND. IN QUOTING IT, MARK STATES THAT JESUS WAS ABOUT TO CARRY OUT A RESCUE MISSION THAT WOULD FAR SURPASS THOSE WHICH HAD FREED GOD'S PEOPLE FROM EGYPT AND BABYLON. ( JOHN DID NOT COME IN A POLITICAL UP-HEAVEL, BUT A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL.) GOD PREPARED HIS PEOPLE FOR JESUS MINISTRY AND MISSION THROUGH THE WORK OF JOHN THE BAPTIST,[ 1:4-8] JOHN CONDUCTED HIS WORK IN THE WILDERNESS, THE PLACE OF EXPECTATIONS AND NEW BEGINNINGS, THE PLACE GOD TAKES PEOPLE TO TEAR THEM AWAY FROM THE DISTRACTIONS OF DAILY LIFE. [JOHN 1: 28] STATES THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WORKED ON THE EAST BANK OF THE JORDAN RIVER, THUS INVITING HIS AUDIENCE TO LEAVE THE PROMISE LAND AND ENTER IT AGAIN THROUGH A BAPTISMAL EXODUS AND CROSSING OF THE JORDAN. "NOTE WELL"- JOHN BAPTIZED JEWS, [MATTHEW 3:1-10;] [MARK 1: 4,5.] THIS PRACTICE WAS UNHEARD OF, FOR ONLY GENTILES WERE BAPTIZED WHEN THEY CONVERTED TO JUDAISM. JOHN'S SUMMONS TO BAPTISM REMINDED THE JEWS THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTOMATICALLY CHILDREN OF GOD BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PHYSICAL DESCENT FROM ABRAHAM, [MATTHEW 3:9.] GOD WAS NOT INTERESTED IN NATIONAL CREDENTIALS . HE WAS LOOKING FOR REPENTANCE! JOHN POINTED BEYOND HIMSELF TO SOMEONE MUCH GREATER WHOSE MISSION WOULD TOTALLY TRANSCENDS HIS OWN. ( JESUS SAYS TO THOSE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM : IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED. [JOHN 8:31.]
JESUS DID NOT SUBMIT TO JOHN'S BAPTISM TO RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. HE DID NOT SIN, AND NEEDED NO FORGIVENESS, [JOHN 8:46]. HE SUBMITTED TO IDENTIFY WITH THE NEW MOVEMENT HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN WAS BEGINNING THROUGH JOHN'S WORK, WHICH WOULD CULMINATE IN HIS OWN DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION [ FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CAN NOT BE TOUCHED, WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN [HEBREWS 4:15].
THE EVENTS IN JESUS LIFE REPEATED IN BROAD OUTLINE THOSE OF OLD ISRAEL. HE PASSED THROUGH WATER IN HIS BAPTISM, AND THEN WENT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TESTED BY SATAN. THOUGH THE OLD ISRAEL, THE FORMER SON OF GOD SINNED AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE WILDERNESS, THE NEW ISRAEL REDUCED TO ONE, DID NOT. OLD ISRAEL WAS IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY YEARS. JESUS WAS THERE FORTY DAYS. PASSAGES SUCH AS [ISAIAH 64:1] [JOEL 2:28,29,] AND [HOSEA 7:11.] ALSO THROW LIGHT ON JESUS BAPTISM. THE WORDS SPOKEN AT JESUS BAPTISM DEFINE THE NATURE OF HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY. THE VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAID, " THOU ARE MY BELOVED SON; WITH WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED," THE FIRST PHRASE IS FROM [PSALM:2;7] IT WAS USED IN CORONATION CEREMONIES WHEN DESCENDANTS OF DAVID WERE ANOINTED INTO THE OFFICE OF KING. ITS USE AT JESUS BAPTISM STATED THAT, IN JESUS, THE LONG AWAITED DESCENDANT OF DAVID HAD FINALLY COME. THE SECOND PHRASE IS FROM ISAIAH [42:1] THE FIRST OF ISAIAH'S "SERVANT SONGS" ITS USE AT JESUS BAPTISM DEFINED THE KIND OF KING JESUS WOULD BE. HE WOULD BE A SERVANT KING, THE DOVE AND WATER REFER TO JESUS BAPTISM, HIS CROWN, HIS KINGSHIP, THE STOOPING FIGURE, HIS SERVANT FORM.
MARK'S ACCOUNT OF THE TEMPTATION CONSIST ONLY HALF A SENTENCE, " AND HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY DAYS, TEMPTED BY SATAN [ MARK 1:13a] THE TEMPTATION ACCOUNTS IN MATTHEW [4:1-11] AND LUKE 4:1-13] ARE MUCH LONGER; BOTH SPEAK OF SATAN LEAVING JESUS. MARK MAKES NO MENTION OF SATAN LEAVING JESUS. WHY NOT? HIS ENTIRE GOSPEL IS A TEMPTATION ACCOUNT. JESUS AND SATAN ARE LOCKED IN MORTAL COMBAT THROUGHOUT. IN JESUS, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DOING BATTLE WITH THE KINGDOM OF SATAN [MARK 3:23-27.]
SATAN SEEKS TO ENLIST THE AID OF JESUS OWN DISCIPLES [MARK 8;31-33]. AT THE CROSS, IT APPEARS THAT SATAN HAS WON THE STRUGGLE.. HOWEVER, IT IS JUST WHEN JESUS APPEARS TO BE AT HIS WORST [ON THE CROSS] HE IS AT HIS VERY BEST, FOR HE HAS SERVED TO THE POINT OF GIVING UP LIFE ITSELF. HIS DEATH IS NOT DEFEAT, BUT VICTORY!
JESUS WHOLE LIFE WAS A SERMON. HE WAS A KING WHO WALKED IN THE WAY OF A SERVANT. HE WAS ASKING THEM TO RE-THINK THEIR MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS AND GOD'S WILL FOR THEIR LIVES.
Monday, February 19, 2018
Saturday, February 17, 2018
WHAT THE ANGEL REVEALED TO MARY. [MATT: 1 18-25], [LUKE 1:26-35]
AS HE BEGAN HIS STUDY OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE ANGEL'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO JOSEPH ACCORDING TO (ST. MATTHEW) AND OF THE ANNUNCIATION (ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. CARDINAL DANIELOU POINTED OUT: "OF ALL THE GOSPEL PASSAGES ON THE CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST, NONE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THIS ONE FOR OUR FAITH."
AND YET THESE TEXTS ARE VERY BRIEF. EIGHT VERSES IN MATTHEW. [1: 18-25, AND 13 IN LUKE]. BUT HOW CRAMMED WITH MEANING! LUKE RECORDS THE ANGEL'S REVELATION TO MARY AS AN HISTORICAL FACT. THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS INVOLVED HERE: FIRST, THE FACT OF THE REVELATION; AND SECOND ITS CONTENT. THE FACT OF THE REVELATION; IS OF THE SAME NATURE AS OTHERS TO WHICH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT AT-TEST. CLEARLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE BASIC AFFIRMATIONS OF SCRIPTURE AND AN ESSENTIAL OBJECT OF OUR FAITH, NAMELY, THE ASSERTION THAT GOD IS SPEAKING TO MAN. THE EXISTENCE OF AN UTTERANCE THAT REVEALS GOD'S THOUGHT IS OF ESSENCE OF SCRIPTURE, ALONG WITH THE AFFIRMATION OF AN UTTERANCE THAT CREATES. THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD'S WORD IS SPOKEN TO PATRIARCHS, PROPHETS, AND WISE MEN. TO DENY THAT MARY COULD BE A RECIPIENT OF A REVELATION FROM GOD WOULD IN A CERTAIN SENSE BE TO CHALLENGE THE VERY EXISTENCE OF REVELATION AS ONE OF THE CONSTITUENT ELEMENTS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, THAT IS TO SAY, OF THE 'MAGNALIA DEI." " MIGHTY DEEDS" OF GOD. THE OTHER ELEMENT OF LUKE'S ACCOUNT CONCERNS THE VERY SUBSTANCE OF THE EVENT, AND THIS IS THE FACT OF MARY'S FAITH. THE AFFIRMATION THAT MARY DOES NOT "KNOW MAN" CLEARLY SHOWS THAT SHE REALIZES THE HUMAN IMPOSSIBILITY OF WHAT THE ANGEL IS ANNOUNCING TO HER AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY DIVINE POWER. NOW, IT IS SPECIFICALLY THE OBJECT OF FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT "NOTHING" IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD." (LUKE 1;37). LIKE REVELATION, OF WHICH IT IS AN AFFIRMATION, FAITH IS A CONSTITUENT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. IT IS A HALLMARK OF THE BIBLICAL MAN. MARY'S ACT OF FAITH IN THE WORD'S SPOKEN TO HER BY THE ANGEL IS A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT OF THIS ACCOUNT. NOW THAT WE HAVE SAID THIS WE MUST FURTHER NOTE THAT THE PRESENTATION OF THE EPISODE IS THE FRUIT OF A PAINSTAKING COMPARISON, BASED IN PART ON EARLIER BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS.
THE INFANCY NARRATIVE ACCORDING TO LUKE IS BUILT ON THE PARALLELISM BETWEEN THE CHILDHOOD OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER AND THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS, SO AS TO STRESS THE SUPERIORITY OF THE LATTER. THUS, ZECHARIAH'S, UN-BELIEF IS CONTRASTED WITH MARY'S FAITH. BUT THIS OPPOSITION IMPLIES AN ANALOGY..
NOW, THE ANALOGY EXTENDS TO EARLIER EPISODES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. IT APPLIES FIRST OF ALL BETWEEN THE REALITIES INVOLVED IN THE REVELATION TO ABRAHAM THAT HE WOULD HAVE A SON BY HIS STERILE WIFE SARAH, AND THE REVELATION TO ZECHARIAH THAT HE WOULD HAVE A SON BY HIS STERILE WIFE ELIZABETH. THIS IS THE ANALOGY. OF THE MIGHTY DEEDS OF GOD.("MAGNALIA DEI") IN THE HISTORY OF SALVATION. GOD'S MANNER OF ACTING IS THE SAME IN BOTH INSTANCES. THIS IS WHAT JUSTIFIES OUR SEEING AN ANALOGY BETWEEN THE CROSSING OF THE RED SEA, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, AND CHRISTIAN BAPTISM. IT IS THEREFORE QUITE NORMAL FOR A BIBLICAL AUTHOR. , IN PRESENTING AN EVENT, TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE WAY ANALOGOUS EVENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED IN SCRIPTURE. NOT ONLY DOES LUKE'S ACCOUNT RELATE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARY'S SON WILL BE THE MESSIAH. IT ALSO CLEARLY AFFIRMS THE COMING OF YAHWEH. " THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU, AND THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL OVERSHADOW YOU." [ LUKE 1;35]. t
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EFFUSION OF THE SPIRIT BY WHICH YAHWEH IS TO ACCOMPLISH THE RENEWAL OF CREATION IS ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF THE PROPHETIC ANNUNCIATION (ISAIAH 32:15). THIS SPIRIT IS THE CREATOR WHO BROUGHT FORTH THE FIRST CREATION [GEN.1;2]. AND WHO IS TO BRING FORTH THE NEW CREATION. BUT THE TEXT SAYS MORE THAN THIS. IT CONTAINS A WORD OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE; "OVERSHADOW" THIS IS AN EXPRESSION VERY RARELY FOUND IN SCRIPTURE.. WE FIND ITS EQUIVALENT IN EXODUS (40:34-35), WHERE IT DESIGNATES THE CLOUD [SHEKINAH] THAT IS THE VISIBLE SIGN OF YAHWEH'S PRESENCE IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE DESERT. WE FIND IT AGAIN IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, TO SIGNIFY THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE PERSON OF JESUS IN THE PRESENT TEXT, IT CAN ONLY SIGNIFY THE PRESENCE OF GOD AS THE CHILD TO BE BORN TO MARY.. MOSES AND THE PEOPLE FOLLOWED THE "SHEKINAH"
[HE CLOUD-PRESENCE OF GOD TO THE PROMISE LAND. IT IS IN THIS LIGHT THAT THE LAST FORMULA CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IN ITS FULLEST SENSE: "HENCE, THE HOLY OFFSPRING TO BE BORN WILL BE CALLED SON OF GOD." [LUKE 1:35.]
THE EXPRESSION WOULD NOT BE DECISIVE IN IT SELF. BUT AT THE TIME "LUKE" WAS WRITING, IT COULD ONLY SIGNIFY IN CHRISTIAN CIRCLES THE DIVINITY OF THE WORD. THUS, IT REPRESENTS A NEW AFFIRMATION AS COMPARED WITH THE EXPRESSION "SON OF THE MOST HIGH." [LUKE 1:32], WHICH COULD BE UNDERSTOOD TO REFER STRICTLY TO THE MESSIAH.
WE SEE MARY, THEREFORE, THAT THE REVELATION OF THE ESCHATOLOGICAL EVENT (END TIMES) CONTAINS THREE SUCCESSIVE MOMENTS. FIRST IT IS REVEALED TO HER THAT THE COMING OF GOD IS IMMINENT. THEN, THAT THE RENEWAL OF CREATION THIS COMING WILL EFFECT IS FIRST OF ALL THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE FIRSTBORN OF THE NEW MANKIND. FINALLY, IT IS REVEALED TO HER THAT THE COMING OF GOD WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THIS VERY CHILD, SO THAT HE WILL BE GOD PRESENT IN A MAN'S BODY, THE "SON OF GOD MADE MAN."
ALL THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NEW IN THIS REVELATION, BY COMPARISON WITH THAT PRECEDED IT, NOW APPEARS CLEARLY. IT ADDRESSES ITSELF TO TWO REALITIES: FIRST, THAT THIS CHILD WILL NOT ONLY BE THE MESSIAH, A DESCENDANT, BUT THE NEW ADAM WHO IS TO INAUGURATE THE NEW CREATION. AND BY THE SAME TOKEN, MARY'S VIRGINAL MOTHERHOOD, WHICH AT FIRST SEEMED A STUMBLING BLOCK, TAKES ON ITS FULL MEANING. IRENEAUS SAYS PENETRATINGLY THAT JUST AS THE FIRST ADAM HAD TO BE FORMED FROM VIRGIN EARTH, SO, TOO, HE SECOND ADAM HAD TO BE FORMED FROM A VIRGIN MOTHER.
THE SECOND REALITY IS THAT THE COMING OF GOD ANNOUNCED BY THE PROPHETS IS NOT SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH: IT IS ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE MESSIAH HIMSELF.
HERE IS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE SUSPECTED: A FACT THAT BELONGS TO THE VERY SUBSTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IT WAS REVEALED TO MARY BECAUSE OF THE EMINENT ROLE SHE WAS TO PLAY IN ITS FULFILLMENT.
FOR IT IS PRECISELY HER ROLE OF ELECTION TO BE THE WOMEN WITHIN WHOM THE "WORD OF GOD CAME," IN ORDER TO UNITE TO HUMAN NATURE. " [SIDE NOTE:].
THE ANGEL OF THE ANNUNCIATION DOES NOT TELL MARY HIS NAME, BUT THE EVANGELIST EXPLAINS THAT THIS IS "GABRIEL," THE SAME MESSENGER WHO ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER TO ZECHARIAH AND WHOSE NAME APPEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL [8:16].
.
AND YET THESE TEXTS ARE VERY BRIEF. EIGHT VERSES IN MATTHEW. [1: 18-25, AND 13 IN LUKE]. BUT HOW CRAMMED WITH MEANING! LUKE RECORDS THE ANGEL'S REVELATION TO MARY AS AN HISTORICAL FACT. THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS INVOLVED HERE: FIRST, THE FACT OF THE REVELATION; AND SECOND ITS CONTENT. THE FACT OF THE REVELATION; IS OF THE SAME NATURE AS OTHERS TO WHICH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT AT-TEST. CLEARLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE BASIC AFFIRMATIONS OF SCRIPTURE AND AN ESSENTIAL OBJECT OF OUR FAITH, NAMELY, THE ASSERTION THAT GOD IS SPEAKING TO MAN. THE EXISTENCE OF AN UTTERANCE THAT REVEALS GOD'S THOUGHT IS OF ESSENCE OF SCRIPTURE, ALONG WITH THE AFFIRMATION OF AN UTTERANCE THAT CREATES. THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD'S WORD IS SPOKEN TO PATRIARCHS, PROPHETS, AND WISE MEN. TO DENY THAT MARY COULD BE A RECIPIENT OF A REVELATION FROM GOD WOULD IN A CERTAIN SENSE BE TO CHALLENGE THE VERY EXISTENCE OF REVELATION AS ONE OF THE CONSTITUENT ELEMENTS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, THAT IS TO SAY, OF THE 'MAGNALIA DEI." " MIGHTY DEEDS" OF GOD. THE OTHER ELEMENT OF LUKE'S ACCOUNT CONCERNS THE VERY SUBSTANCE OF THE EVENT, AND THIS IS THE FACT OF MARY'S FAITH. THE AFFIRMATION THAT MARY DOES NOT "KNOW MAN" CLEARLY SHOWS THAT SHE REALIZES THE HUMAN IMPOSSIBILITY OF WHAT THE ANGEL IS ANNOUNCING TO HER AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY DIVINE POWER. NOW, IT IS SPECIFICALLY THE OBJECT OF FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT "NOTHING" IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD." (LUKE 1;37). LIKE REVELATION, OF WHICH IT IS AN AFFIRMATION, FAITH IS A CONSTITUENT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. IT IS A HALLMARK OF THE BIBLICAL MAN. MARY'S ACT OF FAITH IN THE WORD'S SPOKEN TO HER BY THE ANGEL IS A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT OF THIS ACCOUNT. NOW THAT WE HAVE SAID THIS WE MUST FURTHER NOTE THAT THE PRESENTATION OF THE EPISODE IS THE FRUIT OF A PAINSTAKING COMPARISON, BASED IN PART ON EARLIER BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS.
THE INFANCY NARRATIVE ACCORDING TO LUKE IS BUILT ON THE PARALLELISM BETWEEN THE CHILDHOOD OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER AND THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS, SO AS TO STRESS THE SUPERIORITY OF THE LATTER. THUS, ZECHARIAH'S, UN-BELIEF IS CONTRASTED WITH MARY'S FAITH. BUT THIS OPPOSITION IMPLIES AN ANALOGY..
NOW, THE ANALOGY EXTENDS TO EARLIER EPISODES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. IT APPLIES FIRST OF ALL BETWEEN THE REALITIES INVOLVED IN THE REVELATION TO ABRAHAM THAT HE WOULD HAVE A SON BY HIS STERILE WIFE SARAH, AND THE REVELATION TO ZECHARIAH THAT HE WOULD HAVE A SON BY HIS STERILE WIFE ELIZABETH. THIS IS THE ANALOGY. OF THE MIGHTY DEEDS OF GOD.("MAGNALIA DEI") IN THE HISTORY OF SALVATION. GOD'S MANNER OF ACTING IS THE SAME IN BOTH INSTANCES. THIS IS WHAT JUSTIFIES OUR SEEING AN ANALOGY BETWEEN THE CROSSING OF THE RED SEA, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, AND CHRISTIAN BAPTISM. IT IS THEREFORE QUITE NORMAL FOR A BIBLICAL AUTHOR. , IN PRESENTING AN EVENT, TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE WAY ANALOGOUS EVENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED IN SCRIPTURE. NOT ONLY DOES LUKE'S ACCOUNT RELATE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARY'S SON WILL BE THE MESSIAH. IT ALSO CLEARLY AFFIRMS THE COMING OF YAHWEH. " THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU, AND THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL OVERSHADOW YOU." [ LUKE 1;35]. t
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EFFUSION OF THE SPIRIT BY WHICH YAHWEH IS TO ACCOMPLISH THE RENEWAL OF CREATION IS ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF THE PROPHETIC ANNUNCIATION (ISAIAH 32:15). THIS SPIRIT IS THE CREATOR WHO BROUGHT FORTH THE FIRST CREATION [GEN.1;2]. AND WHO IS TO BRING FORTH THE NEW CREATION. BUT THE TEXT SAYS MORE THAN THIS. IT CONTAINS A WORD OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE; "OVERSHADOW" THIS IS AN EXPRESSION VERY RARELY FOUND IN SCRIPTURE.. WE FIND ITS EQUIVALENT IN EXODUS (40:34-35), WHERE IT DESIGNATES THE CLOUD [SHEKINAH] THAT IS THE VISIBLE SIGN OF YAHWEH'S PRESENCE IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE DESERT. WE FIND IT AGAIN IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, TO SIGNIFY THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE PERSON OF JESUS IN THE PRESENT TEXT, IT CAN ONLY SIGNIFY THE PRESENCE OF GOD AS THE CHILD TO BE BORN TO MARY.. MOSES AND THE PEOPLE FOLLOWED THE "SHEKINAH"
[HE CLOUD-PRESENCE OF GOD TO THE PROMISE LAND. IT IS IN THIS LIGHT THAT THE LAST FORMULA CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IN ITS FULLEST SENSE: "HENCE, THE HOLY OFFSPRING TO BE BORN WILL BE CALLED SON OF GOD." [LUKE 1:35.]
THE EXPRESSION WOULD NOT BE DECISIVE IN IT SELF. BUT AT THE TIME "LUKE" WAS WRITING, IT COULD ONLY SIGNIFY IN CHRISTIAN CIRCLES THE DIVINITY OF THE WORD. THUS, IT REPRESENTS A NEW AFFIRMATION AS COMPARED WITH THE EXPRESSION "SON OF THE MOST HIGH." [LUKE 1:32], WHICH COULD BE UNDERSTOOD TO REFER STRICTLY TO THE MESSIAH.
WE SEE MARY, THEREFORE, THAT THE REVELATION OF THE ESCHATOLOGICAL EVENT (END TIMES) CONTAINS THREE SUCCESSIVE MOMENTS. FIRST IT IS REVEALED TO HER THAT THE COMING OF GOD IS IMMINENT. THEN, THAT THE RENEWAL OF CREATION THIS COMING WILL EFFECT IS FIRST OF ALL THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE FIRSTBORN OF THE NEW MANKIND. FINALLY, IT IS REVEALED TO HER THAT THE COMING OF GOD WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THIS VERY CHILD, SO THAT HE WILL BE GOD PRESENT IN A MAN'S BODY, THE "SON OF GOD MADE MAN."
ALL THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NEW IN THIS REVELATION, BY COMPARISON WITH THAT PRECEDED IT, NOW APPEARS CLEARLY. IT ADDRESSES ITSELF TO TWO REALITIES: FIRST, THAT THIS CHILD WILL NOT ONLY BE THE MESSIAH, A DESCENDANT, BUT THE NEW ADAM WHO IS TO INAUGURATE THE NEW CREATION. AND BY THE SAME TOKEN, MARY'S VIRGINAL MOTHERHOOD, WHICH AT FIRST SEEMED A STUMBLING BLOCK, TAKES ON ITS FULL MEANING. IRENEAUS SAYS PENETRATINGLY THAT JUST AS THE FIRST ADAM HAD TO BE FORMED FROM VIRGIN EARTH, SO, TOO, HE SECOND ADAM HAD TO BE FORMED FROM A VIRGIN MOTHER.
THE SECOND REALITY IS THAT THE COMING OF GOD ANNOUNCED BY THE PROPHETS IS NOT SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH: IT IS ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE MESSIAH HIMSELF.
HERE IS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE SUSPECTED: A FACT THAT BELONGS TO THE VERY SUBSTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IT WAS REVEALED TO MARY BECAUSE OF THE EMINENT ROLE SHE WAS TO PLAY IN ITS FULFILLMENT.
FOR IT IS PRECISELY HER ROLE OF ELECTION TO BE THE WOMEN WITHIN WHOM THE "WORD OF GOD CAME," IN ORDER TO UNITE TO HUMAN NATURE. " [SIDE NOTE:].
THE ANGEL OF THE ANNUNCIATION DOES NOT TELL MARY HIS NAME, BUT THE EVANGELIST EXPLAINS THAT THIS IS "GABRIEL," THE SAME MESSENGER WHO ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER TO ZECHARIAH AND WHOSE NAME APPEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL [8:16].
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Thursday, February 15, 2018
PARABLE OF THE TALENTS. [MATT. 25: 14-34].
WHILE LAST WEEK, WHILE READING FROM AMOS THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD IS LIKE ONE FLEEING FROM THE LION ONLY TO STUMBLE BEFORE A BEAR AND THEN TO FLEE INTO ONE'S HOME ONLY TO PUT ONE'S HAND ON A SERPENT ON THE WALL. IT IS APT DESCRIPTION OF NOT ONLY THE DAY OF THE LORD BUT ALSO A SERIES OF TEXTS WE HAVE BEFORE US THIS MONTH.LAST WEEK IT WAS THE COMING OF THE BRIDEGROOM, TODAY IT IS COMING OF MASTER, AND NEXT WEEK IT IS THE JUDGEMENT ON THE LAST DAY. THESE TEXTS REMIND US OF THE HARSH IMAGES OF THE PROPHETS. THEIR VISION OF THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE WORLD'S HELL-BENT WAYS AND GOD'S PASSION FOR LIFE AND SHALOM LED THEM TO TRUST THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ENDING BEFORE A NEW BEGINNING.
IN THE TEXT FOR THIS DAY, JESUS TELLS A PARABLE ABOUT HIS SECOND COMING, INDICATING IN THE PARABLE THAT IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT MERELY TO MAINTAIN THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE. ( READ MATT.25:14-30). IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO SEE THAT JESUS IS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES THAT BEFORE LONG HE WILL BE LEAVING THEM. HE WILL SUFFER AND DIE AND RISE AGAIN AND ASCEND INTO HEAVEN. BUT, THAT WILL NOT MEAN THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM WILL STOP IN THE WORLD. NO, HE WILL RATHER PROVIDE HIS DISCIPLES WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THAT WORK. THE OUTSTANDING FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROMISE CAME ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, WHEN HE ASCENDED AND THE LORD SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON HIS DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM. HE THEREBY SUPPLIED THEM WITH THE NECESSARY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD OF GOD AND GOD'S WHOLE PLAN OF SALVATION-AS WELL AS THE COURAGE TO PROCLAIM THAT MESSAGE UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
BUT THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING. JESUS CONTINUES, AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF TIME, TO PROVIDE ALL BELIEVERS WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO CARRY ON THE WORK HE WANTS THEM TO DO IN HIS KINGDOM.
THE TALENTS THAT OUR ASCENDED LORD DISTRIBUTES
TO ALL BELIEVERS ARE NEVER EXACTLY THE SAME FOR ANY TWO INDIVIDUALS (1 COR.12:4-11). NOW THERE ARE VARIETIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT; AND THERE ARE VARIETIES OF SERVICES, BUT THE SAME LORD; AND THERE ARE VARIETIES OF ACTIVATES, BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD WHO ACTIVATES ALL OF THEM IN EVERYONE.
NOW THERE ARE A VARIETY OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT; AND THERE ARE A VARIETIES OF SERVICES , BUT THE SAME LORD; TO EACH IS GIVEN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE COMMON GOOD. TO ONE THROUGH THE SPIRIT THE UTTERANCE OF WISDOM, AND TO ANOTHER THE UTTERANCE OF KNOWLEDGE ACCORDING TO THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER THE GIFTS OF HEALING BY ONE SPIRIT., TO ANOTHER THE ABILITY TO HEAL, TO ANOTHER THE POWER TO DO GREAT DEEDS. THE SAME SPIRIT GIVES TO ANOTHER, THE GIFT OF ( DISCERNMENT) OF PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD. TO ANOTHER THE ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS, TO ANOTHER SPEECH IN DIFFERENT TONGUES AND TO YET ANOTHER THE POWER TO INTERPRET THE TONGUES. BEHIND ALL THESE GIFTS IS THE OPERATION OF THE SAME SPIRIT, WHO DISTRIBUTES TO EACH INDIVIDUAL MAN, AS HE WILLS.
THE APOSTLE PAUL INSISTS THAT FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING WE EARN; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD ( EPHESIANS 2: 8,9), IT IS A GIFT WE CAN NOT GET ALONG WITHOUT, FOR " WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD" ( HEBREWS 11:6). BUT THE GIFTS OR TALENTS THAT ARE ADDED TO FAITH ARE INFINITE IN NUMBER AND IN VARIETY.
"TALENT" WAS FIRST USED FOR A WEIGHT ( ABOUT 75 POUNDS) AND THEN FOR A COIN, WHICH IS HOW JESUS USES IT IN THIS PARABLE. WHEN WE USE THIS TERM FOR AN ABILITY OR A SKILL THAT IS A MEANING WHICH IS DERIVED FROM THIS PARABLE. THE TALENTS JESUS GIVES US INCLUDE ALL THE INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES WE ARE BORN WITH AND THOSE WE DEVELOP AS WE MATURE. OUR TALENTS INCLUDE ALL MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAT RIGHTFULLY COME INTO OUR HANDS. AND THEY INCLUDE ALL THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES GOD PROVIDES US FOR USING OUR TALENTS TO SERVE HIM AND OUR NEIGHBOR. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE TALENT, AS JESUS USES THE TERM, IS MONEY, IT IS SURPRISING HOW SELDOM THIS PARABLE IS APPLIED TO OUR STEWARDSHIP OF MONEY. WE ARE QUICK TO APPLY IT TO OUR SKILLS AND ABILITIES, AND EVEN OUR TIME, BUT SURELY JESUS ALSO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY. IT IS NOT ONLY THE ENVELOPE WE PUT INTO THE OFFERING ON SUNDAY. THAT CONCERNS; THE MONEY WE SPEND ON GROCERIES AND RECREATION IS ALSO A PART OF CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN 5 TALENTS OR TWO, OR ONE, GOD IS LOOKING FOR FAITHFULNESS.
THE LORD DISTRIBUTES THESE TALENTS TO " EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY HE GIVES EACH OF US THE GIFTS THAT ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. IN EVERY CASE HE PROVIDES THE CORRECT COMBINATION OF ABILITIES, TALENTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES, SO THAT ALL OF US CAN BE OF REAL SERVICE TO HIM IN HIS KINGDOM.
SOMETIMES WE IMAGINE THAT IT IS SINCERE MODESTY AND HUMILITY THAT CAUSE US TO REFUSE TO OFFER ANY SPECIAL SERVICE TO GOD AND HIS KINGDOM. WE SAY, " I'M NOT QUALIFIED. I'M NOT WELL ENOUGH ACQUAINTED WITH THE SCRIPTURES. SO LET SOMEONE ELSE TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL. IT IS ONE THING TO BE HUMBLE AND MODEST, BUT IT IS ANOTHER THING TO USE THE TALENTS FALSELY THAT WAS ENTRUSTED TO THEM, "BOTH OF THE SERVANTS USED FALSE MODESTY, SELFISHNESS, AS A CLOAK FOR LAZINESS, OR INDIFFERENCE. WE CAN COUNT ON GOD TO GIVE US THE NECESSARY WISDOM AND COURAGE, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH CONFIDENCE AND DO THE WORK HE HAS GIVEN US TO DO.
NOTICE THAT THE MASTER PRONOUNCES THE SAME VERDICT UPON BOTH OF THE SERVANTS WHO DOUBLES THE TALENTS ENTRUSTED TO THEM, I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY THINGS. COME AND SHARE YOUR MASTERS HAPPINESS! THEY HAD BEEN FAITHFUL WITH THEIR RESPECTFUL TALENTS, AND THAT WAS ALL THEIR MASTER ASKED OF THEM. IT IS FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS THAT THEY ARE COMMENDED RATHER THAN FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. JESUS HAD A REASON FOR MAKING THE SERVANT WITH ONLY ONE TALENT THE UNFAITHFUL ONE. IF IT HAD BEEN ONE OF THE SERVANTS WITH MORE TALENTS, WE WOULD BE INCLINED TO SAY, " WHAT A SHAME! WHAT A TERRIBLE THING THAT A PERSON SO RICHLY BLESSED SHOULD BE SO UNGRATEFUL TO GOD! BUT, OF COURSE, MY GIFTS ARE NOT VERY NUMEROUS OR GREAT, SO THE "LORD CAN NOT EXPECT MUCH FROM ME."
MOST OF US WOULD PLACE OURSELVES INTO A CATEGORY OF THE SERVANT WHO RECEIVED ONLY ONE TALENT. THAT IS WHERE MOST OF US BELONG. MARTIN LUTHER'S EXPLANATION OF THE "LORD'S PRAYER" SAYS IT VERY WELL. " THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES INDEED OF ITSELF: BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT IT COME UNTO US ALSO. AND THE GRACIOUS GOOD WILL OF GOD IS DONE INDEED WITHOUT OUR PRAYER, OF ITSELF; BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT IT COME TO US ALSO. WE CAN NOT STOP GOD. WE CANNOT PREVENT HIM FROM DOING GRACIOUS WORK IN OUR WORLD. BUT WE CAN DEPRIVE OURSELVES OF THE BLESSED OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN THAT WORK. REMEMBER THE WORDS WE WANT TO HEAR AS WE STAND BEFORE GOD: " COME AND REST GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!"
IN THE TEXT FOR THIS DAY, JESUS TELLS A PARABLE ABOUT HIS SECOND COMING, INDICATING IN THE PARABLE THAT IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT MERELY TO MAINTAIN THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE. ( READ MATT.25:14-30). IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO SEE THAT JESUS IS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES THAT BEFORE LONG HE WILL BE LEAVING THEM. HE WILL SUFFER AND DIE AND RISE AGAIN AND ASCEND INTO HEAVEN. BUT, THAT WILL NOT MEAN THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM WILL STOP IN THE WORLD. NO, HE WILL RATHER PROVIDE HIS DISCIPLES WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THAT WORK. THE OUTSTANDING FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROMISE CAME ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, WHEN HE ASCENDED AND THE LORD SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON HIS DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM. HE THEREBY SUPPLIED THEM WITH THE NECESSARY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD OF GOD AND GOD'S WHOLE PLAN OF SALVATION-AS WELL AS THE COURAGE TO PROCLAIM THAT MESSAGE UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
BUT THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING. JESUS CONTINUES, AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF TIME, TO PROVIDE ALL BELIEVERS WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO CARRY ON THE WORK HE WANTS THEM TO DO IN HIS KINGDOM.
THE TALENTS THAT OUR ASCENDED LORD DISTRIBUTES
TO ALL BELIEVERS ARE NEVER EXACTLY THE SAME FOR ANY TWO INDIVIDUALS (1 COR.12:4-11). NOW THERE ARE VARIETIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT; AND THERE ARE VARIETIES OF SERVICES, BUT THE SAME LORD; AND THERE ARE VARIETIES OF ACTIVATES, BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD WHO ACTIVATES ALL OF THEM IN EVERYONE.
NOW THERE ARE A VARIETY OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT; AND THERE ARE A VARIETIES OF SERVICES , BUT THE SAME LORD; TO EACH IS GIVEN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE COMMON GOOD. TO ONE THROUGH THE SPIRIT THE UTTERANCE OF WISDOM, AND TO ANOTHER THE UTTERANCE OF KNOWLEDGE ACCORDING TO THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER THE GIFTS OF HEALING BY ONE SPIRIT., TO ANOTHER THE ABILITY TO HEAL, TO ANOTHER THE POWER TO DO GREAT DEEDS. THE SAME SPIRIT GIVES TO ANOTHER, THE GIFT OF ( DISCERNMENT) OF PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD. TO ANOTHER THE ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS, TO ANOTHER SPEECH IN DIFFERENT TONGUES AND TO YET ANOTHER THE POWER TO INTERPRET THE TONGUES. BEHIND ALL THESE GIFTS IS THE OPERATION OF THE SAME SPIRIT, WHO DISTRIBUTES TO EACH INDIVIDUAL MAN, AS HE WILLS.
THE APOSTLE PAUL INSISTS THAT FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING WE EARN; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD ( EPHESIANS 2: 8,9), IT IS A GIFT WE CAN NOT GET ALONG WITHOUT, FOR " WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD" ( HEBREWS 11:6). BUT THE GIFTS OR TALENTS THAT ARE ADDED TO FAITH ARE INFINITE IN NUMBER AND IN VARIETY.
"TALENT" WAS FIRST USED FOR A WEIGHT ( ABOUT 75 POUNDS) AND THEN FOR A COIN, WHICH IS HOW JESUS USES IT IN THIS PARABLE. WHEN WE USE THIS TERM FOR AN ABILITY OR A SKILL THAT IS A MEANING WHICH IS DERIVED FROM THIS PARABLE. THE TALENTS JESUS GIVES US INCLUDE ALL THE INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES WE ARE BORN WITH AND THOSE WE DEVELOP AS WE MATURE. OUR TALENTS INCLUDE ALL MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAT RIGHTFULLY COME INTO OUR HANDS. AND THEY INCLUDE ALL THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES GOD PROVIDES US FOR USING OUR TALENTS TO SERVE HIM AND OUR NEIGHBOR. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE TALENT, AS JESUS USES THE TERM, IS MONEY, IT IS SURPRISING HOW SELDOM THIS PARABLE IS APPLIED TO OUR STEWARDSHIP OF MONEY. WE ARE QUICK TO APPLY IT TO OUR SKILLS AND ABILITIES, AND EVEN OUR TIME, BUT SURELY JESUS ALSO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY. IT IS NOT ONLY THE ENVELOPE WE PUT INTO THE OFFERING ON SUNDAY. THAT CONCERNS; THE MONEY WE SPEND ON GROCERIES AND RECREATION IS ALSO A PART OF CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN 5 TALENTS OR TWO, OR ONE, GOD IS LOOKING FOR FAITHFULNESS.
THE LORD DISTRIBUTES THESE TALENTS TO " EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY HE GIVES EACH OF US THE GIFTS THAT ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. IN EVERY CASE HE PROVIDES THE CORRECT COMBINATION OF ABILITIES, TALENTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES, SO THAT ALL OF US CAN BE OF REAL SERVICE TO HIM IN HIS KINGDOM.
SOMETIMES WE IMAGINE THAT IT IS SINCERE MODESTY AND HUMILITY THAT CAUSE US TO REFUSE TO OFFER ANY SPECIAL SERVICE TO GOD AND HIS KINGDOM. WE SAY, " I'M NOT QUALIFIED. I'M NOT WELL ENOUGH ACQUAINTED WITH THE SCRIPTURES. SO LET SOMEONE ELSE TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL. IT IS ONE THING TO BE HUMBLE AND MODEST, BUT IT IS ANOTHER THING TO USE THE TALENTS FALSELY THAT WAS ENTRUSTED TO THEM, "BOTH OF THE SERVANTS USED FALSE MODESTY, SELFISHNESS, AS A CLOAK FOR LAZINESS, OR INDIFFERENCE. WE CAN COUNT ON GOD TO GIVE US THE NECESSARY WISDOM AND COURAGE, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH CONFIDENCE AND DO THE WORK HE HAS GIVEN US TO DO.
NOTICE THAT THE MASTER PRONOUNCES THE SAME VERDICT UPON BOTH OF THE SERVANTS WHO DOUBLES THE TALENTS ENTRUSTED TO THEM, I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY THINGS. COME AND SHARE YOUR MASTERS HAPPINESS! THEY HAD BEEN FAITHFUL WITH THEIR RESPECTFUL TALENTS, AND THAT WAS ALL THEIR MASTER ASKED OF THEM. IT IS FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS THAT THEY ARE COMMENDED RATHER THAN FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. JESUS HAD A REASON FOR MAKING THE SERVANT WITH ONLY ONE TALENT THE UNFAITHFUL ONE. IF IT HAD BEEN ONE OF THE SERVANTS WITH MORE TALENTS, WE WOULD BE INCLINED TO SAY, " WHAT A SHAME! WHAT A TERRIBLE THING THAT A PERSON SO RICHLY BLESSED SHOULD BE SO UNGRATEFUL TO GOD! BUT, OF COURSE, MY GIFTS ARE NOT VERY NUMEROUS OR GREAT, SO THE "LORD CAN NOT EXPECT MUCH FROM ME."
MOST OF US WOULD PLACE OURSELVES INTO A CATEGORY OF THE SERVANT WHO RECEIVED ONLY ONE TALENT. THAT IS WHERE MOST OF US BELONG. MARTIN LUTHER'S EXPLANATION OF THE "LORD'S PRAYER" SAYS IT VERY WELL. " THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES INDEED OF ITSELF: BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT IT COME UNTO US ALSO. AND THE GRACIOUS GOOD WILL OF GOD IS DONE INDEED WITHOUT OUR PRAYER, OF ITSELF; BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT IT COME TO US ALSO. WE CAN NOT STOP GOD. WE CANNOT PREVENT HIM FROM DOING GRACIOUS WORK IN OUR WORLD. BUT WE CAN DEPRIVE OURSELVES OF THE BLESSED OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN THAT WORK. REMEMBER THE WORDS WE WANT TO HEAR AS WE STAND BEFORE GOD: " COME AND REST GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!"
Sunday, February 11, 2018
MUSTARD SEED! [MARK:4: 26-34.]
JESUS FREQUENTLY USES PARABLES TO TEACH ORDINARY PEOPLE AS THEY ARE ABLE TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND. LOOKING AT OUR GOSPEL TEXT IS CONCERNED WITH THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED. IMAGES OF SOWING AND GROWING SHOW THE VITALITY OF GOD'S KINGDOM. THE MUSTARD SEED BECOMES A SHRUB THAT SHELTERS THE BIRDS, RECALLING ANCIENT IMAGES THE TREE OF LIFE. WE WOULD EXPECT A CEDAR OR A SEQUOIA, BUT JESUS FINDS THE POWER OF GOD BETTER IMAGED IN A TINY, NO-ACCOUNT SEED. ITS NOT THE WAY WAY WE EXPECT DIVINE ACTIVITY TO ACT. YET THE TREE OF LIFE IS HERE ( JESUS THE CHRIST) IN WHICH WE ARE GRAFTED THROUGH BAPTISM. THE TRUE VINE THAT NOURISHES US THROUGH ITS FRUIT IN THE CUP THAT WE SHARE. IT MAY NOT APPEAR ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE, BUT WHILE NO ONE LOOKING IT GROWS WITH POWER BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING. WE HEARD ABOUT TREE IMAGERY FROM EZEKIEL FROM OUR OLD TESTAMENT, THAT WAS USED IN A MESSIANIC PROPHECY TO TELL HOW THE LORD WILL CHOOSE SOMEONE FROM JUDAH'S ROYAL FAMILY (CEDAR TREE) TO REIGN OVER ALL CREATION. THE TREE WILL BE PLANTED ON MOUNT ZION, THE LOCATION OF THE HOLY TEMPLE. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE USE THE METAPHOR OF THE MUSTARD SEED GROWING INTO A MASSIVE TREE TO ILLUSTRATE THE TRUISM THAT SMALL THINGS CAN GROW INTO LARGE THINGS. A SOWER IS GENEROUS WITH SEED, INDISCRIMINATE ON WHERE SHE SOWS, AND THEN THE EARTH PRODUCES HER SELF.
THEN THE SMALLEST OF SEEDS TUCKS INTO THE GOOD GROUND AND IN TIME BECOMES A SHELTER FOR ALL SORTS OF FOWLS.
THIS PARABLE IS FOUND ONLY IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
WHENEVER CHRIST SPEAKS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, HIS RULING ACTIVITY , HIS WORDS ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SEED, THE GOSPEL THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. IN OUR TEXT, JESUS SPEAKS OF THE POWER AND RELIABILITY OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. ALL THAT NEED BE DONE, ALL THAT CAN BE DONE, IS TO SOW THE SEED, ( TO PROCLAIM THE WORD). A FARMER WHO PLANTS THE SEED DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT GROWS. THE POWER IS IN THE SEED. SO IT IS WITH THE GOSPEL. IT IS SOWN; IT SPROUTS; IT MATURES; IT IS HARVESTED. CHRIST'S WORD ECHO'S ISAIAH'S: ( " SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH, IT WILL NOT RETURN EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT. ISAIAH 55:11).
THE HARVEST INCLUDES THE FINAL HARVEST: ( AT THE END OF THE WORLD, WHEN ALL MANKIND WILL SEE THE MARVELOUS FRUIT THE LORD PRODUCED THROUGH HIS WORD IN THIS WORLD OF SIN. BUT THE HARVEST IS ALSO HERE AND NOW IN THE LIFE OF EVERY CHILD OF GOD IN WHOSE HEART THE WORD HAS TAKEN ROOT AND GROWN, AND WHOSE FAITH GOD USES TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BRING THAT SAME WORD TO OTHERS.
THE HARVEST ISN'T THE BELIEVERS DOING., BUT GOD'S. THUS THIS PARABLE WAS OF
SPECIAL COMFORT TO THE APOSTLES AS THEY CARRIED OUT JESUS ASSIGNMENT. PAUL LATER PUT IT THIS WAY IN 1st CORINTHIANS [3: 6,7], " I PLANTED THE SEED, APOLLOS WATERED, BUT GOD MADE IT GROW. SO NEITHER HE WHO PLANTS IT, NOR HE WHO WATERS IS ANYTHING, BUT ONLY GOD, WHO MAKES THINGS GROW. THOUGH AT TIMES WE MAY NOT SEE THE RESULTS, THERE WILL BE A HARVEST BECAUSE THE SEED HAS GOD'S POWER WITHIN IT. ONE THING MUST STILL BE NOTED. WHEN THE NIV TRANSLATES "ALL BY ITSELF" AND THE KJV "THE EARTH... OF HERSELF, IT MIGHT SEEM AS THOUGH THE EARTH (HUMAN HEART) RECEIVES
SOME CREDIT. NOT AT ALL, FOR THE GREEK REALLY MEANS " SPONTANEOUSLY," " AUTOMATICALLY," OR " AS A MATTER OF COURSE," THE PERSONS (-HEART, IS THE ONLY THE LOCALE WHERE IT TAKES PLACE. GOD'S POWER INHERENT IN THE WORD IS THE CAUSE. IF IT WAS NOT SO, YOU AND I WOULD BE WITH OUT HOPE, FOR BY NATURE WE ARE CORRUPT AND SINFUL, AND WE REJECT THE GRACE OF GOD. IT IS GOD ALONE WHO OVERCOMES THIS OPPOSITION ON OUR PART AND BRINGS US TO FAITH. WE PREACH AND TEACH THE WORD; GOD DOES THE REST. " LAST THOUGHT."
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT ONE WITH OUTWARD FORM AND SHAPE. ITS NEW TESTAMENT BEGINNINGS WERE SO SMALL AS TO BE INVISIBLE. BUT CHRIST KEPT TELLING HIS DISCIPLE,DON'T BE DISTURBED; THE ETERNAL FRUITS WILL BE LARGE INDEED. JESUS USES THE PARABLE OF THE SMALLEST SEEDS, " THE MUSTARD SEED." WHICH BECOMES THE LARGEST OF ALL GARDEN PLANTS, REACHING A HEIGHT OF EIGHT TO TEN FEET IN WHICH IT IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR BIRDS TO PERCH IN ITS SHADE. WE CANNOT JUDGE THE FINAL SIZE OF THE KINGDOM BY THE INITIAL SIZE OF THE SEED. MARK DOES NOT SAY THAT JESUS SPOKE ONLY IN PARABLES. HE MADE USE OF THE PARABLES WHEN HE SPOKE TO PEOPLE. IF HE HADN'T SPOKE IN PARABLES, IT MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN INTERFERENCE WITH HIS FATHER'S PLAN OF SALVATION (JOHN 6: 14,15). HE WOULD NOT ALLOW EVIL SPIRITS AND THOSE POSSESSED BY THEM, TO TESTIFY "THAT HE WAS THE SON."
THEN THE SMALLEST OF SEEDS TUCKS INTO THE GOOD GROUND AND IN TIME BECOMES A SHELTER FOR ALL SORTS OF FOWLS.
THIS PARABLE IS FOUND ONLY IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
WHENEVER CHRIST SPEAKS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, HIS RULING ACTIVITY , HIS WORDS ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SEED, THE GOSPEL THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. IN OUR TEXT, JESUS SPEAKS OF THE POWER AND RELIABILITY OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. ALL THAT NEED BE DONE, ALL THAT CAN BE DONE, IS TO SOW THE SEED, ( TO PROCLAIM THE WORD). A FARMER WHO PLANTS THE SEED DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT GROWS. THE POWER IS IN THE SEED. SO IT IS WITH THE GOSPEL. IT IS SOWN; IT SPROUTS; IT MATURES; IT IS HARVESTED. CHRIST'S WORD ECHO'S ISAIAH'S: ( " SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH, IT WILL NOT RETURN EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT. ISAIAH 55:11).
THE HARVEST INCLUDES THE FINAL HARVEST: ( AT THE END OF THE WORLD, WHEN ALL MANKIND WILL SEE THE MARVELOUS FRUIT THE LORD PRODUCED THROUGH HIS WORD IN THIS WORLD OF SIN. BUT THE HARVEST IS ALSO HERE AND NOW IN THE LIFE OF EVERY CHILD OF GOD IN WHOSE HEART THE WORD HAS TAKEN ROOT AND GROWN, AND WHOSE FAITH GOD USES TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BRING THAT SAME WORD TO OTHERS.
THE HARVEST ISN'T THE BELIEVERS DOING., BUT GOD'S. THUS THIS PARABLE WAS OF
SPECIAL COMFORT TO THE APOSTLES AS THEY CARRIED OUT JESUS ASSIGNMENT. PAUL LATER PUT IT THIS WAY IN 1st CORINTHIANS [3: 6,7], " I PLANTED THE SEED, APOLLOS WATERED, BUT GOD MADE IT GROW. SO NEITHER HE WHO PLANTS IT, NOR HE WHO WATERS IS ANYTHING, BUT ONLY GOD, WHO MAKES THINGS GROW. THOUGH AT TIMES WE MAY NOT SEE THE RESULTS, THERE WILL BE A HARVEST BECAUSE THE SEED HAS GOD'S POWER WITHIN IT. ONE THING MUST STILL BE NOTED. WHEN THE NIV TRANSLATES "ALL BY ITSELF" AND THE KJV "THE EARTH... OF HERSELF, IT MIGHT SEEM AS THOUGH THE EARTH (HUMAN HEART) RECEIVES
SOME CREDIT. NOT AT ALL, FOR THE GREEK REALLY MEANS " SPONTANEOUSLY," " AUTOMATICALLY," OR " AS A MATTER OF COURSE," THE PERSONS (-HEART, IS THE ONLY THE LOCALE WHERE IT TAKES PLACE. GOD'S POWER INHERENT IN THE WORD IS THE CAUSE. IF IT WAS NOT SO, YOU AND I WOULD BE WITH OUT HOPE, FOR BY NATURE WE ARE CORRUPT AND SINFUL, AND WE REJECT THE GRACE OF GOD. IT IS GOD ALONE WHO OVERCOMES THIS OPPOSITION ON OUR PART AND BRINGS US TO FAITH. WE PREACH AND TEACH THE WORD; GOD DOES THE REST. " LAST THOUGHT."
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT ONE WITH OUTWARD FORM AND SHAPE. ITS NEW TESTAMENT BEGINNINGS WERE SO SMALL AS TO BE INVISIBLE. BUT CHRIST KEPT TELLING HIS DISCIPLE,DON'T BE DISTURBED; THE ETERNAL FRUITS WILL BE LARGE INDEED. JESUS USES THE PARABLE OF THE SMALLEST SEEDS, " THE MUSTARD SEED." WHICH BECOMES THE LARGEST OF ALL GARDEN PLANTS, REACHING A HEIGHT OF EIGHT TO TEN FEET IN WHICH IT IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR BIRDS TO PERCH IN ITS SHADE. WE CANNOT JUDGE THE FINAL SIZE OF THE KINGDOM BY THE INITIAL SIZE OF THE SEED. MARK DOES NOT SAY THAT JESUS SPOKE ONLY IN PARABLES. HE MADE USE OF THE PARABLES WHEN HE SPOKE TO PEOPLE. IF HE HADN'T SPOKE IN PARABLES, IT MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN INTERFERENCE WITH HIS FATHER'S PLAN OF SALVATION (JOHN 6: 14,15). HE WOULD NOT ALLOW EVIL SPIRITS AND THOSE POSSESSED BY THEM, TO TESTIFY "THAT HE WAS THE SON."
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
LENT: JESUS BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION . [MATT 4:1-11].
AS WE LOOK TO THE WORD " LENT," WHICH STEMS FROM THE GERMAN WORD " " WHICH MEANS SPRING. "LENZ" IMMEDIATELY DRAWS ONE'S ATTENTION TO THE NATURE OF LENT. IT IS THE SPRINGTIME OF THE SOUL, A TIME TO BE REAWAKENED FROM THE FROZEN NATURE OF SIN'S COMPLACENCY AS WE ARE AWAKENED BY THE SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND REVITALIZED. BY THE BRACING WATERS OF HIS BAPTISM.
FROM THE FOURTH CENTURY ONWARD, LENT WAS EXTENDED FROM A BRIEF FAST IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF EASTER. TO A PERIOD OF FORTY-DAYS. OF SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION. REMINISCENT OF ISRAEL'A FORTY DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS AND THE FORTY DAYS OF OUR LORD'S TEMPTATION IN THE DESERT, LENT. IS ALSO CONNECTED WITH THE FORTY DAYS THAT WAS THE PUBLIC SPIRITUAL REPARATION MADE BY THOSE WHO HAD BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CHURCH AND WHO WERE NOW BEING PREPARED TO BE READMITTED TO THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
TODAY'S GOSPEL TELLS OF JESUS TEMPTATION IN THE DESERT. HIS FORTY-DAY FAST BECOMES THE BASIS OF OUR LENTEN PILGRIMAGE. IN THE EARLY CHURCH LENT WAS A TIME OF INTENSE PREPARATION FOR THOSE WHO WERE TO BE BAPTIZED AT THE EASTER VIRGIL. WE LOOK AT THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS. TEMPTATION! THE ENGLISH WORD "TEMPT" HAS NARROWED IN MEANING, AND USUALLY MEANS TO ENTICE. BUT ITS BIBLICAL MEANING IS OFTEN "PROVE" OF "TEST." NOT SOMETHING THAT STARTED WITH JESUS. THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, WRITE THESE WORD'S ; IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORDS; " I HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH YOU AND WITH ISRAEL.' HE WAS THERE WITH THE LORD FORTY-DAYS FORTY-NIGHTS; HE NEITHER ATE BREAD NOR DRANK WATER AND WROTE ON THE TABLETS THE WORDS OF THE COVENANTS, " THE TEN COMMANDMENTS." AND 1st KINGS TELL US THE STORY OF ELIJAH'S MEETING WITH GOD AT HOREB. AN ANGEL OF THE LORD, TELLS ELIJAH TO GET UP AND EAT OTHERWISE THE JOURNEY WILL BE TO MUCH FOR YOU. HE GOT UP AND ATE AND DRANK, THEN HE WENT IN STRENGTH OF THAT FOOD FORTY-DAYS AND FORTY-NIGHTS TO HOREB THE MOUNT OF GOD. " NOW IT'S JESUS TIME TO BE PUT TO THE TEST THAT ISRAEL FAILED.
HE WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. THE OPPOSITION BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN, BECOMES CLEAR IN THE N. T., AS HE TESTS JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS. THE DEVIL BEING LEADER OF THE KINGDOM OF EVIL, OVERSEEING MANY TEMPTATIONS OF THE DISCIPLES, THE CHRISTIANS COMING TO THE FAITH, BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIN OF PETER (16:23). (WHERE PETER TOOK HIM ASIDE AN BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM, SAYING "GOD FORBID IT LORD! THIS MUST NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU." BUT HE TURNED AND SAID TO PETER , "GET BEHIND ME SATAN! YOU ARE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO ME; FOR YOU ARE SETTING YOUR MIND NOT ON DIVINE THINGS BUT ON HUMAN THINGS. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, " IF ANY WANT TO BECOME MY FOLLOWERS, LET THEM DENY THEMSELVES AND TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO SAVE THEIR LIVES WILL LOSE IT, AND THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT. JUDAS ISCARIOT, BEING OF THE NUMBER TWELVE. THERE ARE MANY NAMES AND DISGUISES, THAT SATAN USES AS HE ROAM'S THE EARTH. THERE ARE MANY EVIL SPIRITS UNDER HIS CONTROL WHO POSSES MEN (MATT. 7:22).
AND ANIMALS. EVERY ONE WHO COMES TO SERVE THE LORD MUST PREPARE FOR THREE KINDS OF TEMPTATION. THEY DO NOT COME AT THE SAME TIME, OR SELDOM IN THE SAME ORDER. IF YOUR CALL TO SERVE HIS OR HER GENERATION AS A CHRISTIAN, MUST HAVE IN VARIOUS DEGREES AND MANNERS ALL THREE- THE TEMPTATION OF THE BODY. WHICH IS THE SENSUAL PERSON'S TEMPTATION, THE TEMPTATION OF THE WILL. WHICH IS THE AMBITIOUS PERSON'S AND THE TEMPTATION TO MERE RELIGIOSITY. ONLY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE THIRD TEMPTATION, BUT THEY DON'T ESCAPE ON THAT ACCOUNT. EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST PREPARE HIMSELF BY THE WORD OF GOD., BY THE ARMOR OF GOD, BY THE STRENGTH OF GOD. THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE LORD ARE THE TEMPTATIONS OF HIS CHURCH. THE CHURCH AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD MUST BE COMMITTED TO "THE FOOD THAT ABIDES." IT BETTER BE THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL. THE CHURCH MUST PRAY " NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE."
ACTUALLY IT IS NOT THE TEMPTATION THAT COME TO YOU IN YOUR DAILY VOCATION. JESUS HAS RESISTANCE AND POWER THAT WE ARE TO PLUG INTO THE GRACE OF FORGIVENESS. JESUS GRACE NOT TEMPTATION STRENGTHENS. OUR FAITH THROUGH THE GOSPEL IN WORD AND SACRAMENTS. WHEN WE RECALL THAT GOD DID NOT SPARE HIS SON FROM TEMPTATION BUT SENT THE ANGELS TO MINISTER TO HIM IN THE TEMPTATION, WE CAN REALIZE THAT WE CAN KNOW THE WONDER OF GOD'S LOVE EVEN IN HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST MEANS THAT WE CAN KNOW GOD'S LOVE IN THE WHOLE OF OUR LIVES. AT THE END OF THE SEASON OF LENT THERE IS A GLORIOUS MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FROM THE DEAD; THAT WE MAY HANG ON TO THE FINAL VICTORY. AMEN1
FROM THE FOURTH CENTURY ONWARD, LENT WAS EXTENDED FROM A BRIEF FAST IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF EASTER. TO A PERIOD OF FORTY-DAYS. OF SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION. REMINISCENT OF ISRAEL'A FORTY DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS AND THE FORTY DAYS OF OUR LORD'S TEMPTATION IN THE DESERT, LENT. IS ALSO CONNECTED WITH THE FORTY DAYS THAT WAS THE PUBLIC SPIRITUAL REPARATION MADE BY THOSE WHO HAD BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CHURCH AND WHO WERE NOW BEING PREPARED TO BE READMITTED TO THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
TODAY'S GOSPEL TELLS OF JESUS TEMPTATION IN THE DESERT. HIS FORTY-DAY FAST BECOMES THE BASIS OF OUR LENTEN PILGRIMAGE. IN THE EARLY CHURCH LENT WAS A TIME OF INTENSE PREPARATION FOR THOSE WHO WERE TO BE BAPTIZED AT THE EASTER VIRGIL. WE LOOK AT THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS. TEMPTATION! THE ENGLISH WORD "TEMPT" HAS NARROWED IN MEANING, AND USUALLY MEANS TO ENTICE. BUT ITS BIBLICAL MEANING IS OFTEN "PROVE" OF "TEST." NOT SOMETHING THAT STARTED WITH JESUS. THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, WRITE THESE WORD'S ; IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORDS; " I HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH YOU AND WITH ISRAEL.' HE WAS THERE WITH THE LORD FORTY-DAYS FORTY-NIGHTS; HE NEITHER ATE BREAD NOR DRANK WATER AND WROTE ON THE TABLETS THE WORDS OF THE COVENANTS, " THE TEN COMMANDMENTS." AND 1st KINGS TELL US THE STORY OF ELIJAH'S MEETING WITH GOD AT HOREB. AN ANGEL OF THE LORD, TELLS ELIJAH TO GET UP AND EAT OTHERWISE THE JOURNEY WILL BE TO MUCH FOR YOU. HE GOT UP AND ATE AND DRANK, THEN HE WENT IN STRENGTH OF THAT FOOD FORTY-DAYS AND FORTY-NIGHTS TO HOREB THE MOUNT OF GOD. " NOW IT'S JESUS TIME TO BE PUT TO THE TEST THAT ISRAEL FAILED.
HE WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. THE OPPOSITION BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN, BECOMES CLEAR IN THE N. T., AS HE TESTS JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS. THE DEVIL BEING LEADER OF THE KINGDOM OF EVIL, OVERSEEING MANY TEMPTATIONS OF THE DISCIPLES, THE CHRISTIANS COMING TO THE FAITH, BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIN OF PETER (16:23). (WHERE PETER TOOK HIM ASIDE AN BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM, SAYING "GOD FORBID IT LORD! THIS MUST NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU." BUT HE TURNED AND SAID TO PETER , "GET BEHIND ME SATAN! YOU ARE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO ME; FOR YOU ARE SETTING YOUR MIND NOT ON DIVINE THINGS BUT ON HUMAN THINGS. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, " IF ANY WANT TO BECOME MY FOLLOWERS, LET THEM DENY THEMSELVES AND TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO SAVE THEIR LIVES WILL LOSE IT, AND THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT. JUDAS ISCARIOT, BEING OF THE NUMBER TWELVE. THERE ARE MANY NAMES AND DISGUISES, THAT SATAN USES AS HE ROAM'S THE EARTH. THERE ARE MANY EVIL SPIRITS UNDER HIS CONTROL WHO POSSES MEN (MATT. 7:22).
AND ANIMALS. EVERY ONE WHO COMES TO SERVE THE LORD MUST PREPARE FOR THREE KINDS OF TEMPTATION. THEY DO NOT COME AT THE SAME TIME, OR SELDOM IN THE SAME ORDER. IF YOUR CALL TO SERVE HIS OR HER GENERATION AS A CHRISTIAN, MUST HAVE IN VARIOUS DEGREES AND MANNERS ALL THREE- THE TEMPTATION OF THE BODY. WHICH IS THE SENSUAL PERSON'S TEMPTATION, THE TEMPTATION OF THE WILL. WHICH IS THE AMBITIOUS PERSON'S AND THE TEMPTATION TO MERE RELIGIOSITY. ONLY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE THIRD TEMPTATION, BUT THEY DON'T ESCAPE ON THAT ACCOUNT. EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST PREPARE HIMSELF BY THE WORD OF GOD., BY THE ARMOR OF GOD, BY THE STRENGTH OF GOD. THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE LORD ARE THE TEMPTATIONS OF HIS CHURCH. THE CHURCH AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD MUST BE COMMITTED TO "THE FOOD THAT ABIDES." IT BETTER BE THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL. THE CHURCH MUST PRAY " NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE."
ACTUALLY IT IS NOT THE TEMPTATION THAT COME TO YOU IN YOUR DAILY VOCATION. JESUS HAS RESISTANCE AND POWER THAT WE ARE TO PLUG INTO THE GRACE OF FORGIVENESS. JESUS GRACE NOT TEMPTATION STRENGTHENS. OUR FAITH THROUGH THE GOSPEL IN WORD AND SACRAMENTS. WHEN WE RECALL THAT GOD DID NOT SPARE HIS SON FROM TEMPTATION BUT SENT THE ANGELS TO MINISTER TO HIM IN THE TEMPTATION, WE CAN REALIZE THAT WE CAN KNOW THE WONDER OF GOD'S LOVE EVEN IN HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST MEANS THAT WE CAN KNOW GOD'S LOVE IN THE WHOLE OF OUR LIVES. AT THE END OF THE SEASON OF LENT THERE IS A GLORIOUS MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FROM THE DEAD; THAT WE MAY HANG ON TO THE FINAL VICTORY. AMEN1
Monday, February 5, 2018
SIX CHAPTER OF ST. JOHN.
IT IS NATURAL THAT MAN WOULD WANT TO LOOK INTO THINGS ABOUT HIM. BY NATURE, HE WANTS TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS EXISTENCE. HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD AND GOD, AND HOW HE GOVERNS IT. THE ATHEIST AND THE AGNOSTIC CONTEND THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE THAT THERE IS A GOD. LETS LOOK AS THE GOSPEL STORY. ST.JOHN TELLS US HOW OUR LORD HAD JUST WORKED TWO MIRACLES. HE HAD FED A GREAT MULTITUDE CONTAINING FIVE THOUSAND MEN AND HE HAD WALKED ON WATER OF THE SEA OF GALILEE AND QUELLED A STORM. HAVING RETURNED TO CAPHARNAUM, HE WAS SOUGHT OUT BY THE JEWS, WHO IMMEDIATELY, ASKED, MASTER WHEN DID YOU MAKE YOUR WAY HERE?
OUR LORD, FULLY AWARE OF THEIR INSINCERITY, REPLIED:" IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ME NOW, IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE MIRACLES YOU HAVE SEEN; IT IS BECAUSE
YOU WERE FED WITH THE LOAVES, AND HAD YOUR FILLS, AND HE WENT ON TO DEMAND THEIR FAITH: THIS IS THE SERVICE GOD ASKS OF YOU, TO BELIEVE THE MAN HE SENT" THEY REPLIED BY DEMANDING A SIGN. MOSES HAD GIVEN MANNA IN THE DESERT, COULD JESUS DO SOMETHING COMPARABLE TO ASSERT HIS SUPERIORITY? HE REPLIED: " THE BREAD THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN IS NOT WHAT MOSES GAVE YOU. THE REAL BREAD FROM HEAVEN IS GIVEN ONLY BY MY FATHER.. IT IS I WHO AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; HE WHO COMES TO ME WILL NEVER BE HUNGRY, HE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL NEVER KNOW THIRST."AFTER THIS THEY DEPARTED, BUT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT JESUS HAD SAID.
DESIROUS OF HEARING HIM FURTHER, THEY INVITED HIM TO EXPLAIN HIS TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE. THERE HE EXPOUNDED IT IN A MANNER WHICH LEFT NO DOUBT AS TO HIS MEANING: BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: THE MAN WHO HAS FAITH IN ME ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE. IT IS I WHOM AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, YOUR FATHERS WHO ATE MANNA IN THE DESERT, DIED NONE THE LESS; THE BREAD WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN. IF ANY EATS OF THIS BREAD, HE SHALL LIVE FOREVER. AND NOW, WHAT IS THIS BREAD WHICH I AM GOING TO GIVE? IT IS MY FLESH, GIVEN FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD." IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS UPROAR. THE JEWS REALIZED THAT THIS AT LEAST WAS INCAPABLE OF A METAPHORICAL EXPLANATION AND SO, WITH PERFECT LOGIC, THEY ASKED: "HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT? JESUS ANSWERED CLEARLY AND EMPHATICALLY : " BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: YOU CAN HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN, AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY. MY FLESH IS REAL FOOD. MY BLOOD IS REAL DRINK. HE WHO EATS MY FLESH, AND DRINKS MY BLOOD, LIVES CONTINUALLY IN ME, AND I IN HIM. AS I LIVE BECAUSE OF THE FATHER, THE LIVING FATHER WHO HAS SENT ME, SO HE WHO EATS ME WILL LIVE, IN HIS TURN, BECAUSE OF ME SUCH IS THE BREAD WHICH HAS COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; IT IS NOT WHAT IT WAS WITH YOUR FATHERS, WHO ATE MANNA AND DIED NONE THE LESS; THE MAN WHO EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE ETERNALLY.
JESUS CHRIST'S PROMISE MUST BE ACCEPTED LITERALLY.
THAT WAS MORE THEN ENOUGH FOR THE JEWS. THE PROMISE MADE THAT DAY IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT CAPHARNAUM WAS FULFILLED THE NIGHT JESUS DIED. IT WAS AT THE LAST SUPPER, OF WHICH THERE ARE FOUR DISTINCT ACCOUNTS. HERE IS ONE OF THEM, St.PAUL'S: THE TRADITION WHICH I RECEIVED FROM THE LORD, AND HANDED ON TO YOU, IS THAT THE LORD JESUS, ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED, TOOK BREAD, AND GAVE THANKS AND BROKE IT, AND SAID: " TAKE, EAT, THIS IS MY BODY, GIVEN UP FOR YOU. DO THIS FOR A COMMEMORATION OF ME. AND SO WITH THE CUP, WHEN SUPPER WAS ENDED. THIS CUP, HE SAID, IS THE NEW TESTAMENT, IN MY BLOOD. DO THIS WHEN, WHENEVER YOU DRINK IT, FOR A COMMEMORATION OF ME" (1 COR.11, 23-25). THE WORDS GIVEN BY THE OTHER WRITERS ARE AS FOLLOWS: ST, MATTHEW: "TAKE, AND EAT THIS IS MY BODY. DRINK, ALL OF YOU, OF THIS; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD, OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, SHED FOR MANY, TO THE REMISSION OF SINS. MOREOVER ST.PAUL HIMSELF ACCEPTED THE LITERAL INTERPRETATION. RELATING HIS ACCOUNT OF THE LAST SUPPER, HE GOES ON: " SO IT IS THE LORDS DEATH WE ARE HERALDING, WHEN EVER YOU EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINKS THIS CUP OF THE LORD RECOGNIZING THE LORD'S BODY FOR WHAT IT IS" (1 COR.11,27-29). THIS IS VIGOROUS LANGUAGE, AND THE ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF IT IS THAT ST. PAUL WAS CONVINCED THAT THE HOLY EUCHARIST, CHRIST WAS TRULY PRESENT. AND THAT IS THE ONLY CONCLUSION WE CAN DRAW FROM THE SCRIPTURAL "QUOTATION." WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING. IN THE BLESSED EUCHARIST, CHRIST LEFT HIMSELF, REALLY, TRULY SUBSTANTIALLY PRESENT. THE DOGMA DEFINED BY THE COUNCIL TRENT FOLLOWS FROM AN UNPREJUDICED EXAMINATION OF THE SCRIPTURAL NARRATIVE.
IN 1873, BRYENNIOS, GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLITAN OF NICOMEDIA, DISCOVERED THE COMPLETE TEXT OF A LITTLE BOOK OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
PROBABLY WRITTEN BEFORE THE YEAR A.D. 9O. FOR CENTURIES THE BOOK HAD BEEN ALLUDED TO BUT ITS EXACT NATURE WAS NOT KNOWN. IT IS CALLED THE " OR THE TEACHING OF THE DIDACHE" OR THE TEACHING OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, AND IT IS A SUMMARY OF THE MORAL, INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS. IT IS CLEAR FROM CHAPTERS 14 AND 15 OF THIS WORK THAT ITS COMPILER BELIEVED IN THE REAL PRESENCE, HOLY COMMUNION AND THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF THE MASS.
ONE OF THE GREATEST WITNESSES IS ST. IGNATIUS, THE ILLUSTRIOUS BISHOP OF ANTIOCH, WHO WAS MARTYRED IN THE YEAR A.D. 107. ON HIS WAY TO ROME, WHERE HE WAS TO BE THROWN TO THE WILD BEASTS, HE WROTE LETTERS TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN VARIOUS PLACES. THEIR EVIDENCE IS PARTICULARLY VALUABLE IN VIEW OF THE FACT THEY WERE COMPOSED ONLY ABOUT TEN YEARS AFTER ST. JOHN WROTE HIS GOSPEL. TO THE EPHESIANS HE WROTE: " THAT YOU MAY OBEY THE BISHOP AND THE PRIESTHOOD WITH INSEPARABLE INTENTION, BREAKING ONE BREAD, WHICH IS MEDICINE OF IMMORTALITY, THE ANTIDOTE AGAINST DEATH, GIVING LIFE FOREVER IN JESUS CHRIST.." TO SMYRNA HE WROTE AGAINST CERTAIN HERETICS: " THEY ABSTAIN FROM EUCHARIST AND PRAYER BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE EUCHARIST TO BE THE FLESH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH SUFFERED FOR OUR SINS, WHICH THE FATHER RAISED UP AGAIN BY HIS LOVING KINDNESS. THEY, THEREFORE, SPEAKING AGAINST THE GIFT OF GOD, DIE IN THEIR DISSENSION." IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND ANYWHERE A MORE EXPLICIT STATEMENT THAN THIS.
OUR LORD, FULLY AWARE OF THEIR INSINCERITY, REPLIED:" IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ME NOW, IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE MIRACLES YOU HAVE SEEN; IT IS BECAUSE
YOU WERE FED WITH THE LOAVES, AND HAD YOUR FILLS, AND HE WENT ON TO DEMAND THEIR FAITH: THIS IS THE SERVICE GOD ASKS OF YOU, TO BELIEVE THE MAN HE SENT" THEY REPLIED BY DEMANDING A SIGN. MOSES HAD GIVEN MANNA IN THE DESERT, COULD JESUS DO SOMETHING COMPARABLE TO ASSERT HIS SUPERIORITY? HE REPLIED: " THE BREAD THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN IS NOT WHAT MOSES GAVE YOU. THE REAL BREAD FROM HEAVEN IS GIVEN ONLY BY MY FATHER.. IT IS I WHO AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; HE WHO COMES TO ME WILL NEVER BE HUNGRY, HE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL NEVER KNOW THIRST."AFTER THIS THEY DEPARTED, BUT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT JESUS HAD SAID.
DESIROUS OF HEARING HIM FURTHER, THEY INVITED HIM TO EXPLAIN HIS TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE. THERE HE EXPOUNDED IT IN A MANNER WHICH LEFT NO DOUBT AS TO HIS MEANING: BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: THE MAN WHO HAS FAITH IN ME ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE. IT IS I WHOM AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, YOUR FATHERS WHO ATE MANNA IN THE DESERT, DIED NONE THE LESS; THE BREAD WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN. IF ANY EATS OF THIS BREAD, HE SHALL LIVE FOREVER. AND NOW, WHAT IS THIS BREAD WHICH I AM GOING TO GIVE? IT IS MY FLESH, GIVEN FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD." IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS UPROAR. THE JEWS REALIZED THAT THIS AT LEAST WAS INCAPABLE OF A METAPHORICAL EXPLANATION AND SO, WITH PERFECT LOGIC, THEY ASKED: "HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT? JESUS ANSWERED CLEARLY AND EMPHATICALLY : " BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: YOU CAN HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN, AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY. MY FLESH IS REAL FOOD. MY BLOOD IS REAL DRINK. HE WHO EATS MY FLESH, AND DRINKS MY BLOOD, LIVES CONTINUALLY IN ME, AND I IN HIM. AS I LIVE BECAUSE OF THE FATHER, THE LIVING FATHER WHO HAS SENT ME, SO HE WHO EATS ME WILL LIVE, IN HIS TURN, BECAUSE OF ME SUCH IS THE BREAD WHICH HAS COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; IT IS NOT WHAT IT WAS WITH YOUR FATHERS, WHO ATE MANNA AND DIED NONE THE LESS; THE MAN WHO EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE ETERNALLY.
JESUS CHRIST'S PROMISE MUST BE ACCEPTED LITERALLY.
THAT WAS MORE THEN ENOUGH FOR THE JEWS. THE PROMISE MADE THAT DAY IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT CAPHARNAUM WAS FULFILLED THE NIGHT JESUS DIED. IT WAS AT THE LAST SUPPER, OF WHICH THERE ARE FOUR DISTINCT ACCOUNTS. HERE IS ONE OF THEM, St.PAUL'S: THE TRADITION WHICH I RECEIVED FROM THE LORD, AND HANDED ON TO YOU, IS THAT THE LORD JESUS, ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED, TOOK BREAD, AND GAVE THANKS AND BROKE IT, AND SAID: " TAKE, EAT, THIS IS MY BODY, GIVEN UP FOR YOU. DO THIS FOR A COMMEMORATION OF ME. AND SO WITH THE CUP, WHEN SUPPER WAS ENDED. THIS CUP, HE SAID, IS THE NEW TESTAMENT, IN MY BLOOD. DO THIS WHEN, WHENEVER YOU DRINK IT, FOR A COMMEMORATION OF ME" (1 COR.11, 23-25). THE WORDS GIVEN BY THE OTHER WRITERS ARE AS FOLLOWS: ST, MATTHEW: "TAKE, AND EAT THIS IS MY BODY. DRINK, ALL OF YOU, OF THIS; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD, OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, SHED FOR MANY, TO THE REMISSION OF SINS. MOREOVER ST.PAUL HIMSELF ACCEPTED THE LITERAL INTERPRETATION. RELATING HIS ACCOUNT OF THE LAST SUPPER, HE GOES ON: " SO IT IS THE LORDS DEATH WE ARE HERALDING, WHEN EVER YOU EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINKS THIS CUP OF THE LORD RECOGNIZING THE LORD'S BODY FOR WHAT IT IS" (1 COR.11,27-29). THIS IS VIGOROUS LANGUAGE, AND THE ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF IT IS THAT ST. PAUL WAS CONVINCED THAT THE HOLY EUCHARIST, CHRIST WAS TRULY PRESENT. AND THAT IS THE ONLY CONCLUSION WE CAN DRAW FROM THE SCRIPTURAL "QUOTATION." WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING. IN THE BLESSED EUCHARIST, CHRIST LEFT HIMSELF, REALLY, TRULY SUBSTANTIALLY PRESENT. THE DOGMA DEFINED BY THE COUNCIL TRENT FOLLOWS FROM AN UNPREJUDICED EXAMINATION OF THE SCRIPTURAL NARRATIVE.
IN 1873, BRYENNIOS, GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLITAN OF NICOMEDIA, DISCOVERED THE COMPLETE TEXT OF A LITTLE BOOK OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
PROBABLY WRITTEN BEFORE THE YEAR A.D. 9O. FOR CENTURIES THE BOOK HAD BEEN ALLUDED TO BUT ITS EXACT NATURE WAS NOT KNOWN. IT IS CALLED THE " OR THE TEACHING OF THE DIDACHE" OR THE TEACHING OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, AND IT IS A SUMMARY OF THE MORAL, INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS. IT IS CLEAR FROM CHAPTERS 14 AND 15 OF THIS WORK THAT ITS COMPILER BELIEVED IN THE REAL PRESENCE, HOLY COMMUNION AND THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF THE MASS.
ONE OF THE GREATEST WITNESSES IS ST. IGNATIUS, THE ILLUSTRIOUS BISHOP OF ANTIOCH, WHO WAS MARTYRED IN THE YEAR A.D. 107. ON HIS WAY TO ROME, WHERE HE WAS TO BE THROWN TO THE WILD BEASTS, HE WROTE LETTERS TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN VARIOUS PLACES. THEIR EVIDENCE IS PARTICULARLY VALUABLE IN VIEW OF THE FACT THEY WERE COMPOSED ONLY ABOUT TEN YEARS AFTER ST. JOHN WROTE HIS GOSPEL. TO THE EPHESIANS HE WROTE: " THAT YOU MAY OBEY THE BISHOP AND THE PRIESTHOOD WITH INSEPARABLE INTENTION, BREAKING ONE BREAD, WHICH IS MEDICINE OF IMMORTALITY, THE ANTIDOTE AGAINST DEATH, GIVING LIFE FOREVER IN JESUS CHRIST.." TO SMYRNA HE WROTE AGAINST CERTAIN HERETICS: " THEY ABSTAIN FROM EUCHARIST AND PRAYER BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE EUCHARIST TO BE THE FLESH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH SUFFERED FOR OUR SINS, WHICH THE FATHER RAISED UP AGAIN BY HIS LOVING KINDNESS. THEY, THEREFORE, SPEAKING AGAINST THE GIFT OF GOD, DIE IN THEIR DISSENSION." IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND ANYWHERE A MORE EXPLICIT STATEMENT THAN THIS.
Friday, February 2, 2018
SLAVONIC APOCALYPSE OF " 2 ENOCH" (ALWAYS WRITTEN IN BAD TIMES).
THE STORY OF ENOCH: HOW THE LORD TOOK HIM TO HEAVEN... SO THAT HE MIGHT SEE THE HIGHEST REALMS: AND OF THE MOST WISE AND GREAT AND INCONCEIVABLE AND UNCHANGING KINGDOM OF GOD ALMIGHTY. AND OF THE MOST MARVELOUS AND GLORIOUS AND SHINING MANY-EYED STATION OF THE LORD'S SERVANTS, AND OF THE LORD'S UNMOVABLE THRONE. (1a: 1-4).
...WHILE I SLEPT...TWO HUGE MEN APPEARED TO ME...THEIR FACES WERE LIKE THE SHINING SUN: THEIR EYES WERE LIKE BURNING LAMPS. FROM THEIR MOUTHS FIRE WAS COMING FORTH: THEIR CLOTHING WAS VARIOUS SINGING: THEIR WINGS WERE MORE GLISTENING THAN GOLD:THEIR HANDS WERE WHITER THEN SNOW...I WAS TERRIFIED...THOSE MEN SAID TO ME, " BE BRAVE, ENOCH! IN TRUTH, DO NOT FEAR! THE ETERNAL GOD HAS SENT US TO YOU. AND BEHOLD, YOU WILL ASCEND WITH US TO HEAVEN TODAY..." AND THEY TOOK ME UP ONTO THEIR WINGS, AND CARRIED ME UP TO THE FIRST HEAVEN...AND THEY SHOWED ME AN OCEAN, MUCH BIGGER THAN THE EARTHLY OCEAN. (3: 1,3). AND THERE I PERCEIVED THE TREASURIES OF THE SNOW AND ICE (5:1) AND BROUGHT ME UP TO THE SECOND HEAVEN... I SAW DARKNESS GREATER THAN EARTHLY DARKNESS AND THERE I PERCEIVED PRISONERS UNDER GUARD, HANGING UP WAITING FOR THE MEASUERLESS JUDGMENT... I SAID TO THE MEN WHO WERE WITH ME, " WHY ARE THESE ONES BEING TORMENTED UNCEASELY?" THOSE MEN ANSWERED, " THESE ARE THOSE WHO TURNED AWAY FROM THE LORD, WHO DID NOT OBEY THE LORD'S COMMANDMENTS...(7:1-3)
THEY BROUGHT ME UP TO THE SECOND HEAVEN... I SAW A DARKNESS GREATER THEN THE EARTHLY DARKNESS. AND THERE I PERCEIVED PRISONERS UNDER GUARD, HANGING UP, WAITING FOR THE MEASURELESS JUDGMENTS... I SAID TO THE MEN WHO WERE WITH ME, WHY ARE THESE ONES BEING TORMENTED UNCEASINGLY?" THOSE MEN ANSWERED ME, " THESE ARE THOSE WHO TURNED AWAY FROM THE LORD, WHO DID NOT OBEY THE LORD'S COMMANDMENTS...(7:1-3).
...THE BROUGHT ME UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN...AND I SAW PARADISE. AND THAT PLACE IS INCONCEIVABLY PLEASANT. AND I SAW THE TREES IN FULL FLOWER...AND IN THE MIDST OF THEM WAS A TREE OF LIFE... AND IT HAS SOMETHING OF EVERY ORCHARD TREE AND OF EVERY FRUIT... (8:1-4).
AND THOSE MEN CARRIED ME TO THE NORTHERN REGION: AND THEY SHOWED ME THERE A VERY FRIGHTFUL PLACE... AND ALL KINDS OF TORTURE AND TORMEANT ARE IN THATPLACE...FIRE HERE FREEING, ICE THERE...VERY CRUEL PLACES OF DETENTION AND DARK AND MERCILESS ANGELS...AND I SAID, "WOE,WOE! HOW VERY FRIGHTFUL THIS PLACE IS! AND THOSE MEN SAID TO ME, " THIS PLACE, ENOCH, HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO DON'T GLORIFY, GOD, WHO PRACTICE ON EARTH THE SIN WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE, WHICH IS CHILD CORRUPTION... WHO BOAST THEIR EVIL DEEDS... ENRICHING THEMSELVES FROM THE POSSESSIONS OF OTHERS, DEFRAUDING THEM: WHO, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE
TO PROVIDE SUSTENANCE, BRING ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE HUNGRY BY STAVATION: AND, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLOTHING, TAKE AWAY THE LAST GARMENT OF THE NAKED: WHO DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR CREATOR, BUT BOW DOWN TO IDOLS... FOR ALL THESE THIS PLACE HAS BEEN PREPARED AS AN ETERNAL REWARD. (1O:1-6).
AND THOSE MEN CARRIED ME UP TO THE SIXTH HEAVEN. AND I SAW THERE WERE SEVEN GROUPS OF ANGELS, BRILLIANT AND VERY GLORIOUS ... ARCHANGELS WHO ARE OVER ALL THE ANGELS... AND ANGELS WHO RECORD ALL HUMAN SOULS, AND ALL THEIR DEEDS, AND THEIR LIVES BEFORE THE FACE OF THE LORD. (19:1-5).
...THEY CARRIED ME UP TO THE SEVENTH HEAVEN. AND I SAW THERE AN EXEPTIONALLY GREAT LIGHT... ARCHANGELS... DOMINIONS... CHERUBIM... AND SEAAPHIM... AND I WAS TERRIFIED...THEY SAID TO ME,"BE BRAVE, ENOCH! DON'T BE FRIGHTENED!" AND THEY SHOWED ME THE LORD, FROM A DISTANCE, SITTING ON HIS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH THRONE...ON THE TENTH HEAVEN IS GOD... AND ALL THE HEAVENLY ARMIES CAME AND STOOD ON THE TEN STEPS, CORRESPONDING TO THEIR RANKS, AND THEY DID OBEISANCE TO THE LORD... SINGING SONGS WITH SOFT AND GENTLE VOICES, WHILE PRESENTING THE LITURGY TO HIM GLORIOUSLY.
(20: 1-4).
AND THEY DO NOT LEAVE BY NIGHT, NOR DEPART BY DAY, STAND ING IN FRONT OF THE FACE OF THE LORD AND CARRYING OUT HIS WILL.-- CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM STANDING ALL AROUND HIS THRONE., SIX-WINGED AND MANY-EYED: AND THEY COVER HIS ENTIRE THRONE, SINGING WITH GENTLE VOICE IN FRONT OF THE FACE OF THE LORD: HOLY, HOLY, LORD SABAOTH
HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. (21:1-10).
AND FROM THE FIRE I CREATED THE RANKS OF THE BODILESS ARMIES-- TEN MYRIAD ANGELS--AND I GAVE ORDERS THAT EACH SHOULD STAND IN HIS OWN RANK. BUT ONE FROM THE ORDER OF THE ARCHANGELS DEVIATED, TOGETHER WITH THE DIVISION THAT WAS UNDER HIE AUTHORITY. HE THOUGHT UP THE IMPOSSIBLE, THAT HE MIGHT PLACE HIS THRONE HIGHER THAN THE CLOUDS WHICH ARE ABOVE THE EARTH, AND THAT HE MIGHT BECOME EQUAL TO MY POWER. AND I HURLED HIM OUT FROM THE HEIGHT, TOGETHER WITH HIS ANGELS (29:3-5). PICTURE OF "SATAN!"
...WHILE I SLEPT...TWO HUGE MEN APPEARED TO ME...THEIR FACES WERE LIKE THE SHINING SUN: THEIR EYES WERE LIKE BURNING LAMPS. FROM THEIR MOUTHS FIRE WAS COMING FORTH: THEIR CLOTHING WAS VARIOUS SINGING: THEIR WINGS WERE MORE GLISTENING THAN GOLD:THEIR HANDS WERE WHITER THEN SNOW...I WAS TERRIFIED...THOSE MEN SAID TO ME, " BE BRAVE, ENOCH! IN TRUTH, DO NOT FEAR! THE ETERNAL GOD HAS SENT US TO YOU. AND BEHOLD, YOU WILL ASCEND WITH US TO HEAVEN TODAY..." AND THEY TOOK ME UP ONTO THEIR WINGS, AND CARRIED ME UP TO THE FIRST HEAVEN...AND THEY SHOWED ME AN OCEAN, MUCH BIGGER THAN THE EARTHLY OCEAN. (3: 1,3). AND THERE I PERCEIVED THE TREASURIES OF THE SNOW AND ICE (5:1) AND BROUGHT ME UP TO THE SECOND HEAVEN... I SAW DARKNESS GREATER THAN EARTHLY DARKNESS AND THERE I PERCEIVED PRISONERS UNDER GUARD, HANGING UP WAITING FOR THE MEASUERLESS JUDGMENT... I SAID TO THE MEN WHO WERE WITH ME, " WHY ARE THESE ONES BEING TORMENTED UNCEASELY?" THOSE MEN ANSWERED, " THESE ARE THOSE WHO TURNED AWAY FROM THE LORD, WHO DID NOT OBEY THE LORD'S COMMANDMENTS...(7:1-3)
THEY BROUGHT ME UP TO THE SECOND HEAVEN... I SAW A DARKNESS GREATER THEN THE EARTHLY DARKNESS. AND THERE I PERCEIVED PRISONERS UNDER GUARD, HANGING UP, WAITING FOR THE MEASURELESS JUDGMENTS... I SAID TO THE MEN WHO WERE WITH ME, WHY ARE THESE ONES BEING TORMENTED UNCEASINGLY?" THOSE MEN ANSWERED ME, " THESE ARE THOSE WHO TURNED AWAY FROM THE LORD, WHO DID NOT OBEY THE LORD'S COMMANDMENTS...(7:1-3).
...THE BROUGHT ME UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN...AND I SAW PARADISE. AND THAT PLACE IS INCONCEIVABLY PLEASANT. AND I SAW THE TREES IN FULL FLOWER...AND IN THE MIDST OF THEM WAS A TREE OF LIFE... AND IT HAS SOMETHING OF EVERY ORCHARD TREE AND OF EVERY FRUIT... (8:1-4).
AND THOSE MEN CARRIED ME TO THE NORTHERN REGION: AND THEY SHOWED ME THERE A VERY FRIGHTFUL PLACE... AND ALL KINDS OF TORTURE AND TORMEANT ARE IN THATPLACE...FIRE HERE FREEING, ICE THERE...VERY CRUEL PLACES OF DETENTION AND DARK AND MERCILESS ANGELS...AND I SAID, "WOE,WOE! HOW VERY FRIGHTFUL THIS PLACE IS! AND THOSE MEN SAID TO ME, " THIS PLACE, ENOCH, HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO DON'T GLORIFY, GOD, WHO PRACTICE ON EARTH THE SIN WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE, WHICH IS CHILD CORRUPTION... WHO BOAST THEIR EVIL DEEDS... ENRICHING THEMSELVES FROM THE POSSESSIONS OF OTHERS, DEFRAUDING THEM: WHO, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE
TO PROVIDE SUSTENANCE, BRING ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE HUNGRY BY STAVATION: AND, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLOTHING, TAKE AWAY THE LAST GARMENT OF THE NAKED: WHO DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR CREATOR, BUT BOW DOWN TO IDOLS... FOR ALL THESE THIS PLACE HAS BEEN PREPARED AS AN ETERNAL REWARD. (1O:1-6).
AND THOSE MEN CARRIED ME UP TO THE SIXTH HEAVEN. AND I SAW THERE WERE SEVEN GROUPS OF ANGELS, BRILLIANT AND VERY GLORIOUS ... ARCHANGELS WHO ARE OVER ALL THE ANGELS... AND ANGELS WHO RECORD ALL HUMAN SOULS, AND ALL THEIR DEEDS, AND THEIR LIVES BEFORE THE FACE OF THE LORD. (19:1-5).
...THEY CARRIED ME UP TO THE SEVENTH HEAVEN. AND I SAW THERE AN EXEPTIONALLY GREAT LIGHT... ARCHANGELS... DOMINIONS... CHERUBIM... AND SEAAPHIM... AND I WAS TERRIFIED...THEY SAID TO ME,"BE BRAVE, ENOCH! DON'T BE FRIGHTENED!" AND THEY SHOWED ME THE LORD, FROM A DISTANCE, SITTING ON HIS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH THRONE...ON THE TENTH HEAVEN IS GOD... AND ALL THE HEAVENLY ARMIES CAME AND STOOD ON THE TEN STEPS, CORRESPONDING TO THEIR RANKS, AND THEY DID OBEISANCE TO THE LORD... SINGING SONGS WITH SOFT AND GENTLE VOICES, WHILE PRESENTING THE LITURGY TO HIM GLORIOUSLY.
(20: 1-4).
AND THEY DO NOT LEAVE BY NIGHT, NOR DEPART BY DAY, STAND ING IN FRONT OF THE FACE OF THE LORD AND CARRYING OUT HIS WILL.-- CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM STANDING ALL AROUND HIS THRONE., SIX-WINGED AND MANY-EYED: AND THEY COVER HIS ENTIRE THRONE, SINGING WITH GENTLE VOICE IN FRONT OF THE FACE OF THE LORD: HOLY, HOLY, LORD SABAOTH
HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. (21:1-10).
AND FROM THE FIRE I CREATED THE RANKS OF THE BODILESS ARMIES-- TEN MYRIAD ANGELS--AND I GAVE ORDERS THAT EACH SHOULD STAND IN HIS OWN RANK. BUT ONE FROM THE ORDER OF THE ARCHANGELS DEVIATED, TOGETHER WITH THE DIVISION THAT WAS UNDER HIE AUTHORITY. HE THOUGHT UP THE IMPOSSIBLE, THAT HE MIGHT PLACE HIS THRONE HIGHER THAN THE CLOUDS WHICH ARE ABOVE THE EARTH, AND THAT HE MIGHT BECOME EQUAL TO MY POWER. AND I HURLED HIM OUT FROM THE HEIGHT, TOGETHER WITH HIS ANGELS (29:3-5). PICTURE OF "SATAN!"
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