CHRIST BRINGS DIVISION [LUKE 13:1-9]

TEXT: THERE WERE PRESENT AT THAT SEASON SOME THAT TOLD HIM OF THE GALILAENS,WHOSE BLOOD PILATE HAD MINGLED (MIXED) WITH THEIR SACRIFICES.
AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID UNTO THEM, SUPPOSE ( DO YOU THINK) THAT THE GALILAEANS WERE SINNERS ABOVE ALL THE GALILAEANS, BECAUSE THEY ALL SUFFERED SUCH THINGS? I TELL YOU, NAY: BUT, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH. OR THOSE EIGHTEEN, UPON THE TOWER OF SILOAM FELL, AND SLEW THEM, THINK YE THAT THEY WERE SINNERS (DEBTORS)  ABOVE ALL MEN THAT DWELT IN JERUSALEM? HE SPAKE ALSO THIS PARABLE; A CERTAIN MAN HAD A FIG TREE PLANTED IN HIS VINEYARD; AND HE CAME A SOUGHT FRUIT THEREON, AND FOUND NONE. THEN HE SAID TO THE DRESSER OF HIS VINEYARD, BEHOLD, THESE THREE YEARS I COME SEEKING FRUIT ON THIS FIG TREE, AND FIND NONE, AND FIND NONE: CUT IT DOWN; WHY CUMBERETH IT THE GROUND? 
 AND HE ANSWERING SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, LET IT ALONE THIS YEAR  ALSO, TILL I SHALL DIG ABOUT IT, AND DUNG IT.;  AND IF IT BEAR FRUIT, WELL: AND IF NOT, THEN AFTER THAT THOU SHALL CUT IT DOWN. [13: 1-9]. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHEN I READ LUKE'S GOSPEL PASSAGE, THAT IT COULD BE ANYBODY'S FAVORITE. ONE OF ITS BIG WORDS IS THE WORD "REPENT"; AND WETHER THAT MEANS: FACE UP TO YOUR SINS AND CONFESS THEM, "OR TURN AROUND REORIENT YOUR LIFE,"  IT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH APPEAL, DOES IT?"  TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THERE'S THE STORY OF THE BARREN FIG TREE. WHICH FACES THE OPTION OF PRODUCING FRUIT OR GETTING CHOPPED DOWN-WHICH AGAIN WHEN APPLIED TO OUSELVES, IS LESS THEN INVITING. SO ON THE SURFACE, AT LEAST, IT ADDS UP TO A RATHER GLOOMY WORD AAND IT'S NO BODY'S FAVORITE.
AND YET THERE MAY BE SOMETHING IN IT THAT WILL DO US MORE GOOD THAN PASSAGES WE LIKE MUCH BETTER. REMEMBER, THE GOAL OF ALL SCRIPTURE IS THAT WE BE RENEWED AND STRENGTHENED. WETHER OUR LORD SPOKE WORDS OF WARNING, OF REPRIMAND, OR OF GOOD CHEER., HIS PURPOSE WAS ALWAYS TO BUILD UP, TO REMEDY, TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW THE LIFE HE CALLED ABUNDANT.
 THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, ISN'T IT? WE WANT MANY THINGS, OF COURSE- SOME OF THEM IN CONFLICT WITH OTHERS;  AND OUR EXPRESSED WANTS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.YET DEEP DOWN, WHERE NOT EVEN THE GENERATION GAP SEPARATES US, WE NEED  AND WANT ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THINGS. WE WANT OUR LIFES TO COUNT FOR SOMETHING. WE WANT AN OUTLOOK ON LIFE THAT MAKES SENSE..  WE NEED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD AT LARGE AND WITH GOD.  CALL THEM "SPIRITUAL" NEEDS- OR HUMAN NEEDS- WHATEVER THEY ARE, WE ALL HAVE THEM, AND WE SEEK TO FULFILL THEM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
 THE TROUBLE IS WE TEND TO LOOK IN THE WRONG PLACES, TRY YHE WRONG THINGS,, PURSUE..." THE WRONG GOALS, JESUS SAID, " SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD." AND OUR OTHER NEEDS WILL BE FULFILLED. BUT WE'RE NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT, ARE WE? SO WE FIND OURSELVES DENYING WHAT HE SAID AND GOING OUR OWN WAY. WHAT OUR LORD PROMISES AND GIVES ARE ON HIS TERMS, NOT OURS.
SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT JESUS BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY WITH THE WORD "REPENT." - MEANING, TURN AROUND, CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING, STOP MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. "THE TIME IS FULFILLED,"
 THE STORY OF THE FIG TREE, THOUGH A SENSE A WARNING, IS IN ANOTHER SENSE A RELIEF- A GOOD WORD OF GRACE. IT SAYS WE COUNT FOR SOMETHING. WHAT WE DO MATTERS. LIFE IS NOT A TALE TOLDBY AN IDIOT,FULL OF SOUND AND FURY, SIGNIFYING NOTHING. THERE'S A PURPOSE AND A GOAL. INSTEAD OF ABANDONING US TO OUR FUTILE WAYS, GOD EXPECTS US TO BEAR FRUIT. THE TREE WAS NOT CHOPPED DOWN; REMEMBER; IT WAS FERTILIZED AND GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE.
SO THERE IS HOPE! WHAT SHALL WE DO ABOUT IT?  WE MUST REALIZE FIRST THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP TO  GOD IS A FAITH-RELATIONSHIP. NOTHING MORE OR LESS.
FOR FAITH RELATIONSHIP IS BASED BY THE PROMISES OF GOD. WE TEND TO FORGET THAT, FOR WE HAVE A TENDECY TO BASE OUR FAITH ON FEELINGS. WE TRUST GOD, WE WORSHIP HIM, SERVE HIM ACCORDING TO HOW WE FEEL AT THE MOMENT. FAITH NEEDS TO BE BASED ON SOMETHING STEADIER AND MORE RELIABLE THEAAN OUR FEELINGS, WRITES PAMELLA REEVES.
 FAITH IN HIS PROMISES
 REMEBER EVERYTHING STARTS WITH PRAYER!."

FIRST MISSIONARIES. [MATTHEW 9:-35- 10:8].

JESUS WENT ABOUT ALL THE CITIES AND VILLAGES, TEACHINGS IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES, AND PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPELS OF THE KINGDOM, AND HEALING EVERY MANNER OF SICKNESS AND EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE. BUT WHEN HE SAW THE MULTITUDES, HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION ON THEM, BECAUSE THEY FAINTED, AND WERE SCATTERED ABROAD,  LIKE SHEEP HAVING NO SHEPHERD. THE HARVEST IS SO GREAT, "THE WORKERS ARE SO FEW.", HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES. SO PRAY TO THE ONE IN CHARGE OF HARVESTING, AND ASK HIM TO RECRUIT MORE WORKERS FOR HIS HARVEST FIELDS.
 WHEN HE HAD CALLED UNTO HIM IS TWELVE DISCIPLES, HE GAVE THEM POWER AGAINST UNCLEAD SPIRITS, TO CAST THEM OUT, AND TO HEAL ALL MANNER OF SICKNESS AND ALL MANNER OF DISEASE. NOW THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES ARE THESE; THE FIRST, SIMON, WHO IS CALLED PETER, AND ANDREW HIS BROTHER; JAMES THE SON OF ZEB'-E-DEE, AND JOHN HIS BROTHER; PHILIP, AND BARTHOLOMEW; THOMAS, AND MATTHEW THE PUBLICAN; JAMES THE SON OF AL-PHAE'-US,  AND LEB-BAE'US, WHOSE SURNAME WAS THAD-DAE'-US; SIMON THE
C'-NAANITE AND JUDAS IS-CAR'-I-OT, WHO ALSO BETRAYED HIM. IN  MATTEWS GOSPEL TEXT, JESUS SPEAKS OF THE CHURCH'S MISSION. WITH IMAGES DRAWN FROM DAILY LIFE. HE SENDS OUT THE TWELVE DISCIPLES AND COMMANDED THEM, SAYING: "NDO NOT GO INTO THE WAY OF THE GENTILES, AND DO NOT ENTER A CITY OF THE SAMARITANS. BUT GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL., AND AS YOU GO, PREACH SAYING, "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.  HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPER'S, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEMONS. FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE. PROVIDE NEITHER GOLD, NOR SILVER NOR COPPER, IN YOUR MONEY BELTS, NOR BAG FOR YOUR JOURNEY. TODAY TRAVEL HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANCE FORCE IN OUR LIVES.  WE LOVE TO ROAM, TO SEEK NEW VISTA AND ADVENTURES. BUT, TODAY'S TRAVELERS ARE SEEKING MORE THAN JUST GOING SOMEPLACE NEW, THEY ARE SEEKING MORE THAN JUST GOING SOMEPLACE NEW, THEY ARE SEEKING EXPERIENCES. THEY WANT TO TELL THE FOLKS BACK HOME, NOT JUST TO WHERE THEY WENT, BUT TO WHAT THEY DID. THE TOURIST INDUSTRY HAS A NEW CHALLENGE: TO PROVIDE PEOPLE NOT ONLY WITH A DESTINATION, BUT AN EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S WHY JESUS INVITES US TO A JOURNEY OF FAITH AND EXPERIENCE OF DISCIPLESHIP. WHAT WOULD HE SAY TO US AS THE PROSPECTIVE TRAVELER THAT HAS JUSTAKEN OFF?
1) THERE IS NO MAP FOR THIS JOURNEY. THE KEY IS TO FOLLOW ME TO THOSE WHO NEED HEALING, TO PLACES OF DARKNESS, TO LOST PEOPLE IN NEED OF HOPE.
2.) LEAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD AT HOME. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR GOD IT IS BEST TO BE EMPTY AND IN NEED. TRAVEL MORE AS A REFUGEE, THAN A TOURIST. YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL; GOD IS.
3). THE JOURNEY IS RISKY PLAN ON ENCOUNTING DEAD ENDS, AND TAKING WRONG TURNS. PEOPLE WILL NOT ALWAYS WELCOME YOUR PRESENCE OR THE GIFTS OF GOOD NEWS AND PEACE YOU BRING. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE SUFFERING.
4). ENJOY NEW VISTA AND SEE LIFE IN A NEW WAY. YOU WILL FIND REFRESHMENT IN THE COMPANY OF FELLOW TRAVELERS. A MEAL OF GRACE WILL SATISFY YOU.
5). NO MATTER WHERE THE JOURNEY TAKES YOU, TRAVEL IN THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S PRESENSE. IF YOU GET LOST, OR IF THE LOAD IS TOO HEAVY OR THE ROAD IS TO LONG GOD WILL SEARCH TILL YOU ARE FOUND AND WILL SUSTAIN YOU. THIS IS A PROMISE DON'T LEAVE HOME WITH OUT IT. REMEMBER OUR PURPOSE IS TO LET OUR CONVERSATIONS BE SHAPED BY THE GOOD NEWS, AND EXTEND CHRIST PEACE WHEREVER WE FIND OURSELVES, AND SHARE OUR BREAD WITH THE HUNGRY.
WHEN TRAVELERS ARE LOST OR DOWN ON THEIR HOPE AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO AND LOOK UP AND SPOT THE CROSS ON A CHURCH, IT SHOULD BE LIKE A PORT IN A STORM. IT MUST BE A SIGN OF A  SAFE HAVEN.
 JESUS PROMISED HARD TIMES, BUT HE ALSO PROMISED COMFORT. WE MUST REMEMBER THE DISCIPLES WERE COMMON MEN GIVEN COMPELLING TASK, BEFORE THEY WERE GIVEN STAINED-GLASS SAINTS IN WINDOWS OF CATHEDRALS.. THERE IS AN OLD FABLE THAT SHEDS SOME LIGHT FOR US IN THIS DAY AND AGE IT TELLS ABOUT AN ELDERLY MAN WHO WAS TRAVELING WITH A BOY AND A DONKEY. AS THEY WALKED THROUGH THE VILLAGE, THE MAN WAS LEADING THE DONKEY AND THE BOY WAS WALKING BEHIND. 5THE TOWNSPEOPLE SAID THE OLD MAN WAS A FOOL. FOR NOT RIDING, SO TO PLEASE THEM HE CLIMB UP ON THE ANIMALS BACK. WHEN THEY CAME TO THE NEXT VILLAGE THE PEOPLE SAID, THE OLD MAN WAS MEAN, FOR LETTING THE CHILD WALK BEHIND WHILE HE ENJOYED THE RIDE, SO, TO PLEASE THEM, HE GOT OFF AND SET THE BOY ON THE ANIMALS BACK AND CONTINUED ON THE WAY THROUGH THE THIRD VILLAGE, ACCUSED THE BOY OF BEING LAZY FOR MAKING THE OLD MAN WALK., AND THW SUGGESTION WAS MADE THEY SHOULD BOTH RIDE.IN THE FOURTH VILLAGE, THE TOWNS PEOPLE WERE INDIGNENT AT THE CRUELTY TO THE DONKEY BECAUSE IT WAS MADE TO CARRY TWO PEOPLE. THE FRUSTRATED MAN AND BOY WERE LAST SEEN CARRING THE DONKEY DOWN THE ROAD. POINT IS, WE CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY!           

BIBLE. GOD AS JUDGE OF MAN

 SHORTLY AFTER HARVARD COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED IN 1636, THE TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL WROTE, " LET EVERY STUDENT BE PLAINLY INSTRUCTED, AND EARNESTLY PRESSED TO CONSIDER WELL THAT THE MAIN END OF LIFE AND STUDIES IS TO KNOW GOD AND JESUS CHRIST...  AND THEREFORE TO LAY CHRIST IN THE BOTTOM,
AS THE ONLY FOUNDATION OF ALL SOUND KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING. THE WORDS OF THE EARLY TRUSTEES ARE STILL TRUE. MANY PEOPLE STILL SEE THEIR CHIEF GOAL IN LIFE IS KNOWING GOD BETTER. THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE SHOWS US THREE GREAT TRUTHS.: FIRST, THE KNOWLEDGE IS OUR CHIEF GOOD; SECOND, GOD HAS REVEALED IN NATURE CERTAIN TRUTHS ABOUT HIMSELF TO EVERYONE; BUT THIRD, PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED THIS REVELATION AND HAVE SUBSTITUTED FALSE GODS IN THE PLACE OF THEIR CREATOR. AWARENESS OF THE TRUE GOD IS, CONVEYED TO US IN ALL THAT WE SEE EXTERNALLY, IN ALL THAT WE SEE AND INTERNALLY THROUGH THE WORKINGS OF OPEN MINDS AND HEARTS.  BUT, WE HAVE DENIED OUR AWARENESS OF GOD, CHANGING THE KNOWLEDGE WE DO HAVE INTO SUPERSTITION. AS A RESULT, THE WORLD, FOR ALL ITS WISDOM, DOES NOT KNOW GOD. AND SO LACKS KNOWLEDGE OF ITSELF ALSO.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE? IT IS OBVIOUS FROM WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID THAT MAN AND WOMEN CAN DO NOTHING THEMSELVES. BUT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, IS ALTHOUGH WE  CAN DO NOTHING GOD HAS DONE SOMETHING. HE HAS DONE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. HE HAS COMMUNICATED WITH US. IN OTHER WORDS, IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL BUT LIMITED REVELATION OF HIMSELF IN NATURE! FINALLY, THERE IS THE APPLICATION OF THESE TRUTHS TO THE MIND AND HEART OF THE INDIVIDUAL
 OUR THINKING CONCERNING THE AUTHORITY AND INSPIRATION BY THE  HOLY SPIRIT. SCRIPTURE MUST START ALWAYS FROM THE FACT ITSELF THAT THE BIBLEASSUMES EVERYWHERE THAT IT IS A MESSAGE DIRECTLY FROM GOD HIMSELF
IT MAY BE OBJECTED THAT IN THE MAJORITY OF THESE  CASES THE CLAIM TO AUTHORITY IS MADE ONLY ON BEHALF OF THE MESSAGE DELIVERED AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE WRITTEN RECORD IN WHICH THAT MESSAGE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO US. THUS IT MAY WELL BE THE CASE THAT THE PROPHETS OR JESUS CHRIST SPOKE WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE THEIR WORDS SECOND HAND. THE FACT THAT INSPIRATION IS CLAIMED FOR THEM DOES NOT MEAN THAT INSPIRATION IS CLAIMED FOR THOSE WHO COMPILED THE RECORD OF THEIR TEACHING AND ACTIVITY.
AGAINST THIS OBJECTION WE MAY SET THE FACT THAT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ESPECIALLY, AND WITH REFERENCE TO THE OLD, A DEFINITE AUTHORITY IS CLAIMED FOR THE WRITTEN WORD OF THE BIBLE. THIS POINT EMERGES CLEARLY IN MANY PARTS OF THE TEACHING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. THUS HE ANSWERS THE TEMPTER WITH THE THREEFOLD "IT IS WRITTEN."   ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION HE TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT IT IS WRITTEN OF THE SON OF MAN SHOULD SUFFER MANY THINGS AND BE SET A NOUGHT. TO THE JEWS WHO SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES HE GAVE COUNSEL THAT THESE ARE THEY WHICH
TESTIFY OF ME.'
  AFTER THE RESURRECTION HE INTERPRETED TO ALLTHE DISCIPLES IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES THE THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF. SHOWING THEM THAT ALL THINGS NEEDED TO BE FULFIILED. WHEN WE COME TO THE APOSTLES WE FIND THAT THEIR TESTIMONY TO THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE IS EQUALLY CLEAR. IN ALL THE GOSPELS GREAT EMPHASIS IS LAID UPON THE INSPIRED FORETELLING OF THE WORK AND PERSON OF CHRIST.
GOD AS THE JUDGE OF MAN.
GOD LOVES MAN, BUT HE IS ALSO MANS JUDGE; HIS LOVE IS NOT SENTIMETAL LOVE. SINCE IT IS GOD'S DESIRE TO DEVELOP MORAL CHARACTER IN MAN, HIS LOVE IS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY DISCIPLINE. THE FATHER IN THE PARABLE OF THE PRODICAL SON DOES NOT FORGIVE HIS SON AND RECEIVE BACK UNTIL HE RETURNS IN A PENITENT MOOD, DISCIPLINED BY HIS OWN ACTIONS. GOD THEREFORE, COMBINES IN HIMSELF THE LOVING FATHER AND THE JUST JUDGE. WHILE HE YEARNS TO FORGIVE MAN, FORGIVENESS IS POSSIBLE ONLY TO THE MAN WHO HAS GIVEN-UP HIS REBELLION AND DEFIANCE AND SUBMITTED HIS WILL TO THE WILL OF GOD. SUBMISSION IS MAN'S PART; FORGIVENESS IS GOD'S. ALTHOUGH GOD HAS CREATED MAN FREE, HE HOLDS HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HE DOES IN HIS FREEDOM.  JESUS FORMULATES THE PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE IN TERMS Of ESCHATOLOGICAL. (END TIMES). HE OFTEN REFERS TO A LAST JUDGMENT AT THE END OF TIME; IN THIS RESPECT HE AGREES WITH THE THOUGHT OF ZOROASTER, WHICH HAD ALREADY MADE ITS PENETRATION INTO JEWISH APOCALYPTIC WRITINGS. IN THEIR CLASSICAL PERIOD, THE HEBREW PROPHETS EXPRESSED THE BELIEF THAHT EVERY MAN GETS HIS JUST RECOMPENSE IN THIS LIFE. SOME OF THE HEBREW THINKERS, HOWEVER, NOTABLY JOB AND THE SECOND ISAIAH, RECOGNIZED THAT THE IDEA OF JUST RECOMPENSE IN THIS LIFE IS UNTENABLE; IT SIMPLY DOES NOT CORRESPOND WITH WHAT WE ACTUALLY SEE ABOUT US IN THE WORLD. YET,THEY STILL BELIEVED IN A JUST GOD.-----THAT IN THE END JUSTICE WOULD PREVAIL AND THIS VIEW CAME TO BE FORMULATED IN ESCHATOLOGICAL TERMS, AS REPRESENTED IN THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS..
EARLIER IN THE GOSPELS WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE IDEA OF A COMING JUDGMENT BY JOHN THE BAPTIST IN HIS PROPHETIC, HE CALLS THE MULTITUDE FLOCKING TO HIM A BROOD OF VIPERS AND WARNS THEM OF THE WRATH TO COME,
EVEN NOW THE AX IS LAID TO THE ROOT OF THE TREES; EVERY TREE THEREFORE THAT DOES NOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND THROWN IN THE FIRE....
 HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE. HIS WINNOWING FORK IN HIS HAND, AND HE WILL CLEAR HIS THRESHING FLOOR AND GATHER HIS WHEAT INTO THE GRANARY, BUT THE CHAFF HE WILL BURN WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE [MATTHEW 3:10-12]. THE TRADITION OF USING FIRE AS A SYMBOL OF JUDGMENT IS CARRIED ON BY JESUS WHEN HE SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO ARE "THROWN INTO HELL WHERE THEIR WORM DOES NOT "DIE" AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED."  (MARK 9:48).
THE GREEK WORD FOR "HELL" IN THIS PASSAGE IS "GEHENNA", A WORD DERIVED FROM THE "HINNOM" AND REFERRING TO THE VALLEY OF HINNOM, SOUTH OF JERUSALEM, WHERE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY DUMPED THEIR TRASH AND GARBAGE. FLIES BRED HERE CONTINUOUSLY AND THE SMOKING FLAMES NEVER DIED OUT. IN ONE OF HIS PARABLES JESUS PICTURES A RICH MAN WHO LIVED LUXURIOUSLY, WHILE A BEGGAR LIE AT HIS GATE HUNGRY AND DISEASED. WHEN THE BEGGAR DIED, HE WAS CARRIED BY ANGELS TO THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM, BUT WHEN THE RICH MAN DIED, HE FOUND HIMSELF ENGULFED IN THE FLAMES OF HELL
(LUKE 16: 19-31).
 THIS APOCALYTIC VIEW OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, HOWEVER, IS NOT THE ONE THAT IS MOST COMMON IN THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. " THE KINGDOM OF GOD" MEANT FOR JESUS THE REIGN OF GOD. AS WE  HAVE SEEN, JESUS HAD IN MIND THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUAL PERSONS, NOT THE RISE AND FALL OF NATIONS.. WHENEVER A PERSON BRINGS HIS WILL INTO SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD, THEREFORE, HE ENTERS INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (MATTHEW 5:3, 8, 10).  SEVERAL OF THE BEATITUDES EMPLOYS THISS THEME...." BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, THEIR IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BLESSED ARE THE PURE OF HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD. BLESSED ARE THEY WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR THE RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE, HAVE ALREADYENTERED THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THE KINGDOM OF GOD, JESUS SAYS IS LIKE A SEED CAST UPON THE EARTH. WHILE MEN GO ABOUT THEIR AFFAIRS, THE SEED, OF ITS OWN STRENGTH, SPRINGS UP, GROWS
 AND COMES TO MATURITY. THIS MEANS THAT THE KIGDOM OF GOD IS TRUTH, WHICH PLANTED IN SOMEONE'S MIND, EVENTUALLY TRANSFORMED HIS LIFE AND SO CARRIES HIM INTO GOD'S KINGDOM (MARK 4:26-29). WHILE JESUS AT TIMES MARSHALED THE LURID APOCALYPIC IMAGERY IN ORDER TO DRIVE HOME HIS MESSAGE, HE REGARDED ITS ELABORATE SYMBOLISM AS A KIND OF POETRY, WHICH PRESENTS AS  VISIBLE HISTORICAL PHENOMENON SOMETHING THAT IN ITSELF INVISIBLE. THE KINGDOM OF GOD NEVER TAKES MATERIAL FORMS EXCEPT AS IT IS INCARNATE IN HE LIVES OF HUMAN BEINGS.

'IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER JOHN. 17 1-11]

   ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXTION. JESUS PRAYS TO THE FATHER. " THESE WORD'S SPAKE JESUS, AND LIFTED UP HIS EYES TO HEAVEN, AND SAID FATHER , " THE HOUR IS COME; 'GLORIFY (HONOR) YOUR SON. IN THESE DAYS WE GATHER WITH THE DISCIPLES IN THE UPPER ROOM, WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT TO TRANSFORM THE CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD. IN THE TEXT FOR TODAY (GOSPEL). JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS FOLLOWERS AND FOR THEIR MISSION IN HIS NAME. VERSES 1-5 IS CALLED A HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER, IN WHICH JESUS IS PRAYING FOR HIMSELF TO THE FATHER, AND BY HIS PERFECT OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH, SECURING ETERNAL LIFE FOR ALL PEOPLE,.  AFTER JESUS SPOKE THESE WORDS, HE LOOKED UP TO HEAVEN AND SAID, FATHER THE HOUR HAS COME, GLORIFY (HONOR) YOUR SON SO THAT HE SON MAY GLORIFY (HONOR) YOU, SINCE YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY OVER ALL PEOPLE, TO GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM.
 THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM JOHN RELATES IT IN HIS GOSPEL
AT THIS POINT CHRIST COMFORTS THE DISCIPLES, JESUS NOW REFER TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS DEPARTURE,AND TO THEIR DESTINY. IN WORDS OF TENDER COMPASSION. HE BIDS THEM' BE UNAFRAID. YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME.' JESUS BID THEM TO PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD AND ALSO IN HIM.
IN HIS FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS (ABIDING PLACES). ROOMS, HE GOES TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US, AND WHEN WE ARE READY ( , THIS IS INTERPRETED AS AT DEATH, AT THE RESURRECTION OR ESCHATOLOGICAL, (ENDTIMES). THOMAS PROTESTS THEY KNOW NOT THE WAY. JESUS REPLIES, HE HIMSELF, IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
PHILIP ASKS FOR A THEOPHANY, A VISIBLE MANIFESTATION OF THE UNSEEN GOD,
THINKING A PHYISCAL APPEARANCE OF DEITY WOULD YIELD INDISPUTABLE PROOF OF HIS EXISTENCE. ( OBSERVE HOW THIS REFERENCE TO THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF THE DISCIPLES BEARS OUT THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE RECORD. BUT TO SEE JESUS IS TO SEE THE FATHER. JESUS CLAIMS UNION WITH THE FATHER, A UNION WHICH HIS WORKS ARE NOT HIS OWN, BUT HIS FATHERS. HIS WORKS SHOULD HAVE CONFIRM HIS CLAIMS (TRUTH)  BELIEF, THAT WOULD ENABLE THEM TO DO EVEN GREATER OR MORE EXTENSIVE WORKS THEN HIS OWN.  THE FATHER IS GLORIFIED IN THE WORKS OF THE SON. EFFECTED THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF THE DISCIPLES.
THE TEXT IS THE CLIMAX OF THAT SECTION OF JOHN'S GOSPEL KNOWN AS THE ' "FAREWELL DISCOURSE." OF JESUS THE WORDS ARE THOSE OF JESUS WHICH THE CHURCH HAS COME TO KNOW AS THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER. THE SETTING IN WHICH JOHN HAS PLACED THE PRAYER IS THAT OF THE LAST HOURS OF JESUS LIFE. THE WORDS- THE WORDS OF A MAN WHO KNEW THAT HIS HOUR HAD COME ARE- THE LAST WORDS OF A MAN ABOUT TO DIE.. AND BECAUSE LAST WORDS ARE PRECIOUS TO US, IT IS HELPFUL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THESE LAST WORDS.
 TO BRIEFLY SKETCH THE  SITUATION WHICH PRECEDED THEM.
IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. EARLIER IN THE WEEK THERE HAD BEEN A QUIET VISIT WITH FRIENDS AT BETHANY-A QUIET HOUR OR TWO FOLLOWED BY THE STIR AND NOISE THAT ACCOMPANIED HIS ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM. BUT THE TIME WAS GROWING SHORT.
                 JUDAS WAS ALREADY ABOUT HIS WORK. THERE WAS MUCH TO BE SAID., MUCH TO BE DONE. AS IF TO CAPITALIZE ON THE SHORTNESS OF THE TIME. AND PROVIDE A STATEMENT OF HIS ENTIRE MINISTRY. JESUS GATHERED HIS CLOSET FRIENDS TO SHARE HIS LAST MEAL. AS HE DID SO, HE GAVE THEM THE DRAMATIC INSTRUCTION THAT WAS TO SERVE AS THEIR GUIDE AFTER HE WAS GONE.  TAKING A TOWEL AND BASIN, HE WASHED THEIR FEET AND SAID, I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU ALSO DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU. " IT WAS A MENIAL TASK OF A SERVANT, BUT IT REINFORCED THE NATURE OF HIS MINISTRY. AND THE SCOPE OF THEIR DISCIPLESHIP LEST THEY FORGET THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH HE HAD COME. THE CAUSE TO WHICH THEY WAS CALLED.
AND SO HE PRAYED..." SANCTIFY THEM IN TRUTH; THY WORD IS TRUTH."
 THE TRUTH....A BIT LATER PILATE WOULD ASK HIM ABOUT THAT. HE WAS NOT THE FIRST, NOR WOULD HE BE THE LAST. FOR MANKIND-WAS SO WONDERFULLY MADE, FASHIONED IN THE VERY LIKENESS OF GOD, CREATED ABOVE ALL OTHER CREATURES WITH THE CAPACITY TO THINK AND REASON-HAS ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY THE ILLUSIVE CONCEPT. AND IN THEIR FASCINATION MEN HAVE APPROACHED THE MATTER OF TRUTH IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS: THAT OF AN ARROGANT DOGMATICISM. ON THE ONE HAND AND A HOPELESS CYNICISM ON THE OTHER.
THE FIRST GOES LIKE THIS: IF YOU WOULD KNOW AND POSSESS THE TRUTH IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE OR MY,RELIGIOUS THOUGHT. SIMPLY THINK AS I THINK, UNDERSTAND AS I UNDERSTAND, BE GOVERNED AS I AM GOVERNED, LIVE AS I, BELIEVE AND THE T!RUTH WILL BE YOURS.!  ITS A WAY OF SAYING THAT ONLY THE EXPERIENCES AND INSTIUTIONS OF MY LIFE HAVE VALIDITY. IF THE WORLD  AND THE PEOPLE WOULD MARCH INSTEP WITH ME, THEN, AT LAST, PEACE AND TRANQULITY WOULD ENVELOP THE EARTH. FOR TRUTH IS BOUNDED BY THE LIMITS OF MY EXPERIENCE AND CULTURE.   AND TRADITION,
NEGATIVELY, ITS LIKE THE GRANDMOTHER WHO, AFTER WATCHING THE LANDING OF THE ASTRONAUTS ON THE MOON, DECLARED, " THERE'S NO TRUTH IN IT" IT'S ONLY A TRICK THE TELEVISION PEOPLE ARE PLAYING ON US." FOR ONE WHO HAD TRAVELED TO THIS COUNTRY BY STEAMER SEVENTY YEARS BEFORE, WHO HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO HER BABIES UNATTENDED IN A SOD HOUSE, WHO HAD WATCHED HER HUSBAND FIRST TILL THE LAND OF THEIR HOMSTEAD WITH OX AND PLOW, THERE COULD BE NO TRUTH IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MEN WERE ON THE MOON. WE DO MUCH THE SAME THING WHENEVER WE THREATEN AND COERCE PEOPLE OF DIFFERING RACES AND CULTURES AND TRADITIONS TO LOCK STEP  WITH THE EXPERIENCES AND TRADITIONS OF OUR LIVES IN ORDER TO KNOW AND POSSES THE TRUTH. IT'S THE SIN OF MAN'S FIRST PARENTS REPEATED AGAIN THE SIN OF CLAIMING FOR OURSELVES THE ROLE AND PLACE OF GOD.                                        

END TIMES [ MARK 13: 1-8]

 IN THE LAST WEEK OF HIS LIFE, JESUS WARNED HIS DISCIPLES CONCERNING TRIALS THAT WERE TO COME UPON THEM AND UPON THE WORLD. HE EXHORTS THE LISTENER. DO NOT BE ALARMED.
AS JESUS WAS LEAVING THE TEMPLE ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES SAID TO HIM," LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THOSE STONES, MASTER! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THOSE BUILDINGS!"   AND JESUS SAID TO HIM, "YOU SEE THESE GREAT BUILDINGS? NOT A SINGLE STONE WILL BE LEFT ON ANOTHER; EVERYTHING WILL BE DESTROYED."  AND WHILE JESUS WAS SITTING FACING THE TEMPLE, ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, PETER , JAMES AND JOHN AND ANDREW QUESTIONED HIM PRIVATELY, " TELL US WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPPEN, WHAT SIGN WILL THERE BE, THAT ALL THIS IS ABOUT TO BE FULFILLED. THE DISCIPLES WERE FILLED WITH "ANXIETY" ABOUT WHEN ALL THIS WAS TO HAPPEN.
ANXIETY. THE ROOT OF THIS WORD MEANS " TO CAUSE PAIN BY SQUEEZING, TO "CONSTRICT."  WHEN WE ARE ANXIOUS ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF CHANGE AND TRANSITION, WE TIGHTEN UP PHYSICALLY IN OUR SHOULDERS AND CHEST. WE CAN'T BREATH AS EASILY. ANXIETY CHOKES OFF OUR CAPACITY TO IMAGINE THE FUTURE., AND INSTEAD WE MAY TRY TO SEEK EASY ANSWERS FOR EVENTS WE CANNOT CONTROL
 IN ANXIOUS TIMES, THIS NARRATIVE IN MARK CAN BE TWISTED INTO PROOF TEXT FOR CURRENT EVENTS, EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BEGIN IN A.D.70 WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND EVENTUALLY JERUSALEM, IN WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS THE GREAT TRIBULATION.  SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS TRY TO READ INTO NEWPAPERS HEADLINES A DOOMSDAY PICTURE  OF THE FUTURE, MAKING PREDICTIONS IN ORDER TO SWAY FRIGHTENED PEOPLE. ANXIOUS TIMES BREED A SEARCH FOR EASY ANSWERS.
PETER, JAMES, JOHN, ANDREW ARE ANXIOUS DISCIPLES. THEY HAVE JUST HEARD JESUS ANNOUNCE THAT THE TEMPLE, THE CENTER OF RELIGIOUS LIFE, WILL BE DESTROYED. WHAT'S MORE, THEIR TEACHER HAS TALKED ABOUT HIS OWN DEATH
 SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM. SO THE DISCIPLES, FEELING THEIR BODIES CONSTRICT, ASKS, " WHEN WILL THIS BE?"  WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF THE END?
 JESUS HOWEVER ANSWERS THEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY. HE NON ANXIOUSLY TELLS THEM OF THE END TIMES, BUT THEN HE OFFERS A TWIST OF HIS OWN." DON'T BE ALARMED... THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BIRTH PANGS" IN SPEAKING ABOUT, JESUS DOES NOT BECOME ANXIOUS; HE DOES NOT PROCLAIM A MESSAGE OF UTTER DESTRUCTION. RATHER HE SPEAKS ABOUT BIRTH. THE END IS REALLY ABOUT SOMETHING NEW  BREAKING FORTH. THE NEW CREATION, THE REIGN OF GOD IN ITS FULLNESS.
 VERSE 3 OF CHAPTER 13 TELLS OF THE FIRST SIGNS PRECEDING THE END, AS JESUS SET ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES OVER AGAINST THE TEMPLE, PETER, JAMES AND JOHN AND ANDREW ASKED HIM PRIVATELY, WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE?  AND WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGN WHEN ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FULFILLED. AND JESUS ANSWERING THEM BEGAN TO SAY, TAKE HEED LEST ANY MAN DECEIVE YOU,
  OR"THAT NASTY OLD 'SATAN" BEING ON THE PROWL.
FOR MANY SHALL COME IN MY NAME, SAYING: "I AM CHRIST;" AND SHALL DECEIVE MANY, AND YE SHALL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS, BE YE NOT TROUBLED; FOR SUCH THINGS MUST NEEDS; BUT THE END SHALL NOT BE YET! FOR NATION SHALL RISE AGAINST NATION AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM; AND THERE SHALL BE EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS (VARIOUS PLACES), AND THEIR SHALL BE FAMINES AND TROUBLES. THESE  ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS.
MARKS DESCRIPTION IS GRAPHIC, VIVID; JESUS WITH HIS DISCIPLES GOES OVER TO THE MOUNTAIN AND THEN SITS DOWN OPPPOSITE THE TEMPLE, WITH THE GREAT BUILDINGS IN FULL VIEW; AN IMPRESSIVE SETTING FOR AN EARNEST DISCUSSION.
 BEFORE THE EYE OF THE OMNISCIENT SON OF GOD, WHEN HE SPEAKS IN A PROPHETIC VEIN, THE FACTOR OF TIME DOES NOT EXIST; UNLESS HE HIMSELF MAKES THE DISTINCION, ALL THE HAPPENINGS ARE IN HIS MINES EYE AT THIS INSTANT; HE SEES THEM ALL TOGETHER, WHETHER THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM OR WITH THE END OF THE WORLD; THEN ALSO, THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD UPON JERUSALEM WAS THE TYPE AND THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST GREAT JUDMENT, THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD STEEPED IN SINS WAS BEGUN IN JUDEA, AND ITS END, WITH THE EXTENTION OF GOD'S AVENGING FURY OVER THE WHOLE WORLD, MAY BE EXPECTED AT ANY MOMENT, WE KNOW NOT WHEN, THESE THINGS WILL COME;
 IT IS INEVITABLE, SO LONG AS HUMAN NATURE REMAINS SINFUL, THAT THEY DO COME, AND THEY COME ALSO AS JUST POUNISHMENT OF GOD.
DESPITE ALL THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY USED TO PREDICT A BABY'S ARRIVAL, THE BABY COMES  WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, TO BE READY FOR THE BIRTH OF GOD'S PRESENCE.
AT THE END OF REVELATION, JESUS WARNS THAT THIS IS ALL TRUE OF THE END TIMES, AND STATES SO WITH A WARNING: I JESUS, HAVE SENT MY ANGEL TO MAKE THESE REVELATIONS TO YOU FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHURCHES, I  AM OF DAVID'S LINE, THE ROOT OF DAVID AND THE BRIGHT STAR OF THE MORNING. THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY 'COME" THEN LET ALL WHO ARE THIRSTY COME. ALL WHO WANT IT MAY HAVE THE WATER OF LIFE, AND HAVE IT FREE, JESUS ADDING; THIS IS MY SOLEMN WARNING TO ALL WHO HEAR THE PROPHECIES IN THIS BOOK: IF ANYONE ADDS ANY THING TO THEM, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM EVERY PLAGUE MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK; AND GOOD WILL CUT OFF THEIR SHARE OF THE TREE OF LIFE AND OF THE HOLY CITY, WHICH ARE DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK (BIBLE).
 

JOB'S QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD.

THE BOOK OF JOB BEGINS WITH A SIMPLE STORY. HE DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING OR "JUSTIFY THE WAYS OF GOD"  WITH HUMAN BEINGS, BUT DOES PROBE THE DEPTHS OF FAITH IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING. AN ANCIENT FOLK-TALE ABOUT A SAINTLY JOB (EZEK 14, 14,2O) HAS BEEN USED AS A SETTING BETWEEN JOB AND THREE FRIENDS  (3:- 31-40).  THE FOLK TALE INTRODUCES A PROFOUND QUESTION ON THE LIPS OF SATAN ( A HEBREW WORD MEANING "ADVERSARY" OR "ACCUSER" NOT THE DEVIL OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THOUGHT). THE DATE OF THE WORK IS UNCERTAIN, (PERHAPS AROUND THE TIME OF THE EXILE, IN THE SIXTH CENTURY B.C.).   THE QUESTION;  DOES JOB FEAR GOD FOR NOTHING?
"( 1.9)"  THAT IS, DOES JOB SERVE GOD BECAUSE IT IS PROFITABLE, BECAUSE GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO HIM?  IN THE PROLOGUE, JOB IS TOTALLY RESIGNED TO GOD (1:21; 2.10). THEN THE AUTHOR STAGES THE GREAT DISPUTE. JOB CURSES THE DAY HE WAS BORN. (ch 3). AND THE DEBATE IS ON (chs 4-31) WHERE JOB AND HIS FRIENDS ALTERNATE IN SPEECHES. AT THE SAME TIME GOD CARES FOR JOB WHO WAS A SHEIK WHO LIVED IN THE LAND OF EDOM, AT THE NORTHERN EDGE OF ARABIA AND SOUTH OF THE DEAD SEA. JOB WAS A PIOUS MAN WHO WAS BLESSED WITH RICHES AND A LARGE FAMILY. HE  HAD ALL WHAT A MAN COULD DESIRE. ONE DAY AN ANGEL CALLED "SATAN" ( A HEBREW WORD WHICH MEANS (" ADVERSARY") AROSE TO SPEAK BEFORE GOD IN THE HEAVENLY COURT. THIS ANGEL CLAIMED THAT JOB WAS PIOUS BECAUSE GOD WAS SO GOOD TO HIM. HE MADE A WAGER WITH GOD.: DOES  JOB FEAR GOD FOR NOUGHT? HAST THOU PUT A HEDGE ABOUT HIM AND HIS HOUSE AND ALL THAT HE HAS, ON EVERY SIDE? THOU HAS BLESSED THE WORK,  OF HIS HANDS. SATAN WAS SURE HE COULD PROVE THAT JOB WAS PIOUS ONLY BECAUSE GOD WAS GOOD TO HIM. SO HE BROUGHT ONE TROUBLE AFTER ANOTHER UPON JOB. ALL OF JOB'S CHILDREN WERE KILLED. HE LOST HIS WEALTH, HIS WIFE TURNED AGAINST HIM. HIS HEALTH FAILED. JOB SITS FORLORN NEAR THE SCENES OF HIS EALIER HAPPIER ABOUT JOB. LIFE. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE WELL -KNOWN STORY, NOW THE AUTHOR TELLS IN MAGNIFICENT POETRY ABOUT HIS THREE FRIENDS, ELIPHAZ, BILDAD, AND ZOPHAR, SIT WITH HIM, THEY HAVE COME TO COMFORT HIM.  HE WAS CERTAIN THAT HE DIDN'T DESERVE SUCH MISFORTUNE.
 HIS FRIENDS WERE SURE THAT JOB MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING. THEY PLEADED WITH JOB TO BOW DOWN BEFORE GOD AND REPENT. JOB REFUSED. HE WAS A HONEST MAN, HONEST WITH GOD, AND HONEST WITH HIMSELF. HE KNEW HE  HADN'T SINNED ANYMORE THAN THE FRIENDS THAT SAT AROUND HIM. HE WAS  CERTAIN THAT HE DESERVED NONE OF THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM. JOB EVEN DARED TO RAISE A TERRIBLE COMPLAINT AGAINST GOD. HE ACCUSED GOD OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS MISERY.
THIS WAS A BOLD AND DARING THING TO DO. IN THE POEMS OF JOB SOME OF THE AUTHOR EXPLORED SOME OF THE MOST TROUBLING RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS HE COULD THINK OF: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN GOD?"  ESPECIALLY, " WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN GOD WHEN LIFE IS FULL OF SORROWS AND TROUBLES WHICH WE DO NOT DESERVE?" SPEAKING THROUGH JOB THE AUTHOR: SAID " I WILL NOT RESTRAIN MY MOUTH;
I WILL SPEAK IN THE ANGUISH OF MY SPIRIT;
I WILL COMPLAIN IN THE BITTERNES OF MY SOUL" THE QUESTIONS JOB RAISED ARE LIKE QUESTIONS THAT PERPLEX US TODAY.
 WHY MUST INNOCENT PEOPLE SUFFER? DURING WORLD WAR II, FOR EXAMPLE THOUSANDS OF CHILDEN IN GREECE WERE STARVING. SOME PEOPLE WANTED AMERICAN AND BRITISH TO SEEND FOOD TO THEM. THIS WAS FORBIDDEN. THE ALLIED LEADERS SAID IT WOULD HELP THE NAZIS WHO OCCUPIED GREECE AT THAT TIME. AS A RESULT, MANY CHILDREN DIED OF HUNGER. PEOPLE ASKED " DID THEY DESERVE TO SUFFER AND TO DIE?  JOB VERSUS HIS FRIENDS
THE BOOK OF JOB CONTAINS FORTY- TWO CHAPTERS OF WHICH I WILL JUST TOUCH ON. A LARGE PART OF THEM CONSISTS OF THREE SETS OF POEM SPEECHES BETEEN JOB AND HIS FRIENDS. EACH TIME JOB MADE A BITTER COMPLAINT, ONE OF HIS FRIENDS ANSWERED HIM. EACH SPOKE THREE TIMES. JOB BEGAN BY CURSING THE DAY HE WAS BORN. FROM HIS MOUTH CAME THE QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS, THE WONDERINGS AND MUSINGS OF MANY PEOPLE.  TRY AS HE DID, JOB COULD NOT UNDERSTAND, WHY THE GOOD MUST SUFFER ALONG WITH THE WICKED. JOB COULD FIND NO MEANING OR REASON FOR THIS. GOD SEEMED FAR AWAY
WHY WHEN HE CREATED HUMANS IN THE GARDEN IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING ; HE HAD ENOUGH LEFT-OVER FOR "SATAN?". JOB'S TERRIFYING ENCOUNTER WITH GOD.
FINALLY GOD HIMSELF APPEARED TO JOB. BUT HE DID NOT ANSWER JOB'S QUESTIONS.   INSTEAD, BY ASKING JOB' A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, HE FORCED JOB TO REALIZE THAT GOD THE CREATOR AND PROVIDER OF ALL LIFE IS NOT LIKE HIS CREATURES. HE DOES NOT NEED TO ANSWER MAN'S QUESTIONS. THE FIRST OF GOD'S TWO SPEECHES BEGINS IN CHAPTER 38:
THEN THE LORD ANSWERED JOB OUT OF THE WHIRL-WIND:
" WHO IS THIS THAT DARKENS COUNSEL BY WORDS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE?
GIRD UP YOUR LOINS LIKE A MAN,
    I WILL QUESTIONED YOU, AND YOU SHALL DCLARE TO ME.
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH?
 TELL ME, IF YOU HAVE UNDERSTANDING.
 WHO DETERMINED ITS MEASUREMENTS- SURELY YOU KNOW!"
ALL THE DEEP WISDOM OF GOD PASSED BEFORE JOB. IN THE END, JOB COULD ONLY BOW LOW AND HOLD HIS HAND BEFORE HIS MOUTH IN AWE AND HUMILITY. YOU CAN CONTINUE WITH HIS FULL CONFESSION IN CHAPTER 42: I HAVE UTTERED WHAT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND, THINGS TO WONDERFUL FOR ME, WHICH I DID NOT KNOW...."
THE BOOK OF JOB DOES NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IT RAISES OR THE DOUBTS THAT STIRRED IN JOBS MIND. ALTHOUGH IT EXPLORES THESE MATTERS WITH RARE HONESTY, IT DOES NOT ANSWER THEM DIRECTLY. BUT IT DOES SAY THAT THE ONLY REAL ANSWER TO DOUBT LIES IN HUMBLE FAITH IN THE GOD WHO IS GREAT BEYOND ALL HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. THE CLIMAX OF THE BOOK IS REACHED WHEN JOB ACTUALLY MEETS THE LIVING GOD.
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, JOB'S QUESTIONS ARE RAISED AGAIN AND GET A FULLER ANSWER IN JESUS, WHO SUFFERED UPON THE CROSS. FOR THE SIN AND EVIL OF ALL MEN.
THE BOOK OF JOB IS FULL OF MAGNIFICENT POETRY. TO SAMPLE SOME OF THIS POETRY, IN THE DISCOURSES OF JOB AND HIS FRIENDS, READ THE EXCHANGE BETWEEN JOB AND ZOPHAR IN JOB 11-14 OR GOD'S FIRST ANSWER TO JOB IN CHAPTERS 38-39. CHAPTER 3 CONTAINS JOB'S FAMOUS CURSE UPON THE DAY HE WAS BORN. THE PROSE STORY OF JOB CAN BE FOUND IN JOB 1-2; 42:7-17.

LOVE THE GRESTEST GIFT [ 1 CORINTHIANS 13: 1-13].

PAUL IS DISCUSSING, FROM CHAPTER 12:1-11; THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS; THE GREAT GIFT OF THE SPIRIT IS NOT  TONGUES OR EVEN PROPHECY, BUT LOVE FOR OTHERS, WHICH IS KNOWN WITHIN THE CHURCH INSPIRED ULTIMATELY BY THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST FOR US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.( ROMANS 5:5)


 IF I SPEAK IN TONGUES OF MORTALS AND ANGELS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM A NOISY GONG OR A CLANGING CYMBAL. AND IF I HAVE PROPHETIC POWERS, AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAVE ALL FAITH, SO TO REMOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING. IF I GIVE AWAY ALL MY POSSESSIONS, SO IF I HAND OVER MY BODY SO THAT I MAY BOAST, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I GAIN NOTHING.
LOVE IS PATIENT: ; LOVE IS KIND; LOVE IS NOT ENVIOUS OR BOASTFUL OR ARROGANT OR RUDE. IT DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY; IT IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL; IT DOES NOT REJOICE IN WRONG DOING, BUT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH. IT BEARS ALL THINGS,  BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS.
LOVE NEVER ENDS. BUT AS FOR PROPHECIES, THEY WILL COME TO AN END; AS FOR TONGUES, THEY WILL CEASE; AS FOR KNOWLEDGE, IT WILL COME TO AN END. FOR WE KNOW ONLY IN PART, AND WE PROPHESY ONLY IN PART;  BUT WHEN THE COMPLETE COMES, THE PARTIAL WILL COME TO AN END.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPOKE LIKE A CHILD, I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD, I REASONED LIKE A CHILD; WHEN I BECAME AN ADULT, I PUT AN END TO CHILDISH WAYS. FOR NOW WE SEE IN A MIRROR, DIMLY, BUT THEN WE WILL SEE FACE TO FACE. NOW I KNOW ONLY IN PART; THEN I WILL KNOW FULLY, EVEN AS I HAVE BEEN FULLY KNOWN. AND NOW FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE ABIDE,  THESE THREE; AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.

FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS [15:1-11]

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE OF PAUL'S LETTERS, NOT ONLY FOR THE LIGHT  IT THROWS UPON THE CHARCTER THE AND MIND OF THE APOSTLE. (2.16; ch4.)
 THE PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL (1: 18-31, " CHRIST CRUCUFIED"; 15:1-11, THE "GOOD NEWS." OF CHRIST DEATH AND RESURRECTION). IT ALSO BRINGS  THROUGH VIVID PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL LIFE AND PROBLEMS OF A LOCAL CHURCH. AT THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST CENTURY. GOD'S SPIRIT IMPARTS A DEEPER WISDOM THEN ANY HUMAN SPECULATION CAN ACHIEVE, A WISDOM WHICH ONLY THE MATURE( (THOSE WHO HAVE  BEEN TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT) CAN UNDERSTAND. 7 WISDOM, SECRET AND HIDDEN, GOD'S PLAN FOR SALVATION, REDEMPTION IN CHRIST, NOW PRESENT THROUGH THE SPIIRIT AND SOON TO BE FULLY MANIFESTED. POLITICAL OR DEMONIC POWERS (EPH 1 20-21) OR BOTH. NOT RECOGNIZING CHRIST FOR WHAT HE WAS, THEY CRUCIFIED HIM; BUT HIS CROSS WAS THE MEANS OF HIS VICTORY OVER THEM.
 " O THAT YOU WOULD TEAR OPEN THE HEAVENS AND COME DOWN, SO THAT THE MOUNTAINS WOULD QUAKE AT YOUR PRESENSE- AS WHEN FIRE KINDLES BRUSHWOOD AND THE FIRE CAUSES  WATER TO BOIL.- TO MAKE YOUR ADVERSARIES, SO THAT THE NATIONS MIGHT TREMBLE AT YOUR PRESENCE!
FROM AGES PAST NO ONE HAS HEARD, NO EAR HAS PERCEIVED. NO EYE HAS SEEN ANY GOD BESIDES YOU, WHO WORKS FOR THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM.(  ISAIAH 64: 2b-4)
 THERE WERE, IT SEEMED FALSE APOSTLES OR VERY IGNORANT MEMBERS AT CORINTH, MEN WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. IN HIS LETTER TO THE CORITHIANS ST. PAUL INCLUDES DETAILED DEFENSE AND EXPOSITION OF THE DOCTRINE OF HIS LETTER.  THE SECTION IS THE CROWNING
GLORY OF THE EPISTLE, A DEMONSTRATION OF THE TRUTH OF A FUTURE RESURRECTION. BECAUSE OF THEIR CULTURE, THE CORINTHIANS DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION. INSTEAD, THEY THOUGHT ONLY THE SOUL WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD, LEAVING BEHIND THE BODY. PAUL IS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE COINTHIANS, THAT BECAUSE JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, WE HAVE HOPE, SALVATION, VICTORY AND PURPOSE. WE CAN BE CONFIDENT IN FAITH AND DILIGENT IN WORK FOR HIM. IN A BURST OF LOFTY AND SUSTAINED ELOQUENCE THE PATIENT TEACHER AGAIN GIVES THE CORINTHIANS INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE FIRST THINGS, THE DOCTRINE WITHOUT WHICH CHRISTIANITY WOULD BE A RIDDLE. BUT I MAKE KNOWN TO YOU, I DECLARE TO, BRETHREN, THE GOSPEL WHICH I PROCLAIMED TO YOU. THE WORDS CONVEY A CENSURE, OF BLAME, THAT PAUL SHOULD SO SOON HAVE TO REPEAT.. THE SAME INFORMATION AGAIN WHICH BELONGED TO THE FUNDEMENTAL TENETS OF THEIR FAITH. PAUL POINTS TO A FIXED FUN OF CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, POINTING TO THE GOSPEL. THE GOOD NEWS OF THE REDEMPTION OF MANKIND AS IT WAS BEING CARRIED OUT. INTO THE WORLD BY ALL THE APOSTLES OF THIS GOSPEL.HE SAYS:  WHICH YOU ALSO RECEIVED, IN WHICH ALSO YOU STAND FAST, THROUGH WHICH ALSO YOU ARE BEING SAVED.
THESE ARE THE STEPS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: FAITH IS KINDLED IN THE HEART, THE GOSPEL NEWS IS ACCEPTED; FAITH, CONTINUES IN THE HEART, THE BELIEVER PLACES ALL HIS HOPE FOR SALVATION IN THE GOSPEL DAY BY DAY. THE GOSPEL PAUL TELLS THEM IS THE MEANS OF OUR SALVATION; IT IS THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE, AND THE END OF OUR SALVATION. IT IS THE BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END OF OUR REDEMPTION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE, SINCE IT APPROPRIATES TO US THE RICHES OF THE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. THE CORINTHIANS AND WE NEEDED A WARNING, " STAY FAST TO THE GOSPEL." PAUL FIRST PREACHED TO THEM, THAT THE JEWS WERE TRYING TO FILL THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, WITH THE LIES OF THE LAW, TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK, THROUGH LIES OF THE LAW AND MORE LIES, IS WHAT PAUL WAS UP AGAINST.
 WHO WAS TRUELY BEHIND THESE LIES?
THIS LEGEND SHOULD HELP EXPLAIN: AN INDIAN WAS WALKING UP A MOUNTAIN  DONE FOR MANWHEN HE HEARD A VOICE: "CARRY ME WITH YOU." ," IT REQUESTED. THE INDIAN TURNED AND SAW A SNAKE. HE REFUSED. " IF I CARRY YOU UP THE MOUNTAIN YOU WILL BITE ME." " I WOUND'T DO THAT," THE SNAKE ASSURED. "ALL I NEED IS SOME HELP. I AM SLOW AND YOU ARE FAST. PLEASE BE KIND AND CARRY ME TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
IT WAS AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT, BUT THE INDIAN AGREED. HE PICKED UP THE SNAKE, PUT HIM IN HIS SHIRT, AND RESUMED THE JOURNEY. WHEN THEY REACHED THE TOP, HE REACHED INTO HIS SHIRT TO REMOVE THE SNAKE AND GOT BIT. HE FELL TO THE GROUND. "YOU LIED!" THE INDIAN CRIED, " YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T BITME." THE SNAKE STOPPED AND LOOK BACK, " I DIDN'T LIE. YOU KNEW WHO I WAS WHEN YOU PICKED ME." WE HEAR THE LEGEND AND SHAKE OUR HEADS. HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, WE MOAN. AND WE ARE RIGHT. HE SHOULD HAVE.  AND SO SHOULD WE. DON'T WE DO THE SAME? DON'T WE BELIEVE THE LIES OF THE SNAKE?  DON'T WE PICK UP WHAT WE SHOULD LEAVE ALONE.
THE CORINTHIANS CHRISTIANS DID. ONE SNAKE AFTER ANOTHER HAD HISSED HIS LIES IN THEIR EARS, AND THEY BELIEVED. HOW MANY LIES DID THEY BELIEVE?
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE?  THE LIST IS LONG AND UGLY: SECTARIANISM, DISUNITY, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, AND THAT IS ONLY THE FIRST SIX CHAPTERS.
BUT FIRST CORINTHIANS IS MORE THAN A LIST OF SINS, IT IS AN EPISTLE OF PATIENCE. PAUL IINITIATES THE LETTER BY CALLING THESE CHRISTIANS " BROTHERS."  HE COULD HAVE CALLED THEM HERETICS OR HYPOCRITES OR SKIRT-CHASERS( AND IN SO MANY WORDS HE DOES). BUT NOT BEFORE HE CALLS THEM BROTHERS. HE PATIENTLY TEACHES THEM ABOUT WORSHIP, UNITY, THE ROLE OF WOMEN, AND THE LORD'S SUPPER. HE WRITES AS IF HE CAN SEE THEM FACE TO FACE. HE IS DISTURBED BUT NOT DISPONDENT. ANGRY BUT NOT DESPERATE HIS DRIVING PASSION IS LOVE. AND HIS HOMELY ON LOVE IN CHAPTER 13, HAS GOT TO REMAIN THE GREATEST ESSAY EVER PENNED. THE LETTER, HOWEVER PERSONAL, IS JUST NOT FOR CORINTH. IT IS FOR ALL WHO HAVE THE WHISPER AND FELT.THE FANGS. WE LIKE THE INDIAN, SHOULD OF HAVE KNOWN BETTER. WE, LIKE THE CORINTHIANS, SOMETIMES NEED A SECOND CHANCE. LET US LOOK AT THE GARDEN. THERE IS A SUDDEN BREEZE, SURPRISINGLY WARM, THAT WHISTLES THROUGH THE LEAVES SCATTERING DUST FROM THE LIFELESS FORM. AND WITH THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR COMES THE DIFFERENCE. WINGING ON THE WARM WIND IS HIS IMAGE. GOD PLACES LAUGHTER IN HIS SCULPTED CHEEKS. A RESERVOIR OF TEARS IS STORED IN THE SOUL. A SPRINKLING OF TWINKLE FOR THE EYES. POETRY FOR THE SPIRIT, LOGIC, LOYALTY. LIKE LEAVES ON AN AUTUMN BREEZE, THEY FLOAT AND LAND AND ARE ABSORBED.
 ONCE AGAIN THE TREE. ONCE AGAIN THE STRUGGLE. THE SNAKE.  ONCE AGAIN HE SMILES.'IT IS GOOD.' " FOR JUST AS DEATH CAME BY MEANS OF A MAN, IN THE SAME WAY THE RISING FROM DEATH COMES BY MEANS OF A MAN. FOR JUST AS ALL PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNION WITH ADAM, IN THE SAME WAY ALL WILL BE RAISED TO LIFE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNION WITH CHRIST.
                                                             REMEMBER!
 THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT ARTICLES OF FAITH ARE THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES. THE VICARIOUS DEATH OF CHRIST, HIS BURIAL, AND HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION WERE THE FULFILLMENT OF OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY, AND TYPE, JUST AS CHRIST WAS WON'T TO POINT BACK TO THE WRITTEN SCRIPTURES AS TELLING OF HIS SUFFERING,DEATH, AND RESURRECTION., (LUKE 24:46-47).
 BY HIS DEATH CHRIST PAID THE DEBT OF SIN AND TRANSGRESSION IN FULL.
HIS BURIAL PLACED THE CERTAINITY OF HIS DEATH BEYOND DOUBT, AND HIS RESURRECTION ON THE THIRD DAY PROVED THE COMPLETENESS OF HIS REDEMPTIVE LABORS.
WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD?
 AND HOW DOES MAN BECOME RIGHTEOUS, OR JUST, BEFORE GOD?  ( MARTIN LUTHER SPEAKING): HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS "  OH, I KNOW.GOD SHOWS  RIGHTEOUS NESS  BY PUNISHING SINNERS EVERY TIME THEY DO  WRONG. AND THE ONLY WAY A MAN CAN BECOME RIGHTEOUS IS TO DO ALL THAT GOD WANTS HIM TO DO.
"BUT NO, THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT. PAUL SAYS MAN IS MADE RIGHTEOUS OR JUST BY FAITH, BY BELIEVING IN SOMETHING GOD HAS DONE FOR HIM. WELL, WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR MAN TO MAKE HIM RIGHTE0US OR HOLY?  LET ME SEE NOW. PAUL SAYS THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER THAT SAVES. NOW WHAT DOES THE GOSPEL TALK ABOUT?  OH, YES, IT TELLS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. JESUS KEPT THE LAW PERFECTLY, YET HE WAS PUNISHED ON THE CROSS. BUT WHY?  BECAUSE HE  HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG, NO BECAUSE I HAD.
" I SEE THE ANSWER! GOD PUNISHED JESUS IN MY PLACE, THE SAME JESUS WHO KEPT GOD'S HOLY LAW. BY PUNISHING HIS SON, GOD CARRIED OUT HIS THREAT
 THAT SIN WILL BE PUNISHED BY DEATH. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS ACCEPT THIS FACT AND I NEED NOT FEAR THAT GOD WILL PUNISH ME WITH ETERNAL DEATH. I AM HOLY IN GOD'S SIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS HOLY FOR ME AND HAS TAKEN MY PUNISHMENT" LUTHER HAD JUST HAD HIS GREAT "TOWER EXPERIENCE." HE HAD FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION THAT HAD TORTURED HIM FOR SO LONG:" HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT GOD HAS FORGIVEN MY SIN AND THAT HE LOVES ME?" NOW AT LAST HE COULD ESCAPE THE FEARS THAT HAD DRIVEN HIM INTO THE MONASTERY ALMOST 10 YEARS BEFORE.
BE CONFIDENT TODAY IN YOUR FAITH BECAUSE WHAT  JESUS HAS DONE. HE BROKE THE POWER OF DEATH. SO WE MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM.

.

"PARABLES OF LOST SHEEP,LOST COIN. [ST.LUKE 15: 1-10]

 THE AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT ARTHUR MILLER, ALMOST AS  FAMOUS FOR HIS PLAY " DEATH OF A SALESMAN," AS FOR HIS BRIEF MARRIAGE TO MARILYN MONROE., ONCE OBSERVED, " IN EVERY SUCCESSFUL DRAMA, THERE IS SOMETHING WHICH MAKES A PERSON SAY" HEY THAT'S ME!"  THE STORY BECOMES A MIRROR  WHICH SELF-RECOGNITION PRODUCES SELF-UNDERSTANDING.
MANY OF THE STORIES THE LORD JESUS TOLD HAVE PRECISELY THAT EFFECT. TO READ THEM PROPERLY IS TO SEE OURSELVES.  BUT THEY ARE MORE THEN MIRRORS. THEY  ALMOST ALWAYS BECOME WINDOWS INTO THE HEART AND MIND OF GOD HIMSELF. AS A RESULT, THEY DO FAR MORE THAN REVEAL WHO WE ARE. THEY HELP US TO KNOW WHO GOD IS. THEY NOT ONLY EXPOSE OUR CONDITION, BUT ALSO POINT TO A DIVINE REMEDY. SELF-RECOGNITION WITHOUT A DIVINE PROVISION WOULD ONLY BRING DISCOURAGEMENT. THE LORD'S PARABLES BRING ENCOURAGEMENT, BECAUSE IN THEM WE MEET OURSELVES AND OUR  GOD.
NOT ALL OF JESUS PARABLES WERE INTENDED TO BE MIRRORS FOR THOSE WHO HEARD THEM. SOMETIMES THE LORD USED PARABLES AS VEILS. THEY SERVED TO HIDE THE TRUTH FROM PEOPLE WHOSE RESPONSE TO HIM INDICATED THAT THEY WERE UNDER DIVINE JUDGMENT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF PARABLES IN MATTHEW 13, AS JESUS MAKES CLEAR IN VERSES 10-13; THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED:  HE SAID THEREFORE, WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? AND TO WHAT SHOULD I COMPARE IT TO? IT IS LIKE A MUSTARD SEED THAT SOMEONE TOOK AND SOWED IN THE GARDEN; IT GREW AND BECAME A TREE; AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR MADE NESTS IN ITS BRANCHES." AND AGAIN HE SAID,  " TO WHAT SHOULD I COMPARE THE KINGDOM OF GOD? IT IS LIKE YEAST THAT A WOMEN TOOK AND MIXED WITH THREE MEASURES OF FLOUR. ALL OF IT WAS LEAVEN ( 13: 18-210.
 THE BEGINNINGS OF GOD'S KINGDOM ARE SMALL, BUT IT HAS AN INHERIT NATURE THAT WILL GROW TO ITS INTENDED END, STARTLINGLY DIFFERENT IN SIZE FROM ITS BEGINNING. (MATT 13:31-33), HE TOLD THEM ANOTHER PARABLE. JESUS TOLD THE CROWD ALL THESE THINGS IN PARABLES; WITHOUT A PARABLE HE TOLD THEM NOTHING. THIS WAS TO FULFILL WHAT HAD BEEN SPOKEN THROUGH THE PROPHET:
 " I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH TO SPEAK  IN PARABLES; I WILL PROCLAIM WHAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD ( SEE OTHER ANCIENT AUTHORITIES, READ THE PROPHET ISAIAH).
REMEMEBER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A MUSTARD SEED THAT A PERSON  PLANTED IN A FIELD. IT IS THE SMALLEST OF ALL SEEDS, YET WHEN FULL GROWN IT IS THE LARGEST OF ALL PLANTS. IT BECOMES A LARGE BUSH, AND THE BIRDS OF THE SKY COME AND DWELL IN ITS BRANCHES. BUT THE PARABLES WE CONSIDER IN TODAY'S TEXT ARE NOT OF HIS CHARACTER. THESE STORIES DEALT HERE WERE NOT TO HIDE BUT TO ILLUMINE. PARABLES ARE NOT ISOLATED STORIES. JESUS NEARLY  ALWAYS USED THEM TO ADDRESS A QUESTION FOR A PARTICULAR SITUATION. IT IS THEREFORE VERY IMPORTANT TO STUDY THE CONTEXT IN WHICH BIBLICAL AUTHORS PLACE THEM. MUCH SCHOLARSHIP HAS SOUGHT TO ISOLATE THE PARABLES FROM THEIR BIBLICAL CONTEXT, TO SEEK AN ORIGINAL SETTING " BEHIND THE TEXT OR IN THE LIFE OF THE EARLY CHURCH. BUT SUCH CONJECTURE DISTORTS THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE PARABLES CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD IN CONTEXT WITH WRITTEN SCRIPTURE SECOND, THE LORD'S STORIES ARE PARABLES, NOT ALLEGORIES. THEREFORE WE NEED TO SEEK TO GRASP THAT TRUTH FIRMLY AND NOT WANDER IN THE LUSH FOREST OF SPECULATION, TRYING TO ASSIGN"MEANING" TO SECONDARY DETAILS.
THIRD, WE MUST LEAVE OUR TWENTIETH-CENTURY  WESTERN WORLD. JESUS STORIES DRAW ON THE DAILY COMMON LIFE OF FIRST CENTURY PALESTINE. TO HEAR HIM PROPERLY, WE NEED TO SMELL THE AROMA OF JEWISH VILLAGES AND FEEL THE DUST OF GALILEAN ROADS. AS WE SEEK TO ENTER THAT WORLD, THESE STORIES WILL COME ALIVE. WITH ENERGIZING FRESHNESS.
WE ARE TOLD THAT FAMILIARITY  BREEDS CONTEMPT. IT DOESN'T WHERE THE PARABLES ARE CONCERNED, BUT FAMILIARITY DOES BREAD COMPLACENCY. WE THINK WE KNOW THESE STORIES, WE DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. SO NOW WE SIT AT THE FEET OF OUR LORD. TO LISTEN TO HIS WONDERFUL WORDS, WE TRY TO LISTEN AS THOUGH IT WAS THE FIRST TIME.
THE GRUMBLING OF THE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES IN TODAY'S GOSPEL IS ACTUALLY OUR ONLY HOPE.,  THIS JESUS WELCOMES SINNERS AND EATS WITH THEM.  THAT OUR GOD WILLS TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST IS NOT ONLY A HOLY HOPE.
AS PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY REMINDS US: THE SAYING IS SURE AND WORTHY OF FULL ACCEPTANCE, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.  TODAY'S READINGS GIVE WITNESS THAT GOD HAS A HEART FOR LOSERS: THE IDOL WORSHIPING PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. THE VIOLENT, BLASPHEMOUS, PERSECUTOR PAUL, THE WANDERING SHEEP, THE WOMEN WHO LOST A SILVER COIN. OUR TEXT TODAY TELLS US GOD RESCUES STRAYS, ONE BY ONE, MAKING THE FIRST MOVE TO FIND THE LOST, AND CREATE NEW HEARTS IN THEM. WHEN MOSES IN THE O.T.  HOLDS GOD' TO PROMISES ALREADY MADE, THE BREATHTAKING PICTURE EMERGES OF A GOD SO COMMITTED TO RELATIONSHIP THAT GOD IS INFLUENCED-CHANGED BY WHAT PEOPLE NEED OR ASK.THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD, SHARED WITH OVERFLOWING GRACE IN FAITH  AND LOVE THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, IS PATIENT, FORGIVING, ENERGETIC, AND READY TO CELEBRATE.
  AS WE COME TO WORSHIP AND KNEEL AT THE TABLE OF HOSPILTALITY TO TAKE BREAD AND CUP-JESUS, IS PATIENT, FORGIVING, ENERGETIC, AND READY TO CELEBRATE AND JESUS IS HERE AGAIN TODAY TO WELCOME SINNERS AND EAT WITH HIM.
 JESUS THREE PARABLES HAVE TO DO WITH JOY OF HAVING FINDING WHAT IS LOST. FIRST A  SHEPHERD REJOICES OVE FINDING WHAT WAS LOST. SUPPOSE YOU HAVE A 1OO SHEEP AND LOSES ONE OF THEM. DOES NOT LEAVE NINETY-NINE IN THE OPEN COUNTRY AND GOES AFTER THE LOST SHEEP UNTIL HE FINDS IT.  AND WHEN HE FINDS IT, HE JOYFULLY PUTS IT ON HIS SHOULDERS AND GOES HOME. THEN HE CALLS HIS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER AND SAYS "REJOICE WITH ME; I HAVE FOUND MY LOST SHEEP. " I TELL YOU THAT IN THE SAME WAY THERE IS MORE REOICING IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS THAN OVER NINETY-NINE RIGHTEOUS PERSONS WHO DO NOT NEED TO REPENT. LUKE 15 HAS BEEN TITLED 'THE LOST AND FOUND CHAPTER, IT HAS BEEN CALLED THE HEART OF THE THIRD GOSPEL.  THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE WHAT WAS LOST.
SUPPOSE A WOMEN HAS TEN SILVER COINS AND LOSES ONE. DOESN'T SHE LIGHT A LAMP, SWEEP THE HOUSE AND SEARCH IT CAREFULLY UNTIL SHE FIND IT, SHE CALLS HER FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND SAYS: REJOICE WITH ME, I HAVE FOUND MY LOST COIN. THE WORD " COIN" THAT WAS LOST TRANSLATES THE WORD "DRACHMA", THE ONLY TIME THIS PARTICULAR GREEK COIN IS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE.  MUCH MORE COMMON IS THE ROMAN DENARIUS. A DAYS WAGES OF A HIRED MAN.

JOHN THE BELOVED DISCIPLE: PART TWO.

JOHN 1;6-8- JOHN STANDS AS ONE FULLY HUMAN AN YET AUTHORIZED BY GOD TO HELP THE DARKNESS UNDERSTAND THE LIGHT. THE BAPTIST POINTS FORWARD TOWARD ONE YET TO COME WHILE THE AUTHOR POINTS BACKWARD TO ONE WHO CAME. AND HAS DEPARTED: VERSE9.
1:10-13- THE CREATION IS DIVIDED SO THAT IT DID NOT, AS A WHOLE, RECOGNIZE HIM. ONLY  THOSE BORN OF GOD IN A WAY APART FROM NATURAL ORDER HAVE BELIEVED. THE MEANING IS NOT CLEARAND WILL ONLY IN TIME BE UNFOLDED AS THE READER IS MYSTICALLY ENFOLDED!
* GLORY-BEAUTY,WISDOM,POWER OF GOD.
* GRACE- GIFT- ALL WHICH FLOWS TO US, FROM GOD.
* TRUTH- ULTIMATE REALTY-ONLY IN RELATIOSHIP TO THE LOGOS (WORD) DO WE KNOW OUR PLACE IN THE COSMOS, OUR RELATIONSHIP AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF ALL CREATION BEING DETERMINED IN  OUR POSITION RELATIVE TO HIM.
1:14-15 MANIFESTATION OF THE LOGOS IS CONFIRMATION OF WHAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TRUE, BUT CONSTITUES A NEW ERA IN OUR IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CREATOR.
1: 16-18
* MOSES HANDED ON WHAT HE HAD RECIEVED. THE LOGOS (WORD) BY WHOM ALL-EVEN THE READER CAME TO BE. AS THIS PART OF THE PROLOGUE CLOSES, WE HAVE JESUS STANDING ON BOTH SIDES THE CREATOR/ CREATION LINE. ONLY AS LOGOS HAS HE SEEN GOD; ONLY AS INCARNATE LOGOS CAN HE MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CREATOR/ CREATION.
1:19-28.
* THE SPACE ALLOTTED TO THE BAPTIST'S TESTIMONY IS A WAY OF RESTAING THE IDENTITY OF THE NOW INCARNATE LOGOS IN A WAY APPROPRIATE TO HIS FESHLY EXISTENCE.
* BEWARE OF THE LANGUAGE "THE JEWS" WHICH WAS IN REFERENCE IN JOHN TO THE AUTHORIES.
* WE HEAR WHO JOHN IS NOT; HE CAN BE ONLY  UNDERSTOOD IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE ONE TOWARD WHOM HE POINTS.- JUST LIKE THE PROPPHETS BEFORE HIM.
* WHY MOSES? JEWS INTERPRETED D WITH RAISING OF MOSES OR SIMPLY SENDING A PROPHET-LIKE-MOSES DEUT. 18:15-18.
THOMAS WANTED VISIBLE PROOF, WHICH HE FOUND IN THE CLIMAX OF THE BOOK JOHN 20;24-27,28, 29. FAITH NOW RESTS ON THE APOSTOLIC TESTIMONY. 30-31: PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN. (  NOW JESUS DID MANY OTHER SIGNS IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THE "BIBLE." BUT THE PURPOSE OF JOHN'S GOSPEL WAS WRITTEN SO THAT YOU MAY  COME TO BELIEVE THROUGH HIS TESTIMONY.

CHRIST RESURRECTION- OUR RESURRECTION

WE THANK GOD FOR CHRISTMAS-A TIME THAT IS PRECIOUS TO US AT ALL. BUT JESUS IS NOT IN THE MANGER ANYMORE. HE HASN'T BEEN THERE FOR TWENTY-ONE CENTURIES, NOW SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER. WE GIVE THANKS TO OUR LORD FOR THE EARTHLY LIFE OF JESUS. HE SHOWED US HOW TO LIVE, BUT HE NO LONGER WALKS THE HILLS OF GALILEE, AND WE DO GIVE THANKS FOR THE VERY SERIOUS COMFORTING DAY CALLED GOOD FRIDAY, BUT JESUS IS NO LONGER ON THE CROSS OR IN THE TOMB.  WE GIVE PRAISE FOR EASTER. CHRIST LIVES!  IN A REAL WAY IT IS EASTER ON CHRISTMAS. FOR EASTER IS NOT AN EVENT THAT PASSES, BUT CONTINUES. IT HAPPENED, AND THE EFFECT GOES ON AND ON.
IN A SENSE CHRISTMAS, IS REALLY EASTER DAY. GOOD FRIDAY IS REALLY EASTER DAY. IF EASTER IS IN YOUR HEART TODAY, FOR YOU TODAY IS EASTER DAY.
A WELL KNOWN EVANGELIST, WAS ASKED TO GO TO THE HOLY LAND. "NO," HE SAID," I DON'T WANT TO GO. "WHY?" HE WAS ASKED. HE ANSWERED, I DON'T WANT TO GO WHERE JESUS WAS; I JUST WANT TO STAY RIGHT WHERE JESUS IS!  
LETS LOOK AT THE GOSPEL TEXT WE ARE USING TODAY. (MATTHEW 24: 30-44), STARTING WITH FIRST VERSE " BUT ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK,
 THEN THE SIGN OF MAN WILL APPEAR IN HEAVEN , THEN ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN, AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY, AND HE WILL SEND OUT HIS ANGELS WITH A LOUD TRUMPET CALL, AND THEY WILL GATHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS., FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER. " FROM THE FIG TREE LEARN ITS LESSON: AS SOON AS ITS BRANCH BECOMES TENDER AND PUTS FORTH ITS LEAVES, YOU KNOW SUMMER IS NEAR AT THE VERY GATES. TRUELY I TELL YOU, THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE. HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS WAY, BUT MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY. BUT ABOUT THE DAY OR HOUR NO ONE KNOWS, NEITHER THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN, NOR THE SON OF MAN; BUT ONLY THE FATHER. FOR AS THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE, SO WILL BE THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. FOR AS IN THOSE DAYS BEFORE THE FLOOD THEY WERE EATING AND DRINKING, MARRING AND GIVENING IN IN MARRIAGE, UNTIL NOAH ENTERED THE ARK, AND THEY KNEW NOTHING UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME AND SWEPT THEM ALL AWAY, SO TOO; WILL BE THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. (JESUS). THEN TWO WILL BE IN THE FIELD; ONE WILL BE TAKEN, ONE WILL BE LEFT. KEEP AWAKE THEREFORE, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW THE TIME OR THE DAY, YOUR LORD IS COMING.  THIS LANGUAGE IS DRAWN FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT; GOD'S  VICTORY OVER SIN IS TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE SON OF MAN WHOM HE SENDS (REV 8:12; ISA. 13.10). IF THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE  HAD  KNOWN WHAT PART OF THE NIGHT THE THIEF WAS COMING, HE WOULD HAVE STAYED AWAKE AND WOULD NOT HAVE LET HIS HOUSE BE BROKEN INTO.
REMEMBER HOW JESUS SPOKE TO YOU WHILE HE WAS IN GALILEE, SAYING HOW THE SON OF MAN MUST BE DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF SINFUL MEN AND BE CRUCIFIED, AND THE THIRD  DAY RISE AGAIN. THEY REMEMBED HIS WORDS AS THEY RETURNED FROM THE TOMB AND REPORTED ALL THESE THINGS TO THE ELEVEN AND TO ALL THE REST THAT WAS THERE. THESE ARE JESUS WORDS WHICH HE SPOKE TO THEM WHILE HE WAS STILL WITH THEM. THAT ALL THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN ABOUT HIM IN THE LAW OF MOSES (GEN.12). AND THE PROPHETS, AND THE PSALMS THAT HAD TO BE FULFILLED. NOW WE MUST SEE THE RESURRECTION WITH NEW EYES. THE RESURRECTION IS THE CLIMAX OF JESUS EARTHLY LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS.
FIRST OF ALL, SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT IT IS EVERYTHING JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT WHILE HE WAS WITH HIS DISCIPLES, HIS TEACHINGS ALL FUNNELED INTO EASTER MORNING. THE ANGELS, OR THE MESSENGERS OF GOD, SAID THAT JESUS EARLIER WORDS TO HIS DISCIPLES HAD REALLY EXPLAINED EVERYTHING.
I WONDER HOW MANY THINGS WE LOOK AT, BUT REALLY DON'T SEE. OR HOW MUCH WE HEAR, BUT DON'T LISTEN TO. ONE DAY, I WAS SITTING ON OUR COUCH WATCHING CARTOONS WITH MY MIDDLE GRANDSON. HE WAS CHATTERING AWAY AS CHILDREN DO, ASKING ME QUESTIONS, AND I WAS MUMBLING A RESPONSE, YES, UH-HUH, YEAH... HE WAS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED WITH ME. FINALLY HE STOPPED, TOOK MY FACE IN HIS HANDS AND SAID GRAMPY, LOOK AT ME IN THE NOSE!  HE WANTED MY ATTENTION, AND HE GOT IT!  ALL HEAVEN HAD BEEN LISTENING TO CHRIST, BUT THE EARTHLINGS TO WHOM HE HAD BEEN SPEAKING  TO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HIM. IN FACT, JUST AFTER JESUS HAD DRIVEN THE MONEY CHANGERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE AND HAD PERFORMED HIS FIRST MIRACLE, CHANGING THE WATER INTO WINE, JOHN 2 SAYS, "WHAT RIGHT HAVE YOU TO ORDER THEM OUT.?"  THE JEWISH LEADERS DEMANDED. IF YOU HAVE AUTHOTITY FROM GOD SHOW US A MIRACLE TO PROVE IT.   " ALL RIGHT, JESUS REPLIED," THIS IS THE MIRACLE TO PROVE IT. DESTROY THIS SANCTUARY AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.!  'WHAT! ' THEY EXCLAIMED. IT TOOK 46 YEARS TO BUILD THIS TEMPLE, AND YOU  CAN DO IT IN THREE DAYS.'  BY THIS "SANCTUARY" JESUS MEANT HIS BODY. AFTER JESUS CAME BACK TO LIFE AGAIN, THE DISCIPLES REMEMBEREDN HIS SAYING THIS AND REALIZED THAT WHAT HE HAD QUOTED WAS FROM SCRIPTURES AND IT WHY ARE YOU SEEKING THE LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE DEAD PEOPLE REALLY DID REFER TO HIM, AND ALL HAD CAME TRUE. (JOHN 2: 18:22).
THE ANGELS HEARD THIS, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD IT. SO AT THE TOMB THE ANGELS SAID, " DON'T YOU REMEMBER THIS ? THERE WAS A LITTLE 'BARB" IN THEIR WORDS, AS THE WOMEN CAME WITH THE SPICES TO ANOINT THE BODY OF JESUS?  DON'T YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID?  ALL HEAVEN CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD IT.
CHRIST HAD LAID OUT HIS FATHER'S PLAN, THAT HE WOULD DIE AND THAT HE WOULD RISE AGAIN. LUKE 9:22 SAYS: " THE SON OF MAN MUST SUFFER MANY THINGS, AND BE REJECTED BY THE ELDERS AND CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES AND BE KILLED, AND BE RAISED UP ON THE THIRD DAY.  LATER JESUS BECAME MORE SPECIFIC: AND HE TOOK THE TWELVE ASIDE AND SAID TO THEM, ' BEHOLD WE ARE GOING UP TO JERUSALEM, AND ALL THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN THROUGH THE PROPHETS ABOUT THE SON OF MAN WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED. FOR HE WILL BE DELIVERED UP TO THE GENTILES, AND WILL BE MOCKED AND MISTREATED AND SPIT UPON AND AFTER THEY HAVE SCOURGED HIM, THEY WILL KILL HIM. AND THE THIRD DAY HE WILL RISE AGAIN, THE GOSPEL YOU SEE  DOESN'T EXPLAIN EASTER.
 EASTER EXPLAINS THE GOSPEL. CHRIST WAS GOD, DON'T LET CHRIST'S WORDS ABOUT DEATH AND RESURRETION ABOUT THE EASTER EVENT, BECOME GOD -TALK.
 THAT YOU SIMPLY TOLERATE BECAUSE ITS RELIGIOUS., WITH YOUR TONGUE  IN CHEEK A LITTLE BIT. THESE WOMEN CAME TO THE TOMB WITH SPICES, AND THEY HADN'T THE SLIGHTEST IDEA THAT JESUS WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.  ALL THE DISCIPLES BELIEVED THE DOCTRINE  ABOUT THE RESURRECTION, IN A "THEOLOGICAL" WAY. IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE SAID, DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD?" THEY WOULD HAVE ANSWERED, " OH SURE- WAY OFF-IN THE FUTURE SOME TIME.
 THE OLD TESTAMENT PORTRAYS THE RESURRECTION IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS .WE SEE A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION IN THE WILLINGNESS OF ABRAHAM TO OFFER UP HIS " ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,' ON THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE. IN ACTUAL WORD'S, PROBABLY EVEN OLDER THAN ABRAHAM, IS THE CLEAR TEXT OF JOB: AS FOR ME, I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVES, AND AT LAST HE WILL TAKE HIS STAND ON THE EARTH. THE ESSENCE OF PETER'S BLOOD-AND-THUNDER SERMON ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY PROVIDED PROOF OF JESUS RESURRECTION. GOD RAISED HIM UP AGAIN, PUTTING AN END TO THE AGONY OF DEATH, SINCE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO BE HELD IN ITS POWER. IN THE TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEIR IS IN THEIR HEART OF EVERY RE-BORN CHILD OF GOD NO DOUBT' EXISTS, AND TOGETHER WITH THE BELIEVERS OF ALL AGES OUR HEART SINGS "HE LIVES!", HE LIVES! CHRIST LIVES TODAY. AMEN.

JOHN THE BELOVED DSCIPLE'

AUTHOR: POSSIBLY JOHN.THE BELOVED DISCIPLE. IRENAEUS (180) STATES THAT THE GOSPEL WAS GIVEN BY JOHN AT EPHESUS. THIS TRADITION IS REPEATED BY CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA (C. 200). THE MURATORIAN CANON (C. 180-200) PROVIDES A LEGEND IN WHICH JOHN IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS GOSPEL.
 RECOGNITION AS CANON.: IRENAEUS ATTESTS TO THE GOSPEL'S RECOGNITION AS CANON (180).
BACKGROUND OF THOUGHT: BOTH ARAMAIC    (THE (ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF JESUS).
HELLENISTIC INFLUNCES ARE PRESENT IN THE GOSPEL, ALSO USED IN TO THE IDEAS OF BUDDING GNOSTICISM. (DUALISTIC THINKING COUPLED WITH INITIATION INTO SECRET TEACHINNGS THAT BRING ENLIGHTENMENT). JOHN HAS BOTH JEWISH (OT).
 REFERENTS ( JESUS IS THE MESSIAH) AS WELL AS DUALISTIC CATGORIES ( DARKNESS AND LIGHT), YET INSISTS ON THE CORPOREAL MANIFESTATION OF THE WORD IN FLESH.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SYNOPTICS AND JOHN.
 MATTHEW AND LUKE STRESS THE ROLE OF GOD IN THE ADVENT OF JESUS; JOHN STRESSES ETERNAL STATUS OF CHRIST ( MARK SIMPLY DIVES INTO THE MINSTRY OF JESUS).
IN JOHN, JESUS STEPS OUT ONTO THE STAGE OF THE COSMOS AS THE INBREAKING MYSTERY OF GOD! JOHN FEATURES A DISTINCT VOCABULARY: LIFE, LIGHT, DARKNESS, TRUE, WORLD, FATHER (64 TIMES IN SYNOPTICS AND 120 IN JOHN), KNOWING SEEING, THE JEWS, AMEN-amen, I AM.
LESS STRESSON:KINGDOM, REPENT, APOSTLES, SCRIBES, PHARISEES, TAX COLLECTORS, ADULTERY, DEMON, AND INHERIT.
 WHAT VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES MEAN: POSSIBLE MOTIVE OF THR WRITER- TO INSPIRE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TRANSCENDENT YET IMMINENT LOGOS-WORD.
 EMPHASIS OF ENCOUNTERS IN JOHN VS. SYNOPTICS.
 IN SYNOPTICS, JESUS IS A RABBI WHO ARGUES OVER SABBATH, FASTING , DIVORCE-ALL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE TORAH. IN JOHN, DEBATE IS OVER WHO HE IS.
SYNOPTICS FOCUS ON THE MESSIANIC SECRET (ESPECIALY MARK). JOHN HAS ONLY MYSTERY-SECRET BEING REVEALED. YET, THOSE AROUND HIM DO NOT UNDERSTAND HIM. SYNOPTICS FOCUS ON PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM. JOHN FOCUSES ON JESUS AS THE INBREAKING OF THE KINGDOM, THE WORD BREAKING IN. REGARDING THEOLOGY PROPER, SYNOPTICS FOCUS ON WORDS ABOUT GOD. JOHN LINKS THE WORDS OF JESUS WITH HIS PERSON-THE WORD. " I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH , AND THE LIFE." JOHN IS NOT SO CONCERNED WITH CHRONOLOGY
 AS WITH THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE  COMPRESSED THEME (CHAPTER 0NE) WHICH IS LIKE A PEBBLE CAST INTO A POND, RIPPLING OUT. FURTHER, JESUS GEOGRAPHICAL MOVEMENTS IN JOHN ARE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IN THE FIRST THREE GOSPELS. SYNOPTICS FOCUS ON THE BULK OF JESUS TIME IN GALILEE; JOHN FOCUSES ON TIME IN JUDEA.
AS PREVIOUS STATED, JOHN ADRESSES MOST PROBABLY HELLENISTIC JEWS WHO FACE CONTROVERSY. HIS TEXT IS FOR BELIEVERS AND IS INTENDED TO DRAW THEM INTO EVER-CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHRIST. THUS, CLOSENESS MAY BE CALLED"MYSTICAL UNION."
A MYSTICAL RELATIOSHIP IS AN UNMEDIATED EXPERIENCE OF SOMETHING DISTINCT FROM THE SELF IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT SEEMS TO BE ASIFI AM EXPERIENCING MYSELF. WITH REGARD TO EXPERIENCE OF SELF IN RELATIONSIP WITH THE COSMOS THIS CALLED MYISTCAL ENLIGHTENMENT; WITH REGARD TO RELATIONSHIP. WITH ANOTHER  BEING.  IT IS CALLED MYSTICAL UNION.
JOHN TREATS UNION WITH THE COSMOS AS A PRELUDE TO UNION WITH THE CREATOR. JOHN WRITES OF A MYSTICAL PATH AS A CONTINUATION OF THE PROCESS OF CONVERSION, BAPTISM, EUCHRIST, TO MYSTICAL ENIGHTENMENT-
KNOWING IN THE HEBRAIC SENSE.
 THUS JOHN RECEIVED THE TITLE" THEOLOGOS" OR DIVINE=THEOLOGIAN. THIS IS ONE WHO NOT ONLY KNEW ABOUT GOD, BUT ALSO KNEW GOD.
EVELYN UNDERHILL, RESPECTED ANGLICAN LAY THEOLOGIAN, WRITES OF THE MYSTICAL PROCESS OF ST. JOHN'S GOSPEL AS PURGATION ILLUMINATION, AND UNION. TO STUDY JOHN IS TO ENGAGE A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. WE MUST AVOID PRECONCEIVED ANSWERS AND SIMPLY LET THE TEXT UNFOLD THE
BACKGROUND IS INDEED GOD OF ISRAEL- THAT IS THE POINT! " IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD LOGOS-WORD, SAYING, SPEECH, REASON, PLAN. LOGOS WILL MAKE SOME THINK OF GOD'S WORD BY WHICH CREATION HAPPENED. OTHERS WILL SEE STOIC TEACHING OF THE LINK BETWEEN WILL AND CONCRETE CREATION. OTHERS WILL REFLECT ON WISDOM AS UNDERSTOOD BY JEWS. CF. WISDOM OF SOLOMON 7-9
AS "LOGOS" (WORD) IS INDISSOLUBLE RELATED TO GOD, IS THE ONLY LINK BETWEEN  GOD AND MAN. BY THIS WE FIND OUR PLACE IN THE COSMIC ORDER. JOHN FULLY UNDERSTANDS  HOW THE DARKNESS UNDERSTANDS THE LIGHT. THE BAPTIST POINTS FORWARD TOWARD ONE YET TO COME. END OF PART ONE.

LEVITICUS: 14:1- 32. [ LUKE 5: 12-16].

 THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, THIS IS THE LAW FOR THE VICTIMS OF LEPROSY AT THE TIME OF HIS PURIFICATION;  HE SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE PRIEST, WHO IS TO GO OUTSIDE THE CAMP, THILE JESUS WAS IN ONE OF THE TOWNS, A MAN CAME ALONG WHO WAS COVERED IN WITH LEPROSY. WHEN HE SAW JESUS, HE FELL WITH HIS FACE TO THE GROUND AND BEGGED HIM, ' LORD IF YOU ARE WILLING, YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN."  JESUS REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOUCHED HIM. " I AM WILLING," HE SAID. " BE CLEAN!" AND IMMEDIATELY THE LEPROSY LEFT HIM.
THEN JESUS ORDERED HIM, "DON'T TELL ANYONE, BUT GO AND SHOW YOURSELF TO A "PRIEST"  AND OFFER THE SACRIFICES THAT MOSES COMMANDED FOR YOUR CLEANSING. THE RITUAL FOR THE CLEANSING OF THE LEPER IS GIVEN IN DETAIL AND IS QUITE ELABORATE. IN SOME REAPECTS IT RESEMBLES  THE CONSECREATION OF THE PRIESTS. AND THE RITUAL FOR THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. IT COVERS A PERIOD OF SEVEN DAYS, WITH SPECIAL RITES ON THE FIRST AND EIGHTH. CLEANSING IS SPECIALLY STRESSED AND THIS INVOLVES SHAVING OF THE HAIR. HYSSOP IS USED AT THE PASSOVER  (EX.12:22)., TOGETHER WITH CEDAR WOOD AND SCARLET WHICH ARE ALSO USED IN MAKING THE WATER OF PURIFICATION. THE RELEASING OF ONE OF THE BIRDS into the open field, SUGGESTS THE SENDING AWAY OF SCAPEGOAT. (16: 21).
YET THE NEWS ABOUT JESUS SPREAD ALL THE MORE, SO THAT CROWDS OF PEOPLE CAME TO HEAR HIM AND TO BE HEALED OF THEIR SICKNESSES. BUT JESUS OFTEN WITHDREW TO LONELY PLACES AND PRAYED. MAY PEOPLE SUFFER FROM SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD), A FORM OF DEPRESSION THAT COMMONLY HITS PEOPLE IN THE WINTER. EACH YEAR, AS THE SEASON CANOPY OF GREY CLOUDS COVERS THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM (SAD). CHANGES. PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER, THROUGH (SAD) LLOSES THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITIES. NO MATTER HOW FIT AN ATHLETE, THEY BECOME LETHARGIC. IN SPITE OF BEING HAPPYILY MARRIED AND HAVING A LOVING FAMILY, THEY FEEL LONELY. WHY DO I MENTION THIS. BECAUSE THIS MESSAGE SPEAKS OF THE LONELIEST PEOPLE IN THE TIME OF JESUS WAS THE "LEPERS."
THEY HAD TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE DRESSED IN RAGS, WHEN THEY WALKED ANYWHERE, THEY HAD TO WALKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, RINGING A LITTLE BELL, WHICH WARNED PEOPLE THEY WERE COMING, IF THEY STARTED TO GET CLOSE TO THE TOWNS PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WOULD THROW STONES AT THEM CAUSING  THEM TO GET BACK TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
THEY WERE NOT WELCOME ANYWHERE, THEY NEVER HAD A PERSONAL CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY OR ANY ONE ELSE WHO WAS NOT A LEPER. THERE WASN'T ANYONE WHO WAS LONELIER OR WHO HAD TO LIVE IN CONSTANT DEPRESSION, UNTIL JESUS CAME ALONG. WETHER OR NOT WE SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION, WE ALL FEEL LONELY AT TIMES. LONELINESS CAN EMERGE THROUGH A LACK OF MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS, ALIENATION BY A PERSON OR GROUP, THE BREAK-UP  OF A MARRIAGE, OR RELATIONSHIP, THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, MOVING FROM A FAMILIAR PLACE. LONELINESS IS MORE THAN SIMPLY DESIRING COMPANIONSHIP; IT'S THE EXPERIENCE OF FEELING PROFOUND EMPTINESS EVEN IN THE MIDST OF LOVED ONES. LONELINESSS, PARADOXICALLY, OCCURS MOST OFTEN IN HEAVILY POPULATED CITIES.TODAY ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS REPORTS FEELING LONELY MUCH OF THE TIME. IN ADDITION TO CAUSING FEELINGS OF UNHAPPINESS, LONELINESS, LEADS TO HIGH PRESSURE AND SUCH ISSUES AS IMPAIRED SLEEP, A WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM, ALCOHOLISM, AND SUICIDE.
NATURALLY, WE FEAR LONELINESS BECAUSE OF HOW IT MAKES US FEEL, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY.
THERE IS, HOWEVER, ANOTHER WAY TO GET THROUGH LIFE: LEARNING HOW TO BE ALONE. PSYCHOLOGISTS MAKE A GOOD LIVING TEACHING US THAT IF WE CAN LEARN TO BE TRULY INTIMATE WITH OURSELVES, THEN WE ARE NEVER REALLY ALONE. BY FACING THE COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHO WE OUR, WOUNDS AND ALL, AND LEARNING TO LOVE OURSELVES, WE CEASE TO RELY ON OTHERS FOR OUR-SELF WORTH OR TO SEEK DISTRACTIONS TO STAVE OFF FEELINGS OF LONELINESS. THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION TAKES A DIFFERENT APPROACH. RATHER THAN SIMPLY TEACH US HOW TO BE ALONE WITH OURSELVES, CHRISTIANITY, GOD AND ULTIMATELY, OUR PURPOSE. IN SOLITUDE, WE DISCOVER THAT WE ARE NEVER ALONE BECAUSE GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US.
 THROUGH OUT HIS LIFE, JESUS EXPERIENCED PROFOUND LONELINESS.
AS MOTHER TERESA EXPLAINS: WHEN CHRIST SAID:" I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU FED ME, HE DIDN'T MEAN ONLY HUNGER FOR BREAD AND FOR FOOD, HE ALSO MEANT THE HUNGER TO BE LOVED. JESUS HIMSELF EXPERIENCED THIS LONELINESS. HE CAME AMONGST HIS OWN AND HIS OWN RECIEVED HIM NOT, IT HURT HIM THEN AND IT HAS KEPT ON HURTING HIM. THE SAME HUNGER, THE SAME LONELINESS, THE SAME HAVING NO ONE TO BE ACCEPTED BY AND TO BE LOVED AND WANTED BY. EVERY HUMAN BEING IN THAT CASE RESEMBLES CHRIST IN HIS LONELINESS AND THAT IS THE HARDEST PART, THAT'S REAL HUNGER. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IF WE RESEMBLE CHRIST IN HIS HUNGER  FOR LOVE AND PAIN IN LONELINESS, WE ALSO RESEMBLE HIM IN HIS ABILITY TO EMBRACE SOLITUDE AS A NECESSARY PATH TO CONNECTING TO GOD AND UNDERSTANDING OUR PURPOSE ON EARTH.
MATTHEW'S GOSPEL TELLS US THAT BEFORE HE BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY JESUS SPENT  FORTY DAYS IN THE DESERT ALONE. MANY TIMES THROUGH OUT HIS MINISTRY "  HE  SPENT THE NIGHT ALONE," WITHDREW TO A LONELY PLACE, WENT UP TO THE HILLS BY HIMSELF,"  AND' WITHDREW TO THE WILDERNESS TO PRAY. AS A YOUTH, HE SPENT HOURS IN SILENCE AND SOLITUDE AND STUDYING THE TORAH AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO WITH HIS LIFE. WE CAN IMAGINE HIM LEARNING THE CRAFT OF CARPENTRY FROM HIS EARTHLY FATHER, JOSEPH, AND PONDERING HIS LIFE IN SOLITUDE AS HE TRANSFORMED TREES INTO DOORS, TABLES AND CHAIRS. OR WALKING GREAT DISTANCES TO ATTEND SYNAGOGUE OR RETRIEVE WATER AND FOOD FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.
ON THE HIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED BY JUDAS AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, JESUS WENT WITH THREE OF HIS DISCIPLES TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE TO PRAY IN SOLITUDE. HE INSTRUCTED HIS COMPANIONS, "SIT HERE WHILE I GO OVER THERE AND PRAY." " THEN HE SAID TO THEM," I AM DEEPLY GRIEVED, EVEN TO DEATH:  REMAIN HERE, AND STAY AWAKE WITH ME." AFTER GOING A LITTLE FARTHER AWAY FROM HIS FRIENDS, HE THREW HIMSELF TO THE GROUND AND PRAYED.
MY FATHER, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, "LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME."
IN HIS SOLITUDE, HE WAS ABLE TO BE MOST GENUINELY HIMSELF- A HUMAN BEING AFRAID OF DEATH. HE WAS ABLE TO PRAY, TO PLEAD WITH THE FATHER TO LET HIM LIVE.  BUT MORE IMPORTANT, IN HIS SOLITUDE JESUS WAS ABLE TO TRUST GOD TO THE POINT THAT HE COULD PRAY IN THE VERY NEXT BREATH, "YET NOT WHAT I WANT BUT WHAT YOU WANT." THREE TIMES HE RETURNED TO HIS DISCIPLES AND FOUND THEM SLEEPING INSTEAD OF KEEPING WATCH. AND THREE TIMES, HE WENT ALONE AND PRAYED, " MY FATHER, IF THIS CUP CANNOT PASS UNLESS I DRINK IT, YOUR WILL BE DONE." AFTER THE THIRD PERIOD OF INTENSE PRAYER, JESUS RETURNED TO HIS FRIENDS AND SAID, " GET UP, LET US BE GOING. IN HIS SOLITUDE JESUS ACCEPTED HIS MISSION TO TEACH THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE ARE NEVER ALONE, THAT LOVE IS THE MEANING OF LIFE, AND DEATH IS NOT THE END. ' LONELINESS IS INNER EMPTINESS. SOLITUDE IS INNER FULFILLMENT. " IN SOLITUDE, AS HENRI NOUWEN OBSERVED, WE HEAR THE VOICE OF THE ONE WHO SAYS, " YOU ARE MY BELOVED." FOR JESUS, LISTENING TO THIS VOICE ALLOWED HIM TO BE WHO HE WAS MEANT TO BE, EVEN WHEN HE WAS REJECTED AND SCORNED AND CRUCIFIED. KNOWING HE WAS GOD'S BELOVED ALLOWED HIM TO MOVE OUT FROM HIS INTERIOR SELF TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND THOSE ON THE MARGINS, AND TO MINISTER TO THOSE IN NEED. BY LEARNING TO PRACTICE SOLITUDE, WE GROWN IN OUR OWN FAITH AND LEARN TO DO THE SAME.      

ATHANASIAN CREED.

 EARLY IN THE FOURTH CENTURY, A NORTH AFRICAN PASTOR NAMED ARIUS BEGAN TEACHING THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT GOD. THE CHURCH RESPONDED IN A.D. 325  DECISIVELY WITH A STATEMENT OF FAITH ( NICENE CREED), WHICH CONFESSED THAT JESUS IS, IN FACT, TRUE GOD. TOWARD THE END OF THE FIFTH CENTURY, ANOTHER CREED WAS WRITTEN THAT DELVED FURTHER INTO THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY. THOUGH ATTRIBUTED TO ATHANASIUS, A FOURTH-CENTURY OPPONENT OF ARIUS, THIS ANONYMOUS  CREED CLEARLY CAME AT A LATER STAGE IN THE DEBATE.
THE ATHANASIAN CREED DECLARES THAT ITS TEACHING CONCERING THE HOLY TRINITY AND OUR LORD'S INCARNATION ARE THE "catholic faith." IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS WHAT THE TRUE CHURCH OF ALL TIMES AND ALL PLACES HAS CONFESSED. MORE THAN FIFTEEN CENTURIES LATER, THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO CONFESS THIS TRUTH, CONFIDENT THAT THE TRIUNE GOD, FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, HAS GIVEN HIMSELF FOR OUR SALVATION.
WHO EVER DESIRES TO BE SAVED MUST, ABOVE ALL, HOLD THE catholic faith.
 WHOEVER DOES NOT KEEP IT WHOLE AND UNDEFILED WILL WITHOUT A DOUBT PERISH ETERNALLY.
AND THE "catholic faith" is this,THAT WE WORSHIP ONE GOD IN TRINITY AND TRINITY IN UNITY, NEITHER CONFUSING THE PERSONS OR DIVIDING THE SUBSTANCE.
FOR THE FATHER IS ONE PERSON, THE SON IS ANOTHER, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ANOTHER.
 BUT THE GODHEAD OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ONE: THE GLORY IS EQUAL, THE MAJESTY COETERNAL. SUCH AS THE FATHER IS, SUCH IS THE SON, AND SUCH IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE FATHER UNCREATED, THE SON UNCREATED, THE HOLY SPIRIT UNCREATED. THE FATHER INFINITE, THE SON INFINITE.THE HOLY SPIRIT INFINITE: THE FATHER ETERNAL, THE SON ETERNAL, THE HOLY SPIRIT ETERNAL. AND YET THERE ARE NOT THREE ETERNALS, BUT ONE ETERNAL. JUST AS THERE ARE NOT THREE UNCREATED OR THREE INFINITES BUT , ONE UNCREATED ONE INFINITE.
 IN THE SAME WAY, THE FATHER IS ALMIGHTY, THE SON ALMIGHTY, THE HOLY SPIRIT ALMIGHTY. AND YET THERE ARE NOT THREE ALMIGHTIES BUT ONE ALMIGHTY.
 SO THE FATHER IS GOD, THE SON IS GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD; AND YET THERE ARE NOT THREE GODS, BUT ONE GOD.
SO THE FATHER IS LORD, THE SON IS LORD, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LORD, AND YET THERE ARE NOT THREE LORDS, BUT ONE LORD.
JUST AS WE ARE COMPELLED BY CHRISTIAN TRUTH TO ACKNOWLEDGE EACH
 DISTINCT PERSON AS GOD AND LORD, SO ALSO ARE WE PROHIBITED BY THE catholic religion TO SAY THAT THERE ARE THREE GODS OR LORD'S.
THE FATHER IS NOT MADE NOR CREATED NOR BEGOTTEN BY ANYONE.
THE SON IS NEITHER MADE NOR CREATED
BUT BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER ALONE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON. NEITHER MADE NOR  CREATED NOR BEGOTTEN BUT PROCEEDING. THUS, THERE IS ONE FATHER, NOT THREE FATHERS.ONE SON NOT THREE SONS . ONE HOLY SPIRIT. NOT THREE HOLY SPIRITS.
 AND IN THIS TRINITY NONE IS BEFORE OR AFTER ANOTHER. NONE IS GREATER OR LESS THAN ANOTHER.
BUT THE WHOLE THREE PERSONS ARE COETERNAL WITH EACH  OTHER AND COEQUAL SO THAT IN ALL THINGS, AS HAS BEEN STATED ABOVE., THE TRINITY IN UNITY AND UNITY IN TRINITY IS TO BE WORSHIPED.
 THEREFORE, WHOEVER DESIRES TO BE SAVED MUST THINK THUS ABOUT THE TRINITY.
BUT IT IS ALSO NECESSARY FOR EVERLASTING SALVATION THAT ONE FAITHFULLY BELIEVE IN THE INCARNATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
THEREFORE, IT IS THE RIGHT FAITH THAT WE BELIEVE AND CONFESS THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, IS AT THE SAME TIME BOTH GOD AND MAN
 HE IS GOD, BEGOTTEN FROM THE SUBSTANCE OF THE FATHER BEFORE ALL AGES: AND HE IS MAN, BORN OF THE SUBSTANCE OF HIS MOTHER IN THIS AGE.
PERFECT GOD AND PERFECT MAN, COMPOSED OF A RATIONAL SOUL AND HUMAN  FLESH.
EQUAL TO THE FATHER WITH RESPECT TO HIS DIVINITY, LESS THEN THE FATHER WITH RESPCT TO HIS HUMANITY.
 ALTHOUGH HE IS GOD AND MAN. HE IS NOT TWO, BUT ONE CHRIST: ONE HOWEVER, NOT BY THE CONVERSION OF THE DIVINITY INTO FLESH BUT BY THE ASUMPTION OF THE HUMANITY INTO GOD.
 ONE ALTOGETHER, NOT BY CONFUSION OF SUBSTANCE, BUT BY UNITY OF PERSON.
FOR AS THE RATIONAL SOUL AND FLESH IS ONE MAN, SO GOD AND MAN IS ONE CHRIST. WHO SUFFERED FOR OUR SALVATION. DESCENDED INTO HELL, ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY FROM THE DEAD.
 ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER,
GOD
  ALMIGHTY, FROM WHENCE HE WILL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
AT HIS COMING ALL PEOPLE WILL RISE AGAIN WITH THEIR BODIES AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT. CONCERNING THEIR OWN DEEDS.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD WILL ENTER INTO ETERNAL LIFE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL INTO ETERNAL FIRE. THIS IS THE CATHOLIC FAITH.
WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE IT  FAITHFULLY AND FIRMLY CANNOT BE SAVED.


AFTER THOUGHT; FROM THE LUTHERANS: [ ON THE MOMENT OF DEATH, AS THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES THE SOUL HE GAVE YOU AT BAPTISM AND TAKES IT BEFORE GOD FOR JUDGEMENT. THE WORDS YOU WANT TO HEAR AS GOD OPENS THE BOOK OF LIFE., PUTS HIS FINGER ON YOUR NAME. THE WORDS YOU WANT TO HEAR IS: COME AND REST GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT]. THE WORDS YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR IS:    " I NEVER KNEW YOU." AMEN!

GOSPEL OF JOHN 3;1-17 [ JESUS MIRACLES- PROMPTS NICODMUS TO VISIT HIM IN SECRET]

 THE FESTIVAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY: " CELEBRATES THE MYSTERY OF GOD, BOTH TRANSCENDENT AND IMMANET. THOUGH THE NAURE OF GOD IS BEYOND OUR RATIONAL EXPLANATION, WE ASCRIBE GLORY TO THE ONE WHO IS HOLY WHOSE GLORY FILLS THE WHOLE EARTH.  CHRISTIANS ARE BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT,AND WHEN WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, WE REMEMBER OUR BAPTISM IN THE TRI-UNE GOD. BORN ANEW IN BAPTISM, AND NOURISHED AT THE LORD'S TABLE. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT; ADMIT IT OR NOT; YOU MADE THE COMMITMENT, TO LIVE AS WITNESSES TO GOD'S LOVE FOR US AND ALL THE WORLD.
 THERE WAS A MAN OF THE PHARISEES, NAMED NICODEMUS, A RULER OF THE JEWS.
THE SAME CAME BY NIGHT, AND SAID UNTO HIM, RABBI, WE KNOW THOU ART A TEACHER COME FROM GOD. FOR NO MAN CAN DO THESE MIRACLES THAT THOU DOEST. WHAT IS GOD LIKE?  THIS QUESTION IS DIFFICULT, ONE THAT THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY ATTEMPTS TO ANSWER BY URGING US TO LOOK NOT AT WHAT GOD IS ALL- POWERFUL, ALL KNOWING, ALL WISE- BUT RATHER HOW GOD IS: IN CONSTANT RELATION SHIP. THE HEART OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. SURELY ONE OF THE  MOST CHALLENGING ELEMENTS OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.
 IS THAT GOD IS MOST FULLY UNDERSTOOD AS A RELATIONSHIP OF UNITY AND LOVE THAT ULTIMATELY SPILLS OUT INTO CREATION.  ALL SIMILES LIMP THEY TELL US, AND THOSE WE USE FOR GOD LIMP THE MOST. GOD AS "FATHER" IS ONE OF THEM.  THE IDEA OF FATHER HOOD. IS A GOOD ONE, BUT THE REALITY WE SEE ON EARTH IS SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT. SOME FATHER'S ABANDON THEIR CHILDREN, BEAT THEM, RIDICULE OR IGNOR THEM, DAMAGE THEM PHSYCHOLOICALLY FOR LIFE. GOD IS A FATHER WHO WANTS CHILDREN MORE EAGERLY THAN ANY EARTHLY PARENTS EVER YEARNED TO SEE THEIR LOVE MADE VISIBLE. IN A NEW PERSON.ALL THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH PARENTHOOD.
 GOD IS CREATOR AND REDEEMER, TO USE HEAVY WORDS OF THEOLOGY. BUT THE BEST WORD IS STILL ABBA. SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT IF HE COULD REMEMBER ONLY ONE VERSE OF THE BIBLE ON THAT MYTHICAL ISLAND OF SHIPWRECK, IT SHOULD BE THIS: GOD IS LOVE AND HE WHO ABIDES IN LOVE ABIDES IN GOD. AND GOD IN HIM (  1JOHN 4:16).
THE PROPHETS OFTEN HAD TO WARN PEOPLE OF GOD'S INCOMPATIBILITY WITH EVIL: THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN WOULD OVERTAKE THEM AND, THUS GOD WOULD "PUNISH" THEM. BUT THE LAST WORD ALWAYS ECHOED A PARENT'S FORGIVENESS AND ENDLESS WELCOME. HOSEA SAYS IT WELL
                 
WHEN ISREAL WAS A CHILD I LOVED HIM,
 OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON
 THE MORD I CALLED THEM
THE FARTHE
R THEY WENT FROM ME...
 YET IT WAS I WHO TAUGHT EPHRAIN TO WALK
 WHO TAUGHT THEM IN MY ARMS;
 I DREW THEM WITH HUMAN CORDS
 WITH BANDS OF LOVE;
 I FOSTERED THEM LIKE ONE
  WHO RAISES AN INFANT TO HIS CHEEKS;
 YET, THOUGH I STOOPED TO FEED MY CHILD.,
 THEY DID NOT KNOW I WAS THEIR HEALER ( NOW A CERTAIN MAN WAS SICK NAMED LAZARUS OF BETHANY, [THE TOWN OF MARY AND HER SISTER MARTHA
 ( IT WAS THAT MARY WHICH ANOINTED THE LORD WITH OINTMENT AND WIPED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR],  WHOSE BROTHER LAZARUS WAS SICK].
THEREFORE HIS SISTERS SENT UNTO HIM, SYING UNYO HIM LORD, BEHOLD, HE WHOM THOU LOVEST IS SICK. WHEN JESUS HEARD THAT, HE SAID, THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED THEREBY. ( JOHN 11: 1-4).
 SCIENCE HAS TAKEN ALL POETRY OUT OF CREATION, LEAVING, ONLY AN INTRICATE PATTERN OF MOLECULES AS LIFELESS AS A CLOCK. GENESIS TELLS IT BETTER. THE STORY GOD'S INSPIRED PEOPLE COMPOSED TO HOLD HIS CREATION IN POETIC GRACE IS A MASTERPIECE. THE PURPOSE OF CREATION, IT AFFIRMS, IS THE SHARING OF GOD'S GLORY WITH HUMAN BEINGS- NOT A ABSTRACT HUMAN RACE, BUT YOU AND ME,  AND YOUR UNCLE TOM.
 MAKE A LIST OF THE GOODNES OF GOD, THE DIGNITY OF MAN AND WOMEN, THE BEAUTY OF CREATION, THE UNITY OF MARRIAGE, THE HOLINESS OF THE BODY, THE FREEDOM OF OUR WILL, THE CALL TO RESPONSIBILITY AND OBEDIENCE. THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. WHY DID GOD CREATE US? GOD IS HAPPY IN THE " COMMUNITY" OF THE FATHER. HE SENDS TO US PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNS AND SACRAMENTS OF HIS LOVE; LOVING PARENTS FIRST, GENUINE FRIENDS. THESE PEOPLE GIVE US A  GLIMMERING RESPONCSE THAT GOD WANTS TO LOVE HIM AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIM. HE WANTS US TO GRADUALLY TO EXPERIENCE
 A PERSONAL, INTIMATE, CONSCIOUS RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE GOD COULD NOT MAKE US ANY OTHER WAY, BUT IN HIS (IMAGE). WE ARE NOT "EQUALS" WITH GOD, AS WE ARE WITH OUR FRIENDS. BUT IT IS PRECISELY IN KNOWING THE INFINITE GRANDEUR OF GOD THAT WE DISCOVER HOW GREAT OUR DIGNITY: YET, IN THE MYSTERY OF FREEDOM, WE MUST EXCEPT HIS POWER IN ORDER TO MAKE A RESPONSE. " TO SEEK GOD". WE DO NOT EXPLAIN. EVIL MEN STOP THE HEART HIS SON IN DEATH. GOD SHOWS HOW MUCH HUMAN SUFFERING; WE CONQUER IT BY THE POWER OF THE CRUCIFIED AND RISEN JESUS, THE SIGN OF A FATHER'S CONCERN. TO THE JEWS, THE GREATEST "QUALITY OF GOD WAS NOT JUST HIS LOVE. BUT HIS FAITHFUL LOVE, HIS STEADFAST COVENANT LOVE. NO MATTER WHAT UNFAITHFULNESS-ADULTERY IN THEIR COVENANT RELATIONSHIP. THEY WERE GUILTY OF WHAT PIG-HEADED AND PERVERSE SINFULNESS. GOD WAS ALWAYS THE TENDER FATHER WAITING TO TAKE THEM BACK. THEY KNEW HE HAD TO BE JUST IT- ITWAS THEIR HOPE OF RELIEF FOR THE INJUSTICE THEY THEMSELVES OFFERED.
 BUT THEY REALIZED. BUT THEY REALIZED THAT HIS JUSTICE WAS HIS JUST-NESS. HIS HOLINESS, WHICH SIMPLY COULD NOT CO- EXIST WITH EVIL. BUT GOD'S JUST-NESS IS HIS MERCY. HIS ALL KNOWING CONSCIOUSNESS IS NOT THE SUSPICIOUS
EYE OF A DETECTIVE, BUT A CONSTANT PLANNING, IF YOU WILL, HOW TO BRING HIS FREE CHILDREN TO HIMSELF. HIS BEING ALL-POWERFUL IS SIMPLY A DEFINITION OF GOD- HE IS LIMITLESS. BUT HIS POWER IS NEVER MERE FORCE. IT IS RELENTLESS BUT GENTLE PURSUIT OF THE HUMAN HEART, NEVER INTRUDING, BUT ALWAYS CALLING. GOD IS HOLY. THE WORD HOLY SEEMS TO CAUSE DIFFICULTY.
  PERHAPS THE DIFFICULTY ARISES WHEN WE TRY TO APPLY IT TO OUSELVES. IT  SHOULD BE ONLY USED FOR GOD. ( HE THE CREATOR-WE THE CREATION)
 WHEN THE OLD ANGLO-SAXONS USED THE WORD, THEY MEANT WHOLE, WELL, COMPLETE  " GOD IS HOLY" MEANS GOD IS GOODNESS WITHOUT LIMIT, LOVE WITHOUT LIMIT, BEING WITHOUT LIMIT. WE CANNOT IMAGINE THAT KIND OF WHOLENESS. REMEMBER GOD IS ONE, BUT TRIUNE. THE NEW TESTAMENT HAS NOT  CHANGED THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL OF JEWISH BELIEFS: " THERE IS ONE GOD". THREE god's WOULD NOT BE GOD, BECAUSE ONE WOULD LIMIT THE OTHER. WE ALL HAVE A PASSION FOR UNITY BECAUSE WE SENSE THAT ALL THINGS MUST GO BACK TO ONE SOURCE. WE COME THEN TO THE SAME TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN THE CASE OF JESUS. NATURE AND PERSON. GOD IS ONE NATURE, HIS NATURE IS TO BE GOD, DIVINE. SO IN THE ANSWER TO THE  QUESTION "WHAT" WE SAY, GOD IS THE ONE INFINITE BEING WHO IS THE SOURCE OF ALL BEING. ALL CREATION, ALL MEANING.
 BUT WHEN WE SAY "who?" WE ANSWER, BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF CHRISTIAN REVELATION, THAT GOD IS THE FATHER, SON; HOLY SPIRIT- THREE PERSONS IN ONE GOD. WE HAVE A FATHER WHO LOVES US;  HOW THEN DO WE EXPLAIN THE "TRINITY? " WE DON'T EXPLAIN. WE BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE JESUS VERY OBVIOUSLY TOOK IT FOR GRANTED ALL OVER THE NEW TESTAMENT. IF WORDS FAIL US HERE ON THE TRINITY. BEST FOR US TO SIMPLY USE JESUS WAY OF SPEAKING. WE HAVE A FATHER THAT LOVES US; HE RECONCILES US TO HIMSELF BY GIVING US HIS SON MADE MAN; AND HE LIVES IN US BY THE SPIRIT OF HIS LOVE, GOD IS ONE. YET HE IS THE MYSTERY OF THREE INNER RELATIONSHIPS. WE CAN BEST UNDERSTAND GOD BEST WHEN WE LOOK INTO OUR OWN HEARTS AND EXPERIENCE OUR INBORN ATTRACTIONS TO BE WITH OTHERS. GOD IS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THE VERY NATURE OF GOD IS TO POUR OUT LOVE WITHIN HIS ETERNAL LIFE.  MEDITATING ON THE TRINITY. THE VERY NATURE OF GOD IS TO BE "WITH", TO KNOW AND LOVE. GOD IS NOT SOLITARTY, LONELY GOD, BUT A COMMUNITY. WE ARE CALLED AND ENABLED TO JOIN " THE COMMUNITY." GOD ABOVE US (THE FATHER) HAS BECOME GOD WITH US ( THE SON, JESUS) AND GOD IN US ( THE HOLY SPIRIT). THE CHURCH  THEN  TO THE FATHER, IN THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. St PAUL EXPRESSES THE MYSTERY IN A DECEPTIVE SIMPLE BLESSING: THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE FELLOWSHIP [COMMUNION]
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL! " (2COR. 13:13).

ONE MAN'S LIFE. ANON!

 HE WAS AYOUNG MAN BORN IN A OBSCURE VILLAGE, THE CHILD OF A PEASANT WOMEN. HE GREW UP IN ANOTHER VILLAGE. HE WORKED IN A CARPENTER SHOP
UNTIL HE WAS THIRTY, AND THEN FOR THREE YEARS HE WAS ITINERANT PREACHER. HE NEVER WROTE A BOOK. HE NEVER HELD AN OFFICE. HE NEVER OWNED A HOME. HE NEVER HAD A FAMILY. HE NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE. HE NEVER PUT HIS FOOT INTO A BIG CITY. HE NEVER TRAVELED 200 MILES FROM THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS BORN. HE NEVER DID ONE OF THE THINGS THAT USUALLY ACCOMPANY GREATNESS.  HE HAD NO CREDENTIALS BUT HIMSELF.....WHILE HE WAS STILL A YOUNG MAN THE TIDE OF PUBLIC OPINION TURNED AGAINST HIM.
 HIS FRIENDS RAN AWAY. HE WAS TURNED OVER TO HIS ENEMIES. HE WENT THROUGH THE MOCKERY OF A TRIAL. HE WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS BETWEEN TWO THIEVES. WHILE HE WAS DYING, HIS EXECUTIONERS GAMBLED FOR THE ONLY PIECE OF PROPERTY HE HAD ON EARTH, AND THAT WAS HIS COAT. WHEN HE WAS DEAD HE WAS LAID IN A BORROWED GRAVE THROUGH THE PITY OF A FRIEND.
 TWENY- CENTURIES HAVE COME AND  GONE, AND TODAY HE IS THE CENTRAL FIGURE OF THE HUMAN RACE AND THE LEADER OF THE COLUMN OF PROGRESS....
 ALL THE ARMIES THAT EVER MARCHED AND ALL THE NAVYS THAT EVER SAILED, AND ALL THE PARLIAMENTS THAT EVER SAT, AND ALL THE KINGS THAT EVER REIGNED, PUT TOGETHER, HAVE NOT AFFECTED THE LIFE OF MAN UPON THIS EARTH AS HAS THAT ONE SOLITARY LIFE.

COMFORT THY BROTHER. [ST. MATTHEW 18:1-20.]

TEXT:   AT THE TIME THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS SAYING, " WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?"  AND CALLING TO HIM A CHILD, HE PUT HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM AND SAID, "TRUELY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU TURN AND BECOME LIKE CHILDREN, YOU WILL NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
WHOEVER HUMBLES HMSELF LIKE THIS CHILD IS THE GREATEST IN THE INGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHOEVER RECEIVES ONE SUCH CHILD IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME, BUT WHOEVER CAUSES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN ME TO SIN, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM TO HAVE A GREAT MILLSTONE FASTENED AROUND  HIS NECK AND TO BE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA.  '"WOE TO THE WORLD FOR TEMPTATIONS TO SIN! REMEMBER GOD HONORS THE LOST, THE WEAK, THE HUMBLE, THE CHILDREN, AND THE MERCIFUL. STATUS IN THE EYES OF SOCIETY, GOVERMENT, OR EVEN THE CHURCH. DOES NOT EQUATE TO STATUS IN GOD'S EYES.
  LITTLE ISPIRATION "STORY:"  A BOY WENT INTO A PET SHOP, LOOKING FOR A PUPPY. THE STORE OWNER SHOWED HIM A LITTER IN A BOX. THE BOY LOOKED AT THE PUPPIES. HE PICKED EACH ONE UP, EXAMINED IT, AND PUT IT BACK IN THE BOX. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, HE WALKED BY TO THE OWNER AND SAID, " I PICKED ONE OUT. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?" THE MAN GAVE HIM A PRICE AND THE BOY PROMISED TO BE BACK IN A FEW DAYS WITH THE MONEY. THE BOY WENT TO WORK-WEEDING, WASHING WINDOWS, CLEANING YARDS, HE WORKED HARD AND SAVED HIS MONEY. WHEN HE HAD ENOUGH FOR THE PUPPY, HE RETURNED TO THE STORE. HE WALKED UP TO THE COUNTER AND LAID DOWN A POCKET-FUL OF WADDED BILLS. THE STORE OWNER SORTED AND COUNTED THE CASH, " YOU CAN GO GET YOUR PUPPY." THE BOY REACHED IN THE BACK OF THE BOX, PULLED OUT A SKINNY DOG WITH A LIMP LEG, AND STARTED TO LEAVE. THE OWNER STOPPED HIM. " DON'T TAKE THAT PUPPY," HE OBJECTED. HE'S CRIPPLED. HE CAN'T PLAY. HE'LL NEVER RUN WITH YOU. HE CAN'T FETCH. GET ONE OF THE HEALTHY PUPS. " NO THANK YOU SIR." THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF DOG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. AS THE BOY TURNED TO LEAVE, THE STORE OWNER STARTED TO SPEAK BUT REMAINED SILENT. SUDDENLY HE UNDERSTOOD. FOR EXTENDING FROM THE BODY OF THE BOY'S TROUSERS WAS A BRACE-A BRACE FOR HIS CRIPPLED LEG.
WHY DID THE BOY WANT THAT DOG? BECAUSE HE KNEW HOW IT FELT. AND HE KNEW LIKE JESUS KNOW'S HOW YOU AND I FEEL.  IN SPITE OF OUR BEST INTENTIONS, WE ALL SIN EVERY DAY, BUT WE HUMBLY CONFESS OUR SINS AND RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR JESUS SAKE. WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE SINCERELY TRY TO AMEND OUR LIVES, TO GROW IN SANCTIFICATION, IN OTHER WORDS:" HOLINESS."  AND WE REGULARLY ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WHEN WE WORSHIP TOGETHER AND WHEN WE HAVE DAILY CONTACTS WITH ONE ANOTHER. EVEN IF THAT PERSON'S SIN DOES NOT HARM YOU, IT STILL CONCERNS YOU, IN THE SENSE THAT IT DISRUPTS YOUR RELATIONSHIP.TODAY WE LOOK AT THE SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF TIMOTHY, AND THIS IS HIS STORY. IN TIMOTHY WHERE WE MEET AN UNUSUAL MAN. HE IS A MAN OF ABILITY, COURAGE, DECISION, FORCE, GRACE, HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH, AND VISION AND WISDOM. HOW DID HE GET THAT WAY? THROUGH HIS FAMILY BY WAY OF HIS MOTHER WHO WAS A JEWESS BUT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. IN WRITING TO TIMOTHY, A LITTLE LATER  HIS FRIEND PAUL LATER DECLARED THAT TIMOTHY'S FAITH DWELT FIRST IN HIS GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND THEN IN HIS MOTHER EUNICE AND FINALLY IN TIMOTHY. THESE WERE GODLY WOMEN WHOSE HEARTS WERE OPENED TO THE TRUTH AND WHO, WHEN THEY HEARD THE TRUTH, BELIEVED IT AND OBEYED IT. TIMOTHY'S FATHER WHO WAS A GREEK HAD A " GOOD REPORT." HIS HOME WAS IN ASIA MINOR. PAUL HAD VISITED THE CITY ON HIS FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY AND BECAUSE OF A MIRACLE WHICH HE AND BARNABAS HAD PERFORMED,  HE WAS TAKEN FOR THE god MERCURY. WHEN HE REPUDIATED THE WORSHIP OF THE PEOPLE,  THERE WAS A REVULSION ON THEIR PART UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LOCAL PRIEST AND HE WAS STONED AND DRAGGED OUT AND LEFT FOR DEAD.; BUT THE LORD RESTORD HIM AND HE ENTERNED INTO THE CITY, WHERE HE REMAINED THAT NIGHT. IT IS ALTOGETHER PROBABLE THAT TIMOTHY HAD SEEN PAUL LYING IN HIS OWN BLOOD, OR BATTERED FROM THE ROCKS WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS LIFE. ON THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY, PAUL WAS INTERESTED IN FINDING A YOUNG MAN TO ATTEND HIM AS A MINISTER AND HELPER, IN COMING TO LYSTRA, HE FOUND TIMOTHY WHO ALREADY A BELIEVER AND WHO HAD UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN CON VERTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY. JESUS FOLLOWERS TOOK A RISK WHEN THEY BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH AND THE SON OF GOD. THOUGH THEY HAD SEEN JESUS POWER AND AUTHORITY DAILY,  THIS TRANSFORMATION OF JESUS PROVED HE WAS GOD'S SON--THE MESSIAH. HOW DEITY AND HUMANITY CAN COEXIST IN ONE PERSON IS BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING. 'EXAMPLE:"  WE KNOW THAT GOD CANNOT DIE, AND WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS GOD. YET JESUS DIED. HOW CAN THAT BE? HE VEILED THAT GLORY IN A GARB OF FLESH. IF A PRINCE LEAVES THE ROYAL PALACE TO GO AND LIVE IN THE SLUMS, HIS POSITION HAS CHANGED, BUT HE IS STILL THE SAME PERSON. HE CAN EMPTY HIMSELF OF HIS PERSONHOOD. SO IT WAS WITH THE LORD JESUS. HE DID NOT CONSIDER HIS POSITION WITH THE FATHER IN HEAVEN SOMETHING HE HAD TO HOLD ON TO AT ALL COSTS. HE CAME AS A MAN SO THAT HE MIGHT DIE FOR HUMANKIND. WE HOLD TOTHE TRUTH THAT "IN HIM DWELLS THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY" ( COL.2;9).
 TIMOTHY IS AN UNSUAL MAN. HE IS A MAN OF ABILITY, COURAGE, DECISION, FORCE, GRACE, TRUTH, VISION AND WISDOM. WHEN TIMOTHY WAS SELECTED BY PAUL, HE IMMEDIATELY ASSENTED AND PREPARED TO GO WITH HIM. PAUL HAD  TIMOTHY CIRCUMCISED FOR THE SAKE OF THE JEWS WHO WERE IN THE AREA.
SCRIPTURES SAYS: ACCORDING TO (1TIM.4:14); (the people in Enfield are not to read this blog!).
TIMOTHY WAS SET APART IN THE PRESBYTERY BY LAYING ON THE HANDS. THUS HE RECIEVED THE GIFT OF PROPHESY AS A MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIS LIFE. HE BEGAN HIS APOSTOLIC AND MISSIONARY JOURNEY WITH PAUL AND SILAS. TRAVELING NORTHWARD TOWARD BITHYNIA THEN WESTWARD. TOWARD TROAS, AND AFTER RECEIVING THE VISION OF THE MAN IN MACEDONIA, WENT INTO PHILIPPI OF EUROPE. THERE HE WITNESS THE BEATING OF PAUL AND SILAS. AND THEIR IMPRISONMENT, ALTHOUGH HE WAS SPARED THIS ORDEAL, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF HIS YOUTH. (ACTS: 16:23-24).  IN THE MIDST OF ALL THESE SUBSEQUENT
PERSECUTIONS THROUGH WHICH PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS PASSED, SOMETHING HELD TIMOTHY STEADY IN HIS NEW FOUND FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. THEIR IS NOT TOO MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY WHO COULD ENDURE THE BEATINGS, TORTUES, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WAITING FOR THE NEXT DAY'S PERSECUTIONS THAT YOU COULD EXPECT DAY AFTER DAY FOR THIS NEW FOUND RELIGION, AND THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE IF YOU ENDURED. BUT TIMOTHY WAS NOW READY FOR THE PRICE HE HAD TO PAY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE  "GIFTS OF GOD". SO THAT HE BECAME PAUL'S RIGHT HAND MAN! WHEN PAUL WROTE HIS LAST LETTER FROM THE PRISON IN ROME, HE URGED HIM TO "STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US." TIMOTHY WAS A DISCIPLE BEFORE PAUL LAID HIS HANDS ON HIM IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMING INTO THE MINISTRY. HE WAS SAVED ACCORDING TO (ACTS 16). THIS WAS A GREAT JOY TO PAUL. THE GIFT OF GOD THAT WAS TOLD TO TIMOTHY BY PAUL, REFERS TO THE GIFT OF THE "HOLY SPIRIT." IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SENSE, AFTER PENTECOST (ACTS 2:33-38). THE'HOLY SPIRIT.'' IS GOD, THIS ATTRIBUTE OF GOD IS OMNIPOTENT "HE IS (EVERYWHERE)."  AND ABIDES WITHIN US. REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.  AS WE READ IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, THE GREAT DOCTRINE OF THE APOLOGETIC PREACHING IS THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. ST. PAUL REMINDS US IT IS THE RISEN, GLORIFIED AND LIVING CHRIST WHO RELEASES THE 'HOLY SPIRIT'  IN THE BELIEVER. IT IS WELL TO REMEMBER THOSE UNDER WHOM WE LEARNED THE WORD OF GOD, NAMELY OUR PARENTS, OUR PREACHERS, OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, THE GREAT DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH. PAUL KNEW THAT IF TIMOTHY WOULD REVERT TO THE SCRIPTURES; HE HAD THE POWER TO REBUKE AND INSTRUCT.  LUTHER STARTED THE REFORMATION: WITH THE WORDS HOLDING UP A BIBLE, " GOD SAID IT." "I BELIEVE IT). " THAT'S IT "
 FINALLY: A  AFTER THOUGHT. WHEN A YOUNG MAN WANTED TO MARRY A YOUNG LADY, HIS DAD WOULD TAKE HIM OVER TO THE GIRLS HOUSE AND DAD TO DAD  THEY WOULD WORK OUT A PRICE OF A DOWRY ( OR A BRIDES PRICE) WHICH CHRIST
 PAID FOR THE CHURCH WITH HIS LIFE. ONCE THE PRICE WAS SET, THE YOUNG GIRL'S FATHER  WOULD HAND TO THE YOUNG MAN A CUP OF WINE, AND HE WOULD GO IN WHERE THE GIRL WAS WAITING, AND OFFERING THE CUP WOULD SAY THESE WORDS: "I GIVE YOU MY LIFE, NOW IF SHE REFUSED THE CUP THE WEDDING WAS OFF. IF SHE TAKES THE CUP:" SHE SAYS: " I GIVE YOU MY LIFE." THE WEDDING IS ON. NOW WHEN WE COME TO THE ALTAR IN WORSHIP THE MINISTER EXTENDS THE CUP, IN JESUS NAME AND PLACE: JESUS IS  SAYING:"I LOVE YOU. I GIVE YOU MY LIFE; NOW WHEN YOU ACCEPT IT; YOU ARE SAYING IN RETURN: YOU ARE GIVING HIM YOUR LIFE!"