A WOMEN IN PAIN COME FORWARD OUT OF THE CROWD AND TOUCHES JESUS. SHE IS HEALED. LET THIS BIBLICAL STORY BE FOR US A PARABLE OF JESUS AND HIS CARE FOR US. JESUS EXUDES LIFE, LIFE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH., IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHOM THE WORLD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IN THEIR PAIN. IN TODAY'S TEXT, WE SEE A TECHNIQUE. THAT IS TYPICAL OF MARK, A BRACKETING. BASICALLY " BRACKETING" MEANS THAT MARK BEGINS A STORY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER STORY IS TOLD WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE ORIGINAL STORY. THE FIRST STORY, THE STORY OF THE HEALING OF THE DAUGHTER OF THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, TH IS THE STORY ABOUT A PROMINENT MAN WHO BESEECHES JESUS TO COME AND HEAL HIS DAUGHTER. ON THE WAY, JESUS IS INTERRUPTED, DISTRACTED BY THE WOMEN WHO TOUCHES HIM, SEEKING HEALING FOR HERSELF. UNLIKE THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, SHE IS A NOBODY. SHE HAS NO NAME. WE ARE ONLY INTRODUCED TO HER AS A WOMAN WHO HAD AN ISSUE OF BLOOD FOR TWELVE YEARS. SHE HAD SUFFERED UNDER THE MINISTRATIONS OF MAN AND AND DOCTORS. BY INTERRUPTING ONE STORY WITH ANOTHER, MARK HAS THE EFFECT OF EXPANDING THE IMAGE OF JESUS AS THE HEALER. JESUS IS NOT ONLY SOMEONE WHO TURNS TO THOSE IN POSITION OF POWER, LIKE THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, BUT HE IS OPEN TO BEING TOUCHED, INTERRUPTED BY A WOMEN WHO IS AN ANONYMOUS SUFFER. . A POOR [MARINAL, SICK WOMEN] ON HER WAY TO DEATH, HER LIFE BLOOD LEAVING HER, TOUCHES JESUS. IN SO DOING, SHE IS TOLD TO GO IN PEACE. SO MIGHT WE. SOMETIMES THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, IN LIFE ARE THE INTRUSIONS. YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY SOMEWHERE, WITH AN AGENDA, A CLEAR, DIRECT PURPOSE IN MIND, AND YOU GET DISTRACTED. SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP THAT DEMANDS YOUR ATTENTION, AND THAT "SOMETHING ELSE" TURNS OUT TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE JOURNEY ON WHICH YOU ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED. TODAYS TEXT FROM MARK IS A STORY ABOUT A WOMAN WHO HAS A INTRUSION. HERE IN THE SECTION OF SCRIPTURE, JESUS IS ABOUT IMPORTANT BUSINESS IN THE VERSES JUST BEFORE THE INTRUSIONS. HERE IN THE SECTION OF SCRIPTURE, JESUS IS ABOUT IMPORTANT BUSINESS. IN THE VERSES JUST BEFORE THE INTRUSIONS, A LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, AN IMPORTANT AND IMPRESSIVE MAN, PERSUADES JESUS TO MAKE A VISIT ON HIS DAUGHTER WHO IS AILING. ON THE WAY TO DO SOMETHING VERY GOOD, FOR THIS PERSON AND HIS DAUGHTER, JESUS GETS DISTRACTED, THIS WOMEN APPEARS FROM THE MARGINS AND DEMANDS TO BE NOTICED AS SHE MAKES HER WAY INTO THE STORY. WE DON'T KNOW THE WOMAN'S NAME. WE KNOW NOTHING OF HER FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES. ALL WE ARE TOLD IS THAT SHE IS A WOMAN IN PAIN. FOR TWELVE YEARS SHE HAS BEEN HEMORRHAGING , THAT IS LOT OF BLOOD TO LOSE. SHE MAKES HER LAST EFFORT TO LIVE, SHE REACHES OUT FROM THE MARGINS TO MOVE NEAR THE POWER, HER HAND MOVING TO TOWARD JESUS?
YOU KNOW THE THE PICTURE BY MICHEAL ANGELO OF THE CREATION OF ADAM IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL? THERE, THE ALMIGHTY GOD, THE FATHER REACHES OUT TO TOUCH THE LIFELESS BODY OF ADAM, TO GIVE HIM THE SPARK OF LIFE.
HERE THE ACTION MOVES IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. AS THE WOMAN REACHES OUT WITH HER BLOODY FINGER TOWARD JESUS, TOWARD LIFE.
SHE HAS SAID TO HERSELF, " IF I CAN ONLY TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT, I WILL BE WELL."
THIS IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST IMAGES OF FAITH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT- HER HAND REACHING OUT FROM THE MARGINS OF THE CROWD TO WHERE SHE WAS PUSHED BY HER POVERTY, HER PAIN, HER GENDER, REACHING OUT TO TOUCH JESUS, THE LORD, THE GIVER OF LIFE. SHE REACHES OUT AND RECEIVES THE LIFE FOR WHICH SHE HOPED.
IMMEDIATELY ( ONE OF MARK'S FAVORITE WORDS, euthus) SHE IS HEALED, FOR THE ONE PUSHED TO THE MARGINS OF LIFE. NOW JESUS SPEAKS. YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THE TONE OF HIS VOICE IF HE IS UPSET, BECAUSE SOME OF THE POWER LEFT HIM TOWARD THIS HURTING PERSON. PERHAPS HE SPEAKS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO KNOW WHO KNOW THIS PERSON IS WITH SUCH FAITH THAT SHE DEMANDED A "BLESSING." PERHAPS THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST HEALING MOMENTS IN THE WHOLE STORY. THIS WOMAN WAS AN UNKNOWN, IDENTIFIED ONLY BY HER BLEEDING AND HER PAIN, IS NOW GOING TO BE KNOWN BY FACE, BY NAME AND HER INDIVIDUALITY. AGAIN SHE TAKES MATTERS IN HAND AND IDENTIFIES HERSELF.
HE PRAISE HER ACTION, BLESSES HER, WHICH PLACES HER "IN THE FAMILY OF GOD" WHEN JESUS SAYS: " YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL." MARK GOES BACK TO THE BIG STORY. THE STORY ABOUT THE DAUGHTER OF THE LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE. " IF FOR THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPED IN CHRIST," PAUL WRITES, " "WE ARE ALL PEOPLE MOSTO BE PITIED." (1 COR 15:19) JESUS CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE, TAKING ON OUR POVERTY THAT WE MIGHT SHARE HIS RICHES (2COR. 8:9). DYING THAT WE MAY LIVE NOW, AND IN THE LIFE TO COME.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Friday, April 27, 2018
BEHEADING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. [MARK 6:14-29
KING HEROD HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS JESUS WHO HAD BECOME WELL KNOWN. SOME WERE SAYING, " JOHN THE BAPTIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD, AND THAT IS WHY MIRACULOUS POWERS ARE AT WORK IN HIM.
OTHERS SAID, " HE IS ELIJAH."
AND STILL OTHERS CLAIMED, " HE IS A PROPHET, LIKE ONE OF THE PROPHETS OF LONG AGO.
BUT WHEN HEROD HEARD THIS, HE SAID, JOHN THE MAN I BEHEADED, HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD!" FOR HEROD HIMSELF HAD GIVEN ORDERS TO HAVE JOHN ARRESTED AND HAD HIM BOUND AND PUT IN PRISON. HE DID THIS BECAUSE HERODIAS, HIS BROTHER PHILIP'S WIFE, WHOM HE HAD MARRIED. JOHN HAD BEEN SAYING, " IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR BROTHER'S WIFE." SO HERODIAS NURSED A GRUDGE AGAINST JOHN AND WANTED TO KILL HIM. BUT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO, BECAUSE HEROD FEARED JOHN AND PROTECTED HIM, KNOWING HIM TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN. WHEN HEROD HEARD JOHN, HE WAS GREATLY PUZZLED, YET HE LIKED TO LISTEN TO HIM. FINALLY THE OPPORTUNE TIME CAME. HEROD ON HIS BIRTHDAY GAVE A BANQUET FOR HIGH OFFICIALS AND MILITARY COMMANDERS AND THE LEADING MEN OF GALILEE.
WHEN THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS CAME IN AND DANCED, SHE PLEASED HEROD AND HIS DINNER GUESTS.
THE KING SAID TO THE GIRL, ASK ME ANYTHING YOU WANT, AND I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. AND HE PROMISED HER WITH AN OATH. " WHATEVER YOU ASK I WILL GIVE YOU, UP TO HALF OF MY KINGDOM." SHE WENT OUT AND ASKED HER MOTHER, ' WHAT SHALL I ASK FOR?"
"THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST." SHE ANSWERED.
AT ONCE THE GIRL HURRIED INTO THE KING WITH THE REQUEST: " I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME RIGHT NOW THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ON A PLATTER.
THE KING WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE OATH AND HIS DINNER GUESTS, HE DID NOT WANT TO REFUSE HER. SO HE IMMEDIATELY SENT AN EXECUTIONER WITH ORDERS TO BRING JOHN'S HEAD. THE MAN WENT, BEHEADED JOHN IN PRISON AND BROUGHT BACK HIS HEAD ON A PLATTER. HE PRESENTED IT TO THE GIRL, AND SHE GAVE IT TO HER MOTHER. ON HEARING THIS, JOHN'S DISCIPLES CAME AND TOOK HIS BODY AND LAID IT IN A TOMB.
THIS INCREASED ACTIVITY OF OUR LORD, HIS SENDING THE APOSTLES OUT ON PREACHING MISSIONS, DID NOT GO UNNOTICED. WHEN KING HEROD HEARD ABOUT IT, HE WAS REMINDED OF JOHN'S ACTIVITIES. IN FACT, HE WAS CONVINCED THAT JESUS WAS JOHN "RAISED FROM THE DEAD."
THE STORY OF HEROD AND HERODIAS HAD ALL HE EARMARKS OF A T.V. SOAP OPERA. ONLY IT WAS REAL LIFE. A BRIEF REVIEW FROM THE HISTORIAN "JOSEPHUS" WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND HERODIAS HATRED FOR JOHN. HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE SON OF HEROD THE GREAT, WHO RULED AT THE TIME OF JESUS BIRTH. HIS MOTHER WAS MALTHACE ONE OF THE TEN WOMEN WHO AT SOME TIME OR OTHER WERE WIVES OF HEROD THE GREAT. HEROD ANTIPAS, POPULARLY KNOWN AS KING, WAS ACTUALLY TETRARCH AND RULED OVER GALILEE AND PEREA FROM 4.B.C. TO A.D. 39. HIS FIRST WIFE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF ARETAS IV RULER OF NABATAEA, AN ARAB KINGDOM SOUTHEAST OF PALESTINE HAVING ITS CAPITAL AT PETRA. ARETAS IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN 2ND CORINTHIANS [11:32] AND AT THAT TIME SEEMS TO HAD CONTROL OF DAMASCUS AS WELL. IN [A.D. 27]. HEROD ANTIPAS VISITED ROME AND THERE MET THE BEAUTIFUL AND AMBITIOUS HERODIAS, DAUGHTER OF HIS HALF-BROTHER ARISTOBULUS ( THUS HIS NIECE) WHO WAS THEN MARRIED, TO ANOTHER OF HIS HALF BROTHERS, HEROD PHILIP. THEY DESERTED THEIR SPOUSES AND MARRIED, THOUGH RELATED IN A DEGREE FORBIDDEN IN LEVITICUS [18:16] AND [20:21]. THE FIRST WIFE OF ANTIPAS UPON HEARING ABOUT IT FLED BACK TO HER FATHER'S COURT, AND THAT LATER LED TO A WAR IN WHICH HEROD WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED IN [A.D. 36]. HEROD'S MARITAL ESCAPADE BECAME TALK OF THE ENTIRE REGION. JOHN THE BAPTIST ALSO CENTURED THE INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP. THIS ENRAGED HERODIAS AND LED TO JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT AND TO HIS MURDER. HOW OFTEN MURDER AND ADULTERY GO TOGETHER.
WHEN HEROD HEARD OF JESUS ACTIVITY AND THAT OF HIS DISCIPLES, HE WAS CONVINCED THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT JOHN HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE. NOT ONLY HEROD THOUGHT SO, BUT MANY ALSO. THAT'S HOW THEY EXPLAINED THE MIRACLES DONE BY CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES. NOTE, THEY DID NOT DENY THE RESURRECTION.
WHEN JOHN HAD ORIGINALLY APPEARED PREACHING AND BAPTIZING, PRIESTS AND LEVITES FROM JERUSALEM, MINDFUL OF THE PROPHECY IN MALACHI [4:5,6,]
HAD QUESTIONED JOHN. THEY ASKED WHETHER HE WAS THE PROMISED MESSIAH OR ELIJAH OR ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. JOHN DENIED BEING ANY OF THEM AND STATED THAT HE WAS THE ONE SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE MESSIAH.
BUT THE RUMORS DID NOT STOP, AND, WHEN HE DIED AND JESUS ACTIVITY INCREASED, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO IDENTIFY JESUS AS JOHN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE, AS ELIJAH, AS THE PROPHET OF DEUTERONOMY [18:15], OR AS THE ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. MARK [8:27,28]. THOUGH ALL THIS FELL SHORT OF REALITY, IT TESTIFIES TO THE IMPRESSION CHRIST MADE ON THOSE WHO HEARD ABOUT HIM.
HEROD'S REACTION WAS DICTATED BY AN EVIL CONSCIENCE.
AT THIS POINT MARK RECORDS WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN SOMETIME BEFORE THIS IN THE FORTRESS OF MACHAERUS NEAR THE DEAD SEA. HEROD HAD IMPRISONED JOHN TO SATISFY HIS "WIFE'S DEMANDS. HEROD HAD WANTED TO KILL JOHN, BUT FEARED TO DO SO, BECAUSE, HE KNEW JOHN TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN (MATTHEW 14:5). STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, HEROD LIKE TO LISTEN TO JOHN, ALTHOUGH HE WAS "GREATLY PUZZLED," SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED OF A MAN WHO HAD VIOLATED EVERYTHING GOD HAD ORDERED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THIS EXPLAINS WHY JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT WAS LESS HARSH THAN USUAL MATTHEW [11:2] AND LUKE [ 7:19] RECORD THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE PERMITTED TO VISIT HIM. THIS INFURIATED HERODIAS. FINALLY HER CHANCE FOR REVENGE CAME AND HER PLANNING PAID OFF. BUT THE MOST TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THIS SOAP- OPERA- LIKE AFFAIR WAS HEROD. DISTRESSED, YES! BUT HIS PRIDE DID NOT PERMIT HIM TO RECANT HIS OATH. HE FEARED MEN MORE THAN GOD. WHAT A WARNING FOR US TO READ IT!
AND JOHN? HE HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE FOR DEATH. IN WALKED A SOLDIER, AND OFF CAME JOHN'S HEAD. BUT HE WAS PREPARED, HE KNEW HIS SAVIOR. WHILE IN PRISON, WHEN HIS MIND ONCE RAISED QUESTIONS, HE SENT HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST., "ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS TO COME; OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER"? JESUS SAID: " GO TELL JOHN WHAT YOU HEAR AND SEE. THE BLIND REGAIN THEIR SIGHT, THE LAME WALK, LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, THE DEAF HEAR, THE DEAD ARE RAISED, AND THE POOR HAVE THE "GOOD NEWS" PROCLAIMED TO THEM, AND BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TAKES NO OFFENSE AT ME. MATT. [12:5]
THOUGH JOHN DIED AT [33], WE NEED NOT FEEL SORRY FOR HIM. HE DIED TRUSTING AND BELIEVING IN THE "SAVIOR" WHOSE WAY HE PREPARED. IT IS HEROD, HERODIAS, SALOME, AND THE GUESTS AT THE BANQUET WHOM WE FEEL SORRY FOR. LATER IN HOLY WEEK, HEROD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF QUESTIONING CHRIST PERSONALLY, BUT HIS RECORD THEN IS NO BETTER THAN IT WAS WITH JOHN. THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN, CLEARLY WITH HEROD'S PERMISSION CAME AND TOOK THE BODY AND BURIED IT. "AMEN."
OTHERS SAID, " HE IS ELIJAH."
AND STILL OTHERS CLAIMED, " HE IS A PROPHET, LIKE ONE OF THE PROPHETS OF LONG AGO.
BUT WHEN HEROD HEARD THIS, HE SAID, JOHN THE MAN I BEHEADED, HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD!" FOR HEROD HIMSELF HAD GIVEN ORDERS TO HAVE JOHN ARRESTED AND HAD HIM BOUND AND PUT IN PRISON. HE DID THIS BECAUSE HERODIAS, HIS BROTHER PHILIP'S WIFE, WHOM HE HAD MARRIED. JOHN HAD BEEN SAYING, " IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR BROTHER'S WIFE." SO HERODIAS NURSED A GRUDGE AGAINST JOHN AND WANTED TO KILL HIM. BUT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO, BECAUSE HEROD FEARED JOHN AND PROTECTED HIM, KNOWING HIM TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN. WHEN HEROD HEARD JOHN, HE WAS GREATLY PUZZLED, YET HE LIKED TO LISTEN TO HIM. FINALLY THE OPPORTUNE TIME CAME. HEROD ON HIS BIRTHDAY GAVE A BANQUET FOR HIGH OFFICIALS AND MILITARY COMMANDERS AND THE LEADING MEN OF GALILEE.
WHEN THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS CAME IN AND DANCED, SHE PLEASED HEROD AND HIS DINNER GUESTS.
THE KING SAID TO THE GIRL, ASK ME ANYTHING YOU WANT, AND I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. AND HE PROMISED HER WITH AN OATH. " WHATEVER YOU ASK I WILL GIVE YOU, UP TO HALF OF MY KINGDOM." SHE WENT OUT AND ASKED HER MOTHER, ' WHAT SHALL I ASK FOR?"
"THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST." SHE ANSWERED.
AT ONCE THE GIRL HURRIED INTO THE KING WITH THE REQUEST: " I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME RIGHT NOW THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ON A PLATTER.
THE KING WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE OATH AND HIS DINNER GUESTS, HE DID NOT WANT TO REFUSE HER. SO HE IMMEDIATELY SENT AN EXECUTIONER WITH ORDERS TO BRING JOHN'S HEAD. THE MAN WENT, BEHEADED JOHN IN PRISON AND BROUGHT BACK HIS HEAD ON A PLATTER. HE PRESENTED IT TO THE GIRL, AND SHE GAVE IT TO HER MOTHER. ON HEARING THIS, JOHN'S DISCIPLES CAME AND TOOK HIS BODY AND LAID IT IN A TOMB.
THIS INCREASED ACTIVITY OF OUR LORD, HIS SENDING THE APOSTLES OUT ON PREACHING MISSIONS, DID NOT GO UNNOTICED. WHEN KING HEROD HEARD ABOUT IT, HE WAS REMINDED OF JOHN'S ACTIVITIES. IN FACT, HE WAS CONVINCED THAT JESUS WAS JOHN "RAISED FROM THE DEAD."
THE STORY OF HEROD AND HERODIAS HAD ALL HE EARMARKS OF A T.V. SOAP OPERA. ONLY IT WAS REAL LIFE. A BRIEF REVIEW FROM THE HISTORIAN "JOSEPHUS" WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND HERODIAS HATRED FOR JOHN. HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE SON OF HEROD THE GREAT, WHO RULED AT THE TIME OF JESUS BIRTH. HIS MOTHER WAS MALTHACE ONE OF THE TEN WOMEN WHO AT SOME TIME OR OTHER WERE WIVES OF HEROD THE GREAT. HEROD ANTIPAS, POPULARLY KNOWN AS KING, WAS ACTUALLY TETRARCH AND RULED OVER GALILEE AND PEREA FROM 4.B.C. TO A.D. 39. HIS FIRST WIFE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF ARETAS IV RULER OF NABATAEA, AN ARAB KINGDOM SOUTHEAST OF PALESTINE HAVING ITS CAPITAL AT PETRA. ARETAS IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN 2ND CORINTHIANS [11:32] AND AT THAT TIME SEEMS TO HAD CONTROL OF DAMASCUS AS WELL. IN [A.D. 27]. HEROD ANTIPAS VISITED ROME AND THERE MET THE BEAUTIFUL AND AMBITIOUS HERODIAS, DAUGHTER OF HIS HALF-BROTHER ARISTOBULUS ( THUS HIS NIECE) WHO WAS THEN MARRIED, TO ANOTHER OF HIS HALF BROTHERS, HEROD PHILIP. THEY DESERTED THEIR SPOUSES AND MARRIED, THOUGH RELATED IN A DEGREE FORBIDDEN IN LEVITICUS [18:16] AND [20:21]. THE FIRST WIFE OF ANTIPAS UPON HEARING ABOUT IT FLED BACK TO HER FATHER'S COURT, AND THAT LATER LED TO A WAR IN WHICH HEROD WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED IN [A.D. 36]. HEROD'S MARITAL ESCAPADE BECAME TALK OF THE ENTIRE REGION. JOHN THE BAPTIST ALSO CENTURED THE INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP. THIS ENRAGED HERODIAS AND LED TO JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT AND TO HIS MURDER. HOW OFTEN MURDER AND ADULTERY GO TOGETHER.
WHEN HEROD HEARD OF JESUS ACTIVITY AND THAT OF HIS DISCIPLES, HE WAS CONVINCED THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT JOHN HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE. NOT ONLY HEROD THOUGHT SO, BUT MANY ALSO. THAT'S HOW THEY EXPLAINED THE MIRACLES DONE BY CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES. NOTE, THEY DID NOT DENY THE RESURRECTION.
WHEN JOHN HAD ORIGINALLY APPEARED PREACHING AND BAPTIZING, PRIESTS AND LEVITES FROM JERUSALEM, MINDFUL OF THE PROPHECY IN MALACHI [4:5,6,]
HAD QUESTIONED JOHN. THEY ASKED WHETHER HE WAS THE PROMISED MESSIAH OR ELIJAH OR ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. JOHN DENIED BEING ANY OF THEM AND STATED THAT HE WAS THE ONE SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE MESSIAH.
BUT THE RUMORS DID NOT STOP, AND, WHEN HE DIED AND JESUS ACTIVITY INCREASED, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO IDENTIFY JESUS AS JOHN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE, AS ELIJAH, AS THE PROPHET OF DEUTERONOMY [18:15], OR AS THE ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS. MARK [8:27,28]. THOUGH ALL THIS FELL SHORT OF REALITY, IT TESTIFIES TO THE IMPRESSION CHRIST MADE ON THOSE WHO HEARD ABOUT HIM.
HEROD'S REACTION WAS DICTATED BY AN EVIL CONSCIENCE.
AT THIS POINT MARK RECORDS WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN SOMETIME BEFORE THIS IN THE FORTRESS OF MACHAERUS NEAR THE DEAD SEA. HEROD HAD IMPRISONED JOHN TO SATISFY HIS "WIFE'S DEMANDS. HEROD HAD WANTED TO KILL JOHN, BUT FEARED TO DO SO, BECAUSE, HE KNEW JOHN TO BE A RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY MAN (MATTHEW 14:5). STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, HEROD LIKE TO LISTEN TO JOHN, ALTHOUGH HE WAS "GREATLY PUZZLED," SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED OF A MAN WHO HAD VIOLATED EVERYTHING GOD HAD ORDERED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THIS EXPLAINS WHY JOHN'S IMPRISONMENT WAS LESS HARSH THAN USUAL MATTHEW [11:2] AND LUKE [ 7:19] RECORD THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE PERMITTED TO VISIT HIM. THIS INFURIATED HERODIAS. FINALLY HER CHANCE FOR REVENGE CAME AND HER PLANNING PAID OFF. BUT THE MOST TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THIS SOAP- OPERA- LIKE AFFAIR WAS HEROD. DISTRESSED, YES! BUT HIS PRIDE DID NOT PERMIT HIM TO RECANT HIS OATH. HE FEARED MEN MORE THAN GOD. WHAT A WARNING FOR US TO READ IT!
AND JOHN? HE HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE FOR DEATH. IN WALKED A SOLDIER, AND OFF CAME JOHN'S HEAD. BUT HE WAS PREPARED, HE KNEW HIS SAVIOR. WHILE IN PRISON, WHEN HIS MIND ONCE RAISED QUESTIONS, HE SENT HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST., "ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS TO COME; OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER"? JESUS SAID: " GO TELL JOHN WHAT YOU HEAR AND SEE. THE BLIND REGAIN THEIR SIGHT, THE LAME WALK, LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, THE DEAF HEAR, THE DEAD ARE RAISED, AND THE POOR HAVE THE "GOOD NEWS" PROCLAIMED TO THEM, AND BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TAKES NO OFFENSE AT ME. MATT. [12:5]
THOUGH JOHN DIED AT [33], WE NEED NOT FEEL SORRY FOR HIM. HE DIED TRUSTING AND BELIEVING IN THE "SAVIOR" WHOSE WAY HE PREPARED. IT IS HEROD, HERODIAS, SALOME, AND THE GUESTS AT THE BANQUET WHOM WE FEEL SORRY FOR. LATER IN HOLY WEEK, HEROD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF QUESTIONING CHRIST PERSONALLY, BUT HIS RECORD THEN IS NO BETTER THAN IT WAS WITH JOHN. THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN, CLEARLY WITH HEROD'S PERMISSION CAME AND TOOK THE BODY AND BURIED IT. "AMEN."
Thursday, April 26, 2018
BUT WHERE IS HE?
THERE'S AN OLD STORY ABOUT AN ABBOT OF A MONASTERY WHO BECAME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LOW MORALE OF HIS COMMUNITY, WHERE THE ATTITUDES AMONG THE MONKS WERE VERY LOW. IT WAS SO BAD, IN FACT, THAT FEW VISITORS WERE COMING TO DO RETREATS BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF WARMTH, LOVE, AND ENTHUSIASM. OUT OF SHEER DESPERATION. THE ABBOT SOUGHT OUT A JEWISH HERMIT, THAT IT WASN'T EASY FOR HIM TO COME FOR COUNSEL. BUT SWALLOWING HIS FALSE PRIDE, HE DID SO NONE-THE -LESS. THE HERMIT DIDN'T SEEM INTERESTED IN THE FEELING STATE OF THE ABBOT. RATHER ,HE TOOK HIM TO A ROCK. AND SAID..."THERE IS YOUR ANSWER." HE WENT ON TO SAY: "I HAVE BEEN GUARDING THIS SECRET FOR MANY YEARS. "I ALSO HAVE BEEN MEDITATING ON THE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS, "THE REDEEMER LIVES!" POINTING TO THE HEBREW CHARACTERS ENGRAVED ON THE STONE. "WHAT DOES THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PROBLEMS I HAVE AT THE MONASTERY, THE POOR MORALE, THE LACK OF SENSE OF CALLING?" THE ABBOT WANTED TO KNOW. "I HAVE BROODED OVER THESE WORDS FOR MANY YEARS," SAID THE HERMIT, AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THE REDEEMER IS NOW HERE ON EARTH AND LIVING IN YOUR MONASTERY. "." CHRIST HAS COME BACK AND IS ONE OF MY MONKS?" THE ABBOT ASKED WITH ASTONISHMENT, BUT THE HERMIT REFUSED TO ANSWER. HE SIMPLY LOOKED UPON THE ABBOT TENDERLY, BUT WITH SOME SADNESS. THE ABBOT RETURNED TO HIS MONASTERY AND BEGAN TO LOOK AT EACH MONK WITH WONDER AND FEAR; STUDYING EACH FACE CAREFULLY, LOOKING FOR A SIGN; AND EVERY MONK SEEMED TO BE CHARGED WITH MYSTERY. THE ABBOT WONDERED WHICH ONE WAS THE CHRIST AND HOW HE SHOULD TREAT HIM IF HE EVER FOUND OUT. FINALLY HE COULD KEEP THE SECRET NO LONGER, SHARING IT WITH THE ELDEST OF THE MONKS. AND SOON THE WORD OF THIS ASTONISHING NEWS SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
THEN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE MONKS BEGAN TO CHANGE. EVERYONE TREATED THE OTHER AS SOMEONE SPECIAL, WITH LOVE, A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE, AND READINESS TO SACRIFICE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WHEN PILGRIMS CAME TO THE MONASTERY THEY WERE QUICKLY TAKEN BY THE WHOLESOME ATTITUDE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE ENERGY, THE LOVE, AND THE DEEP CONCERN EXPRESSED FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL. SOON THE MONASTERY WAS THRONGING WITH VISITORS. YEARS LATER ON HIS DEATH BED THE ABBOT ASKED FOR THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT CAME, LOOKING YOUNGER THAN EVER. "YOU MUST TELL ME, THE ABBOT SAID." WHICH ONE IS MY REDEEMER?" THEY ARE ALL SO ORDINARY AND YET SO SPECIAL. I SEE SO MUCH GOOD IN EVERYONE OF THEM,
SOMETHING DIVINE. THEY ALL REMIND ME OF CHRIST."
" AND YOU HAVEN'T DISCOVERED THE SECRET?" THE HERMIT ASKED.
"PERHAPS I HAVE.," THE ABBOT SMILED. FOR HE KNEW THAT THE REDEEMER WAS LIVING IN THE MONASTERY AND THAT HIS DWELLING PLACE WAS IN THE ABBOT'S HEART AND THE HEARTS OF ALL HE LOVED AND SERVED. "NOW I CAN DEPART IN PEACE," HE SAID, AND SO HE DID.
THE HERMIT RETURNED, TO HIS CAVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, BUT LEFT, THESE "SPIRITUAL PROMISES" FOR THE REMAINING MONKS:
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BEGIN TO CHANGE: WHAT HAS BEEN STALE BECOMES FRESH AGAIN AND YOU ARE NEVER BORED.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, GOD IS READY ( HE'S ONLY A PRAYER AWAY!)
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU EXPERIENCE MANY SURPRISES AN ARE ABLE TO REJOICE IN THE UNEXPECTED.
STAY CLOSE TO GOD.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BECOME SENSITIZED TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT IS FILLED WITH THE NEW EXPECTATION TO SEE AND TO HEAR.
GOD IS VERY DETERMINED TO HAVE YOU.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE SET FREE TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE NEWNESS THAT HAS INFILTRATED YOUR LIFE. YOU SEE NEW COLORS, HEAR NEW SOUNDS, TASTE NEW TASTES, AND FEEL NEW SENSATIONS OF JOY.
DEVELOP YOUR INNER SILENCE AND GOD WILL MEET YOU THERE.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOUR WORLD OF EXPERIENCE IS FILLED WITH SURPRISES OF JOY BECAUSE OF GIFTS YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE AND FOR WHICH YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
ASK FOR INSPIRATION AND ASPIRATION WILL FOLLOW.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE MORE OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD, TOGETHER WITH ALL SURPRISES, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE UNEXPECTED JOYS OF LIFE, BY BECOMING A "YANKEE FAN." EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SORROW!
FAME AND RICHES ARE NOT IN JESUS CLASSIFICATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND BENEFITS.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO FEEL NEW STIRRINGS OF LIFE WITHIN YOURSELF WHICH RESULT IN NEW EXCITEMENT BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN AWAKENED TO THE BOUNTIFUL MYSTERIES OF GOD WHICH ARE ACTIVE IN EVERY SURGE OF LIFE.. "AMEN!"
THEN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE MONKS BEGAN TO CHANGE. EVERYONE TREATED THE OTHER AS SOMEONE SPECIAL, WITH LOVE, A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE, AND READINESS TO SACRIFICE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WHEN PILGRIMS CAME TO THE MONASTERY THEY WERE QUICKLY TAKEN BY THE WHOLESOME ATTITUDE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE ENERGY, THE LOVE, AND THE DEEP CONCERN EXPRESSED FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL. SOON THE MONASTERY WAS THRONGING WITH VISITORS. YEARS LATER ON HIS DEATH BED THE ABBOT ASKED FOR THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT WHO CAME TO HIS BEDSIDE. THE HERMIT CAME, LOOKING YOUNGER THAN EVER. "YOU MUST TELL ME, THE ABBOT SAID." WHICH ONE IS MY REDEEMER?" THEY ARE ALL SO ORDINARY AND YET SO SPECIAL. I SEE SO MUCH GOOD IN EVERYONE OF THEM,
SOMETHING DIVINE. THEY ALL REMIND ME OF CHRIST."
" AND YOU HAVEN'T DISCOVERED THE SECRET?" THE HERMIT ASKED.
"PERHAPS I HAVE.," THE ABBOT SMILED. FOR HE KNEW THAT THE REDEEMER WAS LIVING IN THE MONASTERY AND THAT HIS DWELLING PLACE WAS IN THE ABBOT'S HEART AND THE HEARTS OF ALL HE LOVED AND SERVED. "NOW I CAN DEPART IN PEACE," HE SAID, AND SO HE DID.
THE HERMIT RETURNED, TO HIS CAVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, BUT LEFT, THESE "SPIRITUAL PROMISES" FOR THE REMAINING MONKS:
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BEGIN TO CHANGE: WHAT HAS BEEN STALE BECOMES FRESH AGAIN AND YOU ARE NEVER BORED.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, GOD IS READY ( HE'S ONLY A PRAYER AWAY!)
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU EXPERIENCE MANY SURPRISES AN ARE ABLE TO REJOICE IN THE UNEXPECTED.
STAY CLOSE TO GOD.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU BECOME SENSITIZED TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT IS FILLED WITH THE NEW EXPECTATION TO SEE AND TO HEAR.
GOD IS VERY DETERMINED TO HAVE YOU.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE SET FREE TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE NEWNESS THAT HAS INFILTRATED YOUR LIFE. YOU SEE NEW COLORS, HEAR NEW SOUNDS, TASTE NEW TASTES, AND FEEL NEW SENSATIONS OF JOY.
DEVELOP YOUR INNER SILENCE AND GOD WILL MEET YOU THERE.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOUR WORLD OF EXPERIENCE IS FILLED WITH SURPRISES OF JOY BECAUSE OF GIFTS YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE AND FOR WHICH YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
ASK FOR INSPIRATION AND ASPIRATION WILL FOLLOW.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE MORE OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD, TOGETHER WITH ALL SURPRISES, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE UNEXPECTED JOYS OF LIFE, BY BECOMING A "YANKEE FAN." EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SORROW!
FAME AND RICHES ARE NOT IN JESUS CLASSIFICATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND BENEFITS.
WHEN YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE ABLE TO FEEL NEW STIRRINGS OF LIFE WITHIN YOURSELF WHICH RESULT IN NEW EXCITEMENT BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN AWAKENED TO THE BOUNTIFUL MYSTERIES OF GOD WHICH ARE ACTIVE IN EVERY SURGE OF LIFE.. "AMEN!"
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
CHRIST BAPTISM AND OURS. [LUKE 3 15=17] [21-22] [1/13/08]
AND AS THE PEOPLE WERE IN EXPECTATION, AND ALL MEN MUSED IN THEIR HEARTS OF JOHN, WETHER HE WAS THE CHRIST OR NOT; JOHN ANSWERED, SAYING UNTO THEM ALL, I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER; BUT ONE MIGHTIER THAN I COMETH, THE LATCHET OF WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO UNLOOSE: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE "HOLY GHOST" AND WITH FIRE.
AS JOHN PREPARES FOR ANOTHER BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN, HE PROTESTS- NOT BECAUSE HE ENCOUNTERS UNREPENTANCE BUT BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE IS JESUS HIMSELF. AND JOHN THINKS HE SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. A FEW VERSES AGO JOHN WAS NOT " WORTHY TO CARRY HIS SANDALS" (MATT.3:11), YET JESUS EMPOWERS JOHN TO BE PART OF HIS WORLD-TRANSFORMING MINISTRY, AS HE DOES TO ALL OF US IN BAPTISM. BEFORE WE WERE WASHED CLEAN OF OUR SINS, GOD COULD NOT HAVE DECLARED, " I AM WELL PLEASED" WITH ANY OF US; AFTERWARD, THROUGH THE SON WHO LET HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN, WE JOIN COMPANY WITH THIS BELOVED. IN THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN, JESUS IS REVEALED AS THE BELOVED SON OF GOD. THROUGH THIS GREAT EPIPHANY, JESUS FULFILLS ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND BECOMES THE SERVANT OF GOD WHO WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE AND BE A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS. WE MUST REMEMBER IN THE WATERS OF OUR BAPTISM, WE TOO ARE WASHED BY THE WORD, ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT, RECEIVE THE NAME "GOD'S BELOVED CHILDREN". OUT OF THIS, OUR BAPTISMAL MISSION, COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL WHO ARE OPPRESSED OR IN NEED OF GOD'S HEALING. EPIPHANY BEGAN TO MEAN THE SAVING PRESENCE OF CHRIST WHICH BEGAN TO ASSERT ITSELF WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHICH FORMED AROUND JESUS. FOR MANY YEARS ( 21) SINCE 1975- I'VE BEEN A REV. DEACON OR TEACHER OR TEACHER DEACON. NEEDED SOMEONE WITH WHOM WE CAN IDENTIFY TO SUSTAIN AND INSPIRE US. THE PERSON I CHOSE MUST HAVE POSSESS AN HONEST HUMANITY. FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH A MAN NAMED JONAH. THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JONAH AND ASKED HIM TO GO TO "NINEVEH," WHICH WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. HE WAS TO GO AND PROCLAIM THE WORD OF THE LORD AT THIS PLACE.
JONAH WENT DOWN TO JOPPA WHERE HE FOUND A SHIP WHICH WAS ABOUT TO DEPART FOR TARSHISH, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. OUT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA A STORM CAME UPON THEM. THE CREW BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TRAGEDY. THEY CAST LOTS AND IT FELL UPON JONAH. THE SAILORS ASKED HIM, WHO ARE YOU? HE REPLIED, " I AM A HEBREW AND I FEAR THE LORD WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH." THEN THE SAILORS ASKED A FURTHER QUESTION. "WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH YOU?" JONAH SUGGESTED THAT THEY CAST HIM IN THE SEA. THIS THEY DID AND THE STORMED BEGAN TO SUBSIDE. A SEA MONSTER WHICH THE BIBLE CALLS (A HUGE FISH), JONAH PRAYED TO THE LORD HIS GOD FROM INSIDE THE BELLY OF THE FISH, SAYING " I CALLED TO THE LORD OUT OF MY DISTRESS AND HE ANSWERED ME OUT OF THE BELLY OF SHEOL. I CRIED, AND YOU HEARD MY VOICE. YOU MUST CAST ME INTO THE DEEP, INTO THE HEART OF THE SEAS, AND THE FLOOD SURROUND ME.; ALL YOUR WAVES AND YOUR BILLOWS PASSED OVER ME. THE WATER CLOSED OVER ME. THE WEEDS WERE WRAPPED AROUND MY HEAD. MY PRAYER CAME TO YOU INTO YOUR HOLY TEMPLE AND YOU SPOKE TO THE FISH, AND IT SPEWED JONAH OUT UPON THE DRY LAND. (JONAH 2). THE WORD CAME TO JONAH A SECOND TIME.
AND HE WENT TO "NINEVEH" AND PROCLAIMED THE MESSAGE ABOUT IMPENDING JUDGMENT. THE KING AND THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH COVERED THEMSELVES WITH SACKCLOTH AND SAT IN ASHES. GOD REPENTED AND THE DRAMATIC JUDGMENT DID NOT TAKE PLACE, BUT EXPRESS ITSELF AS GRACE, AND JONAH IN HIS DESPONDENCY OVER THE GRACE, FOR HE WAS LOOKING FOR JUDGMENT AND DESTRUCTION ON NINEVEH. JONAH SET NEAR NINEVEH , IN A BOOTH, AND A PLANT GREW UP WHICH SHADED HIM. IN THIS COMFORT, JONAH'S SPIRIT WAS REVIVED. THEN A WORM DESTROYED THE PLANT, AND JONAH FELT SORRY FOR HIMSELF.
THE LORD SPOKE THESE WORD' OF REBUKE TO HIM:" YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE PLANT; OUGHT NOT I, THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON "NINEVEH?" THE BOOK OF JONAH IS NOT DATED; BUT SCHOLARS FEEL SOMETIME IN THE FIFTH OR FOURTH CENTURY.
WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MOMENT IN JUDAH'S LIFE WHEN THIS BOOK SPOKE TO THIS PEOPLE. GOD HAS ELECTED AND HAD CHOSEN THIS PEOPLE TO LIVE
ON THIS LAND WHICH HAD BEEN PROMISED TO THEIR FATHER ABRAHAM. BUT ISRAEL REBELLED AND HAD CHOSEN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IN THE COURSE OF TIME, JUDAH WAS DEVOURED BY A MONSTER BY THE NAME OF BABYLON. IN 587 B.C. THE SECOND DEPORTATION OF THESE PEOPLE TOOK PLACE FROM JERUSALEM TO BABYLON. FROM THE BELLY OF THIS MONSTER, THESE PEOPLE CRIED TO THE LORD, AS THE MONSTER SPEWED THEM FORTH WHEN CYRUS OF PERSIA CONQUERED BABYLON IN 539 B.C. ANOTHER PROPHET LIVED WITH THESE PEOPLE AT BABYLON AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR MISSION AND PURPOSE AS THEY LIVED ON FOREIGN SOIL. WE HAVE HIS SERMONS IN ISAIAH 40 THROUGH 46.
THERE IS AN OLD STORY THAT IS, AS FAR AS I KNOW IS TRUE. IT TEACHES US AN IMPORTANT LESSON. WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE CONCERT WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN, THE MOTHER RETURNED TO HER SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT HER CHILD WAS MISSING. SUDDENLY, THE CURTAINS PARTED AND SPOTLIGHTS FOCUSED ON THE IMPRESSIVE STEINWAY ON STAGE. IN HORROR, THE MOTHER SAW HER LITTLE BOY SITTING AT THE KEYBOARD, INNOCENTLY PICKING OUT " TWINKLE, TWINKLE,, LITTLE STAR."
AT THAT MOMENT, THE PIANO MASTER MADE HIS ENTRANCE, QUICKLY MOVED TO THE PIANO, AND WHISPERED IN THE BOY'S EAR, " DON'T QUIT. KEEP PLAYING"
THEN LEANING OVER, THE GREAT [PADEREWSKI] REACHED DOWN WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND BEGAN FILLING THE BASE PART. SOON HIS RIGHT ARM REACHED AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHILD, AND HE ADDED A RUNNING OBBLIGATO . TOGETHER, WITH THE OLD MASTER AND THE YOUNG NOVICE TRANSFORMED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FRIGHTENING SITUATION INTO A WONDERFULLY CREATIVE EXPERIENCE . THE AUDIENCE WAS SO MESMERIZED THAT THEY COULDN'T RECALL WHAT ELSE THE GREAT MASTER PLAYED, ONLY THE CLASSIC, " TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR."
WE STARTED WITH A REFERENCE TO JONAH. HE WAS VERY HUMAN. HE DID THE LORD'S WORK AND AT THE SAME TIME KICKED AGAINST GOD'S PURPOSE.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT WOULD TEND TO DISCOURAGE US: ILL HEALTH, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, FAMILY PROBLEMS, STRUGGLES AT WORK, BOREDOM, ALL OF WHICH MAY TEMP US TO THROW IN "THE TOWEL" BUT LISTEN TO THE WHISPER OF THE MASTER, "DON'T QUIT, KEEP PLAYING."
GOD DOESN'T SEEM TO CALL THE EQUIPPED, RATHER, HE EQUIPS THE CALLED!
AS JOHN PREPARES FOR ANOTHER BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN, HE PROTESTS- NOT BECAUSE HE ENCOUNTERS UNREPENTANCE BUT BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE IS JESUS HIMSELF. AND JOHN THINKS HE SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. A FEW VERSES AGO JOHN WAS NOT " WORTHY TO CARRY HIS SANDALS" (MATT.3:11), YET JESUS EMPOWERS JOHN TO BE PART OF HIS WORLD-TRANSFORMING MINISTRY, AS HE DOES TO ALL OF US IN BAPTISM. BEFORE WE WERE WASHED CLEAN OF OUR SINS, GOD COULD NOT HAVE DECLARED, " I AM WELL PLEASED" WITH ANY OF US; AFTERWARD, THROUGH THE SON WHO LET HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN, WE JOIN COMPANY WITH THIS BELOVED. IN THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN, JESUS IS REVEALED AS THE BELOVED SON OF GOD. THROUGH THIS GREAT EPIPHANY, JESUS FULFILLS ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND BECOMES THE SERVANT OF GOD WHO WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE AND BE A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS. WE MUST REMEMBER IN THE WATERS OF OUR BAPTISM, WE TOO ARE WASHED BY THE WORD, ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT, RECEIVE THE NAME "GOD'S BELOVED CHILDREN". OUT OF THIS, OUR BAPTISMAL MISSION, COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL WHO ARE OPPRESSED OR IN NEED OF GOD'S HEALING. EPIPHANY BEGAN TO MEAN THE SAVING PRESENCE OF CHRIST WHICH BEGAN TO ASSERT ITSELF WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHICH FORMED AROUND JESUS. FOR MANY YEARS ( 21) SINCE 1975- I'VE BEEN A REV. DEACON OR TEACHER OR TEACHER DEACON. NEEDED SOMEONE WITH WHOM WE CAN IDENTIFY TO SUSTAIN AND INSPIRE US. THE PERSON I CHOSE MUST HAVE POSSESS AN HONEST HUMANITY. FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH A MAN NAMED JONAH. THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JONAH AND ASKED HIM TO GO TO "NINEVEH," WHICH WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. HE WAS TO GO AND PROCLAIM THE WORD OF THE LORD AT THIS PLACE.
JONAH WENT DOWN TO JOPPA WHERE HE FOUND A SHIP WHICH WAS ABOUT TO DEPART FOR TARSHISH, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. OUT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA A STORM CAME UPON THEM. THE CREW BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TRAGEDY. THEY CAST LOTS AND IT FELL UPON JONAH. THE SAILORS ASKED HIM, WHO ARE YOU? HE REPLIED, " I AM A HEBREW AND I FEAR THE LORD WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH." THEN THE SAILORS ASKED A FURTHER QUESTION. "WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH YOU?" JONAH SUGGESTED THAT THEY CAST HIM IN THE SEA. THIS THEY DID AND THE STORMED BEGAN TO SUBSIDE. A SEA MONSTER WHICH THE BIBLE CALLS (A HUGE FISH), JONAH PRAYED TO THE LORD HIS GOD FROM INSIDE THE BELLY OF THE FISH, SAYING " I CALLED TO THE LORD OUT OF MY DISTRESS AND HE ANSWERED ME OUT OF THE BELLY OF SHEOL. I CRIED, AND YOU HEARD MY VOICE. YOU MUST CAST ME INTO THE DEEP, INTO THE HEART OF THE SEAS, AND THE FLOOD SURROUND ME.; ALL YOUR WAVES AND YOUR BILLOWS PASSED OVER ME. THE WATER CLOSED OVER ME. THE WEEDS WERE WRAPPED AROUND MY HEAD. MY PRAYER CAME TO YOU INTO YOUR HOLY TEMPLE AND YOU SPOKE TO THE FISH, AND IT SPEWED JONAH OUT UPON THE DRY LAND. (JONAH 2). THE WORD CAME TO JONAH A SECOND TIME.
AND HE WENT TO "NINEVEH" AND PROCLAIMED THE MESSAGE ABOUT IMPENDING JUDGMENT. THE KING AND THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH COVERED THEMSELVES WITH SACKCLOTH AND SAT IN ASHES. GOD REPENTED AND THE DRAMATIC JUDGMENT DID NOT TAKE PLACE, BUT EXPRESS ITSELF AS GRACE, AND JONAH IN HIS DESPONDENCY OVER THE GRACE, FOR HE WAS LOOKING FOR JUDGMENT AND DESTRUCTION ON NINEVEH. JONAH SET NEAR NINEVEH , IN A BOOTH, AND A PLANT GREW UP WHICH SHADED HIM. IN THIS COMFORT, JONAH'S SPIRIT WAS REVIVED. THEN A WORM DESTROYED THE PLANT, AND JONAH FELT SORRY FOR HIMSELF.
THE LORD SPOKE THESE WORD' OF REBUKE TO HIM:" YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE PLANT; OUGHT NOT I, THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON "NINEVEH?" THE BOOK OF JONAH IS NOT DATED; BUT SCHOLARS FEEL SOMETIME IN THE FIFTH OR FOURTH CENTURY.
WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MOMENT IN JUDAH'S LIFE WHEN THIS BOOK SPOKE TO THIS PEOPLE. GOD HAS ELECTED AND HAD CHOSEN THIS PEOPLE TO LIVE
ON THIS LAND WHICH HAD BEEN PROMISED TO THEIR FATHER ABRAHAM. BUT ISRAEL REBELLED AND HAD CHOSEN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IN THE COURSE OF TIME, JUDAH WAS DEVOURED BY A MONSTER BY THE NAME OF BABYLON. IN 587 B.C. THE SECOND DEPORTATION OF THESE PEOPLE TOOK PLACE FROM JERUSALEM TO BABYLON. FROM THE BELLY OF THIS MONSTER, THESE PEOPLE CRIED TO THE LORD, AS THE MONSTER SPEWED THEM FORTH WHEN CYRUS OF PERSIA CONQUERED BABYLON IN 539 B.C. ANOTHER PROPHET LIVED WITH THESE PEOPLE AT BABYLON AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR MISSION AND PURPOSE AS THEY LIVED ON FOREIGN SOIL. WE HAVE HIS SERMONS IN ISAIAH 40 THROUGH 46.
THERE IS AN OLD STORY THAT IS, AS FAR AS I KNOW IS TRUE. IT TEACHES US AN IMPORTANT LESSON. WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE CONCERT WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN, THE MOTHER RETURNED TO HER SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT HER CHILD WAS MISSING. SUDDENLY, THE CURTAINS PARTED AND SPOTLIGHTS FOCUSED ON THE IMPRESSIVE STEINWAY ON STAGE. IN HORROR, THE MOTHER SAW HER LITTLE BOY SITTING AT THE KEYBOARD, INNOCENTLY PICKING OUT " TWINKLE, TWINKLE,, LITTLE STAR."
AT THAT MOMENT, THE PIANO MASTER MADE HIS ENTRANCE, QUICKLY MOVED TO THE PIANO, AND WHISPERED IN THE BOY'S EAR, " DON'T QUIT. KEEP PLAYING"
THEN LEANING OVER, THE GREAT [PADEREWSKI] REACHED DOWN WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND BEGAN FILLING THE BASE PART. SOON HIS RIGHT ARM REACHED AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHILD, AND HE ADDED A RUNNING OBBLIGATO . TOGETHER, WITH THE OLD MASTER AND THE YOUNG NOVICE TRANSFORMED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FRIGHTENING SITUATION INTO A WONDERFULLY CREATIVE EXPERIENCE . THE AUDIENCE WAS SO MESMERIZED THAT THEY COULDN'T RECALL WHAT ELSE THE GREAT MASTER PLAYED, ONLY THE CLASSIC, " TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR."
WE STARTED WITH A REFERENCE TO JONAH. HE WAS VERY HUMAN. HE DID THE LORD'S WORK AND AT THE SAME TIME KICKED AGAINST GOD'S PURPOSE.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT WOULD TEND TO DISCOURAGE US: ILL HEALTH, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, FAMILY PROBLEMS, STRUGGLES AT WORK, BOREDOM, ALL OF WHICH MAY TEMP US TO THROW IN "THE TOWEL" BUT LISTEN TO THE WHISPER OF THE MASTER, "DON'T QUIT, KEEP PLAYING."
GOD DOESN'T SEEM TO CALL THE EQUIPPED, RATHER, HE EQUIPS THE CALLED!
Monday, April 23, 2018
TIME AFTER PENTECOST. [7/2/13]. {LUKE 7:1-10]
GOD HEARS EVERY PRAYER- THE PRAYER OF THE OUTSIDER AS WELL OF THE PRAYER OF THE INSIDER. THE ATTENTIVE NATURE OF OUR GOD IS EVIDENT S GOD COMES TO US AGAIN (IN THE WORD AND IN THE SUPPER. ASCRIBE TO THE LORD THE HONOR DUE THE "HOLY NAME;) BRING OFFERINGS AND ENTER THE COURTS OF THE LORD." IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT READING FOR TODAY, KING SOLOMON PRAYS AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, BUILT UNDER HIS DIRECTION. SOLOMON PRAYS THAT THE TEMPLE WILL BE A SIGN OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND POWER, NOT ONLY TO THE ISRAELITES, BUT TO ALL PEOPLES. IN OUR TEXT A ROMAN CENTURION STANDS TO LOSE A HIGHLY VALUED SLAVE. JEWISH LEADERS IN CAPERNAUM CONSIDER HIMSELF UNWORTHY. IN THE MIDST OF THIS TANGLE OF ATTITUDES, THE CENTURION SHOWS HIS UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY AND HIS TESTIMONY THAT JESUS HAS IT, EVEN AUTHORITY OVER ILLNESS AND DEATH. THERE ARE MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OUR GOSPEL TEXT, AND THE ONE RECORDED IN THE O.T. READING ( 1 KINGS 17: 8-24;). THE LOCATION AND THE NATURE OF THE MIRACLE CAUSED THE TOWNSPEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT A "GREAT PROPHET" WAS AMONG THEM. BUT: "ELIJAH" HAD TO STRETCH HIS BODY OVER THE DEAD BOY THREE TIMES AND CRY OUT TO THE LORD (2nd KINGS 4: 32-35).
BUT IN THE GOSPEL TEXT, JESUS RAISED A BOY FROM THE DEAD, THE ONLY SON OF A WIDOW IN NAIN. SCHOLAR'S PLACE NAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL OF MOREH FROM SHUNEM, THUS PLACING THE MIRACLE IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION AS ELISA'S. THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THIS FROM SCRIPTURE AND THE LIFE OF THE GREAT PROPHET ELISHA.. HOWEVER: JESUS MERELY HAD TO SPEAK A WORD OF COMMAND. JESUS SPOKE AND THE BOY CAME BACK TO LIFE. JESUS POWER WAS CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE GREATEST O.T. PROPHETS.
AFTER FINISHING HIS TEACHING TO THE MULTITUDES, JESUS RETURNS ONCE MORE TO THE CITY OF CAPERNAUM PREVIOUSLY IN [.4:31]. ON THAT OCCASION JESUS HAD GONE TO A SYNAGOGUE WHERE HE CURED A MAN POSSESSED BY A DEMON. THAT VERY SYNAGOGUE HAD BEEN BUILT BY THE ROMAN CENTURION IN OUR GOSPEL TEXT. THE WORD CENTURION MEANS CAPTAIN OF A COMPANY OF 1OO SOLDIERS.
SINCE HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE RULER OF GALILEE IN WHICH PROVINCE CAPERNAUM WAS LOCATED, THIS CENTURION MAY HAVE BEEN IN HIS SERVICE IN SOME OFFICIAL CAPACITY. A WARM FEELING HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN THIS CENTURION AND THE JEWISH ELDERS WHO HAD CHARGED OF THE SYNAGOGUE.
LUKE HAD SEVERAL TIMES REPORTED JESUS HEALING NUMBERS OF SICK WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAIL. HERE HE GIVES US THE FULL STORY FOR SEVERAL REASONS: THIS CENTURION WAS NO DOUBT A GENTILE; THIS MAN SHOWS GREAT FAITH IN THE POWER OF JESUS WORD. HE IS A MODEL FOR THE MANY GENTILE BELIEVERS WHO WOULD BE COMING INTO THE CHURCH IN FUTURE YEARS. THE MORAL TEACHING OF JESUS DISTURBED NOT ONLY THOSE WHO WERE THE FIRST FOLLOWERS WHO UNDERTOOK TO WRITE DOWN HIS WORDS BUT THE MANY GENERATIONS OF CHRISTIANS, IN A GREAT VARIETY OF WAYS HAVE ENDEAVORED TO BEND THEIR LIVES TO HIS TEACHINGS. AFTERWARD JESUS WENT TO NAIN. AS JESUS APPROACHED IT FROM THE MAIN ROAD HE WOULD OF HAVE BEFORE HIM THE PRINCIPAL GATE OF THE TOWN. OUT OF THE GATE WAS COMING A FUNERAL PROCESSION. THE JEWS NORMALLY BURIED WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF DEATH. THE BODY WRAPPED IN A LINEN CLOTH, WAS CARRIED FROM THE HOUSE ON A BIER (F0R COFFINS WERE NOT USED TO A FAMILY GRAVE CUT FROM A ROCK;) AND SINCE GRAVES WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE TOWN, THE PROCESSION HAD AT SOME STAGE TO PASS THROUGH THE GATE. THIS WAS THE MOMENT JESUS INTERVENED AND PERFORMED WHAT WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES, THAT OF BRINGING A DEAD PERSON BACK TO LIFE. TWO SUCH MIRACLES ARE RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS APART FROM THIS ONE: JARIUS DAUGHTER ( LUKE 8:40, MARK 5:21, MATTHEW 9:18) AND LAZARUS, (JOHN 11).
HERE THE STORY IS TOLD QUITE SIMPLY AND THERE IS LITTLE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHER STORIES TOLD ABOUT OTHER MIRACLE-WORKERS IN ANTIQUITY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REACTION OF THE BYSTANDERS WERE CONDITIONED BY THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. A GREAT PROPHET HAS RISEN AMONG US. ELIJAH AND ELISHA, THE FIRST GREAT PROPHETS HAD PERFORMED SIMILAR MIRACLES; JESUS MUST BE ANOTHER OF THE SAME CALIBRE, MOREOVER RAISING FROM THE DEAD WAS A SIGN OF THE NEW AGE THAT WAS TO COME.: GOD HAS SHONE HIS CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE. THE MIRACLE WAS EVIDENCE OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP BEGINNING BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. WHEN THE CENTURION ASKS JESUS TO HEAL HIS WOUNDED SLAVE, THE NARRATIVE EXPLORES WHETHER THE CENTURION IS WORTHY." THE GREEK WORD IN LUKE FOR "WORTHY" IS "SUFFICIENT" THE JEWISH ELDERS SAY HE HAS PROVEN HIS WORTHINESS, BY HIS GOODNESS TO THE JEWS; IN CONTRAST, THE CENTURION HIMSELF SAYS HE IS NOT "WORTHY" OF JESUS. PRESENCE. ARE WE "WORTHY" OF HIS PRESENCE AND HELP? THE CENTURION REVEALS A PARADOX OF CHRISTIAN FAITH: AS SINNERS WE ARE NOT "WORTHY", BUT AS REDEEMED SAINTS WE KNOW THAT JESUS DEEMED US ALL "WORTH"
SAVING, THROUGH GRACE ALONE.
BUT IN THE GOSPEL TEXT, JESUS RAISED A BOY FROM THE DEAD, THE ONLY SON OF A WIDOW IN NAIN. SCHOLAR'S PLACE NAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL OF MOREH FROM SHUNEM, THUS PLACING THE MIRACLE IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION AS ELISA'S. THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THIS FROM SCRIPTURE AND THE LIFE OF THE GREAT PROPHET ELISHA.. HOWEVER: JESUS MERELY HAD TO SPEAK A WORD OF COMMAND. JESUS SPOKE AND THE BOY CAME BACK TO LIFE. JESUS POWER WAS CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE GREATEST O.T. PROPHETS.
AFTER FINISHING HIS TEACHING TO THE MULTITUDES, JESUS RETURNS ONCE MORE TO THE CITY OF CAPERNAUM PREVIOUSLY IN [.4:31]. ON THAT OCCASION JESUS HAD GONE TO A SYNAGOGUE WHERE HE CURED A MAN POSSESSED BY A DEMON. THAT VERY SYNAGOGUE HAD BEEN BUILT BY THE ROMAN CENTURION IN OUR GOSPEL TEXT. THE WORD CENTURION MEANS CAPTAIN OF A COMPANY OF 1OO SOLDIERS.
SINCE HEROD ANTIPAS WAS THE RULER OF GALILEE IN WHICH PROVINCE CAPERNAUM WAS LOCATED, THIS CENTURION MAY HAVE BEEN IN HIS SERVICE IN SOME OFFICIAL CAPACITY. A WARM FEELING HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN THIS CENTURION AND THE JEWISH ELDERS WHO HAD CHARGED OF THE SYNAGOGUE.
LUKE HAD SEVERAL TIMES REPORTED JESUS HEALING NUMBERS OF SICK WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAIL. HERE HE GIVES US THE FULL STORY FOR SEVERAL REASONS: THIS CENTURION WAS NO DOUBT A GENTILE; THIS MAN SHOWS GREAT FAITH IN THE POWER OF JESUS WORD. HE IS A MODEL FOR THE MANY GENTILE BELIEVERS WHO WOULD BE COMING INTO THE CHURCH IN FUTURE YEARS. THE MORAL TEACHING OF JESUS DISTURBED NOT ONLY THOSE WHO WERE THE FIRST FOLLOWERS WHO UNDERTOOK TO WRITE DOWN HIS WORDS BUT THE MANY GENERATIONS OF CHRISTIANS, IN A GREAT VARIETY OF WAYS HAVE ENDEAVORED TO BEND THEIR LIVES TO HIS TEACHINGS. AFTERWARD JESUS WENT TO NAIN. AS JESUS APPROACHED IT FROM THE MAIN ROAD HE WOULD OF HAVE BEFORE HIM THE PRINCIPAL GATE OF THE TOWN. OUT OF THE GATE WAS COMING A FUNERAL PROCESSION. THE JEWS NORMALLY BURIED WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF DEATH. THE BODY WRAPPED IN A LINEN CLOTH, WAS CARRIED FROM THE HOUSE ON A BIER (F0R COFFINS WERE NOT USED TO A FAMILY GRAVE CUT FROM A ROCK;) AND SINCE GRAVES WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE TOWN, THE PROCESSION HAD AT SOME STAGE TO PASS THROUGH THE GATE. THIS WAS THE MOMENT JESUS INTERVENED AND PERFORMED WHAT WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES, THAT OF BRINGING A DEAD PERSON BACK TO LIFE. TWO SUCH MIRACLES ARE RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS APART FROM THIS ONE: JARIUS DAUGHTER ( LUKE 8:40, MARK 5:21, MATTHEW 9:18) AND LAZARUS, (JOHN 11).
HERE THE STORY IS TOLD QUITE SIMPLY AND THERE IS LITTLE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHER STORIES TOLD ABOUT OTHER MIRACLE-WORKERS IN ANTIQUITY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REACTION OF THE BYSTANDERS WERE CONDITIONED BY THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. A GREAT PROPHET HAS RISEN AMONG US. ELIJAH AND ELISHA, THE FIRST GREAT PROPHETS HAD PERFORMED SIMILAR MIRACLES; JESUS MUST BE ANOTHER OF THE SAME CALIBRE, MOREOVER RAISING FROM THE DEAD WAS A SIGN OF THE NEW AGE THAT WAS TO COME.: GOD HAS SHONE HIS CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE. THE MIRACLE WAS EVIDENCE OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP BEGINNING BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. WHEN THE CENTURION ASKS JESUS TO HEAL HIS WOUNDED SLAVE, THE NARRATIVE EXPLORES WHETHER THE CENTURION IS WORTHY." THE GREEK WORD IN LUKE FOR "WORTHY" IS "SUFFICIENT" THE JEWISH ELDERS SAY HE HAS PROVEN HIS WORTHINESS, BY HIS GOODNESS TO THE JEWS; IN CONTRAST, THE CENTURION HIMSELF SAYS HE IS NOT "WORTHY" OF JESUS. PRESENCE. ARE WE "WORTHY" OF HIS PRESENCE AND HELP? THE CENTURION REVEALS A PARADOX OF CHRISTIAN FAITH: AS SINNERS WE ARE NOT "WORTHY", BUT AS REDEEMED SAINTS WE KNOW THAT JESUS DEEMED US ALL "WORTH"
SAVING, THROUGH GRACE ALONE.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
HIDDEN BLESSINGS. [GOSPEL TEXT 8/7/2011] [MATT. 22-33].
IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE, WE FIND THE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD TRAPPED IN THE GRIP OF A FIERCE STORM. THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT STORM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN COMMANDED BY THE LORD TO CROSS THE SEA OF GALILEE (V.22).
THESE MEN ARE IN THE WILL OF THE LORD AND YET, WE SEE THEM STRUGGLING AGAINST THE STORM. TRY AS THEY MIGHT, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY. THE WIND IS IN THEIR FACES (V.24). THESE 12 MEN ARE STUCK IN A STORM AND ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT. HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF IN THAT PLACE? HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF STUCK IN ONE OF LIFE'S STORMS, AND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IT SEEMS THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY HEADWAY? WELL, WE ALL HAVE TIMES LIKE THAT! IT MAY SEEM TO YOU LIKE THE STORM MAY NEVER END AND THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBLE GOOD THAT CAN COME FROM WHAT YOU ARE FACING. THANKFULLY, HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR US TODAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD. WHILE THE STORM'S OF LIFE ARE NEVER PLEASANT, THEY DO PRODUCE CERTAIN BENEFITS IN OUR LIVES THAT WE WOULD DO WELL TO MAKE NOTE OF THIS MESSAGE. " NOW NO CHASTENING ( INFLICTION OF PAIN) FOR THE PRESENT SEEMS TO BE A HAPPY, JOYOUS, BUT GRIEVOUS: BUT NEVERTHELESS AFTERWARD IT YIELDETH THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO THEM WHICH ARE TRAINED THEREBY. (HEBREWS 12:11).
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JOIN THE DISCIPLES IN THEIR STORM. AS WE DO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT EVER KIND OF A STORM YOU ARE FACING, THAT THE LORD HAS A PURPOSE IN ALLOWING THAT STORM TO RAGE IN YOUR LIFE, AND THAT HIDDEN BLESSINGS WILL SHINE FORTH. THE VERY THING THE DISCIPLES FEARED. THE SEA, THE VERY THING THE LORD USED AS THE VEHICLE TO REVEAL HIMSELF UNTO THEM. HE WILL DO THE SAME IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE. LET US LOOK, HOW JESUS CAME TO THEM THAT NIGHT.
HE COMES IN THE FACE OF DARKNESS- THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME TO THEM IN THE FOURTH WATCH" SOMETIME BETWEEN 3 AM AND 6 AM, DURING THE DARKEST HOURS OF THE NIGHT, JESUS CAME WALKING ON THE WATER! YOU MAY BE WALKING IN DARKNESS AND WONDER WHERE JESUS IS, BE STILL AND KNOW HE IS EVER WITH YOU IN YOUR DARKNESS (HEB. 13:5). IN THE DARKEST HOURS GOD IS STILL GOD AND HE IS STILL IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. (1 KINGS 8:12),
EVEN THE DARKEST HOURS OF LIFE CANNOT HIDE YOU FROM THE FACE OF GOD.
WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE HIM, OR FEEL HIS PRESENCE HE IS THERE.
HE CAME TO THEM WITH A WORD OF PEACE, WALKING ON WATER WITH A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND POWER., " BE OF GOOD CHEER", "IT IS I". HE CAME TO THEM, " BE NOT AFRAID." THEY WERE STILL IN THE STORM WHEN HE TOLD THEM TO CHEER UP.. THAT IS THE PEACE HE REFERS TO IN PHIL (4:6-7). HE DECLARED HIS IDENTITY "IT IS I" IT IS THE SAME STATEMENT JESUS USED WHEN HE SAID, " I AM THE DOOR; "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,"; "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"; "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD." GET THE PICTURE? THE TRUTH JESUS IS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES TO CHEER UP, "GOD IS HERE!" THE GREAT I AM! STOP FEARING, HE HAS ALL POWER, IN HEAVEN AND EARTH. (MATT. 28:18), THEN WE CAN ENJOY PEACE IN THE MIDST OF OUR STORMS AND THROUGH THEM BLESSINGS COMES AS THE SAVIOR IS REVEALED.
THESE MEN ARE IN THE WILL OF THE LORD AND YET, WE SEE THEM STRUGGLING AGAINST THE STORM. TRY AS THEY MIGHT, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY. THE WIND IS IN THEIR FACES (V.24). THESE 12 MEN ARE STUCK IN A STORM AND ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT. HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF IN THAT PLACE? HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF STUCK IN ONE OF LIFE'S STORMS, AND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IT SEEMS THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY HEADWAY? WELL, WE ALL HAVE TIMES LIKE THAT! IT MAY SEEM TO YOU LIKE THE STORM MAY NEVER END AND THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBLE GOOD THAT CAN COME FROM WHAT YOU ARE FACING. THANKFULLY, HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR US TODAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD. WHILE THE STORM'S OF LIFE ARE NEVER PLEASANT, THEY DO PRODUCE CERTAIN BENEFITS IN OUR LIVES THAT WE WOULD DO WELL TO MAKE NOTE OF THIS MESSAGE. " NOW NO CHASTENING ( INFLICTION OF PAIN) FOR THE PRESENT SEEMS TO BE A HAPPY, JOYOUS, BUT GRIEVOUS: BUT NEVERTHELESS AFTERWARD IT YIELDETH THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO THEM WHICH ARE TRAINED THEREBY. (HEBREWS 12:11).
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JOIN THE DISCIPLES IN THEIR STORM. AS WE DO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT EVER KIND OF A STORM YOU ARE FACING, THAT THE LORD HAS A PURPOSE IN ALLOWING THAT STORM TO RAGE IN YOUR LIFE, AND THAT HIDDEN BLESSINGS WILL SHINE FORTH. THE VERY THING THE DISCIPLES FEARED. THE SEA, THE VERY THING THE LORD USED AS THE VEHICLE TO REVEAL HIMSELF UNTO THEM. HE WILL DO THE SAME IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE. LET US LOOK, HOW JESUS CAME TO THEM THAT NIGHT.
HE COMES IN THE FACE OF DARKNESS- THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME TO THEM IN THE FOURTH WATCH" SOMETIME BETWEEN 3 AM AND 6 AM, DURING THE DARKEST HOURS OF THE NIGHT, JESUS CAME WALKING ON THE WATER! YOU MAY BE WALKING IN DARKNESS AND WONDER WHERE JESUS IS, BE STILL AND KNOW HE IS EVER WITH YOU IN YOUR DARKNESS (HEB. 13:5). IN THE DARKEST HOURS GOD IS STILL GOD AND HE IS STILL IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. (1 KINGS 8:12),
EVEN THE DARKEST HOURS OF LIFE CANNOT HIDE YOU FROM THE FACE OF GOD.
WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE HIM, OR FEEL HIS PRESENCE HE IS THERE.
HE CAME TO THEM WITH A WORD OF PEACE, WALKING ON WATER WITH A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND POWER., " BE OF GOOD CHEER", "IT IS I". HE CAME TO THEM, " BE NOT AFRAID." THEY WERE STILL IN THE STORM WHEN HE TOLD THEM TO CHEER UP.. THAT IS THE PEACE HE REFERS TO IN PHIL (4:6-7). HE DECLARED HIS IDENTITY "IT IS I" IT IS THE SAME STATEMENT JESUS USED WHEN HE SAID, " I AM THE DOOR; "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,"; "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"; "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD." GET THE PICTURE? THE TRUTH JESUS IS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES TO CHEER UP, "GOD IS HERE!" THE GREAT I AM! STOP FEARING, HE HAS ALL POWER, IN HEAVEN AND EARTH. (MATT. 28:18), THEN WE CAN ENJOY PEACE IN THE MIDST OF OUR STORMS AND THROUGH THEM BLESSINGS COMES AS THE SAVIOR IS REVEALED.
Friday, April 20, 2018
"THE CALL" [JOHN 1:43-51].
THE NEXT DAY JESUS DECIDED TO GO TO GALILEE. HE FOUND PHILIP AND SAID TO HIM "FOLLOW ME." NOW PHILIP WAS FROM BETHSAIDA, THE CITY OF ANDREW AND PETER. PHILIP FOUND NATHANAEL AND SAID TO HIM, " WE HAVE FOUND HIM ABOUT WHOM MOSES IN THE LAW AND ALSO THE PROPHETS WROTE,
JESUS SON OF JOSEPH FROM NAZARETH, NATHANAEL SAID TO HIM, " CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?" PHILIP SAID TO HIM, " COME AND SEE." WHEN JESUS SAW NATHANAEL COMING TOWARD HIM, HE SAID OF HIM, " HERE IS TRULY AN ISRAELITE IN WHOM IS NO DECEIT!"
NATHANAEL REPLIED, " RABBI, YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD! YOU ARE THE KING OF ISRAEL."
DO YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE I TOLD YOU THAT I SAW YOU UNDER THE FIG TREE? YOU WILL SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE." AND HE SAID TO HIM, " VERY TRULY I TELL YOU," YOU WILL SEE HEAVEN OPENED AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN."
IF YOU HEARD THIS SOMEWHERE BEFORE, IT SHOULD RING A BELL; FOR JACOB ON HIS JOURNEY FROM BEERSHEBA TO HARAN, CAME TO A CERTAIN PLACE AND STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT, FOR THE SUN HAD SET, TAKING SOME STONES FOR A PILLOW LAID DOWN TO SLEEP. HE DREAMT HE SAW A LADDER, WHICH RESTED ON THE GROUND WITH ITS TOP REACHING TO HEAVEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD WERE GOING UP AND DOWN UPON IT. THE LORD WAS STANDING BESIDE HIM AND SAID, " I AM THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC. WHAT JACOB SAW IN A VISION IS NOW A REALITY IN JESUS. (GEN. 28:12).
THERE IS HERE AN IMPLIED CONTRAST WITH JACOB, FROM WHOM OF COURSE, THE ISRAELITES DERIVED THEIR NAME. THERE IS A CLAIM FOR JESUS THE POWER TO READ THE HEARTS OF MEN. NATHANAEL IS DEEPLY IMPRESSED AND ACCLAIMS JESUS THE "SON OF GOD AND THE KING OF ISRAEL." JESUS TELLS HIM THAT, BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS FAITH, HE WOULD BE GRANTED A DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING AND A CLEARER VISION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH'S WORK. THE VISION OF THE GLORY OF THE SON OF MAN WAS TO BE A REWARD OF FAITH. JESUS DESCRIBES THE NEW MESSIANIC ORDER WHICH HE WAS TO USHER IN WITH HIS COMING. IN GOD'S CASE, THE "CALL" WE RECEIVE ACTUALLY
BRINGS ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE ONE SUMMONED.
MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE SHOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD "CALL," BUT NONE MORE CLEARLY THAN THOSE IN ROMANS [ 8]. JOHN MURRAY WRITES, NOTHING CLINCHES THE ARGUMENT FOR THIS FEATURE OF THE "CALL," MORE CLEARLY THAN THE TEACHING OF ROMANS [ 8:28-30]. LISTEN: " GOD WHO SEARCHES OUR INMOST BEING KNOWS WHAT THE SPIRIT MEANS, BECAUSE HE PLEADS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE IN GOD'S OWN WAY; AND IN EVERYTHING, AS WE KNOW, HE CO-OPERATES FOR GOOD WITH THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE "CALLED" ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. FOR GOD KNEW HIS OWN BEFORE EVER THEY WERE,, AND ALSO ORDAINED THAT THEY SHOULD BE SHAPED TO THE LIKENESS OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE ELDEST AMONG A LARGE FAMILY OF BROTHERS. THE "CALL" IS STATED ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE AND FINDS ITS PLACE IN THE CENTER OF THAT UNBREAKABLE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH HAS ITS BEGINNINGS IN THE DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE. THIS IS JUST SAYING THAT, THE EFFECTUAL "CALL" INSURES PERSEVERANCE BECAUSE IT IS GROUNDED IN THE SECURITY OF GOD'S GRACE AND PURPOSE. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD AND BROUGHT TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST BY THE POWER OF THIS SUMMONS ARE THOSE "CALLED" TO BELONG. TO JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE "CALLED TO BE SAINTS." ( ROM.1:7), THAT IS TO BE SET APART TO GOD BY HIS "CALL." WE ARE TO LIVE "HOLY LIVES" . THIS IS THE POINT OF PAUL'S ADMONITION TO THE BELIEVERS IN "EPHESUS"; I THERE, A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, BEG YOU TO LEAD A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN "CALLED." (EPH. 4:1).
LAZARUS WAS DEAD BEFORE CHRIST CALLED HIM FROM THE TOMB. HE WAS IMPERVIOUS TO ANY "CALL." IF YOU OR I WERE PRESENT, WE COULD OF CALLED LOUDLY, PERSUASIVELY, BUT LAZARUS WOULD STILL NOT HAVE RESPONDED. WHEN JESUS CALLED, IT WAS DIFFERENT. HIS "CALL" HAD POWER TO BRING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE. IN THE SAME WAY HIS 'CALL" QUICKENS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE HIS PEOPLE, AND NONE FAILED TO QUICKEN (HAS NOT COME ALIVE.) AS JESUS SAID, " MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME." (JN. 10:27). THE CIRCLE IS NOW WIDENING AND IN THE GOSPEL TEXT (1:43-51), WE HAVE THE CALL OF PHILIP AND NATHANAEL. ON THE FOURTH DAY,
JESUS IS MINDED TO SET OUT ON A JOURNEY TO GALILEE. HE FINDS PHILIP, WHO IN TURN FIND NATHANAEL. PHILIP MAKES THE CONFESSION THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, WHO WAS FORETOLD BY MOSES AND THE PROPHETS. GOD IS A TALKER. IN MANY AND VARIED WAYS, THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS TELLS US, GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE OF OLD BY THE PROPHETS, BUT IN THE LAST DAYS [GOD] HAS SPOKE TO US BY A SON. (HEBREWS 1:2). LOQUACIOUS (TALKATIVE) IS GOD THAT GOD'S WORD BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US. GOD IS STILL LISTENING AND TALKING BACK. JESUS IS EVIDENCED OF GOD'S LISTENING AND TALKING. HE IS THE WORD THAT PERSISTS TO THE GRAVE AND "CALLS" US TO NEW LIFE. HOW WILL WE DISCERN THE WORD'S OF THE LORD? SAMUEL DID SO BY FEELING HIS WAY IN THE DARK, BY PERSISTING IN ANSWERING THE "CALL" EVEN WHEN HE FIRST MISTOOK ITS SOURCE. GOD PERSISTED IN CALLING. SAMUEL PERSISTED IN RESPONDING TO THE "CALL." WE WALK IN THE DARK IN FEELING OUR WAY ALONG THE CONTOURS OF OUR BAPTISM, THE LORD'S SUPPER, OUR PRAYERS, THE READING AND HEARING OF GOD'S WORD IN SCRIPTURE. SAMUEL, PHILIP, NATHANAEL, WERE AVAILABLE TO GOD'S "CALL."
ARE WE?
JESUS SON OF JOSEPH FROM NAZARETH, NATHANAEL SAID TO HIM, " CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?" PHILIP SAID TO HIM, " COME AND SEE." WHEN JESUS SAW NATHANAEL COMING TOWARD HIM, HE SAID OF HIM, " HERE IS TRULY AN ISRAELITE IN WHOM IS NO DECEIT!"
NATHANAEL REPLIED, " RABBI, YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD! YOU ARE THE KING OF ISRAEL."
DO YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE I TOLD YOU THAT I SAW YOU UNDER THE FIG TREE? YOU WILL SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE." AND HE SAID TO HIM, " VERY TRULY I TELL YOU," YOU WILL SEE HEAVEN OPENED AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN."
IF YOU HEARD THIS SOMEWHERE BEFORE, IT SHOULD RING A BELL; FOR JACOB ON HIS JOURNEY FROM BEERSHEBA TO HARAN, CAME TO A CERTAIN PLACE AND STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT, FOR THE SUN HAD SET, TAKING SOME STONES FOR A PILLOW LAID DOWN TO SLEEP. HE DREAMT HE SAW A LADDER, WHICH RESTED ON THE GROUND WITH ITS TOP REACHING TO HEAVEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD WERE GOING UP AND DOWN UPON IT. THE LORD WAS STANDING BESIDE HIM AND SAID, " I AM THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC. WHAT JACOB SAW IN A VISION IS NOW A REALITY IN JESUS. (GEN. 28:12).
THERE IS HERE AN IMPLIED CONTRAST WITH JACOB, FROM WHOM OF COURSE, THE ISRAELITES DERIVED THEIR NAME. THERE IS A CLAIM FOR JESUS THE POWER TO READ THE HEARTS OF MEN. NATHANAEL IS DEEPLY IMPRESSED AND ACCLAIMS JESUS THE "SON OF GOD AND THE KING OF ISRAEL." JESUS TELLS HIM THAT, BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS FAITH, HE WOULD BE GRANTED A DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING AND A CLEARER VISION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THE MESSIAH'S WORK. THE VISION OF THE GLORY OF THE SON OF MAN WAS TO BE A REWARD OF FAITH. JESUS DESCRIBES THE NEW MESSIANIC ORDER WHICH HE WAS TO USHER IN WITH HIS COMING. IN GOD'S CASE, THE "CALL" WE RECEIVE ACTUALLY
BRINGS ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE ONE SUMMONED.
MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE SHOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD "CALL," BUT NONE MORE CLEARLY THAN THOSE IN ROMANS [ 8]. JOHN MURRAY WRITES, NOTHING CLINCHES THE ARGUMENT FOR THIS FEATURE OF THE "CALL," MORE CLEARLY THAN THE TEACHING OF ROMANS [ 8:28-30]. LISTEN: " GOD WHO SEARCHES OUR INMOST BEING KNOWS WHAT THE SPIRIT MEANS, BECAUSE HE PLEADS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE IN GOD'S OWN WAY; AND IN EVERYTHING, AS WE KNOW, HE CO-OPERATES FOR GOOD WITH THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE "CALLED" ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. FOR GOD KNEW HIS OWN BEFORE EVER THEY WERE,, AND ALSO ORDAINED THAT THEY SHOULD BE SHAPED TO THE LIKENESS OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE ELDEST AMONG A LARGE FAMILY OF BROTHERS. THE "CALL" IS STATED ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE AND FINDS ITS PLACE IN THE CENTER OF THAT UNBREAKABLE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH HAS ITS BEGINNINGS IN THE DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE. THIS IS JUST SAYING THAT, THE EFFECTUAL "CALL" INSURES PERSEVERANCE BECAUSE IT IS GROUNDED IN THE SECURITY OF GOD'S GRACE AND PURPOSE. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD AND BROUGHT TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST BY THE POWER OF THIS SUMMONS ARE THOSE "CALLED" TO BELONG. TO JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE "CALLED TO BE SAINTS." ( ROM.1:7), THAT IS TO BE SET APART TO GOD BY HIS "CALL." WE ARE TO LIVE "HOLY LIVES" . THIS IS THE POINT OF PAUL'S ADMONITION TO THE BELIEVERS IN "EPHESUS"; I THERE, A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, BEG YOU TO LEAD A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN "CALLED." (EPH. 4:1).
LAZARUS WAS DEAD BEFORE CHRIST CALLED HIM FROM THE TOMB. HE WAS IMPERVIOUS TO ANY "CALL." IF YOU OR I WERE PRESENT, WE COULD OF CALLED LOUDLY, PERSUASIVELY, BUT LAZARUS WOULD STILL NOT HAVE RESPONDED. WHEN JESUS CALLED, IT WAS DIFFERENT. HIS "CALL" HAD POWER TO BRING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE. IN THE SAME WAY HIS 'CALL" QUICKENS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE HIS PEOPLE, AND NONE FAILED TO QUICKEN (HAS NOT COME ALIVE.) AS JESUS SAID, " MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME." (JN. 10:27). THE CIRCLE IS NOW WIDENING AND IN THE GOSPEL TEXT (1:43-51), WE HAVE THE CALL OF PHILIP AND NATHANAEL. ON THE FOURTH DAY,
JESUS IS MINDED TO SET OUT ON A JOURNEY TO GALILEE. HE FINDS PHILIP, WHO IN TURN FIND NATHANAEL. PHILIP MAKES THE CONFESSION THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, WHO WAS FORETOLD BY MOSES AND THE PROPHETS. GOD IS A TALKER. IN MANY AND VARIED WAYS, THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS TELLS US, GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE OF OLD BY THE PROPHETS, BUT IN THE LAST DAYS [GOD] HAS SPOKE TO US BY A SON. (HEBREWS 1:2). LOQUACIOUS (TALKATIVE) IS GOD THAT GOD'S WORD BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US. GOD IS STILL LISTENING AND TALKING BACK. JESUS IS EVIDENCED OF GOD'S LISTENING AND TALKING. HE IS THE WORD THAT PERSISTS TO THE GRAVE AND "CALLS" US TO NEW LIFE. HOW WILL WE DISCERN THE WORD'S OF THE LORD? SAMUEL DID SO BY FEELING HIS WAY IN THE DARK, BY PERSISTING IN ANSWERING THE "CALL" EVEN WHEN HE FIRST MISTOOK ITS SOURCE. GOD PERSISTED IN CALLING. SAMUEL PERSISTED IN RESPONDING TO THE "CALL." WE WALK IN THE DARK IN FEELING OUR WAY ALONG THE CONTOURS OF OUR BAPTISM, THE LORD'S SUPPER, OUR PRAYERS, THE READING AND HEARING OF GOD'S WORD IN SCRIPTURE. SAMUEL, PHILIP, NATHANAEL, WERE AVAILABLE TO GOD'S "CALL."
ARE WE?
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