“And the LORD was also angry with me because of you. He said to me, ‘Moses, not even you will enter the Promised Land! 38 Instead, your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will lead the people into the land. Encourage him, for he will lead Israel as they take possession of it. 39 I will give the land to your little ones—- they will be the ones who occupy it.40 As for you, turn around now and go on back through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.’
“Then you confessed, ‘We have sinned against the LORD! We will go into the land and fight for it, as the LORD our God has commanded us.’ . . . “But the LORD said ‘Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies. Deuteronomy 1:37-46
Reflection
Is it not TOTALLY UNFAIR that Moses, the one who gave up his right to the throne of Egypt, the one who risked his life to rescue his ancestral family, the one who selflessly led his people for more than a generation, did not get to enter the promised land himself? It sure looks unfair to me.
But there is no account of Moses pouting or screaming, “Unfair!” The scripture says that he confessed his own sin. This is Godly leadership at its best. Such leaders know their own sin and own up to it. They see themselves as no better than anyone else and no less deserving of God’s punishment. They admit their sin.
And they accept the consequences. Having confessed and hoping for another chance to enter the promised land, he wasn’t granted one. Had he gone ahead with a second attempt at “plan A” he would not have succeeded. Plan “A” had expired. The consequences, from a human point of view, were severe. No promised land for Moses, at least in 1400 BC. But Moses could see beyond Palestine. And this is another Mark of a servant of God, his vision transcended himself. Here’s how the writer to the Hebrews put it.
“(Moses and other heroes of the faith) died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. . . . ..looking forward to a country they can call their own. . . . . . . they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16 (NLT)
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Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
April 29, 2010
What happens when I refuse God’s “Plan A” Deuteronomy 1:19-36 (NLT)
“, We left Mount Sinai and traveled through the great and terrifying wilderness, . . . . . .. we arrived at Kadesh-barnea, . . . . . ., ‘First, let’s send out scouts to explore the land for us. They will advise us on the best route to take and which towns we should enter.’ . . . . . . . . 25 They picked some of its fruit and brought it back to us. And they reported, ‘The land the LORD our God has given us is indeed a good land.’ 26 “But you . . . . . refused to go in. 27 You complained . . . . . “The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, . . . . . . 29 “But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! 30 The LORD your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, . . . . . ’ 32 “But even after all he did, you refused to trust the LORD your God, 33 . . . . . 34 “When the LORD heard your complaining, he became very angry. So he solemnly swore, 35 ‘Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, 36 except Caleb . . . . ." Deuteronomy 1:19-36 (NLT)
Reflection
God’s “plan A” for Israel (the biological descendents of Abraham and Sarah, the Hebrews, the Jews) was for them to enter the promised land almost immediately after the rescue from slavery in Egypt. However, they distrusted God and Moses, disobeyed, complained and rebelled. I think they were like most of us if we’re honest.
Now, God ALWAYS has a “plan B”. In other words, God’s ultimate plan to “restore Eden to earth” through Israel and the faithful Israelite, Jesus, WILL come to pass. But plan B doesn’t look like plan A. Plan B typically is full of the pain that disobeying and mistrusting plan A brings. Israel got to the promised land, but without everyone who began the journey except for Joshua and Caleb.
I like plan A best but I’m really grateful for plan B because plan A’s haven’t always looked all that good to me at the time. I was too selfish, or rebellious, or stupid, or whatever to recognize plan A as good. So most of me is living in a plan B, C, D, or even Q.
Yet, God is including me in the ultimate, eventual plan A destination, even if in an alternate plan way. So . . . . . .
“Thank You God for your patience and Grace. And, also, God please help me to jump right on all future plan A’s right when you present them. Amen”
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“, We left Mount Sinai and traveled through the great and terrifying wilderness, . . . . . .. we arrived at Kadesh-barnea, . . . . . ., ‘First, let’s send out scouts to explore the land for us. They will advise us on the best route to take and which towns we should enter.’ . . . . . . . . 25 They picked some of its fruit and brought it back to us. And they reported, ‘The land the LORD our God has given us is indeed a good land.’ 26 “But you . . . . . refused to go in. 27 You complained . . . . . “The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, . . . . . . 29 “But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! 30 The LORD your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, . . . . . ’ 32 “But even after all he did, you refused to trust the LORD your God, 33 . . . . . 34 “When the LORD heard your complaining, he became very angry. So he solemnly swore, 35 ‘Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, 36 except Caleb . . . . ." Deuteronomy 1:19-36 (NLT)
Reflection
God’s “plan A” for Israel (the biological descendents of Abraham and Sarah, the Hebrews, the Jews) was for them to enter the promised land almost immediately after the rescue from slavery in Egypt. However, they distrusted God and Moses, disobeyed, complained and rebelled. I think they were like most of us if we’re honest.
Now, God ALWAYS has a “plan B”. In other words, God’s ultimate plan to “restore Eden to earth” through Israel and the faithful Israelite, Jesus, WILL come to pass. But plan B doesn’t look like plan A. Plan B typically is full of the pain that disobeying and mistrusting plan A brings. Israel got to the promised land, but without everyone who began the journey except for Joshua and Caleb.
I like plan A best but I’m really grateful for plan B because plan A’s haven’t always looked all that good to me at the time. I was too selfish, or rebellious, or stupid, or whatever to recognize plan A as good. So most of me is living in a plan B, C, D, or even Q.
Yet, God is including me in the ultimate, eventual plan A destination, even if in an alternate plan way. So . . . . . .
“Thank You God for your patience and Grace. And, also, God please help me to jump right on all future plan A’s right when you present them. Amen”
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010
April 28, 2010
What is the purpose of leadership?
Deuteronomy 1:9-13
Moses continued, “At that time I told you, ‘You are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself. 10 The LORD your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars! 11 And may the LORD, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised! 12 But you are such a heavy load to carry! How can I deal with all your problems and bickering? 13 Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’ Deuteronomy 1:9-13 (NLT)
"The Journey" begins in 11 days
I think most of us are carrying a big load. And in typical “can do” mode, the pioneering American spirit tells us we can always do more. Well, how much more? How much is enough? How tired do I have to be? How many mistakes do I have to make? How many others do I have to let down before God says, “you need help”.
God used Moses’ father-in-law to tell him that he can’t do it all. He needed to take the very, very big step of trusting other people. He had to ask for help. Can you ask for help? Can you trust others to do what you typically feel only you can do right? What will it take for you finally to lighten your load? For Moses it took exhaustion and God’s intervention through a family member. Did you know that God speaks through your family?
A leader is one who is willing to ask for help and trust that help. A leader is one, like those whom Moses chose, who takes marching orders, trusts those who lead him or her, and then asks for help himself. Leaders are empowerers of others. Leadership is team sport.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
Deuteronomy 1:9-13
Moses continued, “At that time I told you, ‘You are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself. 10 The LORD your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars! 11 And may the LORD, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised! 12 But you are such a heavy load to carry! How can I deal with all your problems and bickering? 13 Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’ Deuteronomy 1:9-13 (NLT)
"The Journey" begins in 11 days
I think most of us are carrying a big load. And in typical “can do” mode, the pioneering American spirit tells us we can always do more. Well, how much more? How much is enough? How tired do I have to be? How many mistakes do I have to make? How many others do I have to let down before God says, “you need help”.
God used Moses’ father-in-law to tell him that he can’t do it all. He needed to take the very, very big step of trusting other people. He had to ask for help. Can you ask for help? Can you trust others to do what you typically feel only you can do right? What will it take for you finally to lighten your load? For Moses it took exhaustion and God’s intervention through a family member. Did you know that God speaks through your family?
A leader is one who is willing to ask for help and trust that help. A leader is one, like those whom Moses chose, who takes marching orders, trusts those who lead him or her, and then asks for help himself. Leaders are empowerers of others. Leadership is team sport.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
April 27, 2010
When Promises are Scary
Deuteronomy 1:5-8
While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the LORD’s instructions as follows. 6 “When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7 It is time to break camp and move on.
Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, . . . . . . and all the way to the great Euphrates River. 8 Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’” Deuteronomy 1:5-8 (NLT)
“The Journey” begins in 12 days
Sometimes it’s time to get moving. And sometimes that’s very, very hard to do because we get stuck. We get stuck not only in our “comfort zone” but also in our “discomfort zone”. Strangely many of us like being stuck in our misery. Why? Sometimes responsibility is just too scary and hard.
The Hebrews, a nation without a land, were given a land and told to enter it within two weeks of God’s offer. It took them 40 years. Why?
The Books of Moses after Genesis (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) tell us that the descendants of Abraham simply didn’t trust Moses, didn’t trust God. A new land was too frightening, too much work, too much sacrifice, too much danger, too much insecurity, too uncomfortable . . . . . .just more than they bargained for. Who knew freedom from slavery would be so hard? Many of them liked slavery better than freedom. Oppression has it’s perks: don’t have to think, don’t have to make decisions, don’t have to worry about food or shelter. Just work, eat some, and sleep.
But God doesn’t call that living. And God doesn’t think anyone can live, really live, without purpose, responsibility, hard work, difficult challenges and honoring the God who made you.
God promises “life abundant” (check out Deuteronomy 30:19) which means happiness in its truest sense. But happiness is hard. It is self forgetful, it looks ahead, obeys God, and looks to God’s purposes for and through oneself. Unhappiness is easy. Just stay comfortable no matter how much discomfort your comfort zone brings and unhappiness will find you.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
Deuteronomy 1:5-8
While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the LORD’s instructions as follows. 6 “When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7 It is time to break camp and move on.
Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, . . . . . . and all the way to the great Euphrates River. 8 Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’” Deuteronomy 1:5-8 (NLT)
“The Journey” begins in 12 days
Sometimes it’s time to get moving. And sometimes that’s very, very hard to do because we get stuck. We get stuck not only in our “comfort zone” but also in our “discomfort zone”. Strangely many of us like being stuck in our misery. Why? Sometimes responsibility is just too scary and hard.
The Hebrews, a nation without a land, were given a land and told to enter it within two weeks of God’s offer. It took them 40 years. Why?
The Books of Moses after Genesis (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) tell us that the descendants of Abraham simply didn’t trust Moses, didn’t trust God. A new land was too frightening, too much work, too much sacrifice, too much danger, too much insecurity, too uncomfortable . . . . . .just more than they bargained for. Who knew freedom from slavery would be so hard? Many of them liked slavery better than freedom. Oppression has it’s perks: don’t have to think, don’t have to make decisions, don’t have to worry about food or shelter. Just work, eat some, and sleep.
But God doesn’t call that living. And God doesn’t think anyone can live, really live, without purpose, responsibility, hard work, difficult challenges and honoring the God who made you.
God promises “life abundant” (check out Deuteronomy 30:19) which means happiness in its truest sense. But happiness is hard. It is self forgetful, it looks ahead, obeys God, and looks to God’s purposes for and through oneself. Unhappiness is easy. Just stay comfortable no matter how much discomfort your comfort zone brings and unhappiness will find you.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
Monday, April 26, 2010
April 26, 2010
It Doesn’t Have To Be That Hard
Deuteronomy 1:2-3
Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, going by way of Mount Seir. 3 But forty years after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses addressed the people of Israel, telling them everything the LORD had commanded him to say. Deuteronomy 1:2-3 (NLT)
“The Journey” begins in 13 days
“Deuteronomy” actually means “second law”. In other words this 5th book of the Bible, the last book of the books of Moses (referred to by scholars as the Pentateuch and by Jews as Torah) is a review of the first four books of the Bible. It focuses on the central event of all of Judaism, the escape from Egypt.
When God rescued the descendents of Abraham and Sarah from slavery in Egypt at the beginning of the 14th century BC, it was a miraculous event (see Exodus). To this day Jewish people all over the world celebrate God’s deliverance at Passover. It is in this history that all of Christianity is rooted. Jewish history is Christian history.
But God doesn’t rescue people only FROM something. He rescues us FOR something. The descendants of Abraham (having come to be known as Hebrews, a term perhaps derived from Eber in Gen 10) were promised a land.
Why? This land was to have been a gift in which they would live before God in such a way that they would influence all nations to love the God (Yahweh) who had rescued them. They were blessed to be a blessing to others.
BUT an 11 day walk to the promised land instead took them 40 years.
I hope you journey with me through Deuteronomy and, as you do so, discover why the journey took so long, what happened along the way, and let what you learn inform your God given journey on earth.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
Deuteronomy 1:2-3
Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, going by way of Mount Seir. 3 But forty years after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses addressed the people of Israel, telling them everything the LORD had commanded him to say. Deuteronomy 1:2-3 (NLT)
“The Journey” begins in 13 days
“Deuteronomy” actually means “second law”. In other words this 5th book of the Bible, the last book of the books of Moses (referred to by scholars as the Pentateuch and by Jews as Torah) is a review of the first four books of the Bible. It focuses on the central event of all of Judaism, the escape from Egypt.
When God rescued the descendents of Abraham and Sarah from slavery in Egypt at the beginning of the 14th century BC, it was a miraculous event (see Exodus). To this day Jewish people all over the world celebrate God’s deliverance at Passover. It is in this history that all of Christianity is rooted. Jewish history is Christian history.
But God doesn’t rescue people only FROM something. He rescues us FOR something. The descendants of Abraham (having come to be known as Hebrews, a term perhaps derived from Eber in Gen 10) were promised a land.
Why? This land was to have been a gift in which they would live before God in such a way that they would influence all nations to love the God (Yahweh) who had rescued them. They were blessed to be a blessing to others.
BUT an 11 day walk to the promised land instead took them 40 years.
I hope you journey with me through Deuteronomy and, as you do so, discover why the journey took so long, what happened along the way, and let what you learn inform your God given journey on earth.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
April 24, 2010
What if I knew the world would end tomorrow?
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11 (NLT)
Reflection
When Saint Francis was asked, “what would you do if the world were to end tomorrow, he replied, “I would plant a tree”. I think Martin Luther said the same thing. Although Francis lived, I believe in the 11th century, and Luther in the 16th, I still think Francis got it from Luther because wisdom like this usually originates in Germany doesn’t it?
Why plant a tree? Because the world never finally ends, it continues as a new earth wherein that planted tree will continue to grow.
Above is another list of spiritual gifts. Verse 11 tells us to exercise our gifts to the glory of God. And verse 10 reiterates that EACH OF US has been given a gift.
Why? To what end? Peter says, that the end of the world will be coming soon. In Biblical terms, the end of the world means the “Day of the Lord”, the day when Jesus Christ returns to finally and fully to complete the restoration, redemption, resurrection of God’s created world and believers get in on that. Notice I used the word “complete”. In other words, the “single plan of God through Israel beginning in Gen 12 and continuing through the faithful Israelite, Jesus, and through his followers (us) to heal the world” will be completed. This means it is happening right now through the church of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ, Jesus’ followers using their giftedness to heal, restore and redeem their little part of God’s world. It’s an amazing story. A story into which each of us has been written and in which each of us has been given the gift of freely choosing to play the part we’ve been given.
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The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11 (NLT)
Reflection
When Saint Francis was asked, “what would you do if the world were to end tomorrow, he replied, “I would plant a tree”. I think Martin Luther said the same thing. Although Francis lived, I believe in the 11th century, and Luther in the 16th, I still think Francis got it from Luther because wisdom like this usually originates in Germany doesn’t it?
Why plant a tree? Because the world never finally ends, it continues as a new earth wherein that planted tree will continue to grow.
Above is another list of spiritual gifts. Verse 11 tells us to exercise our gifts to the glory of God. And verse 10 reiterates that EACH OF US has been given a gift.
Why? To what end? Peter says, that the end of the world will be coming soon. In Biblical terms, the end of the world means the “Day of the Lord”, the day when Jesus Christ returns to finally and fully to complete the restoration, redemption, resurrection of God’s created world and believers get in on that. Notice I used the word “complete”. In other words, the “single plan of God through Israel beginning in Gen 12 and continuing through the faithful Israelite, Jesus, and through his followers (us) to heal the world” will be completed. This means it is happening right now through the church of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ, Jesus’ followers using their giftedness to heal, restore and redeem their little part of God’s world. It’s an amazing story. A story into which each of us has been written and in which each of us has been given the gift of freely choosing to play the part we’ve been given.
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Friday, April 23, 2010
April 23, 2010
Evaluate Yourself
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:3-8 (NLT)
Reflection
Almost all of us either overestimate or underestimate ourselves. But I think that most of us underestimate ourselves. In fact it is probably axiomatic in psychology that those who appear to have an inflated view of themselves are probably overcompensating for a poor view of themselves.
How then can we obtain a sober view of ourselves? The Bible teaches that it comes through humility which is neither thinking too much of oneself, nor thinking too little of oneself, rather it is not thinking of oneself at all.
So, when do you tend to not think of yourself? I think it happens when serving, and serving happily. The ability to serve within one’s Spiritual gifts, Heart passion, Abilities, Personality and Experiences (SHAPE) leads to selflessness, other centeredness, maturity, and it’s fun! I GET TO teach you every Sunday!. It’s my spiritual gift, this passion is in my heart, I have some ability, I’m wired for it, and I was trained and employed as a teacher. This all adds up to my loving my job.
It is true that to be compensated to work in my “SHAPE” is a luxury, but it is also true that EVERYOONE can find a way to serve God according to their SHAPE. Above is a representative (not exhaustive) list of innate abilities which God gives and which, when animated by the Holy Spirit, will give you joy and effectiveness in serving God. Which one may you have? Use it, experiement, jump in and serve someone. Yes, it may be difficult, inconvenient and just plain hard. But so it happiness. Serving, joy, happness, and selflessness are all hard. Self focus is easy, but it’s ultimately a most certain path to misery.
(to post a comment, click on “comments” below)
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:3-8 (NLT)
Reflection
Almost all of us either overestimate or underestimate ourselves. But I think that most of us underestimate ourselves. In fact it is probably axiomatic in psychology that those who appear to have an inflated view of themselves are probably overcompensating for a poor view of themselves.
How then can we obtain a sober view of ourselves? The Bible teaches that it comes through humility which is neither thinking too much of oneself, nor thinking too little of oneself, rather it is not thinking of oneself at all.
So, when do you tend to not think of yourself? I think it happens when serving, and serving happily. The ability to serve within one’s Spiritual gifts, Heart passion, Abilities, Personality and Experiences (SHAPE) leads to selflessness, other centeredness, maturity, and it’s fun! I GET TO teach you every Sunday!. It’s my spiritual gift, this passion is in my heart, I have some ability, I’m wired for it, and I was trained and employed as a teacher. This all adds up to my loving my job.
It is true that to be compensated to work in my “SHAPE” is a luxury, but it is also true that EVERYOONE can find a way to serve God according to their SHAPE. Above is a representative (not exhaustive) list of innate abilities which God gives and which, when animated by the Holy Spirit, will give you joy and effectiveness in serving God. Which one may you have? Use it, experiement, jump in and serve someone. Yes, it may be difficult, inconvenient and just plain hard. But so it happiness. Serving, joy, happness, and selflessness are all hard. Self focus is easy, but it’s ultimately a most certain path to misery.
(to post a comment, click on “comments” below)
Thursday, April 22, 2010
April 22, 2010
You are Crucial to God’s Purposes!!!!
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NLT)
Reflection
When someone asked me which body part I would identify myself with, my first thought was “the mouth” because I’m a teacher. But the more I think of it , the more I identify with Jon Meachem, editor of Newsweek magazine and Pulitzer prize winning author. When asked a similar question, he answered, “my nose because when I think of it, it keeps my humble”.
I find Paul’s description of the Body of Christ both beautiful and humbling, if not humiliating. Maybe I could call it a beautifully redeeming humiliation.
It is very humbling that my life’s function may be like that of a big toe. Who wants to be a big toe? But without it this body couldn’t walk, at least couldn’t walk without lots of outside help. Every part matters. You’re role in God’s story of healing the world is crucial. You are indispensible because without you the exact function for which you were chosen will never be filled. Yet each of is dispensable. Although my special role will never ever be filled if I don’t do it, another will come along fill a “plan B” version of that role. That’s God, always filling holes left by us. But it’s also frightening. If I don’t fulfill my role and purpose, I’ll die having missed it. Yet it’s encouraging, because no matter who I am, I have a role and a giftedness. God will use me if I let him. And it’s never too late to start. And, imagine this, those parts of the Body with the least honor today will in the next life, have the most honor.
Be both challenged and encouraged.
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The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NLT)
Reflection
When someone asked me which body part I would identify myself with, my first thought was “the mouth” because I’m a teacher. But the more I think of it , the more I identify with Jon Meachem, editor of Newsweek magazine and Pulitzer prize winning author. When asked a similar question, he answered, “my nose because when I think of it, it keeps my humble”.
I find Paul’s description of the Body of Christ both beautiful and humbling, if not humiliating. Maybe I could call it a beautifully redeeming humiliation.
It is very humbling that my life’s function may be like that of a big toe. Who wants to be a big toe? But without it this body couldn’t walk, at least couldn’t walk without lots of outside help. Every part matters. You’re role in God’s story of healing the world is crucial. You are indispensible because without you the exact function for which you were chosen will never be filled. Yet each of is dispensable. Although my special role will never ever be filled if I don’t do it, another will come along fill a “plan B” version of that role. That’s God, always filling holes left by us. But it’s also frightening. If I don’t fulfill my role and purpose, I’ll die having missed it. Yet it’s encouraging, because no matter who I am, I have a role and a giftedness. God will use me if I let him. And it’s never too late to start. And, imagine this, those parts of the Body with the least honor today will in the next life, have the most honor.
Be both challenged and encouraged.
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
April 21, 2010
You Have Special Abilities!!!!!!!!
Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this , , , , , , ,4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NLT)
Reflection
It’s very hard, I think, to actually say and believe that God’s spirit has placed within one either a supernatural ability or an inborn ability which as a believer is supernaturally empowered. At least I find it hard.
Somehow it feels like bragging or, worse, it feels incongruent . . . how could undeserving me be indwelt by something of God? It just feels too presumptuous or impossible.
Yet, so it is. In fact I do believe it takes a measure of humility to admit this truth about oneself. Because to admit such a thing is to admit that it is indeed a gift (I didn’t earn it) and that it is beyond what I deserve, and it is of such a nature that having been givin such a gift carries with it the responsibility to use it in a way that honors the giver.
This passage contains only one list of gifts. In the next few days you will read other lists from the bible. It is important to note that these lists of gifts are not exhaustive, rather representative. That is, not every gift of God is specifically recorded in these lists. That’s why it’s important to experiment, to just serve. That’s by far the best way to find out what you’re good at and what energizes you and what brings you closest to God.
I’ll see you Sunday on Faith in Action Day.
(to post a comment, click on “comments” below)
Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this , , , , , , ,4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NLT)
Reflection
It’s very hard, I think, to actually say and believe that God’s spirit has placed within one either a supernatural ability or an inborn ability which as a believer is supernaturally empowered. At least I find it hard.
Somehow it feels like bragging or, worse, it feels incongruent . . . how could undeserving me be indwelt by something of God? It just feels too presumptuous or impossible.
Yet, so it is. In fact I do believe it takes a measure of humility to admit this truth about oneself. Because to admit such a thing is to admit that it is indeed a gift (I didn’t earn it) and that it is beyond what I deserve, and it is of such a nature that having been givin such a gift carries with it the responsibility to use it in a way that honors the giver.
This passage contains only one list of gifts. In the next few days you will read other lists from the bible. It is important to note that these lists of gifts are not exhaustive, rather representative. That is, not every gift of God is specifically recorded in these lists. That’s why it’s important to experiment, to just serve. That’s by far the best way to find out what you’re good at and what energizes you and what brings you closest to God.
I’ll see you Sunday on Faith in Action Day.
(to post a comment, click on “comments” below)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 20, 2010
What on Earth Am I Here For?
The Responsibility of the church is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Reflection
When asked, “what do you do when you’re not getting anything out of church”, I said that it’s possible “get a lot out of” church no matter how poor the preaching is, no matter how weak the music is, regardless of how unfriendly the people. The Bible teaches that the way to get is to give. He who gives gets. He who seeks to be served will never be satisfied. The church is an imperfect place full of imperfect people being used by God to heal the world. The huge transition for every Christian is the transition from taker to giver, from “geocentrisim” (I and my needs are central . . .as in the earth replacing the sun in the center of the universe) to “heliocentrisim” (my needs circulate around what the “Son” wants). It’s not about me.
This means serving. Vs. 16 says that health, growth, and love (spiritual maturity) comes as each of does our special work in service of others. In fact verse 11 tells us that that’s the purpose of church leaders, to equip members to serve, so that we all grow up. Yes, that’s a responsibility of leaders, this passage was written as a charge to leaders not as an opportunity for blame for unhappy churchgoers.
I hope each of you fills out the S.H.A.P.E. survey, chooses to meet with a “SHAPE counseller” and discovers God’s special way for you to serve. The benefits are these: you grow up and you’ll have fun doing it.
(To comment, click on “comments” below)
The Responsibility of the church is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Reflection
When asked, “what do you do when you’re not getting anything out of church”, I said that it’s possible “get a lot out of” church no matter how poor the preaching is, no matter how weak the music is, regardless of how unfriendly the people. The Bible teaches that the way to get is to give. He who gives gets. He who seeks to be served will never be satisfied. The church is an imperfect place full of imperfect people being used by God to heal the world. The huge transition for every Christian is the transition from taker to giver, from “geocentrisim” (I and my needs are central . . .as in the earth replacing the sun in the center of the universe) to “heliocentrisim” (my needs circulate around what the “Son” wants). It’s not about me.
This means serving. Vs. 16 says that health, growth, and love (spiritual maturity) comes as each of does our special work in service of others. In fact verse 11 tells us that that’s the purpose of church leaders, to equip members to serve, so that we all grow up. Yes, that’s a responsibility of leaders, this passage was written as a charge to leaders not as an opportunity for blame for unhappy churchgoers.
I hope each of you fills out the S.H.A.P.E. survey, chooses to meet with a “SHAPE counseller” and discovers God’s special way for you to serve. The benefits are these: you grow up and you’ll have fun doing it.
(To comment, click on “comments” below)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Why me? What about him?
“I tell you the truth (Peter), when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved (John) . . . 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You—follow me." John 21:18-22 (NLT)
Reflection
Does it seem to you that God plays favorites? Why does God let some off easy while others suffer terribly?
In this passage it appears that Peter wants to know why he’s going to have to suffer horribly while John, known as Jesus’ favorite, gets off easy.
Every parent has had this asked of them. “Why doesn’t Johnny have to do what you make me do?” And every parent has given the answer, “it’s none of your business”. “Do what I told you to do!” And every parent understands that true fairness is doing for each child what that child needs. Every child is different. And each child contributes to the family differently. Some children are up to a bigger physical task and other children are up to a bigger literary or verbal or musical task, for example.
Jesus knew what Peter was able to handle and He knew what John would best accomplish and He commissioned each accordingly. Every time we, in our limited, self centered worlds, try to define fairness in relation to ourselves, we fall short. We can’t do it accurately. We can however know from John 3:16 and elsewhere that God is consummately fair to all. It must be that perspective that we hold onto tightly when we read, “You - you follow me”
“I tell you the truth (Peter), when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved (John) . . . 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You—follow me." John 21:18-22 (NLT)
Reflection
Does it seem to you that God plays favorites? Why does God let some off easy while others suffer terribly?
In this passage it appears that Peter wants to know why he’s going to have to suffer horribly while John, known as Jesus’ favorite, gets off easy.
Every parent has had this asked of them. “Why doesn’t Johnny have to do what you make me do?” And every parent has given the answer, “it’s none of your business”. “Do what I told you to do!” And every parent understands that true fairness is doing for each child what that child needs. Every child is different. And each child contributes to the family differently. Some children are up to a bigger physical task and other children are up to a bigger literary or verbal or musical task, for example.
Jesus knew what Peter was able to handle and He knew what John would best accomplish and He commissioned each accordingly. Every time we, in our limited, self centered worlds, try to define fairness in relation to ourselves, we fall short. We can’t do it accurately. We can however know from John 3:16 and elsewhere that God is consummately fair to all. It must be that perspective that we hold onto tightly when we read, “You - you follow me”
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What Do You Do After Easter?
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 (NLT)
Reflection
I have always wanted to ask a certain question to anyone who would tell me they loved me, “What do you mean by that?” Actually I’ve never really asked that question, but I’ve wanted to. I think it’s a good question. Does it mean, “I feel a positive emotional response to your presence?” or “I like you”, or “I respect you”, or “I can’t live without you”, or what? Each of these possibilities has to do with the feelings of the one who claims to love.
In the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, when Tevia asks, “do you love me”, his wife answers “I clean your house, cook your food, bear your children, and wash your clothes” (or something like that). For her, love is a series of committed actions done for her husband.
Jesus asks Peter, in effect, “What do you mean when you say ‘ yes I love you”. Peter gives the “feeling answer”, the equivilant (based on the Greek verb used) of “yes I feel brotherly affection for you”. But then Jesus defines what it would mean for Peter to love Jesus. Notice that Jesus’ answer goes beyond that of Tevia’s wife. Jesus tells Peter that loving Him would entail not just feelings, not just acts of service for Jesus Himself, but acts of sacrificial service for those whom Jesus loves.... other people.
“Feed my sheep”, Jesus tells Peter. In that command every Christ follower finds his Easter commission. It’s the answer to the question, “what Do you do after Easter”
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 (NLT)
Reflection
I have always wanted to ask a certain question to anyone who would tell me they loved me, “What do you mean by that?” Actually I’ve never really asked that question, but I’ve wanted to. I think it’s a good question. Does it mean, “I feel a positive emotional response to your presence?” or “I like you”, or “I respect you”, or “I can’t live without you”, or what? Each of these possibilities has to do with the feelings of the one who claims to love.
In the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, when Tevia asks, “do you love me”, his wife answers “I clean your house, cook your food, bear your children, and wash your clothes” (or something like that). For her, love is a series of committed actions done for her husband.
Jesus asks Peter, in effect, “What do you mean when you say ‘ yes I love you”. Peter gives the “feeling answer”, the equivilant (based on the Greek verb used) of “yes I feel brotherly affection for you”. But then Jesus defines what it would mean for Peter to love Jesus. Notice that Jesus’ answer goes beyond that of Tevia’s wife. Jesus tells Peter that loving Him would entail not just feelings, not just acts of service for Jesus Himself, but acts of sacrificial service for those whom Jesus loves.... other people.
“Feed my sheep”, Jesus tells Peter. In that command every Christ follower finds his Easter commission. It’s the answer to the question, “what Do you do after Easter”
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
How To Treat Those Who Betray
Peter . . .jumped into the water, and headed to shore. . .a hundred yards away.. 9 When all the disciples got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Peter dragged the net to the shore with 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn . . .Then Jesus served them breakfast. John 21:7-13
Reflection:
The last time Peter stood around a charcoal fire was when he denied knowing Jesus. Now Jesus was serving him breakfast. What is it like to be served by a person you’ve wronged? I think it feels strange, even humiliating.
Actually, for a long time I’ve been served by people whom I’ve wronged. Those people are my parents. The more that I advance in years, the more that memories of the ways I disappointed, shamed and hurt my parents flood into my mind. It seems to me that there is a parallel . . . .as the disciples let down Jesus, so I let down my parents. Yet they served me, served me and served me some more. That’s what unconditional love does. That what parents do. Unconditional love just serves, swallows the disloyalty, hurt, and betrayal, and. . . . just keeps serving.
Jesus served breakfast to those who betrayed him. Would you like to shock someone? Find someone who’s hurt you, maybe even deeply and choose a meaningful way to serve them. Expect nothing. Abandon hope that your act will make any difference to them. Just do it. Do it because it’s a “Jesus act” and because they are loved by God, if not by you.
One other thing. Maybe one day, in the New Creation, my parents will serve me again and perhaps I will have the joy of experiencing “a redeemed shame” at being served by those who took up their cross, bore my ingratitude, and represented God to me during their short time on earth.
Peter . . .jumped into the water, and headed to shore. . .a hundred yards away.. 9 When all the disciples got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Peter dragged the net to the shore with 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn . . .Then Jesus served them breakfast. John 21:7-13
Reflection:
The last time Peter stood around a charcoal fire was when he denied knowing Jesus. Now Jesus was serving him breakfast. What is it like to be served by a person you’ve wronged? I think it feels strange, even humiliating.
Actually, for a long time I’ve been served by people whom I’ve wronged. Those people are my parents. The more that I advance in years, the more that memories of the ways I disappointed, shamed and hurt my parents flood into my mind. It seems to me that there is a parallel . . . .as the disciples let down Jesus, so I let down my parents. Yet they served me, served me and served me some more. That’s what unconditional love does. That what parents do. Unconditional love just serves, swallows the disloyalty, hurt, and betrayal, and. . . . just keeps serving.
Jesus served breakfast to those who betrayed him. Would you like to shock someone? Find someone who’s hurt you, maybe even deeply and choose a meaningful way to serve them. Expect nothing. Abandon hope that your act will make any difference to them. Just do it. Do it because it’s a “Jesus act” and because they are loved by God, if not by you.
One other thing. Maybe one day, in the New Creation, my parents will serve me again and perhaps I will have the joy of experiencing “a redeemed shame” at being served by those who took up their cross, bore my ingratitude, and represented God to me during their short time on earth.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
“Same Old, Same Old”,
Or the Other Side of The Boat?
Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
John 21:3-6 (NLT)
Peter went back to what he knew, but the result was the same old struggle to get by. He was then asked a really, really good question, “Have you caught anything?”
What do you do with resurrection? God did it. Easter’s over. Now what? Peter went fishing. But there were no bites.
Peter went back to what he knew best. Back to the same old, same old. Even though I keep doing that myself, it’s not very satisfying, lots of “catchless” fishing trips, so to speak. But when I break out of the old pattern and do something new, things are . . . . well, they are frequently different . . . . even life-giving.
Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. The New Creation has begun. It’s here. Someone has actually come back from the dead with a brand new body, and that very same life-giving power has been at work on this planet in various ways for 2,000 years. Jesus’ resurrection happened by the power of the Holy Spirit and that very same resurrecting, restoring, life giving Holy Spirit is now at work in the world and in you if you choose to believe and to act.
Peter and friends caught no fish until Jesus broke in and told them to do something new, to act on what he said even though it sounded weird. Then came the catch.
When I’m stuck in the same old, same old, I need to listen to the Spirit of Jesus and then act on it. When I do there’s LIFE to be lived. But I must act, not just “sit there”.
As soon as the car gets back, I think I’ll go to the high school and practice my tennis serve. Yes, sometimes the Sprit of Jesus leads us to do weird things, even things that bring us pleasure. Imagine that.
Or the Other Side of The Boat?
Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
John 21:3-6 (NLT)
Peter went back to what he knew, but the result was the same old struggle to get by. He was then asked a really, really good question, “Have you caught anything?”
What do you do with resurrection? God did it. Easter’s over. Now what? Peter went fishing. But there were no bites.
Peter went back to what he knew best. Back to the same old, same old. Even though I keep doing that myself, it’s not very satisfying, lots of “catchless” fishing trips, so to speak. But when I break out of the old pattern and do something new, things are . . . . well, they are frequently different . . . . even life-giving.
Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. The New Creation has begun. It’s here. Someone has actually come back from the dead with a brand new body, and that very same life-giving power has been at work on this planet in various ways for 2,000 years. Jesus’ resurrection happened by the power of the Holy Spirit and that very same resurrecting, restoring, life giving Holy Spirit is now at work in the world and in you if you choose to believe and to act.
Peter and friends caught no fish until Jesus broke in and told them to do something new, to act on what he said even though it sounded weird. Then came the catch.
When I’m stuck in the same old, same old, I need to listen to the Spirit of Jesus and then act on it. When I do there’s LIFE to be lived. But I must act, not just “sit there”.
As soon as the car gets back, I think I’ll go to the high school and practice my tennis serve. Yes, sometimes the Sprit of Jesus leads us to do weird things, even things that bring us pleasure. Imagine that.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
What Do You Do When You Don’t Know What To Do?
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” John 21:1-3 (NLT)
What do you do with resurrection? God did it. Easter’s over. Now what? Peter went fishing. When I don’t know what to do, I tend to go back to what I know best. Peter knew fishing, so that’s what he did.
What do you do after being the winning quarterback in the Super Bowl, or if you hit the game winning shot in the NCAA championship game? Go to Disney World? But what then? What comes after the mountaintop? Just seek another mountain to conquer?
Jesus was raised from the dead. Now what? Should I try topping that? Seek the next thrill, look for the next “wow”? I still play basketball and there’s absolutely no hope that there’s a new next level of play that I’ll attain. What do I do now? Some people try performance enhancing drugs, but what happens when those wear off?
How do I live once the mountaintop has been climbed, or as Alexander asked, “when there are no more worlds to conquer?”. Women look forward the wedding day and these days weddings are spectacular, mountaintop experiences. But then comes the marriage, and they are typically not quite so spectacular. Now what?
Jesus was raised from the dead. Since Peter didn’t know what to do next, he went fishing.
What about you?
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” John 21:1-3 (NLT)
What do you do with resurrection? God did it. Easter’s over. Now what? Peter went fishing. When I don’t know what to do, I tend to go back to what I know best. Peter knew fishing, so that’s what he did.
What do you do after being the winning quarterback in the Super Bowl, or if you hit the game winning shot in the NCAA championship game? Go to Disney World? But what then? What comes after the mountaintop? Just seek another mountain to conquer?
Jesus was raised from the dead. Now what? Should I try topping that? Seek the next thrill, look for the next “wow”? I still play basketball and there’s absolutely no hope that there’s a new next level of play that I’ll attain. What do I do now? Some people try performance enhancing drugs, but what happens when those wear off?
How do I live once the mountaintop has been climbed, or as Alexander asked, “when there are no more worlds to conquer?”. Women look forward the wedding day and these days weddings are spectacular, mountaintop experiences. But then comes the marriage, and they are typically not quite so spectacular. Now what?
Jesus was raised from the dead. Since Peter didn’t know what to do next, he went fishing.
What about you?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
April 10, 2010
John Sums It All Up
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. John 20:19-31(NLT)
This is John’s original ending to his gospel. Chapter 21 appears to be an afterthought, an addendum. Here John summarizes the life of Jesus sweeping terms; “miraculous”, “believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God”,“by believing in him you will have life”,“the power of his name”.
I hope you choose one or all of these phrases to memorize and reflect on throughout the day today. Long ago I choose the phrase “life in his name” as a phrase on which I constantly reflect. That’s a very beautiful phrase isn’t it? John obviously means more than being phyisically functioning. He also means that there is more to life than living life without being infused with the God infused Life.
Consider: when are you most aware of living the “life of God” as opposed to “life on my own”? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. John 20:19-31(NLT)
This is John’s original ending to his gospel. Chapter 21 appears to be an afterthought, an addendum. Here John summarizes the life of Jesus sweeping terms; “miraculous”, “believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God”,“by believing in him you will have life”,“the power of his name”.
I hope you choose one or all of these phrases to memorize and reflect on throughout the day today. Long ago I choose the phrase “life in his name” as a phrase on which I constantly reflect. That’s a very beautiful phrase isn’t it? John obviously means more than being phyisically functioning. He also means that there is more to life than living life without being infused with the God infused Life.
Consider: when are you most aware of living the “life of God” as opposed to “life on my own”? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
Friday, April 9, 2010
April 9, 2010
Eight Days Later
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:19-31 (NLT)
Although there are very few things which can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is a case where Thomas got exactly the irrefutable proof he needed. When he touched Jesus, he was touching a material body, not a ghost. At that point, having dealt for a week with whether the whole thing was true or not, Thomas doubted no longer . . . .he not only believed, he proclaimed Jesus the Lord of his life.
Jesus’ rejoinder is important, however. We live in the post-ascension era. We do not get to see Jesus physically. We must believe. Yet we believe with solid, even overwhelming evidence that Jesus was “crucified dead and buried. The third day he rose again from the dead” (apostles’ creed). I think believing is choice and is within our control. It makes no sense to believe in something unsupportable. However to believe in that to which the evidence overwhelmingly points is intelligent and reasonable. And, if true, then demands far more than intellectual assent. It demands the belief on which a life is built.
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:19-31 (NLT)
Although there are very few things which can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is a case where Thomas got exactly the irrefutable proof he needed. When he touched Jesus, he was touching a material body, not a ghost. At that point, having dealt for a week with whether the whole thing was true or not, Thomas doubted no longer . . . .he not only believed, he proclaimed Jesus the Lord of his life.
Jesus’ rejoinder is important, however. We live in the post-ascension era. We do not get to see Jesus physically. We must believe. Yet we believe with solid, even overwhelming evidence that Jesus was “crucified dead and buried. The third day he rose again from the dead” (apostles’ creed). I think believing is choice and is within our control. It makes no sense to believe in something unsupportable. However to believe in that to which the evidence overwhelmingly points is intelligent and reasonable. And, if true, then demands far more than intellectual assent. It demands the belief on which a life is built.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
April 8, 2010
When Doubting Is Healthy
"One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” John 20:19-31 (NLT)
Thomas is my favorite disciple. Earlier he’s the one who demanded an explanation to John 14:6. He’s the one who said he gladly go to his death with Jesus. Thomas was courageous but also wanted to know, to understand. “Doubting Thomas” is an unfortunate caricature of this very fine man.
If you tend to be a skeptic, if you sometimes doubt, if you sometimes think that a certain teaching “just can’t be true”, I personally think that your doubt is perfectly normal and that it, if acted on wisely, is extremely helpful in growing in your faith. Thomas wanted to know if the resurrection was true. For him seeing was believing. Kind of like a Missourian . . . .“show me”.
If you are a person who has lot’s of questions, great!!!! I’m a person who has lots of questions and those questions have led me on a 31 years search that hasn’t ended yet. I encourage you to (re)listen to this year’s Easter message (available on www.clcfamily.net Also,below is a list of great resources for you to check out if you, like Thomas, have questions about the resurrection of Jesus.
*The Case for Christ Lee Stobel, former atheist and Legal Editor of
the Chicago Tribune ( www.leestrobel.com )
The Case for Faith Lee Strobel
The Case for Easter Lee Strobel
The Case for Creation Lee Strobel
*More than a Carpenter Josh McDowell
Evidence That Demands a Verdict Josh McDowell
*Who Moved the Stone? Dr. Frank Morrison
*Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis
Simply Christian N.T.Wright
Who Was Jesus? N.T.Wright
*Pastor’s picks for starting your search
"One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” John 20:19-31 (NLT)
Thomas is my favorite disciple. Earlier he’s the one who demanded an explanation to John 14:6. He’s the one who said he gladly go to his death with Jesus. Thomas was courageous but also wanted to know, to understand. “Doubting Thomas” is an unfortunate caricature of this very fine man.
If you tend to be a skeptic, if you sometimes doubt, if you sometimes think that a certain teaching “just can’t be true”, I personally think that your doubt is perfectly normal and that it, if acted on wisely, is extremely helpful in growing in your faith. Thomas wanted to know if the resurrection was true. For him seeing was believing. Kind of like a Missourian . . . .“show me”.
If you are a person who has lot’s of questions, great!!!! I’m a person who has lots of questions and those questions have led me on a 31 years search that hasn’t ended yet. I encourage you to (re)listen to this year’s Easter message (available on www.clcfamily.net Also,below is a list of great resources for you to check out if you, like Thomas, have questions about the resurrection of Jesus.
*The Case for Christ Lee Stobel, former atheist and Legal Editor of
the Chicago Tribune ( www.leestrobel.com )
The Case for Faith Lee Strobel
The Case for Easter Lee Strobel
The Case for Creation Lee Strobel
*More than a Carpenter Josh McDowell
Evidence That Demands a Verdict Josh McDowell
*Who Moved the Stone? Dr. Frank Morrison
*Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis
Simply Christian N.T.Wright
Who Was Jesus? N.T.Wright
*Pastor’s picks for starting your search
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
April 7, 2010
What is a Christian?
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Luke 24:21-23 (NLT)
I think that these words of Jesus are HUGE!
First, he breathed on them. Remind you of anything?(see Gen. 2:7). The words for breath, wind and Holy Spirit are the same in both Greek (the New Testament language) and Hebrew (the language of the Old Testament). Jesus gives his disciples both a commission and the power to carry out that commission, even if imperfectly. We don’t have a lot of excuses for not trying to do what he’s commissioned us to do. We’ll never be perfect, but we have his ability in us to live a life of being sent into the world as a healer just as he was sent into the world as a healer. I am to be a healing force in the world. I’ve been blessed to be a blessing. There is simply no getting around this. Our life purpose is to love God, serve others and live His purpose for our lives, not our purpose.
Second, Jesus connects our mission in life to forgiveness. If you read how Jesus concludes the Lord’s Prayer (see Matthew 6), and these words, you will not be able to escape the implication that there is a sense in which our unforgiveness not only separates ourselves from God, but it can also bind others in their sin. Jesus came to set the world free from the bondage of sin. To the degree to which we hold a grudge, unforgiveness in our hearts, we are actually fighting against the work of God. On the cross Jesus forgave. We must forgive. Here’s a brief word of help. Forgiveness is a decision that may need to be made a thousand times before the negative emotion is gone. The emotion may not be under your control but the decision is. God honors your decision.
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Luke 24:21-23 (NLT)
I think that these words of Jesus are HUGE!
First, he breathed on them. Remind you of anything?(see Gen. 2:7). The words for breath, wind and Holy Spirit are the same in both Greek (the New Testament language) and Hebrew (the language of the Old Testament). Jesus gives his disciples both a commission and the power to carry out that commission, even if imperfectly. We don’t have a lot of excuses for not trying to do what he’s commissioned us to do. We’ll never be perfect, but we have his ability in us to live a life of being sent into the world as a healer just as he was sent into the world as a healer. I am to be a healing force in the world. I’ve been blessed to be a blessing. There is simply no getting around this. Our life purpose is to love God, serve others and live His purpose for our lives, not our purpose.
Second, Jesus connects our mission in life to forgiveness. If you read how Jesus concludes the Lord’s Prayer (see Matthew 6), and these words, you will not be able to escape the implication that there is a sense in which our unforgiveness not only separates ourselves from God, but it can also bind others in their sin. Jesus came to set the world free from the bondage of sin. To the degree to which we hold a grudge, unforgiveness in our hearts, we are actually fighting against the work of God. On the cross Jesus forgave. We must forgive. Here’s a brief word of help. Forgiveness is a decision that may need to be made a thousand times before the negative emotion is gone. The emotion may not be under your control but the decision is. God honors your decision.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
April 6, 2010
Easter Evening
That Sunday evening (the day of the resurrection) the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Luke 24:19-20 (NLT)
I like the details that Luke picked up on as he researched (check out the first few lines of Luke’s Gospel) Jesus’ resurrection appearances; “locked doors”,“afraid of the Jewish Leaders”. This was evening of what we now call Easter, and Jesus’ bewildered and fearful (their leader was killed!) friends and followers were hiding behind locked doors wondering, “what do we do now?”. Then Jesus appears. He apparently “materialized”, having entered through solid walls and locked doors, yet was “material”, “in the flesh”. In other words he was not a ghost, rather he was in a body similar yet dissimiliar to the one he had before he was crucified. I think it’s fair to think that we can get a hint from Jesus resurrected body at what our resurrected bodies may be like.
Here’s a thought. The disciples didn’t know what to do next, so they gathered in a room and locked it. Then Jesus showed up. It occurs to me that when we retreat, not knowing what to do next, just waiting, depending, vulnerable, perhaps at the end of our rope, it is then that we are most open to receiving the presence and guidance of Jesus in the form of the Holy Spirit. For forty days, Jesus showed up physically to guide and comfort the disciples. After the ascension and 10 days later, Pentecost, Jesus’ “appearances" were and continue to be by way of the Holy Spirit. Dependence creates the fertile ground into which God’s Sprit can plant his seeds of guidance, comfort and hope.
That Sunday evening (the day of the resurrection) the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Luke 24:19-20 (NLT)
I like the details that Luke picked up on as he researched (check out the first few lines of Luke’s Gospel) Jesus’ resurrection appearances; “locked doors”,“afraid of the Jewish Leaders”. This was evening of what we now call Easter, and Jesus’ bewildered and fearful (their leader was killed!) friends and followers were hiding behind locked doors wondering, “what do we do now?”. Then Jesus appears. He apparently “materialized”, having entered through solid walls and locked doors, yet was “material”, “in the flesh”. In other words he was not a ghost, rather he was in a body similar yet dissimiliar to the one he had before he was crucified. I think it’s fair to think that we can get a hint from Jesus resurrected body at what our resurrected bodies may be like.
Here’s a thought. The disciples didn’t know what to do next, so they gathered in a room and locked it. Then Jesus showed up. It occurs to me that when we retreat, not knowing what to do next, just waiting, depending, vulnerable, perhaps at the end of our rope, it is then that we are most open to receiving the presence and guidance of Jesus in the form of the Holy Spirit. For forty days, Jesus showed up physically to guide and comfort the disciples. After the ascension and 10 days later, Pentecost, Jesus’ “appearances" were and continue to be by way of the Holy Spirit. Dependence creates the fertile ground into which God’s Sprit can plant his seeds of guidance, comfort and hope.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter Sunday - April 4, 2010
I love this statement by missionary/theologian Leslie Newbigin:
"I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist; Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead."
In today’s economy and with an uncertain future ahead Easter Sunday is a great day to ask “What am I really counting on? Am I building my life on a foundation that's solid enough that circumstances beyond my control cannot take it away?
People have not gathered for the past 2,000 years to say, "The stock market has risen. It has risen indeed." They have not gathered to say, "The dollar has risen. It has risen indeed." Or, "the employment rate has risen." Or, "the gross domestic product has risen." Or, "General Motors has risen." Or "the value of your 401(k) has risen."
Here's the one hope that has held up human beings across every continent and culture for two millennia of difficult times of poverty, disease, pain, hardship, [and] death itself: "Christ is risen. He is risen indeed."
"I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist; Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead."
In today’s economy and with an uncertain future ahead Easter Sunday is a great day to ask “What am I really counting on? Am I building my life on a foundation that's solid enough that circumstances beyond my control cannot take it away?
People have not gathered for the past 2,000 years to say, "The stock market has risen. It has risen indeed." They have not gathered to say, "The dollar has risen. It has risen indeed." Or, "the employment rate has risen." Or, "the gross domestic product has risen." Or, "General Motors has risen." Or "the value of your 401(k) has risen."
Here's the one hope that has held up human beings across every continent and culture for two millennia of difficult times of poverty, disease, pain, hardship, [and] death itself: "Christ is risen. He is risen indeed."
Saturday, April 3, 2010
April 3, 2010
Years ago I read Dr Frank Morrison’s book, Who Moved The Stone? He was an atheist out to prove the Gospel to be untrue, but the problem of who could possibly have moved the two ton stone covering the tomb was too much for him and it led to his becoming a believer.
Well, the women were shocked that Jesus was gone. Nowhere in Judaism was there any thought of a bodily resurrection from the dead of any individual returning back into this world. Nor were they influenced by the Greek concept of the immortality of the soul. Jews rejected that. Resurrections just didn’t happen and were not expected either by the Sadducees or Pharisees. The latter expected only a general resurrection on judgment day of all of Israel and into a new world, not back into this one.
Interestingly, Mark ends his Gospel where I have left off above. Almost all scholars are agree that what comes after that point are additions by later scribes and editors (much different grammar and word choices). Mark ends with trembling and bewildered women. They didn’t know what to do with this information. They had not yet seen him for themselves. They are much like we. We haven’t seen him either. We just have the news of his resurrection to rely on. It’s as if Mark is leaving us with the question, “what are they going to do now?” Indeed what do you do with news of resurrection?
This is why Christianity is, at it’s core, an announcement of what God has done at a specific point in history, in a specific place, among specific people. It’s an event, a wonderful event, and Christians for 2,000 years have announced it. It’s God’s work. It’s what God did in time and space. And we can’t change it. We can however, let the announcement sink in and allow it to do its work in us.
Well, the women were shocked that Jesus was gone. Nowhere in Judaism was there any thought of a bodily resurrection from the dead of any individual returning back into this world. Nor were they influenced by the Greek concept of the immortality of the soul. Jews rejected that. Resurrections just didn’t happen and were not expected either by the Sadducees or Pharisees. The latter expected only a general resurrection on judgment day of all of Israel and into a new world, not back into this one.
Interestingly, Mark ends his Gospel where I have left off above. Almost all scholars are agree that what comes after that point are additions by later scribes and editors (much different grammar and word choices). Mark ends with trembling and bewildered women. They didn’t know what to do with this information. They had not yet seen him for themselves. They are much like we. We haven’t seen him either. We just have the news of his resurrection to rely on. It’s as if Mark is leaving us with the question, “what are they going to do now?” Indeed what do you do with news of resurrection?
This is why Christianity is, at it’s core, an announcement of what God has done at a specific point in history, in a specific place, among specific people. It’s an event, a wonderful event, and Christians for 2,000 years have announced it. It’s God’s work. It’s what God did in time and space. And we can’t change it. We can however, let the announcement sink in and allow it to do its work in us.
Friday, April 2, 2010
April 2, 2010
I find this passage sickening to read. How can “good” people be so mean? But what’s really painful is when reality takes over my thinking and I realize “who am I to judge them? What makes me think I am any better?”
I like verse 43, “Joseph took a risk”. His action is one I wish to aspire to. He had a lot to loose, but acted on what he knew was right despite the power peer pressure not to.
Verse 34 is puzzling. Did God really abandon Jesus as we are so often taught? Could Jesus’ exclamation have been and expression of his human sense of abandonment rather than the reality of it? The Apostle John began his Gospel by making the point that Jesus and God are one. Could it be that God was on that cross? Could it be that God was being pierced by spikes, sword and the sting of each of the sins of each human who ever lived? Could it be that God’s heart is a cross-shaped heart? Could it be that our God is, yes powerful and ruling the world, yet also an eternally crucified God, neverendingly at every moment taking my sin upon himself?
Good Friday is good because God is good and it would be a valuable exercise to think through the meaning of good.
I like verse 43, “Joseph took a risk”. His action is one I wish to aspire to. He had a lot to loose, but acted on what he knew was right despite the power peer pressure not to.
Verse 34 is puzzling. Did God really abandon Jesus as we are so often taught? Could Jesus’ exclamation have been and expression of his human sense of abandonment rather than the reality of it? The Apostle John began his Gospel by making the point that Jesus and God are one. Could it be that God was on that cross? Could it be that God was being pierced by spikes, sword and the sting of each of the sins of each human who ever lived? Could it be that God’s heart is a cross-shaped heart? Could it be that our God is, yes powerful and ruling the world, yet also an eternally crucified God, neverendingly at every moment taking my sin upon himself?
Good Friday is good because God is good and it would be a valuable exercise to think through the meaning of good.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010
The Trial
Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” 3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, 4 and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” 5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.
6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested. 7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual. 9 “Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.
12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” 15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. 16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. Mark 15:1-18 (NLT)
Of course Jesus’ trial was rigged with bias, false witnesses, hate and expediency. But what strikes me are the following things.
1. Jesus was either guilty of blasphemy or not. He did essentially claim to be God which is blasphemy against the God of the Jews and of the Romans . . . . . . .unless of course his claim was correct.
2. We human beings are such followers. Many of the crowd who cheered Jesus on Palm Sunday voted to crucify him on Friday. Most of us seem to follow the loudest voices. There are so many loud and convincing voices in the world shouting “ follow me”, that it is harder than ever, I think, for a Christian to know what he believes and to stand solidly on what he has come to know as true. What is the truth from which you cannot be swayed by powerful voices?
3. It is interest to read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 and compare them to Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.
4. It is so easy for a Christian to really hear what has been heard so many times in the past yet not actually hear it. Familiarity breeds unfamiliarity and unfamiliarity breeds contempt. What was happening was that God was submitting himself to death at the hands of evil, sin and death, the very powers he had come to conquer. He defeated not through the conventional means of the use of power, rather he defeated them through submission, suffering, and finally rising above them through resurrection. What are the implications of this for the Christ follower?
Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” 3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, 4 and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” 5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.
6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested. 7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual. 9 “Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.
12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” 15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. 16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. Mark 15:1-18 (NLT)
Of course Jesus’ trial was rigged with bias, false witnesses, hate and expediency. But what strikes me are the following things.
1. Jesus was either guilty of blasphemy or not. He did essentially claim to be God which is blasphemy against the God of the Jews and of the Romans . . . . . . .unless of course his claim was correct.
2. We human beings are such followers. Many of the crowd who cheered Jesus on Palm Sunday voted to crucify him on Friday. Most of us seem to follow the loudest voices. There are so many loud and convincing voices in the world shouting “ follow me”, that it is harder than ever, I think, for a Christian to know what he believes and to stand solidly on what he has come to know as true. What is the truth from which you cannot be swayed by powerful voices?
3. It is interest to read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 and compare them to Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.
4. It is so easy for a Christian to really hear what has been heard so many times in the past yet not actually hear it. Familiarity breeds unfamiliarity and unfamiliarity breeds contempt. What was happening was that God was submitting himself to death at the hands of evil, sin and death, the very powers he had come to conquer. He defeated not through the conventional means of the use of power, rather he defeated them through submission, suffering, and finally rising above them through resurrection. What are the implications of this for the Christ follower?
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