Acts 8-10--For All

Who can recieve God's salvation? We in the church have, unfortunately, engaged in this debate since the inception of the Church. For the ancient Church, salvation was initially be for the Jews; since Jesus was a Jew and was the fulfillment of God's promises to the Jewish people. As a result, there were all sorts of arguments against evangelizing to non-Jewish people. We read here in these chapters God's perspective. Peter sums it up neatly in his speech at the home of Cornelius, "I truly understand that God shows no partiality". What glorious words these are!! This statements serves as a summary of three chapters that have seen all different sorts of people recieve God's salvation and the Holy Spirit; we see Simon the magician of Samaria, an Ethiopian eunuch, Saul of Tarsus, and the household of Cornelius the Roman all recieve these gifts of God. Only Saul of Tarsus is a Jew, and he is a murderous, Christ-persecuting Jew! We have different people, from different backgrounds, and with different ways of life being accepted into the family of God. The message is unmistakable...the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people. The Good News of God's salvation and the presence of God's Holy Spirit is a gift that God intends all people to recieve. Who are we to dare determine who is and who is not worthy of what God intends for all people?

Acts 5-7--Persecutions

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus speaks often of his disciples "taking up their cross" or "enduring persecutions". In these chapters from Acts, we see a bit about which Jesus was talking. The early church was persecuted intensely. To be a follower of Jesus was not popular; in fact, it was downright dangerous. Those dangers are illustrated clearly here: the apostles are flogged and Stephen is stoned to death. In their minds', though, these persecutions were worth all the tears, all the pain, all the suffering they endured. They counted it as a joy to suffer for the name of Jesus. I wonder, do we count it as a joy to suffer for Jesus? I daresay that none of us like to suffer. I'm guessing the early followers of Jesus were not thrilled with suffering, but they were willing to suffer for Jesus' sake. Are we willing to suffer for the One who suffered for us?
Another thing we see hidden in stories of the apostles' persecution is the extent to which the story is so well known by the apostles'. The story had to be told so that the apostles could stand against all the accusations thrown their way. Stephen recited a huge amount of the First Testament in response to why he was doing what he was doing. It raises the question of us, "are we so familiar with the story of God in Jesus that we can recite it and witness to it in the face of our doubters and detractors?" It is that story that needs to be told, not anything else that could be the construction of the human mind--the story of Jesus, the truth.

Acts 3-4--Witnesses

In my last post, I mentioned the importance of and result of telling the story of Jesus in the early days of the church. The disciples couldn't stop evangelizing, because they had witnessed Jesus do so much. At times, we are tempted to think that since we didn't actually walk with Jesus, we haven't witnessed Jesus do anything. I'm here to tell you that any person who has felt their sins forgiven and felt restored in their relationship with God has witnessed the power of Jesus Christ! Each one of us is a witness to Christ; maybe not in the same way as the first disciples, but a witness nonetheless. It was the disciples sharing this witness, telling others what they had heard and seen, that allowed the Spirit to work and allow multitudes to come to faith in Jesus. Our sharing of what we have seen from Jesus will be the catalyst for multitudes in our time to come to faith in Jesus.
It takes a fair amount of boldness to witness to Jesus. Today, just as in ancient times, there is an enormous amount of opposition to Jesus and Jesus' followers. However, no threats and no amount of opposition could keep the disciples from giving their testimony about Jesus. They were even ordered by the highest religious authorities to keep their mouths shut, but they couldn't do it! Why? Because they knew they had spoken the truth and couldn't keep silent about what God had done in Jesus. At the same time, they continued to pray for the boldness they needed to proclaim the name of Jesus.
Each of us are witnesses. May God fill us with all the boldness we need to testify to our glorious Lord!

Acts 1-2--Birth of the Church

I absolutely love the first two chapters of Acts! Reading these two chapters tells not only the birth of the church, but provides, in my opinion, the model for growing the church today. We might be two mellenia removed from these events, but the actions and attitudes of Jesus' followers in these two chapters serve as a guides for the modern church. I want to look at three different actions they performed, and the result of those actions.
1. They did what Jesus instructed them--I know, it sounds trite; however, it's the most basic fundamental to being a Christain. Specifically, the disciples remained in Jerusalem after Jesus' Ascension into heaven. It would have been easy, I'm guessing, for them to return to their pre-Jesus lives. Instead, they remained together in Jerusalem.
2. They devoted themselves to prayer--What were they praying for? Who knows! Maybe it was for the coming of the Spirit, just as Jesus promised. Maybe it was for guidance about what to do next; we do know they prayed about who would replace Judas in their little group. The point is, they were constantly remaining connected to God, seeking God's wisdom, and allowing God to lead them. How often do we "devote ourselves to prayer"? I am convinced that if we are not seeking God's wisdom and leadership, it will not be given.
3. They proclaimed the Good News--In short, they engaged in the "E" word, evangelism. They simply told the story of Jesus! How novel! People asked what was going on and the disciples told them. Sadly, the church throughout history has co-opted the story of Jesus for itself and hasn't been in a big hurry to share it with others. Evangelism doesn't mean getting in someone's face, condemning them or harassing them; it simply means sharing the story of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done.
As a result of these three, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Jesus' followers, just as Jesus promised. It was the Holy Spirit that enabled them to continue in these actions and the Spirit that caused THOUSANDS to be "added to their number each day". It seems like such a simple model--follow Jesus, pray, and proclaim the Good News. I believe that this model will still work in today's world. The Church needs to make up its mind that it wants to do these things, and then step back and watch the Spirit work!

John 20-21--Doubting Jesus

As we read John's account of Jesus' resurrection and the days following it, we see a common belief/attitude in Jesus' followers. In each of them, there is some level of doubt of Jesus' resurrection. The immediate question then centers around why Jesus' most devoted followers seemed to doubt the fact that Jesus was alive. Surely, they all realized what kind of power Jesus had; many had seen Jesus restore life in a number of dead persons. If Jesus is the Son of God, then nothing would be impossible for him. We can ask a number of questions about the disciples' doubt. At the same time, though, we must ask if we still doubt Jesus. Do we doubt that Jesus is who he says he is? Did Jesus really rise from the grave? Do we doubt what Jesus can do in our life and in the life of our family, our church, or our world? Simply having faith opens the door for us to be able to see what Jesus is doing. Doubting, though, limits to what we can see. Like the disciples, though, Jesus meets each of us where we are, and encourages into a deeper level of faith and trust in him and in God.

John 18-19--Mission Accomplished

In the eyes of his enemies, and to many people today, Jesus was a complete failure. He had a core group of followers, but what else could he boast? He didn't have much, by the world's standards. Yet nothing could be further from the truth than calling Jesus a failure. In fact, Jesus would say that he accomplished all he set out to do. Nothing proves this move than the his crucifixion and his death. Jesus says that he came to testify to the truth. The truth is that God's love and desire for every person is so great that God would go to any length to ensure that each person becomes a part of God's family. Those lengths included allowing God's own Son to suffer the humiliation of an illegal trial, a brutal flogging, and a horrific death. Those enemies of Jesus probably breathed a sigh of relief as he died, thinking they were finally rid of him. Little did they know that they merely played a part in helping Jesus accomplish the mission he came to fulfill.

John 12-17--Final Instructions

The time was drawing nearer and nearer. It was almost time for Jesus to depart this earth. It was about time for him to leave his dear friends and disciples and return to the Father. Before he left, though, Jesus wanted to make sure his disciples knew exactly what he desired from them. There are many points that could be made from these six chapters, Jesus' final "lecture" to his disciples; two of them, stick out and seem to broadly cover the other points Jesus makes.
Jesus gives to his disciples "a new commandment". This new commandment is simply to love one another. I can't help believe that as Jesus prayed for the disciples and for future believers (chapter 17), he prayed that they would all love one another. This love Jesus instructs us to have for one another is to be "just as He loved us". This DOES NOT mean we are going to all get along all the time. Love isn't about getting along all the time. Love, instead, is about caring for one another, even when we get angry or annoyed. Love is about accepting people where they are, but not failing to expect the very best from each one. It is by loving one another that we experience true joy and contement in Christ.
He also instructs his disciples to "abide" in him, like a branch abides in its trunk. "Abide" isn't a word we use in our vocabulary very often--it simply means to stay connected in or to. Jesus' instruction and hope is that his followers would stay connected to him. By abiding in Christ, we allow Christ to transform our hearts and lives into Christ's hope for each of us.

John 10-11--The Shepherd

In the Jewish society, shepherds were the lowest of the low. They worked with dumb and dirty animals, were often smelly themselves, and were, by and large, poorly educated. How ironic is it, then, that the Son of God would call himself a shepherd? When we think about it, though, in order to protect their flock, the shepherd had to be willing to put himself in harm's way, because the sheep couldn't take care of themselves. The shepherd, as Jesus says, would sleep in the doorway of the sheep-pen, so that robbers or predators would have to go through the shepherd first. The shepherd's tools, the rod and staff, were used to protect and defend the flock. As much of an outcast as a shepherd might have been, it is the perfect metaphor to use in describing Jesus.
Whether we like to admit it or not, we humans are like sheep in many ways. We can be stubborn, we need constant direction or we get lost, and sometimes we can be just plain dumb. Thank God for a Shepherd who will take care of us and lead us and make sure that we don't get ourselves too far off the path! Jesus doesn't just protect us from ourselves, though. We are under a constant threat from all those other things that seek to separate us from our flock and shepherd, including an adversary in Satan that would like nothing more than to carry off one from the flock of God. The shepherd, though, stands in the way. He has already laid down his life so that his sheep might be protected from the attempts of the evil one. Our shepherd stands watch over us, making sure that none of us are lost and that we are tended.

John 8-9--On Being Blind

I am blind as a bat, to use that cliche. When I was in school, other kids would make fun of me because the lenses of my glasses were incredibly thick. I hated it and wished that, for once, I didn't have to depend on my glasses to be able to see things only a few feet in front of me. Jesus also dealt in blindness, although not just the inability to use one's eyes. The spiritual blindness of many around him was a constant battle Jesus fought. In chapters 8 and 9, the idea of spiritual blindness comes to a head.
The story of the woman caught in adultery perfectly depicts how blind humans are to ourselves. Let's be clear...it is unlikely this woman is being falsely accused. What Jesus does though is illustrate that, as humans, we have little room to judge one another. While we can see clearly the sins and faults of others, it is difficult for us to see ourselves as sinners. However, Jesus declared in chapter 3 that he can not to condemn the world but to save the world, in spite of how blind we might be.
The story of the blind man receiving his sight again shows how upside-down the world's values are compared to God's. The once-blind man knew that it was Jesus who had restored him. My guess is that Jesus restored for this man much more than just his physical eyesight. Yet the Pharisees, the religious leaders (pastors!) could not and would not believe that Jesus had done this. The ones who were expected to be the leaders of the community were blinded by their jealousy of Jesus and could not see who he was.
Are our souls open to see what Jesus might be telling us next, or are we blind to anything except our own understanding and attitudes?

John 6-7--Food for the Soul

Take one look at me and you can see that I'm pretty well fed. It would take a long time for my body to reach the point of starving. I'm going to guess that most of our bodies are pretty well fed. How is it with our soul, though? Jesus was deeply concerned, as you might expect, with the condition of a person's soul. In these chapters, especially chapter 6, Jesus puts a new twist on the idea of eating and feeding ourselves.
Chapter 6 begins with the account of Jesus feeding the multitudes. On the surface, it reads as if Jesus merely provided an evening meal for them. What really happened, though, was the nourishment of their souls. The people came to him, looking to hear him teach, to see him heal, to witness the presence of God in their midst. This food would nourish the souls that might have been starving inside them. After that, Jesus begins to teach that he is the Bread from Heaven. He is the nourishment for the soul of the person and the world. Many of us may have a favorite food or two that always "hits the spot" on our hunger or taste. Only Jesus can "hit the spot" on our spiritual hunger.
For many, though, this is, as the disciples declare, a hard teaching. They don't understand how this man can satisfy the hunger in their soul. Their conception of the Messiah had nothing to do with spiritual matters; they felt the Messiah would be a political figure. Once they realized that Jesus had no intention of being a political leader, many deserted him. From that point, many others began to question him and be in conflict with Jesus and his teachings.
Are Jesus' words too difficult for us? Do we want to desert him and quest after the things of this world? Are we allowing Jesus to nourish our soul as only He can?

John 4-5--I am who I AM

In these two chapters, we recieve quite possibly Jesus' most complete self-explanation and revelation. It was only on a few occassions when Jesus did not want his identity revealed; John's purpose in writing is to fully identify Jesus. As such, it is in John that we read stories such as Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman. Throughout the course of this interaction, Jesus makes no attempt to hide who he is. He freely declares that he is the Messiah who will proclaim the truth of God. Because of his admission of this to the Samaritans, Jesus identifies himself as not just the Savior of the Jews, but of all people (the Jews and Samaritans hated one another--the Jews felt the Samaritans had not, in the distant past, complied with all God's commands and were therefore excluded from the Covenant and the Samaritans felt the Jews were stuck-up snobs).
Moving into chapter 5, Jesus makes no attempt to hide the fact that he is the Son of God and, as the Son, Jesus does only what God does--as God gives life, so does the son. As the Son, Jesus is also the judge of all people. As the judge, Jesus declares that all who hear and believe his words will inherit eternal life.
So often, humans tend to fall into debate about who Jesus is. Jesus provides the answers for us, though. He is the Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the Son of God. He is the perfect revelation of God for all the world.

John 1-3--Jesus' Purpose

To say that John is different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke is an understatment. Whereas the three previous Gospels have sought to tell the story of Jesus, John doesn't seek to tell the story as much as he uses the story as evidence for who Jesus is. How else could we explain the (sometimes) perplexing opening statement of John: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Within the first three chapters, John sets forth his understanding of who Jesus is and the purpose of Jesus' incarnation.
As we read in these chapters, we see a single purpose for Jesus' entrance into this world. That purpose was/is to invite and call all people into a life that this world cannot offer. All people are invited by Christ to experience a life where we become the children of God. The entrance point into this new life is simply faith that Jesus is who he says he is. In reading the first few verses of John, we see who Jesus is--he is the Word of God, the light of God, and the life of the world. Through Jesus, we have the most clear picture of God that human beings could receive. Thanks be to God for this revelation and for the faith to believe!

Luke 20-24--The Last Week

Jesus' time had finally come. It was time for him to come face to face with those who hated him and his message. It was time for him to demonstrate the width and depth of God's love for human beings. The events of Jesus' last week seem to play out like a boiling pot. With each day, the temperature seems to elevate in the conflict between Jesus and the world. Finally, the boiling point is reached and the world decides it has had enough of God's radical messenger who refuses to do things the way they thought it should be done. As a result, Jesus is condemned as a blasphemer, a trouble-maker, and a criminal.
Is it criminal to be a Jesus follower? It's not yet; it might be someday. What Jesus does show us in his last week, though, is the lengths to which Jesus loves and expects his followers to love, even toward those who persecute us. How are we living out Jesus' radical message, dying to ourself, and rising to new life in him? It is the question that all Christians should ask of themselves.

Luke 18-19--Humility and Surrender

One of the most embarrassing things for human beings, for some reason, is to have to admit that they need help. We like to be in control and take care of our own needs. For some, it is hard even to humble ourselves before God and admit that we need God to take over. I've always wondered why that is. Are we afraid that God will say no to us? I firmly believe, and Scripture supports this, that God honors the human admission of needing God's help. It is in those moments of our humility that God is able to work wonders that would be impossible any other way.
Along the same lines, it is so difficult for us to surrender all that we are and have to God. Selfishness is nothing new to humans; we've been practicing it for years and years and years. God, though, invites us to surrender what we have to God and to God's will. This is so difficult for us, I believe, because we feel that in surrender we are losing; if we surrender something to God, we tell ourselves, we are losing it forever. What we fail to realize, at times, is that surrender means simply allowing God to take and use what we are and have for God's glory. Just as God can do wondrous things when we come to God in humility, so too can God do wondrous things when we surrender to God.

Luke 15-17--God's Value System

Would you agree with me that the value system of society has gotten completely out of whack? Think about what makes a person valuable in the eyes of society...a few letters surrounding your name (Dr., Ph.D, etc), the ability to do something with a ball, the number of zeros in your bank account balance, etc. Jesus provides for us a glimpse into what God's values are.
First and foremost, God values each human being. In his parables about those things that were "lost", Jesus illustrates that God values each person simply because they exist. How radical of a though is that? Even the most socially unacceptable person has worth in the eyes of God and God will stop at nothing to ensure that person is found and is safe and secure in the home of God!
Jesus also provides a little bit of God's perspective on money. We tend to get uneasy when we talk about what the Bible says about money. Jesus' point is always that money and wealth are creations of God and become evil and destructive when they are allowed to take the place of God. In short, they are not the most important things in the world. If you have them, fine; use them for the glory of God. If you don't have them, don't waste your time pursuing them; it's just not worth it. God, though, is worth every bit of our glory and the time and energy we could expend in pursuing God.

Luke 12-14--Of Hypocrites and the Radical

Quick...what is the first word most in society use to describe Christians or the Church? If you answered "hypocrite" then give yourself a gold star. Unfortunately, the Church and a good number of Christians have earned this title through years of preaching one thing and doing the exact opposite. How ironic that the Church and the followers of Jesus seem to have fallen into the exact traps Jesus has warned them about falling into. For Jesus, integrity was of the utmost importance. He simply could not tolerate it when people (especially the religious leaders of the day) would contradict themselves through their words or their actions. He demanded that his followers "practice what they preach".
The message Jesus preached was the large part of why he found himself at odds with so many. Jesus was, by all accounts, a radical. His message was radical and he invited his followers to be radical with him. Part of the reason the Church has been labled hypocritical is that it has been quick to embrace the radical message but slow to enact that radical message. Part of me wonders if, deep down, the Church doesn't really want to be radical and instead wants to be conformist and "fit in" with the rest of society.

Luke 10-11--The Beginning of the End

As chapter 9 comes to a close, and chapter 10 begins, the tone of Jesus' life and ministry begins to change. Jesus begins to adopt a sense of urgency in his work and expectations of his followers. He knows his time on earth is growing shorter and shorter; there is so much left to do and precious little time in which to do it.
For a good while, Jesus disciples had been merely following and learning from him. As we see in chapter 10, the followers of Jesus are now empowered to continue in Jesus' ministry. To use modern terms, we could say they went through a process of "leadership development" and were finally commissioned to carry out their work. Their work is important to Jesus; it is laying the groundwork for the future ministry of the Church: carry out Jesus' work where Jesus is not physically present. Luke's acccount of the disciples' report of their work oozes with excitement; Jesus himself tells them they have essentially had a front-row seat to what many have desired to see. This power Jesus gives to his followers has a caveat though: resist the urge to get cocky about what you have seen and done. Their joy should be in their work for the Kingdom of God.

Luke 8-9--Totally Committed

All of us have priorities in life. We each have some thing(s) to which we are most committed. It might be our family, our job, our hobbies, etc. It could be any of a number of things. Some of us might even need to have others point out for us those things that are our true priorities. Jesus spends lots of time teaching about priorities; he even questions those whose priorities seem off-kilter. These two chapters of Luke are bookended by Jesus teaching about priorities. In 8:21, he declares that those who put into practice his teachings are his true family. In 9:62 says that anyone who undertakes following Christ, then looks back, is not fit for the Kingdom of God.
In both these verses, Jesus outlines what he expects his followers' priorities to be. In these cases, unlike some others, Jesus is abundantly clear. His expectation is that those who follow him with be be completely and totally dedicated to Jesus and following his way and example, wherever that may take them and whatever that might ask them to do. Jesus' words are clear; he expects that his followers will be completely committed and not halfheartedly committed--always following instead of following whenever it suits our fancy or fits into our schedule. Here is my question for us: Are we totally committed to Jesus? If we are, how does it show? If we aren't, what do we need to do to put ourselves in that place?

Luke 6-7--Faithfulness or Doubt

Luke provides for us in chapter 6 his account of the Sermon on the Mount. Most of, but not all the highights of the Sermon on the Mount are discussed in Matthe 5-7; I refer you back to that post for a few reflections.
Chapter 7 presents a strikingly paradox for the reader. At the beginning of the chapter, the reader is introduced to a Roman centurion and then to a large crowd. The centurion, even though a Roman soldier realizes that Jesus might just be the answer for a sick servant. In fact, he trusts so much that Jesus' word is good enough for him. After this healing "in abstentia", Jesus is again confronted with an opportunity to have compassion. He encounters a funeral procession and proceeds to restore the deceased to life. As a result, the funeral crowd recognizes Jesus as one with power and importance and praises God for him.
The second part of chapter seven presents the contrast. Here, the reader sees Jesus encounter some disciples of John the Baptist and then as the guest at a Pharisee's home. What is so striking is that these people tend to doubt Jesus. One would think that John's disciples might have a clue as to who Jesus is; the same is true for the Pharisee. Yet each one somehow questions Jesus. Perhaps they were just too familiar with him to see and understand what he was all about. Can the same be said of us? Are we stil lookng for what Jesus will do next?

Luke 4-5--The Gospel in a Nutshell

I like things to be fairly simple. I don't mind complexity, but, most of the time, I prefer straight-forward answers and explanations. In chapter 4, Jesus provides a fairly simple explanation of his understanding of his mission from God. This mission directs him to preach good news to the poor, pronounce freedom to the prisoner, restore the sight of the blind, and to release those bound by oppression. This is a radical mission! Essentially, Jesus indicates that his mission is to reach those whom society has cut off; those whom the world deems unnecessary or expendable. As you might expect with a radical message, this immediately places him at odds with a great number of people. These people even include those who watched him grow up, maybe even his childhood playmates. It was hard for them to accept this radical message from someone whom they had known his entire life.
Despite the radical nature of his message and work, Jesus invites others to share in this work. It is hard work, but work that must be done in order to fulfill the demands of the Kingdom of God. You and I have been invited to share in this mission. Notice one thing about this mission...nowhere does Jesus say that his mission is to found and maintain a "church". Yet the church will be maintained as it follows in the steps Jesus fulfilling his mission.

Luke 1-3--Sorting out the Details

Neat and orderly. For some, that is an accurate description of who they are; others, not so much. Luke is the king of orderly writting. In fact, he declares his intention is to provide an orderly account of Jesus' life, so that those who had heard the story of Jesus might now read the story of Jesus.
Part of this orderliness, for Luke, is setting the stage and introducing some key characters. Luke is the only gospel to mention the events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist. In the overall story of Jesus, John plays a huge role. This role isn't confined, however, to Joh baptizing Jesus. During John's public ministry, he was widely regarded as a prophet of God. This is significant in that, prior to John's ministry, there had been no prophet in Israel for 400 years. The return of prophecy to Israel was thought to be an indication that the Messiah was close at hand. Luke's inclusion of John's story serves as a way to introduce the prophet and identify Jesus as the Messiah of God.
The fact that Jesus is the Messiah is alluded to several times throughout the first three chapters. The first few allusions are fairly obvious: we see Gabriel's announcement to Mary and the angel's message to the shepherds outside Bethlehem, as well as the encounters Mary and Joseph have with Simeon and Anna in the Temple. All these witnesses confirm the identity of Jesus as the Promised One of God, the Messiah. While Matthew seeks to identify Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, Luke seeks to show Jesus as the Messiah for the world. This is seen in the geneology of Jesus that Luke presents. If you remember Jesus' geneology form Matthew, his lineage starts with Abraham and the beginning of the covenant God makes with Abraham. In Luke, Jesus' geneology is traced all the way back to Adam. This is Luke's effort to show Jesus as not just the Messiah for the Jews, but for the entire world as well. Only when these details get sorted out, for Luke, can we proceed to more of the story of Jesus.

Mark 15-16--The Message

It is hard to escape the bleakness of Jesus' Passion. After all, here was the Son of God going through a mockery of a trial, a horrific torture, and a brutal death. It is enough to make even the most faithful wring their hands in despair. Things would truly be bleak, though, if the story ended there. Glory be to God that the story continues!
The story indeed continues in a marvelous way. After we read of Jesus' death and burial, we are then treated to the greatest news in the world: Christ is Resurrected!! It was a confusing message to those first disciples who arrived at the tomb. I am continually struck by the message of the angels to these women. The women are instructed to go tell Jesus' other disciples that Jesus is alive, and especially tell Peter the news. Why Peter? If you remember from previous chapters, all the disciples but Peter ran off right after Jesus was arrested--they abandoned him. Peter, though, took abaondonment one step further...he flat out denied ever knowing who Jesus was. I think that's why the resurrection is a special message to Peter. It was a way for Peter to know that his denial wasn't held agains him and that Jesus wasn't through with him!
The message to Peter is the message for us. Have you had a time when, through your words/actions or silence/inaction you denied knowing Jesus? I'm going to bet that most of us have. Jesus' message to you is that those moments are not held against you! Because of that, we can join in the chorus that proclaims Jesus Resurrection and his triumph over all the things of this world!

Catching Up

Friends,
To say that the last week has been hectic would be an understatement. I so appreciate, though, all the prayers, cards, and kind words for me and my family. My hope is to have the blog updated tonight with Mark 15-16, Luke 1-3, Luke 4-5, and Luke 6-7. Thanks for your grace and patience with me as I work to get back on track with things. Have a blessed day!
+JW

Mark 7-14--Takin' Care of Business

Most of the time, it would be difficult to summarize half of a body of literature at one time. Mark, however, is an exception. Whereas Matthew and, as we will see later, Luke and John present Jesus' doings and teachings, Mark presents Jesus as always "on the go"--always doing something. Mark allows for very little idle time with Jesus. For Jesus, in Mark, there is always something to do, someplace to go; there is very little "wasted energy". This image of Jesus is portrayed throughout chapters 7-14. I have to think that Jesus knew that his time on Earth was relatively short, and he had much work to do during that short time. As a result, there just wasn't the time to sit back and comtemplate and wait and see what would happen. Jesus' mission was to reach as many as he could with the Good News of God's salvation; it was his whole reason for coming to Earth.
As I think on that, I have to wonder if the church is filled with the same kind of urgency that Jesus is/was. On one hand, I believe now, more than ever, the church is aware that there is an urgency in the message Jesus presents. On the other hand, I wonder if the church is as urgent about spreading that message as Jesus. It all leads me to one question: How are we, as the Church, takin' care of the business of following Jesus and proclaiming His message?

Mark 5 & 6--The Jesus of Transformation

There are times when we humans find ouselves in situations beyond our control. It is in these times that we often find ourselves the most desperate and open to anything that could offer hope in the midst of trying times. Throughout Mark 5&6, Jesus seems to walk into these situations wherever he goes. He finds a man so demon-possessed that he is out of his mind, he finds a dead girl, a bleeding woman, a hungry crowd. In each of these circumstances, Jesus brings out the transformation that is needed. To transform simply means "to change" or "to make different". While not all transformation is good, the transformation Jesus brings to each situation testifies to his love and compassion and his desire for each person in the story. What is not explicity mentioned in the Scripture is that, with the possible exception of Jesus feeding the multitudes, the initial transformation Jesus brings to a situation is only the beginning; most of those who had their circumstances changed in the immediate also most likely experienced more transformation in the form of being welcomed back as a member of their community.
It is interesting to read, though, that Jesus and His transforming power was most unwelcomed among those who knew him best. Those with whom he grew up, who were around to see the child Jesus, could not believe that Jesus was who everybody was proclaiming him to be. As a result of their unbelief, Jesus could do nothing around them. I think the message was that transformation grews out of faith that Jesus can bring about the transformation that people desire.
Here is my question for the night: what, if any, part of our life needs transforming? As a follow-up, if Jesus were to offer that transformation to you, would you accept it?

Mark 3 & 4--Underestimating Jesus

It was a question asked out of wonder and fear. Jesus had just calmed a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. Among themselves, the disciples asked, "Who is this?". It is possible, indeed very likely, that at this point they still didn't have a full grasp on Jesus' identity, other than the fact that he was a very popular travelling rabbi. There is little doubt that they had seen, or at least heard of, Jesus working miracles prior to this occasion. Perhaps their underestimation stemmed from not knowing who Jesus really is/was.
Perhaps, though, their underestimation of Jesus came from not having personally experienced Jesus' power in their lives. As far as we know, none of the disciples had been on th recieving end of one of Jesus' miracle. Jesus' power wasn't real to them prior to this moment on the sea--what I mean is that it hadn't been something they had experienced first-hand. Once they do, Jesus is no longer just the travelling preacher, but one annointed with the power to handle a crisis--the calmer of the storm that rages beyond their control.
How is it with us? Have you experienced the power of Jesus in your life? This experience doesn't have to be some grand event, such as a miraculous healing or something similar to what the discples experienced. It can be something along the lines of an inner peace in the middle of a time of great anxiety, it can be that feeling of being forgiven and set free from past mistakes, it can be the power to to resist the temptation of sin and evil. Is Jesus' power real for us? How? As we think on that, let us remember that there is nothing that is not under the control of Jesus; he is the Lord of heaven and earth, sea and sky!

Mark 1 & 2--Just the Facts

In the TV show Dragnet, Det. Joe Friday was famous for his line, "Just the facts, ma'am". "Just the facts" may be an appropriate subtitle for the Gospel of Mark. Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels, yet contains most of the information that is also contained within the other gospels; in fact, there are only 31 verses of Mark that are not quoted in one of the other gospels. Mark's purpose is to present the gospel in a way that easy for people to understand who Jesus is.
While Matthew takes some time to build up steam in presenting the message of Jesus, Mark wastes no time; he dives in, skipping the Christmas story and going straight to the beginning of Jesus' ministry, with a side-trip to the ministry of John. It is not that the Christmas story was unimportant to Mark; he simply wanted to state who Jesus is (the Son of God) and move directly into Jesus' ministry.
I wonder if, at times, in our life of faith, we find ourselves bogged down with all the little details? There is something to be said for simplicity and straightforwardness. I wonder if there are times when we need to be reminded of "just the facts" about Christ and our faith? Here a few facts to help us out: Jesus is the Son of God, he preached the nearness of the Kingdom of God and what that Kingdom looked like, he healed, he preached, he forgave sins, he loved--most of all, he loved, Jesus is God's self-revelation to humanity. Those are "just the facts" about our Lord and this faith we have and share with one another.

Matthew 26-28--The Obedient Christ

Many words can be used to describe Jesus--loving, forgiving, compassionate, merciful--just to name a few. One word that is not often used is obedient. Perhaps we, at times, forget that Jesus was at all times perfectly obedient to God and God's will for him. As we read the account of Jesus' betrayal, trial, and crucifixion, the extent of Jesus' obedience to God becomes obvious.
Throughout the story of His passion, there are multiple places in which Jesus could have used His divine powers to save himself. He even says he could call down legions of angels to protect him. He knows what is going to happen. He is painfully aware of what God's plan is, and God's plan comes at the price of Jesus' life. We are also able to see just how human Jesus is, as he pleads with God for some other way to accomplish God's plan. Through all of this, though, Jesus remains completely obedient to God; obedient to the point of being brutally flogged and nailed to a cross!
Although Jesus' obedience came with a steep price, it also came with great rewards. In His obedience, Jesus also gained His freedom. The glorious part of Jesus' passion is that the cross is does not have the final word! Jesus gets the final word as He walks out of the tomb on Resurrection Morning! In His resurrection, Jesus found perfect freedom. That freedom is promised to each of us. As we we are obedient to God, so do we find the freedom to live and be as God would have. To close out Matthew, here is my question: What in our lives do we need to sacrifice upon the cross so that we might be obedient to God and live in the freedom God gives us?

Matthew 24 & 25--The End of it All

Few, if any, other topics within Christian thought are given more consideration than what is referred to as "the end times"--the return of Christ and God's final judgment. Within that last decade or so, more and more books, articles, Bible studies, etc. have appeared on bookshelves, in magazines, and showed up in church. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Please don't get me wrong, it is important to know and understand what Jesus has to say about those days. However, Jesus also says that no one--not the angels, not even Jesus himself--knows when the Second Coming will occur; only God knows. There are some that claim that we are living in the last days even now; that current global events seem to be mirroring the events about which Jesus speaks. In reality, just about any era in history is full of events that could mirror what Jesus is talking about. Are we living in the end times now? Possibly. But it is also possible the end times are generations away.
Part of the fascination with the end times comes from the fear factor that the discussion elicits. Even a brief skimming of what Jesus says here in chapters 24 and 25, plus the message of John in Revelation is enough to get a person's imagination going. To be fair, Jesus does describe some events that would not be the most pleasant to experience. I have to believe, though, that Jesus does not want us to live our lives in fear of what is going to happen when He returns; I fully believe that Jesus' desire is for us to enjoy life. In today's reading, Jesus offers a simple solution to the fear factor: Be ready. Be ready for his return, whether it is today, tomorrow, or sometime in the distant future. All that it takes to be ready is to place our faith and trust in him and follow his commands. Are you ready?

Matthew 21-23--Jesus vs. the Establishment

Close your eyes. Can you see the scene? It is a huge mob of people lining the road into Jerusalem. Outer coats are spread on the ground, huge branches are waving over the procession. At the center of all this is Jesus the Nazarene, riding on a young donkey. What's that they are shouting? "Hosanna to the Son of David!" It is quite the spectacle--Jesus, the servant Messiah is on his way to Jerusalem. Only he knows what fate awaits him in the Holy City. Before that fate is realized, though, Jesus has some final business to conduct and some sharp teaching to administer.
Words of condemnation are not usually put on Jesus' lips. We like to hear Jesus say, "go and sin no more" or "neither do I condemn you". However, Jesus reserves these words of condemnation for the self-righteous of his day; those who believed themselves, by virtue of their social postion, to be better than others. Unfortunately, it was the religious leaders who were targets of Jesus' most stinging words. They seem to have seen their positon as something to be exploited instead of used to draw others closer to God.
Despite the sharp words Jesus uses, I have to believe that Jesus was not so much condemning the religious leaders as condemning their actions and attitudes. It was the fact that they were using their positon for their own benefit that enraged Jesus. Here we see a sharp contrast between earthly priests and the Heavenly Priest--Jesus was all about humbling himself, the religious leaders were all about building themselves up. It was Jesus' criticism of their lifestyle and threat to their authority and power that caused them to reject Jesus. It wasn't that they were bad people-they were blinded to the point of not being able to see the truth being presented to them.
This account raises a question for us to consider: how do we react when we feel God rebuking or criticizing us? How do we react when our toes "get stepped on"? For some, the reaction is one of repulsion--the "I'm going to take my ball and leave" reaction that does not allow for any correction of attitudes or action by God. Others are able to accep the feeling as a lesson and move on. How about you?

Matthew 19 & 20--The Conflict of Jesus

Conflict--it is all around us. Most of us usually view conflict as a heated exchange of words or actions. However, conflict is simply any disagreement. Some conflicts escalate to greater severity than others, but any simply disagreement is a conflict. Jesus was a master at creating conflict. He was constantly challenging those around him to evaluate human standards against God's standards. He was constantly forcing people to consider their actions, calling them to accountablity, and, in general, making the comfortable uncomfortable. Chapters 19 and 20 present to the reader five specific conflicts between Jesus and those around him.
Conflict #1--The first conflict dealt with the issue of marriage and divorce. There were two schools of thought regarding divorce in ancient Israel. One allowed divorce for just about anything; the other allowed divorce only in cases of marital infidelity (although, it must be mentioned, only the male could sue for divorce; a female had no right to do so). The conflict Jesus raised was that divorce in any case was contrary to God's intention. The only reason this conflict was raised in the first place was because some of the religious leaders were attempting to trap Jesus, just to use it against him.
Conflict #2--The second conflict involved welcoming children. We might not think of this as a big deal, but, for that culture, children had very few rights. The old saying, "children should be seen, not heard" is an accurate description of this culture. Yet Jesus challenged this notion by welcoming children around him and blessing them.
Conflict #3--This conflict was, on the surface, between Jesus and the "rich young man". He just could not accept that part of inheriting eternal life was volunarily parting with his wealth--it was simply too much. At a deeper level, though, it was a conflict with a theology of the day; wealth was considered a sign of God's favor. To give one's wealth away was equated to rejecting God. Not having wealth was construed as a curse from God. Either case was not desirable.
Conflict #4--I'm going to call the fourth conflict "religious arrogance". It was thought by some that their lifelong piety would be seen more favorably by God than those who come to God later in life. Jesus busts this myth wide open! It was difficult for the "pious and religious" to come to grips with the fact that God could love and accept the "recently converted" just as much as those who had been faithful their whole life.
Conflict #5--This conflict was centered around the idea of serving others. Human beings have, from the earliest times, sought to make sure they had themselves taken care of before thinking of others. Jesus challenges this way of thinking with his assertion that "the Son of Man came to serve rather than be served".
With all this being said, where is Jesus presenting a conflict in your life? It might be similar to one of those described in the readings or it might be something completely different. Rest assured, though, the call to be a disciple of Jesus will put us in conflict with something. What is it for you?

Matthew 17-18--Serving the King

There are several instances in Matthew that give clues as to Jesus' identity--his geneology from chapter 1 and the account of his baptism in chapter 3 are two we've already seen. The account of Jesus' Transfiguration is another such moment of revelation. It is a moment for Peter, James, and John to get a glimpse of Jesus in all his kingly glory--which is shown as the radiance of God. "Why only these three?" is a question that strikes me whenever I read this passage. Gospel accounts make it clear that Peter, James, and John comprised Jesus' "inner circle", although we don't really know why. Maybe it was because these were three of the very first disciples, maybe it was because they were the most outspoken; nobody really knows. Even though these three comprised the "inner circle", it didn't mean they were more special than the other disciples. After the Transfiguratin account, we see that all the disciples still struggled with issues of faith, even after having been with Jesus for as long as they had. I find it comforting to know that even Jesus' first followers didn't always "get it" when it came to Jesus and his message. It is a reminder to me that I don't know it all, that there is still more to learn and faith to increase in me.
If chapter 17 is all about revealing Jesus' kingship, chapter 18 is all about serving this king. Jesus makes it clear that serving him is directly tied to how we treat and relate to one another. What Jesus is most concerned about, it seems, is that the actions of his followers don't do anything to cause his non-followers to sin or to reject Jesus' message. What a message to the Church! I often wonder how many have rejected Jesus and his message because of the words or actions of those in the Church. Here Jesus' message to his followers seems quite straightforward--practice humility, resist temptation, deal fairly with one another, forgive one another. How different would this world be if all those who professed to follow Christ heeded these instructions of Jesus? In the days ahead of us, how can we put this instructions into practice in our own life?

Matthew 14-16--Ministry In the Fast Lane

Jesus was a busy guy. Some images of Jesus seem to portray him as out on a leisurely stroll throught the Judean countryside and happening to do ministry in the process. As we read in these three chapters, Jesus was a man on a mission! To use some Methodist terminology, Jesus was the original "circuit rider"--moving around from town to town to minster to the people in those places. Even a casual look at where he goes and what he does shows Jesus as a man with a clear purpose. This purpose, I believe, is to visit as many as people with the Good News of God's salvation. Notice that Jesus is always going to where the people are, and meeting them in that place, not just the physical place but also the spiritual place. Jesus was all about moving people to a different place in their relationship to God.
The end of chapter 16 brings us to a climactic point in Matthew's gospel. Here we see Peter's bold confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. I wish we had access to the mind and heart of Peter that brought him to the point of making this confession. Perhaps it was because Peter had witnessed Jesus doing so much that Jesus had to the Christ, to do all that Jesus did. Perhaps Peter was the recipient of a divine revelation from the Spirit that caused him to make this proclamation. So often Peter is scorned because of his "speak first, think later" tendencies. This is one instance where Peter is praised for his boldness. How would you answer Jesus' question? If Jesus were to ask you "who do you say I am", how would you answer? Why would you answer this way?
As the chapter ends, we see Jesus warning his disciples not to tell anyone that he is the Messiah. Why is this? I think the answer lies in the fact that Jesus is not the type of Messiah that was expected; what was expected was some great military leader that would expel the Romans and restore the monarchy to Israel. What we about to witness is a major shift in emphasis in Matthew. From this point forward, Jesus focus is going to be on reveling himself as the suffering, servant Messiah. It is almost as if the early part of Jesus' ministry was intended to be a "now that I've got your attention" time, so then Jesus could reveal who he really is; much like a child would do whatever they could to get a parent's attention so they could really show them something. One thing is for sure, though. With Peter's declaration of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus begins to travel the road that will take him to Jerusalem, to greater conflict withe the religious leaders, and, eventually, the cross of Calvary.

Matthew 12-13--More About the Kingdom

We all know at least one person who is a "nitpicker". You know who I'm talking about; the person who is always finding something to criticize, something to complain about. In Matthew, the Pharisees could be given the label of "nitpickers". We see how and why in chapter 12. It seemed that no matter what Jesus did, the Pharisees were there to complain that he had broken some part of the Law. Jesus' usual response to these complaints was to point out the spirit of the Law and that, sometimes, following the Law required some common sense rather than a strict interpretation. At the same time, they always seem to want Jesus to perform some sign to prove who he is; I wonder if they would have nitpicked about anything Jesus would have done? The unfortunate reality is that many in the secular world have come to see the Church as a bunch of nitpickers; always looking for some reason to condemn, criticize, or complain and so much interested in the spirit of the faith we claim. How would things look if the Church were not so quick to be sanctimonious nitpickers and quicker at, in the model of Jesus, extending grace and acceptance?
Chapter 13 introduces us to Jesus' first use of parables in his teaching. Each one of these parables could have an entire sermon preached upon it (hmmm...sounds like a sermon series in the future). Sometimes, it can be frustrating reading Jesus' parables; we like to have the quick answer to things and probably wish Jesus would just come right out and say things, rather than disguising them in stories. For some, the realities of the Kingdom of God would be too much; the stories make it easier to illustrate for human minds what God's Kingdom looks like. Although the parables are stories that would have made sense in Jesus' culture, they at times seem inapplicable in our world. Here is a challenge for you: when reading the parables and Jesus' explanation of them, see if you can create a modern-day parable that would illustrate Jesus' point for our world. My guess is that it would be easier than you think and my hope is that it might open our minds and hearts to a greater understanding of Jesus' point.

Matthew 10 & 11--Expanding the Kingdom

Unlike previous days, there doesn't appear to be a common thread running throughout both of these chapters. Both chapters, though, have a dominant theme--together, those themes point to the Kingdom of God.
The theme for chapter 9 could be described as "commitment". One of the first things we see is Jesus sending his disciples out to expand Jesus' ministry. The disciples didn't spend their whole time following Jesus around and waiting to see what he was going to do next. Instead, they are sent out to play an active role in the world. I cannot help but think about the Church while reading this passage. It is my opinion that we have far too many people who are content to stay as close to Jesus as they can and to never leave his side and engage the world in which they live. Part of being a disciple of Jesus is leaving the church and going out into the world. Throughout the rest of chapter 9, Jesus describes the costs inovlved with being a disciple. It is not exactly the nicest or prettiest picture. Jesus' message is in radical contrast to the ways of the world; those that go about proclaiming this message can expect resistance. They can expect, Jesus says, to be persecuted; they can expect to alienate family and/or friends because of their choice. It takes a deep commitment to Jesus to be a faithful disciple of Jesus. The question then becomes, "are we willing to make that commitment?"
Moving into chapter 11, Jesus talks a bit about the kingdom of God. John the Baptist, while in prison, is desperate to know if Jesus really is the Messiah. Jesus' reply gives us a glimpse of what the kingdom of God really looks like: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the poor are not ignored. In short, the kingdom of God is all about restoration and healing and acceptance. The highest rank in this kingdom belong to those who know they are unworthy to be a part of this glorious kingdom; even John the Baptist is below these. There is little place in the kingdom, though, for those who witness the kingdom at work in this world and choose to ignore it. Imgaine, if you will, seeing the kingdom of God at work and refusing to allow it to impact your life. This is Jesus' charge against the cities in the last part of chapter 11; they saw Jesus at work and refused his message, the Good News of God's salvation.
How about us? How committed are we to the task of being a disciple of Jesus Christ and a part of God's glorious kingdom?

Matthew 8 & 9--The Compassion of the Christ

Just as the previous two days' readings have had a common theme woven in them, so too does today's reading. As we read through the stories of Jesus performing these miracles there is a common theme of compassion on the part of Jesus that is present in virtually each story we read.
Compassion, quite simply, is being aware of what someone else is going through and having the desire to alleviate it. I wonder how often we have thought of Jesus as compassionate; knowing what we are going through and wanting to make things better. One of my favorite mental images of Jesus is that of Jesus looking intently at a person or situation with his eyes full of concern and love. I like to think that each of the people we encounter in these two chapters saw a look similar to what I have just described--all those who recieved healing, those who had their life restored, and those who sat terrified in a boat.
Throughout the gospels, as we will see, some feel that their troubles would be an inconvinience to Jesus; they feel that he has better things to do or that they aren't worth His time or trouble. I love what Jesus says to leper in 8:3, "I am willing". What a powerful reminder that Jesus is always willing to show compassion and to be the relief and hope we humans constantly need! I believe that Jesus is still willing to show compassion today. Note one thing, though. In each of the instances where Jesus demonstrates compassion, someone asked Jesus to do something. I have to belief their asking was out of desperation; what if we asked Jesus long before we got to the desperate state? How much heartache would that save us?
One other thing I want to note about this passage. In 9:38, Jesus looks at those who have surrounded him and declares that the harvest is ripe; the harvest was ripe with people looking for the Good News God declares in Jesus. However, there were few laborers to proclaim this Good News. Jesus encourages those around Him to pray for workers for the field--that is, to pray that God would send someone to do this proclaiming. Will join me in praying for this same thing? The harvest is ripe with people who are in need of Jesus' compassionate touch. There are those who are ready to hear and receive the Good News of Jesus. All they need is someone who will tell them of the compassion of the Christ. May God continue to call workers into God's harvest field!

Matthew 5-7--The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount....where to start? To address every single part of this teaching of Jesus would take several more, lengthy posts. There is so much that Matthew crams into these three chapters. It is by far the most extensive teaching of Jesus recorded in the gospels. Many scholars agree that what Matthew presents is likely a summary of several days' worth of teaching by Jesus--almost like Jesus was teaching a class and what we have are someone's study notes.
Despite the length and amount of teaching that goes on in this chapters, they are nevertheless crammed with practical life advice. If we go back and reread some of the issues with which Jesus deals, my guess is they are things we have all dealt with at some point in our life and faith journey. Teaching about prayer--check. Dealing with anger, lust, worry, money, criticizing others--check, check, check, check, and check. These are things we all deal with; some of us may even struggle with one or more of these issues. This teaching of Jesus doesn't require some great theological understanding and it is not taught in the cryptic way Jesus sometimes uses; it is straight up life advice--living a life that is pleasing to God and providing God's perspective on some of the issues with which we deal as human beings.
Woven through these different teachings is a strand of humility. Jesus frequently uses the phrase "don't be like the hypocrites". The hypocrites to which Jesus is referring are those who want to use their good deeds--their righteousness--to draw attention to themselves. Jesus says that this attention is their reward. A life of faith, though, is one that is lived in humility; doing the right things but not making a big show about it.
If I were to pick two verses that captured the essence of the entire Sermon on the Mount, I would have to pick 6:33 and 7:24. In 6:33 Jesus teaches the crowds, and us, that in all we do, our first aim should be the Kingdom of God; everything else will fall into place after that. In 7:24, Jesus teaches that wisdom is hearing and putting into practice what Jesus has just taught. These two verses seem to sum up nicely the entirety of what Jesus is talking about, and what he is talking about is a life lived in humble faith.
As you read the Sermon on the Mount, here are my questions for you to ponder: How can you aim for the Kingdom of God today? How can you put into practice the words that Jesus speaks and the lessons Jesus teaches? God bless!

Matthew 3 & 4--Submitting to God

If I had to sum up chapters 3 and 4 in one word, that word would be submission. The idea of submitting, specifically submitting to God, is a common thread that is woven throughout these two chapters.

Chapter 3 opens with John's call to repentance; this is the same message with which Jesus begins his ministry in chapter 4. Lots can be said about repentance--what it is, what it means, who, what, how, etc. In very simple terms, repentance is all about sacrificing human ways and desires in favor of God's ways and desires. It is about submitting to the ways of God. When God calls us to repentance, the intention is for us to do a complete 180 and go in the opposite direction. In other words, repentance is about re-evaluating our ways in light of God's ways.

The Sacrament of Baptism is a visible act of human submission to God. I am aware that baptism is one of those controversial topics among Christians--we do not all agree on how baptism should be done, when someone should/can be baptized, etc. Regardless of our disagreements, though, baptism remains a human act of submitting to God. Often times, baptism is looked up as a cleansing away of sins; while this is very true, I don't think baptism is just a cleansing. If it were, there would be no need for Jesus, the sinless One, to be baptized. Why Jesus even came to be baptized has been a question many have asked, including John. I have to think that Jesus was baptized as an act of submitting to God, his heavenly Father. Deep down, I don't believe Jesus really needed to be baptized; however, he recieved baptism in humble submission to God's call.

As if that submission weren't enough, we are told that after Jesus was baptized he was led by the Spirit to face a time of temptation. Jesus' tempations were also a time of him submitting to God over human desires. If we look at the three temptations Matthew describes, they could accurately describe many human temptations: the temptation to be self-sufficient rather than trust God's providence, the temptation to be in power and control rather than relinquish that to God. All of Jesus' resistance to these temptations were his way of not submitting to his own human desires or needs but looking to God and allowing God to be in control.

As chapter 4 closes, we see Jesus calling his first disciples. I do not believe it ironic that their first act is to submit to Jesus' invitation to "follow me" and to leave behind their livlihood. Most likely, they had no idea what they were getting themselvs into--yet they submitted anyway to this invitation.

In what areas of life is God inviting you to submit to God's plan and purposes? In what areas of life might God be calling you to repent and re-evaluate? It is a difficult task to submit to someone else and allow them to be our guide. May the Spirit guide us and comfort us as we surrender ourselves and all that we are to the will and glory of God!

Matthew 1 & 2--Who is Jesus?

Let's be honest...Matthew 1: 1-17 is not the most exciting reading in the Bible! After all, it gets old really quickly reading _____ beget _____. However dry it might be, though, this passage is critical to the identity of Jesus. It serves as evidence of Jesus' human lineage; it is the proof that Jesus was, in fact, a human being of human ancestry. By establishing Jesus lineage at the outset, Matthew is able to show how the prophecies of the OT relate to Jesus; it was believed the Messiah would be a descendant of David--if Jesus were not descended from David, any claims of Him being the Messiah would be automatically dismissed. One other note about Jesus' geneology--these were not all perfect people! Rahab was a prostitute, David had a tendancy to be a bit of a scoundral, most of the other kings fell short of being godly leaders. Yet out of this band of imperfect ancestors, God brought forth the perfect One--who would bring God's salvation to those who placed their faith in Him.
Immediately after this establishment of Jesus' human lineage, Matthew makes it known that Jesus is of Divine conception--it was the only way in which Mary could be pregnant! Within the span of this first chapter, Matthew establishes the dual nature of Jesus; he is both human and Divine. A quick word needs to be said about Joseph at this point. This is one of the few mentions of Jesus' earthly father and in Joseph we see a quiet, calm, faithful man who is attentive to God yet usually gets kicked out of the picture once the angels appear on the scene.
The reaction of Herod to the news of a new king is understandable; who would welcome news that someone could challenge them for the throne? This shows us something else about Jesus though. Even from his infancy, Jesus is presented as a challenge. His very earthly presence was a challenge to those in the "establishment" and in authority. We will see later on how Jesus would continually be a challenge. Jesus is still a challenge to the world today; he challenges how we view things, how we act, how we interact with one another.
The escape of the Holy Family from Israel to Egypt rings of an ancient story in Israel. In Exodus 1, we read of the people of Israel converging upon Egypt to escape a terrible famine--God was already there, working through Joseph to provide and nurture Israel. However, God leads Israel out of Egypt and into a new land. In the same way, God called Joseph and Mary and the toddler Jesus out of Egypt and into a new place of life. Egypt provided a sanctuary for God's people and for God's Son, but God would not allow them to remain there.
One final reflection on these chapters--the slaughter of the infants at the hand of Herod. It is a heartbreaking passage to read, especially for a parent. Although the immediate question could be, "why did God let this happen?", I think it speaks less about God and more about humans. Humans have the capacity to act inhumanely toward those we perceive as threats to us. Since he couldn't be sure exactly who was the threat, Herod decided the best plan would be to eliminate all the potential threats. Unfortunately, we still see this in the world today--persons in power attempt to get rid of any competition to their power and authority.