Injustice

A Christian named Lorenzo Lopez (20) was killed by local tribal people in the region of San Juan Chamula, Chiapas state on June 11. Surrounded by approximately thirty local people who suspected them of being evangelists beat Lorenzo and his companions Juan Lopez and Juan Diaz Mendez who were able to escape but Lorenzo was captured, tortured, stoned and hanged.

Government authorities demolished a church belonging to the "Orang Asli" tribe of indigenous Christians in Kuala Lumpur, on June 8. The authorities claimed that the church was built without state permission.[1]

INJUSTICE. Just the sound of the word makes us cringe. Few of us have experienced the injustice and persecution described by The Voice of the Martyrs. When we hear of the inequality experience by others, regardless of how big or small, we wish there was something we could do to make things right.

• [50] Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, [51] who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
  Luke 23:50-51 (NIV)

I find the description made about Joseph of Arimathea interesting. Both Luke and Mark make the same point about him; Joseph, a member of the Council, was “waiting for the kingdom of God.”

Like other Jews Joseph was looking for the coming of God’s promised Messiah. The anger of the other religious leaders toward Jesus, the attempts to trap Jesus in the things He would say, the false witnesses who lied, the stirring up of crowd to ask for Barabbas to be set free and Jesus crucified, watching Jesus die. Could it be that when Joseph saw the injustice poured out on Jesus he finally had seen enough?

Is it possible that in that moment he connected the dots and thought they had just murdered the Messiah? The least they could do now was to give Jesus a proper burial. For Joseph to take Jesus dead body from the cross would make him unclean and unable to participate in the celebrations of this Passover Sabbath. A small price to pay for the injustice he witnessed. What do you think?

[1] The Voice of the Martyrs, Persecution and Prayer Alert; June20, 2007. http://www.persecution.net/

Anticipating a King

“So do you want to watch me pull a rabbit out of this hat?”

I’ve always been fascinated by the magician. The tricks of a good illusionist sometimes befuddle my mind. I know that what I saw isn’t what really happened; if I knew the secret then I would see what really happens. Yes, the hand really is quicker than the eye.

Jesus was not a magician; He was a miracle worker. Jesus did not create an illusion. Jesus changed reality. The blind could suddenly see, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk. Jesus even raised the dead! But Jesus’ wonders were not limited to just curing the sick. Jesus defied the laws of nature. He walked on water, calmed the sea, and even fed thousands from a little boy’s lunch. Was there anything Jesus could not do?

Jesus was going to Jerusalem and stopped in Jericho at the home of Zacchaeus. The anticipation of the crowd was intense. What would Jesus do when He got to Jerusalem? Surely now was the time for Jesus to establish the Kingdom.

• [11] While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. [12] He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.”
  Luke 19:11-12 (NIV)

Now stop and read what Jesus said again with the anticipation that Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem where He will cause the Kingdom to be miraculously established. The last thing you would expect Jesus to say is that a nobleman had to travel to a distant country to be made king. Jesus doesn’t need to go to Rome or any other distant place to become Israel’s king. This will all happen in Jerusalem right?

Things certainly did not turn out like the people, and even the disciples expected them to in Jerusalem. Instead of the miraculous appearance of the Kingdom Jesus was betrayed, falsely convicted and crucified.

But we know the story doesn’t end there. Jesus was raised from the dead and after 40 days of being with His disciples Jesus ascended into heaven. I think heaven would qualify as “a distant country.” Peter would later tell the crowd gathered in Jerusalem that “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:26).

Jesus has been exalted as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is seated upon His throne in heaven. But one day, just as Jesus said, He will return. What do you think?

Where is the Kingdom?

Have you ever felt like the husband who can’t find his car keys and his wife tells them that they are hanging from the end of his nose? Sometimes we overlook the obvious. If it’s just missing car keys, eyeglasses, your wallet or other such things it’s an inconvenience, but you find it eventually and life goes on. But what if you overlook something that’s right in front of you, but it’s a matter of life and death? Now that’s a completely different story.

• [20] Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, [21] nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
  Luke 17:20-21 (NIV)

Talk about misplacing your eyeglasses that are right on top of your head! The Pharisees were looking for the Kingdom of God, but they couldn’t see it. Jesus, God’s anointed One, the Messiah who ushered in the Kingdom was standing right in front of them and they didn’t recognize Him or His Kingdom.

What is Jesus telling the Pharisees? He said the Kingdom was already “within you.” What exactly does that mean? First, the Pharisees are looking in the wrong direction. They are looking for a physical kingdom, but the Kingdom of God is spiritual. The Kingdom is not found by looking around you but within your heart. Second, the Pharisees mistakenly believed that they were subjects or citizens of the Kingdom of God, but Jesus wanted them to see that their hearts were actually rebelling against God. If they had truly submitted to God’s reign in their lives then they would have recognized Jesus for who He is as the Christ.

An alternate translation of this verse says, “the kingdom of God is among you.” This would shift the focus to what the Pharisees could see around them. The Pharisees were blind to Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, thus they also could not see the citizens of God’s Kingdom who had put their faith in Jesus. Because Jesus didn’t fit their expectations they dismissed the miracles of the Kingdom that Jesus did as works of the devil. Anyone could see that Jesus was a fraud because according to the Pharisees the Kingdom of God that Jesus announced had not come like they knew it would.

Could it be that Jesus was telling the Pharisees both? The Kingdom is within you, but you are in rebellion to it. And the Kingdom is among you, but you are blind to what God is doing in and through the lives of those who believe.

How about you? Are you aware of God’s Kingdom? Has it made a change within you that will be seen by others among you? What do you think?

Fresh Bread

Most of Susie’s kitchen gadgets stay in the cupboard, but not this one. Sometime ago we got her a bread machine. This simplified bread making for her. For a busy mom with five children (one just a baby and two schooling at home with mom as their teacher) that bread machine was a blessing. Nearly everyday our family enjoyed the smell of fresh baked bread. It made the house warm and inviting.

• [18] Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? [19] It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."
  [20] Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? [21] It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
  Luke 13:18-21 (NIV)

Jesus had a way of taking the simple everyday things that were a part of everyday life and filling them with new meaning. Jesus made you stop and think about things that could easily be overlooked and taken for granted. So why would Jesus liken the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed and yeast?

The expectation of the Jews was that the Kingdom of God would be established with a great victory over their enemies as God’s Messiah would take his rightful place upon the throne of Israel. Jesus brought the Kingdom in an unexpected way. It started out small. The secrets of the Kingdom were revealed to only a few; most people didn’t understand what Jesus meant. But from this small beginning the Kingdom of God has continued to grow.

I see something else about the Kingdom of God within the mustard seed and the yeast that Jesus might even liken to our bread machine. Surprising I know, but maybe that will help you understand how the people felt when Jesus first told these short parables. They would scratch their heads and wonder what Jesus was talking about. I’m tempted to leave you wondering, but I won’t.

Our bread machine would draw our family together. When the kids were little we would all gather around it to peak through the little window to see how the bread was made. Even today we’ll share time together reminiscing as the smell of fresh baked bread fills our house.

The Kingdom of God draws people together in Christ. Like the birds that make their home in the branches of the mustard tree, or the aroma of fresh bread that calls the family to the dinner table, the Kingdom of God invites people to be included. What do you think?

Free Puppies!

I’ve had many occasions to tell my kids, “There is no such thing as a free puppy.” Granted the person with the puppy isn’t asking for anything; they will gladly give the puppy away. However, once the puppy is yours you start paying for it. You’ve got to feed it, take it to the vet, get a dog license, and let’s not forget the damage a puppy can do chewing things you wish it wouldn’t or making other ‘messes.’ No, the free puppy will cost you more than you can imagine because you will keep on paying as long as it is yours.

I imagine that if you were to offer to pay for the ‘free puppy’ the owner would gladly accept whatever you might offer. After all they are giving the puppy away because it has already cost them something and they want to stop paying for it.

God has a gift that He will give to anyone who is ready to receive it. Like that puppy God’s gift will cost us something too (see “Counting the Cost”). But unlike the owner of the puppy, God will not accept payment for his gift. The kingdom must be received as a gift; you can’t buy it.

• [31] But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. [32] Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
  Luke 12:31-32 (NIV)

Jesus’ emphasis here is that we have nothing to worry about because we have been given the Kingdom. Jesus wants us to think like Kingdom people. God will meet our every need. Furthermore real treasure is not found in the things the world values but in giving worldly treasure away.

• [33] Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
  Luke 12:33-34 (NIV)

Having accepted my share of free puppies I’ve learned something else; a puppy will also give you a lifetime of joyful experiences that money cannot buy. The Kingdom of God is a gift that is far greater than that puppy. Like the puppy it is a gift that will cost you something. But with the Kingdom you receive more than a lifetime of joy; Kingdom joy will overflow with more than you can contain. Regardless of your circumstances and no matter how great the cost may seem to be, as you seek the Kingdom, God also enables you to pay the price. It’s true; God’s Kingdom is a gift that keeps on giving.

Count the Cost

Where did we get the idea that salvation is free? We know that Jesus paid the price for the forgiveness of our sins through His death on the cross. We can do nothing to earn salvation, nor can we buy it for ourselves; it is the gift of God.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ we are saved, but salvation is more than the gift of forgiveness of our sin and eternal life. Salvation also makes us children of God and heirs with Christ. In addition to all this we are also included as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Does all this really come to us with no cost? Or is there a price that we must be willing to pay if we are to enjoy all the benefits of God’s gift of salvation?

• [57] As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
  [58] Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
  [59] He said to another man, "Follow me."
  But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
  [60] Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
  [61] Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
  [62] Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
  Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)

Three times Jesus rebukes those who want to follow Him but want to do it on their own terms. It seems that in each case there is a common thread to what Jesus tells these would be followers. COUNT THE COST. Each were welcomed to remain with Jesus and follow Him, but they had to first understand that following Jesus the Messiah and being included in the Kingdom of God would make demands upon them that they must consider.

Jesus is our Savior, but that’s not all. He is also our Lord who rules over His Kingdom. Are we willing to follow Him regardless of the cost? Will we lay down that which is most important to us in order to make Jesus Savior and Lord? Have we cheapened the value of our salvation by saying it is free? What do you think?

Why Did Jesus Come?

Luke gives us considerable background into the early life of Jesus. The account of Jesus’ birth and childhood serve two primary functions. First Luke wants to establish from the beginning Jesus identity as the Son of God; Jesus is no ordinary man. Second Luke also wants to show that Jesus is qualified as the Son of David to be the promised Messiah.

Why did Jesus come? What was His reason for being or stated purpose for His life? I suppose you might find a variety of answers depending upon who you asked and where you look. Some might be quick to point out that the purpose of Jesus life was to die for our sins; even Jesus said He came to “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Others might say that Jesus came to “seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). Still others might point to Jesus as the miracle worker (see John 10:25; 14:11), or that Jesus came to do the will of the Father (see John 6:57; 12:49; 20:21).

None of these responses would be wrong. Of these the reason that I think stands out as uniting them all would be that Jesus came to do the will of the Father. However, Jesus does not directly say that He came with the express purpose of doing the will of the Father, and even if He had then it would still beg the question, “What is the will of the Father?” Has Jesus said anything else that might give us an explanation why He came that would also unite these various reasons into a more concise statement of purpose that defines the Father’s will?

• "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
  Luke 4:43 (NIV)

Could this be the Father’s will for Jesus? Is the primary reason Jesus came to make known the good news of the Kingdom of God? The good news is that God’s kingdom has come. The announcement of this message is more important than doing miracles; these are just evidence that the kingdom has indeed come. Jesus seeks the lost that they might be included in God’s Kingdom; He died on the cross to make it possible for us to be accepted into the Kingdom. Everything Jesus said and did seems to revolve around the announcement of the good news about God’s Kingdom.

If this was Jesus’ purpose then as His followers shouldn’t it also be our primary purpose too? What do you think?

High Expectations

Have you ever had someone expect something of you that you could not do for them? It’s not that you wouldn’t want to; it’s just that their expectations are too high. John the Baptist found himself in just such a situation.

• [15] The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. [16] John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
  Luke 3:15-17 (NIV)

The people were eagerly looking for “the Christ” or in the Hebrew “the Messiah.” Literally they were anticipating God’s anointed one, the person God had consecrated to save Israel; in other words, they were looking for a powerful king to establish a new and better kingdom. John spoke as a prophet with the power of the Holy Spirit; this is what made him different from everyone else and why the people wondered if John might be the Christ.

John knew that he could not deliver what the people were hoping for in him. Instead John pointed them to someone else, someone far greater than he was. While John told them to look for someone else to be the Christ, he did not change their expectation of what the Christ would be and do for them.

What did John and the people think it meant for the Christ to baptize with “the Holy Spirit and fire” or to hold his winnowing fork in his hand to clear the threshing floor? Was this not just a picture of the judgment the Christ would bring as he would bring his people into his kingdom and destroy his enemies with “unquenchable fire?”

Jesus redefined what it meant to be God’s Christ or Messiah. We read into what John said using Jesus’ definition, but could it be that not even John fully knew what the one whose sandals he was unworthy to untie would be like? Is it possible that even John had the same mistaken expectations for the coming Messiah to establish a new and powerful kingdom in Israel?

What about you and me? Is it possible that we have some wrong expectations about Jesus? We know that Jesus was a suffering Messiah, that He died a cruel death so we can be forgiven and set free from the power of sin and death. We know that Jesus is the Son of God and that nothing is impossible for Him. But are we holding onto some expectations like John and the people of Israel that are misplaced? Are we thinking too small, too much of the here and now? How might Jesus need to redefine our understanding of Him as our Messiah? What do you think?

See for yourself

Someone said, “Seeing is believing.” Let’s not be naive though, a lot of what we see today is unbelievable. The reason so much of what we see is far-fetched and unlikely to be true is because it has been manufactured. Anyone with a digital camera and a computer can doctor photographs. Like a magician's illusion much of the “news” we see is manufactured to make things appear to be a certain way. The ‘green screen’ makes what you see at the theater questionable. We have a right to be skeptical and question what we see.

A few years ago I saw my dad laying in the ER sicker than I had ever known him to be. The doctor called us into a meeting room to discuss what measures we wanted them to take to save his life; we all agreed that dad would not want to be put on any extended life support systems. We later learned that the doctors had “white flagged” my dad. That means they had surrendered; they had done everything they knew to do and expected him to die soon. Seeing is believing. I watched dad walk out of the hospital two days later. He can still be seen living life to its fullest today.

The word of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was beginning to spread among His followers. But they didn’t rejoice at the news. They were all skeptical just like doubting Thomas.

• Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
  Mark 16:14 (NIV)

I can just imagine what Jesus might have said to the disciples. “Look guys it’s me; I’m alive. How many times did I tell you that I would die and then be raised again on the third day. If you couldn’t believe those who had seen me then couldn’t you at least count the days and believe what I had told you? Now see for yourselves; this is the third day and here I am!”

It’s surprising that Jesus’ disciples were the most difficult to persuade that He was alive again. Jesus’ enemies understood that Jesus said he would rise again, but not His followers. The fact that a bunch of skeptical and fearful disciples would later stand up and preach Christ crucified and risen from the dead is convincing evidence that the Gospel is true. What do you think?

CAN DO

September 11, 2001, a day that America seemed powerless to do anything to prevent the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and in Washington DC. Powerless that is except for the 37 passengers on board United 93. None of the passengers seemed to have stopped to think about what they couldn’t do. Could they fly the plane and land it safely? Could they save the lives of the crew who had been overtaken by the hijackers? Could they stop the hijackers from killing them in their attempt to overpower them? Instead they focused on what they could do. “Let’s roll” was heard as the passengers did what they could to regain control of the plane. To stop the passenger revolt the hijackers crashed United 93 into a field in rural Pennsylvania just 20 minutes flight time from their target in Washington DC. The passengers did what they could.

Have you ever notice how easy it is to focus on what we cannot do? When we think about what we cannot do we lose sight of what we can do.

• [40] Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. [41] They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Then they and many other women had come with him to Jerusalem . . . [47] Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus' body was laid.
  Mark 15:40-41, 47 (NLT)

These women were powerless to do anything to save Jesus life. When you think about it there was a lot they could not do. They could not defend Jesus before the Sanhedrin. They could not plead with Pilate for mercy. They could not raise their voices over the crowd. They could not prevent the Roman soldiers from carrying out the crucifixion. They could not go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ dead body.

But these women did what they could do. They remained near the cross as Jesus died while the disciples fled in fear. They were with Joseph of Arimathea as Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and they went with him to the tomb. They prepared spices for Jesus body and went to the tomb before dawn on Sunday morning. Because they did what they could instead of focusing on what they couldn’t, they were blessed to be the first to hear the news of Jesus’ resurrection.

What are you facing today that is greater than you are? What has Jesus asked you to do for Him that you haven’t done yet? Don’t focus on what you cannot do; look instead at what you can do. Christ will not bless good intentions, but He will empower our efforts as we take simple steps of faith to just do what we can. What do you think?

The in between time passes quickly. . .

How quickly the time passes from one celebration to the next. It seems like just yesterday that Susie and I were married. We were a couple of young kids in love. Now with five babies in their teens and growing into adults we are getting ready for our next big celebration: our 25th wedding anniversary.

Before Jesus was crucified He enjoyed the annual celebration of Passover with the disciples. When Jesus came to the bread He told the disciples that it represented His body. The cup of wine was His blood. It is from the Passover Seder that we take the bread and the cup for communion to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. With the cup Jesus told His disciples one more thing; lets take a moment and ponder it.

• "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
  Mark 14:25 (NIV)

This is Jesus’ last statement in Mark’s gospel about the Kingdom of God. His first words announced that the Kingdom was near. Through out Mark’s gospel Jesus gave many convincing proofs that God’s Kingdom had in fact come through Him: the blind could see, the deaf hear, the lame could walk, lepers were cleansed, and even the dead were raised. God’s Kingdom had come, but Jesus said He would wait to celebrate the Kingdom when He comes again.

We live in days between the coming of the Kingdom and the return of the King. You might say we are living in a time when the Kingdom is already and not yet. We enjoy the benefits of God’s Kingdom now, but we also live in anticipation of our coming King when He will do away with everything that is a part of this evil age.

Susie and I have had a lot to celebrate over the last 25 years, and we have also had our share of trials and hardships. Yet when it is all said and done the good far out weighs the bad; I guess that’s why we look with anticipation to celebrating our anniversary while wondering how quickly the time has past us by.

I think that’s a lot like Jesus anticipation of His return. Yes, we live in the in between time—the Kingdom already and not yet—but how quickly the time has past since Jesus said He would not drink again of the fruit of the vine and the coming Day of His return when we will drink together with our Lord and celebrate His return. It won’t be long; the celebration is about to begin. The time between celebrations really isn’t that long. What do you think?

“Let the reader understand.”

Leaving the temple area Jesus told His disciples that the day would come when not one stone would remain on another; the temple’s destruction would be complete. When they were on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus privately when these things would all happen. Jesus gave them more than they were asking for telling them the signs of the end of the age as the Son of Man would come in glory and power. Here’s a sign that we are actually told to take time to ponder, to think about it so we can understand what we are looking for.

• "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
  Mark 13:14 (NIV)

“The abomination that causes desolation” refers to the desecration of God’s temple. Jesus’ disciples would have known what to look for. In 597 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar looted the temple when he took the Jews into captivity in Babylon. Later Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the sacred temple altar in 168 B.C.

Unfortunately for us the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed just like Jesus said it would be in 70 A.D. At that time the Roman general Titus placed an idol on the site of the burned-out temple. I’m sure that Jesus’ disciples would have seen this as the ultimate “abomination,” but the end did not come. Today if we were to see such an abomination the temple in Jerusalem would have to be rebuilt.

“Let the reader understand.” Is the desecration of a literal temple in Jerusalem the sign we are supposed to be watching for, or could it be that we are looking for the wrong thing? The New Testament makes it clear that God does not dwell in temples made of stone. God’s temple, and His chosen dwelling place, is within the hearts of believers. “Don’t you know that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit?” (See 1 Corinthians 6:19)

Could it be that the sign Jesus wants us to look for looks back at us in the mirror and lives all around us everyday? Do you think that Jesus wants us to examine our hearts to see if we have allowed other things to take His place within His temple? Is the abomination that causes desolation taking place right before our eyes in America as so called Christians forsake the truth about Jesus for the pleasures of this world? Think about it.

More than a son

Jesus had been questioned by the religious leaders. Now Jesus turned the tables on them and asked them a question.

• [35] While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? [36] David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
  'The Lord said to my Lord:
  "Sit at my right hand
  until I put your enemies
  under your feet." '
  [37] David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"
  Mark 12:35-37 (NIV)

Jesus used one of the very passages that the religious leaders used to define what they thought about the coming Messiah and gave a completely different understanding to it that no one had thought of. The Jews expectation for the Messiah centered on these two thoughts: [1] the Messiah would be a son of David, a rightful heir to the throne, and [2] the Messiah would be given complete victory over his enemies, his rule as king would be secure.

Jesus changed the focus from a victorious king to the identity of the Messiah, not as David’s son, but as David’s Lord. Jesus attributes what David said not to his own thoughts or imagination, but to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Exactly what David believed is interesting to think about. David used different Hebrew words for lord in Psalm 110:1; “The LORD [Jehovah, self-existent, eternal] said to my Lord [aw-done’, lord, master, sovereign].” Yet Jesus used the familiar Greek Septuagint translation that used the same word “kurios” for Lord. Again what David and those living in his day understood by this, I’ll leave to the Old Testament theologian. What is clear is that Jesus challenges the thinking of those listening to Him.

No one could argue with the simple logic Jesus used to show that the Messiah must be more than just the son of David. Matthew adds that not only could no one argue with what Jesus said, but from then on no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions (see 22:46).

Jesus, the Messiah, was and is more than just David’s Son. Jesus is superior to David for He is God of very God. What do you think?

The Fourth of July

I enjoy summer! The warm weather, family picnics, vacations, baseball games, the list of things to enjoy can go on and on. One of my favorite activities of the summer is just around the corner. The Forth of July with its family fun, fireworks and is a great celebration of our freedom. But could you imagine having such a festive holiday if we as Americans were still under the authority of England and the British king?

That’s kind of what happened when Jesus entered into Jerusalem on what we traditionally call Palm Sunday. The people made it into a big parade. Jesus was escorted into the city with palm branches waving; the palm was an ancient symbol of the Jewish nation. Can you picture a day like that in your mind?

• [9] Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!"
  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
  [10] "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
  "Hosanna in the highest!"
  Mark 11:9-10 (NIV)

Let’s face it these people were ready to make Jesus their king right under the noses of the hated Romans. “Hosanna” literally means “Save now.” This was not a request for Jesus to save them spiritually; they wanted Him to throw out the Romans and establish once again the great kingdom of Israel, the kingdom of their ancient King David. This was a political movement, not a religious celebration. It would be like a group of people marching down Main Street waving a confederate flag chanting, “The South will rise again” (or worse if they waved a Nazi flag and were yelling anti-American slogans).

If Jesus had come to establish an earthy kingdom this was the time to do it. The people were on His side; I believe there were people there ready to fight for their freedom from the Romans if Jesus would just give the word. Talk about facing temptation to fame and power; Jesus had the chance to be made king.

I’m glad Jesus remembered that He was already THE KING. Not a king over a piece of real estate regardless of how large it may be. Jesus was and is the King of Heaven. He had come not to establish an earthly kingdom, but the Kingdom of God among men. The only way this could be possible was for the King to die a terrible death. Everything was now in place; before the week was out the same crowd of people would call for Jesus to be crucified. Fickle huh? Funny how when things don’t turn out the way we want we look elsewhere.

Are you aware of His Kingdom and His authority over your life? Are you willing to submit to His rule even when things don’t turn out the way you like? The cry for salvation was answered in an unexpected way. What do you think?

Righteous Indignation’

We don’t often think of Jesus being angry. It seems that a ‘righteous indignation’ and Jesus just don’t seem to mix in our minds. Here’s one time that might just surprise you.

• [13] People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. [14] When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [15] I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
  Mark 10:13-15 (NIV)

Matthew and Luke both have the same story, but both skip over Jesus’ reaction to what the disciples did. Somehow we get the picture of Jesus just nicely saying, “Peter, John, hey guys please don’t forbid the children from coming to me. Let them come here and sit on my lap.” That’s more or less how I imagine the scene being played out; from my years growing up in Sunday school with the flannel board cut outs, my teachers never let on that Jesus was angry with anyone.

Yet Jesus was INDIGNANT—irate, irritated, very displeased. In a word Jesus was angry, but why?

It’s obvious that Jesus’ anger was directed at the disciples and not toward the children. Is Jesus simply upset at their refusal to let the kids get to Him? I think it’s more than that. I think Jesus anger is directed toward having the wrong assumption as to how you get to Jesus, to be more specific how you enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus said the way to enter the Kingdom was to become like one of these kids, to have childlike faith. Yet the disciples thought it took more than that. Surely you needed to have some clout or something you could offer as your ticket in. The evidence of the disciple’s attitude is found in what Mark says happen next. A rich man falls at Jesus’ feet and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. None of the disciples stopped this guy; they let him through.

I’m struck by Jesus’ response to this man. Mark says Jesus looked at him and loved him. Jesus is not angry that he thought he could earn his way into the Kingdom or did not come to Him with childlike faith. Jesus loved this guy.

I guess the surprising reality is where Jesus anger was directed here. It was not toward the children (and yet we can be so easily irritated towards kids sometimes). Nor was Jesus angry with someone who came to Him in the wrong way. Jesus anger was directed toward His followers who placed their own conditions and pre-conceived ideas on what it takes to gain acceptance by Jesus.

Are we ever deserving of Jesus anger? Do we ever show preference to some people because of what we think they can offer us or the church? Yet Jesus says everyone is welcomed with nothing more than childlike faith. What do you think?

Everything "Divinely Possible"

I received the following comment to yesterday’s pondering on expectations:

“I sometimes wonder if the disciples EVER REALLY got it that Jesus was God incarnate. It would be hard for their basic fisherman mentality to grasp this concept, when they are living, eating, sleeping and traveling with Jesus.”

You know what; I think it’s true. Even though Jesus did everything humanly possible to help them understand, I don’t think they began to get it until after the resurrection. Perhaps I should say “divinely possible;” take a look at this.

• [1] And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
  [2] After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. [3] His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them . . . [7] Then a cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
  Mark 9:1-3, 7 (NIV)

Peter, James and John saw Jesus in all the glory of heaven on the mount of transfiguration as Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah. They heard the voice of the Father God say, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him,” but they just didn’t get it.

On the way down the mountain Jesus told these three disciples not to tell anyone about what they had just happened until after he had risen from the dead. God had just told them to listen to Jesus, but they didn’t really hear what God had said. They kept the matter to themselves, but secretly talked among themselves as to what it meant to rise from the dead.

God had also just told them that Jesus was His beloved Son; would anything be too hard for God? They had been witnesses when Jesus had miraculously raised others from the dead. Jesus had told the disciples that he would suffer and die. Couldn’t they just take Jesus at his word and believe that he really would die and then be raised back to life? Jesus was too human and their expectations of a victorious Messiah were just too big for them to even imagine that Jesus would have to really die. Yet that’s exactly what Jesus did, and He rose from the dead just like He said.

Now how will we respond the next time the Lord speaks to our hearts about something? Will we be quick to respond in faith and obedience? Or will we be like the disciples and wonder if it was really God who spoke to us. We have our own struggles taking Jesus at His word too. What do you think?

Expectations

Expectations are hard to overcome. As a mom Susie is very close to her kids; lots of hugs, kisses, cuddle time on the couch to talk and more are just some of the ways she and the kids express their love to each other. When we brought my sister’s kids into our home she had the expectation that Sam, Courtney and Jacob would all come to make the same kind of connection with her but that hasn’t happened. We are not sure of all the reasons why it’s this way, but the one thing we do know is that unmet expectations have led to disappointment.

Jesus has been with his disciples now for sometime. They have listened to him teach about the Kingdom of God and have witnessed the power of God in all kinds of miracles. As they were together Jesus asked them who people said that He was. They answered that others thought he might be John the Baptist, Elijah or other prophets. Then Jesus made it personal.

• [29] "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
  Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
  [30] Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
  [31] He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
  Mark 8:29-31 (NIV)

We all know that Peter got this question right. In Matthew Jesus tells Peter that this was not revealed by man but by the Father in heaven. Yet Jesus warns Peter and the other disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Christ, the Messiah. Why?

I believe it was their expectations. The Jews, including Jesus’ disciples were all looking for the coming Messiah but their expectations were for the Messiah to be a conquering king and reestablish the kingdom within Israel. But Jesus immediately began teaching his disciples that he must suffer and die. This didn’t fit with their idea of the Messiah; no wonder they couldn’t understand what Jesus meant by rising again after three days.

While Jesus told the disciples many times that He would go to Jerusalem and die, when it happened they just couldn’t believe it. Their expectations of the Messiah were shattered; at the cross we know of only John being present. The others were all scattered. Three days latter they were still hiding for fear of the Jews and not anticipating the triumphal resurrection of Jesus.

Unmet expectations; is it any wonder Jesus did not want the disciples to begin to spread the news that He was in fact the Messiah. Jesus not only had to teach them what it meant to be the Messiah; He had to show them too. Only after the resurrection did the disciples begin to understand Jesus as a suffering Messiah who died to forgive their sins. That’s the message that they would soon begin to share everywhere they would go. What do you think?