Looking Deeper

What happens to a person when they become a Christian by faith in Christ? As believers, you and I would all give testimony of a changed life, but what exactly happened when we were saved? How should this change be described?

Talking to Nicodemus, Jesus referred to a necessary transformation that would have to occur in order to inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus said the believer must be “born again” or literally born from above. Nicodemus wondered how this new birth would take place. A grown man could not re-enter his mother’s womb to be born again. Jesus answered Nicodemus’ question by saying a person must be born of “water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). Jesus added:

• Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
  John 3:6 (NIV)

What does Jesus mean here by flesh? The context would indicate that Jesus is referring to the human body; in other words, through natural childbirth human always gives birth to human. But is it possible that Jesus has more in mind than just the human body? Could it be that Jesus wants us to understand that the human nature gives birth to itself; in other words it is impossible for us to be born again through human effort or strength. Only the Spirit can bring about the new birth that Jesus is talking about.

Jesus’ statement that an individual must be born of “water and the Spirit” is curious. As a religious leader Nicodemus would have most likely been familiar with Ezekiel 36:25-26 which speaks of the cleansing of the Spirit and the renewal of life that God will bring to those whose hope is in Him. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (NIV).

If by water Jesus means natural birth then He has perhaps overstated the obvious. A person must be born, that is a living human being in order to then be born again of the Spirit. But if Jesus has in mind the cleansing of the human nature by the Spirit through the rebirth, then it seems likely that flesh could refer to the human nature and not simply the body. What do you think?

The Flesh

Ponder this: “there are different kinds of flesh.” This is my understatement of the day. I’ve spent the better part of the day studying what the word “flesh” or as the in the Greek “sarx” means. I’m tempted to say, “It’s all Greek to me” (I guess I said it didn’t’ I).

Paul said, “All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another” (1 Corinthians 15:39 NIV). The meaning of flesh here is obvious; it is the body or tissue of a living creature. Yet all “sarx” is not the same!

In the New Testament (and especially in Paul’s epistles) flesh or “sarx” is defined four different ways: [1] bodily flesh or tissue, [2] human decent or relationship, [3] mankind or the human race, and [4] human nature. It’s that last meaning that is hard to get a handle on (well at least for me). In many modern translations “sarx” is translated as sinful nature (that’s what gives me a problem that I’m trying to figure out).

The flesh as human nature can be thought of in three ways: [1] weak human nature, [2] the human nature of Christ, and [3] unregenerate humanity. Just where does flesh as “sinful nature” in so many of our English Bibles fit in? Obviously it would not apply to the human nature of Christ. Jesus took on the “likeness of sinful flesh” but was free from sin (Romans 8:3 KJV).

But how might “sinful nature” apply to the flesh that is unregenerate humanity or the flesh that is the weak human nature? I can accept that a non-Christian the unregenerate has a sinful nature, but does the believer still have a “sinful nature” or is it just the weakness of the flesh? Think about this:

• [16] So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view [“sarx”-the flesh]. Though we once regarded Christ in this way [“sarx”-the flesh again], we do so no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
  2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (NIV)

Paul had a transformation in his way of thinking about people, and especially about how he thought about Jesus. Why? In Christ he became a new creation; the old way of thinking according to the flesh was gone and a new way of thinking (by the Spirit) had taken its place. Being in Christ dramatically changed the way Paul thought, but did it also change his flesh? That is did Paul cease to have a “sinful nature” because of his relationship with Christ? How had Paul’s conversion (and in turn our own) changed him because he no longer lived according to the flesh but by the Spirit (see Romans 8:4-5)?

I want to invite you to take a journey and ponder with me this week about the change that has taken place within our lives. Has our sinful nature been done away with or is it still there trying to regain control of our lives? Together let’s try to unravel what it means to live in a body of flesh and blood, no longer controlled by the flesh but by the Spirit. What do you think?

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?

He Did It Again!

I heard the other day that a complete stranger given just 15 minutes to observe a person and his/her environment will have a better chance of predicting behavior than a close friend or family member. Sounds hard to believe, but I guess our familiarity or prejudice blinds us to other possibilities that a stranger will see. Let’s face it; family and friends can surprise us. Just about the time you think you’ve got them figured out they will go and do or say something completely unexpected.

Jesus went again into the area of the Decapolis; this is where the man delivered from the legion of demons went to tell his family and friends about all that Jesus had done for him. Apparently the word that Jesus was in the area had gotten around and people brought a man who was both deaf and mute, and they begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus took the man aside and in a most unusual way opened the man’s ears and mouth so that he could hear and speak. But that’s not the end of the story.

• [36] Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. [37] People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
  Mark 7:36-37 (NIV)

This is the second time Jesus gave orders for people not to say anything about what He had done. Why would Jesus tell these people not to talk about this miracle when he had previously told the man delivered from demons to go back to his family and friends and tell everyone what the Lord had done for him?

Does Jesus really want to keep His identity as the Messiah a secret as some claim?[1] That seems unlikely to me because most of the people in this area would have been Gentiles and not Jews looking for the Messiah. Does Jesus not want people to know that the Kingdom of God has come like I thought He did in Mark 5?[2] Why does Jesus tell everyone to not say anything about this truly amazing miracle?

Could it be that Jesus did not want people to just focus on the signs and wonders that demonstrated God’s Kingdom had really come to be among them? Do you think Jesus wanted them to talk more about the MESSAGE of the Kingdom rather than the MIRACLE? Let’s face it, people have not change much in 2,000 years; folks will still get all excited about miracles. The message of the Kingdom, a message of repentance and living a changed life, doesn’t sell as well as miracles. But which is more important, the message or the miracle? What do you think?
______________________
[1] See Mark 8:30 – Jesus instruct His disciple not to say anything about being the Christ.
[2] See Monday’s Pondering: Schizophrenic or Following a Plan

Familiarity

Familiarity breeds contempt, or so the saying goes. Such was the case for Jesus in His hometown.

• [1] Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. [2] When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! [3] Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
  Mark 6:1-3 (NIV)

It’s interesting; the hometown folks’ response to Jesus was both to be amazed and incredulous at the same time. While they were awestruck by Jesus’ teaching and the miracles He preformed, they also carried the memories of Jesus together with His mother and siblings that just made it all too hard to believe. Jesus was the carpenter; what right does He have to say such things. Their familiarity if not a seedbed of contempt, it was certainly a roadblock to faith.

I wonder if familiarity breeds anything else too. What I mean is, has the life story of Jesus and our Christian faith become too familiar or too common for many of us within the Church? None of us who believe in Jesus would ever disdain or look with condescension upon our Lord (that’s contempt means). But is it possible that we ‘take offense’ and look that way at other believers within the body of Christ?

I’m on dangerous ground now, but before you start casting stones lets think about it. What is your attitude towards those who may not be as spiritually “mature” as you are and struggle with sin? Or how about those who take a different doctrinal stand on various teachings that we hold to? In other words, could familiarity also breed self-absorbed pride? Perhaps pride is too strong, so could it be that familiarity breeds a spiritual comfort zone that makes us lazy in our relationships with other believers and our personal study of God’s Word?

When was the last time we let God really speak to us through His word that opened our eyes in a new way to the truth about ourselves forced us out of our religious boxes? Could it also be that our familiarity keeps us from hearing the ‘still small voice’ of the Spirit?

Have we become too familiar with Jesus? And if so what has it bred within our hearts? These are some tough questions that don’t have easy answers. What do you think?

Schizophrenic or Following a Plan?

In Mark 5 we find three miracles. The first was when Jesus delivered the demon possessed man in the area of the Gerasenes. The second occurred when a woman reaches out to touch the hem of Jesus garment believing that she would be healed and she was. The third miracle began as a request to heal a man’s daughter, but when the report came that the little girl had died, Jesus told the man to not lose faith. Jesus went with the man to his house and raised his daughter back to life. Notice how each of these miracles ends:

• Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
• He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
• He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
  Mark 5: 19, 34, 43 (NIV)

Now I can’t help but wonder why Jesus responded so differently in each of these miracles. The first and third are exact opposites; the man freed from demons is told to go home and tell everyone what Jesus did for him, but the parents whose daughter was raised from the dead are instructed to keep quite about the miracle. No one would have known about the second miracle except Jesus and the woman, but Jesus who draws attention to what had happened seeking out the woman to find out why she had touched Him and then sent her away in peace.

On the surface it might seem like Jesus is acting a little schizophrenic, but I think I see a common thread in how Jesus concludes each of these miracles. In each case Jesus wanted the miracle made known as an announcement that the Kingdom of God had indeed come.

For the demoniac the real proof of the miracle was for this man who had been “out of his mind” to go home and live his life in front of family and friends so they could all know that Jesus truly had delivered him (this too announced the coming of God’s kingdom among the Gentiles and that’s a whole other topic). In the second it was because the miracle happened unexpectedly and without anyone else’s knowledge that Jesus made it known. In the final miracle, the little girl’s life would speak for itself. People had already gathered to mourn her death so everyone would know that it was Jesus who brought her back to life; the parents didn’t need to say anything.

Jesus brought God’s Kingdom into being and it is among us today. Sometimes we proclaim the good things God has done for us. At other times we need to point out what God has done for others. And then there are the times that all we need to do is live our life for everyone to see that it is Jesus who has made us alive in Him. In each of these ways we verify the reality of God’s Kingdom in the here and now interacting in our lives and the lives of others. What do you think?

A Surprising Mystery

Several months ago we were eating dinner at a Cracker Barrel when to our complete surprise our daughter Chrysta walk in. She decided she wanted to come home from college for the weekend and had secretly arranged to pop-in out of the blue with her aunt. I sometimes wonder if she had just come in and had a seat at a table like anyone else having dinner that night rather than seeking us out if we would have even recognized her. Could we have even walked right past her and not noticed if she had wanted to keep her presence there a secret?

I wonder if the way in which Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom of God came as a surprise to people too. What did people expect “the Day of the Lord” and the Kingdom to look like? Jews at the time of Christ were expecting a Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, to overthrow the Romans and take his place as king over Israel. Jesus didn’t do bring in the Kingdom the way people expected.

• Jesus asked, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?
  Mark 4:30 (NLT)

Jesus uses two very interesting parables to specifically describe the Kingdom of God. In the first it is likened to a man who sows seed. This man has no idea how the seed grows, but when the grain is ripe he puts a sickle to it and brings in the harvest. The second pictures the Kingdom to be like a mustard seed that is only a small seed, but then grows into a large tree in which birds can make their home.

Is that really what the Kingdom of God is like? Shouldn’t the Kingdom come with a great victory over its enemies and be announced with fanfare and celebration? Does Jesus really understand the Kingdom? I think if anyone understands the Kingdom of God it is Jesus; we are the ones who are still struggling to understand it.

Jesus announced the coming of a Kingdom that people did not recognize, but that does not mean the Kingdom had not come. In the same way Chrysta could have hidden her presence in the restaurant from us, God’s Kingdom is among us today just as it was with the disciples then, but the Kingdom is concealed. God’s Kingdom is not present as we would expect it to be, thus the reality of the reign of God can be misunderstood or even missed all together.

Jesus told his disciples, “I’m letting you in on the secret of God’s Kingdom” (Mark 4:11 my paraphrase). Maybe we need to ask Jesus to show us the mystery of God’s Kingdom instead of trying to make it what we think it is supposed to be. I don’t want to be like the religious leaders who completely missed the coming of the Kingdom because it didn’t match their expectations. I want to be ready when the sickle is put to the wheat. What do you think?

Kingdom Conflict

If you have ever lived with ten people under one roof then you know how important it is to cooperate with each other. Even little things, like getting into the bathroom, have the potential to be explosive. Fortunately we have been blessed with the presence of an eleventh “Person” around our house; God helps us to all live together in peace.

Jesus came preaching the message that the Kingdom of God had come. Jesus said “At last the time has come” or as the KJV says “The time is fulfilled” (see Mark 1:15 NLT). In other words Jesus was making it clear that what the Old Testament prophets had prophesied was now taking place; God’s word was coming to pass. The Kingdom had come.

The religious leaders knew that if what Jesus said was true then Jesus must be God’s promised Messiah. But Jesus didn’t look like the Messiah they were expecting; they were looking for a Messiah to come and forcibly kick out the Romans and make the kingdom of Israel great again. Their problem was all the miracles that Jesus had done; how could Jesus cast out demons and perform signs and wonders? Their solution: Jesus did not do these things with God’s power but with Satan’s power.

• [23] Jesus called them over and said to them by way of illustration, “How can Satan cast out Satan? [24] A kingdom at war with itself will collapse.”
  Mark 3:23-24 (NLT)

Jesus pointed out the flaw in their logic. If Jesus was casting out demons by Satan’s power then the devil was shooting himself in the foot and it was only a matter of time until Satan would destroy his entire kingdom. The only other option was that Jesus had in fact announced the coming of God’s Kingdom and proved the arrival of the Kingdom with signs and wonders through the power of God.

What Jesus said and did makes it clear that the Kingdom of God stands in opposition to the dominion of Satan. God’s kingdom would not be established through an earthly kingdom in Israel or anyplace else. The Kingdom of God was a spiritual reality that had come to destroy Satan’s rule in this world and the evidence pointed to the reality that Jesus was triumphing over the devil; demons were cast out, the sick recovered.

Jesus continues to show that the Kingdom of God has come and Satan is defeated. Jesus still heals the sick; He still has authority over demons. No kingdom is divided against itself. If we want to stand with Jesus, then lets discover ways to oppose the works of evil that are evident around us. Jesus has established the Kingdom of God with power and authority.

Authority

We are bound by time, but Jesus is eternal and not bound by the limitations of time. Thus the Lord is always active in the present in the same way He was in the past (and God will continue to do tomorrow what He does today). That’s why the right question to ask ourselves is “What is Jesus doing” and not “What would Jesus do?” And that’s why I think it is important to look carefully at what Jesus did when He was here on earth because it will show us what He is doing today.

Jesus preached the good news, a message about the kingdom of God. Now if Jesus had in fact brought the kingdom of God into the present reality of man then the authority of God’s kingdom should be evident in what Jesus says and does. A king without authority is at best an icon representing something he is not; at the least such a king is only a peasant or a slave.

An interesting thing happened when Jesus returned to Capernaum. A crowd gathered at the house he was in; the place was packed. Four men brought their friend who was a cripple to Jesus, but they couldn’t get in. These guys didn’t give up; they went up on the roof, opened a whole in it and with ropes lowered their crippled friend on a stretcher right in front of Jesus. Jesus was impressed, so impressed in fact that he told the crippled man that his sins were forgiven (not what his friends on the roof were hoping for). When Jesus said this, the religious leaders there were upset to say the least. What Jesus had done was blasphemous; only God can forgive sins.

• [8] Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, "Why are you so skeptical? [9] Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, 'I forgive your sins,' or say, 'Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking'? [10] Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both..." (he looked now at the paraplegic), [11] "Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." [12] And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, "We've never seen anything like this!"
  Mark 2:8-12 (MsgB)

The kingdom of God Jesus had announced had in fact come. Jesus proved his authority. Jesus maintains the same authority today; nothing has changed. He not only has authority to heal the sick, but more importantly Jesus has authority to forgive us of our sins.

Forgiveness seems to be His priority; that’s what he gave the crippled man first. Maybe we need to look for Jesus where forgiveness is needed today and then we’ll see the evidence of His authority through miracles. What do you think?

Finding "It"

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Sounds simple doesn’t it? If we are going to successfully complete “the main thing,” then we need to know what it is and stick to it.

As a busy pastor I must confess my need to rediscover the main thing. I laugh to myself whenever someone says something like, “Oh you’re a pastor; it must be nice to only have to work one day a week.” Most people don’t understand the work of the ministry; to be honest I don’t think I really got it until after I began to serve as a lead-pastor nearly thirteen years ago now. I’m thankful for the six years I served as an assistant pastor in Kent; I learned a lot from my mentor and friend Pastor Dave, but something changes that I don’t know if I can put into words when you transition from just being a member of the church staff. Pastoring really is hard work.

Please understand, I don’t just want to complain or sound like a cry baby. My purpose is to somehow help ordinary folks understand my need to rediscover “the main thing.” You might think working at the church, preaching each Sunday, preparing lessons to teach, writing devotionals, praying, counseling and a laundry list of other things I do from week to week would keep the main thing easily in sight. It must be easy for the pastor to keep his/her spiritual priorities in right alignment because unlike church folks the pastor is immersed in the life of the church. Not many pastors have to work in the secular market place so it must be nice to just focus on Jesus 24/7 right? (I’m not knocking the by-vocational pastor—been there done that too).

The fact of the matter is that the main thing can be lost among the clutter of activity. If pastors can lose it then ordinary church folks can too. I know only one way to rediscover the main thing: LOOK AT JESUS.

• [14] After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God. [15] He said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News."
  Mark 1:14-15 (GW)

Jesus’ very first words proclaimed the gospel, the good news. And what was this message? “The kingdom of God is near.” I think that there in is a key to finding the main thing.

God’s kingdom is still near today. The question is not “What would Jesus do?” but “What is Jesus doing?” You see its not what I can do or say, but what Jesus will do in and through me (and you too). When we better understand what Jesus did when He walked this earth we will better be able to see what He is doing today. Then we can join Him in His work. I think that’s the main thing. How about you?

Surprise

In our Sunday morning service yesterday the Lord spoke to us with a personal invitation to come to him with our needs, that God was by our side just waiting for us to reach out and take hold of His hand. Susie and I had prayer together that morning and hours later we were again at the altar at the conclusion of our combined rally. God was about to meet with us in a very special way.

People were making their way to the front for prayer. I looked up and there in front of me stood a dear friend from the CLC where I had served as a youth pastor nearly twelve years ago. After giving her a hug she said, “I would really like to have you pray for me again.”

My mind raced back through the years with a flood of memories. I was overwhelmed. We were there to minister to others but I began to weep because the Lord was doing something in my heart as well through her simple request for prayer. We all wiped the tears from our eyes after our prayer together. She then said that the Lord had blessed her with Matthew 11:28 from the Message Bible and that it might be an encouragement to us as well.

• [28] "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. [29] Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
  Matthew 11:28-29 (MsgB)

Two weeks ago at district council another friend prayed with me and simply said, “You are not alone.” The message of these verses and the love I felt from our friend last night confirmed those words in my heart. I am not alone.

God knows our need for spiritual rest and renewal and is ready to meet us right were we are. Honestly God surprised me last night, but I’m so grateful for the “real rest” that the Lord provided in those moments of prayer. I was the beneficiary of the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

So how are you doing today? Jesus is right there with you at this very moment. Reach out and take His hand and let Him refresh your heart in a way that only He can.

Take-a-ways

Eye Opening – 62nd Ohio District Council

I’ve spent the last few days in Columbus for District Council. It has been a great time just being in the Lord’s presence and renewing friendships with other pastors from across the state. I thought I would share with you a few of my personal ‘take-a-ways’ from the last 60 hours or so.

CONNECT THE DOTS
Dr. Byron Klaus shared Monday night how God is able to pull together all the diverse experiences of our lives to accomplish His purpose in our lives. In much the same way a childe will connect the dots in a picture book to draw a picture, God sees the picture that He is making of our lives and is working to complete it. We don’t always see the picture God is drawing, for that matter we don’t even see how God has connected some of the dots! However you can rest assured that God knows what He is doing. Wherever you are today is right where God wants you as He continues to work in and through your life to connect the dots.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Business sessions began Tuesday. After about 4 hours we were preparing to adjourn for the afternoon. Pastor Doug Clay (our district superintendent) called for a time of prayer around the altar. I responded to this invitation for prayer and the Lord met me there. I wept as the Lord lifted the load I was carrying. A dear missionary friend began to pray with me; prompted of the Lord he said, “You are not alone.” These words were so healing to my spirit. I not only have others who will stand with me, but more importantly God is with me.

THE ANOINTING
Pastor Doug preached the ordination service and shared about the importance of the anointing within our lives. He shared that among other things the anointing brings: transformation, connection, intuition, and protection. We were taking lessons from the life of Saul who unfortunately did not continue to live under the anointing of God. Here’s the bottom line: The anointing will take us where we could never go without it; character and integrity will keep us there.

ONE MORE FOR JESUS
Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost; that was (and still is) His mission. As a pastor do I want to just manage a religious enterprise or do I want to participate in the mission of Jesus? As an individual you could ask yourself if you just want to be a faithful member of the church or a missional partner with Jesus. Are we willing to let step out of our comfort zone within our churches and begin to reach out to people around us who need Jesus?

Pastor Doug had taken some walks on a golf course and rescued golf balls from the lake; he had found hundreds of them. These golf balls were all used. Some were stained; others had nicks and scratches. But having been pulled from the water they were all cleaned up and ready to be used again for their designed purpose. Can we see that the people around us are like those golf balls? Some are literally drowning in the circumstances of life; they are dirty and scuffed up. Yet God wants to rescue them, clean them up and empower them to fulfill the purpose He designed them for. Will we reach one more for Jesus?

A place in the shade . . .

Several years ago I cut down a large bush that was growing in the center of our back yard. To my surprise I found that a maple tree was growing up right in the middle of that bush. The trunk of the maple was curved and misshapen from growing up entangled among the many branches of the bush. I decided to give the tree a chance and see how it would develop now that it had been set free. Today that maple tree stands about eighteen feet tall and the trunk is almost perfectly straight. It has become a beautiful tree.

I can only imagine what might have happened to that tree if it had continued to grow up with the bush that held it captive. By now it may have outgrown the bush, which stood about ten feet tall when I cut it down, but would the maple tree have develop the strong and hearty branches that is has today? Would the trunk have straightened itself as it has? Most likely the bush would have continued to restrict the maple further deforming its shape by choking the life out of it.

Isaiah 61 opens with words that are familiar to many of us. Jesus read from this passage in the synagogue; “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor . . .” When Jesus finished reading, He told those present that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled that very day (see Luke 4:18-21). Jesus made it clear as He read Isaiah’s prophecy that He had come to release those held captive, to give sight to the blind, to bring freedom to the oppressed, to make known the year of God’s favor and grace.

Jesus did not read Isaiah’s entire prophecy, just the first two verses of chapter 61. I find it interesting to see what the Lord spoke through Isaiah revealing what God would do with those who were set free during this time of the Lord’s favor.

• . . . For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.
  Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

God has set us free to stand tall and strong. This is not so people will be impressed with us, but with the Lord who has planted us; God gets all the glory. How does that happen? Well one thing I know about oak trees is they grow tall providing a great place of shade from the heat of the sun. Like my maple tree, as we grow strong in the Lord others will take notice of the change. God has set you free; now grow tall and straight for all to see and find a cool place to rest in the favor of the Lord.

Deformed or Reformed?

Let me be myself for a moment—ornery that is! My dad is the “perfect Christian;” he has followed Jesus’ word to the letter. In Mark 9:47 Jesus said, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” Dad had his left eye removed to make him a holy person. Perhaps someday I hope to some day have that kind of obedience too; I debating to have a hand or foot cut off. I could really use a word of encouragement; any suggestions as to what would be best and make me a truly holy person?

Now seriously, for those who don’t know my dad, he is a man of faith that I respect a great deal; he has shown me what it really means to be a man of God. Several years ago he lost his left eye due to cancer, and he would tell you that being without that eye has done nothing to make him a more holy person. Yes, through that time in lives of our family God streached our faith, but the physical loss of an eye in and of itself does not make you a righteous person (and for that matter if God had done a miracle and spared dad’s eye that wouldn’t have caused any of us to necessarily live righteously either).

The fact of the matter is that it is just as easy to lust with one eye as it is two. I mean if missing one eye makes you holy then how much holier will you be if you gouge out an eye and cut off a hand? You can still steal with only one hand or find your way into trouble on just one foot. Jesus is not telling his followers to deform their bodies.

When it comes to sin we always seem to get caught up in the externals. We cannot do anything to earn God’s favor. All the good things we do, together with all the hands and feet we cut off or eyes we pluck out, will do nothing to impress God. Our self-made righteousness is useless.

• [6] All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away . . . [8] Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
  Isaiah 64:6, 8 (NIV)

We can’t make ourselves holy because living a righteous life free from the entanglement of sin is a heart issue. Only God can reshape our hearts. Only God can cut out our sinful desires and replace them with the desire to live a life pleasing to Him. So let’s stop trying to make it with man-made acts of righteousness. Let’s allow God to transform us from the inside out.

Did you hear that?

It happened again yesterday. Susie asked if I heard the phone ringing; I didn’t. A few seconds later I heard it ring. The same thing has happened with the kids. She will ask if I hear someone calling, or worse crying; I don’t. Then after straining to hear it turns out that she is right. I can’t be getting old can I? I think it’s just a case of selective hearing; I’m just tuned into to something else and have to change channels to hear what Susie heard. That’s it isn’t it; I mean I do eventually hear it too?

Did you know that God has ‘selective hearing’ too? Amazing as it may sound to us, the fact is that God does not listen to every prayer. Think about this. God is omniscient; He is all knowing. Therefore, God knows the words of every prayer even before we say the first word; nothing is hidden from God’s knowledge. Nevertheless the Lord chooses not to hear some prayers because of something else He knows about us.

• [1] Listen! The Lord is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. [2] But there is a problem—your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
  Isaiah 59:1-2 (NLT)

God also knows about our sin; He knows the condition of our heart that stands up with selfish pride and secretly says, “I can do it myself.” God knows all about our rebellion and secret sin that we try to hide from others. Because of our sin God turns a deaf ear to our prayers.

Notice Isaiah is not talking about the ‘prayers’ of the heathen; it is not the prayers of those who have never confessed God as Savior that He does not hear. Rather it is the prayer of God’s people that God turns His back on. In other words it is those who should know better but have turned their backs on God through willful disobedience and then blame God for not coming to their rescue when they cry out for help.

God’s people have experience the wonder of His salvation; God has come to their rescue. Unfortunately we sometimes get caught up in sin again. In those times God has not become weak and unable to save us. God holds back His hand of salvation because of our secret sin that we are unwilling to let go of.

God knows all about your situation, but is He listening to your prayer? Could it be that before the Lord again reaches out His hand to come to our rescue that He is waiting to hear an honest prayer, a humble prayer of repentance? That is a prayer God will hear every time, but are we ready to pray it?

Death ain't no big deal

According to the Centers for Disease Control nearly 2.4 million people died in the US in 2004; an average of 6,571 people died each and every day of the year. The leading cause of death was heart disease ending about 1,792 lives daily followed by cancer at about 1,508 deaths per day. Next on the list was stroke and then respiratory disease. Number five surprised me; unintentional accidents ended the lives of 298 people everyday (on average 117 of those deaths were auto accidents).[1]

Tragic deaths make the headlines like those killed at Virginia Tech and other such ‘newsworthy’ events, but for the most part death happens everyday and few of us give it any thought. That is unless death visits our family or friends. More than likely you know at least one of those who died in 2004; others of us may be grieving a more recent death. Regardless of when they may have died life goes on; time has a way of separating us from the pain of death and our wounds heal.

Each day has its own unique births and deaths. How much do we really think about those who die? Yes, we miss loved ones who have died and reminisce of fond memories about them, but few of us live in the past. Most of us move on with our lives and leave the dead in the cemetery with the hope that they will rest in peace.

• [1] The righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. [2] For the godly who die will rest in peace.
  Isaiah 57:1-2 (NLT)

This is our hope! Whenever anyone dies in Christ, even if we think it is ‘before their time,’ they really do rest in peace. As Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So stop for a moment and think with me about death.

The bible teaches us that it is appointed for each of us to die; God knows the day of our birth and the day of our death—in advance! Thus no death is an accident with God, so even the so called ‘premature death’ is God’s way of protecting the righteous from days of evil. As the old gospel song says, “Death ain’t no big deal” because God is in control.[2]

Let’s learn to trust God in life and death. If you are grieving today remember you can believe God did what is best for your loved one.

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[1] Deaths/Mortality, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm, also http://www.weitzlux.com/motorvehicleaccident/trends/incidencethroughoutthe_2390.html
[2] See: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Hebrews 9:7; Job 14:5; Psalms 39: 4; 68:20; 90:12; Ecclesiastes 8:8

How big is your tent?

Mikey set up his new tent last night; he wanted to practice before his first campout of the season this weekend. It’s a one/two man tent and measures 8’ by 9’. Once the tent was up, the little kids all wanted into it to play. The five of them could all fit in the tent, but it wasn’t long before I heard Mikey giving instructions, “Okay you two can be in the tent for five minutes and then switch and let the other two in for a while.” It didn’t take long before Mikey decided the tent wasn’t big enough for all of them to play in at the same time.

While Isaiah prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the coming exile, he also saw God’s promised Messiah. God showed Isaiah that not only would he rescue His people from their captivity in Babylon, but He would also send a Savior to redeem them. This promised Messiah would restore God’s people once again.

• Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
  Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)

God wanted His people to have hope, to be certain that God would bring about a preferable future, one better than they could imagine. Isaiah prophesied that not only would they return to their homeland, but that they would also strip nations of their lands and inhabit their cities. Good things were on the way and they needed to make room for all that God had in store for them.

I have often said that faith is never passive; faith is always active. When we “wait upon the Lord” it doesn’t mean we sit and just twiddle our thumbs until God does something. Active faith anticipates what God will do; living faith will act upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit even when we don’t see or understand what God may be doing.

God told Israel to open wide their tents and get ready for more of His blessings. And don’t forget, God told them this even as they were about to go into exile and lose everything. Would they have faith to believe God even when everything happening around them seemed to contradict His promises?

And how about us, will we only believe what we see today, or will we believe God’s promises and act by faith even when it doesn’t make sense? Even if your tent is empty it isn’t big enough to contain all of God’s blessings. Enlarge your tent today with a certain hope of God preferable future.