Mark 16 ~ He appeared

8/31/10

The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulcher on the Morning of the Resurrection, by Eugene Burnand, c. 1898

Mark 16

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.


9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.


12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.


Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The fear of most things makes most people mostly stay home. Even just what is uncomfortable causes most people to avoid it. I had a friend in college, Suzanne, she could gather a crowd and make fun happen. She could get people to drive across the state of Texas to bring trucks and equipment so all the people she could gather from our dorm would have a day at Lake Somerville. One day she asked me to come to her dorm room at 2:00 on a Friday and not mention it to anyone. When I arrived she was so embarrassed and began to tell me she is intelligent. I agreed. She said she wanted to go to church, but when people talked they seemed to know all of it. What? The people they talk about. I was puzzled. Suzanne explained some more. I was still puzzled. Finally I had some comprehension. You mean "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?" Right!

How difficult it is to come to Church and not know what is going on. How many people come to Church & leave because it is uncomfortable? Watching the Church Lady on Saturday Night Live is enough to cause anyone to bolt.

What about the phrase "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" ... it sounds medieval.

The first day of the New Covenant - when God decided to create Heaven and abolish death by giving us His Son, Jesus - no one was feeling peaceful. Easter Sunday had a tremendous amount of fear. All of the Saints were acting very humanly. They were hiding, filled with trembling & astonishment. The embalming of Jesus was left to the women (the disciples were so much in hiding they didn't know the body of Jesus already has 75 pounds of spices) because the men were in fear of their lives. None of the children of God had it remotely figured out.

This first day they had more disbelief than hope. And God didn't take the hope from them or punish them for their less than saintly reactions. They didn't know how to react.

What happened next is known throughout the world. This is the fear of the Lord, it is only the beginning of the wisdom. They did recover from their fear. Not because they became more saintly, but through the gift of God. With their belief, with their courage, with the overwhelming help of God's Spirit, Jesus Christ changed the heavens and the earth.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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John 1:1-14,17,29-35 ~ the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us

12/23/09

As the Light Shines, painted by Peter Pettegrew

The Church of the Nativity celebrates Christmas Day in Bethlehem - Link


John 1:1-14,17,29-35 ~ (Today's New International Version)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One."

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"


This is is my favorite chapter of the Bible, John 1. The gospels written by Mark and John are sometimes compared, without kindness, to the narrative of Jesus Christ's birth written beautifully in Luke and Matthew. But actually Mark speaks of a wilderness wanting to be tamed and John speaks of light coming out of darkness. Isn't this the deepest desire for Jesus Christ?

As we move into our preparations for All Saints, Advent and Christmas it can bring forth all of our deepest longings. Matthew begins with an engagement, the most important choice in life. Luke begins with a barren priest. God addresses all of these concerns by reaching out to hear, to heal, to love and to care. For all of our seasons in life, God is part of them. Just as God watched, with love, each day of Jesus' life on earth, the Light continues to shine for us.

The Peace of God always be with you.

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Psalm 33:11-19 ~ sees all of mankind

Psalm 33:11-19

¹¹ But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.

¹³ From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;

¹⁴ from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth-

¹⁵ he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.

¹⁶ No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.

¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.

¹⁸ But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

¹⁹ to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

My great-uncle Frank loved to rile his sister-in-law, Clarice, by saying, 'I have 6 brothers and 6 sisters, 6 are Baptist and 6 are Christian." She never did laugh, but he did uproariously. I asked him to repeat himself and I laughed like mad. Frank said, 'Clarice never laughs.' We laughed harder and got to the point of tears. Clarice grumped by, saying it was an old joke. I told her, "It's your reaction that makes it so funny." Clarice finally saw it and she smiled. The truth was Frank admired Clarice, it would have been difficult not to. Good deeds, a sense of humor and a loving heart.

The Christian community gets grumpy with one another.

Once, walking along a bridge, and I saw this guy on the bridge about to jump. So I thought I’d try to stall and detain him, long enough for me to put the film in. I said, “Don’t jump!” and he turns… You’ve heard of the elephant man. He was kind of like that, he had a, well, you could say he had the head of a horse. And my heart went out to him. I said, “Why the long face?”
He said, ”’Cause all my life people have called me mean names like horses-head or Flicka or chess-piece or Trigger…”
I said, “Well, don’t worry about it, Ed. It can’t be that bad.”
He said, “My girlfriend’s suing me!”
I said, “For palomino?”
He said, “Why was I put on this Earth?”
I said, “My friend, anywhere else you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
He said, “Nobody loves me.”
I said, “God loves you, you silly ninny.”
He said, “How do you know there’s a God?”
I said, “Of course there’s a God. Do you think that billions of years ago a bunch of molecules floating around at random could someday have had the sense of humor to make you look like that?”
He said, “I do believe in God.”
I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?”
He said, “A Christian.”
I said, “Me too. Protestant or Catholic?”
He said, “Protestant.”
I said, “Me too! What franchise?”
He says, “Baptist.”
I said, “Me too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?”
He says, “Northern Baptist.”
I said, “Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”
He says, “Northern Conservative Baptist.”
I say, “Me too! Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist or Northern Conservative Reform Baptist?”
He says, “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist.”
I say, “Me too! Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Eastern Region?”
He says, “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region.”
I say, “Me too! Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879 or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?”
He says, “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.”

I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over!

What is the point of all of this? Substitute any denomination/Church name you care to in the joke. Yet God works in the lives of us all. God works wonders in the hospital room were nothing in the room is truly right or righteous. Just sadness and a hope for His Grace. God will be there.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

What followers of Christ believe is our mediator is Jesus Christ. If we have so many branches of Christianity, we must believe the Churches believing Jesus Christ is Lord, believing in the Scriptures are doing His work and working with Him on His great Plan. With mercy and kindness, His unfailing Love surrounds and supports us!

Father God, we pray for Your Church, You call Your Bride. Father, we are fragmented like the Tower of Babel, yet Your Plan stands firm. We pray for Your Church that in believing in Your Grace, believing in Your Word, Your Love will shine for Your Glory. Blessed be You, Father God, for giving us Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Matthew 12:15-21 ~ in His name the nations will put their hope.

 

The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Rembrandt van Rijn. Luke 15:11-32.  

Luke 15: 20

So he got up and went to his father.

      "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Matthew 12:15-21

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Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16 warning them not to tell who he was. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

 18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen,

      the one I love, in whom I delight;

   I will put my Spirit on him,

      and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

 19 He will not quarrel or cry out;

      no one will hear his voice in the streets.

 20 A bruised reed he will not break,

      and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,

   till he leads justice to victory.

    21 In his name the nations will put their hope."

[Isaiah 42:1-4]

Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

At our Church, everyone has been asked to join a small group to work on the book “Just Walk Across the Room” by Bill Hybels. I adore my small group, I’ve known them all about 10 years. Evangelism is a difficult subject; I’ve planted seeds for 31 years and don’t know how God has watered them. We did ‘cliff notes’ on the book this last week (our book shipment is still in transit), it seems reasonable and balanced. When we love the Lord, we know He is the Father running to His son – we are that child of God. We want to share God’s love.

Matthew 3:17

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Luke 9:34-35

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."

John 14:1-3

1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

My Facebook discussion today was with some of my friends from my Pennsylvania High School; I never knew John Lennon had a born-again portion of his life (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/news/2007/001-22.0.html)  and wasn’t aware Bob Dylan claims off and on to have left his behind.  Reading about the pressure to leave faith in Jesus’ salvation, it would be really tough to endure on a public scale. I haven’t ever had public pressure like that to leave my faith, but I have lost a child. I realized that apart from Jesus Christ, I have no good. The waters in life are too swift and deep for me to claim I row or steer my voyage in life without help. His Help. His Comforter. 

The Christian call to witness and evangelize, when taken seriously, can be overwhelming. But we should look to the Words God spoke to us. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.

There is too much beauty in life, in God’s eternal promises, not to rejoice! 

      Jesus, the one I love, in whom I delight;

His Holy Spirit

      and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel or cry out;

      no one will hear his voice in the streets.

Let us be the praise He hears, we will sing!

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Psalm 85 ~ righteousness will go before Him and make His footsteps a way.

Psalm 85 

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1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;

you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;

you covered all their sin. Selah

3 You withdrew all your wrath;

you turned from your hot anger.

4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,

and put away your indignation toward us!

5 Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you prolong your anger to all generations?

6 Will you not revive us again,

that your people may rejoice in you?

7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,

and grant us your salvation.

8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;

but let them not turn back to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,

that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.

11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,

and righteousness looks down from the sky.

12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,

and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness will go before him

and make his footsteps a way.

Recently a friend and I were discussing a movie recommended to us by another friend. It is a compilation of people being interviewed impromptu at an amusement park asking if they believe in Jesus and what they know of Him. I pointed out, Jesus was never very interested in popularity contests, but love, redemption, healing, sincerity. Faith isn’t because it is good to think and run with the crowd. She agreed and said it was rigged as well to make the interviewed people look ignorant by catching them off guard. 

We are continuing on with Jesus, Son of God, who chose to live as grace and truth dwelling among us:

Well, let’s talk about what people have believed, the archaeology that has cleared a path to belief. People have falsely accused Nazareth of not existing, the census of not being taken.    
   

Augustus’ census edicts (in connection with the Nativity) are borne out by an inscription at Ankara, Turkey, his famous Res Gestae ,"Things Accomplished" the emperor proudly claims to have taken a census three times.

Josephus, the Judean General turned Roman Historian wrote of Jesus in his book of Antiquities.

"At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. Many people among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified, and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive. Accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have reported wonders. And the tribe of the Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day" (Antiquities 20:200).

Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, transfered from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican. The stairs are the stone seen through the wood. It is marvelous to see where Jesus' feet have traveled.

The apostles lived such lives of faith, after being the men hiding from the Roman & Temple authorities, they became blazing lights proclaiming Jesus Christ. Jesus  was being proclaimed and believed upon, in separate continents, many healings, lives changed in just a few short years after Jesus defeated death and rose again.

Yet it would be just wrong to just dwell on the archaeology; we are supposed to see with eyes of faith.  To remember Christianity isn’t a philosophy; it is a relationship, a life changing love. We want to show the love of the One who calls us to Him.  It isn’t our righteousness, it is His and His footsteps make a way. 

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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A prayer request for today's 2nd dental trip to see about my abscessed molar with a probable root canal. Lord Jesus, Your ultimate healing for this infected tooth, please.




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Matthew 11:16-24 ~ the Son of Man came eating and drinking

Capernaum, Israel. Photo from c. 1968. Peter's house & Capernaum Synagogue.

View from Peter's house:

Matthew 11:16-24 ~ (New International Version)

16 "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 " 'We played the flute for you,

and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge

and you did not mourn.'

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Yesterday we read portions of the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Gospel – a report regarded as true and implicitly believed, of prime importance, glad tidings. When meeting people, Jesus knew them exactly to their soul and they responded. Nathanael believed at the first few words with Jesus, He is the Christ.

Matthew saw Jesus’ time on earth as a celebration; Jesus came eating and drinking. All the Gospels agree, most people saw Jesus as a friend, immediately. Remember Jesus never asked a disciple more than once - Jesus loved them.

Matthew 25:2

Well done, good and faithful servant

2 Timothy 2:15

present yourself to God as one approved

Capernaum was a city Jesus said would go down to the depths. Archaeology, also, goes down to the depths. Jesus lived in Capernaum, Matthew 4 records. What of Peter’s house; where Peter’s mother-in-law fixed Jesus dinner? It went from being the largest, most wealthy house in Capernaum, to becoming a house church. The walls were covered with graffiti, until the next Church was built at the site in the 5th century A.D. The graffiti was praise of Jesus, awe at being in the house where Jesus and Peter had fellowship. It is the only house in Capernaum where the plaster, on the walls, remains.

There is another archeological site that has the same graffiti, it is the tomb of Peter under the Vatican altar. Archaeology either dances at the evidence or it mourns, as all sites require faith – it is up to the eyes of faith to determine what we will believe.

I choose to see Jesus’ words and miracles are still revered and my soul - lifted up to the skies.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

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2 Timothy 2:14-26 ~ in a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.

Zechariah 4:6

 

2 Timothy 2:14-26

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14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

 22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Here we hit the crux of the matter. Us. ‘How are you?’ may be the most inane, hypocritical thing we say to each other, yet it’s what we say to ourselves daily.  When you look up the 100 most sought after bible verses one of the top 5 is:

Jeremiah 29:11

 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Look at this passage. Is the meaning of your life noble or not? Imagine you get to do like the man in “The Shack” was invited. To sit down with Jesus Christ, put your life before Him, ask Him about the meaning of Your life and say, “Do You like my life – my work – am I doing it the way You wanted?” 

Here is a little of what He might say to you….

Remember the basic essentials.  Don’t nitpick, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for Father God, laying out the truth plain and simple. Present yourself as one approved of by the Lord Most High.  Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. Back it by a godly life.

God's firm foundation is as firm as ever. Abba knows who belongs to Him. Continue to spurn evil.

 Some days you are crystal goblets and silver platters, and other days you are wooden bowls, water basins and compost buckets— containers used to serve fine meals, others to clean . Become the kind of container God can use. Let your efforts help and strengthen others in their godly path. When you do God's will, the meaning of your life is noble, holy, useful to Abba, to do any good work.

Run away from infantile indulgence and drama. Run after righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. The Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, you must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose you, gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth . You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his will.

Love justice, love mercy, walk humbly with Me.

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Luke 11:47-54 ~ for you build

Jesus in the Temple

Luke 11:47-54

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47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.

Right – wrong and life. It’s been going on for a long time. I confess, I like the Harry Potter series. But the point of view of a good writer, exploring right and wrong is an interesting thing.  Voldemort – the evil villain – said there is no right or wrong, only power and those too weak to pursue it.  It sums up evil. 

Of course most of us would fall into the category of selfishness – which can become purely evil with convenience leaning comfortably. Frenemies - friendship that sours or has always  hidden enmity - can fall into that category.  

Evil...

We ask each other why mosquitoes were created. As a joke. Recently I was asked, why do we have mosquitoes? I didn’t answer and the person asked me again.  They serve a purpose, they are food for the birds. Part of the plan. 

Why do we suffer? Well… it starts young.... you have siblings. They tell you you smell, you’re weird, adopted and depending on their vocabulary, that you are generally insufficient. 

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Like mosquitoes, it’s part of the Plan. God weaving in the good.  We learn to forgive, to dismiss others' opinions and not to look so “deer in the head-lights”. 

6^th Grade comes along and you are confronted with frenemies. Do you know there was a large study and the conclusion was frenemies are good for you? Robust health, according the Psychologist running the study, is learning to hate your haters.  Oh my…. oh my.

If you look at Luke 11:47-54, you realize something. We are going to play a part. Yes. It is the Good Friday Service. We all must say crucify Him. It is a really depressing thing.  And if we want to or not, we do Crucify Him.

But we all must come away from this as Easter people. Where will we choose to be next time? Jesus chose to speak to Nicodemus when he wanted to learn, even if it was at night. Jesus chose to cry out for mercy over sacrifice at great cost to Himself, every day.  Jesus confronted His frenemies. He didn’t seek them out, but His mercy was available when they called upon Him.  

So, like mosquitoes, the people who affect our lives with misery or pain are part of the Plan. You are to live your lives as Lights of God. 

What does God tell us with the Frenemies and the evil? God is encouraging us to walk the path of life. Forgiving. Jesus ate with people who were sinners. Jesus forgave the people who didn’t even ask for His forgiveness.

Matthew 10:16-23

 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Colossians 3:13

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

1 Timothy 2:5-6

 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Romans 12:18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:13b-18

Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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Matthew 6:25-34 ~ your heavenly Father knows that you need

Matthew 6:25-34

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25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

In one of Herman Wouk’s books, about Israel’s 6 Day War, the book’s hero is captivated by the size of the Mississippi River. He cannot get over the Jordan River is so known throughout the world for the holiness of being in Israel, but the Mississippi River has such force behind it. The sheer size of a cross continent flight in America is overwhelming to him. It created an awareness in me of God’s plan being so much larger than any of our plans. Another book, Lantern on the Levy, by William Percy sort of combines that thought. William Percy tells about the force of the Mississippi exceeding its boundaries & the lack of communication endless force creates. It created an analogy, for me, I think about & speak about a lot.

Life is a lot like being in the Mississippi River, we are pushed by tremendous forces we cannot see or control. We have eddies and resting places, we convince ourselves that now we in control. We have life in our own boundaries. But the people we love - move, they age, they change - we change. The things, the places, the people we love are not within our grasp, our vision… forever. It isn’t all sadness! There is more to come.

Prayer is the coin paid to Gratitude. ~Jessi Lane Adams

Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us. ~Socrates

Be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your answers. ~William Culbertson

Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God. ~Edwin Keith

When a man is at his wits' end it is not a cowardly thing to pray, it is the only way he can get in touch with Reality. ~Oswald Chambers

As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.

It is good for us to keep some account of our prayers, that we may not unsay them in our practice. ~Matthew Henry

Deep down in me I knowed it was a lie, and He knowed it. You can't pray a lie - I found that out. ~Mark Twain

And help us, this and every day, to live more nearly as we pray. ~John Keble

It is of course possible to dance a prayer. ~Terri Guillemets

God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. ~Richard Sibbes

What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approves ours.

~Helga Bergold Gross

Philippians 4:6-8 ~ (English Standard Version)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

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John 4:1-30 ~ So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people

John 4:1-30

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour [noon].

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again [forever]. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

Jesus once said that you could tell about people by their actions.

Matthew 7:16

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

John 1:4

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

When Jesus met the woman at the well, He met her at noon, well past the time most of the village of Sychar would have already been to the well. She was avoiding the people. By the end of the conversation, the woman was going to the town’s people to tell them the Christ was here. She was not ignored, the people hurried to see Him.

Mark 2:21-22

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

What did Jesus see in her, before her actions?

Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when… the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Father God, may our souls be the ones You see at Your well. You are the Living Water. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Galatians 4:21-5:1 ~ children of promise

Galatians 4:21-5:1   ~   (New International Version)

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 ²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. ²³ His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

 ²⁴ These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:
   "Be glad, O barren woman,
      who bears no children;
   break forth and cry aloud,
      you who have no labor pains;
   because more are the children of the desolate woman
      than of her who has a husband." 

 ²⁸ Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. ³⁰   But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." ³¹ Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Galatians 5

 ¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Paul stood in the crossroads of time and used an analogy of the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.  When we believe our Scriptures, the family of Abraham set in motion the problems similar to divorce, re-marriage (Abraham is recorded as marrying after Sarah’s death), favoritism, limits of life, poverty, power, legitimacy, holiness and envy carried into generations. 

Consider how so many feel about the Mountain of the Temple.

Why? Why did this happen? 

We are supposed to follow the Lord when life is too complex and the choices are too few or too many. My son recently said his religion professor said her favorite chapter in the Bible is Judges 19 – the man treats his concubine terribly and she is killed by the tribe of Benjamin. My son asked me why this terrible passage in the Bible occurs.  Just what you want to be asked out of the blue. But the Lord gave me a good answer for my child, my college student. I said it is like finding out your dad raped a 12 year old. It is like finding out your child tortured and killed a small animal, you are supposed to put aside the consequences of your pain and do the right thing for the Lord. 

Abraham had good intentions to create for himself a son, but he divided his inheritance. And God told Abraham not to share. God was begged to bless Ishmael.  And out of the havoc created by one man, God plan still worked. Not without some feeling as seeds cast among thorns. 

It was a mess.

How was man to continue? The children of Ishmael and the children of Noah, cast aside.  Once God gave us His Son, we were to look to the Son of God to know we are all adopted into the Family of God. No matter if the generations and the situations of life cast you into slavery of sin. You are worthy in the Holy Spirit. 

You are not a child under law, you are blessed to be a child of the Holy Spirit.  You are chosen, special, loved.  Because you are a child of God, you rise above the circumstances of your family sin.  Like Paul, you find your joy instead of any other emotion. You rise above our personal limitations and sin. When you are a child of the new covenant, the story of Abraham, Isaac, and all the saints is your story.  You are a child of Promise, you are a child of the Most High God. 

Luke 12:32

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

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