John 19:25-27 ~ standing by the cross of Jesus

Joseph of Arimathea, granted permission to take down the body of Christ. John the Apostle, Nicodemus and two servants lend a hand. Christ's feet are resting on Mary Magdalene’s shoulders. The woman in blue is Mary, Mother of Christ.

Descent from the Cross painted by Peter Paul Rubens


John 19:25-27

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Jesus dying on the Cross, comforts His mother.

Why would Jesus give His mother a new son? Taking her out of her family Mark 3 tells us of?

Jesus was seeking healing and a new purpose for them both. This is a perfect hope for us as the Easter people who are, because of Jesus Christ, Children of the Most High God. We are officially part of the family of Jesus the Christ, our Lord.

The Compassionate Friends are a group who support parents who have lost a child. They have guidelines for parents, and friends of parents, who have lost an adult child. (In the article below, let's look at this not only as reasons why Jesus gave Mary a new son, but also how to comfort people in our lives who have this loss.)

Mark 3:31-35
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Just as Jesus' sacrifice enabled men from all nations to be grafted into the family of God - Jesus created a new family for Mary - those doing the will of God.

Jesus' brothers are recorded in the New Testament praying, teaching and traveling to tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ - God's Son.

Acts 1:13-14
13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

1 Corinthians 9:5
Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

Galatians 1:18-19
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

Father God, You tell us both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said men and women doing Your will are Your Family. You tell us in truth, whatever we do for one of the least of these brothers of Yours, we've done for You.

We wait expectantly for You. "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." You will always keep Your promises to us. Help us to see clearly what You would have us to do each day. There will be a day we behold Your face, in Great Joy.

To You be the Honor and Glory, in Your Great Mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

<><

(As a Scripture parallel - this is not completely perfect to the siblings of Jesus - yet it is a profound analogy to us being grafted into God's Family as John was. It may be a fairly good analogy to the beginnings of the Spiritual awakening of Jesus' sibling as missionaries for Him. James, brother of Jesus, is recorded in the Scriptures specifically as being one of the 500 to see Jesus resurrected.)

Romans 11

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

<><


Death of an Adult Child - article written by Compassionate Friends - Support Group for Bereaved Parents

The death of any child, regardless of cause or age, is overwhelming to parents, who can never be fully prepared for their child to die before them. Parental grief is intense, long-lasting, and complex.

The grief and the healing process contain similar elements for all bereaved parents, but for those whose adult child has died, there are additional factors that may affect their grief.

Discounted Grief

If an adult child dies as a result of an accident or illness, parents are frequently told by friends or family that they should be grateful their child lived as long as he or she did.

Mary, at first, would have been told by the people surrounding her, her Child was a criminal and she was better off. I am sure this would be repeated in some places. John, having lived as a disciple of Jesus, would not allow this doubt to be expressed to her without his care enfolding her. He could address her sorrow of her loss as well as seeing the great evil of seeing God crucified. John's Scripture writings reveal in many places how permanently shaken he was to witness such evil and could address this in compassion with Mary. (The portions written in blue are additions to the Compassionate Friends article - written by me - for Scripture for Today Blogspot.)

Many parents have observed that their relationship with their adult child had evolved into one of friendship. Not only do they feel they have lost their child—they have lost a friend, often their best friend, as well.

Parents who have loved, reared, and encouraged their child’s development into maturity and a full life of their own, feel a sense of pride and accomplishment as the adult child completes his or her education, establishes a career, and develops adult relationships.

John knew Jesus as Lord - helping Mary see Jesus fulfilled God's Great Purpose.

By the time a child has reached adulthood, parents have made an immense emotional and financial investment in this person. When that life has not run its anticipated span, there is often a sense of abandonment combined with total futility. Parents often question their own purpose in life, since everything they invested in their child now seems for naught.

Discounted grief also occurs when the adult child dies from a cause that makes others uncomfortable or judgmental.

John would never judge Mary because they shared standing at the Cross of Jesus together. It would be difficult for us to fully grasp the magnitude of that moment having been His mother and his most loyal friend.

Guilt

Most bereaved parents experience guilt for having outlived their child. When adult children die as the result of suicide, drug use, driving drunk, AIDS, or other causes that carry a social stigma, many parents often experience an even more intense sense of guilt for not having realized that their child was having serious difficulties. Parents often wonder what they could have done differently to prevent the situations that may have caused their child’s death.

John would help Mary past her guilt. Mark 3:20-35. Perhaps Mary's guilt was to have been somewhat spiritually blind to Jesus' life significance during His life - Mary was fully human, even though chosen as the Mother of God.

Judgmental statements from others indicating that the child died as the result of his or her own actions only add to the intense pain and sense of isolation and defeat felt by the parents. When suicide is involved, others may ask why no one saw it coming, causing the parents to feel they should have been able to see something often hidden deep within their child that not even experts in the field can always foresee.

John would remember Mary tried to intervene with Jesus' brothers and sisters - but rejoice with Mary for Jesus willingly to open His arms on the Cross to take the sins of the world away.

Many times adult children live in a different area from the parents and will have become established with their own homes, families, and careers. Thus, the parents have already dealt with the separation and adjusted to the changed routine or the empty nest syndrome. However, those who have not fully accepted the child leaving home, or the circumstances of their leaving, may find their grief greatly intensified. Some parents were supporting their adult child due to a physical or mental illness, or when suffering difficulties with drugs or alcohol. This son or daughter may have become the focus of their lives, and the death leaves a huge void in the daily routine, which adds to their grief and feeling of loss.

John would take Mary out her environment and give her new focus on the impact of Jesus' Heavenly eternal life and the shape of the world quickly coming to see the need for her Son's salvation.

Other Issues Often Faced by Parents When an Adult Child Dies

• *If the adult child was married or had a family, the focus will usually be on the grief of the child’s immediate family and not the parents.

• *If the child was unmarried, there will be property, finances, estate, wills, and other legal issues with which the parents must contend.

• Grandchildren need comforting as the surviving spouse is usually exhausted physically and emotionally and may be unable to comfort the children, who are also grieving.
• Mary, after enduring the terrible shock of Jesus' violent death, the Universal and Eternal change, needed to be cared for and not the grief counselor of her family. John would stand in that stead. Particularly in that era that widow's were not considered to be a high standing part of society. John would physically protect Mary in a new place away from immediate government, Temple danger.
  

• *Depending on the marital status of the child, his or her parents may have the job of notifying an employer, friends from high school, college, church, the neighborhood, and others who have come to know the child.

• *Parents eventually may have to handle the emotions that will arise when the spouse dates or remarries.

• *Parents, especially those who are elderly or whose only child has died, may experience fears and concerns regarding who will take care of them in later years or in the case of failing health.

• *If the parent has been financially or emotionally dependent upon the adult child, decisions must be made regarding where to turn for support.

Facing the Future

What Jesus said from the Cross, was a personal way forward for Mary and for his disciple, whom He loved. He provided a way for healing for them both and for his siblings. The Scriptures are quite clear Jesus had siblings.

This unique gift from Jesus' cross is also a reminder to us who love Him, we are His Family.

Parents may feel they have nothing to live for and thus think about a release from the intense pain. Many parents do feel this way, but be assured that a sense of purpose and meaning does return. The pain does lessen. One of the most demanding challenges you will face is to refocus your life. The loss of purpose and the thought of living the rest of your life without your child can be frightening.

Reexamining priorities and even questioning belief structures is not abnormal. If you are working outside the home, concentrate on arranging additional time off from work and plan ahead how you will handle special days such as anniversary dates and holidays. Often the day is easier than the dread that usually leads up to it.

Mary and John both would have different priorities to know a new life together. It would be difficult to explain other than say, in dramatic times at a hospital, sometimes the strength of a outside friend helps shore up the niceties of polite behavior. This decreases chaos and gives focus in extreme situations.

With remaining family, talk about the death, the loss, and the pain. Revisit the good memories of your child, and not just the immediate memories of the death. Try to understand that every person within the family will be grieving in their own manner. It is better to express feelings than to internalize them; crying has been proved to be healthy and therapeutic.

The memories Mary and John would share would be helpful to them.

Allow friends to help. When they ask what they can do for you, don’t be afraid to tell them of your needs. This will also help them.

While professional help may be needed, many parents do turn to The Compassionate Friends for support, finding hope and comfort by sharing their story with others. In this way they may gain insights into their reactions and learn ways to cope. Sharing also eases loneliness and allows expression of grief in an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding.

Bereaved parents often want to do something constructive in memory of their sons or daughters. Many have established memorial funds, created scholarships, made donations to special charities, given books to libraries, planted trees, and become involved in helping others. For many, such acts keep the memories of their children alive and vibrant, giving them and others opportunities to feel the beauty of the life and love of their child. Not only are these activities a wonderful tribute, but they can also be very healing while providing a sense of purpose to the parent.

Jesus was seeking healing and a new purpose for them both.

<><

Judges 16 ~ like any other man

Creation painted by Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, ceiling of the Sistene Chapel

Judges 16

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.

4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”

7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” 11 And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.

13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web [and fasten it tight . . . into the web ]. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.

15 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

A lot of us have grown up thinking Samson was a yut. How would you explain to kids in Sunday School, Samson was actually a dichotomy between gift of God and menace. A dichotomy between blessed and narcissist. Samson is an addict, a man taking such pleasure in the blessing of strength, he is a sexual addict. We could have been taught as children - Samson is a mirror image of David gone awry.

Here is a cornerstone - Samson never had to struggle with indifference of others, false accusation, abandonment, his parents didn't have 8 sons - where he is considered least, he doesn't appear to have a pivotal situation of moral consequences trust into his life without his choice. Samson seems to have it all handed to him. And acts more like Goliath than David. One of the thoughts in this passage is trouble defines us in our choices. An unsought blessing.

Samson is a deeper dichotomy of government following man-made rules of hate, allowing a veneer of righteousness. He is the epitome of hate talk, hate actions given a place of authority. Giving the unsaved, an excuse of "The Crusades" to avoid knowing the Love of God. Giving the saved a chance to look at following blindly a hateful righteousness. Look for God to have a Spirit of Truthfulness with Mercy. Look at this passage again to see if God is plainly speaking or if it is a passage of man interpreting God to be just like them. God asks for holiness. This is the tangle of doing what feels right versus the holiness of God. It is what Judges became.

Samson's beginning - the announcement of God's plan for Samson from the angel of the Lord declares Samson to be a Nazirite.

Numbers 6:1-8
The LORD said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the LORD as a Nazirite, ³ they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. ⁴ As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

⁵ “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the LORD is over; they must let their hair grow long.

⁶ “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the LORD, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. ⁷ Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. ⁸ Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the LORD.

Because we have all fallen short of the glory of God, as sinners, it is the Lord's plan to interweave all things for good in His time and plan. Blending into Samson's victorious plan as a Judge of Israel, he sets out to marry a Philistine woman. In Judges 14, it is announced Samson is using this marriage to destroy Philistines. Samson takes too much pleasure in taunting the Philistine men. Samson discovers it hurts to be rejected even after self-centeredness edging towards sadism. Pride rears up when his father-in-law casually offers the younger sister in holy matrimony. Is one person just as easily exchanged for another? Hasn't Samson done the exact same thing in using his marriage as a ploy to destroy his enemies? Haven't other Biblical patriarchs had to work through the theft of a blessing? Like Jacob, God named Israel.

God had promised Samson a holy path, Samson's planning is the problem. Samson is trusting the untrustworthy perhaps in an attempt to say - he is trustworthy. Not all that bad deep down.

Samson tells Delilah if she hurts him, he will be just like any other man. A lot of times we set our selves apart - not for holiness - telling ourselves our situation is different than others. It is a cry Charlie Sheen uses. We are like every other person in this world, in a very aggrandized fashion - sometimes hurt, sometimes hurt-er.

A lot in this Scripture passage is difficult to fit precisely into our own lives. Yet there are some pretty profound truths. Hurting others, hurts us and sends us down a twisted path. Justice in life isn't swift, it isn't accurate and we usually find a way to almost justify to ourselves our own deeds. When we focus on what should be fair in life, using only our own judgment, our own wants - the path is not made straight. This path is Far from straight... God does not abandon Samson even in the midst of his self-destruction.

God's ways are Holy. We judge God to be like us. In this passage, God does not speak, but prayers are spoken to Him. Judges represents a time when people tried to govern themselves, but they were all doing what felt "right" to them. How does Samson truly perceive God Almighty to be different from Dagon - the Philistine god? Perhaps the Philistines and Samson had all met their match.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God

Exodus 23:25
You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.

Luke 10:27
Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Psalm 27:11
Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

Proverbs 4:26
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. (ESV)
or
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. (NIV)


Father God, in blessings and in adversity, You have made them both. Help us not to seek revenge or dwell in grudges. Help us, Lord, to begin these attitudes and actions of love with our parents and continue it into our larger lives. Teach us each day to love others. Let Your light shine in us and drive out our darkness. In Your Grace we rest and not in our own goodness. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


How much easier in Jesus Christ to find a straight path, not trusting in ourselves to start a holy war. Allowing the judgement to come from God. Believing He will set His path before us to walk. Trusting in His grace.

2 Corinthians 5
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


<><

Psalm 81 ~ I answered you

Psalm 81

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible     
 

1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! 2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
 

4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
 

5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah   8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
 

10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.
 

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”  


 

Hmmm, no art for today. Instead an answer. Sometimes when reading the Psalms when it is a time for trouble and worry - it seems David complains and complains, and as the reader you are agreeing with him! That's right, tell us, tell God about it! Suddenly David does an about face .... when one is "hep up" agreeing with David .... and he says..... like in   

Psalm 108: 10  
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

Some days we feel like David. Like Jesus carrying His cross. Then David throws a curve in a verse latter in the same  

Psalm 108: 12  
Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.


 Read Psalm 81 again, or just let a verse jump in your memory.... For me this Psalm hinges on:

  I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I delivered you

 Some days I say, please Father, help me to carry that burden..... and other days the verse puts a little jolt of "Noooo.... I want that..... more...."  

Regardless, I reach the verse:  

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it  

And I say to Him, I can think of a whole lot of blessings!!! And I won't bow down to another god!!! 
Watch Father God!!  

 

 

So what about these Davidic turn-around Psalms? David is Not window dressing, thresh David down, shake him around - David trusts God. Even when the Ziphites went to tell Saul where David was, in Psalm 54; David trusts God. David grew up hearing, then living the mighty works of God. He heard stories about the Heavens long before his descendant Hezekiah would ask God to turn the hands of time back. David knew of Joshua:  


Joshua 10:12-14  
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”  

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Genesis 18:14 

Is anything too hard for the LORD?  

Jeremiah 32:27 

I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?


  Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

 David waited expectantly, like Paul did, to see what God would plan. David trusted God. As we can.

Catching Raindrops II, painted by Greg Ashley Cooper

<><

2 Kings 2:1-15 ~ Elijah

Elijah's Ascension, pen and ink by Gustave Dore (January 6, 1832 – January 23, 1883) a French artist, who became a well-known artist and had his beginnings as a book illustrator.

2 Kings 2:1-15

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.


Elijah and Elisha were an amazing time recorded in the Scriptures. They had so many extraordinary things happening - there was even a group to be schooled called the Sons of the Prophets. It is referenced more during their lives, but referred to twice in the New Testament. I've heard biblical scholars say this time is the only fantasy in the Bible, when it departed from reality. Really? No. The Bible has had more archaeology uncovered in the last 100 years proving each time, the Scriptures record truth. Elijah returns to Jesus in the Transfiguration. Elijah ranks with Moses. What men of God had unusual circumstances in death in the Scriptures? Enoch, Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ.

Elijah's last physical appearance in the Scriptures is recorded by Matthew 17; John was so overcome with what we call the Transfiguration, and Jesus asking him not to reveal it - he didn't include it in the Gospel of John, but what John saw transformed his Gospel - he only alluded to it. John called this Glory! And referred to the Glory of God 16 times to signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. Peter later wrote of seeing Elijah, in 2 Peter 1:16-21.

John 1:14
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.

The Scriptures repeat themselves to increase our awareness of God's Mighty Works.

Why do Elijah and Elisha have this interesting conversation if Elisha will continue with Elijah or not? Elisha was adamant not to accept Naaman's monetary gifts. Elisha spoke to his servant Gehazi about stealthy accepting money, not meant for Gehazi, and told Gehazi he had illness from the stolen goods. Elisha knew, knew, knew very well not to accept the Glory of God's works. In probability Elijah is being modest of the tremendous recognition God is giving him. Also, Elijah demonstrates some illness in his conversational style. It's creditable, because Elijah wants to bless Elisha for walking the second mile with him when only one mile was required - Elijah genuinely wants to bless Elisha, otherwise he did not have to offer a blessing.

Unlike most of Jesus' own disciples, Elisha walks with Elijah to the end - as John did. It seems rather mercenary to suggest Elisha is clinging to Elisha's coat tails only for reward. They are men of God.

How will we let this Scripture live in us today?


Acts 3:18-26
18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Father God, we are the Sons of the Prophets when we allow Your grace and hope to fill and refresh us. Help us each day to turn from our sins, large and small, that in faith we may serve You in refreshing our own lives and those around us. In Your Glory, let Your Light shine. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Chi Coltrane - Go like Elijah

<><

Mark 11:12-25 ~ He was hungry

Mark 11:12-25

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received [are receiving] it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Fig trees represent Spiritual fruit:

Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

These paragraphs are a living parable on The Temple being spiritually empty. The Essenes who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls correctly believed the world would end soon for them (they were killed in the 70 A.D. Roman invasion of Titus). The Essenes left Jerusalem and moved to Qumran, a plateau in the Judean Desert along the Dead Sea. Why did they think the Temple was spiritually void? Primarily because Herod placed all of the Priests in the Temple and Herod, living in adultery with his brother's wife, was a Roman educated, client-state king. The Essenes were correct about Herod, although it would be impossible to eradicate the Holy Spirit where God is praised and people look to Him in faith, hope and love.

Theology students study Ecclesiology - the theological study of the Christian Church. These three paragraphs are probably the cornerstone of Jesus' commentary.

Remember in Luke's Gospel, the Angel Gabriel chose to speak to Zechariah in the Temple. The infant Jesus' time came for purification presentation and sacrifice, Simeon was in the Temple to see with expectation the Consolation of Israel. The prophetess Anna never left the Temple.

Jesus went to the Temple, Himself, to teach, but primarily Jesus came to Display to the Temple - - they were not Feeding the people with their adherence to rigorous rules. Building a bureaucracy of another marketplace driven by position power, political power and rules to keep it all in line. Jesus was concerned: not only with someone like Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, Scribes seeking the Kingdom of Heaven, elderly widows with their two copper pennies, rich young men with too many possessions, the lame, beggars, the blind, wealthy tax collectors, sinners, even a Roman centurion, and a woman who just decided to be well by touching Him - just not rules to build religious pride and control. Jesus the Christ!!

As Christians we are called to be Shepherds for each other - not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-4.

Peter knew His Shepherd. After Peter betrayed the Lord during His trial, many would have slunk away permanently. Or gathered with the other disciples to further condemn Jesus for having placed them in danger.

Peter knew something important about His Shepherd. Peter knew he was loved. When there was a possibility Jesus had risen, Peter ran to him. When Jesus began to appear to the disciples, after His resurrection, Peter was willing to jump out the boat for Jesus again. This time, he swam. Peter wasn't convinced of his own goodness, but he was sure of his Savior.

As lay people, it's our Church theological cornerstone policy to realize Peter knew he was a flawed human and still wanted, turned towards, embraced, jumped in the water, hurried to Jesus Christ. Believing Jesus Christ is the reason, we want to be fed at His Meal.

John 21:15-19
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (Greek word - agape - complete love) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo -brothery love) you.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo) you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (agape) you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus called Peter twice. Not because Peter was so worthy, but because of the Steadfast Love and Mercy of God our Father.

Thank You, Father God, for Your many deeds of compassion and mercy. Lord, You provide for us physically and spiritually. Thank You for Your willingness to bless us and answer prayer. We look to you expectantly and with gladness, just as your servants Paul and Peter did. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

<><

Daniel 2:20-23 ~ Blessed be the name of the Lord

Daniel 2:20-23

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.



Blessed be Your Name by Matt Redman

<><