Ignoring Jesus

Last Ignoring Jesus Post

2011-01-03T20:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend,

There is something about me that you should know: I desperately want people to like me. Unhealthily so. This is probably because it is rare for me to run into someone who I don't honestly love. Almost everyone I meet feels almost instantly like an old friend. And for some reason, I also forgive and forget easily - so I can't ever stay mad at anyone. It is just the way I am wired.

Now that would be all fine and good. Except... since asking Jesus if I could become his follower (he always says yes), I find myself wanting to know him authentically coupled with a great desire to teach others about him.

One might think wanting to be liked and wanting to teach others about Jesus would go hand in hand, but it sometimes make people really mad when you repeat Jesus' teachings. And even madder when you tell them to live them out. His teaching are hard and difficult and often insulting.

So I have found that those two characteristics - wanting people to like me and teaching people about the real Jesus - can be crazy making. Jesus is love - but not the mushy kind. Its tougher love than one might imagine. So when I sit down to write my blog every morning and read the next scripture for the day, if it is one of those scriptures when Jesus has been harsh, I find myself spending a lot of time trying to find an angle to soften Jesus. Not because I want to protect Jesus, but because I want to protect me! Not good!

And if you've followed this blog, "Ignoring Jesus" which asked the question every day: "How are we ignoring Jesus' teachings?" You can imagine how hard it was for me to take that angle each day. It was so negative pointing out how most of us aren't cutting it. The angle had bothered me for a long time, so I finally decided to put this old blog to bed and to flip the question upside down and ask "How can we embrace Jesus and his teachings?"

So here goes... please join me on my new blog site Embracing Jesus. And walk with me through Jesus' life chronologically looking at what he taught and who he was. Let me be the cheerleader who inspires you to embrace Jesus' teachings. Jesus' teachings will still be hard and insulting at times, but this new blog will encourage us to fall at Jesus' feet and embrace him!

April

Family Values not Based on Genetics

2011-01-03T02:00:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches a new kind of family unit for his community.

Mark 3:31 - 4:1 ³¹ Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." ³³ And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" ³⁴ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

The religious culture of our day has taught that genetic family ties are what make our country strong. But that isn't exactly what Jesus taught. In Jesus' definition, family consisted of those who work together to do God's will. In other words, family is made up of those bonded together to follow Jesus.

Jesus tell us that when we choose to follow him, he becomes our brother. And all of his followers become our mothers, sisters, and brothers. Interesting that he leaves out fathers. Matthew 23:9 explains why - his followers only have one father - God.

Here is just another way that Jesus is turning the accepted social order upside down. Not only is he teaching that his followers are to have an even deeper relationship with each other than they do with genetically related family members (of course, in the best case, our genetic family is also Jesus' family), but he is teaching that it is this new kind of family that will be the foundation of his community - not the genetic one. In fact, he says the genetic family will often divide because of him (Matthew 10:34-37).

The old patriarchal social order (where the father controls his offspring and wife) is different from how Jesus has calls us to live in his community. Instead he has called all of his followers into a life of mutual submission where they join together to support each other in doing God's will.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that family values shouldn't be based on genetic ties?

A sin that is unforgivable.

2011-01-01T02:00:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches that there is a sin that is unforgivable.

Mark 3:22-30 the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "Jesus has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." ²³ And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. ²⁷ But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. ²⁸ "Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"-- ³⁰ for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

An unforgivable sin? This story really doesn't match with progressive Christian thought. We want to say that Jesus never stops pursuing anyone... that forgiveness is available to all of us all of the time. That the Holy Spirit continues to work on us even after death until we "get on board" with Jesus. But, sadly, this story sure doesn't seem to back that up.

The religious leaders of the day didn't like Jesus. He was rocking their world... he was tearing down their rules and rituals in favor of compassion and love. He was turning their family systems and lines of authority upside down. And the real problem was that the general public was starting to like Jesus more than they liked the religious leaders. So to scare the people, the religious leaders started spreading a rumor that Jesus' was empowered - not by the Holy Spirit - but by Satan.

Jesus says this is an unforgivable sin: "Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin". I don't supposed it helped any that their motivation was to preserve their power base by scaring people away from Jesus and back towards the religion and lifestyle they were promoting.

As a teenager these verses really worried me. Perhaps they still do. How many times have I looked at something the Holy Spirit is doing and because of my own selfish desires and ignorance not recognized it as the Holy Spirit's work? And then because it didn't benefit me, I called it evil instead of recognizing it as God's work?

For instance, I once heard a group of people call Christian praise music evil because it had a rhythm they thought was too hip for church. I wanted to say, "Are you sure you want to call that evil? Is it not possible the Holy Spirit is at work in that music?" Their motivations for calling it evil seemed to be to keep their musical preferences intact on Sunday morning. Not terribly far from what these religious people in Jesus' time were doing.

I heard another group say that one could not be Christian if they identified with a certain political party. Is it not possible that the Holy Spirit is at work in people of all political persuasions? Were they blaspheming the Holy Spirit when they called people in the opposite political party evil? Their motivations for calling the other person evil was to push a political views that promoted their lifestyle. Not terribly far from what these religious people in Jesus' time were doing.

Another group called women ministers evil; another those who spoke in tongues; another those who baptize infants; another those who don't. Do we have a habit of arrogantly and ignorantly calling things evil that might just be the work of the Holy Spirit?

Or perhaps it is completely different because none of these groups were calling out Jesus himself as being empowered by Satan. But they might have both been calling the work of the Holy Spirit evil - and for selfish purposes. Maybe the difference is that the groups in my example were doing it unintentionally out of ignorance - where as, the religious people in the story did it with full knowledge of what they were doing? I don't know. Either way, to call the work of God evil is a very serious offense.

How often do we indirectly call the work of the Holy Spirit evil? And when does it become the same thing as saying that Jesus has an unclean spirit?

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that there is an unforgivable sin? I'd sure like to ignore it.

Peacemaking is not "making nice-nice".

2010-12-31T02:00:00.000-08:00

Jesus shows us that peacemaking is complex. Jesus was far more concerned that the Pharisees understood that keeping the rules was not God's priority, than he was over gaining their favor by making peace with them.

Mark 3:1-6 Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. ² They watched Jesus to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. ³ And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward." ⁴ Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. ⁵ He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Here is one more place where Jesus really confuses me until I stop to think about it.

He says in the sermon on the mount "blessed are the peacemakers." But here, Jesus is seemingly anything but a peacemaker. He runs into a man with a withered hand. It would be such a nice thing to do to heal him. But wait! It is the Sabbath. Jesus is going to break the law if he heals the guy on the Sabbath. The Pharisees will see it, get mad, and begin to plot to destroy Jesus! Yep, their hearts are so hard that they are going to try and destroy Jesus because he heals a guy on the Sabbath! That is just how Pharisees roll. They rolled that way two thousand years ago and they roll that way today too. You point out that their culture isn't (their hearts aren't) right in God's eyes and they will plot to destroy you.

So what choice does Jesus have? He doesn't have to heal the man on the Sabbath. The man can be healed 24 hours from then.  Jesus wouldn't be breaking a law after the Sabbath is over. No big deal to wait. Right?  Why not be a peacemaker - respect the Pharisee's laws - fit in with their culture - and heal the guy tomorrow? What difference is one day going to make to the man or to Jesus? And it will appease the Pharisees. Peace will be made and all will be well.

However, instead of making peace with the Pharisees by fitting in, Jesus creates conflict! He intentionally creates conflict. This is not the act of a peacemaker. Or is it?

To top it off, Jesus chooses to create this conflict around the act of healing. This is significant.  In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is constantly healing people by telling them to "go in peace." Jesus brings peace when he heals! When Jesus transforms our bodies and our hearts, he creates shalom - peace - a divine wholeness. Jesus is never more of a peacemaker than when he transform us.

One can only imagine the shalom Jesus brought to the man with the withered hand when he healed him. Peace came upon the man as he is healed. And when we offer transformation (whether it is supernatural or not - whether it is physical or spiritual) we bring about the peace of Jesus. Jesus encourages us to bring this kind of peace to the world: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God!" This is real peace - real shalom. A far cry from making nice-nice.

On the other hand, there was no peacemaking with the Pharisees in this story. Jesus intentionally created conflict. Which goes along with something Jesus also says in the gospel of Luke, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!"   Had Jesus appeased the Pharisees in this story, he would have only pacified them temporarily. Without the transformation that Jesus offers, they still would not have experienced shalom. In fact, "Jesus looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart."  Jesus does not bring false, temporary, imperfect peace. He realized their hearts must be transformed to experience his peace - and without that transformation, he could only bring division. And so they went out to plot his destruction.

Jesus teaches us about being peacemakers in this story. His shalom comes to those who let their hearts (and bodies) be transformed. This is true peacemaking. He offers no phony, no pretense, no "go along to get along" appeasement to those who are too attached to their old ways and to their own comfort zones to allow him to transform them. To those, he brings division.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that being a peacemaker is far more than just appeasing others?
Peacemakers know Jesus' transforming power is what brings about true shalom. What kind of peacemakers are we? Ones that encourage transformation or ones that just make nice-nice? Are we willing to create conflict rather than appeasement? Oh my, that is a hard one! And what if it means others will conspire against us to destroy us?

Human need is a priority over religious law

2010-12-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches that human need is a priority over religious law

Mark 2:23-28 ²³ One sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" ²⁵ And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? ²⁶ He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions." ²⁷ Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; ²⁸ so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."

I was tempted to summarize this teaching by saying, "Rules are made to be broken," but it just sounds so wrong and trite. I couldn't bring myself to do it. And in fact, the Old Testament laws were given as a blessing to the people of God. They were to keep us healthy and from harm. They were to give us a way to live in God's community that would set us aside from the world. A way that would show God's abundance and grace to outsiders. A way to even invite the outsider to become family. They weren't made to be broken, but to nourish us.

However, rules can't take into account every scenario. They can't anticipate every possibility. The law can't love us - it can't put others before itself. And Jesus makes clear in this text that the law isn't to be used to keep our basic needs from being met. Yet, Jesus' disciples weren't starving on the brink of death. Neither were David and his men. It wasn't an emergency - but they were hungry. So what is to guide us when the law can't? Here Jesus is with the disciples and he guides them against what the law says. God has given him the authority to do that.

What guides us now - if the law can't always guide in every circumstance? And Jesus isn't here in flesh to ask? Remember in the prior chapter, Mark tells us what Jesus has come to do... "to baptize us with the Spirit". When we are baptized with the Spirit, then we are guided by the Spirit. The Spirit guides us where the law can not go. I guess the fear is that we will use this "loop hole" for our selfish desires and personal gain. Anytime we want to break a law, we will say, "I needed that - so it is okay." And we all know of people who have done this. Being filled with the Holy Spirit carries a huge responsibility. To know the heart of God means we walk closely in relationship with God loving the things that God loves. Are you walking close enough to God to know what God is telling you to do?

We must never forget that the law is good and was to protect and nourish us. But one must never forget that Jesus recognized that human need (hunger, in this case) had priority over the law.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that human need had priority over the law?

Fitting Jesus into our way of being is clearly not the way to go.

2010-12-29T05:17:00.000-08:00

Jesus wants to transform our way of being - rather than fit into our old lives.

Mark 2:21-22 ²¹ "No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. ²² And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."

I went to see a congregant who was upset with me. "Upset" is really an understatement - she gave me quite a tongue lashing. What it boiled down to is that she didn't know how I voted and that really bothered her, because she wanted me to preach her political view from the pulpit. I am not inclined to preach any political view from the pulpit - nor am I inclined to support certain candidates from the pulpit. I believe as soon as a pastor associates themselves with a political party, they spend their time defending that party. And since no party is all good or all bad, it puts you in a spot where you start to tailor the gospel to support your political party. I am far more interested in teaching the truths that Jesus taught rather than trying to make Jesus support my politics.

So I refused to take a political side. I have political opinions and I vote, but I keep them to myself. However, she believed (and she'd heard on tv) that if a pastor didn't support her political party that she should leave that church and find one that does. And she'd been a member at that church almost her whole life. So when her pastor wouldn't take a stand for her political views, she became unraveled.

I talked to her about Jesus' message to the world - how he came to transform everything about us so that together with other transformed people, we could reach out and care for a world that needs him. He taught us to live in a way that demonstrates his love to outsiders - always inviting them in - to become part of our community. This way of being doesn't depend on a certain political party being in control. Jesus' community is not of this world. We can be followers of Jesus in any political climate. So my goal was to teach my congregation about Jesus and they could vote however God led them to vote.

But what she said to me next - I will never forget, because it sums up our human condition. She said, "there is more to the Bible than just Jesus." In other words, I had convinced her that Jesus' teachings weren't about supporting the right political party. And she didn't like it - suddenly she really didn't like Jesus or me. So when Jesus didn't fit into her way of being, her wine skins burst and she decided she didn't need Jesus. She would find support for her politics from somewhere in the Bible that Jesus hadn't gotten his hands on.

In the text today, people want Jesus to affirm their way of being. To tell them that the way they are (their culture, their rules, their theology) is right. That is like putting a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old coat or new wine into old wine skins. It won't work. It will come unraveled. This is because Jesus wants to transform us - not fit into our old way of being.

Give Jesus permission to transform every part of you. This is scary. But it is the way of Jesus' followers. We don't try to get Jesus to support the way we are - we let him change us - take us to places that aren't comfortable - that are hard. Following Jesus is about being transformed not getting Jesus to support us the way we are.

Do we ignore Jesus' teachings that he didn't come to support our old ways, but to change us completely?

Not so much with the rules.

2010-12-23T02:00:00.001-08:00

Jesus' ministry was not focused on rule keeping.

Mark 2:18-20 18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19 Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

Why can't they fast while the bridegroom is with them? Our boys are home from college and seminary for a few weeks. Everything in our lives comes to a joyful stop when they are home! We can't eat healthily, because we try to have all their favorite foods on hand (which are our favorites too!). We can't get anything productive done. We just do the bare minimum of the mundane stuff so that we can spend time just being with them whether it means late night discussions about politics (we haven't gotten in bed before 1 am since they arrived home), cooking a meal together, or going some place fun. It isn't that we couldn't theoretically fast during this time, but it would be wrong - we need to be with them! We will have plenty of time to fast when they have gone back to school.

The religious people of Jesus' day (especially the Pharisees) fasted. They had determined that to be right with God - to get God's blessings - you needed to fast - no matter what else might be going on. They fasted several times a week and then on special occasions too. The rules say you fast no matter what. And fasting means you separate yourself from others and pray. But Jesus was only going to be on earth a little while. It was more important to spend time with him than to keep the rules. The rules they kept to make God happy actually kept them from getting to know God. What rules are we keeping that keep us from experiencing God?

I was at a meeting of folks who had gathered to explore what God was calling their church to do and be. The guest pastor was telling them how his church had become one of the fastest growing churches around. He talked about how his congregants invited outsiders to become part of small groups that supported each other - and how so many people wanted to join that they had a hard time creating enough small groups to hold all of the newcomers. He challenged them to try the same thing.

But these folks had a hang up... "if we start getting a lot of newcomers and start all these small groups, how are we going to monitor what the people who join them believe and do?" In other words, how can we make sure they agree with our theology and keep the rules that we set for them? The rules were more important than the people. More important than Jesus' command to reach out and invite others in. These people wanted to practice their religion - keep their rules and make sure others kept them too. They couldn't see that their worries over "rule keeping" was costing them the experience of being part of God's mission.

Likewise, the people in the scripture today wanted to cling to their religion rather than the life that Jesus offered. They had Jesus with them in flesh and blood. The creator of the universe wants to spend time with them and all they want to do is keep the rules and make sure he keeps them too. What rules do you keep that keep you from a relationship with God?

Do we ignore Jesus' example that his ministry did not center around keeping a list of rules? It centered around God's desire to be in relationship with us and for us to be in relationship with one another.

Know you are sick

2010-12-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

Jesus seeks out those who (know that they) need him.

Mark 2:14-17 ¹⁴ As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. ¹⁵ And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples-- for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" ¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

The problem with Pharisees (both the ones that lived in the 1st century and the ones that live today) is that they don't know they are sick.  They believe that if they follow their list of rules and make sure everyone else follows their list of rules too, then God will be forced to bless them.   This is the way of religion!   Religion tries to control God and this is their way of controlling God - forcing God to bless them because they have behaved! Truth of the matter is... "They got nothing!" They can't even see that they are sick.

Shockingly Jesus states, "I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners." He has come to call those who know that they are sick sinners. The Pharisees are the "righteous", but only in their own minds. They've spent a lot of time trying to figure out what set of rules to follow and a lot more time trying to figure out how not to break their fine set of rules. Whoo hoo! Quite a fascinating life they have ahead of them... getting up every day as a slave to a long list of rules.   Sadly, many (if not most of us) who call ourselves Christians live this way even today!

Stop admiring the rule keepers! Stop thinking they are disciplined and godly! They are so far gone that Jesus isn't even going to waste his time trying to "call" them! He isn't even going to say, "follow me" to them. There is no point. They don't think they need him.

Jesus didn't come to further the cult of rule keeping. Our life's purpose is not to keep a list of rules, but to walk in relationship with God - serving God and others. In the last chapter, John wrote how Jesus would make this possible: "Jesus has come to baptize you with the Spirit." And when that happens,  we are guided by the Spirit not by a list of rules. We will live in relationship with God not a relationship with a list of rules! This is a far more abundant life than rule keeping. The rules can't tell you who needs your help today. They can't tell you who to marry or where to spend your time or money. The rules don't love you - they don't want to see you at your best. God does.

But first we need to see ourselves as the tax collectors and sinners see themselves... broken and in need of Jesus. Desire to hear Jesus say, "follow me."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we can't follow him until we know we need him?

Have faith on behalf of others

2010-12-21T02:00:00.000-08:00

Jesus demonstrates that having faith on behalf of others - makes a difference.
Mark 2:1-12 When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the Word to them. ³ Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" ⁸ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? ¹⁰ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-- he said to the paralytic-- ¹¹ "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." ¹² And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Here is an interesting theological question: "If Jesus could forgive sins prior to his death and resurrection, then why did he have to die?" Now you can spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. You can get hung up on it like the scribes in the story did and fail to see the real story here. You can let the question derail you completely.

But don't. Hear the real story that is unfolding....

These incredible four friends won't take "Jesus is too busy for your gimp buddy" as a final answer. They are willing to climb to the roof with their paralyzed friend in tow, dig through the roof, rig up a way to lower their friend, and then exert all the energy it required to lower the dead weight of his body into the house! Picture these four friends sweating and grunting as they work hard and fast to help their friend. Would you and your friends do this for someone else?  If not, why not?

Have you set up boundaries that keep you from putting yourself out for others? Boundaries that keep you from getting your feelings hurt?  Are you more concerned with yourself than your friend?  Are your three best friends just not that committed? Are you afraid to hold hands and sing Kumbaya?  If so, then maybe you have overlooked something important in this story!

In this story, it isn't the man's own faith that moves Jesus to heal him. It says, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven!"

Be the kind of person who has faith that will go all out for others. Seek out the kind of friends who will stand with you to help someone else. Risk the hard work, the slap in the face, the hurt feelings, the grief of rejection, the looking like a fool carrying your gimp friend to the roof! Risk breaking the law and getting sued for damaging someone's house as your break through their roof!

When people tell you that your friend isn't worth it - when your friend has hurt you so much that any reasonable person would give up - when your friend is indifferent to your help, keep on keeping the faith for them anyway. Go all out to carry the dead weight of your friend's body to Jesus.

Do we ignore Jesus' demonstration that having faith on behalf of others matters? Who needs you and your friends to lower them through the roof today?

Love trumps following a bunch of rules

2010-12-20T03:39:00.000-08:00

Jesus demonstrates that love trumps keeping a list of rules.

Mark 1:40 - 45 40 A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." 41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

The leper is an outcast in society forced to live outside of the community. He wasn't allowed to get close to Jesus or anyone else. Jesus would become unclean if he is within speaking distance of the leper. But the leper bucks the rules and so does Jesus. The man falls on his knees before Jesus. Jesus could have healed the man without touching him, but he stretches out his hand and touches him.

What rules might we be following instead of following Jesus' example of putting compassion before the law? Who are the outcasts that need your gentle touch?

Maybe you are like me... and can also identify with the outcast? Maybe you don't fit in - maybe "the community of God" has told you to live outside their walls - that you make them unclean? How would it feel to fall at Jesus' feet and feel his hand grab hold of yours?

Healed for Service in Jesus' community

2010-12-17T04:44:00.000-08:00

Jesus shows us how he rolls... healing people for service in his kingdom.

Mark 1:30-31 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

People often ask me who is going to heaven and who isn't. I reply that it is the wrong question to be asking. One that Jesus really doesn't concentrate on during his ministry. Despite what our modern American culture has made Christianity into, our faith is not about getting us a ticket to heaven - it is about serving Jesus (and others!) now and for eternity.

In the early church, when the believers encounter someone - they never ever ever ask, "if you died tonight, would you go to heaven?" It is an irrelevant question. One you will not find in scripture. Instead, they ask, "Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit?" "Are you a servant of Jesus?" Paul teaches that it is when we profess our desire to serve Jesus that it is then that we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. Being baptized with the Spirit is how we are able to serve Jesus. "Have you been baptized with the Spirit?" This is the same question as "Are you a servant of Jesus?' This is the right evangelical question to ask. Jesus didn't come to pass out tickets to heaven, he came to baptize us with the Spirit (Mark 1:8) so that we could be his servants. And by serving him, we serve others too.

In this little two sentence story about Simon Peter's mother-in-law, we see how Jesus works. Simon's mother-in-law is sick. She may even be too sick to know how bad off she is. Either way, like all of us, she is broken. Her family and friends tell Jesus about her. Have you ever prayed for someone who is sick - spiritually or physically? Then you have told Jesus about them too! Is there someone you should be telling Jesus about even now?

Well, after hearing about her, Jesus goes to her, takes her hand, and heals her. She doesn't do anything to deserve it. She doesn't even ask for it. She just accepts it - says thank you - and begins to serve "them".

If you are serving Jesus, it is because he has healed you and baptized you with his Spirit. If you aren't serving him, then accept his healing power, say thank you, be filled with his Spirit, and begin to serve him and others just like Peter's mother-in-law did!

Do we ignore that Jesus heals us to serve him and others?

Jesus had a discipline of praying

2010-12-16T05:25:00.000-08:00

Jesus demonstrates the discipline of praying.

Mark 1:35 ³⁵ In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.

Jesus had a discipline of praying. Praying in the morning, in the dark, alone, and in a deserted place. How might our lives change if we followed his example? Wouldn't our lives have a focus on God - what God is doing in our lives and the world - what role God wants us to take in his mission - who we need to love on and care for - would it take away uncertainty and the fear that goes along with it to know that we are part of something bigger than ourselves?

When Mother Teresa was being interviewed, she was asked what she asked God for when she prayed. Her answer was that she didn't speak - she listened.

Do we ignore Jesus' example of praying?

When I think of Jesus praying, it amazes me to imagine the trinity having a conversation. Present is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What do you think they spoke about? What language did they speak in? Below is a famous depiction of the trinity having a chat. Notice how there is an opening in the table, how their body language is turned toward someone not present in the picture. Perhaps that is an invitation to join them at the table? If you sat down with them, how would you join in the conversation? Would you turn the conversation around to focusing on your needs and desires? Or would you listen to what they were up to using what they spoke about to guide your day? Would you determine your needs by what they were planning? Or would you tell them your plans and hope they got on board?

First, live out the gospel.

2010-12-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

Jesus demonstrates the effectiveness of living out the gospel

Mark 1:23-34 ²³ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴ and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." ... 32 they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. ³³ And the whole city was gathered around the door. ³⁴ And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Why didn't Jesus want the demons to tell people who he was?  Probably because the people had been taught from childhood an inaccurate view of what the Messiah would be like. And Jesus needed to re-frame their knowledge and gain their trust before he revealed the true nature of the Messiah. The Messiah wasn't going to free them from Roman oppression, but instead teach them an authentic way of living as God's people - servants to one another -servants even to the Romans! This is not going to be a popular message!

Jesus needed to gain their trust by his words and miracles before he revealed himself in full. He needed to first show his love and compassion for them. Sharing the whole picture with them at once would have been too much for them.

Curiously, Jesus was preaching to the most religious people of the day. And they were sick, hurting, needy, demon filled people. He was preaching to those who claimed to be "the people of God". And they were anything but.  This is really not too far from our situation today - many claiming to be "the people of God," but they don't know Jesus. They have nationalistic agendas that aren't anything like what Jesus called his followers to be. They've reimaginded Jesus in their own image - a Jesus who serves their interests.

But Jesus shows us how to approach these confused religious people. It isn't by trying to get a right theological message across or by demanding that they change their ways.  Jesus' approach is to live out the message. He demonstrates God's love and compassion first - through his miracles.

These Jewish people, just like much of the Christian religion today, has been hearing the wrong message for so long that they associate what they believe with nationalism and family instead of actually walking in a relationship with God becoming servants. Following Jesus means letting go of so much of what they have believed for so long - it is hard. Jesus knows this, so he seeks to live out the gospel in front of them.  Jesus lets them get to know him first. Lets them hunger for what he's got and who he is. Then he will reveal the whole story.

We need to live out the gospel to the religous people of the day so that they can hunger for what Jesus really offers them - a complete transformation - a new way of being. They can't handle the truth - not yet.

Do we ignore Jesus' example of living out the gospel?

Miracles demonstrate authority

2010-12-14T04:55:00.000-08:00

Jesus sets an example of demonstrating his authority through miracles.

Mark 1:23-28 ²³ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴ and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." ²⁸ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Sunday night I was privileged to celebrate a new building with a Korean Presbyterian church. As we sat down to a feast after the worship service, my husband and I sat with one of the Korean pastors. We begin to talk about the differences between how Koreans and Americans practice their faith. The Korean pastor said that he was very disappointed when he came to America and saw an American Presbyterian worship service for the first time. He said that when American Presbyterian missionaries came to Korea, they taught the Korean converts to expect the Holy Spirit to be active and strong in their lives. He said that in their Korean services (even today) they experience the Holy Spirit's power through speaking in tongues, healing, and the casting out of demons. He said sitting in an American Presbyterian church service was a very very dry experience in comparison.

But here Jesus is... in a worship service. A man has an unclean spirit. And Jesus casts the unclean spirit out.

What is our reaction to this? Many of us begin to explain away the unclean spirit. We certainly don't believe in those. Right? Probably just a medical condition. Mark didn't think so... he heard the unclean spirit speaking in a loud voice - he witnessed it leave the man's body. Why is it so hard for Americans who believe in God to also believe in unclean spirits?

My Korean pastor friend went on to say that Americans equate believing in God with faith - they keep it all in their heads. But for Koreans, it is experiencing God that matters. For the people gathered in the synagogue, it was experience that mattered too. When they saw what Jesus was capable of, it was then that they accepted his "new teachings." Jesus' miracle showed the people in the synagogue that he was the real deal.

What shows people that our faith is the real deal?

Do we ignore the possibility that like Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit to do miracles should be present in our lives and worship services too? That maybe we (and others) need to do more than just believe - maybe we need to experience God's power too?

Find people and teach authoritatively

2010-12-13T05:07:00.000-08:00

Jesus finds people where they are and teaches with authority.

Mark 1:21-22 ²¹ Jesus and his newly called disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
At first glance, these verses seem insignificant. But they tell us so much about Jesus' ministry - and they teach us how we should minister too. Jesus goes to his target audience (his fellow Jews) where they had gathered - in the synagogue. He goes to them - meets them where they are. We see Paul mimic this habit of Jesus in the book of Acts when Paul goes to teach in the amphitheatre where his target audience, the gentiles, gather. Paul meets the people God has called him to reach where they are rather than insisting they come to him. In our churches - do we seek to meet others where they are or do we insist they come to us on our terms?

Not only is Jesus' style different from the other teachers (the scribes), but he claims the authority of one who has divine knowledge. He doesn't come saying phrases like "I think" and "It might be" or "I hope." Jesus is not struggling with theology or practice or faith. He walks so closely with the Father - that he can teach what has been revealed to him. How much of what we teach (and all of us teach - we teach our children, our friends, our coworkers, etc) is from a common wisdom base that may or may not have anything to do with what God has revealed to us? How many of us teach from what we have learned in our relationship with God - from what God has revealed to us and from what God has shown us through our experiences?

Sometime I hear fellow ministers joking about the "preaching fairy" bringing them the Sunday message. I know it is a joke, but still it makes me cringe. What all of us teach - whether it is informal or formal - should come from our deep walk with God - teaching only what is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit and then teaching it with authority. That isn't easy to do. But followers of Jesus are kind of obligated to live (and teach) that way.

Do we ignore Jesus' example to find people where they are and then teach (live out our lives) with authority?

P.S. This authority stuff isn't popular... most of us feel better living/teaching as if we can't know for sure. And if you are like me, you are more comfortable saying "this is what I think" rather than "this is what God has revealed to me." But what kind of disciples are we making if our faith is based on "it might," "it could," and "I hope?" instead of demonstrating a life of humbly walking with God who has promised to give us all wisdom?

Jesus transforms family values.

2010-12-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

Jesus transforms our family relationships.

Mark 1:19-20 ¹⁹ As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

No doubt that Zebedee, like a good father, had a plan for his sons' livelihood - apparently he'd been building a fishing business for them to take over and run. He owned his own boat, had a staff, and his boys were being taught the details of the business (presently, they were mending nets). So I wonder if he was astonished that day - put out even - when his sons left him afloat in his boat with just his employees? Who is gonna finish mending the nets?!?!

Or maybe Zebedee was a man with a heart for God who saw the bigger picture. Maybe he was thrilled that his sons recognized the huge opportunity and immense responsibility to follow Jesus. We don't know. But what we do know is that Jesus transforms traditional family relationships. He isn't bound by the father's plans for his sons.

Those of us who are parents... do we recognize that Jesus has a call on our children's lives that is far more important than our plans for them? Do we hold them back to meet our needs or do we encourage them to leave us in the boat and follow Jesus?

As children, do we recognize that following Jesus is more important than following our parent's plans for us? Doesn't mean the two things can't align. But one thing is clear: it isn't enough to follow in the paths of our parents, Jesus wants us to commit to following him personally. And sometimes that means disappointing our parents.

Difficult family values!

Do we ignore that Jesus has a claim on our children's lives that is far more important than our own plans for them? How do we support their desire to follow Jesus?

Jesus transforms our professions

2010-12-09T04:13:00.000-08:00

Do we ignore that Jesus transforms our professions?

Mark 1:16-18 ¹⁶ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

When Jesus invited Simon and Andrew to follow him, he transformed their profession which was fishing - from fishing for fish to fishing for people. How does Jesus desire to transform your profession? Is there a way that Jesus can transform it from just focusing on the daily business to focusing on God's mission at the same time? Most of us separate our spiritual lives from our businesses - but is it possible that they be one in the same?

Do we ignore that Jesus transforms even our professions when we follow him?

Jesus wants a response to his message

2010-12-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

Jesus requests a response to the good news.

Mark 1:14-15 ¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

These verses raise three questions for me: What is the the good news? What is the Kingdom of God?  And have I responded to Jesus' command to "repent and believe?"

What is the the good news? There are several things to consider about the good news in these two verses. It is Jesus' job to reveal it - it is why he took on a human body and is going to engage us; it is from God about God; and it has to do with the Kingdom (or reign) of God.  But other than that, Mark doesn't attempt to define it in a few words.  The whole life, the teaching, the very person of Jesus are going to be needed to define it. Mark is going to take the whole rest of his book to give witness to what he knows about the good news.

What is the Kingdom of God? From these verses we learn that its time has arrived. In other words, something huge is happening! All of the Old Testament verses where people sang out "And he shall reign forever and ever" are becoming a reality through what Jesus is about to do. And yet, Mark calls this "kairos" time - it is both already (forever) and yet to be (and ever). It doesn't run parallel to "chronos" time - which we can measure with our watches.  We also learn that the location of Kingdom of God is "near." It is to be found in the person and work of Jesus. And when the Spirit dwells within us... it is found within us too. And again, Mark is going to take the whole rest of his book to give witness to what he knows about it.

So Mark pulls us into his book... we need to read the whole thing to even begin to understand the good news and the kingdom of God. Mark wants us to be patient and listen. BUT one thing Mark is not patient about. And that is Jesus' command to respond to what it is that we are about to learn by repenting and believing. Jesus didn't just come to teach us. He also came to tell us to respond: "Repent and believe!" Jesus is telling us to respond to the good news that he is going to reveal by turning from our brokenness to following - trusting in - his way.

Do we ignore Jesus' command to turn from our brokenness and follow him? Are we ready to renounce the reign of this world (its governments, its political parties, its clubs) and instead allow God to reign over us? Or do we just think it is enough to show up at church when it is convenient? Give some token amount of our wealth to those in need every now and then? Pray occasionally when we need something? Use our old ways for better causes? Or is Jesus calling us to leave all of our brokenness behind for a whole new way of being?  A way of being where God reigns? Well, Mark is going to use the rest of his book to give witness to what he has seen and heard...

The Spirit sometimes sends us to where we will be attacked.

2010-12-07T03:44:00.000-08:00

Jesus is sent where he will be attacked.

Mark 1:12-13 ¹² At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, ¹³ and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Most of the time, when we talk about being "in the desert", we talk about a time of being alone in a desolate place. A time in our lives where we are lonely or bored - where we are thirsty for more than what we have. We often refer to "desert experiences" as a time when we experience loss. We see the desert as a dry place where we wait for the healing rains that will jettison us back to life.

But the desert that the Spirit sends Jesus into is not just a dry, desolate place. Satan waits for Jesus there - to tempt him! To attack him. There are wild beasts there.

Why would Jesus even go there? Stay away! Go some place good, enjoyable. Go where there is a bigger chance of success. Rather than take the assignment where Satan awaits, take a good one! BUT the Spirit sends Jesus there! The Spirit sends Jesus into a place where he will be attacked.

We don't often think that the Spirit would do such a thing to either Jesus or ourselves. We think that if we make good decisions and live right that only good things will happen to us - that we will get the praise and notoriety we deserve. Deserts are for people who have messed up and need a time out.

But true desert experiences are when the Spirit sends us to where Satan is waiting to attack us. Jesus knows what is ahead of him and goes anyway. But he isn't alone. There are angels to attend to him.

Has the Spirit ever sent you to a place where you will be attacked? Did you accept it as a place where God wanted you to be or did you try to find a way out? Has the Spirit ever sent someone you love into a place where they would be attacked? Did you support them (an angel who attended them)? Or did you encourage them to find a way out believing they'd made a wrong turn? We have a hard time accepting that places of attack are often places we (and our loved ones) are meant to be. We don't see these places as places of success where we learn and grow. We don't see places where we need others (even angels) to help us - places where we don't have the strength to be self-sufficent as places where we've been sent. Maybe we need to rethink this.

Do we ignore Jesus' example of going to the place the Spirit sends us - even if it means we will be attacked?

Reconcilation to God and others is a trinitarian effort.

2010-12-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

In Jesus' baptism, we see that the good news is trinitarian.

Mark 1:9-11 ⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

This is one of those rare times in scripture, when we see the trinity together. It is not an every day happening that the trinity breaks through into our world. Mark emphasizes this by saying "the heavens were torn apart." And then...

The Father, speaks to affirm Jesus as his son.
The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus anointing him for God's work.
And then, of course, Jesus is being baptized.

Mark establishes right up front that the good news - the news that we can be reconciled to God and to each other - is a trinitarian effort. Each person in the trinity plays a role with the common goal of reconciling us to God and to each other. The good news cannot be separated into just the story of one of the persons of the trinity. We can not be reconciled to God without the work of Jesus who in his death and resurrection cleanses us. Nor can we be reconciled to God or each other without the work of the Holy Spirit who sets us apart and transforms us for holy use so that we can work together as the people of God. The good news is only possible through a trinitarian effort. But so much of our culture focuses on only part of the trinity and its work.

We focus on just knowing God - believing we can know him without the help of Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Or we focus on just Jesus - attempting to follow him by our own efforts without the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Or we focus on just the Spirit calling ourselves spiritual, but forgetting that the work of the Spirit is made possible only because of Jesus' work on the cross.

The good news is very trinitarian. It matters that we are aware of this. It changes how we live.

Do we ignore that the gospel - the good news that we can be reconciled to God and others - is trinitarian? Each part of the trinity has a role to plan in reconciliation. If we are to be effective in the ministry of reconciliation that God has now entrusted us with - we need to embrace and celebrate this trinitarian gospel!

Jesus baptizes with the the Holy Spirit

2010-11-30T04:56:00.000-08:00

Jesus came to baptize with the Holy Spirit

Mark 1:1-9 ⁴ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

I love the way the gospel of Mark begins. Within the first paragraph, Mark establishes Jesus' deity and then Jesus' purpose. Jesus came to "baptize with the Holy Spirit."

In our culture, we don't really get what it means to be "baptized with the Holy Spirit". Most would say it has something to do with the spiritual discipline of "speaking in tongues". And if you ask the average person what Jesus' purpose was, they will most likely say that it was to get people into heaven. But Mark thinks differently. He sees Jesus as "the Messianic bearer of the Holy Spirit" - fancy words I learned from a book I read in seminary. They mean that all of Jesus' work - his birth, life, death, and resurrection, was so that this followers could be baptized with the Holy Spirit and have the Holy Spirit living within them.

The Holy Spirit is what marks us as followers of Jesus. It is what enables us to be in right relationship with God and in right relationship with one another. It is what sets us aside for holy use. Jesus came to make this possible. Through his death and resurrection, our hearts are cleaned so that when the Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit could indwell our hearts joining with believers - to guide them, comfort them, set them aside for God's work.

The indwelling Holy Spirit is what makes Jesus' people a new race - set aside to be the people of God - set aside to become the Kingdom of God. The prophets talked about this new race of people from ancient times. And Jesus came to make it possible. In his death and resurrection, we are cleansed - our brokenness healed - so that the Holy Spirit can indwell us.

Most of us would rather just have a ticket to heaven than to give ourselves over to allowing the Holy Spirit to live within us - to direct us. But a ticket to heaven was not Jesus' purpose. His purpose was to baptize us with the Holy Spirit so that we could live in right relationship with God and each other.

Do we ignore that Jesus came to baptize with the Holy Spirit? How differently would we live if the gospel - the good news - was not about dying with a ticket to heaven, but about living in right relationship with God and others through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit?

Jesus was Yahweh

2010-11-29T04:52:00.000-08:00

Jesus accepts John's claim that he, Jesus, was Yahweh - the one true God.

Mark 1:1-9 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins... 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals..." 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

The words of the prophet Isaiah written 800 years before Christ's birth: Isaiah 40:3 "A voice is crying -- in a wilderness -- Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, Make straight in a desert a highway..."

The Prophet Isaiah lived about 800 years before Christ. He prophesied, among other things, about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In these verses, Isaiah said there would be one who came before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus. John the Baptist not only claimed to be the person who would prepare Jesus' way, but John claimed Jesus was the one called "Yahweh" by the prophet Isaiah. Yahweh is the one true God - the creator and sustainer of the universe - who desires a relationship with us.

This is huge. Right off the bat, Mark identifies Jesus as not only the Son of God, but he records John identifying Jesus as Yahweh. Jesus accepts this claim by identifying as a follower of John through baptism.

Do we ignore that Jesus was not just a good teacher or a nice prophet? He claimed to be not only the son of God, but Yahweh - the one true God? How does that inform the rest of what Jesus does and says? Can we ignore this and still be followers of Jesus?

Jesus will always be with us

2010-11-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches that he will always be with his followers.

Matthew 28:20 And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

These are the very last words of Jesus that Matthew records in his gospel. He wants us to know that we are not alone in our biggest successes or our worst failures. He will always be with his followers. No qualifications. When we fail due to incompetency, brokenness, or our own bad choices, he is still there with us!! When things are going well and we think we don't really need his guidance, he is right there too. Even when the world turns on us... he is there! He isn't just watching from a distance - he is with us!! He is experiencing our lives with us.

How does this knowledge affect us? Might we take more risks knowing he is taking the risk with us? Might we follow him and his teachings even when the personal benefit is negligible and the personal sacrifice is huge? Might we forgive and love even when the chances are high that the forgiveness and love won't be returned - when hatred and meanness will be thrown in our faces? Will we interpret our lives - even the sorrow and tragedy - knowing he is right here with us?

Do we ignore the last words Matthew records from Jesus: "I will always be with you" and do we live like he meant it?

Jesus pushes evangelism

2010-11-18T04:43:00.000-08:00

Jesus directs his followers to invite everyone to follow his way and become part of his community.

Matthew 28:16-20 ¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

These are part of the last words that Matthew records Jesus speaking.  They must be pretty significant.

As we dropped our son off at college, I felt the need - as we stood in the parking lot - to give my son some last words... to review all that we had taught him in his first 18 years - just to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything important. But I was too overwhelmed to say much at all. I was afraid that if I started crying, I might never stop.

Not far from our car, I could hear a father almost scolding his daughter, "You just need to believe in yourself. Stop all the negative talk." Most parents were crying. Most students were just hoping mom and dad would get on down the road. And then I saw my husband point to my son's heart and heard him saying, "Remember who you belong to!"  If our son remembers that he has been claimed by Jesus as he decides on his major, picks out a girlfriend - maybe even a wife, and eventually takes his place in the world, he will do better than fine. Instead of reviewing the lessons of the last 18 years, my husband summed up the most important thing our son needed to know and let it hang in the air so it would sink in.

This is what Jesus is doing in this scripture. He is summing up for us what leaving his followers behind is ultimately all about:  "inviting others to follow him." He left us behind to tell others about him and his community and invite them to become one with us. If we remember this, we will do better than fine too.

But isn't it pushy to "make disciples"? Shouldn't we just respect whatever philosophy or person or faith others follow? Who am I to push my views on someone else? This is a lot to ask... I am just trying to get through the day, pay my mortgage, make sure my kids get an education, and relax a little before I go to bed at night before I have to get up and do the whole thing over again. Most of us want to believe that Jesus didn't want us to insert ourselves in other traditions and faiths -- redirecting them to Christ. We want to believe that Jesus would like for us to "just let them be" - we want to hear Jesus teach "its all good". But Matthew records Jesus speaking something different.

Do we ignore Jesus' directive to invite others to become his followers?

Jesus sends women to preach the gospel first

2010-11-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

Jesus gives women the honor of being the first to preach the gospel...

Jesus has been crucified and buried. The women have kept the Sabbath law and stayed at home. But now Sabbath is over and they head to Jesus' tomb. These women have no standing in Jewish society - they aren't even allowed to testify in court. But they are the ones that Jesus chooses to preach the goodnews to the disciples. Think about it... Jesus could have gone straight to where the disciples are in hiding and talked to them directly. But he chooses to send these women to preach the goodnews to the disciples.

Matthew 28:1-10 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb... ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

I love when Jesus turns culture and norms upside down! True to all that he has taught previously... about those who serve being the leaders in the Messiah's community... he demonstrates it here. The women have come to dress Jesus' body properly with herbs. They have come to serve. When they see Jesus, they grab onto his feet and hold tight. They worship him! So Jesus gives them a message to spread that will change the world forever: "He is Risen!" He sends these insignificant, marginalized women to preach the gospel to the men who consider themselves leaders.

Do we ignore Jesus' example of sending women to preach the gospel?

Jesus takes on our brokenness.

2010-11-16T05:14:00.000-08:00

Jesus takes the brokenness of the world on himself.

Matthew 27:46 ⁴⁶ And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

We are all broken. We are broken because others have hurt us and we have places that need healing. We are also broken because we have chosen paths that are not right - paths that hurt ourselves and others. We are not the good that God intended for us to be.  We are not whole. This lack of wholeness keeps us from reconciliation with God and others.

In a sense, there are two ways that we can place our brokenness on Jesus.

The first way is a way of healing and becoming whole. We recognize that we are broken and realize that by following Jesus, we give him the power to heal us - desiring to become who Jesus made us to be. But a part of me holds back from Jesus' healing even now. I think if you are honest, part of you holds back too. Will we be bored if we become fully his followers? Some of the stuff he taught is opposed to our personal success.  Will we look foolish singing Kumbaya - holding hands and praying? Will we have to tolerate "his followers" - some of which are nothing more than despicable rule followers not Christ followers? Will we have to forgive those who have hurt us? Will Jesus take us out of our comfort zones away from things that we like? We've gotten pretty comfortable living a half life of only following Jesus when it is easy. We are used to our white lies and savvy business deals that put our interests first. But to be whole, reconciled to God and others, we have to acknowledge all these broken parts and give them over to Jesus to heal us.

As Jesus hung on the cross, his death was for this purpose - to take on our brokenness - the brokenness caused by others hurting us - the brokenness we have caused ourselves. He wants to heal it so we can be our best selves. The selves he created us to be - in right relationship with God and others. As he takes on our brokenness, God forsakes him. And Jesus knows for the first time what it is like to be separated from God. He knows what it is like to be us. He allows this to happen so that he can begin his work which will be completed in his resurrection that will heal not only our relationship with God, but our relationships with each other too.

But there is another way we can put our brokenness on Jesus (and on each other). This way leads to spiritual death. This way does not reconcile us to God or to each other. Instead of acknowledging our brokenness and seeking Jesus' healing, we blame him and others for our problems. This is what both the Jews and the Gentiles did at Jesus' trial. Instead of acknowledging their brokenness and allowing Jesus to heal it, they accused him of lying. They blamed Jesus for their political problems and hung their sins around his neck. Jesus warned his followers that the same thing would happen to them - lies would be told and they would be blamed for other's brokenness.   This way separates us from God and each other. This way is hell. Most of us live out this hell every day. We live it when we hold grudges. We live it when fail to ask forgiveness of God and others. We live it when we seek our best at another's expense whether that happens in a business deal, a marriage or a friendship.

Jesus allowed God to forsake him so that Jesus could own our brokenness. By following him - desiring him to heal us - giving him permission to transform us... thanking him for taking us on....our brokenness is then placed on him. And we wait for the power of the resurrection to complete his healing work.

Do we ignore that Jesus wants to heal our brokenness?

Obedience despite personal humiliation and pain

2010-11-15T05:36:00.000-08:00

Jesus demonstrates obedience despite personal humiliation and pain.

The Jews, after condemning Jesus in their own religious court, have turned Jesus over to the Gentiles who have the power to free Jesus or carry out the death sentence...

Matthew 27:11-45 ¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." ¹² But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. ¹³ Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" ¹⁴ But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed... ²⁶ after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified... ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" ³⁰ They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹ After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him... ³⁹ Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, ⁴² "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'"

Jesus has made the choice to go through this pain and humiliation in obedience to his Father. Most of us are under the impression that if something is humiliating or painful - then we need to take action to resist it - to stand up for ourselves. It is our right! To do otherwise would be to act as a doormat, become a sissy. Right? I mean, if someone hurts our feelings, don't we have the right to retaliate or at a minimum, be hateful to them? Shouldn't we reach out to everyone we know and raise support for ourselves?

But Jesus shows us a different example here. He doesn't answer the charges. He neither falls apart with hurt feelings nor yells back with insults. He doesn't even seek to prove how powerful or righteous he is. He doesn't resist the humiliation and pain. Instead, he knows who he is and he is secure in it. He knows this is happening so that through his death and resurrection, humanity can be reconciled not only to God, but to each other.

When someone hurts us - humiliates us - isn't fair to us, are we prepared to react out of knowing who we are in Christ (knowing we have infinite worth in God's eyes) instead of trying to defend ourselves with hurt feelings or insults? Are we able to speak truth to the situation rather than judgement? Are we able to show them God's love despite whatever they have done to us?

Do we ignore Jesus' example to be obedient even when it is personally painful and humiliating?

Note: This does not mean God wants us to stay in abusive situations where there is physical violence and verbal abuse. Living with domestic abuse is not God's plan for us. Jesus, however, knew his death was part of God's plan. Removing ourselves from domestic violence so we can no longer be hurt is almost always the only way we can demonstrate God's love to the abuser.

Jesus defines Messiah - Is this what we want and expect?

2010-11-12T05:21:00.000-08:00

Jesus' teaches that he is the Messiah - BUT is this the kind of Messiah that we really want?

Jesus is at trial now. They ask if he is the Messiah. This is a difficult question for Jesus to answer because their understanding of Messiah and his understanding of Messiah are vastly different things. Their understanding of Messiah was that he was going to take back their land and culture. They believed the Messiah would show up to support their best interests - to put them in power - to put down their enemies. This is the Messiah they wanted and worshiped.

Unfortunately, Jesus is not that Messiah. In fact, that is a very wrong, but very familiar view of what the Messiah is - even today among Christians, both conservatives and liberals. All too often, Conservative Christians claim Jesus backs their political views... the US constitution... their set of rules to force on others. Likewise Liberal Christians often claim Jesus backs their agenda... their set of good works to accomplish... their set of good deeds to force on others by passing laws that demand good works get done. Neither camp is too far away from what those who killed Jesus had expected a Messiah would do for them too! But Jesus didn't come to force our behavior by the passing of laws. He didn't support laws that kept us from doing wrong - nor did he support laws to make us do right. He came to transform our hearts so that whatever disciplines we live by... whatever good works we do.... are done out of pure hearts - are done out of love for God and others.

This is the Messiah spoken of in scripture. Is it the Messiah we want?

Matthew 26:63-67 ⁶³ But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death." ⁶⁷ Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him...

If Jesus is not going to put us in power, to give us what we want and deserve for following some set of rules or doing some set of good works that we think make us righteous, then what is the point of following him? This is what is on their minds. Jesus - instead of paying attention to them - the important, powerful religious leaders - has been out healing those who are unclean - those with diseases. He has been eating with tax collectors. He has paid attention to prostitutes and those with deep scars from years of sin. He has been transforming everyone who desires to follow him. This is not a Messiah that they can tolerate. He doesn't fit into their plans. So there is only one thing to do: Kill him!

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is not the Messiah we have expected?

You can't use violence to protect Jesus.

2010-11-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches "for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Matthew 26:46-54 ⁴⁶ Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand." ⁴⁷ While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him." ⁴⁹ At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?"

Jesus voluntarily walks into the hands of those who will reject, torture, and kill him. He knows that it is the will of God for him to become the sacrifice that will allow the reconciliation of humanity to God. But there is one disciple, who hadn't gotten the memo that Jesus was going to accept this path willingly.   John records in his gospel that it is Peter who pulls out a sword and resorts to violence to protect Jesus. Jesus says "No violence! I don't need it. I am doing this willingly."

What is going on in Peter's mind? He has proclaimed his loyalty to Jesus even to his own death. And now he is showing that he meant it - and draws a sword to protect Jesus. He certainly couldn't single-handedily fight off the crowd (bearing weapons) who have shown up with the purpose of taking Jesus. Peter is willing to go down in a fight. But Jesus won't let Peter fight. Jesus allows himself to be captured.

What is going on in Peter's mind as Jesus is led away - the sword still at his side?  In just a few hours Peter will be identified as one of Jesus' followers, but Peter will deny it. Peter is willing to go out fighting, but he is not willing to voluntarily turn himself over to Jesus' enemies which would have certainly happened had he told the truth that he was Jesus' follower.

I think Peter faces the same question we often face as a nation - even as individuals. There is an enemy that wants to harm us. We know how to use violence, but we can't imagine just giving ourselves over to the enemy - standing by when we have a sword and letting the enemy take us. That would be insane. Right?

We admire people who are willing to go out fighting the enemy: "Don't go down without a fight!" They are our heroes.  But we laugh at people who say, "I won't resort to violence." We don't admire or even understand people who give themselves over to the enemy without a fight. That is foolish! But this is the foolishness of being Jesus' follower. Can we ever justify protecting the things of God through violence? Jesus tells Peter not to use violence - there is a better way for Jesus' followers to behave - one that demonstrates we have placed not only our souls, but our bodies into the hands of God. I am sad that in 2000 years, we still see violence as the answer.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that all who take the sword will die by the sword?

Answer to a willing spirit, but weak flesh: Prayer with Friends

2010-11-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches that our spirit may be willing, but that our flesh is weak. He demonstrates that prayer - praying with friends - is the answer to over coming the flesh and living in the spirit.

On the night before Jesus died...

Matthew 26:31-46 ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' ³² But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." ³³ Peter said to him, "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you." ³⁴ Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." ³⁵ Peter said to him, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples. ³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." ³⁷ He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. ³⁸ Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." ³⁹ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." ⁴⁰ Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? ⁴¹ Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." ⁴² Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." ⁴³ Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to stay awake and pray (with friends!) when the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak?

Jesus is facing rejection, humiliation, torture, and death. This is God's plan to reconcile all of humanity with himself. Jesus' spirit is willing to do God's will, but his flesh is not so happy with what is going to happen in the next few hours. So Jesus brings his closest friends (three of his disciples) with him for support. He asks them to "stay awake with him and to pray" while he goes and prays too.

The verses leading up to this event (in Chapter 24) tell the disciples over and over to "stay awake." "Staying awake" means they will be able to outsmart those who want to steal from them, to take care of the things and people entrusted to them, to be prepared, to even increase the gifts God has given them. And now... here comes the first test for these disciples. Jesus has already told him that his death is going to happen really soon. He is scared. Upset. Grieved! Jesus' flesh doesn't want to face torture and death. His spirit is willing, but his flesh says, "no." He wants to talk it over with God. And he wants his friends to stay awake and pray while he does.

But his friends take a nap.

Jesus walks back to where they were to be praying - I believe to talk over what God has revealed to him in his prayer - and they are asleep! Some friends! What a great support system. His friends won't even pray with him during his darkest hour.

I had the experience recently of needing healing from a very broken heart. God had told me "no" to something very precious to me - something I loved very much. I wasn't mad at God, but I was having a hard time understanding God's plan - a hard time adjusting to rejection and loss. My friend asked if she could sit and pray - not with me - but for me - as I prayed to God. We sat together - she prayed silently for me as I had a silent heart-to-heart with God. I didn't realize that what I was experiencing was what Jesus had wanted his disciples to do for him on the night before he died. He wanted them to stay awake and pray while he prayed. As my friend and I prayed, we would stop to talk about what God was revealing to me. We prayed for a long time. She "stayed awake" with me and interceeded for me. It was the most powerful prayer I have ever experienced.

If you are experiencing a "willing spirit, but weak flesh", Jesus teaches us by his example to grab a friend (one who won't fall asleep) and ask them to pray for you as you talk to God. Pause occasionally to talk about what God is revealing. And then pray some more. This is how Jesus has taught us to strengthen a willing spirit and overcome weak flesh.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to stay awake and pray (with friends!) when the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak? Is there someone you need to stay awake and pray with today?

God's Will Not Ours

2010-11-09T04:39:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches obedience by example

Obedience is a complicated thing. Someone can give you a list of rules and tell you to keep them. And that is one kind of obedience. You don't need to know why a rule exists and you don't need to put much thought into it... you just need to do what it says. This is childlike obedience - trusting that the rule giver has your best interests at heart and following them. This is as far as the Pharisees ever got in their relationship with God.

But there is a whole other kind of obedience... the kind that can't be covered by a list of rules. It is more like following than obeying. It requires a partnership with the rule giver. It comes from knowing the will of the person you are following - knowing their desires, their plans, their character - and then representing that with all that you are. This is the kind of obedience we see in Jesus as he is about to be captured and put to death (and it is the kind of obedience he wants from us too)...

Matthew 26:31-46 ³⁷ He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. ³⁸ Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." ³⁹ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." ⁴⁰ Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? ⁴¹ Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." ⁴² Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." ⁴³

Jesus knows the mind and heart and will of the Father. He knows God's plan is for Jesus to be rejected by "God's people", tortured, and to die a horrific death. Naturally, he doesn't want to go through with it. He asks God to come up with some other plan - another plan that will reconcile humanity to a place where they can be in relationship with God. And God says "No!" God says NO to Jesus. Has God ever said no to something you have asked for? to healing? to a need? to changing a situation? Jesus hears God say no. And instead of running from the pain that is to come. Jesus says, "Your will be done."

Most of us really don't know God's will for us. We aren't walking close enough to God to know. Most of us are pretty good at following a list of rules that we think God wants us to follow, but we aren't really walking close enough to God to know God's will for our lives. But Jesus did - and we can too by asking, seeking, knocking. The first step to obedience is knowing the desires, plans, character of God - and then participating in God's mission.

Jesus knows God's plan. He asks God to change it. God says no. Jesus says, "Your will be done."

Do we ignore Jesus' example of obedience? Are we willing to walk close enough to God to know his will for us? Are we willing to do God's will even when we don't like it?

Worship, Remember, Look Forward, and be Nurtured by Christ

2010-11-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

Jesus teaches the disciples a new way to worship, to remember, to look forward to, and to be nurtured by him.

Matthew 26:26-30 ²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." ²⁷ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; ²⁸ for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." ³⁰ When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

This new ritual that Jesus taught his disciples is still practiced today. We know it by the names of Eucharist, The Lord's Supper, or Communion. Christians believe different things about it. Some believe the bread and wine turn into the actual body and blood of Christ. Others believe it is just symbolic. And there are those who believe things in between those extremes. Whatever one believes, Jesus was teaching this new ritual to the disciples as a way to worship, to remember, to look forward to celebrating it again with him one day, and to be nourished by him. Matthew records that the blood represents the new covenant that will begin with the death of Christ when his blood is poured out - a covenant where our sins are forgiven and makes possible our reunion with Christ.

Do we ignore Jesus' example of practicing communion?

Worship is even more important than the poor

2010-11-06T04:31:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that there is an even more important thing for his followers to do than meet the needs of the poor. Really? For many of us who embrace the social justice aspects of the Old Testament and Gospels, these are shocking words out of Jesus' mouth!

Matthew 26:6-13 ⁶ Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. ⁸ But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, "Why this waste? ⁹ For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor." ¹⁰ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. ¹¹ For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. ¹² By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. ¹³ Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

I like that the disciples become indignant.  Here they are portrayed as social activists whose goal is to help the poor. And practically speaking - in their minds - the expensive perfume should not be wasted on Jesus (who just happens to be the creator and sustainer of the universe). It should be sold so that the needs of the poor can be met. So these disciples become angry with the woman! Maybe they are even mad at Jesus too.

But this woman - seemingly impractical and sentimental - pours the expensive perfume on Jesus' head. It is a tender scene - we watch on as she worships Jesus - the creator and sustainer of the universe.  If you are like me, you are a bit jealous of this woman. I want to be the one to stand next to Jesus - God wrapped in flesh -  look into his eyes and tenderly pour perfume on his head. I want to express my love for him like she did. If given the chance, would I take my expensive perfume and chance an encounter with arrogant disciples and go to him? She is an example to us of what worshiping God is like. It takes courage to buck the arrogant authorities, wisdom to set right priorities, and real love for Jesus. She gets to worship Jesus - not from far away in a church pew, but up close and personal. To be close enough to watch him breath, feel the warmth from his body, and even touch him. She worships Jesus.

And Jesus is touched. My guess is that this is not just a random act by an impractical, sentimental woman. My guess is that, unlike the disciples, she has internalized the words of Jesus in the verses just prior to these: "the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified," (Matthew 26:2). She knows that she can't stop his approaching pain, but she can demonstrate her love for him now. And she does.

As she moves away from Jesus, the disciples attack her. Accuse her of waste.  But Jesus defends her. And promises that her great love for Jesus - her desire to be close to him - to worship him - will never be forgotten. Her story has been told and retold for more than 2000 years.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that worshiping him is even more important than giving to the poor?

Jesus' followers can be identified by the care they give each other.

2010-11-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that those who inherit his kingdom treat the most insignificant members of his family as they would treat Jesus himself. Great news - right? But there is bad news too... those who don't treat others like Jesus teaches, they are sent into eternal punishment.

Jesus divides his true followers from his fake followers - not along lines of theology and not along lines of successful rule keeping - but along the lines of how they treat the other members of his family.

Matthew 25:31-46 ³¹ "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.

³⁴ Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'

⁴¹ Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

There is some scholarly disagreement over the underlined segment in verse 40 above: "who are members of my family" . Many say Jesus was including the entire human race in the directive to treat others with great love. But many read "who are members of my family" in verse 40 to mean that in this case, Jesus is saying he will judge us on how we treat other followers of Jesus - not on how we treat the entire human race. It is true, that Jesus defines his family earlier in Matthew 12:46-50 as "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus also says that the world will identify his followers by their love for each other. So... I agree with the latter interpretation that here Jesus is saying that within the earthly church's membership rolls his true followers can be identified by how they treat each other. And those who are not his true followers mistreat and neglect and fail to take care of other followers of Jesus. As a shepherd would look at his flock and be able to separate the goat from the sheep by their characteristics, Jesus will use the determining characteristic of how his supposed followers have treated each other in order to separate the true follower from the fake ones.

Does that mean we shouldn't care for those who are not followers of Jesus? Of course not! We can join together as Jesus' family and by sharing resources treat them even better than we treat each other. There are plenty of places and examples where Jesus has taught and demonstrated the kind of love and abundance to non-followers. It just isn't what Jesus is going to use to separate true from fake followers - at least not according to Matthew's gospel.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his followers can be identified by the care they offer each other? Do we recognize that we are to be servants to each other... that this is an identifying mark of whether we are really part of Jesus' family or not? Think of the least of Jesus' followers - how have you loved them?

Improve on God's gifts

2010-11-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us to improve on what God has given us.

Our culture puts a great value on "belief"... it says if you believe in Jesus, you are as good as signed, sealed, and delivered into the Kingdom of God. We have come to see "belief" as different from following Jesus. So these examples that Jesus gives now are bound to make us feel uncomfortable. Jesus expects his followers to improve on what he has given us while we wait for his return. The reward is two fold... more responsibility and sharing in God's joy. The result of not improving upon what God has given us is... well, rather harsh....

Matthew 25:14-30 ¹⁴ "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵ to one he gave five coins, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ The one who had received the five coins went off at once and traded with them, and made five more coins. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had the two coins made two more coins. ¹⁸ But the one who had received the one coin went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ Then the one who had received the five coins came forward, bringing five more coins, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five coins; see, I have made five more coins.' ²¹ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' ²² And the one with the two coins also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two coins; see, I have made two more coins.' ²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' ²⁴ Then the one who had received the one coin also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your coin in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' ²⁶ But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the coin from him, and give it to the one with the ten coins. ²⁹ For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰ As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The master sees the first two servants as trustworthy, not because these two servants accepted, believed in, were thankful for, or kept safe the things that the master gave them, but because the servants multiplied the gifts. What gifts (money, knowledge of the gospel, friends, students, talents, skills, education, love, joy, etc) has God given us that we need to multiply? Do we ignore this story by first not acknowledging that what we have is from God and secondly not seeking ways to improve upon it for him?

Well, that is the upbeat side of the story. There's a third servant who not only doesn't improve upon the gift the master gives him, but attacks the master! The servant judges the master by accusing the master of exploiting the labor of others! The servant exposes himself as someone who has never really loved the master - never been on his side - never wanted to work for him - never wanted to follow him. We know the servant is wrong in his judgement - the master knows it too and points out to the servant that if he really believed this, he would have at least given the gift to someone else to use. The third servant is unwilling to take responsibility for his shortcomings and tries to blame the master making up lies about him. The result is that the servant is thrown into outer darkness. And worst of all, Jesus calls him "worthless."

I really wish Jesus wouldn't say those kind of things. But this is the reality of what the gospel writers heard him say.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are expected to improve on what God has given us?

The End: Being claimed by Jesus takes personal preparation.

2010-11-03T05:09:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us that knowing him is coupled with wisdom. And this wisdom takes preparation which is related to our relationship with Jesus.

Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' ⁷ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' ⁹ But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' ¹⁰ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹ Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' ¹² But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' ¹³ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Through out scripture the Messiah, Jesus, is called the bridegroom and his church is called his bride. Here we see a picture of Jesus returning to unite with his church, but 1/2 of those claiming to be his church, aren't. They never were, he says that he never even knew them.

An interesting thing to consider is why the wise women don't share their oil with the ones who have not brought any extra? Why don't the wise women bring enough for the foolish women too? Haven't we been taught to bear other's burdens? This is very different from Jesus' teachings about life in the Kingdom where sharing is key to community.

Perhaps Jesus is making a point that - preparedness can't be transferred or shared. Preparedness is personal - it is coupled to our relationship with Jesus. He says, "he never knew" those who were unprepared. Do we become prepared by entering a relationship with Jesus - by accepting his invitation to "follow me"? Being a member of the church enables us to be in the community of believers and is the only way to live out our Christian lives, but it is our personal relationship with the bridegroom that matters in this story - it prepares us with wisdom - it informs us to bring extra oil.

The wise women brought extra oil to keep their lights lit. They were prepared to wait because they knew Jesus. Are we prepared to wait? What does being prepared to wait mean to our daily lives in the here and now? Are we followers of Jesus?

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that being prepared is personal?

The End: Be ready - keep following the teachings of Jesus

2010-11-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that since we don't know when the end begins, we should focus on being ready - continuing to live as Jesus taught.

Matthew 24:42-51 ⁴² Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming...

"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.

⁴⁸ But if that wicked slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' ⁴⁹ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. ⁵¹ He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Okay, I want to ignore the part about "cutting the 'servant gone bad' into pieces." Interesting thing for Jesus to say. Do you think he means it? He makes a strong point that his followers shouldn't grow weary of following him. It especially makes God very upset if we start abusing our position and hurting others. I think God knew that would be our tendency. Things get rough for those following the teaching of Jesus... they take it out on each other and others... they take his name in vain... they use God for their own gain. Jesus is saying that God won't put up with that.

As I watched the political ads this week, politician after politician touted their "god fearing" character. I hope they really do have that character. Because if they are just claiming to follow Jesus in order to get the vote... if they don't really plan to follow Jesus' teachings - even the hard ones - while in office... well, that's not so good.

Do we ignore Jesus' warning not to stray?

The End: Jesus' return will not be covert

2010-11-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us not to be fooled... that when he returns it will not be covert. His return will be unmistakable.
Matthew 24:22-28 ²² And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. ²³ Then if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'-- do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ Take note, I have told you beforehand. ²⁶ So, if they say to you, 'Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look! He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

Most of us are so caught up in the activities of our lives that we aren't very concerned about the Messiah's return. We are even less concerned about how we will identify him when he returns. Yet, Jesus wants us to be watching and aware. This awareness somehow changes our daily living to know that this life is not all there is... that Jesus' death and resurrection were not the end... that there is more to come. And we are players in this cosmic event.

One thing that my mind holds onto here is Jesus' words: "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." It would seem "the elect" - those hidden in Christ - those who are Jesus' followers - will not be led astray. Sounds like it will be a struggle, but Christ will not lose any that the Father has given him: "No one will snatch them out of my hand" John 10:28. So not only do Jesus' followers need to be mindful of their place in history, but they can rest that their souls are safe in Jesus' hands.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is returning, that it will not be covert, and that his follower's souls are protected? How does that knowledge change how you live this day? Will you take new risks? Will you invite others into this safe, protected place? Will you have a sense of protection despite extreme danger?

The End: Flee when you see the sign. Meanwhile Pray.

2010-10-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that in the end, there will be a sign and then his followers should flee into the mountains. Meanwhile, pray for good weather.

Okay. This is weird stuff. In most of Matthew, Jesus teaches his followers about living a radical life in his community. He gives practical instructions that we can apply to our every day lives. But now his disciples have asked him to explain what is going to happen in the end times. From their question in verse 3 "what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" their expectations have been set that Jesus is going away (his death and resurrection), but he is coming back at the end of the age. Jesus has just gotten done warning that his followers will suffer, some will be led astray, Pharisee-ism will increase, but to endure. Now he tells them what the sign will be when the end has begun and what to do...

Matthew 24:15-21 ¹⁵ "So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; ¹⁷ the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; ¹⁸ the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. ¹⁹ Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. ²¹ For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

There is a sign that we should not ignore: "a desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place" or in other translations... "the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place" or "the abomination of the desolation ... standing in the holy place." Jesus refers us to the prophet Daniel to understand what this means. Yet, there is much disagreement among scholars over what it does mean: a powerful human figure? armies? weapons? something demonic? I can't pretend that I understand. The prophet Daniel speaks in visions of creatures and happenings that I haven't been able to wrap my mind around.

But when we see it... we are to flee into the mountains... to a safe place... to avoid the worst suffering the world has ever known.

Weird stuff. And meanwhile, we are supposed to pray for good weather and that it won't happen on the Sabbath? I am pretty sure most of us have ignored Jesus pretty successfully on this matter.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that when we see the sign, we are to immediately flee to safety? Are we praying for good weather and timing? Or is this stuff so weird that it is better to just ignore that Jesus said it? Can we follow a Messiah who points us to a prophet who sees creatures with many heads and eyes... who seems to have been a mad man? Or do we heed Jesus' instruction, pray, and watch for the sign?

The End: Endure

2010-10-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that, in the end, those who endure will not only be saved, but they will be busy meanwhile. Enduring is not hiding out until the hardship passes... there's work to do...

Matthew 24:9-14 ⁹ "Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰ Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹² And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

Enduring matters. Not only will those enduring be saved, but they will be doing purposeful work meanwhile: proclaiming the news of the kingdom out of a warm heart full of love. By definition, those who endure will have proclaimed the gospel despite torture, betrayal, hate, - even after watching others die and "the church" move away from following Christ.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that enduring matters? Is the church teaching Jesus' followers to not only proclaim the kingdom (do we even know what the kingdom is?), but to endure despite extreme hardships by living out of a heart of love?

The End: Pharisee-ism increases

2010-10-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Jesus predicts Pharisee-ism will increase as the end approaches...

Matthew 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.

Lawlessness will increase. In Chapter 23 of Matthew's gospel, Jesus has just called the Pharisees, who had more laws and followed them more precisely than any other people in history, "lawless". They were following the law with their actions, but their hearts were not in relationship with God. The result is that their love (their hearts) have grown cold replacing a relationship with God with a relationship with the law. Instead of submitting their lives to God, they tried to control God by following God's law (they thought their law keeping would force God to bless them).

BUT Jesus called the Pharisees "lawless." Strict laws - and strict enforcement - is not the answer to humanity's problems. It only makes "love grow cold." Pharisee-ism is true lawlessness. Instead, it is our hearts - a relationship with us that transforms our hearts - that God wants. Obedience is not an issue when our hearts have been transformed by God.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that Pharisee-ism will increase? What is going on in the Christian community today? Are we pointing people toward a relationship with Christ or are we just like the Pharisees pointing people to the right rules and right theology and maybe even the right political party to follow?

The End: His followers will suffer

2010-10-27T05:54:00.000-07:00

Jesus warns what will happen to his followers as the end approaches. Is this what we have signed up for?

Matthew 24:9-10 ⁹ "Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰ Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.

Many people sign up to follow Jesus because they think it has benefits... Jesus lists some here:

You will be hated (by everyone!) because of Jesus
You will be tortured and put to death
Those you think are part of my community (your supporters and friends) will fall away, betray you, and hate you.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that being his follower is costly?

The End: Don't be led astray

2010-10-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Jesus warns us not to be led astray.

The disciples want to know when Jesus' prediction of the destruction of the temple will take place...

Matthew 24:3-8 ³ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" ⁴ Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: ⁸ all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs....

Jesus names several possible ways for us to be led astray:

By allegiance to a false Messiah
By thinking wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes signify the end
By becoming alarmed instead of knowing "this must take place"

Do we ignore Jesus' warning not to be led astray? What are we being led astray by?

Rejecting Jesus destroys the community and place of worship

2010-10-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches the temple will be destroyed... he will be destroyed...

In Chapter 23, the destruction of the nation and the temple, which was the worldwide center of Jewish worship and pride, will be a result of not just the murder of the prophets, but of Christ's murder.

Matthew 24:1-2 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² Then he asked them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

The fate of the nation and the temple hinge upon what they do with the message delivered by the prophets and with Christ himself. If they accept it, they will take part in God's mission on earth. But they have already killed the prophets. Now all that is left is to kill the son of God. Jesus not only predicts his own death here, but he also (once again) predicts the fate of those who reject the message of the prophets and who reject Jesus.

Matthew 21:33-46 ³³ "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. ³⁴ When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. ³⁵ But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. ³⁷ Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' ³⁸ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' ³⁹ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰ Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" ⁴¹ They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." ⁴² Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? ⁴³ Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. ⁴⁴ The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." ⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶ They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Their fate is in the process of being sealed. Jesus will be murdered shortly. Their place of worship and their community will be destroyed.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that the community and place of worship of those who rejected the message of the prophets and who rejected Jesus himself, will be destroyed? What God has given them, will be taken away and given to a community of people who will take part in God's mission.

Although Jesus was speaking specifically to the 1st century situation, his message applies to the church today. Does the church embrace the message of the prophets? Does it follow Jesus? Does it embrace the teachings of Jesus? Or have we achieved the same religiousity of the 1st century Pharisees following the right rules, the right list of good works, and the right theology, but rejecting Jesus - recreating him and his teachings in our own images?

Be Willing.

2010-10-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that those who ignore and silence the prophets will be left desolate. And yet, he also teaches that there is hope...

Matthew 23: 37-39 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

The entire community will certainly pay for what has been done to the prophets - the entire community will be left desolate. But in the midst of Jesus' terrible prediction, we see a beautiful picture of our creator. He desires to bring us together like a mother hen gathers her babies under her wings. All that is required of us is a willingness to let him. Followers of Jesus have the desire for Jesus to gather us under his wings.

Jesus leaves them (and us) with this hope... we can cry out, "Blessed is the one (Jesus) who comes in the name of the Lord" and begin to follow him.

Do we ignore Jesus teaching to be willing?

Woe #7: Don't silence the prophets sent to you

2010-10-22T04:39:00.000-07:00

Jesus warns that the religious leaders of the day are no different from their ancestors who murdered the prophets sent to teach them. In just a few days, these religious leaders will have Christ murdered. Yet, they operate thinking that they are different from their mothers and fathers. But in reality, they are the same as their parents. What prophets do our churches silence today instead of listening to them?

Matthew 23:29-39²⁹ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, ³⁰ and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' ³¹ Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. ³³ You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? ³⁴ Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, ³⁵ so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

Do we ignore Jesus' warning to listen to the prophets he has sent to us?

Woe #6: Don't just look beautiful

2010-10-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

Jesus warns against looking good, but being dead and filthy.

Matthew 23:27-28 ²⁷ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. ²⁸ So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

These religious people were great at being religious. They studied and memorized scripture. They followed their religious rules without fail. They evangelized and did good deeds. They appeared to be beautiful monuments - like tombs cleaned up and whitewashed before the Passover Celebration, but inside they were dead and source of disease to others.

Even with all their rule following, Jesus calls them "lawless."

Do we ignore Jesus' warning not to put on a good appearance when inside we are dead and disease ridden?

If following Jesus is not about following all the trappings of religion - then what is it about? Jesus describes it here as having clean hearts. But how are our hearts transformed from death and filth to beauty? The Pharisees were "good" people - I can guarantee we probably aren't as "good". And all their trying added up to nothing but death and filth. I'd be getting ahead of the gospel, but Jesus has a plan for transforming our hearts...

Woe #5: The heart is what matters.

2010-10-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that it isn't our outsides (what rules we keep - what theology we believe - what good works we do) that make us clean (right with God). It is what is inside of us - our hearts - that must be cleaned before any of the rest matters.

Matthew 23:25-26 ²⁵ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.
I believe this is what Christians struggle with most. It looks different in every culture and every decade, but it is the same problem when you boil it all down. Most claiming to be followers of Christ are very much like the Pharisees - preoccupied with religion and how it can be used to control God. They believed that if they followed the right rules, did the right good deeds, believed the right theology, then God would be forced to bless them. And they were better at religion than any other people have ever been. But it wasn't good enough. Jesus says that their hearts were greedy and self-indulgent. This is pretty much the state of many Christian lives today. There's a huge interest in getting a ticket to heaven, but not many are very concerned with letting go of greed and self-indulgence so that we can follow Jesus. In fact, most would like to know the minimum required so they can get on with living their lives their own way. We miss that following Jesus is about giving up ourselves and being a servant.

It is so easy to come up with a list of rules of rules to follow, a stated theology to force everyone to agree with, and even a list of good deeds to do. But Jesus says none of these things matter if our hearts aren't clean.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that it is what is in our hearts that matter - not so much all the religious stuff? And what's your plan for cleaning your heart? I'd be getting ahead of the gospel... but Jesus has a plan. And he is leading his followers to the place where they will be made clean...

Woe #4: Prioritize things that matter most

2010-10-19T02:48:00.000-07:00

Jesus warns his follower's to discern what is important (practicing justice, mercy, and faithfulness) over what is not as important (tithing insignificant items).

Matthew 23:23-24 ²³ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

The point of tithing mint, dill, and cummin was to provide the priests and the poor with the abundance of God. While it is good for the priests and the poor to have mint, dill, and cummin (herbs used for flavoring and medicine), they aren't absolutely essential to their well being. Even their medicinal value was for comfort not life saving measures. The point is that Jesus doesn't want the Pharisees to feel good about tithing these insignificant things while failing to live lives that seek justice, mercy, and faith (better translated faithfulness).

"How is God calling me to practice justice*, mercy, and faithfulness in my life today?"

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to prioritize things that matter most: Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness?

* One interesting thing about justice... it has many meanings: being fair, addressing wrongs that have been committed, living in a way that does not take advantage of others, rescuing those who are disadvantaged, etc. It is closely tied to living in right relationships. Proverbs 2 says that it is only through our knowledge of God's character that we can know how to live justly in every situation. It says we have to actively seek God in order to understand justice.

Woe #3: Don't make false promises

2010-10-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us that our words - especially promises and commitments - are to always be trustworthy.

Matthew 23:16-22 ¹⁶ "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.' ¹⁷ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And you say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.' ¹⁹ How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; ²¹ and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; ²² and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.

The Jewish leaders had come up with a complex scheme of which promises were binding and which were not. This was convenient if you didn't really want to make a promise. You'd just swear on something that wasn't binding and then when you didn't keep your promise, no harm done! But this wasn't to be the way Jesus' followers lived...

Matthew 5:33-37 ³³ "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Jesus' followers were to have no need to take special oaths, because they always kept their word. Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his follower's words are always trustworthy?

Woe #2: Rule following - not Christ following - creates Children of Hell

2010-10-15T03:37:00.000-07:00

Jesus warns the religious people of his day about preaching the wrong message.

Matthew 23:15 ¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
The scribes and Pharisees that Jesus was talking to were dedicated, hardworking evangelists. But what were they evangelizing? What was their message? Pharisee-ism was a message of rule following - not Christ following. And those who substitute a list of rules for a relationship with Christ, well, Jesus calls them children of hell. And he says their converts are even more so.

Again, this message applies as much to those claiming to be the church today as it did to the religious people then. What rules do we insist must be followed before we can share Jesus' message? Do we preach a list of rules (or even a list of good works) instead of Jesus' message?

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that preaching "rule following" instead of "Christ following" creates children of hell?

Woe #1: Don't put up roadblocks

2010-10-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching not put up roadblocks?

Matthew 23:13 ¹³ "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them.

These religious leaders were not embracing Jesus as the Messiah - therefore they were not "going in themselves." And not only were they not part of the Messiah's community, but they were keeping others from following the Messiah too.

This is the beginning of seven woes or warnings that Jesus gives the religious community who claimed to worship God. These woes still relate strongly to those claiming to be the church today. We claim to be the community of God (just as the scribes and Pharisees claimed). But are our churches the community of the Messiah? Have we embraced Jesus' teachings? Jesus said that outsiders would know us by our love for each other. And that all would have an open invitation to join us. Does this sound like your church?

Are our churches based on Jesus' teachings or do they reflect something completely different? Do outsiders know us by our love for each other? By our servant's hearts? Are we the community of God? If not, we are certainly putting up road blocks to others finding Jesus.

Have we embraced the Messiah or are we ignoring Jesus' teaching not to put up roadblocks?

The humble will be exalted.

2010-10-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that the humble will be exalted. And those that exalt themselves will be humbled.

Matthew 23:11-12 ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

BUT what is humility? It is one of those words that has different meanings in our culture from what it means in these verses. Being humble isn't looking down upon yourself - believing you are worthless, or that others are better than you, or that others deserve more than you. And it certainly isn't being or acting like you are shy. It isn't pretending that you are something you aren't.

We can look to Jesus' example and see that humility has to do with service. Jesus' humility was not holding back waiting for someone better or more qualified to come along, it wasn't groveling, it wasn't going along with other's ideas denying the things he knew to be truth, it wasn't denying his authority... but his humility came out of knowing who he was (one with the highest God given authority) and then willingly giving himself for others:

Matthew 20:26-28 ²⁶ ...Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; ²⁸ just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

For us, humility is knowing who we are in Christ - dearly beloved brothers and sisters each with talents and skills given by and to be used for God. We are each valuable. Knowing this truth - believing it about ourselves - is the first step in humility! The second step is then using these skills not for ourselves, but for the well being of others.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that humility - knowing who we are and willingly giving ourselves for others - is what following Jesus requires of us?

We are all students with one father and one instructor

2010-10-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that we are all students with one instructor (the Messiah) and one father (God). God desires a direct relationship with each of us... where he teaches us as the ultimate instructor and nurtures us as the ultimate father.

I think the difficulty is two fold.

First, we so often don't want this relationship... it is time consuming to be available to God for nurture and instruction. When was the last time you sat and listened for God to speak? We'd rather be spoon fed by someone else who has boiled down all this God-business into a list of rules to follow or a theology to espouse. But God wants a relationship directly with us.

Secondly, it is hard to buck the cultural norms. If we don't agree with the best teachers, don't follow our genetic father's faith, we tend to be unwelcomed or worse - put out or ostracized. But once again Jesus tears down the cultural norms... telling the esteemed instructors and powerful genetic fathers that they do not hold the keys to knowing God. But that God interfaces directly with individuals.

Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; ³ therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach... ⁶ They love... to have people call them rabbi. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. ⁹ And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are all students with one father and one instructor? Do we own our relationship with God or do we rely on someone else - a teacher, preacher, or parent - to be the go between?

Do good things but with a servant's attitude

2010-10-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that we should do good things - but with a servant's attitude - not so that we can be seen and appreciated by others.

Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; ³ therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. ⁶ They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. ⁹ And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to do good things with a servant's attitude - not so that we will get noticed and praised? How does this apply to our jobs? our businesses? our relationships? sports? How do we teach our children to be servants seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus rather than being the greatest?

Carry other's burdens

2010-10-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that in the Messiah's community, we carry other's burdens.

Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; ³ therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. ⁶ They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. ⁹ And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in his community we carry other's burdens? What would it look like to teach our children to carry another's burden? How about in sports or scholastic competitions? What would it look like if our businesses carried the burden of its competitors? How about in politics? In public policy? What if love meant carrying the burdens of our enemies? Absurd? Absolutely. But Jesus instructs his followers to participating in a kingdom that looks pretty absurd to the world. Are we willing to follow him or is he just too absurd?

Theology matches Behavior

2010-10-07T06:18:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that in his community, theology matches behavior - a servant's behavior.

Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; ³ therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. ⁶ They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. ⁹ And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Most of us live like the Pharisees lived... we go through life claiming to follow God, but not even remotely doing it. We fool ourselves into thinking we are right with God. But we don't consider that following Jesus means that we willingly and actively carry other's burdens; we do good without seeking an award for it; we don't seek honor for ourselves; but serve others; we listen to how God is speaking to others instead of having all the answers ourselves; we prioritize our relationship with God above even family. Following Jesus means putting other's well being ahead of our own. This isn't the Jesus most of us have signed up to follow - is it? Where's the benefit?

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our theology should match our behavior - a servant's behavior?

Human and Divine

2010-10-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

Jesus claims a dual paternity: he is both human and divine.

Jesus has claimed earlier in Matthew to be the Messiah that was predicted in the Old Testament. One of the identifying markers of the Messiah was that he would come from the lineage of King David. Jesus' family line - through both his mother and Joseph - were well documented back to King David and his lineage was never disputed even by the Jewish authorities.

But many of the 1st century Jews were mistaken in thinking that the Messiah, would be an ordinary human who would overthrow the Roman government and give the Jews back their land. But here, Jesus points out that the Messiah is not an ordinary human being. The Messiah has a strange dual paternity that the Spirit had revealed to King David centuries earlier. King David writes that the Messiah is both a descendant of King David and King David's Lord (someone King David submitted to). Jesus' question is "How is this possible?" A father does not submit to his son. Nor does a dead man submit to anyone - unless that someone is God.

Matthew 22:41-46 ⁴¹ Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: ⁴² "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." ⁴³ ⁴⁴ 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet" '? ⁴⁵ If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" ⁴⁶ No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Jesus wants the Pharisees to take their version of the Messiah out of the box they have placed him in and see the truth. Jesus' claims to be the Messiah and his audacity to call God, "Father" are legitimate. He wants them to pick up on this.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he was both human and divine? How does this teaching change the way we live? How does it change our desire to follow Jesus? He is either crazy or he was who he said he was.

Love God and Others: Action or Feeling?

2010-10-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us the greatest commandments: Love God and others.

Matthew 22:34-40 ³⁴ When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, ³⁵ and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" ³⁷ He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
But when does this commandment really apply to us?

Do we love God even when God's plans are different from our plans? When God allows us or those we love to go through grief or pain or hardship? Are we committed to God only for what God can do for us? Or are we on board with God's purposes and plans for us? Even the tough ones? Jesus says to love God with all we are... our heart, our soul, our mind. Loving God means we have given up ourselves for God!

Does loving others apply when "others" aren't our political persuasion? Or when they are in authority over us? Or when they aren't loveable? What about when "others" hurt us? What about in times of war - our enemies - do we have to love them? How far does this love go? Jesus says to love others as ourselves. Loving others means we go all out for the other!

But is love just a feeling or is it an action word? Can I love someone who is being bullied and not protect them? Can I love someone who is going down the wrong path and not tell them? Can I love Jesus and not follow him even to the difficult places?

These verses have been taught with all kinds of qualifications attached. But Jesus didn't attach any. Love is not something easy or natural. And if it is just a feeling, it is worthless. Love is an action word.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our top priority is to love God and others? Do we understand love as Jesus did or do we water it down to fit our own agendas?1 John 3:14-18¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. ¹⁵ All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. ¹⁶ We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. ¹⁷ How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? ¹⁸ Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

Life after death

2010-10-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches several things about death... there is a resurrection of the dead, marriage is not part of the next life, and (although not exactly about death) angels exist.

If you think of the Sadducees as a Jewish denomination, they were the denomination that believed both the soul and the body died when the body died. They also denied the existence of angels. The "denomination" dissolved early in the first century.

Matthew 22:23-33 ²³ The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, ²⁴ "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' ²⁵ Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. ²⁶ The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. ²⁷ Last of all, the woman herself died. ²⁸ In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." ²⁹ Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. ³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ³¹ And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ³² 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." ³³ And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

Do we ignore Jesus' teachings about death? How does what we believe about death affect how we live?

Answers found in scripture and the power of God

2010-09-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us to find answers in scripture and in the power of God

Jewish "denominations" in Jesus' time believed different things about death. Some believed that the soul did not die with the body, but would be resurrected. Others believed that death was really the end of both the soul and the body. Some believed in angels and some didn't. In the text today, it seems someone very crafty wants to use these theological disagreements to further raise the tension surrounding Jesus' teachings.

Matthew 22:23-33 ²³ The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, ²⁴ "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' ²⁵ Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. ²⁶ The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. ²⁷ Last of all, the woman herself died. ²⁸ In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." ²⁹ Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. ³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ³¹ And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ³² 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." ³³ And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

Jesus points them to scripture and to the power of God for the answers to their questions. Apparently had they understood scripture to be an authoritative witness and God's power to be unlimited, they wouldn't have been confused. But they were using their own logic to reason what God might be like.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that an understanding of scripture and trust in the power of God gives us answers we can not gain through rational thought?

Pay taxes and tithe

2010-09-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that the Messiah's community gives to God and pays taxes.

Matthew 22:15-22 ¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. ¹⁶ So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. ¹⁷ Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" ¹⁸ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. ²⁰ Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" ²¹ They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." ²² When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

What Jesus says here is not just about paying taxes. It is a statement about the Messiah's purpose on earth. The Romans have control over the Jews and demand taxes from them. Of course, they'd rather not pay them. And in the Jewish mind, when the Messiah arrived, they won't have to pay taxes to the Romans any more, because the Messiah will free them from Roman rule. But Jesus teaches something different - overthrowing Roman rule is not why he came to earth at that time. AND that those in his community both pay taxes and give to God.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he wasn't about over throwing the government (at least not until the cosmic end arrives)? Instead his community pays taxes and tithes.

Many are called, few are chosen.

2010-09-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that many are called to his community, but few are chosen.

The simpleton's moral for this story could be summed up by saying, "When you get an inviation to the King's son's wedding, then attend it wearing the appropriately respectful clothes." Why wouldn't you? It's the ultimate cosmic party with great food. You don't want to miss it.

But the people invited to the wedding react in several ways:

Some (maybe most of us) "make light of the invitation" refusing to reconginize the significance of the invitation and go back to taking care of our personal business. We have no idea that we are being invited to play a role in a cosmic feast that will change the history of mankind. And our reply is "Thanks. I am just not that interested. Just not that committed to the King. Got better things to do."
Some behave even worse. They kill the messengers sent to invite them! See, the messengers didn't just drop off the invitation. This time, they were there to make sure those invited understood the choices they were making. And those on the invite list didn't want to hear that they were making a mistake choosing the mundane activities of the world over the King's feast. Better to kill the messengers rather than have them call us out.

So what happens next makes this story much more complicated. The king takes revenge on those who have killed his messengers and then he sends new messengers to invite anyone they can find to the wedding...

Matthew 22:1-14 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ² "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. ⁴ Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' ⁵ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶ while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. ⁸ Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹ Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' ¹⁰ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. ¹¹ "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, ¹² and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen."

When the king shows up for the wedding feast, at least one of the guests is not dressed appropriately. The man doesn't have on a wedding robe. Not being dressed appropriately is a sign of disrespect - a sign that he is there, but not really part of the kingdom. This guest came, but his dress shows that his heart is not in the right place. He isn't really committed to being part of the feast. So the king - after giving him a chance to explain - binds him and throws him out.

The moral of the story is that many are invited to the feast, but few are chosen. The chosen are those who show up in wedding robes. I believe there is a distinct difference in those who believe and those who have faith. Those who believe show up for the wedding - they believe that the King, the Son, and the wedding exists so they come. But those who have faith - they are committed to wearing the wedding robes. They have chosen not just to show up, but they are committed to the King's invitation and their heart is in it. The Kingdom of God is not about getting an invitation to the party and showing up, it is about showing up wearing the robe.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that many are called, but few are chosen?

Messiah's Kingdom belongs to those who produce fruit.

2010-09-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that his kingdom will be taken from those who do not produce fruit and given to those who do.

Matthew 21:33-46 33 "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34 When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35 But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

I like that Jesus' parable is not directed at an individual. It is directed at the community who claims to be the people of God. In that moment, Jesus was pointing out that the Jewish community had been living in the abundance that God had given them. In doing so, they were to produce fruit. In other scripture, we see that they were primarily to be a welcoming presence of God's love to the world. But instead they closed themselves off from the world refusing to produce fruit for God and instead hoarding God's abundance for themselves. When God sent prophets to show them the error of their ways, they killed them. Now God has sent his son... and they are about to kill him too.

But these are not words that no longer apply to us today. Today, these words of Jesus speak to the church. Do the individuals in your church work together to produce fruit for God? Many churches treat God the way these tenants treated the landowner. Churches are willing to accept what God gives them whether it be eternal life or earthly abundance... but they don't realize accepting God's gifts is not what following Jesus is all about. Following Jesus means we produce fruit for God. If the church is not producing fruit, its fate is pretty clear... God will entrust his kingdom to others who will.

Do we ignore how important it is for the body of Christ to produce fruit?

Religious say yes to God with words, but no with actions

2010-09-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that the religious often say "yes" to God with their words, but "no" with their actions.

Matthew 21:28-32 ²⁸ "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' ²⁹ He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
"Religious" people - especially religious leaders - often say yes to God with their words, but no with their actions. This is because it is very difficult for those entrenched in religion - those committed to the institution - to see that their lives might be out of step with Jesus.  Leading the institution is different from giving up everything to be in relationship (to follow) Jesus.  Leading the institution can become a full time task that derails us from being a servant in Jesus' community. This is especially true for the leaders of religion whose personal power is strong only when the institution is strong. But it is true of anyone who worships the institution rather than God.

And it is as true for the 1st century Jews as it is for the church today. After all, Jesus never defined "church" as an institution, but instead as his body - his hands and feet. This makes it very difficult for those in love with the institution to be both part of the institution and in a relationship with God - a relationship that is defined by servanthood not power.   These religious Jewish leaders said "yes" to God with their mouths, but "no" with their lives.  Sure, they were following all the right rules, believing all the right theology ("even after you saw it"), but they hadn't decided to follow Jesus. The cost was too high.

On the other hand, tax collectors (Jews who were taking Jewish money and giving it to the Roman oppressors) and prostitutes don't have as much to lose. Their lives are pretty unhappy already. Society treated them like outcasts.  They weren't welcomed except by those who wanted to use them. Being invited into the Messiah's community - where they are forgiven, loved, and valued - is a giant step up.   Jesus says they are the ones that originally said no with their lives, but now they have changed their minds. And he welcomes them into his community.

Do we ignore Jesus' warning that religion often says "yes" to God with words, but "no" with actions? How can we guard our hearts from following religion instead of Jesus?

Leaders and Truth don't depend on popular opinion

2010-09-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that leaders and truth don't depend on popular opinion.

Matthew 21:23-27 ²³ When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" ²⁴ Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ²⁶ But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

This is not just a story about Jesus answering the chief priests carefully so that he can survive a while longer without being crucified. Instead, Jesus is pointing out something very important to the priests. They can't answer Jesus' question, because they are too worried about being popular! Instead of teaching the crowd, they are worried about their own skin. Leaders can't do this and still be leaders. They can keep their jobs, they can keep those they are leading happy, but they aren't leaders. "Let me see where my people are going so that I can lead them" isn't a leadership strategy. At least not in the kingdom of God.

These priests had refused to accept John's teachings which identified Jesus as the Messiah. They didn't accept it because it upset their power base. And now they are refusing to accept what Jesus had to say about himself (that he was equal to God) just days before. They are refusing to accept it, not because of theological reasons, but because they thought that they would have to share or maybe even give up their powerful positions.

Jesus is driving home the same point he has driven home over and over in Matthew's gospel... the Kingdom of God (the truth of God - the gospel) is only understood as we become less and allow God to become more. We can't see the truth as long as it has to benefit us in order to believe it. We can't see the truth if we require that the truth makes us powerful, happy, or wealthy.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that neither leadership nor the truth depends on popular opinion?

Jesus doesn't tolerate fruitlessness

2010-09-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

Jesus demonstrates his disgust with fruitlessness

There are people who pretend to be followers of Jesus. In fact, they gather together and call themselves "church." It says so in the newspaper ads they run on special occasions and on the sign out front. But being a church means that they follow Jesus' teachings, produce good works in the community, and seek out new followers. Outsiders recognize them as Jesus' friends because there is such love between them... and they extend that love to outsiders. They put the things of Jesus first.

Now picture Jesus walking up to the front doors of one of these kinds of churches - expecting to find a community of followers - and instead he sees the trappings of religion (stain glass windows, hymnals, the baptismal font, the communion table, the church van, the bulletin), BUT no fruit.

Matthew 21:18-19 ¹⁸ In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.

A fig tree - no matter how beautiful and lush its leaves are - without figs, it is pretty worthless. Jesus curses it - and it withers and dies.

Do we ignore Jesus' demonstration that he doesn't tolerate fruitlessness? How can we, as individuals and as the church, produce the fruit we have been created to produce?

You will receive what you ask for in prayer with faith.

2010-09-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.

Matthew 21:18-22 ¹⁸ In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. ²⁰ When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" ²¹ Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. ²² Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."
This is one of those passages that I struggle with. Such passages have been used to prey on those in desperate need. I remember that my grandfather sent money to a prominent televangelist who in turned promised prayers would be offered that would heal him of a disease - a disease that eventually killed him. Such passages have also been used abusively to tell those whose prayer requests were not answered as requested that they didn't have enough faith. Neither of these scenarios work!!

Yet, I believe Jesus' words: "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith you will receive." But the statement does raise the question, how do we ask "in prayer with faith?"

What is faith? It isn't just believing that God exists or even that God has the power to do what we ask. The words "faith" and "belief" are often interchanged in Bible translations and I think that is a mistake. They aren't the same. Faith goes way beyond belief. Faith is putting our trust in God that what God does and wants is holy and good. It is a commitment to follow anywhere God leads. It is far more than just saying "yeah, I believe."
What is faithful prayer? Faithful prayer is more than just shouting out our needs to God - that is what infants do when they have a need. Faithful prayer is an interactive relationship with God - that grows deeper and deeper as we desire it. It is a commitment to follow God even when his plans are different from ours. It is not like the relationship between an infant and its mother. Instead, it is often described in scripture as the relationship between a wife and a husband where they constantly walk together seeking the best for the other.

So how do we ask in faithful prayer? We need to be in a committed interactive relationship with God seeking God - God's way, God's desires, God's plan. And that means we don 't use prayer and belief as a magic formulas to get what we want - it wouldn't work anyway. Instead, we are committed to following God even when God leads us into painful places - even when God says no to our plans. And in doing so, we discern what God wants and ask for it as agents of God... as loving, devoted wives would ask on behalf of their husbands.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we will receive what we ask for in faithful prayer? Or are our prayers more like infants crying out to their parent demanding that their needs be met?

Jesus claims equality with God

2010-09-17T04:18:00.000-07:00

Jesus accepts for himself praise prepared by God for God.

Matthew 21:14-17 14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became angry 16 and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself'?" 17 He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Jesus admits his divinity quoting scripture that identifies himself, not only as the Messiah (Son of David), but also as God. He accepts the praise he is receiving from the children – praise created by God for God - as valid and right placed. He claims equality with God.

Do we ignore Jesus’ teaching that praise prepared for God by God is rightly given to himself? It is so much more politically correct just to think of Jesus as a great teacher. But this isn't what he claimed for himself. He claimed to be God. He accepted praise for himself that was created for God by God. Jesus was either nuts or he was God. I don’t see a middle ground if I am going to follow him.

Jesus created conflict

2010-09-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

At the right time, Jesus creates conflict.

Matthew 21:14-17 14 The blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he cured them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became angry 16 and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself'?" 17 He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Jesus chose to show up at the temple this day. He chose to buck the religious teachings of the day and welcome the handicapped into the temple and to respond to them by healing them. And he chose to do it publicly. Many times in the past, Jesus healed and then sent those he healed away with instructions not to tell anyone. But now Jesus has chosen to go fully public. His ministry has survived long enough to prepare his disciples and the world for his crucifixion and resurrection.  His death is approaching so Jesus throws caution to the wind and intentionally creates conflict with those in charge.

He creates a situation where the religious leaders' personal power is being threatened.   This is dangerous. It gets you killed! Jesus is no longer allowing those in power to sit on the sidelines and complain - Jesus engages them. He goes into the temple and bucks their rules. And THEN he accepts for himself the praise created for God. In essence, he claims to be God and worthy of the praise offered to God.

Jesus intentionally creates conflict in order to proclaim his Messiahship. The religious authorities must accept it or reject it. The conflict Jesus creates makes clear the choice before the authorities.

Do we ignore Jesus' example that creating conflict in God's way and in God's timing is appropriate? When is it okay for us to challenge cultural, religious, and political powers? I believe Jesus creates conflict in this situation because he wants there to be no mistake of who he claims to be. He wants to register who he is with the authorities. He wants them to know beyond doubt that he claims to be the Messiah - and that the praise due God is also due him. He wants the conflict that is coming to be straight forward - not hidden by lies and innuendo.

The conflict that would end Jesus’ human life - that would forever change the destiny of us all - is in full force!

Do we ignore Jesus’ example that creating conflict may be appropriate and necessary? Are we willing to participate in conflict or do we run for cover?  Does the conflict we create reflect Jesus' goals or do we use conflict for our own gain? When is creating conflict appropriate and when is it not?

Welcome those with handicaps in Messiah's community

2010-09-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

Jesus’ community welcomes those with handicaps.

Matthew 21:14-17 14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became angry 16 and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself'?" 17 He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

What Jesus is doing in the temple is radical. Those with handicaps were excluded from the temple by most rabbis. In addition, many rabbis taught that anyone with a handicap was not only excluded from the temple, but from any fellowship with the congregation. But here Jesus is... not only allowing those with handicaps in the temple, but he is showing them great love and compassion by healing them too! He is making a statement that not only are the handicapped welcomed into the temple, but that he personally has the compassion and desire to heal them.

Do we ignore Jesus’ example that handicapped people are to be welcomed in the Messiah’s community? What do our churches do to welcome and accommodate those with special needs? What are we doing in our personal lives to show the kind of compassion and desire that Jesus showed? How do we offer healing and fellowship to those with special needs?

Messiah's community is not to be a nationalistic stronghold

2010-09-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that his community is not to be a nationalistic stronghold.

Jesus had a problem with what was going on in the place of worship. Instead of being a place of prayer (a place set aside for being in relationship with God), it was a den of robbers...

Matthew 21:12-13 ¹² Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. ¹³ He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of robbers."

It was permitted under Jewish law to sell provisions in this area of the temple that were necessary for sacrifices in the temple. Those coming from long distances did not have to bring their sacrifice with them, but could buy them when they got there. And monetary giving had to be done with Jewish coins, hence, the money changers. The problem was not that doves were being sold or that money was being exchange in the temple. The problem was that this service offered to the people coming to worship had become "a den of robbers." Maybe this service should have been non-profit and instead had become big business. Maybe the prices were so steep that the poor were being kept from participating in worship. I believe this was part of the problem. However... there is more to this story!

When you translate the word "robber" the way it is normally translated in Greek literature there is an added depth to this story. For instance in Matt 27:16 this word translated "robber" means "nationalistic rebel" as it refers to Barabbas - the one who the Romans pardoned at the Jew's request in exchange for Jesus' crucifixion. In other words, Jesus is saying, "My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of nationalistic rebels." In the book of Mark, Mark records even more of Jesus' words: "My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations; but you are making it a den of nationalistic rebels." The Jews, like the follower of Jesus, had been given the mission to be a witness of the living God to all nations. They were to invite all nations into their community to worship God with them, but they didn't do it! Instead the temple had become a rallying place where the Jews segregated themselves from other nations. They were not fulfilling the mission God had given them.

Has the church become a rallying place for nationalistic rebels? Or is it a house of prayer for all nations? Do we exclude the poor by making the church a place they can not afford to come to? Do we invite others to join us in worshiping God or do we segregate ourselves? Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his community is to be a place of prayer where all people are welcome not a place of nationalism?

Notes for further thought: At Jesus' trial, the Romans are going to set Jesus free, but are afraid it will cause an uprising among the Jews. So they offer the Jews a choice: Set Barabbas free or Jesus. Barabbas is a nationalistic hero who has participated in the Jewish insurrection and is accused of murdering those against his cause. Of course, Jesus is the opposite. Jesus was not supporting their nationalistic agenda. The Messiah was supposed to do that - at least in their view. They thought that the Messiah was all about putting their family back in power and wealth. And they reasoned that Jesus could not be the Messiah because he is not blessing them the way they'd hoped by supporting their nationalistic/family agenda. This brings into strong focus the choice before the Jews then and us today. Will we use our "religion" to support a nationalistic/family agenda of "God bless America" or will we use our "relationship with God" to support the Messiah's agenda which is one of inclusion, peace, and servant hood?

The Messiah's kingship is founded on humility and peace

2010-09-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

Jesus demonstrates what his kingship is all about: a peaceful entry on a humble colt.

Jesus doesn't enter Jerusalem, the hubbub of Jewish religious power and Roman occupation as one would expect the Messiah-King to enter. Not on a mighty horse dressed in armor with fury or anger. He doesn't threaten war... he doesn't beat those into submission who disagree with his teachings and way of life... he doesn't demand that the religious powers bow down to him or that the Romans hand over the keys to Jerusalem to him. Instead he enters peacefully and humbly. Who is this guy?

Matthew 21:1-11 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately. " 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

A large crowd has gathered. They want the long ago prophesied Messiah-King to come and reclaim their land and power from Rome. They want him to throw the Gentiles out of their city and lives. They want to go back to being family - God's family, of course. All signs - the miracles Jesus does - indicate that he is the Messiah. All the prophecies are lining up too. So they give him a king's entrance paving his path with their clothes and palm branches. They yell out "Hosanna" which means "Savior." But wait - what kind of savior arrives like this? Peacefully. Humbly. One who will be tortured and killed. One who will expand their family beyond themselves... one that will welcome those not family members into God's family. But this is not what they want! The Messiah was to give them back their power, land, and wealth. And in a few days, when it become obvious that he will not do this, these same people will be the ones yelling "Crucify Him!"

Do we ignore that Jesus' Messiah-Kingship is founded on humility and peace? Do we live out our lives in humility and peace? Or do we attack? When those not following Jesus picture ''a follower of Jesus" in their mind's eye, do they envision people following a peaceful man on a donkey? Or do they picture people standing with posters that demand their own well being screaming at those who disagree with them?

Who was this guy? And are we following him or not?

Don't assume to know the solution to other's needs.

2010-09-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

Jesus gives us an example: "Don't assume to know what others need".

I am touched by these two blind men who have created a community of two. Together they sit by the road - no doubt begging. Their families aren't taking care of them. The crowd wants them to be quiet. They are social rejects - their handicaps are embarrassments - even a sign of sin in that culture. There are no resources to help them - so they beg together.

I am also saddened by this large crowd who is "following Jesus." Physically they are following him. But spiritually, like most of us, they hardly get who Jesus is and what following him means. In fact, the crowd thinks they are doing Jesus a service by telling the men to be quiet!

Matthew 20:29-34 29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus. 30 There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 31 The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!" 32 Jesus stood still and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do for you?" 33 They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.

No doubt that Jesus knows what the needs of these men are better than they do! But he doesn't just fix their problem. He asks what they need - what they want him to do. This is significant! It shows respect for these men. And it shows us an example. Jesus demonstrates a desire to walk alongside them rather than assuming we know what is best for them.

Remember those missionaries - those "followers of Jesus" - who went to Haiti after the disaster there to confiscate children and take them out of the country where they would put them up for adoption? Apparently the government of Haiti didn't want these "followers of Jesus" to take their children. The "followers of Jesus" offered "help" that wasn't wanted. Jesus didn't do this. He asked.

The crowd "following Jesus" passing by these two men has assumed they know what is best - and that is for these two men to be quiet. But Jesus shows the men respect and asks, "How can I help?" When we encounter people with needs (and aren't all of us needy in some way?), do we ask what the other needs from us or do we assume we know and force on them our solutions?

Do we ignore the respect Jesus shows to those in need? If we followed Jesus' example, how would we approach society's problems? How would we approach the needs of our friends and loved ones?

The goal is to serve - not to be served

2010-09-09T05:15:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that those who are greatest in his community are the ones who serve others, not the ones who are served by others. In the midst of hearing Jesus say he is the Messiah, this mother and her sons are thinking about how to use the situation to their advantage to get power and status. They are ignoring that Jesus said he is also about to be executed. Instead, they have heard Jesus say to ask for whatever you want and it will be granted. And this is what they want... to be powerful in the Messiah's community...

Matthew 20:20-28 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

What these three don't understand is that those who are closest to Jesus are not those who the world gives power to... not the ones voted into office... not the rock stars or the football heroes... not the ones most admired. The ones who sit closest to Jesus are the ones who have a servant's heart. The kind of heart that will endure the worst persecution in Jesus' name. The institutional structures of the world (including politics, government, and even the church) are nothing like the power structures in the Messiah's community. The greatest in the Messiah's community are the ones who willing accept the role of slave... the ones willing to give up their lives for others.

Jesus declares here again, that he will die and that his life will be given as a ransom for many. This is the ultimate example of how we are to live.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that as his followers, our goal is to be like slaves? How can we be slaves to each other? to our enemies? to those we don't like? to those who don't treat us well? Having a servant's heart furthers the Kingdom of God. Demanding our own preferences and well being harms the Kingdom of God.

Jesus taught he was the Messiah

2010-09-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Jesus taught that he was the Messiah. Jesus' teachings not only serve to teach us how to follow him, but he also taught us why it mattered. It mattered because he was the Son of Man, the Messiah, the one sent to reveal God to us. He was the one predicted - God's plan of reconciliation. He was God. AND he knew what was coming... a trial, a death sentence, torture, rejection, and death. He still went through with it. Because he knows this isn't the end of the story. Three days later he would be raised from the dead. And in his resurrection - our reconciliation - our relationship with God is made possible.

Matthew 20:17-19 17 While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18 "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; 19 then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised."

Do we ignore who Jesus claimed to be? Do we prefer to think of him as just a wise man and group him with all the other wise men? But how can someone be wise if they are deluded into thinking they are someone they are not? How can someone be wise if they dare to delude others into worshiping them? Especially if they are teaching that they are the Son of Man (God incarnate)? What does it matter if a crazy man gives us advice on living or on dying? It only makes sense to follow Jesus if one believes he was who he said he was!

I believe Jesus was who he said he was - not because I witnessed the story unfold first hand, but because I witness the Spirit of Jesus alive in my life every day. And I witness the Spirit alive in others who are struggling to follow Jesus. We are not perfect, we do not follow him gracefully, we do not understand all there is to know, we screw up in the worst of ways, we fail terribly, but the Spirit of God is present overcoming, transforming, making purpose out of chaos. Jesus was the Son of Man and his teachings are truth.

God is not fair

2010-09-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in his community, God does not give us what we earn?

How can society exist where the hardest working people don't get the biggest pay off? Would you want to live in such a community where you work 8 hours and get paid the same as someone who only works 1 hour? This just isn't fair. Right? Well... such is the community of God...

Matthew 19:30 - 20:16 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' 9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that God is not fair - that God does not give us what we deserve - that God is generous? Do we ignore Jesus' warning that God is going to be generous to those who show up last? Are we okay with that? How does this affect how we live? Should we be more generous to the newcomer in our church community than the old timer who has worked hard and earned their place in our community?

Wealth stands in the way of following Jesus

2010-08-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that wealth stands in the way of following him.

Matthew 19:23-26 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, "Then who can be saved?" 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible." 27 Then Peter said in reply, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" 28 Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

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Jesus' message is a bit different than the message we get in some of the Old Testament where God blesses people who honor God (Abraham, David, Daniel, etc) with land, wealth, success, big families, or power. To be fair, there are plenty of stories in the Old Testament where the wealthy are corrupt and unacceptable to God because they prey on the poor and use their wealth selfishly. But we tend to like the "wealth is a blessing" stories over the "wealth is a path to hell" stories. We want to believe that if we live right, then we will be blessed with wealth. And this justifies how our society is set up - it makes consumerism kin to righteousness - it enables us to look down on the poor with disgust instead of compassion. And it is so much easier to follow a god who signs this "follow me and get wealthy" contract than one that tells us to "go and sell everything in order to follow him".

But Jesus is the second kind of god. He says that wealthy people are less likely to be part of his community than others. After all, why should a rich person want to follow Jesus? Jesus wants to give them a new life that starts without their possessions - when the old life seemed pretty good just the way it is. Where's the motivation?

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that wealth hinders one's desire and ability to follow Jesus? Being the most wealthy people on earth, what does God want from us? Do we protect our wealth and culture? Or do we give it up to follow him?

Jesus isn't focused on making sure we live forever.

2010-08-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that the question "How do I live forever?" is misguided. A better question is "How do I follow you?"

Matthew 19:16-22 16 Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20 The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

****

The question this man asks Jesus demonstrates what religion is all about: "How do I get saved?" And he'd like to know the minimum required so he can take care of it and get back to his own life. But is "getting people saved" - making sure they have a ticket to heaven - really the point of what Jesus did on earth? "Getting people saved" is the point of religion, but not so much of Jesus. Jesus' work - his life, his death, his resurrection - was about enabling the Holy Spirit to live within us so that we can enter into a new kind of relationship with God - one that allows us to truly follow Jesus. Making followers was the point of Jesus' ministry - not helping people live forever.

This is why when John the Baptist introduces his disciples to Jesus, he says that Jesus has come to baptise them with the Holy Spirit rather than "Jesus is your ticket to living forever." It is also why the prophets talk about the new covenant in terms of a day when the Spirit will live within God's people and through the Holy Spirit they will enter into a relationship with God different from the old covenant. If I am right, then this man is asking the wrong question. Instead, he should ask: "How can I become your follower?" But that is not what this man wants to do. He wants eternal life, not a new way of being. He doesn't want Jesus to transform his life... he just wants to live forever in his old life.

"If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?" is the wrong question for evangelists to be asking! "Are you filled with the Spirit - are you a follower of Jesus?" - these are the right questions! The ones Jesus came to answer.

So Jesus gives this man the religious answer: "follow this list of rules". The man is so confused, he thinks he already follows them which, of course, no one can really do. Yet, he senses something is incomplete - there is something more Jesus isn't saying so he asks again, "what else do I have to do?" Jesus tells him to get rid of his old way of life (sell your pocessions) and follow me into a new life. This isn't the answer the man wanted. He is really not that committed.

Eternal life comes by grace through faith - there is nothing this man can do to deserve it. But following Jesus comes when we surrender our old way of being - letting Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, live out his life through us.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his focus is not on making sure we live forever?

Give the children priority access to Jesus

2010-08-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us to give the children priority access to him.

Matthew 19:13-15 13 Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; 14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." 15 And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Jesus has just gotten done stressing responsible behavior to men in marriage - not to divorce their wives. Women were at the mercy of their husbands - they were property with few rights. One rabbi of the day wrote that it was okay to divorce your wife if she cooked a bad meal! But Jesus sets a new expectation of husbands that this behavior isn't acceptable in his community. In doing so - he teaches husbands compassion and care for the wife.

Now Jesus teaches compassion and care for the children (and not just one's own children but all children). Children didn't have a lot of rights either, but they were treated pretty well in Jewish society. They saw their children as hope for the future. However, the disciples seemed to think they are a bother. Following Jesus was too important for children to interrupt. But Jesus won't have anything to do with that attitude either. He says the kingdom of heaven belongs to the children (and those like them).

Jesus was always turning things upside down rearranging priorities, redoing the social order.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to give the children priority access to him? After all - the kingdom of heaven belongs to them and those like them.

Men are better off being eunuchs than divorcing their wives

2010-08-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches men that they are better off making themselves eunuchs than divorcing their wives.

It is so easy for those of us who are married and have never wanted a divorce to look down on those who have been through one. We might think we did a better job of picking out our spouse or perhaps we work harder at our marriages or .... we could think of a million reasons to feel prideful. But in reality, we might be better off just being grateful. Why some people stay in love for a lifetime and some don't isn't really explainable. Why some people stay together who are no longer in love is also inexplicable. Does God play a role in this? Of course. Does praying together help? Absolutely. Does being in a community that supports your marriage matter? For sure. But it is complicated at best. And divorce is probably one of the most painful things a human being can go through.

Marriages in Jesus' time didn't resemble a modern day marriage in a lot of ways. Marriage was pretty much ruled by the male. It varied within the different "denominations" of Jews, but some allowed the male to pretty much divorce at will while others did not allow it except for unfaithfulness. The female, on the other hand, couldn't choose to get a divorce. She was more like property. The institution of marriage when upheld served to protect her and her offspring from becoming homeless. Jesus tells the men, those in charge, those with all the rights, that they'd be better off not marrying than to marry and divorce. In fact, he says they'd be better of being eunuchs.

I think Jesus said this out of love and concern for the woman and her children. I think he wants these men to see how hurtful their divorces were - how discarding their wives and children is not the way in his kingdom. I guess, in modern language, Jesus would say, "real men take care of their families."

Matthew 19:3-12 3 Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?" 4 He answered, "Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." 7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?" 8 He said to them, "It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery." 10 His disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that men would be better off being eunuchs than divorcing their wives? What would Jesus say about marriage today given laws and rights have changed and women are as powerful as men?

If we do not forgive, God releases us to be tortured.

2010-08-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that God will turn us over to be tortured if we do not forgive others.

Wow! If you thought Jesus was never tough on his followers, then tell me what you think after reading these verses. These verses continue with Jesus' reconciliation expectations for his community - except now Jesus concentrates on the one who needs to forgive. The message is simple: Do it!

Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

God readily forgives us. But God is also greatly angered by those of us who are willing to accept God's forgiveness, but will not forgive others. And something supernatural happens to those who are part of Jesus' community who won't forgive. God does the spiritual equivalent to releasing them to be tortured. Have you ever seen one of these people? Their life is consumed with unforgiveness. They may have had every right to be offended. The offense may be decades old - time doesn't stop the torture. As they age, their unforgivenss is etched on their faces. There is no joy - no peace - their laughter is hollow. But those who recognize how much God loves them and have translated that love into forgiving others... they are different... their faces are filled with beauty. And they are at peace.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we must forgive each other or God will release us to be tortured?

Note: I have to add this note for those who have suffered abuse. You can forgive someone and still remove yourself from their presence. God does not expect us to stay in relationship with those who are abusing us (reread the last two blogs if you need proof), but he does expect us to forgive.

Church has been empowered for reconciliation

2010-08-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

Jesus empowers his church to practice reconciliation in order to be whole. At first glance, it is hard to see how yesterday’s blog on verses 15-18 (about teaching reconciliation) go with today's verses 19-20 (about the church's supernatural empowerment). But because the conversation continues about reconciliation in verse 21, they are obviously linked.

Matthew 18:15-20 15 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." 21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times...

After Jesus teaches three steps to reconciliation (verses 15-17) that his followers are to follow, he now says something very important about the church's role in reconciling believers (verse 18-20).

The first thing Jesus says about the church's empowerment is in verse 18. The church acts as agents of Christ's kingdom. In this context - speaking of reconciliation - binding and loosing refer to the church caring for its own body. A member of the body who will not participate in the reconciliation process or will not repent of a sin against another member of the body is not committed to living as a member of the Messiah's community. Therefore the church is empowered to loosen that person from the fellowship. But members of the body who participate and reconcile - the church is empowered to bind them to the body, healing the body where there had been discord.

The second thing Jesus says about the church's empowerment is in verses 19-20. Jesus indicates that when the two at conflict gather to resolve their differences in private - the Father is there - and if they pray for reconciliation, it will happen. Likewise, when others are brought into the mix to facilitate reconciliation - if all hearts involved seek reconciliation, the Father will be in the midst and facilitate it. Reconciliation is such an important part of the Christian community - so much so - that Jesus' promises that the Father himself will be there in the middle of it.

Jesus' process of reconciliation is key to the community of God flourishing.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that the church has both the responsibility and the power to practice his process of reconciliation? Do we follow Jesus' process or make up our own that is more of a compromise than true reconciliation? Do we ignore Jesus' process so we can manipulate what we want instead of what God wants?

Jesus teaches us how to reconcile with each other

2010-08-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches reconciliation in his community. Most Christians and their churches don't practice this. Most church members and church boards aren't committed to it. And hence, the church doesn't look very much like the Kingdom of God much of the time.

At first glance, it is hard to see how verses 15-17 (which are specific instructions on how to reconcile) go with verses 18-20 (which seems to be promising a favorable answer to all prayer), but the two actually do go hand in hand. This is obvious when you get to verse 21 and Peter is still asking about forgiving a church member. I will write about verses 18-20 in tomorrow's blog.

Matthew 18:15-20 15 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." 21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times...

Jesus teaches three steps to reconciliation:

1) If you have been offended, it is your responsibility to initiate reconciliation in private. So go to whomever has offended you with the purpose of making things right between the two of you. Privacy is very important because it keeps chaos from forming in the body of Christ. A person who truly desires reconciliation will do this. In my experience, a person who isn't intent on reconciliation - or who really doesn't have an issue on the up and up - will often spread gossip, create chaos, and garner support rather than following Jesus' instructions.

2) If reconciliation does not occur during your private attempt, then take one or two others with you. The matter is still kept private between just these few. The people you take with you are to both be witnesses to your attempt to reconcile (vs 16), but also to facilitate the reconciliation (vs 17). So they need to be mature spiritually. In our society, we have been taught not to get involved in other people's problems - but not so in Jesus' community. Be willing to walk with those who need reconciliation. It is not an easy journey, but one that Jesus' followers step up to doing. Another thing that often hinders reconciliation is that our society teaches that truth is relative and that each party is probably both right and wrong to an extent... that there are two viewpoints with equal weight. Not so in the kingdom of God. Jesus expects matters to be settled and right and wrong determined based on his teachings. Making everyone happy - through compromise - is not the goal. In fact, compromise is often very destructive to the testimony of the church.

3) Finally if the person who has offended will not reconcile, then the matter is to be made public in the church community. And the church is to speak out on the matter. If the offender will not reconcile, they are to be released from the community of God. This is interesting considering how yesterday's scripture was about how God welcomes those who stray back with open arms. It is important that the church both speaks truth to offenders, but also creates a joyful. loving, and safe place to come home to.

Do we ignore Jesus' command to reconcile to each other? Do we follow the process Jesus teaches or do we do things to thwart the Holy Spirit's reconciling work because we don't really want the fellowship Jesus offers in his community?

Welcome those who have strayed with open arms

2010-08-19T04:33:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that God rejoices when those who stray come back

Matthew 18:12-14 12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

When someone rejects God (and in doing so - the community of God), depending on how badly they have hurt us in their rejection, we may not want them to come back into God's community at all. We may feel justified in keeping them out entirely - we may even hope they live to regret their decision. This is certainly where the heart of the prodigal brother was at in Luke 15:11-32. But not God. God goes searching for those who have strayed. God doesn't bring them back kicking and screaming, but "if he finds them", then Jesus warns those who never left that God will happily take them back. God wants us to have a like minded concern for those who have lost their way - searching them out, loving them, welcoming them back in God's community.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in his community, those who stray are welcomed back with open arms? Do we practice this in our churches - making church a safe place to come home to? Or do we put up walls that reject those who have strayed? Do we have a ministry that actively reaches out to those who have strayed?

Freely give your power to those with childlike humility

2010-08-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us to freely give our power to those with childlike humility.

Matthew 18:10 "Take care that you do not despise (think little of) one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.

Unlike the secular world, in the kingdom of God, power is not demanded or coerced. It doesn't go to those who have the most strength whether it be their education, money, muscle, or etc that makes them strong. It doesn't even go to those with the most popular votes! It doesn't go to those who manipulate and scheme. Instead, followers of Jesus freely give up their power to each other. They allow the other to be more powerful than themselves. This is not the way of the world, but this is how things work in the Messiah's community.

Jesus has just finished teaching that his true followers are all humble (teachable like children who idealize their teacher). These kind of people can be looked down upon and taken advantage of since they will be unlikely to fight back. Jesus says his followers to do not behave this way searching for personal greatness and power, instead they enable one another.

He also warns that his followers have supernatural protection. This should be a comfort to those who are truly following him with childlike humility and warning to those who are only seeking their own gain.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to give up our personal power? How can I give my power to someone who is humbling following Jesus? Who needs to be heard and honored in our church communities that might not have a voice right now?

Don't keep stumbling blocks in your own life

2010-08-17T01:37:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us to get rid of stumbling blocks in our own lives. The last set of verses talked about not putting stumbling blocks in the way of others. Now Jesus makes us responsible for removing stumbling blocks from our own lives.

Matthew 18:8-9 8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.

This is one time when I don't think Jesus is speaking literally - please don't amputate your body parts! But he is speaking spiritually. Whatever is keeping us from following Jesus, we need to get rid of it. A lot of misguided people have taken these verses to mean that "whom"ever is keeping you from following Jesus, get rid of them. And they have used these verses to excommunicate people from their fellowship or even divorce a spouse that wasn't pleasing them or (in darker times) to execute those they disagreed with. But that isn't what it says. Jesus says to look at yourself and get rid of what it is about you that is making you stumble. It is a very personal call to examine ourselves and to take very radical action.

What makes me stumble on this journey? Most of us can probably name specifics, but they likely all boil down to something we want more than following the way of Jesus. Success? Friends? Respect? Financial security? Power? Jesus says to cut these things off if they are keeping you from following him. Deal with them. Get rid of them. You are better off without them. Many of us discover Jesus and then try to fit him into our lives. But to follow Jesus, there is a radical transformation required - one where Jesus tells us to unload the baggage. It isn't about fitting Jesus into our lives, but about letting him change us.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to deal radically with what makes us stumble?

Don't put stumbling blocks in front of others.

2010-08-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us not to put stumbling blocks in front of others. It grieves me to think of the stumbling blocks that I might have put in front of others… claiming to be a follower of Jesus and not living a life that is worthy; seeing a spiritual or physical need and not offering to help; straying from what is important to things that have no lasting purpose, putting my needs and preferences before someone else’s needs; worrying about my own reputation and welfare when God will provide all I need so that I can freely serve others, etc.

Matthew 18:5-7 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!

Note: The word “child” here doesn’t refer to one’s age, but one’s relationship to God – see the last blog for the reasoning behind this.

Do we ignore Jesus’ teaching not to put stumbling blocks in front of others? How do we put up stumbling blocks in our churches? Perhaps we do it by requiring people to meet our theological and political expectations before we accept them. How do we put up stumbling blocks in our private lives? Perhaps by avoiding making ourselves vulnerable and developing holy relationships with those who need us? How can we remove these?

Those with a humble childlike attitude are greatest

2010-08-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that those with a humble childlike attitude are greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. We live in a culture that teaches competition and individuality as the desired way - where humbleness is reserved for those who have erred and need to grovel - for those who are in need or for those who want something. But this is not the way in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven is a place where everything is turned upside down. The greatest is not the most powerful nor the wealthiest nor the smartest. Greatness starts in the heart... with a childlike humbleness. This kind of humbleness is not a result of weakness. It isn't self deprecation - it isn't rooted in insecurity - it doesn't come from realizing you are helpless. Instead, picture a child hanging out with a parent who loves them unconditionally. A child who is full of curiosity, excitement, and longing to be like the parent they idealize. Visualize the child, whether at play or doing chores, soaking up their parent's wisdom and love - longing to be like them. This kind of humbleness comes from knowing you are loved completely by a parent who is good and honorable and fun to be with it. And in that security, the child is teachable. God wants this kind of relationship with us where we bask in God's love for us. Where we want to be in relationship with God because we want to learn God's ways and become like Jesus. This is childlike humility.

If the disciples were to even enter the Kingdom of Heaven, they needed to change and become like humble children - safe and secure in the love God offers them - excited to soak it up and mimic it - offering it to others. Entrance to the Kingdom - knowledge of the truth - being in relationship with God and others - comes when we let go of the earthly definition of greatness and become humble like children.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we must become humble like children to enter his kingdom? Or do we strive to become great, powerful, independent, and in charge? Does the thought of giving up our power seem counter intuitive?

Don't be offensive (at least sometimes)

2010-08-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching not to be offensive? This is interesting, because so much of Jesus' ministry is offensive to both the religious powers and the government powers. It was true then and it is true today. All through the gospels, Jesus sets an example for us of living in love AND speaking truth at the same time. Even just a few verses back, he is refusing to wash his hands before a meal in protest of the Pharisee's laws and tradition. But here, he compromises. Weird! And unexpected!

Matthew 17:24-27 24 When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?" 25 He said, "Yes, he does." And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?" 26 When Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the children are free. 27 However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me."

The truth at stake before him in the hand washing incidence was: "Do followers of Christ follow Jesus or a list of rules and traditions?" The answer was Jesus. Here another truth is at stake: "Does the son of the King need to pay the temple tax (a tax all adult males had to pay)?" Jesus, being the son of God (who is King of all), would not be obligated to pay the tax. Jesus could make the point that he is the Messiah by refusing to pay the tax. But this time, he takes on a servant attitude and pays it anyway.

Could that be the difference? In the earlier case he defends the truth of the gospel, rather than himself, and in this case he takes on a servant attitude refusing to defend himself? Or maybe it just wasn't time to make his Messiahship the public issue. Either way, he doesn't want to offend at this time so he goes ahead and pays it. Can we learn that we need to choose our battles? That sometimes survival is important so that the message can be delivered later in God's time? Obviously survival is not always more important than the message - Jesus makes this clear to his disciples over and over again even telling them that some of them will die in his service - and he especially demonstrates this in his own death. The time to "speak truth" and when "not to speak truth" can only be determined by being in close relationships with the Father. Am I walking close enough to God to know the difference? Remembering that success can not be judged by survival.

Also interesting is that Jesus pays the tax with a coin delivered supernaturally. What is the significance of a coin found in a fish's mouth - a coin not earned? Will think on this some....

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that offending is not always the way to go? Which direction to take is a matter of walking close enough to God to know God's will for a particular situation. Do I walk close enough to know? Or do I just wing it based on how I feel at the time?

Faith makes nothing impossible

2010-08-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches that faith makes nothing impossible. This is one of those teachings that I personally find really hard and discouraging. These disciples have enough faith to ask God to heal the boy and the parents have enough faith to bring the boy to the disciples for healing. But apparently that faith isn't even as big as a mustard seed? How can that be? And it was obviously God's will that the child be healed, because Jesus heals him - so we can't use the excuse that God didn't want the child healed.

At first glance, I really don't know what to do with this story! I don't know how to have enough faith! Some commentaries say it wasn't that they had no faith - it was the quality of the faith they had. Hmmm. In the same story in Mark (9:22), Jesus' answer is that they needed prayer. If prayer represents our relationship with God, then that clue adds more information. It would say to me that faith isn't something you jump into and out of with God as if it were the magic we need to make something happen. Faith would be something that grows out of a deep relationship with God - a relationship that only comes from bathing one's life in prayer. Not the kind of prayer that takes a shopping list to God, but the kind that listens for God to speak. Would it be safe to say that a life of constant prayer - constantly living in deep relationship with God - produces a faith that makes nothing impossible?

Matthew 17:14-20 14 When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, 15 and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." 17 Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that faith makes nothing impossible? Do we pretend he didn't say this, didn't mean it, or that it doesn't apply... because it is just too hard to swallow and because it doesn't match our experience? Or is it because this kind of faith is a lot of work - a life of prayer?

Listen to Jesus

2010-08-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Listen to Jesus! Here Jesus is with his closest disciples... and the Father shows up. The Father could have given them any message. But his message is so simple: "Listen to Jesus! He is who is says he is!" I guess this is the point of my blog. Let's stop ignoring Jesus ... we all do it. Who wants to hear these hard teachings of Jesus? Love your enemy. Forgive your enemy. Your old family ties have been updated with new brothers and sisters. Bare one another's burdens. Turn the other cheek. Etc. Who doesn't want to pretend some of his teachings don't apply to us or that they aren't to be taken literally? Who doesn't want to water them down so they are palitable. Jesus crosses all kinds of lines. Are we willing to cross them to follow him?

Matthew 17:1-8 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

Do we ignore what the Father taught Jesus' disciples.... "listen to him - he is the real deal!" It is so simple: "Don't ignore Jesus."

Following Jesus means denying our lives

2010-08-06T04:04:00.000-07:00

Jesus calls his followers to a committment where they deny themselves. If we want to be Jesus' followers we must be willing to lose our life for Jesus' sake! By that yardstick... how many of us are really Jesus' followers?

Jesus had a purpose for Peter's life. Peter was to be the foundation of the church. And Jesus even warned Peter it would cost him his life (John 21:18-19). For most of us, we will never face death for our committment to the way of Jesus, but we will face giving up our preferences, our priorities, our successes, our fun, our comfort - even being liked. The words, "We are just not that committed" still burn in my ear... words from a favorite and greatly admired elder who unlike Peter didn't want to play their part in building the church. The words, "my congregants are my clients," ring in my ears too... words from a really awesome pastor who realizes he is focused on being liked by his congregants rather than gently and lovingly speaking God's sometimes really hard truth. Or my own hangup, "I will follow you if you are going some place fun (like where we are walking on water), but please don't send me to people who never laugh (where the waves are 16 footers and the wind howls)!" Are we really willing to give up our lives for Jesus?

Matthew 16:21-27 21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27 "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done...

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that to follow him is the ultimate committment? In reality, for most Americans, that doesn't mean dying. For most of us that means trading what we think makes us happy for what Jesus really created us to do and be. And still... are we willing to do that?

Revelation of the Messiah comes supernaturally

2010-08-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

Jesus taught that not only was he the Messiah, Son of the Living God, but that this knowledge is revealed supernaturally.

Matthew 16:13-20 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.

I think those of us who are convinced that Jesus was who he said he was often think we can convince others through a compelling argument or a life well lived. We often think the burden rests on our shoulders. And while what we do may contribute, the revelation comes supernaturally through God. How does it change our witness when we realize that God reveals himself to people supernaturally not because we try hard enough to convince them? What if we see ourselves as "we get to take part in God's mission" instead of "God's mission rests on my shoulders?" Could we live with greater joy and anticipation of watching God work instead of thinking we have to do it all?

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that God does the work of revealing Jesus?

Beware that legalism has a far reaching insidious affect

2010-08-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

Jesus taught us to beware that legalism infects the entire body. When the dough is kneaded, the yeast spreads throughout and affects the whole body of the dough. This is also what happens when legalism takes hold in a church. It can look many different ways... "certain people can't worship with us because they aren't like us" to "our music, our liturgists, our way is the only right way to worship God" to "only people with certain political views are welcome." Jesus says, "beware" of the influence of legalism, because it takes the focus off of following him and puts it on knowing the right theology, the right set of rules to follow, and the right list of good works to do. And then what are you left with? Religion. Not Jesus followers.

Matthew 16:5-12 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, "Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 They said to one another, "It is because we have brought no bread." 8 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9 Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" 12 Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to beware of the infectious nature of legalism? What do I do that supports legalism in my church instead of standing against it?

Ignoring the only sign

2010-08-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

Jesus taught that rejecting him meant they'd rejected the only sign they were going to get. Imagine you are on a journey and there is only one path that will get you where you want to go. And you fail to see it. This is what happens when...

Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is the only sign we are gonna get? For the love of their traditions and for the sake of their personal power, these two religious groups, who generally don't even like one another, have both rejected Jesus. But now they join forces to try and discredit Jesus. Funny how hate can unite "evil and unfaithful" people. Jesus has already done a bunch of miracles and is very popular among those not in power. In fact he is taking away from the popularity and power of the leaders.... and they are upset by this. They have serious control issues! So they decide to try and discredit Jesus by asking for a sign. There have already been lots of signs. Now they want one more. But Jesus tells them that he is the only sign they are going to get. Jonah was the only sign given to Nineveh. God sent Jonah and nothing else to tell the Ninevites about God. And Jesus is the only sign they are going to get too. But they didn't want Jesus - his gospel took away their traditions and power.

What traditions and power issues do we have - what makes us evil and unfaithful - that keep us from following the only sign we are ever going to get?

The abundance of God's Kingdom is supernatural

2010-07-30T03:22:00.000-07:00

Jesus demonstrates that the abundance of the kingdom of God is supernatural. This story comes on the heals of Jesus discussing with the gentile woman whether she was worthy of the crumbs from the table and then abundantly healing her daughter demonstrating that in the Kingdom of God there is enough for even those society has marginalized. In this story, Jesus abundantly and supernaturally feeds a multitude with a few loafs and fish. Again, in the Kingdom of God, there is enough for everyone! But where does this abundance come from?

Matthew 15:32-39 32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." 33 The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" 34 Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." 35 Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38 Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Do we ignore Jesus' demonstration that the abundance of the Kingdom of God is supernatural? How often do we hold back in offering other's our best - God's best - because we think we have to figure it out first on budget sheets and project plans? How many of us (and how many of of our churches) have big bank accounts, but fail to show the abundance of the kingdom to others sending them away hungry? What if we knew God would provide enough for everyone - supernaturally? How would that change our lives?

Offer everyone an abundant feast not our leftovers

2010-07-29T03:32:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaches us to offer everyone a full feast, not our leftovers.

Matthew 15:22-28 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

In seminary, I had a whole semester class on these verses. The class was entitled "The Eucharist of Crumbs" - a terrific class that questioned if those living on the margins of society (the poor, women, people of other races and lifestyles) are offered only the crumbs that fall from our tables instead of the full Eucharist (the full communion - the complete Lord's Supper - the whole body and blood of Christ). Jesus seems so unlike himself in these verses. First Jesus ignores the woman who is begging him to help her daughter. But she is determined (thank God for people who are determined to intercede for those unable to help themselves - like this mother is for her daughter). Shockingly the words that Jesus says to the woman are cruel, mean, and uncaring. He calls the woman (actually all of us Gentiles) "dogs". Ouch! Is this man who taught us to love and respect everyone serious? Is he pushing the woman to give her an opportunity to demonstrate her faith? Is he reacting sarcastically to his disciples who want him to send her away so they don't have to hear her beg any longer? Are his words meant to shock the disciples and invoke compassion for her? Compassion is certainly the affect it has on me - and confussion about how Jesus is acting. But in the end, Jesus affirms her faith, heals her daughter, and demonstrates that he offers her the full communion. It is the fact that she has faith in Jesus that matters, not her pedigree or standing in society.

Do we ignore Jesus' example to offer everyone God's abundant feast and not the crumbs that fall from our table?

The bad stuff in our hearts defiles us.

2010-07-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

Jesus taught that it is what comes out of the heart that defiles. Jesus really had it out for the Pharisees. They were so certain they knew what rules to follow to gain God's favor. And yet, they didn't understand that their hearts contained thoughts, intentions, plans that defiled their whole person.

Matthew 15:10-20 10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." 12 Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" 13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." 15 But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." 16 Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19 For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."

Do we ignore Jesus' teachings that not even the best and most correct list of rules to follow will make us right with God? It is the intentions, thoughts, and plans of our hearts that matter to God.

Neglecting dependants to build church treasury does not honor God

2010-07-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Jesus taught that neglecting one's parents (giving to the church treasuries the support that the family needs) does not honor God.

Matthew 15:1-9 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat." 3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.' 5 But you say that whoever tells father or mother, 'Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,' then that person need not honor the father. 6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 8 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.'"

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to take care of our family? And who is our family?

In our culture, I think most of us are probably able to hang onto this teaching while denying Jesus' others teachings that go along with it. It is pretty easy to take money we would have given to church and give it to a family member who is depending on us instead. After all, either way, we were giving the money away.

But what we fail to realize is that there are other teachings of Jesus that should inform this teaching. For instance, instead of seeing our family as just those we have a genetic relationship with, Jesus breaks down those walls and tells us we are all now one family. Therefore, we can extend this teaching to taking care of all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We worship God when we take care of one another. Never make giving into something superstitious: "the more I give to the church bank account, the more God will bless me, therefore I will give even if it means neglecting those I am charged with caring for." Instead, the hands and feet of Jesus have this priority worked out: Put those needing my support first, then the church treasury."

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Note: This passage contains more than just one teaching. They have been divided over the last few posts.

Following the word of God is more important than following tradition
Honoring God with our lips and not our heart is meaningless
Worship is meaningless when hearts are far from God
Teaching human precepts as doctrine is wrong
Neglecting one's parents (giving to church treasuries support they need) is not honoring to God