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John 12:20-33 Seek and You Will Find…Great Expectations

Today’s Gospel passage marks the beginning of a change in Jesus’ ministry. The coming of the Greeks is seen as anticipating the coming of the Gentiles into the community of believers. While it is true that before the events in our Gospel reading Jesus spoke to the woman at the well and healed a woman’s daughter, the primary focus of Jesus’ ministry until this point in time was the people of Israel-the Jews. The visit of the Greeks reflected the Pharisee’s statement in verse 19 that the whole world has gone after Jesus. Their arrival prompted Jesus to acknowledge that the hour had come for him to be crucified, and by his death and resurrection, he will draw all people to him, including the Gentiles.

The drawing of all people to Jesus might seem to be ironic given that those who shouted “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday shouted “Crucify him” on Good Friday. Part of the reason is because of the nature of the Messiah that the people were seeking. They were seeking a Messiah who would create an army, drive out the Romans and restore Israel to the glory days of King David. They had no such expectations of the Son of Man. In fact, the title “Son of Man” has none of the militaristic connotations or meanings associated with the title of Messiah.

Jesus sought to downplay those expectations in favour of the expectations of a suffering servant. He has the same expectations of us. He expected the people of his day to be focused on serving others and in return God would bless them. In fact, he served others by healing, teaching and washing the disciples’ feet just before he celebrated the Last Supper with them. During Jesus’ time it was the custom for guests who arrived at a home to have their feet washed by household servants.

Jesus is the new covenant that God promised to his people in Jeremiah 31:31-34. In Jesus, God united us to him with bonds that can never be broken, and through this new covenant, we and Jesus can look death in the eye and see victory. The new covenant is represented by the replacement of the Ten Commandments with Jesus’ two Great Commandments-“Love God and love people”. If we love God and love people, our desire to serve God and others will naturally flow out of this love.

Jesus’ expectations of service are emphasized in Matthew 25:31-46. We are expected to be faithful even to death and trust that God will glorify us. In order to be glorified by God, we must be prepared to experience suffering first and serve others, just like Jesus served others and suffered on the cross for our sins.

God glorified Jesus when he spoke from heaven. When Jesus became glorified on the cross, Satan was defeated. The forces of opposition were defeated. The barriers that kept people from joining with God were defeated-and that was proven when the temple’s curtain, which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, was torn in two.

The people with Jesus did not recognize God’s voice, largely because it had been years since anyone heard God speak. They did come to understand after Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are the same. When we are on our Christian walk, we encounter things we can’t understand right away. Some things will become clear as we mature spiritually, while other things will become clear when we meet Jesus.

If there is no sowing of seeds, there can be no harvest. We can’t have a harvest of souls for God if we do not sow seeds for God. We must not let the things of this life interfere with our obedience to God’s will. We have been given a message of hope and transformation that the world desperately needs to hear and embrace. If we spread this message, we will draw others to Christ. It involves sacrifice. When we see a rich harvest-in a family, church, mission field or business-we can be sure that there have been people who have given of themselves in their service. The kingdom sprouts out of our daily choices to “die to ourselves and live for Christ’. In other words, the kingdom will grow when we live a life of serving others and loving others like Christ loved others and served others. We will have eternal life and things to do. We will feel better about ourselves because we will be transformed.

Jesus mentions in verse 27 that “My soul is troubled”. No doubt it was troubled by his coming death on the cross. It parallels his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Some scholars believe that the Greeks knew about the plot to kill Jesus and came to spirit him away to safety. While Jesus’ human side might have welcomed this rescue plan, his godly side knew that this rescue plan would have defeated God’s plan to rescue us from a life of sin and eternal damnation. He gave up his human desire to live in favour of God’s plan for salvation. In other words, Jesus died to his human self so that he could live out God’s plan for his life and our eternal lives.

During Lent, we as Christians are supposed to “give up” something as an outward expression of an inward transformation. To give up something is to relinquish it, to renounce it, to forfeit or lose it, or as Jesus says, to die to it. Jesus hints at the ultimate ‘loss’ anyone might experience, to give up life as normally lived in the world in order to gain a newly enriched life. On the other hand, to try to control every variable in life is the way to death and loss.

It is often hard for us to do the same thing. It is hard for us to say no to self and yes to God. In fact, we often do exactly the opposite-we pray “yes” to self and “no” to God. We tell God what we want him to do for us, what we want his plans for us to be, and how we are willing to serve him. It usually takes a crisis of significant proportions for most of us to give up control of our lives. It means we come to the end of ourselves and our struggle to control the events of our lives and we finally come to the place where we can say, “I surrender, God! Please take full control of my life”.

It reminds me of the song “Jesus Take the Wheel”, which was recorded by country music singer Carrie Underwood. The song tells the story of a mother who lives a hectic life. On a late-night Christmas Eve drive on a snow-covered road, the woman begins sorting out her emotions and bemoans not having enough time to do the things that really matter. Then, her car hits a patch of black ice, causing the woman to lose control of her car. She panics, takes her hands off the steering wheel and cries out to Jesus; shortly thereafter, the car stops spinning and safely stops on the shoulder. After taking stock of the situation (and seeing that her baby has remained fast asleep in the rear seat), the woman decides to let “Jesus take the Wheel” of her life.

Jesus was facing an overwhelming situation and struggle in his earthly life. He came to this hour in his life to be the answer to the overwhelming situations in all of our lives. He was raised up to draw all of us to him. This was done so that in Jesus each of us will find the answer to our problems, the courage for the trials we face, and the victory over Satan who brought all of these problems upon us through his temptation. God recalibrated our internal compass so that it would point to Jesus. He is the leader whose directions we listen for and with whose plan for our lives we choose to align ourselves. If we want to serve Christ, we must be a follower. To do as Jesus did is the best way to bring honour to his name. He will give us the resources we need to meet the spiritual needs of others. He has given himself and he has given us his word.

When a martyr is created, it is like lighting a fuse or throwing a lit match into a can of gasoline. It begins the process of change. Jesus’ martyrdom/crucifixion began the process of change from the Law of Moses to God’s grace. Would Jesus’ ministry have been as effective if he had not been martyred? The answer is a resounding “NO!” Had he not been crucified, he would have been seen as just a prophet or a faith healer or both. His death and resurrection, during which he paid the price for our sins, opened the door to the restoration of our relationship with God. His death was necessary for the salvation of many lives.

Jesus looked ahead to his upcoming death and resurrection. Like a single seed, he was buried in the earth. He died to his oneness, his solitariness and was raised up not only in his own glorified body, but in the lives and the bodies, of his followers. His enemies thought he was dead, but he was raised to a life more abundant than before. He became the Christ of countless places and countless people.

When Jesus referred to being “lifted up” in verse 32, he drew a parallel between his crucifixion and Moses’ placing of the serpent on the pole in Numbers 24:4-9. Just like those who were bitten by the snakes could look at the snake on the pole and live, those who look at the crucified and risen Christ in faith will be healed of their sinful nature and have eternal life. The key words are “in faith”. We look at the risen Christ in faith when our words and deeds are in alignment with his plans for our lives. When we show concern and help for our fellow man, we show that we are looking at the risen Christ in faith. Jesus is the signpost pointing us to God and to a life of self-surrender in love and service to others.

We are to represent Jesus as well as we can in our thoughts, words and deeds and allow him to live through us. We can never convert anyone. That is Christ’s job, not ours. We are to effectively communicate God’s love to a world dying for love. To tell people about the whole counsel of God, we also need to tell people about the stark spiritual reality of a life without him in this world and the next. If we trust Jesus we are united to him and his death is our death according to Galatians 2:20 and his condemnation is our condemnation according to Romans 8:3. If we never trust Jesus, we stand condemned by our sin, and by our rejection of the offer of forgiveness.

We and the Greeks who came to see Jesus are the same. They and we are attracted by the one who, in his hour of suffering, is a completely faithful servant to God; who shows total generosity; willing to give up everything for us, without holding back anything in reserve; who shows us that defeat and death open up new possibilities, when we would see only endings and lose trust; who offers us hope, even when the doors are shut and when we would throw our hands up in despair and prepare to accompany one more body to the tomb. In return, we are to present the love of God in real ways and present Jesus as a human friend, companion and guide in both word and deed.

To complete the process, though, now requires a battle with our petty selfishness in what is a form of death. That is why Jesus speaks of losing our life in order to find life. It is a form of death, because, as Hebrews 5:5-10 suggests, after the learning of hard truths about ourselves, we must sacrifice wrongful pleasures, habitual injustices, false gods. And it hurts to surrender those ways of living. It hurts both when we first start to serve others and when we seek to deepen that service.

Whatever our age, we can’t say that we’ve finally cracked it, that there’s nothing left to tackle, that we are immune from these growing pains. But as the soul of Jesus was troubled, and as Jesus offered up his anguish in prayer, so, too, we must experience the anguish of discipleship, and hope to find his resolve as that anguish is lifted up to God in prayer.

Bibliography

 

  • Notes from Peter Anthony’s Bible Study on the Gospel of John
  • Rev. Paul DeVries, “Praying in Alignment with God”. Retrieved from www.backtogod.net
  • John Piper, “For This Purpose I Have Come to This Hour”. Retrieved from www.desiringgod.org
  • Rev. Ken Klaus, “Consequences”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org
  • Rev. Ken Klaus, “Lifting Others Up”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org
  • Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27:John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)
  • Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
  • MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers: 2006; 2008)

 

    1. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package.
    2. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package
    3. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Year B, Fifth Sunday in Lent. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org.archives/year-b-fifth-sunday-in-lent
    4. Daniel B. Clendenin, Ph.D., “The Backward Life of a Lenten Spring”. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net/index.shtml?view=print
    5. The Rev. Dr. James B. Lemler, “Seeking, Searching, Seeing”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
  • The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “The Sprouting of the Unexpected Good Seed”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

 

  1. Richard Finn, O.P., “Poison and Antidote”. Retrieved from http://torch.op.org/preaching_sermon_item.php?sermon=5672

 

 

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Hebrews 5:5-10 How to be a Priest

Each and every one of us can be a priest!

Does that statement make sense to you? After all, when we hear the word “priest” we often think of the ordained clergy who preside at weddings, funerals, baptisms or weekly worship services. The truth is, we are all priests. Let me explain by talking about the role of a priest as outlined in Hebrews 5:5-10.

In Genesis 14:18-21, Abraham gave a tithe of the spoils of war to Melchizedek. He was the king of Salem, which was the ancient name for Jerusalem, and he was a priest of the true God. He lived many centuries before Aaron and is described in Hebrews 7:3 as “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God.” In other words, his ancestry is unknown.

Jesus is also a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was morally perfect, but he was further perfected by the discipline of suffering, where he completed his qualification course foe becoming the eternal High Priest. Jesus did what no Old Testament priest could do-not even Melchizedek. The Old Testament priests had to atone for the sins of the people and their own sins as well. Jesus provided eternal salvation by being the sinless author of salvation.

Jesus was a high priest for everyone. He reconciled us to God, thereby healing any and all divisions. In return, we are to be ministers to everyone in that we are to show God’s love to everyone, regardless of race, colour, creed or ethnicity.

Jesus was never shielded from suffering. His sufferings were real and intense and included every human woe. That’s the difference between innocence and virtue. Innocence is life untested, virtue is innocence tested and triumphant. Jesus was tested and triumphant, and in the testing he learned obedience. Jesus took on human flesh and came to earth to die for our sins and to identify with every area of our lives except for sin but including suffering. Jesus suffered pain on the cross so we can have eternal life.

The community of the baptized, the church and its members, is supposed to follow Jesus’ example. We are supposed to show up when people need us. We are to share others’ suffering, pain and joy, even when we are suffering. Even when our pain is not by our own choice, God can use our pain for good if we let him. For example, Jesus ministered to the repentant thief on the cross even while he (that is, Jesus) was in agony on the cross. Christians find in suffering an opportunity to learn discipline, obedience, grace and faith, just like Jesus did.

When we suffer, we must not complain, especially if our suffering is caused by something we can’t control-for example, the harsh conditions we have experienced this winter. Accepting the things that we can’t change when we suffer is the first step toward overcoming them in a Christian way. Times of suffering aren’t times for us to withdraw and engage in self-pity. They are precisely the times when we need to offer ourselves to others, because they are the second step toward overcoming life’s trials and hardships.

Christ and Aaron were divinely called to serve as High Priests. High priests do not grasp at this position for its honour and glory. Those who seize the office in arrogance are disqualified. Aaron and those who followed him as high priest came to their position because God called and appointed them. The High Priest must be able to deal with the ignorant and the errant because he is beset by human weakness.

Christ was mentioned as both God’s Son and as a priest of the order of Melchizedek. His calling as a priest was natural given that as God’s son he sits and rules at God’s right hand. Jesus was faithful to God, even to the point of death on the cross. Jesus aligned his will with God’s plan for his life. As Christians we are called on to make sure that our lives are in line with God’s plans for our lives. In other words, our plans for our lives must be the same as God’s plans for our lives. We are to place our lives in God’s hands.

As our High Priest, Jesus stands between us and God. Consequently, we have the right to approach the throne of God. Jesus has experienced all of our human weaknesses and identifies with them because he was tempted like all of us. He isn’t scared of our sin. He has felt all of our human emotions. The only difference between Jesus and us is that Jesus is without sin. We don’t have to ask twice for forgiveness. We don’t have to be afraid of approaching God’s throne.

God’s love outlines boundaries. Without these boundaries we would be easy targets for every kind of harmful influence. Our obedience to God’s will ushers in God’s protection and blessings. Obedience comes from our relationship with God. That relationship is built not by our own efforts, but by grace through faith.

As part of being a High Priest, Jesus made prayer and supplication part of his daily life. He was wholly dependent on his Father and obeyed him even when he wrestled with temptation. In his humanity, Jesus served with a broken heart. He was heartbroken over the condition of the people. His ministry was a tearful ministry. In Hebrews 5:7 we are told that “while Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with loud cries and tears, to the one who could deliver him.” Jesus learned obedience when he suffered. Jesus’ passionate prayers must be our guide to prayer. Our prayers must be as passionate as his were.

In his humanity, Christ struggled with the assignment God gave him: death on the cross. Even though God heard his cries, the plan was not changed. Jesus walked through all of it in complete submission, just like he had done with every assignment God gave him throughout his earthly life. When we suffer in faith, when we suffer for being God’s love in the world, when we move through an unbelieving world and pay the price for our faith, we show God’s values. These values reflect Jesus and result in a way and a model for salvation.

As we travel life’s road, we are constantly tempted to sin just like Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. If we sin, we are lost. The only hope we have is to throw ourselves on Christ’s mercy and ask for his help. He can meet our needs. He is willing to represent us before God because he has gone before us as the perfect Son of God.

When we become Christians, God enrolls us in the same school of “hard knocks” that Jesus was enrolled in. The problem is that we have to choose between our earthly lives and our heavenly lives. We have to choose which one we want to live in, because we can’t live in both. God helps us to make that choice by getting our minds off of the things of this world and teaching us obedience in preparation for life in the next world.

When we pray to God, we must be obedient to God. Obedience is necessary for our salvation. We can’t earn our salvation by good deeds. The only deeds that can save us are those by which we receive God’s unmerited gift of salvation. Our zeal for completing the mission God gives each and every one of us to do involves moving our lives and the life of the church toward a model of priesthood according to the order of both Melchizedek and Jesus. It also involves caring for the deep physical and spiritual needs that we have in our daily lives.

So how are we like priests? We are appointed by God. We sacrifice ourselves and our desires to God. We continually pray to God about the human condition. We offer prayers and supplication with genuine care and concern. Finally, we ask other to join with us to do God’s work in our world-just like any priest would do.

 

Bibliography

 

  • Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
  • Ron Moore, “Source of Eternal Salvation.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
  • Dr. Charles Stanley, “Learning Obedience through Suffering.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
  • The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel, “Christ the Center.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.
  • Erskine White, “How to Deal with Suffering.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
  • The Rev. Eugenia Gamble, “Suffering for Faith.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
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John 3:14-21 For God So Loved the World…

A little girl once asked her grandmother, “Granny, do all fairytales begin with ‘Once Upon a Time’?”

“No darling,” said the grandmother, “There’s a whole series of them that begin ‘If elected, I promise’.”

All of us know what it is like to over promise and under deliver. Maybe that’s why it’s so hard for us to believe that God sent Jesus to give us eternal life. To look at Jesus-He promised so little, but He delivered so much.

In the passage we heard from John’s Gospel, Jesus states the reason why He came into the world. Jesus recalled God’s remedy during the plague of poisonous serpents in Moses’ day-healing those who looked on the bronze serpent-to foretell His death on the cross, where He would be lifted. Anyone who looks on Him in faith receives eternal life.

We are sinners. There is no human cure for the ills of the soul. As the people who were bitten looked on the image of the serpent and were healed in Numbers 21:4-9, so may sinners look to the Saviour and be cured of the sickness of our nature. Our destiny is not determined by our actions, thoughts or intentions, but by our nature. We start out as sinners, opposed to God. Jesus didn’t come for the good, but for those hopelessly lost without Him. Our most desperate need-salvation from our sins-can only be obtained by faith in Jesus as our substitute and Saviour according to God’s plan.

The power of the Christian is in the truth; the power of Satan is in the lie. To the Satanist, power is everything, but power is only effective in the darkness. The Christian is to pursue the truth because power and authority are already inherent in him.

God loves humankind as shown by these circumstances:

  1. The world was exposed to God’s wrath because of sin.
  2. Men were in a hopeless condition.
  3. God gave His Son as an undeserved gift.
  4. God gave Jesus up to extreme suffering.
  5. It was for the entire world

Verse 16 tells more about God and His plan for this world than any other verse in the Bible. God gave the most extravagant thing He could to demonstrate His love for lost humankind, summoning and sending His Son to pay the debt for sin.

For Jesus to come that the world through Him might be saved is good news-except for those who do not believe. While God loves everyone, not everyone accepts that love. When a sinner believes in Jesus, he trusts Jesus as having died in his place. Since God accepted the offering which Christ made in our place, there is no further condemnation for the sinner.

The character of a sincere Christian loves truth. They love it, seek it and follow it. They come to the light. They don’t attempt to deceive themselves of this. They are willing to know themselves and the true state of their hearts before God.

In contrast, those who reject Jesus or who have not heard the Gospel are condemned. They love the darkness of sin and hate the light of Christ. They prefer sin, false doctrines and error to the truth. The light of the Gospel condemns their conduct, and their consciences would trouble them if they were enlightened.

Coming to Christ isn’t easy for us. We want to impress each other. Why would any of us want to open up and let other Christians see the dark secrets we keep hidden away? Like Nicodemus, there is a Pharisee deep inside every one of us. Jesus knows us inside and out. He knows our pride, our stubbornness and our judgmental heart. Jesus’ call to Nicodemus goes out to each of us.

When we are following God’s principles for living, when we seek purity and righteousness, when we act and speak with integrity, the world is going to resent us for it. We can’t expect a world in darkness to understand our desire to walk in the light. Regardless of the cynicism or ridicule we face, God calls us to His standard of obedience and righteousness. We don’t have to do this work alone. The Holy Spirit will guide us through the obstacles of worldly thinking. The Bible will show us the truth when we are confronted by lies.

Let’s not think that God only does the giving and that we do all the receiving. He now expects us to do the giving too. We have the wisdom to share what Jesus did for us. We have the wisdom to share our past mistakes, consequences, guilt, burdens and forgiveness in the hope that God is revealed to the people we talk to. We need to give mercy to others who are fallible and in need of forgiveness.

A light exposes what hides in the darkness. The most fundamental reason that people reject Jesus is not because they fail to understand the Gospel, but because they do not want to change. They love the darkness of sin instead of the Light of Christ. Jesus is the true Light that gives light to everyone. We can’t expect a world in darkness to understand our desire to walk in the light. Regardless of the persecution or ridicule we face, God calls us to His standard of obedience and righteousness.

When people put off deciding about Christ-or about moving forward to a deeper level or spiritual maturity-they have not remained neutral. The failure to say “Yes” to Christ is the same as saying “No.” Why? Because we are born into this world saying “No” to God because of our sinful human nature. We remain condemned by sin until the day we say “Yes” to Christ.

From this we learn:

  1. Jesus is the only way to salvation
  2. Salvation is full and free for everyone
  3. Salvation is easy.

Eternal life refers not only to eternal quantity but divine quality of life. This life for believers is experienced before believers reach heaven. It is nothing less than participation in the eternal life of the Living Word, Jesus Christ.

Love is central to the very nature of God. It reaches out to everyone who is ugly and sick. God comes to everyone in love. God’s invitation is as wide as God’s heart. It is open to everyone who believes. He won’t cheapen the terms, or He would not be true to Himself. We can only accept the invitation by trust, faith and submission. The issue was sharpened by His coming. Now we have a choice to make: accept Him and spend eternity in heaven or reject Him and spend eternity in hell.

The kind of love that God has for us is the kind of love that can change the world. It’s based on communications more than feelings. If love were based on feelings, it would not have the power that it does. Love has the power to change everything. That’s the kind of love that God wants us to show to the world around us.

God offers salvation on one simple and single condition-a wholehearted faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone as Lord and Saviour, resting upon Him for complete salvation, renouncing all self-trust, admitting our sinfulness, confessing our need, and crying out to Jesus to save us from our sins.

The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more our hearts and minds align with His will. Choosing to do the right thing becomes easier when we begin to understand God’s ways. Standing for the truth becomes easier when we find encouragement and strength in Scripture. But apart from God, we will quickly become involved in the world’s ways of thinking.

To walk in the truth is to walk in the light, unashamed of how we live before both God and man. When we are walking in the truth, living out God’s Word in our everyday lives, there is no need to deceive. The truth needs to make no apologies or excuses for its deeds.

When we agree with God’s accurate view of our sinfulness, that is the repentance part of trusting Him. Believing in Him means we put our full weight down on His love for us. It’s choosing to believe with our whole hearts not just that God loves, but that He truly loves us as we are, with full knowledge of our shortcomings. Beyond an intellectual agreement, we have to embrace God’s love for us as our ultimate source of forgiveness, hope, direction for living and eternal life.

 

Bibliography

 

  1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1445-1446)
  2. Barnes, Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
  3. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 78-86)
  4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
  5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
  6. Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Share the Gospel? What Gospel?” Retrieved from www.keepbelieving.org
  7. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Obstacles of Worldly Thinking.” Retrieved from my devotional@leadingtheway.org
  8. Paul Chappell, “According to the Plan.” Retrieved from daily@dailyintheword.org
  9. Pastor Ed Young, “Commit Your Feelings to Your Commitment.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
  10. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Victory Over Guilt.” Retrieved from www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/in-touch
  11. Dr. David Jeremiah, “Ship ahoy.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
  12. Berni Dymet, “Once Upon a Time.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
  13. Anne Graham Lotz, “The Light of the World.” Retrieved from www.angelministries.org
  14. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Let Truth be the Light.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
  15. “The Heart (and Mind) of the Matter.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
  16. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for John 3:14-21.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
  17. Rev. Wayne Palmer, “Darkness or Light?” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
  18. Dr. David Jeremiah, “The Same as Saying, ‘No’”. Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
  19. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Obstacles of Worldly Thinking.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org

 

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John 2:13-22 House-Cleaning the Temple

What is the one thing many of you do at least once a year, especially in the spring? I bet most of you did some spring cleaning. Spring is a good time to give your house a good going over and clean everything up and get rid of a lot of junk that you don’t need.

Today I want to tell you about a time when Jesus did some spring cleaning. It was time for the annual Passover celebration, so Jesus traveled to Jerusalem. When He arrived, He went to the temple. He couldn’t believe his eyes. There in the temple area he saw people who were selling cattle, sheep, and doves for the people to use as sacrifices in the temple. There were tables set up for money changers so that people could change their money to pay their temple taxes. It looked more like a carnival than a house of worship.

Jesus did not like what he saw. He was so angry that he made a whip from some rope and he drove the cattle and sheep and those who were selling them from the temple. He went to the tables of the money changers and turned them over, scattering coins all over the temple floor. To the ones who were selling the doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market.” Yes, I would say that Jesus did some spring cleaning in the temple that day!

Jesus had a high regard for pure worship of His Father. He wanted to rid the temple of the abuses that had crept into that worship. The moneychangers and sellers obeyed Jesus for several reasons:

  1. They were punished by their consciences
  2. They thought Jesus was a prophet, and the Jews had respect for prophets.
  3. Jesus had a wide reputation among the people, and many of them thought He was the long-promised Messiah.
  4. He made people tremble in His presence.

God approves of anger at sin and wants His servants to take appropriate action against it. Jesus revealed the righteous anger God feels when what is good and intended to help people is infiltrated by human greed. Mercy is always available to those who seek it, but we can’t forget that Jesus gets angry when He meets injustice and any restrictions on those seeking God. Jesus acted as He did because of the moneychangers’ dishonesty and their disregard for the purpose of the temple-worship. Jesus would clean out the temple again near the end of His public ministry. Why? There are several possible reasons:

  1. The moneychangers and sellers forgot Jesus’ rebuke.
  2. Nothing that was sacred could guard them from their sin.
  3. Their love of money was stronger than their sin.

Jesus believed that the temple was a place that should be set aside for people to draw closer to God. It was not meant to be a place where a person’s sincere desire to worship God should be exploited for profit. He ended a way of life and thought. The normal practice of sacrificing animals for the sins of the people would not be needed now that He had come. He would be the new house in which God’s glory will break forth.

 We are now in the season of Lent. It is the time in the church year when we focus on setting priorities in our spiritual lives, gaining some clarity and perspective on what really matters in our Christian faith. Just as driving while distracted can lead us into trouble, distracted discipleship can lead us into dangerous territory. We can be so busy and preoccupied with the church that what our faith and worship are about can become impossible for people to distinguish.

 Today, Jesus is still challenged by the darkness in our lives. When we gather to worship, pray and listen to His Word, our minds are filled with earthly concerns. The light of Christ shines in the darkness and draws our thoughts back to Jesus.

 Christ enters our lives, forgives our sins and cleanses us so that we can worship properly. We become a cleansed temple. Through Jesus, we have been given forgiveness and freedom. We don’t receive them because we follow detailed and perfect rituals, but through Christ’s gift to us.

 As we think about Jesus cleansing the temple, we should also think about some other cleaning that needs to be done. Lent is a time to look inside ourselves and see if there is anything in us that needs to be changed. Are there some areas of your life where Jesus needs to do some ‘spring cleaning’?

Bibliography

  1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1444-1445)
  2. “Spring Cleaning.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com
  3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
  4. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 69-74)
  5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
  6. Pastor Bob Coy, “Principle Power.” Retrieved from www.activeword.org
  7. The Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess, “Driven from Distraction.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
  8. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 3rd Sunday in Lent (B).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
  9. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for John 2:13-22.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
  10. Rev. Wayne Palmer, “The Light Blazes in Fury.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org

 

 

Posted on by craigcondonlayreader

Genesis 22:1-19 God and His Tests

Have you ever been asked by someone to do something that did not make sense to you? If so, then you can understand what went through Abraham’s mind when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac, the story of which is in Genesis 22:1-19.

Satan tempts people to bring out their worst: God may test His loved ones to bring out their best. The people closest to God often find themselves in the midst of bigger tests. But Christians must remember: God will only ask them to do what He will enable them to do.

 God tests our faith so that we might know what is in us. We might say that we love God and that He is first in our lives or that our marriages are centered around Him or that we trust or obey Him. We can easily deceive ourselves unless that love for God is put to the test.

Each of us has three parts to our personalities: intellect, emotions, and will. Each was included in the test as God sought to refine Abraham to a purer faith. When God commanded Abraham to offer his promised son as a burnt offering, Isaac was approximately 15 years old. In this defining moment, God asked Abraham to take all his future hopes-all that Abraham expected from the Lord according to His covenant-and surrender them on an altar. Although this instruction made no human sense, Abraham did not argue or plead; he simply obeyed.

The Hebrew term for the word “worship” describes the specific act of a person bowing all the way down to the ground. More important is the force of the verbs used in verse 5: “worship” and “will come back to you” express great determination and faith. Abraham in effect told his servants: Once these acts of worship are complete, Isaac and I will return. Abraham had no precedent that God would somehow bring his son back to life after the offering, for no one had ever seen a resurrection. Nevertheless, he trusted God to do the impossible, maybe because he had already seen God deliver the impossible through Isaac’s birth.

Faith is matured and strengthened by stress much like our bodies are strengthened through exercise. Faith operates in the tensions of life. It demonstrates itself more fully by the responses to stress than times of ease and prosperity. Abraham was asked to evaluate his faith in terms of his love for Isaac. No loving human can take such testing lightly.

There were spiritual implications to what Abraham was being asked to do. God’s promises to Abraham were wrapped up in Isaac, especially the promises regarding the salvation of humanity. God’s promises required that Isaac should live, but God commanded that Isaac be sacrificed. God appeared to contradict Himself, but in reality, He was testing Abraham. God allows testing for all His children, including Jesus. Belief in God doesn’t call for human sacrifice, but God demands other sacrifices. God wants us to sacrifice everything that keeps us from loving and serving Him.

We are like Isaac. We’re the children of a great promise, just like Isaac was the son God promised to Abraham and Sarah. We were born into a sinful world, and we justly deserve God’s anger. Because of our sinful nature, we deserve to be put to death, but at the right time, God provided Himself as the sacrificial lamb instead. We were set free from sin by a substitute so we can live our lives as heirs and children of God.

It is appropriate that we read this passage about sacrifice at this time of year. We are in the season of Lent. It is a season where we remember Jesus’ time in the wilderness and His sacrifice on Good Friday. Lent is a time of sacrifice or giving up something, and many Christians give up things during Lent-things such as chocolate, candy. When God has a plan, He will see it fulfilled. What is God calling you to sacrifice as a test of your faith in Him? Is it your reputation or your wealth? Is it a relationship or an ambition?

We tend to hold closest the things that are most dear to us. We hold on to the things that we think will bring us security and comfort and assurance in our lives. We see them as physical signs that we are protected and will be provided for. The true act of faith on the part of Abraham is not blind faith but the ability to see God’s provision in our lives, especially when things are tough.

Abraham’s faith was locked in the promise that God would keep His promises. God would remove the obstacles to that promise. That faith allowed Abraham to press on and prepare to sacrifice Isaac. He knew that God would do something.

Just as with Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness in Genesis 21:16-17, God spoke at the very moment Abraham needed to hear from Him; just as he took the knife to slay Isaac. God did not want Abraham’s son to die; He wanted Abraham’s submission to Himself. When God said, “Now I know that you fear God,” He validated Abraham’s deep faith.

Why did God wait until the last minute to provide the sacrifice? Why does God wait until the last minute today to bring our provision? It is because we must be empty before we will receive God’s fullness. It wasn’t Isaac who had to die that day. It was Abraham-to his own plans, prospects and viewpoint.

Faith puts people in positions where they can see God’s abilities, timing and providing. God’s people place themselves in places where God will deliver what is needed at the right time and in the right manner.

Abraham’s confidence that God would provide is rewarded in verses 13-18, for God honours those who honour Him. God reaffirmed His covenant to Abraham with the most steadfast of oaths. The phrase “The Lord Will Provide” is a fitting name for Moriah (the Mount of the Lord), because here God provided not only a ram in Isaac’s place but also a Saviour in humanity’s place.

God often gives us a vision in our lives only to let it die first before the purest version of the vision is manifested. When God gives a vision and darkness follows, waiting on God will bring us into accordance with the vision He has given us if we await God’s timing.

No matter what circumstances we may be facing, we should follow Abraham’s example. We should keep our eyes on God. Instead of being overwhelmed by our circumstances, we should place our faith in God, His love, His plan, and His provision. No one or no thing can stand between us and God.

The story of Abraham and Isaac is the story of our relationship with God. He asks us to give up the things we hold dearly, just like He asked Abraham to sacrifice his much-loved son Isaac. God provided a sacrificial substitute for Isaac in the form of the ram. He demanded that we sacrifice ourselves to pay the penalty for our sins, but provided a sacrificial substitute in the form of Jesus Christ. As long as we believe in Him and what He did for us on the cross, we will live for eternity in heaven.

 

Bibliography

 

  1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 32-33)
  2. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 1: Genesis (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 183-187)
  3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
  4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
  5. Thea Lunk, “Only Son Isaac.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
  6. Alan Wright, “Where is the Lamb? Part Two.” Retrieved from sss.SharingtheLight.org
  7. Os Hillman, “His Vision, His Way, In His Timing.” Retrieved from tgif@marketplaceleaders.org
  8. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.,” A Test of Faith.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
  9. Joni Eareckson Tada, “Be a Blessing.” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org
  10. Ron Moore, “Hello, My Name is…God.” Retrieved from www.ronmoore.org
  11. Juliana Classens, “Commentary on Genesis 22:1-14.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org

 

 

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Romans 4:13-25 Justification by Faith

In Romans chapters 2 and three, Paul argued that through the Gospel, it is faith that brings humans into harmony with God. In the passage we heard from Romans, Paul considers Abraham as an example. Abraham was blessed because he believed, had faith, that he would be father of a nation and a source of blessing for everyone. Abraham received the promises of God through faith, and not through the law.

The basis of Abraham’s relationship with God was faith, and faith is the primary basis of our relationship with God. Abraham’s faith was confidence in a person-God. The object of faith matters more than anything else. Abraham’s faith was exemplary, because his faith was in God. Abraham’s faith was related to his knowledge of God, the object of his faith. He had faith in the God who could breathe life into deadness, especially since God breathed life into Abraham and Sarah so they could have a child.

Abraham’s faith was conversant with the problems he faced. His faith was consistent in its progress. When he was faced with delay and discouragement with God’s plan, his faith didn’t waver. It was strengthened. He was also convinced that God’s promises would be fulfilled. Abraham knew that God never promises anything He can’t deliver. Do we believe that? If we do, then it only makes sense to put our complete trust in Him, regardless of how dark our circumstances might appear. All believers become heirs with Abraham of the promise. Abraham’s faith is a good example of the faith we as Christians should have. It led to Abraham’s justification. He had faith in a God what could provide the divine answer to the human problem.

When God’s people look to the law for justification instead of to God, failure to keep the law makes them guilty and they face death instead of life. God’s promise of the law is uncertain. His promise of faith is certain. The promise given to Abraham has not expired nor become the private possession of any one race. It permeates the entire world.

Abraham’s faith conquered impossibility, improbability, inadequacy, inconsistency, insecurity and infidelity. Abraham believed in the God of creation, who “calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” This is the essence of faith. The same God of Genesis 1-2 who brought forth life and the earth and sky out of nothing also brought forth Isaac, the son of promise, from the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Later, at the altar, standing over that same son with a knife in obedience to the Lord, Abraham again believed that God could give life to the dead. Hope that is centered in God is contrary to the world’s hope.

Abraham did not waver in his faith at the time of testing, God’s ability to perform His promises was the foundation of Abraham’s faith’s stability. Faith looks past the gift to the Giver and past the promise to the One who promises. Abraham’s faith was linked to God’s power and faithfulness. Abraham didn’t have great cause to expect God to fulfill His promise because of the circumstances Abraham was in. In spite of this, he believed God’s Word and looked forward to the time when his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

God can declare people who believe in Him to be righteous even though they aren’t. He can do this by giving His righteousness to them, just like He declared Jesus’ “Sin” and punished Him even though Jesus was not a sinner. If Abraham was justified by faith, then all of us are justified on the same basis. The proof is God’s acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice. God would be able to be just and yet justify the ungodly.

God considered Abraham a righteous man because Abraham looked beyond the limitations of his age. God considered Abraham to be someone who could accomplish His goals. Abraham accepted God by faith. Similarly, if we accept God by faith, God’s grace will be available to us. When we act in faith, we give God the glory for the outcome, like Abraham did. Abraham didn’t parade greatness or look for praise from others.

When his hope died, Abraham went on hoping in faith. Similarly, when we are at a dead end in our lives, we need faith, and we need to read and study the Bible. It gives us encouragement because even if something is out of our control, it isn’t out of God’s control. As we spend time reading and studying the Bible, God will show us how to live by faith. We do this by preparing well, speaking in a Christlike manner, sharing God’s love and understanding that God wants to change our lives.

Faith is something that is strengthened over time. Abraham and Sarah waited for years for God to fulfill His promise. Abraham considered and thought about God’s strength and ability. He thought about God’s faithfulness and gave praise and glory to God. Abraham’s faith allowed God to do mighty things in and through him.

God gives us great promises-the same promises made to Abraham-and invites us to come by faith and receive the grace of those promises and the fullness of life with God. God invites us to join Him in a bond of peace that nothing that can overthrow and that is richer, fuller and more durable than anything the world can offer.

Paul understands Jesus’ death as representative of all humanity. Jesus entered the death into which all humanity condemned by its sinfulness and then rose from the dead. His resurrection is representative of what can be true for all who accept what God has declared in the story of Jesus. There can be no discrimination based on race and religious tradition. All human beings need to enter a relationship of faith with God, and all human beings can enter that relationship. Paul argues that we shouldn’t think of Abraham in terms of being the patriarch of Israel, but rather as the model and mentor of all who believe.

So how do we lay hold of these promises so that we may enjoy the full and abundant life He plans for us?

 

  1. We need to make sure we understand the promises of God and that we see them for as precious and great as they are.
  2. We must give glory to God for His promises-praising and thanking Him daily, taking the promises back to Him and exalting Him for such grace and mercy, rehearsing our plans and visions before Him with gratitude and praise.
  3. We must remember that we are called to be people of faith who are not misled by denominational traditions. The law has always been a mean of pointing the way to God. It is an instrument that helps us know and do the divine will. As such the law is meant to free us, but when the law is mistaken for an end, the consequence can be a state of spiritual confusion in which all hope is obscured. The law can’t set us right with God and therefore give us access to God’s promised blessings. Any relationship with God that is grounded in and lives out of the law is not a right relationship.

When we praise God, we’re putting our faith in action. Just as putting our physical bodies into action so they will grow strong, putting our faith in action through prayer, worship and thanksgiving will make it grown strong too.

Faith is the determination to keep on walking with God no matter what happens, and that faith results in commitment. Faith demands dependence and we resist depending on God because of our stubborn independence. It’s hard for us to trust God more fully because of our willful pride and our sinful nature.

The world judges us by how much we can gather for ourselves, but there are no wages in heaven. In faith, God sets us free of needing to earn our way. We are freely showered with God’s mercy. When we see our lives from God’s viewpoint, we no longer have to worry about comparing ourselves to others. No one has to be worthy. God’s grace overturns all our economies. Abraham and Sarah trusted God, though His promise seemed to good to be true, and they received a son whom they nicknamed “Laughter.” We trust that the same God whose promise is good and true and receive abundant, eternal life in Jesus.

 

Bibliography

 

  1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1291-1292)
  2. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 101-107)
  3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
  4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
  5. Os Hillman, “Being Fully Persuaded.” Retrieved from tgif@marketplaceleaders.org
  6. Pastor Rick Warren, “God’s Grace is for Everybody.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
  1. Pastor Rick Warren, “At Hope’s End? Rely on God’s Word.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
  2. T.M. Moore, “Covenant Promises (6).” Retrieved from www.ailbe,org
  3. T.M. Moore, “Failing to Take the Next Step.” Retrieved from www.ailbe.org
  4. Bruce Pinter, “Bible Study: 2 Lent (A).” Retrieve from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
  5. Joel Osteen, “Consider Your God.” Retrieved from www.joelosteen.com
  6. Joel Osteen, “Growing Strong through Praise.” Retrieved from www.joelosteen.com
  7. Joel Osteen, “Keep Faith Alive.” Retrieved from www.joelosteen.com
  8. Jessica Christy, “Romans 4:1-5,13-17.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu.
  9. Dr. Harold Sala, “The Testing of Faith.” Retrieved from info@guidelines.org
  10. Arland J. Hultgren, “Commentary on Romans 4:13-25.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
  11. Daniel G. Deffenbaugh, “Commentary on Romans 4:13-25.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
  12. Richard Carlson, “Commentary on Romans 4:13-25.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
  13. Katherine Schifferdecker, “Romans 4:13-25.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu

 

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Mark 8:27-38 The Key to Happiness and Eternal Life

The scene in Mark 8:27-38 is the climax of the first half of Mark’s Gospel. This first half focuses on miracles and gradually reveals Jesus as the Messiah. The second half explains the nature of that Messiahship and has far more teaching and far fewer miracles.

Caesarea Philippi was located well into the heart of Gentile Territory. Why would Jesus choose this location instead of Jerusalem to reveal himself as Israel’s Messiah? The most likely reason was to state that his followers were not to remain in Jerusalem, but were to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel.

Jesus did not want the disciples to reveal his identity right away because they did not completely understand what that meant, as Peter demonstrated when he rebuked Jesus. Peter’s reasoning was demonic. He was influenced by Satan, hence Jesus’ demand to “Get behind me, Satan.”

Three times Jesus mentioned that his death and resurrection were part of God’s plan, and each time the disciples misunderstood his meaning. They thought that the kingdom meant Israel’s return to power and the end of Roman rule. Christ’s way meant suffering and sacrifice, not political maneuvering. Jesus knew that the freedom people need the most is spiritual freedom from sin and God’s wrath, not freedom from political oppression.

Christ’s death represents atonement for sin, and the beginning of God’s eternal, messianic rule. Nothing can make up for the loss of our soul, but there are many times when we exchange our souls and our lives for worldly things instead of spiritual things. Worldly things do not lead to eternal life. Those who give up their lives for the sake of Christ and the Gospel will find eternal life. This concept was very evident to the readers of Mark’s Gospel because they faced persecution and conflict. They saw this as a challenge to be faithful. We have the same challenge today. The world is still hateful to both Christians and the Good News of the Gospel.

I read a news story some time ago about a group of young people who were arrested for trespassing and attempted burglary. They drove to a car lot late at night and removed a set of tires from one of the cars on the lot. Unfortunately for them, the lot’s owner saw them on closed-circuit television. While they were busy trying to steal his tires, he picked up their vehicle with his forklift and hid it inside a building. When they finished their dirty work and were ready to leave, they had no transportation.

Many people today are the same. They spend all of their time trying to get material goods that they think will make them happy, when what they really need for happiness is a personal relationship with God. That relationship will provide us with the transportation we need to get to heaven when we die.

We must not let anything or anyone worldly take control of our lives. Self-control is the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul refers to in Galatians 5:22-23. When we have self-control, we can stand up to people and things who try to tell us what we should be and what we should do.

Jesus taught that being great in God’s kingdom means self-denial and sacrificial service. These values are opposite to the world’s values. Self-denial means letting go of self-determination and becoming obedient to and depending on Jesus. Happiness comes from service, and we need to practice service and generosity today. These two things will bring more happiness to our lives than anything else, and they also define what it means to be a Christian. Jesus is calling us to carry the cross of sacrificial living. Words come easy and living the life is more of a challenge, but in today’s world people need to see that sacrificial living leads to fulfillment and real life.

Sacrifice does not necessarily mean martyrdom. It also means doing small tasks such as giving food to a hungry person or a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty. It also means doing things in the church such as teaching a Sunday school class or singing in the choir. Our willingness to do the small tasks as they are needed is more important than our willingness to die for Christ when that is not needed.

We do not have to do this alone, and we can’t do this alone. We need strength, and Jesus will give us that strength. This strength will allow us to live a life that will bring us blessing and fulfillment beyond our wildest dreams.

If we become suffering servants like Christ was, there is a danger that we might assume that the saving work of Christ is automatic. Mark’s Gospel reminds us that this assumption is false. Christ’s suffering servanthood teaches us about the Incarnation, but the passion of his suffering teaches us about his redemption. Too much emphasis today is placed on the healing of human hurts, which reflects Christ loving care for us when we hurt. More emphasis needs to be placed on righting of human wrongs, also known as sin.

This might makes us uncomfortable in the short term. We like our worship to be comforting and uplifting, and while this is a necessary part of worship, it must not be the most important part. The main emphasis must be on redirecting our lives, our values and our priorities. This disruption in our lives is necessary if we truly believe that the heart of Jesus’s message is change or repentance. If we accept this, we have to let go of the lives we have now, no matter how painful the process will be.

Jesus’ message of self-sacrifice won’t always fit neatly into our earthly lives. Words like “Come die with us,” or “Follow Jesus no matter what the cost,” or “Called to sacrifice for the world” aren’t heard very often in churches today. These words are the heart of what Jesus taught. He wants us to follow him by giving of ourselves so that others may know his grace. Believers have resisted this call since it was first made over 2,000 years ago, so it isn’t surprising that the same call is resisted today. How do we as Christians see it?

Our attitude as children of God must centre on a life that is lived in him. In return for his sacrifice we need to make good use of the opportunities Christ sends our way. God wants to be an active presence in our lives, and it is because God has been an active part of the lives of men and women throughout history that the church has survived and thrived. If the church is to survive today, God needs to be active in our lives today. If more people made God an active part of their lives, the world would be a better place (and our churches and offering plates would be full to overflowing every Sunday!).

 

Bibliography

 

  • Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
  • ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
  • McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

 

  1. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
  2. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006
  3. Paul Estabrooks, “The Cross-Choosing to Follow Jesus.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
  4. Rick Warren, “You’re Happiest when You Give Your Life Away.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
  5. Exegesis for Mark 8:24-38. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
  6. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Let Us Follow Jesus.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
  7. Steve Arterburn, “Will You Have a Ride?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
  8. Pastor Dave Risendal, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” Retrieved from donotreply@wordpress.com   
Posted on by craigcondonlayreader

Mark 1:9-15 Life in the Wilderness

How many of you like to read the articles in Reader’s Digest? Have you ever noticed that some of them are edited versions of articles that have been published elsewhere? Mark’s Gospel is similar to these articles because although his Gospel does include many of the same stories that are in the other three Gospels, Mark’s versions leave out many of the details that are included in the other Gospels. A good example is Mark’s version of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. Mark’s version doesn’t include Jesus’ conversations with Satan.

Mark wanted believers to know that Jesus triumphed completely over the enemy-and they can triumph too when they are tempted. Mark 1:9-15 begins with the exhilaration of Jesus’ baptism and leads to his retreat into the wilderness where he was tempted by everything God opposes. Jesus went willingly into the wilderness, but the Spirit is pictured as moving him to battle Satan’s temptations. Jesus often went into the wilderness during his ministry. It is in the wilderness where we often meet God. We don’t choose to go to wilderness places such as times of trial, temptation and struggle. They happen to us. Even when the challenges are caused by our actions, we rarely seek out or even want such hardship. Even when we face life’s challenges, the Holy Spirit will make use of us.

All of us have wilderness experiences from time to time. These experiences often force us to confront the negative experiences of our lives. They force us to strip away our pride and worldly resources and come to God in faith. I know, because several years ago I went through a wilderness experience because of my mother’s health issues. It was a tough time for me. I had to turn the situation over to God, but in doing so my faith was challenged and strengthened. Jesus knows that unless we are liberated at the core like I was, we won’t live the life God wants us to lead. We have to get rid of the values, motives and attitudes of the world.

Some people believe that if you follow God’s will, you will have a life of ease. Nothing could be further from the truth. The way of God often involves circumstances where we must trust in God and draw on his truth and strength. God tests us to help us grow, to show us that we have the faith and ability to stand up to the testing, that we will trust God in difficult times and to strengthen our faith and Christian character. At the same time, Satan has his own purpose-to turn us away from God and tempt us to sin. It is our responsibility not only to teach people the difference between right and wrong, but also to motivate them to want to do the right thing.

Satan and much of human society want to make us do the wrong thing. Jesus was the son of God, but his earthly life was full of challenges that he had to endure. God sometimes uses the devil to test people. His purpose is to strengthen our faith, but Satan wants to destroy our faith. We will face the trials of life, but we can endure if we draw strength from Jesus. After all, Jesus’ faith was strengthened by his time in the wilderness.

When we turn away from God we find ourselves pursued and served by God in the person of Jesus. When we become his followers, his “no” becomes our rejection of evil. His “yes” becomes our battle cry of hope for God. With his victory over evil, Christ can now proclaim the coming of the Kingdom, because he can announce that which he possesses-namely, the kingdom.

After the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus started his mission of preaching the good news of salvation. Jesus announced the kingdom’s arrival by saying that it was time for the kingdom to come. It includes the good news of hope, peace, promise and eternal life. The kingdom is more than simply the rule of the Holy Spirit within us. The kingdom will ultimately include the restoration of all creation.

The wilderness can be a lonely place. Jesus was alone emotionally, environmentally and physically. It was a good time for Satan to make his move. He tested Jesus’ character, creativity and communion with God. Jesus was tempted to take care of his own needs first, but his character included a reservoir of strength that he could draw on when he was tempted-the word of God. In the silence of the wilderness, God spoke to him.

We are often led into the wilderness just after moments of triumph in our lives, just like Jesus was led into the wilderness after his baptism. When we are in the wilderness, our character is also tested, especially when we are tempted. Do we let faith guide us, or do we give in to worldly pleasures? Do we draw on our faith? Do we let God speak to us?

When we are in the wilderness, we don’t know how long the journey will last or what is on the other side, but it is a time of preparation. Lent is a wilderness journey for us. We are invited to embark on a journey that will take us through a wilderness that will toughen our faith so that at the end of the journey when we are at the foot of the cross, we will be victorious.

The arrival of the kingdom comes with a sense of urgency, and this sense of urgency is often portrayed in Mark’s Gospel. It is shown in the brevity of the stories he includes in the Gospel and in the stories he left out (such as the Incarnation). The arrival of the kingdom requires an urgent response. God controls the timing, not us. Every sermon that is preached or heard, and every witness we give must have an urgent tone. Our lives and God’s patience are short when it comes to accepting or rejecting Christ.

We must not place obstacles in the way of people who reach out in faith to Christ. For example, a follow-up study of people who made decisions for Christ at a Billy Graham crusade condemned people who wanted to keep the kingdom of God out of the reach of sinners. The report showed that the decisions were genuine, but only a few new believers became members of a church after their conversion. The churches had no plan for bringing someone else’s converts into the fellowship of faith.

The good news is decisive. The call to repent is decisive and urgent. People expect that preaching will lead to a call for a decision. Jesus calls on us to turn around and walk with God. It is a theme that is repeated again and again and again throughout the Bible. Repentance loosens our hold on the world and strengthens our hold on the good news. It calls on us to trust God.

Jesus preaches repentance, which requires a change of mind and heart. It is a full-time, ongoing commitment to change. We are to turn away from whatever distracts us from God and turn toward God. We will receive the help we need, because repentance won’t be easy.

Sometimes people do not change. One reason is because change involves making a decision. Only by deciding to live a better life can we have lives that are truly happy and fulfilled. Another reason is because they don’t really want to change. They do not want to repent. They focus on the consequences. In other words, they don’t really hate what can be changed-they just hate the consequences when they are found out.

Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. The number 40 is often associated with intense spiritual experiences. Christ’s temptation in the wilderness was an intense spiritual experience for him. Our wilderness experiences can be intense spiritual experiences for us because they force us to draw closer to God in faith.

Jesus’ temptation was a foretaste of his entire ministry. It involved unending assaults from evil forces. He was sustained in the wilderness and he was sustained throughout his ministry. He did not replace evil earthly rulers or lift up the poor and oppressed. People still suffer today, but God is still with them and us.

Today is a good day to make decisions about our lives and how we are going to live them. Lent is a time for us to think things over, to reconsider, and to be more aware of our limitations, our mortality and our need for God and the transforming grace he offers us through Jesus. Even as we look at our own broken, sin-filled lives, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus has preceded us in this journey. Jesus came into our dark, sin-filled world in order to be joined to our brokenness and redeem it. When we find ourselves in the wilderness of disease, loneliness, joblessness, depression or any other things that challenge us, Jesus has been there before. He meets us in our wilderness to bear our burdens with us and for us.

Lent is a time for us to loosen our grip on the ways of the world and draw nearer to God’s grace. It is a time for us as Christians to take a journey through the wilderness to the cross. We can’t avoid this journey, but we can take comfort in the knowledge that God will bring us through it to the other side. God will not deliver us from the suffering we will endure during the journey, but with his help we will be transformed by it. God will show us how to make our divine lives spring to fuller life. We’ll have to change our vision of the world, but God will help us get rid of our old worldly lives.

 

Bibliography

 

  • Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
  • Preaching Magazine, Nov./Dec. 2014 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing; pp. 80-81)
  • McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
  • Pastor Ken Klaus, “Leave Behind the Past.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org

 

  1. Sarah Henrich, “Commentary on Mark 1:9-15.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
  2. Exegesis for Mark 1:9-15. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
  3. David Lose, “Beginnings and Endings.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org.
  4. Brian F. Stoffregen, “De Jevu All Over Again?” retrieved from www.crossmarks.com/brian/mark1x9.htm
  5. The Rev. Christopher Henry, “Where to Begin?” Retrieved from www.day1.org
  6. Lectionary Notes, Volume XXVI, Number 2 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary, pp. 23-30)
  7. Margaret Manning Shull, “Through Wilderness.” Retrieved from slice@sliceofinfinity.org
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Matthew 6:1-6,6-21 How to Worship God

Tom scowled as he furiously raked leaves. “I was gonna collect aluminum cans today to make a little money for a new skateboard,” he muttered to himself, “but no! Dad says I have to help rake the lawn first, so here I am, doing dumb yard work.” Just then, he noticed a large hole in the base of a big tree. “Look, Dad,” he called as he knelt to peer inside. “I never noticed this before. This would be a good place to hide stuff.”

Dad walked over to look. “Maybe there’s a cache of jewels or a sack of stolen money inside,” he teased. He poked his rake into the hole, and they heard a scraping sound as the rake hit a metal object.

“Something is hidden in there!” cried Tom. Plunging his hand inside the cavity, he felt around and finally pulled out a small box. “Wow! A real treasure chest!” he shouted. “I wonder who put it there.” Eagerly, Tom opened the old box and looked inside. Then he let out a disappointed groan. The treasure turned out to be a handful of multicolored stones, a rusty pocketknife, and a soggy, moldy book about fishing.

“Somebody must have hidden these things, but then forgot about them,” said Dad. “Now look at them. I hope whoever stored these here put most of his treasures in a better place.”

“Yeah. Maybe he got smart and started putting important things in one of those safe deposit boxes at the bank,” suggested Tom.

“I was thinking of an even better place than that,” said Dad. “Jesus said we should put our treasures in heaven, where they’ll never be ruined or stolen.” Dad shook his head. “We often put so much emphasis on things here on earth–things like houses and clothes and cars . . .”

And skateboards, thought Tom.

“We need to remember that things won’t last,” said Dad. As Tom looked at the rusty pocketknife, he realized that what Dad was saying was true. I still want a skateboard, he thought, but I guess I shouldn’t get so upset over it. He put the box back into the hole in the tree and picked up his rake.

The choices we make today affect our future. Our words, our actions, how we use our money, the time we spend in prayer can be translated to eternal treasure when they are submitted to God. What the world offers isn’t what we are looking for. It leaves us disappointed.

Trumpets are sounded as signals to large groups of people. Anyone who draws attention to himself is said to “blow his own horn.” For example, the temple compound housed 13 large chests with funnel-like openings into which people placed their financial contributions. Hypocrites often converted their gifts into the largest number of coins possible so their money would make a loud noise when dropped into the chest. This is what the Pharisees did when they gave alms. These alms were given to be seen by men, so every effort was made to prevent people from missing the sight. The Pharisees had the reward they were looking for-the admiration of the people. It was the only reward they would receive.

When we give, we should give with a pure motive-obedience to God, out of love for our fellow man, or just wanting to help someone else who is trying to make it through another day here on earth. When we give not to be seen by men but out of a right heart, God will reward us openly. Everyone will see that God’s hand is on us. God’s blessings will come into our lives.

The hypocrisy of the Pharisees extended to public prayer. They stood in the synagogues and on street corners and, with faces turned to heaven and hands lifted high, offered silent prayers. It was a pretended act of paying respect to God when it was really an effort to obtain honour from men. Standing does not merely describe the upright position of a person’s body. It also suggests striking a pose to gain attention. The Pharisees were committed to praying at set hours: at six, nine, twelve and three o’clock. They arranged to be in the most public places at these times so they would be recognized for their commitment to God. Jesus is not condemning public prayer but prayer that is self-serving.

Jesus modelled for us the proper way to pray and give alms. Both were to be done in secret. For example, many times Jesus went off by Himself to pray to God. Sometimes He took people aside to heal them in private. The time we spend with God in prayer should be free from disguise and pretense.

Prayer involves opening our lives to God. It is inviting Him to act in our lives. Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, it is being willing to accept His will in our lives. Prayer moves the hand of God by giving Him the moral freedom to do in our lives what He has been waiting to do. God doesn’t impose His will upon us. He can function in our lives in accordance with the degree of freedom we surrender to Him.

Jesus doesn’t say how often we should pray to God in secret. The reasons may have been:

  1. That it should be voluntary
  2. Setting times would make religion formal and heartless.
  3. Occasions would be so numerous that it would not be easy to fix rules.

Jesus did suggest times when secret prayer would be proper:

  1. In the morning, after we have been protected during the night and when we are about to face the trials of another day.
  2. In the evening to ask for forgiveness, give thanks and ask for protection from the dangers of the night.
  3. In times of embarrassment and difficulty.
  4. When we are tempted.
  5. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to pray.

Part of our prayer life should include fasting, provided that it is not a ritual but a voluntary time of meditation when drawing near to God. Fasting deprives us of the normal performances of life for the sake of enriching our Christian lives. The proper way of fasting is to empty ourselves so we can be filled with God. It is by truly giving of ourselves that we will be truly found. We do these things not to be hypocrites but to be real about our origins and our destiny.

Jesus warns against the use of fasting-going without food or water to devote oneself to prayer-as a means of impressing others. Fasting is never to be an outward display but an inward discipline. Rather than looking sad and disfiguring their faces when fasting, believers should seek to appear normal-thus the command to “anoint your head and wash your face.”

In New Testament times, treasures were not always stockpiles of coins. Since wealthy garments often represented a person’s holding, Jesus spoke quite literally when He warned the people that moths could destroy the worldly wealth. It is better to place one’s hope in the Person and promises of God than in anything this world has to offer.

Earthly treasures have two characteristics-they decay and because of their value, there is always concern for security. Treasures in heaven can’t be stolen, and they won’t decay. The treasures of eternal life are the securities that remain. They are matters of character-a godly personality, minds that can enjoy the great thoughts of God and His creation, and hearts that can overcome selfishness by loving.

Jesus is not against the accumulation of wealth and property if they are not used for our own selfish purposes. These resources are to be used to help the poor and spread the Good News of the Gospel. Only then will we have true happiness, because our reward will be waiting for us in heaven, and our reward will last.

It is the true nature of Christianity to help the poor and needy. Christians don’t have to be told to do it. All they have to do is ask for the chance. To give and do charitable deeds in secret reflects a person’s desire to please God more than people. God blesses those who honour Him.

Jesus emphasized service for the sake of righteousness or fellowship with God. When we serve for the praise of God, we will be blessed, but it won’t be noticed by other people. Our reward will be a good conscience and peace with God. We must not scheme or plan for our advantage or to get human attention. We must give and serve others in complete trust when the gift is in the spirit of love and the giving must be for the good in the experience itself rather than from personal benefit.

Sometimes we feel that we aren’t appreciated when our efforts aren’t recognized by other people. God knows what we’re doing. He sees what others don’t see. It pleases Him when we serve for His sake and not for man’s praise. The hand that is closed can’t receive the treasure that God wants to give.

It’s when we think no one is watching that our true allegiances are revealed. In the quietness of our alone time, we’re either exposed as people who are seeking the things of God, or we’re exposed as people who are seeking the things of the world. That’s because God knows our hearts and sees everything we do.

 

Bibliography

 

  1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1291-1292)
  2. The New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1-Matthew & Mark. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
  3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
  4. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, p. 18)
  5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
  6. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
  7. Leslie Koh, “God Knows.” Retrieved from donotreple@email.rbc.org
  8. “The Right Treasure.” Retrieved from keys@lists.keysforkids.org
  9. Anne Graham Lotz, “How to Receive Treasure.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
  10. “How You Can Avoid a Secretly Sinful Life.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
  11. Steve Arterburn, “Belonging.” Retrieved from www.newlife.com
  12. Neil Anderson, “What We Treasure.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
  13. Bayless Conley, “A Matter of the Heart.” Retrieved from www.answersrbc.org

 

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Leviticus 13:1-17 Sin and Separation from God

We just heard a passage from the Book of Leviticus, and it is a book that we rarely hear read from in churches today. The passage we heard talked about how people who had leprosy or other skin diseases in Old Testament times were to be treated. Today, treatment methods are much different.

Only the Old Testament priests could pronounce that a leper was cured. To be ill with leprosy (or any of the skin diseases that were referred to by the Hebrew term) was no more a sign of personal sin that to be ill with cancer today, but because the disease could spread, various means were used to quarantine the infected person in hopes of preventing an epidemic. The infected person was isolated for as long as two weeks to allow the symptoms time to improve.

Sin that goes unchecked among a people may similarly become an epidemic. The aim of God’s Laws about cleanliness was to protect the people from disease, but more importantly, to teach them by vivid lessons how God wanted purity, holiness, and cleanliness among His people. Failure to obey these laws was considered sin. While following God’s laws did provide good hygienic results, they also separated the pure and clean from the impure and unclean. The Israelites were to be distinct from the pagan nations surrounding them. Similarly, we as Christians are to be distinct from the people around us. That does not mean that we are to ignore them. Rather, we are to love them as Christ would and share the Good News with them.

Some of us ask ourselves if the book of Leviticus applies today. The answer is “Yes.” Leprosy and other skin diseases are symbols of the sinful nature of human beings. They show the sinfulness of sin and the effect of sin in action. For example, many health conditions today such as lung cancer and sexually transmitted diseases are the result of sinful activities such as smoking or unsafe sex. The leper who had to walk down the street and cry out “Unclean! Unclean!” reminded the Israelites that they were moral lepers who needed supernatural cleansing.

The victims of these diseases were not treated humanely. The Hebrews dreaded living outside the Israelites camp, because they lived and breathed for the community of God’s people, unlike many modern Western individuals. To be outside the camp was to be removed from the worship of God, because the tabernacle was in the midst of the camp. To be outside the camp was to be cut off from one’s people and from God’s covenant. Similarly, people today who do not know God or who do not go to church without a good reason are removed from other Christians and God’s love.

Only when we begin to feel the dehumanization of anyone who lives outside of the love of God and His children can we appreciate the compassion and love Jesus had when He healed the leper in Mark 1:40-45, Matthew 8:2-4 and Luke 5:12-14. The lesson we can learn from this passage is that we should use every human means available for physical and spiritual healing as well as God’s direct intervention.

As long as we excuse our sins and think that we are basically good people, we are not fit to receive God’s grace. When we realize that we are helpless and undone, without one hope or one redeeming trait, God’s grace can have its blessed way with us. We must fall on our knees at Jesus’ feet. We must confess that we are full of need and sin. Only then are we near to Christ and fit to be richly blessed. Then, in the words of a famous radio pastor, the Lord can make us a blessing-a blessing that can be shared with the world.

 

Bibliography

  1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1344)
  2. “Daily Journey from the John Ankerburg Show, March 1, 2017.” Retrieved from Jesus.org@crosswalkmail.com
  3. Demarest, G.W. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 3: Leviticus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1990, pp. 129-136)
  4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
  5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 142-143)