DAY 151

GOD’S ANOINTED

2 Chronicles 13 & 14 and John 12:1-26

In the Old Testament, the King of Judah, Abijah, has quite a speech to the King of Israel, Jeroboam. Abijah’s point – he is in the line of King David, he, not by his personhood, but by his position, is the Anointed – and Jeroboam is a fool to oppose the LORD GOD, even if his army is twice as large (800,000 compared to 400,000).

The story plays out and Abijah subdues Jeroboam.

Another in the line of King David, Jesus – the Christos, which we translate Messiah is literally “the anointed one” – comes to Jerusalem today and is hailed. The build up to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in John’s Gospel has a decidedly different twist – the Lazarus event.

It is only John’s Gospel that records the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Some have dismissed this event, but there is an amazing level of detail in the storyline. And, it is the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back” with the authorities. We read today, and in the days to come, how intent they are to kill Jesus.

There is also today this situation where “some Greeks come seeking Jesus.” Jesus’ reaction is strong. He views this situation as a clear sign that now the hour has come; why? The answer resides in how we understand the role of Jesus, Messiah. Jesus has spent most of his ministry proclaiming to the Jewish people of the day that He is the long awaited Messiah. He has been proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and revealing to them a different image of that Kingdom. He has once again been God Incarnate inviting Israel to be what Yahweh God has been inviting Israel to be through the ages – a Light to the World.

Jesus has not forbidden others to see His Light. There was the Samaritan woman at the well, the Syrophoenician woman with the sick daughter, and others; it just has not been his focus. Yet His Light is shining, penetrating the darkness, and these Greeks see it and seek it. There is some indication in the original language that they may have been converts to Judaism, but the point remains. Jesus’ Light is beginning to radiate out beyond…and so it is time, time for “the grain of wheat to fall” for that is why the Messiah has come to earth.

DAY 150

LL&P II

2 Chronicles 10, 11 & 12 and John 11:30-57

Live Long & Prosper – Act 2: Yesterday I reflected about how Jesus really does want us to “live long and prosper.” I closed that blog with a statement that this kind of life was “a life of eternity and prosperity, not to be confused with worldly material goods, but of one that has the peace and joy of Almighty God…now and forever.”

The question that this sort of a statement begs is how? (Christians are often making such statements). Who wouldn’t want a life of peace and joy – so how?

Here we need to first be grasped by the intensity of Jesus’ love for us. In today’s reading we read the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept.” Jesus’ love for us cannot be overstated, but for many people “religion” seems to be about a list of “teachings” or “doctrines” or “beliefs.” Look again at Martha and Mary in this passage. Their unadulterated love for Jesus is evident. They would do anything for Him. Why? Because they have a deep relationship with Him…they trust Him. This “thing” with Jesus, call it religion if you like, starts with relationship.

It is from that relationship – that a life of prosperity, a life of peace and joy, a life of following God – flows. Consider the Old Testament today. You have read this history before. Solomon dies and the history of Israel and Judah seem to breakdown into a series of would be kings seeking their own glory. Most will not serve God; most will serve themselves – they will be pursuing “all the good things of life” and in the process they will lose their lives.

Jesus has said exactly this very thing – if chase after your life you will lose it – if you give up your life you will find it. He said this more than once: Matthew 10:39 & 16:25 and Luke 9:24 & 17:33.

How can we be sure? Besides looking at the witness of the Old Testament look at Jesus today. He raises Lazarus from the dead. This is not a resurrection, this is more a resuscitation; regardless Jesus has power over death because HE IS LIFE, he has said exactly this to us.

To walk this path can be more than a little scary. It can mean trusting Jesus for all sorts of things, consider:

1.      How you use your money; the American dream says bigger house, bigger car, etc. All of which require you to work more to chase more of a dream someone else has envisioned for you – does this yield peace and joy?

2.      How you use your time; besides the hours working to achieve #1, your energy can be focused in ways that again may call into question whether you have peace and joy?

I could go on. Immediately I am worried that this is feeling like a “to-do” list of religion – that is not the point. Wealthy and busy people can follow Jesus and have peace and joy; it requires having the relationship and offering to follow and trust Him.

Taking such a step can lead immediately to fear. The Pharisees of Jesus day became afraid, so much so they wanted to kill Him. This is the battle we face each day. It is a battle over life and death: Jesus says “choose life, follow me.”

DAY 149

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER

2 Chronicles 7, 8 & 9 and John 11:1-29

I have just returned from the new Star Trek movie: Star Trek Into Darkness. Maybe that is why I have titled today “Live Long and Prosper.” But maybe it fits the readings!

You have heard me say that Jesus really had a difficult time convincing his Jewish brothers and sisters that the “Kingdom of God” was not about restoring Israel to its former earthly grandeur, but about something different. Today in our Old Testament lesson we get a thumbnail sketch of the Nation of Israel’s greatness under Solomon. Ponder the riches of the king and prosperity of the people. Solomon built all sorts of cities and possessed an amazing amount of…well everything. Between Solomon and David, Israel enjoyed greatness for some 80 years. Certainly the early years of David’s reign were tenuous, but imagine 80 years of prosperity. In many ways we can in the United States. This memory has a powerful effect on the people for centuries. Jesus is five centuries the other side of this situation, and it is what the people long for.

Their goal was to “live long and prosper.” You might say that is many people’s goal.

In our New Testament reading with have the first half of the Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. We don’t read of him actually raising Lazarus; we will read that tomorrow.

I am always struck by the different parts of this reading. We hear how Jesus loved Martha and Mary. We might say, “Jesus loves everyone.” True enough, but the fact that John points this out shows a special relationship. Then we have Jesus talking to his disciples. There is a little “back-and-forth,” they do not want to go back to Jerusalem – the stones are still in the hands after his last “Good Shepherd” encounter. Thomas has a great line (we often remember Thomas’ line after the Resurrection but check this one out) “let us also go, that we may die with him.” We often label Peter a certain way, but do you get a sense of Thomas between this and his other “moment.” This guy is one of those pessimistic realists.

So Jesus and his disciples go. I love what I see as a turn-about in roles. We first met Martha and Mary in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 10 beginning at verse 38. In that scene Mary is the one to be with Jesus while Martha is consumed with the preparations. In John’s account today Martha runs to be with Jesus, while Mary stays home. I point this out not to judge Mary, she is most likely overcome with grief. Yet today Martha has a wonderful interaction with the Lord as she struggles with the death of her brother. Today we read Jesus saying, “I am Resurrection and I am Life, whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Jesus asks Martha if she believes, and before Lazarus is raised she professes Jesus as Christ.

I have stood where Jesus stands in our readings; at the sight of someone who had died and is being mourned. I have done a number of funerals. Not as many as some, but enough. It is always a privilege to be with people at the loss of a loved one. It is amazing how people allow me into such a private moment. My job is certainly one of comfort and usually a little counseling depending on the circumstance. My job is also to proclaim hope. I don’t say “live long and prosper.” I do say, at every funeral, as I am walking down the aisle with the casket or urn, “I am resurrection and I am life, says the Lord, whoever believes in me shall never perish, even though he die. And everyone who has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die forever.” John 11:25 & 26, what we heard Jesus say today to Martha.

In the movie I saw tonight (skip to the end if you do not want me to ruin a part of it) James Tiberius Kirk dies. In that scene he and Spock make the Vulcan salute to each other to which the response is Live Long and Prosper. Later Kirk is raised from the dead using the villain’s blood. The Vulcan blessing of Live Long and Prosper is made manifest! We don’t need a villain’s blood to give us life – for our Savior has shed his in order that we might live.

Jesus point of coming to earth is so that you and I will have life and have it more abundantly – John 10:10. We read this verse two days ago. The “tense” of the Greek verb indicates that the “life” Jesus is talking about is both “now and forever.”

I poked at us a little bit when I wrote earlier that many people have a goal of “live long and prosper.” Jesus offers us life today, abundant life. We start that life by believing in him enough to follow him. If we do we will “live long and prosper” – a life of eternity and a prosperity, not to be confused with worldly material goods, but of one that has the peace and joy of Almighty God…now and forever.

DAY 148

SERVE HIM OR STONE HIM

2 Chronicles 4, 5 & 6 and John 10:24-42

In the 2^nd Chronicles reading today we have the wonderful moment where Solomon blesses God as the Temple is dedicated. On April 30^th I blogged about this event as we read the 8^th chapter of 1 Kings.

In the New Testament today we come upon a rather remarkable moment. It may seem like a typical scene with Jesus and the religious of the day debating. It is, but Jesus says some amazing things, and while they may not agree with Him, the religious of the day certainly understood who He was claiming to be.

Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” The Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus, “Why?” He asked. “…because you being a man, make yourself God.”

There it is – Jesus claiming to be God – He is so clear that they are getting ready to stone Him. Some people today love the sayings of Jesus. They acknowledge that He was a great man. That however is not who Jesus claimed to be. C. S. Lewis has a famous quote:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’  This is the one thing we must not say.  A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic – on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell.  You must make your choice.  Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut Him up a fool, you can spit at Him, you can kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.  But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us.  He did not intend to.”  Mere Christianity, p. 52

A lunatic, a liar, or the Lord: the religious of the day have accused Him of having Satan as his father and they have challenged the veracity of His sayings. Yet they, and all, are still drawn to him. The reality for the people of Jesus’ day was whether or not to believe Jesus was Messiah and God. Their choice was clear: either serve Him or stone Him.

The same choice lays before all today. 

DAY 147

THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP

2 Chronicles 1, 2 & 3 and John 10:1-23

We begin the next book, 2 Chronicles. You have read about these events just as you had in 1 Chronicles. And just as in 1 Chronicles, you get more of a picture of these events. It is easy to want to gloss over these reading, but let me encourage you to take the time and read through them.

In the New Testament we come across Jesus saying he is the Good Shepherd. It is a famous story and I dare say we have romanticized it. Many stained glass windows of Jesus carrying sheep in his arms pepper the globe. Yet if you know about sheep you might get a different picture. The smell, they are skittish, and some folks say they are not overly bright…by the way we are the sheep in this story!

The image of shepherd is one that the people of Jesus’ day would immediately see as Messiah. The prophet Ezekiel especially uses this imagery. Jesus is both shepherd and door. The shepherd part we get; the door part maybe not. In Jesus’ day the sheep pen doorways were where the shepherd slept! The shepherd literally was the door. Further, at times a variety of sheep, from different flocks would intermingle. The shepherds would take turn guarding them while the others slept. In the morning, when it was time to graze, all the shepherds came and called their sheep. The sheep would divide into their respective groups because the sheep know the shepherds voice.

This passage presents two sides of our relationship with God. First have we spent enough time with God to know the His voice? Second, do we understand that He, and He alone, is the Good Shepherd – for He lays down His life for us.

DAY 146

HEART LONGING

1 Chronicles 28 & 29 and John 9:24-41

After many challenging chapters of “who is who in the zoo” we come to the end of David’s life, his assembling of many many key people, and his charge to Solomon. I was struck by how many times David referenced the “heart.”

“I (David) had it in my heart to build a house for the Ark of the Lord.”

“…Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart…”

“…for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought…”

“…they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord.”

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness…”

“…keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you…”

Elsewhere in 1 Samuel 13-14 we see God telling Samuel that he looks on the inside, to the heart, when He selects David. In Acts 13:22 we read the famous line that David was “a man after God’s own heart.”

To have a heart ordered by and beating in rhythm with God’s…what an amazing thought. Now you have read all about David’s life; his successes and his failures. He had some of each. The point in all this is that he was not perfect. Perfection is not the standard…an ordered heart is the goal.

As we come to the close of 1 Chronicles it seems to me that God is asking me to look at my heart. The other end of the spectrum is a verse from Isaiah, “These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Isa. 29:13). Jesus quotes that in Matthew chapter 15 and it certainly seems to capture what he is experiencing in John chapter 9 that we finished today.

This post lands on a Sunday. Today I will be leading people in prayer and preaching a sermon…all with my lips…may my heart be close to God’s and beat with His rhythm to so bring Him glory.

***In trying to find an image today I kept thinking of dogs, dog’s hearts seek after their masters. So I went online looking: the image today is from a dog going to daily mass because his owner who has passed away was always there. Here is this dog, looking and longing, for his master***

DAY 145

WHOSE SIN CAUSED IT?

1 Chronicles 25, 26 & 27 and John 9:1-23

I pray you are hanging in there with 1^st Chronicles; David continues to organize and the lists go on…and on. These finish with today’s readings and tomorrow we will get to a different type of narrative.

In the New Testament there is the classic question, “whose sin caused it?” In this case the “it” is a man born blind. The literary genius of this passage is that the “blind” man is the one who has “spiritual sight” while those who could see are “spiritually blind.”

Running through this story is the question that is still operative today. Today we ask “Who is to blame.” In Jesus’ day the question was: “When you see someone who is suffering, is that God’s punishment for sin?” I want to try and be clear about how I view the answer to this question. Just two days ago we read in the Scripture how God punished King David for taking a census.

First, not all suffering is the result of some “mean God” just waiting to strike down all who disobey Him. Suffering, disease and more, all exist is this world because of our tendency as humans to disobey God. There is at a societal and cosmic level this rebellion that has all sorts of consequences. Let’s consider an example. There are people who rebel and commit crimes. Their rebellion often causes innocent people to become victims. Is that God? Certainly not. It is the free will of individuals at work.

Next, there is suffering that is not the result of others; at times we bring it on ourselves. Sharp words, short tempers, poor choices with alcohol and more all lead to consequences that we might view as “punishment.”

Lastly, there certainly is Scriptural witness for God actually bringing punishment upon nations and people. God certainly is sovereign and he is able. My view is that most of our problems are self-inflicted – the consequences of sin…generation upon generation of sin.

So here is the next question that runs through the New Testament narrative. “If sin caused the blindness, then how do we “make up for it.” This is a common question, a very common belief. “I’ve done something wrong and so I have to make it right…with God.” Now please hear me. We should be serious about making restitution to those we hurt: but that is not what God needs. God does not need restitution, he desires repentance.

There is a form of theology that says you and I have to atone for every sin we commit. It is very popular today, it is called Karma. Karma is you taking responsibility for all you mistakes, working hard to “put things right” and fulfill your responsibilities. It sounds rather American, a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get a move on” kind of attitude. In many ways this is a good sentiment. I don’t espouse that we should sit on our duffs and be irresponsible…but here is where I part ways…God does not require your Karma…he requires your repentance.

Think of the Tax Collector standing in the back of the Temple, beating his breast, saying “Lord be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) The remarkable Biblical reality is that God then pours out His grace and “pays the debt” with the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Jesus today is face to face with this attitude that somehow people have to negotiate with God for forgiveness. He will spend much of his time on earth teaching and teaching that this is not the case. His message, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near.” Which quite simply means, turn around and start following God. But then Jesus does more than teach, he goes and pays the price – going to the Cross to pay the price for sin. May we take a moment, recall our sins, turn from them and come to him in repentance.

DAY 144

SERVE SOMEBODY

1 Chronicles 22, 23 & 24 and John 8:28-59

David really wanted to build the Temple. These three chapters of 1 Chronicles catalogue David getting as much organized as he can for its construction and operation.

Jesus on the other hand stands almost at the other end of the second Temple with respect to time. In a few short decades it (the second Temple) will be destroyed. Our Lord’s concern however is more about people knowing the truth and knowing him. In this moment he is certainly “mixing it up” with the people who he is talking with.

 It is quite the flurry of words – we’ve gone from Living Water, to Light of the World, to the Truth, to now “I AM”. Yes those are the words God at the Burning Bush spoke to Moses. The people are provoked, picking up stones to kill him.

Beyond the historical setting of this text, our Lord’s words are meant to speak also to us. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and truth will set you free.” What do you make of that short phrase?

Is your reaction the same as those hearing it for the first time – do you want to say, “I’m already free, I’m an American!” That is not the point though, is it? The point is that we are all following someone or something. As that great theologian Bob Dylan once sang, “You’ve gotta serve somebody.” Jesus is suggesting that serving Him is serving the truth and the truth will set us free.

What do you serve? Take a look at the commercials on television and consider what they are asking you to “buy into.” The “youth-beauty” culture is a dominant theme; we are to be young and beautiful. The cosmetics industry is 2.6 BILLION in 2012…and that is just for men! Or how about that powerful and sporty car – doesn’t that just spell success! The list goes on. Some of us are serving an “American Dream” that is being shaped by others. We work…we chase…we strive…to obtain something. If you figure out what that something is, then you will know what you are serving.

And yes even the Church can fill this role…and that is not a good thing…do not confuse the Church for God. When you are volunteering or working at Church and completely burnt out and tired, I don’t think that is freedom.

So here stands Jesus, today, suggesting, inviting, dare I say commanding us to abide in His Word. When we do we will have truth and peace. Who would you rather serve?

DAY 143

CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

1 Chronicles 19, 20 & 21 and John 8:1-27

In chapters 19 and 20 we see Israel’s great success, but then David gets ahead of God in chapter 21. He calls for a census. Joab tries to stop him, but David is determined. The text says that “Satan” stood against Israel. Evil does that, it stands against God’s appointed. Satan’s goal is to cause the fall of all from God.

You might wonder what is wrong with David calling for a census. Three things come to mind. First, there is a thought of pride. David wants to know how many people there are in the nation. Up to this point, he has had to rely on God, now with the number of people in hand, will he be relying on himself? Secondly, he is counting “God’s people.” Counting hints at accomplishments, but these are God’s accomplishments, not David’s, and further “God numbers and calls his people by name” Genesis 15:15. Lastly a census is a way to conduct a military draft. The text says that David delivered a “number of men fit for military” service. Is this what God wanted? It was also a tool used to exact taxes. This is not a morally neutral act and moral acts should not be apart from God’s leading.

God points out that there are consequences to the nation for David’s sin. In His mercy and in response to David’s repentance, we read of David having to choose which punishment to receive. (If this sounds familiar, it is because you have read it in 2 Samuel 24.)

In the New Testament we come across the famous episode of a woman caught in adultery being brought before Jesus. Why are they bringing her to Jesus? Are they trying to test him? No doubt. I think there is more. Just as the Old Testament began with “Satan stood against Israel” is it not possible the Satan is standing against Israel’s Messiah? In verse 44 of this chapter Jesus will refer to the people who are testing him as having “the devil as their father.” Jesus, keenly aware of all that is at stake, simply invites people to reflect if they are without sin. There was only one person there that day without sin, Jesus. His view – “go and sin no more.”

Many people love the forgiveness part of Jesus’ actions. They love He is merciful. This episode is often used by people who say “Jesus didn’t judge the woman caught in adultery, we shouldn’t judge.” Actually we don’t know if Jesus judged her. He may have. What Jesus did was offer forgiveness. He did not extract a penalty for her sin. He also said “go and sin no more.”

Do not be confused. There are consequences for this sin of adultery. John’s Gospel has running through it Jesus, Lamb of God, who pays the price for the sin of the world – this is a more accurate view than “he did not judge her” – what he did do was pay the price for her sin with His life.

In the text, Jesus moves from Lamb to Light. Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus finds himself (as compared to the woman) now as the one on trial. Isn’t that, going all the way back to the Old Testament, what God’s people are to do, be light? We are not to count up accomplishments as if they are our own, we are not to go around judging others, we are to shine His love.

We shine by first understanding what Jesus has accomplished for us – that He has born the eternal consequence for our sins. 

DAY 142

LIVING WATER

1 Chronicles 16, 17 & 18 and John 7:28-53

We come to one of the high points of David’s time as king. The Ark comes to Jerusalem, David pours himself out in praise to God, and there is a real sense of intimacy and connectedness of God to David.

Jesus is still in Jerusalem at the Feast of Booths. Yesterday I asked you what your sentiment towards Jesus was. Do you view Him as Son of God, or do you view him as a really wise and good man, but only a man, or do you view his as a nut?

That last word, “nut,” may seem a little strong. But the text today says that at the last day of the festival he stood up and cried out “if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me…out of his heart will flow streams of living water.” The text goes to say that Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit. Before we get to the Holy Spirit let’s just pause. He stood up and cried out – so is he a nut, or is he able to deliver what he is proclaiming? That is the question.

The other point to appreciate is that this is the Feast of Booths. On the last day of the Feast the priests would form a big procession down to a pool of water, scoop up the water in a beautiful flagon, process back up to the Temple, and pour it out. You might ask why they would do that.

In Ezekiel, chapter 47, there is this poetic prophesy where there is water flowing out from the Temple; if flows and flows. The further from the Temple the deeper and wider it gets. It is full of fresh water and the fresh water, the living water, is full of life! Some day life would flow from the Temple. As the priests would pour out that water they would pray for the resurrection of the dead!

Here stands Jesus, “come all who are thirsty” from Isaiah 55 and he proclaims that He is the Living Water! I wonder if the priests were pouring it out as He was crying out! The Scripture goes onto say that Jesus is talking about the Spirit AND that is will not happen until He is glorified (meaning his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension). There is that small, but powerful allusion to Passover.

The point: all who believe in Jesus will have the Spirit in them, so much so that it will flow out of them…they, we, become the Temple that Ezekiel is prophesying about!

This is not new; you have read this before as I spoke about “The Promise of the Father.” What I pray is that you are getting a deeper and richer sense of the connection of Jesus to the Old Testament. Jesus fulfills over and over the promises of God. Jesus also holds out for us the possibility of a relationship that is beyond the Old Testament. Consider today in the Old Testament we read about one of the most intimate moments David (a person who had one of the most intimate relationships with God) has with God…and yet Jesus stands up today and says you can have more, in fact you will be the source of Living Water flowing to others…if only you believe. Your “sentiment” and your attitude make all the difference to how God can dwell in your (and my) hearts.

DAY 141

SENTIMENT

1 Chronicles 13, 14 & 15 and John 7:1-27

Our readings from the Old Testament describe a scene we read back on April 19 (Day 109). I highlighted this situation with Uzzah & the Ark, and Michal and her husband David. The point of course with the Ark is that they knew better. They knew they were supposed to carry it on poles. The point with Michal is that she is somehow jealous of David and looking for a reason to despise him.

Jesus has to deal with some similar sentiments in John 7. It is the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles). We know from our Old Testament reading thus far that there are seven Jewish Festivals and three of them require people to go to Jerusalem – this is one of those three.

It is a fall harvest festival and it is designed (as so many of their festivals are) to draw them into the marvelous works that God did as He delivered them from Egypt. The “booths” in the feast are temporary dwellings they build in their backyards, on their roofs, wherever, to remind them of what they lived in before God brought them to the Promised Land. This year the Feast of Booths is Sept 27, 2013.

Jesus’ brothers are encouraging him to go to Jerusalem for the Feast. They want him to have his “coming out party.” It is like going to NYC to star on Broadway, or Hollywood for the movies, or Nashville for Country Music. If you want to make it in the big time, you go to the “big city.” Jerusalem is the “big city” for Messiah. Remarkably, Jerusalem, like its modern day counterparts, embodies the attitudes of the world – not the attitudes of God’s Kingdom.

Yet Jesus knows this is not his time, the Feast of Tabernacles has some things that point forward to his mission. But Jesus has been talking about something that has more the shape of Passover than Booth’s.

Yet he does go, quietly, or as quietly as he can. In the middle of the Festival (a week long) He begins teaching in Temple. Two issues arise. First, who taught him? A pretty standard question: most Rabbis studied under another Rabbi. We have similar professions in our world where people list the person they studied under, more than the degree they have earned. Jesus’ answer – “from the one who sent me"…i.e. God! The second issue is whether His teaching is good. Jesus says you should be able to tell if the teaching is from God; “judge my teaching!”

People today continue to be impressed with Jesus’ teaching…and they struggle with his claim that He is the long awaited Christ. Tomorrow we will read more about this episode of the Feast of Booths, for today the Scriptures seem to be presenting Jesus and inviting us to answer for ourselves who we think he is and what our sentiment is towards him.

DAY 140

SEEK LIFE PART TWO

1 Chronicles 10, 11 & 12 and John 6:45-71

You may recall when we first began reading the Bible how we read Deuteronomy; the second telling of the Law. 1 & 2 Chronicles is in some ways the second telling of the history of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Just as the Law is important for us to get sorted out in our minds, the history of the kingdom is equally important. We will move onto the prophets and they will be speaking God’s Word to the kings in the middle of the nations challenging situations; to have those situations clear in our minds will help us when we get to those prophetic words. It is also helpful to understand how powerful a narrative this history is in the minds of the Jewish people of the Jesus’ day – a narrative that He will spend considerable time getting them to reconsider.

Today we have read again how Saul kills himself, how the Philistines take his body and display it, how his body is recovered, and how David (who has been anointed for awhile by Samuel) comes officially to the throne. You have heard this story before, but we get some additional details. Just one example is how Joab became David’s general; he is the commander who captured Jerusalem for David – a very impressive feat.

I mentioned that Jesus has his work cut out for Him in regards to getting the people to understand that the goal of religious life in Judaism is not about a new earthly kingdom – rather the Kingdom of God is about life…real life.

In the New Testament today we continue on in the story of Jesus speaking with people about “real life.” Jesus says He is the Bread of Life: “Unless you eat His flesh and drink His blood you shall not have life within you.” We read about this yesterday, but we also in this blog looked at Luke’s version of the Last Supper as recently as May 2^nd. In the May 2^nd blog I spent some time talking about the ancient idea of deeply “remembering.” The Greeks called it anamnesis. Here in John, Jesus is talking similarly about Communion. The setting is different. He is in a synagogue in Capernaum, but the point is the similar. Unless you deeply believe in Jesus as the Son of Man, unless you deeply take Him into yourself, unless you become one as He and the Father are one…then you won’t have life…real and eternal life.

The Jews of Jesus day just could not process this idea. They may think He is speaking of cannibalism, I am not sure. Let me tell you what I am sure of: I am sure they think that if Jesus is the Messiah, that He has it all wrong because He is not talking about establishing the new Israelite nation. Before we get to critical of the people of Jesus day (20/20 hind sight) let’s look at what we don’t “get” in our own day. Today, especially in the West, we have reduced this teaching of Jesus down to “getting into heaven.” We are trapped by our own paradigms.

Jesus means much more. Jesus means real, full-on, life. Life that is so above the petty and no-so-petty worries of our world, that we transcend the issues which so often weigh us down. I am NOT talking about somehow floating above the difficulties in our lives to the point that we seem almost oblivious. No, I am talking about having our feet so firmly planted in the reality of God come to earth in Jesus Christ, that we are able to not just see, but live our lives, day in and day out, in this reality of Christ in us.

Today we celebrated Holy Communion. I stood before the altar at the Cathedral with the choir singing, with incense, with vestments…with all the pageantry of the service. I looked down as I said the Communion Prayer and gazed at the host and the cup. I saw the simple bread and wine. I thought, I prayed, Lord come into us, renew us, strengthen us, transport us, empower us…to live as your people…to shine your light in the world.

It is clear to me that the only way I can do this “living” and this “shining of His light” is if I get more firmly rooted in Him. My feet need to be even more firmly planted. While I don’t “have it all figured out,” I do love Peter’s words today; they ring true for me.

Peter’s words come after many in the Gospel abandoned Jesus because of this confusing teaching about eating flesh and drinking blood. After their departure Jesus turns to the disciples and asks them if they are leaving too? Peter who we at times pick on and who I think doesn’t understand what Jesus is talking about either says the best possible answer. “To whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Isn’t that quite frankly the simplest answer? When we look at all Jesus has said and done, don’t we know that “He is Lord and He has the words of life.” Why would we go anywhere else – seek Life…seek Him.

DAY 139

SEEK LIFE

1 Chronicles 7, 8 & 9 and John 6:22-44

More genealogies, but now you might see the point. The Jewish people will be returning (and that story is coming). The point of the genealogies is in part meant to connect them, to connect them back to their beginnings.

Jesus is continuing to connect back – He is now saying that He is the Bread of Life. This in not just an illusion to manna, Jesus outright tells them, “It was not Moses who gave them bread, but the Father. And now the Father will give bread that gives life to the world, “Give us this bread”” they say – Jesus’ answer – I am the bread that gives life to the world…the Bread of Life.

This teaching from Jesus is going to continue tomorrow, but let’s deal with a few things right now. Jesus is again pointing to the Father through himself. He is not trying to give glory to himself. He is concerned about the people. “Stop worrying about what you will eat, or drink, or wear…and seek first the Kingdom.” That is how he described his concern for them in Matthew. In John we see the same concern expressed differently – seek things eternal – seek life.

Jesus is trying to get those who will listen – and that includes those of us today – to stop chasing after earthly concerns and to seek things eternal…to seek life. He goes on to say that if we come to Him, He will never cast us out…even when we are not at our best. This is a message to plant deeply inside yourself and this is a verse “those who come to Me, I will never cast out” is a verse to memorize.

You and I live in a world that is constantly trying to get us to chase after “things earthly.” The world’s efforts are somewhat successful. We all spend a fair bit of time doing exactly that. I am asking myself what I might need to stop chasing in order to have more life. How can I have more life? Jesus would suggest that it is in and through Him. Today is Sunday. We have Holy Communion each Sunday. We partake of the Bread of Life. We come each week and believe the words Jesus spoke, “This is my Body” he said. We gather around His Table remembering all He had done and continues to do. We hear his Word, we smell our prayers rising as incense, we see the beauty of the church, we touch and taste the very One in whose present we have come to receive life.

DAY 138

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN IT?

1 Chronicles 4, 5 & 6 and John 6:1-21

More genealogies: most of these characters you and I have read about – we know them.

For many of these days I have felt like I have focused more on the Old Testament then the New – today I get a chance to spend a little focused time on the John.

I hope you are not too surprised that chapter six of John has a lot to do with God in the Old Testament. Think Creation and Exodus. What do you make of Jesus feeding 5,000? How do you explain it? Is it some magic trick? Hardly: Jesus is creating food – just as God created the world! Ponder that for a moment. Here is Jesus standing on the earth, and He does what He did “in the beginning”; He creates.

In the text we hear the echoes of Exodus. John points out that it is the Passover. John’s Gospel is not like a mystery novel (I just finished reading one Death by Holy Orders – P.D. James). Mystery novels love to give all sorts of details; most of them send us down blind alleys. John’s Gospel has all sorts of details; none of them send us down blind alleys. All John’s details serve a purpose.

So what does the Passover commemorate? It celebrates God delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt – through the water. It celebrates this with a communal meal. Here is Jesus, God walking the earth; walking on water and feeding 5,000. John will spend his Gospel pointing us to Jesus – Messiah and King – delivering us from the slavery of sin – don’t miss the signs.

While what you just read is a very short commentary on John’s Gospel, I have a much more pertinent question: Do you believe it? Do you believe Jesus fed 5,000 and walked on water? People seem to be able to believe He healed others, but they have trouble with these miracles – how about you?

How would you explain it? Most would say, “You cannot explain it, it is a miracle.” True enough. Many people want explanations and don’t like “it’s a miracle.” I often describe miracles as things that are beyond nature. It is beyond our explanation because we explain things with natural laws, and God is acting beyond nature. But recently I have been thinking about and toying with another idea. If God created this world, then God so understands the world He created, that He could easily manipulate it. It is kind of like someone who just got their automobile learning permit as compared to Jeff Gordan – Jeff really knows how to manipulate a car.

Regardless, the point of these signs and others is to bring us to realize that Jesus is someone very special, and then to look and listen…and decide. Is Jesus who He claims to be…because this will make all the difference, and that is worth more than any single explanation.

DAY 137

IDENTITY

1 Chronicles 1, 2 & 3 and John 5:25-46

Today we begin a new Old Testament Book. Before I get to the genealogies, let’s just get a sense of what it is about. 1 and 2 Chronicles, originally one book, is thought to be written after Judah began to return from Babylonian exile around 538 BC. We just read about how they were exiled, and we will be reading about the return of some of the people. It focuses primarily on the history of the southern kingdom, Judah.

With that short introduction, your mind might get a little numb from the genealogies, but you also might notices that they focus down on David’s line. In many ways Chronicles goal is thought to be one that is meant to reassure the returned exiles of God’s faithfulness. I ended yesterday’s blog with the question of what was God’s plan; how would He be faithful? This question is one that certainly would be on the minds of those, the remnant, who are returning. Chronicles therefore opens by setting the stage…in essence saying, “OK, let’s just remember who we are.” Genealogies do that; they can serve to ground us in our identity.

Jesus in the New Testament is sharing His identity. Let’s just set the stage. He is in Jerusalem. He has healed a man by a pool who could not walk. He of course did it on the Sabbath.

I think Jesus healed lots of people on the other six days of the week and they are not recorded. It seems that because the Sabbath healings caused the most controversy, they then gave Jesus the opportunity to teach. Jesus healings flowed from His compassion, but they certainly have a larger point – to teach the world a few things. First, look who He heals; it seems to be all who come to him (not just the elite or those with the right genealogy). Second, He heals in order to reveal who He is; His identity.

The text today is about Him sharing this identity. He certainly connects himself to the Father, but he also connects himself to Moses. In the closing verse for today’s reading Jesus says, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me.” People are having trouble believing Jesus is who He is claiming to be, in part because He threatens how they think about God, and in part because for some He will challenge the power systems which they control.

The question you might ponder today is “who are you?” How do you identify yourself? Are you a mom or dad; son or daughter; aunt or uncle; employee or boss? How about hobbies: a sailor, a gardener, a car enthusiast, a musician, a woodworker…? We all wear many hats.

I want you to go deeper. What is you deepest identity, your core? Some of us stop with our earthly genealogy. Some of us allow our parents, our education, our ethnicity, our...you fill in the blank - to define us. Jesus has come into the world so that you will know that at your core you are made in God's image (Genesis) and that you are a son or daughter of Almighty God Jesus has come into this world so that you will know the One whom He calls Father – you can call Father. God has proclaimed this: we are not just “His people”, we are also His family (2 Corinthians 6:18).

DAY 136

WHAT’S THE PLAN NOW?

2 Kings 24 & 25 and John 5:1-24

Today is a sad day, but not unexpected. In the Old Testament we read of the final fall of the Nation of Judah and the City of Jerusalem. The Temple is looted and destroyed. The king and the people carried off. There is a bit of back and forth; it took Babylon a few tries, but ultimately the people of Judah are defeated. The Temple will never be as great as it was up to this point. The Temple of Jesus’ day is not this Temple.

One of the motifs that will now become a part of the Jewish ethos is loss: they have lost their nation and they have lost their Temple. It is a motif that continues through to today. The other two words that you will hear is “exile” and “dispersion” (or even Diaspora). These words refer the fact that the people were “dispersed” throughout the land and/or “exiled” in Babylon.

As we go forward in our reading we will hear these themes, and specifically how God speaks to the people – because here is the question: How does God, who is faithful, act to fulfill the Covenant. Think back to Genesis 15, where the animals were cut in half and a smoking pot and flaming torch passed between them. That was God saying “may I be torn in two if you (Abraham and your descendents) fail to keep the Covenant.” They have experienced what seems to be the ultimate destruction. They had a great nation, they were a great people, and now it is gone. What will God do next?

We will in the coming months read the prophets, the people who were the successors to Elijah. These people, with names like Isaiah and Jeremiah, will exhort the people to hold onto God’s faithfulness, and that God will send a deliver – a Messiah – to restore them.

This idea of Messiah is an idea that is planted in the fall of Judah and Jerusalem. It is a seed that grows in the minds and hearts of the people. It grows in a way that leads them to believe that the Messiah will come and “restore” them to the grandeur of old. A new Jewish king will sit on the throne in Jerusalem and they will not be subject to foreign powers.

Can you see the tension into which Jesus steps? He is on the scene some five centuries later. He is walking around proclaiming the Kingdom of God is at hand…but he is doing it all wrong. Wouldn’t the new kingdom look like King David’s or even better King Solomon’s? Yet He goes to the outcasts: the sick, the tax collectors and the prostitutes. He doesn’t collude with the Temple Authorities (yes there is another Temple, we will read about how in the coming weeks). He, in fact, challenges them at most every turn.

Today He is off healing on the Sabbath again. How dare He? His answer is simple. “Truly, truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing…” (Jn. 5:19). Jesus goes on to claim even more authority, the authority of life over death. The Gospels, all of them, raise one basic question as they present the story of this man Jesus. Is he who he claims to be? Is He the long awaited Messiah? Is He the answer to the question of how God will be faithful? Today he claims that He is – for He is the Father’s Son.

DAY 135

IS IT ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO TURN OUT RIGHT?

2 Kings 22 & 23 and John 4:31-54

The fairy tales that were read to us when we were young often ended with, “And they all lived happily ever after.” The TV shows we watched always got it all sorted out in 30 minutes. That sentiment coupled with all we have been reading in the Old Testament makes for a formula for disaster.

You may have subconsciously in your mind the following formula: “God blesses good kings, and punishes bad kings, therefore do what is good so God will bless you.” Is this the calculus of our faith? It certainly isn’t life; bad things happen to so called good people all the time.

It also is not the calculus of God. Certainly we have read that when kings and others have repented that God has relented, or delayed his judgment, but that doesn’t mean our God is not a God of Justice.  We all want justice, except of course when we are on trial…then we want mercy.

I bring this up because today we read of an amazing king, Josiah. He was a good king. He repairs the Temple and in doing so finds the Book of the Law. He not only has it read aloud – he follows it. Did you catch that bit about how they had not celebrated the Passover since the time of Judges! So does that mean King David didn’t? I have to go and research that a bit, but it would appear from our reading today to be the case.

Maybe as you read you were thinking that King Josiah is so good that his deeds will “cancel out” all the bad done by others – isn’t that what we think? That my friend is not biblical thinking. That is something called “karma.” Karma is the idea that you have to make up for all your mistakes, and when you do, it will all be OK. It is a theology that then leads to a theology of reincarnation because you are always behind playing “catch-up.” It is often the de-facto way people today think.

Biblical thinking is that we have a God of Justice, Love and Mercy. We have been reading about Him and His People, their centuries of history of following (and mostly not following) Him.

And so the kingdom of Judah is taken away at the end of King Josiah’s reign. Might you cry out, “Not fair!” It is all but done. The last few chapters of the 2 Kings will finish out the story.

This sad and poignant moment is what makes Jesus coming to earth so significant. He is God’s sacrifice, God’s justice for “the sins of the world.” Because Jesus has come to earth and paid the price God has received justice and we have available grace and mercy.

I was once told the following story by way of example. You find yourself in court. You are guilty. The prosecutor has you “five ways from Sunday.” You look up and your old school friend is the judge. You remember you were best friends. The case proceeds and it comes to the time of the verdict. Your friend looks you in the eye, announces guilty, and down goes the gavel. Then a remarkable thing happens. The judge, your friend, gets down from behind the bench, takes off his robe, comes and stands next to you, and says, “I will pay the price.”

Some people don’t like that story. They say it makes God too demanding. My answer is usually with a question, I ask, “Then tell me how we can ever have justice if God does not expect it?” I know of no other way. The Psalmist writes that “justice and mercy” have kissed. He is writing about Jesus.