DAY 161

MADE FOR ETERNITY

2 Chronicles 34, 35 & 36 and John 19:1-22

We read the parallel account of this Old Testament story on May 15, day 135. It is a remarkable story, the King “Chopped down” the altars of Baal…and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. Later he “Found the Book” and celebrated the Passover. I titled that day’s blog “Is it always supposed to turn out right.” I chose that title because within two generations the nation was lost.

Sometimes life does not turn out the way we hope, but that is not the message of the Bible. The message of the Scripture is that we are made for eternity. It is not that our time on earth is all “doom and gloom.” In this life we are to experience life: joy, love, peace…and yes, sorrow, pain, and even death. There is nothing wrong with us seeking good things in life…we just need to not hold onto them too tight…for we are made for eternity.

Today in the New Testament we read for the fourth time Jesus’ crucifixion. It is more than sobering. I have in earlier posts explored the theology of this moment. Today, rather than theology, I am just struck by the pain of it. Jesus stands with us, humanity, experiencing all the hurt and rejection and pain. Isaiah 53 prophesizes exactly this difficult reality.

He was despised and rejected by others;
   a man of suffering^* and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces^*
   he was despised, and we held him of no account. 
Surely he has borne our infirmities
   and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
   struck down by God, and afflicted. 
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
   crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
   and by his bruises we are healed…Isaiah 53

When you and I pray to God, we are praying to someone who has been in those moments of your life where you have been. Someone who lived life, who laughed, who went to weddings (and funerals), and someone who loved his disciples, but knew he would have to physically leave them…because He and they and all of us are made for eternity. 

DAY 160

DENIAL & REPENTANCE

2 Chronicles 32 & 33 and John 18:19-40

Sennacherib, King of Assyria was notorious for his methods. Archeological finds regarding the city o Lachish are widely documented. The most famous of these finds is called the Lachish Reliefs. Some 8 feet tall and 80 feet long they chronicle a broad history, including Sennacherib and his siege of Lachish. You can “goggle it” and see some amazing cites. Here is a link: http://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/biblical-archaeology-17-the-lachish-reliefs/

To broadly review, God’s people were united under King David and then King Solomon. Around 900 BC we know that the people split into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom, most often called Israel, and the southern kingdom, most often called Judah. The north was geographically larger, but the south is where Jerusalem and the Temple were located.

Around 720 BC the northern kingdom was defeated by Sennacherib. This king was brutally real and now he turned his attention to Jerusalem. The expanse of Sennacherib’s empire was great. Assyria can be thought of as modern day Iraq. Yet amid this attack Hezekiah remains faithful. We have read about this before in 2 Kings (18 and on). Evidence of Hezekiah’s strategy is thought to still exist in what are commonly referred to Hezekiah’s tunnels.

Remarkably, or maybe at this point you don’t find it remarkable, after Hezekiah dies the next king, Manasseh does evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet his denial ultimately leads to repentance and God is once again merciful.

Denial and repentance: it seems everywhere, even among Jesus’ closest friends. We read of Peter’s second denial, and we read of how the people deny Jesus to Pilate. We have Pilate’s famous question of “What is truth?”

How we determine truth is the subject for another blog on another day. Some people rely on others such as a king, or the Church, to determine it. Others rely on science, or the Bible, or their own experience…most use a combination. The point we have seen over and over is that when the people in the Bible have denied God, who is Truth, things do not go well. The circumstances usually become so bleak that they turn back, they repent, and return to God…and God who is infinitely faithful receives them.

Why is truth so hard to accept? Why did the kings we have read about deny God and His Truth? If you add up all the kings and keep score, those who “did good” and those who “did evil”…the evil ones outnumber the good ones by a long shot. Why? Beyond them, why do I? This is one of those questions for the ages, but before I fall into a philosophical hole the reality is that there is enough data to demonstrate the un-deniability of this situation.

Rather than deny this situation and rather than obsess about why, I suggest we look not at ourselves, but at God. What does God do amid all our denial? He stands faithfully by, waiting for our return…and when we do He is quick to receive us…and for that we are grateful.

DAY 159

EARNEST, but for WHAT?

2 Chronicles 30 & 31 and John 18:1-18

Hezekiah celebrating the Passover and organizing the priests…and Jesus’ arrest and denial by Simon Peter…we have read both before. When a person undertakes a project such as “reading the Bible in One Year” it is easy to feel “under the gun” to the point where when you come across something you have already read that you then skip over it. Part of the point in reading the Bible is to read it and to learn the story, but part of it is to read it over and over, letting the story sink in, and letting parts you had not noticed before come to your attention.

What comes to your attention today? Today’s blog is more about what I noticed.

Their determination to hold it, even if it means delaying for a month…their pleading with all the people of the country to “return to the Lord”…they had not properly cleansed themselves…and still went forward. It wasn’t all “per the book,” but they certainly wanted to be with God at the celebration of the Passover…there seems to be earnestness in their hearts.

In the New Testament I notice there is no “kiss” of betrayal, and yet there is Jesus saying “I am he” to the point where they fall back. There is the sword, and the high priests – the trial and Peter…the sense I have from reading this again is that there is a determination and rather than a noble earnestness in their hearts, there is something far more evil. Call it fear, call it power, call it “out of control righteousness, or call it merely the desire to remain in power…whatever their motivation, it will result in evil.

All of these musings brings me back to “the heart” – how what we desire, or what we fear…clearly motivates and moves us to action. I wonder how many times a day I walk around being led by wrong motives in my heart as compared to how many times a day I walk around highly motivated the way the Old Testament folks were today. Today I am reminded to be mindful of just what I am “earnest about;” what it is that has my focus. 

DAY 158

DOORS: OPEN or SHUT?

2 Chronicles 28 & 29 and John 17

I continue to be amazed at how we go from long tenured “relatively good” kings to kings that completely abandon the Lord and go over to the god of Baal. How far did Ahaz go? He cut up the vessels of the House of God and shut its doors! That is a pretty dramatic statement by the king about how he feels about the Lord God Almighty.

The next king, Hezekiah, opens the doors and cleanses the Temple. The people are so joyful, their gifts so plentiful that there were not enough priests to handle the sacrifices.

The reform of Hezekiah for his people culminates in the Temple with the sacrifice offered by the priests. Jesus in the New Testament is about to go and “offer the sacrifice.” It will to the sacrifice for the “sins of the world.” That is where we are in John’s Gospel. As Jesus offers what is typically referred to as “the High Priestly Prayer” considers just some of the things he is praying for:

·         Verse 11: “Father, keep them in your name”

·         Verse 15: “Father, keep them from the evil one”

·         Verse 24: “Father, that they may be one with me”

·         Verse 26: “Father, that your love which is in me, that it could be in them”

That is just a sample – Jesus is praying to the Father for you as He goes to offer himself as the sacrifice – the full, perfect, sufficient, sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the world. This is an amazing moment…a moment once and always for the world…may we throw open the doors of our hearts and welcome Him.

DAY 157

IT IS NOT ALWAYS LOGICAL

2 Chronicles 25, 26 & 27 and John 16

It is not always logical: sometimes that is good and sometimes that is bad.

In the Old Testament we read about Amaziah. He went and hired soldiers from neighboring Israel to help him fight. God said, “No, trust me instead.” Some Amaziah dismissed these soldiers even though he paid them. Not very logical, but Amaziah prevailed. Then Amaziah after he has his victory brings home the gods of the people he defeated and worships them instead of the Lord God who gave him the victory…not very logical!

There is then in the Old Testament we read of King Uzziah; remember this name because when we get to Isaiah chapter 6 we will read, “In the year King Uzziah died…” It would be like saying, “In the year Abraham Lincoln died…” In that year a great American Leader was lost and concern and anxiety filled people. Why would people lament King Uzziah’s death…just read chapter 26. He walked with the Lord and reigned for 52 years defeating its enemies and restoring its towers and walls. Yet Uzziah is not logical. He get’s full of himself and decides he will fill the role of the priests. Thankfully the priests, at risk of their own lives, intervene. Uzziah while stricken with leprosy, has his life spared.

We then come to John chapter 16. Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit. From the disciples perspective completely illogical – from Jesus’ perspective completely logical. It is the Holy Spirit that will guide them into all truth. It is the Holy Spirit who will actually enable them to actually more than Jesus can. It does not seem logical to the disciples. Jesus is standing in front of them. Jesus is the one they know and trust. Jesus seems safe. But Jesus is leaving and they (and we) need more…we need the Holy Spirit.

There is a common thread to what appears illogical yet works, and what appears illogical and fails. When we follow man’s way apart from God, and we know it is illogical, it fails – it did for Amaziah and it did for Uzziah. When we follow God’s way, even if we “know” or “feel” it is illogical, it succeeds. It did for Amaziah, Uzziah and for the Disciples.

The bottom line is it not about Logic ALONE…it is about following God. If it seems logical and is not opposite of God we call that common sense. If it seems logical, but (and this is a big but) appears opposite of God’s will…we do not call that common sense…we call it disobedience…often obedience requires faith…faith in the face of what might seem illogical.

Anything seeming to be illogical, but God is pulling at you over? I have a list of them.

DAY 156

ABIDE or ABANDON?

2 Chronicles 23 & 24 and John 15

Today, with all our technology, as I continue to read the these sacred texts, it does make me every now and then, think about how different our world is in one respect and how similar it is in another.

The Old Testament story reads like a movie. A bad king is put to death (in the prior chapter) but his evil mother (named Athaliah) kills all his siblings save for one (Joash). This one young boy is saved and hidden in the House of the Lord for six years. He comes to the throne, the evil mother is killed, and this new king reforms the country…and they all live happily ever after…Nope! The king ultimately dies and in chapter 24, verse 18, it says they after all the work of reform and restoring the Temple…the abandoned the House of the Lord…and they don’t live happily ever after.

Abandoned is a strong word. Abandonment is a strong action. Abandonment still happens today with all the attendant effects.

Jesus says “Abide in Me.” Do not abandon me, but abide. In John 15 we read more of these wonderful phrases: “I no longer call you servants, I call you friends” and “You did not choose me, I chose you.” Our Lord, by His words and deeds has been showing over and over again how He is the exact opposite of an “abandoning type of person.”

Consider again his words about how we are “friends” and how “he chose us.” Why say them? My thought is so we would know how committed Jesus is to each of us. It is why the beginning of chapter 15 of John almost sounds like Jesus pleading with us. “Abide” he says (don’t abandon). Those who abandon are removed and thrown in a pile and burned. Those who abide…well they are pruned and trimmed. If you have ever watched a vine dresser you will notice two things. First, the great care and thought which goes into each “cut.” Second, the cut is made on “live branch”…the branch “feels” the cut. As we “abide” with Jesus, the Father who is the vine dresser will “trim” and “prune”…but do not abandon…abide.

I have to tell you I don’t like to be “trimmed.” I like to grow (and go) my own way. The problem with that behavior is I make poor choices; choices like the people in the Old Testament do as they abandon God.

What causes you to make poor choices? Is it stress? Life gets too hard and you seek a release through something or someone that you know isn’t good for you. Is it success? Things are going well and you somehow feel like you don’t have to lean on God as much. Is it boredom? You know all this “God stuff”, all this “Bible”, all this seems a little too repetitive and maybe even dull.

The point in these Scriptures today, even amid our outwardly different world, it so think about them and how we can see the all too constant we call “human behavior.” We read about the abandonment of God and we read about God pleading with us to stay, to abide. Might I, might you, think about ourselves a little today and the next time we “feel like” walking in our own path, or the next time the “pruner’s shears” seem a little bit too close for comfort…that we remember He calls us friends – chosen friends.

DAY 155

CONFUSION

2 Chronicles 21 & 22 and John 14

Has your world ever been “confused?” You find yourself trying hard, really hard, and yet everything around you just is not making sense.

I imagine in the time of these 2 Chronicles passages that the average, everyday person would be confused. The new king kills all his brothers. He does this to theoretically make his throne more secure. Yet then he makes alliances with kings and people who do not follow the Lord God which will result in a most unsecure throne. And there you are, trying to make it all work, while the king is confused to say the least.

I’ve got to think the disciples were confused. Our New Testament reading is from John 14. It is Jesus’ words to His disciples; no one else is around. It is the last night He will be with them before the Cross. In this final discourse we get wonderful words from Jesus: Words such as “I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” Words such as, “In my Father’s house there are many rooms.” I could keep listing more of them, this passage is a feast of Good News.

Yet the disciples are troubled. We read Philip’s words and Thomas concern. They are worried and confused.

Maybe you are worried and/or confused. I get that way, more than I care to admit. I am here trying hard, really hard, and yet…well there is the mess with the National Church, and then there is the struggle with having a viable Parish, there are of course all the financial challenges…”is this really what Jesus intended,” I begin to opine. The Cathedral needs about 5 million dollars worth of repairs, and the congregation is full of nice people, but really about half the size it should be to make this place viable. And those nice people, the congregation, they have their individual challenges. Then there are the poor and struggling…there are many of them, and we, ill-equipped to help…so is this what Jesus wants me to be doing? Then there are family pressures and issues, all suffering because of over commitment to the job – and even without a job it is not clear there would be enough time…again more confusion.

Following the appointed kings of Judah must have been confusing for the people of the day. Following Jesus was certainly confusing that night of John 14 for the disciples. Following Jesus from today can be equally so.

So given all this confusion what do we find our Lord telling his disciples…after He gives them all these wonderful words…and He does give them many wonderful words…He says, “Obey.” I find that interesting. In the midst of all their confusion Jesus tells them to obey the commandments. Not to earn His or His Father’s love (after all He is going to the Cross), but rather to help them. Obeying the commandments is the path amid the confusion. Obeying the commandments will keep you from complicating an already confusing situation. Sometimes you and I will simply be “gutting it out” and trying to do our best wondering if the sun will ever appear in the dark sky. In those moments, do not stray and hold onto the words of Jesus, “let not your hearts be troubled, believe in me, believe also in him who sent me”…and in the mean time just stay focused and obey all that I have taught you. When you do, not only will you get through, but the world (all the other people who are just or even more confused then you) will notice.