Matthew 11:18-19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Wisdom always existed for me as a mental exercise perhaps communicated to others and perhaps not. I'm a thinker and sometimes I think I have very wise thoughts. I've even been told that I have very wise thoughts. It is true that we are judged by what we do or what we fail to do, not only by others but by God, and yet it seems so easy to settle for thoughts and think we have it all together.
Wisdom is thinking about what God thinks and then putting his ideas into action. I might be judged for doing too much or too little by other people, but be doing exactly what God desires. Where do I find my approval rom God or man? Who do I want to please my neighbor, or my God? Who do I see as wise, my God or my world? Surely Jesus did not want to find fault with those among whom he lived, He just refused to ignore reality. My I find true wisdom as I follow Jesus.
Monday, October 17, 2011
He Came To My Place
Matthew 9:35-36 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus's life was others, always others. He travelled to village after village teaching, preaching, healing, and casting out demons while including an occasional miracle along the way. Even when the need seemed so constant and certainly for me would have been overwhelming, he maintained compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Although Jesus is always more interested in our spiritual health than our physical or emotional health he still shows compassion on his people for they are like sheep without a shepherd.
Have you seen this Jesus in your village? He is there, as well as in your home, church and other sub communities. Our faith is different because we have a savior who lives and who still travels from village to village and heart to heart living in us and around to be present not by laws but by relationship. He can be found in a sacred book but he is alive beyond the book. Have you seen him or met him? If you haven't my words may sound like folly, but if you have you know you have been blessed. You have become one of his priceless others. Will you help him to meet more that he is seeking to meet.
Jesus's life was others, always others. He travelled to village after village teaching, preaching, healing, and casting out demons while including an occasional miracle along the way. Even when the need seemed so constant and certainly for me would have been overwhelming, he maintained compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Although Jesus is always more interested in our spiritual health than our physical or emotional health he still shows compassion on his people for they are like sheep without a shepherd.
Have you seen this Jesus in your village? He is there, as well as in your home, church and other sub communities. Our faith is different because we have a savior who lives and who still travels from village to village and heart to heart living in us and around to be present not by laws but by relationship. He can be found in a sacred book but he is alive beyond the book. Have you seen him or met him? If you haven't my words may sound like folly, but if you have you know you have been blessed. You have become one of his priceless others. Will you help him to meet more that he is seeking to meet.
Messiah
Matthew 11:8-11 And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!”
The last week of my Lord's life started with this celebration as he entered the Holy City for the week of Passover. People were yelling out sacred words, "Hosanna" or "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord." Words that honored Jesus, but for sure without a complete understanding of what was to come. Jesus had told his closest disciples what to expect, but others seeing or hearing about his miraculous powers had no idea. How could the best come from the worst.
Those who celebrated his arrival were looking for a different messiah, and often I think that is our problem. They wanted a Messiah who would take over the country and throw out the Roman occupation. Many today want the Messiah to overcome every oppressor in their lives. I've been there, but i want God to take away their free will not mine. He can be the celebrated hero who overthrows all the bad people by taking away their freedom but not mine, even when I have my own share of bad choices.
I want to be free. I want God to respect my free will. Would I sacrifice that for a world with complete justice? Would I give away any chance of real love for a world with no problems? Not me!!
The last week of my Lord's life started with this celebration as he entered the Holy City for the week of Passover. People were yelling out sacred words, "Hosanna" or "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord." Words that honored Jesus, but for sure without a complete understanding of what was to come. Jesus had told his closest disciples what to expect, but others seeing or hearing about his miraculous powers had no idea. How could the best come from the worst.
Those who celebrated his arrival were looking for a different messiah, and often I think that is our problem. They wanted a Messiah who would take over the country and throw out the Roman occupation. Many today want the Messiah to overcome every oppressor in their lives. I've been there, but i want God to take away their free will not mine. He can be the celebrated hero who overthrows all the bad people by taking away their freedom but not mine, even when I have my own share of bad choices.
I want to be free. I want God to respect my free will. Would I sacrifice that for a world with complete justice? Would I give away any chance of real love for a world with no problems? Not me!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Just The Hem
Matthew 9:20-22 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
She knew that contact with Jesus was enough to change her life. How did she know? What made her think that such a simple act would bring her healing? How long had she been following him seeing the signs and wonders? What gave her the courage to step forward and do the unthinkable?
As I follow the gospel account I surmise that she had been on the outskirts of the group for some time. As a woman with a show of blood she was an untouchable. Wandering hopelessly she must have seen Jesus intercede for others who were untouchable like the leper, but at least he was a man. I can imagine that she felt even Jesus would not help a mere woman, so she held back and followed at a distance to see more of his work. Perhaps the compassion for the widow of Nain was the final piece in building her confidence. She finally approaches trying to be invisible in the crowd, but Jesus knew. Another version of this gospel account says that he felt power go out from him. You can just imagine how she felt as he turned and told her she was well.
I can relate to the woman's story and I have known many others who have followed on the edges feeling unworthy of all that Jesus can do. With all the gospel testimony about what Jesus will do, what keeps us from our approach? What keeps us from reaching for the hem of his garment? You see we're all untouchables in reality for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is pure and holy and it is only by his mercy that we can be allowed to receive his grace. We doubt the depth of his well of compassion which has no limit. How long until we have the woman's courage?
She knew that contact with Jesus was enough to change her life. How did she know? What made her think that such a simple act would bring her healing? How long had she been following him seeing the signs and wonders? What gave her the courage to step forward and do the unthinkable?
As I follow the gospel account I surmise that she had been on the outskirts of the group for some time. As a woman with a show of blood she was an untouchable. Wandering hopelessly she must have seen Jesus intercede for others who were untouchable like the leper, but at least he was a man. I can imagine that she felt even Jesus would not help a mere woman, so she held back and followed at a distance to see more of his work. Perhaps the compassion for the widow of Nain was the final piece in building her confidence. She finally approaches trying to be invisible in the crowd, but Jesus knew. Another version of this gospel account says that he felt power go out from him. You can just imagine how she felt as he turned and told her she was well.
I can relate to the woman's story and I have known many others who have followed on the edges feeling unworthy of all that Jesus can do. With all the gospel testimony about what Jesus will do, what keeps us from our approach? What keeps us from reaching for the hem of his garment? You see we're all untouchables in reality for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is pure and holy and it is only by his mercy that we can be allowed to receive his grace. We doubt the depth of his well of compassion which has no limit. How long until we have the woman's courage?
Where Do You Eat?
Matthew 9:10:13 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
What do you make of this event? Jesus eating with the bottom of society, outcasts by Jewish law. Again and again this seems to be his pattern. Would he eat with us, or would we be the folks questioning what he was doing? It seems funny that at the heart of almost every Sunday service is the recognition that Jesus died to save sinners, and yet many church going people can't come to see themselves in that crowd. I know Jesus eats with sinners because every day he eats with me. That is the starting point that the Pharisees could not get to in their own lives. They sought to achieve holiness on their own through following everything they thought was right and good. The results of that is consistent, achieve it and live in pride with no need of a relationship with God, or fail to achieve it and you live in guilt feeing unworthy of a relationship with God. In either case you miss the goal which is a relationship with the living God. Restoration of the ability to walk in the garden with God in peace and joy like the Garden of Eden.
Scripture says of Jesus. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Simple as it may sound, he waits for us to answer the door and invite him in, not once we're perfected, but rather when we are in the crowd of sinners at table. The sick need a doctor. We can't become well by being good, the Pharisees tried that and it doesn't work. Start by knowing your a sinner and you become a saint, start thinking you can achieve sainthood and you'll end a sinner. Funny choices huh?
What do you make of this event? Jesus eating with the bottom of society, outcasts by Jewish law. Again and again this seems to be his pattern. Would he eat with us, or would we be the folks questioning what he was doing? It seems funny that at the heart of almost every Sunday service is the recognition that Jesus died to save sinners, and yet many church going people can't come to see themselves in that crowd. I know Jesus eats with sinners because every day he eats with me. That is the starting point that the Pharisees could not get to in their own lives. They sought to achieve holiness on their own through following everything they thought was right and good. The results of that is consistent, achieve it and live in pride with no need of a relationship with God, or fail to achieve it and you live in guilt feeing unworthy of a relationship with God. In either case you miss the goal which is a relationship with the living God. Restoration of the ability to walk in the garden with God in peace and joy like the Garden of Eden.
Scripture says of Jesus. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Simple as it may sound, he waits for us to answer the door and invite him in, not once we're perfected, but rather when we are in the crowd of sinners at table. The sick need a doctor. We can't become well by being good, the Pharisees tried that and it doesn't work. Start by knowing your a sinner and you become a saint, start thinking you can achieve sainthood and you'll end a sinner. Funny choices huh?
Compassion
Luke 7:11-15 Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion onher and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
Raising Lazarus from the dead had a huge impact on the future of Jesus life. That event happened close to Jerusalem and was a confrontation to the power of the religious leaders as well as the control Rome held over the country. Nain was not in such an area so this event had less political impact that would effect Jesus life, but not less spiritual impact.
The real power for me in this passage has to do with who these characters were and why Jesus responded as he did. Of first note is that they were strangers. He just happened upon this funeral procession. In the sermon on the mount Jesus says what credit should you get for only doing good to your friends, don't even the sinners do that. Jesus lived by his words. He did good things for his friends, yes, but also those who were complete strangers. He showed us over and over through his actions that he meant the words he said. He doesn't just do these things while he's teaching them, but often very disconnected in time from his teaching events.
Jesus compassion was another powerful example of his living out his values in his day to day life. The woman was already a widow, perhaps one from a family with wealth because the funeral procession was large, and this was her only son. In Jewish culture of the time her nuclear family was able to continue to own her property because she had a son. A widow without a son would lose everything. Women could not own property but this son who just died could own the property of his father. The compassion was for the future of this woman who was a stranger, but was about to become destitute or at the very least see her wealth lost to someone in this following crowd who might allow her a home.
Jesus again and again had compassion on the downtrodden. At times in my life when I was feeling downtrodden or experiencing sone very real life issues, Jesus has been there. It would take a whole book and too much time for me to clarify that even a little. The examples are numerous, but often long stories. Some of you know a few of them that I've shared publicly before. Of one thing I'm sure, Jesus compassion never runs out for friends and strangers. Some of my stories actually happened before I became a believer. It was only in hindsight, after becoming a believer, that I have come to see that he had compassion on me even when I was still a stranger. It is from Jesus teaching and example that I have been called to deep compassion for the downtrodden and the underclass. I need to respond this way to follow the example of the teacher and share his grace with others with compassion.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Storms
Matthew 8:24-27 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
My mom used to take us all into the bedroom during a thunderstorm and read to us out of what seemed like the emergency storm book. If she heard thunder while we were eating she would grab the silverware out of our hands and send us from the table. She was terrified of lightning. On the other hand I have always loved storms. I never liked the destruction of hurricanes but I loved the excitement. I loved big huge snow storms. One of my favorite things to do was to walk the beach in the rain. Don't ask me why because I can't figure it out. It still persists although now it is seen in not quitting a round of golf because of rain. Storms in nature bring different responses from different people.
Of more consequence for me are the storms of life. Storms that intrude on our families and friends lives. They might be storms of finance, health, or relationships, but they rock the boat in threatening ways that could force people to crash ofnthe rocks of life. The disciples did not recognize who was in the boat with them during their storm on the sea, and we often fail to see him with us during the storms of our lives. Up north I had a friend who was Roman Catholic deacon. He and his wife hit some very bad financial difficulties. It was so bad that the fear of losing everything was not just an abstract possibility but was almost unavoidable. He told me of a conversation they had. They sat and talked about the worst possible outcome and recognized they could be very poor. They had been poor when they were young and even found happiness together then. Suddenly the fear of the possible was gone. They also had faith that whatever happened Jesus was with them, and they had each other and everything would be alright.
Fear can cause a situational paralysis that makes it seem impossible to go through the problem. Jesus however was in the boat with the disciples and he is in our life with us. You see, even if the boat sank he would be a lifeboat in the storm. He's been that for me, and I know he wants to be that for you.
My mom used to take us all into the bedroom during a thunderstorm and read to us out of what seemed like the emergency storm book. If she heard thunder while we were eating she would grab the silverware out of our hands and send us from the table. She was terrified of lightning. On the other hand I have always loved storms. I never liked the destruction of hurricanes but I loved the excitement. I loved big huge snow storms. One of my favorite things to do was to walk the beach in the rain. Don't ask me why because I can't figure it out. It still persists although now it is seen in not quitting a round of golf because of rain. Storms in nature bring different responses from different people.
Of more consequence for me are the storms of life. Storms that intrude on our families and friends lives. They might be storms of finance, health, or relationships, but they rock the boat in threatening ways that could force people to crash ofnthe rocks of life. The disciples did not recognize who was in the boat with them during their storm on the sea, and we often fail to see him with us during the storms of our lives. Up north I had a friend who was Roman Catholic deacon. He and his wife hit some very bad financial difficulties. It was so bad that the fear of losing everything was not just an abstract possibility but was almost unavoidable. He told me of a conversation they had. They sat and talked about the worst possible outcome and recognized they could be very poor. They had been poor when they were young and even found happiness together then. Suddenly the fear of the possible was gone. They also had faith that whatever happened Jesus was with them, and they had each other and everything would be alright.
Fear can cause a situational paralysis that makes it seem impossible to go through the problem. Jesus however was in the boat with the disciples and he is in our life with us. You see, even if the boat sank he would be a lifeboat in the storm. He's been that for me, and I know he wants to be that for you.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A Simple Touch
Matthew 8:1-4 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded,for a proof to the people.”
Jesus notoriety was spreading as is evidenced by the crowds that followed him. The healings and miracles brought the crowds with an expectation that they would see and hear things that were amazing to them. So a leper came. As you probably know lepers were excluded from society. They had to stay far away from others and wear bells and make loud noises warning people to stay away. If society had a bottom wrung they were it. Just touching a leper made you unclean by Jewish law, unable to worship with the community.What an unusual event for a leper to come near as the crowd followed Jesus. To defy Jewish law and approach the crowd, let alone a holy man, would be unthinkable. You can just sense the desperation of the leper who took the risk of being stoned just to come. What a small but amazing event this is for that time and place.
The man says to Jesus the phrase, "If you are willing." In that statement he acknowledges his faith that Jesus could heal him. He sees that it is only a matter of wether or not Jesus chooses to heal him. Lepers experiences led them to appropriately believe that no one cared about them. Their experience often even by their own families was abandonment. Amazingly Jesus was willing to heal him. Jesus caring for the bottom wrung of the social ladder must have been a shock to the crowd.
Even more amazing to me is how he healed the man. Examples of Jesus healing someone without touch are evident in scripture. I have no doubt that Jesus could have just pronounced that the man be healed and he would have been healed. At least his body would have been healed. Jesus touched the leper. Perhaps this was to heal his hurt and emotional scars that needed to be healed as well. It was a declaration of sorts that he was not worthless. By custom touching the man had great risk for Jesus and may have been added to list that was growing in the minds of the powerful against him. What a strong statement to the us and to the crowd that no matter how worthless we might feel, we are not worthless to Jesus.
He sends the man to the priests to be declared clean so he can go home to his family and friends. Restored mentally, physically and socially the man no longer excluded on the bottom wrung of society. Jesus wants to do the same today through his body the church. No one is outside his reach, but we often allow barriers to exist that make Jesus hard to see. Who around you feels excluded? Jesus wants to touch them today.
Jesus notoriety was spreading as is evidenced by the crowds that followed him. The healings and miracles brought the crowds with an expectation that they would see and hear things that were amazing to them. So a leper came. As you probably know lepers were excluded from society. They had to stay far away from others and wear bells and make loud noises warning people to stay away. If society had a bottom wrung they were it. Just touching a leper made you unclean by Jewish law, unable to worship with the community.What an unusual event for a leper to come near as the crowd followed Jesus. To defy Jewish law and approach the crowd, let alone a holy man, would be unthinkable. You can just sense the desperation of the leper who took the risk of being stoned just to come. What a small but amazing event this is for that time and place.
The man says to Jesus the phrase, "If you are willing." In that statement he acknowledges his faith that Jesus could heal him. He sees that it is only a matter of wether or not Jesus chooses to heal him. Lepers experiences led them to appropriately believe that no one cared about them. Their experience often even by their own families was abandonment. Amazingly Jesus was willing to heal him. Jesus caring for the bottom wrung of the social ladder must have been a shock to the crowd.
Even more amazing to me is how he healed the man. Examples of Jesus healing someone without touch are evident in scripture. I have no doubt that Jesus could have just pronounced that the man be healed and he would have been healed. At least his body would have been healed. Jesus touched the leper. Perhaps this was to heal his hurt and emotional scars that needed to be healed as well. It was a declaration of sorts that he was not worthless. By custom touching the man had great risk for Jesus and may have been added to list that was growing in the minds of the powerful against him. What a strong statement to the us and to the crowd that no matter how worthless we might feel, we are not worthless to Jesus.
He sends the man to the priests to be declared clean so he can go home to his family and friends. Restored mentally, physically and socially the man no longer excluded on the bottom wrung of society. Jesus wants to do the same today through his body the church. No one is outside his reach, but we often allow barriers to exist that make Jesus hard to see. Who around you feels excluded? Jesus wants to touch them today.
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