Gone to Italy....

In order to get ready for hiking the Amalfi Coast... 

I won't be posting again until we return in mid October.  

God bless and see you soon!

Wisdom (Luke 7:31-35) 5 of 5 The Baptist

Luke 7:31-35   31 "To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?  32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.'  33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon';  34 the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  35 Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated (justified) by all her children." 

*****
Wisdom is justified by all her children.  People have a tendency to make up truth as they go along to justify their desires at the time.  But this kind of truth and this kind of wisdom doesn't lead to life.  We really have to guard ourselves against this or we will find ourselves on the wrong road - hurting ourselves and those in our paths.  Those who accept the wisdom of God and realize they don't have to understand God's wisdom in order to obey God - their lives will demonstrate true wisdom.

*****

The other gospels weigh in...
Matthew 11:16-19  16 "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,  17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'  18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon';  19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." 

Baptism (Luke 7:29-30) 4 of 5 The Baptist

Luke 7:29-30  29 (And all the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John's baptism.  30 But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers (the experts in religious law) rejected God's purpose for themselves.)

Think of the worse person you know... the very worse person or worse kind of person.  The way you feel about that person is how the 1st century Jews felt about the tax collectors.  The tax collectors took their fellow Jew's money and kept some for themselves and gave the rest to the Roman forces occupying Jerusalem.  But the tax collectors believed what John had taught - that they were sinners and needed to repent.  And in turn, they believed Jesus too.

BUT the religious rule keepers (Pharisees) and religious theologians (lawyers) rejected both John and Jesus.  I doubt they could see why they needed to repent since the Pharisees knew all the right rules to keep and kept them.  And the lawyers knew all the right truths.  Why did they need a Messiah... they were already good enough?

But it wasn't about being good enough... it was about recognizing that you weren't good enough and turning toward God.  Who do we identify with?

Violence (Matt 11:12-15) 3 of 5 The Baptist

Matthew 11:12-15  12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.  13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came;  14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.  15 Let anyone with ears listen! 

John the Baptist had begun to preach the Kingdom of God (the reign of Jesus).  Opposition occurred on all sides:  the Jewish leaders attacked Jesus - they wanted a political Messiah, not a spiritual one.  They craved the materialism and power they thought the Messiah would bring, but they did not crave worshiping him.  The Pharisees (think of a Jewish denomination of strict rule keepers) thought their rule keeping would cause the Messiah to promote them, but Jesus was unimpressed with their lack of love and compassion for others.  John the Baptist is in prison for ruffling the feathers of the immoral royalty. The fact that violence would be perpetuated against Jesus and his followers (including John) did not mean that they were not the real deal.

Jesus is not only promoting and confirming the work of John, but he is calling them/us to accept that the reign of Christ has begun.  Those with ears - listen!  Let it change the way you greet this day!  

Messenger (Luke 7:24-28) 2 of 5 The Baptist

Luke 7:24-28  24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?  25 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces.  26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  27 This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'  28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Many of the people who are following Jesus first followed John the Baptist.  Jesus puts John and John's work in context for us.  John the Baptist was the greatest prophet and his great purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah.  But participation in the Kingdom of God is even more important than participating in John the Baptist's foretelling of the Messiah.  In other words, Jesus is saying to the crowd, "Good for you that you participated in John's proclamation of the coming Messiah, but don't stop there.... participate in the Kingdom!"

This is important for us to hear today.  Many of us participate in learning about the Messiah, but we hardly participate in his Kingdom.  We need to do both.

*****
Other Gospels weigh in....
Matthew 11:7-11   As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?  8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.  9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  10 This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'  11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

Expectations (Luke 7:18-23) 1 of 5 The Baptist

Luke 7:18-23   18 John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them,  19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"  20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"  21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.  22 So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.  23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." 


John the Baptist, the one who watched the Spirit descend upon Jesus - the one sent to go before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus, is having a crisis of faith.  John is in prison  - unable to watch the miracles that Jesus is doing - unable to talk with Jesus face to face.  And if I had to guess, I would say he is experiencing depression and doubt. Because of his bold declaration of the gospel, John is being persecuted and has been imprisoned   It feels like he has been taken out of the game to sit on the sidelines.  And it feels as if Jesus is going on without him.  How can this be?

Jesus' answer is an affirmative.  He is the Messiah.  However, he challenges John to examine his presuppositions about who the Messiah should be and what he should do.  And not to fall away because his personal expectations aren't being met.  The Jews expected the Messiah to save them from Roman occupation.  John may have expected Jesus to free him from prison.  Whatever it was, we know from Jesus' answer that he had wrong expectations of Jesus.  

What expectations of the Messiah hold us back from faith?

****

The other gospels weigh in ....

Matthew 11:2-6   2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples  3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"  4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.  6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." 

We are tied together in Christ's Kingdom (Matthew 10:40-42)

Matthew 10:40-42   40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.  41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 

Anyone besides me feel overwhelmed at this?  Jesus ties his followers so closely to himself that if people reject us, they reject him.  Of course he is talking about followers who are actually doing his work - followers he has sent - not impostors.

Western Christianity doesn't handle this well... we want to think we can be "Lone Ranger" Christians.  But Jesus ties us all together with him in his kingdom.  We serve one another along with him!  Our destinies are together.

*****

Other Gospels Weigh in....

Luke 10:16   16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." 

John 13:20  20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 

Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-27)

Luke 14:25-27   25 Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them,  26 "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.  27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 

Matthew 10:37-39   37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;  38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 


Discipleship is not something Jesus wants us to enter into blindly.  Jesus wants us to make a conscious commitment - after we understand the sacrifice.  Putting Jesus before family is one of the sacrifices.  The reward is that we will find life.

Jesus brings a sword not peace (Luke 12 :51-53)

Luke 12:51-53  51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!  52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three;  53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." 

Matthew 10:34-36   34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;  36 and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 

Some people have used these verses to declare war on those with different theological, social, political, or ideological views than their own.  This is obviously not what Jesus has in mind, for in the beatitudes, Jesus describes one of the attributes of those who love him: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).  Understanding this verse - it is key to realize that peacemakers are not those who sit back and never cause any trouble.  Peacemakers are people who are out working for peace (and the justice that most certainly comes with it).  But real long-term peacemaking often causes huge conflict in the process.

Jesus' message was one that if accepted would create the kind of peace that the world had never experienced - one where there would be abundance for all of humanity.  But his message also stripped those with religious and political power to the bone.  And they certainly would resist being stripped of their authority and power.  Conflict would ensue.  Yet, this was not an edict for Jesus' followers to fight back (turn the other cheek still applies), but an edict for Jesus' followers to practice non-violent resistance - by continuing to speak truth.  The sword that Jesus brought was the truth of God.  

Ashamed of Politically Incorrect Jesus? (Mark 8:38)

Here Jesus sets some of the criteria for being his followers:  His followers will publicly acknowledge that Jesus was who he said he was.  And Jesus said that he was "The Son of Man" - the Messiah.  He did not claim to be one of the many ways to know God or just a good prophet.  He didn't claim that all the "nice" world religions were also ways to God.  We may wish he did, but he didn't.

Jesus claimed to be not only the exclusive revelation of God to humanity, but he also claimed to be the only one able to reconcile humanity to God. This isn't politically correct to say.  And many of us want to present Jesus as being politically correct.  But he wasn't.  We can pretend - we can deny that Jesus said things like this, but it doesn't make it true.  And if we are ashamed of Jesus...

Mark 8:38  38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Luke 12:8-10   8 "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;  9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.  

Matthew 10:32-33   32 "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven;  33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. 

Jesus preaches fire and brimstone (Luke 12:4-5)

Luke 12:4-5  4 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.  5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 

Fire and brimstone from Jesus!  Most of us really don't want to picture Jesus this way.  We like to hear about his unconditional love, but in reality, there is another side to Jesus too. Here he is in the midst of warning his followers that they will be persecuted for following him... and he brings up hell.  Hell was the name of a place on the outside of town where infant sacrifices had been made centuries earlier and was presently a smoldering garbage dump. But Jesus also uses this place to describe the after life of those who reject God's love.  The picture he draws of God is that God is active not only in the salvation of humanity, but God does the casting into hell too.  Not a friendly picture.  Nor a popular one.  Fanatics believe this stuff, right?   And yet, to follow Jesus, we have to listen to all that he says - not just what we want to hear.

Jesus uses this fire and brimstone image to contrast for his disciples that the persecution they face is nothing to fear compared to this place called hell.

I believe that many of us live in hell right now.... separated from God.  Instead of experiencing abundant eternal life right now, we experience the smoldering garbage dump that chokes out all that is good.  I believe followers of Jesus sometimes get stuck in this garbage dump instead of following Jesus out of it.  I think Jesus is warning his disciples not to get stuck there.  Jesus wants his followers to know that their coming persecution is nothing compared to living separated from God.

Are we living in the eternal life that comes from God or are we living in hell?  Eternal life doesn't mean an easy life, but one that is wrapped up in God's love - hell means separation from God - eternal death.  Hell exists here and now, but also in eternity.  We can choose to abide in God's healing love.  Or we can live without God and remain broken with all that is good in us being choked out.  Choose life this day!

*****
The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 10:28   28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Your Worth (Luke 12:6-7)

Luke 12:6-7   6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight.  7 But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

We are of supreme worth to our creator!  No ifs, ands, or buts.  He loves us.

***

The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 10:29-31  29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 

Be on the up and up! (Luke 12:2-3)

Luke 12:2-3   2 Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.  3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.  

I had a conflict management teacher who taught that the key to conflict management was all about manipulating people to do what you wanted them to do. And as any good manipulator knows, getting people to keep secrets and form secret alliances is key to wrongful power.  Healthy power has nothing to hide and doesn't even try to.  Jesus was not manipulative nor did he teach his followers to be.

Be on the up and up!  Don't align yourself with people who aren't.

*****
Other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 10:26-27   26 "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.  27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.  

How to defend yourself (Matt 10:19-25)

In America these verses may seem to have very little applications to our lives.  We may stretch them at times for comfort when we feel we are misunderstood or when our view is not honored.  But whatever persecution we face, it is nothing compared to what goes on in other parts of the world.  And yet, we know that the Holy Spirit is with us always and will always guide us no matter what our situation is...

Matthew 10:19-25   19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time;  20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;  22 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  

Will we - would we - endure?  Pray for those under going persecution: http://www.prisoneralert.com/

***
The other gospels weigh in...


Mark 13:11-13  When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.  12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;  13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

Luke 21:14-19   ...Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;  15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.  16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  17 You will be hated by all because of my name.  18 But not a hair of your head will perish.  19 By your endurance you will gain your souls. 

Cost of Discipleship (Matt 10:17-18)

The cost of discipleship is this...

17 Beware of , for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues;  


The purpose of enduring is this...


18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 

Jesus' followers were to expect persecution by both the religious people (in their synagogues) and the secular people (governors and kings).  Following Jesus offends those who claim to be God's children (but aren't), as well as, those who don't make that claim.

If our following Jesus has never been offensive to someone else, then it might be time to think about why.  

Be Wise but Innocent (Matt 10:17-25)

Matthew 10:16-17   16 "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.  


Luke 10:3   3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 

This wolf attack last April in El Pego left 20 sheep dead.

Two things to note.  First, Jesus was sending his own disciples into danger knowing what the wolves were capable of.  And his disciples wouldn't always come back in one piece.  This is sometimes the cost of following Jesus.  Secondly, they were to be wise, but innocent.  This is an incredibly hard balance to maintain.  

I was part of a team of executives who were negotiating a business deal between two companies.  We flew executives from the other company into Atlanta and spent the day with them in the early stages of negotiating the deal.  At the end of the day, we sent them back to the airport in a limo.  Unbeknownst to me, the limo driver that we sent them with was actually one of our employees only dressed as a limo driver.   My boss had placed a mole in the limo as their driver so that he could report back on their conversation as he drove them to the airport.  He was hoping they would discuss the deal so that we could gain an advantage in the negotiations.  Brilliant, but not innocent.  Jesus wants his disciples to be wise AND innocent.  Not manipulative.  Always truthful.  Not seeking their gain at other's expense.   This is a hard balance to maintain especially when the stakes are big and maybe your life or livelihood is on the line.  

Be wise and innocent.  Live with integrity.

Handling Rejection (Matt 10:11-16)

Matthew 10:11-16  Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.  As you enter the house, greet it.  If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.  Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.  


Why did Jesus need to tell the disciples to leave and take their blessings of peace from people who reject them?  It seems logical not to waste your time where you aren't wanted.  It seems logical that it would even be freeing to be able to give up and walk away.  So why does Jesus have to say anything?  I think it is because the opposite is  actually true.

When I have encountered people who reject the way of Christ, I have wanted to keep trying to convince them to embrace Jesus.  Their rejection grieved me, not on a personal "I don't want to be rejected" level, but on an "I love you and don't want to walk away" level - on an "I am broken too, but Jesus is the way to our wholeness... let's seek him together" level.  My heart went out to them in a way that made me understand a little of what makes Christ's heart break for humanity.  I can't help but believe that it wasn't the same for the disciples too.

I think Jesus needed to tell his disciples to leave, because leaving wouldn't be what they wanted to do.  He knew they would fall in love with those who had not found the bread of life and want to feed them - so much so - that his disciples, if not instructed otherwise, would continue to beat their heads against a wall.   So Jesus had to instruct his disciples to leave and go find others to invite into his community.

Some interesting points about these verses...

When you enter into a relationship with those you find, you were to offer them your peace - your shalom or wholeness.  In other words, you tied your well being to their well being.  You entered into a relationship that was meant to become a holy one - one that was to become part of Jesus' community.  When they rejected you, you were to break that tie... no longer would your wholeness be dependent on them.  No longer would your wholeness be extend to them.

Another thing that seems so odd to me is that Christ has tied the acceptance of his disciples to the acceptance of him.  They go hand in hand.  When his disciples are rejected, he is rejected.  You can't accept him - come into his community and at the same time reject others.  It doesn't work that way.  His community is not only about entering into a relationship with God, but also about accepting and loving others - warts and all.

Worst of all, Jesus predicts that these people you leave behind will self-destruct - like Sodom and Gomorrah.  At first I thought Jesus was trying to comfort the disciples by telling them that God would seek revenge on people who treat them poorly.  But I seriously doubt that.  I think Jesus is telling the disciples that the self-destruction of those left behind is a natural result of their rejecting you (and hence, Christ). It is going to happen and it isn't because his disciples didn't stay long enough or try hard enough.  Unfortunately, watching people reject Jesus is a part of the burden Jesus' followers bear.  And their hearts will break just like Jesus' heart breaks.  

Jesus may have had another reason for bringing the story of Sodom and Gomorrah into the conversation.  Remember when Lot left Sodom and Gomorrah?  He and his family were just outside of town when the town exploded into fire.  Remember how Lot's wife looked back at the town and she was turned into a pillar of salt?  I guess we could surmise, that it is ill advised to even look back towards the people you have left - the message being... keep moving forward to the place where God is leading you and start inviting the people who live there into the kingdom.

For me, it is comforting to know that God is a God of second, third, and many other chances.  And that he loves those who reject him even more than I do.  We can always pray that God will send others and that they will not be rejected.

****

The other gospels weigh in...

Mark 6:10-11   He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.  If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 

Luke 9:4-5  Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.  Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." 

Traveling Light (Matt 10:8-10)

Matthew 10:8-10  You received without payment; give without payment.  9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,  10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 

Mark 6:8-9  8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;  9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 


Luke 9:3  3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money-- not even an extra tunic. 


Why did Jesus want his disciples to travel unencumbered?  I think he wanted them focused on spreading the news of his kingdom - easier to do with no luggage to drag around.  I think he also wanted them to depend on others to care for them - forcing them into relationship with those they needed to be building relationships with.  And it checked the desire to profit from their work by telling them not to accept payment for their work.  These are things we all need to think about...

• Do we have luggage that is keeping us from sharing Jesus' community?
• Are we in relationship with those who need to learn from us?
• Are we willing to depend on others to support us?
• Are we profiting from Jesus' message and power?  
• Are our motives right?

Teach and Transform (Matthew 10:5-8)

Matthew 10:5-8  5 These twelve (disciples) Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,  6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  7 As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'  8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. 

Jesus sends out the disciples with two goals: 1) preach that the kingdom (his community) is at hand and 2) transform those you meet.  Jesus could have sent the disciples out to teach a list of rules, a systematic theology, or a required list of good deeds.  But Jesus sent them with an invitation (in my words): "the community of God is forming - come be part of it."  Then he gave the disciples power to demonstrate God's love and compassion for those they would encounter.

What is our message to the world today?   Does it resemble Jesus' message or has our message become "here are the right rules to follow,"  "here are the right good deeds to do and causes to support", "here are the right politics to get behind," or "here is the right theology to ascribe to."  Or is our message about forming the community of God and transforming lives?

Traitor (Matthew 10:2-4)

You know how when you go to the opera, how there is a list of donors in the little booklet that they hand you at the door?  Okay, I don't go to the opera much either, but some how I know there is a little booklet that they hand out with donor's names in it.  Do you ever look to see whose name is there?  Often there is quite list of movers and shakers.  Well, here is another list.  See what you notice about it...

Matthew 10:2-4   2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;  3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;  4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

Mark 3:16-19   16 Simon whom he surnamed Peter;  17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, whom he surnamed Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder;  18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,  19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

Luke 6:14-16   14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,  15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,  16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 


Wow!  I bet at the opera, the list never ends with a note reading "who betrayed us" or "who became a traitor."  Judas is long dead as the gospels are being written.  His story ends with "when Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.  And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself"  (Matthew 27:3-5).

Judas repented and confessed his sins to the wrong people - to the people who could not only not forgive him, but who were actually more evil than even Judas.  People who could not tell him of Jesus' power to forgive and transform.  I wonder what would have happened if Judas had confessed to the right people and lived.  I wonder what would have happened if he confessed his sins to the other disciples or to Jesus as he hung on the cross.  I wish this story ended differently.  That Judas transformed and went on to be used by God for good.  It would have shown the ultimate power of God to forgive and transform even the worst of us.  

But Judas - who may have thought that his betrayal would not lead to Jesus' death, but that Jesus would save himself - is so overwhelmed that he kills himself.  

Sobering.  Repentance and confession is important.  But repenting and confessing to God and to those who will assure you that you are forgiven can "make you".  Repenting and confession to the wrong people can "break you."  Be careful who you trust with your heart.

Authority to Transform (Matt 10:1)

In the beginning, Jesus had promised the disciples that he would make them fishers of men.  They followed him.  Lived with him on the road.  And they had watched him heal and cast out demons.  Now... they were ready to split up into twos and go out to spread the news about Jesus.  It is interesting to know what each of the authors of the gospels remembers about what Jesus said as he was sending them out...

Matthew 10:1  Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 

Mark 6:7   7 Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 

Luke 9:1  Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases


Jesus did not send them alone.  He sent them in twos, but even more importantly, he sent them with his teachings to guide them and his power to enable them.  Jesus tells us in the book of John that after he is gone, that his followers will do even greater things than he has done.  Jesus wants to send us out with this authority and his power!  Are you prepared?  Are you willing?  Have you found your partner to go with you?

A Time to Gather (Matt 9:35-38)

Matthew 9:35-38   35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.  36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." 


Why was Jesus doing what he did on earth?  Why did he teach and do miracles? Because he had compassion for the harassed and helpless.  They have been harassed by religion that only looks good, but has no depth.  A religion that is oppressive instead of freeing its followers to love others.  They have been harassed by an occupying invader.  They have been harassed by accepting sin as the best they can do.  Many things harass humanity.  Most of our own doing.  And we are helpless trying to live in old ways that don't work.  On our own, we know of no other way.

But Jesus teaches a new way.  And he wants to gather humanity into a new community - the kingdom of God where a new "race" of people who are filled with his spirit will live.  They will demonstrate a different way of living where they will live as mutual servants to each other and to God.  A community where all live in abundance.

Jesus says there is a lot of work to be done to gather people into this community - and more laborers are needed.  Out of his compassion for those who are harassed and helpless, he tells his followers to pray that God will send more laborers.  There simply aren't enough.  Pray with me today... that God will send more laborers.


***
The other gospels weigh in....

Mark 6:34   34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 

Luke 10:2   2 He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 

An Unforgivable Sin (Mark 3:22-30)

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

It happens all the time.  People don't like their opposition, so they make up lies about them.  The religious people of the day were losing their power because of Jesus' popularity.  Jesus wasn't promoting the law or respect for the law followers or their leaders.  He wasn't checking in with the heads of "denominations" to make sure he was good to go with his teachings and miracles.  Jesus was completely out of line.  So reason has it that he must be part of the powers of evil.  And starting a rumor like this would put some fear into those who might follow him.

So not only do the religious leaders reject Jesus, but they ascribe his acts of love and kindness to be evil.   And they encourage others to reject him too.  Does this mean that anyone who does such a thing becomes unforgivable?  I don't think so...  I think of the apostle Paul who did this sort of thing before his conversion.  He was obviously forgiven.  But it should cause us to pause whenever we judge a person's actions or motives to be evil.  What if they are actually following Jesus and we are mistaken?  Do we realize the seriousness of our judgement and what it says about us?

So what then is this unforgivable sin?  I think Paul touches on it well in Galatians.  He says there that all of Jesus' followers are marked by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit enters them and they are set aside to do God's work.  The Holy Spirit enables believers to be in a relationship with God - and this defines eternal life.  It starts here and now - not when we die.  Those who ascribe the work of the Holy Spirit as being evil have not entered into relationship with God - they have not allowed the Holy Spirit to enter their lives and mark them for God's service.  And hence they have not entered into eternal life.  This is the unforgivable sin - one that causes humanity to remain in eternal death rather than accepting the life that Jesus offers.

Jesus' purpose in coming to earth was to forgive us (through his death and resurrection) cleansing us so that the Holy Spirit could inhabit us - permanently mark us - set us aside for God's holy use.  The Holy Spirit only binds with those who are forgiven.  Hence those who reject the Holy Spirit reject life.

Are you living up to the Holy Spirit's calling on your life?

*****
The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 9:32-34  32 After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him.  33 And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel."  34 But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."

Luke 11:14-15   14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed.  15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons." 

Bring him to me (Luke 18:35-43)

Luke 18:35-43   35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.  36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening.  37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."  38 Then he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  39 Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  40 Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him,  41 "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me see again."  42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you."  43 Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God. 

What I find fascinating about this story is that Jesus doesn't go over to the man who is begging for healing.  Instead Jesus tells the people who are following him to bring the man to him.  Jesus doesn't really need them (or us) to be involved in his mission.  He could have easily walked over to the man.  After all he created the entire universe without us.  But what Jesus demonstrates to us in this story is that he wants us to take part in his mission.  He doesn't need us to fulfill his mission, but he desires for us to be part of it.  He knows that it will fulfill and complete us to be able to participate.

And the people who brought the man to Jesus, have a front row seat to see the miracle.

Who is Jesus pointing out to us today saying, "Can't you see they are calling out to me.... Bring them to me."   What miracle might we witness if we participate?

*****

The other gospels weigh in...


Mark 10:46 - 52   46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.  47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  49 Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you."  50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.  51 Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again."  52 Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.  

There are two similar accounts in Matthew that involve 2 blind men...

Matthew 9:27-31   27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"  28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."  29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you."  30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this."  31 But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

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

Touching Jesus (Mark 5:25-34)

Mark 5:25-34  25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years.  26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.  27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  28 for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well."  29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.  30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"  31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?'"  32 He looked all around to see who had done it.  33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.  34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."  


I picture this woman sitting alone in a dark lonely place where she has sat many times considering her options. She has heard that Jesus is in town. She has heard that he can heal. Finally, she decides not  to ask Jesus to heal her. I wonder why she wanted to remain anonymous? According to Jewish law, her disease made her unclean so she shouldn't have even been in the crowd. Had she learned how to hide her disease so that "the rule keepers" wouldn't shun her and so she could live a normal life? Did she not want to be exposed? Or was she just too shy to bother Jesus. Was she afraid that she might not get his attention? And what if he said no?

So she comes up with a plan... she is going to get close enough to Jesus to touch his clothes. She believes that his power will have rubbed off on his clothes and that by touching them, she will be healed. She doesn't ask his permission. She doesn't say word. She just sneaks up from behind and reaches out and touches his cloak.

And she is healed.


But she is not anonymous.  Jesus knows.  And Jesus calls her out - not to rebuke her, but to express that he wants her to be at peace, as well as, to be healed.  He offers her shalom which means "to be whole" physically and spiritually.  Jesus offers shalom to all of us.  Have enough faith to seek him out - and then reach out and touch him.  It will change your life.

*****

The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 9:20-22   20 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak,  21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well."  22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.  


Luke 8:40-56 43 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her.  44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.  45 Then Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you."  46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me."  47 When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.  48 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."  

Laughing at Jesus (Luke 8:40-56)

Luke 8:40-56   40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.  41 Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house,  42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him.  ...  49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer."  50 When Jesus heard this, he replied, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved."  51 When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother.  52 They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping."  53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.  54 But he took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!"  55 Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat.  56 Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Many times, when Jesus heals, he complements the person's faith.  And the father, Jarius, obviously had faith or he wouldn't have come to Jesus in the first place.  But when Jesus gets to the house, the child is dead.  So what does everyone do?  They take time out of their weeping and mourning to laugh at Jesus!  To mock him!  Imagine!!

Why doesn't Jesus just walk away?  Why does he decide to heal the daughter of these faithless, rude people?

Because he loves them despite the way they treat him!

If you think you have to be perfect for Jesus to love you, think again.  He loves you already and he won't stop.  What is your response to his love?


*****
The other gospels weigh in...

Mark 5:21-43   21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea.  22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet  23 and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live."  24 So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him...   35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?"  36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."  37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.  38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.  39 When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping."  40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.  41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!"  42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.  43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. 


Matthew 9:18-26  18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."  19 And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples...  23 When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,  24 he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.  25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.  26 And the report of this spread throughout that district. 

When Following Jesus means staying home (Luke 8:26-39)

Sometimes following Jesus means staying right where you are...

Luke 8:26-39   26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.  27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.  28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me"--  29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.)  30 Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him.  31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.  32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.  33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.  34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country.  35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.  36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed.  37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.  38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying,  39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. 

What has God done for you that you need to tell old friends and family about?

I have a story of what God has done in our lives recently... My oldest son, who was born blind in one eye and partially blind in the other eye lost his remaining vision over the course of a day a few years back.  It turns out that the birth defect had suddenly gotten worse.  Six laser surgeries later and things still weren't as they should be.  This was during his senior year in college - he had trouble reading assignments and taking tests.  The professors did what they could to extend deadlines and support him, but what were we going to do?  The next step was actual surgery and the doctor told him that he would be blind for 6 months following it while the eye healed.  So instead of having surgery, we decided to wait.

By this time he had graduated from college and was in his first year of seminary.  The vision had improved, but as wasn't as good as it should be.  The doctor worried that permanent damage might be done.  My husband and I actually talked about getting him a service dog (seeing eye dog) just in case things got worse and to help him get around town.  We had been praying since he was 15 that his vision would be good enough that he would be able to drive one day - and we now thought that would never happen.  But we continued to pray.  We knew God would take care of him with or without good vision, but we knew his independence would be limited without normal vision.

Then over a few month's time, his eyes improved.  And in May of this year, his astonished and thrilled eye doctor told him that his vision was good enough to drive. In fact, she strongly encouraged him to go get his driver's licence.  She said his vision was the best it has ever been since she had started seeing him.  He went and got his learners that week.  And last Thursday he got his driver's licence.  Sometimes we think God has stopped working in the world, but God is still in the business of healing today.

I am sure you have stories in your own life of God at work.  Sometimes following Jesus means staying at home and telling them!

****
The other gospels weigh in...

Mark 5:1-20  They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.  2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him.  3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain;  4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him.  5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.  6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him;  7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."  8 For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"  9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many."  10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.  11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding;  12 and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into the swine; let us enter them."  13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.  14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened.  15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid.  16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it.  17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood.  18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.  19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you."  20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Matthew 8:28-34  28 When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way.  29 Suddenly they shouted, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"  30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them.  31 The demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine."  32 And he said to them, "Go!" So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water.  33 The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs.  34 Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.

Why are you so afraid? (Mark 4:35-41)

Mark 4:35-41   35 On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."  36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.  37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.  38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"  39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.  40 He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"  41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" 


Fear can be an issue for me.  As a teen, a girl from my church who I had grown up with was raped, murdered and her body was hidden in a remote area.  She was with her boyfriend at the time.  He too was murdered.  It was several months before their bodies were discovered and several years before the murderer was identified, tried, and convicted.  These horrible events left a mark on my life.  It was a realization that God didn't intervene to stop something unspeakable from happening to these innocent teenagers.  I could never return to the age of innocence that believed nothing bad could ever happen to me because God was on my side.

Until then, I had believed God would protect me from all harm.  I thought that believing in God meant good things could be expected in my life.  After all, no one teaches a child that God allows bad things to happen to good people.  And honestly, my life has been blessed beyond even my own expectations.  But in the back of my mind... there is always a nagging fear that God might one day allow some horrible tragedy to befall me or the ones that I love.  And often when things - even benign things -  begin to go awry, I start to panic waiting for the other shoe to drop.

So when Jesus' friends are overcome with fear of the waves sinking the boat, I sympathize.  They are anticipating that things are only going to get worse.  And when Jesus' answer is "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"  it seems callous to me at first.  Doesn't he understand that they can't control the waves - that they don't want to die - that they are nothing without him?  And he is sleeping when they are scared to death?

But then I start to think about what faith is really all about.  Jesus informs his followers at every turn that following him is not for sissies.  He doesn't promise a bed of roses, but persecution, hardship, and trials.  He isn't promising a life free of hardship - he is saying life is going to be rough.  And yet, he calls us to have faith anyway.  Faith that he is in control even when the worst happens.

The night before Jesus dies on the cross, he asks God to stop what is going to happen - if there is any other way.  And God says no.  So Jesus demonstrates to us what faith is all about.  Knowing he will be tortured and hung on a cross, he goes forward in faith anyway trusting God that his pain is necessary.  "Thy will, not my will be done."  This is faith.  That God wins in the end.  That there is purpose in our pain.  That God is with us even in the darkest of times.

Why was I afraid?  Because I was following Jesus thinking it would mean success in all of my endeavors.  I ignored his warnings that although he would go with me, there would be trouble.  Faith means I understand the implications and follow Jesus - the one who the wind and sea obey - anyway.


*****
The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 8:23-27   23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.  24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.  25 And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!"  26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm.  27 They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

Luke 8:22-25   22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out,  23 and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.  24 They went to him and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm.  25 He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?" 

Following Jesus (Luke 9:57-62)

Luke 9:57-62   As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go."  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."  To another Jesus said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."  60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."  61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home."  62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." 

So many think that following Jesus is a walk in the park.  But Jesus was very up front about what it takes.  He was without a place to lay his head and his followers would be too.  His followers would even have to put proclamation of "the kingdom" before burying their dead.  And Jesus' followers would not be able to look back - they'd need to focused.

This is commitment!  I have found that it really helps if join up with others who have committed to following Jesus together.

****

Other gospels weigh in....

Matthew 8:18-22   18 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.  19 A scribe then approached and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."  20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."  21 Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."  22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." 

Being Restored (Luke 7:11-17)

Luke 7:11-17   11 Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.  12 As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.  13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."  14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!"  15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.  16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!"  17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. 

The emotions in this story are strong...

We hurt for the woman because she has already lost her husband and now her son.  The woman is crying.... but Jesus compassionately says, "Do not cry!" Those aren't empty words... he is going to bring her son back to life!!

Jesus touches the casket - which once again makes him "unclean" in order to bring life.  In shock, the pall bearers stop.  But Jesus can restore unclean things - bring the decaying back to health and vitality.  And when Jesus speaks to the dead man, he speaks with a tender title as one who knows him: "Young man."

And the unbelievable happens!  The young man is restored.

Then fear seizes everyone!  But in their fear, they recognize Jesus and praise God.

We have a savior who feels our emotions - who cares that we hurt - who restores our brokenness to strength and vitality!  Just let him...

Who is worthy? (John 4:46-54)

John 4:46-54 Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."  The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my little boy dies."  Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.  As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive.  So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, "Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him."  The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he himself believed, along with his whole household.  Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

This story is about what makes us worthy.  Worthiness is emphasized even more in the accounts in Matthew and Luke (below).  The royal official is a gentile centurion - part of the occupying forces in Jerusalem.  He wants Jesus to heal his son - but is he worthy of such a favor from Jesus?  He has not kept the law.  He does not know the theology.  He has a whole lot of nerve coming to Jesus asking for his son to be healed.  Is he worthy of Jesus' favor? Each character in the story seems to have a different opinion...

What the religious people think makes one worthy...
The Jews were the religious people of the day.  Modern Christians often see the first century Jews as ignorant people who just could not understand that the Messiah had come.  But modern Christians would do well to see ourselves in the first century Jews - people who have grown so good at practicing religion that they have not entered into a relationship with God.  Normally, in Jewish eyes, the centurion would be seen as one of the bad guys who is occupying Jewish land, taxing them, and taking away their freedoms.  Except we learn in Luke's version of the story (below), that this man has been a friend to the Jews despite his job to keep them in compliance with Roman law.  Therefore the Jews tell Jesus that the man is worthy of a favor from Jesus, "Go ahead and heal this guy's son - he has done us a favor or two - so he deserves it.  He is with us." They believe that because the man has been good to them, that Jesus should heal his son.  They believe that because they are worthy and that because this man has been nice to them, that he is worthy too.

What the religious outsider thinks makes one worthy...
In Matthew's version of the story (below), Matthew adds that the centurion, who is a religious outsider, does not see himself as worthy, but comes to Jesus out of desperation and love for his son.  The centurion doesn't keep Jewish law.  He isn't invited or welcomed into their temple.  He is unclean.  He doesn't even bother arguing that he is worthy - he knows that he does not have all of the answers.  But he also knows that Jesus is worth trusting.  So he seeks Jesus out.

What Jesus thinks matters...
Jesus knows that the rule keeping and the trapping of religion is not what matters.  And he says that the Jews have lost their way.  The fact that they believe that this man is worthy because he has done what they wanted him to do speaks volumes about them.  They believe their rule keeping and knowledge of theology and good works has earned them worth... and they have even earned the right to decide who else is worthy.  But Jesus says that it is the man's faith - the centurion's personal trust in Jesus - that matters.  It is not the man's rule keeping, theology, or good works.  It is his faith in Jesus.  Jesus tells him that his son will be healed "according to his faith."  Jesus goes on to explain that the man's faith is greater than any of the religious people's faith.

What makes us worthy?

****
The other gospels weigh in...

Luke 7:1-10  After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.  A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death.  When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave.  When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him,  for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us."  And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof;  therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed.  For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it."  When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."  When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. 

Matthew 8:5-13  5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress."  And he said to him, "I will come and cure him."  The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it."  When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.  I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,  while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith." And the servant was healed in that hour. 

Love Trumps Following A Bunch of Rules (Mark 1:40-45)

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

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

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

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

*****

The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 8:1-4  When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him;  2 and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean."  3 He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  4 Then Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 

Luke 5:12-16   12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean."  13 Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him.  14 And he ordered him to tell no one. "Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them."  15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.  16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. 

Reaction to Jesus' Preaching (Matt 7:28-29)

When Jesus was done with the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds reacted:

Matthew 7:28-29  28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,  29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. 

Other times when Jesus spoke, there were similar reactions:

Mark 1:21-22  21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.  22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

Luke 4:32   32 They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.

John 7:46   46 The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!"



Picture what is happening.  A lowly carpenter - unschooled as an authority on the law, or on the religious traditions has taken center stage.  Yet, he speaks with authority - with truth!  His words are backed up by the miracles people see him perform.  They have been healed, demons have been cast out.  He has the power of God with in him.  BUT he is not backed by the religious authorities.  And yet, he teaches how we must live as members of his community.  And then he makes the biggest - most authoritative claim of all - that if he does not know you, then you will be not part of God's kingdom (Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 6:46). Knowing him means you do the will of God - you hear the words of Jesus and you do them.  You follow him.  You enter into a servant relationship with the creator and sustainer of the universe.  This isn't a part time - or just when it is advantageous commitment.  This is 24 by 7 servant hood.

Have you recognized Jesus' words as having authority?  Have you been astounded by them?  "Love your enemies.  Care for the poor.  Forgive."  Have you decided he is worth following - giving up your self - and becoming his servant?  How will this change all the decisions you make today?

The Four Woes: The Popular (Luke 6:24-26)

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Luke records Jesus speaking a different set of warnings from Matthew.... this is the last...

Luke 6:24-26   26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 

If you want to be popular, following Jesus isn't going to be easy for you.  The false prophets were popular. They told the people what they wanted to hear, while the real prophets were run out of town - often killed.  On one hand, followers of Jesus should be the most popular kids in town - they love unconditionally, work to meet the needs of the poor, feed the hungry.  On the other hand, they speak truth and work for justice.  The only people who are going to appreciate truth and justice are those who seek it too.

For me this is the hardest part of following Jesus.  But here Jesus assures his followers to expect this sort of treatment - and yet, to follow him anyway.

The Four Woes: Those laughing (Luke 6:24-26)

Luke records Jesus speaking a different set of warnings.... this is the third...

Luke 6:24-26    "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.  

Jesus loves everyone of us.  None of us are insignificant.  We saw in the previous verses that his heart breaks when any of us are going hungry or are in poverty.  And he warns his followers not to ignore their responsibility when they have food and money, but to use it to feed and provide for others.  Now he does the same thing with laughter.  Laughter?

The implication is not to have fun when others are mourning and weeping.  And certainly not to have fun at their expense.  Jesus' heart breaks not just when people are hungry or in poverty, but when they are mourning and sad too.

I have found it interesting to watch the attitudes of the different teams that my husband plays in tennis.  It is just a game, but some are quick to yell "good point" or "great shot" when the other team does well.  Others aren't so generous.  One Saturday, I was sitting in the bleachers among the other team.  They were talking about the small groups they belonged to at church while making ugly comments every time their opponents did well.  Their adolescent children sat with them and mimicked their parents.  I found the mix of church talk and unsportsmanlike conduct mixing like oil and water.  Again, tennis is just a game.  But I wondered how these children (or their parents) would react when the stakes were real and higher?

Not only should one not laugh when someone else is hurting, but Jesus puts the responsibility on his followers shoulders to offer comfort.  He wants us to love others like he loves them.

The Four Woes: The Full (Luke 6:24-26)

Luke records Jesus speaking a different set of warnings.... this is the second...

Luke 6:24-26  "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry."

Hunger is a spiritual issue - for those who are full.  One can't be right with God if they are full when others are starving.  It is not enough to be concerned with feeding ourselves, our own families, or other Americans.  We need to be feeding all the people that God created.  Burdensome responsibility.  But this is the responsibility of Jesus' followers.


In the United States, on a typical day, between 490,000 and 700,000 households (not individuals) go hungry because they can't afford to buy food.  The world produces enough food for every human being to eat 3,500 calories a day - far more than any individual needs.  The problem is that many people are too poor to buy the food that is available to them. This is true even in  countries where there is adjunct poverty - these countries often export food to those who can pay for it.  


Who needs to be fed in your community today?  How are you going to participate in ending hunger?  

These guys decided to help end hunger in their community by starting a garden for homeless vets in Asheville.  They are not only able to feed themselves, but they sell the left over produce to raise money for the center.