Follow Me! (Matthew 4:18-22) - 1 of 4

This post is the first of four posts about Jesus calling the first disciples. 

Matthew 4:18-22 ¹⁸ As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

"Follow me!"

Following Jesus didn't mean these men would simply listen to the teachings of Jesus and learn them.  It didn't mean they would apply the teachings of Jesus to their lives as it was convenient and made logical sense.  In fact, nothing about following Jesus really made any logical sense at all.  "Following" denotes an intentional and decisive way of life!  They actually went with Jesus.  And they went "immediately!"  AND they left behind their businesses and their families. 

This is commitment!!

We learn later in the gospels that following Jesus goes even further than going where he takes us.   It goes even further than prioritizing our businesses and families second to our commitment to Jesus.  It requires that we "take up our cross daily and follow him" (Matthew 10:38).  It requires we die to our former way of being, yet find life in Jesus.

It is a commitment beyond commitments.  These men didn't pray a prayer and go on their way with a ticket to heaven in hand.  They gave up all they had and immediately, decisively followed Jesus.  The following wasn't going to be perfect.  They would have their doubts and problems.  They'd even fail.   Sometimes Jesus would pick them up and put them back on their feet.  But they kept following - trying to keep up.

Towards the end of the gospel story, when things have gotten dicey and Jesus is having problems with the religious leaders - we will even hear Simon Peter look back at this day and say to Jesus, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"  In other words, "Jesus, what do we get for our troubles?"

To which Jesus will respond, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first"  (Matthew 19:27-30).
The reward, Peter, is to be last.  But in being last, you will see that you have gained more than imaginable.  Not in worldly success or possessions.  But in things that have eternal value.

Let's follow Jesus!!!  Let us go where he goes.  Let us put the commitment to him before anything else in our lives! Let's be last, but put him first.  Its going to be quite an adventure!

*** The story in the gospel of Mark ...

Mark 1:16-20 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Resisting Temptation (Matthew 4:11)

Jesus had been led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil.  The devil tempted him with three things: using his power to meet his own needs (by turning stones into bread); showing off his pedigree (by forcing God's hand); and power (by offering him the kingdoms of the world).  Jesus refused to compromise instead choosing God's plan and timing for his life.

Matthew 4:11 ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Luke 4:13 ¹³ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

During each temptation, Jesus rebukes the devil by quoting ancient scripture: "Man shall not live by bread alone," "Do not tempt God," and "Worship God and him only."  Jesus was able to resist temptation, because he knew God's character and could make choices based on who he knew God to be. 

Often I hear people (including myself) say, "I don't know what God wants me to do."  This is usually because we aren't walking close enough to God to know who God is.  Knowing God's character informs how we make decisions.  For instance, through scripture I know that God offers us unconditional love and wants us to offer this love to others too.  So when I am faced with an incompetent customer service agent at my bank (true story!), then I am not to get angry, but show patience, kindness, and respect unconditionally.  Likewise, when I am faced with someone in need like the man who sleeps in our church's alley, I am not to base my care for him on whether I judge him to deserve my care, but I am to simply care (and not just with my heart, but with my actions). 

Jesus is able to resist temptation because he knows God's character and can make decisions based on what God would want him to do.  Followers of Jesus have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them - if they are open to following the Spirit's guidance, they can know God just as Jesus did.  They can study scripture and God will reveal himself this way too. They can also find God revealing himself through others who follow Jesus.

What decisions do you have before you today?  How will you get your needs met? How will you demonstrate your faith?  How will you seek power?  Walk close enough to God - through prayer, through scripture, through being in fellowship with other followers of Jesus - that you will know how God would have you live.

Tempted by Power (Matthew 4:8-10)

Power and instant gratification usually go hand in hand. Those seeking power, don't like to wait for it. And often they aren't concerned with how they get either. Just that they have it. Manipulation and going for good enough rather than God's whole plan can be key indicators that negotiations with evil have taken place.

Matthew 4:8-10 ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; ⁹ and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

Luke 4:5-8 ⁵ Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷ If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." ⁸ Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

Once again Jesus is being tempted to go the easy route - to accomplish something that seems good, but to do it outside of God's plan.  Why not negotiate with evil for control of humankind?  This way he wouldn't have to go to the cross.  It would be far easier and less trouble on his part.  Of course, he'd have the power, but not the hearts of his people.  Gaining our hearts could only be accomplished through his death, resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit.  But he could negotiate for "good enough" - looking out only for his own interests - or he can resist and follow God's plan.

Do you seek God's direction or do you negotiate with evil?  Do you accomplish the whole plan or just go so far?  Does going part way ever really work?  Jesus sets an example here of not negotiating with evil for achieving just part of God's plans!  Jesus shows us that he will chose to endure rather than go 1/2 way. 

Look at your life and see where you might be negotiating with evil and only achieving part of God's goal for your life.  Resist. Choose God's way rather than negotiating with evil. 

Tempted to Misuse (Matthew 4:5-7)

While Jesus was being tempted...

Matthew 4:5-7 ⁵ Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" ⁷ Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Luke 4:9-12 ⁹ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰ for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' ¹¹ and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" ¹² Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

In yesterday's blog, Jesus was tempted to use his power to satisfy his basic human needs rather than waiting for God's direction.  It is an interesting moment in a Christian's life when one realizes that their needs - even their basic needs like food and water - are secondary to following Jesus. 

Seriously?  Yes!  Sounds cult-ish?  You bet!

Followers of Jesus are uniquely positioned in this world to minister to other's needs, because they aren't supposed to worry about their own needs.  We have a higher calling... to put others and God first.  But sadly, most of us, don't live this way.  Most of us misuse the calling (the skills, the talents, the desires, the resources) we have for our own good instead of for the good of others. We spend a lot of time worrying about ourselves - instead of taking care of those in need around us.

In today's scripture, Jesus is tempted with misusing his calling too.  Satan takes him to the most public place in Jerusalem... the top of the temple.  And suggests that Jesus show off his pedigree by throwing himself from the temple.  Nothing really wrong with Jesus making a statement about who he is.  But the Father isn't the one telling Jesus to jump - so Jesus isn't jumping.  What Satan says is true - the angels will protect Jesus, but Jesus doesn't take directions from Satan.  And he doesn't do frivolous feats that demonstrate his strength.  He will wait for God to speak and then he will act.  Jesus uses his power only when it serves God's purposes.  He doesn't use his position to make God act in ways that are not God's ways.

What skills, talents, and desires has God given you?  You can choose to use them in many different ways.  But which ways serve God's purposes?  It is so easy to use our skills to make ourselves look good - or to use them in ways that don't serve God.  But resist this!  Use them for God's purposes.

You may think that takes all the fun out of having desires and skills. Not at all.  Remember the words attributed to Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympic runner in the movie Chariots of Fire?   He says, "I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run, I feel His pleasure."  There is nothing more fulfilling and satisfying to use our power and skills for God!

Tempted by Bread (Matthew 4:2-4)

Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to face temptation...

Matthew 4:2-4 ² He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. ³ The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." ⁴ But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Luke 4:2-4 ...for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. ³ The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." ⁴ Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"

During WWII thousands of children were orphaned and basically left alone to starve.  Even after they were rescued and placed in orphan camps where they were cared for, they often could not sleep at night because they feared what would happen to them the next day.  Some feared that there would not be enough food and they would go hungry again.  So it was decided that each child would be tucked in at night with some bread to hold onto throughout the night.  This way they could rest knowing that in the morning they would have food.  They took comfort holding onto what would nourish them and give them life the next day.  This was a brilliant step in helping these children heal.  But you and I know that unless the bread keeps coming day after day, the hunger will return.  You and I also know that the children need more than bread to be healthy and whole. Not only must their physical needs be met, but their spiritual needs must be met too.  And eventually to be completely whole, they must grow beyond concern for their own needs toward taking care of other's needs.

Here Jesus is given a choice.  He hasn't had food in 40 days.  Like the children, he is hungry.  But unlike the children, he realizes that he needs more than a piece of bread to have life.  A piece of bread will nourish the body for a few hours, but Jesus is concerned with life everlasting.  And one piece of bread won't cut it.

Jesus knows that life everlasting requires "what comes out of the mouth of God."  In other words, he knows that real life comes from hearing God's truth and doing it.  John records Jesus as saying, "My food is to do the will of the Father" (John 4:34).  So... when evil suggests he turns the stone into bread to satisfy his hunger - although there is nothing inherently wrong with the act itself - Jesus won't do what the Father hasn't instructed him to do. Instead he waits for God's life giving direction and timing.

How easy it is for us to substitute a piece of bread (a temporary solution to our hunger) for living bread that will satisfy us forever.  How easy it is for us to think we can solve our own problems with our own power.  How comfortable we can be tucked into bed safely with our 401Ks and health insurance plans.  Never realizing that the bread we are eating will only nourish us a short while.  We delude ourselves into thinking we have found security.  But its only partially and temporarily fulfilling.  All the while, the living bread is waiting for us.  Bread that will satisfy forever.

Now to add a twist to this story that will require some pondering. Further on in the gospels we will find out that Jesus is this word of God - he is the will of God - he is this living bread for us.  Our bread - the kind that will fill us forever - is Jesus.  Jesus is the bread that nourishes us forever - following him is to do to the will of God.

Choose the bread you sleep with carefully.  Some bread will nourish for a day.  But there is bread that will nourish for eternity.

Temptation (Mark 1:12-13)

After Jesus was baptized...

Mark 1:12-13 ¹² And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts...

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil...

Luke 4:1-2 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil...

The Holy Spirit "drives" Jesus - "leads" him - to a place where he will be tempted by Satan?  But I thought the Holy Spirit was supposed to steer us clear of trouble?  And here he is making Jesus go into the very presence of evil. 

My son Brent is extremely intelligent.  He spoke in sentences at an age when most children hadn't yet said their first words.  Not only does he have the ability to remember any fact and situation, but he can put it into perspective for you too.  He is amazing at problem solving, as well.  My grandmother would say that he is not only book smart, but he has horse sense too.

But Brent was also born with vision issues - legally blind in one eye and a hole in his vision in the other eye.  It made it hard to copy notes from the board or overhead projector at school.  His middle school science teacher just couldn't understand how someone so brilliant couldn't get the notes copied down.  She felt that if his eyes prohibited him from copying notes from her projector, then he should be transferred out of her advanced class into a regular class.  And she let everyone know -- Brent, the other students, the other teachers, etc.  She was very vocal about it.  And she was really awful to the little guy.  She was making things miserable for him. And he wasn't doing well in the class.

The specialist assigned to Brent heard about what was happening and called me.  She confided that the teacher was being unfair because she didn't want to have to put herself out by preparing Brent copies of the notes.  I wanted to take him out of the class - who needs to deal with this kind of nonsense?  But the specialist had a much better plan.  The specialist actually started attending class with Brent a couple of times a week.  She helped him deal with the teacher... not by directly interceding, but by teaching Brent to advocate for himself.  Sending him to ask for copies of her notes even when the teacher might scowl at him.  And teaching him how to address and deal with her rude comments.

When I talked to the specialist later, she said that Brent was doing great in there now.  She said, "Brent had faced the dragon and has tamed her!"  Brent even chose to stay in her class the next semester - she was the only advanced science teacher - and he knew how to deal with her now. 

Just as the specialist went into the difficult situation with Brent, the Holy Spirit goes with Jesus to face evil head on.  Jesus wasn't sent without help - wisdom and power.  The situation will make him stronger.  It will build muscle.

I wonder if the Holy Spirit doesn't sometimes drive us into situations that stink just so that we will build muscle?  We aren't alone in those situations.  If we trust God, we can tap into that wisdom and power that longs to guide us:

5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord." James 1:5-7 .

Embrace the possibility that "the specialist" might take you to a place of challenge and difficulty so that you are prepared for serving Christ.  Know "the specialist" is there for you to lean on.  Ask for guidance and, even more importantly, believe in the answer you are given.

Seriously. Who was this Jesus? (Luke 3:21-22)

Luke 3:21-22 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Pictures my son took this summer at the site
where some claim that Jesus' baptism took place.

Some extraordinary things happened the day that Jesus was baptised. First the heavens were torn apart and God broke into our world and our time in way that doesn't happen every day.  It must have been a spectacular sight.  Secondly, the Spirit of God - described like a dove - descended on Jesus.  And then the voice of God spoke claiming Jesus as his beloved son. 

The testimony of those closest to Jesus was that he was more than just a good man.   More than just a wise prophet.  He was both fully human and fully God - the son of God.  Nice orthodox theology, but how does this kind of faith in Jesus influence how we live?

One of the most spiritual people I have ever known was an elderly congregant - a man who had migrated from India to Guyana to the United States.  He had the habit of daily going into his bedroom and telling his wife not to let anyone bother him while he prayed.  He would light a candle and pray for an hour or more.  He told me that these times spent alone with Jesus were more real to him now than the physical world.  I asked him how he came to believe in Jesus.  His parents had taught him the Hindu religion and he had great respect for them.  But he said as a teenager he became curious about all of the religions of the world and studied them each in depth.  I asked him what it was about Christianity that made him commit his life to Jesus.  He said, "I wanted to worship the son of God."  No one else claimed to be the son of God. He said that he also wanted to worship one who was not dead.  He could not have a relationship with a dead prophet, but he could have a relationship with Jesus who had risen from the dead.  So without even knowing many Christians, he started to follow Jesus.

Followers of Jesus believe that Jesus is the son of God.  This sets us apart from religion and puts us into a relationship.  Following Jesus is not participating in a religion or taking on a good philosophy.  It is entering into relationship with God through his son.  Through Jesus we can walk with God.  This changes everything.  It takes us away from religion where the focus is right theology, rule keeping, and doing good deeds.  Instead, we come to depend on Jesus to lead us.  Those things integrate into our lives through our relationship with Jesus, but they no longer control or define us.  Instead we are defined by Christ himself.     

Embrace the living son of God this day!

*** The other accounts from the other gospels...

Matthew 3:13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

Mark 1:9-11 ⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

John 1:29-34 ²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ³¹ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." ³² And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."

A God who lets bad things happen... (Matt 14:3-4)

We saw in yesterday's blog that John the Baptist didn't sugar coat what he believed.  This is the personality that God gave to the man who would prepare the way for Jesus.  Some would say it was this flaw in John's communication skills that brought things to a head.  But others would say John was brave and willing to put his life on the line.  I agree with the latter.  John was a radical in every way.  He had no tolerance for manipulation or patience for half truths.  He didn't spend time strategizing and figuring out his options.  He lived in the Spirit - so he didn't have to.  He had a personal policy of speaking God's truth and watching how God would use his words.  He didn't do it out of arrogance, but out of love.  He knew how much God loved us and his job was to prepare the way for that love. 

Matthew 14:3-4 ³ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, ⁴ because John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

Mark 6:17-18 ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Luke 3:19-20 ¹⁹ But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, ²⁰ added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

Somehow John the Baptist and Herod, who was a Roman-backed Jewish ruler, had developed a relationship.  I imagine that Herod, hearing of John's rock star popularity, clothing, and diet invited him for a visit.  John, who wanted nothing more than to tell people about the Messiah, would have certainly gone.  Somewhere in the midst of telling Herod the good news, John pointed out to him that he was living in a wrong way.  That he needed to change.  To go another direction - that God had a better plan for his sexuality.  In my heart, I know that John didn't deliver such messages because he liked to be "better than thou" or bossy.  He did it out of urgency and love for whomever he was talking to. 

But Herod can't handle the truth or the disrespect.  Herod can't see that John is telling him because he loves him and wants the best for him.  So Herod locks John up in prison.

And Jesus lets him.  God lets him.  God lets bad things happen to his followers - even to John the Baptist who has given up his life to prepare the way for Jesus.  We often think when bad things happen to us or others that it is a result of our failures.  But John is in prison because he did his job.  

When we sign up to follow Jesus, there is no guarantee that things will go well in the world's eyes.  In fact, if history is any kind of accurate judge of the future, things will probably be pretty tough at times.  Followers of Jesus measure success by how much Jesus lives through them. Not by how well things go on the outside.

Could you be down on yourself because things are not going well?  Are you measuring success God's way or your own way?  Stand firm!

Or maybe things are going well and you are sitting pretty.  Are you willing to be courageous and speak the truth in love?  Or are you only prepared to keep the status quo?  Are you willing to go through tough times for the sake of loving others?  Even those who won't love you back?  If not, who or what are you following?  Be strong!

All fun and games until... (Matthew 3:12)

John the Baptist has more to say about Jesus' purpose on earth...

Matthew 3:12 ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Luke 3:17-18 ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."  ¹⁸ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Good news?  This winnowing fork hardly sounds like good news.  At least not for the chaff.

A winnowing fork is what the farmer used to toss both the wheat's grain and its chaff (light-weight inedible plant matter) into the wind.  At that point the wheat had already been gathered and beaten to loosen the grain from the chaff.  Then using the the winnowing fork, the farmer tosses it into the air.  The wind blows the light chaff into a pile while the heavy grain falls directly back to the threshing floor.  Then the wheat would be gathered up while the chaff would be burned.  The wheat would be taken to a granary and eventually made into life sustaining bread.



John tells us that Jesus has a plan to remove what is his and is usable from that which is not his and not usable.  If the grain is not separated from the chaff, it can not go to the granary.  And can not be made into useful, nourishing bread.  Without the threshing process the grain remains as useless as the chaff.  Jesus came to separate what is not his from what he has redeemed. 

Harsh and painful words.  This is one of those scriptures that I spend a lot of time trying to soften.  Trying to find an angle where everything works out just fine for all of humanity in the end.  At first, I hoped the scripture was talking about - not separating people, but separating what is inside of us - the redeemed parts from the parts not redeemed.  The good from the bad.  I could live with that - preaching that Jesus came to remove the parts from me that weren't good. 

But the problem with this interpretation of the scripture is that these words are ancient words.  The prophets spoke them long before Jesus was born.  John is just repeating them here.  So to be true to this scripture, I have to go back to the old writings and in them it is very clear that the chaff and grain are people.  They all talk about God separating people who are redeemed from people who are not.  I find this very disturbing.  For instance, Psalms 1:4 draws this same picture identifying the wicked (not wickedness) as the chaff.  This is true when this picture is drawn in Job 21, Psalms 35, 83, Isaiah 17, 29, 33, 41, Jeremiah 13, Daniel 2, and Hosea 13, and Zephaniah 2.  I can't soften this and be true to scripture.

So I have to come to the conclusion that this image that John puts before us is not a picture of Jesus' love that I want to embrace.  It isn't a picture that is going to make me feel comfortable.  I want a picture of Jesus that is like Barney, the dinosaur, full of mushy love.  But John the Baptist teaches us that Jesus' love is tougher than one might imagine.  And if I am to follow Jesus, I need to accept it - not rewrite it.  That is difficult for me.  I want Jesus to look more like Barney!  But here John the Baptist draws a picture of God's tough love.  God doesn't desire to destroy any part of his creation - he loves it more deeply than we can even experience.  But the fact is, his creation continues on a useless path destined for self-destruction if the chaff is not removed from it.  So Jesus has set out to preserve those who will allow themselves to be redeemed from those who refuse. 

I don't like to ponder this. And I don't want to make the mistake of thinking our job is to separate the grain from the chaff.  It isn't!  Jesus is the only one who can do that.

But how does this image of Christ change the priorities and urgencies in our life this day?  How do we live in shalom with this image looming over us?

Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Fire (Luke 3:15-16, 18)

If your best efforts at following Jesus, seem to fail, then this blog (on the surface deeply theological) could change everything for you.  Ponder it... see where it goes...

Many people have a view of the gospel that includes Jesus and God, the Father.  But they leave out the Holy Spirit's role in the good news.  I have come to believe that this omission is not just theological, but practical too.  Not understanding the role that the Holy Spirit plays in the life of followers of Christ, can contribute to living spiritual lives in chaos and disappointment rather than in the spiritual abundance that God desires for us.

John the Baptist was offering a baptism that symbolized repentance (a chance of direction from religion to a relationship with God).  This was to prepare the way for Jesus.  But Jesus was coming with something far more spectacular:  a baptism with the Holy Spirit and with Fire!  And John knew all about it...

Luke 3:15-16, 18 ¹⁵ As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, ¹⁶ John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire...  ¹⁸ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Many people think that Jesus' purpose was fulfilled when he was crucified and resurrected.  Especially in our culture... we focus on this... we are only too happy to accept this amazing work of Jesus and get our ticket punched for heaven.  In his crucifixion, the ultimate sacrifice was made for us.  And in his resurrection, he over came death.  But these events, which demonstrate the grace and love of God, are NOT the end of Christ's work.  We are not complete if this is the end of the story.  We need more to be empowered to follow Jesus in our daily lives.  We can not do it on our own merit.  And John the Baptist knows this! 

He doesn't say, "One greater than I is coming who will die for you and be resurrected so that you can go to heaven."  Instead, he says that Jesus has come to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Jesus was the Messianic bearer of the Holy Spirit.  His end purpose was to enable us to be inhabited by the Holy Spirit who would set us apart, guide us, and empower us for holy use. Being a follower of Jesus is not about what happens to us when we die, but about allowing God to live through us now.

Jesus' purpose is to make us able - by the cleansing of our hearts through the crucifixion and the overcoming of evil through his resurrection - to be inhabited by his Spirit.  The ancient prophets even taught this!  After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus tells the disciples to gather in Jerusalem and wait.  It is there - on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) - that they are baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  Since this time, every follower of Christ is inhabited with the Holy Spirit - filled with the power of God.  But most don't know it and most don't depend on this power to follow Jesus.  We tend to continue in the old ways of thinking and being and achieving... trying to live out the Christian life on their own - often caught in a cycle of failures.

But it is the Holy Spirit who lives within us who sets us aside for holy use and enables us to follow Christ.  This is what being a follower of Christ is all about and what makes us different from any other faith.  

Asking someone if they are going to heaven when they die is never a question you will find the disciples asking as they take the gospel into the world.  Instead, they asked, "Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?" So... have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?  Do you live in the Spirit?  Does the Spirit produce fruit in your life?  If not, why not? 

Accept Jesus' shed blood in the crucifixion for the forgiveness of sin - a cleansing of your heart as a place where the Holy Spirit can now inhabit.  Accept the power of the resurrection to win out over sin and death.  And now allow that power - the very power of the resurrection - to live within you.  Live your life out of the guidance and power that the Holy Spirit gives you. How would it change the decisions you make today knowing the Holy Spirit is with you and empowering you to be the hands and feet of Jesus?

*** John the Baptist's words recorded in the other gospels...

Matthew 3:11 ¹¹ "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Mark 1:7-8 ⁷ He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John 1:24-28 ²⁴ Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵ They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" ²⁶ John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷ the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." ²⁸ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Stop Hoarding and Bear Some Fruit! (Luke 3:10-14)

John the Baptist has just called the religious crowd "a brood of vipers." These people are showing up to be baptized, but he tells them that their spiritual life is a sham!  They are not bearing fruit. And God is about to cut them off forever.

Luke 3:10-14 ¹⁰ The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What then should we do?" ¹¹ In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" ¹³ He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."

¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

Steve, my boys, and I have been praying about the possibilities of adopting an older child (maybe two) into our family. One of the young girls who needs a home right now has touched our hearts deeply. She presently lives in a foster home and has basically no more possessions than will fit in her suitcase. Her social worker tells a story about this young girl... "a few years ago we had terrible floods in Georgia and many people lost homes and possessions. The foster home where she lived was not affected, but at her school, they took up a collection of clothing and canned goods to give to the families who were in need. This child went through her little suitcase and found something to give!" She had two coats and gave one away. 

If she can do this having nothing already, what might we do with the belongings in our closets?  (I counted this morning... Steve has six coats.)  I mentioned it as he headed out the door... gentle natured as he is... he didn't count the number of coats I own.  Neither did I, it would have taken a while to find them all... as they are stored in various closets around the house.  What are we going to do about it? 

Most of us think that we follow in the way of Jesus... but I am not so sure John the Baptist would agree...

Do we own more than one coat? There are 1000s of people in any metro area who can't afford a coat and are cold. John the Baptist doesn't think we are bearing fruit if we have more than one coat and others have none.  What about the other pocessions we are hoarding in our closets? Go bear some fruit!

Do we eat more food than we need? Do you know that 1 in 10 households in America are going to go hungry today? Go bear some fruit!

Do we run our business affairs completely honestly? Go bear some fruit! Here is your chance during tax season! Or the next time you fill out your time card or bill a client.  Or "buy" school supplies for your children.

Do we take advantage of others? Do you know if the goods you buy and sell are produced ethically? Go bear some fruit!

John teaches the religious crowds that this is how transformed people live!  Go bear some fruit today!!

A Side Note: Interestingly, you might not only be helping others when your share your blessings, but by living this way, did you know that ancient cultures believe that you may also unblock both your own energy and potential? Chinese Feng Shui practitioners encourage their clients not to keep belongings that are either not in use or do not beautify one's surroundings. They claim that by decluttering your home (not by storing unused things, but by giving them away), you will be able to focus on just want is important in your life! They believe that hoarding possessions blocks energy and potential. Perhaps this is the way of Jesus' followers too? 

Giving up some food might benefit our health too....   just saying... 

Need a Change? (Matthew 3:7-10)

Recently, I heard two female preachers preach on consecutive Sundays. Preachers tend to have favorite angles that they approach the scripture from and these two women preachers were no different.

One of the preachers is a cheerleader in her preaching. She always sees the power of God to transform us and help us lead extraordinary lives in whatever scripture she is preaching. Her preaching is encouraging: "Go Team! You can live the life God has called you to live!" It is inspiring and challenging.  You leave church wanting to walk closer with God -- empowered to do something extraordinary!  And she backs up her words by living a life taking risks and letting God work through her - a life that demonstrates the power of God.  She lives in the power of the resurrection.

The other pastor's angle is quite different. For her, scripture simply exposes what she and others have done wrong.  She believes that we should all try harder to do right, but that we will all fail.  She humbly gives examples from her life - of her failures - confessing them.  The good news to her is summed up in that God still loves us despite our continuing failures.   Every week a different text, but the same sermon.  Christian life for her is trying, failing, and being forgiven.  And then repeat.  She encourages her congregants to confess their sins to each other like she does, accept God's forgiveness, and try harder not to sin.  One might say that she lives in the power of the crucifixion, but hasn't quite gotten to the resurrection yet.  From the outside looking in, really good things have happened in her life.  But to hear her preach, her personal life has been in a state of crisis - her marriage not working quite right, her family relationships strained, etc.
 
Which pastor is demonstrating repentance?  The second is so humble in her sermons - even confessing her own failures. She feels a lot of sorrow.  Surely this is repentance?  Not really!  Repentance is turning around and going a different direction.  It is not accepting failure as a way of life and humbly continuing to fail.  The first pastor is the one who understands repentance.  She believes that God has given us the power to be transformed and she encourages us to live transformed lives - not continuing to live in the patterns of the past, but living extraordinary lives in God's power.

Matthew 3:7-10 ⁷ But when John the Baptist saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were the most religious people of the day.  For the most part, they believed the right theology, kept the right rules, did the right good works.  But it was all about controlling God - doing the minimum God required so that God would be forced to bless them.  It was not about letting God grab hold of their lives and transform every part of them.  They wanted God's blessings, but not God.  They had never repented.

Repentance = Turning Around.  Changing.  Transforming.

John tells them that repentance means you bear fruit!  Don't feel sorry that you haven't or aren't.  Sorry isn't repentance.  Believe that God has given you the power to bear fruit.  And go give birth to some fruit this day!!  :-)  If we fail, God will certainly forgive us, but that isn't the fullness of the good news.  The good news is that we don't have to continue in failure.  Jesus came so that we would have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us enabling us to live transformed lives.

****
John the Baptist's words to the crowds are also recorded in Luke's book:

Luke 3:7-9 ⁷ John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Matthew 3:1-6)

It was predicted by the ancient prophet Isaiah that there would be one who would proceed Jesus in order to make Jesus' paths straight. That man was John the Baptist. What message was it that John proclaimed? What message made the paths straight for Jesus?

Matthew 3:1-6 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ² "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." ³ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" ⁴ Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

John has grown up since I first wrote about his conception, and birth. He is not your average bear. He dresses weird; he looks weird; he eats weird stuff. And John has a message for the world.... the Kingdom of God was near - something of cosmic importance was about to happen - God was about to break into human history and reverse humanity's self destruction offering us the way to be reconciled to God.

John invited the people to change the direction they were going (repent) and be baptized. The word repent doesn't mean "feel sorry for" - it means to "change direction." It doesn't mean that one just changes their mind, but that one changes. Your mind, heart, and actions all change direction. We will find out later (Matt 3:7-14) that John is particularly upset with the religious leaders of the day who have misled their people burdening them with religion run amok. They would have to change direction from a religion that knew the right rules to follow, knew the right theology to believe, and knew the right good works to do, but had no relationship with God. This was their sin. It is the sin of many religious people - including Christians today. Religion is what we often need to repent from so that we can recognize and follow Jesus. Their baptisms were a symbol that they had changed from following religion and were ready to follow the Messiah.

Follow Jesus - not religion.  Religions seek to control God - to capture God's blessings. Following Jesus is different. One stops trying to control God and isntead says, "Thy will be done."  Jesus offers you a direct relationship with God. Embrace it!

*****
John's story recorded in the other gospels...

Mark 1:2-6 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

John 1:19-23 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said.

Jesus: "Mom, Why didn't you know?" (Luke 2:41-52)

Luke 2:41-52 ⁴¹ Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. ⁴³ When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴ Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." ⁴⁹ He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he said to them. ⁵¹ Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

"Mom, When you figured out that I was missing, Why did you feel anxiety? Why did you even have to search for me? Why didn't you know where I would be?"

When our boys were little, we took them skiing two years back-to-back at Alta just outside of Salt Lake City.  Kit took to the slopes right away hurling himself and his multi-colored jester hat down the mountain with skis pointed straight ahead the entire way down.  He had no fear whatsoever. 

Brent, on the other hand, was born with vision issues that make hurling oneself down the mountain a lot more difficult.  So before we went I called around at Alta to find someone who could teach a vision impaired person to ski. Neither Steve nor I skied well enough to know how to teach Brent ourselves.  The first year Brent stayed on the bunny slope with his teacher all week long.  And it was so tough for him.  I wondered if bringing him had been the right thing to do.  One day at the end of the day, we met him there.  He started to cry and said, "Mom, you have no idea how hard it is to be me."  Brent was not one who ever cried.  And it broke my heart.  It was the first and only time in Brent's entire life that I had ever heard him complain about his vision.  But the next day he wanted to go try again and he did.  There wasn't a lot of improvement that year, but he kept getting back out there every day.

The next year we found the same teacher and hired him again to spend the week day mornings with Brent teaching him how to ski.  The first day, the man said, "Brent, one time down the bunny slope, then we are going up the ski lift."  I was scared.  I thought this was asking too much.  I voiced my concerns.  Brent heard me.  And despite my worries, Brent said, "No,  I am okay with that!"  I couldn't stand to watch so we went and skied on the other side of the mountain.  When it was lunch time, we went and got Brent.  The instructor was glowing.  He said Brent did great.  I wasn't convinced - thought the man was just offering positive support.  But I said nothing.  After lunch, Brent said he wanted to ski with us.  So we hopped on the ski lift and rode up to the top of the mountain.  Brent skied.  Not by pointing his skis straight down  the mountain, but by gracefully going from side to side.  Steady and even.  He never even fell one time.  His execution was perfect.  When we got to the bottom of the mountain, we had a huge family hug!!!  I said, "Brent!  You did it!  WOW!"  He said, "Mom, this is the first time you have ever doubted I could do anything."  The picture below was taken at the top of the ski lift just before I watched Brent "own" the mountain for the first time!

April, Kit, Steve, and Brent
Alta around the year 2000

Had Mary forgotten who Jesus was?  Had her faith wavered?  She had no reason to feel anxiety.  She should have known by Jesus' character and by all that she knew of the prophesies about the Messiah - exactly where he was and what he was capable of.  In a scene from the movie, The Passion of the Christ, a scene that would have occurred years later in Jesus' life, Mary and the other women who were friends of Jesus are watching helplessly as Jesus is tortured before his death.  The other women ask Mary why Jesus doesn't use his power to stop his persecution.  And she calmly affirms that to suffer for us is Jesus' choice.  The movie portrays Mary as one who has come a long way since the days when she anxiously searched for Jesus.  She knows Jesus even better - she understands his purpose and his character - she has faith in Jesus.

There are days in all of our lives when Jesus seems to go missing.  The immature Christian starts to panic - starts to wonder if Jesus really is who he claims to be - if following him is really worth the effort.  We might even start to search frantically for him.  But don't.  Stop.  Have faith - rely on what you know about the character of God to guide you.  Jesus is in the same place today where Mary found him.  He is with the Father - OUR Father.  And he is still in control of the universe.  Rest.

Patience and the Old Woman Prophet (Luke 2:36-38)

Luke 2:36-38 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

As a child, like all Jewish children from the tribe of Asher, Anna had been told the story of the coming Messiah. But Anna had had a difficult life. Her husband had died long ago and she had been a widow since. Apparently she had no one to care for her and no one to care for so she made the temple her home and worshiped there night and day, fasting and praying. She became a prophetess telling over and over the stories God gave her. I wonder if anyone really ever listened to this crazy old woman who lived in the temple. Apparently - according to those verses - the ones seeking the Kingdom of God did.

She had waited a long time with no evidence that the Messiah was coming....until the day that she saw Mary and Joseph and the baby!! She not only recognized the Messiah, but began to praise God and to speak about the child to those seeking the Kingdom of God (looking for the redemption of Jerusalem)!

All those years of praying and fasting were finally rewarded with evidence that she wasn't crazy after all.

Sometimes our work as followers of Jesus takes a lot of patience. Sometimes we tell the stories of God over and over before they seem to matter to anyone but us. But in the end, like Anna, one way or another we are going to see the Messiah! Be like Anna, have patience!

And we all know how easy that is!!?!? :-)

It isn't about you! (Luke 2:28-35)

On the day that Simeon recognized the baby, Jesus, as the Messiah...

Luke 2:28-35 ²⁸ Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, ²⁹ "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹ which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." ³³ And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed ³⁵ so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Not long ago, a young pastor met together with two counselors who specialize in counseling pastors.  One male and one female.  "An event" had happened in this pastor's ministry that was both baffling and spiritually painful.  The pastor spent the first hour with the counselors explaining in painstaking detail all that had happened.  The pastor tried to lay bare every fault and flaw in their own personality hoping the counseling team would identify what the pastor could have done differently to stop "the event."  The pastor was expecting (actually longing) to hear, "The bad news is that you need to work on x,y, and z.  The good news is that we know exactly how to teach you to do better."  This pastor was a fast learner and believed with God's help they would be able to overcome whatever personal flaw had led to "the event" - they just needed help figuring it out. 

At the second hour of counseling, the pastor jokingly said, "So just give me the facts - show me a plan - fix me!"  But the counselors didn't give the pastor advice as to what they could do differently in the future.  Instead the counselors begin to tell the pastor the story of the Messiah - the same story that Simeon told Mary in the verses above: "Jesus came for the good of the world... he loved everyone of the people in the world... he revealed the truth to the world.  And yet, although some would accept him and be resurrected, he was destined to cause others to reject him and collapse.  What people chose to do - to accept him or reject him - would demonstrate what was truly in their hearts." 

The counselors walked the pastor through Jesus' trial - through the terrible torture and death of Jesus.  The pastor listened on as the counselor described Jesus' mother, Mary, standing at the cross and witnessing the death of her son. He told the pastor that Jesus' soul was pierced because the world whom Jesus loved rejected him.  And although Mary's heart must have broken as she watched her son die, in reality, her soul was pierced for the same reason Jesus' soul was pierced:  because the people whom her son had taught her to love had rejected their salvation.  They rejected Jesus and his way.  And then the counselor substituted the pastor's name for Mary's name in Simeon's speech.  He said, "Pastor, a sword has pierced your soul too." None of us is perfect - Mary wasn't perfect either.  But "the event" wasn't about the pastor any more than Mary's life was about her.  Jesus and his way were either rejected or accepted in the hearts of those involved years before "the event" ever happened.  This was just exposing what was already there - a milestone.

Just as Simeon warned Mary, I am warning you. God will give you a great love for those who need him - some will accept the way of Jesus through your witness and some will reject him.  It isn't about you - it is about Christ.  And though it is not your fault, it will hurt to watch others turn and walk away.

Walking Humbly with God (Luke 2:25-38)

What does the LORD require of us?

To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God"

(Micah 6:8). 

There was just such a man, named Simeon...
Luke 2:25-28 ²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. ²⁷ Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God...

The temple was a crowded place. People coming and going. Many people saw Mary, Joseph, and the baby that morning. Well, actually the little family was probably seen, but overlooked by most of the people milling about. Just another poor family coming to circumcise their child. But Simeon saw things the rest didn't see.  He saw the Messiah. 

Simeon walked humbly with God: "he was righteous and devout". He desired the things of God - God's Kingdom: "the consolation of Isreal."  He had a relationship with God. Luke describes it as "the Holy Spirit rested upon him", "the Holy Spirit revealed things to him", and "the Holy Spirit guided him".

All followers of Jesus are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. So be like Simeon. Expect that the Holy Spirit will be active in your life today. Let the Holy Spirit reveal things to you that others don't and can't see. Let the Holy Spirit guide you!

Poor and Oppressed by Religion (Luke 2:21-24)

Luke 2:21-24 ²¹ And when eight days were completed before Jesus' circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. ²² And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord "), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 

We learn two things about Jesus' family in this text.  First, his parents kept the Jewish law.  Secondly, they were poor (the bird sacrifice was only for the poor).  It is interesting to consider the impact of these two things on Jesus as he grew up.  And how they must have informed his ministry. 

Jesus was Jewish and brought up in the Jewish religion.  This means he had a large community with a rich heritage to identify with.  It also means that he was educated in and made to keep the Jewish law.  But the law was burdensome.  So many rules just to get through the day.  Rules about staying clean.  Food rules.  Rules about rules.  And so many ways to break them.  Always another sacrifice to make one's self right with God again.  What a constant endeavor it was to stay right with God.  Jesus knew first hand that being in relationship with God through a list of rules was overwhelming.  And unsatisfying spiritually.

If you grew up in a strict Christian family that practiced a lot of rules:  boys' hair must be trimmed to a certain length, girls' dresses must be so long, certain words are taboo, certain games are forbidden (no card games, no Dungeon and Dragons), no Harry Potter, no dancing, no working on Sundays, etc.  Then you know just the tip of the iceberg of what Jesus' life was all about.  The religion had become focused on knowing the right rules to follow and going to all kinds of extremes to follow them - especially the denomination called the Pharisees.  The rules were the most important thing you did.  Keeping them was your primary purpose in life - it was the way you controlled God.  If you kept the rules, God would bless you.  If you broke them, God would take it out on you and others around you.  Rules were the name of the game.  There became no time or place for walking in relationship with God - which was what God wanted from us all along.  One was way too busy keeping the law.

Jesus also intimately understood the plight of the poor - not as an outsider looking in, but as an insider living it out. We can only imagine the personal significance it had to Jesus when he talked about the poor widow who gave her coins to God.  Or when he preached about the King who invited the poor to his party when his friends wouldn't come.  Or when he taught, "blessed are the poor."  Being poor wasn't a theoretical concept to Jesus.  He was poor - he lived with the poor.

So we shouldn't be surprised when Jesus grows up and there are two important things that he focuses on in his teachings.  One is that Pharisee-ism does not please God.  And the other is that God loves the poor.

God put Jesus in this context of religion gone amok and poverty for a reason.  It was to inform him and shape him.  What context did God place you in growing up?  How has it informed you?  Have you learned the right lessons from it?  How can you apply them to your life today?  How have the talents and skills God has given you been shaped by your informative years?

As you go through your day - consider your past and how it shapes your future.  Is it shaping it for the good or is it holding you back?  Let it have a positive impact on you!

Reclaiming the E Words (Luke 2:8-20)

A few days ago on Facebook, "evangelismcoach.org" quoted Billy Graham saying, "‎Evangelism is not complete until the evangelized become the evangelists."  When I shift through all the baggage I have with the word "evangelism" and its variations "evangelical," I like and agree with the Reverend Graham's quote. But there is a lot of baggage surrounding the E words.

When many of us hear the word "evangelism", we cringe thinking of someone we have never met sticking a tract in our hands asking us if we know where we are going when we die.  The tract laden evangelist fails to mention (or understand?) that following Jesus is not about where we go when we are dead, but about who we follow now.  The word "evangelism" also creates images of big tent meetings - like the ones Billy Graham was famous for - where hundreds, maybe thousands - walk down the aisles to become Christians.  But months later, where are these new Christians?   Have they made an emotional journey down an aisle to get a ticket to heaven or have they become followers of Jesus and his teachings?  Do they even know Jesus' teachings?  Jesus held a few "big tent" meetings himself - so they can't be all wrong.  But there are some inherent problems with them. 

Then the word "evangelical" has been used (misused - in my mind) to describe those who prefer a smaller more conservative government structure over a larger more socially oriented form of government.  I cringe the most when I think of the absurdity of mixing one's preference for government structures with the Kingdom of God.  I am certain that the Kingdom of God can exist and flourish in any government structure including totalitarian regimes, communism, etc.  And the way Jesus describes the Kingdom of God (a place where we put others before ourselves, where the greatest is last, where we take care of those in need without asking if they are worthy of our care) sure doesn't sound like capitalism to me. Nor does it sound like any form of government I have ever heard of. 

And yet, Reverend Graham is right.  Followers of Jesus do their job when they tell others about Jesus.  In the scripture today... we see the shepherds do the most authentic form of evangelism.  They aren't passing out tracts; they aren't wooing others by selling tickets to heaven; they aren't twisting arms. And they aren't confusing politics with finding Jesus.  They are simply telling others what they've seen and heard...

Luke 2:8-20 ⁸ And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." ¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." ¹⁵ And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶ And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. ¹⁷ And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

We may not have seen and heard angels this morning when we got out of bed.  But if we are followers of Jesus we have seen and heard something worthwhile or we wouldn't be bothering with Jesus at all!   Like the shepherds, we can simply tell others about how we have seen Jesus too.