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." 

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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.

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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.