Luke 7:24-28 24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
Many of the people who are following Jesus first followed John the Baptist. Jesus puts John and John's work in context for us. John the Baptist was the greatest prophet and his great purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah. But participation in the Kingdom of God is even more important than participating in John the Baptist's foretelling of the Messiah. In other words, Jesus is saying to the crowd, "Good for you that you participated in John's proclamation of the coming Messiah, but don't stop there.... participate in the Kingdom!"
This is important for us to hear today. Many of us participate in learning about the Messiah, but we hardly participate in his Kingdom. We need to do both.
*****
Other Gospels weigh in....
Matthew 11:7-11 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
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?
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."
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."
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
We are tied together in Christ's Kingdom (Matthew 10:40-42)
Matthew 10:40-42 40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
Anyone besides me feel overwhelmed at this? Jesus ties his followers so closely to himself that if people reject us, they reject him. Of course he is talking about followers who are actually doing his work - followers he has sent - not impostors.
Western Christianity doesn't handle this well... we want to think we can be "Lone Ranger" Christians. But Jesus ties us all together with him in his kingdom. We serve one another along with him! Our destinies are together.
*****
Other Gospels Weigh in....
Luke 10:16 16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
John 13:20 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
Anyone besides me feel overwhelmed at this? Jesus ties his followers so closely to himself that if people reject us, they reject him. Of course he is talking about followers who are actually doing his work - followers he has sent - not impostors.
Western Christianity doesn't handle this well... we want to think we can be "Lone Ranger" Christians. But Jesus ties us all together with him in his kingdom. We serve one another along with him! Our destinies are together.
*****
Other Gospels Weigh in....
Luke 10:16 16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
John 13:20 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Friday, September 2, 2011
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 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.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Jesus preaches fire and brimstone (Luke 12:4-5)
Luke 12:4-5 4 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Fire and brimstone from Jesus! Most of us really don't want to picture Jesus this way. We like to hear about his unconditional love, but in reality, there is another side to Jesus too. Here he is in the midst of warning his followers that they will be persecuted for following him... and he brings up hell. Hell was the name of a place on the outside of town where infant sacrifices had been made centuries earlier and was presently a smoldering garbage dump. But Jesus also uses this place to describe the after life of those who reject God's love. The picture he draws of God is that God is active not only in the salvation of humanity, but God does the casting into hell too. Not a friendly picture. Nor a popular one. Fanatics believe this stuff, right? And yet, to follow Jesus, we have to listen to all that he says - not just what we want to hear.
Jesus uses this fire and brimstone image to contrast for his disciples that the persecution they face is nothing to fear compared to this place called hell.
I believe that many of us live in hell right now.... separated from God. Instead of experiencing abundant eternal life right now, we experience the smoldering garbage dump that chokes out all that is good. I believe followers of Jesus sometimes get stuck in this garbage dump instead of following Jesus out of it. I think Jesus is warning his disciples not to get stuck there. Jesus wants his followers to know that their coming persecution is nothing compared to living separated from God.
Are we living in the eternal life that comes from God or are we living in hell? Eternal life doesn't mean an easy life, but one that is wrapped up in God's love - hell means separation from God - eternal death. Hell exists here and now, but also in eternity. We can choose to abide in God's healing love. Or we can live without God and remain broken with all that is good in us being choked out. Choose life this day!
*****
The other gospels weigh in...
Matthew 10:28 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Fire and brimstone from Jesus! Most of us really don't want to picture Jesus this way. We like to hear about his unconditional love, but in reality, there is another side to Jesus too. Here he is in the midst of warning his followers that they will be persecuted for following him... and he brings up hell. Hell was the name of a place on the outside of town where infant sacrifices had been made centuries earlier and was presently a smoldering garbage dump. But Jesus also uses this place to describe the after life of those who reject God's love. The picture he draws of God is that God is active not only in the salvation of humanity, but God does the casting into hell too. Not a friendly picture. Nor a popular one. Fanatics believe this stuff, right? And yet, to follow Jesus, we have to listen to all that he says - not just what we want to hear.
Jesus uses this fire and brimstone image to contrast for his disciples that the persecution they face is nothing to fear compared to this place called hell.
I believe that many of us live in hell right now.... separated from God. Instead of experiencing abundant eternal life right now, we experience the smoldering garbage dump that chokes out all that is good. I believe followers of Jesus sometimes get stuck in this garbage dump instead of following Jesus out of it. I think Jesus is warning his disciples not to get stuck there. Jesus wants his followers to know that their coming persecution is nothing compared to living separated from God.
Are we living in the eternal life that comes from God or are we living in hell? Eternal life doesn't mean an easy life, but one that is wrapped up in God's love - hell means separation from God - eternal death. Hell exists here and now, but also in eternity. We can choose to abide in God's healing love. Or we can live without God and remain broken with all that is good in us being choked out. Choose life this day!
*****
The other gospels weigh in...
Matthew 10:28 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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