It seemed fitting given the state of the world to finish 2015 with Jesus' own words about the end times. Luke records two instances when he spoke of the signs of the end of the age. Luke 17:20-36 we ran through a couple weeks ago but went back to it Tuesday.
Everyone's main question is "When?" and Jesus' answer is always "Don't worry about it." The main thing is just to be living a Kingdom life now.... and in that way to be ready when He does come.
His comparison of lightening to his coming is clear as can be. "Do not go running after [people falsely claiming to be the Christ], for the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other." When He comes we won't be able to miss it! So don't worry about when. Worry about living the life.
Chapter 21 contains a pretty long discourse about the end. We decided to work our way through the passage looking at his commands to us. How are we supposed to behave at the end? That's the important info if the end is near.
Vs. 8; Do not follow them. [Again with the false claims!]
Vs. 9; Do not be frightened. We find this idea both here and in Matthew's version of the discourse. The main thing is for us not to be afraid. The church so needs to hear that today. We appear to be so afraid, almost in a panic mode! If something doesn't change, if a certain person doesn't get elected, if certain immigrants are allowed in, if guns are taken away/allowed to remain, if the world doesn't change.... it's going to hell in a hand-basket! That is absolutely not true! It's going to Glory! We should not be afraid and should be communicating our hope to the world, not our fear!
Vs 14; Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. What a beautiful promise that God will defend us, giving us the perfect words and actions.
Who Jesus is talking to in these difficult passages. In chapter 17 the Pharisees ask him the question and his answer fits them....the Kingdom of God will not be brought about by your external actions, the Kingdom of God is among you.
Even when Jesus is talking to his disciples it seems the ideas he presents have to do with Jewish prophecies. Luke mentions the church age in 21:24. "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." See how the time of the Gentiles or the Church Age is interjected into Jewish history?
Although it's relatively clear in the Old Testament that God is interested in reaching the whole world, the way it happened surprised most everyone. The Messiah was a baby, who grew up and taught and did miracles and then died? The Jews were caught so off guard the majority of them rejected Jesus altogether, and the mystery of the church age as proclaimed by Paul and the other Apostles seemed to be a new revelation. In this passage Luke, who spent years with Paul, is reassuring the Jews that the day of the gentiles will end and God's attention will return to the Jewish nation....but in judgement. As Handel's Messiah quotes the surprising OT passage, "Who can abide the day of His coming?" We think we want Jesus to come back? He'll come back as a refining fire.
Yet even in the midst of natural disasters, war, signs in the sun, moon and stars, and the earth in anguish and perplexity at all that befalls it, Jesus admonish is "Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." vs 28. For those who are looking for Jesus, his coming will be Glory.
Jesus used two examples in chapter 17 of falling judgement; the days of Noah and the days of Lot. In Noah's day the people living near him had plenty of warning. They watched him build the ark. Yet they were "eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark." They didn't care about God's judgement. They were busy. They had their own lives....they thought. "Then the flood came and destroyed them all."
In Lot's day we don't know of any warning except the angels who came to rescue Lot. Again people were "eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all."
And Lot's wife, knowing full well judgement was HERE, looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Even running from the wrath of God, she was so absorbed in her own life that she wanted to hang onto it.
Sad. Sadly the story of many.
The parable of the fig tree is very straightforward. When the tree gets leaves, summer is coming. So when you see these signs happening, you know the end is coming. The generation that sees the leaves sprout will see the end. Yet it's been more complicated than it appeared. Every generation that has lived has had circumstances they interpreted as signs of the end. Anyone who knew Rasputin during the Russian revolution believed him to be the Anti-Christ, as did many believe of Hitler. For my whole life the 1948 return of Jews to a Jewish State of Israel has been interpreted as the sprouting of the leaves. Yet that generation, too, is almost gone.
We're left with Jesus' guidelines to help us navigate the confusion: don't be deceived, don't be afraid.
I have found myself looking back at 1 Peter as the world gets darker around us. Last spring when we were studying Hebrews and Peter terrorism was confined to the Mid-East. Now ISIS has clearly set it's sights on the whole world. Yet the Word for us has not changed.
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because you were called to inherit a blessing. For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."1 Peter 3:8-16.
This does not describe the way the world sees the church today. We have to get it together. We have to hang onto our hope. We have to hold that hope up as a light in a dark world! That's why we're here.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
An aside
I was able to share at the leadership meeting last night how much I was amazed and thankful to God that he's lifted some of the burden I've been carrying this fall. I was able to say that it was surprising to me, not that God helped me out, but that he helped me out when I couldn't ever get my attitude together or feel like I was handling things the way he wanted me to.
The thing I didn't get out, so I'm trying to express it here, is what that shows me about how I think about myself and how I think about God.
About myself....I really think I should be able to handle everything and not in a prideful way but that's what I think about being a Christian...that I can do all things through Christ is some kind of one size fits all band aid that makes everything feel better. I could only handle things by constantly redefining what it meant to be handling it! I have to rethink that now. I assumed God was displeased with me because I was in so much pain and was so frustrated with my life. I assumed he wanted me to smile and say Praise the Lord and get on with it. Maybe all he hoped for me was that I would be able to keep walking along the path holding on to his hand. Maybe he just felt great compassion for me.
Which leads me to the important truth... did I believe God only helps me out when I'm being some kind of super christian? And more importantly, do I after all these years still believe that there is a right way to pray and a pious way to live which [and this is the key] will get God to act in my behalf?
It seems I was thinking that, or at least the opposite, that God would never work in my behalf when I had such a bad attitude. I have to say I'm surprised to see that belief about God in myself. I seem to still have in me the feeling there is a magic button to push or lever to pull which will make God act, and furthermore that the fulcrum balancing that lever is my righteousness.
I do not believe that in theory. Yet, when some of these current burdens were lifted, my second thought (thankfulness was truly my first thought!) was, why now? Why, when I'm behaving so poorly, would you bless me now? The attitude of earning his blessing clearly lingers. Yet the evidence clearly suggests that God is always acting out of his compassion and wisdom to give us what we in no way deserve.
In the face of such grace, one surely is drawn to love and follow him. But obedience and trust are not magic buttons. They are simply the only sensible way to respond to a God who is so much bigger than us.
The thing I didn't get out, so I'm trying to express it here, is what that shows me about how I think about myself and how I think about God.
About myself....I really think I should be able to handle everything and not in a prideful way but that's what I think about being a Christian...that I can do all things through Christ is some kind of one size fits all band aid that makes everything feel better. I could only handle things by constantly redefining what it meant to be handling it! I have to rethink that now. I assumed God was displeased with me because I was in so much pain and was so frustrated with my life. I assumed he wanted me to smile and say Praise the Lord and get on with it. Maybe all he hoped for me was that I would be able to keep walking along the path holding on to his hand. Maybe he just felt great compassion for me.
Which leads me to the important truth... did I believe God only helps me out when I'm being some kind of super christian? And more importantly, do I after all these years still believe that there is a right way to pray and a pious way to live which [and this is the key] will get God to act in my behalf?
It seems I was thinking that, or at least the opposite, that God would never work in my behalf when I had such a bad attitude. I have to say I'm surprised to see that belief about God in myself. I seem to still have in me the feeling there is a magic button to push or lever to pull which will make God act, and furthermore that the fulcrum balancing that lever is my righteousness.
I do not believe that in theory. Yet, when some of these current burdens were lifted, my second thought (thankfulness was truly my first thought!) was, why now? Why, when I'm behaving so poorly, would you bless me now? The attitude of earning his blessing clearly lingers. Yet the evidence clearly suggests that God is always acting out of his compassion and wisdom to give us what we in no way deserve.
In the face of such grace, one surely is drawn to love and follow him. But obedience and trust are not magic buttons. They are simply the only sensible way to respond to a God who is so much bigger than us.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Choices
Jesus has set a series of choices before his disciples in the last several chapters of Luke. That's not exactly right. He's used a series of sermons and stories to set before them A Choice. He's in the last six months of his ministry by now and the question looms large: will you love me or love something else?
In chapter 12 he tells the parable of the Rich Fool, who says, "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and there I will store all my grain and my good. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him...."You fool...." And Jesus comments, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The next story is the "don't worry" passage. The sparrows and lilies don't need anything but what God gives them. And Luke records [12:32] "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there our heart will be also." The only treasure is the kingdom; John calls it the pearl of great price.
Jesus has set up a "first place" discussion that he presents over and over until he reached Jerusalem. What will take first place in your life? The discussion comes to a point in 14: 29. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes even his own life--he cannot be my disciple." Then he gives the two famous "count the cost" illustrations; a man building a house without having funds to finish it and a king going to war against an army that heavily out numbers him. They are fools. Just like the man who thought he had it made because he had wealth, these who begin something without thinking through if they could finish it were fools.
"In the same way (!) any of you who deoes not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple," Jesus says in conclusion. It raises a huge discussion about what it means to be a follower or disciple of Christ. He's given us a kingdom and a mission to spread the kingdom, and if we chose to answer his call to follow him [call...another big discussion] we are making a life choice.
That involves two things, I think.
1) Following Jesus cannot be one of the things I'm doing with my life. It has to be the thing.
2) Following Jesus cannot be a "short term mission". It is a lifetime choice.
In this context I finally begin to grasp the illustration of the salt. "Salt is good," 14:34, "but if it loses its saltiness, how an it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. it is thrown out."
We are the salt of the earth. We are worthless (in following Christ and spreading the kingdom) if we lose the saltiness. The point of the story is not salt; it's following him. If we say we are disciples of Christ but lose the truth of that being lived out in our lives, what are we worth? Nothing. We thought we could follow Christ and then when it became complicated we could change our minds? We are like the ones who did not count the cost and are fools.
Chapter 15. Luke records the three "Lost" parables. Lost sheep. Lost coin. Lost son. The point of the kingdom is finding the lost.
It really brings into focus the scathing judgement Jesus brings upon the pharisees and teachers of the law back in chapter 11. Their life is caught up in external cleanness; ceremonial washing and fanatical tithing. Vs 42: "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God." The end result is in verse 52: "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Woe... painful, sorrowful expression of the wrong choice. External vs internal. And in chapter 12 Jesus warns his followers about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They were supposed to be representatives of the Kingdom of God, but not only did they refuse to go it, the kept others out!
I am writing in circles a little bit here, but this is what I've learned. The kingdom is about finding the lost and it will always, until I die or until Jesus comes back, be about finding the lost. This is not short term missions. This is a life choice. Turning back on this choice hurts the mission. It hinders the progress of the gospel.
And the powerful tool God has given us in being part of that mission is our lives. Not rules. Not judgements. Not programs. Not church meetings. Lives transformed from herb counters to people lovers. God is in us. All we have to do is live so people can see Him.
I found myself back in 1 Peter this week, both because of the impact of Luke's teaching and because of world events. Peter calls us to be Holy lights in a dark place, and remember he wrote during the reign of Nero. "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good. he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? but even if you should suffer for what is right your are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 3:10-15.
What does it mean to follow Christ today? It means having hope, not fear. It means seeking to find the lost, not rallying against them. It means not loving other things... wealth, security, status, comfort, easy living, having our own way.... It means loving Him as the only thing that matters.... because it is the only thing that matters.
In chapter 12 he tells the parable of the Rich Fool, who says, "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and there I will store all my grain and my good. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him...."You fool...." And Jesus comments, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The next story is the "don't worry" passage. The sparrows and lilies don't need anything but what God gives them. And Luke records [12:32] "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there our heart will be also." The only treasure is the kingdom; John calls it the pearl of great price.
Jesus has set up a "first place" discussion that he presents over and over until he reached Jerusalem. What will take first place in your life? The discussion comes to a point in 14: 29. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes even his own life--he cannot be my disciple." Then he gives the two famous "count the cost" illustrations; a man building a house without having funds to finish it and a king going to war against an army that heavily out numbers him. They are fools. Just like the man who thought he had it made because he had wealth, these who begin something without thinking through if they could finish it were fools.
"In the same way (!) any of you who deoes not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple," Jesus says in conclusion. It raises a huge discussion about what it means to be a follower or disciple of Christ. He's given us a kingdom and a mission to spread the kingdom, and if we chose to answer his call to follow him [call...another big discussion] we are making a life choice.
That involves two things, I think.
1) Following Jesus cannot be one of the things I'm doing with my life. It has to be the thing.
2) Following Jesus cannot be a "short term mission". It is a lifetime choice.
In this context I finally begin to grasp the illustration of the salt. "Salt is good," 14:34, "but if it loses its saltiness, how an it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. it is thrown out."
We are the salt of the earth. We are worthless (in following Christ and spreading the kingdom) if we lose the saltiness. The point of the story is not salt; it's following him. If we say we are disciples of Christ but lose the truth of that being lived out in our lives, what are we worth? Nothing. We thought we could follow Christ and then when it became complicated we could change our minds? We are like the ones who did not count the cost and are fools.
Chapter 15. Luke records the three "Lost" parables. Lost sheep. Lost coin. Lost son. The point of the kingdom is finding the lost.
It really brings into focus the scathing judgement Jesus brings upon the pharisees and teachers of the law back in chapter 11. Their life is caught up in external cleanness; ceremonial washing and fanatical tithing. Vs 42: "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God." The end result is in verse 52: "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Woe... painful, sorrowful expression of the wrong choice. External vs internal. And in chapter 12 Jesus warns his followers about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They were supposed to be representatives of the Kingdom of God, but not only did they refuse to go it, the kept others out!
I am writing in circles a little bit here, but this is what I've learned. The kingdom is about finding the lost and it will always, until I die or until Jesus comes back, be about finding the lost. This is not short term missions. This is a life choice. Turning back on this choice hurts the mission. It hinders the progress of the gospel.
And the powerful tool God has given us in being part of that mission is our lives. Not rules. Not judgements. Not programs. Not church meetings. Lives transformed from herb counters to people lovers. God is in us. All we have to do is live so people can see Him.
I found myself back in 1 Peter this week, both because of the impact of Luke's teaching and because of world events. Peter calls us to be Holy lights in a dark place, and remember he wrote during the reign of Nero. "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good. he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? but even if you should suffer for what is right your are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 3:10-15.
What does it mean to follow Christ today? It means having hope, not fear. It means seeking to find the lost, not rallying against them. It means not loving other things... wealth, security, status, comfort, easy living, having our own way.... It means loving Him as the only thing that matters.... because it is the only thing that matters.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
A Pause
I have been very lax in posting anything from Luke the last two weeks. I have been processing a lot of things though, and have been helped in that process by the Women's Ministry study of Philippians. I'm going to put Luke aside for a minute and share some of that struggle and a couple of big things I've learned.
Truth is, I have been really hating my life... I expressed that for the whole summer and cumulatively as summer was over as not being able to do any of the summer things I love, traveling, chilling on the beach, girls' coffees, walks with Kelsey or Beth.... no Yoga on Kelsey's deck!
What a deprivation I've experienced. What a silly complainer I am. I'm very conflicted. Obviously I have more than everything I need. Anyone would consider those things I feel as loss to be extreme luxury. They were only the excuses for my misery, distractions from my real pain.
As summer turned to fall I was being crushed by the weight of my life. I don't think that is too big of a word. My daughter, whose life story we don't have to go into again, was living in my house but seemed to me a stranger I didn't know...and frankly didn't really want to know. Her children, who I've given the last 10 years of my life to saving, are also turning into people I sometimes don't recognize. Having the three of them together for a weekend often literally made me nauseous. Under the influence of this strange woman who used to be my beautiful, happy daughter, what was happening inside these precious babies?
Then Bill's cancer was back. Then my Mom started struggling so much I was getting calls a couple times a week to come talk her down from her distress. Then I discovered I need surgery, and I couldn't even figure out how to schedule it.... or schedule recovering from it!
As I list the problems pulling on my life I feel justified in hating it. Who would want this life? Especially at this time when Bill and I are so aware it will come to an end; I often joked the only way I was scratching anything off my bucket list was to say, "Well, I guess I'll never get the chance to do that." I'm so funny.
But I was also sick of my attitude. Didn't God direct my paths? Didn't I claim to believe God had my best in mind? Didn't I trust him? I knew I did. I was willing to let God do what he wanted. But at the same time I was so unhappy. Conflicted. And I could find no way to talk myself out of my unhappiness. Unhappiness was perfectly reasonable, really.
Then God granted a reprieve. I unloaded on a friend; I know she began to pray and I'm grateful for her care. Not that I hadn't been praying, but my prayer mostly consisted of "God, I hate this life!" Suddenly my daughter left for two months. Relieved from that stress, I could at least breath. I was truly thankful for breathable air in my own house, thankful for the first time in awhile. The two months will end and she will be back, but the difference is tangible.
I asked my midweek to pray for my Mom and she has had a few good weeks. (There's cleartly a lesson in here too about asking other people to pray for you.)
Then Wednesday Bill's remaining treatments were dismissed. This is how that effected me (and it's all about me.)... on Tuesday my initial phone discussion about scheduling surgery was-- they will call me with a date in January. I hung up thinking, well, good luck with that. When could I take a few weeks off? Before Bill's chemo? Not enough weeks in January for that. After his chemo? That puts me into February, even spring break.. missing piano, violin, etc... (again, how spoiled am I? (whining) I just don't know how I'm going to schedule my violin lesson?) On Wednesday the oncologist said PET in December but probably no more chemo. On Thursday, surgery called back with a date that was.....fine.
So I said I learned a couple of big things I want to share. I'm surprised what they are.
1) I was an emotional wreck and truly was trying to handle more than I could handle. It's very hard for me to admit how needy I am. Paul says God doesn't give us more than we can bear. (My friend Sandy says God believes I am very strong.) Clearly God was holding me up, but I wanted to be one of those Christians who did it with a song and a dance. Instead, here's how I would describe my last year of walking with God.... stepping across ceiling joists high off the ground....blindfolded. Each step miraculously found the thin board actually under my feet. Then all I had to do was take another... and find once again the board was there. No singing and/or dancing.
2) I was very disappointed to find I have lingering thoughts that prayer is a formula that.... if recited correctly, or with the right attitude, and especially without being a total failure at being as joyful and full of faith as God wants one to be..... can make things change. Prayer is a lifeline... no doubt about that. Prayer connects you to the God of the universe. But contrary to the sign on many living room walls, prayer doesn't change things. God changes things, and not as a reward for correctly delivered petitions or godly attitudes or perfect responses to the struggle that is life. He changes things as a gracious gift.
This is the part of the story that relates to the Philippians study. We were looking last week at living out the will of God without complaining. Geesh. Just what I wanted to study.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...." Phil. 2:12-15
So did I get my act together so God worked? Did I suddenly understand and ask in a right way that compelled him to act? Was I so convicted I turned my stinky attitude around and God rewarded me with change? Aren't those the ways we get God to work?
The truth is, God worked in the midst of my utter weakness and failure and not because of anything I did or said. I didn't get anything together. He graciously chose to give relief.
My reaction to his grace clearly shows my wrong thinking. "Why would you deliver me now when I am reacting so very badly?" "I'm such a poor example of victorious living, I can't believe you would do this for Me." "All I have been doing is complaining about the life you've given me. Why would you intervene now?" Vanity. All about me and my spirituality. Vanity, vanity. It's clear I only thought God would act in response to some manipulation on my part. That's such wrong thinking about God. He operates out of His own reality, part of that being that I'm one of his beloved children.
Reality in my life is that my daughter may not change, my grandchildren have huge holes in their emotional lives, my Mother's Alzheimer's will only get worse, my husband will eventually need chemo again. Life has not changed. But Christmas looks doable. Teaching piano is not as important as I think it is. Bill can start getting his energy back rather than going further down. Surgery is a pain but not as big of a nuisance as surgery while Bill's having chemo.
And how will I respond the next time life is unbearable? I don't know. I'm guessing not perfectly. But if I can old onto one truth out of this experience I hope it is this: Grace doesn't depend on me.
I also feel (like feelings are important) God protecting me, something I have not felt for a long time. I know we live in the valley of the shadow of death. I don't think I've had any worse time than many people have. I have a life many, many people would envy. There are people out there with miserable lives. That's what life in the valley of the shadow of death is. I don't expect to live life on earth without the miserable effects of sin.
But I have a more tangible sense that by God's grace it will NOT crush me. It will take me both daily and eventually to him. I think I both understand and believe the verses I love from Psalm 73 litte more than before: "I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
Truth is, I have been really hating my life... I expressed that for the whole summer and cumulatively as summer was over as not being able to do any of the summer things I love, traveling, chilling on the beach, girls' coffees, walks with Kelsey or Beth.... no Yoga on Kelsey's deck!
What a deprivation I've experienced. What a silly complainer I am. I'm very conflicted. Obviously I have more than everything I need. Anyone would consider those things I feel as loss to be extreme luxury. They were only the excuses for my misery, distractions from my real pain.
As summer turned to fall I was being crushed by the weight of my life. I don't think that is too big of a word. My daughter, whose life story we don't have to go into again, was living in my house but seemed to me a stranger I didn't know...and frankly didn't really want to know. Her children, who I've given the last 10 years of my life to saving, are also turning into people I sometimes don't recognize. Having the three of them together for a weekend often literally made me nauseous. Under the influence of this strange woman who used to be my beautiful, happy daughter, what was happening inside these precious babies?
Then Bill's cancer was back. Then my Mom started struggling so much I was getting calls a couple times a week to come talk her down from her distress. Then I discovered I need surgery, and I couldn't even figure out how to schedule it.... or schedule recovering from it!
As I list the problems pulling on my life I feel justified in hating it. Who would want this life? Especially at this time when Bill and I are so aware it will come to an end; I often joked the only way I was scratching anything off my bucket list was to say, "Well, I guess I'll never get the chance to do that." I'm so funny.
But I was also sick of my attitude. Didn't God direct my paths? Didn't I claim to believe God had my best in mind? Didn't I trust him? I knew I did. I was willing to let God do what he wanted. But at the same time I was so unhappy. Conflicted. And I could find no way to talk myself out of my unhappiness. Unhappiness was perfectly reasonable, really.
Then God granted a reprieve. I unloaded on a friend; I know she began to pray and I'm grateful for her care. Not that I hadn't been praying, but my prayer mostly consisted of "God, I hate this life!" Suddenly my daughter left for two months. Relieved from that stress, I could at least breath. I was truly thankful for breathable air in my own house, thankful for the first time in awhile. The two months will end and she will be back, but the difference is tangible.
I asked my midweek to pray for my Mom and she has had a few good weeks. (There's cleartly a lesson in here too about asking other people to pray for you.)
Then Wednesday Bill's remaining treatments were dismissed. This is how that effected me (and it's all about me.)... on Tuesday my initial phone discussion about scheduling surgery was-- they will call me with a date in January. I hung up thinking, well, good luck with that. When could I take a few weeks off? Before Bill's chemo? Not enough weeks in January for that. After his chemo? That puts me into February, even spring break.. missing piano, violin, etc... (again, how spoiled am I? (whining) I just don't know how I'm going to schedule my violin lesson?) On Wednesday the oncologist said PET in December but probably no more chemo. On Thursday, surgery called back with a date that was.....fine.
So I said I learned a couple of big things I want to share. I'm surprised what they are.
1) I was an emotional wreck and truly was trying to handle more than I could handle. It's very hard for me to admit how needy I am. Paul says God doesn't give us more than we can bear. (My friend Sandy says God believes I am very strong.) Clearly God was holding me up, but I wanted to be one of those Christians who did it with a song and a dance. Instead, here's how I would describe my last year of walking with God.... stepping across ceiling joists high off the ground....blindfolded. Each step miraculously found the thin board actually under my feet. Then all I had to do was take another... and find once again the board was there. No singing and/or dancing.
2) I was very disappointed to find I have lingering thoughts that prayer is a formula that.... if recited correctly, or with the right attitude, and especially without being a total failure at being as joyful and full of faith as God wants one to be..... can make things change. Prayer is a lifeline... no doubt about that. Prayer connects you to the God of the universe. But contrary to the sign on many living room walls, prayer doesn't change things. God changes things, and not as a reward for correctly delivered petitions or godly attitudes or perfect responses to the struggle that is life. He changes things as a gracious gift.
This is the part of the story that relates to the Philippians study. We were looking last week at living out the will of God without complaining. Geesh. Just what I wanted to study.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...." Phil. 2:12-15
So did I get my act together so God worked? Did I suddenly understand and ask in a right way that compelled him to act? Was I so convicted I turned my stinky attitude around and God rewarded me with change? Aren't those the ways we get God to work?
The truth is, God worked in the midst of my utter weakness and failure and not because of anything I did or said. I didn't get anything together. He graciously chose to give relief.
My reaction to his grace clearly shows my wrong thinking. "Why would you deliver me now when I am reacting so very badly?" "I'm such a poor example of victorious living, I can't believe you would do this for Me." "All I have been doing is complaining about the life you've given me. Why would you intervene now?" Vanity. All about me and my spirituality. Vanity, vanity. It's clear I only thought God would act in response to some manipulation on my part. That's such wrong thinking about God. He operates out of His own reality, part of that being that I'm one of his beloved children.
Reality in my life is that my daughter may not change, my grandchildren have huge holes in their emotional lives, my Mother's Alzheimer's will only get worse, my husband will eventually need chemo again. Life has not changed. But Christmas looks doable. Teaching piano is not as important as I think it is. Bill can start getting his energy back rather than going further down. Surgery is a pain but not as big of a nuisance as surgery while Bill's having chemo.
And how will I respond the next time life is unbearable? I don't know. I'm guessing not perfectly. But if I can old onto one truth out of this experience I hope it is this: Grace doesn't depend on me.
I also feel (like feelings are important) God protecting me, something I have not felt for a long time. I know we live in the valley of the shadow of death. I don't think I've had any worse time than many people have. I have a life many, many people would envy. There are people out there with miserable lives. That's what life in the valley of the shadow of death is. I don't expect to live life on earth without the miserable effects of sin.
But I have a more tangible sense that by God's grace it will NOT crush me. It will take me both daily and eventually to him. I think I both understand and believe the verses I love from Psalm 73 litte more than before: "I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
Friday, November 6, 2015
Happy stories!
I know this is going to sound silly but I'm really enjoying being in the gospels because, so far, there hasn't been any murder and mayhem. Remembering 1 and 2 Samuel, e.g. it's a nice change. I haven't posted for awhile so I'm just going to hit two interesting things from the last couple of Bible Studies.
In Luke 5-6, the most interesting thing to me was the idea of Jesus calling the men to follow Him. What was their understanding of what he was asking them to do? What did it really mean then to be a disciple? From the idea of the word follow, it meant something similar to "be my apprentice", but not even that in the modern sense of the word. Many Rabbis had disciples. John the Baptist had disciples, among them Andrew and John. It was a symbiotic relationship; I'll teach you and you will serve me. We see a little bit of that service when Jesus tells them to get him a white colt to enter Jerusalem, or to go get a room ready for the passover.
Then in chapter 6 Jesus calls his disciples to him [seemingly more than twelve] and appoints twelve of them Apostles. It is quite a different word, a word with authority and power to represent the sending party to the world. There is much I don't understand about the process.
My personal favorite story so far is in chapter 7, "Jesus raises the Widow's Son." It's particularly striking on the heals of the proceeding story where the Jewish leaders come to Jesus to ask him to heal the servant of this man who "deserves to have you do this because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue". [By the way, Jesus healed the servant because of his amazing faith, not because he gave money to the synagogue. Faith the leaders who came to Jesus with the request didn't even understand!]
But the story in verse11 begins as Jesus, walking into the little town of Nain, approaches a funeral procession. He knew the dead man was the only son of a widow. Her second great loss. Her sole means of support."When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her, and he said, 'Don't cry.'"
Jesus needed no excuse to raise this young man from the dead. The ones receiving the miracle didn't need to qualify in any way. Jesus raised him from the dead because of his compassion for this woman. That's all. He loved her and felt her loss. He restored the dead son to her.
Not only were there no qualifications for receiving this miracle, there were no instructions after. No go and sin no more. No show the priests. There were absolutely no strings attached. "Jesus gave him back to his mother".....what a simple statement to follow such an unbelievable gift.
And the people said, "God has come to help his people." God had been silent for 400 years. This amazing miracle made people understand He was back.
Sometimes I feel the church today has too many strings. We help people because.... we minister so that.... we serve the community to accomplish..... True compassion doesn't have strings. But it does have power.
In Luke 5-6, the most interesting thing to me was the idea of Jesus calling the men to follow Him. What was their understanding of what he was asking them to do? What did it really mean then to be a disciple? From the idea of the word follow, it meant something similar to "be my apprentice", but not even that in the modern sense of the word. Many Rabbis had disciples. John the Baptist had disciples, among them Andrew and John. It was a symbiotic relationship; I'll teach you and you will serve me. We see a little bit of that service when Jesus tells them to get him a white colt to enter Jerusalem, or to go get a room ready for the passover.
Then in chapter 6 Jesus calls his disciples to him [seemingly more than twelve] and appoints twelve of them Apostles. It is quite a different word, a word with authority and power to represent the sending party to the world. There is much I don't understand about the process.
My personal favorite story so far is in chapter 7, "Jesus raises the Widow's Son." It's particularly striking on the heals of the proceeding story where the Jewish leaders come to Jesus to ask him to heal the servant of this man who "deserves to have you do this because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue". [By the way, Jesus healed the servant because of his amazing faith, not because he gave money to the synagogue. Faith the leaders who came to Jesus with the request didn't even understand!]
But the story in verse11 begins as Jesus, walking into the little town of Nain, approaches a funeral procession. He knew the dead man was the only son of a widow. Her second great loss. Her sole means of support."When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her, and he said, 'Don't cry.'"
Jesus needed no excuse to raise this young man from the dead. The ones receiving the miracle didn't need to qualify in any way. Jesus raised him from the dead because of his compassion for this woman. That's all. He loved her and felt her loss. He restored the dead son to her.
Not only were there no qualifications for receiving this miracle, there were no instructions after. No go and sin no more. No show the priests. There were absolutely no strings attached. "Jesus gave him back to his mother".....what a simple statement to follow such an unbelievable gift.
And the people said, "God has come to help his people." God had been silent for 400 years. This amazing miracle made people understand He was back.
Sometimes I feel the church today has too many strings. We help people because.... we minister so that.... we serve the community to accomplish..... True compassion doesn't have strings. But it does have power.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Rooted in Historical Reality
I've probably quoted this to you more than once already. From my linguistic key re: eye witnesses. "This reflects a conviction that the Christian faith is rooted not in speculative creation but in historical reality" by a man named Ellis.
We see an amazing instance of historical data in the opening verses of chapter 3. Do these known political leaders line up historically with the facts of Luke? A simple google phone search says they do.... try it yourself! If John was called in from the desert in the 15th year of Tiberius (29AD), all the other people mentioned were in exactly the positions Luke records them in. Wow!
And John comes preaching a message of repentance, just as the angel announced he would. And people repent. "He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.", the Angel of Luke 1 quoting from Malachi 4. It's certainly all coming together in an amazing way.
Next week we'll look at Jesus ministry "in the synagogues of Judea" [4:44] Even though we've just gotten started in the book of Luke, the stories are from his second year of ministry, the year he was wildly popular. That amazing year of ministry will continue through Luke 9, and we'll just keep studying two chapters at a time to see what we can learn.
He calls some disciples, he argues with some Pharisees, he designate sthe 12 Apostles (what does that mean?) And he teaches the sermon on a Level Place.... it will be interesting to see the similarities and differences between that account in Luke and the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6....
We thought earlier about the voice of Jesus in the book of Luke. We're going to start hearing that voice more next week and we'll find it to be .....what?
I love the gospels because Jesus is never quite the same as my idea of him, and that helps me clarify that picture. Reminds me of John 3:2, "Dear friends; now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."
I think that means the more clearly we see Jesus, the more we'll be like him. Let's try to see this Jesus, the complete revelation of God.
We see an amazing instance of historical data in the opening verses of chapter 3. Do these known political leaders line up historically with the facts of Luke? A simple google phone search says they do.... try it yourself! If John was called in from the desert in the 15th year of Tiberius (29AD), all the other people mentioned were in exactly the positions Luke records them in. Wow!
And John comes preaching a message of repentance, just as the angel announced he would. And people repent. "He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.", the Angel of Luke 1 quoting from Malachi 4. It's certainly all coming together in an amazing way.
Next week we'll look at Jesus ministry "in the synagogues of Judea" [4:44] Even though we've just gotten started in the book of Luke, the stories are from his second year of ministry, the year he was wildly popular. That amazing year of ministry will continue through Luke 9, and we'll just keep studying two chapters at a time to see what we can learn.
He calls some disciples, he argues with some Pharisees, he designate sthe 12 Apostles (what does that mean?) And he teaches the sermon on a Level Place.... it will be interesting to see the similarities and differences between that account in Luke and the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6....
We thought earlier about the voice of Jesus in the book of Luke. We're going to start hearing that voice more next week and we'll find it to be .....what?
I love the gospels because Jesus is never quite the same as my idea of him, and that helps me clarify that picture. Reminds me of John 3:2, "Dear friends; now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."
I think that means the more clearly we see Jesus, the more we'll be like him. Let's try to see this Jesus, the complete revelation of God.
Friday, October 9, 2015
WORD!
Silence is broken, and with a very big bang. We find the answer to our question from the last post.... after 400 years will anyone be listening. The answer is an amazing Yes.
God could not have broken the silence with more drama or in a way that would cause all Israel to be talking about it. Zechariah goes into the temple to offer incense and doesn't come out. And doesn't come out! Did God strike him dead? (He HAD been known to do that!) Whew! at last the old priest comes out but he's been struck dumb! (And maybe deaf, since all tried to talk to him with signs...that was a new thought!)
Do you think the temple was buzzing? Do you think the priests were all up late talking about what happened? Do you think all the people in the courtyard waiting and waiting for Zechariah to come out talked to everyone ELSE in Judea about what happened? God broke the silence with a big bang. Even Twitter couldn't have spread the word faster.
What will happen next?
The people of Jerusalem may not have known that Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, came for a visit and Elizabeth's baby, filled with the Spirit even in the womb, jumped for joy in the presence of his Lord. But Zechariah knew, and he returned to Jerusalem for the circumcision of his son a changed man. No doubt about the angel choosing his son. No doubt his name would be John. High drama! All those Jewish Mamas talking at once, but there's no one in your family named John! You can't do that! What a year Jerusalem has had, and the shouting isn't over yet.
Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem in Judea to register for taxes. What a mundane excuse to bring Jesus to exactly the town he was prophesied to be born in. And what happens at his birth? Angels, shepherds. More singing and shouting and talking. More drama.
The next event was Jesus circumcision; once again the temple in Jerusalem was to receive direct word from God. Simeon and Anna were both waiting to hear from God. When did God reveal to them that they wouldn't die without seeing the Messiah? Maybe when the amazing events around John's birth played out at that same temple. Surely by now the whole priesthood was talking about God moving in their midst. Surely by now all of Jerusalem was talking about it. Surely they were expecting something to happen.
And then...... John grew up and went to the desert to await his call. Jesus went home to Nazareth to grow into a man. But the silence was broken. God was on speaking terms with his people again.
Where did Luke, who is the only one to record most of what's in Luke 1 and 2, get his information. His inquiring mind must have spent many hours with Mary herself. Who else would have known these stories? What a miracle it is that someone thought to write it down! (LOL)
We talked the first week about Luke's purpose of writing a historical document. Those interviews with Mary are part of what his introduction in 1:1-4 are talking about.
Next week's passage begins with another excellent example of Luke's attention to historical detail. "In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilat was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitus, and Lysanias tetrarch of Ablilene---during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word came to John....." We'll look at that word from God when we get together again, but look at the amazing historical information Luke gave us.
I just did a basic google search on my phone and found the following dates:
Tiberius was Caesar from 14-36 AD
Pontius Pilate was governor 26-36 AD
Herod Antipas was Tetrarch of Galilee 6-39 AD
I didn't look anyone else up. Annas and Caiaphas are still around when Jesus is crucified, so they surely fit.
But look at those dates? Those three men were simultaneously in office during the decade from 26-36 AD. That's a pretty narrow window in the sweep of history. [Aren't we glad we don't have to do that math BC any more?] Historical documentation. I'll repeat the quote from my linguistic Key.
"This reflects a conviction that the Christian faith is rooted not in speculative creation but in historical reality." [Ellis]
Luke is determined in his book to drive that fact home. The things you believe are historical reality. I'm going to write his opening statement again so we can really have a sense of his heart and soul in writing this book as we go forward studying it.
"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Luke 1:1-4.
As we look next week at the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, what an exciting yet grounding thought. [Not a new thought, I know, but still.....] He's not a legend or myth. He's a historical person, the person God.
God could not have broken the silence with more drama or in a way that would cause all Israel to be talking about it. Zechariah goes into the temple to offer incense and doesn't come out. And doesn't come out! Did God strike him dead? (He HAD been known to do that!) Whew! at last the old priest comes out but he's been struck dumb! (And maybe deaf, since all tried to talk to him with signs...that was a new thought!)
Do you think the temple was buzzing? Do you think the priests were all up late talking about what happened? Do you think all the people in the courtyard waiting and waiting for Zechariah to come out talked to everyone ELSE in Judea about what happened? God broke the silence with a big bang. Even Twitter couldn't have spread the word faster.
What will happen next?
The people of Jerusalem may not have known that Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, came for a visit and Elizabeth's baby, filled with the Spirit even in the womb, jumped for joy in the presence of his Lord. But Zechariah knew, and he returned to Jerusalem for the circumcision of his son a changed man. No doubt about the angel choosing his son. No doubt his name would be John. High drama! All those Jewish Mamas talking at once, but there's no one in your family named John! You can't do that! What a year Jerusalem has had, and the shouting isn't over yet.
Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem in Judea to register for taxes. What a mundane excuse to bring Jesus to exactly the town he was prophesied to be born in. And what happens at his birth? Angels, shepherds. More singing and shouting and talking. More drama.
The next event was Jesus circumcision; once again the temple in Jerusalem was to receive direct word from God. Simeon and Anna were both waiting to hear from God. When did God reveal to them that they wouldn't die without seeing the Messiah? Maybe when the amazing events around John's birth played out at that same temple. Surely by now the whole priesthood was talking about God moving in their midst. Surely by now all of Jerusalem was talking about it. Surely they were expecting something to happen.
And then...... John grew up and went to the desert to await his call. Jesus went home to Nazareth to grow into a man. But the silence was broken. God was on speaking terms with his people again.
Where did Luke, who is the only one to record most of what's in Luke 1 and 2, get his information. His inquiring mind must have spent many hours with Mary herself. Who else would have known these stories? What a miracle it is that someone thought to write it down! (LOL)
We talked the first week about Luke's purpose of writing a historical document. Those interviews with Mary are part of what his introduction in 1:1-4 are talking about.
Next week's passage begins with another excellent example of Luke's attention to historical detail. "In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilat was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitus, and Lysanias tetrarch of Ablilene---during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word came to John....." We'll look at that word from God when we get together again, but look at the amazing historical information Luke gave us.
I just did a basic google search on my phone and found the following dates:
Tiberius was Caesar from 14-36 AD
Pontius Pilate was governor 26-36 AD
Herod Antipas was Tetrarch of Galilee 6-39 AD
I didn't look anyone else up. Annas and Caiaphas are still around when Jesus is crucified, so they surely fit.
But look at those dates? Those three men were simultaneously in office during the decade from 26-36 AD. That's a pretty narrow window in the sweep of history. [Aren't we glad we don't have to do that math BC any more?] Historical documentation. I'll repeat the quote from my linguistic Key.
"This reflects a conviction that the Christian faith is rooted not in speculative creation but in historical reality." [Ellis]
Luke is determined in his book to drive that fact home. The things you believe are historical reality. I'm going to write his opening statement again so we can really have a sense of his heart and soul in writing this book as we go forward studying it.
"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Luke 1:1-4.
As we look next week at the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, what an exciting yet grounding thought. [Not a new thought, I know, but still.....] He's not a legend or myth. He's a historical person, the person God.
Friday, October 2, 2015
400 Silent Years
You don't know how I struggled with that title. I don't believe that God has ever been silent. Yet this is the common name for the apparent fact there were no prophets [recorded] after 400 BC. My stubbornness about this led me to a [very] little research about when the Old Testament books were written, which did yield some interesting "facts". [I'm trying not to be a skeptic, but it's not worth the effort... you guys get it.....]
Six books were written between 450 and 400 BC. It's an interesting list: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 1&2 Chronicles, and Malachi. Interesting because [some] traditions say that Ezra wrote Ezra, Esther, and 1&2 Chronicles. Nehemiah, Ezra's successor, probably wrote Nehemiah, but some believe Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, written by.....you guessed it, Ezra. Malachi, a prophet, surely wrote his own book, but it was at the same time period as Ezra. You remember Ezra and Nehemiah [and Zerrubbabel] were the leaders of the long effort to rebuild Jerusalem, it's walls and temple after the exile. So my research turned up a surge of information recorded over a 50 year period before 400 BC, and then..... nothing. The birth of Christ, which we all know was in 0.... and viola, 400 silent years.
This info turned my thoughts two different directions. One turn was towards Hebrews 1:1 and 2: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made made the universe." The book of Hebrews which I dearly love, goes into great detail about how utterly different and amazing this complete revelation, Jesus, is than every partial revelation before him.
The other, and more relevant direction my mind went, and the reason I was digging around to begin with, was to think about how stunning the angelic announcements in Luke 1and 2 would have been to those who heard them. No prophets. No writings. No official words from God to the nation of Israel...[that's as far as I'm able to take my definition of silent] for 400 years. Who would still be listening?
Amazingly, some were. Granted, Zechariah was surprised, mostly that he and his wife's old bodies would have a part to play in this new revelation. Yet after Mary's visit and 9 months to think and study about it, Zechariah shows amazing understanding of the situation. The second his voice returns he sings, "He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David". He knew this son of his, who would "go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him" was the forerunner of the Christ.
Remember how adamant John was in Matthew and John when he was asked who he was? Not the Christ, not the Prophet, nor Elijah. "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord." I think his father had drilled those prophecies from Isaiah and Malachi into this precious son, who would "be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth."
So Malachi 3 and 4, the last two chapters in the Old Testament, actually turn out to be pretty interesting. 3:1 says, "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple...." directly tying the coming of a messenger to the "sudden" appearance of the Lord himself.
That really sets the scene for the book of Luke. Just think of the stir among the priesthood caused by the angels appearance to Zechariah; all of them waiting and waiting for him to emerge after offering the incense. Was he dead? Would he come out at all? Then he came out but was silent! Surely he's seen a vision! And he remained there in the temple until his term of service was done. Think of the questions, the pointing fingers, the late night discussions.
Zechariah was chosen by God to break the 400 years of silence. And after all that silence, Simeon and Anna were in the temple listening. Of all the amazing things recorded in the Bible, the events Luke records in chapters 1 and 2 of his narrative may be the most amazing of all.
God, who spoke to the forefathers in various partial, hazy and often impossible to understand ways spread over thousands of years, spoke a final time. He spoke the Word.
Six books were written between 450 and 400 BC. It's an interesting list: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 1&2 Chronicles, and Malachi. Interesting because [some] traditions say that Ezra wrote Ezra, Esther, and 1&2 Chronicles. Nehemiah, Ezra's successor, probably wrote Nehemiah, but some believe Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, written by.....you guessed it, Ezra. Malachi, a prophet, surely wrote his own book, but it was at the same time period as Ezra. You remember Ezra and Nehemiah [and Zerrubbabel] were the leaders of the long effort to rebuild Jerusalem, it's walls and temple after the exile. So my research turned up a surge of information recorded over a 50 year period before 400 BC, and then..... nothing. The birth of Christ, which we all know was in 0.... and viola, 400 silent years.
This info turned my thoughts two different directions. One turn was towards Hebrews 1:1 and 2: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made made the universe." The book of Hebrews which I dearly love, goes into great detail about how utterly different and amazing this complete revelation, Jesus, is than every partial revelation before him.
The other, and more relevant direction my mind went, and the reason I was digging around to begin with, was to think about how stunning the angelic announcements in Luke 1and 2 would have been to those who heard them. No prophets. No writings. No official words from God to the nation of Israel...[that's as far as I'm able to take my definition of silent] for 400 years. Who would still be listening?
Amazingly, some were. Granted, Zechariah was surprised, mostly that he and his wife's old bodies would have a part to play in this new revelation. Yet after Mary's visit and 9 months to think and study about it, Zechariah shows amazing understanding of the situation. The second his voice returns he sings, "He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David". He knew this son of his, who would "go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him" was the forerunner of the Christ.
Remember how adamant John was in Matthew and John when he was asked who he was? Not the Christ, not the Prophet, nor Elijah. "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord." I think his father had drilled those prophecies from Isaiah and Malachi into this precious son, who would "be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth."
So Malachi 3 and 4, the last two chapters in the Old Testament, actually turn out to be pretty interesting. 3:1 says, "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple...." directly tying the coming of a messenger to the "sudden" appearance of the Lord himself.
That really sets the scene for the book of Luke. Just think of the stir among the priesthood caused by the angels appearance to Zechariah; all of them waiting and waiting for him to emerge after offering the incense. Was he dead? Would he come out at all? Then he came out but was silent! Surely he's seen a vision! And he remained there in the temple until his term of service was done. Think of the questions, the pointing fingers, the late night discussions.
Zechariah was chosen by God to break the 400 years of silence. And after all that silence, Simeon and Anna were in the temple listening. Of all the amazing things recorded in the Bible, the events Luke records in chapters 1 and 2 of his narrative may be the most amazing of all.
God, who spoke to the forefathers in various partial, hazy and often impossible to understand ways spread over thousands of years, spoke a final time. He spoke the Word.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Dr. Luke; the man and the mission
Who was this man Luke, who wrote more words of the New Testament than even the Apostle Paul? The following is what I've read about him; of course you and I both know much of this is speculation, but it's fun to read what "those in the know" speculate.
Luke's heritage was Greek. That makes him the only New Testament writer who was a gentile. Tradition places him in Antioch during the establishment of that first gentile church, which became the key to reaching the rest of the world. He was clearly an educated man; at the time probably the only places he could have gotten such education was in Athens or in Tarsus. That's interesting, since Paul got his education as a Pharisee in Tarsus. One wonders if the Jew of Jews and the Gentile ever crossed paths there in both of their BC states. Because of this educational background we are able to see many facets of the man; doctor, historian, writer, evangelist. He was probably approximately the same age as Jesus and Paul. Tradition says he died in Greece at the age of 84, in AD 170 [which doesn't add up right to me....]
There isn't any internal evidence he wrote the book of Luke. He does cite himself in the book of Acts, though, and since both were clearly written by the same man, the traditional authorship of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles by him has never really been questioned.
The bigger mystery concerning these two books is who they were written to! Theophilus... even non-greek speakers like us can see the words God [Theo] and love [philo] in the name. Is it a real person or just a literary device? Luke refers to his writings in Acts 1:1 as books, not letters. Were the books actually written to a person? Maybe there's a sense of an artist who had a wealthy patron sponsoring the work.
Someone's footnote today said Theophilus was a code name, protecting the real person from persecution from Rome. Of course, in the book of Acts we are going to hear lots of stories that may be incriminating from a Roman government perspective. That's an option.
Luke addresses Theophilus as "most excellent", which translators explain as a specific title, used to address persons of high office or social position. Such a title could support either the wealthy patron or the high Roman official theory.
But the more interesting aspects of Luke's introductory remarks are his attitude towards the work he's undertaken. He speaks of drawing up an orderly account. He's studied previously "handed down" accounts. He's interviewed eye-witnesses; and not just any eye-witnesses but specifically those who were servants of the ministry. He's investigated; in fact the words he chose may mean that he came to belief himself as a result of investigating the claims of Christianity.
Someone named Ellis says of Luke's introduction, "This reflects a conviction that the Christian faith is rooted not in speculative creation but in historical reality". And there's the point of the books. Jesus is a historical person. The disciples were historical persons: Luke interviewed many of them. Mary was a historical person. Luke clearly interviewed her. Paul was a historical person whom Luke traveled with for many years and ministered to up to that Apostle's death.
Of course this morning we looked at some charts too.... I know all of you love my charts! And we had our first assignment. For the next three weeks we'll be reading Chapters 1-6. It will probably take us three weeks to study that section, but that will cover all the beginning stuff... beginning of life and beginning of ministry for this man Jesus.
After that we'll look at the book in three more sections.
6:17-9:50 Jesus travels about, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
9:51-19:27 Jesus resolutely turns towards Jerusalem
19:28-24 Jesus' last week in Jerusalem
So we're off to a good start. It was so wonderful to gather around Betty's table with you all today and open the Word. I'm anxious to see what we'll all learn this year together.
Luke's heritage was Greek. That makes him the only New Testament writer who was a gentile. Tradition places him in Antioch during the establishment of that first gentile church, which became the key to reaching the rest of the world. He was clearly an educated man; at the time probably the only places he could have gotten such education was in Athens or in Tarsus. That's interesting, since Paul got his education as a Pharisee in Tarsus. One wonders if the Jew of Jews and the Gentile ever crossed paths there in both of their BC states. Because of this educational background we are able to see many facets of the man; doctor, historian, writer, evangelist. He was probably approximately the same age as Jesus and Paul. Tradition says he died in Greece at the age of 84, in AD 170 [which doesn't add up right to me....]
There isn't any internal evidence he wrote the book of Luke. He does cite himself in the book of Acts, though, and since both were clearly written by the same man, the traditional authorship of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles by him has never really been questioned.
The bigger mystery concerning these two books is who they were written to! Theophilus... even non-greek speakers like us can see the words God [Theo] and love [philo] in the name. Is it a real person or just a literary device? Luke refers to his writings in Acts 1:1 as books, not letters. Were the books actually written to a person? Maybe there's a sense of an artist who had a wealthy patron sponsoring the work.
Someone's footnote today said Theophilus was a code name, protecting the real person from persecution from Rome. Of course, in the book of Acts we are going to hear lots of stories that may be incriminating from a Roman government perspective. That's an option.
Luke addresses Theophilus as "most excellent", which translators explain as a specific title, used to address persons of high office or social position. Such a title could support either the wealthy patron or the high Roman official theory.
But the more interesting aspects of Luke's introductory remarks are his attitude towards the work he's undertaken. He speaks of drawing up an orderly account. He's studied previously "handed down" accounts. He's interviewed eye-witnesses; and not just any eye-witnesses but specifically those who were servants of the ministry. He's investigated; in fact the words he chose may mean that he came to belief himself as a result of investigating the claims of Christianity.
Someone named Ellis says of Luke's introduction, "This reflects a conviction that the Christian faith is rooted not in speculative creation but in historical reality". And there's the point of the books. Jesus is a historical person. The disciples were historical persons: Luke interviewed many of them. Mary was a historical person. Luke clearly interviewed her. Paul was a historical person whom Luke traveled with for many years and ministered to up to that Apostle's death.
Of course this morning we looked at some charts too.... I know all of you love my charts! And we had our first assignment. For the next three weeks we'll be reading Chapters 1-6. It will probably take us three weeks to study that section, but that will cover all the beginning stuff... beginning of life and beginning of ministry for this man Jesus.
After that we'll look at the book in three more sections.
6:17-9:50 Jesus travels about, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
9:51-19:27 Jesus resolutely turns towards Jerusalem
19:28-24 Jesus' last week in Jerusalem
So we're off to a good start. It was so wonderful to gather around Betty's table with you all today and open the Word. I'm anxious to see what we'll all learn this year together.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Another year, another Bible Study
I hope that title doesn't sound like I'm bored. Its very exciting to me to have had the opportunity all these years to meet with women of the church and study the Word together. There is nothing more fun that sitting around a table talking about a passage of scripture. It's so much better than studying alone! Some of us have been at it a long time, but it seriously never gets boring. There's always something to learn and something in your life that needs to change....at least for me.
This year we're going to study the writings of Luke, which you probably all know are the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Luke is very accommodating in writing out his purpose for both books. Luke 1:1-4 says he has carefully investigated everything from the beginning. And he means the beginning. He starts with the birth announcements of both John and Jesus. He's gathered eye-witness accounts.
He also says he intends to write out an "orderly account". He has painstakingly investigated the matter and is going to set things down in a logical order so that his intended reader, Theophilus, will know the solid historical facts behind the faith he has embraced.
The book of Acts is also addressed to Theophilus. Luke begins Acts by summarizing "book 1" as "all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven", which hints that his sequel will be about what Jesus continued to do after he went up into heaven.
Some Bibles title this second book of Luke as the Acts of the Apostles. Many a preacher has wanted to change that title to Acts of the risen Jesus. But it seems to me (not an original thought) that the book could be called the Acts of the Apostles empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Clearly a too long and not very catchy title.)
Jesus spent a lot of time his last night on earth with his disciples explaining that when he left he would send the Holy Spirit, the counselor, the one who would indwell them for the life to come. He even said it would be better for them that he was going away! That seems crazy! But when you see what these 11 men plus Paul accomplish in the book of Acts you will see what he means! In the gospels you see the disciples hanging out with God. What could be better than that? God hanging out IN the disciples.
I've studied two other gospels, Matthew and John. I've been struck this summer by how different the voices of these two gospels are. Matthew is a fiery book, portraying Jesus as an angry young rebel, throwing fireballs at the Scribes and the Pharisees. John is in awe of Jesus, pointing out miraculous sign after miraculous sign, believing this elegant speaker is more than a great speaker, he's God. Luke's voice is the dispassionate reporter. Just the facts, Ma'am. At least that's what I think in September. We'll see what we all think by Christmas.
I haven't counted it myself but I've read that Luke actually wrote more of the New Testament than Paul. [I should count it; it's hard to believe!] Both books are 52 chapters, so going through them will be about like going through Genesis....a trek that will easily keep us occupied til spring.
I woke up this morning with both Adam's wedding and Bill's chemo behind me, and I'm ready to start. I hope you are too.
This year we're going to study the writings of Luke, which you probably all know are the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Luke is very accommodating in writing out his purpose for both books. Luke 1:1-4 says he has carefully investigated everything from the beginning. And he means the beginning. He starts with the birth announcements of both John and Jesus. He's gathered eye-witness accounts.
He also says he intends to write out an "orderly account". He has painstakingly investigated the matter and is going to set things down in a logical order so that his intended reader, Theophilus, will know the solid historical facts behind the faith he has embraced.
The book of Acts is also addressed to Theophilus. Luke begins Acts by summarizing "book 1" as "all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven", which hints that his sequel will be about what Jesus continued to do after he went up into heaven.
Some Bibles title this second book of Luke as the Acts of the Apostles. Many a preacher has wanted to change that title to Acts of the risen Jesus. But it seems to me (not an original thought) that the book could be called the Acts of the Apostles empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Clearly a too long and not very catchy title.)
Jesus spent a lot of time his last night on earth with his disciples explaining that when he left he would send the Holy Spirit, the counselor, the one who would indwell them for the life to come. He even said it would be better for them that he was going away! That seems crazy! But when you see what these 11 men plus Paul accomplish in the book of Acts you will see what he means! In the gospels you see the disciples hanging out with God. What could be better than that? God hanging out IN the disciples.
I've studied two other gospels, Matthew and John. I've been struck this summer by how different the voices of these two gospels are. Matthew is a fiery book, portraying Jesus as an angry young rebel, throwing fireballs at the Scribes and the Pharisees. John is in awe of Jesus, pointing out miraculous sign after miraculous sign, believing this elegant speaker is more than a great speaker, he's God. Luke's voice is the dispassionate reporter. Just the facts, Ma'am. At least that's what I think in September. We'll see what we all think by Christmas.
I haven't counted it myself but I've read that Luke actually wrote more of the New Testament than Paul. [I should count it; it's hard to believe!] Both books are 52 chapters, so going through them will be about like going through Genesis....a trek that will easily keep us occupied til spring.
I woke up this morning with both Adam's wedding and Bill's chemo behind me, and I'm ready to start. I hope you are too.
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