This morning I am reading Mark chapter 6 and Matthew chapter 13 and 14 looking at the parallels between John the Baptist's life and Jesus' ministry. It is very interesting to me.
"He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them." - Mark 6:1-5 ESV
"King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, 'John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.' But others said, 'He is Elijah.' And others said, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.' But when Herod heard of it, he said, 'John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.'" - Mark 6:14-16 ESV
John had a primarily moral message, 'Clean up your act because God's kingdom is coming.' and that message got him is trouble because he was vocal about immorality on every level of society.
"For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not," - Mark 6:17-19 ESV
Herod was manipulated into having John killed and then when he hears about Jesus it reminds him that he had a good man killed and his superstitious mind makes connections. Jesus becomes the ghost of John in Herod's mind.
The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus in part because His message was not moral. Jesus had healing in His wings. John never had that.
Then I look at the world I live in today and see a similar dynamic. I am one of Jesus' disciples. There are those that look with familiarity and then there are those that associate Jesus with the ghost of a moral ministry. In the midst of it all Jesus is still healing. Healing took place in Nazareth but no 'mighty work' took place there. I think that mighty work is conversion and transformation.
Then there is a the culture that has blood on it's hands and when it sees Jesus it reminds them of that blood.
But the real truth stripped of familiarity and ghost stories is that Jesus is a gracious gentle healer who has come to be a lamb. He isn't the boy who lived next door and he isn't a resuscitated morality.
Those who walked with him then knew that and so do those who walk with him now. He heals. I wish people could see it. There is healing with Him that can be found no where else. My eyes fill with tears as I type this. He is not what religion says He Is. He is not a cross on a wall or a bad experience a person had in a Church. He is the Savior of the world and of each individual. He is kind and unique and eternal.
Please close your eyes and pray and open them again. Look and see Him as the scripture reveals Him. There is hope is him that can't be found anywhere else.
--
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, July 25, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Iron Filings
I came across this passage as I was studying and meditating on the subject of water.
"And he said, 'Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.' " - Matthew 15:16-20 ESV
"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh," - Ezekiel 11:19 ESV
Our world has a lot of water in it. We are made hydrated creatures. Jesus makes references to water in many places. Water is very unique in it's properties.
"And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?' " - Mark 4:36-41 ESV
Scholars say that the storm was a demonic assassination attempt. The scripture does not verify this.
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." - Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV
But then I must return to the concept that we are not defiled but what we ingest. Our heart speaks of our nature. What passes through it does not form it.
If you put iron filings on a white piece of paper then place a magnetic under that paper those filings will order themselves according to that magnetic field. The stronger the magnet is the more ordered those filings will be. If the magnet moves then the filings will move in a group also. If the magnet is removed the order will crumble into relative disorder again.
When I see formerly disorganized groups moving together I think of this principle. Groups of people and individuals can become similarly energized. It isn't magnetism but the natural man can be moved by forces also.
"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." - 2 Peter 1:2-4 ESV
God has given us precious promises and by them we escape this magnetism because we become partakers. The Greek word translated partaker here is koinonos (Strong's G2844). It speaks of a companion that shares in a mutual provision. Our mutual provision is the divine nature.
That spiritual person is not magnetized to the degree that the natural man is magnetized.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
We feel the tug of the world but God has given us His book so that we might answer a different call. His call is never abusive. He draws us with love. His gentleness makes us great.
Thank you God for this great way of escape! You speak peace to our hearts and we are made still again.
--
"And he said, 'Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.' " - Matthew 15:16-20 ESV
"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh," - Ezekiel 11:19 ESV
Our world has a lot of water in it. We are made hydrated creatures. Jesus makes references to water in many places. Water is very unique in it's properties.
"And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?' " - Mark 4:36-41 ESV
Scholars say that the storm was a demonic assassination attempt. The scripture does not verify this.
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." - Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV
But then I must return to the concept that we are not defiled but what we ingest. Our heart speaks of our nature. What passes through it does not form it.
If you put iron filings on a white piece of paper then place a magnetic under that paper those filings will order themselves according to that magnetic field. The stronger the magnet is the more ordered those filings will be. If the magnet moves then the filings will move in a group also. If the magnet is removed the order will crumble into relative disorder again.
When I see formerly disorganized groups moving together I think of this principle. Groups of people and individuals can become similarly energized. It isn't magnetism but the natural man can be moved by forces also.
"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." - 2 Peter 1:2-4 ESV
God has given us precious promises and by them we escape this magnetism because we become partakers. The Greek word translated partaker here is koinonos (Strong's G2844). It speaks of a companion that shares in a mutual provision. Our mutual provision is the divine nature.
That spiritual person is not magnetized to the degree that the natural man is magnetized.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
We feel the tug of the world but God has given us His book so that we might answer a different call. His call is never abusive. He draws us with love. His gentleness makes us great.
Thank you God for this great way of escape! You speak peace to our hearts and we are made still again.
--
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Beyond Bargaining
"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." John 6:28-31
It's funny really... they saw Jesus as a politician.
In a way they said, 'If you want to gain our trust just give us what we want. That manna thing looked like a good deal for our fathers if you do that for us like God did it for them you will have our vote just like Moses has our vote.'
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread." John 6:32-34
They want to use their 'three wishes' to ask for a never ending food supply. After all Jesus was healing people left and right... why not jump on the gravy train while it is still in town.
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:35-40
Jesus goes on to say this.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." John 6:47
These are not political statements. This is grace in action. This is communion. It is beyond bargaining. It is the purity of a sacrificial life that is shared for whoever wants to have it.
It breaks me to think of what Jesus has done and what He offers us on a moment by moment basis. Sometimes in my struggle I just want a never ending provision so I won't have to go scrounge up money to meet my needs. Those thing keep me alive but Jesus is Life itself.
The real gift is life. God's life. If we have that we can walk by faith and everything else falls into place.
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." John 6:28-31
It's funny really... they saw Jesus as a politician.
In a way they said, 'If you want to gain our trust just give us what we want. That manna thing looked like a good deal for our fathers if you do that for us like God did it for them you will have our vote just like Moses has our vote.'
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread." John 6:32-34
They want to use their 'three wishes' to ask for a never ending food supply. After all Jesus was healing people left and right... why not jump on the gravy train while it is still in town.
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:35-40
Jesus goes on to say this.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." John 6:47
These are not political statements. This is grace in action. This is communion. It is beyond bargaining. It is the purity of a sacrificial life that is shared for whoever wants to have it.
It breaks me to think of what Jesus has done and what He offers us on a moment by moment basis. Sometimes in my struggle I just want a never ending provision so I won't have to go scrounge up money to meet my needs. Those thing keep me alive but Jesus is Life itself.
The real gift is life. God's life. If we have that we can walk by faith and everything else falls into place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)