ACTS 2:14a, 36-41

THE BACKGROUND

Today’s passage is a continuation of last week’s lesson.  The Holy Spirit makes a dramatic entrance, causing the apostles to prophesy in foreign languages before a large crowd.  Last week and this week’s readings are Peter’s explanation to the crowd for what was happening. 

THE DETAIL

• The first verse is from last week, providing us with a brief review.  (v. 14a)
• Peter points the finger directly at the Israelites present, saying that they were the ones who crucified the Messiah.  This is the second time he has pointed the accusing finger, the first being in verse 23. Peter is no longer fearful, but filled with the Holy Spirit.  (v.36)
• He must have been a persuasive speaker, because the crowd did not get angry, but asked what they should do.  (v. 37)
• Peter is quick with the answer—repent, and be baptized.  If you do, you, too, will receive the Holy Spirit!  (v. 38)
• This next verse is a sweet one for me.  Peter tells them that the promise is not just for them, but for everyone; even those who are far away (like us).  (v. 39)
• He did some more preaching, for which we don’t have many details.  But the end result was astounding.  With the Holy Spirit’s help, over three thousand people did what Peter told them—they repented, were baptized, and received the Holy Spirit. (vv. 40-41)

THE TAKEAWAY

Not too long ago, Peter was a coward.  Fearing for his life, he denied Jesus three times.  Now, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he speaks the Good News with bold conviction.  The promise of the Holy Spirit is for us as well.  We should be like spirit-filled Peter, and boldly share the Good News knowing that the Holy Spirit is by our side.

1 PETER 1:17-23

THE BACKGROUND

For the next several weeks, we will work our way through 1 Peter for the second lesson.  It is believed that the apostle Peter wrote this letter from Rome.  He was originally based in Jerusalem, but at some unknown time moved to Rome to be the head of the church there.  He was martyred in Rome, probably under the reign of Nero in 64-68AD. 

Peter wrote this letter to the churches of Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey.  This letter was intended to be circulated throughout those churches, and used as instruction.  It is believed that most of the believers in Asia Minor were Gentile Christians, rather than like the Jewish Christians we read about in the first reading.

THE DETAIL

• This verse starts with the word “if” in this translation.  Many others use the word “since”, which I like better.  Since we as Christians invoke (call) on the name of the Lord, we should live in “reverent  fear” for the power of God.  More on this in the Takeaway.  (v. 17)
• Peter reminds us that we were ransomed—bought with the blood of Christ on the cross.  From what were we ransomed?  According to this verse, we were ransomed from our former “futile ways”.  To me, this means that because of Jesus, I should step away from my former, self-serving life and actions, and live as a Child of the Light.  (vv. 18-19)
• It was God’s plan to do this from the very beginning—to ransom us through the gift of his Son.  (v. 20) 
• Now, the focus turns from what God has done for us.  Now, we read about what we should do in response.  Verse 21 is the transition from God’s action to what our reactions should be.  What our response should be is the focus of the remainder of Peter’s letter.
• Our souls have been purified—not by what we have done but by God’s ransoming us through Jesus. Because of this, we must have mutual love for each other from the heart.  We are reminded that we are born anew, and live our lives through the enduring word of God.  (vv. 22-23)

THE TAKEAWAY

We often talk about loving God, but rarely about fearing Him.  It may seem odd to have both feelings about the same being.  But while we certainly love Him for all that He does for us, we must also be aware of His awesome power.  It is much like the love and fear that we once had for our parents. Mine were both loving parents, yet I also feared their power.  Both feelings were justifiable, at least in my childhood!

In the coming weeks, we will receive some detailed advice from Peter on how to live our lives.  But first, he lays the foundation.  He reminds us that what saves us is God’s gracious and loving act.  We are ransomed.  We are His. Number one on our list of instructions it to love one another from the heart.

LUKE 24:13-35

THE BACKGROUND

It is still that first Easter Sunday.  Two disciples have decided to leave Jerusalem, and walk to the town of Emmaus. Emmaus was a seven mile walk downhill from Jerusalem, much like walking from Saluda down to Tryon.  That walk would take about two hours.

THE DETAIL

• As they walked along, they discussed that incredible day, and all that had happened.  Jesus approaches, and eavesdrops, but they do not recognize him.  Jesus says “Whatcha talking about?”  They stop dead in their tracks.  One of them, Cleopas, says (in my translation) “Where have you been—under a rock? Haven’t you heard about all the things that have gone on in Jerusalem?”  Jesus plays dumb, and says “What things?”  (vv. 13-19a)
• They give him a Readers’ Digest version of the past three days, at least the way they understood it.  But they are still confused about the empty grave, and are still trying to process it all. (vv. 19b-24)
• Jesus seems to say “Oh you silly boys!”, and proceeds to explain why it all happened this way. (vv. 25-27)
• As they reach Emmaus, they still don’t realize it is Jesus.  They invite him to dinner, which he does.  (vv. 28-29)
• As he broke the bread, their eyes were opened!  Then, Poof! Jesus was gone.  (vv. 30-31)
• They told each other about how their hearts were burning as they walked the road with Jesus explaining everything to them.  (v. 32)
• That very hour, they hoofed it back up the mountain two hours to share this remarkable thing with their Christian brothers. (vv. 33-35)

THE TAKEAWAY

During this Easter season, the Good News of God’s saving act should also burn within our hearts.  Let us rekindle this flame by studying Holy Scripture.

ACTS 2:14, 22-32 

THE BACKGROUND 

Jews from many lands were gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival called Pentecost or Shavout.  It was a festival of the wheat harvest, as well as a celebration of God’s giving of the law to his people through Moses.  Jesus’ disciples are there, too.  During this gathering, the Holy Spirit chooses to make its dramatic entrance. (You remember—tongues of fire, disciples speaking in foreign languages, etc.)  The non-Christians in the room are confused.  “What’s happening?”  Peter speaks up, and explains.  This is his first sermon.   

DETAILS

• Peter was so scared during Jesus’ trial that he denied Him three times.  Now, full of the Holy Spirit, he boldly witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Our Lord. (vv. 14a, 22-24)
• He even accuses the Jews of crucifying Jesus.  “…you crucified and killed…”  That takes courage that only the Holy Spirit can provide.  He explains that this was all part of God’s plan for our salvation.    (v. 23)
• Verses 25-28 are a quote from Psalm 16:8-11.
• Verse 30 is based on Psalm 132:11. 
• Verse 31 is a quote from Psalm 16:10. 
• The story goes on past verse 32.  I suggest that you read it, so you can see how the story ends.

TAKEAWAY

Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.  He is foretold in Holy Scripture, in the prayers of King David.  Jesus death on the cross was part of God’s plan for our salvation. The Holy Spirit gave Peter the strength and wisdom to stand up to those who crucified Jesus.  He gives us this same power!
 

We’ll study the gospel lesson second, since this is mentioned in the epistle lesson.

JOHN 20:19-31 

THE BACKGROUND 

This is the familiar “Doubting Thomas” story.  It is Sunday evening.  Jesus had been crucified just the Friday before.  Jesus’ disciples are scared.  They (everyone except for Thomas) are locked up in a room somewhere in Jerusalem.   

THE DETAILS 

• Miraculously, Jesus appears in their midst.  He says “Shalom”, or “be at peace”.  (v. 19)
• To remove any doubt or wonder, he shows them his scars, and again says Shalom.  (vv. 20-21) 
• He gives them the Holy Spirit (v. 22)
• Then, he gives them the authority to forgive others. Normally, only God can forgive.  (v. 23)
• Thomas thinks they’re nuts.  He won’t believe, unless he sees (and touches) for himself.  (vv. 24-25)
• A week later, Jesus reappears.  Thomas sees, touches, and believes. (vv. 26-28)
• Then, Jesus says something profound.  He says that we, too, are blessed.  We did not have the advantage that Thomas had, yet we believe.  (v. 29) 
• This is the final story of John’s gospel, but he adds an interesting comment.  He says that Jesus did a lot of other stuff that John is not going to tell you about.  But he selected these stories ”so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah…”  (v. 30)

THE TAKEAWAY(s)

Jesus has every right to be angry with Thomas for his unbelief.  But look how he reacts to Thomas.  He acts calmly and lovingly.  He tells Thomas to “put your finger here… touch… do not doubt, but believe.”  Jesus is loving and patient.  He understands.  When I experience doubt, I take great comfort in this.  Jesus is loving and patient.  He understands.  Doubt is OK. 

We also get an extra blessing from Jesus in the second half of verse 29:  “…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”  (This would be all of us.) 

John’s final comment tells me why he wrote his gospel.  It wasn’t so much a history as it was to tell us a story to compel us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

1 PETER 1:3-9 

THE BACKGROUND 

These are the opening remarks of a letter written by Peter to the Christians scattered about Asia Minor.  Many believers were experiencing varying levels of resistance or persecution.  This letter was written to encourage them to remain true to their faith. 

THE DETAILS 

• It begins with a word of praise to “God the Father, … [who] has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (v. 3)
• He states that Jesus’ promises are unchanging, no matter what.     (vv. 4-5)
• He mentions the suffering that these Christians are enduring because of their faith in Jesus.  He adds “for a little while” to suggest that the situation is temporary.  (v. 6)
• He reminds them that their faith is precious to God, and that they are being tested.  (v. 7)
• The next verse echoes the Gospel lesson for today, the story of Doubting Thomas. Peter states “Although you have not seen him, you love him…”   (v. 8)
• Finally, there’s the blessing we get because of our faith.  “…you [we] are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”  (v. 9)

THE TAKEAWAY 

Verse 3 reminds us that we have hope through the resurrection of Jesus.  This is the hope we have of eternal life. 

Verses 8 & 9 remind us that because of our faith, we are saved.  We do not earn eternal life in any other way except by believing in Jesus. It is a free gift from God. Thanks be to God!

EASTER SUNDAY

ACTS 10:34-43

THE BACKGROUND

For the Sundays beginning with Easter and following, the first lesson does not come from the Old Testament; it comes from the book of Acts.  We shift our focus from the old promise to the actions of the apostles, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to spread the Good News.

The Holy Spirit has called Peter to go to the house of Cornelius in the city of Philippi. Cornelius is an officer in the Roman army, and a Gentile.  But he is a “god-lover”.  This is what they called non-Jews who worshipped Yahweh, but did not fully convert to all the Jewish practices, namely the dietary laws and circumcision. The Holy Spirit called Peter to bring the Good News to Cornelius’ household.  At this point in time, most of the Christians were Jewish, and kept all the Laws of Moses.

THE DETAIL

• Peter begins his speech by making a bold statement.  He says that “…God shows no partiality.”  Because of what the Holy Spirit has revealed to him early in this chapter, Peter now knows that Yahweh is not interested in a relationship with His “chosen people”; God loves everyone, showing no partiality to the Jews. (This is very good news to all us Gentiles!)  (v.34)
• He then says “You [already] know his relationship with the people of Israel, but wait!  There’s more!  Jesus [the] Christ was sent to preach peace.  By the way, Jesus is Lord of all “.  (This is my personal paraphrase of verses 35 & 36.)
• Peter goes on to concisely explain the life and ministry of Jesus.  (vv. 37-39)
• He concludes with Jesus’ death and resurrection, adding that he and those who came with him that day were witnesses to all of this.  (vv. 40-41)
• Now comes the clincher.  Jesus not only commanded them to spread the news.  Jesus is the one ordained by God who will judge us all.  Not only that, everything you know about the prophets—they all testify about him.  (vv. 42-43)
• The rest of the story, not included here, is that Cornelius and his entire household believed in Jesus, and were baptized that day.  The Holy Spirit came, and caused them all to speak in tongues, just like those at Pentecost.

THE TAKEAWAY

No longer do the Jews have exclusive access to God’s love.  God sent Jesus to gather us all in, even Roman army officers.  He commands us to preach the Good News of Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins. 

COLLOSIANS 3:1-4

THE BACKGROUND

 The small town of Colossae was located in present-day Turkey. The Christian church there were was the result of the work of Paul’s disciple Epaphras.  This area was known to be the center of some strange spiritual beliefs and cults.  The Jewish members of the area were also applying pressure to Christians to obey all the Laws of Moses.  It must have been hard to stay faithful to only Jesus in this environment.

THE DETAIL

• In this passage, Paul begins by reminding his readers that they are “raised with Christ”, and that they are to “seek the things that are above”.  (v. 1)
• The second line repeats Paul’s instruction to “set your minds on ‘things that are from above’”, rather than on earthly things.  (v. 2)
• The reason for having this mindset is that we have died with Christ, and our life is now “hidden” in Jesus. (v. 3)
• This verse offers the reassurance that when Jesus is “revealed” (when he comes again), that the believers will be involved the process.  (v. 4)

THE TAKEAWAY

 This is not the first time Paul has urged a church to have the same mindset as Jesus.  Last week’s epistle lesson from Philippians uses the same concept.  Paul urges this church to keep a sharp focus on heavenly thoughts of Jesus.  It makes sense.  They were surrounded by many weird spiritual beliefs (“earthly things”).  Paul reminds them that in their baptism, they died to their old lives.  We can find refuge in this fact, knowing that we can “hide ourselves” in living like Jesus. The final promise of this passage is that the story is not yet finished.  When Jesus returns, we will be a part of the action.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Day in and day out, our lives are chock full of distractions which can draw our focus away from living like God’s children.  How can we maintain our focus, and set our minds on things that are from above?   

MATTHEW 28:1-10

THE BACKGROUND

 The Gospel of Matthew contains a very brief account of the resurrection scene.  Interestingly, the first people to hear of the resurrection were not Jesus’ apostles, but two women of his followers.

THE DETAIL

• For Jews, the Sabbath was Saturday.  So, these “two Marys” go to Jesus’ tomb on Sunday morning, the first day of the week. Matthew doesn’t tell us why they went, just that they went.  (v. 1)
• This is where it gets weird.  There is an earthquake.  That alone should get their attention.  But then an angel appears, rolls the heavy stone away, and uses it for a chair.  His appearance is difficult to describe—his appearance is “like” lightening (more on this below), and his clothing is dazzling white, (vv. 2-3)
• The guards do some convulsions and pass out!  (v. 4)
• The angel calms down the women, and announces that Jesus is gone.  (Was he gone before the stone was rolled away?)   He invites them to see for themselves.  (vv. 5-6)
• He next instructs them to go quickly and tell the others that he has been raised from the dead, and will meet them back in Galilee. They hurry of “in great fear and joy” to tell the others.  (vv. 7-8)
• Then, suddenly, bam!  Jesus is there, and greets them.  They fall down and grasp his feet.  He repeats the angel’s instructions, saying that he will meet all of them back in Galilee. (v. 9-10)

THE TAKEAWAY

The appearance of the angel is an indescribable thing.  I know this, because of the use of the metaphor.  Matthew said that his appearance was “like lightening”.  When you’re trying to describe the indescribable, you use familiar terms.  What just happened was an indescribable event.  Earthquakes!  Angels! Jesus’ appearance!  But wait!  There’s more! The work is not finished.  They are to regroup in Galilee, where Jesus will meet them.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It appeared that Jesus entire mission had been shut down by the authorities.  Their beloved Jesus had been crucified.  The Sadducees and Pharisees certainly hoped that this would be the case.  They got rid of that trouble-maker once and for all.  But wait!  Jesus is alive!  The sealed tomb cannot contain him.  There is more work to be done.

What work does Jesus have planned for you?  Where will you find him, and how will you learn what you’re to do?

Isaiah 50:4-9

THE BACKGROUND

This part of the book of Isaiah was written while God’s People were in exile in Babylon.  It is one of four passages in Isaiah written about an unnamed servant of God who is suffering for his faith.

THE DETAIL

The passage may be divided into three sections. 

• In the first section, the servant describes his strong spiritual relationship with God. God gave him the gift of teaching & leading God’s people.  The servant is obedient to the call.  (vv. 4-5)
• Then, he describes the consequences of his dedication to God.  He is abused both physically and mentally.  (v. 6)
• The passage concludes with the servant’s resolve.  He puts his trust in God’s saving grace.  The others don’t stand a chance with God on his side.  (vv. 6-9)

THE TAKEAWAY

Who was this Suffering Servant?  The bible doesn’t say.  It sounds a lot like the suffering of Jesus, but this was written over 500 years before Jesus’ birth.  That doesn’t make sense.  It might have been Isaiah, suffering for his faith in far off Babylon.  In fact, it could have been many in Babylon who were struggling to be faithful to God.  Maybe it was “all of the above”, including Jesus and us.  Jesus was most certainly familiar with this passage.  As God’s Son he may have taken strength and inspiration from it.  We, too, can be inspired by it.  When our faith puts into difficult situations, we can also “set our face like flint”, and stand firm in our faith.

Philippians 2:5-11

THE BACKGROUND

In this part of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi he includes a hymn that was sung in the early church.  This hymn provided a perfect description of Jesus and his earthly mission. 

THE DETAIL

• The first line is Paul’s advice to us, that we be of the same mind as the Jesus described in the hymn to follow.  (v. 5)
• It begins by reminding us that Jesus had it all in heaven—he set all that aside.  He became human, like us.  (v. 6-7a)
• Since he was human, he humbled himself in the most extreme way—he died on the cross. (vv. 7b-8)
• Because of his willing sacrifice, his Father has made Jesus our Lord.  Jesus is the one whom we would worship and praise above all others.  (vv. 9-11)

THE TAKEAWAY

At the time what this was written, Caesar, the emperor of Rome, was the only one to be exalted and worshipped in this way.  Paul reminds us that a true leader of the people is not powerful, mighty and rich. A true leader is humble and self-giving. This is why we should worship Jesus as our Lord and leader.

Matthew 21:1-11

THE BACKGROUND

This passage from Matthew’s gospel describes Jesus praise-filled entry into the holy city of Jerusalem.  He is about to be arrested and crucified.  Remember that Matthew was writing his gospel to convince fellow Jews to claim Jesus as the Messiah.

THE DETAIL

• Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem.  As they draw near, he sends two forward into Bethpage to get a donkey and a colt.  (vv. 1-3)
• Why two animals?  Because it was to fulfill the scripture that says that Judah’s savior-king will enter the city in this way.  (Zecharaiah 9:9)  (vv. 4-5)
• The disciples do as they are told.  They put their cloaks on the animals, and Jesus sat on them.  People cut branches to pave his way.  (vv. 6-8)
• As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, they praised him saying “Hosannah to the son of David” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”!  (v. 9)
• This riled the entire city.  Some asked who this guy was.  They described Jesus as a prophet from Galilee.  (vv. 10-11)

THE TAKEAWAY

First of all, I’m having a hard time understanding how Jesus could ride both an adult donkey and a colt at the same time!  This is the only description of this event in the gospels that mentions two animals. But Matthew was careful to point out to his Jewish readers the importance of Jesus’ fulfillment of scripture. The point is clear.  This “prophet” is no ordinary prophet.  He is the Messiah foretold by scripture, the son of David, coming to Jerusalem as their promised king.

I have often wondered what “Hosanna” meant.  We say it often in our worship service.  What am I really saying?  I had to know.  I found this definition to be helpful:

"Hosanna" is a Hebrew exclamation meaning "save us, we pray" or "please deliver us," derived from hoshiah na. While often used as a shout of praise, it is fundamentally a plea for salvation directed at the Messiah, famously shouted by crowds during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Jesus is our king, and he will save us.  Not from the tyranny of worldly leaders, but from the tyranny and weight of our sin. Hosanna to Jesus!  Hosanna in the highest!

EZEKIEL 37:1-14

THE BACKGROUND

This coming Sunday is the Sunday before Palm Sunday.  We will end our Lenten journey talking about the resurrection.  The prophet Ezekiel wrote this message during the Babylonian exile. The spirit of the People of God was broken.  All hope for a future nation was lost.  It appeared to them that they would fade away into Babylonian life, never to return home. This message of Ezekiel offers them hope.  It also offers us hope, when our future seems bleak.

THE DETAIL

• The Lord transports Ezekiel to a desert valley.  A war had been fought there many years ago.  The remains of the fallen were all around.  There were nothing left but dry bones.  (vv. 1-2)
• The Lord asks Ezekiel if these bones can live.  The prophet is wise, and redirects the question back to the Lord.  The Lord answers by commanding the prophet to prophesy to the bones, telling them that the Lord will bring them back to life. (vv. 3-6)
• Flesh came upon the bones, but there was no “breath” in them.  (The word in Hebrew for “breath” also means “spirit”.)  The breath-spirit is blown into them, and they live.  (vv. 7-10)
• The Lord then announces to Ezekiel that this vision has been a metaphor for the house of Israel. Israel believes that they are washed up and dried out.  But the Lord has other plans.  He “will place his spirit-breath within” them, and they shall live.  (vv. 11-14a)
• Best news of all is that He will place them back on their own soil!  (v. 14b) 

THE TAKEAWAY

Like Israel in exile, we may also feel like those dry bones—hopelessly lost and forgotten.  God promises to breathe new life into us—breathe his spirit into us, renewing our spirit.

ROMANS 8:6-11

THE BACKGROUND

The first part of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome is devoted to making the point that everybody is a sinner, and we cannot save ourselves.  Our only hope of salvation is a free gift, obtained by our belief in Jesus as God’s Son.  Now, Paul talks about our new lives in the spirit, contrasting it with our old, former lives “in the flesh”. 

THE DETAIL

• We have a choice to live “in the Spirit” or “in the flesh”.  This is a life or death choice; it is one or the other.  If we do not focus on living our lives in the Spirit, we are turning our backs on God.  (vv. 6-8)
• Paul lifts the reader up now—“but you are not like that, you are in the Spirit”. God dwells in us. Oh, by the way, all those others who are not in the spirit do not belong to him.  (v. 9)
• While verse 9 emphatically states that we do live in the Spirit, Paul now uses the word “if” several times.  I suggest reading these passages twice, once as-is, and second time substituting “since” for the word if.  You’ll feel the full impact of the words.  “If/since” we are now in the Spirit, our old bodies are dead because of sin.  But because we are raised with Christ into life in the Spirit, we experience a sort of rebirth or resurrection.  (vv. 10-11)

THE TAKEAWAY

When taking about choosing life in the spirit, Paul is not talking about our accepting Jesus as our savior; he’s talking about our daily lives.  We must make this choice in our daily walk with Jesus.  We live in the flesh when we serve our own selfish interests. Life in the Spirit involves self-giving, rather than self-serving. We should die to our old selfish ways, and daily strive to live our lives in the Spirit, giving of ourselves to others.  In this passage, Paul lifts Jesus up as our superhero of self-giving.  We need to strive to live like Jesus!

JOHN 11:1-45

THE BACKGROUND

This is the story about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  It can be considered one of the high points of the gospel of John.  It also marks a turning point in the gospel narrative, shifting from the stories of Jesus’ signs or miracles to Jesus discussing God’s glory.  In today’s passage we have both.  We also get a glimpse of Jesus’ tender side.  He loved this family, perhaps more than any other.  That is clear in this reading.  But the real question for you and me is what God wants us to understand about Jesus through this story.  This is a long story.  Let’s get started.

THE DETAIL

• It begins with a little refresher as to who this “certain man” Lazarus was, as well as his sisters.  There was a pre-existing relationship between them and Jesus, but now, Lazarus is ill. They send word to Jesus-the-healer, identifying Lazarus as “he whom you love”.  Yes, they were close friends indeed.  (vv. 1-3)
• Jesus sort of shrugs off the call to come and heal his friend, stating that God had bigger plans. This must have seemed quite confusing and even frustrating to those around him! (vv. 4-5) 
• Surprisingly, Jesus dilly-dallies two days before heading to Lazarus’ aid!  Finally, he tells his disciples they’re going.  A discussion ensues.  They know that going there is dangerous for Jesus.  But Jesus has a mission, and nothing will deter him. (vv. 6-10)
• He confuses is disciples by saying that Lazarus has “fallen asleep”.  He clarifies this, which confuses Thomas into saying something rather silly.  (vv. 11-16)
• By the time they got there, Lazarus has already been dead four days.  A large crowd had gathered, even some from Jerusalem. Martha, hearing that Jesus was on his way, came to greet him while he was still far off.  (This was a customary practice of the day.)  Mary stayed at home, which you may recall was her custom. (vv. 17-20)
• Martha tells Jesus that if he had been there while her brother was still alive, that he might have been able to do something.  I sense that she was not very happy with the situation.  They talk about Lazarus rising again.  Martha expresses her belief in resurrection on the last day. But Jesus has something different in mind.  (vv. 21-24)
• Next, we have the key verses of this passage.  Jesus makes one of the “I am” statements that appear throughout John’s gospel (see below), and this one is a biggie.  He is the resurrection and the life.  Those of us who believe in him will never die. (vv. 25-26a)
• Then, Jesus asks her if she believes what he just said.  (v. 26b)
• Now, it is her turn to make a profound statement.  She says yes, and furthermore calls him the Messiah that they’ve been waiting for. (v. 27)
• Now, she and Mary trade places.  Mary also expresses frustration in Jesus’ not being there to heal her brother.  (vv. 28-32)
• Seeing Mary weep causes Jesus to weep.  There is no doubt that he loves this family!  Even though he knows what he is about to do, it must have broken his heart to put them through all this agony.  (v. 33)
• The scene shifts quickly to the site of the tomb.  Many are there.  Many share Mary and Martha’s frustration and confusion.  He orders the stone to be rolled back, in spite of the stench. Jesus prays aloud, not so much to ask his Father for assistance, but to demonstrate to the crowd where Jesus’ power originates, that they might believe. (vv. 34-42)
• You know the rest. He shouts to Lazarus to come out of the tomb, which he does.  Orders are given to care for the living Lazarus.  (vv. 43-44)
• The passage concludes with an important note.  Many of “the Jews” (I suspect that these were of the school of “doubting Jews”) were moved to believe in Jesus.  (v. 45)

THE TAKEAWAY

John states in 20:31 that he wrote his gospel so that the reader might come to believe in Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.  In this story, a woman (not a man!) proclaims Jesus as just that.  On these last days of our Lenten journey, it is fitting that we remind ourselves that Jesus truly is the resurrection and the life.  He is the Messiah, God’s Son, our brother and savior.

FURTHER READING

The “I am” statements in the gospel of John:

1. Bread of Life (6:35, 48, 51)
2. Light of the World (8:12, 9:5)
3. Door of the Sheep (10:7, 9)
4. Good shepherd (10:11, 14)
5. Resurrection and the Life (11:25)
6. Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6)
7. True Vine (15:1)

1 SAMUEL 16:1-13

THE BACKGROUND

When God’s People entered the Promised Land, God wanted them to be a theocracy; God at the top, then some religious leaders, then the people.  They tried this for a while, but it did not go well.  His people begged Him to give them a king.  Reluctantly, He chose Saul as their king.  Saul was disobedient to God, and suffered mental illness later in his reign.  Today’s story is about the selection of David as Israel’s second king.  Usually, kings are kings for life.  But God doesn’t care about that.  He plans for Samuel, his prophet, to anoint David to replace Saul.

THE DETAIL

• Samuel doesn’t like Saul any more than God does. God tells Samuel to prepare some oil for the anointing of a new king.  God is basically telling Samuel to perform an act of treason, but God is the boss, after all.  (v. 1)
• Samuel knows that if Saul finds out about this mission, Samuel will be executed.  But God has a sneaky plan cooked up.  Samuel is going to pretend that he’s going to Jesse’s house merely to perform a sacrifice. (vv. 2-3)
• Samuel did what he was told.  The elders meet Samuel on the road.  They were worried what it meant that God’s number one man was coming to their town.  This could mean some very bad news.  He invited them along to assist with the sacrifice.  But first, everyone must do some sanctifying (ritual cleansing) first.  It was sort of like washing your hands before you handle food.  (vv. 4-5)
• Spotting Jesse’s eldest son, Samuel thought he must be the one.  God says “no”.  Samuel was basing his opinion on appearance.  God has a different selection criterion in mind.  He knows what’s in their heart, and that’s what is important to God.  (vv. 6-7)
• Next, we have the short “interview process” for the kingship.  All but one of Jesse’s sons pass before Samuel, and all are rejected.  “Are there any more?” he asks.  “Oh, just the youngest, and he’s out in the field with the sheep.” David is summoned from the fields and anointed on the spot, right in front of all his rejected brothers.  (vv. 8-13)

THE TAKEAWAY

The key verse comes in verse 7.  “…the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Many will focus on the last part of this quote, and that is a good thing.  God does indeed look beyond outward appearances, and into our hearts.  But more important for understanding today’s lesson is that God “sees” differently that we humans “see”.  In addition to seeing, I suggest that God also thinks differently than we do.  Take, for example, the beatitudes that Jesus spoke on the Sermon on the Mount.  The very human attributes that mortals think are shameful are the ones that Jesus calls “blessed”.  We will talk more about sight and blindness in the gospel lesson for today.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It is important to see things as our Father sees them, but our human weakness gets in the way.  What can we do to get this God-sight?
 

EPHESIANS 5:8-14

THE BACKGROUND

In the beginning, Christians met in small groups, and were taught about Jesus, and what his life, death, and resurrection meant for them.  As their numbers grew, they became more visible.  They interacted with non-Christians more and more.  Sometimes they clashed.  There was also the temptation to slide into non-Christian behavior.  Paul and his disciples’ writings shifted gears.  They turned from the basics to how to live their lives as Jesus’ followers.

THE DETAIL

• Paul contrasts two lifestyles—living in the light (of Jesus) or living in darkness (without Jesus).  We are urged to good things (the “fruit”) that reflect the fact that we truly are children of the light.  This fruit is everything that is good, right, and true.  (vv. 8-9)
• Things that are not good, right, and true should not only be avoided; they should be exposed!  Secrecy is shameful.  Unfruitful works should be brought to the light of day.  They should be exposed.  (vv. 10-13)
• This section ends with the words of encouragement that doing this will cause the light of Christ to shine on us.  (v. 14)

THE TAKEAWAY

We all know people who say that they are Christians, but don’t show it in their everyday actions.  Paul urges us to put our actions where our mouth is.  Bear fruit of the Spirit, and make it obvious that we are Christians by our actions.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Much of the rest of this letter (5:17-6:18) gives us examples of how to behave as Christians.  It is not a complete list, but it is a good start.  We must beware of thinking we have all the answers (see the Gospel lesson).  We need to examine our thoughts and actions regularly, comparing them to the teachings of Jesus.  This is what the season of Lent is all about.
 

JOHN 9:1-41

THE BACKGROUND

In my bible, this very long story is entitled “A Man Born Blind Receives Sight”.  If I could, I would change the title to “The Story of the Blind Pharisees”.  By the time you’re done reading these reflections, I hope that you will agree with me.  But first, I need to make something clear.  I’ve said this before, but it is critical to understand who the Jews and the Pharisees were before we start.

The Jews—this term is often used in the New Testament to refer to a group of religious people where opposed to Jesus and his teachings.  We must not forget that Jesus’ human family was Jewish.  When they took Jesus to the temple for naming, for example, they were following the tenets of the Jewish faith.  All of Jesus’ apostles and disciples were Jewish.  The fact is that while some Jews hated Jesus, many more Jews loved their Jewish brother (Jesus).

Pharisees-- There were several Jewish sects during this time.  These sects intended to live their lives in a more devout, God-pleasing way than your average Jewish person.  Pharisees were one of these strict and conservative sects.  They did their very best to obey all of God’s commandments, not just the ten but all 613 of God’s laws.  They studied and discussed Holy Scripture constantly. They had everything figured out (or so they thought).  They had all the answers about God, because they knew the bible (the Old Testament) inside and out.  When Jesus came along, he didn’t fit into their image of the Messiah.  This is where the trouble all began.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s break this story down into some big chunks.

THE DETAIL

• The first paragraph sets the stage.  A man born blind comes to Jesus for healing. The disciples ask a strange (to us) question.  They want to know who sinned for this man to be born blind!  Back then, it was thought that all sickness came upon people because of sin.  Moreover, the Old Testament states that some sins are punishable to the offspring of the sinner, for several generations.  Jesus says that it is not applicable in this case, but that the man was there so Jesus can do this miracle.  And then he heals the man with some spit-mud (!) (vv. 1-7 )
• Now the doubt and confusion begins.  People are so used to seeing this man as a blind man, they think he must be someone else!  Also, Jesus has disappeared from the scene, and will return later.  (vv. 8-12)
• Back then, when you were healed from a profound disease, you were supposed to go to the temple to be examined.  This is what the crowd did.  There, the confusion got even worse.  Some were hung up about Jesus healing on the Sabbath.  Others wanted to deny that it happened at all.  There was denial and confusion all over the place. His parents were even brought in. It got so comical that the formerly blind man asked the Pharisees if they wanted to be Jesus’ disciples! (verse 17) This did not winning him any awards with the Pharisees.  Finally, in verse 34, they call him a sinner (not pure and holy like them), yell at him for having the nerve to teach them, and throw him out.  (vv. 13-34)
• Jesus reappears, and has a discussion with the man he had healed.  The man states that he believes in Jesus, and worships him.  (vv. 35-38)
• Here is the key verse, and the whole reason for the healing in the first place.  Jesus healed the man to tell people to open their eyes to see who Jesus really was.  Furthermore, Jesus claims that many who think they see are actually blind. (Who might that be?)  The sarcasm is obvious.  (v. 39)
• Some Pharisees hear this and say “Who do you think you’re talking about—surely not us?”  [My translation]  Jesus answers with a little word play/banter to say yes, I’m talking about you. (vv. 40-41)

THE TAKEAWAY

We want to have answers for everything.  The last thing we want to hear from our pastor is “I don’t know” or “It is a mystery”.  We scour Holy Scripture for answers, and figure out answers to all life’s questions.  Because we think have found the answer in the bible, we know that the answer is the right one.  When the chips are down, we stick to our guns, knowing that we have found the answer in God’s Word.

This is exactly what the Pharisees had done!  They had everything so figured out, that they did not recognize God when he was staring them in the face!  Instead of sending them a Messiah that met their expectations, God sent the Messiah to be the son of a Nazarene carpenter, born in a barn.  God’s Messiah did not lead a political revolution.  God’s Messiah led a spiritual revolution.  Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ thinking, and they did not like it.  God sent them a curve ball, and they struck out. 

I wonder what surprises God has in store for us. As I go through life studying scripture, I plan to keep my eyes open.  I will remember that God sees things differently than I. (See 1 Samuel 16:7) We should all keep our eyes open, and be prepared for a couple of God-surprises along the way.

The First Sunday in Lent

My father always told me that there is a time and a place for everything. The season of Lent is observed in many churches. It is a time that is set aside to reflect on our sinful nature: how we have fallen short of God’s expectations of us. Just as Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness, we will pursue this subject for 40 days (not including Sundays). Some will also fast.  The purpose is to sharpen one’s spiritual focus, and draw nearer to God.  Let’s begin our Lenten journey.

GENESIS 2:15-17, 3:1-7

THE BACKGROUND

We join Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden for the famous event— The Fall. Most preachers and teachers will pick this story apart in fine detail, like eating fried chicken off the bone. They will pick those bones clean. I prefer to stand back and look at the big picture, and ask the question: “What is the main thing that God wants me to learn from this story?”

THE DETAIL

• God puts Adam in the Garden of Eden, and gives them only one rule— don’t eat the fruit of one tree. (vv. 15-17)
• Time passes. Enter, the beautiful Eve. The “serpent” starts messing with her mind, filling her with notions of wisdom. He convinces her to eat the fruit. (vv. 1-5)
• She eats the fruit, and gives some to Adam. The serpent was right! Their eyes were opened, and they became aware of their nakedness. They go to the mall and by some clothes. (vv. 6-7)

THE TAKEAWAY

Sorry about the mall comment. Sometimes my sense of humor steps in.

You know the rest of the story. But this is enough of the story for the God Lesson for today. In Genesis 1 we learn that God made us, “and it was good”. This is one of the God Lessons in Genesis 1. We are God’s creation, and we are good.  But here in Genesis 2, we read about a big exception.  We see human weakness in action. For me, the God Lesson here is this: If we were given paradise and only one rule, we would break that rule. Do you doubt me?  If you see a sign that reads “Wet Paint”, and you’re a normal human being, you wonder how old the sign is, and if the paint is still wet. We want to touch it. God created us good, but we’re not perfect. We are created good (Genesis 1), but we are also drawn to do the very thing that we should not do (Genesis 2). Without God’s help, we are a hopeless mess. 

Welcome to the season of Lent!

ROMANS 5:12-19

THE BACKGROUND

Paul wrote this letter to the Christian church in Rome. That church consisted of an odd mix of both Christian Gentiles and Christian Jews. The first three chapters paint a broad-brushed perspective of various types of people, pointing out how they have fallen short of God’s expectations (sinned). In chapter 2, Paul turns on his audience, and says “and what about you…?” Do you think you are any better? He drives the point home in 3:23– “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

THE DETAIL

• Paul reminds the reader of Adam’s fall, which was today’s first lesson. (v. 12)
• Paul explains that even though the law didn’t come until Moses, mankind’s attraction to sinful behavior was already in place. (vv. 13-14)
• Paul now contrasts “the free gift” (of salvation through Christ) with “the trespass” (The Fall). The sin of one man (Adam) caused death. But our sins have been justified* through the free gift offered by one man (Jesus).
• The next three verses repeat one another, contrasting the two in different words. I believe Paul does this to drive an important point home.  He’s saying that Adam gave us death, but faith in Jesus gives us life! (vv. 17-19)

THE TAKEAWAY

While it is very important for us to reflect on our sinfulness.  We should never forget that Jesus is our lifeline.  His free gift to us is forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

How many times does Paul say the “free gift” in this passage?

*This word is best understood like this: If you kill a person in self-defense, you have still killed someone, haven‘t you? But in a court of law, the judge would claim your actions “justified”. You were acting in self-defense. You are set free. Paul is saying that Jesus’ death on the cross has “justified” all our sinful acts. We are forgiven. We are set free.
 

MATTHEW 4:1-11

THE BACKGROUND

This is the famous story of Jesus temptation by the devil. He has just been baptized, and is about to begin his Father’s work.  Rather than to pick apart the story in infinite detail, let’s stand back and look for the God Lesson for us.

THE DETAIL

• Jesus has been fasting in the desert for nearly six weeks, and is very hungry. (vv. 1-2)
• In three very different ways, Jesus is tempted to abuse his divine power. One is to feed his hunger (a), one is to prove his divinity (b), and one is to use his divine power to gain political power (c). In each case, Jesus triumphs over the temptation by recalling his Father’s words. (a) Deut. 8:3, (b) Deut 6:16, (c) Deut 6:13.  Through it all, he remains focused on his divine mission to remain a humble servant to his Father, and do what he was sent to do. (vv. 3-11)

THE TAKEAWAY

I take great comfort in this story. It tells me that Jesus was human. He was tempted to do things that he knew he shouldn’t. I’ll even bet that during his 30+ years on this earth he was tempted more times than just these three times. But with this story, I see that he remained dedicated to his Father’s mission. He will walk in our shoes, liver his life as an example for us to follow, heal us, teach us and love us enough to die on the cross for us.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

When you are tempted to do something that is not according to God’s will, how do you respond?  Do you seek God’s wisdom in Holy Scripture, or do you use “human wisdom”?