Matthew 4:1-2
Perhaps the English doesn't get this right but according to my translation, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Part of the Spirit's plan for his life was to face temptation. You would think that Jesus would be led into this time of solitude to be ministered to by the Spirit in preparation for his public ministry. You would think it would be a time of encouragement and building up. But the Spirit has another plan - to prepare Jesus for public ministry, he will be tempted (after he has fasted for 40 days and 40 nights).
I love the understatement: "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." I think I might be hungry after not eating for that long (I might be dead after not eating that long). I also love the timeline. There was no rush to capitalize on any press Jesus might be receiving after his baptism. There was no sense of urgency to get out there with the message that God had given him. The multitudes of people that needed healing would have to wait. The most important thing was to spend time - significant time - submitting to the Spirit's leading. We have no idea what Jesus did during those forty days. We have no idea if the three temptations that we read about were the only temptations Jesus faced. We have no idea what else happened. We just know that, in preparation for his public ministry, Jesus went out to the wilderness and was gone for over a month.
Today I am so driven by the urgent that I hardly take any time for rest. It's so easy to make excuses - it's September, there are people to recruit, there are recruits to interview, there are students to make welcome, Identity is coming (and it's fulller than we thought it would be), there are talks to prepare, there is curriculum to write and/or adapt... the list goes on. I always talk about taking time but I very rarely do it because there is another need to be met, another event to plan, another meeting to attend.
God, do I need to spend some time in the wilderness? Do you need to remind me of my purpose and calling? Am I taking time to hear from you? I know that there's a time for work but there is also a time for rest. Do I have a good balance?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
there were no doves at my baptism...
Matthew 3:13-17
The humility of John is seen again in this passage - recognizing that he is here to serve Jesus and not vice versa. I think sometimes we get so caught up in hierarchy and protocol that we feel awkward when things get turned upside down, as they do in this passage (and certainly in John's gospel where Jesus washes the disciples' feet). The pastor (teacher) is supposed to baptize the student, not the other way around.
Implied in John's statement is a question. At least I read a question into his statement: why is Jesus being baptized? John's baptism was for repentance and Jesus certainly had nothing to repent of. Jesus says that he must be baptized to fulfill all righteousness but that doesn't really help answer the question. I think that the reason for Jesus' baptism is seen in the response from the Father: "this is my son." I think that Jesus was baptized so that the Father could publicly identify Jesus as his Son. This, really, is the same reason that we are baptized - to publicly declare that we are God's children. I know that baptism is a sign and I know that it does not achieve salvation for me but I think we in conservative evangelicalism are down playing the significant spiritual role it plays. I don't think that it is just us making a declaration that we are followers of Christ, as I've been taught (and have taught). I think that two voices are speaking in baptism: ours, declaring that we have made a choice to follow Christ and to identify ourselves with him and God's, declaring that he has chosen us and idetifies himself with us.
I love the words that the Father speaks over his Son: "this is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." A very significant moment in my spiritual journey took place at SABC when Tim S came to the staff and talked about this verse. He pointed out that this was at the very beginning of Christ's ministry - he hadn't really done anything (in human terms) for God to be pleased about but God was pleased, not so much because of what he had done but more because of who he was - his Son. Tim reminded us that even at the beginning of our ministry that summer, before we had led a cabin or taught a skill or shared our testimony that I was God's son, that he loved me and that he was already well pleased.
This is the blessing that I want to pass on to my students: In Christ, you are God's son or daughter whom he loves. He is more pleased with who you are in Christ than what you might be able to do for him. I think if we could believe and live that, our whole perspective on God, faith, people and our world would change.
The humility of John is seen again in this passage - recognizing that he is here to serve Jesus and not vice versa. I think sometimes we get so caught up in hierarchy and protocol that we feel awkward when things get turned upside down, as they do in this passage (and certainly in John's gospel where Jesus washes the disciples' feet). The pastor (teacher) is supposed to baptize the student, not the other way around.
Implied in John's statement is a question. At least I read a question into his statement: why is Jesus being baptized? John's baptism was for repentance and Jesus certainly had nothing to repent of. Jesus says that he must be baptized to fulfill all righteousness but that doesn't really help answer the question. I think that the reason for Jesus' baptism is seen in the response from the Father: "this is my son." I think that Jesus was baptized so that the Father could publicly identify Jesus as his Son. This, really, is the same reason that we are baptized - to publicly declare that we are God's children. I know that baptism is a sign and I know that it does not achieve salvation for me but I think we in conservative evangelicalism are down playing the significant spiritual role it plays. I don't think that it is just us making a declaration that we are followers of Christ, as I've been taught (and have taught). I think that two voices are speaking in baptism: ours, declaring that we have made a choice to follow Christ and to identify ourselves with him and God's, declaring that he has chosen us and idetifies himself with us.
I love the words that the Father speaks over his Son: "this is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." A very significant moment in my spiritual journey took place at SABC when Tim S came to the staff and talked about this verse. He pointed out that this was at the very beginning of Christ's ministry - he hadn't really done anything (in human terms) for God to be pleased about but God was pleased, not so much because of what he had done but more because of who he was - his Son. Tim reminded us that even at the beginning of our ministry that summer, before we had led a cabin or taught a skill or shared our testimony that I was God's son, that he loved me and that he was already well pleased.
This is the blessing that I want to pass on to my students: In Christ, you are God's son or daughter whom he loves. He is more pleased with who you are in Christ than what you might be able to do for him. I think if we could believe and live that, our whole perspective on God, faith, people and our world would change.
Monday, September 22, 2008
winning friends and influencing people?
Matthew 3:7-12
This is probably not the best way to gain influence in a society dominated by the religious expert. Rather than currying favour with them, John blasts them. In the tradition of the OT prophet, John pulls no punches. He calls them a bunch of snakes and calls them hypocrites for coming out to be baptized as a mark of their repentance without showing any evidence of repentance by the way they live. He accuses them of depending on their spiritual heritage (being children of Abraham) rather than on their own spiritual integrity. He reminds them that God chose Abraham in his divine sovereignty and could just as easily raise up another group of people (even while keeping his promise to Abraham) to administer his blessing through (perhaps foreshadowing God bringing the Gentiles into the covenant?).
John also introduces Jesus. This is the turning point in the book where Jesus becomes the central character. He is the one who will follow John, whom John has come to serve. The image that John presents is not the meek and gentle Jesus that we tend to think of. Rather he presents Jesus as the powerful King who is coming with judgement and fire.
I wonder what John would say if he was a guest preacher at our church? I wonder what he would say to me if I came to his baptism service. I'm pretty sure I would get blasted because I really enjoy the religious experience. I really enjoy the rituals and traditions. I really enjoy the routine. And I know that John would challenge me - yes, the traditions and routines are helpful in my pursuit of God but I know that they sometimes become more important than the puruit itself. I also know that John that would challenge on my view of Christ. I have made him too weak and too small. In my effort to make him fit the culture I have taken the fire from his baptism and the threshing fork from his hand.
This is probably not the best way to gain influence in a society dominated by the religious expert. Rather than currying favour with them, John blasts them. In the tradition of the OT prophet, John pulls no punches. He calls them a bunch of snakes and calls them hypocrites for coming out to be baptized as a mark of their repentance without showing any evidence of repentance by the way they live. He accuses them of depending on their spiritual heritage (being children of Abraham) rather than on their own spiritual integrity. He reminds them that God chose Abraham in his divine sovereignty and could just as easily raise up another group of people (even while keeping his promise to Abraham) to administer his blessing through (perhaps foreshadowing God bringing the Gentiles into the covenant?).
John also introduces Jesus. This is the turning point in the book where Jesus becomes the central character. He is the one who will follow John, whom John has come to serve. The image that John presents is not the meek and gentle Jesus that we tend to think of. Rather he presents Jesus as the powerful King who is coming with judgement and fire.
I wonder what John would say if he was a guest preacher at our church? I wonder what he would say to me if I came to his baptism service. I'm pretty sure I would get blasted because I really enjoy the religious experience. I really enjoy the rituals and traditions. I really enjoy the routine. And I know that John would challenge me - yes, the traditions and routines are helpful in my pursuit of God but I know that they sometimes become more important than the puruit itself. I also know that John that would challenge on my view of Christ. I have made him too weak and too small. In my effort to make him fit the culture I have taken the fire from his baptism and the threshing fork from his hand.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
the last of the OT prophets
Matthew 3:1-5
John the Baptist is the main character in this section of the story. We've moved from Joseph to John. Matthew is careful to connect him to prophecy as well - he's the one who precedes the procession calling out, "Make way for the King!" John is a prophet in the OT sense - he wears weird clothes and eats weird food and I am sure that there is some significant symbolism to that. Perhaps it is that he rejects society. He is an outside observer that can speak to the society with objectivity because he is not wrapped up in it.
This is the first time that Matthew uses a phrase that will come up over and over again in his book: the kingdom of heaven. He has set up the use of this phrase by showing Jesus to be a legitimate challenger to Herod's throne and title. John's message was pretty simple: "repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Most of the Jews (and possibly even John) would have understood this to mean that the Messiah was coming to overthrow the Romans and to re-establish Israel to the status it enjoyed under David and Solomon. They would have also understood (from the prophets) that this would be a time of judgement and so they flocked to John to show their repentance by being baptized.
I need to be careful how I read and understand Scripture. Every time I come to the Word, I am affected by past teaching, my own understanding, my circumstances, my biases, previous knowledge. Just like the Jews in John's day, I may not completely understand the message I am hearing and I need to be humble enough to admit that I may not only misunderstand but also misapply what I am reading.
I also can learn from John. I think that sometimes we strive so hard to be culturally relevant and to wrap the message of Christ in a palatable way that we are no longer in a position to speak with any authourity to our culture. We look so much like everyone and act like them and think like them that we really have no voice. Now, I am not saying that we should wear camel clothes and eat locusts and I do think that we must be relevant enough to at least know what is going on in our culture. I also think that the use of technology and speaking in a culturally relevant way is great but I wonder where the line is. I want to be careful that I don't become so immersed in the culture that I begin to conform to it (I think there's a verse about that...).
John the Baptist is the main character in this section of the story. We've moved from Joseph to John. Matthew is careful to connect him to prophecy as well - he's the one who precedes the procession calling out, "Make way for the King!" John is a prophet in the OT sense - he wears weird clothes and eats weird food and I am sure that there is some significant symbolism to that. Perhaps it is that he rejects society. He is an outside observer that can speak to the society with objectivity because he is not wrapped up in it.
This is the first time that Matthew uses a phrase that will come up over and over again in his book: the kingdom of heaven. He has set up the use of this phrase by showing Jesus to be a legitimate challenger to Herod's throne and title. John's message was pretty simple: "repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Most of the Jews (and possibly even John) would have understood this to mean that the Messiah was coming to overthrow the Romans and to re-establish Israel to the status it enjoyed under David and Solomon. They would have also understood (from the prophets) that this would be a time of judgement and so they flocked to John to show their repentance by being baptized.
I need to be careful how I read and understand Scripture. Every time I come to the Word, I am affected by past teaching, my own understanding, my circumstances, my biases, previous knowledge. Just like the Jews in John's day, I may not completely understand the message I am hearing and I need to be humble enough to admit that I may not only misunderstand but also misapply what I am reading.
I also can learn from John. I think that sometimes we strive so hard to be culturally relevant and to wrap the message of Christ in a palatable way that we are no longer in a position to speak with any authourity to our culture. We look so much like everyone and act like them and think like them that we really have no voice. Now, I am not saying that we should wear camel clothes and eat locusts and I do think that we must be relevant enough to at least know what is going on in our culture. I also think that the use of technology and speaking in a culturally relevant way is great but I wonder where the line is. I want to be careful that I don't become so immersed in the culture that I begin to conform to it (I think there's a verse about that...).
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
the last dreams
Matthew 2:19-23
Matthew again emphasizes dreams and visits from angels and continues to tell the story from Joseph's perspective (or at least makes Joseph the main character). In fact, Jesus continues to be referred to as "the child" and it is usually in the phrase, "the child and his mother." The only time his proper name has been used so far is in verse 1 of this chapter. I think Matthew records the angelic visions to remind his readers of the supernatural events that surrounded the birth of the child and continued to mark his life through to his resurrection. I wonder if he refers to Jesus as "the child" and constantly places him in relationship to his mother to remind his readers that he was human. Perhaps Matthew is reminding his reader that Jesus is both completely human and completely divine. Perhaps this is an attempt to build empathy for Jesus - because Jesus was such a polarizing figure, dividing families, Matthew is attempting to remind the reader that he was a child - a little boy - who had a mom and a dad. Yes, he was born in unusual, mysterious circumstances but he was not born to privilege. He was a refugee and suffered persecution from the time of his birth. Perhaps this was something that many could relate to - certainly history shows that there were large communities of Jews living in Egypt. Maybe many people knew of someone who had to flee because they had somehow incurred the wrath of Herod. (Just a reminder, these are just guesses).
Matthew again reminds the reader of how Jesus fulfilled prophecy, connecting Jesus to the prophecies regarding the Messiah. All I can say is that Matthew is lucky that he was inspired by the Spirit to connect Jesus to these prophecies - most of the professors I had in Briercrest would have failed Matthew based on his bad hermeneutics - taking phrases and verses out of context to apply them to the current situation. :)
Besides giving us permission to use bad hermeneutics, Matthew again returns to the theme of obedience. Joseph is told by an angel that he should return to Israel and in the very next verse, he takes his family to Israel. The word choices indicate that he did not wait - he got up and went. Another dream tells him not to go to Judea but to settle in Nazareth (their old home town) and Joseph does so. I feel like I am beating a dead horse but the lesson I learn from this passage is that God can be trusted and so I must obey him. I guess the issue for me is, how do I know if I am being obedient? I mean I can generally obey the principles of Scripture to love God with all I am and have (I'm still working towards obedience in that area) and to love my neighbour as myself, but what about the specifics? Did God direct me to come to EFree Lethbridge? Is he directing me to do something else? I can honestly say that I want to obey God but I haven't received any angelic visitors lately and I can't remember any particular dreams or visions that would instruct me. I know that I have prayer, the Word, the Community of Christ and the Spirit to guide and direct me but that seems a bit abstract, a bit hard to know for certain still. I've never heard an audible voice from the Spirit and the Word certainly gives me the broad principles I am to obey. I guess I just wonder why God doesn't direct my life as clearly as he did Joseph's. Or maybe he is and I just don't see it...
Matthew again emphasizes dreams and visits from angels and continues to tell the story from Joseph's perspective (or at least makes Joseph the main character). In fact, Jesus continues to be referred to as "the child" and it is usually in the phrase, "the child and his mother." The only time his proper name has been used so far is in verse 1 of this chapter. I think Matthew records the angelic visions to remind his readers of the supernatural events that surrounded the birth of the child and continued to mark his life through to his resurrection. I wonder if he refers to Jesus as "the child" and constantly places him in relationship to his mother to remind his readers that he was human. Perhaps Matthew is reminding his reader that Jesus is both completely human and completely divine. Perhaps this is an attempt to build empathy for Jesus - because Jesus was such a polarizing figure, dividing families, Matthew is attempting to remind the reader that he was a child - a little boy - who had a mom and a dad. Yes, he was born in unusual, mysterious circumstances but he was not born to privilege. He was a refugee and suffered persecution from the time of his birth. Perhaps this was something that many could relate to - certainly history shows that there were large communities of Jews living in Egypt. Maybe many people knew of someone who had to flee because they had somehow incurred the wrath of Herod. (Just a reminder, these are just guesses).
Matthew again reminds the reader of how Jesus fulfilled prophecy, connecting Jesus to the prophecies regarding the Messiah. All I can say is that Matthew is lucky that he was inspired by the Spirit to connect Jesus to these prophecies - most of the professors I had in Briercrest would have failed Matthew based on his bad hermeneutics - taking phrases and verses out of context to apply them to the current situation. :)
Besides giving us permission to use bad hermeneutics, Matthew again returns to the theme of obedience. Joseph is told by an angel that he should return to Israel and in the very next verse, he takes his family to Israel. The word choices indicate that he did not wait - he got up and went. Another dream tells him not to go to Judea but to settle in Nazareth (their old home town) and Joseph does so. I feel like I am beating a dead horse but the lesson I learn from this passage is that God can be trusted and so I must obey him. I guess the issue for me is, how do I know if I am being obedient? I mean I can generally obey the principles of Scripture to love God with all I am and have (I'm still working towards obedience in that area) and to love my neighbour as myself, but what about the specifics? Did God direct me to come to EFree Lethbridge? Is he directing me to do something else? I can honestly say that I want to obey God but I haven't received any angelic visitors lately and I can't remember any particular dreams or visions that would instruct me. I know that I have prayer, the Word, the Community of Christ and the Spirit to guide and direct me but that seems a bit abstract, a bit hard to know for certain still. I've never heard an audible voice from the Spirit and the Word certainly gives me the broad principles I am to obey. I guess I just wonder why God doesn't direct my life as clearly as he did Joseph's. Or maybe he is and I just don't see it...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Matthew's Christmas Carol
Matthew 2:16-18
This is not a story that we normally include in the Christmas pageant. It hasn't made it into too many Christmas carols. It isn't the scene on the front of many Christmas cards. I am struck by Herod's humanistic worldview. Maybe Matthew didn't intend for this but the narrative moves from angels to Herod blaming the Magi, as if he can't see God's hand in any of this and as if Herod alone can control the outcome.
We learn some more about Herod here. The power that he holds is tenuous and he feels very insecure - he is threatened by a baby or toddler. Of course, I don't completely understand the culture of the time. I do know that it was common practice for kings to completely erradicate the lineage of their rivals. However, the rest of the historical record makes it clear that Herod was especially desperate, insecure and ruthless.
Matthew again speaks to the legitimacy of Jesus' claim to the throne by showing how desperate Herod was to get rid of him and by tying the events of Jesus' life to prophecy. Matthew, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, sees the fulfillment of prophecy in the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem and vicinity. Matthew includes the poetic prophecy in his account of the nativity: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Makes it a bit hard to say "Merry Christmas" after that.
I am amazed at the depravity of humanity that can cause so much pain and hurt in the middle of something so good and wonderful. I shouldn't be - it's the theme of the story. We ruined the Garden and now we ruin the coming of the Messiah. At first it might seem hopeless but then I remember that God removed his Son from the area and hope is still alive. This story still brings up some hard questions, though.
This is not a story that we normally include in the Christmas pageant. It hasn't made it into too many Christmas carols. It isn't the scene on the front of many Christmas cards. I am struck by Herod's humanistic worldview. Maybe Matthew didn't intend for this but the narrative moves from angels to Herod blaming the Magi, as if he can't see God's hand in any of this and as if Herod alone can control the outcome.
We learn some more about Herod here. The power that he holds is tenuous and he feels very insecure - he is threatened by a baby or toddler. Of course, I don't completely understand the culture of the time. I do know that it was common practice for kings to completely erradicate the lineage of their rivals. However, the rest of the historical record makes it clear that Herod was especially desperate, insecure and ruthless.
Matthew again speaks to the legitimacy of Jesus' claim to the throne by showing how desperate Herod was to get rid of him and by tying the events of Jesus' life to prophecy. Matthew, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, sees the fulfillment of prophecy in the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem and vicinity. Matthew includes the poetic prophecy in his account of the nativity: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Makes it a bit hard to say "Merry Christmas" after that.
I am amazed at the depravity of humanity that can cause so much pain and hurt in the middle of something so good and wonderful. I shouldn't be - it's the theme of the story. We ruined the Garden and now we ruin the coming of the Messiah. At first it might seem hopeless but then I remember that God removed his Son from the area and hope is still alive. This story still brings up some hard questions, though.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Joseph's obedience
Matthew 2:13-15
I've noticed that, at least in the beginning of Jesus' story, Matthew focuses more on Joseph than on Mary. I wonder if this reflects the paternalistic society that Matthew was writing to - the line of the Messiah must descend through the males and so Matthew emphasizes his paternal lineage.
In this passage, we read again of Joseph and again he is seen as a righteous and obedient man. There doesn't seem to be any questions or objections against what the angel told him. Rather, there is instant obedience. I know that Joseph lived in a culture where dreams, visions and angels were more widely accepted but it is also true that there hadn't been much revelation for centuries and so the appearance of angels wasn't exactly ordinary. Yet Joseph obeys immediately (again) - the words suggest that he didn't wait until morning but immediately got up and began preparations to leave for Egypt.
There are so many reasons not to obey - he's leaving his home country, he's leaving his family, he's leaving his business, everything he's ever known. Plus he has a new family and the message came to him in a dream. So often I justify my own "stuck in a rut" ways because I am afraid to deviate from the path. I would justify my decision and sound very wise and logical but the truth is most of my decisions are based on fear - the fear of the unknown, fear of risk, fear of looking like a fool. God, give me the simple obedience of Joseph.
I've noticed that, at least in the beginning of Jesus' story, Matthew focuses more on Joseph than on Mary. I wonder if this reflects the paternalistic society that Matthew was writing to - the line of the Messiah must descend through the males and so Matthew emphasizes his paternal lineage.
In this passage, we read again of Joseph and again he is seen as a righteous and obedient man. There doesn't seem to be any questions or objections against what the angel told him. Rather, there is instant obedience. I know that Joseph lived in a culture where dreams, visions and angels were more widely accepted but it is also true that there hadn't been much revelation for centuries and so the appearance of angels wasn't exactly ordinary. Yet Joseph obeys immediately (again) - the words suggest that he didn't wait until morning but immediately got up and began preparations to leave for Egypt.
There are so many reasons not to obey - he's leaving his home country, he's leaving his family, he's leaving his business, everything he's ever known. Plus he has a new family and the message came to him in a dream. So often I justify my own "stuck in a rut" ways because I am afraid to deviate from the path. I would justify my decision and sound very wise and logical but the truth is most of my decisions are based on fear - the fear of the unknown, fear of risk, fear of looking like a fool. God, give me the simple obedience of Joseph.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
tale of two kings
Matthew 2:1-12
I think the idea of Jesus as King of the Jews or Messiah is going to be a theme through this book. My understanding is that Matthew wrote the book to prove to a Jewish audience that Jesus was the Messiah or the King. This is why Matthew is the only writer to include the visit from the Magi - visiting foreign dignitaries coming to pay their respects to the baby "crown prince".
The contrast between the two kings is pretty huge: King Herod jealously and madly trying to hang on to his power at any cost and King Jesus, innocent and hardly able to hold on to anything. I think that Matthew may also be trying to portray Jesus as a legitimate threat to Herod's reign, proving again that he really is the Messiah and King of the Jews.
The journey of the Magi is interesting to me. We have no idea where they came from (lots of speculation but the Bible doesn't make it clear) or how long they travelled (again, lots of speculation - Herod ends up killing the baby boys two years and younger therefore the star must have been visible for two years) or even how many of them travelled together (just because three gifts were presented we assume that there were three magi). I imagine it must have been easy to give up the journey at times. I imagine that they probably faced some ridicule along the way - I mean they were chasing a star! I imagine that they must have questioned their own sanity at times. But they never gave up. The knowledge I have of the King and the kingdom is much more than what the magi had to go on and yet I do not think that I seek the King and the kingdom with the same determination and focus. "Where is the King?... I have come to worship him."
I think the idea of Jesus as King of the Jews or Messiah is going to be a theme through this book. My understanding is that Matthew wrote the book to prove to a Jewish audience that Jesus was the Messiah or the King. This is why Matthew is the only writer to include the visit from the Magi - visiting foreign dignitaries coming to pay their respects to the baby "crown prince".
The contrast between the two kings is pretty huge: King Herod jealously and madly trying to hang on to his power at any cost and King Jesus, innocent and hardly able to hold on to anything. I think that Matthew may also be trying to portray Jesus as a legitimate threat to Herod's reign, proving again that he really is the Messiah and King of the Jews.
The journey of the Magi is interesting to me. We have no idea where they came from (lots of speculation but the Bible doesn't make it clear) or how long they travelled (again, lots of speculation - Herod ends up killing the baby boys two years and younger therefore the star must have been visible for two years) or even how many of them travelled together (just because three gifts were presented we assume that there were three magi). I imagine it must have been easy to give up the journey at times. I imagine that they probably faced some ridicule along the way - I mean they were chasing a star! I imagine that they must have questioned their own sanity at times. But they never gave up. The knowledge I have of the King and the kingdom is much more than what the magi had to go on and yet I do not think that I seek the King and the kingdom with the same determination and focus. "Where is the King?... I have come to worship him."
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Christmas in September
Matthew 1:18-25
In the first three verses after the genealogy, the Trinity is mentioned: "the birth of Jesus the Messiah", "pregnant through the Holy Spirit", and "angel of the Lord". Of course the divinity of Jesus is one of the big questions that is addressed in his lifetime and beyond but it seems as if Matthew is making it clear that something new happened that involved the whole God-head. It gives the sense that all of heaven is involved in this story.
I think that it is also significant that the Holy Spirit plays such a prominent role in the birth of Christ. I tend to focus more on the Father and the Son and the dynamics of that relationship. I must not forget that the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the story right from the beginning. I wonder if God knew that the role of the Spirit would be downplayed on the one hand and overly emphasized on the other. It's interesting to me that the Spirit is mentioned at the very beginning of the OT (moving on the surface of the waters) and the very beginning of the NT.
Joseph is also an interesting figure for me that often seems to fade into the background of the story but plays such a unique role. He should really be the hero and example for so many men who are acting as a dad to children who are not his own! What I learn from Joseph in this passage is that even when I do things with as pure motives and with a desire to what is right in terms of the law and what is right in terms of people, I still may be wrong. Joseph's desire was a good one: uphold the law by not marrying Mary but not exposing her to public ridicule or worse. However, his decision was still not the one that God wanted him to make. This gives me comfort at the same time: God did not condemn Joseph for trying to do what was right (even though it was wrong) but revealed to him the right path to take. In my quest to do what is right, I can move forward with confidence knowing that God will correct me where I am wrong.
The second thing I learn from Joseph is the importance of immediate obedience. Joseph has the vision of the angel and, when he wakes up, he does what the angel told him to do. There was no waiting - the very next morning Joseph completes the marriage. I think this is an indication of what Joseph wanted to do and how much he loved and wanted to be with Mary but it is also an indication of his openess to the will of God. Immediate obedience? That's not so much a marker of my life. I wish it was.
In the first three verses after the genealogy, the Trinity is mentioned: "the birth of Jesus the Messiah", "pregnant through the Holy Spirit", and "angel of the Lord". Of course the divinity of Jesus is one of the big questions that is addressed in his lifetime and beyond but it seems as if Matthew is making it clear that something new happened that involved the whole God-head. It gives the sense that all of heaven is involved in this story.
I think that it is also significant that the Holy Spirit plays such a prominent role in the birth of Christ. I tend to focus more on the Father and the Son and the dynamics of that relationship. I must not forget that the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the story right from the beginning. I wonder if God knew that the role of the Spirit would be downplayed on the one hand and overly emphasized on the other. It's interesting to me that the Spirit is mentioned at the very beginning of the OT (moving on the surface of the waters) and the very beginning of the NT.
Joseph is also an interesting figure for me that often seems to fade into the background of the story but plays such a unique role. He should really be the hero and example for so many men who are acting as a dad to children who are not his own! What I learn from Joseph in this passage is that even when I do things with as pure motives and with a desire to what is right in terms of the law and what is right in terms of people, I still may be wrong. Joseph's desire was a good one: uphold the law by not marrying Mary but not exposing her to public ridicule or worse. However, his decision was still not the one that God wanted him to make. This gives me comfort at the same time: God did not condemn Joseph for trying to do what was right (even though it was wrong) but revealed to him the right path to take. In my quest to do what is right, I can move forward with confidence knowing that God will correct me where I am wrong.
The second thing I learn from Joseph is the importance of immediate obedience. Joseph has the vision of the angel and, when he wakes up, he does what the angel told him to do. There was no waiting - the very next morning Joseph completes the marriage. I think this is an indication of what Joseph wanted to do and how much he loved and wanted to be with Mary but it is also an indication of his openess to the will of God. Immediate obedience? That's not so much a marker of my life. I wish it was.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Roots
Matthew 1:1-17
This whole passage is a list of the ancestors of Jesus. Matthew, the author of the book (although he doesn't take credit anywhere that I know of), has divided the genealogy into three lists of fourteen generations. This is likely a literary device more than an accurate division (but I could be wrong about that). I know that seven in the Bible often references completeness or holiness so perhaps Matthew is saying that the genealogy of Jesus is complete or whole.
Matthew also includes the names of two women and references another without mentioning her name. The names of the two women he includes are foreigners (Rahab and Ruth) and the one he references was involved in adultery with King David. He also mentions Mary at the end of the passage as being the husband of Joseph and the mother of Jesus. It is interesting to me that he doesn't name Bathsheba and that, besides Mary, all the women mentioned are quite closely connected to David.
I can't think of much practical application from this passage. It does remind me of the sovreignty of God: even in the failings of so many of the people included in this list, God was at work to bring out the human lineage of the Messiah according to the prophecies that were made. Even though Satan tried desperately to corrupt the royal line, God preserved his people so that his plan would be fulfilled. If God's plan is to draw people to himself, I can move past my failures with humble confidence and continue my ministry without stress or fear. God's plan depends on God and not on my efforts. This doesn't excuse me from working hard and making plans. It doesn't excuse my sin and failure. It just means that I don't have to be defeated by my failure and that I don't have to take the responsibility of success on myself. God, help me to be faithful to what you have called me to do and to take responsibility for what you have given me - nothing more and nothing less.
This whole passage is a list of the ancestors of Jesus. Matthew, the author of the book (although he doesn't take credit anywhere that I know of), has divided the genealogy into three lists of fourteen generations. This is likely a literary device more than an accurate division (but I could be wrong about that). I know that seven in the Bible often references completeness or holiness so perhaps Matthew is saying that the genealogy of Jesus is complete or whole.
Matthew also includes the names of two women and references another without mentioning her name. The names of the two women he includes are foreigners (Rahab and Ruth) and the one he references was involved in adultery with King David. He also mentions Mary at the end of the passage as being the husband of Joseph and the mother of Jesus. It is interesting to me that he doesn't name Bathsheba and that, besides Mary, all the women mentioned are quite closely connected to David.
I can't think of much practical application from this passage. It does remind me of the sovreignty of God: even in the failings of so many of the people included in this list, God was at work to bring out the human lineage of the Messiah according to the prophecies that were made. Even though Satan tried desperately to corrupt the royal line, God preserved his people so that his plan would be fulfilled. If God's plan is to draw people to himself, I can move past my failures with humble confidence and continue my ministry without stress or fear. God's plan depends on God and not on my efforts. This doesn't excuse me from working hard and making plans. It doesn't excuse my sin and failure. It just means that I don't have to be defeated by my failure and that I don't have to take the responsibility of success on myself. God, help me to be faithful to what you have called me to do and to take responsibility for what you have given me - nothing more and nothing less.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
