Pr. Marlon: Recent Episodes
Marlon Seifert
I tend to study and present what is on my heart. I hope my spiritual journey will impact yours in a positive way. You can find additional information on each episode on my blog PrMarlon.com
Break Free from Comfort: Embrace God's AdventureThink of a time in your life when you felt like you were embarking on an adventure. What was that experience like?
I don’t know much about plants. Chances are, you probably know more than I, but here’s a paraphrased abstract from a study done regarding the depth of the roots and the plant’s ability to survive droughts.
Of Plants and RootsDeep roots play a crucial role in a tree's ability to withstand drought. These roots specialize in taking up water and often compensate when surface soil water is limited. Deep soils provide a reliable water source since water availability becomes increasingly decoupled from precipitation events, and temporal fluctuations decrease with greater soil depths. Additionally, deep water is less accessed by understory vegetation and is protected from soil evaporation. Tropical humid forests mostly have superficial nutrient cycling and rooting depths, and deep root share has been shown to increase with seasonal water limitation.
- Science of The Total Environment Volume 893, 1 October 2023
This may already be obvious to you, and you don't need a peer-reviewed article to describe the research. But I wanted to cover my bases. Essentially, plants that grow up with plenty of water have shallow roots and are more likely to die in case of a drought. Plants that have had less access to water tend to grow their roots deeper in search of water and discover underground water sources that are more reliable during periods of drought. The discomfort of not having enough water readily available causes the plant to develop in ways that allow it to survive when circumstances become more challenging.
Another way of thinking about this is that plants privileged to grow in a place where water and nutrients are readily available grow faster and become tall and beautiful. Plants that grow in areas where water and nutrients are not readily available tend to grow more slowly, but their roots also grow deeper in search of water. On the surface, they may look inferior; they did not have all the advantages of the other plants. However, when the drought hits, they survive because they have found deep water, which fewer plants have access to, and is protected from soil evaporation.
So, the comfort that seemed beneficial at first actually set the plant up for failure in drought conditions. While the hardship that initially held the plant back ultimately set it up for success when the drought arrived. The question then is, do you prefer the life of easy and early success, even if it is short-lived, or do you prefer the slower and longer journey that will provide you with what you need to succeed in the long run?
A Call to Adventure Many of you are probably familiar with the story of Genesis 12 and the call of Abraham. God calls Abraham to leave his native country, his relatives, and his father’s land and go to a place God will show him.
Abraham obeyed.… He forsook his country, his home, his relatives, and all pleasant associations connected with his early life to become a pilgrim and a stranger.
“The very position of ease and the relatives who surround them may prevent them from developing the very traits of character which God would have them develop. But God sees that to change their position and to send them where their surroundings will be entirely different will be the very best place for them to develop a character which will glorify Him.…”
— In Heavenly Places 112.
When we surround ourselves with convenience and ease, we do not feel the necessity of depending moment by moment upon God as much. Are we okay with God, in His providence, bringing us into positions where we will feel our necessity of His help and strength?
Maybe we are afraid of listening to God’s calling because we are concerned about Him calling us out of our comfort zone. However, it's possible that our next stage of faith development requires an adventure, and adventures often take place outside our comfort zone. It could be that you’re already starting or in the middle of your adventure. You’re relying on God daily and are very much out of your comfort zone, and experiencing spiritual growth.
But maybe life is comfortable. You have your routine, and you pretty much forget about God most days. This seems fine; it is comfortable, but your spiritual life has also stagnated. God does not seem very important or necessary most days. Though this may seem fine, we all know that “droughts” come. Do you have a deep root system?
When was a time you experienced spiritual growth? What was happening in your life when you experienced spiritual growth?
Maybe this is your moment of spiritual growth. What is fueling it? What causes you to hunger for and long to connect with God?
Comfort is a slow deathYou might have come across this phrase before: “comfort is a slow death.” Comfort is great until you need strength and faith, and find both underdeveloped. The time of crisis is the worst time to develop your faith and strength. It is possible to develop your faith and strength during the crisis, but you can set yourself up for success by developing both ahead of time. One way is by intentionally seeking God and pushing yourself physically. Another way is by going on an adventure.
What is God calling you to do?
How can you serve God and bless others?
What can you do this week that will take you out of your comfort zone?
What can you do this week that will benefit someone else?
How can you be more intentional with your personal devotion (Bible study and prayer)?
What can you do to push yourself physically (safely) this week?
Let me know in the comments below.
Don’t settle for a comfortable life.
Seek a meaningful life in God’s will.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
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Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
0:14 Introduction to Ruth
2:46 The Invisible Hand of God
5:58 A Moment of Prayer
7:32 Gathering Witnesses
9:05 The Kinsman Redeemer's Dilemma
15:30 The Unexpected Proposal
20:49 The Reluctant Redeemer
23:01 Choices and Consequences
24:54 A Customary Exchange
30:38 Community Blessings
33:28 Celebrating Blessings
36:35 Embracing the Outsider
39:41 The Birth of Hope
42:07 Shifting Focus to Love
44:35 A Call to Kindness
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
0:14 Introduction to Chesed
1:27 The Nature of Chesed
3:33 Personal Reflections on Love
5:19 Romance Amid Struggles
6:39 Exploring Ruth Chapter Three
8:23 The Role of Security
9:55 Insecurity in Relationships
11:23 The Challenge of Commitment
13:44 The Importance of Dedication
15:04 Community and Commitment
15:40 The Plan for Ruth
25:19 The Risks of Ruth's Plan
31:29 Ruth's Response to Naomi
38:02 Boaz's Blessing
40:53 The Proposal
43:16 Boaz's Integrity
46:26 The Closer Relative
49:44 Messiness of Life and Faith
52:02 Trusting God in Uncertainty
52:58 Conclusion and Call to Action
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
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Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Chapters
0:14 Introduction to the Podcast
4:27 Thoughts on the New Pope
4:55 Transition to the Book of Ruth
9:20 Arrival in Bethlehem
12:36 Ruth's Courage to Work
15:54 God's Providence in Ruth's Journey
26:01 Ruth's Value Beyond Social Status
30:27 Boaz's Kindness and Protection
37:15 God's Role in Blessing
45:53 Naomi's Recognition of God's Kindness
48:17 Ruth's Ongoing Relationship with Boaz
49:27 Challenge to Extend Kindness
52:01 Closing Remarks and Invitation
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Key Points
Introduction to Ruth: The Book of Ruth is a beautifully crafted story set during the time of the Judges, a period marked by violence and moral chaos in Israel. Unlike the turbulent Book of Judges, Ruth offers a narrative of hope, centered on a non-Israelite woman, making it unique in the Old Testament.
Setting the Scene: The story begins in Bethlehem ("House of Bread") during a famine, prompting Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons, Mahlon and Kilion, to relocate to Moab, a land with a fraught history with Israel. This move sets the stage for tragedy and divine providence.
Theological Context: Marlon references Romans 8:28 ("All things work together for good to those who love God") as a lens for interpreting the story, questioning whether this principle applies to the hardships faced by Naomi and Ruth.
Key Themes:
Chesed (Loving Devotion): Introduced as a central theme, chesed represents God’s covenantal love, encompassing mercy, grace, and kindness. Naomi’s prayer for her daughters-in-law exemplifies this selfless love.
God’s Presence in Hardship: The episode explores whether God is active or absent in the tragedies of Ruth Chapter 1, drawing parallels to modern life where divine purpose is often unclear.
Faith and Commitment: Ruth’s iconic declaration (Ruth 1:16-17) underscores her unwavering loyalty to Naomi and her adoption of Naomi’s God, highlighting a profound spiritual transformation.
Cultural Insights: The episode addresses the challenges of widowhood in ancient Israel, where economic and social survival often depended on remarriage, providing context for Naomi’s urging her daughters-in-law to return to Moab.
Naomi’s Bitterness: Naomi’s renaming herself "Mara" (bitter) reflects her perception of divine judgment, yet her return to Bethlehem at the start of the barley harvest signals hope.
Discussion Highlights
Historical Context: The Book of Ruth occurs concurrently with the events of Judges, though its exact timeline is unclear. The famine in Bethlehem and the family’s migration to Moab reflect desperate circumstances, possibly interpreted as divine judgment (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28).
Moab’s Significance: Moab’s negative history with Israel (Genesis 19, Numbers 25, Judges) underscores the cultural and religious barriers Ruth overcomes by choosing to follow Naomi and her God.
Ruth’s Decision: Ruth’s choice to stay with Naomi, despite the risks of being an outsider in Israel, is portrayed as an act of chesed and a testament to her faith in the God of Israel.
Life Application: Marlon challenges listeners to reflect on their own faith journeys, asking whether they can trust God through bitterness and hardship, and encourages consistent engagement with prayer, worship, and community.
Notable Quotes
Marlon: "The presence of hardships should not be taken as evidence for the absence of God."
Ruth 1:16-17: "Wherever you go, I will go... Your people shall be my people, and your God my God... The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me."
On Chesed: "It refers to acts of devotion and loving kindness that go beyond the requirements of duty."
Action Items
Read Ahead: Dive into the Book of Ruth (4 chapters) to prepare for the next episodes.
Study Resources: Visit prmarlon.com for additional notes and insights, including Marlon’s analysis of the Hebrew term for marriage in Ruth 1.
Reflect: Consider how chesed applies to your relationships. Are you loving others selflessly, without expecting reciprocation?
Engage: Join the next two episodes to see how God works through Naomi and Ruth’s story, and share your thoughts on social media using the podcast’s hashtag (check prmarlon.com for details).
Closing Thoughts
Marlon wraps up by urging listeners to "keep showing up" in faith, even when life feels bitter. He emphasizes that walking away from God won’t resolve hardships, but staying committed might reveal divine blessings. The episode ends with a call to trust in God’s ability to bring good out of difficult circumstances, setting the stage for the next installment.
Next Episode: Continue exploring the Book of Ruth, delving deeper into the themes of chesed, redemption, and God’s providence.
Connect:
Website: prmarlon.com
Social Media: Follow Marlon for updates on the sermon series and share your reflections.
May God bless you as you journey through the Book of Ruth!
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Beginning of the Millennium The Second Coming of Christ - Revelation 19:11-21 * The wicked are slain - Revelation 19:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 * The resurrection of the righteous - Also known as the “first resurrection” - Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 * The righteous are taken to heaven - 1 Thessalonians 4:17; John 14:1-3 * Satan is bound - Revelation 20:1-3 * The Earth is desolate - Revelation 20:5; Jeremiah 4:23-27*
During the Millennium Saints reign with Christ in heaven - Revelation 20:4,6; Daniel 7:27 * Judgment in heaven: Saints review the cases of the lost and the fallen angels - Revelation 20:4; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6 * Satan and his angels are bound to the inhabited earth - Revelation 20:1-3 * Earth remains desolate and in chaos - Isaiah 24:19-22*
End of the Millennium The Holy City descends - Revelation 20:9; 21:2 with Christ and the saints Zechariah 14:9 * The resurrection of the wicked - also called the “second resurrection” - Revelation 20:5, 13 * Satan is loosed, and he attacks the Holy City - Revelation 20:7-9 * Judgmentand destruction of Satan and the wicked - Revelation 20:11-15 * Earth renewed - Revelation 21:1; 2 Peter 3:10-14*
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
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Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
In this episode of the Prophecies of Hope series, Pr. Marlon explores the question, 'What happens when you die?' using biblical texts as the primary source of information. The discussion focuses on the biblical portrayal of death as sleep and draws insights from various scripture passages, including Genesis, John, Paul's letters, and Revelation. The story of Lazarus is examined to illustrate Jesus' perspective on death and resurrection. The episode also considers the theological implications of immortality and eternal life, emphasizing that these are gifts from God rather than inherent human traits. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their understanding of death in light of these biblical teachings.
00:00 Introduction and Series Overview
00:21 Transition to Deeper Prophecy
01:18 The State of the Dead: Biblical Insights
07:36 The Story of Lazarus: A Case Study
11:23 Jesus and the Concept of Death
15:23 Martha and Mary's Faith Amidst Grief
21:00 Jesus Weeps: Understanding Divine Compassion
24:06 Understanding Suffering and Trusting God
24:59 Jesus at the Tomb of Lazarus
26:51 The Miracle of Raising Lazarus
28:14 The Concept of Death as Sleep
32:17 Paul's Teachings on Death and Resurrection
35:41 The Gift of Eternal Life
45:22 The Tree of Life and Eternal Life
48:37 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Topics
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
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Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
0:14 Introduction to the Podcast
0:51 Theme of God is Love
2:58 Understanding Love and Its Implications
6:10 The Fear of Loving
7:30 Shaping Children's Understanding of God
8:36 Love's Challenge and Commandments
9:21 God's Definition of Love
11:03 The Loving Option in Practice
15:48 Jesus' Sacrifice and Love
18:41 Trusting God with Love
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Connect with me here.
Explore living a fulfilling life on the Narrow Way guided by the Golden Rule. Discover how treating others propels personal growth & spiritual fulfillment.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
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Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Challenges with identifying what God is doingLuke 1 gives us some great insights into how God works and His habit of subverting our expectations.
Revelation and Inspiration
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
— Luke 1:1-4 NKJV
Luke’s introduction indicates that he did not simply sit at a table and suddenly his eyes rolled back and he began to write having no conscious thought of what he was doing. Instead Luke describes the process more like historical research. I do not believe this diminishes Luke's inspiration, but rather, it helps us better understand how God works. God does not simply cancel out our personality, but He uses us and our gifts, abilities, and skills. God chose Luke and used Luke, but Luke had to do his research and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit he was able to write the masterpiece we have today, the books of Luke and Acts. Interestingly Luke wrote the most words of any single author of the New Testament. Though Paul wrote more books, Luke’s two books are longer than all of Paul’s writings combined.
Zacharias and Elizabeth
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
— Luke 1:5-7 NKJV
Luke then introduces us to Zacharias and Elizabeth. Zecharias was a priest, Elizabeth is a descendant of Aaron and both of them are righteous before God, they live in obedience to God, and no one can accuse them of doing anything wrong. Here we have a couple that as far as everyone is concerned is blameless. They are righteous before God, so their right behavior is not just for show, like so many Pharisees of the time. This does not mean that they were sinless. They still need a Savior, but they are not living a life of rebellion. Interestingly this is a longer and more detailed introduction than Mary gets.
Luke 1:7 would surprise us. We tend to expect those who are faithful to God to live lives of ease, always promptly receiving everything they ask from God. Yet this amazing couple has been waiting a lifetime to have a child, and they have not. Luke 1:25 reveals that Elizabeth felt reproached most of her life. I understand this to mean that people talked about her behind her back and perhaps made unkind comments.
Among Oriental peoples childlessness has ever been looked upon as a great affliction. Often the Jews considered it to be divine punishment for sin (see on Lev. 20:20).
[…]That is, the misfortune of being childless presumably, according to the Jews, the greatest misfortune that could come to a woman (Gen. 30:1; 1 Sam. 1:5–8; see on Luke 1:7). Barrenness was commonly thought to be a visitation of God (see Gen. 16:2; 30:1, 2; 1 Sam. 1:5, 6), and prayer was in such circumstances made for His favor (see Gen. 25:21; 1 Sam. 1:10–12), that He would “remember” those thus afflicted. When conception occurred following prayers such as these it was said that God “remembered” them (see Gen. 30:22; 1 Sam. 1:19). Throughout the Scriptures children are thought of as being a blessing bestowed by God (see Gen. 33:5; 48:4; Ex. 23:26; Joshua 24:3; Ps. 113:9; 127:3; 128:3). In contrast, among heathen nations children were commonly exposed or offered as burnt offerings to their gods.
— Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 672, 278
Imagine Elizabeth going through life not only carrying the burden and sadness of not being able to have children and also having to deal with social challenges. It is likely that she was excluded and looked down upon by her peers. Imagine living a righteous life but being treated as less than, as morally inferior, and rejected by God? Imagine people gossiping behind your back wondering what kinds of secret sins you must be committing for God to curse you with barrenness.
Elizabeth did not have to deal with this for a few days, weeks, or months, but her entire life. She knew that she was faithful to God, God knew that, but apparently everyone else had their doubts. Elizabeth lived most of her life carrying that burden, perhaps wondering why God refused to give her a child. I wonder if she felt forgotten, rejected, not good enough, inferior, less than…
Yet, throughout the years, Elizabeth and her husband Zacharias remained faithful to God.
While people were praying…
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
— Luke 1:8-17 NKJV
Isn’t it amazing how often special things happen during prayer? After 400 years of silence, God shows up to raise up a prophet who will prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.
Are you sure?
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
— Luke 1:18-20 NKJV
God has been silent for so long, and Zacharias is so old that he is not sure God can still answer his prayer and bless him and Elizabeth with a son. Gabriel reminds Zacharias of God’s power by making him mute until everything the angel says takes place.
Meet Mary
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
— Luke 1:26-34 NKJV
We are not told anything about Mary’s character/behavior, as opposed to Zacharias and Elizabeth who are described as righteous before God and blameless. All we know about Mary is that she is a virgin and she is betrothed.
With God nothing is impossible.
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
— Luke 1:35-38 NKJV
Nothing is impossible for God, and Mary believes and submits to God’s will.
Mary becomes pregnant
I imagine life got very awkward for Mary. Imagine with me what it would be like for a young lady to become pregnant before she is married and for her to insist that she is pregnant with the Messiah and that she is still a virgin. What percentage of her family and friends believed and rejoiced with her? Sure out of all the women who ever lived on earth God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah. Yeah, right, who would believe that?
I imagine life became difficult for Mary. Judgmental looks, disapproval, little jokes, being left out, loneliness, doubt, fear, sadness, confusion…
Who would think that playing such an important role in God’s plan of salvation would be so difficult? Elizabeth’s son could not have been born earlier because his mission was directly connected with the mission of the Messiah and the Messiah had to be born at the right time for prophecy to be fulfilled. Everything was going according to God’s plan, each thing happening at the right time. But from Elizabeth and Zacharias’ perspective, it was a lifetime of waiting. Humanity has been waiting since the fall (Genesis 3 someOne is Coming) for the Messiah. Israel has been waiting for hundreds of years. Now it is finally happening, but instead of it being easy and making perfect sense it has been incredibly challenging. Zecharias is mute, Elizabeth is finally pregnant, and now Mary is pregnant but not yet married.
There is one person on earth who is able to minister to Mary in her hour of incredible difficulty. One woman knows what it is like to suffer reproach when she has done nothing wrong. Mary decides to visit Elizabeth.
Blessed are you
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
— Luke 1:39-45 NKJV
Elizabeth’s unborn child responds to the voice of Mary. Baby John, though not yet born is so full of the Holy Spirit, so connected to God that he responds to the voice of the mother of the Messiah. Elizabeth is also filled with the Holy Spirit and she says what Mary needs to hear “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” If Mary was doubting or feeling down, sad, or lonely, now she is reminded that God indeed is in this. Despite all the challenges and everyone’s opinions, God is directly involved in what is happening.
Challenges in understanding what God is doingGod is saving the world, but to the religious community at the time it looks like sin.
Elizabeth and Zacharias not having a child looked like sin. Others looked at them as cursed by God, and if God was displeased with them it must be because they were sinners. The other priests and their wives and children may not have known what Elizabeth and Zacharias did wrong, but they were sure they must have done something because clearly God had not blessed them with a child. Perhaps in their minds, they believed that Zacharias and Elizabeth could fool everyone except God, surely they must have some terrible secret sin.
Mary was betrothed to Joseph and now was pregnant. Joseph knew that the child was not his. Matthew 1:19 says that Joseph had plans to divorce Mary secretly, but an angel appeared to him in a dream.
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
— Matthew 1:20-21 NKJV
God was working through two families, more specifically through two women, to bring about the salvation of the entire world. Yet most members of the religious community considered those women to be sinners and outside of God’s favor.
How careful we must be to judge who is in or out of God’s favor. Imagine gossiping about the mother of the Messiah. Imagine if Mary and Elizabeth kept a list and then told their sons to exclude these people from their message of hope and salvation. Imagine someone coming to John the Baptist to be baptized and John saying, “Hey I know you! Weren’t you mean to my mother Elizabeth? Sorry, you’re not allowed to be baptized.”
Imagine Jesus healing people, then someone comes up and Jesus says, “Didn’t you spread rumors about my mother and her pregnancy? Sorry, not only will I now heal you, you will also not receive eternal life.”
Of course, this did not happen. But we should never consider anyone outside of God’s plan. God works in mysterious ways. All we can do is make sure we seek Him daily and be kind and generous to those around us.
Coming AgainI have another post that goes into more detail regarding Jesus’ mission as the Messiah and how His work was divided into two phases. The first phase was for Him to come and die for our sins. But there is a second part where Jesus establishes His eternal reign of peace.
Just like the people in Jesus’ time knew that it was time for the Messiah to be born, we are also aware that it is time for Jesus to come again. In the same way that many of Jesus’ contemporaries missed that He was the Messiah, we are in danger of misunderstanding and misinterpreting the prophecies about His second coming.
We can become so comfortable with our way of doing things that we miss what God is doing. We can become so distracted by power games and human-made rules and traditions that we forget what God says in the Bible.
Practical ApplicationI don’t know what your year was like. I don’t know what you’re going through right now. Maybe you feel like God is one million miles away. Maybe you feel like you have received a lifetime of “not yet” or just plain “no!” Maybe you feel judged by your faith community. Maybe others consider you less then, or maybe you consider yourself inferior to those around you.
I want to encourage you to look to God and seek His will. Do not give up on God. God loves you and He will do the right thing at the right time. I wish I could tell you it would be easy, Jesus and John the Baptist did amazing work, but neither one of them had easy or long lives. Elizabeth and Mary did not live easy or comfortable lives.
I cannot promise you an easy life. I cannot say that God will give you an easy life. All I can say is that your best possible life is found in alignment with God’s will. Rebellion against God only makes life more difficult. Following God does not guarantee that things will get easier, but rebelling against Him guarantees that life will become more difficult.
Trust in God, He loves you. Trust in His timing, He knows what is best.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
— Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
The Two Advents of the Messiah Priest-KingIn this portion, I borrow heavily from John C. Peckham’s book God With Us
Christmas is a big deal in the United States during the month of December. There is much debate over whether the celebrations are religious or secular, but there is a heightened awareness of the birth of Jesus. In this post, I will not go into the debate about the date or the proper way to celebrate Christmas. Instead, I want to pursue a different question.
If the ultimate King has come already, why is there not yet a kingdom of perfect love and justice? If the Prince of Peace has come, why are there still wars? Why do we experience hunger, pestilence, persecution, shootings, death, suffering… the list goes on. Why does Israel not rule the world? Why are we not experiencing a kingdom of peace?
If Jesus was just a wise teacher, a great prophet, an avatar of Vishnu, or the reincarnation of Krishna, then were the Bible prophecies wrong? In other words, if we are not experiencing peace now is there any hope of it ever coming in the future?
We need to understand that the Messiah's work was to take place in two stages.In the first stage, the Messiah needed to come as the Lamb slain for the world's sins. The sacrifice was necessary for providing forgiveness to repentant sinners without compromising justice, demonstrating God's righteousness and love, and thereby defeating the devil's allegations. This is what Paul was describing in his letter to the Romans.
whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
— Romans 3:25-26 NKJVBut God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
— Romans 5:8 NKJV
John the Baptist was also aware of this because when he saw Jesus he said:
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
— John 1:29b NKJV
I also believe that Abraham prophesied this, perhaps inadvertently, when he told Isaac that God would provide for Himself a lamb.
And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
— Genesis 22:8 NKJV
Interestingly in the story of Genesis 22 we never see the lamb, Abraham lifts his eyes and sees a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. The lamb that God will provide is not mentioned until John’s announcement in John 1:29. So I see a direct link between the two accounts. (For more on this story see my post Akedah.)
In the second stage, the Messiah will return as the Lion of Judah, uprooting injustice and eradicating evil, ushering in the final age with no sin, suffering, or death.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
— Revelation 21:3-4 NKJV
Christ's two Advents correspond to two stages in which Christ defeats and eliminates Satan in the cosmic conflict.
- Christ's sacrifice on the cross makes atonement and legally defeats the devil's allegations in the heavenly court.
- Christ will execute the final judgment against the domain of darkness and eradicate evil.
These correspond to two stages of atonement, wherein all the enemy's allegations are first defeated in the heavenly court, and only thereafter is judgment executed.
Adam and Eve freely chose to disobey God despite God’s warning. (Genesis 3 see my post Paradise Lost) For God to simply forgive them would indicate that there was a problem with God’s law. If God’s law is indeed good and perfect (Psalm 19:7; Romans 3:31;7:7,12, Matthew 5:17-18 see my post, Law Fulfilled) He must save us (humanity) without breaking or doing away with His own law. That is why Jesus had to come and die, fulfilling the demand of the law and freely offering us the forgiveness He purchased by dying in our place. (Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:13)
Many awaiting the Messiah in the first century, however, conflated the two Advents. They were correct that the Messiah would come as the conquering King (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44). However, they failed to recognize that the Messiah would first come as the suffering servant (Isa. 53), the Lamb slain for the world's sins (Exod. 12:22-23; Isa. 53:7; 1 Cor. 5:7), whom the ancient prophesies foretold would be "cut off" in the first century (Dan. 9:26).
Before the promised Son would crush the serpent's head, the serpent would first strike Him (Gen. 3:15; cf. Ps. 22:14-18; Isa. 50:6). Before the Messiah would destroy the devil's kingdom, He would first reclaim rulership of this world in a way the selfish rulers of this world would never imagine (1 Cor. 2:7-8)—coming as a humble servant and giving Himself over to torture and death in the ultimate display of unselfish love and righteousness (Rom. 5:8; 3:25-26; Phil. 2:6-8).
The first stage of the Messiah’s work was incredibly important. However, if we stop there, we are stuck living in a sinful world indefinitely. Many of the believers in Jesus’ time (the Jews) missed the Messiah because they focused on their favorite prophecies, the Messiah as a conquering King, and disregarded the prophecies that mentioned the Messiah as a suffering servant. If we only talk about the first stage of the work of the Messiah and disregard the second we are in danger of missing the second coming of the Messiah.
The Mission of ChristYou might be familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus, often referred to as the Christmas story. Mary was a virgin, but the angel told her she was to bear a son. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end" (Luke 1:32-33).
These words revealed that Mary’s Son was to be the promised one, the Messiah, the son of David (see Matthew 9:27; 12:23; 21:9, 15; 22:14).
The coming of Jesus fulfilled multiple prophecies about the Messiah (see John C. Peckham’s God With Us chapter 3), which in Hebrew means "anointed one." According to the ancient prophecies, the Messiah would be a son of Abraham and a son of David (meaning a descendant of both) and would fulfill the covenant promises made to Abraham and David, including the promise of an everlasting Davidic kingdom (see 2 Sam. 7:13; cf. Jer. 23:5-6). This covenantal Son of David would also be the Son promised to Adam and Eve, the "Seed" of the woman whom God prophesied would crush the head of the serpent, later identified as Satan (see Gen. 3:15, NKJV; cf. Rom. 16:20; Rev. 12:9 see my post someOne is coming).
To understand the importance of the Messiah's coming as the promised son of David who would fulfill God's covenant promises, we need to remember the situation the people of Israel were in.
Historical/Cultural ContextIsrael, a nation blessed beyond measure, had been chosen by God as His covenant people to bless all nations (Gen. 12:3). God raised up Israel as His allotment—His inheritance whom He called "My son, My firstborn" (Exod. 4:22). Through Israel, God would reclaim the entire world from enemy rulership, the rulership given over to Satan by Adam and Eve at the Fall (cf. Gen. 1:28; John 12:31).
But, in the first century AD, the children of Abraham were suffering under oppression by the Roman Empire. For centuries, they had been ruled over by a succession of brutal empires-Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and now Rome (just as prophesied in Dan. 7). They desperately awaited the promised Messiah, whom they expected to deliver them from Rome just as God had delivered Israel from oppressive enemies countless times before, putting the "gods" of the nations to shame.
When the Messiah came, they thought, God would make His presence known, wrongs would be righted, and their oppressors would be overthrown. The sum of all their hopes and dreams was bound up with the Messiah's coming.
Imagine (if you can) that your family has been suffering severe hardship and oppression for ages, but an ancient contract stipulates that once a special promised son comes, you and your family will be freed from oppression, inherit a massive estate with enormous wealth, and enjoy vibrant health, prosperity, and bliss. What many in Israel were hoping and waiting for was a bit like that. They believed that the coming Messiah would free them from centuries of imperial oppression and usher them into a kingdom of unimaginable prosperity.
When Jesus came but did not break the yoke of Rome, many were profoundly disappointed. The first coming of Jesus did not match their expectations of the Messiah, who was envisioned as the warrior king who would overthrow Rome. They looked for the conquering lion of Judah, but Jesus came as the lamb led to slaughter. Jesus came not as the conquering king ushering in a glorious earthly reign but as the crucified king who suffered what seemed like a shameful, cursed death.
Yet, as Jesus explained many times before His crucifixion and further explained after His resurrection, the ancient prophesies foretold that the Messiah must suffer, die, and rise on the third day (Luke 24:6-8, 25-27, 44-48). Jesus was indeed the promised Son. He would fulfill the covenant promises of old. But He would do so in two phases and by way of two comings— a first Advent and a second Advent.
Jesus was the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King.Jesus fulfills the prophecies of the coming of the greatest prophet, the highest high priest, and the King of kings.
The Mosaic covenant was given through a specially appointed and divinely attested prophet, Moses. And God promised to send another prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15), a promise that ultimately referred to Jesus (Acts 3:22). As the Prophet of prophets, Jesus revealed God to humans, being Himself the ultimate revelation of God (cf. John 14:9).
In the Mosaic covenant, God also made a way to dwell with His people, despite their sinfulness. Without mediation, the presence of God's holiness would destroy sin and everything tainted by it. As the earthly place of such mediation, God established an earthly sanctuary, which was a copy of the sanctuary in heaven (Exod. 25:40; Heb. 8:5), "the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man" (Heb. 8:2). To minister in the earthly sanctuary, God appointed a priesthood from the descendants of Levi.
Much earlier, specially appointed humans functioned as priests (in Eden and beyond). And a priest named Melchizedek appeared to Abraham (Gen. 14:18-20 see my post When Trouble Comes). In the fullness of time, Jesus came as the ultimate priest-identified as the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) and a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:13-17; cf. Ps. 110:4).
Even now, Jesus serves as our "high priest" in the heavenly sanctuary, "a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man" (Heb. 8:1-2; cf. 9:11-12). Through His work as our high priest, we can "approach the throne of grace with confidence" (Heb. 4:15-16), for He "always lives to make intercession for" us (Heb. 7:25) as "the mediator of a new covenant" (Heb. 9:15).
In the Davidic covenant, God promised a Davidic kingdom that would never end. The line of merely human kings descending from David failed,— but God's promise did not fail. The coming Messiah, the Son of David, would not fail. He would fulfill the promises as the Davidic King whose reign would never end. This Davidic King would take up the failed and forfeited kingship of Adam, coming as the second Adam—the seed of the woman, who crushes the serpent's head (Gen. 3:15), fulfilling the human side of the covenant for humanity, thereby reclaiming the rulership of this planet that Adam lost and establishing an unending kingdom of perfect love and justice, peace and flourishing. The work of Jesus-the King of kings and Lord of lords—fulfills these promises. And we, humanity, will experience this fully when Jesus comes again in the clouds with great power and glory.
Hindsight is 20/20Looking back we wonder how the Jews could have possibly missed the Messiah, it all seems so obvious to us now. One lesson I take away from the reaction of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time is a reminder to remain humble. I do not want to be so sure of what God will do that I miss what He is actually doing. It is good to know what we can be sure of and what is a personal interpretation or preference.
It is important to study prophecy (see my series Watching, Waiting, Ready), and to humbly watch for what God is doing. We can be sure of the general direction, it is the small details that get us in trouble. Jesus fulfilled enough prophecies for everyone to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was indeed the Messiah. But they rejected Him because He challenged them and their culture, threatening their power. May we remain humble and open to what God is doing. May we familiarize ourselves with prophecy and join God in what He is doing these last days.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Biblical LeadershipBefore diving into the topic of ordination, it is important to establish God’s view of leadership and I believe Jesus makes this abundantly clear in the following passage.
17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 “What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
— Matthew 20:17-28 NKJV (bold mine)
OrdinationThis week we ordained three new elders at our church, and I wanted to briefly touch on this topic and how it relates to power and authority. To be clear, the word “ordination” does not appear in the Bible in the sense that there is no Greek or Hebrew word that corresponds to how we use it today. However, there are some translations that use the word ordination. Below is a quote that goes into more detail.
The word for ordination appears in Exod 29:22, 26, 27, 31, 34; Lev 7:37, 8:22, and 28, describing Moses’ appointing of Aaron and his sons as priests, and the sacrifices used in ordination. All of these passages include the same Hebrew term, מִלֻּא (millu', “filling”), which can also refer to the installation of priests (see BDB 571). The KJV, NKJV, Douay-Rheims 1899, and ASV translate the word as “consecration”; LEB uses “ordination” for only the Exod 29 verses, and “consecration” for the three Leviticus passages. While these differences may indicate a legitimate translation issue, they also highlight the difficulty of discussing postbiblical Jewish and Christian practices of ordination, which lack precise biblical antecedents. No biblical Hebrew or Greek term corresponds one-to-one with the contemporary use of “ordination” (Collins, “Ordination,” 339).
—Thomas Scott Caulley, “Ordination,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016). (bold mine)
I have met many people who are very passionate about the topic of ordination, and though I will not do a deep dive into in this post I do want to clarify that this topic is not as simple as some appear to believe. Perhaps you are thinking,
But what about the appointment of the 70 elders and the consecration of the Levites?To which I would reply, great point. Let’s briefly take a look at what happened on those occasions.
The 70 EldersThe appointment of the 70 elders who will help Moses is recorded in Numbers 11:16–25. The Lord tells Moses to gather 70 elders who he knows to be elders of the people and officers over them and bring them to the tabernacle of meeting. God says “I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.” (Numbers 20:17b NKJV) When the spirit comes upon them, they prophesy, but they do not do so again (Num 11:25). Notice that this account does not mention the laying on of hands.
The LevitesIn Numbers 8:5–26, God instructs Moses to separate the Levites from the other Israelites for service at the tent of meeting. Moses cleanses them by sprinkling them with water of purification, and then they shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. After Moses sacrifices a young bull and grain offering, the Lord commands Moses to bring the Levites before him at the tent of meeting where the Israelites “lay their hands” (סָמְכ֧וּ, somkhu) on the heads of the Levites. Aaron presents the Levites as an “elevation offering” from the Israelites (Num 8:10–11 NRSV). Here, the laying on of hands is used to “elevate” the Levites before the Lord, though not as a sacrifice. Notice that this is not the consecration of an individual, but of the tribe, and the consecration becomes hereditary. (for more see Brisco, “Antecedents,” 167 and Thomas Scott Caulley, “Ordination,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
These instances are helpful in giving us an example of leaders being chosen to serve in specific ways, but you can also see that neither of these examples is identical to the church’s modern practice of ordination. A son of a pastor, elder, or deacon is not automatically ordained to ministry like the Levites. Regarding the 70 elders, they were already elders, they were already leaders, and what changed is that God gave them an extra portion of the same Spirit that was upon Moses. Moses did not ordain them, he gathered them, and God filled them with the Spirit. Feel free to read these passages for yourself in their context and share with me any further insights you discover.
Moses’ Appointment of JoshuaOne of the events that has a greater influence on the modern understanding of ordination could perhaps be Moses’ appointment of Joshua as his successor (Num 27:15–23; Deut 31:7–23; Josh 1:1–9). These passages provide us with an important referent for later ordination practices. However, the accounts vary regarding the “laying on of hands” and its significance. In Numbers, God appoints Joshua, “a man in whom is the Spirit,” and instructs Moses to lay his hand upon him (Num 27:18 ESV). In Deuteronomy 31, Moses tells Joshua to “be strong and bold, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land” (Deut 31:7 NRSV), and God Himself commissions Joshua with similar words (Deut 31:14–15, 23). However, this account does not mention laying on of hands. Only later, in Deut 34:9, is Joshua said to be “full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him” (NRSV). The text makes it clear that Moses confers his authority and office on Joshua by laying his hands on him.
Though Moses’ appointment of Joshua may be referenced regarding ordination, in our modern practice we do not have a retiring pastor lay hands on the new pastor who will take his place. So once again, though we can see the practice of the laying on of hands it cannot be compared to our modern practice. Also, Joshua did not appoint his successor in the same manner. In the book of Judges, we have God raising judges according to the needs of Israel. The judges were not ordained, and neither did they ordain judges to follow them.
What about the New Testament?If we want to trace the idea of “ordination” as a biblical principle then we would be interested in Greek translation of the Old Testament and what words were used with regards to ordination or the laying on of hands. The Greek translation of the Old Testament is called the Septuagint. Below is a paragraph that goes into some detail regarding ordination and the septuagint.
The Septuagint renders the Hebrew word for ordination as τελείωσις (teleiōsis) (Exod 20 LXX; Lev 7:37; 8:22, 28 LXX). This carries the sense of “completion, accomplishment” (Judith 10:9 LXX), “perfection, fulfillment” (LSJ 1770), or “validation” (NETS). Sirach 45:15 records that Moses ordained (ἐπλήρωσεν, eplērōsen…τὰς χεῖρας, tas cheiras) Aaron and anointed him with holy oil. Here, the verb “ordained” literally means “[Moses] filled the hands” of Aaron (or “filled his hands”; NETS), an apparent translation of the Hebrew מלא (ml'). Although Daube stresses the alleged distinctions between סָמַךְ (samakh, “to lean, lay, rest”) and שִׂים (sim, “to put, place”), the Septuagint typically translates both terms with ἐπιτίθημι (epitithēmi, “put upon, place upon”; Daube, Rabbinic Judaism; Ferguson, “Laying on of Hands,” 1; “Jewish and Christian Ordination,” 13).
— Thomas Scott Caulley, “Ordination,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
However, as I mentioned earlier, these terms are not used consistently referring to ordination. Ordination as we practice it today is quite different. Once again, this topic is not as simple as some would suggest. Here are some of the challenges regarding the Greek words used regarding “ordination.”
As with the Hebrew, the Greek word ἐπιτίθημι (epitithēmi) is generic—a common term for all kinds of putting or placing as well as the laying on of hands. Likewise, the term “laying on of hands” in Greek has varying applications. For example, in the Genesis Apocryphon from Qumran, laying on of hands is attested in Abraham’s exorcism of an evil spirit from the Egyptian king (1QapGen XX 22, 29). By contrast, Philo says the 70 elders in Numbers did not specifically receive the Spirit of God by Moses’ laying on of hands (Philo, On Giants, 24). Elsewhere, Philo discusses Jacob laying his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh, but does not mention the laying on of hands in Joshua’s ordination (Philo, Allegorical Interpretation, 3.90; On the Virtues, 66; Ehrhardt, “Ordination,” 125). Josephus uses ἐπιτίθημι (epitithēmi) for the laying of hands on a sacrificial animal (Josephus, Antiquities, 9.268), as well as laying hands on the head of an accused criminal (Antiquities 16.365).
— Ibid.
The Sanhedrin?Some bring in the Sanhedrin as a possible example of ordination but I don’t think it’s a strong argument. In the case of the Sanhedrin, ordination meant appointment to the position. The Mishnah gives no indication that the laying on of hands was understood to confer the Spirit. As with later rabbinical tradition, ordination to the Sanhedrin was an appointment to a legal post with no clerical or priestly function. Thus, this type of ordination differed from the later practice of Christian ordination, which authorized the person to duties like administering sacraments (Ehrhardt, “Ordination,” 125–26 see also Thomas Scott Caulley, “Ordination,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
New Testament Church LeadershipThis is probably the part that you’re really interested in. But I felt it necessary to point out that there isn’t a clear model that we see used throughout the scriptures. But let’s take a look at what leadership looked like in the New Testament.
The way I see it, there is a fundamental difference between New Testament church leadership roles as functions and later Christian ideas of leadership positions as offices. This creates difficulties in the discussion of ordination in the New Testament. Leadership roles in the New Testament churches may have been related more strongly to giftedness (Eph 4:7–16; Warkentin, Ordination). For example, in the Pastoral Letters, the church leadership roles are defined by functions, not offices. First Timothy 3:1 describes someone aspiring to “supervision” (LEB), where the term (ἐπισκοπή, episkopē) here means “engagement in oversight” (compare 1 Tim 3:1 NIV). In a more technical sense, it can also refer to the office of bishop or overseer and is sometimes translated as “whoever aspires to the office of bishop” (RSV, NRSV; for “overseer,” see ESV and NASB). Paul, Timothy, and Titus (see Titus 1:5; compare 1 Tim 5:22) appointed leaders for various churches, but these appointments are not described as ordination (see Stepp, Leadership). (for more see Thomas Scott Caulley, “Ordination,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
Laying on of handsThe laying on of hands does not seem to be related to ordination or positions of leadership, rather we see it in the context of healing and blessing.
Touching (especially laying on of hands) (ἐπιτίθημι, epitithēmi) was common in healing (Mark 5:23; 6:5; 7:32; 8:23, 25; Culpepper, “Biblical Basis,” 477). On the other hand, while Jesus appoints 12 disciples and later commissions 11 in Matt 28:18–20, the New Testament does not record that He lays hands on them. The early Christians used laying on of hands—often accompanied by prayer—as a symbol of a blessing (see Ferguson, “Jewish and Christian Ordination,” 15).
— Thomas Scott Caulley, “Ordination,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016). (bold mine)
The Appointment of the Seven DeaconsIn Acts 6:1–6, the Twelve need help serving widows in the community, and they appoint seven deacons. The verb for “appoint” (καθίστημι, kathistēmi) used here is also used elsewhere for official appointments (Acts 7:10, 27, 35; 17:15; Titus 1:5). Some theologians believe the text implies the whole congregation laid hands on them (Culpepper, “Biblical Basis,” 477).
Some claim this account shows that “Luke viewed this ceremony as (based on) the account of Moses’ appointment of Joshua” (Culpepper, “Biblical Basis,” 478). There are parallels with the appointment of a person or persons having the Spirit, who is “set before/stand before” those in charge, and on whom those in authority lay hands (for example Numbers 27:16–23; compare with Acts 6:3–6;). However, the seven deacons are not made equal with and do not replace the apostles; therefore this is “neither a Pharisaic nor a priestly ordination, but a lay ordination” (Culpepper, “Biblical Basis,” 478). In that light, the appointment of the seven deacons may not truly be ordination as practiced in some churches, in the sense of apostolic succession.
My ApproachI see the appointment of the seven deacons (Acts 6:1-7) as a model that use in my local church. I look for those who are of good reputation, full of the holy spirit and wisdom who may be appointed over specific areas of ministry. In this context, those chosen were chosen because they were already showing evidence of having the Holy Spirit. In this case, I see the prayer and the laying on of hands as a special blessing. The seven were chosen by their community to serve their community and they were prayed over and hands were laid on them with the desire to bless them in a special way for the task ahead.
I understand that what we do at the local church is unique and based on our current needs, and even though it is based on biblical practices and principles there is no direct equivalent in the Bible. Each church does it (slightly?) differently, but the idea of order, organization, responsibilities, and special prayers for blessing is biblical. We want to be orderly and organized for mission. People are chosen to help further ministry, to serve, and to aid in advancing the kingdom of God.
The point I want to be clear is that ordination is not about magical powers and status, but rather about responsibility, trust, and blessings for the advancement of the mission.
Jesus gave us the mission
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
— Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
We should never lose sight of the mission. The organization is necessary and helpful so long as it is aimed at accomplishing the mission. Leaders are appointed locally due to felt needs and a recognition that the leader already possesses the skillset, giftedness, and evidence of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish the task at hand. We pray and lay hands on the appointed leaders because we desire to support them and want them to experience a greater blessing that will further equip them to succeed in ministry.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Connect with me here.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Connect with me here.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Connect with me here.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Connect with me.
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Connect with me here.
This post is part of my Join Me On The Mountainside series.
What are your thoughts on prayer?
How do you feel about praying?
Do you feel like you pray powerful prayers?
Or are your prayers weak?
Are you interested in praying more powerful prayers?
What is a powerful prayer?
Maybe we should clarify that before diving deeper, right?
Do you want to know the secrets to forcing Almighty God to do your bidding?
Is that what you understand a powerful prayer to look like?
Prayer is a vast and complex topic and I will not cover all there is to prayer in this post, but I do want to highlight some key principles that Jesus highlights in His famous Sermon on the Mount. These key principles should be more than enough to set you on a path to praying more powerful prayers. (click here for other posts on prayer)
I have noticed that people seem more open to prayer now than in times past. Though many may be weary of organized religion those same individuals are often open to prayer. People may not be interested in attending your church but they are likely open to having you and even your church members pray for them.
Those who consider themselves non-religious may be receptive to prayer, but are you comfortable praying with others?
On the one hand, it can be very easy to pray, you just talk to God. You can close your eyes, you can kneel, you can put your hands together and bow your head, but you can also pray without doing any of those things.
So, how often do you pray?
When do you pray?
What do you pray for?
With these questions in mind, let us turn to the words of Jesus found in Matthew 6.
When you pray…
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
- Matthew 6:5 NKJV
Jesus’ words continue on a similar theme from the first five verses of Matthew 6. (see The Heart of Worship) His main concern is that your prayers should not be hypocritical, they should not be a performance with the objective of being seen by others. Jesus is not condemning praying standing up. The issue is not the physical position of the one praying, but the motive, to be seen by others.
In the Bible people pray prostrate (Num 16:22; Josh 5:14; Dan 8:17; Matt 26:39; Rev 11:16), kneeling (2 Chronicles 6:13; Dan 6:10; Luke 22:41, Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5), sitting (2 Sam 7:18), and standing (1 Sam 1:26; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 13).
— D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 165.
Another thing Jesus is not doing is forbidding public prayers. (see Matthew 18:19–20; Acts 1:24; 3:1; 4:24–30).
My understanding of Jesus’ words is that if you pray in order to be seen by others, your prayer becomes a performance, and you become an actor or a hypocrite (The word hypocrite ultimately came into English from the Greek word hypokrites, which means “an actor” or “a stage player.” merriam-webster.com)
The matter comes down to a simple question. When you pray, are you more interested in God’s approval or human praise? Are you truly seeking God or merely a reputation of being a spiritual person?
But you, when you pray…
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
- Matthew 6:6 NKJV
The private prayer is a genuine conversation with God. There is no audience, no one to impress, no one to judge your words, just you and God. Though public prayers have their place and are not forbidden, they are not enough for a vibrant walk with God. Personal, private, prayers are key for spiritual growth.
Jesus’ words concerning prayer echo His words regarding charitable deeds (Matthew 6:4) because the principle remains the same. Religious behavior should not be a performance for a human audience, but rather an outflowing of a sincere heart that loves God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. Focus on God and He will take care of all your needs, don’t worry about what others think about your religious behavior or spiritual disciplines.
Prayer should be a sincere and honest conversation with God.
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.— Steps to Christ p.93
Vain Repetitions?
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
— Matthew 6:7-8 NKJV
Jesus warns against meaningless repetitions in prayer.
Jesus is not condemning prayer any more than he is condemning almsgiving (v. 2) or fasting (v. 16). Nor is he forbidding all long prayers or all repetition. He himself prayed at length (Luke 6:12), repeated himself in prayer (Matt 26:44; unlike Ecclesiasticus 7:14!), and told a parable to show his disciples that “they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). His point is that his disciples should avoid meaningless, repetitive prayers offered under the misconception that mere length will make prayers efficacious.
— D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 166.
I don’t know for sure, but I wonder if Jesus was warning against mantras. To the best of my understanding, mantras are believed to be sacred utterances or phrases that possess spiritual power, and their repetition is thought to bring about mental, emotional, and physical benefits.
Related to the repetition of mantras is the prayer wheel. According to an article posted on the Khan Academy website
Prayer wheels are an example of Buddhist technology. This technology allowed the faithful to multiply the number of prayers they expressed by millions. This is because prayer wheels are filled with copies of mantras (sacred spells associated with particular deities) such as the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, “om mani padme hum.” The mantra is printed on very thin tissue paper as many times as possible, in some cases numbering in the millions. The paper is wrapped around a spindle and covered with a protective cylinder. In recent years, microfilm technology has allowed billions even trillions of prayers to be invoked with just one turn of the wheel.
— khanacademy.org
Jesus tells us to avoid repeating a memorized prayer or mantra. But Jesus also says that the Father already knows what we need before we ask. So do we even need to pray? If you were to continue to read you would come to texts like Matthew 7:7-8 where Jesus encourages His followers to ask, seek, and knock. James 4:2 tells us that we do not have because we do not ask, and in Luke 18:1-8 Jesus tells us to always pray and not give up. Not to mention 1 Thessalonians 5:17 where we are called to pray without ceasing.
When we read the Bible we see that there is value in prayer, but Jesus is clear that we are not telling God something that He doesn’t already know. The value of prayer, in my understanding, must be relational.
We do not pray because God is ignorant of our needs. Mindless repetition of a memorized prayer does not benefit us. So when we pray it must be about connecting with God, opening our hearts to Him, and deepening our relationship.
We do not pray to force God to do our bidding. We do not pray to inform God as if He is ignorant of our needs, so prayer must be about something else. It must be intentional, a conversation, and it does not need to be seen by others. It must be a sincere and personal conversation with God.
We may commune with God in our hearts; we may walk in companionship with Christ. When engaged in our daily labor, we may breathe out our heart's desire, inaudible to any human ear; but that word cannot die away into silence, nor can it be lost. Nothing can drown the soul's desire. It rises above the din of the street, above the noise of machinery. It is God to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard.
— Gospel Workers (1915 ed.)
Personal ExperienceI recently returned home from the International Pathfinder Camporee which was held in Gilette, Wyoming in 2024. I was there with our local Pathfinder club, the Boise Ponderosa Pathfinder Club. We (82 from our club) joined over 60,000 Pathfinders, staff, and volunteers from all over the world, for a week of camping packed with activities. My wife, my two kids, and I, like the majority of those there, were sleeping in a tent and praying for good weather. Usually, if there is a Pathfinder camporee, there will be rain. This time, however, we heard that a terrible thunderstorm and strong winds were headed our way.
I prayed by myself for God to grant us good weather. I also prayed with our family and with our entire club. There were probably over 60,000 people praying for good weather. Do you want to know what happened!? We slept with he sound of heavy rain hitting our tent, with the sky flashing bright with lightning. At least the winds were not too strong.
We had prayed for safety, and no one was hurt. Also, our kitchen tent didn’t fly away, and our camp was not destroyed. Wet, yes, but we were able to manage. It was not great, but it also was not terrible. The day continued to be overcast and that afternoon we heard that a thunderstorm with strong winds, up to 70 miles per hour, and possible hailstones was headed our way.
Once again we prayed and prepared. We took down our kitchen tent and secured our tents to the best of our abilities. Eventually, our camp was evacuated with people seeking shelter inside buildings, cars, and motor homes or RVs. We prayed as we watched thousands of people from all over come together and pack inside the buildings. We prayed as the dark clouds rolled in and the lightning began to strike. We prayed as the heavy rain fell.
God did not stop the rain, but the winds did not reach 70mph, instead they were around 20 miles per hour. That week it rained 1.23 inches in Gillette, including 0.36 inches on Tuesday and 0.76 inches on Wednesday. For context, Gillette got more rain in those two days than either June or July. (wyomingnews.com)
So, maybe all those prayers were a waste of time, right? What’s the point of praying if it won’t stop the rain? Why even bother if we can’t guarantee that God will do what we are asking?
This is perhaps why some are afraid fo praying for others, or maybe even praying in general. What if I ask God for something and I don’t get it? Why pray if it is going to rain anyway?
I’ll share with you what I experienced during the 2024 Pathfinder Camporee in Gilette, Wyoming. When the sun was out it was hot and people got sunburned. When the sky was cloudy it was often cold and windy with the occasional drizzle. In other words, the weather was rarely pleasant that entire week. Many times there were long lines for the showers and for the porta-potties. There was usually no toilet paper and many times, especially early on the toilets were full and in need of cleaning. There were long lines and lots of walking everywhere you went. The opening night program was canceled due to bad weather. The second night we had to leave early because it started raining again, we walked back to camp in the rain. They also canceled the Sabbath morning program and evening programs, which tend to be the highlight of the week. Not to mention the storms. Though our club was relatively okay given the circumstances, some clubs had to deal with flooding (over 10 inches of standing water), having their tents blown away, and having all their belongings soaking wet. Many were displaced and didn’t even have a clean change of clothes or a dry towel.
Despite everything that went wrong, late at night as I made my way to the showers, I could hear some of the clubs singing songs of praise and worship to God. Early in the morning, as we prepared for the day, there was singing and praising not only in our camp but also in the camps around us.
During the storm, two medical doctors from our church were in the building that was packed with people escaping the storm. Instead of complaining about the cramped conditions in the building, they shared how they were happy to help some of the people who were experiencing panic attacks and other physical/health challenges.
Within one hour of the end of the storm, the community of Gilette showed up offering to help. Over 50 tents and 120 sleeping bags were donated. (www.newscenter1.tv) I also heard that some members of the community offered to do loads of laundry and dry the clothes and towels of those affected by the storm. Clubs also donated extra tents and sleeping bags to other clubs and shared their food.
My takeawayThough many things went wrong, I believe the good superseded the bad. At the end of the storm, there was a beautiful double rainbow over the campsite. In the Bible, the rainbow is a reminder of God’s promise not to destroy the earth again with water. (Genesis 9:13-16) The theme for the international camporee was Believe the Promise. Even when things do not go according to our plan, we can believe the promise.
As uncomfortable and destructive as the storms were, there was no loss of life, only the loss of property. In the midst of the suffering, I saw the hand of God moving in the hearts of people and causing them to help one another. Despite the rain, the cold, and the wind, I witnessed love and kindness.
So the prayers were answered. God did not stop the storm, but He limited the destruction it caused. God moved in the hearts of those affected by the storm bringing peace and generosity. I saw smiles and heard singing in the midst of the mess we were in.
Prayer is not about forcing God to do our bidding. Prayer is about a closer connection with God where He transforms our hearts, He gives us peace, and brings us through the storm. Prayer is not about God doing my will, but about me being at peace and accepting God’s will to be done. It is about my connection with my Heavenly Father Who loves me more than I can ever imagine, and knowing that regardless of what happens everything will be okay.
My challenge for youMy challenge for you is to pray for 30 minutes every day for a week. You can do it for more than a week if you would like, but try at least for one week. I want you to really give this an honest try. Set a timer for 30 minutes and talk with God.
This is not an easy task, especially if you’re not used to praying. I chose 30 minutes because it will force you to go beyond your usual, memorized prayers. You will run out of things to say, you will have to sit, or kneel, or stand there awkwardly with God. I want to challenge you to spend that time, develop those prayer muscles, and see what you learn, notice how it feels. It will be difficult. Please don’t give up. Try every day, for one week at least, and let me know in the comments below what the experience was like.
If you would like some Bible verses to help you in your prayers here are some of my favorite Bible verses for prayer.
May God bless you as you dedicate time to prayer.
(I hope to have part 2 up soon)
Correct actions with improper motives still do not please God.
— Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 116.
This is part of my Join Me on The Mountainside series and Jesus continues to stress the importance of righteous and ethical behavior not as a performance but as an authentic outworking of who you truly are. Your righteous behavior, your good works, should not be a performance you put on to gain the praise of others. Jesus calls us to internalize God's standards and live by them, especially when no one is looking.
Jesus continues the theme of calling His followers to a higher standard than what was commonly expected. I would not say that this means that Christians have a higher standard of righteousness than Jews, but rather that Jesus is revealing what the standard has always been for the followers of God. All of us are in danger of lowering the standard or confusing God’s standards with local or favorite religious practices, habits, and overall culture. All religious groups are in danger of adding to God’s law just as the Pharisees did and requiring of people things that God never did, or downplaying the importance of things highlighted in God’s word.
No Reward?
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
—Matthew 6:1 NKJV
Public piety that is designed to elicit human praise instead of glorifying God has no place in the lives of authentic followers of God. In the post and the next two, I’ll cover Jesus’ teachings on almsgiving/good deeds, prayer, and fasting, since these are major components of religious devotion.
The point of engaging in religious or pious behavior is not to receive the praise of others, or to gain power or influence. If you are doing good expecting some type of reward you will be disappointed. God will not reward your good behavior that is done in an attempt to gain earthly praise, power, or other temporal benefits.
What about letting your light so shine?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
— Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Jesus is not contradicting Himself. The motives in both passages are entirely different. It is not a sin for someone to see you doing good works when your good works cause people to praise God, well done! However, when your good works are done solely or primarily for personal honor and gain, you may gain it but do not expect any reward from God.
It is not the action, and the number of people who witness it, but rather the intent of the person performing the action.
Don’t toot your own horn
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
— Matthew 6:2 NKJV
I wonder if the words of Jesus inspired the American expression “Don’t toot your own horn.”
Jesus clarifies what He means by telling the audience not to make a big show of their charitable deed. I imagine this in my mind as a reverse Salvation Army situation. Here in the US, the Salvation Army collects money in December, around Christmas time, by ringing a bell in public places with a red kettle for people to donate. So in my mind, I imagine someone going around with a bell, ringing it every time they do something to help someone else to make sure everyone notices their good deeds.
Jesus also gives us a bit of historical context. The religious leaders of His time had a habit of being charitable in public gatherings to be seen and praised by the people around them. Imagine the offering plate being passed around at church and someone decides to give hundreds of dollars in singles. Everyone around them has to wait as they put single dollar bills on the plate, one after another. It is not that generous donations are bad, but if the giver wants to make sure that everyone notices how much she is giving, it then becomes a problem.
If you’re ever unsure while you’re doing good, just think, are you expecting some benefit from helping? If you are helping and expecting something in return, you might be disappointed. The glory should go to God and not to you. Jesus was clear, the main motive for charity must not be the desire to receive praise from others.
Don’t be a hypocriteA hypocrite is someone who assumes a false appearance; one who feigns to be what he is not, or to feel or believe what he does not actually feel or believe; especially, a false pretender to virtue or piety. (wordnik.com)
I say this to help clarify what I believe Jesus meant by His words. I essence, don’t use religion to cover up your sins and to promote your own gains and interests. It is important to understand this. If you fall short of your ideals and occasionally stumble in your spiritual walk, that does not make you a hypocrite. Struggling as you grow and mature does not make you a hypocrite. Intentionally using religious behavior to cover up your sin and put others down is a problem. Considering yourself superior because of your religious discipline is a problem.
Religion and spiritual disciplines should help you connect with God, but should never become a performance to impress those around you. The problem with the “righteousness” of the Pharisees is that it was insincere and dishonest. They practiced religion for the applause of the people and not out of a sincere desire to honor God and bless their neighbor. True righteousness must come from the heart, a heart that is being transformed by God.
Never allow your religion to become a performance for an audience.
Charitable Deeds
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
— Matthew 6:3-4 NKJV
Notice that Jesus is not saying that it is bad to do charitable deeds, Jesus is addressing the intentions at the core of the behavior.
The Pharisees used almsgiving to gain favor with God and attention from men, both of which were wrong motives. No amount of giving can purchase salvation; for salvation is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8–9).
—Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 25.
Seeking the praise of people is a miserable way to go through life. Also, the praise of people never last, sooner or later you will do something that displeases others and they will turn on you. Just look at celebrities and politicians. Seeking the praise of others is a recipe for anxiety.
On the other hand, living to honor God is the best way to go about life, because we know that God will never leave or abandon us.
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
—Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
—Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
—Hebrews 13:5NKJV
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
—Matthew 28:20 NKJV
When your religion is a performance you are always concerned about how others perceive you. When you do it for God, you are free from all of that, and you have the assurance that God will always provide for all of your needs and it is not based on how many people see your good deeds or how big your deed are.
The widow’s offeringThis reminds of the story of the widow and her offering found in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44. I imagine Jesus, unimpressed, as some made a show of how much they could give, bringing in bags of coins and slowly dumping its contents into the treasury so everyone could hear each coin clinking into the treasury.
Meanwhile, there’s a poor widow, ashamed of how little she has to offer God puts in two very small copper coins. Jesus proclaims that the poor widow had put in more than anyone else.
Her deed was done quietly and humbly, yet Jesus noticed and valued her gift. The point I wish to highlight from the story is that God notices and values small actions done for the right motive. Your good deeds do not have to be big and fancy. They can be small and meaningful. Jesus is more concerned with your heart and your motivation for giving.
Should all good deeds be done secretly?Does this mean that we have to hide all of our good deeds? Not necessarily. The Bible contains the records of good deeds done by Jesus and the apostles and many of the heroes of faith of the Old Testament. Acts 4:34-37 for example records specific gifts related to the sale of property and land.
In these words Jesus did not teach that acts of kindness should always be kept secret. Paul the apostle, writing by the Holy Spirit, did not conceal the generous self-sacrifice of the Macedonian Christians, but told of the grace that Christ had wrought in them, and thus others were imbued with the same spirit. He also wrote to the church at Corinth and said, “Your zeal hath stirred up very many.” 2 Corinthians 9:2, R.V.
—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1896), 80.
What about social media?Is it bad for followers of God to share their good deeds on social media? I have given this quite a bit of thought. I would love to know your thoughts in the comments section for this post. Here’s where I am on this topic.
I know people who share often. They share what they had for breakfast, where they went for dinner, what they did for fun, and how work was. They seem to share the good, the bad, and the ugly, but one thing is missing. There is no mention of any type of religious activity. There could be several reasons for this, they prefer to avoid religious conversations, they’re afraid of backlash, or they prefer to keep the spiritual side of their life private. All those things are fine by me. I don’t think people need or even should share everything with everyone.
However, if that person, who already shares so much, added religious/spiritual activities that would be okay, it is a part of their life just like work, breakfast, etc. However, if you have someone who only posts about their spiritual activities and never posts anything else about their lives, then it might look like they’re seeking special recognition for your piety.
Your good behavior, when it is a part of who you are is a beautiful witness to those around you. However, if you are only behaving that way in order to be seen by others, then we have a problem. You don’t need to hide the religious part of your life but also don’t go out of your way to point out how pious you are.
The heart of worship
Our sinful nature is so subtle that it can defile even a good thing like sharing with the poor. If our motive is to get the praise of men, then like the Pharisees, we will call attention to what we are doing. But if our motive is to serve God in love and please Him, then we will give our gifts without calling attention to them. As a result, we will grow spiritually; God will be glorified; and others will be helped. But if we give with the wrong motive, we rob ourselves of blessing and reward and rob God of glory, even though the money we share might help a needy person.
—Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 25.
Worship is more than music and singing. Worship is a way of life and helping others is part of worship. Just as much as the musician leading out in worship or the speaker leading out in the study needs to be aware of the condition of her heart, so must the follower of God who is helping someone in need. The actions are not the issue, it is the intention and the expectation.
Let your worship, your good deeds, and all your interactions flow from a sincere desire to honor God and bless those around you. Whether others see you or not should be of no importance.
Be authentic.
Be consistent.
Let Jesus transform your heart, and live a faithful life. He sees in secret, and He will provide for all your needs. Go out there and serve and bless, not expecting anything special but because you have received so many blessings from God.
The true test of genuine Christianity is how believers treat those whom they are naturally inclined to hate or who mistreat or persecute them.
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 114–115.
If you have been following my Join Me on the Mountainside series you have realized by now that Jesus calls His followers to a higher ethical standard than the average person (non-believer) lives by. Continuing on this theme Jesus adds a new dimension to how we ought to live our lives.
Love your enemies.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
- Matthew 5:43-47 NKJV
Hate your enemy?“You shall love your neighbor” comes from Leviticus 19:18. However, nowhere can the phrase “hate your enemy” be found in the Old Testament. The sentiment is common enough that Jesus’ audience would have heard it. Another possibility is that the religious and ethnic community could narrowly define the commandment to love their neighbor (brother, friend, fellow believer) as permission and perhaps even encouragement to hate those who were not their neighbors, those who were different, who didn’t belong, those who were considered enemies. This line of reasoning is rational enough to convince those who want to be convinced and have their own racial/religious prejudice substantiated. But does God actually want us to hate our enemies? Did God tell His followers to hate their enemies in the Old Testament?
ContextTo use **Leviticus 19:18** as an excuse to hate your enemy is to embark on an ‘adventure in missing the point.’ Though Leviticus 19 is addressed to all the congregation of the people of Israel and gives Israelites instructions on their duties to their own parents, and more widely to their neighbor and their brother, it does not limit ethical behavior to only fellow believers.
As you read through the chapter you come to Leviticus 19:34, clearly telling the people to love the stranger who is among them as themselves. Not to mention other Old Testament verses such as Exodus 23:4,5 that deal with caring for the animal of “one who hates you.” Interestingly, Deuteronomy 22:1-4 has very similar instructions regarding your brother’s animals, which indicates that God required a loving and caring response regardless if the animal belonged to a “brother” or “enemy.”
The words ‘and hate your enemy’ were a ‘parasitical growth’ upon God’s law; they had no business there. God did not teach his people a double standard of morality, one for a neighbour and another for an enemy.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 117.
But I say to you…
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
- Matthew 5:44
Once again Jesus goes against the common teaching of His time, challenging His listeners to go against the prevalent culture of their time by pronouncing a more demanding ethic. Followers of Jesus should love their enemies. If we do not love our enemies then we are no different from those who do not follow Jesus. Jesus compares those who don’t love their enemies to tax collectors (and Gentiles in some translations) representing two groups of people that were despised by orthodox Jews.
The tax collectors were hated for working for Rome by collecting tribute from Israel. The Gentiles/pagans were loathed because of their false religion. Jesus tells those who considered themselves spiritually superior that if they do not love their enemies they are no better than those they consider the worst sinners.
Children of God
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
- Matthew 5:45 NKJV
It is commonplace for us to look after our own people, those who belong to our group, those we like, our family, our friends, and those who have something in common with us. We naturally gravitate towards those people, we enjoy their company, we help them and they help us. Therefore the true test of being a child of God is how we treat those who we are naturally inclined to hate, mistreat, or even persecute. One of the reasons we ought to love our enemies is because God loves them and Jesus died for them.
God also gives us the example of showing kindness and mercy to all. The sun and rain benefit both the just and the wicked. God is not asking us to do something that goes against His principles but rather to join Him in His values and thus better understand who God is.
We know intellectually that God is love, but do we have any idea what that means?
Do we truly believe that God is love?
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
- 1John 4:8 NKJV
What did Jesus mean by ‘love?’ Part of our struggle with loving our enemies comes from being unsure of what that would look like. From Jesus’ command for us to love our enemies, it becomes clear that what Jesus meant is not connected to feelings since we can’t experience feelings on demand. Love then must be connected to certain behaviors.
To ‘love’ them is ardently to desire that they will repent and believe, and so be saved.
[…]
The point he is making is that true love is not sentiment so much as service—practical, humble, sacrificial service.
—John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 117-118.It is a divine principle of thought and action that modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections.
—Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 340.Whatever emotions may be involved, “love” here refers to “generous, warm, costly self-sacrifice for another’s good.” “Greet” (v. 47) refers to more than a simple hello, namely, heartfelt “expressions of desire for the other person’s welfare.” People who so love and greet their enemies and pray for their persecutors thus prove themselves to be those, as in v. 9, who are growing in conformity to the likeness of their Heavenly Father (v. 45).
—Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 115.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a Russian novelist, has an interesting insight into love which he shares in his book *The Brothers Karamazov*, “Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.” With this in mind, I would add, stop thinking about romantic love that exists in dreams and focus on the practical aspects of love.
I have quoted theologians and a novelist, but how does the Bible define love? A great number of books have been written on this topic and many verses help us better grasp what God means by love, but one of the best places to turn to is 1 Corinthians 13.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
— 1 Corinthians 14:4-7 NLT
The practical implication of Jesus’ words is that while our enemies are seeking our harm, we are called to seek their good because this is how God has treated us, while we were enemies Christ died to reconcile us to God. (Romans 5:10) But that is not all, our love should also be expressed through our words. We are called to bless those who curse us. This means that while they are calling down disaster and catastrophe upon us and expressing their wish for our downfall, we are to “retaliate” by calling heaven’s blessings upon them, declaring with our words and wishing with our thoughts nothing but good for them.
John Chrysostom was an early Church Father, biblical interpreter, and the archbishop of Constantinople. He interpreted Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount as a sequence that escalated with each step.
First, we are not to take any evil initiative ourselves. Secondly, we are not to avenge another’s evil. Thirdly, we are to be quiet, and fourthly, to suffer wrongfully. Fifthly, we are to surrender to the evildoer even more than he demands. Sixthly, we are not to hate him, but (steps 7 and 8) to love him and do him good. As our ninth duty, we are ‘to entreat God Himself on his behalf’.
—John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 118–119. (quoting from THE HOMILIES of S. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, on the GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, p276.)
In light of all of this, it would be fair to say that **love for our enemies is evidence of our love for God.**
Intercessory prayer and love
…and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
- Matthew 5:44b
Have you ever considered intercessory prayer as an expression of the love we have? Not only that, it is also a means of increasing our love. It is impossible to pray for someone without loving her, and impossible to go on praying for her without discovering that our love for her grows and matures. Knowing this, it would be foolish to wait before praying for an enemy until we feel some love for him in our hearts. We must begin to pray for him before we are conscious of loving him, and we will experience our love begin to grow.
Think of Jesus as our example. He seems to have prayed for His tormentors while the iron spikes were being driven through His hands and feet. Some point out that the imperfect tense suggests that Jesus kept praying, repeating His appeal ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’. (Luke 23:34) If the cruel torture of crucifixion could not silence Jesus’ prayer for His enemies, what pain, pride, bigotry, or laziness could justify the silencing of ours? (John R. W. Stott, 119. (paraphrased)).
Some contrast the “realistic” ethics of Judaism with “Christian romanticism” and cite this as an example. However, the command is not to have good feelings about your enemies, but to want and do good for them, and, more specifically, to pray for those who persecute you. It is realistic enough to have been flattered by imitation in a well-known medieval Jewish work: “Pray for your enemy that he serve God.” (Orchot Tzaddikim15c)
—David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary : A Companion Volume to the Jewish New Testament, electronic ed. (Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1996), Mt 5:44.
Be Perfect
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
—Matthew 5:48 NKJV
I imagine some of you becoming very uncomfortable. Nobody is perfect, why ask us to be perfect? I’ll share what some theologians think about this then share my personal thoughts.
The word perfect in Matthew 5:48 does not imply sinlessly perfect, for that is impossible in this life (though it is a good goal to strive for). It suggests completeness, maturity, as the sons of God. The Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children, and we should assist Him!
—Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 24–25.Jesus does not here deal with absolute sinlessness in this life (see SC 62; EGW RH March 18, 1890). Sanctification is a progressive work.
The Jews were toiling wearily to become righteous by their own efforts, to earn salvation by works. But in their scrupulous legalism they paid so much attention to the minute details of the letter of the law that they lost sight completely of its spirit (see Matthew 23:23). In the Sermon on the Mount Christ sought to turn their attention from the husks to the wheat. They had made the law an end in itself, something to be kept for its own sake, and had forgotten that its purpose was to lift their gaze to the high ideals of supreme love toward God and self-sacrificing love toward one’s fellow men (Matthew 22:34–40). The rabbis taught that righteousness consists in having an excess of good deeds over evil deeds credited to one’s account in heaven.
It is important to note the relationship between vs. 48 and 45 (ch. 5), for to be “children of your Father which is in heaven” (v. 45) is equivalent to being “perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (v. 48).
—Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 341.“Perfect” here is better translated as “mature, whole,” i.e., loving without limits (probably reflecting an underlying Aramaic tamim). Jesus is not frustrating his hearers with an unachievable ideal but challenging them to grow in obedience to God’s will—to become more like him. J. Walvoord rightly observes, “While sinless perfection is impossible, godliness, in its biblical concept, is attainable.”
— Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 115.
My favorite interpretation is found in the book The Desire of Ages where the author points out that God’s ideal for us is higher than we can imagine or possibly achieve on our own, rather it looks forward to what God desires for us when His work in our hearts is completed and the works of the devil are completely destroyed.
God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” This command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.
—The Desire of Ages, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898, 311.
Jesus calls us to be perfect and one day will make us completely perfect in every way when He comes again. (1 Corinthians 15:53) This does not mean that our salvation depends on us becoming sinless, but rather that we should not aim for anything lower than perfection. I am saved by grace and I have the assurance of my salvation because of what Jesus did for me. So I live my life aiming at perfection, and repenting as I fall short, but never being comfortable with any known amount of sin in my life.
Another way of saying this is, I will always strive to love my enemies and repent as I fall short and turn to God for help to love like He wants me to. I’ll never settle, making as excuse that I don’t have to love ‘that person,’ since I am not perfect and can’t be expected to actually do what Jesus asks of me.
I hope this makes sense. When I aim for anything less than perfection I create room for my favorite sins in my life, this is what I want to avoid. I aim at perfection and never settle for less. But I am aware that my salvation is not linked to my achievements but depends completely on what Jesus did for me. So I am sure of my salvation but I strive to perfectly follow my best understanding of God’s plan for my life.
Practical ApplicationSince love is such a difficult topic I decided to make the practical application a little more actionable. My challenge for you is to pray for those you consider to be your enemies, those who persecute you and go out of their way to make your life miserable. I am not asking for you to have them over for dinner or to become best friends forever. My challenge is for you to begin praying for them, every day, at least once a day.
Try it at least for one week and let me know how it goes.
God wants what’s best for you. I am curious how this simple habit will transform your life and your relationships.
Is it realistic to expect someone to go through life always being honest, turning the other cheek and going the second mile?
What if people take advantage of us?
How can I ever get ahead in life if I live this way?
The sermon on the mount is both simple and profound. The message is simple enough, that even a child can easily understand it. The practical application of Jesus’ words, however, is something we will wrestle with our entire lives.
Be Honest
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
- Matthew 5:33-37 NKJV
These verses are straightforward. People ought to always be honest and never try to deceive anyone else. When you are always honest you do not need to try to convince someone that what you say is the truth. If you have to swear by something for someone to believe you it causes everything else you said outside the boundaries of the oath to be questioned.
Jesus taught that our conversation should be so honest, and our character so true, that we would not need “crutches” to get people to believe us. Words depend on character, and oaths cannot compensate for a poor character.
- Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 24.
Jesus is not condemning the use of judicial oath. In Matthew 26:63-64 the High Priest places Jesus under oath and asks Him a question.
And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
Jesus answered the question and did not refuse to testify under oath.
The teaching is simple, but the application can be difficult. So many have a habit of lying, deceiving, and using half-truths that it takes a special effort to be honest on a consistent basis. Commenting on Jesus’ words the book Thoughts from the Mount of Blessingssays the following
These words condemn all those meaningless phrases and expletives that border on profanity. They condemn the deceptive compliments, the evasion of truth, the flattering phrases, the exaggerations, the misrepresentations in trade, that are current in society and in the business world. They teach that no one who tries to appear what he is not, or whose words do not convey the real sentiment of his heart, can be called truthful.
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings p.68
Some may consider this interpretation a bit extreme. But do you really want to argue that we should be less honest? Do you enjoy being on the receiving end of deception? How does it feel when you realize that you did not get what you thought you were getting and, due to a loophole somewhere in the fine print, you’re stuck with your acquisition? The person who sold you the product/service, who had the contract written up, probably felt it necessary to be less than honest in order to make a living. However, their dishonesty will eventually cost them, because word will get out and people will be less willing to do business with them.
Honesty may feel like it will cost you business and relationships, but in the long run, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Your relationships will be healthier and your business will increase in value. Honesty pays off in the long run. Lies might appear to benefit you in the short run, but it never lasts. Dishonesty will destroy your witness, and honesty and a solid character will reflect Jesus even if you don’t get the opportunity to say His name.
If you want your words to mean something you have to make sure they represent the truth, at least the truth to the best of your ability. You have complete control over how you use your words. Whether people can trust you or not is entirely up to you. Jesus is clear, you should not try to deceive others.
If these words of Christ were heeded, they would check the utterance of evil surmising and unkind criticism; for in commenting upon the actions and motives of another, who can be certain of speaking the exact truth? How often pride, passion, personal resentment, color the impression given! A glance, a word, even an intonation of the voice, may be vital with falsehood. Even facts may be so stated as to convey a false impression. And “whatsoever is more than” truth, “is of the evil one.”
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings p.68“Oath-taking
is a pathetic confession
of our own dishonesty. ”
— John R. W. Stott (paraphrased) Eye for an Eye
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
- Matthew 5:38 NKJV
Jesus here is summarizing Exodus 21:24 and Deuteronomy 19:21. These verses deal with the law and were instructions to the judges of Israel to prevent disproportionate retaliation.
It expressed the lex talionis, the principle of an exact retribution, whose purpose was both to lay the foundation of justice, specifying the punishment which a wrongdoer deserved, and to limit the compensation of his victim to an exact equivalent and no more.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 104.
Turn the other cheek?Speaking of the coming verse John Stott says:
“Nowhere is the challenge of the Sermon greater. Nowhere is the distinctness of the Christian counter-culture more obvious. Nowhere is our need of the power of the Holy Spirit (whose first fruit is love) more compelling.”
-John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 103.
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
- Matthew 5:39-42 NKJV
Doesn’t seem like a very good plan does it?
Jesus is decisively breaking the natural chain of evil action and reaction that characterizes human relationships. (Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 113. (paraphrased)
The idea of not avenging yourself is not new in the Bible.
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
- Leviticus 19:18 NKJVDo not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
- Proverbs 24:29 NKJVBeloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
- Romans 12:19 NKJVVengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’
- Deuteronomy 23:35 NKJV
Jesus is teaching His followers that though the principle of exact retribution exists, it pertains to the courts of law and to the judgment of God, but it is not applicable to our personal relationships. (John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) p. 105.)
By contrast, consider the words of Lamech, a descendant of Cain
23 Then Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!
For I have killed a man for wounding me,
Even a young man for hurting me.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
- Genesis 4:23-24 NKJV
Jesus lived out this principle of not exacting revenge, though He did not literally invite additional injury.
22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
- John 18:22-23 NKJV
It was prophesied that Jesus would behave this way.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
- Isaiah 53:7 NKJV
On the cross, Jesus embodied this principle when He called upon the Father to forgive those who tormented Him (Luke 23:34). (Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 339. (paraphrased)
Jesus teaches us to have a certain attitude. We should be willing to suffer loss rather than cause another to suffer. This may seem like a weakness to some, but Warren Wiersbe argues that it is the weak man who thinks only of himself and hurts others to protect himself. He hurts others and then runs away to protect himself. (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 24. (paraphrased)
Should a follower of Jesus speak out against injustice? Paul, who lived by the same principles as Jesus also refrained from seeking vengeance but that did not keep him from speaking out against injustices.
But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
- Acts 16:37 NKJVAnd as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
- Acts 22:25 NKJVThen Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
- Acts 23:3 NKJV9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”
10 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.
- Acts 25:9-10 NKJV
Notice the words of John the Baptist, as he prepared the way for Jesus.
10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
- Luke 3:10-14 NKJV
Speaking out against oppression goes hand in hand with calling for generosity and service. There is no room for abuse in the kingdom of God.
Consider the words of Peter
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
- 1 Peter 2:21-24 NKJV
On the cross Christ manifested the spirit of which He here spoke when He called upon the Father to forgive those who tormented Him (Luke 23:34). (Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 339.)
Story TimeWhen I was young and living in the city of Salvador on the coast of Brazil. this took place in the early 1990s so the population had already reached surpassed 2 million. Salvador is a big and beautiful city. Sadly it could also be dangerous and violent. During this time my grandfather was working at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference and was one of the depositors. My mom did not like this and was always nervous about her father driving around the streets of Salvador with that much money.
I don’t remember all the details because I was young, under 10. What I remember is being over at my grandparent’s apartment and my grandmother, my mom, my dad, my sister, and I were all there. There were phone calls and nervous hushed talk. I believe we took turns praying and there was a knock on the door and much joy when my grandfather arrived home. There was jumping and hugging and tears and excited conversations.
I have heard the account retold and I now know that my grandfather had been robbed at gunpoint when he parked his car close to the bank and was about to make the deposit. Apparently, the thieves had kept an eye on him for a long time and figured out the route he took and the time he would arrive to make the deposit. It is unclear whether they followed him there or just waited for him by the bank, what is clear is that they knew he was coming and they were ready.
We were all happy that my grandfather was not hurt. They were angry that the bank had not provided enough security and I don’t remember what changed from that point on. I do remember as a child asking my grandfather why he had not used his pocket knife to defend himself. My grandfather used to carry a small pocket knife that looked like a pen when it was closed and he would clip it to his shirt pocket. I had seen him use it to open envelopes and peel oranges etc. He patiently explained to me that a knife is not much good when someone else has a gun. I asked him how come the criminal had a gun since guns were not allowed. He said he didn’t know how, but criminals did not really follow the laws.
But what stuck with me to this day about the events of that night is what my grandfather did after he came home and assured everyone he was okay. He went into his bedroom knelt down by his bed and spent time in prayer. We all assumed that he had been praying and thanking God for keeping him safe and I thought that perhaps he was also praying for God to strike the criminals who had robbed him with lightning or some terrible disease.
But what I found out later was that my grandfather was praying for the salvation of those criminals. My grandfather was also thanking God that he was the one who was robbed and not the one who had done the robbing. My grandfather had peace and assurance of salvation, he had a loving family and good health. He actually felt bad for the criminals who had turned to a life of violence and crime. He imagined those men must suffer and have suffered much growing up. My grandfather had forgiven those criminals and he prayed that they would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
I now understand that those criminals coming to Jesus is the best possible scenario. Only then would they realize all the pain they had caused. Only then could those hardened criminals repent and confess their sins. For many years I could not understand why my grandfather would want those men to be in heaven. Those men who had stolen money from the church, money that would go to help so many people, help with schools and hospitals, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. Yet my grandfather understood that those men needed help. They needed Jesus.
I wonder if in heaven I will one day meet those men who robbed my grandfather at gunpoint. I wonder what happened in their lives as a result of my grandfather’s prayers for them. Beyond the impact the prayers of my grandfather had on the lives of those men I also wonder about the impact his attitude had on his life. When my grandfather freely chose to forgive those men and to pray for their salvation he released any anger, and all desire for retribution and revenge and put it all on God’s hands. He was alive, he had the assurance of eternal life, he knew and experienced love in his life, and he was at peace. My grandfather possesses a peace that surpasses all understanding, that is not human, that is a gift from God.
Not striking back is not about allowing evil to spread unhindered, but rather about ending the cycle of violence. I receive freedom when I allow God to deliver the judgment and the consequences. When I seek out justice by my own hands the chances are incredibly high that I will only make matters worse. Revenge does not undo the pain, it only causes more pain and suffering. There is enough suffering in the world.
Not only must the followers of Jesus reject all behavior motivated only by a desire for retaliation, but they also must positively work for the good of those with whom they would otherwise be at odds. - Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 113. (paraphrased)In conclusion Jesus’ words may seem extreme, misguided, or even impossible, but as I read through the Bible I become convinced that God intends for us to fight evil with kindness and love and to allow Him to handle judgment, justice, and vengeance. Focus on doing good, and allow God to handle the rest.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Romans 12:21 NKJV
This is not a New Testament idea, it is also present in the Old Testament.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
- Proverbs 25:21-22 NKJV
This does not mean that you allow evil to spread unhindered. We should speak out against evil, fight against oppression, and defend the vulnerable. But we should not go down the path of vengeance, we should not take justice into our own hands.
There is enough suffering in the world, let us be a part of the good that is in the world.
Creative writing from an angel’s perspective.
It all began in heaven, when Lucifer began to question God’s leadership. Lucifer was among the best of the best angels, he was one of the covering cherubs! (Ezekiel 28:14) But he was not content to be just one of us angels, he wanted to be like God. (Isaiah 14:14)
When I first heard of this I thought it was crazy talk. We all knew that we were created by God, and no one would ever dare confront God. God could destroy us with little to no effort. Powerful as we are as angels, God’s power is on a whole new level, I can’t even imagine a limit to God’s power. If you had seen what I have seen you would begin to grasp what I am saying.
I expected God to destroy Lucifer right away. After all, Lucifer only existed because God had created him and God made him perfect! (Ezekiel 28:15) Lucifer could only rebel because God had given him the freedom to do so. God could have made all of us angels so that we could never disobey Him. This is something I think about as I wonder how much easier life would be if God had just made it so we could never disobey Him. But that would go against His character. God does not force or coerce. God invites and guides, leaving us to make our choices. God gives us the freedom to love and obey Him, which also means that we are free to hate and disobey Him. (Joshua 24:14)
Lucifer was spreading his lies around heaven but his rebellion was not confined to heaven, it eventually spilled over to Earth (Job 1:6; Revelation 12:4, 7-9; John 14:30; Matthew 4:8-9). Of course, Satan could not resist once he knew that you humans were created. Although you are a little lower than us angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7) you were created in the image of God! (Genesis 1:26-27)
Once again, God could have made it so that humanity would never have an opportunity to rebel against Him. He could have made it so that the only options available would be in accordance with His will for your lives. But Lucifer would have accused God of being a tyrant. Lucifer could have said to the other angels
—“See what God is like? He creates humans but does not give them any real freedom. They are trapped in paradise, doomed to live forever without real options to know any other way of life.”
Maybe this was the reason God allowed Lucifer one tree, in the middle of the garden. God even warned Adam not to eat from it. (Genesis 2:17) Eve was aware of the prohibition (Genesis 3:3) but it did not keep her from approaching the tree, maybe she was just curious. Once she was close enough Lucifer spoke to her. Of course, he did not show up as his true self. He appeared as a serpent. Angels can be crafty, and we don’t have some of the limitations you humans have.
Lucifer used the same lie he had been using all along. Essentially, that God is a tyrant and is keeping good things from us. He says it in different ways but the essence of the lie remains the same.
—“There are good things on the other side of God’s will.”
or
—“You will be happier if you disobey God.”
Lucifer tempted Eve with the same thoughts that caused pride to swell in his heart.
—“You can become like God!” (Genesis 3:5)
Whenever we disobey God, that is what we are doing, we are placing ourselves above God. We believe that lie, that God’s laws are not for our own good, that He does not love us or want what is best for us. Lucifer is very good at making us think that God is keeping good things from us.
How often have you thought that if you disobeyed you would have more fun? That life would be better without God’s laws and guidelines? Those thoughts indicate we think we know better than God and we believe that God doesn’t want what is best for us. And when we disobey God we place ourselves above Him, making ourselves gods.
You probably know how the story goes. Eve ate the forbidden fruit and so did Adam. In a way, they became like God, because once they only knew happiness and pleasure, and now they discovered, fear, shame, and pain. God had indeed kept those things from them, but it was for their own good. Now that Earth had rebelled against God, by choosing to listen to Lucifer’s lies, what would God do?
What would you do? If the planet you had just created and made perfect rebelled against you? Imagine making everything perfect and having your creation rebel against you. How would you react?
What would you do?
God could have easily wiped humans out and started fresh.
But this would mean that God only loves those who obey Him.
God could have loosened His law a bit and said that the consequence of disobedience would not really be death.
But this would mean that God’s law was imperfect and His rules were too strict and essentially Lucifer would have been right to question God’s government. If God’s laws were not good then we might as well follow Lucifer or our own desires.
This was a difficult problem to solve. How could God uphold His law as good and perfect, which would mean that humanity had to die, and yet be loving and merciful towards humanity and giving them an opportunity to live?
I was not ready for the plan that God had. God decided that He would die in the place of humanity and offer eternal life to anyone who wanted it. In other words, humans sin and deserve to die because of their sins (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22), but God came and was born as a human baby (John 1:14, 34; John 10:15; Luke 1:35) lived a perfect life among sinful humans and died for your sins. (1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5)
Jesus should not have died because He did not sin. He was innocent and when He died He paid the penalty for your sins. (1 John 2:2; Isaiah 53:5) And that is why He can give you eternal life. He died the death that you deserve and He offers you the life that He deserves.
Jesus had to die (Matthew 26:39; Romans 6:10; 2 Corinthians 5:15) because God’s law was clear that the penalty for sin is death (Genesis 2:17; 3:3; Romans 6:23; James 1:15; Romans 5:14-15; I Corinthians 15:21). This way the law of God remains intact, the problem was not the law, the problem was human disobedience. God rescued humanity by sending Jesus to die in your place. Jesus was perfect in every way, yet He freely chose to die that you might live.
The eternal life that is freely offered to you cost God His one and only Son.
That is the part that blows my mind. God loves you that much. Jesus would rather be born as a baby and experience all the discomforts that come with being a human, than to just let you die for your sins with no hope of salvation. Jesus experienced being hungry, tired, and lonely, (Mark 11:12; John 4:6-7; Matthew 21:19-19; Isaiah 53:3; Mark 14:50) and He did not have to do any of that, but He freely chose to so that He could be your perfect example, so that you could know how to best live your lives.
That is the part that we angels could barely believe. We know that God is love, but we had not seen love demonstrated to this degree. When we witnessed Jesus being crucified, we wanted to go and save Him. It would have been easy for us to deliver Jesus and wipe out all who had caused Him any pain. But we were held back. We were not allowed to save Jesus because if we saved Him from dying on the cross it would mean that all of you humans would be forever lost. We angels had to stand back and watch Jesus die. It was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do, and I have been around for a very long time.
That is not even the best part of the good news. The best part is that not only did Jesus rise from the dead on the third day, He ascended to heaven and promised to come again. (John 14:1-3; Matthew 16:27; 24:30-31; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7; 22:20;)
When He comes again all of us angels will join Him. It will be a great celebration.
This post is part of my Join Me on The Mountainside series.
When I was pastoring a church in Texas, many years ago, a recently baptized member of my church approached me to ask if it was true that pastors, and religious leaders in general, only taught the general public the equivalent of 4th grade level theology. I don’t know where she got that information from, but honestly, I am excited to share all the information I have. What limits how much information I share is the level of interest of my audience. By this I mean that I will share all that I believe you will find helpful.
The topic of marriage and divorce is sensitive and complex. Though I do want to remain practical, this post will be longer than usual and full of quotes that I found helpful. As always, I want my posts to be conversation starters and not the final word. I am looking forward to reading your comments on this post. Feel free to agree or disagree. Let’s continue this conversation as we seek God’s will for our lives.
Historical/ Cultural ContextIn the ancient world generally, it was held that a married man could have sexual adventures as long as they did not involve a married woman (which would mean violating the rights of her husband). A woman, however, was expected to have no such relations; she should be chaste before marriage and faithful after it. O. J. Baab puts the accepted view in these terms:
“Because of the nature of marriage, adultery was not so much evidence of moral depravity as the violation of a husband’s right to have sole sexual possession of his wife and to have the assurance that his children were his own.
- The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 1 (Nashville 1962; supplementary volume, 1976) p.51
It was not seen as adultery, for example, for an Israelite to have intercourse with a female slave or with a Gentile woman. Adultery for him involved infringing the rights of another Israelite male. Jesus, however, in the Sermon on the Mount, makes no distinction, indicating that people of both sexes were to remain faithful. Jesus even specifically mentions the man as the adulterer (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). Jesus calls for complete fidelity on the part of both partners.
In my previous post (It Begins in The Heart), I discussed Mathew 5:29-30 where Jesus provides a picturesque repudiation of a prized part of the body vividly demonstrating that there is to be no compromise with evil. (Morris, L. (1992). The gospel according to Matthew. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.) So it should come as no surprise that Jesus does not lower His standards for anyone regarding marriage and divorce.
In other passages in this section, Jesus is dealing with a specific command of God. However, people were not commanded by God to get divorced. This passage assumes the practice of divorce and speaks of how it was regulated in the Mosaic law. Jesus seems to be protecting the woman from the harshness of her husband. The aim seems to be not to condone divorce but rather to mitigate its evil consequences. (N. B. Stonehouse, The Witness of Matthew and Mark to Christ, (London, 1944) p. 204)
Old TestamentIn order to better understand the Jewish views on divorce we need to familiarize ourselves with Deuteronomy 24:1-4.
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, 2 when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife, 3 if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, 4 then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
- Deuteronomy 24:1-4 NKJV
The main point of the passage is to prohibit the remarriage of one’s own divorced partner. The reason for this regulation appears to be that if the wife’s ‘indecency’ was so terrible and had so ‘defiled’ her as to be a sufficient ground for divorce, it was also a sufficient reason for not taking her back. I believe this was intended to warn husbands against hasty decisions, because once made it could not be rescinded. This would also protect wives against exploitation. Notice that this prohibition is the only command in the whole passage; there is certainly no command to a husband to divorce his wife, nor even any encouragement to do so. (John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), p.95.)
As far as I can tell the bill of divorce was for the protection of the woman; otherwise she would not be allowed to re-marry and if cast out by her husband she would be destitute. Also, women were not allowed to divorce their husbands. Though this passage does not clarify this, apparently the wife could petition the court, if her plea was accepted the court would then direct the husband to divorce her. (Morris, L. (1992). The gospel according to Matthew. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 120)
New TestamentDivorce was legislated in the Old Testament, but it was never banned. Two Pharisees, who were slightly older contemporaries of Jesus debated back and forth regarding the legitimate grounds for divorce.
Hillel permitted a man to put away his wife for “any good cause” (which could be as minor an issue as frequently burning his food!), while Shammai limited it to “adultery” (Mishna Gittin 9:10).
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 110.
I was able to find the Mishnah Gittin 9.10 online. There I read that Rabbi Akiva says: He may divorce her even if he found another woman who is better looking than her and wishes to marry her, as it is stated in that verse: “And it comes to pass, if she finds no favor in his eyes” (Deuteronomy 24:1).
Though Rabbi Akiva is thought to have lived c.110 – c.135 CE and therefore was not a contemporary of Jesus, his comments illustrate how different Jesus’ stance is even when compared to what relatively more modern rabbis taught on this topic.
With this context in mind let us turn to the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5:31-32.
Furthermore, it has been said…
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
- Matthew 5:31-32 NKJV
With the emphatic “But I say unto you” Jesus shares His own understanding of marriage and divorce. Jesus emphasizes that marriage is not to be dissolved lightly. However, these two verses can hardly be thought to represent the sum total of Jesus’ thoughts regarding divorce. Matthew records a fuller version in chapter 19. Knowing this we should take the two passages together and interpret the shorter in the light of the longer.
Is it lawful…?
3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”
8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”
- Matthew 19:3-10 NKJV
It is significant to emphasize that the law of Moses did not institute divorce, but rather, by divine direction, Moses tolerated divorce and regulated it to prevent abuses. **God’s ideal for marriage is found in Genesis 2:21-25 and not Deuteronomy 24:1-4.**
Divorce is "not a divine instruction, but only a divine concession to human weakness."
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 95.
As we have established in this series, Jesus does not oppose Scriptures in the Sermon on the Mount. Likewise, here Jesus is clarifying God’s ideal and opposing scribal interpretations. While the religious leaders of the time seemed to be concerned with the proper procedures and the correct wording of the bill of divorce that would expressly permit the woman to marry and the appropriate witnesses for the process to be legally binding Jesus was concerned with highlighting the importance of marriage.
Even the verb rendered as “divorce” (ἀπολύω) literally means “release” and is used for releasing a prisoner (Matthew 27:15) or a debtor (Matthew 18:27) and even forgiveness (Luke 6:37). I mention this because it helps us understand divorce in Jesus’ time as the giving up of one’s claim on a wife. (Morris, L. (1992). The gospel according to Matthew. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p121)
A paraphraseWhat, then, did Jesus teach? N. B. Stonehouse (The witness of Matthew and Mark to Christ by N. B. Stonehouse (Tyndale Press, 1944; 2nd edition 1958)) offers a good paraphrase of the first part of the antithesis in the Sermon on the Mount:
‘Ye have heard of the appeal of Jewish teachers to Deuteronomy 24:1 in the interest of substantiating a policy which permits husbands freely at their own pleasure to divorce their wives—simply by providing them with a duly attested document of the transaction.’ ‘But I say to you,’ Jesus continued, that such irresponsible behaviour on the part of a husband will lead him and his wife and their second partners into unions which are not marriage but adultery. To this general principle there is one exception. The only situation in which divorce and remarriage are possible without breaking the seventh commandment is when it has already been broken by some serious sexual sin.
In this case, and in this case only, Jesus seems to have taught that divorce was permissible, or at least that it could be obtained without the innocent party contracting the further stigma of adultery. The modern tendency of Western countries to frame legislation for divorce on the basis rather of the ‘irretrievable breakdown’ or ‘death’ of a marriage than of a ‘matrimonial offence’ may make for better and juster law; it cannot be said to be compatible with the teaching of Jesus.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 97–98.
PorneiaJesus states that the only acceptable reason for divorce is **πορνεία****.**
(1) Some feel Jesus used this as a synonym for adultery (moicheia). Therefore adultery by either partner in a marriage is the only sufficient grounds for a marriage to end in divorce. Among those holding this view, some believe remarriage is possible but others believe remarriage should never occur.
(2) Others define porneia as a sexual offense that could occur only in the betrothal period when a Jewish man and woman were considered married but had not yet consummated their coming marriage with sexual intercourse. If in this period the woman was found pregnant (as was Mary; 1:18–19), a divorce could occur in order to break the contract.
(3) Still others believe the term porneia referred to illegitimate marriages within prohibited degrees of kinship, as in Leviticus 18:6–18. If a man discovered that his wife was a near relative, he would actually be involved in an incestuous marriage. Then this would be a justifiable grounds for divorce. Some say this meaning of porneia is found in Acts 15:20, 29 (cf. 1 Cor. 5:1).
(4) Another view is that porneia refers to a relentless, persistent, unrepentant lifestyle of sexual unfaithfulness (different from a one-time act of illicit relations). (In the NT porneia is broader than moicheia). Such a continued practice would thus be the basis for divorce, since such unfaithful and unrelenting conduct would have broken the marriage bond. (On the subject of divorce and remarriage, see comments on 1 Cor. 7:10–16.)
- Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 63–64.
However, in recent times there has been debate regarding pornography. Some have argued that Jesus did not address it during His time because it did not exist as it does now. So if someone catches their spouse consuming pornography is it grounds for divorce?
I remember discussing this while at the seminary. Porneia can be applied broadly or specifically, so which way should we interpret it?
Principle for interpretation and application of porneiaWhen applying it to self, interpret it a broadly as possible. Anything that could possibly cause marital infidelity even if just in the mind/heart (see Matthew 5:27-30 It Begins in The Heart).
However, when applying to your spouse do your best to save the marriage and do not use it as a reason to give up on your marriage and your spouse.
The Bible portrays the Divine Lover as willing to woo back even his adulterous wife. (Cf. Jeremiah 2:1; 3:1; 4:1; Hosea 2:1–23)
Adventures in Missing the PointIf we read Jesus’ words looking for a reason to divorce our spouse we will be missing the point. Even if you have reason to divorce it does not mean you should.
What about abuse?I am also aware of the danger that lies on the other extreme. What about the spouse who is not guilty of *porneia* but is physically, emotionally, financially, financially, and socially abusive?
I have heard the horror stories of spouses, usually wives, being told by religious leaders that she has to remain in an abusive marriage. I do not believe that God desires anyone to stay in an abusive relationship. With that said, I have also heard very broad definitions of abuse.
Personal StoriesLong long ago, in a church far far away, a wife from my congregation asked to talk with me. She had found evidence that her husband was doing drugs, after they had talked about it and he promised her he would quit. As I listened to her story and watched the tears roll down her face I realized that trust was broken and she did not feel safe with him. She said there was no physical abuse, but she didn’t know how she could possibly live with a man she could not trust.
I tried to comfort and encourage her and make plans for where she could stay and began to talk about the best way to handle this situation. I did not tell her to divorce him, but I also failed to encourage her to fight for her marriage.
Later we talked again. She had decided to stay and help her husband overcome his addictions. She did love him after all. She had called her father and he had told her that she should not leave her husband in his moment of need and that she could be a positive godly influence in the life of her husband.
When she told me the words of her father I felt terrible. In my mind, her father gave her the advice I should have given her. I felt like I had failed her and her husband. By God’s grace, they are still married to this day.
Story #2Long long ago, in a church far far away an older lady came to talk to me. She was concerned about her adult daughter who was also a member of our church. Her daughter was married to a man who was abusive, lazy, dishonest, abusive, and unfaithful. They had lived in her house for a while and she witnessed the abuse. He didn’t have a job, he cheated on her, he was not a believer, and he was abusive. I talked with the daughter. The abuse was real, he had no intentions of changing, he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong. I explained to her that though she was a positive influence in his life and a blessing, she did not have to stay with such an abusive man.
They separated temporarily, but before I left she had let him come back and I have not stayed in touch with them. I don’t know what the current situation is.
Personal ReflectionsI can talk with couples and help equip two people who want to make their marriage work. I can help with communication, conflict resolution, and budgeting. But I do not know all the answers and I am not a marriage counselor. What I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt is that marriage is God’s idea and that it should be a lifelong commitment. You should do everything you can to save your marriage.
I also understand that people are free to make their choices and you can’t force someone to be in a relationship.
A comprehensive list?Paul seems to have recognized Jesus’ words as not comprehensive, since in 1 Corinthians 7:15 he introduces a second legitimate ground for divorce that Jesus never mentioned. (Craig Blomberg, *Matthew*, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 111–112.)
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
- 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 NKJV
I won’t dive into this one but I leave it here for your consideration.
The Main PointI am not writing this to make anyone who has been divorced feel bad about their past or to accuse anyone who had remarried of living in adultery. God is able to bless and forgive and work with anyone. Divorce is not the unpardonable sin. Also, from what I have witnessed in the lives of others, the process is its own curse.
My hope is that those of you who are married will do all that you can to keep your marriage healthy. Those of you who are considering marriage, please think very carefully, and unless you’re willing to die for that person, do not marry them.
I may be biased, but I really like the way the Seventh-day Adventist Commentary talks about it.
In the providence of God the marriage institution was designed to bless and uplift humanity. The companionship of husband and wife was ordained of God as the ideal environment in which to mature a Christian character. Most of the personality adjustments of married life, and the difficulties encountered by many in making these adjustments, call for the exercise of self-restraint and sometimes self-sacrifice. True “love is patient and kind,” it “does not insist on its own way,” it “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4–7, RSV). When Christians enter into the marriage relationship they should accept the responsibility of applying the principles here stated. Husbands and wives who thus apply these principles, and who are willing for the grace of Christ to operate in their lives, will find that there is no difficulty, however serious it may appear to be, that cannot be solved. Where dispositions are not congenial, the Christian solution is to change dispositions, not spouses.
- Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 337–338.
My personal approachI want to be very clear that this is MY PERSONAL APPROACH!
You don’t have to follow it. I am not sure it is the best approach for everyone. This is how I approach my marriage to my wife. This is personal and I share it so you can have a glimpse of my mindset when it comes to my marriage to my wife of 17 years (as I write this post).
When it comes to my wife and my marriage, I am all in. I am the hero of this love story. I behave the way I want the main character to behave. I give and sacrifice and offer my very best to my wife. Divorce is not an option. I chose this woman and I vowed to be there for her, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer. I am a man of my word. I did not speak those words lightly. I meant them and I will live by them to my dying breath.
This is dangerous. I know. But I chose my wife very carefully. My priorities in life are God first, and my wife is second. I chose her carefully and I know that together we can accomplish more than I could ever dream of accomplishing on my own. When I invest in her I invest in myself, in my life, my family, my well-being. I am all in. I don’t care for anyone else like I care for my wife.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
- Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
Also, if I am to share Jesus with with people of all nations, I believe I need to start in my own home. I need to show my spouse the love of Jesus. In many ways it is easier to share Jesus in small bursts, on weekends, at church, on a mission trip, etc. But living it day in and day out is a different experience. Jesus promises to be with me as I disciple those around me, so I begin with my spouse, and my kids, and from my own home my influence spreads to others.
I would like to encourage you to follow Jesus’ commission and disciple those around you for His kingdom. Let it begin in your home. He promises to be with you. Lean on Him and let the results be for His honor and glory.
Bonus - Deeper DiveControversy over the Original ContentSome debate the authenticity of Jesus’ provision for divorce since Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18 make the prohibition of divorce absolute. For example, some argue that Mark and Luke tell us what Jesus said and that Matthew is giving us the position held in the church today. However, it is more likely that Matthew is spelling out what was implicit in the first century. (Morris, L. (1992). The gospel according to Matthew. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p121)
On this topic, Stott argues the following:
I would wish to argue, as do virtually all conservative commentators, that we must accept this clause not only as a genuine part of Matthew’s Gospel (for no mss omit it) but also as an authentic word of Jesus. The reason why many have rejected it, regarding it as an interpolation by Matthew, is that it is absent from the parallel passages in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Yet Plummer was right to dub ‘a violent hypothesis’ (Plummer, A. (1909). An exegetical commentary on the gospel according to St. Matthew. p82) this easy dismissal of the exceptive clause as an editorial gloss. It seems far more likely that its absence from Mark and Luke is due not to their ignorance of it but to their acceptance of it as something taken for granted. After all, under the Mosaic law adultery was punishable by death (although the death penalty for this offence seems to have fallen into disuse by the time of Jesus); So nobody would have questioned that marital unfaithfulness was a just ground for divorce. Even the rival Rabbis Shammai and Hillel were agreed about this. Their dispute was how much more widely than this the expression ‘some indecency’ in Deuteronomy 24:1 could be interpreted.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 96–97.
Regarding Deuteronomy 22:22; and John. 8:1–11. G. E. Ladd writes: ‘The Old Testament condemned adultery with the death penalty. The New Testament says that an adulterer is to be considered as one dead, and the innocent party is freed from his marriage vows as though his mate had died’ (The Gospel of the kingdom, Eerdmans, 1959, p. 85).
Bonus - Personal Thoughts on my MarriageThe Relationship Episode - 15th wedding anniversary special
Family and Relationships - my wife and I answer questions sent by followers.
I am grateful for my wife - personal reflections on marriage
The Relationship Episode - my wife and I answer questions sent in by followers (part 2, part 3)
This post is part of my “Join Me on The Mountainside” series.
In my previous post, I discussed how Jesus came to fulfill the law, and how He said our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. In this post, I’ll take a closer look at Matthew 5:21-30 which will help flesh out what Jesus meant by what He said earlier.
You have heard that it was said…
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
- Matthew 5:21 NKJV
Most of you are probably familiar with the 10 commandments. They can be found in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Here Jesus references the 6th commandment. Some translations say kill, but murder seems to be a better translation.
“Murder” is the correct rendering since the underlying Hebrew (ratsach, sometimes translated “kill”) did not include killing in self-defense, wars ordered by Yahweh, capital punishment following due process of law, or accidental manslaughter.
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 106.
Jesus quotes a familiar law and one where there is little argument. Most cultures around the globe would agree that murder should not happen. However, Jesus expounds on this law, He brings about a fuller understanding of how we ought to behave as followers of God. If our righteousness is to surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees it is not enough to simply not commit the act of murder.
But I say to you…
“But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
- Matthew 5:22 NKJV
According to Jesus, the true application of the prohibition was much wider. Jesus includes thoughts and words, as well as deeds, anger, and insult as well as murder. Jesus gives us a fuller understanding of God’s law, or God’s desire for our lives. As followers of God, we should not be content with simply not having murdered anyone recently, but our aim should be higher, to not experience hate toward another.
Matthew 5:22 is one of those verses where there is some variance regarding ancient manuscripts and some of them do not have the phrase “without cause” but the main point remains clear either way.
A strong manuscript tradition (D, L, W, f1, f13, etc.) adds the phrase “without cause” following the word “brother.” This phrase is usually viewed as a later textual addition, but it nevertheless gives the correct interpretation. There is a righteous indignation against sin (as esp. with Jesus versus the money changers in the temple—21:12–17), and God himself is properly wrathful (cf. 18:34; 22:7).
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 106.
The possible issue with including the phrase “without cause” is that some might take it as permission to be angry with the brother who did something to deserve it. On the other hand, not all anger is necessarily sinful. For examples of anger that is directed towards sin or evil and not directed specifically towards the person see Exodus 32:19 and John 2:14-17.
So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
- Exodus 32:19 NKJV14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
- John 2:14-17 NKJV
If you would like to explore further what Jesus had to say regarding how to treat our brother see Mathew 5:44; 7:3–5; 12:49–50; 18:15, 21, 35; 23:8; 25:40; 28:10.
Some interpret “brother” as a fellow believer, but since Jesus will tell His listeners to love their enemies in a few verses (Matthew 5:44) I would not limit Jesus’ use of “brother” to a reference to fellow believers but rather to everyone. If we refer to God as “our Father” (Matthew 6:9) then other humans are our brothers and sisters.
Raca?
“Raca” (a quasi-swear word in Aramaic). The expression probably meant something like empty-headed. So too those who call someone a “fool” commit a sin. This word (mōros) carries overtones of immorality and godlessness as well as idiocy.
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 107.
So we need to remember that the word “fool” had acquired both religious and moral overtones, being applied in the Old Testament to those who denied God’s existence and as a result plunged into reckless evil doing. (Psalm 14:1–4; 53:1–4)
The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
- Psalm 14:1 NKJV
There is also another approach to interpreting the word “mōre” translated as “fool.”
Alternatively, as some scholars suggest, mōre may transliterate a Hebrew word which means a ‘rebel’, an ‘apostate’ or an ‘outcast’. In this case, Tasker proposes the sentiment: ‘The man who tells his brother that he is doomed to hell is in danger of hell himself’. Ps. 78:8; Je. 5:23
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 84.
Hell?Gehenna (“fire of hell”)—a reference to the valley south of Jerusalem in which children were slaughtered in Old Testament times and traditionally associated with a perpetually burning garbage dump in later centuries.
(Craig Blomberg, 107)
(For a deeper dive keep reading, or skip to the next heading)
Hell fire. Literally, “the Gehenna [Gr. geenna] of fire,” or “the hell of fire.” Geenna, “hell,” is a transliteration of the Hebrew ge’ ben hinnom, “valley of Hinnom,” or ge’ ben hinnom, “valley of the son of Hinnom” (Joshua 15:8), the valley to the south and west of Jerusalem that meets with the Kidron Valley immediately south of the City of David and the Pool of Siloam (see on Jer. 19:2). Wicked King Ahaz seems to have introduced the barbaric heathen rite of burning infant children to Molech at a high place called Tophet, in the Valley of Hinnom (2 Chron. 28:3), during the days of Isaiah. For a further description of these revolting rites see on Lev. 18:21; Deut. 18:10; 32:17; 2 Kings 16:3; 23:10; Jer. 7:31. Manasseh, a grandson of Ahaz, restored this practice (2 Chron. 33:1, 6; cf. Jer. 32:35). Years later good King Josiah formally desecrated the high places in the Valley of Hinnom, where this appalling form of worship had been conducted (2 Kings 23:10), so bringing it to a halt. In retribution for this and other evils God forewarned His people that the Valley of Hinnom would one day become “the valley of slaughter” for “the carcases of this people” (Jer. 7:32, 33; Jer. 19:6; cf. Isa. 30:33). Accordingly, the fires of Hinnom became symbolic of the consuming fire of the last great day of judgment and the punishment of the wicked (cf. Isa. 66:24). In Jewish eschatological thinking, derived in part from Greek philosophy, Gehenna was the place where the souls of the ungodly were reserved under punishment until the day of final judgment and rewards.
The tradition that makes the Valley of Gehenna a place for burning rubbish, and thus a type of the fires of the last day, appears to have originated with Rabbi Kimchi, a Jewish scholar of the 12th and 13th centuries. Ancient Jewish literature knows nothing of such an idea. The earlier rabbis base the idea of Gehenna as a type of the fires of the last day on Isa. 31:9. See Strack and Billerbeck, Kommentar zum Neuen Testament, vol. 4, pp. 1029, 1030.
- Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 335.
Words or Feelings?Do you think Jesus had a problem with the words “raca” or “fool?” If that was the case then I could find other words to express the same sentiment and avoid judgment or hell fire. What if I choose to say, “idiot” or “nincompoop?” Would it be okay for me to call someone a witling?
If we were to study and try to figure out the precise degree of unholy feelings towards our brother that are indicated by the words Jesus used in the original language and proper historical and cultural context we would be embarking on an adventure in missing the point.
If murder is a horrible crime, malicious anger and insult are horrible too.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 86.
The main point is that Jesus goes far deeper than what we tend to interpret the law of God to mean. He traces murder to its dark lair in human hearts: hatred. The God we worship sees our heart and is concerned not only by the fruit, the actions, the actual murder, but also by the root, the hatred that starts the entire process. Hatred may not be accountable in an earthly court of law, but it is to have no place among followers of God. Anger will have to face the judgment of God.
Legalism? Jesus was not against the law and its principles, but rather against all performance-based religiosity generated by the legislative superstructure erected by the religious leaders in an attempt to help prevent the breaking of the law.
for example at Shabbath 3–6 in the Mishnah we note that a new lamp can be moved from one place to another on the Sabbath, but not an old one; hot food may be kept warm by covering with clothes, feathers or dried flax, but not by covering with damp herbs or straw—which could engender fresh heat (and thus ‘work’) on the Sabbath day. An ass may go out on the Sabbath day wearing its saddle cloth if this was fixed on before the Sabbath, but may not wear a bell even if it is plugged (that would be work for the ass). Goats may go out with a protective cloth on their udders if it is to keep them dry, but not if it is intended to collect the milk … and so forth. And all this was intended to preserve scribal righteousness.
- Michael Green, The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 93.
Jesus is not adding a performative aspect to the law. Jesus is not creating a list of words that are not allowed to be uttered, rather He is clarifying the heart and intention of the law.
In fact, so little are we to make of mere words, apart from the feeling which they express, that as anger is expressly said to have been borne by our Lord towards His enemies though mixed with “grief for the hardness of their hearts” (Mk 3:5), and as the apostle teaches us that there is an anger which is not sinful (Eph 4:26); so in the Epistle of James (Jam 2:20) we find the words, “O vain (or, empty) man”; and our Lord Himself applies the very word “fools” twice in one breath to the blind guides of the people (Mt 23:17, 19)
- Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 21–22.
Two passages that help clarify Jesus’ message are Ephesians 4:6 and 1 John 3:15
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
- Ephesians 4:26 NKJVWhoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
- 1 John 3:15 NKJV
Here we see that not all anger is sinful and that hatred is compared to murder. My understanding of this is that someone’s behavior may upset you and cause you to experience anger, but you should not hate the person and wish them evil (damnation).
Worship and Relationships
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
- Matthew 5:23-26 NKJV
What I take away from Jesus’ words is that his followers should avoid judgment by dealing honestly with sin. Not by trying to excuse it, or find loopholes, but rather by considering their hearts honestly and sincerely dealing with their sin.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
- Romans 12:18 NKJV
We cannot control the behavior of those around us, but as much as it depends on us we should strive to live in peace with those around us. If I am worshipping at church, giving offerings, returning my tithe, volunteering, and I remember that I wronged someone, I should go and do my best to make it right. We should not do this because someone is forcing us, but because we genuinely want to be at peace with those around us.
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- Matthew 5:27-28 NKJV
Now Jesus shifts His attention to the 7th commandment. Adultery specifically refers to sexual relations by a married person with a partner other than his or her spouse but verse 28 clarifies that Jesus is addressing sexual sin in general.
Jesus could be speaking of one who “looks at a woman with the intention of committing adultery” or to one who “looks at a woman for the purpose of getting her to lust after him.”
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 108–109.
Jesus is not talking about a passing glance, or even noticing that someone is beautiful. What Jesus is condemning is the lustful thoughts and actions to have sexual relations with someone who is not that person’s spouse.
As the prohibition of murder included the angry thought and the insulting word, so the prohibition of adultery included the lustful look and imagination. We can commit murder with our words; we can commit adultery in our hearts or minds.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 87.
Just to clarify, Jesus is not speaking against natural sexual relations within the confines of heterosexual marriage (between a biological male and a biological female). The Song of Solomon is part of the Bible after all. Jesus is speaking against sexual interactions outside of marriage (biblical marriage as described in Genesis 1:26-28).
For those who want to argue that Jesus is only talking about married men, insinuating that it is okay for a woman or single men to engage in lustful fantasies is missing the point. Jesus is saying that what you should not do, you should also not fantasize about. Don’t even think about it.
One of the Hebrew equivalents of the Greek word Jesus used for lust is translated as “to desire,” or “to take pleasure in.” The same wordis translated as “covet” in the tenth commandment (Ex. 20:17) and “desire” in Deut. 5:21 and Isa. 53:2.
Christ was doubtless thinking of the tenth commandment when He warned against looking “on a woman to lust after her.” In other words, the man who orders his affections and his will in harmony with the tenth commandment is thereby protected against violating the seventh.
- Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 336.
Prevention?
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
- Matthew 5:29-30 NKJV
Is Jesus advocating for bodily mutilation as a means of salvation? (Matthew 18:8-9)
If the eye is the means by which the temptation reaches the heart, should we not remove the eye? But removal of the eye does not keep the heart from sinning. However, if we refuse to behold that which tempts us to sin we achieve the same results, avoiding the lustful thoughts.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?
- Job 31:1 NKJVBut I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV
These Bible passages give us insights relating to this topic. We cannot control what is happening all around us, but we have a choice regarding the thoughts we dwell on and what we stare at.
The command to get rid of troublesome eyes, hands and feet is an example of our Lord’s use of dramatic figures of speech. What he was advocating was not a literal physical self-maiming, but a ruthless moral self-denial. Not mutilation but mortification is the path of holiness he taught, and ‘mortification’ or ‘taking up the cross’ to follow Christ means to reject sinful practices so resolutely that we die to them or put them to death.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 89.
Are beautiful women an instrument of Satan to ensnare men? NO! Sometimes women are treated as if they are the problem. Jesus does not say “if you look at a woman to lust after her tell her to change her outfit.” Jesus places the burden on the beholder who is choosing to think lustful thoughts.
However, all of us, when we get dressed, we should consider the goal of our outfit. If we are aiming to cause others to lust after us, I would say we are also guilty.
My recommendation to men is to resist the temptation to objectify women. Look a the whole person. That beautiful person you are beholding is someone with dreams and aspirations. Someone with feelings, a history, and complex emotions, she is someone that Jesus loves and died to save. Someone who deserves your respect, protection, and help.
Sorry to my female readers, I do not have any recommendations for you. But this is a topic that is worth discussing further with a mature spiritual mentor. For my male readers, feel free to message me by leaving a comment on this blog or by reaching out through social media.
ConclusionMy takeaway from these passages is that it is not enough to simply not murder or commit adultery. Jesus wants us to move beyond that and live a life in harmony with those around us (as far as possible). We should not hate another person and wish them evil. We should not kill, but also not attack with words, and not harbor anger in our hearts towards others.
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- Matthew 6:15 NKJVIf someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
- 1 John 4:20 NKJV
Ultimately Jesus wants to transform our hearts. He does not want followers who are always wishing in their hearts that they could sin, and who would sin if they could get away with it. Jesus wants us to actually, sincerely, and honestly desire to live new lives, to die to the old self, and to be born new and transformed, and to have a heart that desires what God desires for us.
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
- Romans 6:6-7 NKJVTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJVI have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20 NKJV
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
- Matthew 5:17 NKJV
I have discussed these verses with so many people over the years. Many seem to interpret fulfillment to mean abolish, annul, or repeal. They interpret Jesus’ fulfillment of the law to mean, in a practical sense, that we can disregard it. When I read this verse, I see Jesus making the two ideas antithetical to each other, so destroy and fulfill are opposites, whereas the other interpretation makes the two practically synonymous. I am not sure if you have ever considered this before but I began to wonder if anyone else saw it this way. I will quote below several commentaries and books I found that reflect on Matthew 5:17. Before we get to the quotes, just remember that commentaries should be read critically. By this I mean that you should consider what you read and the argument made and decide if you agree or disagree or even partially agree. I am not saying I agree 100% with all of these, but I want to expose you to them so you can make up your own mind about how to best interpret Matthew 5:17.
Now Christ makes clear that he is not contradicting the law, but neither is he preserving it unchanged. He comes “to fulfill” it, i.e., he will bring the law to its intended goal.
[…]
Fulfillment of Scripture, as throughout chaps. 1–4, refers to the bringing to fruition of its complete meaning. Here Jesus views his role as that of fulfilling all of the Old Testament. This claim has massive hermeneutical implications and challenges both classic Reformed and Dispensationalist perspectives. It is inadequate to say either that none of the Old Testament applies unless it is explicitly reaffirmed in the New or that all of the Old Testament applies unless it is explicitly revoked in the New. Rather, all of the Old Testament remains normative and relevant for Jesus’ followers (2 Tim 3:16), but none of it can rightly be interpreted until one understands how it has been fulfilled in Christ. Every Old Testament text must be viewed in light of Jesus’ person and ministry and the changes introduced by the new covenant he inaugurated.
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 103–104.I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil—Not to subvert, abrogate, or annul, but to establish the law and the prophets—to unfold them, to embody them in living form, and to enshrine them in the reverence, affection, and character of men, am I come.
- Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 20.The verb “destroy” means to “loosen down” as of a house or tent (2 Cor. 5:1). Fulfil is to fill full. This Jesus did to the ceremonial law which pointed to him and the moral law he kept. “He came to fill the law, to reveal the full depth of meaning that it was intended to hold” (McNeile).
- A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Mt 5:17.He does more than obey them himself; he explains what obedience will involve for his disciples. He rejects the superficial interpretation of the law given by the scribes; he himself supplies the true interpretation. His purpose is not to change the law, still less to annul it, but ‘to reveal the full depth of meaning that it was intended to hold’. So then he ‘fulfils it by declaring the radical demands of the righteousness of God’. This is what he stresses in the rest of Matthew 5 by giving examples, as we shall see.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 72.The main thing here is the attitude to God’s law. The category of law is not abolished for the followers of Jesus. He came not to abolish the law but to fulfil it. Of course, some of the elements in the Old Testament law were abolished by being fulfilled. They had pointed forward to what had now eclipsed them in the fuller light brought by Jesus. But the moral law had not been abrogated. Indeed, Jesus goes on to intensify its demands. He is concerned to show his disciplesin the kingdom that their righteousness must transcend the formal obedience which, at its worst, Pharisaism was capable of: the attitude that said, ‘Right, I have fulfilled precisely what is required of me, but I didn’t want to do it, and I shall not throw in one iota of extra commitment.’ Jesus looks for the inner disposition as well as the outer action. The law is not the limit of obedience; it is to be seen rather as the springboard for a life of devotion to Jesus andhis Father. It is the kerbstone along the road of love. And Jesus proceeds, in the verses that follow, to give a number of examples of the outworking of that wholeheartedness. Greatness in God’s kingdom is measured by wholehearted obedience.
- Michael Green, The Message of The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 92.This section presents the heart of Jesus’ message, for it demonstrates His relationship to the Law of God. Jesus was not presenting a rival system to the Law of Moses and the words of the Prophets, but a true fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets—in contrast with the Pharisees’ traditions.
- Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 30.By mentioning both the Torah and the Prophets Yeshua is saying that he has not come to modify or replace God’s Word, the Tanakh. Compare Lk 24:44–45.
- David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary : A Companion Volume to the Jewish New Testament, electronic ed. (Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1996), Mt 5:17.
The quotes could have been much longer and I have really enjoyed the perspective these authors have brought to this biblical text. However, what if you don’t have access to these commentaries? How can you best interpret a challenging biblical passage, or any passage really? Your best friend is context. Let’s see what the next verses say.
Not a jot or tittle?
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
- Matthew 5:18 NKJV
Jesus here reaffirms that not even the smallest components of individual words will pass away. The authority of scripture will endure for all time. However, Jesus also has an important qualification “till all is fulfilled.” The New Testament can help us navigate these aspects of the law, for example, the book of Hebrews describes how we no longer need to offer animal sacrifices. (see Hebrews 10:4-10 for example) Also, when Jesus died the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) which in my mind indicates an end to the ceremonial laws involving the earthly temple. It probably also reveals that Jesus’ death on the cross provides us direct access to God through Jesus. (Hebrews 4:16) We no longer need to go through a human priest.
When in His expiring moments on the cross, Christ exclaimed, “It is finished,” the veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom. The need for the Jewish system of sacrifices and offerings had ended. Type had met antitype in the death of the One to whom the sacrifices pointed. A new and living way had been opened—a way by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, could come to God and find pardon and peace.
Christ is to be uplifted as the Redeemer of the world. He is to be proclaimed as the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
- The Upward Look (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1982), 100.
“one jot” refers to the smallest of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet.
“one tittle” refers to one of the little strokes that distinguish one letter from another.
“till heaven and earth pass away” is a reference to the second coming of Jesus (Revelation 21:1-4) when all the laws and prophecies will be unquestionably fulfilled. So we have this tension that the law and prophecies will not change until the earth is made new, yet some aspects of it were being fulfilled by Jesus and continue to be fulfilled by us, His followers
Maybe this feels messy or confusing. But once again, context will help clarify things.
Breaking Commandments
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 5:19 NKJV
The word translated as “break” is the Greek word λύω,which is closely related to the word translated as “destroy” (καταλύω) in verse 17. The “κατά” prefix adds a level of power, “far more” or “exceeding,” so in verse 19 we have “luo” or loose or set aside, and in verse 17 we have “kataluo” which would be an extreme loosening or setting aside.
Maybe it seems like I am majoring in minors but I believe this is worth our attention. What I get from Jesus’ words is a warning against teachers who loosen or set aside God’s requirements. As a teacher/religious leader, I take this very seriously. I must highlight God’s love and kindness and mercy and willingness to save even the worst of sinners. Yet I must be careful to never downplay the importance of God’s will as revealed in the Scriptures which in Jesus’ time were made up primarily of the law and the prophets.
The ranking makes me a little uncomfortable, especially in light of the parable of the laborers found in Matthew 20:1-16 that seems to rule out any ranking in heaven. One way of solving this apparent contradiction is to consider Jesus’ audience. It is likely that the Pharisees taught and the multitude believed that our ranking on earth was a reflection of God’s ranking or our ranking in the kingdom of God. If that was the case the Pharisees would be highly ranked in the kingdom of God and the poor, the lame, and the sick would be the least in the kingdom of heaven.
Variation of ranking within the community of God’s people is best taken as referring to those whom God will truly honor in the present age.
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 105.
I especially appreciate the insights found in the Seventh-day Adventist Commentary regarding Matthew 5:19
Least commandments. The scribes had meticulously arranged all the precepts of the law of God, the laws of Moses, civil and ceremonial, and their own regulations in a scale of relative importance, on the presumption that when in conflict a requirement of lesser importance was nullified by one of presumably greater importance. By means of this petty legalism it was possible to devise means of circumventing the plainest requirements of the law of God. For illustrations of the application of this principle see Matt. 23:4, 14, 17–19, 23, 24; Mark 7:7–13; John 7:23. It was considered a rabbinical prerogative to declare certain actions “permitted” or “forbidden.” Jesus made it clear that, far from releasing men from the precepts of the moral law, He was even more strict than the official expositors of the law, the scribes and rabbis, for He granted no exceptions at any time. All were equally and permanently binding.
- Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 333.
I know there is a lot packed in here, but once again, let us keep reading and see how the following verse informs our interpretation.
The righteousness of the Pharisees
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 5:20 NKJV
The scribes were the official expositors of the law and the Pharisees possessed artificially enhanced piety. Jesus mentions them because the scribes and Pharisees were the paradigm of the greatest righteousness conceivable in Jesus’ time. Imagine going to a sporting event and being told that you must outperform the professionals.
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:6,10? (See Blessed are you part 1 and Blessed are you part 2) Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness have a special blessing, along with those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Being a follower of Jesus would require greater righteousness.
In my next posts, I’ll dive deeper into what this righteousness looks like. For now, you can continue reading Matthew 5. Remember, context is your friend.
ConclusionWhen we consider God changing His mind or changing His laws it promotes the idea of God learning, growing, maturing, evolving, and I believe that is dangerous ground to treat on. Not only is it dangerous because The Bible is very clear that God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 40:8, 28; 44:6; Psalm 102:25-27; 90:2; Matthew 24:35; Revelation 22:13) But we have to keep in mind it is not just about Old Vs New Testament, but God’s laws also maintains the wellbeing of the universe. (1 Corinthians 1:8; Hebrews 11:3; Acts 17:24; Psalm 119; 91; Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:15-17)
The idea of God changing or breaking His laws would cause us to question everything the Bible teaches because it opens the possibility for things to change again in the future. The study of prophecy would become useless, and trust in God’s promises would erode.
When we observe Jesus’ teaching and behavior during His earthly ministry we may sometimes get the impression that he is breaking the Old Testament laws, or starting a new religion altogether, but Jesus was clear, He was only fulfilling everything the Old Testament pointed to.
Jesus had to come as our redeemer precisely because the Law of God is perfect and holy and changeless and it is impossible for sinful human beings to meet the standard of its requirements. If we could do it we would need a Savior. If the law is destroyed, so is our need for a redeemer. Jesus came and it is He who causes our lives to come into harmony with the principles of the law of God. Why do you think our lives are transformed once we give our hearts to Jesus? It is because He is shaping us into His likeness, bringing our lives into harmony with His changeless law.
There isn’t a single commandment of the law of God that is not for our good and happiness both in this life and in the life to come!Jesus wants to put His laws into our hearts and write them in our minds (Hebrews 10:16). But Jesus will not force this change upon you. Revelation 3:20 describes Jesus knocking on the door, not knocking it down. Will you invite Jesus into your heart and allow Him to place His changeless law in your heart?
This post is part 3 of my “Join Me on The Mountainside” series but it stands on its own just fine.
Many believe that to achieve spiritual growth we must leave modern society and live by ourselves far away from others. Many are so concerned with their personal holiness that they do not want to risk defilement by interacting with those they consider spiritually inferior. Jesus challenges this elitist and exclusivist approach to spirituality with the illustrations of salt and light.
If the beatitudes describe the essential character of the disciples of Jesus, the salt and light metaphors indicate their influence for good in the world.
[…] What possible influence could the people described in the beatitudes exert in this hard, tough world? What lasting good can the poor and the meek do, the mourners and the merciful, and those who try to make peace not war? Would they not simply be overwhelmed by the floodtide of evil? What can they accomplish whose only passion is an appetite for righteousness, and whose only weapon is purity of heart? Are not such people too feeble to achieve anything, especially if they are a small minority in the world?
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 57. (bold mine)
Salt of the Earth
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
- Matthew 5:13 NKJV
Jesus’ illustration of salt and light comes right after the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12 discussed in detail in my posts Blessed are You parts 1 and 2.) and commenting on this context Craig Blomberg has the following insight.
In light of the countercultural perspectives enunciated in the Beatitudes, it would be easy to assume that Jesus was calling his followers to a separatistic or quasimonastic life-style. Here Jesus proclaims precisely the opposite. Christians must permeate society as agents of redemption.
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 102.
Whenever salt is mentioned, I primarily think about flavor in food, but Blomberg points out that when we take into consideration the historical and cultural context, Jesus’ audience probably viewed salt differently than most of us do today. Blomberg says it is unlikely that ancient people thought of salt primarily as a taste enhancer.
Of the numerous things to which salt could refer in antiquity, its use as a preservative in food was probably its most basic function. Jesus thus calls his disciples to arrest corruption and prevent moral decay in their world.
- Ibid
Along these same lines, the book Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings says the following.
Salt is valued for its preservative properties; and when God calls His children salt, He would teach them that His purpose in making them the subjects of His grace is that they may become agents in saving others.
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings p35
I especially like the insight that is shared in the following paragraph.
Salt must be mingled with the substance to which it is added; it must penetrate and infuse in order to preserve. So it is through personal contact and association that men are reached by the saving power of the gospel. They are not saved in masses, but as individuals. Personal influence is a power. We must come close to those whom we desire to benefit.
- Ibid p36 (bold mine)
The Bible presents humanity, when left to its own devices as entirely corrupt.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
- Genesis 6:11-12 NKJV2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.
- Psalm 14:2-3 NKJVAnd you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
- Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
- Titus 3:2-3 NKJV
According to Jesus’ illustration of salt, the remedy for this fallen human nature is the presence of His disciples among the world’s population.
The character and principles of Christians, brought into close contact with it, are designed to arrest the festering corruption of humanity and season its insipidity.
- Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 20.
By calling His followers the “salt of the earth” Jesus highlights the vital power of the Christian. When we have the love of Jesus in our hearts, the righteousness of Christ pervades our lives, we discover that the love of Christ is diffusive and aggressive. When the love of God is dwelling in us it will flow out to others. Our unselfish interest and love will warm the hearts of those around us. We do not do this by our own efforts, but rather the Holy Spirit accomplishes this in our hearts and in the lives of those around us.
What if the salt loses its flavor?Not surprisingly, there is debate over the notion of Salt losing its saltiness. Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is a stable compound and it is unlikely (impossible?) to turn it into any other compound. But salt does not have to literally lose its saltiness for Jesus’ point to be accurate and true. Essentially, who would want salt that is not salty?
There are a number of possibilities for salt to seem less salty and those circumstances are related to salt being mixed with other substances that cause it to lose its purity. So if salt were to become mixed with impure substances causing it to become worthless as a preservative it would not have any other use.
If Christians become assimilated to non-Christians and contaminated by the impurities of the world, they lose their influence. The influence of Christians in and on society depends on their being distinct, not identical
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 60.
Those who are more self-centered, read this passage and suddenly become concerned about their salvation. “Oh no! If I stop being salty I’ll lose my salvation. I need to make sure I preserve my saltiness!” This would then cause people to become “overly salty?” or their “saltiness” becomes a performance. But according to Jesus’ illustration, the whole point of the “saltiness” of the Christian is the influence it will have on those around them. We are not salty because our salvation depends on it, we are salty because we want to be effective agents of positive change and redemption.
Live your life with a focus on mission, it is much better than living a life focused on fear. Stop focusing on holding on to your salvation and focus on being an agent of change and redemption.
If that Christianity on which the health of the world depends, does in any age, region, or individual, exist only in name, or if it contain not those saving elements for want of which the world languishes, […] Since living Christianity is the only “salt of the earth,” if men lose that, what else can supply its place?
- Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 20.
Imagine people, recognizing their poverty of soul, realizing the insipidity of their lives, approach someone who claims to be a follower of God and discover this person lacks “saltiness” and is thus unable to help them. Of what value is this supposed follower of God?
Your personal walk with God is not just about you, it is about all those who will come into contact with you and the influence you will have on them. When you come to God and desire to grow in your relationship, do not do it in a selfish way, but do it out of a desire to be an instrument in God’s hand to bless those around you! Unless we have a living faith in Christ as a personal Savior it is impossible to make our influence felt in the world. How can we possibly give to others that which we do not possess? It is in proportion to our own devotion and consecration to Christ that we exert an influence for the blessing and uplifting of humanity.
When we lack love, our “good” Christian behavior is simply a performance and at most evidence of discipline and self-control.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV
By contrast, when the love of God fills our hearts it will naturally flow to those around us. Not because they have done anything to deserve it but because love is the source of our actions.
Light of the World
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
More specifically Jesus is the light of the world (John 1:4; 8:12; 9:5) so we reflect His light. The life of Christ in our souls causes His love to be revealed in our characters making us the light of the world. We have no light in and of ourselves.
[…] as the disciples of Jesus, we are not to conceal the truth we know or the truth of what we are. We are not to pretend to be other than we are, but be willing for our Christianity to be visible to all.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 62.
Here Jesus is calling us to openly live our lives as our true Christian selves and not be ashamed of Christ. Our lives should match what Jesus described in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and those who witness our good words will glorify God because they will realize that it is not our light but Jesus’ light reflected in us and even our good works are evidence of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us for the benefit of those around us.
Jesus is the great source of illumination for the entire world, however, He chooses to be revealed through us, his human followers. Jesus came to reveal the Father, and now we are sent to reveal Jesus to the world. Think about this, God’s blessings are being bestowed through human instruments! God using you to bless others. You are the answer to your neighbor’s prayer. God wants to do this through you, are you willing to be a light for the world?
Imagine the angels of glory waiting to communicate through you light and power from heaven to those who are dying in sin. When you refuse the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life, you are robbing those around you of the blessings they could receive. But Jesus is not saying for us to make our light shine or make our light shine brighter, but rather for us to let our light shine. Jesus wants to shine through us, we just have to allow Him to do so. It is also true that if we are not connected with Jesus, we will have no light to share with others.
Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, temptations manfully resisted, meekness, kindness, mercy, and love habitually revealed, are the lights that shine forth in the character in contrast with the darkness of the selfish heart, into which the light of life has never shone.
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.44
Practical ApplicationAt first glance, salt and light are very different, but Jesus was intentional with His illustrations.
‘Salt and light have one thing in common: they give and expend themselves—and thus are the opposite of any and every kind of self-centred religiosity.’
Nevertheless, the kind of service each renders is different. In fact, their effects are complementary. The function of salt is largely negative: it prevents decay. The function of light is positive: it illumines the darkness.
So Jesus calls his disciples to exert a double influence on the secular community, a negative influence by arresting its decay and a positive influence by bringing light into its darkness. For it is one thing to stop the spread of evil; it is another to promote the spread of truth, beauty and goodness.
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 64–65.
It is also worth noting that salt and light make no noise. You notice the influence of salt and you experience light yet they are not loud. Jesus did not say we are a loud siren or clanging bell. Salt and light naturally make a difference without artificial effort, they are just their pure selves. Being salt and light is not a performance but rather a revelation of our truest selves. The purer the salt and the light the better. We do not have to try harder, we have to just get out of the way and allow God to work through us for His honor and glory and for the benefit of those around us.
In light of Jesus’ call for us to be light and salt, are you willing to make a difference? Are you willing to be different in a way that blesses those around you and points them to Jesus? Even if it causes you to be treated negatively? (Matthew 5:10-12)
This is God’s purpose in calling you. It has always been God’s purpose in calling His people. This was made clear when God called Abraham and said “I will bless you… and you will be a blessing!” Genesis 12:2.
Connect deeply with God and allow Him to shine through you and use you mightily for the salvation of those around you.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
I turned 40 today and wanted to celebrate by answering the questions you sent me.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
In January of 2024 I turned 40.
I prepared a special post answering your questions. 40th Birthday is it’s tithe and there is also a podcast and video that accompany it.
Do you have some questions you would like me to address? You can leave it as a comment on this post or ask anonymously here https://ngl.link/mrlnsfrt
Thank you for participating in this adventure. (You can listen to these episodes as a podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts)
For other personal posts check out
- Who I am
- Personal thoughts on life, the universe, and everything…
- I am grateful for my wife
- 34th birthday
- The Relationship Post -part 1 (my wife joins me for these on this post there are links to parts 2 and 3)
- Personal Reflections (35th birthday)
- When life doesn’t go according to plan.
- The Vasectomy (my wife thinks this one is too personal to be shared so feel free to skip it)
- The woman I love (this one focuses on my wife)
- Family and Relationships
- Reflections 2020 - issues on my mind during a very challenging year.
- Relationship Episode - 15th wedding anniversary
- Personal Reflections - 39th birthday
You can listen to these episodes as a podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts just search for Pr. Marlon.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
There’s also a video for this episode on YouTube
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Want to improve your storytelling skills? Here are some practical tips to take your storytelling to the next level.
Choosing a storyThere are so many sources for stories that choosing one can be quite difficult. Here are some options for you to consider.
Is your story
- a personal story?
- a story you read?
- a story you heard?
- true?
- fiction?
(let the kids know if it is fact or fiction)
- Beware of stories you read online.
- What is the source?
- Can you trust it?
- Do your homework. (Google it, and read it from different sources if available.)
Why do I want to tell this story?What makes me choose this particular story to share? Out of all the stories you have access to, what makes you choose this one? The answer to this question will significantly shape your story and how you perform it. Keep the answer to this question in mind as you read the next steps.
What is the key lesson?What should the audience walk away with? This is directly related to the question above. You do not want your story to be like the headless arrow, dull and pointless. There must be a point to your story and everything you do when telling the story should contribute to making this point very clear.
How much time do I have? If you are telling the story to a group of children you should aim at keeping it under 5 minutes. Once you have chosen your story, figured out why you want to share it, and what the key point is, you’re ready to shape your story.
Ask yourself,
What is essential to the story?
- What can be eliminated?
- What can be added?
The key point of the story will help you determine what to add and what to eliminate from your story. I would recommend figuring out the absolutely essential points of the story, without which the story would make no sense. Now decide what details will help emphasize the main point and only add those details. Random facts and details can confuse or frustrate your audience.
The makeup of your audience and the time allotted to me will impact what details to include or leave out. Look at the kids, what is their age range? You will have to adjust your story on the fly. Make sure you communicate in an age-appropriate way.
Keeping their attentionWatch your audience as you perform your story.
- Are they watching you?
- Are they engaged?
- Are they distracted?
In order to watch your audience I recommend you not read your story. You can read for yourself, then tell it. Then go back and read it again. Did you miss something? Make notes. You don’t have to memorize the story, just be familiar with it enough that you can tell it comfortably.
Practice is key.
If you notice your audience is distracted, what can you do to regain their attention?
- Increase your volume (include sound effects)
- Decrease your volume (whisper something important)
- Move your body (move around intentionally)
Whispering can work even better than shouting at times. Sound effects are also a great way of getting the attention of the kids practice a few just in case. You don’t have to be great, just the effort will engage the kids, even if they find your sound effects funny. Sprinkle them in at key points. When you move make sure it goes with the story. Using your hands and your body will help not only convey the key point but also keep your audience engaged. Stand tall, crouch down, pounce, sneak around on your tippy toes… bring the story to life! Have fun!
Practice is key.
First and last wordsYour first words are your best chance to engage with your audience.
Your final words are what will be remembered.
You may fumble in the middle, but I must nail my opening and closing remarks.
Make sure to practice this part. Write it out. If you’re going to memorize something, memorize your opening and closing lines.
You can download a PDF with the key points here.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.
- Genesis 38:1 NKJV
The first verse of Genesis 39 links this story to Genesis 37:36 but we now see it from Potiphar’s perspective. This verse also connects with Genesis 38:1 when Judah leaves his brothers and goes down. The main difference here is that Joseph was taken down against his will and Judah left and went down on his own accord. (For more on Genesis 37 you can read my post Betrayed by Family and for more on Genesis 38 check out my post Strong Female Character)
Descents The story of Joseph is shaped by three descents.
- Joseph’s first descent took place when his brothers lowered him the lowering of Joseph into the pit (Genesis 37:24–25).
- His second descent is his forced descent into Egypt (Genesis 37:36; 39:1)
- His third descent is more symbolic and will take place a little later. (Genesis 39:20).
The LORD was with Joseph?
The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
- Genesis 39:2 NKJV
If you were in Joseph’s situation would you feel like the Lord was with you?
If your own family members had betrayed you and sold you as a slave? Being betrayed is a terrible experience, being betrayed by those you love is a special kind of pain. Oftentimes, our family members are the ones able to inflict the most pain in our lives.
The phrase “The LORD was with Joseph” reminds me of a story from the book of Judges. The story of Gideon begins in Judges 6 and in verse 12 the Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and says “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” to which Gideon replies,
[…]“O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”
- Judges 6:13 NKJV
If I was in Joseph’s shoes I would have felt similar to Gideon. If the LORD is with me, why is my life so difficult?
If the LORD was with Joseph why did He allow Joseph’s brothers to sell him?
If God is really with us, why do we experience bad things?
That is a huge question and I am not ready to tackle it here, but I will not ignore it either. How free do we wish to be? How much do you appreciate your freedom being removed for your own good?
If we don’t like it when our government or our employer limits our freedom, why do we demand that God limit the freedom of those around us?
How free are you if you are only free to do good things? Do you develop a character when you can carelessly go through life knowing that only good things will happen? You can drive carelessly knowing no one will be hurt.
Should God restrict the freedom of Joseph’s brothers and force them to be kind and loving to Joseph? How would you feel if everyone was kind to you only because they had no other option?
Would love feel like love if no one could ever choose to not love?
I do not have all the answers, but this is part of how I wrestle with these questions. My wife’s love for me is more meaningful because she is also free to hate me. When my children are kind to me and obedient it is meaningful because they are free to disobey and to be mean.
When you choose to read my blog is it meaningful to me because you are free to not read it.
In this story, we witness the complexity of life where God is moving yet without limiting the freedom of humans. God is with Joseph, but those around Joseph are free to decide how they want to treat him.
Described above are my personal views on this topic. This was a super brief approach to a small portion of the argument regarding pain and suffering in light of a powerful and loving God. My favorite resource on this for those who want to go deeper is Dr. John Pekham’s book Theodicy of Love (if you use this link to buy the book it does not add to your cost but I receive a small benefit)
Evidence of the LORD’s presence
And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
- Genesis 39:3-4 NKJV
It is likely that Joseph felt betrayed and maybe even cursed. He went from the favorite son in his father’s household to a slave to an Egyptian. We have a tendency to interpret hardships as evidence of God’s displeasure. Whether we articulate it or not, we expect blessings from God to look like a life of ease or even idleness. But there is no biblical evidence of that that comes to my mind.
Genesis 2:15 indicates that before the fall, before sin came into the world, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend and to keep it. So work was not a result of sin, the result of sin was for work to become burdensome (Genesis 3:17-19).
Even in the midst of hardships, there is a blessing and dignity that comes from work well done. Joseph had plenty of reasons to be a terrible worker. He could have been bitter and destructive. Many of us have reason to be rebellious, angry, and destructive. However, just because it would be understandable for you to behave in an angry and destructive way does not mean that it is what you should do. Being angry and negative does not solve problems. Joseph had limited resources, as a slave he had no one to help him except God, and God probably felt a million miles away.
Instead of despairing at the great injustice done to him and how unfair his life was Joseph focused on what was under his control. Joseph could choose his attitude. Joseph had control over how he would direct his efforts and energy. He could be an unruly, undisciplined, incorrigible slave that no one wanted. He could have been the worst young man Egypt had ever seen. Though his rage and frustration would have been understandable, they would not have fixed anything, but would likely have made things worse. Joseph could have caused those around him to feel a fraction of the pain he felt, but that would not have helped him. Causing pain to those around him would not have soothed his pain.
Do we ever hurt those around us because we have been hurt? Because we are having a bad day we guarantee that everyone around us will also have a bad day. If everyone heaves this way it is an easy way to guarantee no one will ever have a good day.
What I see Joseph doing is starting a revolution, a rebellion. Joseph is refusing to behave in a way that would make sense by this world’s standards. Joseph chooses to live in a way that brings honor and glory to God’s name. Joseph chose to behave in a way that brings blessings to those around him, not pain. He had suffered so much, and he did not want to be the cause of the suffering of those around him.
What if more people behaved like Joseph? What if our attitude was, I have suffered so much that I want to alleviate the suffering of those around me? I know, it’s backward. Because I have experienced pain, I want to help you avoid the pain I have been through.
Context is so important. As I write these words I am aware that there are those who will use this to take advantage of you. Spiritual abuse is a real thing and I want to take this opportunity to warn you. Joseph had extremely limited options as a slave. He did not have the freedom to leave. I do not want anyone to take this lesson of doing good despite being treated in a horrible way, and remain in an abusive relationship. If your work environment is abusive and is causing you and your family harm, prayerfully consider other options. If you have an abusive family member or friend, seek help. Do not stay in an abusive relationship. Seek help. Look for options. This is a nuanced conversation and we should all strive for healthy relationships.
Joseph had one thing under his control. His attitude. He chose to be the best worker Egypt had ever seen, and everyone around him noticed there was something special about him. Joseph’s master, Potiphar, recognized that God was with Joseph and God blessed everything that Joseph did. I do not interpret this to mean that Joseph had an easy job, but rather that his hard work paid off. As Joseph put forth effort in accordance with God’s will, God blessed his efforts and caused him and all that he did to prosper.
Joseph was promoted to the point that he was the highest authority in Potiphar’s house, second only to Potiphar, his master. But the way I see it, Joseph was not working for Potiphar, he was working for God.
It’s like Joseph was aware of the principles that were described in more detail in the New Testament.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- Colossians 3:17 NKJVTherefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
Potiphar did not deserve the quality of work that Joseph delivered. Joseph worked like he did because it was an act of worship. It is easy to blame our low effort and sloppy performance on the shortcomings of our superiors, our bosses, our teachers, our parents, etc. But what if the way we lived our life, the way we treat others and the way we work instead reflected our relationship with God? It is true that people do not deserve your best effort. But what if people need it? We don’t always deserve love, but we need it. We don’t necessarily deserve help, but we need it. What if we could be more generous and merciful to those around us, not because they deserve it, but because we also receive blessings we do not deserve from God?
I often wrestle with this. I do not want to become a workaholic. I cannot spend my whole life just giving, it would drive me to an early grave. My personal life is a constant balancing act, between giving, and also taking some time to rest and heal so that I can continue to give in the future. A healthy life allows me to give for many years as opposed to giving everything over a relatively short period of time.
We need to become aware of our boundaries and how much we can give. What I want to encourage you to do is to live from a place of generosity and kindness, desiring to be a part of the good that is in the world.
Blessed for Joseph’s Sake
So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.
- Genesis 39:5-6a NKJV
Your personal relationship with God does not impact only your life. People around you are blessed because of your relationship with God.
Only when we get to heaven will we fully realize how many people around us were blessed because of our relationship with God, as well as how often we were blessed by the relationship those around us have with God. I have been so blessed throughout my life, and continue to be blessed by people who have gone out of their way to bless me, even though I have no way of repaying them. I have been so blessed how can I refuse to bless those I can?
At every stage of my life I have been helped by others, how can I withhold help from those who need it?
Once again, I do struggle with finding that balance. But I consciously want to help as many as I can, and I pray for God to teach me the best way to do it. I want to invite you to do the same. Life is difficult, and there will be struggles, but I find it better to struggle to do good and to help as many as I can, as opposed to struggling to amass power and wealth at the cost of those around me.
Joseph’s master trusted Joseph with everything he had, he didn’t even bother to check. I struggle to come up with a more powerful sermon, or a more compelling argument about the existence of God, His power, and His character. When you live like Joseph, people around you can’t help but be exposed to God and His power and character. Witnessing is much less about having the right argument and much more about living an authentic life of worship.
I remember being impressed by Christians who have large portions of scriptures memorized, and who live a careful and disciplined life. But I now realize I often did not enjoy their presence, and neither did their kids, their spouses, their neighbors, or even other members of their church. The memorization of scripture is not the problem. The problem is that they did not memorize scriptures to encourage and bless others, but rather as weapons to win arguments and shame and coerce others. Scripture was used as a means of control and power.
Yet here we have Joseph, a slave. No sermons from Joseph are recorded, yet the Bible says that “his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.” (Genesis 39:3) Joseph did not have a theological argument. He simply lived his life in a way that revealed God to his master. Joseph was no ordinary slave. I would argue that Joseph was not a slave, because his work went above and beyond that of a slave, Joseph went the extra mile as a free man. His work was not based on how closely he was being supervised. His motivation was not to avoid punishment. Joseph worked for God, his true Master, Potiphar had front-row seats to watch Joseph worship God in everything he did and to see God’s power at work in Joseph’s life blessing all that he had.
Practical ApplicationLet us live our lives as worship. We do not work for our employer or our client, we live for God. We engage with our clients and bosses in order to bless them, to reveal to them the heart of our God. God is our provider and the source of everything that is good. God is also our source of strength to face life’s challenges. So I encourage you to go above and beyond in all you do, not because of who you’re doing it for but because of your relationship with God. May that be your sermon.
A life well lived.
“...the greatest threat to the promises is the fractured family itself.”
— K. A. Mathews
The era of God’s “silence” in the patriarchal family coupled with the moral decline of the brothers, even to the depths of contemplating fratricide, signals that the greatest threat to the promises is the fractured family itself
- K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 668.
This is part two of my Joseph series. For part one just click Dysfunctional Family.
I am a son, a brother, a husband, and a father. Yet I don’t think I fully grasp the importance of the family unit. It should come as no surprise that the family unit is under attack. I know that many get up in arms on social media about the attacks on the family. I am not judging those who choose this approach. But I believe that even more important than the articles we share on social media is the way we invest in our family. Do we prioritize the health of our family?
Spending time and effort studying the family of Jacob, especially the life of Joseph, it seems to me like when Satan wants to attack God’s plan he chooses to begin by attacking the families of God’s faithful children. This post can come across as a bit of a downer, at least this portion. But it is my prayer that this story will encourage and strengthen you as you invest in your family and make it a priority in your life.
In my previous post, we stopped at Genesis 37:11 so I’ll pick up the story with verse 12.
Go spy on your brothers?
12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.”
So he said to him, “Here I am.”
14 Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.
- Genesis 37:12-14 NKJV
At first glance, it might seem like Jacob is needlessly exposing Joseph to danger. Had Jacob not noticed that his sons could not speak peace to Joseph? The idea of sending Joseph to check on his brothers by himself does not bode well, especially in light of Genesis 37:2 which states how Joseph brought a bad report of his brothers to his father. Joseph’s brothers hate him and the fact that Joseph had previously brought a bad report lets us know his brothers’ behavior is not always ideal.
However, there’s another way of looking at this.
ShechemShechem was the site of Simeon and Levi’s murder of the Hivites (Genesis 34 blog post). Only two years had passed since the incident and it is possible that Jacob is concerned about some sort of retribution against his sons. The repetition of the name Shechem also serves as a reminder to the reader of how violent Jacob’s sons can be. When you combine the hatred Joseph’s brothers felt toward him (Genesis 37:4,5,8, blog post) with the memory of how they killed the entire male population of the city, it does not bode well for Joseph.
A certain man
15 Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”
16 So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”
17 And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.
- Genesis 37:15-17 NKJV
Imagine Joseph, wandering in a field in Shechem. He has no idea where his brothers are and or where to begin his search. So he wanders around in the field, looking for clues. He won’t give up easily on the task his father gave him. The Bible tells us that “a certain man” found Joseph.
The unidentified “man” who informed Joseph that his brothers had moved on to Dothan reminds the reader of the “man” Jacob had wrestled (32:24–32).
- K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 694–695.
The text seems to indicate that the same man who wrestled with Jacob and changed his name to Israel now finds Joseph and knows exactly where his brothers went. It would indeed be a great coincidence for a man to have been around Joseph’s brothers when they happen to be discussing where they are going next and then to find Joseph wandering in the field and impart that information to him.
Joseph is able to find his brothers because that “man” found him first.
ImplicationsIf indeed the “man” that finds Joseph is the same “man” who wrestled with Jacob in Genesis 32 (Wrestling with God) then it would mean that God wants Joseph to find his brothers. If the same God who gave Joseph his dreams (Blog post) is guiding him to his brothers, then it must mean it will be okay for Joseph to meet his brothers. God would not lead Joseph to a dangerous situation would he?
Would God ever lead us into a situation that will be dangerous and uncomfortable?
Better yet, if you know that God is leading, should you hesitate to follow?
Does knowing that Joseph could not have found his brothers without divine intervention make the next part of the story easier to bear?
The Conspiracy
18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”
- Genesis 37:18-20 NKJV
Joseph’s brother had no difficulties spotting him from the distance. I’m guessing the colorful coat was a dead giveaway, it probably did not blend well with the surroundings. Little did Jacob know that the coat he gave Joseph essentially painted a target on his back. His brothers spotted him from a distance and began to hatch a plan to kill him.
The brothers spoke to one another indicating there was no clear leader. What we witness is a mob mentality wishing to cause harm.
Come, let us…The plural exhortations used by Joseph’s brothers bring to mind the men of Babel. (blog post)
Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
- Genesis 11:3-4 NKJV (bold mine)
Notice the similarities in mentality and attitude between the men of Babel and the brothers of Joseph. These men intend to take God’s place and determine their destiny and that of their brother. The brothers are not concerned about Joseph delivering a bad report, there’s also no mention of jealousy, the main motivation for killing Joseph is to frustrate the dreams God gave him.
Master of DreamsIt is also interesting that the brothers refer to Joseph as “master of dreams.” They use this title in mockery, but it is also a prophetic statement since Joseph will excel in the interpretation of dreams (Genesis 41:15). (Doukhan, J. (2016). Genesis: Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary. Pacific Press Publishing Association. 417)
Shed no blood!
21 But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.
- Genesis 37:21-22 NKJV
Apparently, Ruben had not been there when his brothers were discussing Joseph’s fate, but when he hears their plan he steps in to defend or deliver Joseph. This is interesting because Ruben in Jacob’s firstborn (Genesis 35:22) which means he has the most to lose due to Joseph’s status as the favorite. Joseph’s existence threatens the inheritance that would otherwise come to Ruben. Yet, he desires to save Joseph from his brothers. Perhaps Ruben was more sensitive, or perhaps he felt guilty about his incest with Bilhah (Genesis 35:22 Blog post) and hoped to get back to his father’s good graces by rescuing Joseph.
The reunionImagine Joseph’s joy and relief to see his brothers! They are all alive and well. After a long trip, and worrying about whether or not he would be able to find his brothers he finally finds them! In my mind’s eye, I see Joseph, excitedly waving to his brothers, calling them by name and telling them about his journey and how difficult it was to find them, and about the helpful man he met along the way.
Imagine Joseph’s excitement and joy turn to confusion, then fear as his brothers brutally attack him.
23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.
- Genesis 37:23-24 NKJV
It must have been a dry season, which makes sense with the brothers having to go so far to find pasture. Also lets us know Joseph will not drown. His death will be much slower (unless someone rescues him).
Sitting down for a meal
And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.
- Genesis 37:25 NKJV
How indifferent can Joseph’s brothers be to his suffering? They are sitting down for a meal while leaving their younger brother to die in a pit with no water and no food. How can they be so calloused? What a tragedy when our heart doesn’t break for the suffering of those close to us. I believe it is better to eat less but share with someone who has none than to refuse to help those in need.
They lifted their eyes and lookedThis phrase was previously used in a couple of verses. One of them is Genesis 22:13 where Abraham lifts his eyes and looked and saw a ram and offered it as a sacrifice instead of his son. I have an entire blog post dedicated to it here. The other passage is Genesis 18:2 where Abraham lifted his eyes and looked and three men were standing by him. This event eventually led to the final announcement of the birth of his son. I also have an entire blog post dedicated to this here. I mention these two verses because I believe the phrase “they lifted their eyes and looked” used here is intentionally reminding us of previous times in the book of Genesis when God did something supernatural to bless His Abraham. Now God is demonstrating the same level of faithfulness to Abraham’s descendants.
Also, each of the times we read this phrase about lifting their eyes and seeing it is not obvious that God did something supernatural. Each time, Genesis 18:2 and 22:13 it almost looks like a coincidence (For more on these verses visit my posts “Is Anything Too Hard For The LORD?” and “Akedah”. The same is happening with Joseph. If it had not been for this phrase, it would seem like it was pure coincidence that the Ishmaelites and the Midianite traders were coming by on their way to Egypt.
Let's sell him!
So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
- Genesis 37:26-28 NKJV
Judah (Genesis 29:35) suggests they sell Joseph instead of killing him and his brothers agree. They sell him for 20 shekels of silver which is the equivalent of 8 ounces of 0.2kg. The Babylonian Codex Hammurabi also mentions a similar price for a slave. Also compare with Leviticus 27:5. (Andrews Study Bible: Light. depth. truth. (2010). Andrews University Press.)
Clothes and Deception
29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. 30 And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”
31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”
33 And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
- Genesis 37:29-35 NKJV
As I mentioned in Part 1, there is a strong connection between garments, especially Joseph's, and deception in the narrative of Joseph which is closely related to the narrative of Jacob where deception is also one of the major themes.
Ruben had planned to rescue Joseph but by the time he returns, Joseph is gone. This causes Ruben to tear his clothes, a sign of deep sorrow, grief, and mourning. The brothers then take Joseph's tunic and kill a kid of the goats to dip the tunic in its blood. Interestingly, Jacob used the skins of the kids of the boats to fool his father Isaac into thinking he was Esau (Genesis 27:16 post). Now Jacob's sons use the blood of a kid of the goats to fool him.
Jacob's sons ask him if the tunic belongs to his son. They do not refer to Joseph as their brother in an attempt to distance themselves from him. Jacob recognizes the tunic as belonging to his son Joseph and now he goes into mourning. He too tares his clothes, but he goes beyond that by putting sackcloth on his waist as a sign of his deep sadness and mourning.
Jacob performed the traditional acts of mourning the dead (for tearing the clothes, see v. 29; cf. Jer 16:5–8). Scruffy “sackcloth” (śak) was worn (here, lit., “on his loins”) by mourners to inflict on themselves biting discomfort (e.g., 2 Sam 3:31; Joel 1:8; cp. Ps 30:12). The term “sack” appears again when Joseph fosters his own scheme against the brothers (42:25, 27, 35). The term “mourn” (ʾābal) usually describes laments for the dead (also ʾābēl, v. 35), which are often accompanied by emotional and physical demonstrations, such as weeping, fasting, wearing mourning clothes, removal of cosmetics, heaping up dirt and ashes, and tearing of garments (e.g., 2 Sam 14:2; 19:1; Neh 1:4; Esth 4:3; Jer 6:26; Ezek 24:17).
- K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 701.
Hope?
Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
- Genesis 37:36 NKJV
The chapter ends with a reminder that Joseph is alive. Though terrible things have taken place leading to great suffering, Joseph is alive and that means there is hope. His dreams will come true because God is faithful. Sure Joseph's brothers plotted against him and sold him as a slave. But God kept him alive and that means there is hope. Though things may look hopeless, there is hope, not because of anything we can see, but because of the dreams God gave Joseph.
Similarly, we can have hope in hopeless situations, not because of anything we can see but because of God's faithfulness toward us. Our hope is in God and His plans for us.
When we are in God’s will those who oppose us will find themselves opposing God almighty.
Reflecting on this story Martin Luther wrote
Luther answered, “In such danger we see the deepest silence of God and the angels … But behold how much good God draws forth from this.”
- Luther’s Works. Lectures on Genesis, ed. J. Pelikan and D. Poellot, trans. G. Schick (LW 6.351–52.)
If you find yourself in an apparently hopeless situation remember that God can bring good out of it.
Behold how much good God will draw from this…
The gospel according to John has a perfectly good ending.
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
- John 20:30-31 NKJV
Except that the Gospel of John has 21 chapters. Why add one more chapter after such a wonderful conclusion? John had one more story to share.
What do we do after we have a powerful encounter with Jesus?Jesus had spent about 3 1/2 years with His disciples. They had witnessed mighty miracles, including Jesus feeding 5000 men (John 6), raising the dead (John 11), and ultimately dying and coming back to life (John 19-20). There must have been no doubt in the minds and hearts of the disciples that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, and He was alive. Many of you who are reading believe just like the disciples correct? You believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior. The question is what do you do with your life in light of that understanding?
The disciples had been taught by Jesus, they loved Jesus. Now Jesus had gone back to the Father, they felt alone, what should they do now?
What's next?
Life as usual?
Perhaps this is the reason for John 21.
A special name.
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:
- John 21:1 NKJV
One of the encounters some of the disciples have with Jesus takes place at the Sea of Tiberias, which is the Roman designation for the Sea of Galilee. Interestingly the Sea of Tiberias is mentioned only in chapters 6 and 21 of John. John could have just called it the Sea of Galilee, or the Sea of Genessaret as in Luke 5:1, or the Sea of Chinnereth as in Numbers 34:11. Since John chose to use the Roman name that he had only used in chapter 6, I believe it is possible that John is making a subtle connection between the two stories. Do you know what happened in John 6?
After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
- John 6:1 NKJV
This is the beginning of the story of the feeding of the 5,000 men. Not that only the men were fed but rather only the men were counted. So Jesus fed well over 5,000 people when including women and children (Matthew 14:21).
As John sets up the story about a time when Jesus showed Himself to the disciples he chooses to describe the location by using a specific name that will remind the careful reader of the feeding of the 5,000.
When in doubt, go fishing?
2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
- John 21:2-3 NKJV
7 Disciples seem to be hanging out together until Peter decides to go fishing. Why not? Jesus has gone back to heaven, the disciples are likely feeling a bit lost, perhaps scared, unsure of the future. What do you do after you have an amazing experience with Jesus and you feel alone and directionless?
I have preached on this passage before and I rebuked the disciples for going back to their old life for going back to fishing instead of doing what Jesus called them to do. But I have changed my view a bit on this. The way I see it now, the disciples had to eat. They had no employment. The one thing Peter and others knew how to do was to go fishing. Maybe they would catch breakfast and have some fish to sell and they can make their plans accordingly. Maybe fishing was a way to clear their mind. Maybe being on a boat together and working with their hands would help quiet their minds, maybe fishing would provide them with clarity.
I wonder if they were struggling to sleep at night and perhaps unwilling to be seen walking around town during the day. According to John 20:19, they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and I assume they were not too comfortable around Romans either. Following Jesus had caused them to feel unwelcome in their community. So why not spend the night at sea? It was dark, it was quiet and it gave them something productive to do instead of just overthinking all their life decisions, disappointed about missed opportunities of the past, and anxious about future trials.
I do not blame Peter for wanting to go fishing. I think I understand how circumstances made that option appealing. I also do not fault the other six disciples for joining him.
What made matters worse is that they caught nothing all night. This accurately describes most of my fishing experiences. I go fishing for the social aspect and to make others feel better about themselves. It is fine when I catch nothing because I am not depending on the fish I catch to eat or sell to provide for myself. But the scenario changes quickly when you are dependent on the fish you catch to eat and make a living. All night the 7 disciples toiled in vain. They worked hard all night and had nothing to show for it. I imagined the disciples were feeling like failures. Fishing was the one thing they knew how to do, and they could not even do that.
The morning began to dawn which made fishing even more difficult, since now the fish would be able to see the shadow of the boat. But with the morning also came hope for a new day, a new beginning, a new chapter in their lives. Thought the disciples don’t know it yet. Jesus is waiting for them. In their moment of exhaustion, frustration, and defeat, Jesus is waiting for them.
Nothing to eat
4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
- John 21:4-5 NKJV
Interacting with God is not necessarily immediately pleasant. The disciples did not realize that Jesus was standing on the shore, so from their perspective, some curious man is asking them if they have anything to eat. How do you feel when you fail and people ask you how it went? Maybe a business deal fell through, you failed an exam you had to pass, you interviewed but didn’t get the job, you played but lost the game, or you tried to summit the mountain but had to turn around before reaching the peak. How does it feel when you have to tell someone else that you failed? It “hits different” when you have to put it into words doesn’t it?
Jesus asked the disciples if they had any προσφάγιον(prosphagion) which means literally “anything to eat with bread” and that’s why some Bibles have it translated as fish, meat, food, or simply as “anything.” The disciples did not catch anything to eat with bread. No fish, no food, no breakfast. Now they are tired, sleep deprived, and hungry, and some nosy guy from the shore is reminding them that they have failed to catch anything to eat. Sometimes our encounter with God begins with a growing awareness of our shortcomings and failures. God begins the dialogue by asking how we are doing and if we are honest with God and ourselves, we confess that we are not doing great.
But a closer look at the text reveals that Jesus referred to his disciples as παιδίον(paidion) which is often translated as a young child.
This term, paidia, can at times be an expression of intimacy as between a parent and children or a leader and followers. John will later use it when he addresses his young Christian community in his special letter to them (cf. 1 John 2:18). Although the term does not always necessarily carry such intimacy, it may be that the evangelist here remembered it with a sense of fond intimacy.
- Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 326.
I believe that this is important because even though our interactions with God cause us to confront our shortcomings, we can come to Him as little children dependent on His loving care. We cannot live without God and without Jesus, there is no hope of salvation. Pride may make this truth uncomfortable, but it remains true nonetheless.
Try this…
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
- John 21:6 NKJV
Do you know what is even better than meeting someone who asks you about the task you just failed at? When that same person gives you advice.
You lost the soccer game? Did you try kicking the ball in the goal of your opponent?
You failed your exam? Did you try studying hard and remembering what you studied?
You lost the race? Did you try going really fast?
Jesus simply tells the disciples to cast the net on the right side of the boat. They do not know it is Jesus speaking to them, but their willingness to listen to Him and try it really amazes me. If I had been in the boat I would have shouted back,
“Oh really, you think we have been fishing only on the left side all night and that all the fish are simply on the right side?”
Or, “Why don’t you swim over here and show us?”
Honestly, how much of a difference could casting the net on the other side make?
I read this story to my kids the other day and asked them what was the moral of the story, and my son told me,
“Always cast the net on the right side of the boat.”
There we go, a story about the secret of fishing. According to the Bible, followers of Jesus always cast their net on the right side of the boat.
This would be to miss the point of the story. It was not a matter of right versus left side of the boat. Even my son was aware that his answer was more of a joke. I believe this portion of the story is about our willingness to give Jesus a try.
The way I see it, it is like us trying to do things our way, and failing, not from lack of trying, we can try really hard and do our very best using all the tricks and tips we have learned, and sometimes we still fail. Despite our best efforts things just fall apart. Then Jesus comes along and says “Have you tried this?” And the question becomes how do we react to Jesus?
Jesus comes along and asks, “Have you tried forgiving those who hurt you?”
Jesus says “Have you tried being kind toward those who are mean to you?”
Jesus tells you “Be the first one to say you’re sorry, and begin the healing process.”
Are we willing to give Jesus’ way of doing things a try? Are we willing to cast the net on the right side, as silly as it may sound?
When the disciples do what Jesus asked they catch so much fish that they can’t even draw the net. If you are familiar with the stories of the New Testament, this account probably reminds you of Luke 5:1-11 where something very similar happens, and then Jesus tells that group of fishermen that now they will become fishers of men.
It is the Lord!
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
- John 21:7-8 NKJV
John tells Peter that it is Jesus at the shore and Peter jumps in the water to go to Jesus, leaving all the fish behind. There are many questions regarding Peter’s behavior since most of us remove clothing before jumping into the water. The best reason for this I found was by Barrett, who responds by noting that religious people at that time did not pass the greeting to another without being dressed. (Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 328 quoting Barrett, St. John, 482)
Breakfast by the sea
9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
- John 21:9-14 NKJV
There is a lot to unpack here and we will begin with the fire of coals.
A fire of coalsThe charcoal fire (anthrakian) is significant because this word appears only in two places in the entire New Testament, and both of them are related to Peter in the Gospel of John (18:18; 21:9). The first forms a setting for Peter’s denial and the second for his reinstatement; the first concerns the darkness of an evil night and the second the morning of new possibilities. (Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 329.
Bring some of the fish which you have just caught The second part that caught my attention is that not only does Jesus have a fire of coals he already has fish laid on it. Where did Jesus get the fish? But even though Jesus has the fire and fish he asks the disciples to bring some of the fish they had just caught. Earlier they had no fish, they had nothing to eat. Until Jesus provided fish for them, they were only able to catch the fish after Jesus told them where to cast the net. Yet, here we have Jesus asking them to share some of their hard-earned gains with Him. Jesus asks the disciples to share some of what they have with Him. It is clear that Jesus did not really need their fish, He already had some. Also if it had not been for Jesus they would have nothing to eat. Yet Jesus gives them great success, then invites them to bring some of it and enjoy breakfast with Him.
I see a principle at work here. God provides for all of our needs, then He invites us to bring some of what He gave us to share and enjoy with Him and others. God gives us life, health, and the ability to work six days a week. Then He invites us to rest with Him one day. Are we okay with sharing one day with God, one special day where we stop focusing on our work and rest and focus on Him?
I see in this the principle of tithes and offerings. God gives us everything that we have. Without Him, we would have nothing. He grants us success, especially as we choose to follow His commands, but many times, in His mercy, even as we rebel against Him, He continues to provide for us. Then He asks us to take some of what He has given us and bring it to Him. He does not need what we have. We need to share as a reminder that it all came from Him and that He is our provider.
Do you think Jesus would have gone hungry if the disciples had not brought Him some fish?
Do you think the disciples would have gone hungry with Jesus had not come to them? When Jesus arrived they had nothing to eat with bread. Now they had 153 large fish!
Bread and FishRemember how back in verse 1 John describes their location as the Sea of Tiberias and the only other time the Sea of Tiberias is mentioned was in relation to the feeding of the 5000 (John 6)? Now we have Jesus feeding the disciples fish and bread, which is the same food Jesus multiplied to feed the 5,000 (John 6:11). This must have reminded the disciples that Jesus is more than able to provide for all of their needs. Jesus had multiplied bread and fish and fed a multitude. Jesus had caused them to catch more than enough fish to eat and sell and be set for a while.
They were experiencing once again the truth expressed by King David in the 23rd Psalm.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”
Pslam 23:1 NLT
How often do we need to be reminded that God is our provider? That Jesus is more than capable of supplying all of our needs?
After Jesus was raised from the dead He showed Himself to His disciples reminding them that they were not alone, that He had called them, and that He was still able to provide for them.
I could stop this post here, but there is more to this story.
Do you love me more than these?
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
- John 21:15 NKJV
Jesus eats with the disciples, understanding that some conversations are better had on full stomachs. After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter a pointed question.
I believe Jesus asks this question because of the interaction recorded in Matthew 26:33 where Peter says “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” This verse seems to indicate that Peter, at least at times, considered himself more faithful than the other disciples. Now that Peter denied Jesus three times (John 18:15-18,25-27; Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62) Jesus is asking if it’s true that Peter loves Him more than all the other disciples.
Peter is no longer concerned about comparing himself with the other disciples. Peter appeals to Jesus, who is able to read His heart. Peter is in essence saying, you know my heart, you know that I love you.
Jesus then tells Peter to feed His lambs. It is important for us to understand that those we serve ultimately belong to God. Peter was called by Jesus to feed those who were young in the faith, those who needed the most careful care and attention. This was not a call to debate teachers of the law, but rather to teach the gospel to those who knew the least about God.
Are you sure you love me?
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
- John 21:16-17 NKJV
Peter had publicly denied Jesus three times, and now Jesus asks him three times if he does indeed love Him. It is worth noting that Jesus mentioned only one condition of discipleship and service. The only interview question Jesus asked was “Do you love Me?” Without the love of Jesus in the heart, the work of the Christian is a failure. The lesson I take from this is that love for Jesus is more important than any amount of talent, whether you were born with it or developed it over the years. What matters supremely is whether or not you love Jesus.
With that said, when we love Jesus, we also have a responsibility to those around us. Jesus places on those who love Him a responsibility towards His lambs and towards His sheep. None of us get to love Jesus without experiencing a burden and responsibility toward those around us. Jesus did not ask Peter if he loved Him and then told him to go attend church. Don’t get me wrong. I believe church attendance is meaningful, but I believe that church attendance is only important so long as it facilitates the mission. The church should both give you an opportunity to serve and provide you with encouragement and training to serve.
Imagine Jesus asking you if you love Him.
What is your answer?
Now imagine Jesus asking you to feed or tend His lambs or sheep.
What is your answer?
Who is Jesus calling you to minister to?
How is Jesus calling you to minister?
My friend, please, do not miss out. If you are not involved in ministry you are missing out on what it means to love Jesus. There is a level of knowing and loving Jesus that can only be experienced when we serve. Find an area and begin to serve. Ask God what He wants you to do. There are limitless opportunities for service, at a local church, within our community at large, and even within your family.
When we labor in connection with Jesus, and His divine power is combined with our human effort, how can we fail?
If you love Jesus, He is calling you to minister to his sheep. There is so much pain and suffering in this world. The best life you can live is a life of service in the will of God.
Jesus will provide for all your needs. Everything good in your life came from Him. Trust Him and become part of the good in someone else’s life. I am not talking about only helping when it is convenient. I am talking about making service a part of your life, of who you are, because you love Jesus and He wants you to experience the blessings that come from ministering to those around you.
Your best life is loving Jesus and caring for His flock.
You can try living a selfish life, a self-focused and self-centered life. But it will not make you happy. Feel free to try it, but I really don’t recommend it. Jesus knows what your best life looks like, and it begins with you answering this simple question,
Do you love Jesus?
If the answer is yes, then He is calling you to care for His sheep.
Don’t miss this opportunity to live your best life.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Foot Washing?Have you ever participated in a foot washing ceremony? It is also called the ordinance of humility and it is not practiced widely in Christianity today as a part of worship. There are many possible reasons for why the majority do not wish to participate in foorwashing, and I believe many of them are likely related to people simply not wanting to come into contact with someone else’s feet. Some argue that people wear shoes and drive cars and their feet are not dirty so there is no real need. To that I reply that maybe there is more to it than simply cleaning the dirt off of someone’s feet, just like participating in communion is not about being physically hungry and thirsty.
Could it be that Jesus was teaching His followers something?
Could we benefit from participating in the ordinance of humily today?
Let’s take a closer look at what Jesus did, as recorded in John 13.
Context
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
- John 13:1-5 NKJV
The first five verses of John 13 give us the context for the footwashing. The Feast of Passover was about to take place.
[Passover is] a sacred observance in Judaism that commemorates the climactic 10th plague in the book of Exodus, when Yahweh punishes Egypt by killing all the firstborn but “passes over” (פָּסַח, pasach) the firstborn of Israel (Exod 12:12–13), resulting in the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exod 12:14–17).
-Douglas Mangum, “Passover,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
Jesus knew that He would die as the paschal lamb for the sins of the world. Jesus knew he was going to suffer. Jesus loved us to the end, and He knew it would not be much longer until He departed from this world to the Father.
The meal was over.
The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into His hands. Jesus also knew that he had come from God and was going to God. Knowing all this, Jesus did not become proud, Jesus did not boast, Jesus instead humbled Himself. Knowing the ultimate reality of who He was and where He was going allowed Jesus to serve those around Him.
Jesus did not put down others so that He could feel superior. Jesus was not insecure in His position as master and teacher. Jesus knew who He was, He knew where He was going, and He lived out His life out of that knowledge. From His identity as the Son of God, from His identity as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), Jesus was free to live a life of service, a life of generosity, love and kindness. Jesus was firm when He needed to be, but He never had to posture, He was not concerned with how others might think less of Him if He served those He came to lead. Jesus identity and destiny were secured in the Father and Jesus is our perfect example.
So Jesus got up from the table, removed his covering garments and instead wrapped a towel around His waist. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel He had wrapped around his waist.
Witnessing Jesus behaving made the disciples uncomfortable, but only Peter had the courage to speak up.
Are you washing my feet?
6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
- John 13:6-11NKJV
Perhaps Peter thought it was his role to step Jesus from washing his feet, to keep Jesus from ministering to him. Jesus knew that Peter could not understand what He was doing, so He explained to Peter that unless Peter allowed Him to wash his feet he would have no part with Him. This means we must allow Jesus to serve us, to wash us, to cleanse us. It is uncomfortable, but it also helps us comprehend the heart of God. The God of the Bible, the Creator, desires to save us, is willing to cleanse us, we just have to allow Him to.
Peter realizes his pride and his mistake so now he goes overboard asking Jesus to wash his hands and head as well. Jesus once again explains that since Peter had already been bather only his feet were dirty. I understand this to mean that once we are baptized and Jesus washes away our sins, we do not need to be rebaptized every time we mess up. I see communion as a mini re-baptism. Our feet get dirty living in this sinful world. It is not that we have abandoned Christ, only that we fall short and we rebel against God. Footwashing is an opportunity to have our sins forgiven and to recommit our lives to God.
Peter was far from perfect, but Jesus did not feel the need to wash all of Peter, only his feet would be enough. Interetingly, Jesus was also willing to wash the feet of Judas who would betray Him. Jesus did not only wash the feet of those who deserved it. Jesus washed everyone’s feet, giving everyone the opportunity to repent and be cleansed. When Jesus said, “you are not all clean” (John 13:11) this meant that the footwashing did not cleanse the one who in his heart had already decided to betray Jesus. The footwashing cleansed those who humbled themselves and allowed Jesus to wash their feet. But the condition of Judas’ heart prevented him from experiencing the blessings that Jeuss was offering. Pete was cleansed, along with all the disciples. But judas remained unclean even though Jesus had also washed his feet.
Maybe you feel like Peter, and at first you want to resist the idea of having anyone wash your feet. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable, maybe you believe you don’t deserve it. It is true, we do not deserve it. But we should not let pride keep us from receiving God’s grace. Also, this serves as a warning to not be like Judas. If you participate in the footwashing, but you are treasuring sin in your heart, it will not benefit you in any meaningful way. Your feet may be cleaner but no spiritual benefits will be gained.
Do you know what Jesus did for you?
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
- John 13:12-16 NKJV
Jesus did not stop being Lord and Teacher because He washed the feet of His disciples. Jesus did not lose His identity when He chose to serve. Jesus was still their teacher, He remained their Lord, Jesus was still God when He was washing the feet of those twelve men, including the feet of the one who would betray Him. If Jesus was willing to wash the feet of twelve men who were infinitely inferior to Him in every way, what is your excuse for not wanting to wash someone’s feet?
Jesus was very clear. He gave us an example, that we should do as He did to His disciples. Jesus humbled Himself, we ought to humble ourselves. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, we should wash each others’ feet and in the process gain a better understanding of the heart of God. Foot washing is not about dirty feet, it is about humbling ourselves. Footwashing is about following Jesus’ example and experiencing in a very small way Jesus willingness to humble Himself and serve others.
Blessed are you if you do
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
- John 13:17 NKJV
Jesus made it very clear that if we know these things, we receive a special blessing if we do them. The blessing does not come from mere intellectual ascent. It is not sufficient to merely know what Jesus did. Knowing what Jesus did is great, but the blessing comes from following His example. The blessing comes when we do, when we live out the example Jesus left us.
Don’t miss out on the blessing, don’t allow this to remain as mere head knowledge. Now that we know what Jesus did, let us follow His example and do likewise.
A few years ago my wife and I attended a seminar about families and it encouraged us to be intentional about our family. To have clear family values, to be intentional, to have a family mission statement, etc. My wife and I and our kids got together and enjoyed coming up with all that together. But I decided to take it one step further and also pick a family theme song. I decided our family theme song should be Never Give Up. We sing it almost every week when we do family worship to welcome the Sabbath on Friday night. My wife, myself, and the kids sing it in Portuguese, but I’ll share the English lyrics below.
There are days I know when you get so discouraged,
It seems that all hope is gone.
But there's only One who can give you courage
And strength to carry on.
Never give up, Jesus is coming.
It's the darkest just before dawn.
Never give up, Jesus is coming.
Never give up, keep holding on!
This old world I know can't last much longer,
And sin will soon pass away.
But my faith in God simply keeps growing stronger,
For Jesus is coming some day!
Never give up, Jesus is coming.
It's the darkest just before dawn.
Never give up, Jesus is coming.
Never give up, keep holding on!
Little did I know one day I would pastor the church where Chuck and Donna Fulmore are members. There’s a whole book that just came out Never Give Up: The Stories Behind the Songs of the Chuck Fulmore Trio. We had a special celebration of Chuck and Donna’s ministry at our church, the Cloverdale Seventh-day Adventist Church, and it got me thinking about this song.
The song Never Give Up, or in Portuguese ‘Não Desistir’ is part of the Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church Hymnal. I grew up singing this song. I have it memorized and sing it whenever the going gets tough.
Colporteuring When I finished my freshman year of college I was recruited to be a colporteur and spent that summer traveling and selling religious books. This was a great experience but definitely not an easy one. I traveled with a group and spent my days going to homes and businesses and doing my very best to sell books to help pay for my college tuition. I don’t know if you have ever gone door to door trying to sell things, it is not an easy thing to do. Many people are nice, some are really mean, and most probably just don’t want to be bothered in their homes.
I remember one particular day, it was hot, the middle of the summer somewhere in Ohio. I had gone all morning without selling a single book. We took our lunch break and I went out again in the afternoon. Heavy bag on one shoulder with a copy of each book we sold, a couple of copies of the more popular books. Walking all day, sweat dripping down my back, knocking on door after door after door, and getting rejected every single time. Some people were polite, some were rude, and many just refused to open the door (though it was obvious they were home). I was feeling down, I was feeling sorry for myself, and I just wanted to call it a day, shower, eat and rest.
But I remembered why I was doing this. Partly, because I was going to college and needed to do what I could to help pay for tuition. But mostly I wanted to spread the gospel and bless others. I believed the books I sold would be a blessing to those who purchased it so my motivation was financial but it also went beyond that. In a way, I saw my work that summer, selling Christian books from door to door as missionary work, taking the gospel to people who may not have heard it before.
With a desire to help others with books about the love of God and messages of hope and encouragement, I pressed on. But being rejected all day was taking its toll on me. I was starting to doubt if I was doing any good. Maybe I was just annoying people, disturbing their family time. I began to feel bad and my desire to keep going was waning after each rejection. Then I began to sing to myself Never Give Up
“There are days I know when you get so discouraged…”
But in Portuguese
Dias há, bem sei, em que triste te sentes
Sem ter esperança e prazer
Mas existe alguém que promete ajudar-te
E forças à alma trazer
Then the chorus, (in English)
Never give up, Jesus is coming.
It's the darkest just before dawn.
Never give up, Jesus is coming.
Never give up, keep holding on!
As I sang that song to myself I found it easier to walk to the next house, and the one after that. Eventually, the sky began to get darker and that was a sign we were almost done for the day. I knocked on a door and the lady who opened the door was just the nicest person I had talked to all day. She was old enough to be my grandmother and was just so kind and friendly. She invited me in, and usually, I would have declined, but she was so nice and I was so tired I came in. She offered her sofa for me to sit on and it felt like the most comfortable sofa I had ever sat on. I put down my heavy book bag by my feet and she came to me with a glass filled with cool water.
She set down across from me and asked me about the books I was selling. I went through book by book handing them to her and she showed great interest in all of them. The devotionals about peace, the books on hope, the cookbooks, the children’s cookbooks, she eagerly listened and asked me questions and flipped through many of the books. A
As I was about to close my presentation the doorbell rang. Usually several of us would do the same neighborhood, often starting at opposite ends of a street and working towards each other. The person who rang the doorbell was my friend who had started on the other end of the street. He had made it to my house. My heart sank. My presentation had been going so well and now the lady had been distracted, she got up and went to answer the door, invited my friend in, and went to grab him water. I greeted my friend and we talked briefly, he had not had much luck on this street which is why he had caught up to me so quickly.
The sweet lady came back. She shared briefly about her life. She shared how she loved Jesus and had been praying. Her children were grown and had walked away from God. She was praying to God for the salvation of her children and grandchildren. She told us that she believed we were an answer to her prayer. She wanted to buy all of my books, one of each kind. Since my friend had arrived she took about half of my books and half from my friend. She grabbed her pocketbook and pulled out a crisp $100 bill and handed it to me.
My friend and I knew that $100 would not cover all the books she had bought. But I did not have the heart to tell her that, my friend followed my lead and we prayed with her. Her tears flowed as we prayed and after she thanked us for working for God we left. At first, I had been upset at my friend for interrupting my sale. But there was no way he could have known. I divided the sale with him 50/50, at first he wanted me to take all of it but I insisted. I realized my friend needed that blessing as much as I had. Now we also divided the debt, since that lady had underpaid we each had to make up the difference and preferably before it got too dark and we had to stop for the day. My friend and I were now reinvigorated and sold plenty of books before the end of the evening. God blessed us with more than enough to cover the deficit from the lady’s house.
What that sweet lady offered us was a reminder that God would use us to touch the lives of people who were seeking Him. What I needed was a reminder that the work I was doing was meaningful and that ultimately God is my provider. The song ‘Never Give Up’ reminded me that Jesus was coming and that sharing the gospel was a worthwhile effort. In light of eternity, spending my summer knocking on doors and offering people the opportunity to learn more about God was meaningful work.
Never Give Up?Never giving up sounds like a great idea. But is it always a good idea?
Is every endeavor you pursue worth pursuing to the end? What if you’re engaged in what ultimately turns out to be a distraction, or even worse, what if it is harmful in the long run?
Never giving up is a powerful message, but we need wisdom to know whether the activity or pursuit we are engaged in is worthwhile. That is why I like the chorus of the song ‘Never Give Up’ by Chuck Fulmore because it does not simply say "never give up” it also says “Jesus is coming.” And I believe that qualifier makes all the difference. The affirmation that Jesus is coming helps clarify whether or not I should give up on my specific task. In light of Jesus’ imminent return should you continue to push forward in this particular endeavor?
Galatians 6:9 comes to mind, but let’s look at it in its immediate context.
Do not lose heart
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
- Galatians 6:7-9 NKJV
Paul is writing to the Corinthians and explaining cause and effect on a spiritual level. When we chase after things of the flesh we will reap corruption. When we chase after things of the spirit we reap eternal life. When I consider eternity it causes me to question what I am “sowing” to use Paul’s illustration. Am I sowing to my flesh of to the Spirit? Am I living for myself or am I living for God? These are really important questions to ask ourselves.
I like verse 9 in the New Living Translation
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
- Galatians 6:9 NLT
The New American Standard Bible says “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good,”
These different translations help get the idea across, don’t get tired in doing good. Keep going. It is worthwhile. Good will come out of it in due time. We may not see or experience the good that will come from our willingness to persevere in doing good, but Paul says it will happen in due time. Paul concludes this message by saying that as far as possible, we should do good to all, especially those in the family of faith.
This is a great situation to employ “never give up.” When you are doing good, and it is not easy, and you don’t see any benefit coming from it, the Bible says we should keep doing good whenever we have the opportunity. In due time good will come of it. Our part is to do good whenever the opportunity presents itself and not give up.
My challenge for you is to do good whenever you have the opportunity to do so, and to not give up on doing good. This world desperately needs more people who are willing to consistently do good. Let’s be a part of the good in this world. Doing good is not easy, but it is worthwhile.
And remember,
Never Give Up,
Jesus is coming!
Heaven beheld as Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the murderous mob,
and with mockery and violence hurried from one tribunal to another.
Angels heard the sneers of His persecutors because of His lowly birth.
They heard the denial with cursing and swearing by one of His best-loved disciples.
All of heaven saw the frenzied work of Satan, and his power over the hearts of men and women.
Imagine this terrible scene...
The Savior seized at midnight in Gethsemane,
dragged to and fro from palace to judgment hall,
arraigned twice before the priests,
twice before the Sanhedrin,
twice before Pilate,
and once before Herod,
mocked,
scourged,
condemned,
and led out to be crucified,
bearing the heavy burden of the cross,
amid the wailing of the daughters of Jerusalem and the jeering of the crowd.
Heaven viewed with grief and amazement Christ hanging upon the cross,
blood flowing from His wounded temples,
and sweat tinged with blood standing upon His brow.
From His hands and feet, the blood fell,
drop by drop,
upon the rock drilled for the foot of the cross.
The wounds made by the nails gaped as the weight of His body dragged upon His hands.
His labored breath grew quick and shallow,
as His soul panted under the burden of the sins of the world.
All heaven was filled with wonder when the prayer of Christ was offered in the midst of His terrible suffering,
—“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.
Yet there stood men,
formed in the image of God,
joining to crush out the life of His one and only Son.
What a sight for the heavenly universe!
(Inspired by The Desire of Ages)
ControversyHow did we get here?
How can anyone make sense of Jesus, a man who lived a perfect life hanging on a cross?
Even more puzzling how do we end up with the Son of God dying on earth?
To make matters even more complex, Jesus is God, He is our Creator, why is He dying, when it would be more convenient for Him to simply destroy us and make a brand new earth?
The Bible refers to Jesus dying on the cross as “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).
If you were starting a revolution, a movement to impact the whole world, would you have the hero of your story, the savior, die a humiliating and painful public death?
Seems odd right? Who would come up with this story and think it is a good one? Would it not be much better to have the hero be incredibly strong and have him destroy all his enemies? Would that not be a much better story to tell, would that not be a better hero? One you could be proud of?
Why would you tell the story of the hero dying a terrible death while all his followers ran away? The cross sounds more like a defeat than victory. Yet here we are, still talking about it, some 2000 years later.
Why does this story persist?
A story about an all-powerful God who toys with His creation and uses them as mere entertainment or slaves makes sense.
A story about a mighty God who is indifferent to the lives of lower beings living in a speck floating around in a vast universe makes sense.
There are so many stories about various gods, so many religions and beliefs, and so many fables, yet here we are talking about one which is particularly challenging. A story where we have the most powerful God, in fact, the only God, the creator God, dying for His creatures, that He created, that He could easily destroy, that cannot live without Him. Yet God not only sustains us, even as we live in rebellion against Him, but He also died for us.
This kind of love, and this level of self-sacrifice, make my head spin.
This story is so odd, that this God, after doing all this, offers us the gift of salvation, offers us eternal life, as a free gift. He then tells us to tell everyone the good news, that they don’t have to die, that they can have eternal life, that they can have hope, and that everything will be okay. There is no special reward for us doing this, we do not gain bonus eternal life, or a bigger house on the new earth depending on how obedient we were.
Yet, people who truly believe in this wild story, of a God who loved the world so much that He sent His one-of-a-kind Son to die so that everyone who believes in Him would not have to die, but instead have life that would never end, live a transformed life. These people who believe in the God of the Bible live a transformed life. Their life does not make sense. They help people for free! They go out of their way to be kind to people they don’t even know. They volunteer and give and help and do things to help those who could never repay them. You would expect these followers of the God of the Bible to be miserable people, to be poor and exhausted from all that volunteering and helping and donating. Yet, they seem to be healthier, happier, and more content than those who live simply to gratify their own selfish desires.
Many of these people give away 10% of their income, and a good number of them give even more, not to mention countless hours of volunteer work. How can people who give so much live happy and healthy lives? How can they have enough for themselves? Especially in this economy?
In a world that is becoming more and more divided. When people find all kinds of reasons to fight and offend and attack, these believers in Jesus come together and enjoy a sense of community based on helping each other and even those outside of their group.
This is very puzzling indeed.
As you can probably tell by now, this story is no regular story. Though many try to discredit it, poke fun at it, and downplay it, it is the most powerful story in the world, because it introduces the listener to the very heart and character of God.
The enemyThis is explained in more detail in my post One Story to Rule Them All, but Jesus explains the existence of evil by claiming “an enemy has done this” (Matthew 13:28). This enemy is called Lucifer (light bearer), Satan (adversary), Devil (false accuser), among other names.
Lucifer had been originally an angel of light.
“You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
“You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
- Ezekiel 28:12-15
Lucifer was cast out of heaven because he desired to be God.
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
- Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV
Lucifer started a rebellion in heaven. He wanted to be God. Lucifer believed that he could do a better job than what God was doing.
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
- Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV (bold mine)
Not only did Satan start a rebellion, Revelation 12:4a tells us that "His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth." I understand that to mean that one-third of the angels of heaven followed Satan in his rebellion against God. (In prophecy sometimes stars represent angels Revelation 1:20)
Satan had been so crafty with his lies that I believe it was not until the brutal death of Christ on the cross that the character of Satan was clearly revealed to the angels. Satan's deceptions had been so masterful that even holy beings had not clearly seen the true nature of his rebellion.
These verses help paint a fuller picture of the story of redemption.
You may be wondering, why did God not destroy Satan right away? Why cast him to earth?
God could have destroyed Satan and the rebellious angels as easily as you can cast a pebble to the ground, but He did not do this. God was not going to crush a rebellion by force. Coercion is found only under Satan's government. God's principles are very different. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means He uses. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power.
If God simply crushed Satan and his followers He would have proved Satan right. God would forever appear to be a tyrant instead of a loving God. The whole universe would follow God out of fear of being destroyed and the angels would have forever wondered if Lucifer really would have been a better ruler.
Time reveals the truthSatan came to earth and tempted Adam and Eve, and when they fell, they chose Satan over God. Now the universe would watch and see the outcome of Satan's style of leadership.
Aleister Crowley, an occultist from the early 1900s, claims that "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
I really don't want to chase that rabbit into the occult and satanism, etc. but I mention this just to point out how his law is diametrically opposed to God's law which can be summed up in loving God above everything else and your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:34-40)
God's law is focused on others while Satan's is focused on self. God says "If you love me keep my commandments" (John 14:15) Satan says "Do whatever you want."
Another way of describing this is God has a law, and Satan is against the law.
Being an outlaw can seem harmless, even fun. Doing what you want doesn't seem like an evil way to live one's life. So you can see why Satan would have gained a following, and why many others who did not follow him might still have wondered if maybe Satan was not that bad of an angel, maybe he was on to something.
How we view GodMany seem to view God as a harsh, old-fashioned, stern, all-powerful being who can't wait to zap those who disobey His will. Satan has done a good job spreading his views of God. Sadly he seems to have used the church on many occasions to misrepresent God and turn many away from Him. Causing many to believe that they can indeed be much happier living without God, living as if God did not exist, just doing whatever makes them happy.
Enter Jesus God revealed Who He is in the Old Testament. His grace, His mercy, His patience, it’s all there. But that was not enough. Jesus' life on earth is the greatest revelation of who God is.
Through Jesus, God's mercy was manifested to humanity. Jesus was the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). Jesus lived a perfect life, a life of perfect obedience to the law of God, and though He was tempted like us, Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15 [more verses about Jesus' sinlessness]). Since Jesus never sinned, that means He never broke God’s law (1 John 3:4). In living a perfect life Jesus was nothing like the religious leaders of His time.
In living a life that followed the will of God in every aspect with perfection Jesus was not an unpleasant person, rather the opposite, children wanted to be with Him and multitudes followed Him. Jesus brought life and healing and clarity regarding the will of God. Jesus revealed not only the true character of God, but also what a perfect life of obedience looked like, not something terrible, but rather the greatest blessing this world had ever witnessed.
Relating to the LawNevertheless, mercy does not set aside justice. The law reveals the attributes of God's character, and not a jot or tittle of it could be changed (Matthew 5:18) to meet humanity in its fallen condition.
God did not change His law, but He sacrificed Himself, in Christ, for the redemption of all humankind.
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19.
I believe everyone understands that the law requires righteousness,—a righteous life, a perfect character; and we humans cannot offer this to God, because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). We cannot meet the claims of God's holy law.
But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men.
The Desire of Ages page 762
This is how our past sins are forgiven, thanks to God's patience. More than this, Christ imbues us with the attributes of God. He builds up our human character to become more and more like His divine character, full of spiritual strength and beauty. This is how the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:26.
I find it amazing how God's love can be been expressed in His justice just like in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of God's government, it is also the fruit of His love. Satan tried to separate mercy from truth and justice. Satan sought to prove that the righteousness of God's law is an enemy to peace and happiness. But Christ shows us that in God's plan justice and mercy are inseparable, the one cannot exist without the other.
“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
Psalm 85:10.
Justice and MercyBy His life and His death, Jesus proved once and for all that God's justice did not destroy His mercy. Jesus also made it clear that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan's charges against God's government and character were refuted.
God had given humanity unmistakable evidence of His infinite love.
Satan, however, had one more trick up his sleeve. He would now proclaim that mercy destroyed justice, that the death of Christ did away with the Father's law.
The problem with this line of thought is that if it had been possible for the law to be changed or repealed, then Christ did not have to die. I have a whole post on how Jesus prayed to the Father asking if there was any other way, but there wasn't, so Jesus agreed to drink the cup (die on the cross for our sins). (Matthew 26:36-46)
The problem with doing away with the law is that doing so would immortalize transgression, and place the world forever under Satan's control. If the law was faulty in any way and needed to be changed somehow, it would prove Satan's claims that God's government was flawed and that he, Satan, could do a better job as God. It was exactly because the law was changeless, and because humanity could be saved only through obedience to its precepts, that Jesus was lifted up on the cross. Yet the very means by which Christ established the law Satan represented as destroying it. This is where we have the last conflict of the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
The death of Jesus on the cross demonstrates that God's law is perfect and immutable.
The cross also made manifest the true nature of sin, revealing the true character of Satan.
At the cross the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, the redemption of man was assured, and the universe was made eternally secure.
Christ fully comprehended the results of the sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these, He looked forward when upon the cross He cried out, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
Finally, at the end of time, the final destruction of sin will vindicate God's love and establish His honor before a universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is His law.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,“Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
- Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV
We often use stories to make sense of life.
Have you ever called someone and as the phone rang you began to tell yourself a story? Either you’re considering what the person on the other side of the phone is doing, or what they will think of you, or how the conversation will go…
You don’t do this intentionally, it just happens. We naturally think in stories. narratives, real or not have a profound impact in our lives.
My father used to tell a story that I believe illustrates this. This story takes place in Brazil in a time before cell phones.
The story is of a man, driving his pickup truck through country roads when he gets a flat tire. When he goes to change the tire he realizes he is missing the jack that will allow him to change the tire. He is very frustrated and as he considers his options he sees a farmhouse not too far down the road. He figures the farmer will likely also have a truck and very likely have the tools necessary to change a flat tire.
As the man makes his way to the house he begins to think about how the interaction will go.
He imagines himself knocking on the door, the farmer’s wife opens the door and he explains to her his situation. She asks him how come he was driving down farm roads without a jack to change his tire, she tells him he must be more careful in the future and that it is dangerous to be so careless.
She asks him to wait while she goes get her husband. Her husband is busy taking care of things at the farm, probably driving a tractor, or herding the cattle, maybe fixing up the barn, and now the farmer has to stop his important work to come and help this irresponsible man who is driving around without a jack to change his flat tire.
The man continues to imagine how things might play out. As he tells himself this story he imagines the farmer to be an older man, perhaps the age of his father. He imagines the farmer shaking his head, then taking an old handkerchief and drying the sweat from his brow, maybe washing his hands from grease after working to fix his tractor. The farmer comments with his wife about how these young men nowadays are so irresponsible, driving around without a jack and depending on the kindness of strangers. Now he will have to take time and effort to help this stranger who was foolish enough to drive down country roads without having a proper jack to change a flat tire. The farmer comments to his wife about how these kids are so entitled, and “what would he do if our house was not here? What if he had gotten his flat in a place miles away from anyone who could help him?”
All this was happening in the mind of the truck driver as he walked towards the farmhouse. He got himself so worked up with his imaginary story that by the time he knocked on the door he was already regretting it. imagining what the owners of the house would say to him he began to rehearse explanations. He had bought the truck recently and never needed the jack so he had never checked. To which the father would likely reply that he should have checked, you can’t afford not to check. The farmer would think he was naive, or lazy.
When the man heard steps approaching to open the door, he was feeling defensive, embarrassed, and angry.
When a kind man opened the door the man who was originally going to ask him if he could borrow his jack just said,
“You know what, you can keep your jack, I’ll figure something out.”
And he turned around and walked away, leaving behind a very confused farmer.
We tell ourselves stories. We make sense of life through stories. The stories we tell ourselves have a tangible impact on how we live our lives.
But not all stories are created equal. The very best stories withstand the test of time and get told again and again through generations. The best stories help us figure out what is true and what is important in life. Great stories help us figure out how we want to live our lives.
In this post, I will do my very best to tell you a story about life, the universe, and everything.
This is the story of our planet, God, and life. This is what I believe the Bible teaches and I’ll attempt to condense all of its teachings from Genesis (the first book of the Bible) to Revelation (the last book of the Bible). I will do my best to put down lots of references to where the Bible mentions themes I will touch on, and I will also use my personal imagination and interpretation to fill in details that the Bible is not explicit about.
PrefaceAccording to John 1 God was there from the beginning, and not necessarily just the beginning of life on earth. I believe this to be a reference to the beginning of everything, time, space, everything!
This next part is my imagination, but based on what I have learned about God through my reading of the Bible. I imagine the godhead, or trinity, (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) having a conversation. God is love (John 4:8), therefore I believe God desires to create, God desires community. But for the community to be authentic it must be a loving community, and for love to exist beings must be free to choose. Love demands freedom, otherwise, it cannot exist. So if God desires to create other beings they must be free, this is the only way to have meaningful relationships, a sense of community, and most importantly love.
If the beings God will create will be free that means they are free to reject God, they are free to not love, in essence, to rebel. So, does God still create?
Since God, in His infinite wisdom can see that eventually there will be rebellion and disobedience does He still desire to create? The other option is an empty universe, with no life, no love, and no community. Jesus volunteers to die on behalf of His creation when the time comes. God has a plan, and with this plan in place, God begins to create the universe. We do not know much about the rest of the universe, but we are given several details about the creation of our planet, Earth.
Part 1. Creation - A Perfect WorldOur Story begins with God, and He is creating everything through His Word. Genesis describes God speaking and the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:20). John 1 identifies the Word of God as Jesus. So effectively, we have the trinity involved in the creation of our planet. God creates and organizes, and everything is very good by the time He is done. In the biblical worldview, there is no evolution, death is not part of God’s perfect world. When God creates He creates things that are very good (Genesis 1:31), not just okay but through the continual struggle to survive will evolve and become superior. Yes, God’s creation is able to adapt and survive, but it was not created lacking in any way.
Not only did God create our planet as stated in Genesis 1 and 2 and John 1, but Colossians 1:17 also reaffirms that in Jesus all things consist. Even though Genesis focuses on life here on Earth, the Bible teaches that all of reality was created by God (Hebrews 11:3).
Everything that is, is because of Jesus, and can only continue to be in Jesus. I believe there is no other source of life outside of God and away from God ultimately everything dies (ceases to exist).
Part 2. The Problem - Why So Much Suffering?Now we run into a problem.
If Jesus created and sustains everything that exists and we experience pain and suffering and death and all kinds of terrible things. Does that mean that Jesus created evil and suffering as well?
I would say no! As a student of the Bible, I claim these terrible things are the results of sin, the result of rebellion against God.
To quote Jesus, “An enemy has done this” (Matthew 13:28).
The next question then becomes where did sin originate?
Where did this enemy come from?
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
- Isaiah 15:12-15 NKJV
Another passage that describes Lucifer is found in Ezekiel 28:12-19 (I don't think the literal, human king of Tyre was in Eden the garden of God).
“You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
“You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
- Ezekiel 28:12b, 14-15, 17a
Lucifer, or Satan, also called the serpent of old, and dragon (Revelation 20:2; 12:9), was not created evil and ugly. Quite the opposite, he was a beautiful angel of light who was perfect. Lucifer was so perfect and beautiful that he began to desire to be God, this eventually caused a war in heaven and he was cast out along with a third of the angels who chose to follow him and rebel against God and His government (Revelation 12:7-17).
Sin and Death on EarthHowever, sin did not affect us here on Earth until Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:5-6).
From this point on Adam and Eve were doomed to die because God said if they ate the forbidden fruit they would die (Gen. 2:17).
In one way sin is a legal problem because its wage is death (Romans 6:23).
However, sin is also a relational problem because it separates us from God, this is why Adam and Eve hid from God (Gen. 3:8), and now we can no longer face God for our sins hide His face from us (Isa. 59:2).
Finally, sin is also a governmental problem since sin is rebellion against God and His government, against His laws (1 John 3:4), therefore "he who sins is of the devil" (1 John 3:8). An intentional rejection of God’s laws is a decision to side with God’s enemy. When we reject God it is similar to accusing Him of being an unjust ruler or claiming that it is impossible to keep His laws.
Due to the first two humans sinning, we are condemned to die. Or as the Apostle Paul put it, "in Adam all die" (1 Cor. 15:22) because that was the consequence of eating the fruit from the forbidden tree (Genesis 2:17).
Because Adam plunged humanity into rebellion against God and His government, we are predisposed to disobey God's laws from birth (Ps. 51:5). This is why we face the struggle mentioned in Romans 7:21-25. Though we are not born guilty of sin, we are born with a tendency to sin, that is to disobey God rather than obey Him. That is why sinning comes so easily, but doing the right thing often feels like an uphill battle.
Part 3. The Solution - Jesus is The Solution!Thankfully, God has a solution for this problem.
Jesus is the solution.
God did not scramble to figure out how to save humanity since Jesus is described as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). God already had a plan in place even before the fall took place. Before creating us God had already decided to die to save us. You might think it would have been easier for God to not have created us at all, and perhaps that is true. But God values us so much that He would rather sacrifice Himself for us than to live without us.
In the same way that all of humanity was doomed to die in Adam, in Jesus we can all be saved (1Cor. 15:21-22). Not meaning that we were physically or spiritually inside of Jesus, but rather that He paid the wages of sin, He died for us, that is, in our place.
God has to punish sin in order to save His government. Sending Jesus to die for us is how God chose to save us without encouraging more rebellion. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
For God to change His law, would mean that Satan and all who rebelled against God’s law were right and God’s law was problematic, God’s leadership was flawed and therefore someone else might be a better leader. But with the death of Jesus on the cross, God upheld His law and it remains perfect, and God still found a way to save all who wish to be saved.
SalvationIn order to understand how salvation works, we must understand the Sanctuary.
The sinner comes voluntarily to the sanctuary, and confesses his sins while laying his hands on the head of the lamb symbolically transferring his sins to the innocent lamb (or sacrificial animal, bull, goat...) (Lev 4:4,24).
Thus the sinner is separated from the sin, an exchange is made, and the lamb is sacrificed fulfilling the penalty for sin. The sacrificial substitute must die in the sinner's place, then the sinner must depend on the priest who represents the sinner, to complete the process (Lev.4-5).
We are the sinners, and Christ is the Lamb, who died for our sins, and the Priest who makes the atonement (Heb.4:15; 7; 9:7,15), thus the law is fulfilled.
Even though the price was paid for sin and the legal part has been taken care of, we need to have faith in order to be saved (Eph.2:8).
According to John 3:16, whosoever believes (has faith) in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. However, it is not just any faith, we must have faith in God (Mark 11:22), and a faith that works outwardly (James 2:14). We must have a practical faith that does what God wills despite our feelings or thoughts (Heb.11).
This is the subjective part, this is what affects our personal lives, we must practice righteousness (1 John 3:7, 1 Tim 6:11-12), salvation is a real experience.
Part 4. The Culmination - The Second Coming of Jesus
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
- John 14:1-3NKJV
Nevertheless, there is a future part to salvation, when we are taken to heaven, where God has prepared new homes for us (John 14:1-3, Rev. 1:6; 21:4; 22:12). The Bible ends with a beautiful description of earth made new (Revelation 21) where God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4) Earth will be like it was at the beginning, before sin and death entered it. We will live eternal, physical, lives and will discover perfect love and joy like we are not able to imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Dear reader, God has revealed to us not only how everything began but also how it will end. But He has given you the freedom to choose who you will follow. I know there are many details that I did not cover in this post, but the big picture is clear. We can continue to study and learn and to fine-tune our relationship with God and how we live our lives, but it is clear that God loves us and desires to be with us. It is also clear that there is an enemy actively tempting us to rebel against God. Satan wants to bind us with guilt, addictions, and false promises of immediate happiness that never lasts.
You are free to choose.Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20) but He waits for us to open the door. Jesus will never kick down the door. He died for you, but waits for you to invite Him into your life. Salvation is available to all, but will not be forced on anyone.
Will you invite Jesus into your heart today?
How do you navigate life?
Do you intentionally choose how you live or do you allow others to decide for you how you will live your life?
Are you moving intentionally towards a goal or are you simply cruising with the current consistently choosing the path of least resistance?
I do not have life all figured out, but I am constantly correcting and adjusting my course. I often review my habits, take notice of how I am spending my time and energy and how I invest my precious resources (attention, focus, energy, health, etc). I hope that this post, briefly outlining how I tackle this topic, will help you navigate your life.
I have heard people claiming they are being authentic. Sadly many times it comes across more like an excuse for careless behavior. “I am just being me” can be the equivalent of “I have no idea why I did this,” or “it felt right at the moment.”
Maybe you have met people who later regret doing what felt right at the moment. I am not saying you will never regret your choices. But I do believe that with more careful thought you can significantly diminish your regrets in life.
Get a piece of paper, or a journal, or just open a note app on your phone and let’s make some lists.
- What are your core values? (What do you value most at this point in your life?
- Based on your core values, what does your authentic self look like?
- How do you want to be remembered?
These questions are worth careful thought. I revisit questions like this about once a month. I want to live according to what I value, and if I do not ask myself this question frequently, I end up living my life according to the value of others. Your parents, your teachers, your friends, your boss, and your spouse, all have some idea of who they want you to be. Those are not necessarily bad things, but are you becoming who you believe you are meant to be or what others want you to be?
Whatever your choice is, just be aware of it, instead of mindlessly just going with the flow.
Now that you have given some thought to your core values and what your authentic self would look like, take a moment to list your top five priorities.
I wonder if I should share mine or not. I really want you to develop your own. but if you’re curious about mine I’ll list them below.
But I strongly suggest you not read mine until you have written out your top five or at least your top 3.
My current top 5 priorities in life are
- God
- My Wife
- My Kids
- My health
- My ministry (career/calling)
When I list my wife and kids I mean their well-being, not that I would always do what they want. In other words, if my wife needs something, and I would rather spend my money on something else because it would be more fun for me, I would place her needs above my desires. The same goes for my kids. This does not mean I neglect my personal needs. If it ever becomes a life or death situation I am willing to die for my wife or my kids. This also means that I will not sacrifice the well-being of my wife and kids for my personal gain (career, fame, money, etc). Though I am willing to sacrifice my health for my wife and kids I am not willing to do that for my ministry. Does this make sense?
Also, I place my wife above my kids because it is better for my kids when my wife and I are together. I believe if I were to neglect my spouse for the “sake” of my kids, my kids would end up losing in the end.
The only thing in my life that outranks my wife and kids is God. Because of my faith in who God is as revealed in the Bible, I strongly believe He is worthy of all that I am and all that I have, I live for Him and everything else that is good in my life comes from Him.
This is where the rubber meats the road. Now that you have listed your priorities, with the understanding that your priorities reflect your core values, how much time and resources have you dedicated to your priorities this past week? What about this past moth?
Here is the challenge. If you claim to have certian values and priorities, but the way you invest your time and recources does not reflect those same values, you may have preferred values that are not actually real values. our daily habits and decisions reveal what our true values are. If you claim a certain value and priority, yet not allocate any time or recourse towards it, can you really say you value it?
This is tricky. You do not want to lie to yourself. I often think about this. If I claim my wife to be my number two priority in life and yet I did nothing to help her this past week, is she really a priority in my life? Same with my kids, how muhc of my time and effort was dedicated towards them? What about my perosnal health? My ministry? Most importantly God. If I claim God to be my number one priority, yet I spent little to no time in any type of spiritual activity is God really my top priority?
- Write down what seem to be your real priorities based on how you allocated time, attention, and other resources this past week and month.
- What kept you from investing in your priorities? (the ones you listed above?)
-
What changes do you need to make in order for your allocation of time, attention, focus, energy, and resources, to match your (listed) priorities?
The next step for me is to consider what the Bible has to say about life. I realize there is a whole lot that the Bible says about life, but here are some key verses to get you started. These verses do a great job of encapsulating the big picture in a succinct way.
With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
- Micah 6:6-8 NKJV
In your notes or journal write down what you think this verse means.
Put it in your own words.
In light of this verse, should you make any changes to your priorities?
Does this verse help you consider what your life goals are and how you plan to achieve them?
I find these verses also incredibly powerful and challenging.
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’“If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
- Isaiah 58:6-9 NKJV
How does this verse impact your view of what life should be about?
Are there any things you wish to add to your priorities, goals, and daily routine?
I read these passages and consider my life and how much of these activities described by Isaiah are a part of my life, and if not what I can do to include them.
Consider what you believe God is calling you to do (in a practical sense) based on Micah 6:6-8 and Isaiah 58:6-9.
How can you live this out in a practical way this week?
This month?
What would your life look like?
Write it down in your journal or notes app.
Now let us add a verse from the New Testament. This is the last verse I’ll ask you to consider in this post.
What does “seeking the kingdom of God first” look like in your life right now?
What would “seeking the kingdom of God” look like for you this week?
This month?
Now combine everything.
Your top 5 priorities.
Your core values.
When you consider what God calls you to do.
What should your life look like?
What are your life goals and how do you plan to accomplish them?
I pray that this exercise can at least get you started on living life more intentionally.
Let me know your thoughts on the comments below.
Meanwhile the older son…This post is a continuation of the story discussed in my post Lost and found part 3 which is part of a Lost and Found mini-series (Lost and Found part 1, Part 2) For this post, I will assume you are familiar with the parable of the Prodigal Son or you read or listened to my post Lost and Found part 3. You can also read the whole story in Luke 15:11-32.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
- John 15:25-26 NKJV
The older son had been out in the field, probably working hard like a good son should, and he missed the news that his younger brother had returned home. Imagine with me what it might have been like to be the older brother in that setting. You come home at the end of the day (I don’t really know what time it was), you’re tired, your feet hurt, your back is sore, and you have callouses on your hands. You have been helping, directing, problem-solving, pulling, pushing, sweating, struggling, and doing your very best since early in the morning. Country life might look nice in pictures and romantic movies, but the reality is quite different. Country life is brutal.
As the older brother comes home he hears music and dancing. Suddenly he is confused, is there a celebration? Why are they celebrating? Who are they celebrating?
A servant explains to the older brother that the younger brother has returned safe and sound and the father has killed the fatted calf for the celebration. However, the good news and the sound of rejoicing do not bring joy to the heart of the older brother. He refuses to go in. The love, mercy, and grace extended to his previously rebellious younger brother bring no joy to the older brother, it has the opposite effect. The older brother takes the celebration of the return of his younger brother as a personal insult.
Because the older brother refused to share in the father’s concern for his lost brother he also fails to share in the father’s joy at the return of his wandering brother.
The father comes out
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.
- Luke 15:28 NKJV
The older brother is so upset he refuses to go in. The father, who earlier had run out and embraced his younger son who smelled of pigs and was dressed in rags, covered him with the best robe and placed a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet (immediately restoring his status as a son) and called for a celebration, now leaves the celebration to talk to the older brother.
The father does not have favorites. He loves his younger son, even though he had been so rebellious. He also loves his older son. So the father comes out to plead with his older son to join in the festivities. When the older son talks to the father we catch a glimpse of his heart.
The heart of the older son
29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
- Luke 15:29-30 NKJV
From the answer of the older son, we learn about his perspective, his worldview, and how he perceives reality. It is true that the older son has stayed home and remained obedient, but it was not out of love. From his answer, it seems that the main motivator for the older son remaining home was the hope for a special reward, or perhaps fear of punishment if he ever left. The older brother does not feel grateful for the life he has lived, rather he feels like he has been wronged by his father. The older son believes his father has not rewarded him properly for his obedience and hard work.
Notice how the older son uses language that distances himself from his younger brother. He speaks to his father about his brother as “this son of yours” who devoured your livelihood with harlots. The language used by the older son makes it seem as if his father has rewarded the younger son for being rebellious. “This son of yours wastes your livelihood with harlots and you kill the fatted calf for him?”
This is totally my interpretation, but it almost seems to me like the brother wishes he had been less obedient. After all, if we can just come home and be embraced as if nothing had ever happened what keeps us from leaving?
Is this not part of the cross of Christ becoming a stumbling block?
Many find it offensive that the worst sinner in the world can simply accept Jesus and be saved by grace through faith just like everyone else. A murderer can repent, accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive the same eternal life, the same heaven as the bravest and most dedicated missionaries and martyrs in history.
Does that offend you?
Does it bother you that the Bible does not describe heaven as having levels where better Christians have better houses, where people who sinned less have access to faster wifi or better view out of their windows? My understanding is that there is one heaven for everyone. Same eternal life for all who receive it.
Living an obedient life does not earn you longer eternity. You do not become more saved the more obedient you are. Salvation is not on a spectrum, it is binary. Either you are saved or you’re not. Either Jesus is Lord of all, or not at all.
Either you are a son or a daughter, or you are not.
There was no probation for the younger son. No penance. He did not have to first work and pay the father back for all he had squandered. The moment he came back, the father embraced him and restored him. The younger son was as much son as the older brother who had never left.
How do you feel about that? Does it seem fair?
It shouldn’t, because it is not fair.
But that’s part of the good news. If salvation was fair, you would not be saved either. It is so arrogant of us to think that we are more deserving of salvation than someone who sins differently than we do. We fall into this trap when we consider ourselves superior to others. When we think that our good works add to our salvation we are tempted to look down on those we deem inferior.
This reminds me of something that happened to Jesus.
36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
- Luke 7:36-50 NKJV
The sinful woman received the same salvation that was available to the Pharisees. This was offensive to some, but in reality, unless the Pharisees recognized their need for salvation they were in greater danger of being lost than a sinful but repentant woman.
The father’s reply
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
- Luke 15:31-32 NKJV
You are always with me!The older son did not realize the benefit of always being with the father. Maybe he thought that his younger brother had more fun wasting all his money following the desires of his heart. Because some people spend more money trying to appear happy or chasing happiness it does not mean they are happier. If you have a lot of money you are going to have different struggles. Sure, sometimes I wish I could experience some of those struggles, but it does not necessarily mean I would be happier. What I am trying to highlight is that the older son failed to realize the privilege he experienced being always with the father. The older son never had to wonder about his next meal, about protection, about being loved, about belonging, he always had a purpose and security, all the days of his life.
The younger son in the other hand had a lot of money, but there is a limit to what money can buy, and there is a limit to money. As the money of the younger son diminished, so did his friends. Soon he found out he was alone, hungry, cold, dirty, and miserable. Soon he realized it would be better to be a servant of his father than to be away from him.
The older brother never experience the misery the son experienced. The older brother never experienced the loneliness, the hunger, the fear, the shame, the doubt, the cold, that his younger brother experienced. The older brother had it good, but never realized it. The older brother could not see how his life of discipline and obedience had actually been a better life than that of his brother. The older brother did not know that wasting his livelihood with harlots was a negative experience and not a positive one.
Like the older brother, many followers of God are in danger of watching celebrities party themselves into an early grave and believe that is the good life.
There are some who seem to want to have the experience of the thief on the cross. To live a life of sin and accept Jesus and receive salvation at the very last moment before they die. What they fail to believe is that if the thief on the cross had met Jesus earlier he might have not been hanging on that cross. We have no idea how much regret the thief experienced to have only met Jesus just before he died.
It is so important to understand what the father is saying to his older son, that he was always with him. When we are children of God, we are always with Him. Life may look the same, except it is not. I get to wake up every day and pray and face my day in God’s strength, leaning on God’s wisdom, knowing that everything will work out in the end. I still face challenges, but I never face them alone.
As a child of God I can show up every day, regardless of what the odds are against me, and face the day, to face all of life’s challenges, one day at a time, trusting in God to show up and take care of whatever I can’t handle and to give me the ability to handle what I can. My life is made up of surrendering to God every day. That can be seen as a privilege or as a burden. How do you view your relationship with God?
Is it a privilege to surrender to Him trusting that He has your best interest at heart? Or is it a challenge because it means giving up your carefully crafted and often selfish plans?
All that I have is yoursThe second part of the father’s answer is even more amazing. “all that I have is yours!” The older son was not living life as a son, but rather as a servant. The older son was working, hoping to earn at least a young goat (Luke 15:29) not realizing that all that his father had belonged to him. The older brother was a son but behaved as a servant, trying to earn what was already his. The older son could have been working out of a sense of joy and gratitude. The older son could have been working from a place of abundance, but instead, he lived from a place of scarcity.
The older son was concerned about how much the father was splurging on his younger brother as if it would somehow deprive him of what was his.
Do we become upset when God blesses someone we consider morally inferior because somehow we think their blessings rob us of blessings?
Let me share a secret with you GOD IS NOT RUNNING OUT OF POWER! God is not running low on love and mercy. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) His love is unfailing (Isaiah 54:10) His power is limitless (Job 42:1-2).
We should live and face each day from a place of generosity, kindness, forgiveness, and boldness as children of God understanding we have eternal life. Salvation is ours! Not because we worked for it, but because Jesus paid the price. Jesus did not die on the cross to help us be saved.
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
- Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
Stop behaving like a servant when you are a son and a daughter. The grace extended to others does not in any way take away from your salvation. Let your obedience come from a place of love, appreciation, and gratitude. From an understanding that all that the Father has is yours. You are not working for salvation, but rather from a place of assurance of your salvation. Do your good deeds, your acts of service, and let your obedience to God, come from a place of abundance, not scarcity.
The children of God should experience great joy to see a wayward son or daughter come back home. There should always be much rejoicing because there is plenty for everyone! Everyone is invited, though sadly not everyone is interested in living as a son or daughter of God.
How sad it is for someone who claims to be a child of God, to live like a hired servant. Failing to believe and accept the freely bestowed gift of God’s love and salvation. We should all work, but from love, and not expecting to earn a reward that is already ours.
By the elder son were represented the unrepenting Jews of Christ’s day, and also the Pharisees in every age, who look with contempt upon those whom they regard as publicans and sinners. Because they themselves have not gone to great excesses in vice, they are filled with self-righteousness. Christ met these cavilers on their own ground. Like the elder son in the parable, they had enjoyed special privileges from God. They claimed to be sons in God’s house, but they had the spirit of the hireling. They were working, not from love, but from hope of reward. In their eyes, God was an exacting taskmaster. They saw Christ inviting publicans and sinners to receive freely the gift of His grace—the gift which the rabbis hoped to secure only by toil and penance—and they were offended. The prodigal’s return, which filled the Father’s heart with joy, only stirred them to jealousy.
- Christ’s Object Lessons p. 209.
The older son has a spirit of self-righteousness. But self-righteousness not only leads us to misrepresent God, but also makes us coldhearted and critical toward those around us. The older son, in his selfishness and jealousy, stood ready to watch his younger brother, to criticize every action, and to accuse him of the smallest mistake. He was eager would detect every fault, and make the most of every wrong act. This was done in an effort to justify his own unforgiving spirit.
Many of us are in danger of behaving similarly. While someone is making their very first struggles against a flood of temptations, we stand by complaining and accusing. Though we may claim to be children of God, we can end up acting out the spirit of Satan. By our attitude toward those around us, we place ourselves where God cannot give us the light of His face. We fail to reflect His character to those who need it most.
When we see ourselves as sinners saved only by the love of our heavenly Father, we will have compassion for others who are suffering in sin. We will no longer meet sorrow and repentance with jealousy and condemnation. When the ice of selfishness is melted from our hearts, we will be in sympathy with God and will share His joy in the saving of the lost.
When we claim to be a child of God; it also means that it is our brother or sister that was lost, that was dead and is alive again, that was lost and is found. The person who gives their life to Jesus He is bound to us by the closest ties; for God recognizes them as a son and daughter. If we deny our relationship to the prodigal child, we reveal that we are only a hired servant and not a child in the family of God.
It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brotherWhen you refuse to join in the greeting to the lost, the joy will go on, the restored one will have her place by the Father’s side and in the Father’s work. She that is forgiven much, the same loves much. But you will be in the darkness without because “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.“ 1 John 4:8.
Perhaps you have read troubling passages in the Bible such as Exodus 10:20.
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.
- Exodus 10:20 NKJV
Some are tempted to dismiss passages in the Old Testament claiming something along the lines of “God had a system update in the New Testament because of Jesus’ ministry.” They may not word it that way but that’s the gist of it in my opinion. But, even if you believe that God has changed in some way from what He was like in the Old Testament and what He is like in the New Testament here is a similarly troubling passage from the New Testament. Surprisingly from the gospel of John.
And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
- John 9:39 NKJV
Personally, I believe God does not change (James 1:17). But why would God harden Pharaoh’s heart or make those who see blind?
This is a challenging question and one that is worth exploring. Let us dive into the story recorded in John 9 and see how it can help us navigate this difficult topic.
Meet the blind man.
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
- John 9:1-2 NKJV
When studying a narrative it is imperative to pay attention to the information the writer gives us. In this case, from the very beginning, we find out that this man has been blind from birth. This is an important detail in this story. The second important detail is a cultural one, from the question the disciples ask we learn about how people thought about someone who was born blind. If someone was born blind others assumed either they or their parents had committed some great sin. These two pieces of information are very important and will help us understand what takes place in the rest of the story.
Knowing that the man was born blind and that the disciples were asking who sinned we can assume that people interacted with this man and even his parents as if they were inferior, more sinful, and less worthy of God’s blessings. This mindset could have caused people also to be less sympathetic toward that family.
Perhaps the disciples, like many of us, thought the problem would be more tolerable if they
Similarly, when the disciples asked Jesus, “Who sinned?” (John 9:2), they frankly eschewed the role of a caring servant and chose instead to adopt the role of judge. […]
Jesus, however, refused to accept the disciples’ alternative of blame and in fact shifted the base system of the discussion from blame to the grace of God in the face of human need.
- Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 313.
Jesus, the Light of the world
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
- John 9:3-5 NKJV
Jesus is clear that the blindness of the man is not directly related to either his sins or the sins of his parents. What Jesus says next is a bit puzzling. My interpretation of it is that the presence of the effects of sin presents an opportunity for a revelation of the works of God. I would not say that God desires sin to exist in order to demonstrate His power, but rather that the presence of the consequences of sin in our fallen world does not exclude God’s existence or His willingness to intervene. In the midst of all pain and suffering Jesus stands as the answer to all of our needs and the cure to all of our afflictions. The blindness of the man was not directly related to his sins or the sins of his parents but is a result of him being born in a sinful world, where we are all negatively affected in one way or another. But whatever way sin affects us, Jesus is the answer we need.
A miracle!
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
- John 9:6-7 NKJV
Jesus does something odd. He makes clay by spitting on the ground, and takes that clay and anoints the eyes of the man. But the man is not healed at this point. The story is not about the healing powers of Jesus’ magical saliva. Jesus tells the man to go to the pool of Siloam and wash. The man obeyed, he went and washed and came back seeing! A miracle had taken place.
Sharing his testimony
8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”
He said, “I am he.”
10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”
He said, “I do not know.”
- John 9:8-12 NKJV
This miracle caused quite a commotion in the neighborhood. Suddenly people were divided, some recognized the man as the previously blind beggar, and others insisted it was simply someone who looked a lot like him. The man did his best to clarify that he was indeed the previously blind beggar. This caused people to wonder how his eyes had been opened.
This initial description of the miracle is very important for it is the most detailed description the man will give.
“A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” (John 9:11b)
In the New King James Version, I counted 31 words (25 words used in the original Greek text). This may seem nit-picky, but bear with me, it will make sense later on.
Those who were asking questions now want to know where Jesus is, but the man previously blind man does not know.
Meet the Pharisees
13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”
Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
- John 9:13-16NKJV
The blind man is now brought to the Pharisees. It is important to note here that when John used the term “Pharisees,” he employed that term to designate the group out of which the enemies of Jesus came. (Gerald L. Borchert, 317.) The neighbors were likely seeking help in understanding this astonishing miracle. It is at this point we learn that the healing had taken place on the Sabbath.
The man is asked once again how he received his sight and answers saying “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” This description is significantly shorter with only 12 words in the NKJV (10 words in original Greek). Just keep this detail in mind as the story progresses.
The Pharisees are sure that Jesus is not from God because He is not keeping the Sabbath the way they think He should keep it. From the strictest Pharisaical standpoint, Jesus had infringed the Sabbath tradition (not Scripture!) at two, probably three, points. First, he had healed on the Sabbath, which was permissible only when life was in danger. Patently it was not so in this case. Second, in making the mud he had kneaded on the Sabbath, which was specifically forbidden. Third, he had anointed the man’s eyes, which the stricter teachers also proscribed. For some, Jesus’ breach of the Sabbath traditions was enough to damn Him. Good men do not break the Sabbath which God has instituted. Jesus broke the Sabbath, ergo Jesus is not a good man. It was all so tidy. No hint here of any openness to review what might have been God’s purpose in giving the Sabbath, or to face the possibility that the God who had given the Sabbath had further things to reveal. Their God was petrified in the past. (Bruce Milne, The Message of John: Here Is Your King!: With Study Guide, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 139-140.
Others disagreed, asking how a sinner could be capable of performing such miracles. This caused a division among those who were there. So they turn to the man who had previously been blind and ask his opinion on the matter, since Jesus had opened his eyes. The man claims Jesus is a prophet.
Refusing to believe
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
- John 9:18-23NKJV
The situation continues to escalate and the parents of the previously blind man are brought to help clarify things. The parents confirm that the man is their son and that he was born blind. But out of fear, they avoid commenting on how he received his sight and who was responsible for opening his eyes. It was inconvenient to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, that kind of talk would get you ostracized from the synagogue.
Was blind but now I see
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
- John 9:24-25NKJV
Here is the beauty of sharing your testimony. The beauty of telling others what God has done for you is fairly straightforward. You don’t have to argue or prove anything. The man simply said I was blind and now I see. the Pharisees could argue all they wanted whether or not Jesus was a sinner, but it did not change the fact that He opened the eyes of that man. You do not need to engage in theological debate to share what God did for you. Just share what life was like before you met Jesus, and what life has been like since your encounter with Jesus.
How did the miracle happen?
26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”
- John 9:26-29 NKJV
Explaining a miracle will not cause others to believe. They had heard the story, they were interested in finding faults or explanations. They were not interested in believing and because of this they no longer heard what happened. If they were interested in following Jesus the man would gladly tell the story, but he knew they had no interest in following Jesus. The Pharisees now retreat to “safe territory” they claimed to be disciples of Moses, while accusing the man of “this fellow” who lacked pedigree, at least in their eyes. Interestingly, this fellow, whom they didn’t even know where He was from, opened the eyes of a man who had been born blind.
A marvelous thing
30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.
- John 9:30-34 NKJV
The blind man boldly addresses the Pharisees.
What was incredulous to him was that the officials who supposedly represented the perspective of God actually failed to recognize the work of God. As a result, not only did they not recognize God’s work in this unique healing event (the healing of congenital blindness), but they also failed to recognize the origin of the healer (pothen, “whence”). To summarize, first, in his answer to the investigators he revealed his astonishment (“that is remarkable!”); second, he practically taunted them as specialists in the knowledge of God (“you don’t know … yet he opened my eyes,” 9:30); third, he virtually instructed them in his theology of God (God “listens to the godly … who does his will,” 9:31); fourth, he asserted the uniqueness of his experience (“nobody has ever heard … opening the eyes of a man born blind,” 9:32); and fifth, he concluded the certainty of the healer’s divine ministry (“if this man were not from God, he could do nothing,” 9:33).
- Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 322.
The man’s theology is not 100% solid, especially because chasing after signs and wonders can lead you to be deceived. However, this is his personal testimony. He was born blind. He met Jesus and Jesus opened his eyes. He had no doubt this miracle had been done by God. It’s not like people who were born blind had their eyes opened regularly. What Jesus did was unheard of. It was not a trick, nor was it an isolated event (Jesus performed other miracles). There was plenty of evidence not only from signs and wonders but also from the life that Jesus lived and the content of His teachings.
The Pharisees can’t argue with this man’s personal testimony and decide to change tactics and make an ad hominem attack. Instead of attacking the argument the man made they attack him personally, saying he was completely born in sin, perhaps a reference to the fact that he had been born blind, and that was interpreted as a punishment from God for a grave sin.
Vision and blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”
38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
- John 9:35-41. NKJV
Jesus heard what had happened and sought out the man he had healed. Up until now, the man had not seen Jesus. When the man meets Jesus he confessed his faith and worshiped Jesus. Jesus makes an interesting statement.
“For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
God seems to like reversals. The last will be first and the first will be last ( for more on that read Becoming Great) and the blind will see and those who see will become blind. Throughout this story, those who refused to believe in Jesus gradually became more blind to who Jesus was. Notice that at the beginning of the story, the man tells a detailed account of what had taken place. Each time he repeats the story the account becomes shorter and less detailed until finally the account of the miracle is no longer repeated. This storytelling technique creates the sense of someone slowly becoming blind to what happened.
Each time the Pharisees, and anyone else who was around witnessing these events, rejected the idea that Jesus had opened the eyes of this man who had been born blind, they became more blind to what God was doing. Though they witnessed the power of God at work, they rejected it and in the process became blind to what God was doing. The pride of the religious leaders kept them from believing, and by reusing to believe they made themselves blind.
Another way of looking at this is that a revelation of Jesus’ power caused those who rejected Him to become blind to who He is. The Pharisees and everyone else who witnessed the miracle had the perfect opportunity to believe and accept Jesus as the Messiah, but by rejecting Jesus they also hardened their hearts to God, essentially becoming blind to the wonderful things God was doing in their midst.
The gospel as judgmentWhenever we share the gospel, the good news that God loves us and that Jesus died for our sins, and that through Jesus we can have eternal life as a free gift, the person who hears the gospel has the opportunity to accept Jesus and to grow in faith. However, that person is also free to reject God and harden their heart.
Maybe you have experienced this, when God causes you feel a sensation inside of you, a desire to seek Him, to believe Him to draw closer to Him. Each time that happens it is a great opportunity to invite God into your life and to choose to follow Him. Sometimes it can be quite random, other times you catch a glimpse of what God is doing in your life or in the lives of those around you. Sometimes someone you know or love is sharing with you what God has done or is doing in their life, and you feel something in your heart, a yearning for God. Or at least a curiosity as you begin to consider that God might really exist. Those moments are a great opportunity, and they are also moments of judgment. Where you can take one of two paths. You can choose to move towards God or away from Him.
Whenever you share with a friend or a family member about your personal journey with God you are giving them an opportunity to accept God, to believe and receive salvation, and to grow in their faith. The person you are sharing with also has the opportunity to reject God and harden their heart.
Sadly, some are so set in their rebellious ways that they actively reject God at every opportunity they get. I believe this is what happened with Pharaoh. It was not that he was ignorant about the God of Moses and the Hebrew people, but rather he was proud and arrogant and refused to humble himself. the manifestation of God’s power which caused many to believe and to marvel only hardened Pharaoh’s heart. The revelation of the great power of the God of the Hebrews only hardened the heart of Pharaoh, because even in the presence of overwhelming evidence of God’s power, Pharaoh refused to believe.
Similarly in this story, the Pharisees witnessed an incredible miracle, but their pride kept them from believing in Jesus. When God reveals His power it causes some to turn to Him and others to turn away from Him. I believe that those who reject God do so not because of a lack of evidence but rather despite the evidence. They are like the religious leaders who wanted to hear about the miracle one more time (John 9:26) but not because they wanted to believe, but rather because they wanted to refute that it was from God.
The problem with the Pharisees was not ignorance. It was rebellion.
Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.(John 9:41NKJV)
The good news is good news to those who accept it. But to those who reject it, it is judgment. We are to share our personal testimony, we should to tell others about what God is doing in our lives because each time we do we give them an opportunity to open their hearts to God. However, each time we share it also brings judgment, it is a moment of decision, and our eternal destiny is shaped by the choices we make during our lifetime.
I know this is a heavy topic. But I strongly believe that this is the case. So each post I write I do so to the best of my abilities to facilitate your acceptance of God. I truly want to encourage you and offer some guidance so that you might come to love God and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Please, do not harden your heart.
Think about your own life, and consider what God has done for you. Surely you have witnessed His hand at work. You are alive today because God has intervened in His mercy and kept you alive.
My friend, as you read this, do not harden your heart.
Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Confess your sins, stop making excuses for the things you know you should not be doing. Invite Jesus into your heart.
If you don’t know what to say try something along these lines
“Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.”
Take this step today, and continue on this journey.
Another prayer you can pray regularly is something along the lines of
“Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Your property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for You. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Your love can flow through my soul.”
If you have any further questions feel free to reach out to me either by commenting on this post or by reaching out to me through my social media.
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May God bless you and guide you all the days of your life.
I did an online search on how to become great and was overwhelmed by the number of resources that came up. I can’t say that I was surprised, there is a huge market for self-improvement. There are countless books, or you can just go to youtube and watch the summary of those books. Or watch a video of people who claim to have read many of those books and see which ones they recommend. There must be a lot of money to be made by teaching people how to improve in different areas of life. To be honest I have watched quite a few of those youtube videos with the book review and summaries. I have also listened to several of those books in audio, read some, and read even more articles and blog posts on productivity, creativity, fitness, marriage advice, tips on how to raise children, and the list goes on.
There is a lot of good advice out there. I am not putting down the self-help category, though there are a number of scams you need to be aware of, just like in any area of life. Though I am tempted to share some of my personal tips for success I would rather focus on a bit of advice shared by the greatest leader who ever walked on earth. His advice on leadership and success is both simple and complex, practical and profound. This is a topic I continue to study, and though I do not know it all I invite you to join me on this journey and we can learn together.
ContextIn Matthew 18:1 the disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus answers by calling a child to Himself and saying that whoever humbles himself as that little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)
In Matthew 19:18 the rich young ruler approaches Jesus with questions regarding eternal life. Jesus’ answer causes the disciples to ask even more questions and eventually the discussion ends with Jesus saying that many who are first will be last and the last first. (Matthew 19:30)
This brings us to Matthew 20 which begins with the parable of the workers in the vineyard where the workers who worked all day and the ones who were hired at the end of the day and only worked for one hour receive the same reward.
Jesus Predicts His Death and ResurrectionI will pick up the story with Matthew 20:17 where Jesus predicts His death and resurrection.
17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
- Matthew 20:17-19 NKJV
In other words, Jesus says to His disciples,
I’m going to be betrayed,
and condemned to death,
and mocked,
and scourged,
and crucified…
But I will rise again on the third day!
I expected His disciples to be concerned, to ask questions, and to offer Jesus words of encouragement. But it seems like they were not listening, they were not paying attention. The words of Jesus that did not support their preconceived notions seem to be ignored. Good thing we don’t behave in a similar manner today, or do we? Quoting Jesus when it is convenient and supports our agenda, but ignoring the other things He said that challenge our life choices.
Have mom ask Him
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
- Matthew 20:20 NKJV
If you’re wondering who the sons of Zebedee were Matthew 4:21; 10:2 tell us that they were James and John. So James and John thought it would be a good idea to have their mother come and ask Jesus for something. I say this because when Jesus responds He does so using the second-person plural addressing James and John and not their mother. In my mind I imagine two grown men wanting to ask Jesus for a special favor but asking their mother to ask for them. Maybe they thought it would increase their chances. This also provides us with an insight that there were women following Jesus though they are not often explicitly mentioned.
You don’t know what you ask
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They said to Him, “We are able.
23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
- Matthew 20:21-23NKJV
When Jesus says to the mother of Zebedee’s sons “what do you wish?” this is an incredible opportunity! She knows what she will ask for, and asks for honor and glory, and prestige for her boys. She wants Jesus to give her boys the highest positions of power next to Him in His kingdom.
Just as a reminder, Jesus had just finished talking about how He will be betrayed, condemned to death, mocked, scourged, and crucified. Yet James and John completely ignore this bit of information. Probably because the thoughts that are filling their minds are thoughts of power and authority and greatness. It is fascinating how selfish thoughts can keep us from hearing the full message Jesus has for us.
Does your theology, your understanding of God, make room for all the messy and difficult parts or do you just hold on to your favorite parts and ignore the others?
When asked about power and glory Jesus immediately answers by talking about trials He will face and whether they are willing and capable to face them as well. They say they are able but they clearly don’t know what they are talking about. Later they will abandon Jesus and flee. Eventually, they will, to a degree, be persecuted and suffer for their faith in and faithfulness to Jesus. But positions of honor in the kingdom of heaven do not work in this way, they are not given to those who have their mother petition Jesus on their behalf.
I see this as an example of a request we should not make to God. We should not ask for power, authority, or prestige whether on earth or in heaven. This request reveals that we are not listening to the message Jesus has for us. We are not concerned with His kingdom and His values but rather our own. The mother asked for a high position for her boys in the kingdom of Jesus, but that demonstrated their desire to build up their own kingdom. They were not interested in serving Jesus so much as they were interested in the power they would gain as a result of serving Jesus. James and John were really concerned about their own kingdom and Jesus was a way to get honor for themselves.
We must resist the temptation to see Jesus as a means to our own selfish ends. We must be about His business, His agenda, and His values, not our own disguised as a godly pursuit.
How to become great!
24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:24-28 NKJV
When the other disciples find out what just happened they are not happy. James and John just used their mother to try to get ahead. How dare they!? And to use their mother! How could they?
Perhaps all the disciples are now thinking about how to position themselves in order to gain an advantage over the others, how to get ahead, how to get promoted, and how to gain power and authority. In religion, in the church, there is constantly a danger, a temptation, to seek power and authority and glory, but to disguise it as godliness. People can use Jesus, the Bible, and religion, as a means of controlling people. Abuses of power happen too often.
So how do we prevent it from happening here? How can we avoid leaders using their position simply to control others? How do we avoid having power-hungry leaders?
I do not have all the answers. But I strongly believe that when you remove the Bible from the people the church can become just as corrupt and oppressive as any secular government, or company, or hierarchy. The only solution I see to this problem is the study of the Bible and a willingness to be judged by it and to submit to it. The temptation and the human tendency to twist scriptures to our own benefit and to support our personal agenda will always exist. But my hope is that there will always be enough sincere godly people honestly and sincerely studying and seeking God to hold those in power accountable and keep them in check.
We must allow Jesus to teach us how to lead, and this is what He had to say to His disciples regarding greatness.
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV
In the world, those who are great exercise authority over others. But it will not be so among you. You are to be different. Whoever wants to be great should become your servant. Your role as a leader is to serve those you are leading and serve those around you. Don’t think of leadership as gaining authority, rather consider it a responsibility. Jesus said whoever desires to be first should be a slave. A slave places the will of the master above his own. A slave does the will of the master and refrains from doing what is outside the will of the master.
Sharing this troubles me. Because I can see how some will abuse this. I can see how this would make followers of God vulnerable to abuse. Jesus did say “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.” And I can see people using this to take advantage of others. One safety measure I see in this is that the way Jesus said it, you are always the one freely choosing to become the servant, it is never the other forcing you to serve them. Meaning no one gets to tell you to serve them. Jesus lays out service as the path to greatness, but you are invited to serve and you must freely choose to do so.
I also look at this in light of everything else Jesus said and the Bible teaches, and there is also dignity for human life and mutual love that stems from God keeps people from abusing or taking advantage of this principle. I am still working out all the implications of this, but ultimately Jesus is my example.
Jesus came to serve and even to sacrifice Himself. Yet he was not controlled by those around Him.
So I challenge you to have the attitude and heart of a servant, but this does not mean becoming a doormat for someone else or an enabler for someone else’s sinful tendencies.
Jesus as my example
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:28NKJV
Jesus did serve and suffer and sacrificed Himself. But He did so for our salvation. Jesus did not sacrifice Hismelf for our comfort, or for our selfish whims. Jesus sacrificed Himself to bring us salvation because there was no other way (Matthew 26:39). We could not save ourselves. The only way for our salvation is through Jesus and He had to die for our sins (1 Peter 2:23-25; Titus 2:14).
When we serve, we should serve in order to save, to help those who otherwise could not help themselves. We are called to sacrifice for others, for their benefit. But this does not mean their whim, their selfishness, or laziness. We need wisdom from God to know the best way to help and the strength and wisdom to do so. Not to facilitate someone else to continue to live a life indulging in sin that is ultimately a self-destructive life.
As I said. This is a complex topic and I am still figuring out healthy boundaries and applications. But just because I have yet to iron out all the implications it does not deny the principle of service. Just because this is a hard teaching it does not mean that I will ignore it. I choose to wrestle with it. I will likely make mistakes but I would rather make them trying to serve those around me.
Case study
29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
- Matthew 20:29-31 NKJV
Jesus is leaving Jericho and a great multitude is following Him. Two bling beggars begin to cry out for Jesus to have mercy on them. They refer to Jesus as Lord and Son of David, which meant they believed He was the Messiah. The multitude saw this as an interference in the incredibly important mission of Jesus. Surely Jesus’ time was of great value and He should not allow Himself to be stopped by a couple of blind beggars. Surely they were not worth Jesus’ time and power. The multitude believed it would be a waste for Jesus to stop to minister to these poor blind men.
32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
- Matthew 20:32NKJV
This is essentially what Jesus said to the mother of James and John. This question (What do you want me to do for you?” could have been understood as special treatment for the mother of two disciples of Jesus, yet He extends the same kindness to poor blind beggars on the side of the road. But Jesus did not give her sons what she had asked for. So maybe this will be bad news for the poor bind men.
33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
- Matthew 20:33 NKJV
The blind men did not ask for glory and honor. They did not ask for power. They asked to be cured, to be set free from blindness. They asked for something only Jesus could do for them.
34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
- Matthew 20:33-34NKJV
Did you notice what Jesus just did?
He stopped and served these two poor blind beggars. Jesus just demonstrated the principle he was describing to His disciples. Jesus shows us what it means to be a servant. He was willing to stop and care for two men that no one else cared for. Jesus had compassion for those who were suffering and He helped them.
I like the way Craig Blomberg puts it,
“Jesus’ entire thrust is on enabling and empowering others rather than wielding power for oneself.”
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 308.
Another quote that captures this principle well is found in the book the Desire of Ages, chapter 71.
“Jesus, the served of all, came to be the servant of all. And because He ministered to all, He will again be served and honored by all. And those who would partake of His divine attributes, and share with Him the joy of seeing souls redeemed, must follow His example of unselfish ministry.”
- Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 651.
Though I do not have all the answers I believe a few things are very clear. Jesus gave us the example of service and He invites us to follow His example for according to Him this is the path to greatness in His kingdom.
This is a really personal post and I have been wavering on whether or not to share it. Please let me know if you find this type of content helpful especially since I find this type of content extra difficult to share.
I did something similar when I turned 34 (34th birthday), and when I turned 35 (personal reflections). If you find these personal posts valuable check out similar posts under the tag Personal.
This is part 3 of my Lost and Found series. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here. Jesus continues on the same theme of lost and found and rejoicing in heaven and now adds more dimensions to the story which reveal a great deal about our spiritual journey as children of God and even more importantly about God’s experience as our loving Father.
Luke 15 from verse 11 to the end of the chapter is often referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I like the insight from the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary that says the following:
PRODIGAL SON This term is used both as the title of Jesus’ parable in Luke 15:11–32 and a description of the younger son’s lifestyle. English translations do not use the term prodigal to describe this lifestyle but describe it by saying that he “wasted” or “squandered” his inheritance in “wild” or “loose” living. Unfortunately this title, focusing on the younger son, causes one to miss the point that both Jesus and Luke are making. The parable should be called “The Parable of the Gracious Father,” for he is the character who occurs in both halves of the story and is the main character of the parable. In addition, the parable’s main point comes from the conversation between the older son and the father, through which Jesus defends the offer of salvation that God makes to the tax collectors and sinners (and other prodigals like them) and condemns the Pharisees and scribes for their opposition to this offer of mercy (Luke 15:1–2).
- Donny Mathis, “Prodigal Son,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1331.
All these parables found in Luke 15 highlight God’s desire to save the lost and this final parable drives the point home. But let us begin at the beginning.
A certain man had two sons…
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
- Luke 15:11-12 NKJV
I remember when Disney’s “The Lion King” came out. The year was 1994. That year I visited the United States for the first time, and my family went to Disney World. 1994 was also the first world cup I remember Brazil won that year becoming the first nation to win four world cup titles. That was also the first world cup to be decided on penalties. But these details are irrelevant to my point (sorry). In The Lion King, there was a catchy song the lion cub Simba sings entitled “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” It’s a fun song to sing along to until you realize that in order for Simba to become king his father, the current king, has to die. I can see why Disney didn’t go with the title “I Just Can’t Wait ‘till Dad Dies,” it’s just not as catchy. But this is exactly the sentiment of the younger son in this parable.
When the younger son asks his father for the portion of goods that falls to him he is essentially telling his father he can’t wait until he dies. So he wants his goods now. At that time and in that part of the world the older son would receive two-thirds of the estate and the younger son one-third (Deut 21:17). If there were any daughters the younger son would receive even less since some of the money would need to be given as dowries.
The father divides his livelihood between his sons. The choice of words here is important, livelihood is not used often in the Bible. Some other examples I came across are the woman with the issue of blood and the gift of the poor widow.
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,
- Luke 8:43 NKJV (bold mine)for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
- Luke 21:4 NKJV (bold mine) (see also Mark 12:44)
The text indicates that the father gave form all that he had, from his livelihood. This was a sacrificial gift. Yet there is no sign of appreciation from the younger son. He feels entitled and acts as if his father did no more than his responsibility. The text does not give us details but I imagine the son is tired of having to live under the guidance and rules of the father. The son wanted to have fun, to live a little, and his old man was cramping his style. He needed freedom to do as he wished without his father always looking over his shoulder and providing guidance and limits.
Living it up!
13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
- Luke 15:13 NKJV
Prodigal living, that’s where the title of the prodigal son comes from. I am not too familiar with the word prodigal outside of this story so I decided to look it up in the original Greek. The word is ἀσώτως (asōtōs)which means in this case to live dissolutely or profligately. Which was not much help, to be honest. So I found another ancient Greek dictionary that was a bit more helpful, it defined “asotos” as recklessly, wildly, in debauchery, in dissipation, or wastefully. The picture this creates in my mind is of a young man doing everything his father had not allowed him to do. He willfully moved away from his father and began to do everything his father had not allowed him to do. Perhaps he hoped to find true joy and happiness in the things his father prohibited. Maybe he thought that if only he could live his authentic life and follow his heart he would be happy. If only he focused more on his desires and his selfish pleasure he would live a more abundant life.
This reminds me of Eve in the garden of Eden, she had everything she needed to live her best life, but she believed the lie that God was withholding good things from her. Do we, like Eve and the prodigal son, believe that God is keeping good things from us with His rules and regulations? Do we believe Him to be an angry mean person intent on keeping us from having fun and enjoying life?
Whatever the appearance may be, every life centered in self is squandered. Whoever attempts to live apart from God is wasting his substance. He is squandering the precious years, squandering the powers of mind and heart and soul, and working to make himself bankrupt for eternity. The man who separates from God that he may serve himself, is the slave of mammon.
- Christ’s Object Lessons p200 (bold mine)
…and he ran out of money
14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
- Luke 15:14-16NKJV
Things were going great while the money lasted. But when things go bad they seem to do so in clusters. He ran out of money just in time for the famine, or recession. He is out of money, and there are no good jobs available. The only job available is the job no one wants to do. So now he is working feeding pigs and he finds himself desiring to eat what the pigs were eating.
He longed to fill … that the pigs were eating. This may mean that he saw the pigs eating and being filled and he would have liked to have been full also. It was psychologically impossible, however, for him to eat such “pig-food.” It could also mean that he would have liked to have eaten the food the pigs ate, but it was physiologically impossible to do so since humans could not eat such food. Finally, it could mean that he would have liked to have eaten the food the pigs ate, but the “citizen” would not allow him to do so. It is uncertain which of these is more likely, but what is clear is that the younger son has fallen as far as he can. He is working for a Gentile, feeding pigs, and is in some way or other contemplating “breaking bread” with them. “Pods” are carob pods used to feed animals, and at times the poor were forced to eat them.
- Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 405.
The younger son had distanced himself from his father in order to live his life focusing on everything that gave him immediate pleasure. His desire for self-indulgence and sinful pleasures drove him to distance himself from the loving care of his father. Now that he had done everything he thought would make him happy he found himself alone, hungry, weak, and miserable.
a turning point
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
- Luke 15:17-19 NKJV
After hitting rock bottom the younger son realizes that he would be better off as a servant of his father than as someone who feeds pigs. The lifestyle he expected to give his life meaning and joy left him hungry and alone. The younger son had lost his identity. He felt that his course of action had caused him to lose his “sonship.” He had rejected his father after all. This train of thought also shows that the son, though he had grown up with the father had not yet fully grasped his father’s love for him.
15:19 No longer worthy to be called your son. The issue does not involve the young man’s legal status (I am not legally your son any longer) but his filial status (a father like you deserves better than a son like me).
- Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 406.
Decision and Action
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
- Luke 15:20-21 NKJV
The younger son decided to return to the father, then he acted on that decision. He arose and came to the father. I love how the text describes these events. While the son was still a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran towards him and fell on his neck and kissed him. The father did not wait for the son to come close. The father did not make the son pay for his rebellion and poor choices. The father did not even lecture his son. All that matters to the father is that his son decided to return home.
The fact that the father runs to meet the son is also significant. Elders in the Middle East never run. In order to run they would need to hike up their robes and this would reveal their bare legs and would be shameful for an elder. In seminary, I had a professor, Dr. Joseph Kidder, who was born in Nineveh. He said that growing up he had never seen an elder run. He even said some elders would suffer injury or even death because they refused to run away from a runaway cart or falling objects. The father could have reasoned that the son had left on his own and he could very well return on his own. But that’s not how the heart of the father works.
18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.
- Deuteronomy 21:18-21 NKJV
I have heard some interpret this verse to mean that the son would have been put to death if the father had not run to embrace him. This could be true, there could have been neighbors and others who were so upset with the younger son’s disrespect toward his father that they would want to stone him. However, the law in Deuteronomy 21 requires the father and mother to take the son to the elders of their city, to the city gate. The way I see it, the law allows the father and mother to decide whether or not their son should live. I do not see this law as meaning the son must be put to death. Another way I have heard this law being interpreted is that if anyone in the community is going to decide whether a stubborn and rebellious son should be put to death it should be his father and mother, in essence protecting the son from others deciding that fate for him. This law also reveals a certain danger for the young man to return home. His father could have him killed. But his father loved him more than he could have imagined.
Whenever we decide to turn to God we are coming home. Our true identity is children of God. God is the one who gives value to our lives. Only in God do we find our truest most authentic selves. Only in God we can have life and have it more abundantly. And God is eagerly awaiting for us to make that decision, and to take action, to rise and come to Him. Then it does not matter how far away we are from Him and His will, we can be a great way off and He will run towards us. We can be filthy and covered in rags in the consequences of our sinful choices, yet our heavenly Father embraces us because He longs to save us.
The son also makes an honest confession. He says recognizes he has sinned against God and against his father. The son recognizes he is not worthy to be called son. The son does not blame the famine on the land, he does not try to explain how he wasted all his money, he does not blame his previous boss, he simply confesses his faults and places himself at the mercy of his father.
The Heart of the Father
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
- Luke 15:22-24 NKJV
The father reveals his heart and it turns out he is much more gracious and merciful than his son could have ever imagined. God loves you more than you can fathom. He wants to forgive, he longs to save and in this story, Jesus illustrates the heart of God, our heavenly Father. God wants to save, forgive and accept and love and transform us as He embraces us reminding us of who we truly are, His children.
Best robe. The best, not the former robe he left behind. This refers to the robe reserved for notable guests.
Ring. Through the ring the father bestows his authority upon his son.
Sandals. Sandals were a luxury, and servants did not wear them. The son is not, however, to be treated as a servant. He is to wear sandals. These individual details in the parable are not to be allegorized in order to have them correspond to some spiritual reality but are only meant to reveal the father’s full acceptance of his son. Compare Gen 41:42.
- Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 407.
All this time the son did not realize who the father really was. He did not comprehend the love of his father. Notice how all the parables Jesus shares in Luke that which is lost always belong to the person searching for it.
The sheep belonged to the shepherd but had wandered away, gotten lost, and could not come back on its own. So the shepherd goes out and searches for the lost sheep until he finds it. Then he celebrates finding his lost sheep. (For more read Lost and Found part 1)
The coin belonged to the woman but had gotten lost inside the house. The coin did not know it was lost and could not save itself. The woman searches for it until she finds it then she rejoices when she finds it! (for more read Lost and Found part 2)
The younger son rebels and wilfully walks away from the father. He knows what he is doing and he knows the way back. In this story the father eagerly awaits for the son to decide to return, and once the son acts on that decision the father runs and meets him while he is still a great way off. Just like in all the previous parables great feasting ensues.
The three parables highlight the same key truth. There is great rejoicing in the heart of God when someone repents, confesses their sin, and returns to Him. There is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. God wants to rejoice over you, over us! What are you waiting for?
Stop making excuses for your sin and your rebellious life choices. Stop trying to fix it by yourself. You can come to God as you are, even if you’re covered in rags and feeling terrible guilt and shame. Let God embrace you, kiss you, cover you with a special robe, and put a ring on your finger and sandals on your feet. Your true identity is that of a child of God. That is your truest and most authentic self. That is why your life is so precious. Jesus died for you. The Father is eagerly waiting for you to take a step toward Him. He will run and embrace you and rejoice over you. He won’t scold you, He won’t punish you. You have suffered enough, He longs to save you, to bless you, to restore you to your rightful place as His beloved child.
What is keeping you from coming home?
What is holding you back from returning to your Father?
Do not allow anything in this world to keep you from where you belong, from your true identity. You are a child of God, He loves you and is just waiting, eager to rejoice over you. You do not have to be lonely any longer. You do not have to go hungry another day. Turn to God and let Him embrace you, and kiss you, bless you, and restore you to where you belong, a beloved child of the King of the Universe. God will gladly forgive you and cleanse you and give you a fresh start.
What do you say to all this?
Are you willing to come home?
If so you can pray right now and tell God how you feel.
If you are not sure what to say here is a sample prayer.
“Father in heaven, I have sinned against you and lived in rebellion. I do not deserve to be your child. But I know that you love me and that you want me so I choose you as well. I want to be your child, please forgive me and restore me, heal me and take care of me. I love you, and I need you. Thank you for loving me too, and for never abandoning me. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and it is in His name that I pray. Thank you for hearing my prayer, please answer it according to your will and for your honor and glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
A special thanks to Pr. Jason Williams for joining me for this series and presenting on the parable of the lost coin.
I posted his sermon notes on my blog PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan Bell
Lost The summer between my sophomore (2nd) and junior (3rd) year of my theological studies at Southern Adventist University, I joined my sister and several other friends as missionaries. We applied and were accepted as teachers for a summer program at the Ekamai International School in Bangkok Thailand. There I taught English and swimming. One evening we decided to explore Bangkok. We got ready and went out as a group. We were told to avoid going out by ourselves. We took a bus from close to where the school was to the nearest stop of the sky train. From there we rode the sky train to downtown and got off. We had no clear goal, we just wanted to look around and maybe buy a few things. There was one rule, we stick together, we go together, and we stop together. Easier said than done. Each one of us was interested in different things. One person wanted to look at musical instruments they had never seen before, one person was interested in trying the different foods, some were interested in the beautiful long sarongs, or art, knives, hats, dresses… there was so much to look at. There were stores, and street vendors, and everyone was trying to get our attention and offer us the best deal. “Come come” they would say to us, many times the only words they knew in English, as they tried to interest us in what they were selling.
I get easily distracted and soon enough I stopped to look at something, it was going to be a quick look, no need to alert the group. But a very friendly and determined salesperson approached me to tell me all about what I was looking at and began to lower the price as I stood there looking at it. By the time I realized I was by myself it was too late. I tried to find the group but the streets were packed with people, by this time it was dark, and I had lost my group.
I knew how to walk back to the sky train stop and I knew where to get off. The sky train had a stop not too far from the school. But the streets were dark and less busy in this quieter part of town. The street signs were difficult to read not to mention that I can’t read Thai. Once I got off the sky train I considered taking the bus. But I was afraid I would miss my stop on a crowded bus at night and end up farther away from the school than I was currently.
The bus was the cheapest option and in many ways the safest. Taxi was the most expensive and being by yourself in a taxi at night was potentially dangerous. The third option was the moto taxi. On our first day in Bangkok, a local doctor told us about what to avoid in order to stay healthy. Things such as fruit that was cut open on the street market, street food that was not fried or cooked in front of you (or just avoid street food altogether), don’t drink the water, don’t ride the moto taxi.
I know right? That doesn’t sound like medical advice. But it is because the moto taxis drive very aggressively. They can go up on the sidewalk, often go between cars, and even on the wrong side of the road if there’s an opening. (here’s a youtube video to give you an idea)
As a student missionary, I was constantly broke and was not sure if I could afford a taxi, especially if the driver decided to take the long route and charge me a premium. The bust was affordable but I was afraid of missing my stop. I was afraid of walking and getting lost and there would be no buses or taxis available away from the main roads. I saw a moto taxi and decided it was my best option. I had in my wallet a small piece of paper with the school address written in Thai. I showed it to the moto taxi and he nodded his head. He put on his helmet and I set on the back (there was no helmet for me). Traffic was heavy and off he went. I felt like he might be going in the wrong direction, but I am pretty bad with directions, I didn’t speak the language, and it was dark, so I held on for dear life and prayed.
The trip was taking longer than I had anticipated. Had he misunderstood the address? Was he taking me somewhere else? My cell phone didn’t work there and I didn’t have it on me. Also, I would not know who to call, the school was closed by this time and the other missionaries would hardly have been able to help me. I was looking around trying to recognize any of the buildings or street names but they all looked the same to me.
Finally, the moto taxi pulled up to the school. I was so relieved, I felt like I could breathe again. I paid the man and made my way to my apartment. I was safe.
Being lost was a terrible experience.
Luke 15In Luke chapter 15 Jesus describes three kinds of lostness. The first one is being lost like a sheep.
Do you know how sheep get lost?
They nibble their way into lostness. They move from one tuft of green grass to the next. They keep moving along from tuft to tuft, and when they’re done nibbling they can’t find their way back to the shepherd and they’re lost. Some of us know what that is—to nibble ourselves bit by bit into the far country. (Bruce Larson and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Luke, vol. 26, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983), 235.
ContextIn Luke 15 we encounter a new scene in which the Pharisees and scribes complain of Jesus’ association with publicans and sinners (15:1–2). We have already encountered this criticism in 5:27–32 (Matt 9:11; Mark 2:16), in Luke 7:39, and will encounter it again in 19:7. Three parables follow that serve both as a defense of Jesus’ ministry to such outcasts (cf. 14:15–24) and an appeal to his opponents to join in celebrating their entrance into the kingdom (15:7, 10, 28, 31–32).
The parables are connected by theme (the joy of the lost being found) and by key words (“lost” and “found,” 15:6, 9, 24, 32; “rejoice” and “celebrate,” 15:6, 9, 24, 32). Together the three parables form a tightly knit unit with a single, strongly Lukan theme—God’s love for outcasts and sinners. (Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 400.
Sinners and Tax Collectors
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
- Luke 15:1-2NKJV
According to the text, tax collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus because they longed to hear Him. It is significant that Jesus attracted sinners while the Pharisees repelled them. This causes me to wonder how people feel about some of our churches today. Are the lost attracted or repelled by our church?
Lost sinners came to Jesus, not because He catered to them or compromised His message, but because He cared for them. He understood their needs and tried to help them, while the Pharisees criticized them and kept their distance (see Luke 18:9–14). The Pharisees had a knowledge of God and His laws. They desired personal purity, but they lacked a love for lost souls. (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 233.
Yet Jesus associated with “sinners” to offer them salvation through repentance and faith, not to participate in their sin. ( Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 403 bold mine) It is not noble to simply mingle with the suffering, Jesus loved them and desired to save them. Growing up In Brazil I remember when it was time for local elections. Politicians would show up, pass out candy, fix some potholes, and hand out t-shirts, flags, and hats. Once the ballots were cast they would disappear until the next election cycle. I don’t think they really cared that much for the people but seemed more interested in what the people could offer them. Jesus was not trying to win a popularity contest. He honestly had their best interest at heart.
And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”Jon Courson points out that even though they didn’t know what they were saying, the enemies of Jesus often shared profound insights about Him.
Some examples include:
“He saved others, but Himself He cannot save,” they said as Jesus hung on the Cross (Matthew 27:42). How true. If He had saved Himself, He could not have saved me.
“It is expedient that one man die for the nation” (John 18:14). Although Caiaphas meant it was better that a “rabble-rouser” die than that the whole nation be bludgeoned into submission by the Romans, he unknowingly spoke prophetically—for Jesus did indeed die not for a nation, but for the whole world.
“He receives sinners,” scoffed the scribes and Pharisees in an attempt to put Jesus down. But what a marvelous truth. He does indeed receive sinners. The religious community might reject me, high society might refuse me—but Jesus Christ will always receive me.
- Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 372.
Another way to look at this is to consider that those who considered themselves paragons of righteousness felt so uncomfortable in the presence of Jesus, whereas those who admittedly made no claim to righteousness felt drawn to the Savior. Undoubtedly it was the hypocrisy of the former and the lack of pretense of the latter that made the difference (see Luke 18:9–14). The one class felt no need of the blessings Jesus had to offer, the other class realized its need and made no effort to conceal it (see Matt. 5:3; Mark 2:5; Luke 4:26; 5:8). The one was content with its own righteousness; the other knew that it had no righteousness of its own to offer. We would do well to ask ourselves how we feel in the presence of Jesus. (Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 814.
God as a ShepherdThe metaphor of a shepherd is used for God in Ps 23:1–4; Ezek 34:11–16; and Jesus also uses it in John 10:11–15. The idea of God being a shepherd is not new. However, Jesus uses it to illustrate a specific point.
3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
- Luke 15:3-6 NKJV
Leaving the ninety-nine You might think that if someone possesses 100 sheep he would not mind losing just one. Especially if it will take extreme effort to recover that one sheep. It is very likely that the shepherd would not notice the sheep was missing until evening time when he would bring all his sheep to the sheep pen and count them. Oftentimes shepherds would bring their flocks together into one area wherein all of the shepherds would watch the combined flock. The next day, they would take their individual flocks into separate feeding areas. How did they separate the sheep? Each had a different song, chant, or call that their own sheep recognized—even as Jesus alluded in John 10:4. (Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 372.
When the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep to go after the one it does not lower their value, they were safe, it is the lost sheep that is in danger. The shepherd’s determination to go after the one highlights how much he values each animal. (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 233.)
The Search and Celebration Imagine with me. It is the end of the day. The shepherd is tired, it is getting dark, and the temperatures are dropping. It s becoming more dangerous and less comfortable to be wondering about. Now it is time to cozy up next to a fire, eat, relax, and share stories and songs with the other shepherds. But instead, the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep and goes after the one that is missing. The shepherd ignores his aching feet, the cold air, and stumbles in the darkness looking for the lost sheep. Maybe he stubs his toe on a rock he didn’t see, or slips on some sand over a rock, scrapes his shins, maybe his throat hurts from calling for the sheep. He is tired, it has been a long day already, but his love for the one sheep keeps him going. He may be uncomfortable but he knows the lost sheep is suffering even more. The lost sheep cannot save itself, she can’t defend herself against predators, and she can’t find her way back unless someone comes to her rescue that lost sheep will die. The sheep is scared, paralyzed by fear and anxiety, it can barely cry for help. The shepherd knows this and refuses to give up on that one lost sheep. Every single sheep matters.
The shepherd finally finds the sheep. But he does not punish the sheep for getting lost. He does not kick the sheep all the way back to the sheepfold to teach it a lesson. He takes the lost sheep, the sheep that caused him all this discomfort, hassle, and pain, and places that sheep on his shoulders and carries it back to safety. When the shepherd arrives back he does not tell all his friends about how much trouble this single sheep caused him. He does not describe how foolish the sheep is for getting lost, or how difficult it was to find and rescue the lost sheep. Instead, he celebrates that the lost sheep has been found!
More Joy!?
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
- Luke 15:7 NKJV
Righteous persons who do not need to repent. Compare 5:31–32 to Luke 10:13; 11:32; 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30 it becomes clear that for Luke everyone had need of repentance, whether Jew or Greek (Acts 11:18; 17:30). I agree with Robert H. Stein that if the ninety-nine refer to the Pharisees and scribes, then these words must be understood ironically as those who think they are righteous and have no need to repent. Less likely is the view that Jesus assumed for the sake of argument the claim of his opponents that they were righteous. In the context of Luke 15:1–3 the parable is in fact a call for “the righteous” to repent by sharing God’s joy in the salvation of “sinners.” Most probably one should not press this detail in the parable and seek meaning with respect to who the ninety-nine represent. The basic reality to which this parable points is God’s great joy over the repentance of the lost as they receive life. (Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 404.)
As Wiersbe puts it,
“We must not make every part of the parable mean something, otherwise we will turn it into an allegory and distort the message.”
- Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 234. (Bold Mine)
Lessons LearnedThe parable of the lost sheep is as much about God’s desire to save and the joy that follows the salvation of one sinner who repents as it is about how we ought to join God both in His care for the lost as well as the rejoicing over those who repent and receive salvation.
Jesus loved all and His love attracted sinners who longed for what only Jesus could offer. Jesus never made room for sin, but He also never turned away any sinner who came seeking Him. However, there are those who are religious, who secretly cherish sin, but in a desperate attempt to appear holy they mistreat, neglect, and shun the “sinners.”
Through this parable, Jesus revealed God’s great care for those that religious people despise.
May we be more like God in His desire to save the lost, and less like the Pharisees who seemed to seek salvation by segregation.
In God With Us part 1, I explored the evidence for God’s desire to be with us found in the creation account.
In God With Us part 2, I explored the birth of Jesus and what it reveals to us regarding the heart of God. This is the third and final post of this series and I will explore Jesus’ promise to come again to be with us and to take us to be with Him.
“ “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ”
— John 14:1-3 NKJVJesus was very clear. He will come again to receive us to Himself so that where He is we can be also. Jesus wants to be with us and this understanding helps keep my heart from being troubled.
The ApocalypseMany associate the apocalypse with scary events causing them to be afraid of the second coming of Jesus. The Greek word Apokalypsis (ἀποκάλυψις) means disclosure:—appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation. (Strong’s definition) In Portuguese and Spenish and perhaps other languages as well the last book of the Bible is referred to by the Greek word or its transliteration. In English, we have the translation of the Greek so we call the last book of the Bible Revelation, which is less scary than calling it the book of Apocalypse!
There’s a whole genre of post-apocalyptic writing, movies, and games. Meriam Webster defines postapocalyptic as existing or occurring after a catastrophically destructive disaster or apocalypse.
As a student of the Bible, I find this fascinating. Here is a secular term that cannot be understood without a reference to the book of Revelation. The problem I see in this is that the entire book of Revelation is summarized as essentially a catastrophic destruction of life on planet earth. If you never read the book of Revelation you would think it describes a nuclear holocaust or maybe zombies. Yes, Zombie Apocalypse literally means a zombie revelation or uncovering, but in our cultural context, it means the collapse of society due to an overwhelming swarm of zombies.
So we avoid the book of Revelation, we are afraid of it. We don’t talk much about the second coming of Jesus because that’s going to happen at the end of time and that will be terrible and scary right? Except that the followers of Jesus seem to look forward to that day. Paul refers to it as the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of Jesus!
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
- Titus 2:11-14 NKJV (bold mine)
I grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist faith and I have heard my share of scary end time sermons. However, the more I study the Bible for myself the more I am convinced that the second coming of Jesus is an event we ought to look forward to! Jesus wants to be with me and I want to be with Him, why would I not want Him to come soon?
If I am not looking for the soon coming of Jesus what am I going to look forward to?
I Will Come AgainIn John 14:3 Jesus clearly states that He will come again to receive us to Himself that where He is there we may be also. It is clear that Jesus desires to be with us. Not only did He create us, but He also came and was born as one of us, lived for over 30 years as a human, and died so that we might live with Him. If we believe this to be true how could we doubt that He will come again?
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
- Acts 1:9-11 NKJV
When Jesus went up into heaven two men in white apparel, I believe they were angels, told Jesus’ followers that He would come again like He went up. That is, Jesus would not be born again as a baby, but rather He would come in the clouds. I would argue that the second coming of Jesus is what motivates the efforts of the apostles to proclaim Jesus to the whole world.
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
- Luke 21:25-28 NKJV (bold mine)
Luke 21:27 records Jesus making this same point. His second coming will not be like His birth, that most people missed. It will be a glorious event!
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
- Revelation 1:7 NKJV
John describes the second coming of Jesus using similar words and adds that this time every eye shall see Him. He also adds an interesting line, “And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.”
John is the last living disciple and he is writing from the island of Patmos, where he was exiled. He writes to the early church who is being persecuted and he encourages them, that even though people are putting their lives on the line when they choose to follow Jesus it is worth it because He is coming again and there will be a reversal. When Jesus comes, it is those who are in power, those who are persecuting the followers of Jesus who will mourn.
The description of Jesus coming in the clouds probably also brought up in the mind of Jesus’ followers the prophecy found in Daniel 7.
13 “I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
- Daniel 7:13-14 NKJV (bold mine)
Matthew 24 records Jesus using similar language while describing His second coming to His disciples.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
- Matthew 24:30-31NKJV (bold mine)
Jesus’ assertion that He would come again in the clouds with great power contributed to Him being sentenced to death.
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do you think?”
They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
- Matthew 26:64-66 NKJV (bold mine)
The second coming of Jesus is not a new teaching. It is not a small detail, it is the culmination of the plan of salvation! If I share with you how God created the world (God with us part 1), and about how God became flesh and dwelt among us and died for us and was raised again from the dead (God with us part 2), I should not avoid talking about the second coming of Jesus in the clouds with great power and glory.
Judgment As a Christ follower living in the United States, I must admit it is quite comfortable to be a Christian. Sure there are inconveniences, but nobody is trying to kill me. Following Jesus does not mean putting my life on the line. And I wonder if this is the reason why so many, at least in the western world, seem to avoid talking about the second coming of Jesus. When you are being persecuted and have to rely on God to provide for you every day of your life you long for Him to come soon. But what happens when you’re living comfortably and it feels like you don’t need God all that much?
What happens when you have a comfortable place to live, access to plenty of food and quality health care? Suddenly the second coming of Jesus is not as important. Sure He will come someday in the future, around the time of the end of the world, but we don’t have to worry about it now. So the second coming of Jesus, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, coming in the clouds with great power and glory becomes the apocalypse, a scary event in the distant future that we do not talk about.
We read the gospels but skip the parts like Matthew 24-25, and especially portions like Matthew 25:31-32.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
- Matthew 25:31-32 NKJV
We become comfortable with baby Jesus born in a manger. We like Jesus meek and mild. We weep at the thought of Him dying on the cross for our sins. But why do we shy away from talking about Jesus coming in His glory to judge the nations? Does it make us uncomfortable? Why would the second coming of Jesus make us uncomfortable?
Jesus gives us salvation as a gift. We do not have to earn it or work for it. We should not be afraid of His judgment. But life looks different in light of the second coming does it not? The imminence of the second coming of Jesus readjusts our priorities.
Let me put it a little differently. When you look at your life, what you consider a success and a failure change depending on your views regarding the second coming of Jesus. When you plan for the future, what you emphasize and where you invest your time and effort change depending on your views regarding the second coming of Jesus.
I want to be very clear about this. Please read carefully. I am not saying “panic and head for the hills.” I am not saying “become a monk and move to the mountains.” I am not saying do more good deeds because Santa Clause is coming to town and you don’t want to receive a lump of coal instead of the gift from your wishlist.
What I am saying is that Jesus is coming soon, and you should organize your life accordingly. This means being intentional about being about the Master’s business. (For more see my series on the Parable of the Talents)
I am not telling you to focus on yourself. Attempts to save yourself will fail because they spring from a selfish heart. Salvation is not about just saying the name of Jesus. Spiritual abuse is a real thing. Much harm has been done by those in power who claimed to be doing so in the name of Jesus.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
- Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
What I am telling you is to live your life focused on those you can help. Minister to others not out of a desire to save yourself, but out of love for the other.
In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus illustrates the final judgment as Him separating the sheep from the goats. At first glance, it seems like the judgment is based on actions or behavior. The difference between the sheep and the goats seems to be based on how they treated those in need. This would indicate that salvation is based on works and good deeds earn you eternal life. But a more careful reading of the text reveals that salvation is not based on the actions but rather on the heart. The behavior only revealed the condition of the heart.
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
- Matthew 25:37-40 NKJV
Based on these verses, the righteous are surprised by Jesus’ claim regarding how they lived their lives. This means that the righteous were not aware they were “doing the things” they needed to do in order to be saved. If salvation was by works, the doers of the work would have been doing good deeds intentionally hoping to receive a reward. But when they are surprised by the reward it reveals they were simply living their lives, not expecting a reward, but simply doing what they felt like doing. They fed the hungry because their hearts had been softened by the presence of Jesus. They gave drinks to the thirsty because it gave them joy to be able to do something for someone else who was in need. They helped strangers and clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited those in prison because it felt like the right thing to do. The righteous did good deeds not to earn their salvation, but because they were saved. They lived as Jesus lived. Helping those in need felt right, it was worthwhile for them.
PrioritiesI don’t want you to live your life afraid of the judgment. I don’t want you to have nightmares about the apocalypse. I want you to live a life of adventure and service because when you realize what God has done for you you experience a desire to discover what you can do for others. I want you to live an exciting and challenging life shaped by mission, by a desire to serve, to share the good news, and to introduce others to the God who has loved them all along.
What is God calling you to do?This is not about earning your salvation, but about living out your life as one who is saved. Life is about living out of the overflow of what God does for you. Life is about receiving blessings from God and becoming a blessing to others.
Service begins in the home, to those closest to you, and from the home, it spreads outward to those around you. We serve those closest to us, then our neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and on and on serving and helping as many as God calls us to serve.
None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something.
What is God calling you to do?
Who will you serve this week? This Month? This year?
Prayerfully consider this, and put it into action. Jesus is coming soon, and there is a world that is dying in desperate need of the gospel, and of help, and of love.
In my previous post (God With Us - Part 1) I described how God wants has made His desire to spend time with us clear from the very beginning. In this post I will study how the birth of Jesus reinforces the Bible’s teaching that God desires to be with us.
““Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.””
— Matthew 1:23 NKJVThe Word Became Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 1:1-5, 14 NKJV
The incarnation is a profound mystery that I believe we will study and marvel at for all eternity. I will avoid speculating on details the Bible does not reveal and will instead focus on what the Bible does tell me.
Jesus as IsraelThe trajectory of Jesus’ earthly ministry mirrors the experience of the children of Israel. I had not noticed this until a friend of mine pointed it out to me. But once I saw it it was so obvious I was surprised I had never noticed it before.
- Jesus comes from Abraham (and David) (Matthew 1:1), and the Israelites are the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 46:2-3; Deuteronomy 1:8).
- Joseph had dreams (Genesis 37:6-7, 9) and Joseph was told in a vision to marry Mary (Matthew 1:19-20), to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13), and to come back to Israel (Matthew 2:19-20).
- Israel goes to Egypt (Genesis 47:27) and Jesus went to Egypt (Matthew 2:14-15).
- Israel was baptized and then went into the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus was baptized and went into the wilderness for 40 days. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Exodus 14; Numbers 14:33-34; Matthew 3:13-4:2)
- God gave Israel the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) Jesus expounded on the ten commandments (Matthew 5:21-32)
Jesus is Israel, but He succeeded where they failed.
Jesus is also all of us, but successful where we fail.
Jesus understandsDo you ever wonder about the different reasons that caused Jesus to want to come to earth as a human baby?
1 Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
- Isaiah 53:1-5 NKJV
Do you ever wonder why Jesus chose to come and live as one of us and to suffer as a human being?
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
- Hebrews 2:17-18 NKJV (bold mine)14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV (bold mine)
What does it mean to you that Jesus suffered so He can identify with you? Let’s review some of the things Jesus experienced when He chose to set aside His divinity to walk on earth as one of us.
- Born of an unwed mother (Luke 2:5-7)
- Had no earthly father (Matthew 1:18-20)
- Was a refugee (Matthew 2:13-15)
- Struggled to surrender His will to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:39)
- Abandoned by those closest to Him (Matthew 26:56)
- Betrayed by a kiss, (Matthew 26:47-50)
- Sold for the price of a slave (Matthew 26:14-16)
-
Stripped naked, physically, verbally, and mentally abused by men in power over Him who should have been protecting Him and supporting Him.(Matthew 27:27-31; 26:57-68)
- Shamed, humiliated, and embarrassed by those same people.
- TEMPTED to numb His pain when His situation seemed to be hopeless and useless. (Matthew 27:34 See footnote 1)
- Difficulty breathing (assumed based on what we know about crucifixion see footnote 2)
- Crying out “My God, My God, WHY have You forsaken ME?” (Matthew 27:46)
- Being unfairly, unjustly accused, arrested, convicted, and murdered (Matthew 26:55; 59-60; 27:15-26, 35)
- Suffering and dying for our sin, shame, guilt, and regret (1 Peter 2:24; 3:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:5)
- A Man of grief and sorrow (Isaiah 53:3)
The Heart of GodWhat is God like?
You are probably tempted to answer in philosophical and theological terms. Aristotle referred to God not as the gods of Greek mythology but rather as an unmoved mover.
Both Christians and non-Christians have approached God through philosophical reasoning. This approach develops a definition of God, often abstract and vague, which is focused on his transcendence (“an inscrutable power”), perfection (“the highest of all beings”), or absoluteness (cf. Anselm). In extreme instances these descriptions of the divine may stand in hostility against revelation, or only tolerate the biblical God with the greatest difficulty.
- Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 424.
What if instead of philosophical and theological definitions and fancy terms we look at Jesus?
What do we learn about God by observing how Jesus lived while here on earth?
I am not downplaying the philosophical definitions necessarily, but sometimes the idea of God can live in our heads and fail to impact our lives. I like tangible things, practical, and implementable.
Consider this
12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
- Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV
Lucifer wanted to make himself great, he wanted to exalt his throne above the stars of God, to sit on the farthest sides of the north. Lucifer wished to ascend above the rights of the clouds, he wanted to be like the Most High. Lucifer saw God as high and lifted up (Isaiah 57:15) and desired to be like God, he wanted to be above everyone else. When we think about God we think of infinite power, immortal, omniscient, omnipresent, etc. Yet God chose to reveal Himself by being born as a baby in a manger.
While Lucifer wanted to climb up to be like God. God freely chose to come down to reveal Himself to His creatures, to serve and to die for His creatures.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV (bold mine)
Lucifer, wanting to make himself God wanted more power, wanted to climb up. Jesus, being God, freely chose to set aside His power, to come down, to minister to His rebellious creation, us. To serve, heal, teach and save us.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8 NKJV
When we strive for power and control over others it is not the example of God we are following. Power and leadership are fine if the goal is to serve those you lead, and to minister to those in your sphere of influence. But if what you are seeking is simply power for the sake of power, climbing because you want more, you need to re-evaluate your motives.
The birth of Jesus reveals to us the heart of God. God desires to save. Yes God is powerful, more powerful than anything that exists. Our minds can’t grasp who God is, so God freely chose to humble Himself so that we might catch a glimpse of His character.
Jesus was born as a baby and went through life as one of us, with our human limitations, experiencing our emotions, so that He could be our advocate. He died for us so that He could be our Savior. He loved us, so that we could love Him back and love one another, and experience a foretaste of what His kingdom is like.
When I think about God, along with all the philosophical and theological definitions I also add His great desire to save us. Jesus is also called Emanuel which means God with us.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
- 1 Tim 3:16 NKJV
Jesus is worthy of all our worship and praise not only because He is our God and our Creator but also because of His great love for us and for His sacrifice for us.
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
- Revelation 5 NKJV
And that is the God we worship!
Now I ask this question:
Is Jesus worthy of your love? Of your devotion? Of your obedience?
What else could He have done for you? Can there be any doubt of God’s great desire to be with you? The only question that remains is whether or not you wish to be with God.
Do you? Do you want to invite Jesus into your heart? Or maybe renew your commitment to Him?
Don’t let anything keep you from fully surrendering to Jesus. Do it now. Just pray to Him and invite Him into your heart.
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Footnotes:
1- Wine mixed with gall was probably a pain-killing narcotic (b. Sanh. 43a), though just possibly a poison. Either way, the potion was probably intended to ease Jesus’ misery, though some have seen it as additional torture. But Jesus refuses to decrease his suffering or to lose consciousness of his surroundings (v. 34). (Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 416.)
2 - Normally, to breathe in, the diaphragm (the large muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity) must move down. This enlarges the chest cavity and air automatically moves into the lungs (inhalation). To exhale, the diaphragm rises up, which compresses the air in the lungs and forces the air out (exhalation). As Jesus hangs on the cross, the weight of His body pulls down on the diaphragm and the air moves into His lungs and remains there. Jesus must push up on His nailed feet (causing more pain) to exhale.
In order to speak, air must pass over the vocal cords during exhalation. The Gospels note that Jesus spoke seven times from the cross. It is amazing that despite His pain, He pushes up to say “Forgive them” (Luke 23:34).
The difficulty surrounding exhalation leads to a slow form of suffocation. Carbon dioxide builds up in the blood, resulting in a high level of carbonic acid in the blood. The body responds instinctively, triggering the desire to breathe. At the same time, the heart beats faster to circulate available oxygen. The decreased oxygen (due to the difficulty in exhaling) causes damage to the tissues and the capillaries begin leaking watery fluid from the blood into the tissues. This results in a build-up of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) and lungs (pleural effusion). The collapsing lungs, failing heart, dehydration, and the inability to get sufficient oxygen to the tissues essentially suffocate the victim.5 The decreased oxygen also damages the heart itself (myocardial infarction) which leads to cardiac arrest. In severe cases of cardiac stress, the heart can even burst, a process known as cardiac rupture.6 Jesus most likely died of a heart attack. (https://www.apu.edu/articles/the-science-of-the-crucifixion/)
Before Jesus was born as a baby there was already evidence of God’s desire to be with us.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
A vision of glory
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.And one cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
- Isaiah 6:1-4 NKJV
Isaiah receives a special revelation from God. He catches a glimpse of the glory of God! What Isaiah sees is so awesome he struggles to put it into words. But one thing is for sure, God is supreme and in control.
When perils encompass God’s people and the powers of darkness seem about to prevail, God calls them to look up to Him, seated upon His throne and directing in the affairs of heaven and earth, in order that they may take hope and courage.
- Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1977), 128.
Isaiah does not record what exactly God looked like, there’s no mention of God’s nose, eyes, or hair. All we know is that God was high and lifted up, and the hem of His royal robes fill the entire heavenly palace-temple. Also, God is not there alone. There are two winged, bright beings (seraphim literally means burning ones) praising God, and they are praising God with so much force and enthusiasm that the posts of the door were shaken and the whole place is filled with smoke.
Isaiah then proceeded to tell the angels that they were singing too loud, that there was too much smoke, and that their praise was too repetitive.
I’m just kidding, that’s what many of us might be tempted to say, but Isaiah was too caught up in the moment, the glory of the divine majesty caused him to fear for his life.
Cultural imagery and religious platitudes about God were suddenly overpowered by the reality of the overwhelming experience of his awesome presence.
- Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1–39, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, The New American Commentary (Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2007), 192.
We think we know God, but we really have no idea. We think we know power, glory, and majesty, but we have no idea. Because of our human limitations we make God small enough to imagine, to wrap our minds around, but we have no idea. That is why we are so proud, we have no idea how small, sinful and insignificant we truly are.
Woe is me
So I said:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.”
- Isaiah 6:5 NKJV
Seeing all this, Isaiah immediately becomes aware of his own unworthiness and of his need for atonement. In the presence of God’s holiness Isaiah was struck by his own impurity and the uncleanness of the nation of Judah.
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said:
“Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.”
- Isaiah 6:6-7 NKJV
I love how Gary V. Smith has to say regarding these verses.
God did not want Isaiah to misunderstand what was happening, so a clear explanation was provided to interpret the symbolic action. The removal of guilt indicates that the consequent punishment will not be exacted from Isaiah. This guilt can no longer keep Isaiah from God’s presence. The atonement means that God’s wrath and the sin that motivated it were satisfied and taken away, making renewed fellowship possible. Sin no longer separated God and Isaiah (cf. 59:1–2). Isaiah’s experience illustrates how any believer can identify sin (have a clear vision of the holiness of God), how everyone should respond when sin is recognized (admit it), and how God deals with confessed sin (he removes it). People who presume upon God’s mercy because of their supposed goodness will fail to receive his forgiveness, but those who perceive the holiness of God will quickly acknowledge their great guilt and experience his atoning love.
- Gary V. Smith, 193.
God revealed Himself to Isaiah, and when Isaiah beheld God he learned more about himself and about God. Though Isaiah was a person especially chosen by God to be His messenger, it did not mean that Isaiah could stand as he was in the presence of God. Isaiah was still a human being similar to all of us. However, God is not in the business of destroying humans but rather of saving them. God has an altar in place and a sacrifice that will cleanse all who desire to be cleansed. Isaiah did not have to offer the sacrifice, Isaiah simply received the forgiveness, he was cleansed and saved by grace. God had all of that taken care of while Isaiah stood there fearing for his life.
Here I am, send me!
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
- Isaiah 6:8 NKJV
The moment Isaiah is cleansed by the live coal form the altar he is able to hear God’s voice. God is asking a question, God is looking for someone to send, someone to go for Him. God, in His throne and full of power and glory and majesty, completely self sufficient, chooses to involve others in His plans to save humanity. God desires to partner with us, and asks who is wiling to go for Him?
I imagine Isaiah jumping and waving his hands saying “here I am, send me!”
Isaiah did not know the nature of the mission God had designed for his emissary, the length of the responsibility, where this person must go, the content of the message, or the difficulty of the task that must be accomplished. Nevertheless, Isaiah immediately volunteered to go. He did not make excuses like Moses or Jeremiah (Exod 3:11; 4:1, 10; Jer 1:6) but gladly volunteered to serve God. From this example one might propose the theological principle that the clarity and reality of a person’s vision of the holiness and glory of the majestic King of Kings is directly related to the clarity of a person’s sense of call and their willingness to humbly submit and serve God in whatever capacity he desires.
- Gary V. Smith, 194. (bold mine)
Isaiah had seen God in His glory and was excited to be a part of what God was doing. Perhaps we hesitate to share the good news because we have yet to fully grasp who it is that is sending us. We fail to comprehend God’s power and glory and so we become timid about our mission. We fail to grasp God’s love and power and we become selfish and proud.
Adjusting ExpectationsSince God is seated on His throne high and lifter up, with perfect power, does that mean that our task will be an easy one?
Will Isaiah’s job be easy?
No.
Isaiah 6:9-13 is a really challenging passage, it is disheartening. God tells Isaiah that his ministry of proclaiming God’s message will not have the effect he expects. Everyone who hears his message will have the opportunity to turn to God and receive salvation, but most will reject it.
Jesus quotes portions of Isaiah in His ministry when He explains to His disciples how He will be rejected and killed by His own people.
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
- John 12:37-41 NKJV
Paul also quoted this portion of Isaiah when he met with the Jewish leaders.
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,
‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
- Acts 28:23-29 NKJV
It is important for us to know that understanding the gospel does not come merely from hearing it, it comes from putting it into practice.
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.- John 7:16-17 NKJV
I like the way A. R. Fausset puts it.
Light enough is given in Revelation to guide those sincerely seeking to know, in order that they may do, God’s will; darkness enough is left to confound the wilfully blind.
- A. R. Fausset, A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Job–Isaiah, vol. III (London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited, n.d.), 583.
If you are seeking God and putting into action what you are learning you will continue to understand and learn more each day. However, if you have decided to reject God, no amount of evidence will change your mind.
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
- Matthew 13:10-16 NKJV
Paul describes it as people willfully rejecting the truths God has revealed to them, and God allowing them to pursue their preferred path.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
- Romans 1:18, 19, 28 NKJV
The same evidence that causes those who are honestly seeking God to believe, causes those who have rejected God to double down in their rejection, essentially hardening their own hearts.
45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.
- John 11:45-45 NKJV10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
- John 12:10 NKJV
Lazarus’ resurrection should have been evidence enough for everyone to believe, but some would rather kill Lazarus than believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus knew this and talked about it when he told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
- Luke 16:31 NKJV
“In the days of Isaiah it was not the Lord who blinded the eyes of the people or made their heart heavy; they brought this condition upon themselves by their rejection of the warnings God sent them. With each rejection of truth the heart becomes harder and the spiritual perceptions more dull, until at length there is utter inability to perceive spiritual things. God takes no delight in the death of the wicked, and does everything possible to turn them from their evil ways, in order that they might live and not die (Eze. 18:23–32; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).” (Francis D. Nichol, 129.)
I’ll post the above biblical references here to make it more accessible for you.
23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28 Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”
- Ezekiel 18:23-32 NKJV11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
- Ezekiel 33:11 NKJVFor this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
- 1 Timothy 2:3-6 NKJVThe Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
The Bible is clear that God desires to save us. Jesus on the cross at calvary is the ultimate demonstration of how far God is willing to go to save us.
Pray. Show Up. Don’t Give Up.Like Isaiah, I hope you are wiling to say to God, here I am, send me!
Pray and ask God, what is it that He would hav you do?
What are your gifts, and how can you put them to work for God’s honor and glory?
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see the results you expect immediately. Keep going knowing you are doing what God has called you to do. As you show up and refuse to give up you will continually learn, gain experience, improve, and become stronger.
So let’s keep it simple.
Pray.
Show Up.
Don’t Give Up.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
For a blog post that accompanies this post check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
Special thanks to Ryan Bell for the music.
I grew up in these parts. I have seen it all in this marketplace. Jerusalem is definitely an interesting place to live. But I want to tell you about something that happened recently, right around these parts. It is the story of a man, but not just any man, someone special!
Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of people claiming to be the messiah, the savior! They come around, gather a following, eventually make an attempt on some high-ranking Roman officer and end up killed on the spot or worse, crucified later on.
Some of us would even make bets on how long these self-proclaimed messiahs would last before being crushed by Rome. But Jesus was different. For one thing, He did not have the right approach. I mean, He had a different approach from all the other insurrectionists. He did not approach the rich and powerful for support, actually, He spent most of his time with the wrong crowd. The regular people, children, women, tax collectors, people of ill repute, and sinners in general. I even heard that He talked to Samaritans!
This was no way to start a revolution, if that was what He meant to do, He sure was going about it the wrong way. As a matter of fact, not only did He not try to gain the support of those in power, He was often attacked by our religious leaders. Also, as awful, oppressive, and debauched as the Roman government is Jesus never riled the crowd to rebel. Actually, I don’t remember Jesus talking about the evils of the Roman government a single time. I mean, if you want to get a crowd excited and if you want to gain followers all you have to do is talk about how terrible the Romans are.
Jesus seemed more concerned about the weak, the oppressed, and the outcasts. Jesus dedicated His time to healing, to alleviating the suffering of those around Him, He even touched lepers, and wasted His precious time blessing children.
Like I said earlier, Jesus never did anything to gain political or even religious power. It was so odd, He has no material wealth, He did not come from a powerful family, He was from Nazareth! Nazareth! Until I met Him I would have said that nothing good ever came out of Nazareth.
Yet, when He spoke, He spoke with authority. No one dared question Him. A few religious leaders tried to trap Him and to argue with Him, but it was no use, Jesus could not be trapped. It was so refreshing to see a leader who was unafraid, who was original, authentic, and fearless. Yet He was kind, loving, and gentle. I would have never believed that someone like that could lead anyone. How could a lead be meek and mild? I can’t explain it. People followed Him because they loved Him. Because they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He loved them.
Not too long ago something unexpected happened. The feast of Passover was approaching and Jesus came to Jerusalem, except this time He came in riding on a donkey. But that’s not the unexpected part, the reaction of the city is what I did not expect. People began to gather and soon a crowd had formed, and most of the crowd took off their cloaks and spread them before Jesus. Others cut palm branches and spread them on the road. Many of them went before Him and others followed Him shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Jesus had not asked for this. His own disciples did not begin this. It all began naturally, like it was the right thing to do. I couldn’t help myself. I joined the crowd too. I left my business because I wanted to greet Jesus and spread my cloak before Him and shout Hosanna! I don’t know exactly what got over me. But it felt so right. I was so happy to be there with the crowd. It felt like my heart was about to burst! I was full of hope, full of joy! Finally, a leader that I could trust. Finally, someOne who was different. He was honest, kind, wise, and trustworthy, and He actually cared about the people. Jesus was a leader that I would gladly follow. For the first time ever in my life, I was ready to take on the Roman army. If Jesus was really the Messiah, and if He was going to lead Israel to glorious victory and rule the world in a kingdom of peace, I was willing to die for that dream.
That was a glorious day! Jesus even went into the temple “and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
That was what we needed, it was what we wanted. Children were singing praises to God, and the religious tried to rebuke Jesus but were powerless. The prophecy was being fulfilled. This was it. I was sure of it, this was the beginning of the revolution!
But at the height of His support and with all the momentum He had picked up Jesus just left for Bethany. I was expecting Him to make His big political move or to get weapons and strike before the Romans had a chance to stop Him.
Surely Jesus was just waiting for word to spread, surely the next day He would make His big move!
But He didn’t.
Jesus never began a revolt against the Romans.
Instead, Jesus had dinner with His disciples. And that was an odd dinner. I heard that He washed the feet of His disciples! I know, weird right? I mean who does that? How was Jesus supposed to lead if He was serving those He was leading?
Sometimes I felt like Jesus was the wisest man that ever lived, other times I wondered if He had any sense. Did He not know that His disciples should have been the ones to wash His feet?
Then He talked about death, and his body being bread, and grape juice being His blood. It was like He stopped making sense. It was around this time that Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples left. I was sitting by my window and saw him run off by himself. I thought it was odd. But that was the beginning of an unexpected turn of events.
It was no secret that Jesus had enemies. Those in power did not like Him. But they could never stop Him because Jesus did nothing wrong, and He was loved by the people. So the Romans and the Jews had nothing on Him. But that did not stop them. Not that fateful night.
Judas had made a deal with “the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders,” and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. I mean, I have been betrayed by friends, but being backstabbed by someone who is close enough to you to kiss you is the worst. You never forget that. I can’t imagine how Jesus must have felt.
Jesus’ disciples were ready to fight. But Jesus asked them not to. One of them, probably Peter, that guy is so intense, even struck the servant of the high priest. That servant must have pretty good reflexes since he managed to keep his head. He did lose an ear. But here’s the crazy thing, Jesus healed him! As I said earlier, it’s like Jesus doesn’t know how battle works. You don’t win a battle by healing your opponent!
Jesus could be so frustrating. It’s like He refused to do things the way we expect Him to. The way that makes sense. It’s like He is a part of a different kingdom, a backward kingdom. Where you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. A kingdom where the leader serves his followers, and women and children are valued and respected. Jesus was so confusing!
After this Jesus’ disciples dispersed. I mean who can blame them. What were they supposed to do when Jesus refused to fight and simply allows Himself to be taken prisoner. What are they supposed to do when they fight for Jesus but Jesus rebukes them and heals the very ones that were hurt by Jesus’ followers. It was like Jesus was opposed to what His followers were doing, even though His followers were doing it to protect Him. Jesus rebuked Peter who had hurt a man, even though Peter only hurt that man to protect Jesus. It was like Jesus did not need protection from Peter.
If Jesus was able to walk on water, turn water into grape juice, and heal the blind and the lame if He was indeed the Messiah, then why was He not behaving like we expected the Messiah to behave?
How are we supposed to trust Jesus when He does not behave as we expect Him to?
If He was not going to fight, how was He going to establish His kingdom? How would He save those who were being oppressed if he was not going to pick up a sword or let His followers pick up the sword in His defense?
Was Jesus hoping to win by dying?
How would that help anyone?
When I found out that Jesus had been taken, I was worried. But as I heard more details and found out that Jesus had not put up a fight but surrendered peacefully I was angry. I had been so sure that He was the Messiah, that He would be the One to save us and to establish a global kingdom of peace. I was ready to fight and die for Him. But when He was taken without a fight I was confused, I was disappointed, I was angry.
I was angry at Jesus for not doing what He was supposed to do. I should say, for not doing what I expected Him to do. I felt betrayed by Jesus. This was not how it was supposed to happen. I had waited my whole life for the Messiah. The world was so bad, there was so much suffering, so much wickedness, and evil, and Jesus was just going to give up without a fight?
Who was going to overthrow the Romans?
Who was going to lead Israel to victory?
Who was going to fight for us and put an end to our suffering?
I am not proud of this, but I must admit, that my anger gave space to rage, and I said things I should never have said.
At one point Pilate, the Roman prefect (governor) of Judaea, was willing to let Jesus go. But the crowd yelled for Jesus to be crucified. I yelled it too. I’ll regret it to the end of my life, but I did. All because Jesus did not behave like I had expected Him to. When Jesus failed to live up to my expectations I stopped believing in Him, not only that I began to hate Him, and I wanted Him dead.
I hate to admit it. But because of my personal pain, I felt abandoned by God. I felt betrayed by Jesus, and I wanted Him dead. I wanted God dead. If God was not going to save us from the Romans. If God was not going to put an end to the suffering then I did not want anything to do with God. If God was not going to start a physical and violent revolution, then I didn’t want any part of it.
Jesus was crucified. Just like we had asked. The crowd that earlier had shouted Hosannah now shouted crucify Him.
At that moment, seeing Jesus on the cross, and noticing how dark it got, as if nature itself covered its face in mourning, I realized what was happening.
Suddenly I remember the words John the Baptist had spoken concerning Jesus.
Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
It hit me. I finally got it. The sacrifices that I grew up offering. The innocent lamb had to die because of my sins.
Jesus was not dying on the cross because He was afraid to act, not because He was powerless, not because He was guilty, not because He was afraid or unable to fight and win, but because someOne had to die in my place, for my sins.
God had sent His Son to die in my place.
The God that I had cursed, the Jesus that I had shouted to be crucified, loved me far more than I could ever love Him. Loved me far more than I had ever loved anyone or anything in my entire life.
Here I was a nobody. Angry God for not saving me, all the while God was sacrificing His all for me. Jesus laid down His life, for me.
God sent His son, for me.
I got to my knees at that point, and I cried. The whole world, all of nature seemed to mourn the death of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Jesus had lived a perfect life, a life of service and love. And I had turned my back on Him in His greatest hour of need.
That Sabbath was one of deep reflection. I confessed my sins and reconsecrated my life to God. Jesus may have been crucified, but I was alive and I wanted to live for God. I knew I was not Jesus, but I wanted to live as He did. I wanted to help alleviate the suffering of those around me, to the best of my abilities.
The next day unbelievable news began to circulate all over Jerusalem. Nobody could believe it, but as we went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid to rest we saw that it was empty!
Death could not hold Jesus.
Jesus was alive!
It was hard to believe at first, but eventually, I got a chance to Him with my own eyes. I knew it was Jesus because He had the scars of the nails on His hands. I saw Jesus rising up and being covered by the clouds. But that was not the end of it. After Jesus was caught up in the clouds and we could not see Him anymore there were these two men wearing the whitest clothes I have ever seen in my life, and they told us that Jesus would come again, the same way we saw Him go up!
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for Jesus to come again.
I don’t know when He will come, but I will be waiting for Him every day, and as I wait I will continue to tell everyone His story and live my life like He lived His, helping others.
What about you?
Do you want Jesus to come again soon?
Do you want to follow Him as well?
We can talk to Him right now, I’ll show you how.
If you want to follow Him and accept His sacrifice for you. If you want to be ready when He comes again we can pray to Him together.
“Dear Jesus, thank you so much for your infinite love and your great sacrifice. We want to invite you into our hearts. Please forgive our sins. Please save us. And Lord, as we wait for your soon return, please cause us to live our lives as you lived yours.”
We love you Jesus,
Amen.
If you would like to learn more about Jesus just reach out to me. I would love to teach you all that I know.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Throughout history God’s people have made sacrifices for their faith. Are we the first generation that does need to make any type of sacrifice or have we been watering down biblical truth?
This is a ministry of the Park Avenue SDA Church parkavechurch.net/
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Wendy Williams felt impressed to do something about human trafficking, especially how it affects children. In this episode I interview her and we talk about not only human trafficking but also the challenges of writing a children’s book that deals with a subject matter that makes many incredibly uncomfortable.
Order “They Called Us Baby” here
Check out my blog PrMarlon.com
This is the last episode of my Talents series.
For the entire Talents series check out https://prmarlon.com/talents
For more check out https://prmarlon.com/
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
to go directly to my Talents Series go to https://prmarlon.com/talents
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
Special thanks to Ryan Bell for the music used in this episode.
Maybe you don’t feel qualified for the adventure God is calling you to. But He is the One who qualifies those He calls.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is part of my talents series, for the text this episode is based on and other episodes check out my blog https://prmarlon.com/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This is the second of a series of short devotionals on chapter 25 of the book Christ's Object Lessons which dives deep into the Parable of the Talents told by Jesus and recorded on Matthew 25:13-30.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This is the first of a series of short devotionals on chapter 25 of the book Christ's Object Lessons which dives deep into the Parable of the Talents told by Jesus and recorded on Matthew 25:13-30.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
https://prmarlon.com/blog-2/the-depressed-prophet
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Becoming Elijah series
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Cloverdale.org
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
For more on this episode check out my blog PrMarlon.com
Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
The audio gets better as the episode progresses. My wife and I recorded this Saturday night, after putting our kids to bed and we were essentially inside our closet. I hope you find this helpful and I would love to hear your thoughts on the topics we discussed or suggestions for future topics for discussions like this.
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is brought to you by The Love Potluck. The Love Potluck is a virtual speed dating platform for Adventist singles.
Everyone knows it can be hard to meet people in the church in a pre-pandemic world, now with COVID it can feel next to impossible. The people at The Love Potluck are passionate about creating a space for singles to make friendly, non-awkward connections even in our crazy world.
So check them out at TheLovePotluck.com
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is brought to you by https://www.thelovepotluck.com/
Please leave me some feedback on my blog PrMarlon.com and let me know if you find this type of content meaningful.
Also this post is like a part two to Who I am
Check out our sponsor for this episode at https://www.thelovepotluck.com/
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
This episode is not a sermon, not a devotional talk, it’s just me talking about my life. If you find this meaningful please check out my blog and leave me some feedback. PrMarlon.com
I mention Chris Vogel on this episode and if would like to check out his YouTube channel here it is.
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Celebrating my 13th wedding anniversary I wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate my beautiful wife.
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
“If we would just learn to listen, God's created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust.”
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
”like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people." - Matthew 20:28 Good News Translation
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
When the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, life will bear witness to the fact. How it happens and when exactly it happens may be a mystery, but that fact that is has happened is not.
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
- John 3:8 NKJV
Let’s be clear here, we cannot do anything to change our hearts on our own. Whenever we try to bring ourselves into harmony with God by our own strength we are bound to fail. We can never trust ourselves or our good works to earn any merit with God. However, if we have the grace of God dwelling within us our lives will reveal this reality. Our habits, values, character, pursuits, etc. will change. I know many get discouraged by the occasional stumble in their spiritual walk, but we should focus on the tendency of the habitual words and acts. Occasional good or bad deeds do not carry as much weight.
This is a tricky topic because men and women who desire power and influence can live “good” lives. It’s all out of a selfish desire but they live what many consider to be a well-ordered life.
So how can you know? The best way I can think of it to pay careful attention to Who has your heart. Who do you think about often? Who do you love to talk about? Who has your warmest affections and your best energies? Do you long to have the love of Christ reflected in your life? Do you desire to please God from the bottom of your heart? Do you long to be full of the Holy Spirit?
Only you can answer these questions.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
- Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
- 1 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV
We love Him because He first loved us.
- 1 John 4:19 NKJV
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
- Hebrews 10:16 NKJV
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3 NKJV
He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:4 NKJV
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Finally, my wife and I agreed I ought to get a vasectomy. The first time I had scheduled the appointment I ended up canceling the day of. So this second time they made me pay a non-refundable $50 deposit. So we were sure, I was sure, I was going to get a vasectomy and the day after Valentine’s Day was as good as any.
When I had first come to see the urologist he had given me a prescription for pain medication and for a muscle relaxant that he recommended I take before coming to the surgery. I figured I was a tough guy and would not be taking any drugs just to “take the edge off” as the doctor had suggested.
Well, because I had canceled the previous time and took so long to re-schedule, I needed to have the prescription renewed. This time I went to the pharmacy and got my medications and went straight to the clinic. The urologist had told me he did vasectomies right there in his clinic, that it would be quick and I would be awake the whole time. So I arrived a few minutes early. I wanted to show I was serious and dedicated and was not backing down this time. Also, I guess I had forgotten how things are at the doctor’s office. I was scheduled for the last appointment of the day. So once I arrived at his office I had plenty of time to be nervous and wonder whether or not I should have taken the muscle relaxant, and to wonder whether this was the “edge” he wanted “taken off.”
While I anxiously sat in the waiting room the news was on, and even though I had a few articles I was reading on my phone I could not help but overhear some of the news. There was a news report about a college girl who went in to have her tonsils removed and, I didn’t hear all the details but, after she came home she ended up becoming blind. There was a clip of her walking with a stick and her parents saying how when she arrived home after the surgery “everything seemed fine but then…” The tv volume was low and people were talking and I did not know what happened exactly. All I heard was this college girl went in for a minor procedure and now she was blind.
Once again I wondered if I should have taken those muscle relaxants.
Then there was a news report about a lady who had died because she went to a hospital in Flint, Michigan, and caught legionnaires disease, apparently from the water.
Finally, when no one else was in the waiting room and I was trying to ignore those news stories as simply what news tends to be, a form of entertainment that has about as much practical connection to my life as Broadway musicals, a nurse calls me in with a smile.
It was a Monday and I had heard that Mondays are good days to have surgeries because on Mondays the doctors are fresh and well-rested. But it was already close to 5:00 PM and I was wishing we had scheduled it first thing in the morning and I, once again, wondered if this was the “edge” the muscle relaxant was supposed to have “taken off” if I had popped that pill before heading to the doctor’s office.
The nurse took me to a room that had an odd bed that I presumed to be the operating table. She asked me if I had brought the medication as they had requested and I handed her the bag. She took out the muscle relaxant and gave me two pills, which turned out to be the entire contents of the bottle. She also gave me one pill for the pain.
She pointed to the table, told me to undress from the waist down except for socks, and cover myself with a large square of paper. She left the room. I waited a bit, feeling awkward, and then checked the pill bottles to see what she had given me. The bottles had long names on them and reading them did not give me any clues about what I had just taken. I undressed, as asked, and laid down on the table. (I now know what I took because my wife read the bottles and told me)
The table was narrow and had little room for my arms. My legs rested on separate leg resting things? I’m not sure what they were but the table ended about where my behind was and there were these two flat parts that, I guess, could move. The part that held my left leg was doing a great job at holding my leg, the one that held my right leg had a bit of a give and with the weight of my leg, it would dip a bit. At first, it didn’t bother me, but as time went by, and it felt like an eternity, I almost got up to try to fix the table, but given my current state of undress I preferred not to move. That paper felt like it was about to blow away at any moment. Also, I felt a breeze, something I had not noticed while I still had pants on.
As I waited for the doctor and wondered about what pills I had taken and what affect they would have on me, I began to fear I would forget to ask him a list of questions that my wife, a registered nurse, had told me to make sure to ask. According to my wife, I’m not very good at asking questions, every time I talk to her after a doctor’s visit she has about 3,276 questions that I forgot to ask. So I rehearsed the questions on my mind and figured I should just type them on my phone, but no pants and my phone was on my pants’ pocket. So I figured I could write them on that paper blanked they had given me to cover up, but my pen was also in the pocket of my pants. I looked around myself in the room but there was nothing I could reach and use to write without getting up from my “bed.” So I waited, wondering if the medical staff had forgotten about me and left and maybe the janitor would find me and let the doctor know he had forgotten a patient lying half-naked on a table with a paper cover.
The same smiling nurse came back in and I was wondering where the doctor was, I had been practicing my questions and I feared engaging her in a conversation and forgetting the questions, I also feared of not talking to her and seeming rude. She told me the doctor was on his way which was good news, as she started getting things ready she asked me about my children and we talked about raising children, which was fine with me. She was walking about and getting things ready then she came and removed my paper cover and told me she had to prep me for the surgery. Now I don’t have anything against female nurses or women, but I must admit it was a bit awkward. She was very nice and professional, but she could not relate to me at all, no words of encouragement, no “I’ve been there man, it will be fine.” I guess this is the reason you don’t have a lot of male nurses in labor and delivery, I’m no expert, I’m not even familiar with the medical field and the ins and outs of staffing, but as a human being facing a new experience, a considerably stressful and perhaps even scary experience, it would have been nice to have someone who had gone through the experience and could help put me at ease.
As she walked around and wiped and moved and looked she stuck a rubber thing to my thighs with a very cold gelatinous adhesive, I didn’t know what this was or what it was for, but I did notice it had two wires coming out. I guess I could have asked her but, talking about raising children and trying to ignore the upcoming surgery seemed like a better tactic at the time. I was curious to see where the wires connected but she did not connect them to anything at the time, or it was hidden from my view. I did not want to sit up or look, I just kept staring at the ceiling and talking about raising children. Finally, she placed more papers around me and on me, and I began to wonder when the drugs were going to kick in. I am still not sure what “take off the edge” meant but I definitely did not feel at ease or relaxed. Perhaps without the muscle relaxant I would have been even more “edgy?”
Finally, the doctor walked in and suddenly the questions seemed irrelevant, but I had promised my wife I would ask, so I asked him several questions, the answer to which I promptly forgot.
The doctor came in and removed the covering paper, moved, felt, and pinched then took out a syringe. He told me it was to deaden the pain, and he said it would be similar to when a dentist applies anesthesia. Here is the thing though. I hate it when the dentist applies the anesthesia. I prefer when I get a shot, it’s quick. Even donating blood is less painful than when the dentist applies anesthesia, and the doctor’s description was right on. The needle goes in slowly and I definitely felt the pain. The doctor then has to massage the place so it spreads as opposed to just making a bubble in a single place. Just when the pain is fading and I am beginning to relax he tells me to let him know if anything hurts so he can add more.
That was not what I wanted to hear. Couldn’t he just add enough to make sure I would not feel anything all at once? He kept massaging and I guess he pinched and asked me if I felt anything and I said “no.” However soon after that I felt a sharp “cutting” pain, he said “OK” and I braced myself for the needle, but much to my relief there was no pain, and the doctor added more anesthetic. I am so glad I did not have to get stuck a second time as I had feared and anticipated. After a little while, there was some minor pain and he once again added more anesthesia and from that point on I finally felt like I could relax a bit. I had my arms crossed over my chest and had not realized how clinched and sweaty my fists had become. I definitely don’t think those muscle relaxants did much.
It was certainly an interesting experience, being awake while the doctor pokes and pulls and cuts, and sometimes sings along with the soft country music that was playing in the operating room. Country music, out of all the styles of music I have come to appreciate, country has taken the longest, I still don’t really enjoy it yet. I know random, but these were the things going through my mind, besides when would I feel pain again and have to ask the doc for more anesthesia.
Finally, the doctor announced he would have to cauterize. I continued to stare straight up the whole time and said “OK.” And that is when I felt the sharpest pain yet, just before I heard the sizzle. The doc stopped and once again added more of whatever was being used to take away the pain, he mentioned the name but I don’t remember what it was. After he injected the anesthetic, I only heard the sizzle and saw the little smoke come up. At least there was no smell and no pain. A few more pokes and snips and pulls and the doctor asked me if I wanted to see it.
“Sure,” I answered without taking time to think it through. So he lifted to my view what looked like a small, white, piece of cooked noodle. He announced he was about to cauterize again and I heard the sizzle once again, this time it lasted longer than all the previous times but he finally announced that he was done…
With that side.
THAT SIDE!! I had assumed he had already done both sides, all that had been just one side. Out came the syringe and once again I braced myself to a very slow insertion into a very sensitive part of my body. I must admit the work on the second side was less painful, and he had to add anesthesia fewer times, and none of the cauterizations hurt. When he finished the second side he announced he was going to give me one stitch. He said it was not really necessary but could help speed up the healing process so of course, I was all for it.
Then he announced he would do it on the side he first operated on, and that the anesthesia might’ve begun to wear off so I might feel a pinch. While I was asking myself why he had not just given me the stitch right when he had finished that side I felt a sting, and nothing more. It was not so bad, nowhere near as bad as the application of the anesthesia. When he stitched the other side I felt nothing at all.
He then told me to stand up and get dressed. He was there with he nurse and for a brief moment, I waited to see if they would leave the room for me to get dressed, and then I remembered they had been staring at me this whole time. The nurse had gotten the jockstrap I bought for this occasion out of the bag I had brought with me. I had never seen nor worn one before this experience, and my first impression was that it looked like something you would buy at an adult store. She helped put my feet through the proper holes then I got up and the doctor stuck a bunch of gauze in there and told me I was done.
As they removed the rubber thing from my thigh I asked him what it was for, and he told me it was to ground me. Ground me!? When was there any electricity involved? I asked him if it had been for the cauterizing. He said “yes,” apparently he wanted to avoid it going anywhere else. I’m not sure how, or what kinds of damage that would do, or how they came about realizing they needed to ground their patients, but I’m glad I had been grounded. I am also glad I was ignorant of that earlier, it would have been one more thing for me to be “on edge” about.
Then they both left me to put my pants and shoes back on. Gingerly I walked out to meet my wife and kids who were eagerly waiting to see me.
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church at Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
Want something else to look forward to on Fridays? check out Marlon’s Musings
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
This episode was recorded live at the Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
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There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
Check out our church’s website Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere
There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.com
This episode was recorded live at the Park Avenue SDA Church
The intro music is Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere