Month: April 2014

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Are We Looking?

ImageMark opened his gospel with these words “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” and ended with “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here.” Mark is saying to his readers, you began searching for the Messiah and now I tell you that this one who said that He was the very Son of God has proven it through his resurrection. The empty tomb is open for all to enter and to see with their earthly humanity that Jesus the Nazarene was and is and ever will be the very Son of God.

The women will be the first to be given the honor to know this news. The temple guards who fled know as well but will be bribed to keep silent. The chief priests hear this news but will add to their guilt heaping lies and deceit upon the charge of murder. The disciples will be the last to know for they are sequestered behind closed doors shaking in fear. It is the women alone who will boldly walk the quiet dim streets of Jerusalem wondering “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” It is the women who will enter the quiet garden and instead of a tomb darkened by death, see and hear from a heavenly messenger commissioned just for this purpose to tell any who would enter: “He is not here, He has risen just as He said.” Peter later would write that angels long to catch a glimpse of what God had not revealed until this very moment. They had waited through time unknown to us for such an event as this and as at the birth of Christ when the angelic choir sang Glory to God in the Highest we wonder if at the resurrection they added the words “Hallelujah.”

Beloved, Christ is not dead, He is risen just as He said. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Do you know this risen Christ as your own personal Savior?

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Father Forgive….

ImageMark carries us through the drama of the last day of our Savior and reveals to us each person who has the same opportunity we have: to accept or reject the King of the Jews as The Messiah. Open your ears to hear. Open your eyes to see, but mostly listen and look into your own heart. Then stop and ask yourself: did Jesus die a needless death or did he die for our sin?

The crowd had recently shouted Hosanna now jeer and the momentum has reached a crescendo as one by one they cry “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” The religious leaders lead the chant and seek not the release of one who is innocent but one who has a heart of murder as theirs—Barabbas. Interestingly his name literally means “son of the father.” Earlier Jesus had condemned the religious leaders: “You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires” [Joh 8:44] and now Jesus will show the reality of that prophecy. He will take the place of condemned Barabbas that he might be free and He will take your place that you might be free; free from sin. In the midst of all of this He will offer the sweetest prayer to heaven: Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.

Mark shows us the hearts of true followers. First there is Joseph of Arimathea who will step out of the shadows to boldly go to Pilate to request the body of Jesus seeking what only a family member had the right to do and yet Pilate would alter the rule that Jesus might fulfill: Isaiah 53: 9 “They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.” There is Nicodemus who joins him, according to John’s gospel, as well as the women who had faithfully ministered to Jesus in his lifetime along with one other—John, the beloved disciple. These will become the first witnesses to the truth: Jesus died on that cross and announced once and for all: It is finished! Sin has been conquered and the ransom paid.

The enemy, the father of lies, Satan himself, would have us think that Jesus did not die and yet the evidence reveals the truth. There is the centurion who proclaimed “Truly this man was God’s Son!” Later he will be called to affirm the death to Pilate while Joseph waits for permission to take down the body of Jesus. The religious leaders and false religions would say he just swooned or the body was stolen but these witnesses tell a different story. The list of witnesses includes the centurion, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, the women and John. All will die with this truth upon their lips: Jesus died that I might be free.

What does your heart affirm? Does it say: yes, Jesus died and paid my debt? Do you hear: Father forgive me for it was for my sin that Jesus died?

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I will NEVER! I WILL Forgive!

ImageHow quick are you and I to say “I will never do thus and so?” We can learn a mighty lesson from our beloved Peter who more than once has “opened mouth, inserted foot.” They say you can learn from another’s experiences so that you don’t need to do “another lap around the wilderness” but do we? Peter’s quick “NEVER” is a lesson in recognizing that there is but one step needed to rectify our standing with God. “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins.” [Psa 32:5] Wisdom lesson from Peter: true repentance is when you recognize your sin, have a teachable spirit and a humbleness to admit it. Wisdom lesson from Jesus: I am willing to forgive when one is truly repentant.

Jesus quoted Zech “you will all scatter” but our beloved Peter exclaimed: I will “never” forsake you and am willing to die for you. His word “NEVER” echoes across the Kidron Valley yet within a few short hours he will be found alone weeping bitterly in total repentance. He will weep for the words that are now etched in the scrolls of the sacred scripture: I do not know the man. Through this short vignette we also learn a more important lesson; when we are repentant God offers total and complete forgiveness as he did for Peter in John 21. He asked three times: Do you love me and three times Peter said yes. I love you more with a total commitment from this point forward until I meet you in eternity. That is true repentance. Jesus does not ask for a rehearsal of our sins; he knows them. What he is asking is where is your heart now?

Repentance frees us from our sin but remorse leaves us in bondage. Repentance comes from the heart but remorse is only surface deep. Peter is our example of one who was truly repentant and was restored to full fellowship. Judas is our example of one who was only remorseful and took his own life with no hope of eternity with the Savior.

Have you repented as Peter or are you still tracing the footprints of Judas? Will you take time now to weep and confess your sin to Jesus who gave his life on the cross paying your penalty and is willing to forgive totally and completely?

 

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“Be Alert!”

ImageIn today’s cyberworld we are cautioned by veteran spies to be ever alert to the scams that come across in emails, texts etc. In the time of Jesus He warned his disciples to “be alert,” be observant, be on guard, be vigilant to their world around them because soon their quiet time where they could sit and ask questions of the Master would come to a screeching halt. All of life would then become a world in which they must be on guard against those who would claim to be He but in fact were false. Today we live in a world that moves at “warp speed” with our texts, twitter, facebook posts. Our phones rarely ring but they warble with the vibration of a new text message or a new twitter, or a new post on facebook. We have alerts to scams, alerts to a missing person, alert phone numbers, and alert signs abound! Thus Jesus’ warning to “be alert” comes at a precipitous moment. But, how does one remain at alert 100% of the time? Here are some helpful hints:

Be in the mode of prayer: Mar 14:38 Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Be discerning: 1Pe 5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

Begin your day rightly: Isa 50:4 He wakes me up every morning; he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.

Why be alert? Rev 3:3 I will come like a thief, ITh 5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.

Today, be ever watchful for the Lord’s return. He has given us the signs that we might be aware but only the Father knows the time. Thus to be alert is to be vigilant and prepared lest He come and we are not involved in the task He has left: the gospel must be preached to all nations.

 

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The Widow’s Mite….

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After teaching a parable regarding the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, being tested by the Sadducees about the resurrection and an interchange between an expert in the Law who is found to not “be far from the kingdom of God,” Jesus takes time out and sits down. This is one of the few times we see Jesus taking time from his “duties” to sit and just observe and use the teachable moment for his disciples. He chooses his “people watching” space near the Treasury Box. As he observes he notes two categories of people who come to offer their tithe this Passover season and uses this opportunity to teach us all a principle of “heart giving.”

First to capture Jesus’ attention are the experts in the law who come in their long flowing robes and seeking elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogue and the places of honor at banquets. Jesus says they also devour widow’s property and make a show of long and supposedly devout prayers. Beware of them as their outward show will only earn them a severe punishment.

But then his attention is arrested when as he watches the crowd, one person stands out above the rest. She is a poor widow. How did he notice her? Was it by the way she dressed or was it her age or was it because she was alone indicating she was like Anna of Luke’s gospel with no male husband or heir? As he watches, she approaches the treasury box. It is as if when she reaches this point that she stops and praises God for the gift that will keep on giving. The copper kettle does not ring loud and long but only a pittance of sound is heard from her two small copper coins yet Jesus notes her inner joy. Her small token will provide so much for service to others as it came from the heart. In her giving she is demonstrating that she trusts God for her daily provision from His hand. Note Jesus said she gave out of her poverty and gave from the very livelihood on which to subsist. Others may have taken this opportunity to chide her saying why not keep one to provide for your needs? Ah, but she might answer, this what I desire to do for Him—from my heart. He will care for my daily needs.

The teachable moment for us is that her gift kept on giving for even today we read of this and marvel. When we give is it from the heart so that only the eyes of Jesus see? Do we offer praise for the small gifts that are given from the heart?

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“The Worst of Men and the Best of God—”

ImageThe psalmist, (Ps 36)  after pondering and meditating upon what he saw and experienced, came to the conclusion that men truly are totally depraved and God is their only hope. As we read Mark 11 we see that truth in living color as Jesus enters Jerusalem and leaves in tears. What did he see and experience that would bring about his broken heart?

As Jesus walked about the temple courts he was joined by those to whom God had given the privileges of teaching his people the very sacred word of God. They were correct to question Jesus’ authority for to them it had been given the right to distinguish between false and true teachers and prophets. However, as Jesus said on more than one occasion: Joh 14:11 if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves, these are the proof of who I am. They had seen the mighty miracle of the blind man made whole and they scoffed, they had seen the paralytic pick up his bed and walk and were amazed yet over and over their hearts little by little hardened beyond repair. They understood his parable of the vineyard that spoke of their sin. Yet their unwillingness to accept him as the True Messiah prophesied in the very sacred writings they studied so eagerly pointed to their true heart. And so when they came and questioned they answered Jesus’ question with “We don’t know” about John’s baptism– for they feared the crowd more than God.

Men who fear men more than God fall into the trap that Solomon noted: “The fearof peoplebecomes a snare, but whoever trustsin the Lordwill be set on high.”[Prov 29] As Jesus noted their lack of reverence for truth his heart was broken and this is why our “Messiah would be firm and resolute amidst all contempt and scorn which he would meet; that he had made up his mind to endure it, and would not shrink from any kind or degree of suffering which would be necessary to accomplish the great work in which he was engaged.” [Easton]

Where are you today? Revering the Savior that died in your place for your sin Or are you trapped by your legalistic self-righteousness like the Pharisees? Remember this verse: “if we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” [1Jo 1:8] But on the flip side is this marvelous promise that awaits those who come to him in reverence and humility: He is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, [Jude]

 

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“Have a Need? Turn to Jesus!”

ImageIt has been said that there is a vacuum in our spiritual hearts that only God can fill. Perhaps, you the reader, sense a longing and have sought to find the solution to that deep inner need but do not know yet the path. Read and watch with your eyes the blind Bartimaeus to learn how to find The Way, The Truth, The Life.

Journeying on his way to the cross Jesus stops for a brief stay in the rich and swelling city of Jericho. But, not all are rich, not all have homes to which they can return, not all have the means to sit at a restaurant to be fed by the hands of others. In fact, if you are like Bartimaeus you are homeless, destitute and without sufficient means have had to turn to begging. This is where we find him as Jesus leaves this city for his last leg of his cross journey. There are others such as the disciples walking with Jesus. Perhaps others too of the city of Jericho desire just a glimpse of this Nazarene and the swelling crowd and escalating noise could be a hindrance to someone like Bartimaeus who has been left to sit where he has always sat…by the roadside. Yet, none of this will deter him once he is told that the Nazarene is passing by. He could not find Jesus due to his blindness but he had a voice and with it he would call unto the Nazarene “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” No one else had used that title before but somehow Bartimaeus had put 2 and 2 together to realize, unlike the Pharisees, that this was The Messiah. Many scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” He had a need and he knew one thing: Jesus was the answer.

Perhaps, you like Bartimaeus, are sitting by the roadside in your spiritual blindness. Others are scolding you from considering him but your faith propels to be bold. Know this, Jesus being divine though human hears the cry of the heart as well as the cry of one like Bartimaeus. If you are determined the Nazarene is just waiting for you to call unto him.

Beloved, Jesus is waiting to hear your cry for mercy and for healing of your heart. If you have faith, He will hear and He will heal. Jesus heard and saw the faith of Bartimaeus and announced: “Go, your faith has healed you” and He will do the same for you. “he turned toward me and heard my cry for help.” [Ps 40:1]

 

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From the Inside Out

ImageContinuing on our journey to the cross we stop today on top of a mountain and learn a valuable lesson in transforming power. In this account, the scribe Mark records Peter’s recollection of this amazing story of Jesus’ Transfiguration.

Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John and is supernaturally metamorphosed from his humanity to his divinity thus giving them and us a picture of our heavenly reflections that we will one day receive. 1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Until then we live in our humanness as Jesus did and yet, once we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit we should also be in the process of being transformed from the inside out that the world may see a new “us.” 2Co 3:18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Before this process can begin we must repent of our sins and turn from our sinful ways to He who has the power to change us from the inside out and then live in this way: Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

Beloved, how does the world see each of us …as we “were” or as we “are becoming?”

Photo credit: allyouhavetogive.com

 

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“What Are You Looking For?”

ImageJesus no sooner finished his miraculous feeding of the 4000 when appeared on the scene the Pharisees seeking a sign. Where had they been when this was all taking place? Surely had they been there that would have been sign enough or so we would think. However, since early times they and the Jews have been looking for signs and no matter how many God has given, they always seem to need just one more. This reminds us of John D. Rockefeller when at the height of his incredible wealth was asked how much money is enough and responded “one more dollar.” So when the Pharisees asked Jesus for yet another sign he asked: “Why does this generation look for a sign?” 1Co 1:22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom. Would they have believed him then as THE Messiah? Probably not and that is the way it is today with many who refuse to see and believe the evidence before them because: what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them in creation and still they refuse. Their spiritual insight is as the blind man we see next.

Someone brought Jesus a blind man for healing. Now this man had not seen THE Messiah nor had he seen the miracles that he had performed. He did not come to seek a sign nor did he come on his own seeking healing. Imagine being blind and then being restored to sight and seeing THE Messiah as your first image. How would you have responded? Would you want to see “more?” What more could there be than the very image of God Himself in living flesh? His physical sight and his spiritual sight were both restored to wholeness.

The Pharisees like many want to “see more” but the blind man was content to “see” and believe that the Messiah himself was standing before him. How often are we like the Pharisees and want God to provide just one more piece of evidence that Jesus is who he said he was? Listen to what Jesus said: I tell you the truth; no sign will be given to this generation. Perhaps that is why Jesus told the disciples to beware of the yeast or leaven of the Pharisees for they would never be satisfied to have just plain sight, they needed more convincing.

Beloved, are you content for sight to see or are you looking for yet another sign? May we yearn not for signs but spiritual truth.

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“Honoring God with the Heart”

ImageWhen you read the word “defilement” what images come to mind? Is it some picture of a far off land and people searching through the dump looking for food? OR Is it some picture of a church with people dressed in their finest taking communion who have yet to take this step: Psa 51:2 Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! Or this one: 1Co 11:28 A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. No matter which picture comes to mind, Jesus has a word for all of us: it is not the outward life but the inward life. If ever there were a picture of outward purity but inward defilement it is the hypocritical Pharisee…note it is not the Pharisees of the time of Jesus but it is the Pharisee within all of us. It is then that the words of Jesus should pierce our hearts and that we begin to look and see what He sees. He sees we have escalated traditions to the above inspired scripture. That was the problem of the first century Pharisees and why Jesus took such offense at them.

Wisely the Pharisees sought to protect Israel from the false prophets and teachers that they may never have to do another “lap around the wilderness” or Babylonian captivity again, but in their quest they had closed eyes to see and closed hearts to hear. Thus Jesus points them to their practices of washing and Corban (which is to set aside a gift to the temple which cannot be touched until an appointed time even if a need arises to care for one’s parents) to show them the true defilement is as Isaiah said: this people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. Their outward practices had become so ingrained that the washing of hands superseded the washing of the heart. Both Moses and Jeremiah pleaded with the people to do that step before they began to worship. Deu 10:16 Therefore, cleanse your heart and Jer 4:14 “Oh people of Jerusalem, purify your hearts .”

Today as we continue our journey to the cross let’s take time to do a spiritual heart check. Will you examine your hypocrisy as I also have to do? Where have I or you set aside what is good as Corban but have yet to set aside our sin?

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