Plymothian

I am struck again by the way.  Having lived in the East and the West, I see Jesus as Middle-Eastern and that we have caricatured him to fit our cultural bias – as the teacher, I think of him like the wisened sensei of Japan rather than the pedagogue of Europe.  He himself has mastered the way that life is to be lived, he embodies The Way, so it is with authority that he communicates the way that others are to walk.

His baptism and his temptation are the final rites of passage before he takes on disciples and shapes them in the way that he has learned to walk.  We see a glimpse at age 12 of the disciplined and committed purposes of Jesus and we know, in a sense, what he was doing from age 12 ’til 30.  He was learning scripture, applying it to life, he was contemplating the Father, he was harmonising his own will to the will that spoke all life into being.

From this position of mature harmony, or shalom, he communicated the way the world should be.  He challenged others who would walk with him to walk with his focus and commitment.  Those who underestimated the rigours and disciplines of the The Way, he left behind.  Those who committed themselves fully to the teachings of the Master spread abroad a new way of life.

The same is true today.  We are all to be committed to the Master who teaches us The Way.  There is a way that seems right to a man but it leads to death.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  He speaks to us to follow him.

¹⁶ “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. ¹⁷ For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. ¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

¹⁹ Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. ²⁰ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

²¹ He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

²² One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. ²³ As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

²⁴ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Obvious

Being a follower of Jesus should be obvious.  He becomes our one obsession, our heart’s desire.  The power of the kingdom can not be hidden.  The focus of our lives can not be put aside.  I am amazed that some people get so excited when they work with someone who finally reveals in an open conversation that they are Christian and they say, I kind of had a feeling that they were.  What is amazing is that we are pleased with the inkling that another follows Jesus.  The following of Jesus should be as obvious as a raging sea becoming a glassy calm.  People should be flourishing and benefitting because we are in their lives.

That calls into question the obnoxious Christianity that has come into vogue through the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.  Legalists who are uptight demand without joy that everyone behave as they do.  Or those who believe their worth is tied up with sharing a shallow gospel of turn-or-burn target colleagues at work kind of like a deer hunter targets a deer.  Both the deer and the potential converts at work have the same level of gratitude.

Jesus should be on our lips as evidence of our primary relationship.  Jesus should affect the work and the home where we live.  Jesus trumps family, friends, and colleagues.  In the way that Jesus permeates all of life, his presence becomes obvious.  In this way we share a gospel, not only of the life we are saved from, but the total life that we are saved to live.

Prayer

Any man calming a storm is almost too remarkable to believe.  I sympathize with those who lack the faith to walk in the truth of scripture.  However, you give us just enough faith to marvel, wonder, and take another step.  Give me faith for today and bright hope for tomorrow.  Dominate my life and be obvious.

Questions

1. How does Jesus make his identity obvious?
2. Why are his disciples incredulous?
3. What was the culture of Jesus’ day’s view on family?
4. Does God serve your family or does your family serve God?
5. How could your faith be more obvious?

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[c] and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Much Love

I see a lot of apathy toward Jesus in the life of the church.  We call him around when we need someone to take care of a few problems.  Often, then, he doesn’t take care of them in ways that don’t satisfy our standards.  We are disillusioned and dispassionate.  I know that one of the reasons for me is that I lose sight of my status.  I forget that Jesus is the King and I live out his agenda.  However, the Pharisees teach me how I forget how much I have been forgiven.  I fluctuate between shame and forgetfulness.  I sometimes remember the things that God has forgiven and forget that he has forgiven me.  I then become frozen and self-loathing.  In contrast with that I become consumed with a rather petty agenda.

When I have loved Jesus most is when I see both the extent of the evil that has plagued me over the years and the grace of its removal.  I do not deserve to live and yet I breather clean air in a country with privilige.  This is not due to a functioning western democracy as much as it is due to the grace of God.

Prayer

Create in me a heart that is jealous for you.  Let my heart long for you because I am conscious of my condition before you adopted me into your family.

Questions

1. What was the woman’s condition?
2. What was the difference between Simon the Pharisee’s perceived condition and his real condition?
3. What was Jesus offering to each person?
4. What is your condition?
5. What does jesus desire for you?

¹⁸ John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, ¹⁹ he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

²⁰ When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

²¹ At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. ²² So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ²³ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

²⁴ After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ²⁵ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

³¹ Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ ³⁵ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

Jesus the Politician

Jesus draws upon the imagery of a reed in the desert to talk about John.  A reed was on the coins of the local king Herod, so Jesus was saying subtley, “Did you go into the desert to see a new king of Israel?”  Jesus acknowledges the political questions that surround him and that he is a political conundrum too.  Many people avoid seeing Jesus as a political figure because they have a strong division between religion and politics.  Politics has something to do with secular, public life whereas religion is private and personal.  However, Jesus is bringing social reform that comes from a transformed heart.  We can not avoid the fact that Jesus brings political public change and demands a government of his own which changes people from the inside.  We elect him by opting out of the corruption in society, but we do not opt out of society.  We bring the good that a transformed heart will bring and so we are greater than the greatest in other religious or political systems because we bring true life-transformation.  Democrats and Republicans promise change.  Labour and Conservatives promise reform, but Jesus brings powerful change that really makes a difference.

Why, then, do so many people give up on the change that Jesus brings?  They give up because they see Jesus as an agent for the change they desire.  They see Jesus as one who will be a citizen of their own kingdom.  Jesus does not kowtow to us.  Jesus does not play by our rules.  Before we criticize Jesus for not playing by our rules, we ought to see that was never the deal.  God makes an offer through Jesus for His kingdom to come on Earth.  We find his peace when we submit to his rule, not when we control and dictate, but when he does.  No-one elects Jesus and puts him up for review.  Jesus may graciously show us what he is doing, but he does not have to.

Prayer

Let me not look to a world system, a wife, a family or education to save us.  No system can provide the true turn around that you provide.  I want to know you and walk with you, but sometimes, like John, I have my doubts.  Thank you that you have provided answers.  Let me trust them.

Questions

1. How does John feel?
2. Why does he need assurances?
3. What does Jesus say as his ‘talking points’ when asked about his ministry?
4. How do other religions and systems claim to bring real change today?
5. How have those you know experienced change that can only be attributed to God?

¹¹ Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹² As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

¹⁴ Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

¹⁶ They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

Inconvenience Store

It has been difficult over the summer to post because the routine has got messed up.  We have to get the children and the family to multiple venues for multiple events.  I find myself just wanting to detach from all of the events, like today’s adotion ministry picnic/cookout, and spend time in the basement playing computer games.  However, I would be neglecting the children, I wouldn’t be supporting my wife and I wouldn’t be forced to grow to develop the capacity to serve others.

Jesus spent himself on others even when they had little or no faith.  He spends himself on me.  The words and deeds that we realise always point more deeply to him, but that is the basis of life.  It is the reason we are alive.  Jesus raises the widow’s only son because it points to him being the only Son of the Father.  He has been raised.  As a very large sign said next to Interstate 65 yesterday, “Jesus is alive!”

However, the life-giving essence of Jesus mocks the drab shell that I become in spite of my busyness.  I run from one thing to the next as if I was alive, but I am less alive to him.  The highway sign cut a little bit.  I had to think, ‘Is Jesus more than a tonic that I take because I want to feel better?”  Is Jesus once more for me an idea rather than a person?  Is the Bible a collection of myths which comfort us in the face of a complex and incomprehensible reality?  The truth is found in simplicity.  The truth is found in a touch.  Although it may prove inconveniet, we need to lay still, like a dead son, and let Jesus raise us up one more time into the life we were created to live.

Prayer

I believe you live but I fear my life forgets you.  I have known you to touch me and raise me up.  I don’t want to go to the picnic that my wife has organised today, so I pray that I would reach out and touch someone there in a way that would be more than ‘one more thing to do’.  Be light and life to me.

Questions

1. What problem does Jesus solve?
2. What does it show about Jesus?
3. What did the people believe God was doing?
4. How do you know that God has come to help his people?
5. In what ways does Jesus touch your life and bring revival?

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. ² Now a centurion had a servant^[a] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. ³ When the centurion^[b] heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go’, and he goes; and to another, ‘Come’, and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this’, and he does it.” ⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” ¹⁰ And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Authority Structure

as N. T. Wright points out in his Luke for Everyone, it is difficult to find authority structures in civilian life which resemble the authority structures in the ancient world.  The army still has such a chain of command, although Jesus doesn’t really resemble a military officer on campaign. He does speak and have authority because of his relationship with the Father.  In the same way that a Roman centurion would execute an order with all the authority of Rome, so Jesus executes an order with all the authority of Heaven.

This kind of authority results in our unquestioning obedience.  For most Christians doubt and questioning has become an art form.  We even see in literature that Trial of God and he is found to be non-existent because he does not play by man’s rules.  However, God plays the game by his own rules and in his own way.  An obedient servant might have questions, but they resemble the person of Abraham who trudged up Mount Moriah with some questions, I am sure, about why God would want to have him sacrifice his son.  However, he knew the authority that compelled him and so he obeyed.

Prayer 

We know the good that we should do but sometimes we are distracted or think we know better.  Let it not be so.

Questions

1. Who has  a request of Jesus?
2. Why do the local Jews think it should be answered?
3. How does Jesus respond?
4. What is Jesus’ authority to you?
5. How is it shown?

³⁷ “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. Forwith the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

³⁹ He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. ⁴¹ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye’, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

⁴³ “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, ⁴⁴ foreach tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

⁴⁶ “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do what I tell you? ⁴⁷ Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: ⁴⁸ he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.^[c] 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

There is a system in the world where one tries to accrue wealth.  We often invest with the promise from our broker that we will be markedly richer because of it.  We give as little as possible in the hopes that we will receive as much as possible.  Jesus turns such self-preservation on its head.  We are to give generously and without a high regard of self.

The Pharisees as teachers are in the cross-hairs here.  They were training those around them to be like them as if they were the pinnacle of what it means to be human.  However, Jesus warns about becoming like such teachers.  They teach for mastery of their own perspectives, they do not teach for mastery of life.  A personality flaw in these teachers is that their methods are built around correcting others without a view to correcting themselves.    Such a view is dangerous because it develops hypocrisy and promotes a legalism in the community. I have personally fallen foul of people who buy into a spirituality that is built around drawing attention to others’ sin without evaluating a person’s individual growth.

To be like Jesus is to take a radically different approach from other religions.  It does not build on the self, but deconstructs the self and reconstructs it around one person.  The true self is the self that dies to self.  The false self is the self that tries to build self into an icon to be praised.  In giving ourselves away, we truly find ourselves.

Prayer

I am proud and self-focused in ways that I honestly do not want to deal with.  Help me to break down the resistance and live the life to which I am called.

Questions

1. To whom is Jesus speaking?
2. What theme does he repeat for them?
3. What is Jesus’ view of the Pharisees?  Does he love them?  How?
4. How does the teaching affect you?
5. What is Jesus asking you to do?