John 12:31-32 Now it is time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler ofthis world will be thrown down. I will be lifted up from the earth. And when this happens, I will draw all people to me.
This is poetry. It has meanings on many levels.
His death really did draw all people (men) to him. I believe this is truer than we often think. His death and resurrection was not a secret event attended only by a few disciples. It was a major news item, scandal if you will, that all Jerusalem buzzed about. Everyone was forced to have a reaction to decide what they thought.
I believe that after his death and resurrection many Jews did come to believe that he was the promised Messiah. The common belief was that the Messiah would come and free them from the Romans. But the disciples told them it was to free their hearts, that was more important. This freedom was eternal.
However the leaders stamped it. They made it very costly to continue to believe in Jesus. So the vast majority fell away. No one could remain a Jew and still accept Jesus as the fulfillment of the great promise. One would lose his patrimony and be liable for stoning. So they gave it up. Jesus rightly prophesied about them in John 8 and in other places. They were not willing to give up their lives for him. So they would be judged. The world was judged by his death and resurrection. All who were not willing to believe and live it out were judged.
Believe seemed easy to those Jews Jesus addressed in John 8. He showed them it was really hard. It involved a commitment. Their response was to want to stone him.
Sadly it is easy to understand their position. Most of us love our comfort and are willing to go with the flow rather than suffer indignities. We love peace bought by compromise better than truth. It is always a struggle to stay intentional and believe with our whole life.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Greeks coming to see Jesus
Another hard to understand part of the gospel of John is John 12:20 and following. "Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, 'Sir, we would like to see Jesus.' Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus."
Jesus has a strange response, don't you think?
12:23 "Jesus answered then, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.'"
Why does Jesus say this. It seems that before he was forever saying, "My hour has not come." Is there something special about Greeks asking for him? Is this just coincidence?
And why does Philip go get Andrew first? Why doesn't he go directly to Jesus? Does the questioners being Greeks make it so very different?
Jesus makes four serious statements. They seem to be in response to Philip and Andrew and their request. We never hear again about the Greeks. Do they get to see Jesus. It doesn't appear so but it's hard to tell.
1. The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (12:23)
Jesus already knew this was coming. He has entered Jerusalem and knows his death will be before the passover time. Still something about the Greeks must be symbolic. Perhaps it is simply about his death being for the whole world and not just for the Jews.
2. Truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies it produces much fruit. (12:24)
We are reminded of the Parable of the Sower where seeds are scattered. Some produce 100 fold. He is speaking of himself here. He is about to die and produce much fruit. He is following his Father's command.
3. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. (12:25)
Now Jesus is speaking of those who will follow him, his disciples. in Matthew 10:25 Jesus says a similar thing: "He who wishes to save his life shall love it." Only God can save my life. I can do nothing to save my life. Not exercise, not eating right, not avoiding stress can really do anything to avoid inevitable death.
Here Jesus uses a Semitism. Love/hate are opposite extremes. Hate here means something like not seeking selfishly for ones own good at the expense of others. Jesus said we are to prefer one another, serve one another. This is what he means by "hating" ones life.
4. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
Serve me, follow ma, where I am there you will be also. How does one know if he is serving in the right place? Where is Jesus that we might be there with him?
We see from the gospels that Jesus went everywhere. No place was off limits for him. He did not seem to go to royal palaces but he probably would have if he had been invited. So wherever you serve Jesus will be there. If you are serving Jesus (and not yourself) in these places you will do well.
Following Jesus means to be like him. We try. It is not always easy for me in groups. Boy did I see that last Saturday. But I do try.
Think about your gifts and interests. See how God would lead you to serve him with those. Start somewhere. Jesus will be there. He will encourage you.
That last promise is the encouragement. "The Father will honor whoever serves me." Start out somewhere and see where it goes. God will honor and bless you.
Jesus has a strange response, don't you think?
12:23 "Jesus answered then, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.'"
Why does Jesus say this. It seems that before he was forever saying, "My hour has not come." Is there something special about Greeks asking for him? Is this just coincidence?
And why does Philip go get Andrew first? Why doesn't he go directly to Jesus? Does the questioners being Greeks make it so very different?
Jesus makes four serious statements. They seem to be in response to Philip and Andrew and their request. We never hear again about the Greeks. Do they get to see Jesus. It doesn't appear so but it's hard to tell.
1. The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (12:23)
Jesus already knew this was coming. He has entered Jerusalem and knows his death will be before the passover time. Still something about the Greeks must be symbolic. Perhaps it is simply about his death being for the whole world and not just for the Jews.
2. Truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies it produces much fruit. (12:24)
We are reminded of the Parable of the Sower where seeds are scattered. Some produce 100 fold. He is speaking of himself here. He is about to die and produce much fruit. He is following his Father's command.
3. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. (12:25)
Now Jesus is speaking of those who will follow him, his disciples. in Matthew 10:25 Jesus says a similar thing: "He who wishes to save his life shall love it." Only God can save my life. I can do nothing to save my life. Not exercise, not eating right, not avoiding stress can really do anything to avoid inevitable death.
Here Jesus uses a Semitism. Love/hate are opposite extremes. Hate here means something like not seeking selfishly for ones own good at the expense of others. Jesus said we are to prefer one another, serve one another. This is what he means by "hating" ones life.
4. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
Serve me, follow ma, where I am there you will be also. How does one know if he is serving in the right place? Where is Jesus that we might be there with him?
We see from the gospels that Jesus went everywhere. No place was off limits for him. He did not seem to go to royal palaces but he probably would have if he had been invited. So wherever you serve Jesus will be there. If you are serving Jesus (and not yourself) in these places you will do well.
Following Jesus means to be like him. We try. It is not always easy for me in groups. Boy did I see that last Saturday. But I do try.
Think about your gifts and interests. See how God would lead you to serve him with those. Start somewhere. Jesus will be there. He will encourage you.
That last promise is the encouragement. "The Father will honor whoever serves me." Start out somewhere and see where it goes. God will honor and bless you.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Father's day musing
OK, this is a musing that will be the basis of my sermon introduction tomorrow. I thought it was pretty good so I thought I'd share it.
In God's amazing plan it takes two people, one of each sex, to make a baby, a new life. Somehow the Trinity of God is like that two. At creation in Genesis 1 we find God the Father, the Spirit moving over the waters, and the Word. God's three persons, different yet alike, were all a part of creation. And so God made the creation of new life to involve one man and one woman, the same species and yet different.
And two people together, male and female, are the best parents for a child. Two men cannot create a child and having two fathers is not the optimum way of raising a child either.
We celebrate Mother's Day. It is only right that we celebrate fathers too. They are both necessary, each important in different ways.
Often a daughter is the gleem of daddy's eye. She can do no wrong. A son gets a model of what he will be like when he grows up. Often, without even realizing it, he takes on the mannerisms of his father when he is grown. So a dad has to be careful that he does not spoil his daughter and that he set the right example for his son. The lack of a dad in a child's life growing up leaves a big hole.
If you have children you never stop being their dad.
In God's amazing plan it takes two people, one of each sex, to make a baby, a new life. Somehow the Trinity of God is like that two. At creation in Genesis 1 we find God the Father, the Spirit moving over the waters, and the Word. God's three persons, different yet alike, were all a part of creation. And so God made the creation of new life to involve one man and one woman, the same species and yet different.
And two people together, male and female, are the best parents for a child. Two men cannot create a child and having two fathers is not the optimum way of raising a child either.
We celebrate Mother's Day. It is only right that we celebrate fathers too. They are both necessary, each important in different ways.
Often a daughter is the gleem of daddy's eye. She can do no wrong. A son gets a model of what he will be like when he grows up. Often, without even realizing it, he takes on the mannerisms of his father when he is grown. So a dad has to be careful that he does not spoil his daughter and that he set the right example for his son. The lack of a dad in a child's life growing up leaves a big hole.
If you have children you never stop being their dad.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sunday afternoon
We went hope from morning church and ate leftovers. It was fairly quiet at home with both girls off traveling the state.
We had a send off (Memorial Service) for Mike Henderson. He died a week ago and this gave out of town family enough time to travel. It started at 4 PM. I called to tell JF that I could make the 6 PM service but not practice. This was approved by phone. I help solidify the lower notes but I'm certainly not essential. I was told we were doing "Ride that Chariot" a really fun anthem to do that involves the basses getting the main part.
Generally the service songs are well known to me and practice is nice but not usually necessary. It turned out that was right this time.
Mike Henderson had had a very public fight against cancer for over two years. The church was involved through prayer, corporate fasting, and some fund raisers. We prayed and prayed for him and he took the risk to let us. He was very brave through all this.
The service included several witnesses of his life. We learned about his work life. I learned a lot new about Mike. The few things we had done together, elementary Sunday school mostly, I got to relive a little. But a lot was new. We memorialized his life. He is at rest with Jesus now. He will be missed.
I had to finally leave around 5:20 PM. About that time MP was beginning a sermon where he took 2 Samuel 12, the story of David praying for his dying child, as his text. I can see how it fit. The interesting thing was that the service scripture for the 6 PM service included 2 Samuel 11, the story of David's murder of Uriah. It ends with the prophet saying that the child he had with Uriah's wife would die as God's judgment. This is all part of one story.
I thought that was a bit coincidental and wondered if MP doesn't sneak a peek at the standard lectionary for inspiration from time to time.
I did not listen too much to LH's sermon at 6PM preferring to try to translate Galatians 2, another one of the lectionary passages for tonight, from the Greek. I did not get far but was interested in the word for circumcision.
I did hear him mention a great illustration from the Alpha class. It was about a 19th century tightrope walker called Blondin (Jean-François Gravele). The story has it that after walking a 1,000 foot tightrope extended across Niagara Falls he then asked if people watching believed that he could carry a man in a wheelbarrow across. When the crowds enthusiastically yelled "yes!" he responded, "Hop in." There is a difference between verbal agreement and actually acting on it. True belief involves life changes. I don't think any of the crowd took him up on his offer.
We had a send off (Memorial Service) for Mike Henderson. He died a week ago and this gave out of town family enough time to travel. It started at 4 PM. I called to tell JF that I could make the 6 PM service but not practice. This was approved by phone. I help solidify the lower notes but I'm certainly not essential. I was told we were doing "Ride that Chariot" a really fun anthem to do that involves the basses getting the main part.
Generally the service songs are well known to me and practice is nice but not usually necessary. It turned out that was right this time.
Mike Henderson had had a very public fight against cancer for over two years. The church was involved through prayer, corporate fasting, and some fund raisers. We prayed and prayed for him and he took the risk to let us. He was very brave through all this.
The service included several witnesses of his life. We learned about his work life. I learned a lot new about Mike. The few things we had done together, elementary Sunday school mostly, I got to relive a little. But a lot was new. We memorialized his life. He is at rest with Jesus now. He will be missed.
I had to finally leave around 5:20 PM. About that time MP was beginning a sermon where he took 2 Samuel 12, the story of David praying for his dying child, as his text. I can see how it fit. The interesting thing was that the service scripture for the 6 PM service included 2 Samuel 11, the story of David's murder of Uriah. It ends with the prophet saying that the child he had with Uriah's wife would die as God's judgment. This is all part of one story.
I thought that was a bit coincidental and wondered if MP doesn't sneak a peek at the standard lectionary for inspiration from time to time.
I did not listen too much to LH's sermon at 6PM preferring to try to translate Galatians 2, another one of the lectionary passages for tonight, from the Greek. I did not get far but was interested in the word for circumcision.
I did hear him mention a great illustration from the Alpha class. It was about a 19th century tightrope walker called Blondin (Jean-François Gravele). The story has it that after walking a 1,000 foot tightrope extended across Niagara Falls he then asked if people watching believed that he could carry a man in a wheelbarrow across. When the crowds enthusiastically yelled "yes!" he responded, "Hop in." There is a difference between verbal agreement and actually acting on it. True belief involves life changes. I don't think any of the crowd took him up on his offer.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday
In the morning - I had forgotten this was going to happen - we had a man do a recital of the gospel of John. It took him 45 minutes to wend his way through John. It is an amazing feat. He did it with seeming ease. He added pantomime and had a communion table full of props to help him.
I have struggled through translating this from the Greek in my Greek class. As he went through it I realized I have translated most all of John. I could recall some expressions. I was interested in how he translated some passages. There were a couple that I thought fresh because they were unusual.
For examples instead of calling the miracle at the Cana wedding his first he said something like "this was the beginning of his miracles". That is good. The Greek word can mean both things. I liked it as a fresh alternative translation.
We got to see Francis Graves at her reception at the Methodist church down the street. Frances had from time to time come to our Life Group at the Olsons. She must be close to 80 but she would walk over from her house a few blocks away. DW and I would often take her home. She has a real passion for prayer.
Francis is moving up to Tyler and this was a going away reception at the church. Church ended at 11 and we got over there just as they were wrapping it up. It was nice to speak to her and meet her other daughter.
Sunday afternoon tomorrow. Stay tuned.
I have struggled through translating this from the Greek in my Greek class. As he went through it I realized I have translated most all of John. I could recall some expressions. I was interested in how he translated some passages. There were a couple that I thought fresh because they were unusual.
For examples instead of calling the miracle at the Cana wedding his first he said something like "this was the beginning of his miracles". That is good. The Greek word can mean both things. I liked it as a fresh alternative translation.
We got to see Francis Graves at her reception at the Methodist church down the street. Frances had from time to time come to our Life Group at the Olsons. She must be close to 80 but she would walk over from her house a few blocks away. DW and I would often take her home. She has a real passion for prayer.
Francis is moving up to Tyler and this was a going away reception at the church. Church ended at 11 and we got over there just as they were wrapping it up. It was nice to speak to her and meet her other daughter.
Sunday afternoon tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Republican State Convention
I do not know what to make of the convention. So much division. So many people ready to share their "wisdom".
How many of the these same people are ready to work together? Without working together to get out the vote none of this makes a lot of difference. In fact it will be counterproductive.
We changed out the leaders of the State Party. The woman who was leading was an appointee. We feel disenfranchised so it's understandable that people would like to pick their own person. Yet the lady was had is a veteran of political organization. The new guy is a LAWYER (aghast!) and we'll see if he is up to this new challenge. I have friends who know and admire him. So maybe.
Still one cannot help thinking there will be a learning curve. He may have to bring in a whole new staff. Will that be like patronage?
We usually leave by 4 or 5. Last night we were done about 8 and that is mainly because we were about to lose a quorum.
How many of the these same people are ready to work together? Without working together to get out the vote none of this makes a lot of difference. In fact it will be counterproductive.
We changed out the leaders of the State Party. The woman who was leading was an appointee. We feel disenfranchised so it's understandable that people would like to pick their own person. Yet the lady was had is a veteran of political organization. The new guy is a LAWYER (aghast!) and we'll see if he is up to this new challenge. I have friends who know and admire him. So maybe.
Still one cannot help thinking there will be a learning curve. He may have to bring in a whole new staff. Will that be like patronage?
We usually leave by 4 or 5. Last night we were done about 8 and that is mainly because we were about to lose a quorum.
Friday, June 11, 2010
How do we react to God doing a new thing?
We know it's true right? Whenever God does something new, people want to kill somebody.
It is annoying to see that the "Jews" mentioned in John 10 are such sticklers for legalism that despite all the amazing teaching and unique healings they want to kill him for saying something provocative? (DW thinks I am over stating, this does not make sense. But I'm trying it on you anyway.)
Sometimes we have to be willing to think outside the box, to suspend all our old prejudices, to hold lightly the things we hold dear. I guess what DW is thinking is "What about all those things that are right?" But it is still good to relook at them and reaffirm their rightness.
In 10:31 Jesus says, "I and the Father are one!" The Jews react in anger and want to stone him. But surely after all the things he has said and done shouldn't he at least be given a hearing? I do not think they did, they simply reacted. Their deeply held beliefs are too firm.
Of course they are right, God is God. He is unique. He is not like a human. How can a man be God? This is impossible. And yet, they admit, only God can do the things he has done. They have seen it. But they are not willing to even consider his claim.
Jesus responds to their reaction. He quotes the Old Testament. "I said you are gods." So, he asks, "Why the anger when I equate myself with God?"
We need not reject the basic tenets of the faith. But sometimes we are called to reassess the implications.
God is a God of surprises. He loves to do new things. He loves to do them in our midst. We have to be open or we will miss them.
I tend to get angry at surprises, just like the Jews. God is gentle with me. But I do not want to miss what he is doing.
It is annoying to see that the "Jews" mentioned in John 10 are such sticklers for legalism that despite all the amazing teaching and unique healings they want to kill him for saying something provocative? (DW thinks I am over stating, this does not make sense. But I'm trying it on you anyway.)
Sometimes we have to be willing to think outside the box, to suspend all our old prejudices, to hold lightly the things we hold dear. I guess what DW is thinking is "What about all those things that are right?" But it is still good to relook at them and reaffirm their rightness.
In 10:31 Jesus says, "I and the Father are one!" The Jews react in anger and want to stone him. But surely after all the things he has said and done shouldn't he at least be given a hearing? I do not think they did, they simply reacted. Their deeply held beliefs are too firm.
Of course they are right, God is God. He is unique. He is not like a human. How can a man be God? This is impossible. And yet, they admit, only God can do the things he has done. They have seen it. But they are not willing to even consider his claim.
Jesus responds to their reaction. He quotes the Old Testament. "I said you are gods." So, he asks, "Why the anger when I equate myself with God?"
We need not reject the basic tenets of the faith. But sometimes we are called to reassess the implications.
God is a God of surprises. He loves to do new things. He loves to do them in our midst. We have to be open or we will miss them.
I tend to get angry at surprises, just like the Jews. God is gentle with me. But I do not want to miss what he is doing.
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