Category Archives: Jesus

PEACE ON EARTH….

24 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by in Bulletin Article, Jesus

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For generations, people have lived with the idea when man’s Savior came to this earth, peace would dwell amongst all men. Yet, as we look at society, we readily see this is not the case. What then are we to understand when one reads a passage like this: “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:12-14, KJV).

This is complicated all the more when we note the words of the Lord to His disciples, sending them out in what is called the “limited commission”, that is, when the disciples were sent to the house of Israel only to preach the Lord’s coming to their community. He told them, in essence, “I want you to understand that you are being sent out as sheep among wolves…“And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:21-22).

One can clearly see the “peace” of Luke 2, is not peace at all in Matthew 10, but as it reads in, there is much resistance. What the angels meant was not peace between people, family members, communities or nations; what the Lord meant when He sent the angel to declare was something far more important. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”  (Romans 5:1-5).

The Lord’s peace, then, is in relation to Him who is Lord over all. It is wisdom of God that each who loves the Lord to understand this and to adopt the Lord’s way of thinking in regard to life lived. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:34-37).

I can’t imagine a single person who desires conflict in life; the apostle Paul exhorted us to live peaceably with all as much as is possible (Rom. 12:18), but some can do as much as still have conflict. The Lord did; we also will. Nevertheless, let us not forget the “peace” of the Lord that surpasses all understanding is in relation to a relationship with the Lord Jesus; let us think the way He thought, walking the way He walked, and being willing to give up life for His cause, rather than our own.

This holiday season, have you lost sight of this important point?

The Gift(s)

18 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by in Holidays, Jesus, Salvation

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Mary and Joseph’s troubles had only begun. The joy of a newborn is magnified when one (Mary) learns from the Lord’s angel (Gabriel) that the child she would carry would be the Lord’s anointed. In accordance with Jewish law/tradition, Mary and Joseph circumcise their Son on day eight after his birth. Rather ordinary; the ordinary then turns to marvel when a very old man, Simeon, speaks praise to the Lord and then speaks plainly to both (Mary especially) that their newborn child will bring much joy and anguish to the nation of Israel. In fact, the message and life of the child (then adult) will pierce the heart of his mother (Luke 2:25-35).

This is the part of the “Christmas” story that is often forgotten. So often it is that we hear the joy of the message that God’s Son was brought into the world with that joy expressed in gifts given. But in this joyous occasion it is the forgotten message that He is God’s gift to man. Why would God give a gift to humanity?

The experience of Mary and Joseph illustrate why God gave His unique (one of a kind) Son to man. They learned from the Lord that Herod, a raging and jealous king, was seeking to destroy the child recently born. This insecure man was a servant of Satan. “Now the dragon’s tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days” (Revelation 12:4-6, NET).

God’s gift to man is not understood; what is learned is rejected exactly because of the efforts of the “dragon” one reads in Revelation. He is the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and he seeks to destroy as many as he can.

Though Christmas is not a Bible holiday, it is a time when the Lord’s saints can do much good in helping others learn the true significance of why Jesus came into this world. Whatever gifts are given, it is God’s gift that is truly the most important.

A Feeding Trough

15 Monday Dec 2014

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Jesus is so well known as a historical person that it is a wonder there is still much dispute about Him. Why it is this way is because of His message; that He existed would be of no importance if it was not the message He preached. The life He lived was not an easy life, the words He spoke were not easily heard, but both accomplished was His mission.

Just before the Lord was born into this world, His parents were themselves on a mission. They knew, of course, that Mary was chosen of God to bring forth into the world One who would change the world. They did not understand, however, the jealousy and opposition that would be against Him, and by connection, against them. How could they!

After Joseph was given clarity to the tremendously perplexing situation he was facing (Matthew 1:18-23), he was called upon by Rome to register himself properly, along with his wife, in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5). Coming from Nazareth, a distance of some 3 to 5 days journey (80-100 miles), as pregnant as Mary was, they both carried anxiety with them. Add to this burden another anxiety directly connected to jewish society. If it was understood that Mary was pregnant before her marriage to Joseph, then judgment could be very severe! Their anxiety was heightened.

They arrive in Bethlehem and were unable to find a guest room. This is not unexpected, being that Bethlehem was as small as it was. Bethlehem being small, travelers being many, rooms would have been few. Mary, at this time, was unable to wait any longer; the child in her womb was ready to come into the world—exactly as spoken by the prophet Micah (5:2). Jesus was resting in a feeding trough when Mary and Joseph are greeted by shepherds from the field (Luke 2:8-20).

Something so ordinary was not ordinary at all. While Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were resting quietly, the shepherds told of an amazing visit from the angels. Those shepherds had no real idea just how amazing the story and message of the baby in an animal’s feeding trough was really going to be. We do!

A New Groom

29 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by in Doctrine, Jesus

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In Romans 7, the Lord’s apostle expounds on the significance of the Law of Moses in relation to the Lord’s New Covenant. In this exposition, he speak of marriage and adultery. To the Jew, to obey a law other than the Law of Moses, one was guilty of adultery, and adultery is punishable by death (cf. Deut. 17:1-5). In fact, this theme is seen throughout the writings of the prophets.

To those of Jewish persuasion, Paul knew he had a case to make. This he does in his letter to the church at Rome, just as he did when went into the synagogues each Sabbath day when the local Jewish community gathered for study of the Torah and Prophets (cf. Acts 17:3).

As long as the Law of Moses was sanctioned by God and in active force, for one who was a Jew, to obey something that was different than the Law of Moses was to be liable to punishment. However, if the Law of Moses was no longer sanctioned by God and in active force, to obey the New Covenant not only relieved one from the punishment of death, but actually liberated those who obeyed from the heart (6:16-18) from sin, something they could not be relieved from by the Law of Moses (Acts 13:39).

Using the illustration of marriage, Paul makes his point. A woman is married, but when her husband dies she is no longer married (but a widow). According to the Lord, the Law of Moses died (Colossians 2:14); thus, those who “marry” the New Covenant, now live life with a new groom.

Jesus forbids sectarianism

05 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by in Doctrine, Jesus

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            Some years ago I read an article by a brother who excoriated the writing of another brother because of his use of Mark 9:38-41 in relationship to unity. I was so put off by the tone of that article that I resolved to no longer consider anything he said on any topic. That was (and is) an unfair approach that I took because in many areas of teaching I could see that he was “spot on.”

            Unfair or not, it was my approach, and until recently, I had really given no serious attention to the passage except to read it in my regular Bible readings. Using the Gospel Advocate’s Foundation series quarterly Bible study in our adult class, it is my custom to study the whole chapter of the text of our lesson for that week. Mark 9:2-13 was our text, so I did a textual study of the whole chapter, with a particular interest in 9:38-41.

            Here is what the four verses teach in summary. First, Jesus was questioned concerning the propriety of others not associated with Him and His disciples (9:38). Second, Jesus prohibited the disciples, especially John, from preventing those sympathetic to Jesus from “casting out demons” (9:39). Third, those sympathetic to Jesus and His teachings are actually “on our side” and shall receive their reward (9:40-41).

            Let us understand what Jesus said and was saying in the larger context. First, in 9:33-37, Jesus taught what discipleship was all about to His chosen twelve. Discipleship under the “banner” of Jesus’ name is not about who is the greatest, but humility and servitude as seen in the form of a child. The theme of this teaching extends itself in the next paragraph (9:38-41). Second, as the disciples needed to learn about humility and servitude, they also needed to learn about sectarianism. Sectarianism is similar to partisanship. In other words, one’s attitude toward another of a different perspective is not as charitable as it should be. That is Jesus’ point. The disciples did not receive or like the one doing good in Jesus’ name, so they wanted the Lord to stop him completely. The Lord would not.

            Let us make an application to what Jesus said. Jesus does not address what some might call “doctrinal” points of difference. The Lord addresses an attitude of charity toward others not of a particular group. There is no chance the Lord would compromise His teaching for unity’s sake, and neither will He tolerate His disciples doing that (Galatians 1:6-9). As we think about the passage, for some it is easy to misapply it because of a desire to look at one’s sincere devotion rather than the truth as expressed by God. We would be mistaken if we thought and said that others who teach differently will be accepted by the Lord. To do so would result in two things: 1) miss the point of the context, 2) compromise what the Lord said elsewhere.

Pilate’s Tough Spot

20 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by in Behavior, history, Jesus, Leadership

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The Bible does not paint Pilate in a very good light. There is, of course, good reason for this. He was Rome’s representative in Judea, administering Roman justice to a people in constant turmoil because of Rome’s presence. Moreover, the name “Pilate” has gone down in history as an infamous name, one that will always be tied to the crucifixion of Jesus.

In John 19 the tough spot Pilate was in was how best to deal with a crowd that had the single interest of killing an innocent man (19:6), and for him to maintain loyalty to Rome. The crowd did not originate this desire of theirs to kill Jesus (cf. Acts 19:32); rather, they were complicit with those who did originate the desire (Matthew 27:20; cf. John 12:19; 11:45-50). Pilate knew this (Matthew 27:18), and desiring to satisfy the crowd he gave Jesus over to their will (Mark 15:10-15).

Pilate was in a tough spot, don’t you think? Not really. He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges leveled against him. Knowing this and allowing justice to hold sway meant that he was not in a tough spot at all. Pilate’s way of thinking, however, was not one that allowed justice to hold sway; what did hold sway was his political fortunes. Because that was his priority the Jews had him over a barrel (as the saying goes). Pilate knew this and turned it around on them. Pilate cried out: “What shall I do with your King?” They replied, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:14-16). What Pilate had just accomplished, unbeknownst to the Jews at the time, was to make the Jews succumb (worship) to the emperor of Rome. More than that, however, even in their denial that Jesus was their king, the Roman administrator, made it a point to label Jesus as their king with the sign he nailed on the wood (John 19:17-22). Pilate was in a tough spot; our tough spots don’t have to be so dramatic if we allow God’s justice to hold sway in our lives. Surely, we don’t want “Pilate” to accomplish the same with us, do we?

 

Knowing When and How

07 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by in Communication, God, Jesus, Teaching

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Didn’t Jesus always seem to have exactly what he needed for the occasion when people laid traps for him? In Luke 20:20-26, the people marveled as His answer to those who desired to trap Him in His answer to a question that was loaded with trouble. “Why is it that I can’t be as effective as Jesus!” we express ourselves in frustration. A couple of things to remember that might help us. First, Jesus was God and God is never flat-footed. Second, with regard to us, it is by experience that we learn what and how to say what needs to be spoken. Perhaps there is a third point to add to this: just as it is with us, it was with the Lord also—people did not always accept the answer given (Luke 11:53-54).

Are You Following?

20 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by in Jesus, Salvation

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Judgment is something that we are all very familiar with; the Lord declared that we all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, answering for what we have done in the body, be it good or bad. Of course, the “good” in this context starts with one’s response to the Lord Jesus; the “bad” is everything else. Peter reminds his readers that judgment will start with the church, the “house of God” (1 Peter 4:17). If the church is scarcely saved, then what about those outside the church of our Lord? To ask is to answer. Unless we don’t love our fellow man, we should make it our mission to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). If we follow Jesus, that is exactly what we are already doing. Are you following Jesus?

The Pain and Teaching

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Affliction/Persecution, Jesus, Teaching

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                I cannot imagine that there is a single person of good sense who thinks the idea of affliction being experienced is a good thing—yet that is exactly what the Holy Spirit said! “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71, NKJV). As you reflect on the sentiment of the Holy Spirit, reflect on the latter part of the verse. The key to understanding is in learning what needs to find a place in the heart. Earlier in the largest of the Psalms, David wrote, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (119:11)! Paul says something similar when he wrote to the church in Colossae, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

We all struggle with doing what is right; we understand there is such a thing as right and wrong, but the overpowering pull of that which is wrong seems to pull us against our will in its direction. It only seems this way; in fact, it is this way because in our weakness we give in. It’s not that the pull is (was) so strong that we could not resist, it’s that we did not resist. The difference is notable. Thus, when the psalmist said that it was good to suffer affliction it was not because of the pain and aggravations that it brought, but because of the teaching it brought. Who of us has not already experienced such things? I have.