Follow the link below for a great article on a scientific investigation on the power of forgiveness.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-lloyd/the-science-of-forgivenes_b_613138.html
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Conseqeunces of Sin
The story of sin is the all too common story of human life. We continually sin and fall short of God's commands and expectations for our lives. The consequences of sin can be seen all around us: violence, oppression, greed, jealousy, addiction, brokenness, shattered relationships to name a few. We know that the world is not how God intended it to be and that our choices, both individually and corporately, have lead us to where we are. In the face of sin and brokenness we are called to turn to the Lord, seeking forgiveness and trying to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
The kingdom of God comes into our lives when we move away from our selfish desires and choices, when we move away from a life of sin, and with the power of spirit begin living for the Lord. Jesus' message was clear: the way of sin is death and the way of God is life.
While Jesus' message is clear it is often difficult if not impossible to achieve. The question becomes: must we wait until heaven to live a life without sin? Or even a life with less sin? Can we live more holy and righteous lives here and now?
The stories in Genesis tell us a great deal about the power of sin in our lives. In particular, the story of Cain and Abel is quite illustrative. As Cain and Abel come to worship the Lord, each brings an offering for God. Cain works in the field and brings an offering of "the fruit of the ground" while Abel, a shepherd, brought the "firstlings of his flock." Each gave to the Lord as an act of worship, but God only received the offering of Abel. There is no explanation of why God did not receive Cain's offering in the text. what followed as an interesting exchange between Cain and God.
God is telling Cain that it is possible to live a righteous life; it is possible to "do well." God also warns Cain that the power of sin is lurking at the door and has a desire for you. It is possible to do well (at least in theory) but most strikingly, sin has a desire for Cain. This is a profoundly powerful statement. Sin desires Cain. He can do well, but sin is preying upon him, nudging, pleading, instigating, and tempting him.
The story of what Cain does next is more well known. In anger and jealousy he takes his brother Abel to the field and murders him. While this story is often pointed to as the archetype for sibling rivalry, it is less a story of conflict between Cain and Abel, and much more about the conflict between Cain and God. Further, it is the conflict within Cain over how to handle his sinful desires that leads him astray.
The question for us is: if sin is knocking on our door, desiring to lead us astray, do we have any hope of living life for God? Are we inevitably caught in a life full of sin?
Sin has real power in our lives as it not only leads us away from God spiritually, but has real effects for others and the world. The consequences of sin have lead to violence, oppression, war, greed and so much more. Sin is not just an individual problem it is a world problem.
-Is it possible, through the faith of a few, to make the world more peace and loving?
-Can we through Christ, live lives that are better and make a positive difference?
-Or is our world hopelessly lost and beyond redemption until the Lord returns?
My prayer is that through the grace of God, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we might live lives worthy of the gospel. That because of Jesus' love for me, I might be more loving. Because of the amazing gift of grace, I might be more gracious. Because God includes me as a child of God, I might includes others in the same way. If we can love like God loves us, I truly believe our world's problems would improve. Perfect and sinless?doubtful. Better and worth working for? absolutely! As the vision for life with Christ found in Ephesians reminds us:
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Mark 1:14-15
The kingdom of God comes into our lives when we move away from our selfish desires and choices, when we move away from a life of sin, and with the power of spirit begin living for the Lord. Jesus' message was clear: the way of sin is death and the way of God is life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
While Jesus' message is clear it is often difficult if not impossible to achieve. The question becomes: must we wait until heaven to live a life without sin? Or even a life with less sin? Can we live more holy and righteous lives here and now?
The stories in Genesis tell us a great deal about the power of sin in our lives. In particular, the story of Cain and Abel is quite illustrative. As Cain and Abel come to worship the Lord, each brings an offering for God. Cain works in the field and brings an offering of "the fruit of the ground" while Abel, a shepherd, brought the "firstlings of his flock." Each gave to the Lord as an act of worship, but God only received the offering of Abel. There is no explanation of why God did not receive Cain's offering in the text. what followed as an interesting exchange between Cain and God.
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:6-7
God is telling Cain that it is possible to live a righteous life; it is possible to "do well." God also warns Cain that the power of sin is lurking at the door and has a desire for you. It is possible to do well (at least in theory) but most strikingly, sin has a desire for Cain. This is a profoundly powerful statement. Sin desires Cain. He can do well, but sin is preying upon him, nudging, pleading, instigating, and tempting him.
The story of what Cain does next is more well known. In anger and jealousy he takes his brother Abel to the field and murders him. While this story is often pointed to as the archetype for sibling rivalry, it is less a story of conflict between Cain and Abel, and much more about the conflict between Cain and God. Further, it is the conflict within Cain over how to handle his sinful desires that leads him astray.
The question for us is: if sin is knocking on our door, desiring to lead us astray, do we have any hope of living life for God? Are we inevitably caught in a life full of sin?
Sin has real power in our lives as it not only leads us away from God spiritually, but has real effects for others and the world. The consequences of sin have lead to violence, oppression, war, greed and so much more. Sin is not just an individual problem it is a world problem.
-Is it possible, through the faith of a few, to make the world more peace and loving?
-Can we through Christ, live lives that are better and make a positive difference?
-Or is our world hopelessly lost and beyond redemption until the Lord returns?
My prayer is that through the grace of God, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we might live lives worthy of the gospel. That because of Jesus' love for me, I might be more loving. Because of the amazing gift of grace, I might be more gracious. Because God includes me as a child of God, I might includes others in the same way. If we can love like God loves us, I truly believe our world's problems would improve. Perfect and sinless?doubtful. Better and worth working for? absolutely! As the vision for life with Christ found in Ephesians reminds us:
You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ. Ephesians 4:13
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Original Sinners
The story of Adam and Eve in the garden is one of mythic proportions. It is a story referred to by many in a variety of forms, and is known both within the church and is part of the collective conscience of our culture. The story of Eden is also tremendously misunderstood, misread (if it is actually read at all), and misapplied. Fundamentally, the story is not about Eve tempting Adam (and by extension how women are inherently wicked and sinful--how some have used this scripture) it is not about the satanic serpent who seduces the otherwise righteous Adam and Eve, and I don't believe it is a story of God entrapping humanity. Rather, Genesis 3 is a powerful story about sin, rebellion, and human nature. The story tells us about ourselves and our deepest and darkest inclinations. It is a story which reminds us that when we go our own way we are in big trouble.
After Eve's conversation with the serpent, when she is told that she could know good and evil and be like God, she and Adam both ate the fruit of the tree. The serpent provides information to them in a seductive way but doesn't have to do much convincing for them to directly defy God's command.
God created Adam and Eve for relationship. They were given all that they needed for life in the garden, and they were given the responsibility to care for it. Within the boundaries that God established, they had absolute freedom. The only restriction was they could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God designed the relationship with humanity to be one of trust and dependence. God created human beings and asked them to place their complete trust in God. Adam and Even sinned not simply because they ate the forbidden fruit, they sinned because the failed to trust God. They wanted to be like God, having all the knowledge and wisdom of God. With this knowledge, they would no longer be dependent on God, they could could be independent and autonomous. The original sin is to reject relationship with God.
The power of this story lies not in the historicity of Adam and Eve, but in the knowledge the original sin of Adam and Eve is alive and well today. In Genesis 3, we don't read about Adam and Eve, we read about ourselves; we are Adam and Eve. For me, and I believe most of us, the urge for independence, the resistance to be told what to do, the refusal to submit to authority, and the lack of obedience is at its core a rejection of relationship. When I believe that I know best, that I can do it all on my own, that I must be in control, I am incapable of being in a relationship of mutuality and trust.
Relationships of any kind require openness, humility, and trust and reject all forms of domination and subjugation. God calls us into relationship, names us children of God, calls us to trust. We would rather trust ourselves, our possessions, and live independent and autonomous lives. Sin enters the world when we fail to trust because we ourselves are not trustworthy. Left to our devices we make the wrong choices, become fixated and obsessed with status, power and "being successful." When we fail to trust God in our lives we make wrong choices with disastrous consequences. As the apostle Paul reminds us:
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:4-6
After Eve's conversation with the serpent, when she is told that she could know good and evil and be like God, she and Adam both ate the fruit of the tree. The serpent provides information to them in a seductive way but doesn't have to do much convincing for them to directly defy God's command.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Genesis 2:15-17
God created Adam and Eve for relationship. They were given all that they needed for life in the garden, and they were given the responsibility to care for it. Within the boundaries that God established, they had absolute freedom. The only restriction was they could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God designed the relationship with humanity to be one of trust and dependence. God created human beings and asked them to place their complete trust in God. Adam and Even sinned not simply because they ate the forbidden fruit, they sinned because the failed to trust God. They wanted to be like God, having all the knowledge and wisdom of God. With this knowledge, they would no longer be dependent on God, they could could be independent and autonomous. The original sin is to reject relationship with God.
The power of this story lies not in the historicity of Adam and Eve, but in the knowledge the original sin of Adam and Eve is alive and well today. In Genesis 3, we don't read about Adam and Eve, we read about ourselves; we are Adam and Eve. For me, and I believe most of us, the urge for independence, the resistance to be told what to do, the refusal to submit to authority, and the lack of obedience is at its core a rejection of relationship. When I believe that I know best, that I can do it all on my own, that I must be in control, I am incapable of being in a relationship of mutuality and trust.
Relationships of any kind require openness, humility, and trust and reject all forms of domination and subjugation. God calls us into relationship, names us children of God, calls us to trust. We would rather trust ourselves, our possessions, and live independent and autonomous lives. Sin enters the world when we fail to trust because we ourselves are not trustworthy. Left to our devices we make the wrong choices, become fixated and obsessed with status, power and "being successful." When we fail to trust God in our lives we make wrong choices with disastrous consequences. As the apostle Paul reminds us:
For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:14-15
For anyone who has ever tried to live life for God, tried to be a truly good person, or simply reflected deeply on their life, knows the feeling Paul describes. We want to be kind, generous, patient, loving but we often are mean, stingy, ungrateful, angry, jealous, spiteful. We know life with God is better, and yet with consistently fail. The original sin of defiance and autonomy has been repeated so often it seems almost comical to describe it as "original."
The story of Adam and Eve is alive and well in our lives today. We are without doubt no more advanced than the first generation described in Genesis:
The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5
The good news for us and the world is that Jesus Christ delivers us from our sin and from ourselves. Through Christ, the relationship with God which has been severed by sin and found to be irreparable by human effort is restored and renewed by the love of grace of Jesus Christ. Jesus saves us from sin and saves us from ourselves. In Christ we are a new creation, in Christ we are free to love and serve, knowing the certainty and security which comes from God's love. May we trust in the Lord with all our heart, mind, and body and know with certainty that our salvation rests in the arms of a loving and merciful God.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
In the Beginning
The story of creation found in Genesis 1 and 2 is a story about beginnings; the beginning of life, time, and the created world. The creation story tells us that God is the creator of everything and all of life. God is the source, the originator, the unmoved mover. The creation story tells us that all that God created was "good" and was pleasing to God. The nature of creation is ordered and done with intention and purpose. The creation story also tells us who we are as human beings. We are created "in the image of God" (1:27) and endowed us with special powers and responsibilities to care for and be stewards of creation. The story of creation is powerful, rich, and has profound implications for who we understand ourselves and God to be.
The story of creation is also highly debated and discussed. In our day, the ongoing battle between creationism and evolution have dominated the conversation of these ancients texts. In the midst of the squabbling, yelling, and politicking have we missed the point? Do our ancient stories tells us something even more important than how creation came to be? For me the short answer is yes. The creation story gives an answer to the existential question of why. Why do we exist? What is the point of life? Who am I? What is the meaning of life? If we get bogged down in endless and nonsensical debates over what really happened, we miss the much larger point Genesis 1-2 is trying to make. So let us look to the scriptures themselves and see what God is really up to.
God is the creator of all things and began creation with the power of the holy spirit and the word of God. It is the wind from God which creates the conditions necessary for creation to commence. In Hebrew, the word ruah means: wind, breath, or spirit. So literally it is a wind/breath/spirit of God which causes creation to begin. This is profoundly important. The spirit of God comes over the face of the waters and starts it all. All of creation, all of life begins with the Spirit of God. Similarly, in Genesis 2, the first man comes alive only when the breath/spirit of God is given.
Creation begins with the spirit and human life begins with the spirit. It is the spirit of God which brings life, renewal, and restoration to creation. Without the spirit we are like dried up and left for dead bones. (see Ezekiel 37)
The other key element of the story of creation is how God creates. In Genesis 1, God creates by speaking. God repeatedly says: "let there be....and there was..." God literally calls things into existence by the power of God's word. This is profoundly important because as Christians we understand Jesus to be the living embodiment of God's word.
God creates by speaking the word and the word is Jesus Christ. It is through Christ and the Spirit that creation came be (how about that for an explanation of the trinity). God's word literally has the power to create reality, the power to take potential and make it actual, the power to transform lives.
The story of creation firmly establishes God as creator and tells us a great deal about God and the creation. The story of creation also tells us a lot about human nature and the meaning of life. To be created in God's image implies an intimate connection between God and humanity that is not found elsewhere in creation. Human beings are set apart and given power and responsibility for the creation. (we do really well with the power side, not so much with the responsibility side) God also allows Adam to participate in creation by naming the animals (2:19-20). As such human beings can be understood as participants with God in the ongoing creation of the world and can be seen as created co-creators.
God created us for relationship, to live together in harmony with the created world and live in harmony with the Lord. The story of creation tells us fundamentally that we created for relationship with God, given powers and responsibilities to be stewards of creation, and to live within the boundaries God sets before us. As we begin to see in Genesis 3, it doesn't take long for this good and pleasing creation to lose focus and become askew. That story will have to wait.
The story of creation is also highly debated and discussed. In our day, the ongoing battle between creationism and evolution have dominated the conversation of these ancients texts. In the midst of the squabbling, yelling, and politicking have we missed the point? Do our ancient stories tells us something even more important than how creation came to be? For me the short answer is yes. The creation story gives an answer to the existential question of why. Why do we exist? What is the point of life? Who am I? What is the meaning of life? If we get bogged down in endless and nonsensical debates over what really happened, we miss the much larger point Genesis 1-2 is trying to make. So let us look to the scriptures themselves and see what God is really up to.
"In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." Genesis 1:1-3
God is the creator of all things and began creation with the power of the holy spirit and the word of God. It is the wind from God which creates the conditions necessary for creation to commence. In Hebrew, the word ruah means: wind, breath, or spirit. So literally it is a wind/breath/spirit of God which causes creation to begin. This is profoundly important. The spirit of God comes over the face of the waters and starts it all. All of creation, all of life begins with the Spirit of God. Similarly, in Genesis 2, the first man comes alive only when the breath/spirit of God is given.
"Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7
Creation begins with the spirit and human life begins with the spirit. It is the spirit of God which brings life, renewal, and restoration to creation. Without the spirit we are like dried up and left for dead bones. (see Ezekiel 37)
The other key element of the story of creation is how God creates. In Genesis 1, God creates by speaking. God repeatedly says: "let there be....and there was..." God literally calls things into existence by the power of God's word. This is profoundly important because as Christians we understand Jesus to be the living embodiment of God's word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people...And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-4,14
God creates by speaking the word and the word is Jesus Christ. It is through Christ and the Spirit that creation came be (how about that for an explanation of the trinity). God's word literally has the power to create reality, the power to take potential and make it actual, the power to transform lives.
The story of creation firmly establishes God as creator and tells us a great deal about God and the creation. The story of creation also tells us a lot about human nature and the meaning of life. To be created in God's image implies an intimate connection between God and humanity that is not found elsewhere in creation. Human beings are set apart and given power and responsibility for the creation. (we do really well with the power side, not so much with the responsibility side) God also allows Adam to participate in creation by naming the animals (2:19-20). As such human beings can be understood as participants with God in the ongoing creation of the world and can be seen as created co-creators.
God created us for relationship, to live together in harmony with the created world and live in harmony with the Lord. The story of creation tells us fundamentally that we created for relationship with God, given powers and responsibilities to be stewards of creation, and to live within the boundaries God sets before us. As we begin to see in Genesis 3, it doesn't take long for this good and pleasing creation to lose focus and become askew. That story will have to wait.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Day 7: Exit Strategy
Read John 13:31-35; 14:15-31
It is my hope that over the past week you have truly enjoyed digging in to the scriptures and that God has revealed, through the stories of Jesus' life and ministry, the love and grace of God. We have seen how Jesus truly loved all people and how he gave us an example of how to live. In today's reading we find Jesus preparing to be arrested, face trial, and be crucified. Jesus knew what God's plan was and that he had very little time. Jesus takes time with the disciples to share last minute wisdom, instruction, and encouragement.
Jesus knew the challenges the disciples were going to face in both the short and long term. In the days ahead, the disciples would face: the threat of similar arrest and persecution, sorting out the meaning of Jesus death and resurrection, and begin deciding what to do next. Their challenge for the long term would be continuing the ministry of Jesus, by sharing the good news with all people and starting the Christian church. Jesus knew these challenges could overwhelm the disciples, so he wanted to share two key nuggets of wisdom: love and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gives the ultimate reminder of what his ministry was all about when we offers a "new" commandment:
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Jesus wants the disciples to not only love one another, but to love each other as he loved them. In addition, this love is not a private love but a public love which would be seen by others. Jesus wants them to love to the extent that they become known by their love. To be a disciple we must learn to love as Jesus loved, we must love who Jesus loved. Jesus loved everyone everywhere and loved from the center of his being. Jesus gave his whole self to loving others, without holding back. If we truly want to be followers of Jesus, we must love, without holding back, all people. What is holding you back?
Jesus also knew that the disciples would face challenges from both within their community and from outside. Loving others is the mandate, but Jesus also provided the Holy Spirit to empower their work, provide guidance, comfort, and truth.
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you...I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." John 14:15-17, 25-26
It is my hope that over the past week you have truly enjoyed digging in to the scriptures and that God has revealed, through the stories of Jesus' life and ministry, the love and grace of God. We have seen how Jesus truly loved all people and how he gave us an example of how to live. In today's reading we find Jesus preparing to be arrested, face trial, and be crucified. Jesus knew what God's plan was and that he had very little time. Jesus takes time with the disciples to share last minute wisdom, instruction, and encouragement.
Jesus knew the challenges the disciples were going to face in both the short and long term. In the days ahead, the disciples would face: the threat of similar arrest and persecution, sorting out the meaning of Jesus death and resurrection, and begin deciding what to do next. Their challenge for the long term would be continuing the ministry of Jesus, by sharing the good news with all people and starting the Christian church. Jesus knew these challenges could overwhelm the disciples, so he wanted to share two key nuggets of wisdom: love and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gives the ultimate reminder of what his ministry was all about when we offers a "new" commandment:
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Jesus wants the disciples to not only love one another, but to love each other as he loved them. In addition, this love is not a private love but a public love which would be seen by others. Jesus wants them to love to the extent that they become known by their love. To be a disciple we must learn to love as Jesus loved, we must love who Jesus loved. Jesus loved everyone everywhere and loved from the center of his being. Jesus gave his whole self to loving others, without holding back. If we truly want to be followers of Jesus, we must love, without holding back, all people. What is holding you back?
Jesus also knew that the disciples would face challenges from both within their community and from outside. Loving others is the mandate, but Jesus also provided the Holy Spirit to empower their work, provide guidance, comfort, and truth.
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you...I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." John 14:15-17, 25-26
The work that God called the disciples to do would be challenging, difficult, and dangerous. Jesus reminds them that, although he won't be physically present, the Holy Spirit will lead them, guide them, remind them, and comfort them. The Holy Spirit will provide everything they need. So it is with us as well. God has called us to participate in God's mission in the world. It can be challegning and difficult, but we are equipped to do so and empowered by the Holy Spirit. May God continue to inspire, enlighten, and support in our journey of discipleship!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Day 6: Identity Crisis
Read John 10:22-42
As Jesus became more and more popular with the people, and his healings and teachings began to be made known, he was increasingly viewed as a threat to the religious leaders. The “Jews” as John refers to Jesus’ opponents is really a description of the religious elites (Pharisees, priests, and scribes) not the Jewish people themselves (remember Jesus and his disciples were all Jewish). As Jesus grew in notoriety, more and more people came to believe that he was the Messiah. The confrontation in this story between Jesus and the religious leaders is fundamentally about who Jesus really is.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:24-30
As Jesus became more and more popular with the people, and his healings and teachings began to be made known, he was increasingly viewed as a threat to the religious leaders. The “Jews” as John refers to Jesus’ opponents is really a description of the religious elites (Pharisees, priests, and scribes) not the Jewish people themselves (remember Jesus and his disciples were all Jewish). As Jesus grew in notoriety, more and more people came to believe that he was the Messiah. The confrontation in this story between Jesus and the religious leaders is fundamentally about who Jesus really is.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus performed miracles and signs that were interpreted as acts of God. He brought sight to the blind, helped the lame walk, fed the multitudes, and brought the dead back to life. For Jesus, his signs were evidence that he was doing the work of the Father and that he was the Son of God.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:24-30
Despite the skepticism and lack of faith of the leaders, Jesus tells them the truth. He is the long awaited and promised Messiah and that he and the Father are one. For the religious leaders this is blasphemy. No one could claim to be God and Jesus was clearly making this point. Jesus uses the signs and miracles he performed as evidence of his identity as the Messiah. The religious leaders are forced to renounce their religious traditions (by believing that God had taken on human form) and believe Jesus, or renounce Jesus and try to discredit him. We know of course the path the leaders chose, and their rejection of Jesus leads him to the cross.
Ultimately the question Jesus asks the religious leaders is the same question he asks each of us: who do you say I am? Who is Jesus to you and what difference does it make? The leaders were either unwilling or unable to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and God incarnate. They had too much invested in their religion and their place of power to receive the truth. Believing in Jesus would have meant contradicting their long-held religious beliefs, which they had built a career sharing with the people and defending. Jesus was asking them to believe despite the high cost.
For us the question is just as pressing. Do we really believe that Jesus was the Messiah? Are we willing to order our life around this truth? What is the cost to us for living our life with a robust Christian faith? Many people claim to be Christian but their lives don’t reflect it. To be a disciple of Christ means that each day we are learning to be more and more like Jesus. It means we are willing to risk for our faith and stand up for God even when it is unpopular and inconvenient. It means placing God at the center of our lives and that all our decisions are filtered through our faith. As Christians we know that Jesus paid the highest cost for us and for the world. Jesus is calling us into a life-changing relationship which asks us to put God first. Are we willing to take the risk and pay the cost? Are we willing to say who Jesus is for us?
Ultimately the question Jesus asks the religious leaders is the same question he asks each of us: who do you say I am? Who is Jesus to you and what difference does it make? The leaders were either unwilling or unable to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and God incarnate. They had too much invested in their religion and their place of power to receive the truth. Believing in Jesus would have meant contradicting their long-held religious beliefs, which they had built a career sharing with the people and defending. Jesus was asking them to believe despite the high cost.
For us the question is just as pressing. Do we really believe that Jesus was the Messiah? Are we willing to order our life around this truth? What is the cost to us for living our life with a robust Christian faith? Many people claim to be Christian but their lives don’t reflect it. To be a disciple of Christ means that each day we are learning to be more and more like Jesus. It means we are willing to risk for our faith and stand up for God even when it is unpopular and inconvenient. It means placing God at the center of our lives and that all our decisions are filtered through our faith. As Christians we know that Jesus paid the highest cost for us and for the world. Jesus is calling us into a life-changing relationship which asks us to put God first. Are we willing to take the risk and pay the cost? Are we willing to say who Jesus is for us?
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