Luke 9:1-17
When Jesus sends out the twelves apostles and gives them authority to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal, he he gives them very specific instructions on what provisions they are allowed to take for their journey. Basically, Jesus sends them out and tells them they are not allowed to take anything: no bag, no food, no clothes, no money. "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there." (Luke 9:3-4) Why would Jesus do this? Why would he not want to make sure they had all the supplies they needed for their journey? The answer to this question I believe is fundamental to the nature of faith and evangelism.
What Jesus understood, and the disciples needed to learn, was that the journey of faith is deeply relational. We learn about God from others; we learn to love as God loves from others. Central to the nature of relationships is dependence and trust. If the disciples go around preaching the good news and healing people and provide for their own needs (food, clothes, shelter) then they are really proclaiming the good news AT people. But, if they share the good news and heal and rely upon the hospitality and care of others it forms a relationship that is mutual, a ministry WITH others. We are designed by God to be in relationship with one another, not to be independent. Further, the church cannot do "evangelism" by simply showing up and telling people the truth. It must be a truth that is discovered in relationships of love and mutual respect.
Upon returning from their initial good news journey, the disciples return to Jesus excited about all they had done. After withdrawing for a time, a crowd found them and Jesus proclaimed the the Kingdom of God and provided healing. Afterward, the disciples tell Jesus to send the people away so they can go get food for themselves, but Jesus tells them to provide food for them: "you give them something to eat." (Luke 9:13) The people had taken nothing with them for the journey and had become hungry. The disciples instincts to send them away so they could provide for themselves was directly opposite of Jesus' instructions to them when they went on their journey. Apparently the lesson on relationships from their journey had not quite taken hold. The disciples missed the connection between sharing the word of God and developing loving relationships with people. It is not enough to share the truth about God with others, we care called to enter into the lives of others and seek to meet each others needs in mutual ways.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Persistent Faith
Luke 8:40-56
Persistence is often a quality that leaders and successful people possess. We all experience failure, disappointment, and we each endure suffering. The question is not if these things will happen in life, but rather what will we do when they happen. Persistence requires endurance and hope; endurance to withstand long-term discomfort and pain and hope to always believe something more is possible.
We see persistent faith in both Jairus and the woman in their interaction with Jesus. Jairus is a leader in the local synagogue and, unlike other religious leaders who refuse to believe Jesus, he deeply believes that Jesus can heal his dying daughter. He begs Jesus, falling on his feet, to heal his daughter. He was persistent and willing to do whatever it took to save his daughter. On the way to see her, the crowd pressed in on Jesus and a woman, who had been bleeding for 12 years, touched his clothes and was immediately healed. She not only believed Jesus could heal her, but that by simply touching him she would be healed. She also believed, after twelve years of suffering, that she could be healed. She had spent everything she had trying to get better. Doubtless she had agonized over her condition and considered giving up. And yet she persisted and believed she could be healed. Jesus blesses her and praises her: "daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace." (Luke 8:48) When they finally arrive at Jairus' house this daughter has already died. But now it is Jesus who persists. He tells the parents that she is not dead but only sleeping. He commands her to get up: "child, get up" (8:54) and she is revived. Jesus is moved by the persistent faith of Jairus on behalf of his daughter and the woman, that he refuses to give up. He heals the child, bringing her back from the dead, and restores her to her family.
The life of faith is not an easy path. Our faith does not exempt us from suffering or hardship. Faith does however provide the ultimate hope that God will redeem and restore all things and that our pain and suffering will not be the last word. Deep and real hope gives us the strength to endure, the persistence to carry on, and the belief that God is making all things new.
Persistence is often a quality that leaders and successful people possess. We all experience failure, disappointment, and we each endure suffering. The question is not if these things will happen in life, but rather what will we do when they happen. Persistence requires endurance and hope; endurance to withstand long-term discomfort and pain and hope to always believe something more is possible.
We see persistent faith in both Jairus and the woman in their interaction with Jesus. Jairus is a leader in the local synagogue and, unlike other religious leaders who refuse to believe Jesus, he deeply believes that Jesus can heal his dying daughter. He begs Jesus, falling on his feet, to heal his daughter. He was persistent and willing to do whatever it took to save his daughter. On the way to see her, the crowd pressed in on Jesus and a woman, who had been bleeding for 12 years, touched his clothes and was immediately healed. She not only believed Jesus could heal her, but that by simply touching him she would be healed. She also believed, after twelve years of suffering, that she could be healed. She had spent everything she had trying to get better. Doubtless she had agonized over her condition and considered giving up. And yet she persisted and believed she could be healed. Jesus blesses her and praises her: "daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace." (Luke 8:48) When they finally arrive at Jairus' house this daughter has already died. But now it is Jesus who persists. He tells the parents that she is not dead but only sleeping. He commands her to get up: "child, get up" (8:54) and she is revived. Jesus is moved by the persistent faith of Jairus on behalf of his daughter and the woman, that he refuses to give up. He heals the child, bringing her back from the dead, and restores her to her family.
The life of faith is not an easy path. Our faith does not exempt us from suffering or hardship. Faith does however provide the ultimate hope that God will redeem and restore all things and that our pain and suffering will not be the last word. Deep and real hope gives us the strength to endure, the persistence to carry on, and the belief that God is making all things new.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Fear or Trust?
Luke 8:22-39
What are you afraid of?
After I saw the movie Jaws as a young boy I was terrified of sharks. I used to have dreams where I was swimming and was attacked by a man-eating shark. The thought of going swimming in the ocean was daunting for me and when I have been near the ocean, I have mostly avoided the water. Now as an adult, I know that the chance of ever being attacked by a shark are very slim (especially in Lake Superior!) but this fear has never fully left me. Fear has a way of paralyzing us. Whether our fears are rational or not, fear grips us in a way that keeps us from thinking clearly, and when it takes a deeper hold can prevent us from functioning.
So...What are you afraid of? What do you really fear? For it is in our fear that Satan attacks us. It is what we fear the most that becomes the testing ground for our trust in God. If you fear losing your children, Satan will create crippling anxiety about their safety. If you fear a life lived alone, then Satan will convince you that you are unlovable. If you fear a life of meaninglessness, Satan will cause you to doubt your place in the world. Fear is normal and human, but it need not have the last word. The spiritual antidote to fear is trust; a deep and abiding trust in the Lord. A trust that knows God's loves and knows that whatever happens God will be with us.
The stories of Jesus calming the storm and healing the demon possessed man both feature fear. The disciples are afraid of a wild storm and the Gerasene people fear a wild man. This fear keeps them from trusting and keeps them from truly seeing what God was up to in Jesus. As the disciples were crossing to the other side of the sea of Galilee, a great windstorm rose up and began to sink the boat. The disciples were understandably terrified. They woke Jesus, who then rebuked the storm and rebuked the disciples saying: "where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25) The disciples then question who Jesus really is because of his ability to calm the storm. At this point the disciples had seen Jesus perform miracle after miracle and yet fear still overcame their faith
.
When they arrive on shore they immediately meet the demon possessed wild man. Naked, unchained, and extremely dangerous, this man was surely feared by all. He was also severely tormented and in need of healing. Jesus calms the storm raging in his body and restores the man to full health. The response of the townspeople was to ask Jesus to leave. "Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear." (Luke 8:37) The people had witnessed a great miracle and the man who was feared by all was now restored and in his right mind. Their response could have been to invite Jesus to stay and teach them and heal them. Instead their fears of Jesus' power terrified them. They didn't know who Jesus was but they knew they could not control him.
The desire to control is intricately linked to a lack of trust. When we know and trust God, we know that even it tough times God is with us. Our faith teaches us that out of death, despair, and suffering come new life and hope. We are resurrection people who believe that through God all things are possible. Fear undercuts this trust; fear questions these beliefs; fear produces doubt and anxiety. When we are afraid we often cling to the illusion of control and miss the opportunity to grow in our trust of the Lord. The truth is we cannot control our world, we do not get to live in a world without fear. But we do have a choice. Will we send Jesus away and choose the comfort of the fear we know. Or will we trust Jesus to conquer our fears and lead us into a future we do not control and cannot predict. This is a choice we each must make throughout our lives. I will choose, by the grace of God, to swim with the sharks and trust in God's presence and protection.
What are you afraid of?
After I saw the movie Jaws as a young boy I was terrified of sharks. I used to have dreams where I was swimming and was attacked by a man-eating shark. The thought of going swimming in the ocean was daunting for me and when I have been near the ocean, I have mostly avoided the water. Now as an adult, I know that the chance of ever being attacked by a shark are very slim (especially in Lake Superior!) but this fear has never fully left me. Fear has a way of paralyzing us. Whether our fears are rational or not, fear grips us in a way that keeps us from thinking clearly, and when it takes a deeper hold can prevent us from functioning.
So...What are you afraid of? What do you really fear? For it is in our fear that Satan attacks us. It is what we fear the most that becomes the testing ground for our trust in God. If you fear losing your children, Satan will create crippling anxiety about their safety. If you fear a life lived alone, then Satan will convince you that you are unlovable. If you fear a life of meaninglessness, Satan will cause you to doubt your place in the world. Fear is normal and human, but it need not have the last word. The spiritual antidote to fear is trust; a deep and abiding trust in the Lord. A trust that knows God's loves and knows that whatever happens God will be with us.
The stories of Jesus calming the storm and healing the demon possessed man both feature fear. The disciples are afraid of a wild storm and the Gerasene people fear a wild man. This fear keeps them from trusting and keeps them from truly seeing what God was up to in Jesus. As the disciples were crossing to the other side of the sea of Galilee, a great windstorm rose up and began to sink the boat. The disciples were understandably terrified. They woke Jesus, who then rebuked the storm and rebuked the disciples saying: "where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25) The disciples then question who Jesus really is because of his ability to calm the storm. At this point the disciples had seen Jesus perform miracle after miracle and yet fear still overcame their faith
.
When they arrive on shore they immediately meet the demon possessed wild man. Naked, unchained, and extremely dangerous, this man was surely feared by all. He was also severely tormented and in need of healing. Jesus calms the storm raging in his body and restores the man to full health. The response of the townspeople was to ask Jesus to leave. "Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear." (Luke 8:37) The people had witnessed a great miracle and the man who was feared by all was now restored and in his right mind. Their response could have been to invite Jesus to stay and teach them and heal them. Instead their fears of Jesus' power terrified them. They didn't know who Jesus was but they knew they could not control him.
The desire to control is intricately linked to a lack of trust. When we know and trust God, we know that even it tough times God is with us. Our faith teaches us that out of death, despair, and suffering come new life and hope. We are resurrection people who believe that through God all things are possible. Fear undercuts this trust; fear questions these beliefs; fear produces doubt and anxiety. When we are afraid we often cling to the illusion of control and miss the opportunity to grow in our trust of the Lord. The truth is we cannot control our world, we do not get to live in a world without fear. But we do have a choice. Will we send Jesus away and choose the comfort of the fear we know. Or will we trust Jesus to conquer our fears and lead us into a future we do not control and cannot predict. This is a choice we each must make throughout our lives. I will choose, by the grace of God, to swim with the sharks and trust in God's presence and protection.
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Parable of the Sower
Luke 8:1-21
Jesus traveled extensively throughout his ministry and as he went from town to town, huge crowds gathered to hear him speak, receive healing, or see a miracle take place. Jesus was immensely popular and had begun to make the Jewish religious leaders nervous. Yet despite the big crowds and popularity, very few had made a real decision to follow and believe.
From all the thousands who heard and saw Jesus, and the hundreds who were directly blessed by him, only the twelve disciples and some women were committed. The rest were no where to be found. Is following Jesus so difficult that very few can actually do it? Or are we so locked into our own worlds that we lack the faith and courage to follow?
Jesus provides his insight into the nature of discipleship as he offers the parable of the sower. The seed of Jesus work and message was shared with many people. Some of course reject it outright but many others initially receive it but cannot sustain their commitment. They have good intentions but produce nothing. It is only the good soil who are able to produce any fruit and they produce an abundance. The few who truly become followers of Jesus make a world of difference and change lives.
This dynamic continues to be true in my experience of the church. As fewer and fewer people claim any religious affiliation it would seem that the future of the church is bleak. But it has always been the case that there have been many even within the church who are not following Jesus. Some come to church to appease the family, some come to be seen, some come because they were raised in the church and know no other way. But it only takes a few disciples who are committed to following Jesus to make a difference, it only takes one small seed grown on good soil to grow exponentially. If the church can foster an atmosphere where real disciples of Jesus are formed and supported, then despite all the church decline and irrelevance, God's work will continue to be seen. We cannot be discouraged when so few seem to take discipleship seriously--this is nothing new. What we must do is trust that God is working in peoples lives and remember that it is God who grows the harvest.
Jesus traveled extensively throughout his ministry and as he went from town to town, huge crowds gathered to hear him speak, receive healing, or see a miracle take place. Jesus was immensely popular and had begun to make the Jewish religious leaders nervous. Yet despite the big crowds and popularity, very few had made a real decision to follow and believe.
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him,2as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,3and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. Luke 8:1-3
From all the thousands who heard and saw Jesus, and the hundreds who were directly blessed by him, only the twelve disciples and some women were committed. The rest were no where to be found. Is following Jesus so difficult that very few can actually do it? Or are we so locked into our own worlds that we lack the faith and courage to follow?
Jesus provides his insight into the nature of discipleship as he offers the parable of the sower. The seed of Jesus work and message was shared with many people. Some of course reject it outright but many others initially receive it but cannot sustain their commitment. They have good intentions but produce nothing. It is only the good soil who are able to produce any fruit and they produce an abundance. The few who truly become followers of Jesus make a world of difference and change lives.
This dynamic continues to be true in my experience of the church. As fewer and fewer people claim any religious affiliation it would seem that the future of the church is bleak. But it has always been the case that there have been many even within the church who are not following Jesus. Some come to church to appease the family, some come to be seen, some come because they were raised in the church and know no other way. But it only takes a few disciples who are committed to following Jesus to make a difference, it only takes one small seed grown on good soil to grow exponentially. If the church can foster an atmosphere where real disciples of Jesus are formed and supported, then despite all the church decline and irrelevance, God's work will continue to be seen. We cannot be discouraged when so few seem to take discipleship seriously--this is nothing new. What we must do is trust that God is working in peoples lives and remember that it is God who grows the harvest.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Forgiveness and an Alabaster Jar
Luke 7:36-50
One of the common attacks levied against Jesus by the Pharisees is that he spent his time eating with sinners. Table fellowship and social interaction with those who were sinners was frowned upon and physical contact with sinners was considered unlawful. Thus when Jesus is dining at a Pharisees house and a sinful woman joins them and washes his feet with her tears and alabaster ointment, the Pharisee's response is to judge Jesus. While the Pharisee might be technically right about Jewish law, he misses the deeper power of forgiveness. Jesus responds, as he often does when attacked, with a parable:
Jesus uses the parable to make the case that those who receive more forgiveness will be more devoted to God because they are more grateful. Conversely, those who believe they do not need forgiveness and mercy from God will not be devoted to God. Jesus forgives the sinful woman who the Pharisees deem as unworthy. They were ready to write her off, but because of the forgiveness she receives, the sinful woman has been transformed into a devoted follower of God. Jesus then said to the Pharisees: "I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." (Luke 7:47)
When believe we do not need God in our life we are much more likely to treat others harshly. When we have not understood the true meaning of grace and forgiveness in a personal way, we cannot understand how much God really loves us. But when we have sinned and fallen short, when we have hurt others, lied, cheated, envied, lusted, oppressed others and not stood up for those being oppressed, we realize how powerful the forgiveness of God really is. Jesus did not come for the healthy he came for the sick, he came that those who were lost would find their way and their worth in him, that those who were broken could receive healing and wholeness. The sinful woman understood this and she lived her life forever transformed, forever grateful, and forever appreciating the love she was given.
Do you understand God's love or is it only an abstract idea?
One of the common attacks levied against Jesus by the Pharisees is that he spent his time eating with sinners. Table fellowship and social interaction with those who were sinners was frowned upon and physical contact with sinners was considered unlawful. Thus when Jesus is dining at a Pharisees house and a sinful woman joins them and washes his feet with her tears and alabaster ointment, the Pharisee's response is to judge Jesus. While the Pharisee might be technically right about Jewish law, he misses the deeper power of forgiveness. Jesus responds, as he often does when attacked, with a parable:
A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?
Luke 7:41-42
Jesus uses the parable to make the case that those who receive more forgiveness will be more devoted to God because they are more grateful. Conversely, those who believe they do not need forgiveness and mercy from God will not be devoted to God. Jesus forgives the sinful woman who the Pharisees deem as unworthy. They were ready to write her off, but because of the forgiveness she receives, the sinful woman has been transformed into a devoted follower of God. Jesus then said to the Pharisees: "I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." (Luke 7:47)
When believe we do not need God in our life we are much more likely to treat others harshly. When we have not understood the true meaning of grace and forgiveness in a personal way, we cannot understand how much God really loves us. But when we have sinned and fallen short, when we have hurt others, lied, cheated, envied, lusted, oppressed others and not stood up for those being oppressed, we realize how powerful the forgiveness of God really is. Jesus did not come for the healthy he came for the sick, he came that those who were lost would find their way and their worth in him, that those who were broken could receive healing and wholeness. The sinful woman understood this and she lived her life forever transformed, forever grateful, and forever appreciating the love she was given.
Do you understand God's love or is it only an abstract idea?
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Consequences of No
Luke 7:18-35
A few years ago Jim Carrey was in a comedy called Yes Man where his character had a spell cast on him which forced him to answer "yes" to everything that was asked of him. It is a truly funny movie, but also one which has a deeper point. When we live our lives in perpetual "no" mode we get stuck in a kind of negativity that has deep consequences for our life. On the other hand, saying yes to life can open us up to new possibilities and positivity. This holds true for our faith life as well. When we are ruled by skepticism and doubt and require conclusive proof before believing, we close ourselves off from seeing all that God is doing in our lives and in the world. But when we see the world through eyes of faith and make conscious efforts to see God in the world, we begin to notice God working in all sorts of ways.
When John's disciples are sent to Jesus they inquire: "are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?" (Luke 7:19) they are making a real effort to discern what God is up. Jesus answers them by pointing to all that he has done to demonstrate that he is indeed the messiah:
A few years ago Jim Carrey was in a comedy called Yes Man where his character had a spell cast on him which forced him to answer "yes" to everything that was asked of him. It is a truly funny movie, but also one which has a deeper point. When we live our lives in perpetual "no" mode we get stuck in a kind of negativity that has deep consequences for our life. On the other hand, saying yes to life can open us up to new possibilities and positivity. This holds true for our faith life as well. When we are ruled by skepticism and doubt and require conclusive proof before believing, we close ourselves off from seeing all that God is doing in our lives and in the world. But when we see the world through eyes of faith and make conscious efforts to see God in the world, we begin to notice God working in all sorts of ways.
When John's disciples are sent to Jesus they inquire: "are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?" (Luke 7:19) they are making a real effort to discern what God is up. Jesus answers them by pointing to all that he has done to demonstrate that he is indeed the messiah:
Go and tell John what you have seen and heard, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. Luke 7:22
Jesus' response places the burden of deciding who he is on the individual. Faith is something we each must decide for ourselves. No one else can believe for you and no two people have the same journey. We all must decide. For those who were open to what Jesus was doing it became increasingly clear that he was the one they had been waiting for.
Jesus' life and ministry offer ample evidence of who he is really is but many missed what God was doing. They were blinded by their hardness of heart and responded negatively to both John and Jesus. The Pharisees and other religious leaders refused to be baptized by John and rejected Jesus' teachings. Instead they responded with the power of no and instead of finding reasons to believe they found reasons to attack. Jesus unmasks their negative and unbelieving hearts by saying:
For John the Baptist has come eating not bread and no wine, and you say 'he has a demon'; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children. Luke 7:33-35
The Pharisees were so closed off to what God was doing that nothing could convince them that their beliefs were mistaken. Before they met Jesus they decided he was wrong, before they heard him speak or saw him heal people they believed he was a fake. This negativity led them to miss the very thing they were hoping and waiting for. Faith is often less a matter of being convinced and more about our openness to God. The power of no allows people to remain in control, while the power of yes requires real trust that God will be with us in our journey into an unknown future.
Is it easier for you to say yes or no? Do you often need to be convinced in order to believe? What are the consequences of no in your life? What would happen if you said yes more?
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