Matthew 16:13-23 reveals something fascinating about how each of us hears what we think is God’s voice yet may not be so. Matthew writes that the Lord was with his disciples and asks them a question about His authenticity. Peter is the only one who chimes in with an answer and is verbally rewarded for his insight. Yet only a short time later Peter has another opinion about the Lord’s future and he is quickly put in his place. I will tell the story in my own words.
One day when the Lord and His disciple chums were hangin out in Caesarea He asked them a question. He says, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples start looking at each other waitin for someone to say something. You see up until now Jesus has asked them a lot of questions about things and they usually get them wrong but, this was different this question was about Him specifically. They certainly don’t want to get this one wrong.
So some of the disciples start sayin things like “Well some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and to a lesser extent Jeremiah.” “Yes” another disciple says, “To a lesser extent Jeremiah, I think that’s true.” Then they stop talking and wait to see what Jesus says. Then Jesus looks at them and says, “But who do you say I am?” Now the disciples completely clam up and don’t say anything because they were afraid of getting the answer wrong. Then Peter steps up to the plate and says what some were thinking but, none had the chutzpah to say publicly.
Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” For a moment the apostles are stymied. They don’t know if a lightning bolt is gonna come out of the sky or what. Sure some of them have thought this about Jesus but, none were gonna open their trap and say it out loud. I mean after all Jesus is flesh and blood like everybody else so they gotta be careful here when we start comparing Him to divinity.
Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you Simon because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my father who is in heaven.” I tell you the truth you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Simon, who is now Peter (from the Greek word petros meaning rock) is standing with the other apostles but his feet are not on the ground. He starts looking at the other apostles and begins pullin his suspenders and say’s, “Yah, I am the man!”
But a short time later Jesus and his disciple chums are hangin out and Jesus says to them that He is gonna be turned over to the scribes and Pharisees and be killed and raised on the third day. Peter didn’t like the sound of this at all and pulled Jesus aside and said, “Look dude this aint gonna happen to you. You are the messiah and messiah’s don’t get into trouble and killed or anything like that. Instead they get lots of friends and have successful blog sites and groupies and everything.
Then Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Get behind my Satan for you are not setting your sights on God’s interest, but man’s. Peter went shooooooooop and was only about a foot tall. It was hard to see his suspenders but it was obvious Peter wasn’t pullin on them that’s for sure. Then Jesus said to the apostles that God sees things differently than man. And God has His own plans for mankind, and in this case that means obedience to the point of death.
Peter did not want to see Jesus arrested by the religious leaders of the day because that would remove His status in the eyes of many people. Peter believed that anyone who was disdained by the religious leaders of that day was someone that God did not approve of and worse may be an unbeliever. This writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John clearly point to the presumption that the rich and the religious leaders of the day were considered close to God and the sick and poor were God’s least favorite. Once again Jesus is trying to dispel that notion in the minds of His disciples.
One final note it is interesting to see that Peter had difficulty understanding the difference between what God was saying to him and what his own ambitions were saying. In a very short period of time Peter was given great praise from Jesus for hearing something God was saying, and condemnation for listening to his own desires.
This is a lesson for us all.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Man Healed by the Sheep Gate
My very first blog on featured the story in John chapter 5. That blog gave more of a philosophical approach to the question of why do things happen to some people, but not others. This blog will focus on the story of the man lying by the pool when Jesus approached him. You can read the story in John 5:1-16. I will tell the story in my own words.
During the feast of the Jews Jesus and His disciple chums decided to go back to Jerusalem. While they were on their way they approached the sheep gate. The sheep gate is on the backside of Jerusalem and is where all the shepherds bring in their sheep from the fields where they were grazing. Because so many animals traverse through there, the place is pretty stinky. There is also a pool of water that is surrounded by five porticoes where a bunch of sick people were laying around waiting for the water to be stirred. You see, at certain times of the year an angel of the Lord would go down and stir the water and whoever went into the water first would be healed of whatever ailed them.
Now one dude who was lying there was sufferin from paralysis, when I say sufferin I mean sufferin because he was like this for thirty-eight years. Then Jesus walks up to the dude and says, “Do you want to get well?” The paralysis dude thinks to himself, no I’m just lyin here for my health; er come to think of it I am just lyin here for my health. But because Jesus is the only one who has spoken to the man for a long time the paralyzed guy figures he better speak nice to Him or he may not get put in the water when it gets stirred.
So the paralyzed guy says to Jesus, “Sir, I have no one to help me get into the water when it is stirred, and worse then that when I’m strugglin to get in the water somebody else beats me to the pool. “I tell you I am really gettin steamed about the whole state of affairs and everything here because the ones who get in the pool first usually don’t have the ailments that I have. “That’s why they can get into the pool faster then me. “Why last month an old geezer lady who just wanted a face-lift jumped in the pool when the water was stirred and she came out looking like Carrie Underwood. “I tell you it ain’t fair.”
Then Jesus said, “Arise, take you pallet and walk.” So the paralyzed man immediately becomes well and stands up. Then he picks up his pallet and starts walkin off with it. He’s walkin around Jerusalem and it was the Sabbath so he wasn’t supposed to be carrying his pallet or nothin. Then some religious types (a k a Pharisees) see him and say, “What in the tarnation are you doin? “You ain't supposed to be walkin around with a pallet. It’s the Sabbath for cryin out loud.” Then the used to be paralyzed guy says, “The guy who healed me told me to pick up my pallet and walk. “ Then the Pharisees look at each other and say to the used to be paralyzed guy, “Who healed you?” Then the newly healed guy scratches his head and realizes that he doesn’t even know who healed him.
Meanwhile Jesus is in the temple talking to the folks and he notices the newly healed guy walks in. Then Jesus says to the guy, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. So the used to be paralyzed guy says to himself, “How can I be sinnin I was lyin in my own poop for thirty eight years and now I can finally move around and the first thing I’m told is stop sinnin. Gimme a break.” Then Jesus says to the used to be paralyzed guy, “The sin I am referring to is the sin that exists in your heart.” Then the used to be paralyzed guy suddenly realized that Jesus was referring to envy, jealousy and coveting. The things the used to be paralyzed guy had in his heart everyday.
Then the used to be paralyzed guy went back to the Pharisees and told them it was Jesus. The Pharisees were steamed because Jesus was always breakin the Sabbath rules by healing people and feeding them and helping them out when he was supposed to be ignoring them like the other religious leaders were doin.
The main philosophical question here is why did Jesus heal this particular man. There were many invalids lying around the pool and some of them may have actually heard of Jesus. Yet Jesus heals a man that does not know him and worse one that does not thank him. This story reveals a very mysterious side to Jesus and causes us to see Him in a capricious light. The fact that Jesus selected a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years shows Jesus as sympathetic yet selecting this particular man raises questions. This man expresses no gratitude for the work the Lord has done for him. After thirty-eight years in this condition one would expect the man to show deep gratitude, instead he merely walked away when Jesus healed him.
Surely there would have been others at the pool that would have been more appreciative. Who can reason with the mind of God? Who indeed.
During the feast of the Jews Jesus and His disciple chums decided to go back to Jerusalem. While they were on their way they approached the sheep gate. The sheep gate is on the backside of Jerusalem and is where all the shepherds bring in their sheep from the fields where they were grazing. Because so many animals traverse through there, the place is pretty stinky. There is also a pool of water that is surrounded by five porticoes where a bunch of sick people were laying around waiting for the water to be stirred. You see, at certain times of the year an angel of the Lord would go down and stir the water and whoever went into the water first would be healed of whatever ailed them.
Now one dude who was lying there was sufferin from paralysis, when I say sufferin I mean sufferin because he was like this for thirty-eight years. Then Jesus walks up to the dude and says, “Do you want to get well?” The paralysis dude thinks to himself, no I’m just lyin here for my health; er come to think of it I am just lyin here for my health. But because Jesus is the only one who has spoken to the man for a long time the paralyzed guy figures he better speak nice to Him or he may not get put in the water when it gets stirred.
So the paralyzed guy says to Jesus, “Sir, I have no one to help me get into the water when it is stirred, and worse then that when I’m strugglin to get in the water somebody else beats me to the pool. “I tell you I am really gettin steamed about the whole state of affairs and everything here because the ones who get in the pool first usually don’t have the ailments that I have. “That’s why they can get into the pool faster then me. “Why last month an old geezer lady who just wanted a face-lift jumped in the pool when the water was stirred and she came out looking like Carrie Underwood. “I tell you it ain’t fair.”
Then Jesus said, “Arise, take you pallet and walk.” So the paralyzed man immediately becomes well and stands up. Then he picks up his pallet and starts walkin off with it. He’s walkin around Jerusalem and it was the Sabbath so he wasn’t supposed to be carrying his pallet or nothin. Then some religious types (a k a Pharisees) see him and say, “What in the tarnation are you doin? “You ain't supposed to be walkin around with a pallet. It’s the Sabbath for cryin out loud.” Then the used to be paralyzed guy says, “The guy who healed me told me to pick up my pallet and walk. “ Then the Pharisees look at each other and say to the used to be paralyzed guy, “Who healed you?” Then the newly healed guy scratches his head and realizes that he doesn’t even know who healed him.
Meanwhile Jesus is in the temple talking to the folks and he notices the newly healed guy walks in. Then Jesus says to the guy, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. So the used to be paralyzed guy says to himself, “How can I be sinnin I was lyin in my own poop for thirty eight years and now I can finally move around and the first thing I’m told is stop sinnin. Gimme a break.” Then Jesus says to the used to be paralyzed guy, “The sin I am referring to is the sin that exists in your heart.” Then the used to be paralyzed guy suddenly realized that Jesus was referring to envy, jealousy and coveting. The things the used to be paralyzed guy had in his heart everyday.
Then the used to be paralyzed guy went back to the Pharisees and told them it was Jesus. The Pharisees were steamed because Jesus was always breakin the Sabbath rules by healing people and feeding them and helping them out when he was supposed to be ignoring them like the other religious leaders were doin.
The main philosophical question here is why did Jesus heal this particular man. There were many invalids lying around the pool and some of them may have actually heard of Jesus. Yet Jesus heals a man that does not know him and worse one that does not thank him. This story reveals a very mysterious side to Jesus and causes us to see Him in a capricious light. The fact that Jesus selected a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years shows Jesus as sympathetic yet selecting this particular man raises questions. This man expresses no gratitude for the work the Lord has done for him. After thirty-eight years in this condition one would expect the man to show deep gratitude, instead he merely walked away when Jesus healed him.
Surely there would have been others at the pool that would have been more appreciative. Who can reason with the mind of God? Who indeed.
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Woman at the Well
Early in Jesus’ ministry He makes His way through Samaria. He does this often during His three-year ministry because Samaria is centrally located and in order to make the most efficient use of His travel time He has to go through a region that most Jews avoid. This is the story of the Samaritan woman at the well is found in John 4:1-42. I will tell the story in my own words.
Jesus and His disciple chums were traversing through the region of Samaria when they came to Jacob’s well. Jesus stopped to rest and His disciples went into town to buy some grub. While He was resting at the well a Samaritan woman came up to the well to draw water. Jesus say’s to her, “Give me a drink.” The woman turns around to see who Jesus is talking to and soon discoverers it happens to be her. You see Jews and Samaritans don’t like each other very much so it was very unusual for a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan woman.
The woman says to Jesus, “Are you talking to me?” “You must be talking to me cause there ain’t nobody else here with a water bucket.” Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and had any idea of who it is who is speaking you would have asked for living water.” The dame says to Jesus, “You don’t have so much as a soup spoon and you think you are gonna get some water out a this well? “I don’t think so.” Jesus said, “Everyone who chugs down this water will be looking to wet his whistle again before long but the water that I can give is living water and it will well up inside and bring eternal life.”
The woman doesn’t quite get it and says to Jesus, “Can I get that to go? I am real tired of commin out here in the hot sun day after day and doin all this grunt work. Jesus says to the dame, “Go call your husband.” Suddenly the babe has a strange look on her face and says, “Uh, I don’t have a husband.” Jesus says, “You have answered correctly when you say you don’t have a husband. “The truth of the matter is you have had five husbands and the guy who is currently pounding you is not even your husband.” “You are spending too much time on Bring Me a Hulk.com.”
The woman turns ashen. She says, “Sir I perceive you are a prophet.” Jesus says, “Ya think.” Then the dame does what we all do when we are caught with our pants down by someone who is far better at honoring God than we are, she changes the subject to a religious topic. Religion and politics are the best ways to change the subject and divert attention elsewhere. She says, “Our fathers worship on this mountain and you people say we should worship in Jerusalem. “So tell me who’s right?
Jesus says to her, “Lady, I don’t think you are smellin the coffee here.” The day will come when you will worship neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem but you will worship the father in a way that has not been understood before now. You will worship in spirit and in truth.” The dame says, “I know the messiah is coming and he will teach us all things.” Jesus says to her, “The one who speaks to you is he.” Then the babe drops her bucket right there and hi tails it back to town to tell everybody what just happened.
Meanwhile Jesus’ disciples come back to the well and see Jesus jawin away with the dame. Now no one says anything to Jesus because they know that Jesus is on a mission from God and whatever He does has to be God’s will. So even though the disciples don’t like Samaritans they are willing to overlook this incident because Jesus knows what He is doin.
Then the dame comes back with a number of people from the city and they are impressed with Him and come to believe in Him. Then they say to Jesus, “Why don’t you hang out with us for awhile?” So Jesus and His disciples stay for another two days and live in the guest rooms of a number of Samaritan residences. I’ll bet they didn’t brag about that when they returned to Jerusalem.
Then the people of the town said to the woman who was the first to speak to Jesus at the well, “We no longer believe because of what you told us about Jesus now we have seen Him for ourselves and believe that he is the messiah.”
The residents of the village make it clear that they originally believed that Jesus was the messiah because of what the woman has told them, but later became convinced by Jesus’ own words. Who would have believed that the first evangelist to this Samaritan town would have been a woman with more divorces than a Hollywood movie star. Clearly, Jesus’ disciples were experiencing things that would have been hard to explain to their Jewish friends, and even harder to explain to their Jewish families.
This story reveals that Jesus was a true revolutionist.
Jesus and His disciple chums were traversing through the region of Samaria when they came to Jacob’s well. Jesus stopped to rest and His disciples went into town to buy some grub. While He was resting at the well a Samaritan woman came up to the well to draw water. Jesus say’s to her, “Give me a drink.” The woman turns around to see who Jesus is talking to and soon discoverers it happens to be her. You see Jews and Samaritans don’t like each other very much so it was very unusual for a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan woman.
The woman says to Jesus, “Are you talking to me?” “You must be talking to me cause there ain’t nobody else here with a water bucket.” Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and had any idea of who it is who is speaking you would have asked for living water.” The dame says to Jesus, “You don’t have so much as a soup spoon and you think you are gonna get some water out a this well? “I don’t think so.” Jesus said, “Everyone who chugs down this water will be looking to wet his whistle again before long but the water that I can give is living water and it will well up inside and bring eternal life.”
The woman doesn’t quite get it and says to Jesus, “Can I get that to go? I am real tired of commin out here in the hot sun day after day and doin all this grunt work. Jesus says to the dame, “Go call your husband.” Suddenly the babe has a strange look on her face and says, “Uh, I don’t have a husband.” Jesus says, “You have answered correctly when you say you don’t have a husband. “The truth of the matter is you have had five husbands and the guy who is currently pounding you is not even your husband.” “You are spending too much time on Bring Me a Hulk.com.”
The woman turns ashen. She says, “Sir I perceive you are a prophet.” Jesus says, “Ya think.” Then the dame does what we all do when we are caught with our pants down by someone who is far better at honoring God than we are, she changes the subject to a religious topic. Religion and politics are the best ways to change the subject and divert attention elsewhere. She says, “Our fathers worship on this mountain and you people say we should worship in Jerusalem. “So tell me who’s right?
Jesus says to her, “Lady, I don’t think you are smellin the coffee here.” The day will come when you will worship neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem but you will worship the father in a way that has not been understood before now. You will worship in spirit and in truth.” The dame says, “I know the messiah is coming and he will teach us all things.” Jesus says to her, “The one who speaks to you is he.” Then the babe drops her bucket right there and hi tails it back to town to tell everybody what just happened.
Meanwhile Jesus’ disciples come back to the well and see Jesus jawin away with the dame. Now no one says anything to Jesus because they know that Jesus is on a mission from God and whatever He does has to be God’s will. So even though the disciples don’t like Samaritans they are willing to overlook this incident because Jesus knows what He is doin.
Then the dame comes back with a number of people from the city and they are impressed with Him and come to believe in Him. Then they say to Jesus, “Why don’t you hang out with us for awhile?” So Jesus and His disciples stay for another two days and live in the guest rooms of a number of Samaritan residences. I’ll bet they didn’t brag about that when they returned to Jerusalem.
Then the people of the town said to the woman who was the first to speak to Jesus at the well, “We no longer believe because of what you told us about Jesus now we have seen Him for ourselves and believe that he is the messiah.”
The residents of the village make it clear that they originally believed that Jesus was the messiah because of what the woman has told them, but later became convinced by Jesus’ own words. Who would have believed that the first evangelist to this Samaritan town would have been a woman with more divorces than a Hollywood movie star. Clearly, Jesus’ disciples were experiencing things that would have been hard to explain to their Jewish friends, and even harder to explain to their Jewish families.
This story reveals that Jesus was a true revolutionist.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Shadrach, Mesgach, and Abed-nego
Daniel chapter 3 tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego three Jewish men who were forced, along with everyone else, to worship the image of the king of Babylon. As the story goes they refuse and are cast into a large furnace. I will tell the story in my own words.
Once upon a time the king of Babylon captured the city of Jerusalem and made all of its inhabitants become slaves. Some of the captured Jews had talents and skills in various professions and were made to work in those professions. Others like a guy named Daniel were prophets so the king of Babylon made him one of his wise guys. Anyway, this king of Babylon was called Nebuchadnezzar. Yes, that is his real name.
Now, Nebuchadnezzar thought very highly of himself and he even made a great big bronze statute of himself and he put it right beside the Rocky statue that was outside the sports stadium. After a while the king noticed that most people just walked by without saying much about the statue. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t like that at all. He expected everyone to wave hi to the statue and to tell all the people they meet on the street how wonderful the statue is and everything. Since no one was saying much about the statue he decided to have a fiddler from Kentucky brought in and play a jig. The fiddler’s name was Jed Clampet. The king made a decree that whenever the people heard Jed play the fiddle they were to bow down to the statue and pay homage to it; failure to do that would result in pain of death.
So at an appointed time Jed started a playin and all the people bowed down and worshiped the statue. However, some of the king’s henchmen noticed that not everybody was payin homage to the statue. In fact there were three Jewish guys who refused to bow down. When the king got word of it he called the three amigos in for a sit down. King Nebuchadnezzar asked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego what their problem was, since they weren’t bowin down or nothing when the fiddler played a jig. The three Jewish amigos said that they served the Most High God and would not bow down to some silly statue. This made Nebuchadnezzar flip his lid.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said to the three amigos, “You listen to me you half wits. “I am the big cheese around here and if you plan on seein the sun rise tomorrow you better bow down to my statue.” Then the three amigos said to the king, “O king, we serve the Most High God and Him alone and we will never bow down to an idol.” Steam started comin out of Nebuchadnezzar’s ears. He said to his guards, “Bind the three of them hand and foot and toss them into the furnace.” Then the king had the furnace stoked hotter then it had ever been stoked before. It was so hot even the stokers got toasted.
Then the guards tossed the three amigos into the furnace. After a while the king walked across the balcony that provided a great view of the toasted amigos in the furnace. He sees the three amigos walking around and talking with someone. The king almost falls off the balcony. He says to his henchmen, “Didn’t you throw three guys into the furnace?” The henchmen say, “Yes.” Then the king says, “But I see four men walking around and the fourth looks like the Son of God.” Then one of the henchmen said he would have to double check with one of the king’s bean counters to make sure they got their numbers right. After checking they all agreed there were three men thrown in the toaster. However, when the furnace roll call was made it was determined there were four men in the furnace and they were walking around.
Then the king called out to the three amigos and instructed them to come out of the furnace. The three amigos came out and they were inspected for damage. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men agreed that the three amigos suffered no ill effect from the furnace. Then the king made a decree that all the people of the land must follow after the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, or face pain of death. The king seems to have a thing with decrees that are upheld by pain of death.
The faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego is commendable to the point that they were apparently visited by a heavenly creature who many believe was Christ. I wonder what He said to them. Another interesting thing to consider is that since everyone in the furnace was walking around it is clear that the only ill effect the fire had on the men was their bonds. The men’s bonds were burned off enabling the men to have no restrictions. Maybe that’s how God sees us when we are going through fire, maybe He sees us as completely free.
Once upon a time the king of Babylon captured the city of Jerusalem and made all of its inhabitants become slaves. Some of the captured Jews had talents and skills in various professions and were made to work in those professions. Others like a guy named Daniel were prophets so the king of Babylon made him one of his wise guys. Anyway, this king of Babylon was called Nebuchadnezzar. Yes, that is his real name.
Now, Nebuchadnezzar thought very highly of himself and he even made a great big bronze statute of himself and he put it right beside the Rocky statue that was outside the sports stadium. After a while the king noticed that most people just walked by without saying much about the statue. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t like that at all. He expected everyone to wave hi to the statue and to tell all the people they meet on the street how wonderful the statue is and everything. Since no one was saying much about the statue he decided to have a fiddler from Kentucky brought in and play a jig. The fiddler’s name was Jed Clampet. The king made a decree that whenever the people heard Jed play the fiddle they were to bow down to the statue and pay homage to it; failure to do that would result in pain of death.
So at an appointed time Jed started a playin and all the people bowed down and worshiped the statue. However, some of the king’s henchmen noticed that not everybody was payin homage to the statue. In fact there were three Jewish guys who refused to bow down. When the king got word of it he called the three amigos in for a sit down. King Nebuchadnezzar asked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego what their problem was, since they weren’t bowin down or nothing when the fiddler played a jig. The three Jewish amigos said that they served the Most High God and would not bow down to some silly statue. This made Nebuchadnezzar flip his lid.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said to the three amigos, “You listen to me you half wits. “I am the big cheese around here and if you plan on seein the sun rise tomorrow you better bow down to my statue.” Then the three amigos said to the king, “O king, we serve the Most High God and Him alone and we will never bow down to an idol.” Steam started comin out of Nebuchadnezzar’s ears. He said to his guards, “Bind the three of them hand and foot and toss them into the furnace.” Then the king had the furnace stoked hotter then it had ever been stoked before. It was so hot even the stokers got toasted.
Then the guards tossed the three amigos into the furnace. After a while the king walked across the balcony that provided a great view of the toasted amigos in the furnace. He sees the three amigos walking around and talking with someone. The king almost falls off the balcony. He says to his henchmen, “Didn’t you throw three guys into the furnace?” The henchmen say, “Yes.” Then the king says, “But I see four men walking around and the fourth looks like the Son of God.” Then one of the henchmen said he would have to double check with one of the king’s bean counters to make sure they got their numbers right. After checking they all agreed there were three men thrown in the toaster. However, when the furnace roll call was made it was determined there were four men in the furnace and they were walking around.
Then the king called out to the three amigos and instructed them to come out of the furnace. The three amigos came out and they were inspected for damage. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men agreed that the three amigos suffered no ill effect from the furnace. Then the king made a decree that all the people of the land must follow after the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, or face pain of death. The king seems to have a thing with decrees that are upheld by pain of death.
The faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego is commendable to the point that they were apparently visited by a heavenly creature who many believe was Christ. I wonder what He said to them. Another interesting thing to consider is that since everyone in the furnace was walking around it is clear that the only ill effect the fire had on the men was their bonds. The men’s bonds were burned off enabling the men to have no restrictions. Maybe that’s how God sees us when we are going through fire, maybe He sees us as completely free.
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Man Born Blind (part 2)
This is the second part of the story of the man born blind. If you wish to read part one click the week of 10/28-11/04 and read away. The story is found in John chapter 9 and I divided the blog into two parts because of its length. If you are too lazy to click and read the previous blog on this story I will briefly describe the scene.
Jesus heals a blind man.
Now, I will tell the rest of the story in my own words.
So when the blind dude, who can now see, comes back from washing his eyes he starts telling everybody what happened, but nobody believes him. So they take him over to the Pharisees to see what they think. Big mistake. The Pharisees start askin him all kinds of questions and the used to be blind guy tells them what happened. But they don’t believe him and they keep askin him more questions.
It’s not that the Pharisees don’t believe the man; they don’t want to believe him. This Jesus character has been stealin all their thunder lately and they don’t like it much. You see before Jesus came around the Pharisees were the ones everybody looked up to, but now they are more of a sideshow. So the Pharisees were lookin for any excuse to discredit Jesus. So they started tellin everybody that Jesus could not be a prophet because He healed the man on the Sabbath. In other words if Jesus was a man of God He would have waited until the next day to heal the man and the Pharisees would have appreciated that more. Right! Like that was gonna be the case.
Some in the crowd did not believe the used to be blind guy was the same man as the guy who used to beg for alms. They figured he just looked like him. But, the used to be blind guy kept insisting that he was the same dude. The Pharisees said that he was never really blind he was just faking it so he could beg for money and not have to work like the rest of us. But the used to be blind guy kept insisting that he was blind and then the religious leaders went over to see his mommy and daddy so they could corroborate his story.
Then the Pharisees started telling the people not to believe that the used to be blind guy used to be blind. But a lot of people standing there said they saw him for many years and that he was always blind for as long as they could remember. Then the used to be blind guy said to the Pharisees, “Why don’t you believe me?” The Pharisees said to the man that he made a good livin off of everybody and that’s why he acted blind. The used to be blind guy said, “If I made such a good livin off of everybody then why would I give all that up and claim to see, because now I have to work like everybody else.” The Pharisees said, “We don’t know and we don’t care. “All we know is you are startin to drive us crazy.”
Then the used to be blind guy says, “Why don’t you ask Jesus to heal you of your craziness?” Then the Pharisees hit the roof and tell the used to be blind guy that Jesus is a sinner because He healed him on the Sabbath. So the used to be blind guy says, “Isn’t that something, you say Jesus is a sinner yet He healed me. ‘How is that possible?” The Pharisees start getting even more steamed and tell the used to be blind guy that he is no longer allowed in the temple. The used to be blind guy tells the Pharisees that he was never welcomed in their temple before, so it doesn’t matter to him.
Eventually, Jesus finds the used to be blind guy and says to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The used to be blind guy says, “Tell me who he is so I can believe.” Jesus said to him, “You are looking right at Him.” Then the used to be blind guy worships Jesus. The Pharisees don’t like this one bit and tell Jesus that He better stop playing God. Jesus said to them, “For judgment I have come into this world so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
The Pharisees said to Him, “Do you mean that we are blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you would admit that you can not see then you have sight, but because you think you can see and understand the ways of God you are clearly blind.” Then Jesus and His disciples leave.
Jesus was trying to point out the short sightedness (no pun intended) of the religious leaders of His day. They were too concerned about Jesus healing on the Sabbath and not concerned about who Jesus was healing. They were arguing about what conditions existed to cause the man to be born blind and not concerned about the man’s condition. This is a truly amazing story about the wisdom, power and compassion of Jesus.
Jesus heals a blind man.
Now, I will tell the rest of the story in my own words.
So when the blind dude, who can now see, comes back from washing his eyes he starts telling everybody what happened, but nobody believes him. So they take him over to the Pharisees to see what they think. Big mistake. The Pharisees start askin him all kinds of questions and the used to be blind guy tells them what happened. But they don’t believe him and they keep askin him more questions.
It’s not that the Pharisees don’t believe the man; they don’t want to believe him. This Jesus character has been stealin all their thunder lately and they don’t like it much. You see before Jesus came around the Pharisees were the ones everybody looked up to, but now they are more of a sideshow. So the Pharisees were lookin for any excuse to discredit Jesus. So they started tellin everybody that Jesus could not be a prophet because He healed the man on the Sabbath. In other words if Jesus was a man of God He would have waited until the next day to heal the man and the Pharisees would have appreciated that more. Right! Like that was gonna be the case.
Some in the crowd did not believe the used to be blind guy was the same man as the guy who used to beg for alms. They figured he just looked like him. But, the used to be blind guy kept insisting that he was the same dude. The Pharisees said that he was never really blind he was just faking it so he could beg for money and not have to work like the rest of us. But the used to be blind guy kept insisting that he was blind and then the religious leaders went over to see his mommy and daddy so they could corroborate his story.
Then the Pharisees started telling the people not to believe that the used to be blind guy used to be blind. But a lot of people standing there said they saw him for many years and that he was always blind for as long as they could remember. Then the used to be blind guy said to the Pharisees, “Why don’t you believe me?” The Pharisees said to the man that he made a good livin off of everybody and that’s why he acted blind. The used to be blind guy said, “If I made such a good livin off of everybody then why would I give all that up and claim to see, because now I have to work like everybody else.” The Pharisees said, “We don’t know and we don’t care. “All we know is you are startin to drive us crazy.”
Then the used to be blind guy says, “Why don’t you ask Jesus to heal you of your craziness?” Then the Pharisees hit the roof and tell the used to be blind guy that Jesus is a sinner because He healed him on the Sabbath. So the used to be blind guy says, “Isn’t that something, you say Jesus is a sinner yet He healed me. ‘How is that possible?” The Pharisees start getting even more steamed and tell the used to be blind guy that he is no longer allowed in the temple. The used to be blind guy tells the Pharisees that he was never welcomed in their temple before, so it doesn’t matter to him.
Eventually, Jesus finds the used to be blind guy and says to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The used to be blind guy says, “Tell me who he is so I can believe.” Jesus said to him, “You are looking right at Him.” Then the used to be blind guy worships Jesus. The Pharisees don’t like this one bit and tell Jesus that He better stop playing God. Jesus said to them, “For judgment I have come into this world so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
The Pharisees said to Him, “Do you mean that we are blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you would admit that you can not see then you have sight, but because you think you can see and understand the ways of God you are clearly blind.” Then Jesus and His disciples leave.
Jesus was trying to point out the short sightedness (no pun intended) of the religious leaders of His day. They were too concerned about Jesus healing on the Sabbath and not concerned about who Jesus was healing. They were arguing about what conditions existed to cause the man to be born blind and not concerned about the man’s condition. This is a truly amazing story about the wisdom, power and compassion of Jesus.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Jesus and Nicodemus
John chapter three contains verse sixteen which is the most quoted verse in scripture. However, verse sixteen is preceded and followed by other verses detailing a conversation between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus. The other verses are equally important in understanding God’s plan for mankind. I will tell that story in my own words.
One night as Jesus and His disciple chums were getting ready to go to sleep a Pharisee named Nicodemus stopped by for a visit. When Nicodemus came over several of the apostles started grumbling. One said, “Why don’t you make an appointment with the receptionist and then you can see Jesus during normal business hours?” Nicodemus was not persuaded by that advise; he came at night for a reason and the apostles knew it. Most of the Pharisees who approached Jesus tried to find a reason to condemn Him so the other Pharisees would admire them. But Nicodemus wanted to ask spiritual questions and that would have put him out of favor with the other Pharisees. After all why would a learned Pharisee seek council from a vagabond like Jesus?
Nicodemus said to the apostles, “I just want to see your teacher for a few minutes.” So they led him over to where Jesus was resting. Nicodemus said, “Yo teach how’s it goin?” Jesus replied, “I will tell you the truth unless you are born again you will not see the kingdom of God.” Nick said, “I see we are dispensing with the formalities and getting right to the point. “You say a man must be born again. “How do you propose he gets back into his mommy’s tummy?” Jesus looks at him and says, “I can see this is not going to be easy.” “Listen Nick, the things that are born of flesh remain flesh and the things that are born of the spirit remain spiritual. “So don’t be surprised when I tell you that you have to be born again.”
Nick says, “How can these things be?” Jesus says to him, “You are one of Israel’s teachers and you don’t understand this? “How will you ever understand the things of heaven that I will tell you about?” “What things?” asked Nick. Jesus said, “The same way Moses lifted up a serpent in the wilderness so will the son of man be lifted up.” Nick said, “What does Moses lifting up a serpent in the desert have to do with heaven?” Jesus said, “Everything.” “You see when the people looked at the serpent that Moses had lifted up they were healed. “When I am lifted up on a cross I will be the healer of the nations.”
Nick said, “How?” Jesus said, “Like I told you before, the things that are flesh remain flesh and the things that are spirit remain spirit. “When someone believes in me they will have a new spirit and we will be one.” “For God loves the people of this world so much that he sent his own son and anyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that through him the world might be saved.
Then Nick said, “I thought the messiah was going to judge the Gentiles?” Jesus said, “Anyone who believes in the Son of God shall not perish but have eternal life.” “I came to bring light into the world. “The people of this world love darkness rather than light because they are doing things that are wrong in God’s eyes. “The light exposes their deeds and they will be ashamed. “Yet the one who loves the light does the things that are honoring to God and the works they do are what God intended man to do all the days of his life.” With that Nick left to ponder what Jesus had told him.
The conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus brought to light what Jesus had come to earth to accomplish. We can debate at length why Jesus needed come to the planet and suffer and die as He did but it may be self evident. I continue to go back to the time when Jesus was in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11) and find numerous truths about God’s intention for mankind in these verses. There is a war going on between the heavenly kingdom and Satan’s kingdom and the prize is mankind. The war is fought house-by-house and street-by-street and the outcome for each one of us comes down to our personal decision.
Jesus tried to explain this to Nicodemus by expounding on God’s love for the world to the extent that he would be willing to offer his most prized possession; his only son, for the sake of the world. God’s love becomes clearer when Jesus told Nicodemus that he is the light and men love darkness but need to go to the light in order to find God. Nicodemus had trouble understanding these things because he believed that as a Jew he was already saved and it was the heathen gentiles that had to come to the light of God. Jesus made it clear that God had no favorites and that all men needed to seek him in order to be saved. (Acts 10:34-35)
One night as Jesus and His disciple chums were getting ready to go to sleep a Pharisee named Nicodemus stopped by for a visit. When Nicodemus came over several of the apostles started grumbling. One said, “Why don’t you make an appointment with the receptionist and then you can see Jesus during normal business hours?” Nicodemus was not persuaded by that advise; he came at night for a reason and the apostles knew it. Most of the Pharisees who approached Jesus tried to find a reason to condemn Him so the other Pharisees would admire them. But Nicodemus wanted to ask spiritual questions and that would have put him out of favor with the other Pharisees. After all why would a learned Pharisee seek council from a vagabond like Jesus?
Nicodemus said to the apostles, “I just want to see your teacher for a few minutes.” So they led him over to where Jesus was resting. Nicodemus said, “Yo teach how’s it goin?” Jesus replied, “I will tell you the truth unless you are born again you will not see the kingdom of God.” Nick said, “I see we are dispensing with the formalities and getting right to the point. “You say a man must be born again. “How do you propose he gets back into his mommy’s tummy?” Jesus looks at him and says, “I can see this is not going to be easy.” “Listen Nick, the things that are born of flesh remain flesh and the things that are born of the spirit remain spiritual. “So don’t be surprised when I tell you that you have to be born again.”
Nick says, “How can these things be?” Jesus says to him, “You are one of Israel’s teachers and you don’t understand this? “How will you ever understand the things of heaven that I will tell you about?” “What things?” asked Nick. Jesus said, “The same way Moses lifted up a serpent in the wilderness so will the son of man be lifted up.” Nick said, “What does Moses lifting up a serpent in the desert have to do with heaven?” Jesus said, “Everything.” “You see when the people looked at the serpent that Moses had lifted up they were healed. “When I am lifted up on a cross I will be the healer of the nations.”
Nick said, “How?” Jesus said, “Like I told you before, the things that are flesh remain flesh and the things that are spirit remain spirit. “When someone believes in me they will have a new spirit and we will be one.” “For God loves the people of this world so much that he sent his own son and anyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that through him the world might be saved.
Then Nick said, “I thought the messiah was going to judge the Gentiles?” Jesus said, “Anyone who believes in the Son of God shall not perish but have eternal life.” “I came to bring light into the world. “The people of this world love darkness rather than light because they are doing things that are wrong in God’s eyes. “The light exposes their deeds and they will be ashamed. “Yet the one who loves the light does the things that are honoring to God and the works they do are what God intended man to do all the days of his life.” With that Nick left to ponder what Jesus had told him.
The conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus brought to light what Jesus had come to earth to accomplish. We can debate at length why Jesus needed come to the planet and suffer and die as He did but it may be self evident. I continue to go back to the time when Jesus was in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11) and find numerous truths about God’s intention for mankind in these verses. There is a war going on between the heavenly kingdom and Satan’s kingdom and the prize is mankind. The war is fought house-by-house and street-by-street and the outcome for each one of us comes down to our personal decision.
Jesus tried to explain this to Nicodemus by expounding on God’s love for the world to the extent that he would be willing to offer his most prized possession; his only son, for the sake of the world. God’s love becomes clearer when Jesus told Nicodemus that he is the light and men love darkness but need to go to the light in order to find God. Nicodemus had trouble understanding these things because he believed that as a Jew he was already saved and it was the heathen gentiles that had to come to the light of God. Jesus made it clear that God had no favorites and that all men needed to seek him in order to be saved. (Acts 10:34-35)
Friday, April 4, 2008
Jesus Walking on Water
The story of Jesus walking on the water is found in Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-51 and John 6:15-21. Each writer mentions the story of Jesus feeding more than five thousand people right before the event of Jesus walking on the water, so it was obviously a busy day. I mention this because these miraculous events would help the writers to clearly remember the details of the story. I will tell the story of Jesus walking on the water in my own words.
One day as Jesus and His disciple chums had just finished having lunch with more than five thousand people Jesus instructed His disciples to get into their boat and head for the other side. Jesus was getting real tired of everybody hangin around Him looking for another miracle and stuff. Besides, He just finished picking up the tap for lunch and didn’t want to have to fork over for dinner as well. So He told his pals to start rowing for the opposite shore and He would meet them later. Anyway as they are makin their way across the sea it gets dark and the wind picks up a bit. Eventually, the wind picks up to a near gale force and it happens to be blowin against the direction the disciples are headed.
The guys in the boat are rowing like crazy, but it’s no use because they aren’t getting anywhere. As the night wore on they are tired from all the rowing and everything and they start arguing with each other. One guy says that he’s doin all the hard work and the other guys are on vacation. Then one of the other guys says that they are all rowing equally hard and no one is doing a better job than anybody else. Eventually, tempers start to flare as the guys are really pooped out by this time.
Then one of them notices something really creepy. They see a ghost walkin on the water. By this time it’s about four in the morning and at this time of night the mind can play tricks on you and anyone can start seeing strange things. But as the ghost gets closer one of them says, “Eee gahds. It’s a ghost.” Then the others turn around and see the ghost walkin right by them. One of the guys says, “What kind of a ghost is that? He doesn’t haunt you, or anything he just walks right by you.”
Then the ghost, or should I say Jesus, says to them, “Yo guys. “Take it easy it’s just me. “I’m out taking my evening constitutional. “Only this time I’d though I might show off a little and do it on the water.” Then Peter looks over and sees that it is Jesus so He says to the Lord, “Hey Jesus. “If it’s really you then call me over to you and I will walk out and see how the water is.” The other apostles think Peter is crazy, but they know the man and there ain’t no talking him out of one of his hair-brained ideas.
So they watch Peter climb over the side and start walkin on the water. The apostles all look at each other in astonishment. It’s one thing to watch the Lord walk on water I mean after all He just fed thousands of people with some kids lunch, but this was different. This was Peter, an everyday run of the mill chowder head that can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. Not only can he walk and chew gum he can walk on water.
However, no sooner had Peter fully gained the respect of the apostles, who never got out of the boat I might add, then it suddenly dawned on Peter that he was in the middle of the sea and he didn’t have his water wings on. Then Peter starts noticing the waves, which didn’t seem so large until now and he starts sinking. Then he cries out to the Lord, “Lord save me,” and Jesus immediately takes his hand and grabs Peter and leads him over to the boat.
Once they are both safely on board Jesus asks Peter a question. He said, “Oh you of little faith why did you doubt?” Then the waves began to settle down and the apostles began to worship Him saying that He must be the Son of God to be able to do all that.
I find it interesting that Jesus points out Peter’s lack of faith, but neglects to mention the other apostle’s lack of faith. After all Peter was willing to make an attempt to walk on the water the apostles were only spectators to the event. The answer to this may be that Jesus wanted so much more for Peter and was disappointed that Peter was willing to take a step of faith, but not willing to walk in faith. So when the Lord said to Peter, “Why did you doubt?” He was actually saying, “You almost made it to the finish line. “The other apostles never even got into the race." I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
It is interesting to note that the text clearly states that Peter began to sink when he noticed the waves. The reason he didn’t notice the waves before was because he was looking at the Lord. When Peter took his eyes off the Lord he began to sink. Let that be a lesson for all of us, even the ones who remain in the boat.
One day as Jesus and His disciple chums had just finished having lunch with more than five thousand people Jesus instructed His disciples to get into their boat and head for the other side. Jesus was getting real tired of everybody hangin around Him looking for another miracle and stuff. Besides, He just finished picking up the tap for lunch and didn’t want to have to fork over for dinner as well. So He told his pals to start rowing for the opposite shore and He would meet them later. Anyway as they are makin their way across the sea it gets dark and the wind picks up a bit. Eventually, the wind picks up to a near gale force and it happens to be blowin against the direction the disciples are headed.
The guys in the boat are rowing like crazy, but it’s no use because they aren’t getting anywhere. As the night wore on they are tired from all the rowing and everything and they start arguing with each other. One guy says that he’s doin all the hard work and the other guys are on vacation. Then one of the other guys says that they are all rowing equally hard and no one is doing a better job than anybody else. Eventually, tempers start to flare as the guys are really pooped out by this time.
Then one of them notices something really creepy. They see a ghost walkin on the water. By this time it’s about four in the morning and at this time of night the mind can play tricks on you and anyone can start seeing strange things. But as the ghost gets closer one of them says, “Eee gahds. It’s a ghost.” Then the others turn around and see the ghost walkin right by them. One of the guys says, “What kind of a ghost is that? He doesn’t haunt you, or anything he just walks right by you.”
Then the ghost, or should I say Jesus, says to them, “Yo guys. “Take it easy it’s just me. “I’m out taking my evening constitutional. “Only this time I’d though I might show off a little and do it on the water.” Then Peter looks over and sees that it is Jesus so He says to the Lord, “Hey Jesus. “If it’s really you then call me over to you and I will walk out and see how the water is.” The other apostles think Peter is crazy, but they know the man and there ain’t no talking him out of one of his hair-brained ideas.
So they watch Peter climb over the side and start walkin on the water. The apostles all look at each other in astonishment. It’s one thing to watch the Lord walk on water I mean after all He just fed thousands of people with some kids lunch, but this was different. This was Peter, an everyday run of the mill chowder head that can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. Not only can he walk and chew gum he can walk on water.
However, no sooner had Peter fully gained the respect of the apostles, who never got out of the boat I might add, then it suddenly dawned on Peter that he was in the middle of the sea and he didn’t have his water wings on. Then Peter starts noticing the waves, which didn’t seem so large until now and he starts sinking. Then he cries out to the Lord, “Lord save me,” and Jesus immediately takes his hand and grabs Peter and leads him over to the boat.
Once they are both safely on board Jesus asks Peter a question. He said, “Oh you of little faith why did you doubt?” Then the waves began to settle down and the apostles began to worship Him saying that He must be the Son of God to be able to do all that.
I find it interesting that Jesus points out Peter’s lack of faith, but neglects to mention the other apostle’s lack of faith. After all Peter was willing to make an attempt to walk on the water the apostles were only spectators to the event. The answer to this may be that Jesus wanted so much more for Peter and was disappointed that Peter was willing to take a step of faith, but not willing to walk in faith. So when the Lord said to Peter, “Why did you doubt?” He was actually saying, “You almost made it to the finish line. “The other apostles never even got into the race." I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
It is interesting to note that the text clearly states that Peter began to sink when he noticed the waves. The reason he didn’t notice the waves before was because he was looking at the Lord. When Peter took his eyes off the Lord he began to sink. Let that be a lesson for all of us, even the ones who remain in the boat.
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