John 18:33-38 "What is Truth?"

John 18:37   “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate was cynical and responded to Jesus’ statement with a scoffing retort, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) Pilate was more interested in power than truth. He believed in power; he wanted to know if Jesus claimed to be a king. (John 18:33)  Pilate understood the authority of kings, but he was skeptical about anyone’s ability to know the truth. 

Without a desire for truth one cannot come to Jesus, but with a desire for truth one will have the openness of heart to hear the call of the Lord. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18) Jesus made it clear that his purpose was to testify to the truth. (John 18:37) Earlier in the Gospel we read the startling claim of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Since Jesus made it his purpose to witness to the truth, we, too, as followers of Jesus want to be pursuers of truth. Truth opens the door to hearing the Gospel. Scientific, historical, philosophical truth—all truth in all forms—serves the purposes of God.

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Grandchildren. Mr. Happy sometimes surprises me with his wisdom. He seems the old man, and I the preschooler. This week he was working in the back yard with me cleaning up the bird feeder. As we worked I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. We’d been talking about his parents, and I made the observation that they were both doctors and that they helped people. So, “what do you want to do when you grow up?” I asked. He said, “It’s too early to say.” I was impressed with this wisdom beyond his years and immediately responded, “Yes, you’re right; it’s too early to say.” After a moment he broke the subsequent silence and said, “When I grow up I want to be a robber.” Startled, I looked up at him from my work and saw that his eyes were laughing. I laughed, too. Humor and wisdom—that Mr. Happy keeps me joyful.

Mark 13;1-8 A Reflection on Church Buildings

Mark 13:2  “Do you see all these great buildings?”

Mark 13 is an apocalyptic discourse that includes a reference to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. This chapter, also, describes the return of Christ (v. 26) and the passing away of heaven and earth (v. 31). Concerning the end Jesus said that no one knows the time (v. 32). The best preparation, Jesus admonished his disciples, is to watch and pray (v. 34, KJV) and live each day as if it could be the end of days.

Jesus gave this teaching in response to his disciples’ expressed wonder at the grandeur of the temple. Jesus warned that this building—grand as it was—would not endure. Its destruction would be total (v. 2). This destruction of the temple occurred in 70 A.D. when the Romans put down a rebellion in Jerusalem with the destruction of the city.

Jesus described the razing of the temple as “birth pangs” (v. 8 NIV). The temple’s demise was necessary, in part, so that the grandeur of buildings could be replaced by a spiritual kingdom that would spread to all the earth (v. 10). The kingdom of God could not then and cannot now be contained in a building.

Now, as then, buildings can get in the way of kingdom work. Cathedrals are magnificent to visit, but they are too often empty of worshipers. Even more modest buildings can become a drain on resources and siphon attention away from the church’s mission. So, empty cathedrals and run-down church buildings of any size that are devouring resources remind us that the kingdom is made of people not stones; the church is Christ’s body, a spiritual building, not a material one.

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Grandchildren. Singer (my preferred nickname; his siblings call him Squeaker) is now fifteen weeks old and is awakening from his infancy to the world about him. He seems delighted with his discovery. Both Sweetie Pie and Mr. Happy have been able to get him to smile for a long time. Gal and I have had some happy responses from him as well. Last night, however, in response to his mother’s smile he was giggling which made all the rest of us giggle, too. Another milestone, this weekend he turned over for the first time. He is growing!

Mark 12:35-44 Watch Out for Bad Teaching

Mark 12:38   Jesus said, “Watch out . . .’”

As others have observed, the problem with religion is not that people don’t believe but that people will believe anything! Happily, much more good than bad has come to us through religion. Through the Gospel people have come to transforming faith and whole societies have moved to a more just administration of law. Charitable institutions have brought relief to multitudes of the needy. Christianity has lifted culture and government in many good ways. 

At the same time we know that In the name of religion unspeakable atrocities, fraud of the innocent, prejudicial strictures, and lots of pious foolishness have been practiced. Enemies of religion eagerly point to these problems, but honest observers of history will acknowledge that religion has brought good as well as bad.

Because religion can be bad as well as good, Jesus warned us to “watch out.” So, how do we watch out? The classic Protestant answer is to follow the teachings of the Bible for in the Scripture we have the word of God. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Of course, as recorded in Mark 12 Jesus demonstrated through his encounter with the Bible teachers of the first century this need to “watch out” does not go away with the simple call to Bible authority. Some people—unintentionally or mischievously—misinterpret the Bible and cause harm. So Jesus said “watch out” for the teachers. (verse 38)

In this passage from Mark 12 we find some ways that the followers of Jesus can watch out for bad Bible interpretation. One warning centers on behavior. A good Bible teacher will support the teaching with good behavior. (v. 40)

Another warning arises out of the teacher’s attitude. Lack of humility in a teacher will set off internal alarm bells for the thoughtful. (v. 39) Lack of generosity provides a warning, too. (v. 41-44)

Also, Jesus warned against intellectual flatness and lack of imagination. In humility an authentic teacher of the Bible will yield to paradox and mystery. We cannot explain everything. (v. 35-37) The only one with all the answers is God himself, and the authentic teacher will point us to our Lord. Those teachers who insist on having the answer to everything need watching and are best avoided.

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Grandchildren. For Halloween Sweetie Pie was a ghost; with her missing front teeth she was scary. (Until she gave me a big hug) Mr. Happy wore camouflage and looked like a warrior (well, as much as a four year old can). Singer (my current nickname for the youngest) had the scariest costume to me. He dressed as a surgeon—even down to the booties doctors wear in the operating room. “Give me treats or I’ll take your organs!” (His uncle Jason who is a surgeon sent that costume to Singer.) Well, it would be scary, but babies are sweet no matter how they are dressed. What fun to be a grandparent.

Travel. Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice . . . .” Judy and I traveled with friends to Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna and Budapest by river boat this past week. Seeing these parts of Germany, Austria and Hungary was enlightening and pleasant. I will be working through all the thoughts and impressions this travel created for me over the next year. How grateful I am to have the resources to have made this journey. I want to be a good steward of it. Hopefully, some of my prejudices will die with reflections on this travel experience. It was fun, but it was more than just fun. 

Mark 12:28-34 Is Love the Answer?

Mark 12:34  "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

A teacher of the law asked Jesus to identify the most important commandment in the Bible. Jesus gave the standard, orthodox answer. Quoting from the Old Testament he responded: God is one; love God and secondly love your neighbor. The teacher was pleased with Jesus' answer. He repeated what Jesus said and added his own commentary saying that such love was "more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (verse 33)

Perhaps, the teacher of the law was pleased with himself. He had gotten Jesus to say something that the teachers of the law would accept as orthodox. It was as if the teacher had asked a pupil a question and gotten the correct answer from his student. The teacher affirmed the pupil and gave a little commentary in addition. His added commentary was described by the Gospel writer as "wise." Then came the zinger. Jesus gave the last word and ended the encounter in such a way that this teacher and no one else "dared ask him any more questions." (verse 34)

Jesus said to the teacher who had answered wisely, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." To say that one is not far is to say that one has not reached. The teacher had elicited from Jesus the orthodox statement of the most important commandment in the Bible. What more could be said? If one knows and fulfills the law what could be left to do? The teacher apparently knew what was the most important commandment, but he was still short of the kingdom of God.

Earlier in this same chapter of Mark Jesus had stumped the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees as they attempted to catch him in an error of biblical interpretation. Later in the chapter we read the account of Jesus warning his disciples to beware of such teachers and leaders who make a show of wisdom and spirituality but are not to be trusted. They are predators who will receive God's severest punishment. Jesus taught them that a poor widow who gives a fraction of a penny honors God more than such religious leaders. (see 12:44)

Christians do not want to preach the "Great Commandment" as an achievement to attain. We do not want to make love of God a right answer in our list of orthodox beliefs. The Gospel brings us into a relationship with God through faith in Christ, This relationship cannot be reduced to law. We enter the kingdom of God when we receive the call of God in the grace which comes to us through proclamation of the cross and resurrection. We come to love God because God first loved us; we love others as ourselves when the Spirit produces a supernatural compassion within our hearts which we cannot produce in our own strength. To proclaim love as a law--even as the greatest law--will put us "not far from the kingdom."

Mark 10:46-52 Healing Faith

Mark 10:52    “Your faith has healed you.”

Some of the dearest, most faithful Christians I have known died prematurely. I know they were people of faith who prayed. I know that many, many fellow believers prayed for them. Yet, they were not healed in the way we wanted. Healing faith is not a possession that we can claim for our own. Healing comes as the providence of God orders, and such healing always has a purpose in addition to the relief from suffering. All true faith rests in God’s purposes whether the end is physical healing or not. True faith is the faith that brings reconciliation and discipleship. True faith prays with Jesus under the shadow of the cross, “Thy will be done.”

Bartimaeus was in the right place at the right time. Jesus passed by the intersection where he was sitting. It could have happened that Jesus went in a different direction or that Jesus passed by when Bartimaeus was not present. The encounter between Bartimaeus and Jesus was a gift. It was not a right or the end of good planning, and it was not chance either. In God’s providence it was meant to be.

Bartimaeus cried for mercy. He did not ask for fairness or justice. Others, perhaps, needed and deserved healing more than he. Apparently, many in the crowd thought that he was undeserving of the attention of Jesus, and they attempted to make him stop his shouting for help. He persevered. He did believe that Jesus could help him. He had faith.

Bartimaeus received the call of Jesus. How joy must have filled his heart when he heard the people say to him, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” (Verse 49) It is never within the power of a person to have all that faith requires; faith moves forward only when Jesus calls.

Bartimaeus was asked what he wanted. Surprisingly, some people do not actually want what Jesus offers. (John 5:6) Even some who saw the miracles of Jesus and received the witness of the resurrection turned away from the gift of faith. Bartimaeus asked and received his vision. Jesus said, “Your faith has healed you.” However, it was not just the faith of that moment, but it was the faith that included all the elements that had put Bartimaeus in the place of his encounter with Jesus and the purposes that were fulfilled as Bartimaeus lived forward with his sight.

Bartimaeus did not return to his former place where he had sat begging; instead, the text tells us that “he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Verse 52) The healing of blind Bartimaeus resulted in his discipleship.The faith healing of Bartimaeus was not for the relief of suffering alone. The greater mission of Jesus was reconciliation with God, the forgiveness of sin. Healing faith was a witness to that greater purpose. (See the account of healing in Mark 2;1-12) 

Healing faith is not up to us. Paul the Apostle prayed to be healed from his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7) but was not. The prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane was answered in a way that seemed to be a resounding “no” from God. Our prayers for healing may be answered in ways that seem to be a “no” from God as well. Faith trusts that God’s purposes are greater than our sickness or heart break or disability or even death. In our weakness God’s strength is made evident, and beyond our cross there is the promise of resurrection.

Mark 10:35-45 Holy Ambition

Mark 10:43  “. . . whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.”

Two kinds of ambition appear in this passage from Mark. One kind of ambition is holy; the word holy means separate. Holy ambition takes a different path through life than the typical ambition that we celebrate in sports and business and other competitive endeavors. Both kinds of ambition have their place. Jesus occasionally pointed to the typical kind of ambition as a picture of worldly cunning. However, Jesus called his disciples to follow holy ambition if they wanted to be great in his kingdom. (Verse 43)

How like God in his grace to create holy ambition, a path to greatness, which comes to a person not by being the most gifted or hardest working or luckiest. In God’s kingdom everyone has the potential to be first regardless of their talent, opportunity, education, hard work or luck. The path to greatness is open to all. 

Worldly ambition creates stress and often makes people angry with each other. (verse 41) Holy ambition is graceful, at peace and patient. There is no pushing or struggling to be last in line, and when one least expects it, one discovers that God has chosen to give his rewards beginning at the back of the line. (See the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20). 

Jesus himself is the model of holy ambition. He told his disciples, “. . . the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (verse 43) The early believers sang a hymn about Jesus which Paul placed in his letter to the church at Philippi.

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be

used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing;

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Mark 10:17-31 The Measure of Goodness

Mark 10:18  “Why do you call me good?”

What does it mean to be good? The conventional and cultural definition of good is easy to identify. Judging by popular news broadcasts, movies, television and novels, today's conventional standard for goodness is tied to one’s care for the poor and one’s absolute rejection of any whiff of bigotry. Entertainers and other opinion makers eschew the earlier standards that popular culture elevated: chastity, temperance, hard work, even truth telling. Along with modesty these old standards seldom get much support on the athletic field or in the movie theater or the nightly news. Today, if one is egalitarian and one helps the poor then one has met the basic definition of good.  

Today, as in the first century, one would find it difficult to enlist Jesus in support of a definition of the good. Jesus refused to be called good. (verse 18) Unlike today, conventional goodness in the first century was defined by the Ten Commandments as interpreted and applied by religious leaders. However, that standard did not meet the definition of Jesus for goodness. It didn’t work in the first century, and it didn’t work fifty years ago, and it doesn’t work now. Yet, the current standard of goodness in America doesn’t work either. These standards do not put us right with God because they are misused. Like the young man in Mark chapter ten the standards--ancient or modern--are most often used to justify one’s behavior. “I must be good because I have kept the Ten Commandments,” or “I must be good because I am not prejudiced,” and “I must be good because I volunteer in my local homeless shelter.”

When the earnest young man came to Jesus with his desire for affirmation he was disappointed. Although Jesus looked upon this inquirer with love (verse 21) Jesus refused to give his blessing to conventional goodness. Jesus simply raised the standard to a level that the man could not reach. (verse 21) It is amusing that current opinion makers will quote this passage to support their idea that service to the poor is the best, the most Christian definition of goodness. However, none of those would-be-ethicists do what Jesus said: sell everything, give to the poor and follow him. Today, just as in the first century people cannot and will not meet this standard of goodness. Even the disciples of Jesus, who had left everything to follow Jesus, despaired in face of this standard. They asked, “Who then can be saved?” (verse 26)

“No one is good--except God alone.” (verse 18) What good we do by any definition of goodness that we propose is never enough to justify ourselves before God. The message of the gospel is God’s mercy which has come to us in person in Jesus, God’s very presence among us. He died and was raised from the dead to give us eternal life, not because we are good but because God alone is good, and God loves us and is merciful to all who call upon him. To seek goodness on our own merit or without reference to God is to go away from the one place where goodness exists. What the world puts first--in the ancient world and today--God puts last. (verse 31)

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Grandchildren. Our youngest grandson will be baptized at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville Sunday October 4, 2015. He is ten weeks old. Last night Judy and I took care of him while his parents went out for a couple of hours. He was awake most of the time. He smiled a lot, especially when Sweetie Pie and Mr. Happy huddled around him and gave him kisses, but he also delighted his grandmother with a series of big smiles just for her. I'm still waiting for the youngest grandchild's nickname to emerge. Mr. Happy has called him "Squeaker," and "Floppy." Neither of those names will be allowed to stick. In due time, something just right will emerge.

Mark 10:2-12 A Reflection on Divorce

Mark 10:5   “It was because your hearts were hard.”

Jesus understood some of the prescriptions in Deuteronomy as God’s accommodation of the “hardness of heart” (v. 5) of his people. The laws on divorce fit into this category. God’s accommodation through divorce was intended to help people work through broken relationships in a just way. God still helps us--weak that we are--to work through broken relationships. Divorce, done according to the standard of justice is meant to help families caught in sin and failure.

 Jesus affirmed the Old Testament law. He made the point that he did not come to change the law but to fulfill it. (Matt. 5:17) From the Sermon on the Mount we know that Jesus fulfilled the law by raising the standards not lowering them. Too often laws have been interpreted so that people have found ways to avoid the spirit and intention of the law. (Mark 7:11) Some people in the first century used the laws on divorce as a way to exert power over women. Jesus stood against this abuse.

Marriage was meant to be permanent. (v. 9) Divorce is God’s accommodation to our brokenness and is a grace, but divorce was never meant to be normative and never meant to be a tool of abuse.

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Books. For those interested in church history and theology, Justin Holcomb has written a small book that is quite accessible and helpful. It is entitled Know the Creeds and Councils. He begins his book by explaining terms. Creeds describe the basic beliefs of Christian faith; confessions distinguish denominational differences; catechisms are outlines of belief used for teaching purposes; councils are large church meetings meant to resolve differences between believers. In this book Holcomb has reviewed the major creeds and councils of the church. He has reviewed several confessions including two from the 1970’s. It is a helpful book, especially for pastors, but also for anyone who wants to understand theology and church history better.

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Main Street Baptist Church in Luray, Virginia has called me to serve as their intentional interim pastor. I begin this good work on October 1. Prayers are much appreciated!

Mark 9:38-50 Be at Peace with Each Other

Mark 9:40    "whoever is not against us is for us."

The disciples wanted to stop someone who was working miracles in the name of Jesus because the miracle worker was not part of the circle of disciples traveling with Jesus. They explained their position. “ . . . we told him to stop because he was not one of us.” (v. 38) How much trouble we stir up because of this sentiment, “ . . .he was not one of us.”

Jesus instructed his disciples to relent. He did not want them to stop the miracle worker. The man was doing something good. He was doing it in the name of Jesus even though he was not part of their group. Jesus explained that he is not against us; he is for us. Jesus went on to say that anyone who ministered to the disciples in the name of Jesus, even if they were not part of the group, would be rewarded.

In this context we come to some of the most severe words in the New Testament. Jesus said, “If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.” (v. 42) When Jesus said, “these little ones,” was he talking about the miracle worker who was outside the group or the person who gives ministry even  though that person is not in the group? They are believers of a sort, immature perhaps, or having only a partial understanding. Still, they are believers. To cause them to stumble in their belief is a grave offense.

Again the context helps us understand the next words of Jesus which are shocking indeed. Isn’t it better, Jesus argued, to lose a hand or a foot or an eye than to lose one’s whole body in hell? Isn’t it better that these little ones have a mutilated faith than no faith at all? If the choice is some faith, even a poor faith, or no faith then the better choice is a truncated but authentic belief.

The passage concludes with Jesus saying to the disciples, “ . . . be at peace with each other.” (v. 50) All of us will be salted or tested with fire. (v. 49) None of us will be deemed perfect. What is most important is to keep the faith, even if that faith is weak. Once lost, faith is not recovered. Once salt loses its saltiness how can one make it salty again. So, be kind and gracious and generous with those who are not part of the group. Affirm what they are doing that is good. Some is much better than none.

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Grandchildren.  Mr. Happy turns four years old today. Those who understand child development have told me that year four is often a time of disequilibrium for a child. Mr. Happy is facing some challenges. His big sister is away from home all day, now, because she has started first grade. Of course, he has a baby brother at home all the time, but his little brother is not yet much of a play mate. As Mr. Happy observed, "babies are floppy." What's more, at the end of his first day of preschool his father asked him how things went. He said, "Bad." He pointed to a class mate and said, "That boy hit me." Later Mr. Happy's mother sat him down to talk about the incident. She asked him, "Did you tell the teacher that the little boy hit you?" Mr. Happy said, "No." "Well," she asked, "did you talk with the little boy about why he hit you?" "No," said Mr. Happy, "I just hit him back." The search begins for equilibrium. Mr. Happy will find it.

Mark 9:30:37 A Reflection on Choosing Not to Know

Mark 9:32   “. . .afraid to ask . . .”

Sometimes I don’t want to know the answer to a question. I would rather operate out my ignorance. I maintain my ignorance thinking that if I know the truth I will be required to do something that I don’t want to do. 

With similar motivation I have sometimes gone forward on the principle “it is easier to get forgiveness than permission.” My ignorance gives me a cover for doing what I want even if I suspect I should not do it. It would be hard for me to disobey my conscience directly, but if I am not sure what is required or expected then I am tempted, and frankly I give into the temptation on occasion, to go forward with my wants or to avoid my fears. I act in a way that says it is better not to know what is required. 

In Mark 9:32 we read about the mind set of the disciples, “. . .  they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” Jesus had just told them about the cross that he was soon to face and the resurrection that would follow. They did not know what he meant by these words, and they did not ask for clarification. 

Underneath their ignorance there was a layer of resistance. They did not ask Jesus what he meant because they did not want to know the answer. They were afraid. At least, I know that in my own heart such resistance exists. Danger and loss--even when a promise of resurrection accompanies it--gives me pause. I’m not sure I want to know more or hear more.

In 1742 Thomas Gray published "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College.” He concluded his final stanza with the words, “ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.” Although I am tempted to remain ignorant in fear of what knowledge will require, I have learned that discipleship calls me to face the truth. What’s more, silence and subsequent ignorance are acts of self-deception. Even if we close our ears to words about the cross we will inevitably face suffering and loss. 

If we embrace the cross of Christ we receive the good news that God is able to transform suffering into redemption. We hear the promise that God’s power is stronger than death. To be lost in ignorance will not save us from what will come, but to listen to Jesus and his teachings, to pray to him and to embrace him as Lord is to know the truth, and the truth will set us free. (John 8:32)

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Grandchildren. This week I went to the funeral of a man whose life of sixty-two years was well lived. It was an emotional time and brought back a memory from Sweetie Pie’s attendance at the funeral of my mother two years ago. Sweetie Pie was four years old. She came with her father from Boston just for the day. In her overnight bag she had packed a party hat because she thought that a funeral was a kind of party. Jesus told us that a little child can often lead us into truth (Mark 9:36-37). Indeed, gratitude for my mother is greater now than my grief, and I am praying for all of us who grieve at our friend’s passing this week. May God help us to see with the eyes of a child. A funeral is a kind of party. As the preacher said at the service this week, when we die we are leaving the land of the dying to go the land of the living. We give thanks and rejoice when a life is lived well; we rejoice in the promise of eternal life in Christ. We know that in heaven there is a party to welcome our friend and soon all of us will come to the party as well. Pack your hat.

Mark 8:27-38 "A Warning to Would Be Preachers"

Mark 8:30   “Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”

Jesus and his disciples had a dramatic moment on their way to Caesarea Philippi as recorded in Mark 8. When Jesus asked them, “Who do you say that I am,” Peter was bold enough to reply, “You are the Messiah.” 

For Peter and the disciples all the hopes of Israel had come true in Jesus. The nation longed for liberation from the Roman occupation. The religious reformers in Israel longed for a spiritual renewal that would lead to a cleansing of the Temple leadership. The Messiah, the Christ, God’s Anointed was the one who would bring these longings to reality. How surprised the disciples must have been when Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him (verse 30).

The question arises, why did Jesus warn Peter and the others not to mention this revelation? Scholars have debated this issue for more than a century. Why would Jesus want to make a secret of his identity as the Christ?

Jesus explained to the disciples that the Messiah would suffer and die on a cross. He called them to take up a cross as well and to follow him. When Peter initially heard this definition of Messiah he challenged Jesus. To that challenge from Peter Jesus replied with the shocking words, “Get behind me, Satan!” (verse 33)

The disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but they had a faulty understanding of what being the Messiah meant. “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” (Alexander Pope, 1709) With knowledge that Jesus was the Messiah the disciples had the potential to publish this news and to make Jesus an even greater celebrity than he had already become. What’s more, their skewed understanding could have spread the wrong message about Jesus throughout the land. Their “little learning” was dangerous, indeed, to the cause of Christ.

This question of the Messianic secret brought to my mind the oath that my sons and daughter-in-law have taken as physicians. They have promised that in treating patients they will always make it their aim to do no harm. Perhaps, it would be good for preachers and teachers and all followers of Jesus to make this same commitment: do no harm. If we talk glibly about the spiritual life we do more harm than good. If we leave the cross and self-sacrifice out of the Gospel we may actually be doing the work of Satan more than the work of God.

Alexander Pope warned that it is better not to drink from the fountain of knowledge unless we are willing to drink deeply. James warned, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) The best way to guard against the dangers of inadequate knowledge is to study the Scriptures and to make every effort to support our teaching with the Bible’s guidance. When we teach general ideas such as “be loving,” or “live and let live,” without reference to the cross, to sacrifice, to holiness, to the hope of resurrection or without building our message on the Scripture we may find ourselves suffering the rebuke of Jesus. It would be better to keep our “little knowledge” secret than to spread misinformation, even false teaching. If one hears the call to teach and feels compelled to give witness to the truth, then it is important for that one to stay close to the Bible. In that way we can embrace the commitment to do no harm. 

Mark 7:24-37 "Crossing Barriers with the Gospel"

Mark 7:29   " . . . such a reply . . . "

When one one of my grandchildren hops into my lap and says, "Knock, Knock," I know exactly how to respond. I say, "Who's there?" They will respond with one of the set ups they've learned, such as, "Boo." I will go along with the game and ask, "Boo Who?" To which they will gleefully respond, "Oh, I'm sorry you feel bad." Then they will giggle with delight because they have successfully effected their knock knock joke and pun.

When I read Mark 7:24-29 I recognize a set up. Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman are sharing a learned repartee. They both know the formula for this exchange just as my grandchildren know what unfolds from the introductory statement, "Knock, Knock." Jesus and the woman both know how the exchange will conclude. One says, it is not right to toss the children's bread to the dogs. The other responds, even the dogs under the table eat the crumbs. In this passage we have a wise saying. Probably, it circulated among people who lived along the border and sought ways to connect. This wise saying describes how people with compassion are willing to cross barriers to find and help each other.

The woman came to Jesus in hope of help for her daughter. She understood the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. Many Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs while they saw themselves as the children of God. The Syrophoenician community would have seen themselves as elites and the Jews as peasants. Jesus and this unnamed Gentile woman crossed the barrier and connected through their common humanity and shared compassion for a child in distress.

Jesus opened his ministry to Gentiles. He did not allow the Jewish understanding of themselves as children of God to keep him from caring for a person who was on the other side of the ethnic and religious boundary. The Gentile woman did not allow her status as part of an elite community keep her from humbling herself before Jesus so that she could find help for her child.

This encounter between Jesus and the woman recalls the visit of a Syrian commander named Naaman to the home of the Jewish prophet Elisha. When Naaman was told to wash in the Jordan river in order to be cleansed of his disease he almost left without being healed. He thought how the rivers of Syria were larger, cleaner and more beautiful than the humble Jordan. In pride he took steps to depart, but one of his advisors pleaded with him to reconsider. Naaman humbled himself, washed in the Jordan, was healed and became a follower of the Lord (2 Kings 5:15). Elisha and Naaman crossed the ethnic, political and religious divide that separated them just as centuries later Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman would cross similar boundaries to bring relief to a desperate child and parent.

How we need wise sayings! We need words that will help us show compassion to one another across the boundaries that separate us. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people. We want our thoughts, our words and our actions to bring people to Jesus. We do not want to build barriers that keep people away from him.

Jesus went to the vicinity of Tyre. He left the territory where Jews predominated. He sought a place of anonymity; perhaps, he went to rest. Yet, it was inevitable that he would encounter the needy of that place even though they were not Jews. It was the providence of God. When we have our own providential appointments with those who are different, we want to have our attitude right and our words prepared so that we can, like Jesus, cross every barrier with the Gospel.

Mark 7 Diet Debate

Mark 7:19   “Jesus declared all foods clean.” (NIV)

Mark 7 reports a debate on food. The critics of Jesus charged him with a failure to observe the traditional rules about food and food handling. Jesus answered his critics with the idea that all foods are clean. All foods are eatable. This teaching shocked people. Most folks thought that what you ate and how you ate it were important to one’s relationship to God. Jesus taught that what goes into a person--food--is not so important as what comes out of a person, that is, their thoughts and words and actions.

People today have an obsession with food, too. Americans spend forty billion dollars annually on diet plans. Cooking shows and fine restaurants and gourmet kitchens, as well as the fast food industry, are part of the food world that makes the 21st century just as food conscious as those first century critics of Jesus. People give food a value beyond the simple need to eat to live. Food has an emotional, psychological, intellectual and spiritual meaning to people, now, just as it did when the debate between Jesus and his critics was first recorded.

Nutrition is important. Exercise is important. The Bible teaches the value of both. (See the story of Daniel or take note of 1 Timothy 4:8). The teachings of Jesus do not obviate the value of nutrition and exercise. We are called to be good stewards of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). 

Still, rules about food or exercise or any other external behavior can become an obstacle to spiritual formation. Rule keepers can be filled with anger, lust, envy--all sorts of evil thoughts. Jesus identified a dozen sins that arise from one’s thoughts (verses 21-23) No rule has the power to uproot and remove the source of this evil. Jesus quoted the prophets who made clear that such rule keeping was far from the purposes of God and true worship (verses 6-8).

The Gospel uproots the evil within a person by creating a transformed mind (Romans 12:1-2). This transformation is an ongoing process. As one weeds a garden week by week, so one confesses, repents and receives forgiveness in order to experience transformation of the evil heart. When the Holy Spirit changes the heart then one’s behavior will gradually change, too.

Of course, one danger is that people will hear the critique Jesus made of rules but not hear the Gospel. To abandon rules does not make one spiritual. Licentiousness fails us even more than rule keeping. We want our behavior to change. The issue is how to change, and this change begins in the heart, in the mind, in the spirit. Day by day confession, repentance and the grace of God create a new heart and a new life.

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Grandchildren. Sweetie Pie begins first grade this week.We are going to have much to talk about in the days ahead. I remember my own first grade class and teacher. My remembrances of school are happy. I am eager to talk with Sweetie Pie about her impressions of this coming adventure as she grows and learns and makes new friends. 

John 6:56-71 Leaving Jesus

John 6:67 “Do you, also, wish, to go away?” (RSV)

Jesus had thousands of followers as indicated in John 6. They had seen his miraculous power at work and wanted to make him their king, by force if necessary (6:15). At the end of the chapter the thousands of followers dissolved to just a few, to just twelve, and one of those twelve was a “devil” (6:70). Jesus turned to them, and asked them, “Do you, also, wish to go away?” (6:67)

When I was still in my 20’s, just out of seminary, I served on a committee at a church with a pastor whom I greatly admired, but my admiration was being tested. He had called a meeting in downtown Wash., D.C. for 7:00 pm. My wife was away from home, and I had the care of our preschooler. So, at rush hour in bumper to bumper traffic I had to go into the urban center with my child for this meeting. What’s more we were in the middle of a thunderstorm. When I arrived at the meeting place, there was no parking. I drove round and round looking for a place. When I finally found one I had to run to make the meeting on time, baby in one arm, umbrella in the other. Both of us were soaked by the time we reached the door. I practically collapsed upon entering the building, and then I got mad. No one was there! Out of a committee of eight only the pastor and one other person had arrived. We waited for a just a moment or two and then the pastor started the meeting. He smiled and looked at the two of us, plus my preschool son, and said, “Now, we’ll get something done; the people who want to serve are here.” My anger dissipated as I realized that he felt no anger at all. He was eager to get started with those who shared his passion enough to face rush hour and come out in a thunderstorm to get the work done. I have never forgotten that meeting or the indomitable spirit of that pastor.

In Zechariah 4:10 we read, “Who dares despise the day of small things . . . ?” Also in that chapter we read, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (4:6) Throughout the Bible the same message comes multiple times. Gideon was told to reduce his armed force (Judges 7:2) so that the people would understand that the victory did not come by the strength of their numbers but by God’s presence with them. So, David faced Goliath alone and said, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s.” (1 Samuel 17:47) Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) Jesus was prepared to see the thousands melt away. He was prepared to give his last twelve disciples the freedom also to depart.

They stayed. Peter asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Peter had it just right even though later, when faced with crucifixion, he would falter and fail Jesus, as would all the disciples. Jesus would go forward alone to the cross.

After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead Peter and the disciples and all of us who have come to believe post-resurrection, find strength in the presence and power of God’s Spirit to go forward in discipleship. With God’s grace we are able, following Jesus, to have confidence because of our conviction that the Lord is with us, and that the battle is the Lord’s. We do not despise small things. We do not depend on numbers of people for assurance or encouragement or boldness. We are not looking to the popular culture for affirmation. We are happy to be among the few who choose to remain because we believe that Jesus has the words of eternal life and he is the holy one of God.

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Grandchildren. This week I was driving Mr. Happy, almost four years old, to Darden Towe Park. I mentioned in our conversation the name of the park, and he quickly corrected my pronunciation. I was amused because I can remember a time when Mr. Happy couldn’t even talk; now, he is able not only to talk but to help his grandfather correctly pronounce names!

John 6:51-61 God's Hyperbole: the Church

John 6:61 “ . . . Does this offend you? . . .”

Jesus offended the people who had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.  In words most shocking he said that he was giving his flesh for the world to consume. Going further he said, “ . . . unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (6:53) Later in history the enemies of the church would use the words of Jesus and reports on the observance of the Lord’s Supper in order to charge Christians with human sacrifice and cannibalism.

Hyperbole shocks. By definition hyperbole is not meant to be taken literally. For Jews the idea of eating blood was unthinkable, just as cannibalism was. They knew that Jesus, a Jew, did not intend to be taken literally. Thoughtful people, then and now, even if they are adverse to Christian faith, understand the use of hyperbole. By taking offense at his language the people around Jesus were able to avoid facing the authentic challenge in those words. It was easier to be shocked at his words than it was to engage with him on the meaning of salvation and the claim of Jesus to be God’s redemption.

The church is God’s hyperbole. The church often shocks and offends the world. Perhaps, the world takes offense at the pious language of an evangelical preacher or the exuberance of a Pentecostal. Perhaps, the world finds Catholicism too ritualistic or the Anglican way too self-important.  In the eyes of the world all churches are equally subject to the charge of hypocrisy, and it is true that seldom does the church live up to the message it preaches. The church is flesh and blood. It is human. Being shocked at its failed humanity is to miss the point of hyperbole. It is to avoid the real offense of the Gospel. 

The claim of Jesus to be the incarnate God and the means of salvation does offend. His claim shocks us with the seriousness of sin; in order to remove sin the shedding of blood is necessary. God comes in Christ to give that blood. The offense of the Gospel is the message of the cross, the impossibility of human works bringing us to God and the realization and acceptance that salvation comes only by the grace of God’s work in Christ.

As the church, the body of Christ, and the hyperbole of God we will always offend. All our efforts in ministry are shockingly human. Yet, it pleased God to entrust to the church the message of the cross, and the real offense to the world is the cross. Foolishness to the world but to all who have heard and answered his call it is the power and wisdom of God.

John 6:35, 41-51 Church Growth

John 6:44  “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them . . .”

Many years ago when I was a young minister who had only recently arrived in San Francisco to take up my first pastoral assignment, I went to a state wide meeting of Baptists that was being held in Southern California. This meeting attracted me because I hoped to gain information and insight on pastoral ministry from the people I met in the workshops and conferences. In particular I felt the need to learn all I could about church leadership. 

I remember sitting in a diner in Oxnard where the meeting was being held. It was breakfast time, and many pastors were gathering at this diner. In walked one of the more prominent ministers. He sat down beside me at the counter. I took the opportunity to introduce myself and to ask him how he had been successful in leading his church to grow so large. He looked at me with what I took to be a measure of disdain, and he said, “I suppose we pray a lot.” 

His remark ended our conversation, and at the time I felt rebuked, but I wasn’t sure why. I had asked in all innocence and sincerity for his insight, but I felt I had said something wrong and that I had offended him. Looking back, now, after many years in the ministry I understand better his “disdain” if that’s what he meant to communicate; his abrupt answer made me think, and it helped me to reflect on what I was asking. It came to me that, perhaps, I was approaching the subject of leadership and church growth in the wrong way. I was asking the wrong question.

In the passage from John 6 the people who followed Jesus to the other side of the lake after the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 were, like me, asking the wrong question. In their case the wrong question led them to grumble among themselves and eventually to complain about Jesus and to depart the circle of discipleship. The miracle attracted them to Jesus. They liked the easy access to food and drink and the possibility that such a miracle worker could lead their nation as a king who would insure prosperity for the people. However, as Jesus pointed out to them, the most important attraction was not prosperity but the pull of God’s Spirit into relationship with the Father and Son. 

New pastors, or at least new pastors like me, are often caught up in the desire to see the institution of the church expand. That desire is understandable. Numerical growth for a church, like food and water for an individual, is necessary. If a church never replaces its membership then the institution of the church will die. However, putting emphasis on institutional survival is the same mistake that the people in John 6 made; it is the mistake that brought a rebuke from Jesus. It is the mistake that caused me to earn the pastor’s disdain in that Oxnard cafe. 

When we put our mission first then institutional growth will come as it should. Even if a church does not grow numerically it can still be used of God for purposes that we may not see. Prayer, faithful witness to the Gospel as revealed in Scripture, worship, giving and service will produce the food that lasts forever. The churches Paul served no longer exist institutionally, but their witness continues. God still draws people to himself through the witness of these churches. No church faithful to God ever dies. Individually and as churches we live in Christ, and our witness continues beyond our historical moment and brief life on earth because the work--the true work of the Gospel--belongs to God. He is the one who draws people to himself.

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Grandchildren. This week has been momentous--the birth of a third child to our son and daughter-in-law. Sweetie Pie and Mr. Happy have given the new addition his nickname (which he will no doubt insist on changing as he gets older.) The temporary nickname is “Squeaker.” He is a healthy boy of more than eight pounds, but he does squeak to signal his needs and wants. For the Fiona and Freddy stories the new addition will go by the name, Frazer; however, Fiona and Freddy have decided that Frazer does not get to go on any adventures until he is old enough to sit in Pal’s lap and listen to the stories. Until then he is “Squeaker.”

John 6:24-35 "He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." (v. 33)

John 6:27   “. . . the food that perishes.” 

The crowds were seeking Jesus because they had witnessed his miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, and they wanted to see more and to eat more. Jesus reproved them because they were seeking him for the wrong reason. So he said, “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give to you.” (John 6:27)

Of course, Jesus understood that we need food and drink. He understood very well the importance of friendship and family and work. He valued good health. Many of the miracles of Jesus were healing of the sick; Jesus taught values that would make for good relationships and productive lives. Jesus understood the desire for longevity. He raised the dead. Still, he said, “Do not labor for the food that perishes . . .” Finally, everything perishes; everything in this life slips away from us. We are mortal.

The good news, the gospel, is the message that Jesus has come to bring us eternal life. Indeed, the nature of this gift is such that when we seek God’s gift, God’s kingdom, God’s will, then, all the other things in life are added to us in their proper proportion. When we eat the bread of heaven, that is, when we receive Jesus into our lives we can enjoy the life we have now because we see this life as a hint of the wonders yet to come.

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to say that “ . . . we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Paradoxically, those of us who are able to think more about heaven are, also, more able to enjoy this mortal life. When we come to Jesus we receive abundant life now. We receive a taste of heaven which makes every good gift in this life a pointer to God’s love, and every sorrow becomes an affliction that will pass with us into a glory beyond all comparison.

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Branch. Recently I was in a meeting with a group of church leaders who were interviewing me as a potential interim pastor. One member of the group is a banker and she inadvertently referred to the church as a branch. She quickly corrected herself and explained that her job took her to a different branch in her bank’s network everyday. Actually, I liked her reference to the church as a branch. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:5)  The image became even more poignant for me as we later joined together in worship. The first song we sang was the last song I had sung 7,500 miles away with another church a week earlier. Same song, same faith, just a different branch. 

John 6:1-15 The Feeding of the 5,000

John 6:14   “. . . the people saw the sign Jesus performed.”

All four Gospels record the feeding of the 5,000, and in John’s Gospel the account of this miraculous sign and the response of the people takes almost as many verses to record as the resurrection does. Clearly, for the early church this event in the life of Jesus was important. On the surface of the telling we see the compassion of Jesus for hungry people, and his response to their hunger gives us a model for our own ministry to the needy. However, Jesus spiritualized this event so that the miracle more importantly became a sign of salvation than an act of compassion for the physically hungry. Jesus said to the people who received the food that he had distributed, “. . .you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life.” (John 6:26-27)

Following the example of Jesus and taking a spiritual interpretation of this feeding ministry we observe that Jesus used this event in the wilderness, first, to confront his disciples with the fact of their spiritual scarcity. They did not have the ability to feed the people, physically and more importantly spiritually. Philip, exasperated with the instructions to provide food for the multitude of people, complained to Jesus that it would take eight months of wages to give everyone even a bite to eat. (v.7) Before we can see the miracle of provision the church first acknowledges its inadequacy. We cannot feed the hunger of people for God. We cannot even fill our own spiritual need for God. We look at what little insight we have, and we are like Andrew who looked at the five barley loaves and two fish, and said, “how far will they go among so many?” (v. 9)

However, it happens in John 6 and in the church again and again that we witness the power of God when we acknowledge our own limited resources. When we face our spiritual scarcity then we hear Jesus say to us as he said to his disciples, “Have the people sit down.” (v. 10) We stop looking at our empty pockets and our scarce resources and we simply follow the instruction of Jesus. When we do we discover that the people will be able to eat their fill with food left over. (v. 12) When we simply give people the Gospel of Christ, not in our own strength, but in obedience to the instructions of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, we discover a spiritual abundance that fills our deepest hunger and the hunger of those to whom we preach. 

God revealed this Gospel principle to Paul. He wanted to be strong, but he suffered an infirmity that made him weak. He pleaded with God to have his infirmity, his thorn in the flesh, removed. Then he heard God’s response, “. . .my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9) The church receives power to feed the spiritually hungry when it recognizes its own limitations, its spiritual scarcity, and awaits the instructions of Jesus who will say at the right place and the right time, “Have the people sit down.” 

Mark 6:30-52 It is Hard to Understand

Mark 6:52  " . . .their hearts were hardened."

People disagree about the meaning of hardened hearts as described in the Bible. I'm putting an idea out for reflection that I have found helpful to me this week, but I know my view does not explain all the passages in the Bible on this important topic: why does it seem so hard to understand what God is doing?

This question came to me in a practical personal way recently. Through a tanslator I had a conversation with a man from Syria. He asked me why Christians in his country are called upon to suffer so much. Suffering of the innocent is a mystery, and I simply acknowleged that I didn't know the answer. He didn't let me escape the question with such a facile response. We struggled together to explore the question, and because everything was being translated we had to keep things simple, even a bit raw. He didn't want to hide behind nuances, and our exchange didn't allow me to hide either. Finally, we finished with his testimony: he said, we want to do God's will, and we are prepared to continue to suffer if that is our calling whether we understand fully or not.

The disciples saw the miracles of Jesus as recorded in Mark 6:30-52. They were immersed in the wonder working ministry of the Lord, so much so, that they often did not have time to stop and eat. They saw and heard Jesus as no others have. They saw him feed 5,000 men from five loaves of bread and two fish. They saw him walk on water. They saw the sea go calm in his presence. Still, the text says, "They were completely amazed for they had not understood about the loaves and fishes; their hearts were hardened." (Mark 6:51-52)

They did not understand the good work, the miracles, Jesus performed. God hardened their hearts because they were not ready to understand. For the time, amazement, was enough. They knew Jesus. He calmed their fears (v. 50), and that was enough. They did not yet need to understand. Later, after the cross and the resurrection and the day of Pentecost they would understand much more. The time would be right.

On many subjects--particularly the suffering of the people in the world's oldest churches--our hearts seem hardened. We don't understand, at least, not fully. The time is not right.

In amazement, in shock, in near but not total despair, the persecuted church continues to give witness. May God soon help this suffering church. May they and all who care for them and pray for them, find a way to go forward in the trust that the time is coming when all will be clear, and all will be made right.