God has helped

John 11:1  Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2  Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3  So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 4  But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

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Joh 11:32  When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34  He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35  Jesus began to weep. 36  So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37  But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" 38  Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39  Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." 40  Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" 41  So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42  I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." 43  When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44  The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Lazarus is Jesus’ friend. His name means “God has helped”[1] and this story speaks to this. Luke tells us that Lazarus gets ill and dies; then he is brought back to life by Jesus.  Key to this story is the teaching that “God has helped.” This is always the truth of life: God has not abandoned us like some clock that is wound up and left   to our own devices.[2] Instead God accompanies us through life.... and death.

Those who follow Jesus choose to believe that death is a temporary state that leads to new life. And that we do not move through life, death, life alone. The One Who created us accompanies us on this journey.   

Ordinary 32 / Pentecost +25

54 A Resurrection People

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 329.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

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[1] Lazarus is derived from the Hebrew אלעזר, Elʿāzār (Eleazar) meaning "God has helped."

[2] This argument was developed by William Paley in his 1802 book Natural Theology.

"In him we live and move and have our being."

Acts 17:22  Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23  For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24  The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25  nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26  From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27  so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him--though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28  For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.' 29  Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30  While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31  because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." 32  When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, "We will hear you again about this." 33  At that point Paul left them. 34  But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Paul is in Athens, where he preached in the local synagogue. He is then invited by local philosophers to the Aeropagus to share more about his faith. The interesting thing about this passage is how Paul goes about sharing his faith: Paul points out the “unknown God” within their pantheon of deities; and he lifts a quote from “Creticia”, a poem by Epimenides of Crete.   In his work, Epimenides writes of the Greek god Zeus and says, "In him we live and move and have our being."  (Ἐν γὰρ σοὶ ζῶμεν καὶ κινύμεθ᾽ ἠδὲ καὶ ἐσμέν). The apostle uses this quote and applies it to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His audience would have known this poem, and so would have understood Paul’s theological shift: Everything finds its source and sustenance in Jesus, and not in Zeus

There are moments when we who follow Jesus become unintelligible to people who do not know our faith. We use religious language that becomes its own code accessible only to those who have learned it. Paul provides a refreshing example of how to ‘think out of the box’ by using thinking that is already familiar to his hearers.  We who follow Jesus need to invest energy and time in explaining our faith in the language and culture of our human communities.   

Ordinary 32 / Pentecost +25

54 A Resurrection People

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 329.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Suffering various trials...

1Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5  who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6  In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7  so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8  Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9  for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter is written to “to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (vs1). These are Roman provinces in Asia Minor and their order probably reflects the expected route that this letter would take as it was passed on from church to church. This letter is intended to give followers of Jesus courage as they “suffer various trials”. The letter assures them that they are “protected by the power of God”, and any present suffering is to be understood as the refining process that produces “praise and glory and honour”.   

Two thousand years later we read this with reverence for these spiritual ancestors. Here are men and women who suffered for their faith, some at the hands of Emperors such as Nero and Diocletian, and many more at the hands of others who opposed the Christian message.  Such ‘courage under fire’ provides an inspiring example to Jesus-followers today. We too can dig deep to stand firm for the values of Jesus, despite the unpopularity it might bring on us:

Some examples that come to mind:

·         While a vast majority of Christians persecute gay and lesbian people, I choose to stand alongside as a friend.

·         While many people persecute people for being foreigners, I will choose to be welcoming and accommodating.

·          While our society pushes old people aside by ignoring or mocking them, I will choose to be patient and kind and respectful.

The example of the first followers of Jesus challenges us to embrace the rejection, alienation and abuse suffered today by those who are persecuted by society because of factors such as race, sexual orientation or class.  

Ordinary 32 / Pentecost +25

54 A Resurrection People

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 329.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Tough Love......

Hebrews 11:32  And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- 33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34  quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35  Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37  They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- 38  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39  Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40  since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

Heb 12:1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2  looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus-followers have very big shoes to fill: we walk in the shadow of people who have been persecuted for their faith, suffering “mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.”  These men and women became the martyrs who are “a great cloud of witnesses” encouraging us all in our Christian life.  

There is no avoiding the fact that being a follower of Jesus is hard. This requires perseverance, commitment, and a willingness to keep our Christian focus. The joy of our faith is that we do not do this alone. We are accompanied by Jesus, who himself endured shame and disgrace. But we are resurrection people – who “run with perseverance the race that is set before us”.

Ordinary 32 / Pentecost +25

54 A Resurrection People

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 329.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Much will be required...

Luke 12:35  "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36  be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37  Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38  If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39  "But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." ..........

Luke 12:48............... From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. 49  "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50  I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51  Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52  From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53  they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

In this section of his Gospel Luke stresses that those who follow Jesus will be held responsible for their lives. We are to be sensitive to the accountability that goes with discipleship: we are dressed for action, with lamps lighted, and an acceptance that this might test family loyalties.

Following the way of Jesus is not a hobby or an optional extra when one has nothing better to do.  It is a costly commitment that will demand every ounce of creative energy we possess.  And I would not have it any other way.

Ordinary 32 / Pentecost +25

54 A Resurrection People

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 329.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Put on the new...

Colossians 3:1  So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3  for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. 5  Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6  On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7  These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8  But now you must get rid of all such things--anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices  10  and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11  In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! 12  As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13  Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The image used in this passage is one of taking of old garments and putting on new: “strip off the old self and clothe yourselves with the new self” and then “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” and “clothe yourselves with love”. This resonates with the book of Revelation where old garments are washed clean[1], or with the appeal in Ephesians to leave the old self behind and to be clothed by the new self.[2]

 

Christian faith invites people to leave their old ways and to embrace a new way of life: a life of compassionate love that is bigger than race, culture and class.    

To Sing:

The windows of heaven are open
The blessings are falling tonight
There's joy, joy, joy in my heart
For Jesus made everything right
I gave Him my old tattered garment
He gave me a robe of pure white
I'm feasting on manna from heaven
And that's why I'm happy tonight.

Ordinary 31 / Pentecost +24

53 God Can Change Lives

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 323.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

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[1][1] Revelation 7:14 and 22:14.

[2]  Ephesians 4: 22-24.

Faith Seeking Understanding

Acts 26:1  Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:

Acts 26:2  "I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3  because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently. 4  "All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5  They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. 6  And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,

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Acts 26:24  While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!" 5  But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. 26  Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27  King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." 28  Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?" 29  Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am--except for these chains."

There is a common perception that a polarity exists between faith and learning. This belief is held both by people who live their lives by blind faith, and people committed to rational intellect: either we are rational, or we have faith. So when Paul, the learned religious academic, speaks about his faith the Governor is confused:  “Too much learning is driving you insane!"   

It is possible to have faith as a thinking person. Those who follow Jesus can practice a thoughtful faith – a faith that interrogates our language about God, our experience of God, and our life’s journey with God. We stand in the shadow of Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109), Christian philosopher and theologian of the eleventh century. He speaks of “faith seeking understanding” (fides quaerens intellectum). This encourages us to develop an active love for God that leads us to a deeper knowledge of God.

Let us never stop asking questions. 

Ordinary 31 / Pentecost +24

53 God Can Change Lives

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 323.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.