Resurrection

Readings for today: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21

Doubt. Fear. Astonishment. Confusion. Disbelief. This is the full range of emotions that swept the followers of Jesus that first Easter morning. No one - absolutely no one - was expecting a resurrection. They all believed it was over. Their hopes and dreams turned to dust. Some were returning home. Some were hiding out in fear. Some went to the tomb to mourn. All of them grieving in their own way. 

It has been suggested over centuries that the disciples didn’t know a dead body when they saw one. It has been suggested that Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t realize Jesus was still alive. It has been suggested that Jesus merely swooned on the cross. Fainted. And in doing so, tricked the Roman soldiers - among the most brutal killers the world has ever known - into believing He was dead. It has been suggested that this same Jesus…body broken…incredibly weakened by blood loss…was somehow able to roll the stone away from within the tomb and escape. He then appeared to His followers and convinced them He was alive. Still others repeated the fake news the chief priests tried to spread about Jesus’ disciples - fishermen and tax collectors - somehow stealing His body in the dead of night when the Roman guards were asleep. (Something that never happened by the way since the punishment for falling asleep on your watch was death.) 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the seminal event in human history. It demands attention. It requires reflection. One cannot dismiss it or ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen. If Jesus was raised from the dead then we have to take Him seriously. We have to consider every word that He said. We have to grapple with the truth He proclaimed about a Kingdom not of this world ruled by a God who loves the world despite it’s sin and judges it with righteousness. We have to wrestle with what He has to say about the human condition. The sinful state of our hearts and our desperate need for forgiveness and grace. We have to listen to Him when He tells us how to repent of our stubborn, prideful, selfish ways. The resurrection validates everything about Jesus. His life. His teaching. His miracles. His suffering. His death. It is God’s stamp of approval on the unique identity Jesus claimed for Himself as the Son of God. 

This is the truth that confronted the disciples. Jesus, whom they saw die, was now alive. They got to see the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. (Notice in John 20:20 how they all needed this evidence before believing...not just Thomas.) And if Jesus was raised from the dead. If death could not hold Jesus. If the grave could not keep Jesus. What did that mean for their lives? How would that change their future? They realized there was now no going back. No returning back to life as they knew it. No more fishing boats and tax booths. God was on the move. This gospel must be proclaimed! They were being given a great commission to carry this news to the ends of the earth! 

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 1-4, Psalm 110

The Tomb

Readings for today: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalm 22

I will never forget the few minutes I got in the empty tomb. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built over the place where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus laid Jesus’ body to rest. I know there is some debate between the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Garden Tomb but for my money, I think it far more likely Jesus was laid to rest at the church. The Sabbath was approaching. The men simply didn’t have time to take his body down, prepare it as best they could, lay Him to rest, and get the tomb closed before the sun went down. The tomb had to be close to Golgotha.

When you enter the church, you have the opportunity to see where Jesus was crucified, where His body was anointed, and where He was laid to rest. Seeing all these spots grouped together makes a lot of sense when you think about it from a 1st century perspective. You then get in line to go into the tomb. You first enter an outer chamber where you can light a taper and say a prayer. You are then ushered into the inner sanctum where you can kneel in the tomb itself and lay your hand on the stone where His body lay. It’s a powerful, powerful experience to say the least. I found myself weeping as I prayed. Overwhelmed by God’s great love for me. Within a couple of minutes, a knock on the door signals the end of your time and you leave to make room for the next group of pilgrims to come in.

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, it’s easy to breeze through these stories. We’ve heard them so many times and familiarity breeds contempt. We don’t take the time or make the time to linger in them a bit. Sit with the words. Feel the force of their power. Imagine ourselves in the story. This is why so many go to Israel. Once you’ve been there, you’ll never read the Bible the same way. It’s like moving from analog to digital. Black and white to color. SD to 4k HD surround sound. It’s truly amazing and I’d encourage anyone who can to go. If you cannot make the trip, do your best to take advantage of all the virtual tours that are offered online. Immerse yourself as much as possible in the experience. Let the power of the gospel speak to you in new and fresh ways and renew your love for Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21

Who Crucified Jesus?

Readings for today: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

Who crucified Jesus? Who was responsible for His suffering and death? Was it the Jewish people? Was it the religious authorities of His day? Was it the Romans? Pilate? All of the above? Certainly this passage has been used to justify some of the most horrific anti-semitism in history. Christians blaming the Jewish people for killing the Messiah. It’s a terrible misreading of the passage. Not all Jews wanted Jesus dead. Not all Jews even knew who Jesus was. A much better reading is to identify Jesus as the victim of a corrupt, 1st century political system. Trapped between the competing interests of ambitious religious leaders and their Roman oppressors. Caught up in the nationalistic currents that were sweeping the nation at the time. He was one of many would-be messiahs who would be killed during this particular stretch in history in Israel as the Romans tried desperately to maintain peace in a region where tensions were rising.

Who crucified Jesus? For the Christian, the answer is clear. I did. I was the one who put Jesus on the cross. It was my sin that held Him there. It was my unrighteousness and my ungodliness that required a sacrifice. I have no one to blame but myself. I cannot wash my hands of my responsibility. Jesus’ pain was the price of my salvation. Jesus suffered to make atonement for my sin. Jesus died to deliver me from death. If no one else on earth had ever sinned, Jesus still would have given Himself for me. 

Make no mistake, Jesus was no victim. This was His plan from the beginning. From eternity, He was predestined to serve. Predestined to suffer. Predestined to die. He was not forced to do it for no authority in heaven or on earth or under the earth has any power over Him. He was not moved to do it as if Jesus were driven by emotion like the rest of us. He was not even asked to do it as if He was some kind of divine “plan B” just in case things with humanity didn’t work out. No, Jesus Himself says He alone has the power to lay His life down and take it back up again. Theologically speaking, Jesus has existed from eternity as the “crucified Lord” so in that sense one can argue that Jesus Himself is responsible for His suffering and death. He is the One who set these events in motion. He is the One who was bringing His plan to completion. Rather than cast blame, we should pause and marvel again at His great love and faithfulness.  

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalm 22

What Would Jesus Pray?

Reading for today: Matthew 26:36-75, Mark 14:32-72, Luke 22:39-71, John 18:1-27

I spent time in Israel this summer and of the places we visited was the house of Caiaphas. A church has been built on the spot where it once stood but you can still descend to the depths to a storeroom in the bedrock where Jesus most likely spent the night after being condemned. It’s a powerful experience. As you stand at the very lowest point in the home, you can look upwards and see the opening in the roof above where they either lowered or more likely threw Jesus into the depths and darkness. The courtyard where Peter denies Him is just outside. Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Him is just down the hill. As you stand there, the guides encourage you to read aloud the words from Psalm 88. A psalm Jesus must have prayed as He cried out to His Father that night.

“O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.”

As I read those words in that place, I was deeply moved. I thought about my Lord and the “cup” His Father called Him to drink on my behalf. The cup of God’s wrath. The cup of God’s judgment. The cup I deserved. Jesus drank it to the dregs. He embraced His call to suffer on my behalf. To stand in my place. I abandoned Him just like His disciples. I betrayed Him just like Judas. I denied Him just like Peter. But He never abandoned me. He never betrayed me. He never denied me. He was faithful to His Father’s will and now I am saved. I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of gratitude that flooded my heart in that moment. Read the words of the psalm again and ponder again all Jesus has done for you.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

Spiritual Unity

Readings for today: John 14-17

There is power in unity. There is power when God’s people abide in Him. There is power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. This power is not our own. It is a divine power. Tearing down every stronghold and every high thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. Tearing down every dividing wall of hostility that stands between us and God. It is the power of salvation for all who believe. It’s a power that regenerates hearts. Justifies our very being. Sanctifies our lives. It is a power to make those orphaned by sin into children of the Most High. This is the power of God.

Jesus knew this power. Jesus drew on this power. Jesus understood this power. He lived in close, deep, intimate communion with His Father His entire life and He drew on this power constantly to heal, forgive, cast out demons, calm storms. He drew on this power when He multiplied the loaves and fishes and turned water into wine. He drew on this power when He suffered. Died. And this same power was at work when He was raised from the dead.

This is the power Jesus offers to those who follow Him. Throughout His farewell discourse in John 14-17, Jesus refers constantly to the unity He has with the Father and the unity desires to have with His people.

“If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.”

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you…the Spirit of truth…You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John‬ ‭14:7, 10, 16-18, 20, 23, 15:5‬)‬

The gift Jesus offers us in Himself is beyond comprehension. He literally offers us the same power that created the universe. The same power that raised the dead. The same power that will one day bring all things together and make all things new. This same power is available to us through our relationship with Christ and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This is why no weapon that is formed against us can stand. This is why no flaming arrows of the evil one can pierce the shield of faith. This is why we have nothing to fear. We abide in the Vine. We stand on the Rock. We drink from fountains of Living Water. Amen?

But what does union with Christ look like? Agreement. Submission. Surrender. It requires us to take our lives - all our thoughts, words, deeds, and desires - and align them with Jesus. Make His will our own. Allow His Spirit to determine what is true and noble and right rather than continuing to do what is right in our own eyes.

As we draw close to Jesus, we will find ourselves drawing close to one another as well. The Body of Christ will discover a collective power in its unity that will make a huge impact on the world. I firmly believe this is the secret to the revival taking place in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Djibouti. Over 6,500 churches have been planted. Over 1 million lost people have been saved. God is changing the landscape in places like Gojo, Dire Dawa, and Borena. He is changing the landscape in Torit, South Sudan and in northern and southeastern Uganda. He is just getting started in Djibouti and will move into Somalia in the next few years. All because believers in these regions have put aside their differences and come together as one in Christ. Does this mean they agree on everything? Absolutely not! Unity is not the same as unanimity. No, their unity comes from a deeper source. A spiritual source. A well that never runs dry. Their common faith in Christ.

I love the words of Psalm 133. How good it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity. It is like precious oil that overflows. Dew that drenches the mountains, bringing new life. There God commands His blessing…life evermore! In these fractured and divided times, the church has a great opportunity to show the world the power of the gospel in our unity with Christ and each other. May we answer the call of Jesus’ prayer.

Readings for tomorrow: None

Humility

Readings for today: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35, Mark 14:1-2, 10-31, Luke 22:1-38, John 13

I remember one of the first times I washed another person’s feet. I was in seminary at Princeton. I was working as a prison chaplain at New Jersey State Prison. I was leading a Bible study on Thursday nights and we were studying the gospels. When we got to today’s readings about Jesus washing the disciple’s feet, I pulled out a bucket and suggested we do the same for each other. The reaction was overwhelming. Several men started to weep. Some resisted but eventually gave in. Some were ashamed of what their feet looked and smelled like. One man was so overcome with emotion that he got up and walked to the corner of the room. It was a powerful moment for us all. After we were finished, we spent some time talking about why foot-washing is so hard for us and what we learned by following the command of Jesus that night. Here are just a few of our takeaways…

Foot-washing is humbling. We don’t like being served. Being served places us in a passive position where we have little to no power. It makes us feel uncomfortable. Vulnerable. Exposed. We live in a culture where feet are largely covered up. We wear socks and shoes most of the time. Our feet are not considered the most beautiful or attractive parts of our bodies. They are sensitive to touch and heat and cold. The experience feels deeply intimate. Like something you would do with a close friend and we frankly don’t have a lot of close friends.

Foot-washing turns power dynamics on their head. Several of the men remarked on how deeply it touched them to have a white, upper middle class, highly educated, non-incarcerated pastor kneeling before them to wash the feet of incarcerated, largely poor, black, lower-educated men. I felt the same way when our roles reversed and the men served me. There was a sense in which foot-washing placed us all on the same level as people in desperate need of the grace Jesus offers in Himself.

All of these dynamics were in play when Jesus took the towel after supper and tied it around His waist. He was intentionally taking the place of the humblest servant. He was performing the service that none of the rest of the disciples would ever want to perform. No one wants to wash feet! Especially in ancient near east culture where feet were grimy and dirty and calloused and rough from daily activity. The reaction of Simon Peter is a common one. “Lord, you will never wash my feet!” We don’t want to be vulnerable. We don’t want to be exposed. We don’t want to be put in an uncomfortable position. But Jesus is relentless. He pursues us. He serves us in the deepest and most profound ways imaginable. And our spiritual condition doesn’t seem to matter much to Him. He washes the feet of those who betray Him. Those who deny Him. Those who do not understand Him. Those who resist Him. He simply, lovingly, graciously kneels before us right where we are to wash us clean. This is His heart for us.

Readings for tomorrow: John 14-17

Reality Check

Readings for today: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-38

Today Jesus gives us a reality check. In this world, we will suffer. There will be trials. There will be tribulation. The culture will reject God. Nations will defy God. Kings and rulers and authorities. Presidents and Congressional Representatives and Supreme Court Justices will go their own way and do what is right in their own eyes. There will be wars. Violence. Natural disasters on a devastating scale. Drought. Famine. Disease will afflict so many. People will embrace injustice. People will love ungodliness. People will chase unrighteousness. They will call good “evil” and evil “good.” And these are just the beginning of the birth pangs of the new age.

In this confusing time, many will claim to speak for Jesus. They will claim to speak for God. They will push their own agendas. They will offer up their own ideas in place of God. They will promote selfishness and pride and narcissism. They will promote unrighteousness and lawlessness and unfettered freedom. They will sound so good that many will be led astray.

There will be abominations of desolation. Incredible acts of self-worship and idolatry that would make the ancient Canaanites blush. Worship will grow cold. Honoring God will become rare as people choose to do what feels good or what seems right in their own eyes. It will be like the days leading up to Noah. The days when the Judges reigned in Israel. Hatred. Rage. Violence. Pain. Suffering. All will become the norm as the world rebels against the authority of God.

Any of this sound familiar? How are we to respond as Christians? We respond the way my Ethiopian and Ugandan and South Sudanese brothers and sisters do. They endure to the end. They persevere in their faith. They cling to Jesus. They sacrifice it all for Him. Friends, Jesus couldn’t be more clear. The world will hate us. The world will persecute us. Throw us into prison. Torture us and even kill us. They will restrict our rights. They will label the gospel “hate speech.” They will make faithfulness to the law of God a hate crime. They will drag us into courts. They will put us on trial. They will do all they can to force us to abandon our faith. Things will get so bad that if they weren’t cut short – if God somehow delayed His return – no one would be saved.

But make no mistake…God will return! Things will get so bad even nature itself will feel the effect. The sun will darken. The moon refuse to shine. It will seem like the stars have fallen out of the sky. And just when it seems like we cannot go on, Jesus will appear. He will come on the clouds with glory and power! A trumpet will sound and the angels will gather His family from the four corners of the earth. We do not know exactly when this day will come but we know it draws ever closer. Seemingly with every single breaking news story! Climate change. Political corruption. Racism and hatred. Economic upheaval globally. Now more than ever, the world stands on the brink.

So again, what’s a Christian to do? Stay wise. Be prepared. Make sure we keep doing the work God assigned to us. Caring for the least among us. The hungry and thirsty. The naked and ashamed. The sick and imprisoned. As we care for them, we care for Jesus. Seek the lost. Fulfill the Great Commission. Take the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation in the world. This is the work the Master has assigned to us and when He comes again, may He find us faithful!

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35, Mark 14:1-2, 10-31, Luke 22:1-38, John 13

Questioning Jesus

Readings for today: Matthew 22:15-23:39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-21:4, 13:31-35

Let me start by saying God welcomes honest, heart-felt questions. God loves nothing more than comforting His people when they come before Him confused and hurting. Struggling to understand. Trying to make sense of life and tragedy and suffering. He understands our doubts and fears. He can handle our anger and frustration. When we are honestly seeking Him. Honestly asking Him. Honestly and transparently and vulnerably bringing all our insecurities before Him, He gently gathers us in His arms and lets us know it will be okay. He is with us. He is here for us. He will never leave us or forsake us.

However…if we set out to test God. To put Him on the witness stand and demand He answer to our notions of what is right and good. If we put Him on trial and require Him to answer to our human notions of justice. If we doubt His integrity and character and nature. If we push Him and press Him and seek to discredit Him. We are playing a very dangerous game. One that places our eternal souls in jeopardy.

The religious rulers of the day had no interest in following Jesus. Their only aim was to discredit Him before the eyes of the people. They were seeking to trip Him up with their questions. They wanted to make a public spectacle of Him. Humiliate Him in the eyes of the people. Stamp out His ministry and movement and send Him back to Nazareth in disgrace. Their questions are designed to get Him in trouble politically – “is it lawful to pay taxes or not?” Their questions serve as impossible riddles – “a woman married seven times goes to heaven…whose wife will she be?” Their questions present logical impossibilities – “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” But Jesus is not limited to human understanding. His answers reveal a divine wisdom that silences those who would seek to destroy Him. Then Jesus goes on the offensive, exposing their hypocrisy. They are the ones in violation of the Law! They are the ones who lack understanding! They are the ones who play political games! Woe to you scribes and Pharisees! Judgment is coming!

It’s sobering to say the least. And it forces us to self-reflection. What lies at the heart of my own questions? An honest desire to understand? Or a selfish desire to justify my own actions? A tender insecurity for which I need God’s comfort? Or an arrogant desire to go my own way and do my own thing? A doubt or a fear that keeps me from experiencing the peace that passes all understanding? Or a sinful desire to cling to an idol in my life? What is it that drives my questions? What lies at the heart of my doubts and fears and confusion? Am I putting God on trial or am I truly seeking His will?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-38

The Patience of God

Readings for today: Matthew 21:23-22:14, Mark 11:27-12:12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12:37-50

I’ve been thinking a lot about the patience of God. The endurance of God. The perseverance of God. One of God’s great desires is that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. He’s been working towards this great end since the Fall of humankind into sin. He will never let us go. Never abandon us to our fate. Never stop reaching out to us. Never stop relentlessly pursuing us. Jesus says as much in one of my favorite parables. He talks about a man who planted a vineyard and leased to a particular group of people and then went into a far country, entrusting what he had made into their care. Unfortunately, the tenants got it into their heads that they deserved to keep the fruit of their labor so they rebelled against the master. They beat his servants. They treated them shamefully. They even killed a few along the way. Still the master was patient with them. He kept reaching out to them. Kept calling them back to covenant faithfulness. Eventually, the master sent his son, hoping to convince the tenants to listen to reason and repent of their ways. Tragically, those wicked tenants took the opportunity to kill the heir and secure the vineyard for themselves.

Isn’t this how humanity operates? Our inhumanity to one another knows no bounds. I am ministering in a recent conflict zone over in Ethiopia this week. The people here have suffered tremendously. Their homes have been looted. Their city stripped bare. War crimes have been committed. Attempts at ethnic cleansing have taken place. It’s horrifying on so many levels. The same thing is happening all over the world. It happens in nations like Ukraine. It happens in major cities where violent gangs run the streets. It happens in homes where abusers take out their anger on the innocent and vulnerable. So much violence. So much pain. So much heartbreak. Why doesn’t God step in? Why doesn’t God pour out His righteous wrath and judgment on those who perpetrate such evil? Why doesn’t God lay waste to the wicked tenants of the earth?

According to Jesus, it’s because God is still holding out hope for some of us to turn to Him. It’s why He continues to send servants into the deepest, darkest places on earth to spread the good news of the gospel. I think of the men and women we are training this week. They already face persecution on levels I will never come to understand. They live under constant threat. They face beatings and torture and imprisonment. Some will possibly even die. The wicked tenants of this region are very resistant to God. Not that it’s any different back home where I happen to live. The resistance is just not as obvious. The reality is we are all “wicked tenants” to some degree. Taking what God has entrusted to us and seeking to usurp God’s rightful claim. I know I’ve caused my share of suffering over the years with the things I’ve said and done to those I love. I wish I could take it back. I carry a lot of regrets. I know God is going to hold me accountable when I stand before His judgment throne. Thankfully, however, I did not reject His Son. When Jesus confronted me on the University of Colorado in Boulder in February of 1993, I responded with repentance. I got on my knees and gave my life to Him. The stone I had once rejected became the cornerstone of my life. It was the Lord’s doing and it remains marvelous to my eyes to this day. What about you? Where do you find yourself in this story today? Are you like the “wicked tenants” claiming ownership over your life or have you responded in faith to God’s Son?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 22:15-23:39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-21:4, 13:31-35

Rightful Ownership

Readings for today: Matthew 21:1-22, 26:6-13, Mark 11:1-26, 14:3-9, Luke 19:28-48, John 2:13-25, 11:55-57, 12:1-36

I raised my kids to be independent thinkers. Strong-willed young men and women who can make their way in the world. I love how each of them is finding their way in the world and it is a privilege to walk the journey with them. One of the many lessons I’ve tried to teach them is the difference between stewardship and ownership. When we grow up, we don’t own much. Everything from food to clothing to a roof over our heads is provided. Our job is to be good stewards. Clean our rooms. Follow the house rules. Take care of what we’ve been given. When we get older. Graduate from high school. Become legally responsible. We start to become owners. We get a job. We pay the bills. We buy things like our own cars or cell phones. As a parent, I no longer have much authority over how my child takes care of their home or how much money they spend on gas or the number of apps they download on their phone.

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. John’s Gospel, however, contains a very important nugget of information. When Jesus drives out the money-changers and turns over the tables of the loan sharks, the Jews ask Him an important question. What sign do you show us that justifies your actions? In other words, by whose authority do you do these things? Who gave you the right to disrupt the Passover? Who told you to bring in the blind and the lame and begin healing? Will you not put a stop to the praises of the children? Jesus’ reply could not be more clear, My house shall be called a house of prayer but you make it a den of robbers. Jesus is claiming His rightful ownership of the Temple. He is making it clear to the religious leaders that their stewardship of the sacred places has come to an end. The rightful owner is now on the scene and He will do with His House as He wills. And what is His will? His House will be a place of prayer. A Hospital for healing. A sanctuary for praise.  

Imagine how you would feel if someone lived in your home and trashed the place. I have a good friend who owns a rental house in the Denver area. Several years ago, a tenant used his house to grow weed and cook meth. After going to court to get his tenant evicted, my friend had to gut the house and start over. It cost him thousands of dollars not to mention the time and effort he had to put in to get his house back in working order so it could be rented again. Now put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. The people you’ve entrusted your Home to have trashed the place. They have turned it into a den of robbers. Exploiting the pilgrims who come for Passover each year. They make hefty profits by price gouging the people, especially the poor. So He makes a whip of cords and drives them out. He turns over the tables and throws them out. Do you understand now why Jesus is so upset? Zeal for His own Home has consumed Him and He will do whatever it takes to restore His House to it’s former glory.  

Now let me give you an even more radical take. Jesus doesn’t just assert His authority over His House, He asserts it over all of creation with the fig tree. Not only that but He tells His disciples that if they have faith and embrace the Kingdom life, they will be able to operate with His authority in the world. They will be able to do to the fig tree what Jesus did or throw mountains into the heart of the sea. Most importantly, whatever they ask for in prayer will be given to them. Why? They are no longer tenants in God’s Kingdom but sons and daughters! In a sense, we’ve been given an “ownership” stake in all of creation and God expects us to exercise dominion and authority and responsibility in His name and for His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 21:23-22:14, Mark 11:27-12:12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12:37-50

The Tragedy of Transactional Thinking

Readings for today: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-19:27

Today’s devotional builds off of what I wrote yesterday as Jesus continues to expose the hardness of our hearts. He tells a story about day laborers who are hired to work in a vineyard. They are hired in waves. Some at first light. Others mid-morning. Some come at lunchtime. Others mid-afternoon. Finally, there are those who arrive an hour before closing time. Each and every one receives the same wage. If you are like me, you probably feel the Master is being a bit unfair. Maybe even exploitative, especially for those who’ve been working all day. This isn’t equal pay for equal work and those who put in more hours deserve higher pay. It just goes to show how little we understand the ethics of God’s Kingdom.

Our problem is that we tend to think “transactionally.” This is a natural consequence of growing up in a capitalist system. We work hard so we can earn a paycheck. We use our paycheck to pay the bills that fund our lifestyle. If I want more, I work harder. If I want to enjoy the finer things of life, I get more education, work my way up the corporate ladder, always be on the lookout for the better deal. Sadly, we approach relationships the same way. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. You do for me and I will do for you. I’ll hold up my end of the deal as long as you hold up your end. As soon as one party reneges on the agreement or doesn’t fulfill their obligations, we are free to terminate the arrangement and move on. This happens in marriage. Family. Friendships. Business partnerships. Church. Even our relationship with God.

Jesus wants us to grasp the wideness of God’s mercy. The abundance of God’s generosity. The radical nature of God’s unconditional love. Our relationship with God is not based on works but purely on His grace. Whether we come to faith as a young child or on our deathbed, God gives us the same gift of eternal life. Whether we live a life of full devotion to God or we struggle to remain faithful along the way, God mercifully and graciously prepares a place for us. This is why Jesus is so appealing to tax collectors and sinners, prostitutes and beggars, the lame and the lepers. They all know they have nothing to offer God and have no expectation of being invited to be part of God’s Kingdom. It’s much different for those of us who are successful and wealthy, healthy and strong, popular and famous. We believe we’ve done well and have rightfully earned our spot in God’s Kingdom.

Again, I want to challenge you pray this simple prayer. Pray it as often as possible until it you believe it. God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Every single human being – no matter their position or the number of their possessions – is a sinner. Utterly guilty of breaking God’s perfect Law. We rightfully deserve God’s judgment and our only hope is a divine pardon. Thankfully, God promises to show mercy to all who humble themselves before Him. I encourage you to cry out like the blind beggars of Jericho today and receive the mercy of Jesus as He heals your heart and makes you whole.

Readings for tomorrow: None

All the Wrong Questions

Readings for today: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16:1-18:30

I’ve often marveled at the patience of Jesus. Our questions must seem so silly to Him at times. Our concerns so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. He must shake His head at the way we respond to conflict, interruptions, or those in need. He must grieve at the multitude of ways we try to find loopholes in His Law. His heart must ache when all we seem to want is the absolute minimum when it comes to salvation. Especially when He has so much more in store for us! We are so like the Pharisees and the first disciples. We are no different than those who followed Jesus in those early days. We are selfish and self-absorbed. We are far more caught up in “getting” something from God rather than “giving” our lives to Him. At a fundamental level, we believe we are good people. We believe we deserve God’s attention. We believe we have done enough to earn God’s favor and love. How much better if we were simply like the tax collector. Slumped in the shadows. Faces in our hands. Never daring to gaze heavenward. Praying a very simple, very ancient prayer, God be merciful to me, a sinner. (Luke 18:13)

In our readings for today, we see all sorts of different people approaching Jesus asking all the wrong questions. The Pharisees want to know under what conditions a man can divorce his wife. The better question would be how can a man reconcile with his wife when their relationship seems irretrievably broken? The disciples try to shoo away children who are coming to Jesus for a blessing. A better response would be to pause in their journey and lovingly welcome each and every one of them into His presence. A rich young man asks what he must do to gain eternal life. He seeks to accumulate eternal riches like he has his earthly ones. Jesus sees right through him and challenges him to exchange his “transactional” life for a life of utter dependence on God. Over and over again, their questions betray how little they understand God’s Kingdom and the same is true for us as well.

Jesus challenges us to shift our perspective. To lift our eyes above the horizons of this world, above the horizons of this life, above what we think is reasonable or rational to the impossible possibilities God offers to those who authentically and honestly seek His Kingdom. His Kingdom is not of this world. His Kingdom doesn’t run on earthly power. His Kingdom has no need of earthly resources. The values of His Kingdom often seem incomprehensible to us and yet when we begin to align our lives along them, we find incredible freedom, irrepressible joy, and a peace that passes all understanding. Can you imagine how your life would be different if you asked Jesus for the strength to reconcile rather than a way out of a conflicted relationship? Imagine if you welcomed interruptions from little children or those of little earthly significance in your life? Imagine trusting God so fully and completely that earthly possessions had no hold on you? How do we get from here to there? We simply pray the prayer of the lowly tax collector. God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Pray those words over and over again until you believe them about yourself. Only then will you find yourself living in the boundless horizons of God’s Kingdom.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-19:27

The Mission of Jesus

Readings for today: Luke 14-15

Jesus came to save the least and the lost. He loves them so much He gave His life for them. He will do anything and everything to draw them to Himself. It’s why he heals on the Sabbath. It’s why He talks of feasts where the poor, the blind, the crippled and the lame become guests of honor. He’s the king who is rejected by his friends and sends his servants out to the highways and byways to bring in those who are the least worthy of his attention. It’s why He tells stories about a lost sheep that is found. A lost coin that is rediscovered. And two lost sons who are restored. These are the ways of the Kingdom of God and followers of Jesus will seek to walk in these ways themselves.

Do you love the least and the lost? Or do you instead seek a place of honor and glory for yourself? Are you like the man who went to the banquet and took the seat of highest honor for himself? Are you like the invited guests who made all kinds of excuses as to why they couldn’t come or had to delay their attendance at the great wedding feast? Are there things in your life that you love more than Jesus? Listen to His words again…

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate…even his own life cannot be my disciple.”

“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

These are hard sayings to be sure. They do not make any sense from a human perspective. We cannot imagine why the call to follow Jesus would be so costly. And yet, Jesus clearly leaves us no wiggle room. Why? Is it because Jesus is cruel? Is it because Jesus is capricious? Uncaring? Is it because Jesus is a tyrant? The answer is a clear “NO” to all of these things. It is because Jesus is 110% committed to His mission to reach the least and the lost of our world. Those who live at the bottom of society. Those who struggle and suffer and for whom life is full of pain and heartbreak. God loves them with an everlasting love and His great desire is to lift them up. Bless them. Heal them and make them whole.

Jesus has one plan to accomplish this great end. His church. His people. Those who are called by His name and set apart for His purposes. Why must we relinquish all in order to follow Jesus? It is so He can use us as He sees fit. Send us where He needs us. Take our resources and deploy them for His purposes in the world. Our response must be open hands and open hearts. A humble willingness to let God use us as He sees fit. Only then will we find true fulfillment and true joy. Only then will we experience the peace that passes all understanding. Only then will we know the unconditional love and grace of God in our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16:1-18:30

Honor God

Readings for today: Luke 12:1-13:30

One of the real benefits of coming to Africa is I learn to think in different ways. Ethiopia is an honor-shame culture like much of the rest of the world. What this means is they tend to think collectively instead of individually. Morality is determined relationally rather than internally. The focus is not so much on how to get something right as it is to honor the person and/or community in the process.

The Bible is written in an honor-shame cultural context. It cannot be fully understood apart from this. The stories Jesus tells are less “morality tales” and more about how to honor God and one another through the gospel. The story of the rich fool is a prime example of what I’m talking about. The traditional interpretation is that the man placed his trust in his riches. His sin was to build bigger barns. He was greedy and therefore fell under God’s judgment. But a close reading from the honor-shame perspective reveals even deeper truths.

What was the man’s primary sin? What was it that would have been obvious to everyone listening to Jesus that day? It was when he said, “I know what I will do…” His refusal to honor the community was his major mistake. Whenever a person had a bumper crop in the 1st century, he would make his way down to the village gate to seek advice from the elders. He would tell of the abundant blessings God had poured out on him and he would ask them what he should do. They would deliberate and discuss but eventually would suggest things like making an extravagant offering to the Lord, throwing a party so the whole village could celebrate, and giving to the poor. The man would then go out and do all these things in an effort to bring honor to his community. If, after giving to God and giving to the poor and throwing a party, he still had too much for his current barns to hold then perhaps it would be time to throw up new barns. Perhaps the whole community would come out to help. And everyone would experience the blessing.

As American Christians, we tend to think far too individualistically and we tend to read the Bible far too individualistically. We turn everything into a personal morality tale and while that isn’t all bad, it certainly doesn’t get to the heart of the gospel. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, they realized they were naked and immediately felt ashamed. The heart of the story from Genesis 3 onward is of a God who is on a mission to remove our shame. Remove our guilt. Remove our sin. He seeks to cover our shame with His own honor and that’s why Jesus tells the stories He does. This is the central message at the heart of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. It’s the primary driver behind this parable of the rich fool and so many others like it. Jesus takes all His divine honor and glory and gives it away to tax collectors and prostitutes and other sinners.

How then do we respond? We respond the way a tax collector named Zaccheus did. He gave away half of his possessions and made restitution to those he had defrauded. We respond the way a prostitute did, breaking a jar of costly ointment – her most prized possession – over Jesus’ head in an extravagant act of devotion. We respond the way the first disciples did, leaving everything behind in order to follow Jesus. This is how those who have been honored by God seek to honor Him in return.

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 14-15

Cutting Through the Noise

Readings for today: Luke 10, John 10:1-11:54

Noise. There’s a lot of it in our lives. From the moment our alarm clocks go off until we finally put down the phone or turn off the television at the end of the night, our lives are full of noise. So many voices. Telling us all kinds of things. Much of it not good for us. The bully at school who tells us we’re worthless. The co-worker who’s so negative all the time. The spouse who badgers or berates us. The child who screams when they don’t get their way. The commercials that tempt us to think life is all about us. The subliminal messages coming through on social media that constantly invite comparison. The news outlets spinning world events to bolster a particular worldview. The proliferation of fake news, gossip, and a rumor mill run wild. And, in the middle of it all, the still small voice of God whispering continually to our hearts.

Can you hear Him? Can you hear His voice? Amidst all the noise and distractions? When was the last time you sat in silence? I mean true silence. No one around. No devices present to distract. No radio. No television. Just you and God sitting in silence together. “My sheep hear my voice…” Perhaps one of the main reasons we struggle so much with our faith is we do not take the time to listen for God’s voice. We expect Him to compete with all the other voices in our lives. Shout them down. Yell over the top of them. We expect Him to make Himself known to us but we refuse to create space in our lives for that to happen. Instead, we expect Him to push His way in. Elbow His way to the front of the line. Then and only then will we turn and acknowledge Him.

Jesus doesn’t work that way. There’s a great story from the Old Testament about a man named Elijah. He went out to meet with God. A great storm whipped up. God wasn’t in the storm. A great fire raged. God wasn’t in the fire. A great earthquake shook the very ground. God wasn’t in the earthquake. Then a still small voice. Elijah covered his head. He knew he was hearing the voice of God. “My sheep hear my voice…” Do you want to hear the voice of God? Make time for solitude and silence in your life.

For me, this often comes at the end of the day. My children are in bed. My wife as well. I sit in my favorite chair in the living room. Nothing is on. I read God’s Word. I meditate. I pray. I think back over the events of my day. The people I met. The conversations I had. The work I was able to accomplish. I pay close attention to how I experienced each moment. And I lay those feelings before the Lord. I ponder what’s to come the following day. What am I excited about? Nervous about? Who will I be meeting with and how can I serve them? What challenges will I be facing and how do they make me feel? All of these things I simply lay before the Lord and ask Him to speak into them. Sometimes He does. Sometimes He simply reaches out and takes my hand, letting me know He’ll be with me no matter what.

My sheep hear my voice. I know them. They follow me. There’s nothing more comforting than walking through life with the Good Shepherd at your side.

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 12:1-13:30

No Condemnation

Readings for today: John 7-9

We’ve all probably heard the phrase, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” I don’t know about you but I have not found it all that helpful. First of all, those who do not believe are not convinced they are “sinners” and tend to resent the moniker. Second, it’s really hard to do. Separating one’s behavior from one’s identity is growing more and more difficult in our world. In fact, there are many who would argue it is impossible. And yet Jesus seemed to do it all the time.  

The beginning of John 8 is a famous story. Maybe one of the most famous in all of Scripture. And though it’s origin is questionable - it doesn’t appear in the earliest and best manuscripts - it just sounds like Jesus so we tend to keep it in. A woman caught in the very act of adultery is brought before Jesus. The Pharisees and teachers of the law are almost gleeful in their condemnation. They can’t wait to pick up the first stone. They throw her down before Him, pretty convinced He will have mercy which in turn will allow them to accuse Him of breaking the Law. Of course, anyone familiar with the Law can already see the problem. If they caught this woman in the act, where is the man? According to Leviticus 20:10 both parties deserve the death penalty. Perhaps that’s what Jesus is writing in the dust? Maybe He knows the man’s name? If they caught her in the act, why have they not carried out her punishment? The Law is clear. What’s stopping them? Perhaps it’s because they don’t really care about her crime but are far more concerned with trapping Jesus? 

In response, Jesus does this extraordinary thing. He puts the onus back on them. “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” He hasn’t condemned her nor has He affirmed her. He hasn’t condemned the Pharisees nor has He affirmed them. Instead, Jesus brilliantly lobs the ball back in their court and forces them to make their own decision. The Pharisees put down their stones and slowly walk away. The woman is left all alone, prompting this famous exchange. “Woman, has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord.” “Nor do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” 

I simply love this about Jesus. He accepts people for who they are but loves them too much to leave them there. He meets us right where we are, takes us by the hand, and leads us to a better place. He accepts us, warts and all, without affirming our sin. To the Pharisee, he says, “Are you really without sin?” To those caught in sin, he says, “I do not condemn you.” And to both, he says, “Go and sin no more.” 

As Christians, there is a lot in this world we simply cannot affirm. Changing attitudes in gender and sexuality. Abortion on demand. Racism and sexual abuse. Deceit and falsehood. Anger and hate. These things are not of God and yet so many embrace them. Defend them. Use them as means to a greater end. The answer cannot be rejection. Jesus simply will not allow us to walk away from anyone, including our enemies. So we must find a way - as Jesus found a way - to accept people for who they are without affirming their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. Thankfully, this is the heart of the gospel. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. While we were enemies of God, Christ made peace with us. While we were pushing Him away, Christ embraced us. May the Spirit give us the courage to do the same!

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 10, John 10:1-11:54

True Greatness

Readings for today: Matthew 17-18, Mark 9:2-50, Luke 9:28-56

We all want to be great. We all want to be known. We all want to be significant. In large or small ways, we all desire success. Achievement. Recognition. We want to be the best. Finish first. Get to the top of whatever mountain we’re trying to climb. We want respect. We want the people around us to think highly of us. We want to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of what we see.  

The same was true for the disciples. They signed on - or so they thought - to this new kingdom movement. They believed Jesus was the Messiah. They believed He was the Christ. And for them - Jews living in the 2nd Temple period of Israel’s history - this could only mean one thing…Jesus would lead a revolution. He would cleanse the Temple. Toss out the religious elites. Overthrow the Romans. Re-establish the throne of David. Win Israel’s independence from foreign powers. This is what had happened throughout their history and they wanted in on the ground floor when it happened again.

So they asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” It’s a loaded question. Freighted with all kinds of cultural and relational baggage. On a personal level, they are asking for themselves. Which of us is the greatest? Which of us will get to sit at your right hand? On a cultural level, they are asking for discernment to find out who’s in and who’s out. Who among the crowds that are following them are worthy to be part of this new kingdom? And who do we need to keep out? On a political level, they want to know who will hold the power and positions of influence in this new kingdom?  What cabinet positions will we occupy once you’ve established your rule and reign? They want to know so they can prepare. They want to know so they can start jockeying for position. They’re probably looking around at each other, measuring the competition. 

Jesus’ response had to be mystifying. The humblest are the greatest? The last are the first? The least have the most? We have to become like children to enter the kingdom? Remember, in that culture, children were non-persons. More like property. They had no rights. No freedoms. At the same time, children were deeply loved. Showered with affection. They were considered God’s greatest blessing for a family. So what is it about children that makes them so great in Jesus’ eyes? 

First and foremost, trust. Children, especially when very young, find it easy to trust. They accept what their parents say without question. If you tell them the sun will rise at midnight, they will wake up fully expecting it to happen. They believe easily. They are not skeptical. At least not until they get older. They’ve not had all the life experiences that can make us cynical and bitter. They see the world through rose-colored glasses. They believe the best about those around them. And this is what Jesus wants from His disciples as well. 

Second, humility. Little children do not harbor ambition. They do not need to be rich and famous. They do not grasp for power or influence or authority. They are not wrapped up in achievement or success. They are not self-conscious or even self-aware. Self has no place in their thinking at all! I believe it was CS Lewis who once said “true humility is not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought. Nor is it thinking less of yourself than you ought. It is simply thinking of your “self” less.” This comes naturally to a child and Jesus wants it to come naturally to His disciples.  

Third, wonder. Children live with a sense of wonder and awe at the world around them. They love to explore. They love to adventure. They are naturally curious. Naturally inquisitive. They want to know why things work they way they do or why things are the way they are. I remember when my four children went through their “why” phase. Every question. Every day. For weeks on end. Why this? Why that? Why? Why? Why? Sure, it got annoying but when I stepped back, I could see the wonder underlying it all. They simply wanted to know more about this grand world in which we live.  

There are probably many more lessons we can draw from our passage this morning but I have to believe Jesus - coming off His transfiguration moment - wanted to cement in His disciple’s hearts the truth of His Kingdom. It would not be like the kingdoms of this world. It would not be run like the kingdoms of this world. It would not hold to the same values of the kingdoms of this world. It would be radically different. Wholly other. And their entrance into such a kingdom would come only as they left their old lives behind and embraced the new life Jesus offers in Himself.  

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Cross-Shaped Life

Readings for today: Matthew 16, Mark 8:11-38, 9:1, Luke 9:18-27

Following Jesus requires sacrifice. It requires self-denial. It requires picking up a cross. Jesus pulls no punches in our reading today. When Peter takes up the tempter’s role and tries to convince Jesus to forgo the way of suffering laid out for Him, Jesus rightly perceives the presence of Satan behind Peter’s words. He rebukes Peter harshly just as He once rebuked Satan in the desert, just as He will rebuke him again in the Garden of Gethsemane. Satan is ever-present in Jesus’ life. Always seeking to turn Him aside from His Father’s plan. Satan knows who he’s dealing with. He’s under no illusion as to Jesus’ identity. He may not understand the full implications of the cross. He may not be able to see the resurrection. But he knows Jesus is the Son of God. He knows Jesus holds the power and authority of God. He knows Jesus is on a mission from God. And he does all he can to derail Him along the way.

Satan is ever-present in our lives as well. Always seeking to turn us aside from the Father’s plan for our lives. It’s why he tempts us constantly to choose a path without suffering. A path without pain. A path without sacrifice. Satan knows what happens when Christians take up a cross. His power is made perfect in their weakness. His Kingdom comes through their surrender. His will is done as they willingly relinquish all they are and all they have to Him. This is what Satan fears most. True believers who pursue a lifestyle of self-denial in the name of Jesus. True believers who willingly lay down their lives for the sake of the gospel. True believers who find their greatest joy in giving it all for the sake of the Kingdom.

We cannot avoid the cross-shaped life. Not if we want to follow Jesus. On the contrary, Christians understand our lives are not our own. Our possessions are not our own. Our money is not our own. Our time is not our own. Our talent and ability is not our own. Our gifts are not our own. All our achievement and success is not our own. All of these things have been given to us by God so that we might share them with those around us. All of these things have been entrusted to us by God so that we might steward them for His Kingdom purposes. And all of us will one day have to stand before the Lord and give an account of what we did with all He has given us.

Take some time today and reflect on all God has given you. Open up your schedule and prayerfully ask God how He wants you to spend your time. Are you spending daily time with Him. Are you engaging in weekly, in person worship with other believers? Are you regularly finding ways to serve your church family and community? Review your bank statement and latest update to your investment portfolio and ask God how He wants you to spend your money. Are you giving Him the firstfruits of your hard work? Are you giving at least ten percent of your income to the Lord? Are you seeking to be more generous and more sacrificial with each passing year? Sit back and ponder the gifts and talents and abilities God has given you. How are you using these gifts for God’s Kingdom purposes? How are you offering these gifts in service to God? As you spend time in prayer, make sure to take every thought captive to Christ through His Word. Satan will do all he can to derail this process. He will do all he can to disrupt and distract you along the way. He wants you as far away from the cross as possible. Rebuke him and instead cling to Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 17-18, Mark 9:2-50, Luke 9:28-56

Honor/Shame Culture

Readings for today: Matthew 15, Mark 7, 8:1-10

“And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭15:21-28‬)

This is perhaps the most confusing story in the gospels. Read through 21st century western eyes, it appears like Jesus is reflecting the sinful, racist attitudes of his day. Jews and Gentiles simply did not interact in the 1st century. Especially a rabbi and a woman. Jesus was fully within his cultural rights to ignore this woman. Reject this woman. Diminish this woman. Some modern commentators point to this story as an example of Jesus’ humanity. They talk about how even Jesus needed correction from time to time. They claim even Jesus needed to progress in his understanding of divine love and the gospel. Nothing could be farther from the truth. True, authentic, honest Biblical exegesis must always begin by approaching the text from within it’s own cultural milieu. We must do our best to remove our own cultural blinders and instead do the hard work of reading the passage against its own cultural backdrop. When one does this, the true meaning of the story comes into view…

The first thing to note is the place. Jesus has intentionally traveled to the region of Tyre and Sidon. This area was a major economic hub and trade center in that part of the world. As such, it was deeply Hellenized. Jews were the marginalized group. They were the ones being exploited for material gain. So why would Jesus go there? Earlier in his ministry Jesus likens His ministry to that of Elijah who once miraculously fed a widow in Sidon when she was starving. The point, of course, is that Jesus’ ministry will transcend race and culture though He will preach first to His own people.

The second thing to note is the time. Like much of the Middle East today, 1st century Palestine was an “honor/shame” culture. As such, there were strict rules governing the behavior of men and women. When those rules were followed, honor accrued. When those rules were ignored, shame accrued. Men gained honor through acts of courage and generosity in the community while women gained honor through their modesty and privacy in the home and family. It would be crazy for an honorable woman to approach a strange man in public across not only gender but ethnic lines just as it would be crazy for an honorable man - a rabbi no less! - to respond to such a woman. However, in this instance, all bets are off due to the desperation this woman feels as she seeks to save her child.

The third thing to note is how the woman addresses Jesus. She addresses Him by his messianic title. She clearly sees Him as more than an itinerant Jewish preacher. She clearly recognizes He’s no ordinary rabbi. There’s something different about this man that makes her abandon all honor in order to fall at his feet with the beggars standard cry, “Have mercy on me.” She would have not have interpreted His silence as an insult. In fact, she would have expected it and sought to overcome it.

Finally, there is the actual exchange itself. When Jesus answers with, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”, He is inviting an interaction with the woman. In essence, He’s saying, “tell me why I should help you?” The woman responds by drawing closer. Her cries of desperation turn to the simple plea of “Lord, help me.” And now the so-called “game” is on. In honor/shame cultures there are rules for this kind of dialogue. A challenge is offered. A response is given. Honor is accrued based on who gets the “best” of the interaction. Jesus has challenged this woman. She has responded. So Jesus offers another challenge. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Dogs in Jewish culture were almost as bad as pigs. They were mangy, half-wild animals who roamed the streets. Jews regularly used this term as an insult to Gentiles but here Jesus softens it a bit. The term He uses is in the diminutive form - i.e. “little dogs” or puppies - which again suggests He’s fully aware of the game that is taking place. The woman doesn’t even miss a beat. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” One can almost see the twinkle in Jesus’ eyes and his smile of appreciation for how she’s “bested” Him and He freely gives her the honor she has “won.”

Now here’s the really crazy thing about Jesus. It’s what I love most about Him. In “honor/shame” contests, a person typically gains honor at another’s expense. It’s why such contests were so important in 1st century society. It’s how one climbed the socio-economic ladder and became known in their community. Jesus is different. He isn’t interested in how much “honor” accumulates. Instead, He freely gives honor away at His own expense. What about us? We who have been saved by Christ have been given all the “honor” a person could ever receive! We’ve literally been invited into God’s family and adopted as His sons and daughters. What more could we want? Having been given much, should we not seek to give it away? Should we not seek to share the honor we’ve received from God with those around us? Should we not opt out of the power games our culture still plays and instead take the place of the servant?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 16, Mark 8:11-38, 9:1, Luke 9:18-27

Sent Ones

Readings for today: Matthew 10, 14, Mark 6:7-56, Luke 9:1-17, John 6

I leave Sunday for Africa. I will fly out of Denver around 9PM and arrive in Dessie, Ethiopia on Tuesday at 4:15PM. Tee to green, it’s a journey of about 36 hours. Dessie is located in the Amhara region of Ethiopia in the northern part of the country where a conflict has been raging off and on for a couple of years. Dessie itself was occupied for a period of time before the government recaptured it last year. We are heading there to train church planters. Last spring, we launched fifty new church planters into the area and we are planning on launching seventy-five more next week. We will spend our time praying for them. Worshipping with them. Training them. Interviewing them. Partnering with their local, indigenous denominations to make sure they have the resources they need. It’s a hard work. They will be ministering in an area where there is not only political conflict but religious conflict as well. They will face persecution. They will face opposition. They will face hostility. But they are not alone. Jesus is with them. The Holy Spirit empowers them. They’ve been given authority to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, cast out demons, and raise the dead. It’s why I love being around them so much. They remind me of the first apostles.

Apostle is a word that simply means “sent one.” It’s less a title and more a description of a role. Apostles are emissaries. Their purpose is to convey a message. It was commonly translated “messenger” in ancient times. One can easily see why Jesus picked up this term. He was sending His disciples out on a mission. Their job was to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God in word and deed. They were to speak God’s Word and then demonstrate the authority of God’s Word through the performance of miraculous signs and wonders. It was a powerful combination. One that put them at odds with the local political and religious authorities. As a result, they would face hostility and opposition and persecution and yet many would believe their message and receive saving faith.

Every single Christian is called to be an apostle. Every single Christian is sent out by Jesus to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. Every single Christian is called to risk everything for this endeavor. Our lives. Our livelihoods. All our worldly wealth and possessions. We are to hold nothing back in our attempt to reach the world with the gospel. This is what set those first disciples apart. It’s what set the early church apart. It’s what still sets apart Christians in places like Ethiopia, Djibouti, or South Sudan. They are changing entire villages and regions as they faithfully and sacrificially give their lives to answer the call. Are we not called to do the same? In whatever village, town, city, or region where we’ve been planted?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 15, Mark 7, 8:1-10