Pastor's Reflections

Scripture

34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; 38 but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.'

42 "I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! 43 I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink," 44 and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also" -- let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.' 45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels. 47 Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. 49 Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left."

58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will." 59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes." 61 Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. 63 Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. 64 And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel, 65 and said to the servant, "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Reflection

When I was in children’s Sunday school many years ago, we had various art posters depicting various so-called bible heroes. There was the poster of Noah and the ark; the one with David and Goliath; the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea; and this one: the servant of Abraham meeting Rebekah at the well. You probably remember the story: Abraham was on his death bed and deployed his trusted servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. The servant loaded up a caravan of 10 camels laden with rich gifts and traveled to Abraham’s birth land to find a wife. The servant met Rebekah at a well, and she gave him a drink that was requested and then watered all of his camels without being asked to do so (I calculate that it took her 10.8 hours to water the 10 camels, but that is another story). The narrative is a very active one. The servant prays; Rebekah works; the servant gives her gifts; Rebekah runs to the her family; her brother runs to the servant; the camels are watered and fed; food is prepared; the servant tells his mission and convinces them that Rebekah should go with him; the servant gives many gifts to the family; they eat; they return to Canaan; Isaac and Rebekah are married; and everyone lives happily ever after. It is a great story that describes the continuation of the covenant that the Lord made with Abraham.

But there is a lot more to this story than the seemingly simple narrative. 1) The servant, who is not even named, illustrates the true essence of faith in God. He prays for help from God and remembers to thank God for the success of the mission. It is no accident that the writer repeats the involvement of God when the servant describes it to the family. 2) The very end of the story says that Isaac loves Rebekah. That does not seem unusual because our culture accepts love as the precursor to marriage. People fall in love and get married. But that was not true in this ancient culture. This is the first time (and one of the few times) that spousal love is mentioned in the bible. There is a trajectory of relationship being depicted in the Genesis epic accounts. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God directly; God told Noah exactly what to do; God called Abraham and had dinner with him under the oak tree of Mamre; but by this time people were beginning to relate to each other in determining God’s will. Read the dialogue between Laban and the servant.

3) If you read between the lines, it appears that Laban is enamored with the gifts and riches of his prospective brother-in-law. Of course, the servant is adept at presenting this information. There is clearly a business/family transaction involved. Many gifts (a dowry) are bestowed on the brother in exchange for Rebekah. At the same time, prayer, worship, and religious discernment play a huge role in the transaction. There is an intermingling of daily life with worship and prayer. Today, many people have the mistaken belief that what they do in their daily lives is separate from their Sunday Christian lives. This event at the well took place about 3800 years ago. The servant in this story can teach us a lot if we listen.

Scripture

8 The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. 10 So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac." 11 The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. 13 As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring." 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, "Do not let me look on the death of the child." And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him." 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. 20 God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Reflection

Abraham and Sarah are both heroic figures from Israel’s ancient times. Three different world religions revere them as their spiritual Father and Mother. Yet, sometimes their behavior was downright embarrassing; this scripture describes one of those times. Abraham had been promised that a great nation would be his descendant, but he and Sarah grew tired of waiting on the Lord, and Abraham had a child named Ishmael with Sarah’s slave girl Hagar. After Isaac arrived as promised by God, Sarah insisted that Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael. She wanted Isaac to inherit everything as the oldest and only son of Abraham. Abraham was distressed; after all Ishmael was his own flesh and blood, and Ishmael was about 16 years old by now. Also Hagar was one of his two wives; he had to have some feelings for her. Abraham was caught in a very tense dilemma. Not only was he being pressured by his wife Sarah, but it was Isaac to whom the covenant was to pass. God had promised and delivered Isaac in Abraham’s old age, and God did not choose Ishmael. In effect, Abraham and Sarah had planned the birth of Ishmael and tried to circumvent God’s original plan.

God intervened to relieve Abraham of his dilemma, and at the same time, maintain God’s plan. He allowed Abraham to do as Sarah demanded. The embarrassing part is how Abraham complied with Sarah’s command. Rather than escort Hagar and Ishmael to a nice safe town, he sent them out in the wilderness with a skin of water and some bread. With no place to go, they wandered in the wilderness until their water was gone. Hagar cast her son (and Abraham’s son) under a bush, and she prepared for them both to die. God intervened once more, and saved both Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar disappears from the biblical story at this point, and Ishmael appears once again when he and Isaac bury their father Abraham.

The obvious lesson from this story is that God is God, and His plan is going to be the one fulfilled. We humans continue to chase our own desires, but God will get it done with or without our help. The not so obvious lesson is that God is on the side of the one who is cast away. There are millions of people in our world that are starving, afflicted with curable diseases, being killed by those in power, and living in deplorable conditions. These people are the castaways of our generation, and God is with them in their sorry conditions. This is good news to those who have been cast away by society. For those who are in a condition of comfort, if we want to be where God is working, then we need to be helping the castaways. God hears their cries of anguish just as he heard Ishmael’s voice crying out for help.

The American Church has continued to get it wrong. We think that church is a place for our own comfort. God is out with the castaways, and we need to join him there.

Scripture

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3 He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on -- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9 They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 10 Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" 13 The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh."

Reflection

How appropriate that on Fathers’ Day the scripture lesson is about Father Abraham; paragon of virtue, faith, and trust. About 1800 years after his death, the apostle Paul holds him up as a model of faith to the churches in Rome and Galatia (Romans 4:1-16 and Galatians 3:6-18). In this narrative we see a much different side of Abraham than we have up until now. When the three visitors surprise him at his tent he becomes both a blabbermouth and like a chicken with his head cut off. He seems to talk incessantly while the visitors say very little. Then he scurries about in a tizzy preparing a feast for his guests. Only as his guests begin to eat does he slow down and give them a chance to talk.

As soon as the guests begin to talk it becomes clear to Abraham that these are not ordinary men. They know that his wife’s name is Sarah, and God Himself changed her name from Sarai to Sarah. The persons eating the feast prepared by Abraham are none other than the Lord and two angels. Imagine having the Lord for a picnic under the oak tree in your yard! But the Lord had a purpose in visiting Abraham. He came to tell him that Sarah would soon have a son. The birth of Isaac would fulfill the promise made to Abraham when he started his journey; that is, God would bless him and give the land of Canaan to his offspring. Sarah, who was listening to the conversation from the tent, laughed to herself because Abraham was 100 years old and she was 90 years old! It was impossible for God’s promise to come true. Of course, the theme of this narrative is expressed in verse 14 by the Lord Himself: “Is anything to wonderful for the Lord?” What seems impossible to us, is possible for God.

But there is another theme in this narrative. Why did God come to visit Abraham when he already told him about the birth of Isaac? (17:16-18). At that time Abraham laughed just like Sarah, and he did not believe God either. God’s reaction to Abraham’s disbelief is very informative for us. If I were God (be thankful that I am not) I would have been so angry with Abraham! All that I had done for him, and he still did not trust me? I would have punished him and chosen somebody else to inherit the land. But God goes out of His way to try to convince Abraham that He is going to keep his promise to him. God can handle our disbelief and is still there for us in spite of our obstinance. Like the Psalmist said many times: “His steadfast love lasts forever.”

Scripture

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak (1) of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and invoked the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.

Reflection

God bless America! God bless Texas! God bless East Texas! God bless you! I think most of us would agree with those statements, but what do we mean by them? Are we asking for divine protection or material prosperity or good health or inner peace or happy dispositions… or all of the above? We can learn a lot about the blessings of God from this very famous scripture about the call and blessing of Abraham by God. Verses 2-3 contain the word “bless” in various forms 5 different times. Abraham is considered the spiritual father by Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The blessings by God have been passed down from generation to generation, and each of these religions considers themselves the one blessed by God in a special way. “God is on our side and not yours.”

Yet, I wonder if we consider what it means to be blessed by God? Note the reciprocity in verses 2 and 3. God promises to bless Abraham “so that you (Abraham) will be a blessing.” Being chosen and blessed by God is so wonderful that it cannot be expressed adequately; yet, the choseness and blessing carries a big responsibility. God expected Abraham to bless others then and those to follow him. One might expect Abraham to turn God down because it can be a heavy burden, but he took the blessing and went as God commanded him to a new land and a new life. The rest of the story is the history of the bible as we understand it and love it. However, if we attempt to live the bible, we are called upon to be a blessing to all those we know and to those we do not know. We must take the blessings from God and reflect them to the world.

About 1800 years after Abraham, Jesus showed us what it means to bless others; he gave the world the greatest blessing ever received by humankind. He gave us his life that we might be saved in spite of our sinful nature. We Christians are called upon to give ourselves for others. We sure want those free blessings from God, but we are called to bless others… even those we do not like. Do you want to be blessed by God? May God bestow His richest blessings on you!

Scripture

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them." 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

7:24 And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred fifty days

8: 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh-- birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth-- so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." 18 So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives. 19 And every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the ark by families. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing odor, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done. 22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

Reflection

What in the world went wrong? In Genesis 1 we read the very beautiful creation story that culminates in the creation of humankind in the image of God. We were given dominion of God’s creation and told to “be fruitful and multiply.” In Genesis 6, God is sorrowful and grieved over the corruption and violence of creation and decides to do away with it and start all over again. He picks one man and his family to begin anew. You know the story. Noah and his sons build a huge boat (ark), collect representatives of all animals; God seals them in the ark, and the ark floats on top of the flood waters. We love artwork for children that illustrate this story: the ark with all of the animals lined up to get on or the animals on deck with a rainbow in the background. Children like the story because they can identify with some of the animals: “Did Noah take dogs and cats on the ark?”

However, for adults this story tends to be a problem. It is hard to see the beauty of the ark and the animals when the reality of the story becomes apparent and there become more questions than answers. Is there a boat big enough to hold representatives of all the animals in the world? What about insects… they should have left the fire ants and mosquitoes behind. How did they keep the lions and tigers from eating the sheep and goats? And the whole experience was anything but beautiful… think about waste products and imagine the stench in a closed space with thousands of animals. But the biggest problem is the picture of those who are left to drown. Yes, they were evil, but what about babies and children? Would God really do something like this?

Consider why the author wrote this story to be passed down from generation to generation. Was he simply telling a story for the sake of history, or did he have something theological to say? I think the latter reason has something to offer. Consider that this story is really not about Noah, a flood, animals, or an ark. The author is trying to tell his listeners and readers something about the relationship between God and humankind. Clearly Noah’s generation did not live up to God’s expectations. He created humankind in His own image, and He gave us the freedom of choice so that we could choose to love Him or not. They chose not to do so. So God decided to start over with Noah and his family. However, after the flood, God decided that he would not destroy the world and all living flesh again, but not because Noah was righteous. He realized that we would do the same things as Noah’s generation did; we would continue to violate the image of God given to us and be steeped in corruption and violence. In verse 8:21 God says in His heart that “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done.” God recognizes that we are hopeless sinners, but He is not going to abandon us even though we do not deserve His love. He is going to do His best to bring us to Him. Perhaps that is why He sent the prophets and finally sent His own Son to save us from ourselves.

Scripture

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6 And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." 7 So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8 God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 9 And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. 14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights-- the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night-- and the stars.17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. 20 And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." 21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. 24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. [26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." 29 God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.] And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. 4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

Reflection

This is one of the more famous and more beautiful passages in the bible: the creation story. God speaks the world into being, separates and orders things, and creates us in His image. He then pronounces His creation as “very good”, blesses it, and rests in admiration of His own handiwork. God’s own will makes order out of chaos and creates us in His image. However, the Genesis story leaves almost as many questions as it gives answers. Let us look at two of them. 1) If God creates the world and orders everything, and pronounces it as “very good”, then why are there disasters like Hurricane Rita, the earthquake in China, or the cyclone in Myanmar? 2) What does it mean that we humans are created in God’s image?

Ever since Genesis was written, people have pondered the phrase; “So God created humankind in his image”, and proposed many answers. 1) We are created in the moral image of God, and we should emulate His attributes and behavior. Since we needed an example to follow, He sent His own Son to show us the perfect moral image. 2) God created us in His spiritual image, and gave us a soul unlike ordinary animals. 3) God gave us the ability to discern right from wrong. We can make real choices that affect our own and others’ futures. 4) God created us with the ability to love Him and each other.

Of course, to even begin to postulate our own image, we need to imagine God’s own image. Notice the progression of creation in this passage. God begins to draw His creation into the creation process. For example, he says to the earth, “let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind.” God did not wind up the clock of creation, sit it down, and walk away to become a silent watcher. The creation is invited into the Creator’s life. This is even more evident when He creates humankind. Not only does God provide for his creatures through the plants of this earth, but humankind is invited to have dominion along with God. God sees to our needs, but also expects our help in becoming co-creators with Him. Perhaps “our” creationary work is not completed; God started it and then recruited us to pitch in and help. We expect God to fulfill our needs (and even our wants… “God please help me get that new car”), but He expects us to help out with the creation that is ongoing. Of course, that includes loving all of His children like He does. When chaos breaks back into the ordered world that God began, as it has done in Myanmar, China, Oklahoma, and East Texas (remember Rita?), maybe God expects us to respond to the needs of others. Create… don’t procrastinate.

Scripture

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Reflection

Can you imagine someone boasting about a gift as if they earned it themselves? Suppose someone we knew inherited a large sum of money and told us how he worked so hard to obtain his worldly success? Of course, we would not want to be judgmental, but his boasting would raise questions about his integrity in our minds. We might even be envious… “I wish someone among my ancestors had left me a large chunk of change; unfortunately, I picked a poor family to be born into.” Instead of material gifts, what about the boasting over spiritual gifts? We might boast that we are saved Christians, but surely no one would ever boast about earning his salvation.

In this letter that Paul wrote to the troubled church at Corinth, he addresses the boasting issue. Those who had received the gift of speaking in tongues were boasting about their gift. Not only were they boasting, they placed themselves on a higher spiritual plain relative to others within the church. According to Paul, all Christians are able to claim Jesus as Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians is apparent in many different services and activities. Paul lists a number of different gifts of the Spirit, and his list is not necessarily complete. In every case, the gift is given at the choice of the Holy Spirit and for the common good of the church. All gifts of the Spirit are intended for the common good not as a “feel good” for the individual. Church is a unique community of believers within the one body of Christ, empowered by the one Holy Spirit. Church is not about “me”, it is about “us”. We should go to church to give not to receive. Although our needs might be met at church, the apostolic church is based on each person sharing their gifts of the Spirit for the common good. What does that person sitting in the pew in front of you need? What does your church need? The Holy Spirit can empower you to use your gifts to contribute to the common good. Ask and you will receive.

Scripture

4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

Reflection

The church is under attack from the surrounding culture. People who have converted to Christianity no longer seem to “fit in” with their friends. These Christians no longer party into the early morning hours, drinking heavily and engaging in promiscuity. Rather than try to make themselves seem important to society, they focus on feeding the hungry and caring for those in need. Their humility in business makes them an easy target to former “friends” who now see them as an easy target to be taken advantage of. People make fun of Christians and slander them. “You are just being self righteous by not recognizing the pluralistic society in which we live. You offend people of other religions by not recognizing their gods.” “You really don’t believe that this man Jesus was raised from the dead, do you? That is scientifically impossible. Only an idiot would believe that myth.”

That scenario is almost 2000 years old. It was the case of the churches in Asia Minor that Peter wrote to in the letter that we call 1 Peter. They were surrounded by a Greco-Roman (pagan) culture that was causing significant suffering among these early Christians. It is amazing how much things change but remain the same. The Church today is also surrounded by a pagan culture. It is a pagan culture because society does not trust in God but trusts in money, power, and self gratification. America has come to depend on governmental support and military might rather than God for security. How should the Church of our era respond to our culture?

The power of scripture is its eternal quality. What Peter commanded the church of his era is still valid today. When we suffer for Christ’s sake we suffer with him and rejoice rather than trying to cause the suffering of our abusers. We win people to Christ by our love for them and not our hatred. Although we are commanded to witness for Christ, we must do that humbly and not from a position of self righteousness. Most importantly, Christians put their hope and faith in Christ and not in the powers and behaviors of this world. We live in the world, but must not attack the world nor be corrupted by the world. The Church is in the world to help bring God’s kingdom on earth; not to become like the society in which we live. If we become as the society around us, then why would anyone join us together with Christ?

Scripture

13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Reflection

Once upon a time, there was a slave named Jeconiah. Jeconiah lived in Asia Minor in a town called Ephesus about 85 AD, some 55 years after Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. Jeconiah was a highly educated and a successful businessman when he was taken captive by the Roman army and sold on the slave market. His owner, a very wealthy Roman government official, recognized Jeconiah’s obvious talents and eventually put him in charge of his household, farms, and business operations. Jeconiah made his owner’s business operations flourish, and his vast holdings grew making him even more wealthy. Although a slave, Jeconiah lived a good life. His owner gave him a good place to live, ample food and clothing, allowed him to have a family, and never beat him which was a common practice.

Jeconiah became highly respected and feared in the business community because of his acumen and astute handling of his owner’s assets and resources. He bought low and sold high, lent money at high interest rates, and squeezed the most work out of the farm slaves while feeding them the least amount of food. His owner even took him along with him to worship at the various temples for the pantheon of Greco-Roman gods.

Jeconiah became a Christian and attended the church that Paul visited and wrote to some years earlier (remember the letter to the Ephesians?). He began to read the bible, listen to the teachings of the local preacher, and prayed fervently that he might follow God’s will as manifest in Jesus Christ. He was originally attracted to Christianity because he identified with Jesus who suffered much like Roman slaves suffered. The more he tried to follow God’s will, the closer he grew to God and the more he changed. His business dealing became much more Christ like. He began to treat the farm slaves very differently, he tried to make both parties win in business transactions, and he treated borrowers more humanely. Instead of being respected and feared he became respected and loved by fellow slaves and even among all Ephesians.

Unfortunately, Jeconiah’s owner was not supportive of his conversion. Although, he was still making a lot of money, he was making less. The owner confronted Jeconiah with his loss in revenue, and Jeconiah had the audacity to witness to him and try to convert him to Christianity. The owner had Jeconiah beaten severely, and Jeconiah was no longer treated as well. Over a period of years he did gain the grudging admiration of his owner because he recognized that Jeconiah practiced what he preached. Jeconiah walked the talk. But the greatest outcome of Jeconiah’s faith was the conversion of many of his fellow slaves and even some Roman citizens to Christianity. The church grew and prospered because Jeconiah lived his faith and was bold in telling others what Jesus had done for him.

The church has been around for 2000 years. Many people think it is because of great apostles and preachers like Paul, Peter, St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and Billy Graham. I think the history of the church was written by the bold faith of people like Jeconiah; anonymous Christians over the centuries who lived their faith in their everyday lives and passed their faith on from generation to generation. Are you a Christian like Jeconiah?

Scripture

19 For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Reflection

This is one of those scriptures that we attempt to ignore because we do not want to do what it says. It says “…that you should follow in his steps.” Jesus set the example, and he expects his followers to actually follow in his steps. This particularly phraseology regarding the footsteps of Jesus is unique in the bible. When I was a little kid, I lived up north where it snows. When there were several inches (or a foot!) of snow on the ground it was hard to plow through because it came up well above my knees. If I was walking with my dad, I would walk behind him in his footsteps because he had made the way easier. It took really big steps because my legs were shorter, but it beat trying to make my own steps in fresh snow. Similarly, Jesus has let the way and left his footsteps for us to follow. Why do I say that we do not want to do that?

This letter was written to a group of churches in Asia that were surrounded by a pagan, Greco-Roman culture. These churches were being oppressed because of their Christianity. The churches seemingly disrupted society because they taught practices that were contrary to the accepted morals, behaviors, and beliefs of the majority of the citizenry. Christians had the audacity to insist that people should be guided by love of their fellow human beings. They believed that all people had worth, even slaves and women. This strange, new religion threatened the status quo of a structured and rigid socioeconomic stratum. Individual Christians and the church were subjected to slander, persecution, and abuse. Many today are also slandered, and in some places abused, for standing up for Christ. But how should we respond to the slander and abuse?

According the scripture that we all love, Jesus’ response was the following: “When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.” If we are to truly follow in Jesus’ footsteps our own response to violence is not violence but trust in God. Jesus could have avoided crucifixion in many ways, but instead he “bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” We love the story of salvation that Jesus made available for us to choose, but do we really follow in his footsteps? This response seems impossible and impractical. If we don’t hit back when we are hit, then we are deemed weak in our society. If you want to read a really interesting true story about someone who followed in Jesus’ footsteps read the following article about Tom Fox. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-166822736.html

Scripture

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."

Reflection

You may know someone like Bob. Bob was the neighborhood boy with all of the advantages of life who self destructed when he grew up. Bob came from a good family with attentive parents, doting grandparents, and a protective older sister. The family attended church regularly, and Bob prayed and read his bible regularly. He attended one of the better elementary schools where he received good grades and good conduct marks. In high school he played football and baseball and made mostly A’s and B’s. He never gave any of his teachers any trouble, and he had lots of friends. The trouble began when he went off to college. Once freed of any parental direction he drifted away from church, started partying, and began to drink. He started down the wrong path and ended up missing most of his classes and flunking out of school. He got a job, eventually married his high school sweetheart, had 2 kids, and then lost it all along with his faith. Bob is in need of an intentional rescue operation.

This post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to the disciples is an intentional rescue operation. The disciples have not gone downhill as far as Bob, but they were starting down the wrong pathway. Jesus had already appeared to them twice, gifted them with the Holy Spirit, and assigned them the responsibility of instituting the church through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet, it seems that they did not know what to do. Instead of taking on the mission, they decided to go fishing. So Jesus came back one more time to rescue them from themselves. It is important to read this scripture because it contains many messages.

What is instructive to me is how differently Jesus confronts the recalcitrant disciples than we might. We would probably begin by chewing out Peter for denying Jesus 3 times. We might remind the disciples of how cowardly they were in running away when the soldiers of the chief priests arrived to arrest him. The final words would be a severe tongue lashing for not beginning the mission that was assigned. Was the gift of the Holy Spirit for naught? Rather than kicking them around, Jesus feeds them. He then confirms (three times!) Peter’s love for him. Assuring himself of Peter’s love for Christ, each time he reminds Peter to feed Jesus’ sheep. Jesus models how the disciples are supposed to rescue his lost sheep by his own rescue of the disciples

There are at least 3 major themes to this narrative: love, feed, and follow. If the followers of Jesus truly love him, they will feed his sheep. Bob needs to be fed not castigated. Do you know someone like Bob who needs to be rescued? “Feed my sheep.”

Scripture

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

John does not tell us what the disciples were doing on Easter Sunday night before Jesus appeared to them; however, the context gives us a lot of clues. Mary Magdalene had visited the tomb and found it empty. When she reported the missing body to Peter and the beloved disciple, they both ran to the tomb to see for themselves. After inspecting the empty tomb the two men returned to their homes. Mary then had a conversation with two angels, and Jesus himself appeared to her. After these events, Mary reported to the disciples that “I have seen the Lord”, and she repeated what he had told her. The next scene in the drama is the disciples gathered together behind closed doors. Why were they gathered together? There are a few possibilities.

They were afraid of the Jewish authorities that had killed Jesus, and they could have been gathered together for safety purposes. There is some sense of safety in numbers. The narrative tells us that the doors were locked out of fear, so this is a plausible explanation. Or since Jesus had appeared to Mary they wanted to be together to jointly witness his next appearance, if any. Perhaps they had simply gathered together to pray and worship. Having fled when Jesus had been taken from them, they may have gathered to regroup and decide on their next move. Should they return to Galilee and start fishing again? Considering the recent appearance of the risen Christ to Mary, the most likely scenario is that they were preparing for his return and the continuation of their ministry together. Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, they had traveled with Jesus and witnessed his ministry of healing, feeding, and teaching. This ministry had been interrupted by his death, but since he had been raised from the dead they could begin where they had left off.

If these thoughts were in any of their minds, Jesus very quickly destroyed their visions of a return to the good old days. He appeared with the words “peace be with you” and invited them to observe his wounds from the crucifixion. The disciples were overjoyed; after all, they had their friend, teacher, and leader back. Now the good old days could begin as before. However, no sooner had they begun rejoicing when he delivered the news. He instituted what we know as “the church” by breathing the Holy Spirit on them and defining their mission. They are to take his place in the world and become the body of Christ to the world. It would be up to them to continue the healing, teaching, and feeding of the world. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit was to constitute the church continuing the mission of Jesus.

The next appearance was presumably for Thomas’ benefit. Thomas was absent the first time Jesus appeared to the other disciples, and he expressed disbelief (not doubt). Jesus returned to repeat the message, and add something very significant to his message: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” These scriptures are not so much a put-down of Thomas as they are a blessing for the future church. The church did not end with the deaths of the original disciples, but the gospel was passed down from generation to generation to us. It may come as a shock, but the mission of taking Jesus’ place in the world as the body of Christ for the world constitutes the church. How are we to accomplish this? Jesus knew that we could not do it ourselves, that is why he breathed the Holy Spirit into the disciples and into us. Just in case we forget that, the scripture reminds us through the words of John that… “these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” The Holy Spirit constitutes the church, and Holy Scripture enables us, who did not see Jesus as a human being, to come to him.

Scripture

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Reflection

Everybody knows what happens on Easter morning. We celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus. It is because of this event in history that we are who we are; that is, the children of God and brother and sisters of Christ. We receive forgiveness of our sins and the free gift of grace through faith. Salvation is what it is because Christ died on the cross for us and was raised from the dead thereby conquering death. But you know all of that and much more besides.

However, what was it like for the two Marys who went to see the tomb that Easter morning so many years ago? They went to see a tomb with a body in it. Perhaps they went to grieve as we often do at gravesites. They had lost a near and dear friend and teacher, and someone who had changed their lives. Imagine their initial fear when they witnessed the dramatic appearance of an angel from heaven who pushed aside the stone and sat on it. The scripture says that “his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.” It had to be a fearsome sight since the tough, hardened soldiers all fainted from fright.

But the two Marys knew exactly what to do. Without any hesitation they ran to tell the disciples just as the angel commanded them. The bible says that they went with fear and great joy. I doubt that they had to be commanded to go; they could not wait to share the good news with their friends. Suddenly Jesus himself appeared; again they knew what to do and without any hesitation. The bible says that “they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.” Jesus repeated the mission given by the angel and sent them on their way. The women did two things in response to this miraculous and dramatic event. They worshipped Jesus and went as they were commanded.

This event was historic; that is, it happened at a given time, in a given place, and with real people. However, the resurrection is more than a point in time. Jesus was raised from the dead and is still raised for us just as he was for them. Easter is more than just a celebration of an historic event, Easter is permanent. We are God’s Easter people every day of the year. If we really believe that Christ died for us and was raised from the dead, our responses should be the same as the women’s responses. We should worship Christ and go tell others that he has been raised from the dead. The latter is much harder to do than the former. It is difficult to tell others about Christ, but if we were as overcome with joy as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, we would find it much easier to do. Happy Easter every day of the year!

Scripture

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Reflection

The prophet Isaiah brought good news to his weary people who were living in Babylonia. They were weary because their country Israel, their city Jerusalem, and their temple had been destroyed, and many friends and family had been slaughtered by the Babylonians in 587 BC. Many Israelites were carried off into captivity into Babylonia. Chapters 40-55 in the book of Isaiah recount the prophecy that promised salvation and redemption by God, who would rescue His people and bring them back to the land that He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and had given to the people that Moses led up from Egypt.

This particular short scripture, that is placed within the greater context of the rescue operation being planned by God, tells a rather bizarre story. It seems very strange that people beat the prophet, pulled out his beard (ouch!), spit upon him, and insulted him when he prophesied that God would save them. Human nature can be very peculiar; some of them did not want to be saved. Why would they reject God’s redemption? A possible explanation is revealed within the lives the people themselves. Some, especially the older ones, cherished the memories of their homeland and their temple, and they could not wait to return and worship God in the temple like they used to. Over a period of time others adjusted to the strange land. They accommodated the culture, lifestyles, and even the idolatrous religion of the Babylonians. They developed a certain comfort with their lives. Living in Babylonia may not have been perfect, but the thought of a big move would require them to move out of their comfort zone. Change can be really hard, and they fought the idea and the prophet who proclaimed it. Some stayed behind when the remnant of Israel returned home as God had promised.

Of course, about 500 years later some people would fight the salvation offered by Christ and would abuse him in a horrific manner. On Palm Sunday he marched into Jerusalem triumphantly with a large crowd of followers who were presumably ready to leave their comfort zones and accept him as their king. We know that there were others who were not so moved. Their comfort zones were so ingrained in them that they could not see what he offered to them. The same thing is true today. Many people are comfortable. Maybe we are too comfortable. Never in the history of humankind has any group of people enjoyed the standard of living that we Americans have been blessed with. When confronted with the Good News that far exceeds the good news proclaimed by Isaiah, we are just too comfortable to move.

During this Lenten season I have been wondering about myself. Although I decided to follow Christ many years ago, I wonder if he is calling me beyond my current comfort zone to a relationship closer to him and closer to my brothers and sisters in Christ. I view the cross during Holy Week, but am I prepared to pick up my own cross and follow him to Golgotha? I think I would rather skip Golgotha and go straight to the empty tomb. How about you? Thank God that we know that is why he died for us!

May you have a joyous Easter knowing that Christ died for you!

Scripture

1 The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD." 7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. 11 Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD."

Reflection

The book, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens has been made into countless movies, plays, and musicals. Of course, the gist of the story is the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge who starts out as a miserly, joyless grouch with a heart of lead and becomes a philanthropic, joyful Christmas celebrant with a heart of pure gold. The literary genius of the three ghosts allows Dickens to confront Scrooge with his past, present, and future, all within the time span of a few hours. Scrooge has been completely living in his own present. He has forgotten his past, does not see other people’s present, and has no real future; just the present repeated ad infinitum. The ghost of Christmas past reminds him of some good times in his past and how he chose a pathway that excluded others from his life. The ghost of Christmas present showed him associates and relatives who had joy in their lives even though they had little money. The ghost of Christmas yet-to-come showed him the misery in other people’s lives and his own life if he continued only to live in the present. He chose to change and live into a totally new future.

This passage from Ezekiel confronts Israel with the past, present, and future. The field of dry bones represents their past. They had continued to break the covenant with God, and they finally suffered the consequences. Their country and beloved temple had been utterly destroyed, and they were carried off into captivity. They had become (metaphorically) a field of very dry bones. Their present was a result of past bad choices, and they saw themselves as hopelessly lost and cut off from each other and God. They were scattered about and unable to worship God in His temple. They saw themselves as a people without a future, doomed to repeat the present ad infinitum just like Scrooge.

However, God had a different future in mind for them. The re-membering of the field of dry bones was a powerful promise of God’s intention to call them back from their scattered positions and put them back in the land that he had promised and given to them generations earlier. Since God is God, God’s intentions became reality. Within 50 years of this vision, the empire that had imprisoned them was destroyed, and they were allowed to return home.

What does this mean to us some 2500 years after Ezekiel received this vision from God? Most importantly we need to realize that our own lives and the lives of those around us can become fields of dry bones. All one needs to do is read the paper or watch the newscast to know that the world is filled with very dry bones. Whether it is genocide in the Sudan or the murder of young college students, there are plenty of dry bones. One needs not look that far to find some dry bones. They are in Deep East Texas. People are still living in FEMA trailers and in houses with blue roofs.

The only way that dry bones can be re-membered and made to come to life is by God’s intention; in other words, God’s will determines the future, not us. If we try to assemble dry bones by ourselves, they will never come alive. Only God can do that. There is a one huge difference between A Christmas Carol and the valley of the dry bones. Scrooge was transformed by his experience; the corporate body of the Israelites was redeemed by God. Their redemption was a corporate redemption not an individualistic emotional experience. God calls his people together.

Just as our present has been partly determined by our past choices, our future is a function of present choices. Choose to live into God’s future; not a self-made future.

Scripture

The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." 11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and