Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…" Luke 2:34
Some people and some things that are said make us all feel good. Let me tell you the first example I thought of: Jackie DeShanon’s 1965 hit “What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love.” Most people think accounts of Jesus’ birth belong in that same category. Sweet little baby with angels, shepherds and wise men all around: what’s not to feel good about?
However, the passage we read from Luke reflects something else. The elderly Simeon prophesies that this child-to-become-a-man will cause the falling and the rising of many. There will be something about his message that will lead some to triumph but others to tragedy.
He offers good news to anyone and everyone, but not everyone will rise because not everyone will welcome the message of his kingdom. Some will be sure that they have a better way. They will either find him offensive or irrelevant. They will speak against him or ignore him. Though he came to condemn no one, on the last day the words he has spoken will judge them (John 12:48). If they protest the unfairness of this, they will surely be reminded that they had a choice and they rejected God’s extravagant generosity. While others rise, they will fall.
Jackie DeShannon had a feel-good song that became a big hit. The story of Jesus belongs in a different genre.
12/27/09
12/21/09
The Inconvenient Path to Peace
Luke 1:79 --“to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace."
Luke 2:14 -- "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
We are not surprised at all to find statements about peace connected with the birth narrative in the Jesus story. “Peace on earth” may be one of the phrases most associated with the nativity story. But here is where we may need one of the most radical changes of our minds.
I’m afraid too many people sing about peace on earth and good will to men without seriously considering what Jesus taught his disciples about the pursuit of peace. Contrary to the Empire that believed the Pax Romana – the peace of Rome – was maintained through a strong standing army ready to violently crush any rebellion, Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and do good to them.
Contrary to his own Jewish countrymen who believed God’s peace on earth would be established by a forceful and violent overthrow of the pagan invaders, Jesus taught his disciples to pray for their enemies and to go the second mile for those very invaders.
Isaiah had prophesied of the coming kingdom where men would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and learn war no more. The Jews believed that would happen, but only after they had destroyed the Gentile unbelievers.
When Jesus came he was saying, “No, we are going to start living the kingdom right here and right now in the middle of the world and all its wars. We are going to be citizens of heaven and conduct ourselves by the standards of the age to come. And in the middle of all the fighting and the killing, we are going to practice peace and return good for evil. And in this way we will show them the real path to peace.”
Is anyone listening? Is anyone willing to change his mind this much?
FOCUS SCRIPTURES
Isaiah 2:3-4
Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6:27-36
27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 2:14 -- "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
We are not surprised at all to find statements about peace connected with the birth narrative in the Jesus story. “Peace on earth” may be one of the phrases most associated with the nativity story. But here is where we may need one of the most radical changes of our minds.
I’m afraid too many people sing about peace on earth and good will to men without seriously considering what Jesus taught his disciples about the pursuit of peace. Contrary to the Empire that believed the Pax Romana – the peace of Rome – was maintained through a strong standing army ready to violently crush any rebellion, Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and do good to them.
Contrary to his own Jewish countrymen who believed God’s peace on earth would be established by a forceful and violent overthrow of the pagan invaders, Jesus taught his disciples to pray for their enemies and to go the second mile for those very invaders.
Isaiah had prophesied of the coming kingdom where men would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and learn war no more. The Jews believed that would happen, but only after they had destroyed the Gentile unbelievers.
When Jesus came he was saying, “No, we are going to start living the kingdom right here and right now in the middle of the world and all its wars. We are going to be citizens of heaven and conduct ourselves by the standards of the age to come. And in the middle of all the fighting and the killing, we are going to practice peace and return good for evil. And in this way we will show them the real path to peace.”
Is anyone listening? Is anyone willing to change his mind this much?
FOCUS SCRIPTURES
Isaiah 2:3-4
Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6:27-36
27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
12/13/09
God with Us
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:22-23
In our last installment we saw that the child born in Bethlehem was bringing more that season’s greetings or the “most wonderful time of the year.” He was bringing the kingdom of God. That kingdom is about the breaking of the age to come into this present age. It is about the divine intersecting the human realm. It is about Immanuel—God with us.
"God with us." Those three words tell us what life is not. It is not about people whose lives are as meaningful as a rock trying to use all the intellectual or literary or musical talent, they just accidentally have, to try and give it some meaning. It is not about trying to find enough entertainment, diversion or substances to help one forget it has no meaning.
"God with us." Life is about God who gives life its purpose. It is about God who wants to be with us. It is about a God we need to be with. It is about a God who comes to us. Specifically in this story, it is about a God who comes to us, first as a child. It is about a God we would never make up, who comes to us in weakness, even though he still has all power.
Life is about a God who comes to us, but who gives us a choice. In Jesus and in the Holy Spirit, he let’s us know: “God with us.” In our hearts we have to decide to say: “And I am going to be with God.”
Focus Scripture
John 1:7-14
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
In our last installment we saw that the child born in Bethlehem was bringing more that season’s greetings or the “most wonderful time of the year.” He was bringing the kingdom of God. That kingdom is about the breaking of the age to come into this present age. It is about the divine intersecting the human realm. It is about Immanuel—God with us.
"God with us." Those three words tell us what life is not. It is not about people whose lives are as meaningful as a rock trying to use all the intellectual or literary or musical talent, they just accidentally have, to try and give it some meaning. It is not about trying to find enough entertainment, diversion or substances to help one forget it has no meaning.
"God with us." Life is about God who gives life its purpose. It is about God who wants to be with us. It is about a God we need to be with. It is about a God who comes to us. Specifically in this story, it is about a God who comes to us, first as a child. It is about a God we would never make up, who comes to us in weakness, even though he still has all power.
Life is about a God who comes to us, but who gives us a choice. In Jesus and in the Holy Spirit, he let’s us know: “God with us.” In our hearts we have to decide to say: “And I am going to be with God.”
Focus Scripture
John 1:7-14
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
12/6/09
Inflatable Jesuses and Kingdom Living
Driving near our home you can see an inflatable manger scene right there in a yard with about ten other inflatables including, Frosty the Snowman, Santa in race car and a train loaded with Christmas gifts. It is the time of the year when Jesus shows up in all kinds of places and in many songs.
For the next four weeks I want to look at some Bible texts connected with the birth of Jesus, and hopefully see some things often overlooked this time of year.
Today let’s consider Luke 1:33 where the angel says to Mary, “and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." That little child who would be “asleep on the hay” was coming to bring a long-awaited kingdom. He was coming to rule and reign. He was coming not to bring us the Christmas season and give us another yard ornament, but to become absolutely sovereign in our lives.
We know that Herod felt threatened when he learned men from the east had come seeking this child of destiny. Herod’s paranoia is well known to historians, but in this case he was right about something. This child was bringing a kingdom that would stand opposed to the kingdoms of this world.
The king himself would come as a little child, enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and wash the feet of his followers. Those who accepted his rule would live by values opposite of those of this world. They would be so captured by the age to come that they would not live so much as people of this nation or that one, but as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20).
Let me challenge you this season to evaluate everything in light of the kingdom life and values that this child brings.
Focus Scriptures
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 5:3 and 10
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (emphasis added).
For the next four weeks I want to look at some Bible texts connected with the birth of Jesus, and hopefully see some things often overlooked this time of year.
Today let’s consider Luke 1:33 where the angel says to Mary, “and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." That little child who would be “asleep on the hay” was coming to bring a long-awaited kingdom. He was coming to rule and reign. He was coming not to bring us the Christmas season and give us another yard ornament, but to become absolutely sovereign in our lives.
We know that Herod felt threatened when he learned men from the east had come seeking this child of destiny. Herod’s paranoia is well known to historians, but in this case he was right about something. This child was bringing a kingdom that would stand opposed to the kingdoms of this world.
The king himself would come as a little child, enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and wash the feet of his followers. Those who accepted his rule would live by values opposite of those of this world. They would be so captured by the age to come that they would not live so much as people of this nation or that one, but as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20).
Let me challenge you this season to evaluate everything in light of the kingdom life and values that this child brings.
Focus Scriptures
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 5:3 and 10
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (emphasis added).
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