Turning towards the good news

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭:𝟭𝟰‭-‬𝟭𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱; 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹.”

Mark 1 covers a lot of history of Jesus’ life in just a few verses, but this statement from the Lord at the beginning of his ministry is both terse and deeply engaging.

The time being “fulfilled” provides the historical context for the life and ministry of Jesus. It happened exactly when God determined it would, and all things were set in place. From the dire spiritual state of the nation of Israel to the rule of Rome, with all the roads and travel lanes that had opened, the point of Jesus’ entry onto the scene was ordained.

The kingdom of God being “at hand” announced what was now available through Christ. Humankind would be touched as never before with miracles, teaching and opportunity to walk out lives directed and blessed by God the Father in Heaven. “It’s right here” says Jesus, come and get it.

There is no translation of the Greek word for gospel – εὐαγγέλιον (pronounced euangelion) – means anything gloomy or burdensome. It simply means good (“eu” prefix) news or message (angelion). Jesus repeatedly urges people to believe it – that there is good will from God for them in life – both to save and restore and give hope and a future. It makes all the difference in how people live.

Coupled with the word for “gospel”, “repent” – meaning turn and go the other way – refers to mindset and faith that is “bad news” or at least laced with that. Rather than thinking about this sin or that, the call is to change our minds and believe that God loves and cares for us. All other actions and thoughts related to believing the bad news simply fall away – though some certainly die hard.

Let me then believe, practice and thus preach the good news where and when God enables and opens the door. He loves me and loves us and wants the best for us.

Hope over human despair

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭𝟵:𝟮𝟱‭-‬𝟮𝟲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱?” 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.”

Jesus had astounded his followers by saying that only with great difficulty could the wealthy attain eternal salvation.  At the time, the religious authorities were all men of means, vaunting their wherewithal above those who were poorer.  Earthly wealth was, then, associated with heavenly destiny in the minds of the people.  Not so, said Jesus, quite the opposite.

Logically then, if the rich could not be saved, how much less those who had less?  “Who then can be saved?” was a question aimed at all humanity.  Jesus’ words had effectively disqualified everyone according to their understanding.  The disciples were expressing their despair.  It underscored how lost and hopeless was humankind.  But Jesus gazed at them when they asked it to focus his answer directly to their fear. 

Salvation was and is impossible with humanity’s reason and work.  We don’t earn heaven, God grants it.  All things being possible with God leaves no one out of redemption’s reach.  It is no statement of universal salvation but one or universal invitation and opportunity. 

Salvation is only one of many things people cannot do.  And certainly, people disqualify each other.  People even damn each other.  Not so with God, who desires that no one perish. 

Believing that all things are possible with God should change me as it should change anyone who believes it.  Is my prayer life in sync with this fact?  Do I develop faith that God will do what only God can do?  Do I persist in that faith? 

The draw of hopeless humanity is ever present and accusing, pulling down hope and the great expectations that God would engender.  The impossible riddle goes deep for it is exactly the hopeless ones that God wants to bring his Kingdom.  Yet, they rehearse and practice hopelessness and downward progression.  Let me be encouraged in my faith to counter with love.  In Jesus’ name.

Suspended understanding

John 6:56-58 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Many disciples ceased to follow Jesus after he said these words. It’s also clear if those who remained did not understand what Jesus was saying either, but they clung to him nonetheless because, as Peter said “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (verse 68).

The analogy of bread to Jesus’ body and wine to his blood is a reference to his sacrificial death for all humankind, as demonstrated in Luke 22:19 and as practiced during communion services across the world in a vast variety of ways and churches. It is a tangible reminder for Jesus followers to signify saving faith in Jesus’ death for their sins.

We have no record of the lives of those who walked away in misunderstanding this saying. But it’s certain that NO ONE understood it, so those who remained did not let their understanding dictate their faith. As Peter went on to say: “We believe and know that you are the Holy one of God.” (verse 69). Who Jesus was matter more than their grasping everything he said or did. Indeed, it could be said that they were confused most of the time.

Can I suspend understanding like that? Can I push through confusion and lack of understanding of the “how’s” and “why’s” and “what’s” and cling to the person of Jesus? It takes faith to know it will all be clear at some point. But if I know the “who”, I can float the the other unknowns. For I do eat the body and drink the blood, knowing fully what it now means.

This is not to say everything I might hear is the voice of the Lord. Truly, following the wrong human voice can be the blind leading the blind. But when a word has strong spiritual witness in the Holy Spirit, I can know it’s him and follow it on that basis alone. It’s required to “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and the good things need my attention as a follower.

So be it.

Come and see

John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Nazareth, in the region of Galilee, was far from Jerusalem, the center and capital of Israel. As a remote place, its insignificance was perhaps its most defining trait. But when Nathanael asked if anything “good” could come from there, it was a moral question. Like most nations, regional pride emphasizes the local good and the non-local bad, using whatever measures are available. We certainly have no record of conspicuous Galilean evil – the words and acts of Mary the mother of Jesus show there was certainly deep devotion to God in practice.

Philip’s reply is short but the best one to be offered to scoffers and skeptics. It echoes the Psalmist’s invitation:

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good

as indeed Nathanael would. Jesus immediately displayed miraculous knowledge of Nathanael’s life before they met, at which Nathanael named Jesus as Messiah (see verse 49).

It is not up to any believer to prove who Jesus is; because the move of the Holy Spirit on anyone’s life is God-breathed and spiritually discerned. Humanity craves reasoned understanding and banks on its scientific proofs, which are hit-or-miss at best. Reasoning would have dismissed investigating this Jesus because he was, after all, from Nazareth. And, concerning the person of Jesus Christ, one can only be invited with a “Come and see”. The rest is up to that person to both come and see.

In Nathanael’s case, coming to Jesus involved some travel. Jesus did not come to him. For others, Jesus would indeed show up on scene and on point. But truly coming to Jesus requires “being there” – actually showing up with operational senses and a willingness to perceive what Jesus will say and do.

Seeing is not only a use of one’s eyes, but of one’s spirit. When prayer or worship receives a its replies, whatever the response, identifying that there really is a loving God who hears and answers is vital to spiritual perception. Relatively speaking, Nathanael saw the physical Jesus Christ and was immediately shown a miraculous sign. Later, and unto this very day, the miraculous still occurs, but there is almost always no audible voice. Many will explain God’s interactions with people as coincidence or wishful thinking. At some frequency those arguments become too thin to carry weight, and people who’ve refused to “come and see” don’t want others to do that either.

To be sure, the erosion of faith invariably has ever-decreasing “come and see” activity and perception. The invitation, then, is ongoing and vital. Something good – VERY good- has come from Nazareth.

Illogical Objections

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭𝟭:𝟭𝟴-𝟭𝟵 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆, ‘𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻.’ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆, ‘𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺! 𝗔 𝗴𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀!’ 𝗬𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀.”

Jesus was reflection on the ministry of John the Baptist and its reception among the people of Israel. There was no futility in what he said, but the resistance of the listeners revealed obstinate hearts and minds. There was nothing new in this; the prophets told of similar rejection.

When there is a message they don’t like, people will invent a reason to reject it. Their objections are usually focused on the person through whom the message came. Though the conviction conveyed makes great sense and goes to the depths of their being, they pick at the communicator.

The criticisms of Jesus vs John the Baptist contradict each other and logic would have it that if one thought John too severe for his Nazirite lifestyle, Jesus would certainly be appealing in contrast. But no, the opposite behavior was used to throw out what Jesus had said and done.

Wisdom being justified by her deeds is a statement of the veracity and importance of what had been said and done, despite all logical wranglings against it.

Do I, then, discard something based upon the speaker and his/her attributes? Even if it’s pettiness – a sin which I’ve decided judge harshly, or how the person dresses, speaks or acts, if there is a message I need to hear or wisdom I need to drink in, I must let that happen. It’s especially key to see my muddled reasoning, invented per instance, to ignore what I so needed.

For sure there are people who I will not follow closely. But if there is something I need to hear, also for sure, God will speak it through multiple mouths and media until I listen inside. That’s his love and mercy at work. Let me not demand a live concert:

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭𝟭:𝟭𝟳 ‘𝗪𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲; 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻.’

but instead soften my heart to heed. For God’s wisdom is always before me if I will.

Calling of the favored one

Luke 1:28-30 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Seeing an angel in the first place would be disconcerting; it was almost certainly Mary’s first time being visited by a heavenly messenger. But when he announced that she was favored and that the Lord was with her, she was “greatly troubled”, wondering “what sort of greeting this might be”.

There is no doubt Mary was versed in scripture. Her song, the famed Magnificat, in Luke 2, has lyrics that are deeply inspired by Old Testament themes and word pictures. She would therefore know that being greeted by an angel was often a preparation for God asking something of a person (see Gideon in Judges 6:12).

It’s not that “O favored one” is a flattering ploy to soften her up, it’s that God’s favored ones are often chosen for special duties and callings. By the end of the conversation with Gabriel, the angel, her attitude would be expressed with wonderful faith – (Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”), all the while not knowing what lay ahead.

There is a dread of special calling that pervades the human heart. Faith may be summoned, and the person called the proper individual, but the impossibility of what God asks requires what is an uncommon and ever deeper reliance upon his hand to accomplish his calling. In Mary’s case, it was to be the mother of God’s Son. While the biological mechanics of bearing a child were understood, THIS child was divine. No other mother before or since would do what Mary did.

Am I ready to be called? As a child of God in Christ, I am definitely favored. And I can hardly call myself into God’s service. But am I ready to receive the call once given? Mary could have turned away from this call, though God knew she would not. Does God know that of me? If not, what is needed that I would be that trustworthy? It’s worth praying for.

Freedom of expensive worship

Mark 14:4-5 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

At the house of Simon the (former) Leper, a woman had come forth and poured some very expensive perfume on the head of Jesus. It was a personal as well as public display of affection, devotion and honor. From the container used to the fragrance it emitted, everything about the action testified to fine, expensive quality of the liquid.

Immediately some who were present had attitudes about the woman’s actions. They thought it a foolish, wasteful thing to do. The value of the perfume would have brought in significant monies to be given to help the poor. It was never their perfume, yet they seemed to claim it with their high brow charitable concerns. And by inference, they both demeaned the woman who made the offering and Jesus Himself, who received it.

Attempts to control and manipulate the actions of others are deeply arrogant and insulting. Projecting attitudes and inferiority onto others has the appearance of establishing authority and dominance of them, but it reveals a poverty of soul and often has a basis in shame. Jesus very quickly defended the actions of the woman as being devoted and prophetic. His words “The poor you will have with you always” in no way discounted charity, but pointed to the singularly appropriate nature of the pouring of the perfume.

Part of the reason for donations being kept private is to avoid this very second-guessing and accusatory judgment of those who want to decide for everyone how things are done. But when such things are NOT private, unless I am asked, let me not interject opinions or even principles of how I would do things, let alone cast judgment on the hearts of others in how manage their resources.

The breadth of ways people worship God is mine to observe in deep wonder, not to control or manage. He is worthy of it all.

Helping unbelief

Mark 9:24-25 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

Jesus replied to the father of a demon possessed boy that all things are possible to those with faith. Convicted of his lack thereof, the man confessed that he did believe, but he also didn’t. Based upon his actions, he at least had faith that bringing the boy to Jesus could well result in his deliverance. But he also lacked faith to take authority over the demonic presence in his son’s life. His cry for help was both desperate and vulnerable.

The application of this story has been corrupted by people – often church leaders – shaming the father and all like him who need help in their faith. If one does not have the faith to deal with circumstances, they quote Jesus with spite: (Mark 9:19) “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” The remark was critical – Jesus often chided people to believe God for more. But unlike the shamers, he didn’t leave them that way (and learn that shame hinders growth or produces pride).

Jesus helped his unbelief!! Instead of shaming and leaving the man to fend for himself, Jesus caused his faith to grow! This sidebar story to the healing has vast implications.

1. Wherever I am in my faith – and any assessment of faith must take in all its dimensions (LOTS of faith for that, less or none for this), being honest about what I believe God will do is my Job 1.
2. My faith is not in my faith – it’s in Jesus and HIS ability to deliver – from or through – the trial, malady or situation.
3. If I have faith to bring something to Jesus (even that much!) it’s enough for him to work with. But woe is me if I cease doing that.
4. Jesus will increase my faith (and this is NOT the only time people asked Jesus for more faith – see Luke 17:5). If I ask and contend for his salvation and move, I will be like a weight lifter who sees his muscles bulge with continued exercise.

Some prayers and requests are long-term and gut-wrenching in the waiting period. Some in truth will not be answered according to my liking. But the progression of trust and peace in my life can be charted if I care to take inventory. Jesus has helped and will continue to help my unbelief.

“If you do well” – The acceptable offering

Genesis 4:6-7The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain, the older brother, had made an offering to God.  His younger brother Abel had done the same.  The narrative in Genesis 4 says that the Lord “had regard” for Abel’s offering, but not that of Cain.  There has been much commentary about exactly what was worthy about Abel’s offering that was NOT in Cain’s, but in truth the text does not say “and here’s why”.  The point of the text is that there was now, for the first time in humanity, sibling rivalry.  And it would turn out to be murderous.

It is a familiar trend (that is, a trend of families) that older children are the authority over their younger siblings.  It starts with basic development like walking and talking, but can and does easily extend into adulthood with job skills, achievements, etc.  At the very least, the older siblings tend to do things first.

It’s not reading into the story too much to say that when the younger Abel receives commendation that Cain does not, that would aggravate this older sibling order.  It would be an insult, as indeed it was.  Cain was devastated.

The verses above show a brief word from God towards the angered and sullen Cain that indicates a divine perspective that Cain needed to hear, though he would choose NOT to hear it.  And it is this: That God’s judgment about the offering had nothing to do with picking favorites.  It was simply God’s disposition towards a particular work – an offering.  And for whatever reason Cain’s wasn’t accepted, future offerings certainly COULD be accepted. 

“If you do well” is a conditional that of which Cain no doubt knew the meaning.  But he was so clouded in the presently felt rejection, he couldn’t hear it.

“If you do not do well” is the flip side of that conditional and it is accompanied by the outplay of sin.  And Cain immediately demonstrated what that meant as he murdered his brother over a rejected offering.

Do I battle for my offering to be accepted?  To be honest, in the intricacies of rivalry, I have long fought that way, though the instruction from the Word is very clear:

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.

Though my offering is acceptable, my eyes can still be fixated upon those who appear to have an even MORE acceptable offering.  And in that is the “If you do not do well” for my life.  The resentment that arises from such comparison never produces anything righteous.  Even if it causes me to surpass those I strive against, my motives become so polluted as to make my offering far less than holy and thus, far below what is pleasing to God. 

Let me begin thinking that God chooses many, many favorites and that I am certainly one of them.  The exclusive favorite concept is for the Olympics and the Superbowl, not for my life’s offering before God.

Let me learn again to humbly offer and give, ignoring the noise of comparison and all its trappings.  Amen.

One act of righteousness

Romans 3:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

It was only one piece of fruit.  One time.  “How bad could that be?” asks all of humanity.  Well, it was an act of rebellion that led to the condemnation of all men.  If I would deny God a central attribute of holiness, I would certainly insist on the primacy of my own ethics, rules and perspectives.  If God does not conform to my compromises and indulge my pleasurable tastes, however they progress and escalate, then I want nothing to do with that God.  For it is not only one piece of fruit.  It is an endless orgy of fruit, and one that I delight in discovering, uncovering and feasting on, my mouth dripping with juice.

Why does this condemn?  Isn’t fruit good?  If I entertain there is a Creator, wasn’t it then created for my enjoyment?  What kind of spoil-sport God would show me a tree and its fruit then deny its consumption?

The kind of God whose limits and boundaries are for my good, not my harm.  The kind of God who desires my trust through obedience.

It is a chief fault of mine if I fail to see the reason in this verse.  I made choices.  They were NOT good, no matter how I revel in them and point to other factors in making them.  And Holy God does not endorse rebellion or rebels like me.  I have separated myself deliberately, even exuberantly.  God finds me hiding behind a tree in the garden and I decide to miss out on the most pleasurable walk in the company of One so intimate and loving.  I leave behind the most precious time I have ever known and could ever know, in the cool of the day with God.  Oh, what I’ve traded for my indulgence!

It was only one man, perhaps erroneously killed by oppressive authorities who were jealous of his persuasion over the people.  That injustice was scarcely unique, and is not unique to this day.  Yet the dying man had said prior that his death was voluntary, that there is no greater love than someone who dies for his friends.  He called himself the Good Shepherd and his sheep were people.  He taught denial and lived it and died it.  His proposition was that in giving up his life he was purchasing mine.  And even in that, granting me the volition to say yes or no to him.

That “one act of righteousness” speaks through time.  Hallelujah!  God did not leave me this way.  Blood drips from the veins of the crucified One, not any man but the dying Messiah.  The pleasure fruit and its effects die with him, along with the shame that I bore and curse I swore.

My rebellion is justified, paid for and I am reconciled to take that walk through the garden in the cool of the day again.  My obedience doesn’t come at once, salvation is progressive and my depravity deep and pervasive.  Yet his cleansing deeper still.

My life is his; there is no one else.