Dodging a despot’s paranoia

𝟭 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝟮𝟮:𝟴 ” 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲? 𝗡𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.”

David was a rising star in Israel. The esteem he was held in had surpassed that of King Saul. That didn’t just irk Saul, it drove him into deep suspicion.

There was presumed treachery that filled Saul’s heart and his thinking:

𝟭 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝟭𝟴:𝟴 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝘆. “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, “𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺?”

Now, Samuel the prophet had already told Saul that he had been rejected as king – by God. Saul’s hold on power, then, was only by human means. And in the tradition of royal families, there was a dynasty to be upheld and defended. Threats like David needed to be eliminated.

But David had no intention of overthrowing Saul; he served the king with exemplary loyalty. He was NOT, as the king accused, lying in wait for him. He was fleeing for his life from a murderous tyrant.

The paranoia that governs the life of some in power causes acts of malice towards even the most innocent and upstanding people under them. Indeed, the worst thing you can do under a tyrant is do your job well. Any acclaim that comes your way is perceived as something taken away from the despot. There can only be one star – the ruler.

While autocratic, tyrannical, even murderous rulers do exist in the world even today I am thankful to never have one running political things where I have lived; at least to the extent of hunting down their enemies to kill them physically. However, the controlling spirit of stultifying leadership is everywhere, and I have seen that.

If I’m under such an authority, I do think it’s God’s will and self-preservation to escape or hideout in the corners such as David did. While it is part of any employment to do what it takes to advance the corporation or organization, being slain in reputation, limited in future development or otherwise discredited and disparaged is harmful to the soul. I have been there; and my refuge was lateral movement. Escape is not always possible, so shelter is advisable. I prayed, I moved as I saw opportunity.

If I AM in a role of authority, woe to me if I become jealous towards those who report to me – I need to fight that zealously. For indeed, may they be more gifted and productive than I am. I need to promote them, even above and beyond me, seeing my role in their lives as nurturer, even for a short season. And in that role, I rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15), at any advancement.

Hierarchy is solidly scriptural and may I live in the structure with a heart after God.

Undesirable heroes

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟬:𝟯𝟯‭-‬𝟯𝟰 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻, 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗱, 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

In his story to demonstrate what a “neighbor” is, Jesus made a hated Samaritan the hero of the story. The ethnicity and place of origin of this character was no mistake – Jesus was confronting national pride and exclusion. That tendency in Jesus’ teaching and actions is nothing short of an agenda. It stands as an unexpected point of focus for a Messiah who people expected to establish the nation of Israel as supreme over all others.

It confronted pride head on. That a Samaritan could be the only righteous person in the story while the religious leaders (priest and Levite) simply could not be bothered was a deep and cutting criticism of the current state of Jewish religiosity. Jesus never opposed the Law of Moses nor its faithful observance. But he pointedly opposed the corruption that came to dominate that faith during his days on earth.

Though the story was particular towards neighborliness, first century Judaism was hardly the only faith community practicing tribal and racial self-declaration of righteousness with literally nothing to show for its claims. To this day religion self-aggrandizes and puffs up its authorities and managers of ritual and law. And to this day it is anywhere from derogatory exclusivity to murderously hateful towards those outside its organization. Yet, says Jesus, it is outside corporate religion where true neighbors are found in heart and practice. And loving one’s neighbor is loving God, says the Law which the religious rulers claimed to uphold.

Am I like this Samaritan? Can I be bothered to help the bleeding, naked, dying victim? Do I even see that person? Certainly, the lesson goes far beyond a physical victim of violent crime. Indeed, it is the inner wounds that may need binding up and dressing. Indeed, there is a convalescence of soul that I can be a part of.

And do I allow my “least desirable” neighbors to be heroes in my stories and life? Permitting them to be good neighbors makes me a good neighbor. Telling the stories of their righteousness and heroism lifts them up in my consideration and that of others.

Logs and specks

Luke 6:42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Fault-finding putdown artists are actors (hypocrites), says Jesus.  They have no intention of facing up to their own shortcomings, but only delight in point those out in others.  There is a preadolescent mindset that begins with the discovery that demeaning others makes one feel powerful and superior.  It’s a lie, says the Lord, for it leaves out the most important ingredient of all – humility.

Motives are cleansed by allowing God to convict and correct.  The trouble is that fault-finders cannot distinguish conviction and condemnation.  They count on condemnation disqualifying and eliminating others, so they cannot allow any scrutiny to be applied to their hearts or lives.  No, says Jesus, “first take the log out of your own eye” – let the truth penetrate your life, be forgiven and freed, THEN you will understand conviction and freedom for others.  At that point, when you remove THEIR speck, it will be out of love and desire for their best.

The teaching does NOT negate care to remove other’s specks.  My own log – however huge and ugly – does not make me unable to help others with their (albeit smaller) issues.

If I am in the business of the putdown of others, I then need to ask about my own state before God.  I can trust this – it’s a leading indicator of my own need for conviction, forgiveness, cleansing/healing and freedom.  If and when my motives are pure – that is, I am no hypocrite but instead fully acknowledge my own imperfection and struggles – I can love people enough to confront them with things they may not see in themselves.  For it’s no mistake the analogy involves the organ through which we see – we cannot see through a speck.

I rejoice in the freedom God gives me and all his children.  It never comes without struggle and the first person’s struggle I deal with is my own.  And then there is victory for us all!

Hometown mediocrity

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟰:𝟮𝟯‭-‬𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, “𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯, ‘“𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.” 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺, 𝗱𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹.’” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻.”

When Jesus came to Nazareth in Galilee after being tempted by Satan for 40 days, he was confronted by offended unbelief. When they heard the grace that he spoke, the people noted he was (only) Joseph’s son, which was not accurate biologically/spiritually. They could and would not allow anyone from their midst to attain any exalted position and gifting. The status quo of “normalcy” – meaning mediocrity at best – needed to be maintained.

There is no person upon whom God coerces faith. It must come from within a person; an act of spiritual volition. The good news is that it can grow, and that involves tearing down strongholds of pride and envy. Those things stand in the way, and from this passage we see that they are tribally enforced and expressed.

Where do I deny the supremacy of Christ? Where do I insist upon his mere humanity? I may well hold his deity in formal belief, but what about his effect upon my own life? Do I hold up my requests and intercessions as proof points of his power and care on my behalf? That’s subtle, but greatly effective at putting myself on the throne where I do not belong. He needs free reign in me, not the restrictions created by my being his “hometown”.

On the flip side, where do I see myself and others pulled down, dumbed down and made to conform to the lower expectations, talents and attainments of others? It’s inappropriate to exalt oneself and completely in order to serve. And service will, by nature, grow people in gifts and talents well beyond those of others. But let it be known – envy is not absent among those beholding such growth – whether they behold as leaders or followers. There are resident controlling spirits that keep people where they are even as they atrophy and the grace that had been there dissolves.

The counter to the offense taken by the people is humble spiritual organism – a unassuming faith that is ever out-looking and growing. I need to allow it in me and foster and contend for it in my environment.

The angst and the lightning

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟰:𝟲 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁.

…

𝟮𝟰:𝟮𝟳 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻.

So much turmoil in Matthew 24! So much cataclysm and soul-wrenching upheaval. The life of a Jesus follower is to be marked by the animosity of the world and endangered by the reaction of sinful humanity towards the message of the cross and its living out. The war in the heavenlies will become war on earth.

In fear, there is a settling of conviction or an alignment with anyone and anything that seems to alleviate the threats. That is why Jesus said to not be alarmed. Far from just turning off the alarm switch, the peace that a believer can have is based upon faith that Jesus remains in control although it looks like the opposite. Believers will be put to death in an effort to stop the move of God’s Kingdom (some have tried, see Josef Stalin). Still the end is “not yet”.

It does little good to hand-wring and development of worry warts in advance of the end times. Even less good is the perverse glee who imagine the coming of Christ – verse 27 – without the unpleasant events leading up to it – verses 1-26. Even less useful than that is the false prophecy that portends to know the time of his arrival and makes survivalist preparations (absoLUTEly without scriptural instruction). This is to the shame of God’s people, for it is cultic, and driven by anything but love (which has grown cold).

There is a hopeful sobriety that awaits the second coming of the Lord, come what may. Trusting God with today’s events is always the way to live in Christ. His Word is a lamp, not a floodlight (Psalm 119:105). Because, when Jesus does return to planet earth, no one will be mistaken. No false messiahs or false refuges will compare to the true glory or speed of his descent.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Humble genealogies

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭:𝟯,𝟱,𝟳,𝟭𝟲 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘇 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿

..𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝘇, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗯, 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝘇 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗯𝗲𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝘁𝗵

.. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗨𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲

.. 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗵.

Genealogies demystify the past. Some cling to them in pride, sure that they establish a purebred human line. Others make discoveries that bring the family down to earth, showing the base results of the human condition.

The lineage of Jesus Christ featured moral compromise like that of many others. There was no purebred claim to be established. . Even Mary, the mother of the Lord, would endure suspicion of adultery because of the way Jesus was conceived. There is a thread of grace and mercy. The humble and shamed produced offspring that would be part of a royal line, no matter what had happened along the way.

No doubt this list would have invited scorn from some holding to a proud heritage – and there is nothing wrong with righteousness in a family’s past. But there is everything wrong with a claim of superiority based upon that. For God’s Son came from a line of sinners, to save an exponentially larger line of sinners.

There is therefore no disqualification or special status given to anyone. It’s grace or nothing that saves and establishes righteousness, one generation at a time. God has no grandchildren.

Flowing word of salvation

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟮:𝟰𝟴-𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲.”

Rejecting Jesus was and is commonplace. He said radical things about himself and the world. His moral teachings were likewise deeply contrary to the norm in human relations and dynamics (e.g. who naturally loves his/her enemies?). His miracles and actions made him harder to ignore, and he made no bones about declaring himself to be God the Son sent to earth.

One who rejects Jesus rejects more than s/he thinks. For it is not just a random voice being silenced, it is the person of the Son of God. Since Jesus speaks from the Father, it is God being canceled in a life.

There is judgment having NOTHING to do with the words or actions of any human. Jesus spoke, and still speaks, the word Almighty God has directed. What he said contains everlasting life – yes, after this life in this body – if I receive and believe it (thus letting it work into my thoughts, words and actions). The new birth in faith is letting the line of communication continue unhindered. It is a flow that saves me.And if I’m honest, I can see it likewise measured towards me from those I have hurt.

That can be terrifying.

Rejecting what Jesus says cancels the only out I have – his shed blood for my sins. And it puts me on the throne of judgment which is a travesty and usurpation of role. I cannot wield such judgment; so I am no such judge.

Jesus spoke, and still speaks, the word Almighty God has directed. What he said contains everlasting life – yes, after this life in this body – if I receive and believe it (thus letting it work into my thoughts, words and actions). The new birth in faith is letting the line of communication continue unhindered. It is a flow that saves me.

Endangered place and nation

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟭:𝟰𝟳-𝟰𝟴 𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼? 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀. 𝗜𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”

Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, with many witnesses, including Pharisees who could not deny the miraculous work. Some of them began following Jesus at that point, but others returned to Jerusalem, concerned for what this meant to their standing and security. Their words above indicate a fear of lost prominence (“our place”) and the nation of Israel itself (“our nation”).

It was presumed, then, that Jesus was as they were, power-grubbing authority hounds who lorded what they knew and what they did over the people. And of course Jesus was after political control, inciting rebellion against the Roman occupiers. Jesus had never given any indication of those claims and projecting motives was just wrong.

It’s not that Jesus would ever uphold their leadership; they ran a corrupt system of perverse and diluted spirituality. That meant they were indeed in danger of losing their “place”. But that was happening in any case for in 70 AD the nation rebelled and their entire system was destroyed, temple and all. Towards the religious practice of Jews of Israel, Jesus could be seen as more of a reformer than rebel. Yet, the authorities would have none of it.

It is upon me to not defend my position or my nation or my church or my family from Jesus. Why would I do that? Because I am afraid of the change Jesus would bring. I might lose authority or influence. My country might become “weak” in its defenses or standing among nations. I might have to eat humble pie and admit and turn my sin and patterns of control and coercion.

I may never say I’d oppose Jesus and strongly state my allegiance to everything he says or does. But in fact the Holy Spirit is inexorable in revealing ways I still cling to my own ways, possessions and importance. Prestige is a subtle yet vicious idol.

God is good and grants all humanity with fulfillment, justice and truth. We have stuff and position and blessed trajectory in life all from God’s hand. None of that is retracted or relented. The temptation and worldly encouragement is to construct surroundings and systems that protect and accumulate those blessings in ways that benefit us above all else. That’s idolatry. That’s being afraid for “our place” and “our nation”.

Christ in us is better than that and

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟭𝟬:𝟮𝟮 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁.

that is, wealth of all kinds. Let me (and let us) rest in that.

The Identity Decision

John 8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

This dialog is the ending of a large, contentious exchange with the Jewish leaders and Jesus. Underlying it all was his identity. His references to his origin, and thus, the origin of his message and ministry, were all pointing to God as his Father and heaven as his point of origin. The leaders repeatedly referred to their national and spiritual identity as children of Abraham, but Jesus refuted that spiritually, saying that Abraham was in line with what He said and did.

Finally, Jesus spoke of his eternal existence, that he had in fact seen Abraham in heavenly places. They scoffed and fumed, and he said the words “I AM”.

Those words identified Jesus with Almighty God, who uttered them to Moses as the name that was to identify the LORD to his people. The tense is the eternal present – God always IS. The Jewish leaders instantly recognized what Jesus was saying and picked up rocks to stone him to death (as they had earlier in the chapter to a woman they had caught in adultery).

This debate is at the heart of following Jesus to this day. Did God visit earth? Did God’s Son lay his life down (that is, it was NOT taken from him) for the sins of humankind? Did he indeed rise from the dead after being executed? If so, Jesus is “I AM”. If not, physical or verbal stones fly at the impostor making such an outlandish claim. There truly is no middle ground. Intentionally ignoring the controversy is to allow flying stones, for the person of Jesus makes humans choose sides:

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters”

It is no manmade tribal orthodoxy in force; it is a decision about the identity of Jesus.

I’ve seen and experienced well enough to believe he had seen Abraham before he was born on earth and one day he will see me in the same place. He is indeed “I AM”.

Hard encouragement

Luke 22:61-62 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter, impetuous, boastful and proud. Yet, overcome by fear of being arrested himself, he had denied knowing Jesus or being one of his followers three times. Jesus had told him that he had prayed for him to not fall away and then said that he would deny him, as he did. That is, Jesus had seen the whole scene in advance.

And then, Jesus turned and looked across the noisy room of accusers and abusers and stared straight at Peter. The heartbreak and bitter disappointment in himself overcame Peter, and he left in grief. Peter knew the seriousness of what he had done. He had heard Jesus earlier proclaim:

Luke 12:8-9 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”

There was then a schism between everything Peter knew about Christ, all in which he had partaken, and where he stood as one who denies. He had himself seemingly been disowned.

But we know the story and it didn’t end here. Peter persisted in faith and was personally restored by Jesus after the Resurrection (see John 21). From our vantage point, this episode can be seen as a necessary lesson in humility and shame that Peter needed to be the person Jesus knew he would become.

There is hard encouragement here. I (and we) have more than one chance to get it right, even to the point of cataclysmic failure. The stare of the Lord is pointed and personal; it arrests us in our tracks and brings us to know we have hurt the One who loves more than anyone else. Woe to me if I do not mourn my sin; let me never be callous about my careless and self-protective words and actions.

Let me learn, as Peter did, about Jesus who intercedes for me to not fall away but constantly be restored and renewed. I need that second (and third, fourth, etc.) chance. And it is granted me, praise God.