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.

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.

Prophets and profits

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟯:𝟯𝟰‭-‬𝟯𝟱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗳𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗿.

The parable of the landowner who sent his servants to collect rent was very thinly veiled. The religious rulers and authorities in Jerusalem were rebellious tenants, lording what they knew and what they had over the people. Any prophet sent to call them to righteousness that was the heart of the Law of Moses, was maltreated, even killed. Such talk threatened their position. Prophets endangered their profits.

The generation of leaders alive at the time Christ’s arrival in Israel were to bear the guilt of all who came before. That’s because it was no mere prophet visitation they witnessed – it was God the Son. Their crucifying him would carry the guilt weight of all who came before; such was the miraculous and doctrinal witness they had seen. They had seen it and attributed it to the work of the devil, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the only unpardonable sin.

There is no payback in justice, only a making right of wrong. In that there is punishment for the wrongdoer and some of that is severe, even eternal. The prophets uniformly strongly advocated for justice for the poor, and ministry on behalf of the downtrodden was central to Jesus’ purpose on earth as well. Many of the miracles not only restored physical well-being but elevated their recipients to a better, more productive and permanently rewarded life. Arguably, the prospect of lifting people up (from under foot) was the central terror of the religious leaders. They NEEDED poor know-nothings to exploit and serve them. In the theology of the religious rulers, the poor pleasing them was the same as pleasing God.

Do I resist the prophet? Do I cling to position and whatever power I have come into – including the power of influence? I certainly do not want to. While New Testament prophecy is to undergo testing (𝟭 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟱:𝟮𝟭 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱), corrective words spoken tend to be opposed.

Without question, “prophets” can be equally intoxicated with power as anyone else, but there is a real deal. Authentic prophecy is not necessarily pleasing; it brings me up short.

It was God’s love that motivated Jesus. It was God’s love that motivated those who came before. Love pulls no punches but is expended for my good. A strong ploy goes on in the mind where the supposed motives of those who don’t please me become malicious and oppressive. While that can happen, let me learn to take those thoughts captive and let God speak. For I need to hear all God says.

Objections to the ordained

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟭:𝟭𝟱‭-‬𝟭𝟲 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, “𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱!” 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴?” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, “𝗬𝗲𝘀; 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱, “‘𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲’?”

Indignation – anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment – is a human sentiment that can be produced by a perceived lack of respect or regard for high position and authority. Rank rebellion very often creates indignation among the powers that be, because it is a challenge to their position as the powers that be. In the praise that accompanied Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, there was high regard afforded the Lord for all he had done for people. The chief priests and scribes had never been praised like that. It was not rebellion but celebration. Yet, they were angry.

Jesus did not back down when they confronted him. This “riff raff” was acting in complete propriety. The infants and young children were glorifying God in the person of His Son. At the core of the objection was his identity. And THAT was at the core of why he was executed; the authorities accused him of blasphemy.

The Lord had prepared – ordained – the praise of the people. It was predestined that the people would shout “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (21:9). And Jesus was predestined to ride the donkey into town (Zechariah 9:9, more than 500 years before). The accomplishment of God’s ordained plans dwarfs the intents and wranglings of potentates and their minions, however powerful and exalted.

Am I among those laying down their cloaks and palm branches to welcome this gentle King riding the donkey? Or am I objecting to the hubbub and fuss? Do I crown him King or just a momentary celebrity who had some healing powers? It is a critical decision to this day.

Jesus is Lord.

“How”, not “when”

Luke 17:20-21 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

The question was a “when” question that Jesus answered with a “how” answer. And in his answer how, he answered the “when” question with “right now”.

Having seen the miracles Jesus performed and listening to his teaching, many in Israel thought he would bring the kingdom of God as a political force that would rule the world from Jerusalem. There was no shortage of national pride in that expectation.

This was not the reign that Jesus was to bring. Instead, it was conquest of the human soul, a personal transformation paid for by his own sacrifice, the very opposite of the actions of the ruler they expected. They were both unwilling and incapable of understanding and experiencing the kingdom in their midst.

Jesus went on to explain to his disciples the dire times that would bring God’s kingdom in power upon the earth. It would (and will) not be a desirable period in which to live. Yet, it was not to happen in the lifetime of his hearers.

It is healthy for believers to long for Jesus’ return. There is only One who can deliver this world, and his appearing and final reign is before us all as a blessed hope.

But we should never assume that any man-made or -sustained system on this earth to be the expression of God’s kingdom “in our midst”. It is mine and ours, to have the reign of God within our hearts and the conformation to his image (Romans 8:29) be the signature work of power in this life.

Jesus instructed his followers to NOT chase after predictions of the times of his return (Acts 1:7) yet people act like the Pharisees in their speculation and relentless scheming. Let me stay away from that foolishness and treasure the Kingdom that is in our midst and in me. Amen.

Blessing for the outcast

Genesis 21:17-18 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? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Sarah had given Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to Abraham with whom to make offspring for her (Sarah) because she was barren.  They did the deed and Hagar bore Ishmael.  THEN the promise came from the Lord that Sarah herself would bear a child in her old age, which she did, and named him Isaac (Hebrew for “laughter”).  When the celebration of Isaac’s birth happened, Hagar was in attendance and Sarah saw her laughing.  She was immediately enraged and told Abraham to cast out Hagar and her child from his family.  So he did.

Hagar then went away into the wilderness and decided to abandon her young boy there, leaving him to die.  In anguish she cried out to God, who answered in the verses above. 

The obvious and poignant parallel with the modern anguished decisions to abort a child or give him/her up for adoption is loud and clear.  For abandonment and being cast out from a relationship and all manner of a place to live, raise and care for a child is extremely common in such decisions.  God’s answer to Hagar is tender and full of promise also.  He will make the child a great nation!  Nation-founding will not be the destiny of every child, but destitution and poverty won’t either.  Hope screams from these verses if one is listening.

So, my/our part in the drama is to make the future less frightening.  If someone is pro-life, that person can NOT be just pro-birth, that would be Sarah’s stance and though God granted her request, the great lady hardly stands in righteousness at this point.  For God met Hagar; it’s why we have these verses.  And that counters Sarah’s indignant exclusion with profound grace and mercy.

Culturally, my people and nation have been at extreme odds with the offspring of Ishmael.  God had earlier announced

Genesis 16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.

.. which has been fulfilled.  But this scene with Hagar MUST soften my heart towards the Arab people.  God loves them, and so must I.  So I pray for that love to grow, tender yet strong.  For God has made Ishmael into a great nation.

Blessing on a precursory life

Luke 1:76-79: And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit usfrom on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Zechariah had been struck with being mute during his wife Elizabeth’s entire pregnancy.  For he had not believed the word spoken by the angel Gabriel in the Holy of Holies as he had performed his priestly duties.  He had regained his ability to speak when he confirmed the name of his newborn son, John (the Baptist).

The prophecy he then uttered could well be seen as pent-up words, stored deep within his spirit for months. It begins with a proclamation of God’s promises over his people Israel, for their redemption and salvation from their enemies.  In the first century, Israel’s “enemy” in that context was the occupying Roman army.  But Zechariah then finished his prophecy with a word for his newborn baby, John.  In these words, we have a precursor to the nature of the salvation which was to define John’s ministry and that of the Messiah, Jesus.

Work in preparing the way of the Lord echoed back to Isaiah 40.  There would be a reformation of repentance that John would be instrumental in performing.  National and personal sin would need to be reckoned with, turned away from in advance of what was to happen.  It was not judgment but tender mercy that would motivate and accomplish the coming move of God, with its forgiveness and salvation in tow. 

John’s ministry would be one of making known, revealing and getting ready.  That work was vital because thoughts and speech about salvation would necessarily imply the political/military kind and that was not to be the way God was going to move on the lives of people.  No, as Zechariah’s words concluded, this was a salvation from darkness to light and from war to peace.  It would require no military advance; indeed, it would penetrate military ranks with the commanders powerless to stop it.  And its fruit was to witness the very visit of heaven to earth.

On this side of all those events, I know well the nature of this salvation, of this Jesus.  Yet truthfully it is easy to fall prey to encroaching darkness even so.  Let me be found coming into the light continually, being cut to the quick and caught up short where I have devolved into former ways of thinking, speaking and acting. 

Let me also know that there is a preparing ministry in my own heart to experience God’s deepest presence and re-establish his salvation in the present and with power.  It’s not that the Lord is unavailable without some prior spiritual pushups; Hebrews 4:16 clearly says otherwise.  It’s that in my human existence, there is a spiritual place of fellowship with God that is only found by pushing through my flesh and intellect.  All the calls to prayer in the NT point there.