The true downfall of entitled society

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟬:𝟭𝟯-𝟭𝟱 “𝗪𝗼𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻! 𝗪𝗼𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗮! 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻? 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀.

The stark proclamations of eternal judgment are unsettling. People are condemned by their place of residence?

Jesus was telling his disciples what to do if they and their message were not accepted where they went – that they were to shake the dust off their feet to rid themselves of the dust of that place. Since the message of Messiah was not accepted in that town, so that place was not accepted by Messiah. And far more than a visit by a disciple was a set of miracles done in the midst of a place by God the Son.

It is implicit that societies tend to act tribally – as one person. This can work both ways – to accept and embrace or to reject and cast out. After Jesus did what he did in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, he was rejected as Messiah. They had failed to repent of their sins; a clear indication of that rejection.

For an authentic, life-changing heart turning towards God is the expected, even required response to the miraculous. That stands in contrast to an entitled, thankless response. People who seek only to profit themselves – financially, healthfully or in some caste system sense – negate the purpose of the work done in and for them.

Since the people in entire cities or locales tend to act a one, they bring down the whole place with their attitudes and responses. Does this mean every person living within city limits stands condemned. No, that is certainly an overstatement. It does mean that people in those places need to turn from the decrepit status quo – meaning that they may have to exert themselves more in order to turn to God. In a godless society, a Christ follower is a rank rebel.

Jesus came that we might have abundant life – and that life is predicated upon following him. The very first thing a would-be disciple notices is a need to change – there are paths of thought, speech and action that need to be reformed. And some will not allow that to happen.

Search my heart O Lord.

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.

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.

Filling the house

Matthew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Evil can be removed by deliverance or conquest, but unless it is replaced with virtue and righteousness, it will come back in greater proportions.  Jesus regularly cast out demons.  The behavior and effects those spirits caused was personally and socially destructive. 

The phenomenon of their returning to their former hosts is chilling and shows the need for a second spiritual act to be sure that the “house” is NOT empty.  That is, Jesus must fill the “house”.  The Holy Spirit, infinitely more powerful than any demon, will not cohabitate with any other spirit.  In God there is no darkness.

And Jesus did not leave the story with a single person re-possessed by the devil.  He concluded by saying this was also the tale of his evil generation.  In that sense, his ministry to that generation of people did accomplish the advent of the Kingdom of God, but if unbelief persisted, it was only temporary.   Believers went on in their liberty from the Evil One, for they obtained an infilling that left the “house” full and redeemed.

Salvation is not always readily noticed.  Sin can persist along with all the sickness and trials of the human condition.  (Guaranteed divine health is a proud travesty)  So if I look at the valleys of life and forget with whom I am filled, I may need reminding of the permanent state of my deliverance, ongoing salvation and destiny.  Though I may struggle, there is no “re-entry” of evil.  That battle is won.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Singing songs of deliverance

Psalm 32:6-7 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

The passage starts with words that sound quite conditional – effective prayer is to be offered only by the godly ones and only during a time when God “may be found”. But in the original language the phrase shows up elsewhere and a more literal rendering would be “when in the time of finding” .. that is, a season in human life when the soul yearns to find God. Yet it is seasonal – the penitence and humility to pray and seek God can and are certainly NOT permanent states of every life, nor states in the life of every group or nation. That is, there are times when God is NOT found due to a lack of seeking, faith and/or overriding concern. The conditionality is on people, not God.

The rush of great waters would happen in a different season – one of trial and calamity.  The season of prayer and seeking is clearly preparation and the source of deliverance during the flood.  Floods are guaranteed; deliverance from them is conditional, truly.

The safety from the waters is a place of shelter, or hiding, from the troubles when they come.  The preserving, keeping protection God provides shouts or songs that circle his people on every side.  The power of the loud testimony keeps hearts and minds centered on the reality of that protection.  It amplifies over the din of the rushing flood, of threat and gloom.  The believer sings along and is preserved from all harm.

Rising waters do not only cause physical damage to life and property.  Certainly, they sweep away both people and the elements of people’s lives.  They also leave indelible marks on the soul – emotional and experiential scars that live on as fateful harbingers of disaster to follow.  Expectations sink in the murky waters.

Let me then mark my deliverance.  Let me sing those songs I heard clearly during the season of my deliverance.  For they were from the Almighty, testimony to prayer and devotion I learned to offer in seasons prior.  I’ve earned nothing, but have remained attached to the vine that gives life and even watches over it.  To God be the glory.

Sing on, O my soul, and rejoice in the God who saves.

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.

A deeper reconciliation

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟱: 𝟭𝟳-𝟭𝟵 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝘀!” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

The layers of hatred and evil that were in play throughout the Passion of Christ were the perfect background for his death. Pilate had released Barabbas, continuing an annual tradition to placate the occupied nation of Israel during a time of heightened national fervor. The religious leaders who had handed Jesus over to him insisted that he crucify Jesus, using that fear of uprising to get their way. And the Roman soldiers, who hated the nation of Israel in return, took it out on Jesus. As it says in Colossians:

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟮:𝟭𝟱 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀.

There were those in every group and position in the hierarchy of group that would one day turn in faith to Jesus. Reconciliation in the Body of Christ would undo the destruction in which they had participated and advocated for. When Jesus said “Forgive them Father, they don’t know what they are doing” he certainly spoke of his own agony on the cross. But the embroiled resentment between people and nations was certainly in need of forgiveness as well.

Also in Colossians, Paul wrote

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟭:𝟭𝟵-𝟮𝟬 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀.

… it was an “all things” reconciliation. This is no statement of universal salvation, but of the far reaching effect of the death of Jesus, right in the middle of the most bitter of antipathy between people. The peace made between things starts with individuals who know full well their own sin that was paid for. It spreads and encompasses all creation.

The soldiers, levying out their own punishment upon their hated assignment and the people in the land, were accomplishing the exact opposite of what they thought. A short time later, a centurion guarding the crucifixion, would utter (Mark 15:39) “Surely this man was the Son of God!” And others would believe later. It was not the end, but the beginning.

Do I regress and devolve into tribal hatred? Do I refuse to see the overarching of Christ’s reconciliation, even as it has overtaken my own life? Let me regain the vista of peace that falls upon the whole earth. And rejoice in all that has been forgiven and redeemed.

“Your faith has made you well”

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟬:𝟱𝟭-𝟱𝟮 “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶, 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗚𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆; 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹.” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

The blind man, whose cries the crowd tried to squelch, nonetheless came before Jesus. Now it was obvious he was blind, but wanted him to say he wanted to see. It’s not that anyone – including Jesus- expected the man to want an extra tunic, say. Our requests for healing and deliverance and all other things must proceed from our mouths. It’s part of the healing process and makes us confront any self-deprecating and destructive ideas of deserving our maladies and expecting no more from life than our limitations all the while seeing God’s restoration available.

Also, there is faith in Christ – His person and goodwill and abilities – that God uses to heal us. The blind man’s faith made him well.

For 2000+ years, believers have wrangled, accused and proudly asserted formulas and theories and negating condemnations as to why healings don’t happen. We know that they also did not always happen among the disciples at Jesus time, and yes, overwhelmingly often Jesus pointed to the absence of faith. Yet Jesus also helped a desperate father in his unbelief and excommunicated NONE of those of little faith. The message there is that faith grows.

Faith in Jesus encompasses much more than healing. Indeed, faith in Jesus takes healing off the pedestal of proof of any human achievement or possession. It mightily proves God’s intentions for health and human well-being, acting as a spectacular pointer to the person of Jesus.

I am to never stop contending for healing; never surrender the brokenness of this world as the final word or state. Salvation has worked its wonders in my life as it will do so in the lives of all who enter in. Healed wounds without and within are its signature marks; let me take a true and historical inventory of them all as I have seen and experienced. And I will see very vividly that my faith has made me well. I was blind and now I see.