As we get older many of us experience that burning sensation in our chest known as heartburn. It is usually attributed to factors such as too much stress or too much spicy foods. It may last for a few minutes or for a few hours. Usually it subsides with an antacid or just some rest. I can share with you from personal experience that heartburn is not a pleasant episode.
I was reading in Luke's Gospel the other day and discovered some men who also experienced a heartburn situation. However, the cause of theirs was not stress nor spicy foods. And the remedy for their heartburn was not an antacid or rest. You will find their story in Luke 24.
Two men - one named Cleopas, the other unnamed - were returning to the little village of Emmaus on Easter Sunday. Yes, they had heard the news that Jesus had risen from the dead, but they had not accepted this report shared by an excited group of women. Somehow it just didn't make sense. They all knew that Jesus had died. Shoot, everyone in Jerusalem...in fact, everyone in Judea knew that for a fact. Mysterious things, unaccountable things had happened when he died. But the fact that Jesus was dead no one could deny.
As they traveled that dusty roadway, suddenly they were joined by another. They did not know who he was, but it was obvious by his questions that he was relatively new in town. He inquired as to why they were so "down in the dumps." So, they shared the whole story. Then this stranger began one of the most insightful monologues the world had every heard. He shared with them, using Old Testament Scriptures from Genesis through Zechariah, exactly what had been prophesied concerning Jesus. These two men had no idea who the teacher was, but they were riveted by the lecture, so much that they experienced heartburn (read verse 32).
Friends, when was the last time that the Word of God so moved you that it caused your heart to burn with excitement? When was the last time you read a passage and all you could do in response was to say "Wow!"? When was the last time you were riveted by a passage of Scripture and sat immobilized because of it? Those are moments of real heart burn. And the only remedy is to share what you have received with another, just like these two disciples did by running back into town to share the good news. Perhaps it is time that we all experience a little heart burning for the Word of God.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A Great Faith
I am always fascinated with stories in the Bible that describe great faith. Often that faith is expressed by an individual in a most unlikely manner. One such story is found in Luke 13:10-17.
Several years ago, during one of our Village Schools of the Bible tours to Israel, we had the unique privilege of sitting in a small synagogue in the city of Safed. Our guide, himself an Orthodox Jew and former cantor at a synagogue in his younger days, described how a Jewish service was conducted both in the times of Jesus and in that particular synagogue. As was customary, men sat on benches situated around the outer walls of the synagogue. In the center, facing east, was the Ark containing the various scrolls. Upstairs was a small balcony where women and children went for the service. A dark curtain kept the women from the view of the men on the lower floor - don't want to create any avenue for temptation you know. When a person goes to Jerusalem one sees evidence of these curtains still being used today to separate the women's court from the men's court along the Western Wall.
Our text tells us that Jesus was teaching in a synagogue; the city is not mentioned, nor is the subject of Jesus' teaching. Present at that service was a woman who had been severely crippled for 18 years. All she could see of life was the ground. All she could see of herself were her feet. Perhaps she was in the balcony, or perhaps she was in a sideroom screened from the main room by a heavy curtain. Perhaps she was a regular attender to the synagogue service; perhaps she came that day because Jesus was there. But the fact is...she was there.
Luke tells us that while Jesus was teaching He saw this woman. He saw her although she was shrouded behind a heavy curtain. Moreover, I believe He saw her desperate situation and He saw into her heart. Here was a woman who needed help. But would she claim it?
Jesus summoned the woman to come forward. Now, until I had had that experience in that small synagogue in northern Galilee, Jesus' command meant nothing to me. Jesus was inviting this woman to come into the area reserved for the men and, indeed, to stand before the men. This was unheard of. Would she come? Would she descend those stairs? Would she come through that heavy curtain? Would she violate proper synagogue protocol? Yes, she did. And Jesus healed her. What was her response right there in front of those startled male worshipers? She praised God. Luke tells us that the synagogue officials were indignant, but the people were delighted.
This unnamed woman possessed some remarkable faith. She dared to believe the command of Jesus to come. She dared to break with the ritual and tradition of the synagogue. She dared to believe that she could be healed. And God rewarded her faith with His healing power. I can hardly wait to meet this woman in glory and to hear the rest of her story.
It doesn't take much faith to experience God's power, but it does take acting on that faith in obedience.
Several years ago, during one of our Village Schools of the Bible tours to Israel, we had the unique privilege of sitting in a small synagogue in the city of Safed. Our guide, himself an Orthodox Jew and former cantor at a synagogue in his younger days, described how a Jewish service was conducted both in the times of Jesus and in that particular synagogue. As was customary, men sat on benches situated around the outer walls of the synagogue. In the center, facing east, was the Ark containing the various scrolls. Upstairs was a small balcony where women and children went for the service. A dark curtain kept the women from the view of the men on the lower floor - don't want to create any avenue for temptation you know. When a person goes to Jerusalem one sees evidence of these curtains still being used today to separate the women's court from the men's court along the Western Wall.
Our text tells us that Jesus was teaching in a synagogue; the city is not mentioned, nor is the subject of Jesus' teaching. Present at that service was a woman who had been severely crippled for 18 years. All she could see of life was the ground. All she could see of herself were her feet. Perhaps she was in the balcony, or perhaps she was in a sideroom screened from the main room by a heavy curtain. Perhaps she was a regular attender to the synagogue service; perhaps she came that day because Jesus was there. But the fact is...she was there.
Luke tells us that while Jesus was teaching He saw this woman. He saw her although she was shrouded behind a heavy curtain. Moreover, I believe He saw her desperate situation and He saw into her heart. Here was a woman who needed help. But would she claim it?
Jesus summoned the woman to come forward. Now, until I had had that experience in that small synagogue in northern Galilee, Jesus' command meant nothing to me. Jesus was inviting this woman to come into the area reserved for the men and, indeed, to stand before the men. This was unheard of. Would she come? Would she descend those stairs? Would she come through that heavy curtain? Would she violate proper synagogue protocol? Yes, she did. And Jesus healed her. What was her response right there in front of those startled male worshipers? She praised God. Luke tells us that the synagogue officials were indignant, but the people were delighted.
This unnamed woman possessed some remarkable faith. She dared to believe the command of Jesus to come. She dared to break with the ritual and tradition of the synagogue. She dared to believe that she could be healed. And God rewarded her faith with His healing power. I can hardly wait to meet this woman in glory and to hear the rest of her story.
It doesn't take much faith to experience God's power, but it does take acting on that faith in obedience.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Verse 11 Always Follows Verse 10
This morning I had the privilege of teaching a class on the book of Jeremiah. To be certain this is a difficult book. How faithful and persevering was this wonderful prophet of God. As one person said, "After reading the story of Jeremiah, suddenly I was not complaining about my own problems as much."
Perhaps one of the most quoted verses from Jeremiah is 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Many of us have memorized this verse. Many of us claim the promise of this verse that God's plans and purpose for our lives is one of blessing. We do take hope from it. However, we tend to overlook the preceding verse. Note: I always tell my classes that verse 11 follows verse 10. Verse 10 states: This is what the Lord says: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. Then follows the promise of verse 11.
Verse 11 is found within the context of a letter Jeremiah writes to those who are in exile in Babylon. The date of this letter, according to verse 2 is 597 BC. The purpose of this letter was really two-fold. First, to announce that their captivity in Babylon would last for seventy years; and that the judgment of God was yet to fall upon those left behind in Judah and Jerusalem. (Note: this would happen in 586 BC). Jeremiah is careful to relate that the reason for the captivity was as judgment for their sins. The second purpose was to give them a measure of hope that, following the seventy years, God would restore them back to their homeland. In other words, God would not abandon them forever.
Is there a lesson for us to learn from this passage? Friends, many times in my own life it is not until I have wrestled with the sin issues, and even have experienced God's judgment in my life, that I can come to know the rich blessings He would desire for me to have. God was saying to the people of Israel: You cannot know My blessings until you have experienced My judgment for your sins. Perhaps, if we are not experiencing God's blessings, then we need to examine ourselves to see if we are experiencing God's judgment for unconfessed and unforgiven sins. Remember: Verse 10 always precedes verse 11.
Perhaps one of the most quoted verses from Jeremiah is 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Many of us have memorized this verse. Many of us claim the promise of this verse that God's plans and purpose for our lives is one of blessing. We do take hope from it. However, we tend to overlook the preceding verse. Note: I always tell my classes that verse 11 follows verse 10. Verse 10 states: This is what the Lord says: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. Then follows the promise of verse 11.
Verse 11 is found within the context of a letter Jeremiah writes to those who are in exile in Babylon. The date of this letter, according to verse 2 is 597 BC. The purpose of this letter was really two-fold. First, to announce that their captivity in Babylon would last for seventy years; and that the judgment of God was yet to fall upon those left behind in Judah and Jerusalem. (Note: this would happen in 586 BC). Jeremiah is careful to relate that the reason for the captivity was as judgment for their sins. The second purpose was to give them a measure of hope that, following the seventy years, God would restore them back to their homeland. In other words, God would not abandon them forever.
Is there a lesson for us to learn from this passage? Friends, many times in my own life it is not until I have wrestled with the sin issues, and even have experienced God's judgment in my life, that I can come to know the rich blessings He would desire for me to have. God was saying to the people of Israel: You cannot know My blessings until you have experienced My judgment for your sins. Perhaps, if we are not experiencing God's blessings, then we need to examine ourselves to see if we are experiencing God's judgment for unconfessed and unforgiven sins. Remember: Verse 10 always precedes verse 11.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A Sermon that Created a Fury
I was reading this morning from Luke 4:14-30, the account of the very first synagogue teaching of Jesus. According to Luke's chronology, this was the very first public action of Jesus following His baptism and the temptation in the wilderness. The location was Nazareth, a sparsely settled village in Galilee - the town in which Jesus grew up.
Picture the setting. It is the evening of Shabbat (Friday night for us). A small group of men walk silently toward the small synagogue. They enter and sit on stone benches that lined the walls. From the Ark, a leather-bound scroll was handed to Jesus for He was to be the designated reader of the Scriptures that day. The scroll was of the prophet Isaiah. Carefully Jesus unrolled the scroll until He came to Isaiah 61:1-2 (you must remember there were no chapter or verse divisions in Jesus' day). Jesus read the text, gave it back to the one attending the Ark, and sat down. Then Jesus uttered a one sentence commentary: Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke tells us the people were amazed.
Perhaps, encouraged by those in attendance, Jesus elaborated upon a quote He may have heard upon His return to Nazareth. You can read this in verses 23-27. Drawing upon two familiar stories from the Old Testament, Jesus reminds His listeners that the Sidonian widow and the Syrian captain had experienced the grace of God...not the people living within Israel.
Suddenly the amazement turned to fury. Compliments became complaints. Acceptance became rejection even to the point of plotting Jesus' death. Why this change in attitude? The words Jesus read were what people wanted to hear - God would do something for them. The commentary of Jesus was not what they wanted to hear - God would also do something for the Gentiles. That synagogue audience is not unlike many church congregations today. Congregants clamor for what they want to hear. They want God to do something for them but at no costs to themselves. But, when the subject turns to what God really wants them to hear...rejection is the only alternative.
The prophet is without honor in his own town. The validity of that truth lies not with the prophet, but with the people of the town. To be cast out of Nazareth - and to our knowledge Jesus never returned there - did not diminish the ministry of Jesus, but the people of Nazareth certainly missed out on what God might have done through them.
Picture the setting. It is the evening of Shabbat (Friday night for us). A small group of men walk silently toward the small synagogue. They enter and sit on stone benches that lined the walls. From the Ark, a leather-bound scroll was handed to Jesus for He was to be the designated reader of the Scriptures that day. The scroll was of the prophet Isaiah. Carefully Jesus unrolled the scroll until He came to Isaiah 61:1-2 (you must remember there were no chapter or verse divisions in Jesus' day). Jesus read the text, gave it back to the one attending the Ark, and sat down. Then Jesus uttered a one sentence commentary: Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke tells us the people were amazed.
Perhaps, encouraged by those in attendance, Jesus elaborated upon a quote He may have heard upon His return to Nazareth. You can read this in verses 23-27. Drawing upon two familiar stories from the Old Testament, Jesus reminds His listeners that the Sidonian widow and the Syrian captain had experienced the grace of God...not the people living within Israel.
Suddenly the amazement turned to fury. Compliments became complaints. Acceptance became rejection even to the point of plotting Jesus' death. Why this change in attitude? The words Jesus read were what people wanted to hear - God would do something for them. The commentary of Jesus was not what they wanted to hear - God would also do something for the Gentiles. That synagogue audience is not unlike many church congregations today. Congregants clamor for what they want to hear. They want God to do something for them but at no costs to themselves. But, when the subject turns to what God really wants them to hear...rejection is the only alternative.
The prophet is without honor in his own town. The validity of that truth lies not with the prophet, but with the people of the town. To be cast out of Nazareth - and to our knowledge Jesus never returned there - did not diminish the ministry of Jesus, but the people of Nazareth certainly missed out on what God might have done through them.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
To divide or not to divide...ah, that's the Jerusalem Question
In my blog this week I thought I would bring you up to date on what is happening with the status of the government in Israel and the dialogues between the Palestinians and the Israelis especially as it concerns Jerusalem. (By the way, let me recommend a powerful book for your reading. It is titled, Fight for Jerusalem, and was written by Dore Gold, former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations. You might remember that a few weeks ago I had written and stated that it appeared the government of Prime Minister Olmert was on the verge of collapse. One party within his fragile coalition had withdrawn and it appeared a second party was also leaving. But that party, called Shas - the party of the religiously conservative and orthodox - has remained. In spite of various calls for its departure, the Shas leadership has remained steadfast. The leadership has insisted that they will bolt from the Olmert government when the division of Jerusalem becomes a topic for discussion with the Palestinians.
But, there is the rub. President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni have been conducting secret negotiating sessions regarding the "core issues" leading to a 2-State settlement. Both have admitted to various newspaper organizations that the subject of the division of Jerusalem has been discussed. However, the Prime Minister's office has denied those reports. It is obvious that someone is not telling the truth. From what I have been reading, I am convinced that the subject of Jerusalem has not only been discussed, but that the division of the city will become a reality perhaps as early as sometime next year; that is, unless the Israeli people - who overwhelmingly have voiced their opposition to a divided Jerusalem - act.
That brings us back to that religiously conservative Shas party. If they would exit the Olmert coalition, then the Israeli government would collapse as Olmert would no longer have a majority of votes in the Knesset. Two things could then happen. First, Olmert's party - known as Kadima - could choose new leadership and try to form a new coalition; or second, national elections could be called and a new government put into place. According to latest Israeli polls, if new elections were held, the Likud party would emerge victorious and Benjamin Netanyahu would become Prime Minister.
Jerusalem is the key. The city God has chosen upon which to have His name dwell is of utmost importance. It is certainly a place that will bear watching these next weeks and months. I will keep my eyes focused there and will report to you from time to time what God is doing there. In the meanwhile I challenge you to remember the responsibilities to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).
But, there is the rub. President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni have been conducting secret negotiating sessions regarding the "core issues" leading to a 2-State settlement. Both have admitted to various newspaper organizations that the subject of the division of Jerusalem has been discussed. However, the Prime Minister's office has denied those reports. It is obvious that someone is not telling the truth. From what I have been reading, I am convinced that the subject of Jerusalem has not only been discussed, but that the division of the city will become a reality perhaps as early as sometime next year; that is, unless the Israeli people - who overwhelmingly have voiced their opposition to a divided Jerusalem - act.
That brings us back to that religiously conservative Shas party. If they would exit the Olmert coalition, then the Israeli government would collapse as Olmert would no longer have a majority of votes in the Knesset. Two things could then happen. First, Olmert's party - known as Kadima - could choose new leadership and try to form a new coalition; or second, national elections could be called and a new government put into place. According to latest Israeli polls, if new elections were held, the Likud party would emerge victorious and Benjamin Netanyahu would become Prime Minister.
Jerusalem is the key. The city God has chosen upon which to have His name dwell is of utmost importance. It is certainly a place that will bear watching these next weeks and months. I will keep my eyes focused there and will report to you from time to time what God is doing there. In the meanwhile I challenge you to remember the responsibilities to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Things of God or Things of Men
One of the interesting places Village Schools tours visit while in Israel is the road to Caesarea Philippi. The road is winding and steep. And the caverns of Caesarea Philippi still have a sense of the mysterious, just as they did in the days of Jesus. It was along this roadway that Jesus asked a very practical, yet very personal question of His disciples. "Who am I?" The responses were many. The disciples had been paying attention to what the crowds had been saying. Then Peter declares with unabated voice - "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus affirmed this declaration.
What becomes very interesting is what happened after Peter's declaration. Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for what would happen when they returned to Jerusalem. He would suffer and die and be raised after three days. Did the disciples want to hear those words? Of course not. In fact, Peter became offended by them, and became offensive himself when he said to Jesus that what Jesus had said would not happen. We applaud Peter for his dedication and his zeal. But, if Jesus was who he had just proclaimed Him to be, then Peter should have yielded to what Jesus said.
In reading Mark's account of this story, I was halted by the words of Jesus to Peter. You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men (Mark 8:33). How does a person go about making distinction between the things of God and the things of men? What are the things of God? What are the things of men? I think we can answer the last question first - the things of men are those events, desires, wishes that fulfill who we are. Most often they are founded upon selfish ambitions. The goals may be good, but the attitude is self-serving. On the other hand, the things of God are those desires, wishes, dreams that enable us to better understand who He is. Peter did not want Jesus to die - a lofty and admirable aspiration. But it was wrong! Peter needed to yield to the desires of God. And so do I. Daily I must ask myself: Max, am I truly seeking the things of God today, or just those things of men that will satisfy my selfish will?
What becomes very interesting is what happened after Peter's declaration. Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for what would happen when they returned to Jerusalem. He would suffer and die and be raised after three days. Did the disciples want to hear those words? Of course not. In fact, Peter became offended by them, and became offensive himself when he said to Jesus that what Jesus had said would not happen. We applaud Peter for his dedication and his zeal. But, if Jesus was who he had just proclaimed Him to be, then Peter should have yielded to what Jesus said.
In reading Mark's account of this story, I was halted by the words of Jesus to Peter. You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men (Mark 8:33). How does a person go about making distinction between the things of God and the things of men? What are the things of God? What are the things of men? I think we can answer the last question first - the things of men are those events, desires, wishes that fulfill who we are. Most often they are founded upon selfish ambitions. The goals may be good, but the attitude is self-serving. On the other hand, the things of God are those desires, wishes, dreams that enable us to better understand who He is. Peter did not want Jesus to die - a lofty and admirable aspiration. But it was wrong! Peter needed to yield to the desires of God. And so do I. Daily I must ask myself: Max, am I truly seeking the things of God today, or just those things of men that will satisfy my selfish will?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
To Tell...Or Not To Tell
Have you ever read a portion of Scripture and then scratched your head and wondered why a person said or did something that appeared to not make sense? I read this morning in Mark 5, a passage that contains some powerful miracles performed by Jesus. Yet, as I read, I wondered at a seeming contradiction between what Jesus told the now-healed demoniac of Gadara and what He told the parents of the young girl raised from the dead. Somehow, at first reading, it just did not make sense.
First, concerning the demoniac who lived among the tombs in the country of Gadara, located on the southeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. You remember the story. Jesus casts out the demons that had tormented this man for years. The demons asked permission to enter into a herd of pigs, then hurled the pigs into the Sea where they were drowned. This act caused quite a stir - first for the man who was healed, then for the pig-herders, and finally for the people in the area. The response of the crowd was of more concern over a bunch of drowned pigs than of rejoicing over a man who had been restored to sanity. The man himself asked permission to follow Jesus. Jesus told him, "no," but then commanded him to go and tell everyone what had happened. He was freed to proclaim as often as he desired his story. Jesus set no boundaries upon his testimony.
Second, the miracle of the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead was one of the mightiest acts Jesus ever did. Perhaps this happened in the vicinity of Capernaum. The reality was this: the girl had died. Everyone in the community knew this. It was not a secret. When Jesus arrived at the home, the public mourning had already begun. Yet Jesus enters the room where she laid in preparation for burial. Gently He calls her back to life. Then Jesus told them something that seems absolutely absurd - they were to tell no one about what had happened. Doesn't that seem strange? Were they to keep the girl in the house all the time? How would they answer questions? And, the Bible tells us the girl was twelve - almost a teenager - and I remember how teenaged girls love to talk. Jesus did set boundaries upon their testimony.
The more I pondered this statement in Mark 5:43 today, the more I came to understand that Jesus did not give this commandment for silence to create hardships. I believe He did it to protect this impressionable young girl and her very public family. It was to shield the girl from what I call, "the Britney Syndrome" today. Would people know? Absolutely! But Jesus was telling them not to elevate the young girl to the status of an icon. The focus was to be upon Jesus.
So, here is what God shared with me today. In the telling of my story, I must be careful not to elevate myself to the position of prominence. I must keep the focus upon Jesus, for my life is really an expression of His story.
First, concerning the demoniac who lived among the tombs in the country of Gadara, located on the southeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. You remember the story. Jesus casts out the demons that had tormented this man for years. The demons asked permission to enter into a herd of pigs, then hurled the pigs into the Sea where they were drowned. This act caused quite a stir - first for the man who was healed, then for the pig-herders, and finally for the people in the area. The response of the crowd was of more concern over a bunch of drowned pigs than of rejoicing over a man who had been restored to sanity. The man himself asked permission to follow Jesus. Jesus told him, "no," but then commanded him to go and tell everyone what had happened. He was freed to proclaim as often as he desired his story. Jesus set no boundaries upon his testimony.
Second, the miracle of the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead was one of the mightiest acts Jesus ever did. Perhaps this happened in the vicinity of Capernaum. The reality was this: the girl had died. Everyone in the community knew this. It was not a secret. When Jesus arrived at the home, the public mourning had already begun. Yet Jesus enters the room where she laid in preparation for burial. Gently He calls her back to life. Then Jesus told them something that seems absolutely absurd - they were to tell no one about what had happened. Doesn't that seem strange? Were they to keep the girl in the house all the time? How would they answer questions? And, the Bible tells us the girl was twelve - almost a teenager - and I remember how teenaged girls love to talk. Jesus did set boundaries upon their testimony.
The more I pondered this statement in Mark 5:43 today, the more I came to understand that Jesus did not give this commandment for silence to create hardships. I believe He did it to protect this impressionable young girl and her very public family. It was to shield the girl from what I call, "the Britney Syndrome" today. Would people know? Absolutely! But Jesus was telling them not to elevate the young girl to the status of an icon. The focus was to be upon Jesus.
So, here is what God shared with me today. In the telling of my story, I must be careful not to elevate myself to the position of prominence. I must keep the focus upon Jesus, for my life is really an expression of His story.
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