THE RULE
Matthew 7:12
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, even those who were not raised going to church were probably taught the Golden Rule: “Do unto others. . . .” Jesus was not the first person to express this idea, but he was known for an important restatement of the rule. Others had taught, “Don’t do to others what you would not want done to you.” Jesus’ command included that idea but went far beyond it: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.” He followed the command with an amazing statement: “This is the law and the prophets.”
Jesus’ restatement of the command summarized the ethical requirements of God; that is why we memorize the statement as children. We often leave out the words “In everything,” but I think these are important. In every conversation, every business transaction, every interaction, every decision— in everything, “do to others as you would have them do to you.”
A lifelong Christian, discovering that his car needs two thousand dollars of repairs, trades the car in without telling the dealer about the needed repairs. A women’s Bible study leader regularly belittles her husband. A leader in the church feels it is his “Christian duty” to forward political e-mails without checking their truthfulness. These are only a few examples of Christians I’ve known who did not understand that “others” in the Golden Rule included the car dealer, one’s spouse, and even politicians. Nor did they understand that “in everything” included car trades, marriage, and e-mails.
The Golden Rule is such a clear guideline for walking in the footsteps of Jesus, but none of us lives it perfectly all the time. When and with whom do you have trouble following the Golden Rule? This moment, as you are reading about the way of Jesus, is the perfect time to ask God’s grace for times that you have forgotten the Golden Rule and to recommit yourself to living it— in everything.
Lord, forgive me for the times and places when I did not do to others what I would want them to do to me. Holy Spirit, prompt my conscience so that I might see the blind spots I have, and might, in everything, treat others the way I would want to be treated. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
MONEY AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Matthew 6: 21, 24, 33)
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also . . . No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth . . . strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
MONEY WAS A TOPIC JESUS FREQUENTLY addressed in the Gospels. Jesus personally knew the temptation to bypass God’s mission in order to have more money, yet he resisted. He knew that it was human nature to hoard and store rather than to give and share. He knew that while we claim that God is King in our lives, we often live as though cash is king. He knew that we human beings worry about money. For all these reasons, Jesus regularly addressed this topic.
It is so easy for us to believe that money and material things will bring us happiness. To some degree, at times, they do— but only to a point. I recently bought a new car. I’d been looking, researching, dreaming, and saving for several years in anticipation of the purchase. I was excited when I picked up my new Mustang, but I noticed that within a few days the feeling wore off. Several weeks later, when someone left a large ding in my door, I had to remind myself, “It’s only a car.”
I went to visit a member of my church yesterday. She was nearing the end of a battle with cancer. Her husband, children, and good friend were sitting around her. She said to me and to them, “It seems so clear to me right now that houses and cars and things really don’t matter. The only things that matters are the people I love, the memories we share, and our faith in God— what he’s done for us and what we do in living for him. None of the rest really matters.”
So many people devote their lives to the amassing of money and the acquisition of things. It is the American way. But Jesus reminded us that there can be only one king on the throne of our hearts. We can only have one “most important thing.”
A friend I know received a windfall this year. He had an investment that left him with $ 500,000 in income that he had not expected. He made a list of what he would do with the money. His first decision was to give $ 150,000 to his church and to projects benefiting low-income people. His second was to set aside enough to pay taxes on it. His third was to help a couple of family members. Finally he set aside money for retirement. Only after doing all of these things did he spend any of it on things he and his wife might enjoy. He noted that the money he gave away was the most rewarding thing he did with his windfall.
What is your relationship with money and possessions? What do you treasure? Are you seeking first the Kingdom of God?
Lord, you know the temptation of wealth and possessions. I confess that there are times when I did not seek first your kingdom; when money, possessions, and the acquiring of them took greater priority in my heart. Forgive me, and help me to treasure you and your kingdom above all else. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Matthew 6: 21, 24, 33)
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also . . . No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth . . . strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
MONEY WAS A TOPIC JESUS FREQUENTLY addressed in the Gospels. Jesus personally knew the temptation to bypass God’s mission in order to have more money, yet he resisted. He knew that it was human nature to hoard and store rather than to give and share. He knew that while we claim that God is King in our lives, we often live as though cash is king. He knew that we human beings worry about money. For all these reasons, Jesus regularly addressed this topic.
It is so easy for us to believe that money and material things will bring us happiness. To some degree, at times, they do— but only to a point. I recently bought a new car. I’d been looking, researching, dreaming, and saving for several years in anticipation of the purchase. I was excited when I picked up my new Mustang, but I noticed that within a few days the feeling wore off. Several weeks later, when someone left a large ding in my door, I had to remind myself, “It’s only a car.”
I went to visit a member of my church yesterday. She was nearing the end of a battle with cancer. Her husband, children, and good friend were sitting around her. She said to me and to them, “It seems so clear to me right now that houses and cars and things really don’t matter. The only things that matters are the people I love, the memories we share, and our faith in God— what he’s done for us and what we do in living for him. None of the rest really matters.”
So many people devote their lives to the amassing of money and the acquisition of things. It is the American way. But Jesus reminded us that there can be only one king on the throne of our hearts. We can only have one “most important thing.”
A friend I know received a windfall this year. He had an investment that left him with $ 500,000 in income that he had not expected. He made a list of what he would do with the money. His first decision was to give $ 150,000 to his church and to projects benefiting low-income people. His second was to set aside enough to pay taxes on it. His third was to help a couple of family members. Finally he set aside money for retirement. Only after doing all of these things did he spend any of it on things he and his wife might enjoy. He noted that the money he gave away was the most rewarding thing he did with his windfall.
What is your relationship with money and possessions? What do you treasure? Are you seeking first the Kingdom of God?
Lord, you know the temptation of wealth and possessions. I confess that there are times when I did not seek first your kingdom; when money, possessions, and the acquiring of them took greater priority in my heart. Forgive me, and help me to treasure you and your kingdom above all else. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
HIDE YOUR GOOD WORKS?
Matthew 5:14-16
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
IN MATTHEW 5: 14-16, JESUS TOLD his followers to let others see their good works and thus give glory to God. But in the very next chapter, Matthew 6, Jesus told his disciples not to practice acts of piety before others in order to be seen by them. Which is it? Do we do our good works before others, or do we hide our good works?
The difference between these two commands is in the motivation. In the first case, beautiful works are done for others, both as an act of obedience to God and as a way of leading others to him. (Jesus noted that by our good works, others were meant to “give glory to their Father in heaven.”) But in the second case, Jesus warned against doing acts of piety with the aim of being praised by others. The difference is who is intended to get the glory: God or you?
Jesus followed up the second command by naming three deeds of piety that his followers might be tempted to practice in a way that draws attention and praise to themselves. He noted that the “hypocrites” practice deeds of piety in this way. Hypocrite, in Greek, signifies an actor on a stage— a pretender— and Jesus almost always used this term to refer to the religious leaders. The three acts that Jesus named: giving to the poor, praying, and fasting.
Why did Jesus feel the need to warn his disciples about drawing attention to themselves? Because he knew that they, and we, would struggle with this temptation. There is something inside us that wants affirmation, and when we’ve done something good, we want to be noticed. But somehow the very act of doing these things in order to be praised by others undermines the original purpose of the acts, which was to bless others and glorify God.
Do you struggle with the desire to be noticed for your piety? Do you find yourself wanting to tell others when you are fasting, or what you are fasting from? Do you ever secretly want others to know that you made a sizable donation to a particular cause? When you pray, do you find yourself wanting others to know it? I’m embarrassed and ashamed to say that at times in my Christian life, I have struggled with each of these desires.
Jesus told his followers to give in secret, to pray in a place where no one listened, to fast without telling anyone, and “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6: 4 NRSV). Cultivating the habit of secrecy, anonymity, and deflecting the glory to God is a part of spiritual maturity. In the end we may not be able to hide our beautiful deeds, but we can work to do them for God’s Glory and not our own.
Lord, please forgive me for the times when I was one of the hypocrites, doing spiritual things with motives that were not spiritual. Help me to resist the urge to be noticed and affirmed by anyone but you. May my life be lived for your glory and not my own. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way-40 Days of Reflection: Waling in the Footsteps of Jesus
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Matthew 5:14-16
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
IN MATTHEW 5: 14-16, JESUS TOLD his followers to let others see their good works and thus give glory to God. But in the very next chapter, Matthew 6, Jesus told his disciples not to practice acts of piety before others in order to be seen by them. Which is it? Do we do our good works before others, or do we hide our good works?
The difference between these two commands is in the motivation. In the first case, beautiful works are done for others, both as an act of obedience to God and as a way of leading others to him. (Jesus noted that by our good works, others were meant to “give glory to their Father in heaven.”) But in the second case, Jesus warned against doing acts of piety with the aim of being praised by others. The difference is who is intended to get the glory: God or you?
Jesus followed up the second command by naming three deeds of piety that his followers might be tempted to practice in a way that draws attention and praise to themselves. He noted that the “hypocrites” practice deeds of piety in this way. Hypocrite, in Greek, signifies an actor on a stage— a pretender— and Jesus almost always used this term to refer to the religious leaders. The three acts that Jesus named: giving to the poor, praying, and fasting.
Why did Jesus feel the need to warn his disciples about drawing attention to themselves? Because he knew that they, and we, would struggle with this temptation. There is something inside us that wants affirmation, and when we’ve done something good, we want to be noticed. But somehow the very act of doing these things in order to be praised by others undermines the original purpose of the acts, which was to bless others and glorify God.
Do you struggle with the desire to be noticed for your piety? Do you find yourself wanting to tell others when you are fasting, or what you are fasting from? Do you ever secretly want others to know that you made a sizable donation to a particular cause? When you pray, do you find yourself wanting others to know it? I’m embarrassed and ashamed to say that at times in my Christian life, I have struggled with each of these desires.
Jesus told his followers to give in secret, to pray in a place where no one listened, to fast without telling anyone, and “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6: 4 NRSV). Cultivating the habit of secrecy, anonymity, and deflecting the glory to God is a part of spiritual maturity. In the end we may not be able to hide our beautiful deeds, but we can work to do them for God’s Glory and not our own.
Lord, please forgive me for the times when I was one of the hypocrites, doing spiritual things with motives that were not spiritual. Help me to resist the urge to be noticed and affirmed by anyone but you. May my life be lived for your glory and not my own. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way-40 Days of Reflection: Waling in the Footsteps of Jesus
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Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT SURPASSES THE PHARISEES
Matthew 5:20
I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT SEEMS, at so many points, impossible to live. It must have seemed the same to Jesus’ first hearers. The Pharisees were focused on purity before God. The name Pharisee means “set apart” or “separated,” and they sought to distinguish themselves by the lengths to which they would go in being pious. How could anyone’s righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees?
Some have felt that the point of the Sermon on the Mount was to offer an impossible picture of righteousness, so we would be led naturally to recognize our need for a Savior. Perhaps. I’m more inclined to see it as capturing an ideal that is always beyond where we are and yet offers a vision of piety for which we are meant to strive.
The piety described by Jesus involves more than just obeying the letter of the Law; he asked that our hearts and motives and words be holy. Consider what Jesus taught in Matthew 5: The Law says not to murder; I say don’t speak with anger or hatred toward another. The Law says not to commit adultery; I say don’t look at another with adultery in your heart. The Law allows divorce; I say that vows were meant to be kept. The Law says not to break an oath; I say you shouldn’t need to swear an oath, and your word should always be your bond. The Law says you can seek retributive justice— an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; I say you should turn the other cheek when wronged. Common wisdom says to love your neighbor and hate your enemy; I say to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. I don’t claim to live up to these words of Jesus. I sometimes speak in anger. I occasionally find lust knocking at the door of my heart. I’ve stretched the truth, and I’ve found it hard to turn the other cheek. At times I haven’t wanted to pray for, much less love, my enemies. But while
I don’t perfectly live up to these teachings of Jesus, his words represent an ideal to which I strive. They define the person I want to be, and they often form the words of my prayer: “Lord, forgive me for falling short of your will, and help me become the person you described in the Sermon on the Mount.” Perhaps you could pick a section from the Sermon on the Mount that describes something you struggle with, and begin to pray that God will help you become the person God desires you to be. The Pharisees excelled at following rules and displaying outward purity. Jesus called us to have hearts that are pure— inward purity— and to practice acts of love, mercy, and faithfulness. This is what it means to have a righteousness that exceeds the scribes and the Pharisees.
Lord, I fall short of the ideals you set out in the Sermon on the Mount, but they do reflect the person I wish to be. Help me, by your Spirit, to become the person you long for me to be. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Matthew 5:20
I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT SEEMS, at so many points, impossible to live. It must have seemed the same to Jesus’ first hearers. The Pharisees were focused on purity before God. The name Pharisee means “set apart” or “separated,” and they sought to distinguish themselves by the lengths to which they would go in being pious. How could anyone’s righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees?
Some have felt that the point of the Sermon on the Mount was to offer an impossible picture of righteousness, so we would be led naturally to recognize our need for a Savior. Perhaps. I’m more inclined to see it as capturing an ideal that is always beyond where we are and yet offers a vision of piety for which we are meant to strive.
The piety described by Jesus involves more than just obeying the letter of the Law; he asked that our hearts and motives and words be holy. Consider what Jesus taught in Matthew 5: The Law says not to murder; I say don’t speak with anger or hatred toward another. The Law says not to commit adultery; I say don’t look at another with adultery in your heart. The Law allows divorce; I say that vows were meant to be kept. The Law says not to break an oath; I say you shouldn’t need to swear an oath, and your word should always be your bond. The Law says you can seek retributive justice— an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; I say you should turn the other cheek when wronged. Common wisdom says to love your neighbor and hate your enemy; I say to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. I don’t claim to live up to these words of Jesus. I sometimes speak in anger. I occasionally find lust knocking at the door of my heart. I’ve stretched the truth, and I’ve found it hard to turn the other cheek. At times I haven’t wanted to pray for, much less love, my enemies. But while
I don’t perfectly live up to these teachings of Jesus, his words represent an ideal to which I strive. They define the person I want to be, and they often form the words of my prayer: “Lord, forgive me for falling short of your will, and help me become the person you described in the Sermon on the Mount.” Perhaps you could pick a section from the Sermon on the Mount that describes something you struggle with, and begin to pray that God will help you become the person God desires you to be. The Pharisees excelled at following rules and displaying outward purity. Jesus called us to have hearts that are pure— inward purity— and to practice acts of love, mercy, and faithfulness. This is what it means to have a righteousness that exceeds the scribes and the Pharisees.
Lord, I fall short of the ideals you set out in the Sermon on the Mount, but they do reflect the person I wish to be. Help me, by your Spirit, to become the person you long for me to be. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Monday, March 4, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Jesus ascended one of the mountains that borders the Sea of Galilee, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd of people. There he began to lay out the mission, ethics, and spirituality of the Kingdom of God. When I read the Sermon on the Mount, it represents for me the highest ideals I hope to live by. I’ve found it particularly helpful to pray the Sermon on the Mount. I focus on one brief section, like the one above, and then I pray that God will help me to live the command I’ve just read.
On the hillsides surrounding the Sea of Galilee there were, in Jesus day, scattered villages. Each home had one or more small oil lamps to light it at night. One oil lamp from one home might have been hard to see from a distance. But when an entire village of people were trimming their lamps at night, it could be seen across the lake— it could not be hidden.
In our passage, Jesus used the plural form of the word you. He said, in essence, “You, together, are the light of the world. You are meant to be like a village on a hill.” Jesus was speaking not only about how we should live our lives individually; ultimately he was describing the community of his followers— in other words, the church.
But how do we let our light shine? We do it by our good works. In this context, the Greek word for “good”— kalos— may also be translated as “beautiful.” We are to demonstrate beautiful deeds that draw others to God.
There was a time when the church I serve was known for its size. People would say, “Oh, that’s the big church.” But ten years ago we began asking, “What would happen if we became known not for the size of our congregation but the depth of our concern for the community? What if we actually lived up to Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount and sought to shine Christ’s light through beautiful deeds of loving kindness?” We increased our efforts at serving the community, at sending our members to care for others, and in our work supporting those in need. Today, every member is called and expected to serve.
I remember, as a child, occasionally seeing giant searchlights in the sky at night, announcing the grand opening of a business or some special event. If we were in the car we would beg our parents to take us to the light, so we could see what was going on. This is the picture I have of the church as Jesus envisioned it. Every member should be working individually and together to demonstrate such beautiful deeds that others are drawn to the church and to her Christ.
Jesus, help me so that the doing of beautiful deeds might be a daily rhythm of my life. Lead my church so that together we might be “a city set upon a hill that cannot be hidden." Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
THIS WEEK WE’LL TURN TO some of the teachings of Jesus, starting with selected readings from the Sermon on the Mount.
* * *
Jesus ascended one of the mountains that borders the Sea of Galilee, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd of people. There he began to lay out the mission, ethics, and spirituality of the Kingdom of God. When I read the Sermon on the Mount, it represents for me the highest ideals I hope to live by. I’ve found it particularly helpful to pray the Sermon on the Mount. I focus on one brief section, like the one above, and then I pray that God will help me to live the command I’ve just read.
On the hillsides surrounding the Sea of Galilee there were, in Jesus day, scattered villages. Each home had one or more small oil lamps to light it at night. One oil lamp from one home might have been hard to see from a distance. But when an entire village of people were trimming their lamps at night, it could be seen across the lake— it could not be hidden.
In our passage, Jesus used the plural form of the word you. He said, in essence, “You, together, are the light of the world. You are meant to be like a village on a hill.” Jesus was speaking not only about how we should live our lives individually; ultimately he was describing the community of his followers— in other words, the church.
But how do we let our light shine? We do it by our good works. In this context, the Greek word for “good”— kalos— may also be translated as “beautiful.” We are to demonstrate beautiful deeds that draw others to God.
There was a time when the church I serve was known for its size. People would say, “Oh, that’s the big church.” But ten years ago we began asking, “What would happen if we became known not for the size of our congregation but the depth of our concern for the community? What if we actually lived up to Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount and sought to shine Christ’s light through beautiful deeds of loving kindness?” We increased our efforts at serving the community, at sending our members to care for others, and in our work supporting those in need. Today, every member is called and expected to serve.
I remember, as a child, occasionally seeing giant searchlights in the sky at night, announcing the grand opening of a business or some special event. If we were in the car we would beg our parents to take us to the light, so we could see what was going on. This is the picture I have of the church as Jesus envisioned it. Every member should be working individually and together to demonstrate such beautiful deeds that others are drawn to the church and to her Christ.
Jesus, help me so that the doing of beautiful deeds might be a daily rhythm of my life. Lead my church so that together we might be “a city set upon a hill that cannot be hidden." Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:13-16
13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 7: 24-29
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell— and great was its fall!” Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:13-16
13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 7: 24-29
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell— and great was its fall!” Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Sometimes we think it would have
been nice if Jesus had been more direct. If only he had left us a set of three
core principles, four spiritual laws, or one specific prayer that would make
everything all right, he might have made our lives as Christians a whole lot
easier. There would certainly be less disagreement and fighting over what Jesus
really meant. Then again, we’d probably find things to fight about anyway.
Religious people are pretty good at that.
In the modern era we’re used to
propositional truths, core principles, and arguments supported by facts. We’re
used to being able to wrap our minds around something, and we’re encouraged to
be skeptical of ideas until we’re fully able to understand them. But Jesus wasn’t
a twenty-first-century motivational speaker. Jesus was a first-century Jewish
rabbi, and he spoke like one. He used stories (commonly called parables),
analogies, and exaggerated language (hyperbole). He talked about things we
can’t even begin to wrap our minds around, so he built bridges using ideas and
situations we can understand (John 3:12).
The purpose of Jesus’ teaching was
to help us understand the Kingdom of God. God’s reign in all of creation is a
present reality, even though many parts of our world live in rebellion against it
and do a good job of convincing us that other powers reign. This was also true
during Jesus’ time, when the Roman emperor claimed all temporal and eternal
authority and brutally cracked down on anyone who suggested otherwise.
God’s reign is a possibility that
exists for each person who chooses to follow in the way of Jesus. Disciples
play by the rules of God’s reign even while the powers of the world follow a
different set of rules. Being in harmony with God can lead us into conflict with
the world. God’s reign is also a future reality that will be fully consummated
at some point, when all earthly kingdoms are disabused of their notion that
anyone but God reigns. When and how this will happen is not clear, and it’s not
for us to know. We are simply called to live in light of God’s promise, to
allow the Kingdom to reign in our own lives, and to let God take care of the
rest.
Matthew Kelley, The Way-Worship Package
Lord of Life, open our hearts to hear and receive your message of love today. Help us to understand your calling upon our lives and your fervent desire to have us turn and come home that we might be made whole and holy. Amen.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
RESTORED TO LIFE
Mark 5: 38-42
When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age).
IN TODAY’S STORY, THE LAY LEADER of the synagogue was a man named Jairus. His twelve-year-old daughter was very sick at home, and he had fallen at Jesus’ feet, begging Jesus to come and heal his daughter. Jesus immediately left with Jairus, but while they were on the way home, friends came to say that the daughter had died. Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5: 36). Jairus, but while they were on the way home, friends came to say that the daughter had died. Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5: 36 NRSV).
Jesus took Jairus, his wife, and a few disciples to the girl’s room and asked the mourners to leave. He took the girl by the hand and spoke, commanding her to get up, and immediately she was well! What a remarkable scene.
This was the second instance in the Gospels of Jesus restoring someone to life. The first, recorded in Luke 7: 11-17, took place in a town called Nain, where Jesus had seen a widow grieving the death of her son. His heart had gone out to the widow, and he had stopped the funeral procession, saying to her dead son, “Young man, get up!” The boy sat up, very much alive (Luke 7: 14-15).
A third incident of Jesus raising someone from the grave is found in John 11, where Jesus was moved to tears at the grief of Lazarus’ sister. Jesus went to the tomb and shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” To everyone’s astonishment, Lazarus stumbled out of the grave (John 11: 43-44).
These stories have two things in common. First, in each instance Jesus was moved with compassion for those who were grieving. He knew that on the other side of death was life, and that those who have died live again; nevertheless, he was deeply moved by the sorrow of those who mourned. Second, Jesus spoke to the people who had died, and by his word their bodies were reanimated. The biochemical processes of death and decay were instantly reversed, and their souls reentered their bodies— all at the sound of his voice.
Some years ago, a twelve-year-old girl in our congregation named Katie died of a rare disease. Her mother and father, like Jairus and his wife, loved their daughter very much. I shared this story from Mark’s gospel at Katie’s funeral. It served as a reminder of Christ’s compassion for grieving parents. But this story, and the other stories of resurrection in the Gospels, point to the hope we have in Christ. Katie died at 8: 30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. I’m convinced that on that day, at that very hour, Jesus said to her, “Talitha cum” (“ Little girl, get up!”).
Jesus is deeply moved by our grief. And he is “the resurrection and the life.” Those who believe in him, “though they die, yet shall they live.” In the words of Charles Wesley’s famous hymn, “He speaks, and listening to his voice, new life the dead receive!”
Lord, I remember now those whom I have loved and lost to death. Thank you for the Gospel stories in which you spoke and people rose to life. I trust that my loved ones are with you and that one day I will see you, and them, face to face. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Mark 5: 38-42
When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age).
IN TODAY’S STORY, THE LAY LEADER of the synagogue was a man named Jairus. His twelve-year-old daughter was very sick at home, and he had fallen at Jesus’ feet, begging Jesus to come and heal his daughter. Jesus immediately left with Jairus, but while they were on the way home, friends came to say that the daughter had died. Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5: 36). Jairus, but while they were on the way home, friends came to say that the daughter had died. Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5: 36 NRSV).
Jesus took Jairus, his wife, and a few disciples to the girl’s room and asked the mourners to leave. He took the girl by the hand and spoke, commanding her to get up, and immediately she was well! What a remarkable scene.
This was the second instance in the Gospels of Jesus restoring someone to life. The first, recorded in Luke 7: 11-17, took place in a town called Nain, where Jesus had seen a widow grieving the death of her son. His heart had gone out to the widow, and he had stopped the funeral procession, saying to her dead son, “Young man, get up!” The boy sat up, very much alive (Luke 7: 14-15).
A third incident of Jesus raising someone from the grave is found in John 11, where Jesus was moved to tears at the grief of Lazarus’ sister. Jesus went to the tomb and shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” To everyone’s astonishment, Lazarus stumbled out of the grave (John 11: 43-44).
These stories have two things in common. First, in each instance Jesus was moved with compassion for those who were grieving. He knew that on the other side of death was life, and that those who have died live again; nevertheless, he was deeply moved by the sorrow of those who mourned. Second, Jesus spoke to the people who had died, and by his word their bodies were reanimated. The biochemical processes of death and decay were instantly reversed, and their souls reentered their bodies— all at the sound of his voice.
Some years ago, a twelve-year-old girl in our congregation named Katie died of a rare disease. Her mother and father, like Jairus and his wife, loved their daughter very much. I shared this story from Mark’s gospel at Katie’s funeral. It served as a reminder of Christ’s compassion for grieving parents. But this story, and the other stories of resurrection in the Gospels, point to the hope we have in Christ. Katie died at 8: 30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. I’m convinced that on that day, at that very hour, Jesus said to her, “Talitha cum” (“ Little girl, get up!”).
Jesus is deeply moved by our grief. And he is “the resurrection and the life.” Those who believe in him, “though they die, yet shall they live.” In the words of Charles Wesley’s famous hymn, “He speaks, and listening to his voice, new life the dead receive!”
Lord, I remember now those whom I have loved and lost to death. Thank you for the Gospel stories in which you spoke and people rose to life. I trust that my loved ones are with you and that one day I will see you, and them, face to face. Amen.
Adam Hamilton, The Way: 40 Days of Reflection: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
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