Hearing, Seeing, Believing

John 20:11, 25

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb...

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."

...............

John 20 is about the resurrection of Jesus. But it's also about how we respond and arrive at our own belief in the resurrection. Two characters in particular are highlighted here: Mary Magdalene and Thomas.

Mary's reaction to recent events truly captures the emotional gravity of what has transpired. Facing the empty tomb and thinking that someone had stolen Jesus' body, Mary stood weeping, certainly holding her face with both hands, grieving deeply for this shocking loss.

We can imagine what Mary was feeling as she stood by the tomb. We forget that Jesus' death was such a shock. Just days before, he was welcomed to Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna. The King, the Messiah had arrived! He taught in the temple courts. He shared a meal with his dearest friends. Despite Jesus' own hints and predictions, the disciples had no idea what was coming.

Processing this shock and grief, Mary stood by the tomb, and the tears came fast and she let them escape freely. He's gone, she thought. He's really gone.

But she looked in the tomb one last time. What did she see? She was met by an unexpected sight indeed. First two angels addressed her. And then she was met by Jesus, though she doesn't recognize him, her grief and despair blinding her. And what do they each in turn say to her? They ask why she is weeping. They comfort her. And then Jesus opens her eyes by calling her by name. She hears this familiar voice she knows so well, calling her personally by name, and she believes.

In contrast to this intimate picture, John 20 next highlights the doubting response of Thomas. Following the encounter with Mary, Jesus appears miraculously in a locked room and presents himself to all the disciples - all except Thomas. Later, when told about this, Thomas is incredulous. He says he will only believe it if he can see and touch Jesus for himself.

Thomas's response is not unlike the objections we hear in our present day and age. When you share the good news of Christ's miraculous resurrection with 21st century Americans, you may find that our post-enlightenment culture refuses to accept any truth-claim that cannot be verified empirically.

There is actually some validity to this cultural intuition. While the Bible describes an open system where divine intervention is real and accepted, there is also an observable order to the natural world where rules of cause and effect are our default expectation. The scientific method was actually built on Christian assumptions, that natural laws implied the existence of a Law-Giver. Generally, we should base our beliefs on observable and verifiable fact, and various Scripture passages support this (cf. Deut. 18:20-22, 1 Cor 15:12-19, 1 Pet 3:15, 1 John 1:1).

But what do we make of John 20:29? Jesus presented his wounds to Thomas. We see the incredible humility of a holy God, who has already left heaven and suffered a criminal's death on our behalf, but is here condescending to the objections of a doubting friend. Jesus complies, proves his divine nature, and rightly receives worship from Thomas in response - he believes and proclaims that Jesus is in fact God the Creator in the flesh. And then, as he often does, Jesus concludes the episode with a word of explanation, and this one is especially pointed to all of us reading about it centuries later.

Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (20:29)

Have you believed? Though you cannot hear or see Jesus today, will you be blessed by believing the good news of the resurrection? There are facts and clues upon which to base your faith today. Have you searched the scriptures, passed down faithfully and accurately through the years? Have you trusted the testimonies of dear friends, or listened to the hymns and stories of old? Do you hear the ring of truth in a God who becomes man and suffers in your place? Will you receive this blessing and find life in his name? (20:31). He is calling - how will you respond?

Faith Like Abraham

Romans 4:18-5:1

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

...............

Let's work backwards in the passage and see how Abraham is an example of faith for us today.

Romans 5:1 tells us we have peace with God through Jesus. We know that our sin and selfishness have separated us from God. And furthermore, because God is holy and just, we deserve to be treated as enemies of God. So how do we obtain this peace? The verse says it is through being justified by faith.

The "therefore" in 5:1 is referring to the entirety of Romans 1-4. The first four chapters of Romans explain why faith is more effective than works at making us right (or "justified") with God. In summary, the human race has proven by our behavior that we have exchanged the glory of God for idols. Both the religious and non-religious alike. We all fall short. We have all gone astray. But something changed in human history when Jesus came:

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3:21-24 ESV)

This is all setting the stage for chapter 4, where Paul backtracks to the story of Abraham to prove that faith is more effective than works and more glorifying to God. He points out several key points:

- That Abraham's faith was "credited to him as righteousness." (4:1-3)

- That it is more blessed to receive a gift than to receive wages for work. (4:4-8)

- That the blessing of being declared righteous by faith occurred before Abraham was circumcised, so it is clearly not dependent on Jewish ritual. (4:9-12)

- That this righteousness by faith is available to the gentiles, who are true children of Abraham if they share the kind of faith he had. (4:13-17)

- That Abraham modeled faith by trusting God's promise that he would father a child and many more descendants. (4:18-19)

And then to this incredible statement in verse 20-22:

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:20-22 ESV)

First of all, I am struck by how Abraham is here honored for his unwavering certainty, but if you read the story in Genesis, he did not seen very certain at all. He actually goofed up and wavered on this very topic, taking Hagar and fathering Ishmael. There were many ramifications for this error for generations to come. But Paul honors him for his faith. That gives me huge encouragement that, through the eyes of grace, I too will be remembered for my faith and not my sins.

Second, notice the object of faith: the promise of God. We must remember that our faith may sometimes be weak, but it is the strength of the object that really matters. My car is approaching 200k miles and likes to stall when it idles. It is not a strong object of my faith. But I still trust it everyday with my life! How much more should we trust God, who calls things into existence out of nothing and can give life to the dead?

Third, notice that Abraham's faith needed to grow, and the way faith grows is by giving glory to God. Even if our knowledge of God is small and our faith weak, we can grow by exercising that faith. Take it out for a test drive. Practice thinking about what God has promised. Practice banking on that promise. Practice acting on it. And it will grow stronger, because you are testing the strength of the object of your faith and actually experiencing its trustworthiness. If a man pushes a wheelbarrow across a tightrope, you might trust he can do it. But what if he asks you to jump in?

Finally, acting on your certainty of God's promise gives him glory and makes him look good to others. It is important that we practice trusting and obeying even when it doesn't make sense immediately. God will at times call you to obey in ways that are not intuitive, not convenient, that interrupt your plans, that may even feel foolish or hurt your pride. But trusting him in those moments makes God look good and wise. And you are displaying your humble dependence on him.

Now remember, Abraham is our example. So we know that obeying when it's hard may lead to us making mistakes along the way. And that's okay! The point is not getting every decision perfect. The point is to display faith like Abraham and try again until you get it right.

Towards the end of his life, Abraham faced such a test. He offered up his son. An act of obedience that made no sense. But over the decades of walking with God, Abraham had tested God over and over and found He was right every time. So he was prepared to do the hard thing. And he is now honored for that act. And it turned out to be a symbol of God offering up his own Son for our sakes.

Verse 22 says this is why his faith was counted as righteousness. It's not just any kind of faith that makes you righteous. It's a particular kind of faith in a particular God, with particular trustworthy attributes, who gave particular promises that cannot fail.

Questions for application:

1. Name one of God's promises. (Any promise)
2. Name a time that you really trusted one of God's promises and it made an impact on your life or your decisions.
3. What can you do this week to help your faith in God's promises grow stronger?

Praise & Lament

Psalm 40:10-11

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

...............

As many lament psalms do, Psalm 40 follows a basic structure. Cries for help are interwoven with declarations of God's character and promises. It is not simply a lament followed by an affirmation of faith, nor the reverse, an affirmation followed by a plea for deliverance. These two realities go back and forth in the life of the believer. Sometimes in the same breath. We make bold professions of faith in the real power and goodness of our Savior. And at the same time, we wrestle with very real circumstances that shake this faith and make us desperate.

On the one hand, the psalmist is confident in the mercy and kindness of God. More than once he points to the thoughts of God toward us and the deeds of God toward us. It is astounding that God thinks of us! He cares for our daily needs. He has shown himself kind in a multitude of ways, if we would but slow down and count them.

Food on the table
Money in the bank account
Clothes on our backs
A job to work each day
Friends to share laughter with
Family to share burdens and joys
Breath in our lungs

Each day becomes a precious gift as we remember that life is so fragile and yet filled with incredible potential.

You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.(40:5)

And we are called upon to proclaim the many blessings and signs of God's kindness so that others will know. This psalm is calling us to sing loud and sing proud! And it is an example for us to follow as we encourage others in our lives to do the same. May we count our blessings and call others to do the same. It may be the very thing they need to remember that day.

On the other hand, the psalmist is clearly walking through hard circumstances. The call to boldness co-mingles with cries for help! In fact, it is the very goodness and promise of God that grounds our request for help. The reminder of his character bolsters and amplifies our prayers for assistance because this sharpens our focus on the One to whom we pray.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!(40:13)

Let us be deeply encouraged that our prayers do not rise into the air in vain. There is a mighty and gracious God listening, giving thought to our situation and working it out for good. As we cry those tears, he is catching them one by one. And the pathway to our deliverance is to integrate praise into our prayers for help. As we proclaim his past deliverance, his present character, and his future promised care, we find new faith swelling in our hearts.

One last thought: as you read the Psalms, notice the punctuation marks. The pauses. The question marks. And in this case, the exclamation marks! Even in times of trial, may our faith shine and our words exclaim something clear and true. God has not changed and his promised salvation is but moments away.

Shades of Grief

John 11:21-27

Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” “Your brother will rise  again,” Jesus told her. Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am  the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me,  even if he dies, will live.   Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die — ever.  Do you believe this? ” “Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe You are the Messiah,  the Son  of God, who comes into the world.”

John 11:32-37

When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet  and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died! ” When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry  in His spirit  and deeply moved. “Where have you put him? ” He asked. “Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how He loved  him! ” But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes  also have kept this man from dying?”

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Grief. 

Each of us respond to suffering and loss in different ways. Even a response of faith will be expressed in a variety of ways, depending on the person and the circumstance. Martha and Mary lost their brother Lazarus, and their expressions of grief had similarities and differences.

Notice how they both approach Jesus with the same first statement: "If you had been here, he wouldn't have died!" This is a statement of faith in the power of this miracle working Messiah. But it is also a bold and assumptive statement. You could even read into this a kind of bitterness: "Where were you Jesus? Why didn't you get here sooner and save his life? Why were you absent in our time of greatest need? Don't you care?"

Are these not the very questions that haunt us when faced with a seemingly meaningless tragedy? Why would God allow this when he is supposedly able and willing to protect his children from harm?

Faith is mingled with painful unanswered questions.

Now notice the diversity in responses. Martha immediately corrects herself: "I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus takes the opportunity to proclaim his own divinity yet again: "I am the resurrection and the life." This all but reveals the surprise ending and empty tomb just moments ahead.

Mary does not correct herself. She just weeps. She is overcome. She falls at his feet in uncontrollable emotion. She utters her honest question and her expression of faith is a physical collapse upon the friend she trusts so deeply.

And Jesus responds with tears of his own. This translation says he was "angry in his spirit and deeply moved." What was the object of his anger? Death itself had stolen his friend away from his loving family, and this enemy was provoking the deepest emotions of God you can imagine.

To one sister he gives a declaration of words. To the other he gives his bodily compassion. Truth is here proclaimed as both personal and propositional. We hear the word of promise, that resurrection power has arrived and will be ours as well. And we see the tears, the anger, the embrace, and the body of Lazarus once dead now risen and shaking off the grave clothes!

Grief and faith will be expressed in many ways, often together. Questions go unanswered. Fears rage and anger boils as our enemy Death continues on its unholy mission.

And there is Jesus - weeping, proclaiming, and raising the dead again.

From Judge to Savior

Psalms 38:1, 4, 9, 15, 18, 21-22

Lord, do not punish me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath...

Without a Savior, there is only judgment. My approach to my Maker can only be fear. I know what I am. I know what I've done. And I know that He sees and He must right every wrong. He will punish every wicked thought, every wicked desire. He must do so, for the sake of his name and the good of his children. Without a savior, without someone to make things right, he can only be to me a frowning Judge.

For my sins have flooded over my head;
they are a burden too heavy for me to bear...

The weight of guilt is inescapable. That feeling I get when I'm hiding something from a friend or family member. I've broken a prized possession of theirs, or forgotten to keep a promise I made. My tail goes between my legs. I know it's time to eat crow/humble pie/my words (pick your figure of speech). The burden of guilt can only be lifted through the painful pathway of exposure. The scalpel must come before healing.

Lord, my every desire is known to You;
my sighing is not hidden from You...

And why do I hide, when he already knows my deepest thoughts and desires? I don't trust that he knows best, that he can handle whatever I need to tell him. I must repent of the hiding before I can repent of what I am hiding.

I put my hope in You, Lord ;
You will answer, Lord my God...

The only alternative to hiding is to turn completely to face my Maker and start trusting that he can make good out of my foolishness. Hope implies that I believe he is good and trustworthy and he will respond in the best way possible, even if it might hurt my pride. I am Eustace the dragon, and it will take strong claws to tear away at the iron flesh I hide behind.

So I confess my guilt;
I am anxious because of my sin...

Simply speak and the scalpel can begin. There will be anxiety, no doubt. I have hurt others. I have hurt myself. I have hurt my Maker and grieved his holy heart. But with confession, the judge begins to become a savior. He can only give the mercy I need once the crime has been exposed. A lifeguard cannot rescue me while my arms are flailing around. I must rest in his arms completely.

Lord, do not abandon me;
my God, do not be far from me.
Hurry to help me,
Lord, my Savior.

And finally I am his. Seeking to be near the very one I was hiding from. I have turned 180 degrees. I even ask him to hurry, because by faith I am finally understanding the depth of good that he has planned even for a fool like me.

Hurry to help me Lord!
You are my only hope!

Paradise!

Luke 23:35-43

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

...............

The rulers. The soldiers. The crowds. His closest friends. And now a condemned thief.

All betraying, murdering, and mocking the Son of God. Save yourself! they all cried, as if they deserved to be shown proof of his majesty and power. Surely the pride of man that began with Adam seeking to have knowledge like God's is now culminated in this humiliation of God hanging powerless on a tree. All thanks to the cruel wisdom and power of men.

Except, there were some unlikely friends at the cross. A man from the council named Joseph, and a handful of women, made sure that Jesus' body was cared for and respectfully buried. A centurion standing guard over the execution proclaimed Jesus' innocence, surely a sign that some grasped the injustice being committed. 

And the thief. Certainly the boldest of these friendly characters, the thief saw the absurdity of mocking this innocent man, especially when the thief was getting exactly what he deserved. 

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

The second thief responded with fear of God when everyone else, even Jesus' disciples, were either running away or openly mocking this Savior. They mocked him even while admitting he had saved others by powerful acts and signs. How their pride constrasts so starkly with the fearful humility of the second thief!

And then Jesus responds to the thief's simple faith with one of the most precious and profound gifts he could utter:

Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise

Paradise! Reunion with our Maker! Final peace with God! Given simply and freely to a bleeding criminal. All he had to do was ask for it and be willing to associate himself with this foolish-looking Savior.

Today, we Christians are called to follow in this man's footsteps. Two passages in the epistles specifically call our attention to Christ's ultimate sacrifice: Phillipians 2 and Hebrews 12. These chapters highlight that Jesus humbled himself as a servant, died an unjust death for us, but also that he was motivated by the joy of Paradise set before him. And both passages go on to challenge us to persevere in trials and not give in to our temptation to grumble and complain. In closing, read these two other chapters and see how the apostles interpreted and used the story of the crucifixion to turn our eyes away from earthly pains toward eternal joys in Paradise. I pray that I could have the faith of that thief, who took an opportunity for mocking and grumbling and chose instead to ask for Paradise.

Philippians 2:5-16

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Faith in His Mercy

Luke 18:6-8

And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 

...............

This chapter revolves around examples of true faith, and each example defines faith as utter dependence upon the mercy of almighty God.

1. The widow. The first example of the persistent widow connects faith and mercy explicitly. Jesus teaches that our God will surely hear the cries of his people for justice. But then he questions whether such cries are even happening - "will he find faith on earth?" We are called to be like the persistent widow, who proved her faith in God's mercy by the unrelenting nature of her prayers. She persevered to the end and saw the merciful character of God proved true.

The rub: Is my lack of prayer because I don't believe He is merciful? And does this weak faith result from ignoring his word and not dwelling on his kind heart, displayed at the cross?

2. The tax collector. Along with persistence, our faith in God's mercy must be accompanied by undeserving humility. The Pharisee made a list of his successes. But God was more impressed with the taxman who knew he deserved nothing before a holy God.

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:13, 14)

The rub: Do I hope God will accept me for my list of good deeds, or because I simply have faith in his kindness toward the humble?

3. The children. The kids rushed to him, eager to see, hear, and touch this man who seemed to relate and sympathize with them in some unique way. The kids were often looked down upon in this culture, but Jesus saw them. He noticed them and paid attention to them. And Jesus defined true faith using the kids as his model and example: because they so unashamedly trusted him.

The rub: Do I come to him like a child, trusting he will accept me as I am?

4. The blind beggar. What if you had no possessions, no friends, no purpose, and no real hope that life will get any better? And no eyesight. You are blind. Then, you hear rumors of a healer who is both willing and able to make cripples well. And, he is walking toward you right now. How you respond in his presence will directly reflect what you believe about him. And this beggar responds in a way that perfectly fits his need and Jesus' ability to meet that need: "Son of David, have mercy on me!" His faith was dependent upon the reality of God's mercy.

The rub: Do I cry out persistently, humbly, like a child, like a beggar? Or am I the opposite? Occasional in prayer, self-reliant, presumed mature, secure in my comfortable lifestyle. Can this be faith? Can this be trust in the merciful character of God? Do I dwell on his mercies? Do I even believe in them?

Lord, remind me of your kindness. Let me never give up seeking You, learning about your mighty deeds and promises, and crying out for mercy on a daily basis. I am your child, you are my Father. I rely completely on you and stake all of my hope in your merciful love. Amen.

Towers, Wars, and Discipleship

Luke 14:25-33

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'  Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.  So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

...............

We are always glad to see a teaching that ends with a "therefore" because then we will know the main point, right? In this case, the main point is anyone who does not renounce all he has cannot be my disciple. Clear? Yes. Easy to understand? Hmm...

It sounds like Jesus is demanding that his followers abandon material things and all connection to this world. Even our most dearly held relationships - parents, spouses, children, and siblings - we are called to "hate." What can this possibly mean?

Well, we know from several other passages that we are to love our families (1 Tim. 5:8), our neighbors (Matt. 22:34-40) and even our enemies (Matt. 5:43-48), and that asceticism has no intrinsic value, since we could never renounce enough things to gain merit with a holy God or to make us more holy (Col. 2:16-23). And, while one of Luke's main themes is God's interest in the poor, he has repeatedly condemned religiosity that is external, petty, and self-righteous. Whatever this passage is saying, it cannot be an endorsement of thoughtless sacrifice of the needs of our families or a strict command to follow a monastic lifestyle.

But this passage is about following Christ as a disciple who puts Him over and above anything else. The use of the tower and battle metaphors should tell us a few clear things about the nature of this call to discipleship:

1. This is big, so you better think about it first. Don't approach Christianity as just one option in a buffet of religious choices. This is a decision that will change the course of your life and may require the ultimate sacrifice. Think first and consider how big this is.

2. This will be costly, so prepare yourself.  There is a death that takes place when we put off our old selves and become identified with our suffering savior. In very tangible terms, Jesus told his followers that if the world hated him, they should expect to be hated too - and worse. The call to follow Christ will take dogged perseverance and faithfulness in the midst of weariness, pain, doubt, and fear. Our faith will be tried.

3. This will be worth it, so look to the finish line.  I am tempted to think that counting the cost is just a call to feel inadequate and be afraid of what horrors lie ahead in the Christian life - like God is saying "Man-up, its time to die!" But, no good or glory comes from this fear. What this passage reminds us is that we don't build unless there's a tower in mind. We don't fight the war unless there's a kingdom to defend. And we should face the cross of christian life, not as those without hope, but as those who believe in the empty tomb, the resurrection to eternal life, and the new heavens and new earth, where every tear and all sorrow will be no more.

So prepare yourself, by looking to the joy set before you in Christ.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Disaster, Demons, and Death

Luke 8:24-25

And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?"  And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"

.................

Just in case there was any question as to Jesus' infinite power, Luke here provides a triumvirate of evidences to illustrate that Jesus is nothing less than omnipotent.

Disaster. When Jesus calmed the stormy sea, the appropriate reaction seems to be utter amazement. The disciples marveled that this man who walked among them could control nature merely with his words. This was no magic trick. The Maker of the sea and wind was standing here in the flesh, as if he had stepped right out of the Genesis creation story. Jesus was and is completely sovereign over nature.

Demons. But he is also sovereign over an unseen spiritual world. Verses 26-39 describe one of the most bizarre conversations ever recorded. Jesus approaches what we would consider a raving lunatic and proceeds to speak with a Legion of demons that are oppressing him. And it is not Jesus who shudders, but the demons who plead for mercy and try to bargain for a less horrible fate. Jesus was and is completely sovereign over the spiritual realm.

Death. Not impressed yet? Well, take a moment right now and visualize your last few moments alive. You know they will one day come, and you will eventually have to face the point of no return - a dark veil over which lies some unknown void. Will there be something on the other side of that last breath? Is there anything else in all the world that we have LESS control over? Death is completely unavoidable... Or is it? This passage concludes with an event even more remarkable than Jesus' clash with disaster or demons. Here, Jesus encounters the hopelessness of a young child's death and almost casually decides to rewind it.

And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping."  And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise."

Child, arise. Two words. Two words to undo death. What remains the most troubling, terrifying, uncontrollable enemy that mankind has ever known, he undoes with two simple words. This is the gospel. Death is overcome, the grave is emptied of power, the wages of sin are being paid for by this humble and powerful Savior.

Now, will we believe and find our strength in Him?

I Walk in Your Faithfulness

Psalm 26:1-3

Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.

................

I had a hard time with this psalm. I find that the psalmist is often far more confident in his faith than I usually feel on any given day. But, instead of dwelling on that, I'll just make two simple observations.

1. The need for vindication.  There is something fundamental to the human experience about needing to feel vindicated or justified. If that is true, then what could possibly be motivating that universal feeling? It must be some sense of accusation or false judgment driving our need to clear our name or restore our reputation.  David says, "vindicate me" because there are false accusations threatening to smear his name. Jesus was also no stranger to this experience, and so we again see how the lament psalms were dear companions to our lonely savior during his times of deepest sorrow. We too can add our voice to his refrain when we feel unjustly accused from within and from others' slander and cynicism.

2. The grounds for vindication. But, how can I speak these confident words in the midst of my daily failings and hypocrisies? I cannot boast in my integrity. In fact, I feel rightly condemned by most of the accusations I face. When we're honest with ourselves we know that we don't deserve the vindication we so desperately crave. But, notice verse three. "For YOUR steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in YOUR faithfulness." Here is the gospel flooding in with reminders of who God is and what he has accomplished on our behalf. The "for" statement is the grounding of what precedes. 

The grounds for my vindication is nothing less than the steadfast love of Christ, which I must place before my eyes and find true confidence because he loves me so fully and completely.

And then I can walk, not in my faithfulness, but in His. Amen.

Truth: Personal and Propositional

Luke 1:1-4

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

...............

We have seen already how the different narratives of Jesus's life have slightly different emphases. Matthew focused on Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and archetypes. Mark was a fast paced chronicle of Jesus as the tragic but vindicated King of Israel. Now we come to Luke's account, and fortunately, we are given a clear thesis at the very beginning: Luke is writing to give us certainty. Certainty about the events and teachings of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Why would his audience need certainty? Some skeptics have assumed that Luke wrote many years after the life of Jesus, thinking that his audience must have been uncertain because they were far removed from the events. But we know from Matthew and Mark that even those who were present at those events couldn't believe their eyes! So, what really causes this uncertainty in the hearts of those who hear about Jesus? This sounds like a good time to discuss epistemology.

epis·te·mol·o·gy\i-ˌpis-tə-ˈmä-lə-jē\
noun: the study or a theory of the nature and grounds of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity

The grounds, limits, and validity of knowledge. How do we know what we know? There have been people asking this question throughout history.

In the modern world knowledge has been violently severed into two forms: objective and subjective. Before the Enlightenment, truth was a unity and its source was ultimately the God who gave us the capacity for knowledge. Then, the Enlightenment and its philosophical descendants proclaimed that the existence of deity could not be empirically proven, and therefore had no validity. But when Neitzche declared that "God is dead," most people inherently understood that real meaning and purpose in life no longer had any objective basis. So, man faced the chasm of objectively proven meaninglessness and took a leap of faith by willfully claiming that man had meaning anyway! This was the thesis of the existentialists, and unfortunately many Christians bought it, because they too had given up on objective truth-claims. The miracles of Jesus, including the resurrection, had to be redefined as essentially symbolic - full of powerful meaning but ultimately not rooted in objective truth. It did not take many years for this remaining shred of subjective meaning to be itself discarded by a generation who knew it amounted to groundless wishful thinking.

And so, here we are in the modern world, where truth is only what can be empirically verified, and faith is at best relegated to the category of subjective wishful thinking.

But Luke claims to provide certainty. He will labor in the next 24 chapters to provide an orderly, thoroughly researched, eyewitness account of the miraculous life of this 1st century Palestinian prophet. There is ample evidence, inside and outside the Bible, that these events were recorded accurately and copied faithfully by generations of Christians throughout early church history. But I'd like to spend the remaining space demonstrating that the Bible defines truth as both objective and subjective, and in fact does not see any contradiction between the two.

Objective Truth. Three passages come to mind. In order, these speak to the objective basis of God's Word, the historicity of the physical resurrection of the Jesus, and the offer of objective assurance of salvation in Christ:

1. And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?'— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21, 22 ESV)

2. Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV)

3. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13 ESV)

Subjective Truth. But God's truth is more comprehensive than mere empirical proofs. Scripture emphatically asserts that Truth is both propositional and personal. In fact, Truth is a Person:

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:6, 7 ESV)

Jesus is the Truth. By saying this, Jesus claims that epistemic validity does not lie solely in empirically ascertained knowledge. There is an equally valid kind of knowledge that is personal and relational at its core. Reason and revelation are both valid and should be respected equally because they both find their source in God.

The Gospel of Luke will go on to boldly lay claim to both our minds and our hearts, for truly God has called us to love him with both, as whole people submitting our whole lives to his good Lordship. May we find strength and comfort in this uncertain world from the certainty of the gospel and the God who is both the source and embodiment of Truth. Amen.

I Will Fear No Evil

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk 
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

...............

I will fear no evil.

When a passage of scripture becomes so familiar, so recognizable, that it fails to impact the reader with the full weight of its meaning ... it helps to get small.

I will fear no evil.

By singling out one phrase, the weight of meaning begins to return. I have not been able to shake these five words all week. So, I'd like to meditate further on this phrase by considering WHERE and HOW we can fear no evil.

Where?
Walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
Matthew Henry's commentary on this passage takes pains to draw out meaning from each word in this statement: walking, through, valley, shadow, death. By doing so, I was reminded that being under the care of my good Shepherd means that I will keep walking and make it through, no matter how deep or long the valley may be. I also know that valleys are places of fruitfulness, so that my difficulties in life will indeed produce some reward. It is also important to note that this encounter with death is a mere shadow - thanks to the promise of eternal life given in Christ and his finished work.

But we should not merely make light of our trials, for they are indeed a heavy burden. So, how can I truly walk through and have no fear?

How?
For you are with me
There are few truths more precious. To know Immanuel is to know "God with us" and there is no other philosophy or religion in the world that dares make the shocking claim that God is both infinite and personal, transcendent and incarnate, creator and humble redeemer. This is no mystical experience of God either. It is the claim that God walked among us in the flesh, in space-time real human history. He was with us, and he continues to dwell with the believer by His Spirit.

But why does this lead me to not fear ANY evil? I mean, life is filled with many fearful things: physical sickness, emotional stress and deep depression, fragile relationships, financial risk, natural disaster, crimes and injustices against self and loved ones (Our fears for our loved ones are perhaps the most sacred to us).

But this passage says we can live without fear of evil, because God is with us. Specifically, the psalmist points to his rod and his staff - further elements of the shepherd metaphor, symbolizing God's protection and direction. Enemies will be destroyed, even when they appear on your doorstep! Answers to prayer will be granted, even if the silence lasts for decades! He promises real protection and direction for his precious children and this brings a comfort so deep that all fear is subsumed.

How can I live in this? Preach it to myself everyday. Call it to mind. Rest in it. Respond to it. Bank on it in my decisions, great and small. If I know God has laid some purpose on my heart - some good deed or plan - how could I let fear get in the way when I know that God is with me!? If God is for us, who can be against us, Paul asked.

I will walk in this way. I will fear no evil - because of the comfort of God's personal protection and direction, and because I know that he is with me. Amen.

Confronted with Eternity

Mark 16:8

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

...............

If the events leading up to Mark 16 were not scary enough, here we find the women who came to care for Jesus' lifeless body coming face to face with angelic beings declaring an utterly surprising message. And apparently a terrifying message.

What could be so terrifying about the resurrection of your hero who you thought was dead? Why would Jesus' best friends not be thrilled, but instead refused to believe the news these women shared with them? (16:11 & 13). Wasn't this good news?

I submit that most people will indeed react in fear and unbelief when they are confronted with news of someone coming back to life after death - and not the modern notion of skeptical rational unbelief. I mean willful frightened loudly-proclaimed "no, this cannot be happening!" kind of unbelief.

If we are honest with ourselves, the idea of an afterlife may be more frightening than a simple ceasing-to-exist. Critics of Christianity often tell us that Heaven is wishful thinking - a product of our fear of death. But if you ask them how they feel about death they are often quite comfortable with a quiet sign-off after a full length of pleasant years. In fact, I think that most of us would naturally prefer the privacy of final sleep over the mysterious and revealing prospect of waking up in a new world - especially a world that belonged to Someone else.

It may very well be that the final judgment of God - his reckoning for all the injustices of human history - is what these early disciples were coming face to face with. They had heard and discussed the reality of eternity, but to be confronted by a man who transcended space and time and brought eternity to their doorstep - that was terrifying.

So, what changed their hearts and gave them faith? Mark doesn't give an easy answer. Even if you take verses 9-20 as original to Mark or his contemporaries, the general thrust of the chapter is fear, not faith. From chapter 1, Mark never hesitated to be critical of Jesus' doubtful and confused followers, even in these concluding remarks. (This also adds a level of authenticity to the book, since undermining the reputation of early church leaders would have been a disservice to the strength of the movement.)

In conclusion, I think that we can find a strange hope in this story for us today. When I am confronted by death and the One who holds the keys to eternity, I can take comfort in this company of fearful followers. Ultimately, the story was not about them (or us). It was about the One who overcame death and offered salvation for any who follow him. It is up to us now to share this terrifying and life changing message with the world, so that they too can be confronted with eternity and find hope in the One who can welcome them in:

"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15, 16 ESV)

King or Fool?

Mark 15:37-39

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

................

We began our journey through the Gospel of Mark with the clear and simple proclamation: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). We have traced the life of Jesus in quick broad strokes, seeing his teaching and healing ministry, his rejection by religious leaders, and especially Mark's emphasis on the kingdom of God. This kingdom was taught in parables, perpetually misunderstood even by Jesus' closest followers, and eventually proved so radically different than expected that Jesus is left alone to face his executioners.

In chapter 15, we see our king finally crowned and hailed and recognized by the crowds and the Roman authorities - but all in mockery. The governor, Pilate, hears the charges and is amazed at Jesus' confident silence. He asks if he is truly the king of the Jews, to which Jesus says, "You have said so." We know from the John's account that this conversation also included Jesus describing his kingdom as "not of this world" (18:36). The arc of this story has gone from announcing the kingdom of God, through dozens of stories and lessons about its true nature, to finally this climactic conversation with the Roman authority. And the world is about find out what kind of king Jesus really is.

This king was condemned by a crowd who cried out "Crucify him!" This king was beaten ruthlessly and mocked by the Roman guard. This king was led out of town and hung by nails to be slowly tortured to death over a 6 hour timeframe. This king watched men haggle over his clothes while gasping for his last breaths. This king continued to be mocked while he hung there in utter humiliation.

"So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him." (Mark 15:31, 32 ESV)

I am struck by how matter-of-fact this chapter is. There is very little theological abstract material here. Just the brute reality of a jail cell, a braided lash, a crown of thorns, a rough-hewn cross of wood, and a few metal spikes. The jeers of the religious leaders are amazingly petty and trite, much like their hardened hearts. The most profound statement in the chapter comes from an unlikely theologian - the centurion.

"Truly this man was the Son of God!"

Whether this soldier had known of Jesus' teaching and healing, or whether he simply marveled at the tearing of the temple curtain, here we have a simple proclamation of faith from a witness of Christ's death. Nothing could be more miraculous than the seed of faith emerging from the rough soil of the human heart, especially among the close thorns and rocky soil of such mockery and punishment. The kingdom of this man must be madness! Not to this soldier. He believed. He believed this was the Son of God!

We are called to this kind of faith. Faith to believe in a humiliated king who reigns over a foolish kingdom. But when the beauty of this kingdom captures your heart and imagination, you will find its foolishness incomparable to its riches and glory. When the story of this sacrificial hero who came to lay down his life for an undeserving world finally grips your heart, you will bear that humiliation and take up your own cross with pride, because you know that it is truly the Son of God whom you serve.

But none of that would matter without what happens next...

Forsaken by God

Psalm 22:1, 2, 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest...

...I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

...............

My God, my God...why have you forsaken me?

Alone.
Abandoned.
Unheard.
Unremembered.
Forsaken.

Today we resort to curse words as a cheap substitute for honest reflection. When I feel abandoned by God due to some horrible circumstance, do I really dig deep and share my darkest fears and complaints with God or anyone?

Am I willing to be this brutally honest?
Like David?
Like Jesus?

And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him....And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:24, 25, 34)

Have I ever felt this separation from my Father and wept from the crushing weight of it? Or can this only be felt by one who has treasured God in a profoundly intimate way, like this second person of the Trinity, who had enjoyed perfect fellowship with his Father stretching back through all eternity past?

He bore this sorrow so that I would not have to.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13, 14)

He was not only cursed for us, he traded our sin for his righteousness.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

He not only took our curse and our sin, but he bore our sorrows and gave us peace with God by being crushed on our behalf.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4, 5 ESV)

Words fail.

But Psalm 22 gives us an example of how prayer can lead us out of this pit of despair and toward faith in the God who can redeem us out of every hopeless situation.

Honesty.

It starts with honest reflection on where we are and how it feels (22:1-2, 6-8, 12-18). God can handle our honesty, and the model of many of the lament psalms urges us to be real with Him.
Recollection. Then we must recall - call to mind - what we know is true about God and how he has proven trustworthy in the past (22:3-5, 9-11).

Notice how honesty and recollection were interwoven in this psalm, swinging back and forth, showing how this recollection is really a vicious battle of the mind. Choosing the truth may take time and effort, but it will be worth it for what it produces - faith.

Faith.

To finally emerge from the battle of the mind with a simple cry for help is itself an act of faith (22:19-21). And once there is a wedge of faith, the door to seeing God at work opens wide and leads to praise.

Praise.

The cry for help will eventually be met with an answer from God, who is utterly faithful to his children, though not always in the ways or times that we expect (22:22-31).

Notice that this praise is cooperate and invitational. David, and ultimately Jesus, emerged from their darkest hour filled with contagious praise for the faithful God who restored them. They cannot help but call others to join in celebrating.

I will close by quoting the other New Testament passage that refers to this Psalm. Hebrews tells us that Jesus went to the cross and emerged from the empty tomb in order to be our worship leader - he alone can lead us to the throne room of our Father and represent us in song and adoration. Let us call to mind the eternal chorus that awaits us in heaven, especially when we feel utterly forsaken and alone:

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,

"I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:10-12, 14-18 ESV)

Authority and Agnosticism

Mark 11:28-30, 33

And they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me...."

...So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

...............

The opposite of authority may be agnosticism. In this chapter, we see the authority of Jesus displayed in at least four ways:

1. Authority in Action. The triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple are perhaps the most authoritative moments in Jesus' earthly ministry. To demand a young colt and ride him into the big city to the resounding cheers of an adoring crowd was a clear statement of kingship in the Jewish culture. This was a coronation of the highest order - the enthronement of the long awaited messianic king, the son of David. Following this, Jesus walks into the center of Jewish religious life and drives out the merchants, essentially claiming authority over his Father's house and anyone in it.

2. Authority in Word. Not only did Jesus act like God and King, he spoke in like manner:

And he said to [the fig tree], "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it...

...And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."

...As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.
(Mark 11:2, 3, 14, 17, 20 ESV)

No plant or person is immune to the powerful words of Christ. We find elsewhere in Scripture that Christ in fact spoke the universe into existence and holds it all together simply with his word (Heb. 1:3). His verbal authority is unmatched and should give us pause when we disregard his words of warning or fail to fully believe his wonderful promises (Heb. 2:1).

3. Authority in Prayer. I think Jesus may want us to be less impressed with showy displays of authority, and more impressed with the kind of faith that asks God to move mountains and expects it to happen. The strength of our faith in prayer correlates directly with the genuineness of our belief in the power and goodness of God. Let us not fail to convey to the world how strong and real God is by mouthing weak and uncertain words in our prayers. In this way Jesus is calling us to reflect his authority by calling on it with confidence (Heb. 4:16).

4. Authority in Question. Finally, after these several public expressions of his authority, those who have thought of themselves as the highest authorities begin to question Jesus openly. In his own unique way, Jesus pushes the burden of proof back on them, questioning their knowledge and authority, and forces them to admit defeat in four simple words: "we do not know." Here is where I see signs that our modern world's embrace of agnosticism runs completely counter to the good authority displayed in Jesus. We have romanticized uncertainty to the extent that we have become powerless, and this has sadly affected the church, myself included. In truth, by questioning our faith ad nauseam we reflect to the world an uncertain god with an uncertain promise.

Lord God Almighty, I confess my weakness and uncertainty and today I claim your power and confidence, not because of anything I have to offer, but entirely because of your sure and certain promise of salvation. I stand on you, my solid rock. Thank you for demonstrating your love for me while I was still dead and blind in my sin. Now I am alive in You, and I walk in confident faith, and in the authority that is mine through Christ my Savior. Amen.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

Salvation is Impossible

Mark 10:26, 27

And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

...............

Here's an encouraging sermon application: It is impossible for man to be saved! Wow, what a downer. Could you try telling me something a little nicer about myself, like how smart and clever and lovable I am? No? Oh fooey!

No, I'm afraid that any honest reading of this chapter should bring us to our knees. In Mark 10 we see several more examples of the disciples missing the point and revealing how clueless they still are:

- they don't quite get the teaching on divorce (v 10)
- they rebuke the kids who want to meet Jesus (v 13)
- they are openly afraid, apparently of the persecution they expect to face in Jerusalem (v 32)
- they make another attempt at nepotism by asking for a spiritual favor (v 37)
- they apparently join in rebuking a blind man who is openly declaring Jesus as king (v 48)

But right in the center of this chapter is where we see the disciples described as "exceedingly astonished." I honestly sympathize with the Rich Young Man who thought he was obeying God but couldn't find his heart devoted enough to sell all he had at the command of this miracle working teacher. I move from sympathy to pity when I realize that he was clinging to his self-righteous vision of the world, which could not conceive of an incarnate God who was worthy of direct obedience and honor. But I haven't always noticed that the disciples were equally stuck in a mentality that assumed salvation could be earned or obtained by human effort.

This is yet another illustration of how restricted pietism can masquerade in religious clothing but fundamentally reflect a worldview that is completely opposed to the heartbeat of God. We crave a short list of attainable goals that leaves room for our own boasting and pride; we cringe and may even walk away from a call to give up our lives and reputations for something bigger than ourselves: the kingdom of our Savior and his mission in the world.

Lord, help me to be more astonished at my self-righteousness than at the wise words of my Savior, who is graciously telling me that I can never save myself, no matter how hard I try. And let me be grateful that the bad news of my inability before God is closely followed by the good news of Christ's finished work of salvation offered and credited to my account through faith alone. All glory to Him alone. Amen.

The View from the Mountain

Mark 9:33-34, 38

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest....

...John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."

...............

Chapter 9 of Mark's Gospel starts with a literal epiphany and ends with disciples who still don't get it. After rebuking Peter in chapter 8 for not accepting the prediction of Christ's atoning death, we are welcomed onto the mountain of God and given a glimpse behind the curtain of God's plan. Jesus is transfigured before the apostles' eyes, and Moses and Elijah appear in the flesh to discuss the upcoming climax of God's redemptive story. The apostles hear Jesus, Moses, Elijah, and even the booming voice of God from out of the sky, all testifying to Christ's death and resurrection, but they fail to understand! Verses 10 and 23 explicitly say that they don't get it. Then the chapter closes with two stories that really prove they don't get it.

The first story shows that the apostles were still fundamentally confused about the nature of God's kingdom: the power of God is manifested in serving, not in being served - in giving up your life rather than claiming positions of power. We are to become like children, trusting completely in Someone other than ourselves for everything. We are also to receive children and people of no reputation as if they were people of great importance, thus conveying the economy of God's love, where all are welcomed equally into his family through Christ's offer of salvation.

The second story speaks also to this fundamental difference between the mentality of the world and the mentality of the kingdom: those who are not in our clique but use Jesus' name to do good, they should be respected rather than judged. In other words, there is a fundamental graciousness extended within the church community between people of differing opinions. Working out the details of these relationships may involve some hard work and sensitivity to the Spirit, but the starting point, according to Jesus, is grace.

What's the connection between these two anecdotes in Mark 9? I think they should be viewed in light of the Transfiguration, and convict us of how far our natural worldly mentality is from the heartbeat of God - He is working out a cosmic plan to redeem humanity, and we struggle to grasp it, understand it, apply it, or let it inform our view of others. We want first place, even after seeing God in the flesh and hearing the heavenly Voice. We want to judge others, when we've got logs in our own eyes waiting to be removed.

Lord, help me to live as a childlike servant, assuming the best of others, and most of all standing in awe of Your glorious plan of redemption. Help me understand it, treasure it, and live humbly in light of it. All by your grace alone. Amen.

Resurrection and Response

Matthew 28:17

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

...............

There is little doubt about the historical existence of Jesus. In fact, there is ample evidence outside the Bible for many of the details of his life, his ministry, and the circumstances of his death. But, it is the historicity of the resurrection that continues to be hotly debated among people great and small. This chapter offers some insight into the very beginning of this debate and what is really going on in the hearts of men who respond to the news of Christ's resurrection, whether in faith or in doubt. Let us consider three categories of response outlined in this chapter.

1. Willful Denial. The guards at the tomb were eyewitnesses to the angelic episode in which the stone of Jesus' tomb was rolled away and his absence was revealed. We know that their experience of the angel was taken seriously: "And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men" (28:4). While their initial response might have led to potential faith, we find out quickly that personal interest is persuasive enough to choke out the truth and smother the seeds of faith. The guards tell the chief priests what they saw, perhaps hoping to get some spiritual guidance on the matter. Instead, they got a bribe and were directed to lie about what happened. This, they were told, would satisfy the governor and "keep you out of trouble." As counter-intuitive as it may seem, the eyewitness evidence of an angelic vision and an empty tomb was not enough to overcome basic human cravings for money and security. If this was true of these men, how much more for men today who are so far removed from the events?

2. Doubt. We might expect such willful denial from pagan Roman guards who knew very little about Jesus, his promises, and his love. But, what about the doubts of the disciples who were seeing the resurrected Jesus, flesh and blood, right in front of them? Verse 17 reveals that not all of the disciples were convinced that Jesus had risen, that Jesus was truly who he claimed to be, even though he was right there for them to see and touch. Again, we must scratch our heads and question the conventional wisdom that says, "If I could see him risen from the dead, then I would believe." This is obviously not the case, for those who were closest to Jesus did not immediately believe, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. If these men were not convinced, how can any of us in the 21st Century believe in the resurrection with any certainty?

3. Faith. Fortunately for us, Denial and Doubt are not the only responses recorded here. Chapter 28 also gives us a glimpse of those who saw Christ risen from the dead firsthand and were led by the evidence to believe that he was God himself! They worshiped him, an action that was reserved by devout Jews for Yahweh alone. This was a radical response indeed, to believe that this Jewish carpenter was actually God in the flesh. What made them respond differently than the guards or the doubters? Why didn't they succumb to their personal interests or a prideful reliance on human reason? The chapter does not give an explicit answer, but we can conclude that faith is NOT a given based upon evidence alone. There must be a miraculous act of God in our lives to draw us to faith in Christ. The seeds of faith must not be choked out by the cares of this world.

Perhaps, most importantly, there must be a choice to overcome personal fear in the face of life-changing evidence. Isn't this what the angel and the risen Lord repeatedly said to the many witnesses? "Do not be afraid!" (Verses 5 and 10). There must be courage to overcome "reasonable" doubt and trust that God has come in the flesh, has overcome death, and he has made a personal offer of relationship with each one of us. We must be struck by the beauty of this good news, for it meets our deepest needs for love, forgiveness, and reconciliation with the One who made us and knows us inside and out. It is only this kind of courage and commitment that can motivate us to fulfill the commission that Jesus ultimately leaves to his disciples. Let us not be afraid; let us believe that he is now with us; and let us faithfully carry out the mission he entrusted to us:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Human Depravity

Psalm 14:1

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.

...............

We have seen this description of the wicked in Psalm 10 already, that they say in their hearts, "There is no God." We noted that atheism is really a form of pride, a way of exalted oneself over the inconvenient reality of God's rightful place in the universe. In this Psalm, we see the phrase used as the root issue behind all of human depravity: There are none who can genuinely be called good because, as a whole, mankind has turned away from God and called down his just wrath.

This Psalm is really from God's perspective. In verse 2, we hear that God "looks down from heaven" in order to see if there are "any who understand, who seek after God." This would not have been a controversial concept for early Jewish believers. They understood very well that the Gentiles were living under God's displeasure. We can almost see them nodding their heads in agreement when the first Roman Christians read the apostle Paul's letter to them:

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Rom. 1:18).

However, it is the way that Paul references this Psalm in Romans 3 that presents the Jews with quite a theological curve-ball. They might have expected Paul to use this description of man's depravity as a kind of final verdict upon the rebellious Gentile "dogs," as they were popularly known. Instead, Paul takes Psalm 14 and throws it up as a description of the Jews and Gentiles alike:

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." (Rom. 3:9-11)

As we've noted elsewhere, the first step in interpreting the Old Testament is to see how it is directly or indirectly referenced in the New Testament. Psalm 14 may have been used by the Jews to condemn their unrighteous enemies, but the perspective of God, as further illuminated by the New Testament, is that this judgment refers to all people, regardless of their race or religion.

Fortunately, that condemnation is not the end of the story. Just as Paul finishes his universal condemnation of all people as completely unrighteous and without hope in the world, he throws yet another theological curve-ball:

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it---the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (Rom. 3:21)

Romans 1 told us that God's wrath was being reveal against unrighteousness; Romans 3 now tells us that God's righteousness has now been revealed that is apart from the law -- a rightness with God that is given to us as a gift, through faith in the work of Jesus Christ upon the cross, where he took our sin upon Himself, and then rose from the dead to secure new life for us and an eternal reconciliation with God. Death has been overcome; our depravity will be once for all eliminated; and our hope has been restored, not in ourselves, but in the God who comes to us and makes things right. Amen.