Jesus' Delay

“When the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea.” John 7:2-3  During Jesus’ time the Sukkoth was  "a feast very much observed among us."  (Ant. 15.3.3)

Autumn had arrived, and with it the major festival of the Jews called Sukkoth.  The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the three great harvest festivals when the Jewish people go to Jerusalem to celebrate.  In this passage Jesus delays his trip.  This made me think about the delays which have been part of Sukkoth.

It would have been great if the Messiah could come to his temple, or if “every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty.” (Zech 14:16-21), but the time had not yet come.

During Sukkoth the Jews build houses out of branches and leaves (the ceiling must be open enough to see the stars) to remember the forty years they wandered in the wilderness before they could enter the Promised Land.  (Lev 23:39-43) During that time the entire generation which made a golden calf died out. (Psalm 95:10)

When the Jews arrived in the Promised Land they built homes and developed farms, but the “House of God,” their place of worship remained in a temporary structure called The Tabernacle.  For a time this was located at Shiloh.  After David conquered Jerusalem he brought the contents of the Tabernacle to his new capital at Jerusalem.  (2 Sam. 6)

During the Feast of Tabernacles the Temple, the “permanent” place of worship was dedicated by King Solomon (1 Kings 8:2ff).  During this dedication we could say that worship was moved from the Tabernacle constructed by Moses in the wilderness into a building constructed by human hands.  The dedication was blessed as could be seen by the cloud which filled the Temple. (2 Chron 5:13-14)

The Jews worshipped in the Temple of Solomon for 410 years (Seder Olam), which was destroyed by the Babylonians.  After an order by Cyrus, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews held their first worship service in Jerusalem (Ezra 3), and then laid the foundation for the new Temple.  But there was delay in building because of conflict with the locals and the need for people to build their own homes.

Why did Jesus delay his coming to Jerusalem?  It could have been because of sin (which is why the Jews wandered in the desert).  It could have been because of unfinished business (the Jews did not take the strongholds in the land when they first arrived).  Or it could have been because the people were too focused on themselves and their needs.  All of these reasons existed.

But John tells us "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." (John 7:6-8)

Bread of LIfe

Today’s post is about the “Bread of Life.” (John 6:48) Birthday cake is made of bread, and today is my birthday. I get to eat the bread which celebrates life. That is fun. I look forward to my birthday. I tell people I think I’m 39 … “again.” I do things with a little more zest.

Some tell me I’ve had a lot of birthday cake. I’ve had cakes so many years in a row that it is normal, and even mundane. (That’s not nice or true… it is still fun for me).

For some who live life a long time, it is normal and mundane. Life drags day after day. Jesus said, “Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.” (John 6:49) They ate manna every day of every week for forty years. Day after day they picked up manna. The only variety was Friday when they picked up enough for two days, and Saturday when they were able to rest.

Keith Green suggests they were able to get creative in cooking the manna. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUH4No_SVU) But I think for most families it was the same day after day. Manna, Manna, Manna.

Water is a necessity in life (John 4). Wine is an “extra” in life (John 2). Bread is a staple. Our blessings over food recognize this: “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who bringest forth bread from the earth;” and “Give us today our daily bread.”

Jesus tells us life is more. Jesus said. “I am the living bread.” (We are to be alive and not dead) He added:
- This is the bread that comes down from heaven, (this means it is special)
- This is the bread a man may eat and not die. (This bread should keep us from being mundane)
- If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. (This bread adds zest to life)
This bread I give for the life of the world. (Jesus was willing to give personally of His time, energy, and even His life for the world)

The bread of Jesus is free. The bread of Jesus is to be shared with others (it grows stale if hoarded). The bread of Jesus should add fullness and fun to life. When we have the bread of life we should live with more zest. We should do more good. We should not count the cost (like Philip … we should be more like Jesus). We should share the bread of life (like Andrew and Jesus) so others can life.

Data and Real People

As I read about Jesus healing the man at the pool of Bethesda, I began to see some differences and similarities between this healing and the healing of the Nobleman’s son. I also saw similarities and differences between Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman…

- Status: Nicodemus & the Nobleman were well respected leaders within their communities. The Samaritan was despised for nationality and because she was a woman. The man at the pool was also despised because he was crippled. If he lived today he would have been on welfare.
- Family: Nicodemus & the Nobleman came from stable families. Although we do not know much about Nicodemus, the Nobleman was married and had a child. The Samaritan Woman was a divorcee who had a live in boyfriend. The man at the pool had no family. He was alone in the world.
- Age: The Nobleman’s son was young. The Samaritan Woman was old enough to be married five times. The man had been ill for thirty-eight years.
- Occasion: Nicodemus and the Nobleman sought Jesus and found him. They had heard of his reputation and his ability to perform miracles. The Samaritan Woman came to the well where Jesus asked her a question to engage her in conversation. Jesus came and found the man at the pool, asking him a question, “Do you want to get well?”
- Travel: Nicodemus came to Jesus who was in town because of the feast of Passover. The Nobleman traveled about a day’s journey to find Jesus. Jesus had traveled a day north of Jerusalem when he met the woman at the well. Jesus was in Jerusalem for the feast when he met the man at the pool
- Privacy: Nicodemus and the Nobleman met Jesus in private. Jesus met the Samaritan Woman and the crippled man in a public place, and near the water.
- Required: Jesus asked Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman to come out of the darkness into the light of Salvation. Jesus sent the Nobleman home because he had healed the boy from a distance. Jesus touched the man at the pool asking him to pick up his mat and walk.
- Afterwards: Nicodemus and the man at the pool found they were in conflict with the Pharisees after their meeting with Jesus. The woman and the nobleman left in peace. The nobleman was found by his servant who told him his son was well. Later the Woman brought her entire town to meet Jesus (and also his disciples). Jesus found the man he healed in the Temple and told him to sin no more.

The lesson here is that Jesus is for all people: Rich or Poor; Respected or Despised; Well or Sick; Near or Far; Surrounded by family or Alone; Sinner or Saint. Jesus came to change our lives for the better … if we will receive Him. The key question seems to be “Do you want to get well?” When we answer in the affirmative and follow the word of Jesus we receive the gift of health, life, and forgiveness.

Going Beyond the Miraculous

I met a man last night who does not believe in God. Why? Because he can not philosophically accept the existence of a God. This is truly sad. At our meeting we talked about death and care for those who were dying. We talked about the hope that comes from knowing there is life after death. He said it is a nice thing for me to offer this hope, but he can not believe in life after death. It is a pity for the suffering and demise, which is so useless.

John’s gospel says, “many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.” (2:23) Nicodemus came to Jesus because, “no one could perform the miraculous signs … if God were not with him.” (3:2) Perhaps the man I was with needs to see a miraculous sign to stretch him.

Miraculous signs can change our philosophies and beliefs. The people begged for signs. (4:48; 6:30) They followed Jesus because of his signs. (6:2, 14; 7:31; 11:47-48; 12:18) In a sense, even those who were “too wise” for signs looked for a sign to prove Jesus had some authority. (2:10; 3:2; 9:16)

Commonly people say Jesus performed seven signs in his gospel: 1) Changing water into wine in John 2:1-11; 2) Healing the royal official's son 4:46-54; 3) Healing the paralytic 5:1-18; 4) Feeding the 5000 6:5-14; 5) Walking on water 6:16-24; 6) Healing the blind man 9:1-7; 7) Raising Lazarus from the dead 11:1-45. And there was an eighth sign: the Resurrection. In addition to these seven signs, John wants us to know, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.” (20:30)

To come to belief because we see the signs is a wonderful thing, but Jesus tells us we need to get beyond the signs. Jesus challenges the royal official from Capernaum, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will never believe.” (4:48) He tells the people at the Sea of Galilee, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” (6:26) For our faith to believe because of signs can be self serving. We only want more. “What’s in it for us?”

Signs can be a good starting point, but we must move beyond. We must love. The greatest commandment is, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Dt 6:5) Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (13:34)

To never move beyond a belief based on signs is selfish. Jesus commands us to love. He knows our hearts (5:42) and sees our faith is more about us and our selfishness than doing His desires. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” (14:21)

The royal official asked Jesus to come to his home and heal his son. (4:46) Jesus told him, “Go home.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. He moved beyond the need to cling to signs. We must also. We must move from seeking what we can get from our religion to obeying so our neighbors can see God’s love through us.

Samaria

“Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.” (John 4:4-5)

Through this scripture we learn an interesting fact about Jesus, and about His father and mother. While many stories are told of how the Jewish people avoided Samaria, by taking the road to the east (along the coast) or to the west (along the Jordan River) [which is how people travel from Galilee to Jerusalem today], Jesus and his disciples traveled through Samaria.

The old road through Samaria is for the most part preserved. Today it is known as Israel Highway 60, "Kvish Shishim" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_60_(Israel)). This is the road which Joseph and Mary took from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and this is the road which Jesus often traveled form Galilee to Jerusalem. (Luke 17:11). The road today is difficult and dangerous, it is in the West Bank. In Jesus day, it was the same. Although there was Roman protection, it was dangerous to travel through Samaria.

Highway 60 possibly was a large part of Jesus’ heritage. We know that Jesus’ father Joseph was a carpenter (Greek: Tekton – a worker in wood or any craftsman, or workman). Some people think that Joseph worked in Sepphoris, about 3-4 miles north of Nazareth. Herod Antipas created this city as a capital for his kingdom and a seat of Roman culture. Earlier Herod the Great built Sebaste (or Samaria) about a day’s journey north of Jerusalem on what is now Hwy 60.

The construction of both cities required a number of masons and artisans including carpenters. It is possible that Joseph moved to Sebaste first and then Sepphoris to capitalize on the opportunity to use his trade to make a good living.

Because of his heritage, and because Jesus knew God cared for all people, he was more accepting of the Samaritans. In John 4, we learn that the church is to reach out to all types of people. We are to reach out to women, foreigners, and even the despised people of the world. Acts 1:8 tells us to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus told us to reach out to people who are not like us, because all people have need of the Gospel. He said, “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” (Luke 14:23-24)

Consider: What roads do you travel in your community, and which do you avoid? Why? What people do you commune with and whom do you avoid? Why? How will you reach out beyond your comfort zone so the Gospel can be known by those who need it most?

Thoughts: From previous blog

I began thinking about the last blog (thinking can be dangerous). I wrote about Nicodemus the Pharisee. Pharisees are the “Pious ones.” They teach the law. They gather disciples. They argue doctrine so they can correctly interpret the word of God. They are presidents of the Synagogues. And they are on town councils where they make sure the law of the land is in accordance with scripture.

We as Baptists can be very similar sometimes. We teach, gather disciples, argue doctrine (one such argument is between Calvinism and Freewill Baptists), we work to help our government implement laws according to scripture. We sit in our churches, we talk to our friends about the Bible and as iron sharpens iron we develop within ourselves the correct understanding of scripture.

Jesus said of the Pharisees, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” (Luke 11:46)

The Bible says: Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."(Matthew 9:35-38)

Jesus said to His disciples and to us: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:21-23)

Often as we go, we tell people (as the Pharisees likewise did!) “Pray this prayer,” or “believe this doctrine.” These things can be done in the flesh. We can fake words without involving the heart. Jesus desires that we change from the inside, not the outside. (Ezekiel 18:31; 36:24-32; see also Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hosea 6:6; 1 Sam 15:22; Psalm 40:5-10)

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-7)

As Jesus said to Nicodemus and He tells those of us enveloped in church culture, “You must be born again.” You see, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. … God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) We are to go into the world, not to condemn the world, but to share the life changing message of Jesus.

Jesus said of the Pharisees, “You hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Mt 23:15) He tells us, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46-48)

Paul wrote: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:16-21)

And he went on to say, “We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love.” (2 Cor. 6:3-6)

Let us do the same.

Nicodemus the Pharisee

Pharisees are known as the “Pious ones.” Often we put Pharisees down because we see criticism of this sect in the words of Jesus...Mt 23:26; Luke 18:10, however in doing so, we do not see the full picture of who the Pharisees were.

The Hebrew word which is at the root of the title Pharisee (פָּרַשׁ) means to make distinct, clarify, distinguish or separate. The Pharisees were interested in clarifying what the word of God meant so they could understand and follow it better. Josephus said of the Pharisees “The Pharisees are those who are esteemed most skillful in the exact explication of their laws,” (Josephus Wars 2.8.14; Antiquities 18.1.3)

There were many classes of Pharisees. Some of the Pharisees were ultra orthodox (Luke 11:38). Some were more moderate. During one period there were opposing pairs of Pharisees (zugot) who discussed everything (see chart on page 70 of book Spring: Connecting with God). An example of this are the famous arguments between Hillel and Shammai.

Nicodemus was a commendable Pharisee. Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospel of John. In chapter 3 he visits Jesus one night to discuss his teachings. In John 7:45-51 Nicodemus is mentioned when he states the law concerning the arrest of Jesus during the Feast of Passover. Nicodemus also assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus for burial. (John 19:39–42)

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus seeking truth at night. Many speculate why at night. Was he trying to hide? Or this could be a symbol Nicodemus was coming out of the evil world, and into the light of Jesus (John 9:4; 11:10; 13:30; 21:3). Or maybe he worked, and he was on his way home or came when Jesus was available.

Nicodemus was impressed by the works of Jesus. Jesus had changed water into wine (his first sign), and performed many other signs. Josephus says of Jesus: "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ." (Antiquities 18.3.3)

Jesus shared a truth with Nicodemus: “You must be born again.” This is a truth that Nicodemus should have seen. Abram was born again (his name was changed to Abraham). Isaac was born again (on Mount Moriah). Jacob was born again (his name was changed to Israel). Moses was born again at the burning bush. Ezekiel talked of the new birth (18:31; 36:24-32; see also Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Nicodemus wanted to know how a man could be born again. Could he enter again into his mother’s womb? (This would be as impossible as the nation of Israel going back to Egypt to dwell in the flesh). Jesus said, no, one must be born of the Spirit (wind), meaning we must be born of God. We don’t know how this birth comes about because it is not physical, it is by faith.

Jesus taught Nicodemus a lesson from Exodus 4:1-6. God told Moses to throw down his shepherd’s crook. It became a snake. God said, “Pick it up.” Moses thought “snakes bite!” And then because of faith … he picked it up. He trusted God.

If Nicodemus was to become God’s man, he must have faith he must lift up the name of Jesus, he must believe God’s one and only Son. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” (John 3:18)

Jesus said, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:19-21)

To be a Pharisee, serious about our faith can be a good thing or a bad thing. We always need to measure: are we over serious or under serious; are we theoreticians (about our faith) or do we believe on the Name of Jesus … and act on our belief. ... See the next blog (also written Sept. 20)

The Wedding

In this blog we visit a wedding, a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Un-named at this wedding are the Groom and the Bride. Some say this is Jesus and the Church. Others indicate the groom is one of the disciples. This is not explained in the story.

What is shared is that Jesus, his mother and his disciples are invited guests. They were in some way related to the bride or the groom. The bride could be a member of Jesus family. It is know n that Jesus had brothers (James, Joseph, Judas and Simon) and sisters. (Mark 6:3) These relatives would have been present at the wedding.

Jesus’ mother Mary was there, along with her sister Salome and her husband Zebedee and their sons James and John. Peter and Andrew were there. Nathaniel (Bartholomew) who was from Cana (John 21:2), as was Philip who was from the same town as Peter and Andrew. Philip was also a friend of Nathaniel of Cana. Jesus’ disciples thought he was a normal teacher, and they were committed to Him.

According to the tradition of the time, the groom’s family threw a party and fed the wedding guests. The Mishnah tells us, “If a man bought a Firstling for his son’s wedding feast or for a Feast, and he does not need it, he may sell it.” (Shebiith7.4, see also Hallah 2.7 and Matthew 22:2).

During the wedding the wine ran out. This could have been a great embarrassment to the groom’s parents, except that Mary was close enough to the family to discover this fact. She asked Jesus to make new wine. While it is clear that Jesus was not yet ready to show public miracles, He was obedient to his mother. Jesus told the servants to fill six jars full of water. Normally jars were filled 2/3 full of water, and then wine was added. The Mishnah says, “They may pour water over wine-dregs to dilute them, and strain wine through a napkin or Egyptian basket; they may put an egg in a mustard- strainer’ and prepare honeyed wine … All depends on the number of the guests.” (Sabbath 20.2)

After the jars were filled Jesus said, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” The wine Jesus drew out turned out to be better than the wine which was served at the beginning. The disciples saw this and remembered. When this sign was performed the disciples began to understand.

Jesus said, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” (Mark 2:22) Something new was beginning. This was Jesus’ first miracle.

Jesus’ second miracle was also in Cana. This miracle is related in John 4:46-54, where he heals the son of a royal official. Jesus third miracle, also in Galilee, was to multiply fish and loaves to feed 5,000 people. The disciples were learning among them stood one they did not fully know. (John 1:26)

John the Baptist said, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. …The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine ... Jesus must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:27-30)

Who was John

Actually, there are two Johns in the passage for this week: John the Baptist and John the Apostle.
John the Baptist was the son of a Priest. We read the story of John in Luke 1:5-25, where we find the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth who are to have a child in old age. Zechariah is a priest of the priestly division of Abijah. He served on rotation at the Temple once every 24 weeks, plus during the three Harvest Festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles).

When Zechariah’s son John came of age, he probably also served as a Priest in the Temple. He would serve at the Temple with his father learning the traditions and the richness of his faith.

While young John the Baptist received a call of God to serve in a special way. He was to “”Bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.” (Luke 1:16). He was a Nazarite who was filled with the Spirit. His ministry was to call people to repentance, to baptize them, and to announce the coming of the Messiah.

When the Priests and his fellow Levites questioned John about his ministry he said, “I am a voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’" (Isaiah 40:3-5; John 1:23)

People came to John to be baptized (Luke 3:7-18; John 22-30) Some of these were from Galilee, and some were relatives of the Baptizer. One of these relatives might have been another John, the son of Zebedee and Salome (Mt 27:56). Salome was a relative of John the Baptist and Zechariah the Levite (Mark 15:40, Luke 1:36). She had two sons named James and John.

The name of Zebedee is interesting, it is from the Hebrew Zabedus (Strongs H2064-7, meaning a dowry, endowment of Jehovah, a gift) In Nehemiah 11:17, Zabdi is listed as the son of Asaph the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer. Zebedee might have been a Levite who served in the Temple. Zebedee’s son John probably served as a priest as evidenced by his “insider” statement in John 12:42-43, and the fact that he knew the High Priest (John 18:15-16) As we study the gospel of John, we will try to see the “insider” view offered by John.

Mark 3:17 says, “James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder).” According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon Boanerges seems to mean fiery and destructive zeal, which was a characteristic of both Johns.

John brought James to Jesus. Andrew brought Peter. Andrew and Peter fished with the sons of Zebedee.. We will see more relationships next week as we study John 2.

The Word

This month we begin a new study in Sunday School: the Gospel of John.

There is something special in the Gospel of John. On the surface it is one of the easiest to understand of all the Gospels. Below the surface it is deep. This is because of the author (more to be explained in 2 weeks) is more than just an uneducated fisherman from Galilee (Acts 2:7). Not only was John a disciple of Jesus (which would be enough), but there is family background and experience which shows up in the background of John’s gospel.

John’s gospel is like taking a ship across the Pacific. From the deck of the ship we see a vast expanse of water and horizon. But there is also a different world: what is below the surface. The Pacific Ocean is deep (especially below in an area known as the Mariana Trench), and there is a lot below the surface which can be seen by divers and submarines. As I write this blog (each week I hope to add something), I want to look at what is below the surface that would be missed if you only skim the surface.

The Gospel of John begins: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

The Gospel of John opens in the beginning and before the beginning. Many say only God existed before the beginning. Philo, a Jewish philosopher from Alexandria said there was something else. Within God was the concept of all of creation. He calls this the Logos. God spoke a word (logos) and the Bible says, “there was light.”

Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46). Genesis 1:4 says, “God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.” Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46) John tells us, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:5) “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Pr 1:7) Wisdom personified in Proverbs 8:22-23 says, “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.” “By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place” (Proverbs 3:19)

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word (logos) is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” (John 17:17-19)

In the beginning was the Word ... and we are to share the Word so all will know Him.

Worship in Truth

There comes a point when we must examine or evaluate our worship experience. In yesterday’s post it was noted that worship is to serve and pay respect to God because the Lord is worthy. The heart of worship is to please God.

Because God is our Master, the Lord gives us instructions. “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)

Jesus reinforced this by saying "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

True worship gives importance to the things God has asked us to do. When we enter the sanctuary we must evaluate if the activity is about us … or about pleasing God.

One thing I have noted in some churches (and from some people) is that we do not want children bothering our worship. Jesus would say to us: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mt 19:14) He said this for good reason. Moses said, “Assemble the people--men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns--so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the LORD your God.” (Dt 31:12-13)

It is of more importance to pass our passion and love for the Lord our God on to the next generation than to enjoy the ambiance of a worship service or home devotions ourselves.

Another detractor of worship in today’s churches is music (whether contemporary or traditional). Many feel music should be about what the individual enjoys … even (look around!) to the exclusion of others. Jesus said, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.” (John 4:12) Paul said, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

Again, (Deuteronomy 31:12-13), God wants all people to be present in our worship services. Generally congregations should include young adults, senior adults, children, youth and parents. Music should draw all in the church together (rather than drive a wedge to push generations apart).

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:5-7)

Worship in Spirit

On Sunday Morning our tradition is to come together to “worship” God. We have translated this to what happens during the worship hour relating music and preaching to worship. The problem is worship has become an action rather than an attitude.

If we define worship as an action which we do, then we can check it off for the week by attending a “Worship Service.” If worship is defined as an attitude then it becomes a lifestyle.
Webster defines Worship as:
1. chiefly British : a person of importance —used as a title for various officials (as magistrates and some mayors)
2. reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence
3. a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual
4. extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem

In middle English this is worshipe worthiness, respect, reverence paid to a divine being, from Old English weorthscipe worthiness, respect, from weorth worthy, worth + -scipe –ship.

The Old Testament word most often translated as worship is shachah (appears in 166 verses, strongs H7812) which means to bow down. Bowing down is showing respect, trust and honor. When we bend the knee we give the opportunity for the person standing over us to strike us down.

There are two words which the New Testament often translates as worship:
doxa – (Strongs G1391, appearing in 151 verses)- Estimate of a person, in NT adding glory & Honor. Splendor, brightness, Glorious condition
proskyneō – (Strongs G4352, appearing in 54 verses) means to kiss the hand, to bow down, to kneel.
Some would also add the Greek word latreuō (Strongs G30000, appearing in 21 verses) which means to serve, and its Hebrew equivalent `abad (Strongs H5647, appearing in 263 verses), again relating to serving (in the Temple) or as a servant serving a master.

So … Worship is to serve and pay respect to God because the Lord is worthy. If I understand the role of a servant correctly, it does not mean “one who makes a visit one hour a week in order to sing songs which convey our adoration for the Master and hear instructions which can be disregarded or put off until we come the next week … if we feel like it.”

Worship is an attitude we carry in our hearts and minds all day, every day, because we count our Master, the Lord our God worthy of our respect, our honor, and our life. We seek to carry out His every wish as we live our life. We seek to meet with the Lord every morning because we love Him and desire to please Him. Each morning we share our Love for Him and receive instructions, with frequent check points through the day to share our Love and to make sure we are on track. We attend church on Sunday to share fellowship with those who are like minded. Our duties on Sunday include, encouraging “one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Worship: in Spirit and in Truth

John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

There is a sin which is afflicting our churches today. The sin is exclusionism in our worship services. I do not think we mean to be exclusive. I do not think we intentionally ban people from worship. But in practice as we shape our desires into our worship service we miss the mark of God’s desire.

The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., once said "it is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning." While we think we are open to all, through the selfishness of our hearts we are now more exclusive than we were in the 1950’s. While we have made strides to include people of other races and cultures within our worship, our loss of care for others has built within America many age segregated congregations.
Churches “target” age groups. They sing only Contemporary Worship Songs, or Traditional Hymns in order to please perceived constituents. We send children out so “they can enjoy their time,” and we can worship “without being disturbed” by our kids. In doing so, we push aside the very things God teaches us. (Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:7; 11:2; Matthew 19:13-14; Leviticus 19:12-18; 19:32; Proverbs 17:6; John 13:35)

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman, he immediately faced her exclusionist spirit. She said, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.” She enjoyed being around people who were like her, and she desired to exclude those who were not her type.

Jesus began to deal with the woman and the things which shaped her:
1. She was drinking from her well. Jesus is the Living Water
2. She saw faith through her nationality and culture. Jesus wants us to see things from God’s perspective.
3. She wanted to do things in her strength. Jesus wants us to get out of the way so God can do His work.
4. The woman asked for Living Water for selfish purposes
5. Jesus called attention to her sin, the woman desired to hide this truth.
6. The woman tried to evade truth. Jesus showed her she must open her spirit for God’s involvement.
7. The woman desired to be comfortable in her worship. Jesus said she must open her life so God could move.

Because “God is Spirit,” He reads the intent of our hearts. Is worship more about ourselves and our style … or about God and His desire to draw all people to Himself. Does our worship bring people together (Acts 4:32), or exclude those not like us. Are we willing to learn from others and expand our hearts, or do we desire our worship service to fit a certain “culture.”

How do we know if we are exclusionary? We must look at numbers (are we growing or retracting). We must look beyond numbers to see if people are leaving … and why they are leaving. Does our style offend them? (Matthew 5:23-24, 43-48ff). We must be open to the truth.

Worship should be a time we come together, and give our all to God. We must care for others, and they must care for us. And we must truly look to God. We must worship in Spirit and in Truth. Our spirit must be right within us and we must acknowledge truth.

Culture and Heritage

This week has been interesting. God has placed us in a fascinating world full of people – each with their own culture.

Chelsea was given an assignment relating to racism. As we talked we thought about issues of racism, for we belong to a persecuted people group. One of my grandfathers changed his name – possibly to blend into his new country. Another grandfather was refused lodging in North Carolina because he was Jewish.

My grandparents came to America in the late 19th century and early 20th century in the hopes of a better life. They were poor and persecuted in their home countries, (My great grandfather Tbatznik punched a Cossack during a pogrom, which is why he had to leave Russia – traveling through Romania, Italy and France before immigrating to the United States) and came to America, the land of opportunity.

We talked about a friend of Chelsea’s who immigrated from Mexico. After eight failed attempts, she finally successfully entered the United States on her ninth crossing of the Rio Grande. Her family has made a life for themselves in the United States and successfully become productive members of their community.

Sarah is working on our new Hagaddah, which shares the Jewish custom of Passover so gentile Christians can cross the culture barrier and understand the world in which Jesus lived. We want Christians to understand the story of the Exodus which is central in our faith. Hopefully it will be publish “A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition” next week.

Tonight during a scout meeting aimed at earning the God and Country badge we looked at heritage. Among the group were people born in North Carolina, Mississippi, Florida and Kazakhstan. We shared from Baptist, Catholic, Jewish and Orthodox backgrounds. Our experiences were diverse. But we had one thing in common – Christ.

Christ helps us overcome differences, appreciate culture, and work together for a higher goal … to reach our world with the Gospel. The name Jesus means “Salvation” (one of the answers in tonight’s meeting). We are to reach all people with the message of Salvation.

I work with all ages of adults from college to Senior Adults. One of the cultural things that comes up from time to time is music. Each group enjoys music from their generation and culture. We are to rally around the name of Christ – and enjoy the variety God gives us in life.

Jesus said this, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Connecting With God

God invites us to dine with Him. This is where people often talk. When we sit and eat, we have time to talk. Often we dine with others. And while we eat we talk. God knows this, so He purposely created times we can include Him at our table.

I imagine it was this way in the Garden of Eden. The Lord and Adam walked in the cool of the day. As they walked the Lord showed Adam the wonders of His creation: Strawberries, Blueberries, Oranges, Apples, Lemons, Kiwi, Peanuts, Almonds, and a bushel of other tastes designed to bring joy to the palate.

God’s desire for relationship with us did not end when Adam and Eve were forced from the Garden. God continues to desire for us to come to Him. God desires to be part of our daily walk and show us things as we travel along life’s journey. But in our busy lives we often fail to notice.

The Bible tells us that Abel brought acceptable sacrifices to God. In the days of Enosh men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Enoch walked with God. God told Noah to build a boat – it was going to rain. And Noah heard God’s instructions. God called Abram from the land of the Chaldeans to worship Him, the Most High God.

Abraham followed God. He sought God daily, in every place he lived, and often throughout the day. And God came to Abraham. We see (in places like Genesis 18) that they ate together. God wants us to dine with Him. God wants us to recognize that He is the giver of all good things. He plans for our sustenance (Psalm 37:25). And the Lord desires that we recognize His presence even as we eat.

There are various meals laid out for us in the Scripture. Like the Passover Feast, the Thank Offering, the Lord’s Supper and the Agape Feast. Eventually we will join God in the great banquet in Heaven. I invite you to explore these in my book – Spring: Connecting with God.

Spring: Connecting with God

My father is getting older. Because he can not come and see me, I am trying to visit him on a more regular basis. The drive to Knoxville where he lives is four hours long. There is a lot of time to think as I travel in the car. During the spring, a couple years ago, I was thinking about how to publish "A Passover Hagaddah in the Christian Tradition". As I drove and thought, another outline came into my mind, or, was given to me, which is how "Spring: Connecting with God" came to be written.

The Lord impressed on me how important our relationship is with Him. Often we live our busy lives without realizing how present and approachable God is to us. It is God's desire that we recognize His presence and include Him in our conversations and our lives. God desires that we give thanks for the good things of life (like the new leaves coming out in the spring), and that we ask for His wisdom in every decision. God desires that we live close to Him.

All too often people live their lives without recognition of God’s presence. Throughout the day God lays out things for us to notice. It could be a beautiful sunrise or sunset (they are different every day). It could be a rainbow (which is a promise from God for which to give thanks). It could be a formation of geese, leaves on the trees, flowers or some small animal that is sitting by the side of the road. It could be the view as we cross the mountains or plains. But God places things in our path to notice.

Our daily plan can be so full that we miss the things God sets out for us. Daily we set our agenda, often without including the Lord in our plans or in our lives. We go about our business furiously in order to get everything accomplish. We pass by the things that God has placed in our path. When the Lord orchestrates a chance meeting, or makes an activity easier we fail to see His hand in it, and we do not take time to give thanks or to pray.

Sometimes even our Bible Study and Prayer time become routine. God does not want this. He wants our communion with Him to be vibrant and alive. In Genesis 3:8 we learn that God walked with Adam in the cool of the day. This was not a one time event meant to bring fear in Adam’s life. These were daily walks with the Creator where God could show His love for man, and where man could share His love for God, talking about anything and everything. God desires a two way relationship with each of us. ...more about this next blog ...

Passover Celebrations

Passover has always been a special celebration for me. I remember when I was young we used to go to my Uncle and Aunt’s home for the Seder. In the afternoon we would play games and enjoy being with family: my two sisters and cousins.

When evening came, we would gather around the table and celebrate the age old traditions with the Chase Sanborn Coffee Haggadah for the American Family. My Uncle Stuart would lead the Seder and add his traditional humor to the evening making it a lot of fun for everyone in the family.

When we moved north, my family continued to use the same Hagadah and celebrate Passover every year. This tradition continued for me even when I went to College. I remember my Junior year when I brought a friend to my sister’s house. We realized it was Passover, so we quickly put together a Seder from memory. We did not have a bone - no problem, my sister had dog biscuits. The Seder went well, and created an experience all of us still remember.

When I went to Seminary, I became part of a Messianic (Jewish Christian) Community. The community desired to have its own Haggadah. So with the help of another Jewish Believer and a Local Pastor, we put together our own Haggadah. Some of it came from the pattern I had been brought up with. The other Jewish Believer had grown up Orthodox, causing me to look into how Seders are celebrated in differing Jewish traditions … and how Passover has changed over time.

After graduating Seminary, it was natural to share the Passover experience each year with others. I have taken the Haggadah we created, and I have adapted and made it my own over the years. I have shared the Seder in churches, in homes of friends, and with my daughter’s friends in New York (which was fun because the Hagaddah includes a play, and we had an actor who participated). The Seder has been shared from my book, it has been adapted to be shared as a sermon (with powerpoint), one year the Seder was shared at my church with over 400 in attendance. I asked a member of the church interested in drama to direct the three short skits. She turned it into a full production … with dance and music, which is also a great memory. Each Seder being a unique experience which I always enjoy as I interact with others in the Seder Service.

Having celebrated and led Passover Seders for over 50 years, my wife said, “You ought to publish your Seder.” Which is being done as we produce AA Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition. But a great thing happened along the way. … (next blog)

Amidah 19 – Grant us peace

There is a desire within each of us for peace. This yearning for peace can be for different things, such as world peace; peace within our families or between friends; a desire for people to just leave me alone; or for the torments which bother my soul to cease. We live in a world which lacks peace. Jeremiah wrote, “We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there was only terror.” (8:15; 14:19)

The final prayer of the Amidah is a prayer for peace:
Grant peace everywhere goodness and blessing,
Grace, lovingkindness and mercy to us and unto all Israel, Your people.
Bless us, our Father, all of us as one with the light of Your face;
For by the light of Your face You have given us, Adonai our God,
The Torah of life, and love of kindness, and righteousness and blessing and mercy and life and peace;
And may it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel at all times and in every hour with Your peace.
Praised are You, Adonai, who blesses Your people Israel with peace.

It is appropriate that the final benediction of this prayer is for peace, for the whole prayer lays out the source, the process and the desire for peace.

The source of peace is God: The Amidah begins by looking at God as the source of the answer of prayer. The first benediction looks at the God of our fathers. So many have turned away from this, even though the testimony of the fathers points to God as the source of Peace. The second benediction explains God is the One who can answer prayer. God is the One who is all-powerful. The third benediction looks at the God who is Holy. Perhaps this is why we fear. We are sinful men. Sinful men find no peace.

We want God to grant peace, goodness and blessing. We want Him to show us lovingkindness and mercy. We want the light of His face to shine upon us. But, God is Holy, and we are sinful people, and as long as there is sin, there is no peace.

This prayer guides us as we seek peace with God who forgives our sin. The next steps in this prayer have shown us how to receive forgiveness for sin: We pray for wisdom (4) and understanding of how we sinned and how we can grow closer to God. Understanding leads to repentance (5), which leads to forgiveness (6), which leads to redemption (7) from affliction and healing (8).

During the Amidah we pray for deliverance from want (9). The real yearning in this request is for peace. Jeremiah gave us the hope of peace in this way, “I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it." (30:6-9)

Jeremiah says, “The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.” (30:14-16)

Paul wrote it this way in Ephesians, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” (Jer 30:11 and 1 Chron 16:34, 41; 2 Chron 20:21; Psalm 7:17; 106:1; 107; 118:1; 136:1; Isa 12:4)

True peace can only come from God. If we find peace from any other source, it is of cheap quality. We are to seek God and His peace. The “peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Jesus speaks of this peace at the end of His life: "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.“ (John 14:25-27)

And so we end the Amidah asking God to grant peace. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:7-8)

Amidah 18 – Thanksgiving for God’s Unfailing Mercies

As the Amidah Prayer begins, so it ends. In the beginning of the Prayer we looked at the Greatness of God. The first three Benedictions are: Avot = Ancestors; Gevurot = Powers; Kedushat Ha-shem = The Name. We will compete this prayer with Thanksgiving looking to God.

The eighteenth benediction begins (Avot) “We give thanks to You for You are the Lord our God and God of our fathers forever and ever.” In so praying we recognize we are not the first to pray this prayer, and will not be the last. There is a heritage of men and women who precede us who were prayer warriors. The author of Hebrews writes, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” (11:1-2)

The prayer continues (Gevurot) “You are the Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation through every generation.” We pray to God because of His greatness. His name is above every name. He is omnipotent. The Psalmist writes: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)

We praise God because He is our salvation. We thank Him for his benefits, His miracles, and His wonders. His mercies fail not.

God is (Kedushat Ha-shem) the merciful Being whose lovingkindness never ceases. To Him all praise belongs.

Paul concluded His prayer, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.+ (Ephesians 3:20-21)