John 7:9-24 Judging By Appearances

John 7:9-24 NIV
After letting his brothers think that he will not be going to the Festival of Booths, Jesus goes anyway. Without making his presence public, he was able to hear and observe the people there. There were those who were looking for him. There was a lot of whispering about him, but no one dared speak too openly. In other words, they were telling secrets; they were gossiping about Jesus. Then, in the middle of the Festival he makes his presence known by going into the temple and teaching. More whisperings... More judgments...

Years ago, while on a kayaking journey, I stopped in a small town to buy some food and to find a pay phone to call my husband as there had been no cell service for some time. It was a resort town where I had actually been known and quite welcome in the community just a few years before. Well, this time, I was not wearing my pastor's clothes. I was wearing a tank top and camouflaged pants over my swimsuit with a dingy, red and blue hat covering my long, unbrushed, hair. I admit that I looked pretty bad as I had been on the water for a few days. I was recognized by only one person who greeted me quite well. However, most couldn't see past my wardrobe and did not recognize me. It took three businesses before someone would even point me to the pay phone. I've only been back to that community when I had to go for work. It's just not worth the trip for me to be with people who would judge others by their appearances.

Not long ago, I walked into a smaller, local, department store with my teen-age granddaughter during school hours. She was heading to the make-up aisle and I was going to the grocery aisles. As we entered I noticed two clerks (I found out later one was a supervisor) watching us and whispering. It just sort of felt like they were talking about us. I went to the grocery aisle while my granddaughter went to the make-up aisle. As we split up, the supervisor immediately followed my granddaughter. She later told me that the woman had asked her: "Can I help you?" When she answered. "No, thanks," The manager then asked her, "Are you sure I can't help you?" Again, she replied, "No, I've got it." Again, she was asked, "Are you sure?" My granddaughter got her makeup quickly and came and found me. She was being discriminated against because she was a teen. I now avoid going into that store with or without my granddaughter. There are other business around where their employees don't follow my granddaughter through the store; that don't judge her by her appearance.

The reality is that people will and do judge by appearances. I tend to stay away from businesses that discriminate against someone because of their appearance. There will always be people around us who judge by appearances. We may like to deny that such blatant discrimination exists. But, jumping to false conclusions based on what one looks like is actually pretty common. It takes too much work for most people to actually listen to someone and to get to know them. It is much easier to judge them on their appearance and whisper about them behind their backs.

They whispered about Jesus and eventually, the whisperings (gossip) helped hang him on the cross. The people believed a lie and called out "Crucify Him."

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 27 - Leviathan

Kayak Trip with Cassie on Huron Bay

"In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword—his fierce, great and powerful sword—Leviathan  the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea." (Isa 27:1 NIV)

 

Leviathan, the great sea monster, is mentioned a few times in Scripture. In addition to Isaiah 27, you can find mention of Leviathan in Job 3:8, Job 41:1, Job 41:12, Psalm 74:14, and Psalm 104:26.

 

On the rare occasions that I've found myself out on the lake in the midst of a storm I think of God overpowering Leviathan. OK - so they are not rare occasions. It seems like the wind picks up almost every time I am out on a boat (big or small) on a large mass of water. I actually warn people that they should not take me fishing unless they want a storm or their motor to conk out... Others should not take me out with them if they don't want to play with Leviathan, or maybe it's God, out in the middle of the water. I don't mind the storms. I know that the LORD is with me, even in the storms. The rushing wind reminds me of the power of the Holy Spirit. God is big enough to destroy Leviathan. He is big enough to protect me, if that is His will. But, if I'm not up to another storm, I stay as close to home as I can with my kayak...

 

Symbolically, the sea refers to a large number of people. So, for those of you who are big into the Revelation of John, the dragon that comes out of the sea in the book of Revelation most probably refers to the fact that the evil one will come from among the people. "The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name." (Rev 13:1) We are not looking for a literal dragon to come out of a literal sea, but an evil that comes from the midst of the people. Revelation is filled with symbolism. Please, do not take it literally.

 

The picture of the evil one may be a bit alarming, but remember the promise found in Isaiah today: The LORD will slay the evil one in the midst of the people. There may be times when things seem just awful. There may be times when your leviathan decides it's time to play with you. But, know this: the LORD will surely rescue His people. He is our very help in the time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ecclesiastes 9 - Welcome Your Neighbor; Help Those in Need

There is a lot to reflect on in this chapter as there is in any chapter. As I keep reminding you, this blog is to help you continue reading your Bible one chapter at a time. The blog entries are simply my first impressions and random thoughts after I read the chapter. It is meant to help you study and think about what the word is saying to you and to all of us as a whole.

A couple things jumped out at me this morning. First, is the way I dress. As Solomon talks about living a joyful life, he writes: "Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil." (Eccl 9:8 NIV)

On a recent retreat with our youth, I somehow managed to forget to bring a coat. Temperatures were in the 30's and it was raining. I had to buy a jacket. It was white with pictures of bears on it. My other jackets and coats are all black. After we got back, I wore this jacket to the church. I received a compliment on the jacket from a friend. She was glad to see me out of black. It being the middle of Lent, I had not just been wearing my black outerwear, but had also had occasion to be  wearing a lot of black skirts and suit jackets - more than usual. I often talk to my grandchildren about dressing appropriately as people who don't know you will often judge a person by what they see. Wrong first impressions have a tendancy to build walls and cause problems that aren't even there. Until this friend told me that it was nice to see me in something besides black, I hadn't realized that people may have been seeing my life in Christ as depressing.  

Years ago, I was a Lutheran missionary to a church without walls. The "church" covered a couple counties. The mission was to build up "house" churches in homes, a store front, a community center, even a couple of historic churches that were no longer in use in remote communities. Most people welcomed me quite warmly as the local missionary. A few years after I had moved to another county and another call, I went kayaking around the counties I had previously served. I remember one stop where I had previously felt especially welcomed. This time, I was wearing camouflaged pants and jacket over my swimsuit and had sandals on my feet. This time, I was not welcomed. It was if I was a stranger in their midst. Many did not even recognize me or at least they acted like they didn't. Actually, it was kind of strange, because it was mainly the Lutherans (I am Lutheran) who did not recognize me. Those who did recognize me and welcome me were Roman Catholic or Baptists. Go figure!

Human nature causes us to judge people by what they see and the day that I reentered that community, I entered looking like a vagabond. It is kind of sad when I think about it. Are we not called to welcome all people and to not show partiality to those who are rich or who have positions of authority? But, that is just what human nature leads us to. As for me, I will try to wear more light colored clothing so that the spirit of joy may be more apparent when I encounter others.

The other verses that struck me this morning were:

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.  (Eccl 9:17,18)

 

I'm thinking of all the noise this week on the news. So many opinions and so few facts! Not many quiet words - lots of loud shouting. News is news! Reporters these days do a bit too much surmising and before you know it people are thinking that what they are hearing are the facts. Need evidence! Need a fair trial! Not sure how I feel about martial law being imposed without it being called what it was - martial law. But, that's just me. I've heard a lot  (a lot of second guessing) about the two brothers who allegedly were involved in the Marathon Bombing. I've even heard crazy statements like parents are responsible for their children's actions even when their children are in their 20's and 30's! Just strange comments, that don't seem to have much wisdom attached and lead to confusion, fear, hurt, and even more anger. But, you know what? I have never heard how many people actually lost their homes in Texas in the fertilizer explosion. I never heard about the genuine needs of the people who were affected there. How we can help those people in need. This week, I've only heard about the need for more laws - more regulation (including from the highest office in this land) - not about how we can reach out to those who have been thrust into conditions that have put them on the fringes, put them in places of poverty and need.

 

Welcome your neighbor. Reach out to them in their time of need - no matter who or where they may be.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 104 - Playing With Leviathan

Wolf Point, Keweenaw - a calmer day

Well there is that Leviathan...  I have never been able to include Leviathan in a sermon.  Eighteen years of preaching and somehow I've never managed it. During Worship as we have sung this Psalm, I have thought: "Missed another opportunity!" 

The awesomeness of God's creating activities and His playing with Leviathan according to this psalm, reminds me of my first kayak trip on Lake Superior.  So this morning, I'm going to take the opportunity to share a story with you. 

It was a 4-day journey from Big Bay to Marquette with a group of clergy. Big Bay is only about 25 to 30 miles from Marquette, so it wasn't going to be a hard paddle. Except... 3 out of the 4 days we were paddling in small craft warnings.  Now, them were some waves! Leviathan was mentioned more than once!  We had to actually paddle quite a ways from the shoreline where the waves were more rolling and we could ride them.  The closer to shore, the more threatening the water.  It was actually pretty awesome!  I remember Pr. Peter Vorhes riding the waves in front of me, singing hymns!  Now that was really awesome!  Especially, since he has such a fantastic voice.  "O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands hath made..."

Was it scary!  I hate to admit it, but it was not.  The wind and rain and waves were so great that it took all of my concentration to ride the waves much like a surfer would do.  There was no time to be afraid.  At one point, there was a long narrow peninsula we had to go around.  Not far from the end of this peninsula was a small rock island.  To get around this peninsula and the island, where the wave action was pretty fierce, we would have had to paddle a long ways out... So, we chose to go between the little rocky island and the peninsula point, where the waves were bouncing off the island and crashing into the waves as they had bounced back from the little island.  It was wild in there. We went through two by two.  It only took about 5 minutes to get through - a ride of a life-time.  Pr. Peter was only a couple yards away from me, but there were moments when he and his kayak disappeared from my sight completely as huge waves came up between us.  I still cannot help but smile.  When we made it through to slightly calmer seas; Pr. Peter, smiling, yelled at me through the storm, "let's do it, again!"

Playing with Leviathan...

There's my story. That was a long time ago, when I was much younger. My young paddling partner of today is not really into getting wet for no good reason and she would probably insist on staying home if I suggested that we should go and play with Leviathan. The sturgeon make her nervous enough.

That reminds me of another story... when my own children were young, I tried to get them to go canoeing with me on the New River in NC. I told them I was going to try to photograph some alligators.  I realized then that is not the way to try to get someone to go paddling with you... Alligators and Leviathan should usually be left out of the big picture...

Please, read all of Psalm 104! Meditate on His Glory and the awesome work of creation that He has done.  And, I'm really not recommending playing with Leviathan.  That really is something that should be left for God alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, You are very great:

You are clothed with honor and majesty,
This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things,
Living things both small and great.
There the ships sail about;
There is that Leviathan
Which You have made to play there.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!  (Psalm 104:1, 25-26 NIV)

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 104:18 Or rock hyrax (compare Leviticus 11:5)