John 7:25-36 Confusing?

John 7:25-36 NIV
Now, if anyone thought some of Jesus' parables were confusing; they surely must have considered where he says he's from and going really confusing. He has been sent from the one who is true and whom they do not know and in a little while they will not see find him because he is going to him who sent him.

What does it all mean? Jesus was sent by our Father in heaven and will return to the Father in heaven in a short while. The people think only in earthly terms so cannot figure the whole coming and going out. They know Jesus. They've seen the miracles. Yet, they know him as "true man" so they just can't see that he is really the Messiah. There must be someone else who will come who might do even greater signs than he. He; after all, is just a man, a Nazarene, born of Joseph and Mary. They just can't figure out who he is; that he is truly the Messiah.

The Messiah has come. He was sent by the Father. In death he went away. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he has come again and will be with us now and forever.

When we try to reason these things out by earthly standards, they may be very confusing. But, with a heart and mind of faith; they are very easy to comprehend. Where he comes from and where he now reigns are just matters of fact, for those who believe. It doesn't need explaining. It just is.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 20:9-19 Inheritance Through Faith Alone

Luke 20:9-19 NIV
The tenants refused to give a portion of their harvest to the landlord to pay the rent. They assaulted the collection agents, so the landlord sent his son thinking they might respect his son. Yeah, right! They rejected the son, too. They killed the son! They killed him thinking that they would then receive the land as their inheritance. It just doesn't work that way.

God sent many prophets to help guide the people in loving and serving the Lord. They didn't want to hear it. They wanted what they wanted. They killed the prophets. God sent his only begotten Son. We killed him, too. Rejecting the Son doesn't get us what we want. It doesn't earn us any inheritance. In the end, anyone who rejects the Son will be crushed.

There is only one way to the Kingdom of God, into the inheritance promised by the Father through the Son and that is by grace alone through faith alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Luke 13:18-21 Seeds Planted

Luke 13:18-21 NIV
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that grew and became a tree. It is like yeast mixed into flour. It becomes something other; something greater, than it was. It grows.

The Word of God is the seed which is planted in the hearts of man. As it is planted, the Kingdom grows. Likewise, when seeds which are not the Word of God are planted, they will probably grow. Be careful then what kind of seeds are being planted within your hearts.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 13:1-9 Repent; Bear Good Fruit

Luke 13:1-9 NIV
In the parable of the fig tree that refused to produce fruit, Jesus sounds a bit harsh. He says, "Cut it down!" (vs 7) But the man's whose vineyard the fig tree was living in intercedes with Jesus for the life of the fig tree. Give it another chance. Give it one more year.

It may well be time to consider and give thanks for all those people who have interceded for us throughout our lives. There have been times when we have been totally unfruitful, deserving of no more chances. Yet, we have been given what seems to be unlimited opportunities to bear fruit for the Kingdom. But, the opportunities are not quite unlimited. I officiated at another funeral yesterday. The death of a loved one is a reminder that our days are indeed numbered; a reminder that our opportunities on earth to bear fruit are indeed limited.

Repent and bear good fruit for the Kingdom of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 4:1-20 Planting

My first garden, years ago, was a travesty. Well, not totally, a few things grew. But, my cucumbers, which grew to full size were orange. It was just weird. I found there were a couple of problems that I had not considered. First, there was not enough drainage as the garden was at the bottom of a slope and second; the soil was not good for cucumber growth. That was my last year for cucumbers in North Carolina.

For good growth there must be a good start. The ground must be just right to receive the seeds and help them to grow. There must be enough water, but not too much and there must be enough sunlight and, again, not so much that they burn and die.

And, so, we have the parable of the sower. I am always astounded when people tell me their children have never been in a church. They want them to make their own choices of religion when they grow up. I'm thinking this is an excuse given mostly by people in whom the seed has not been placed in fertile ground in the first place, My concern is that if they do not prepare their children to receive the Word as adults, they will be like the path where once the seed has been planted, the birds will eat it up. Or, like the thorny or rocky places where plants do not grow well. There is a chance, a small chance, that they will grow; but, odds are against it.

Like the garden that I planted without much forethought; so parents who do not plan ahead and give their children fertile ground to grow in, the fruit will not be what we hope for. I have known full grown adults who have never been to a worship service - not in their whole lives. And, they are genuinely afraid to enter because they do not know what to expect. I have just never figured out how anyone could think that their children will be able to make a real choice, if the parents do not even begin to teach them what their choices are when they are young.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 22:1-14 - I Cannot Come

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come." (Matt 22:2-3 NIV)

Oh, yes, a goodly number of us want to go this banquet after we are dead and buried; but, how about today? Are we willing to sit at that table today? Maybe, there's a more enticing table set someplace for you than at the Lord's Table? Not everyone that's been invited will be at the table eating and drinking; receiving the "foretaste of the feast to come." Some will decline for a "better" offer.

On the occasions that this parable shows is our Sunday reading, our choir usually sings "I Cannot Come To The Banquet." (I could not find the author's name - possibly The Medical Mission Sisters, 1966?) 

I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

A certain man held a feast on his fine estate in town.
He laid a festive table and wore a wedding gown.
He sent invitations to his neighbors far and wide
But when the meal was ready, each of them replied:

 I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

The master rose up in anger, called his servants by name,
"Go into the town, fetch the blind and the lame,
Fetch the peasant and the pauper for this I have willed,
My banquet must be crowded, and my table must be filled."

 I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

When all the poor had assembled,
There was still room to spare,
So the master demanded: "Go search ev'rywhere,
To the highways and the byways
And force them to come in.
My table must be filled before the banquet can begin.

 I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife.
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.

Yes, no? What will it be? Will you come to the banquet?

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Hope to see you at the Lord's Table.

Matthew 21:14-45 - Faithful and Fruitful

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” (Matt 21:16 NIV)

Today we have parables relating to the destruction of those things which are not fruitful and do not glorify God. Jesus curses the fig tree that was not produce so that he could eat of it fruit. It died. The parable of the two son reminds us that it not the one who promises, but doesn't act; but the one who is faithful and fruitful who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable of the tenants reminds us that we are but tenants on God's land. All that we have belongs to Him. How then or why is it that we often give more to our leisure time, personal indulgences and pleasure, than to the work of His Kingdom?

God sent His own Son to us and yet, we killed him. Do we suppose we would not do the same thing today, if he were here insinuating that we are not doing His Father's will? Well, his word is here. It has not changed. He is here. What is he saying to us in his word today? Has that word been rejected?

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:

'The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”  (Matt 21:42-44)

May all God's children give thanks and praise for the marvelous works of God. Produce fruit and give to God what is God's. (see next chapter - Matt 22:21)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 20 - Last, First; First, Last

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.'” (Matt 20:13-16 NIV)

In the parable of the workers of the vineyard, it appears that the wages are not given out fairly. Those who work for one hour receive the same payment as those who labor all day. In the end, Jesus' response is: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matt 20:16)

We sometimes complain that life is not fair. "I work so hard and receive so much less than those who don't appear to work as hard. Life is not fair." Well, ask yourself this: Was it fair that Jesus died for my sins? He did nothing wrong. He was without sin. Yet, he took our places and our punishment so that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven. Was it fair for one man to receive the penalty for the sins of the whole world?  He put himself last, humbled himself for us, and now is first in the Kingdom of God. He reigns!

God does not think or act like we do. That's probably a really good thing for us. What seems right or just in our eyes, doesn't necessarily make it just in God's eyes. Jesus says the last shall be first and the first will be last. Something about that just doesn't seem right to us. But, it is God's word. It is his plan.

Thanks be to God, it is He who is in charge and not we.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezeiel 20 - Just a Parable or Fairy Tale?

"Then I said, “Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?" (Ezekiel 20:49 NIV)

Do you want to be like your forefathers? Do you really have to worship false idols? You want to rebel against me and follow in the ways of the world? This, says the LORD, He will not allow to happen. They will be sent into the wilderness. They will be purged of their unrighteousness.

The word of God comes through Ezekiel, the prophet, for the LORD will not allow these rebellious children to speak to Him. Yet, they mock Ezekiel. They ignore the word of God. Saying to Ezekiel, "Isn’t he just telling parables?" (vs 49) Isn't he just telling us nice stories? Very few things frustrate me more than to know that someone claims to be a Christian; yet, thinks that the Holy Bible is nothing more than a good or nice book. We can take out of it those things that will help us live better lives according to the world's standards. But, those things that don't fit the modern world we live in today, can be thrown out. It has, for some, become a book of law with good teaching or laws that we are to follow or not. All it takes is a vote of the church to get rid of what doesn't suit us. I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. The Holy Bible is not just a book which presents a nice outline on how to get along with our neighbor or not depending on the individual or even the generation. It is a book of grace. It brings us the good news of life in the promised land - His Kingdom. And... it is definitely the word of God. We don't get to pick and choose which words are merely cute stories and which ones we might choose to take to heart.  Quit writing God's word off as fairy tales. If we expect God to listen to us, then let us listen to Him.

"Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD." (Ezekiel 20:2-3)

God's Peace - Pr. J