Matthew 5 - A new era

It's New Year's Eve.... a time for looking back on the past year. How has your year been? Have you come up with any resolutions? Are there things you want to do differently in 2010?

As I've been reading through Matthew chapter 5 I've been struck by how good this chapter is for the start of a new year. It's interesting that when Jesus preached it He was ushering in a new era!

Jesus' message was spoken to people used to John's command for personal change, 'Repent! The kingdom of heaven is near!' - to people oppressed by Roman rule, surrounded by secular influences. There were others in the crowd that day. Pharisees were listening; those who had turned a relationship with God into a quest for perfection. Jesus' message was also to those who weren't even there on that mountain but instead were far off in the desert, living in poverty and self denial in order to gain God's approval. Each group had a skewed idea of God's intentions for life. In His message Jesus gave them a picture of the way things should be: of life in God's Kingdom.

Can you imagine them sitting there hearing this: "Blessed are the poor in spirit ... blessed are the mourners... blessed are the meek." As He spoke I wonder if they thought, "How can this be true? How can the down trodden be blessed? Isn't that the reward of the successful, the hard workers, the rich, the lucky?"

Jesus' message turned their perspective of life on its head. He continued His message reorienting their mind saying: 21 "You have heard that it was said ... 22 But I tell you that ..."

Murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, love - all redefined in this new era. No more being out for yourself, instead an attitude of giving, of forgiveness, of extravagant love.

But more than a message of 'resolutions' Jesus' sermon was given to reveal to people that this new Kingdom was already in effect! The Kingdom of Heaven - something we can experience now as we realize it is available through God. A Kingdom not developed by man but by believing and living with God's perspective.

Helmut Theilicke explains it like this:

"Instead of fostering the illusion that we can bring about a new world situation and a new future by a radical exertion of the will, the Sermon on the Mount says to us: the future has been given to you, the air is full of promises,... because this future has already begun we can live in it; we are not longer absorbed by the present moment and the old monotonous routine of workdays and Sundays. In the name of that future we can afford to be radical. It does not say: you MUST begin a new life! As if we could do such a thing anyhow! What it says is: something has happened in the province of life and you must allow it to give its signal to you."

Jesus happened in the "province of life" - Jesus came! His life, death and resurrection ushered in our salvation and His Kingdom.

The invitation today, as it was on the mountain, is to live as citizens of the Kingdom!

As citizens of this new Kingdom we can experience spiritual 'blessedness' as we live with God as our focus, with Him as our priority! At the beginning of this year we can realize we are not really just living in this sin filled, uncertain world, but rather we are living in God's world, under His rule, in His presence!

And as we live like citizens of God's Kingdom we become light and salt for the world who do not realize this Kingdom even exists. Jesus put it like this:

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Happy New Year co-citizens of God's Kingdom! Shine on! :)

Matthew 5

The Beatitudes

1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce
31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

An Eye for an Eye
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 4 - Preaching, Teaching and Healing

Jesus Heals the Sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ I'm reminded of the fact - by this journey through Matthew - that Jesus was more than just a baby. He was a teacher - a preacher - a healer. These three ministries are integral to His mission. Teaching to explain the way of God. Preaching to stir people's hearts and entice them towards the Saviour. Healing those with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual hurts. His mission, relevant for His day, is still what we need today. Who hasn't needed to be taught what it means to follow God? Who doesn't find their heart needing to be again wooed by the Saviour's love? And who has never needed His healing touch? We all need the Saviour.

Praise be to Him who was born in Bethlehem and who lives in the hearts of us today!

Merry Chistmas everyone! :)

"Mary Did You Know"

[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Matthew 4 - Fishers of Men

The Calling of the First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

These few words record the beginning of an incredible movement: followers of Christ. Although it may appear from this paragraph that Simon and Andrew followed Jesus after only one encounter, John (chapter 1) records that they had heard Jesus preaching, they recognized Him as Messiah and they had spoken to Him prior to this encounter. They weren't caught up in the moment but rather they made their bold move to leave their nets knowing who they were following.

Micheal Green writes this about the fishermen ...

"Rough and ready they may have been, but they had the courage and decisiveness necessary to make these sacrifices and to follow Jesus, a step that proved too costly for the religious and the educated. There may have been something about fishermen, too, that made them particularly suitable for the 'fishing for people' that they would be doing in future. A good fisherman in those waters needs courage, for dangerous squalls erupt on that treacherous lake. He needs perseverance, patience and flexibility in the use of different methods (three types of fishing-net were used). He must keep himself unobtrusive so as not to frighten the fish away, and he must have a sense of timing. All these qualities were essential in the new kind of fishing to which this landsman introduced them."

Courage, perseverence, patience, flexibility, unobtrusiveness, and a sense of timing: these are the qualities of a good fisherman and qualities Jesus helped these men hone in their ministry with Him.

Simon and Andrew, James and John. These men were among the first people to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! I find that an amazing thought. Called by Jesus they were invited to share life with Him, to learn from His words and His actions and to be challenged to partake in the task of sharing the gospel!

Isn't this what we long for?

Amazingly, isn't this what Jesus calls us to?

I was thinking about this earlier and wondering if anyone would feel - of if I feel at times - that these men were more fortunate than those of us in this century. They could see Jesus. They could ask Him things and hear his voice answer. They could witness His healing ministry; see His miracles.

Would you have liked to have been there?

In the midst of my pondering I was drawn to the thought that today, right now, I inhabit the Holy Spirit, while at the same time I am able to rest in Him, abide in Him. As tightly knit as a branch is woven into a tree, so we are in Christ.

John reminds us of this ...

John 15:4
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Whether we have the qualities the burly fishermen had or not, Christ still calls us into a relationship with Him; to share in His ministry. Amazingly, as we remain in Him we miraculously find that we do have the courage, perseverence, patience, flexibility, unobtrusiveness, and sense of timing needed to be fishers of men.

As I've pondered these verses the following song has been running through my head. Its words cause me to hear the voice of the Saviour ... "Come, follow me..."

Do you hear Him?


"By the peaceful shores of Galilea,
Mending their nets by the silvery sea,
The fishermen toiled at their tasks each day.
Till the Master walked along that way.

Follow thou me, he calls again,
And I will make you fishers of men;
As in the days by Galilea,
Jesus is calling you and me."

Matthew 4 - The Light

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Jesus, having heard that John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, decided to move. I wonder if His move was to escape His possible capture? Capernaum wasn't a little back water town. Jesus chose a bustling sea side community to make his home. Perhaps He moved so that a larger audience could hear His message. In Capernaum Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah recorded in Isaiah 9:1-2. "The people living in darkness have seen a great light"

The people of Capernaum were living without the light of God - in the darkness of their sin.

Jesus was the great Light.

This reminds me of Eugene Peterson's rendition of John 1:14 in the Message ...

14 The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.

Jesus, the light of the world, moved into the neighbourhood of Capernaum. And from there His ministry - His light - shone brightly as He proclaimed John's message of repentance; as He called others to join in spreading His message.

At this time of Advent we remember Jesus' birth; the dawning of the Light of the world! Christmas lights and candles remind us of this and also remind us that we too are to allow Christ's light to shine through us.

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul writes:

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:8-20

I wonder if my neighbourhood knows about The Light? I wonder if I am a clear vessel for God's Light to shine through?

May we shine today - each day - bringing light to the darkness around us; helping others to know the Light of the World!


A light came out of darkness, no light, no hope had we
Till Jesus came from glory, our light and hope to be

Technical difficulties

Hey there ...

It seems that my blog is stuck on a post from December 12th. Last night I posted Matthew 4 - Temptation but the date the computer gave it was December 11th!!

I'm just posting this to let you know there are more recent posts underneath the one "Matthew 3 - Proof mounting up". Hopefully this post will end up with today's date and all will be back to normal. If not ... I have no idea how to fix it!! :) Ah the world of computers - wonderful when all is going well ...

Hope you have a good day :)

Matthew 3 - Proof mounting up

Looking back at the last three chapters it seems Matthew is building a good case for Christ (long before Lee Strobel gave it a crack... Have you read his book by the same name?)!

Chapter 1: Matthew uses the genealogy of Jesus to link Him with the Davidic line - the line prophesied to be the origin of the Messiah.

Chapter 2: Matthew records the conception and birth of Jesus. Here Jesus' divinity is confirmed; He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. His Divine Kingship is recognized by both lowly shepherds and high born wise men as they all fall down before Him in worship.

Chapter 3: Matthew further expands his proof that the man Jesus is the Saviour by introducing another fulfillment of prophecy: the man born with the unique purpose of preparing the way for the Messiah. Not only does Matthew record John's message, he relates Jesus' baptism to us as if describing Jesus' dramatic entrance into the public stage of ministry. The concluding sentence of Matthew's third chapter clinches Jesus' divine identity by recording God's claim of Him as 'my Son'.

It's a dramatic progression! It seems quite clear that Matthew's purpose is to convince the Jews of Jesus' identity so that they would accept Him as Messiah. What I've been finding intriguing the more I think about this is that it is God's plan that resulted in all these "proofs" taking place.

It was God's design long before Bethlehem that Jesus would be born as part of the Davidic line. The fact that the prophets foretold about a suffering servant, about One who would come to serve, to heal, to set free shows that Jesus' arrival on earth was not a spur of the moment idea but a well thought out plan. Here is one sample of Isaiah's prophetic words:

Isaiah 11
The Branch From Jesse
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

God had a plan!

Jeremiah reminds us that God had a plan for the Israelites when they were stuck in Babylon: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

God is a god who plans and who continues to plan, for the immediate and distant future! Isaiah proclaims God's plan:

17 "Behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.

19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more. Isaiah 65:17-19

God's in control. He's got a plan. I find that both inspiring and comforting. What will that future be like exactly - how brilliant and joyful will it be? I can't wait to see!! And when life here is uncertain I can rest in the knowledge that God sees it all - the past, the present and the future - and that He has a plan.

I'm encouraged by Matthew's first three chapters because not only does it show God had a plan - it's proof that He made it happen. God is able! Amazing!

Matthew 4 - Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11

Right after Jesus' baptism the Spirit leads Him into the desert to be tested. The Spirit leads Him. I find I need to think this thought through. It wasn't that Jesus happened to be in the desert and the devil came upon him by chance - he was there to be tested. Why? It would seem from the devil's opening statement that he wanted to push Jesus to prove He was indeed whom God claimed Him to be, "the Son of God". However, perhaps it was God who wanted to solidify Jesus' identity in our minds, in the minds of the people back then. In Jesus' mind? Right at the onset of His ministry Jesus faces what He will face in Gethsemane - will He do God's will? And right at the onset Jesus does... He wins the battle right at the beginning!

In reading about this passage a couple of authors relate this temptation scene to that of Adam and Eve. They see that whereas Adam did not resist the tempter and sin entered into the world, Jesus did resist and from Him we have freedom from the power of temptation.

One of these authors, Michael Green, also commented that temptation after a significant spiritual experience is quite common. I think this is often true. When we speak out for God, or make a public profession of faith oftentimes we find ourselves struggling with some issue. Green points out that the Christian life is more than just a verbal profession but that it involves the difficult situations of life; the temptations. Jesus faced temptation of the flesh, the temptation of testing God's capability and the temptation for supreme rule. It seems these areas are all ones in which we are tempted. And because of Jesus temptation - in this passage and throughout his earthly journey - we know He is able to understand our situation. Just as the writer to the Hebrews claimed about Jesus ...

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Hebrews 4:15

As we continue to resist temptations (says Green) we grow our 'spiritual muscle'.

This passage not only cements Jesus' identity but Jesus' response provides us with a living example, with proof, of 1 Corinthians 10:13.

13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.1 Corinthians 10:13

We need not submit to temptation. Although we all are faced with it - yes, we are all faced with it aren't we? - we are not alone in our battle. Jesus provides us with the proof that we can pass up the devil's offers. Jesus has provided us with the direct connection to God because He didn't submit to the devil's temptation. It is this connection - this God - who enables us to not sin.

Resisting the devil Jesus set an example for us. Which makes me think now, who is watching me and seeing me resist temptation? Will my life of resisting temptation help to point someone to the One who resisted for me? I hope so.

Matthew 4

The Temptation of Jesus
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus Begins to Preach
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

The Calling of the First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Heals the Sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Matthew 3 - Baptism

11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

Have you been baptized? If so, why did you do it? If not, why not? Once, when I was curious about the sacrament of baptism, I sought the counsel of a wise professor who taught me that baptism was four things:

"Baptism is first of all a public acknowledgement that before the all-holy God our sinnership has become a horror to us. Not an acknowledgement that we commit sins from time to time; this would be much too superficial. Not an acknowledgement that we have the spiritual equivalent of a rash: slightly unsightly, but scarcely life-threatening; an acknowledgement, rather, that we have blood-poisoning, a systemic disorder.

It also means something more. In his letter to the congregations in Rome Paul states that in baptism the old man, old woman, was buried with Christ, so that the new man, new woman, might actually walk "in newness of life" as Christ himself stands newly raised from the dead.

Baptism means something more. Everywhere in the New Testament baptism is public commissioning for Christian service.

Baptism means one last thing. It means solidarity with all Christians everywhere; it means oneness with Christians throughout the world." (to read the full sermon on baptism: http://www.victorshepherd.on.ca/Sermons/newpage42.htm#BAPTISM)

John baptized Jews in the Jordan; people who wanted to witness to the fact that they were making a change, repenting, or turning away from their sinful life and embracing a life of obedience to God. This being so, why did Jesus insist on being baptised by John? I think the text gives us some clues...

John asks the same question really and in answer Jesus replies: "It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness". To fulfill "righteousness". Jesus believed it was necessary for him to be baptized; that to be obedient, to follow God's will, required Him to be baptized. Being obedient John consented.

After the baptism ceremony, "At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him (Jesus)." It was at His baptism that a visible manifestation of God's Spirit came upon Jesus. This not to say that He was without the Spirit before this time - Jesus was conceived by means of the Spirit. This moment made public the Spirit's power on Him.

Lastly, God's voice was heard from heaven after Jesus' baptism, confirming that Jesus' actions were good, and solidifying Jesus' identity as God's Son. "And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

As we read the chapters after this we see that Jesus' baptism was the beginning of his public ministry. In essence it was His commissioning, as it often is for those who choose to be baptized today. Although Jesus was sinless His submitting to being lowered into the river both proved His solidarity with all mankind who need to be cleansed from sin, and also foreshadowed His crucifixion where He once and for all dealt with sin and death.

Have you been baptized? What did it mean to you? For me it was a witness to my recognition of Sin in me and to the saving power of Christ that has freed me from sin! Baptism was a means of witnessing to the unifying Body of Christ. It was also a way for me to identify with Christ. Just as Jesus' baptism was a means for Him to relate to the people in his day, I was baptized, in part, to experience something of what Jesus did for me.

Have you been baptized?

There is sometimes great debate over the necessity, the method, the purpose, and the means (water/spirit)of baptism. When I was researching it for myself I found that there was scholarly support both for and against. In the end, in my heart of hearts, I just wanted to be like Jesus.

How about you?

Rabbit Trail

Hello :) Ages ago I read a book that had these little extra sections - they called them 'rabbit trails' - at the end of the book. They were supplementary chapters on the topics being discussed. This is a little 'rabbit trail' :)

I've found myself humming a melody lately and realized the other day it was one I had written a long time ago. I dug out the words last night and thought I'd like to post them here. It would be really cool if I knew how to record the music so you could hear it too, but for now the words will have to do ...

v.1
The old familiar carols bring mem'ries of the past.
Their notes ring out that Christmas time is here.
But don't miss out the message that's found within each line,
Christmas can be all throughout the year.

Chorus
It wasn't just a baby born on Christmas night,
Not just a precious child, beneath a wondrous light.
The Saviour for the world! Hope for all mankind!
God's promise was fulfilled at Christmas time.

v.2
The malls are filled with shoppers, from store to store they go
You can see that from their faces they don't know,
The greatest gift at Christmas, was sent from God above
The gift of Jesus Christ, sent down in love.

Chorus
Jesus wasn't just a baby born that Christmas night,
He was more than just a child, beneath a wondrous light
The Saviour of the world! Hope for you and I!
God's love was given to us on Christmas night.

God's promise is for us this Christmas time.

As I think about it now I have a feeling I 'wrote' this while standing at a Christmas kettle! :) So, for all you kettle workers/volunteers out there ... this one's for you. :)

Matthew 3 - A voice calling out

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "

"In those days" starts chapter three... what days are 'those'? After relaying the account of Jesus' birth and escape from Herod Matthew fast forwards about 28 years. He continues his Gospel with Jesus' adulthood.

Why did he jump ahead like this? Perhaps it had something to do with the fact he didn't know much about Jesus' childhood. This is a possibility, though more likely it was because of his purpose in writing. Matthew was building his case for Jesus as Messiah. He continues to add to his proof by introducing another fulfillment of prophecy, one who would be the forerunner of the Messiah, a "voice calling out", one who would prophesy like Elijah: John the Baptist.

There is much that could be said about John. The Gospel of Luke contains more information than Matthew's of the account of his miraculous birth. Through Luke we read of the angel Gabriel's prophecy of John,

14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

(Luke 1:14-17)

When we read the first 12 verses of Matthew 3 we see that John has indeed become the person the angel described. What I find interesting in these few verses is the contrast between John and the people of his day.

John dressed differently, he ate differently. These things made him stand out in a crowd but it was his message that caused crowds to flock to him. John called for repentance and announced that the kingdom of heaven was near. Unlike the religious elite who relied on their heritage and adherance to rules to ensure their forgiveness, John's message was that all needed to repent; all needed to be cleansed. John's style of baptism exemplified this.

Baptism wasn't uncommon in 'those days'. Gentiles performed a ritual washing baptism as part of a series of rites done to become part of the Jewish faith. They washed themselves in this process. John, in contrast, washed others. He baptized them proclaiming that soon One would come who would be the real means of baptism.

John was a unique character with a specific calling and a God given mission. There is no one who has had such a privilege - being the one to announce the coming of the Messiah. Or is there? In reading about John these last few days I've been wondering if we - the individuals who are the church - are supposed to be more like him: a voice calling out, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near". Should we be less like the world with its post modern acceptance of every perspective and belief? Should we be less like the 'corporate church' caught up in administration or denominational differences? Should we instead be a unique, contrasting voice calling people to the Saviour?

How would that look in your life? It's made me wonder how it should look in mine... because, in actual fact, the kingdom of heaven is here, and Christ is coming. Will we be a voice calling out?

Matthew 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "

4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Matthew 2 - Joseph

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod.

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

I've been thinking lately that it's amazing where our kids take us. I mean, there are many place I never would have been had they not been born. The delivery room of a hospital for one! I guess that's not the most positive place but three very positive outcomes resulted from each visit. Actually I was thinking more of other places like the inside of a hockey dressing room, the room where the guy makes arm casts, the place where physiotherapy happens, the school gym for Christmas concerts, speech arts finals and science fairs! The waiting room for piano exams, the banquet hall for graduation, the track, and even the store for electronics!

I was thinking about all this - of being a parent and of where children take us - because in this chapter it seems because of Joseph's willingness to be Jesus' father he ended up travelling all over the place. His travel destinations were very different from my anecdotal places. His were a result of necessity and safety.

It's amazing to me how often Joseph was directed by angels, and how quickly he obeyed them. Throughout this week I must admit that I've wished an angel could have told me where to take our children - the direction they need to go. Somehow an angelic direction seems so clear and easy. (though this week on a radio program I was reminded that every time someone has an angelic encounter their first response is fear, and the angels first words are, "Do not be afraid!") Parenting isn't always clear or easy is it? Life doesn't always give us an obvious direction.

Joseph was given very clear direction, and these angelic, God driven instructions have reminded me of a few things.

1. God provided Jesus with an earthly father so that He would be protected and cared for. God provides for us - for what we need here on earth, with the parents we have or if we haven't been blessed with good parents (I have!) with others who come alongside to give us the nurture and care we need.

2. God provided Joseph with the tools he needed to be the father Jesus needed. God is our provider - my provider as parent, as daughter, as wife. In the role you find yourself.

God provides. Again this theme comes through.

I'm reminded too that only God can see the future - though so often I wish I could. God did know the future and told Joseph to move quickly towards Egypt to escape Herod's masacre. He had an even greater perspective in that He knew long before Jesus was even born that He would grow up in Nazareth. God knows our future - the immediate and the distant. And because He knows we can trust Him to provide all that we need for this life and the next.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3

Matthew 2 - Gifts for THE King

11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Gifts. We are all out purchasing them now. Already it is becoming difficult to get a parking space at the mall! Have you finished your gift buying yet? Have you started?

I could not read through Matthew 2 without commenting on the gifts given to the King of kings. The gifts of the magi: gold, incense and myrrh. And (although not mentioned in Matthew) the gifts of the shepherds: sheep. Each brought what they deemed to be their best. Each brought what they had been given to look after or to manage.

I wonder, as Mary and Joseph moved from the stable, how helpful and financially beneficial it was to have a sheep or two. They were far from home, far from the support of family, without a lot of supplies. What would a sheep have meant to them? Does a sheep produce milk they could have consumed? Did they recieve a small flock they could have sold or killed for food? Did they use its coat to provide wool during those few years before the wise men came? At first glance, compared to the wise men's gifts the sheep seemed, well, not much of a gift; the best they could have given but not really very useful. I have found myself thinking on occasion, "Those poor shepherds what else could they have contributed?" But when I think about it ... and take into consideration that God told the shepherds to go to Bethlehem to find Christ ... it seems that God was not only allowing the least of society to witness this amazing miracle first hand, He was providing for His son.

Provision. The wise men too brought gifts that would have provided practical income for the little family as they had to suddenly leave their home in Bethlehem and travel to Egypt. Their gifts were costly and scarce. Michael Green gives insight into these gifts. He writes,

Gold is the gift fit for a king - and the king in baby clothes was there. Frankinscnese was in constant use by the priests in the temple, and the ultimate priest, the one who was to make final reconciliation between God and humankind, lay before them. Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. The man born to be king was the man born to die. In those three gifts we see who he is, what he came to do, and what it cost him.

The gifts given in worship to the King, given by God to provide for His son, were symbols of God's provision for us. Through Christ, the Lamb (symbolized by the shepherd's gift) of God, God has provided salvation for the world; forgiveness from sin, reconciliation with Him!

And in response to God's great gift what do we give? What would we have brought to give the Christ child? Within the carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter" Christina Rosetti gives us a good place to start.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.