Author: admin

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Mark 4:37

This week in Bible studies at COC, we’ve been looking at the story in Mark 4 where Jesus calms the storm. I’ve read this passage before, and each time I read it I am left with more questions than understanding. I ask questions like these:

Even though Jesus slept, was his presence in the boat enough to save the disciples? What if the disciples had chosen to let Jesus get his rest instead of waking him? Would they have survived?

In answer to these questions, I would say “yes,” and “yes.” In a way, both questions ask about the same issue. Is Jesus sovereign, and if so, what was his will for the disciples?

First of all, to say Jesus is sovereign means he has no restraints on his decisions. Jesus is his own source of power. He, as God’s Son, is dependent on no one for strength or authority. Nothing is too hard for him. He continues to do new works. He is not limited by anything he has created or allowed. From his boundless supply of power, he does more work, and with grand design.

Jesus as sovereign is above all others. He’s the chief, he’s supreme, and He is the King. As Mark shows us in chapters four and five, Jesus has authority over the weather, over death, over evil, and over sickness. He chooses to use his power to lovingly direct our lives, like a Good Shepherd provides and cares for vulnerable sheep.

This leads to the question of what his will is for the disciples. As with our own lives, we may not be able to say confidently that we know exactly what God’s will is for us. But there are some traits about God we can rely on to grow our trust in his will, as Paul writes to the Romans, “His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Only God creates storms and calms them. The idea to leave by boat and cross the lake to a new location belonged to Jesus. This meant that he intended for the disciples to encounter the storm. They needed the opportunity to see Jesus’ divine power on display. Often the stormy stretches of the journey hold some revelation of glory. This was certainly the case for the disciples. They witnessed Jesus in command, calming the weather, rescuing the disciples from the inevitable drowning, and growing their faith.

His will for the disciples included a special revelation meant just for them with the goal of strengthening their trust in Him.

Going back to the question, Jesus’ presence in the boat with the disciples was enough to save them. The storm didn’t throw them out of God’s will. Rather, it belonged in his will. Jesus’ sleepiness couldn’t interfere any more than the disciples’ fear did. Everything stayed on track for the moment when Jesus’ glory shone.

O you Winds of God, bless the Lord, praise him, and magnify him forever.

O you Lightnings and Clouds, bless the Lord, praise him, and magnify him forever.

O you Seas and Floods, bless the Lord, praise him, and magnify him forever.

O you Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise him, and magnify him forever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Praise him, and magnify him forever.

–from “The Book of Common Prayer”

Mark 2 is full of fascinating stories complete with heroes, villains, and the unexpected. The friends of a paralyzed man do whatever it takes to get him to Jesus for healing, but the mission proved much more difficult than they thought. Everywhere he went, Jesus drew a crowd. On this particular day, the only way to reach him was not by entering a home politely through the front door, but by cutting a hole in the roof. These men wanted to make absolutely sure their friend received Jesus’ exclusive attention.

But when the moment came for him to receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from the Great Physician, Jesus shocked everyone with his assessment. “Your sins are forgiven. Get up, take your mat and go home.”

And the man did.

His friends’ ounce of faith that got him into Jesus’ presence in the first place produced so much more for him than just the surface healing of his paralysis. He received freedom, wholeness, and the ability to function. Jesus knew this man’s paralysis was a result of sin in his life. If Jesus went to the source of his suffering, the man would enjoy so many more benefits.

Later in the chapter, Jesus meets Levi, the tax collector. Despised and ostracized as a thief, Levi fell into the Pharisees’ class of people known notoriously as “the sinners.” But Jesus comes along and sees Levi for who he really is. He offers Levi the invitation, “Come, follow me.” When Levi accepts, Jesus changes his name to Matthew, a name that means, “Gift of Yaweh.”

When society saw Levi as a crook, Jesus saw him as a gift. Where he experienced rejection and hatred, Jesus offered him acceptance and love. He gives Levi, known in the kingdom as Matthew, a new name, new purpose, belonging, and an important place in the kingdom. Matthew spoke two languages; the language of the Roman world, and the language of the Jews. Even though he couldn’t yet see what lay ahead, Jesus knew he would become one of the writers of the gospels, influencing people for generations.

This is what Jesus does for us. When we lay paralyzed in our sin and unable to function, Jesus sets us free. He heals and he restores in those places where we cannot change our situation on our own. We’re helpless to acquire the rich, full life we desire until Jesus steps in and redeems us. After this happens, we have new purpose, belonging, and an important place in the Kingdom of God. Jesus sees us for who we really are. This truth fuels our lives with meaning and grace so that we can move in freedom, and for eternity.

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

One of our family’s favorite movies is “Dudley Do-Right” based on a cartoon with a Canadian Mountie as the main character. The Canadian Mountie is a legendary figure with “Maintien le Droit,” or “uphold the right” as his motto. The responsibilities of the Mountie called for bravery, heroism, and strength. They were fearless, and the were the law, worthy of authority and respect.

Dudley is anything but these expected Mountie qualities. He is spineless, clumsy, and intimidated. As the movie progresses, we see Dudley surrounded by a whole gang of bad guys. Robbing the local bank and taking over the town, these surly characters in black jackets and face masks are moving fast.

Dudley finds himself outwitted. He loses his job and stumbles across a bum up in the mountains. He takes Dudley under his wing and teaches him how to be a hero. The bum’s last words to his foundling student are, “get out there and do something dangerous!” Bruised and confused, Dudley stumbles away in search of adventure.

Get out there and do something dangerous. This sounds an awfully lot like the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10-22. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the enemy’s schemes…put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Paul is cheering on a new church intent on advancing the gospel in the pagan Roman Empire. Paul himself sits in prison bound in chains as he writes. He knows what is at stake for the church if they do not heed these words. The Christian faith will die out. Justice and righteousness according to God’s law would no longer be maintained. Yet, Paul knows what is at stake for the new church if they do heed his words. Persecution. Imprisonment for daring to worship anyone but the Caesar. Maybe even death. It was a tough choice. One that needed to be made in spite of the danger and hardship it would invite.

But following Jesus is dangerous. In his book, The Good and Beautiful Life, James Bryan Smith says, “Jesus observes that those who pursue righteousness are going against the grain of society, and that will result in persecution. Following Jesus is dangerous–if we lead the kind of life he calls us to. When we choose to fight for justice and peace or not to lie or judge others, we will face backlash. The promise in the last beatitude is the same as in the first: ‘for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ When we align ourselves with Jesus and observe his ways, we are in the kingdom” (p. 61-62).

The kingdom is the territory where God reigns. It is the place where we are called to live dangerously. Go on a mission. Dare to be a serious disciple of Christ. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Live by values. Pray.

But don’t we often feel like Dudley Do-Right? Intimidated in the face of evil or hardship and bumbling along in confusion hoping that something we did today counted? It is in times like this when Jesus calls us to an adventure. His adventure of living life in the kingdom. Because it is when we are taking the risks and counting the cost that we are in the safest place of all, which is his plan for our lives lived out under his protection in his strength with his armor firmly in place.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

In the days leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus spent time in Jerusalem. The location receiving most of his care and attention was the temple. In Matthew 21, Jesus rode into town as the King. Then he went straight to the temple and put on display his new plan for worship.

The current system of sacrifice had run its course. God himself was on the scene in the form of Jesus–the sacrifice, the high priest, and the mediator–everything we’ve ever needed to stay in relationship with God.

This was good news to everyone except the high priests and Teachers of the Law. They were the ones with the power and they wanted to keep it that way. This renegade Jesus shook things up too much. If they weren’t careful and even a little devious, he would steal all their authority right out from under them.

So, what does a Pharisee do when grasping to retain power? Hold a debate. Jesus had gotten the last word over the elders, the chief priests, and even the tolerated Sadduccees. Now the time had come to send in the big guns–not just a Pharisee, but a Law studying Pharisee. This guy would trap a man in his own words if anyone could.

“Which is the greatest commandment, Teacher?” he asked, the title of Teacher carrying a slight dig because after all, what could he possibly learn from the likes of Jesus?

Jesus’ reply zings with grace and truth. The first word out of his mouth is love. Love God. Love your God, and do it with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. Don’t just love God half way leaving time and energy for other things. Love him with all that you have, all that you are.

Jesus simplifies the Law that these human leaders had made so complicated. Love first and then you’ll naturally get done all the other important things the Law, or commandments, require. Things like not stealing, honoring others, and worshiping God alone.

The Pharisees were proof that a person could keep the Law yet still be hateful, critical, and hostile. But a person full of love has no room for those heart conditions. They are kind, patient, and gentle.

When we grow in this love toward God, we will love other people too. Love swallows up all the pressure to get it right as well as the fear of getting punished for breaking a rule. Love is freeing. Love for God frees us. Love of others frees them. This was the point for the list of commandments in the first place, to live in love.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

While I stood in the book store studying the clearance shelf, the floral design of a coffee mug caught my attention. I picked it up and looked at the price. Yep, definitely on sale. I decided to buy it.

Then I turned the mug around and discovered these words scripted on the other side: Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen. Yeah, right, I thought. I don’t need that farce staring me in the face every morning. I put the mug back on the shelf. Maybe I didn’t want it so much after all.

I went about my business looking for items that were the reasons why I’d gone in the store in the first place. As I shopped, the words on that mug stayed with me pressing me to wonder, can a person really live as though something wonderful is about to happen? I could probably pull it off once in a while, like when I know a special occasion is coming up, but all the time?

Sometimes terrible things happen. I have difficulty enough trying to accept the tragic, the grievous, or the painful situations that come my way. Once I’ve dealt with those, I have no energy left to look for the wonderful, and even less expectation that it might actually happen to me.

Belief in the wonderful sounded like a good way to set myself up for disappointment.

I went deeper into the store and got lost in the birthday card aisle hoping to forget about the coffee mug with its unrealistic message.

We can believe in the wonderful yet to come because something wonderful has already happened. Jesus came. He paid the price of tragedy, death, loss, and sin so that we don’t have to. At the moment we become believers, the holy Spirit enters into our hearts and lives. He fills up the places in need of healing. As this happens over time, we become new creations. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (II Corinthians 5:17). We also become strong. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4).

Faith brings the wonderful into our lives. When we have faith in God, we no longer rely on ourselves for rescue in the midst of our troubles. We look to God completely in full trust he can save us.

He always does. And that’s wonderful.

The world around us may appear to be falling apart on the outside, but God uses the disasters and the pain to transform us on the inside. And that’s wonderful.

The distraction of looking for a niece’s birthday card failed to push the floral coffee mug from my mind. I returned to the clearance shelf, picked up the mug, and read it again.

Grace is always happening. Mercy is always happening. Change in my heart is always happening. And that’s wonderful.

I didn’t put the mug back on the shelf this time. It now sits on my kitchen counter awaiting the daily opportunity to stare me in the face with its message. Believe in the wonderful. It’s all around you, inside you, and ready to happen…to you.

If you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:21-22

Standing out in Matthew 21 as an apparently misfitted scene to the rest of Matthew’s portrayals of Jesus’ kingship is this three-paragraph vignette about a fig tree. It’s the change in mood after the intense drama of Jesus’ conflict with the teachers of the law. It’s the flash of the camera into the bleachers of a stadium after the showing of replays and controversial referee calls at a ball game.

Jesus stops along the road looking for fruit on this unassuming fig tree. Finding none, he curses it. Granted, Jesus may have been experiencing one of his more human moments since this takes place early in the morning and he’s hungry. Maybe memories of the previous day’s confrontations were still getting on his nerves. But cursing? Really, Jesus. Was that necessary? I teach my children not to throw tantrums and misbehave when they don’t get what they want. It appears that you have acted the same way.

But Jesus was making a point. More was at stake here than satisfying his own hunger. The day before, Jesus rode into town as a proclaimed king challenging the political scene. Then he goes straight to the temple and challenges the religious scene with his declaration that his house will be called a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). The temple courtyard was filled with businessmen eager to make a profit aided and supported by the chief priests. But the rituals themselves were empty. Barren of any meaning. The temple was the place to meet with God, to hear his voice, to feel his presence. But the commercialized version of sacrificial worship no longer assisted a person in contact with God.

Something must change. Jesus comes riding in as the solution. He’s not only the King, but the High Priest too. He’s the sacrifice, the mediator between God and man, and the intercessor with the power to forgive sin. He’s greater than the temple and the current broken religious system.

This passion for the temple’s integrity still lingered the next morning as Jesus passed the leafy, yet fruitless tree. The temple with its barren rituals is as fruitless as the figless tree. It appears promising but provides nothing, just like what the godless temple worship had become.

The leafy yet fruitless tree is also a symbol of the hypocritical life. Jesus repeatedly engaged with the chief priests and teachers of the law in Israel because they were actors. They didn’t know God. Sure, they knew how to keep the rules. They’d even invented a few of them, but they couldn’t accept Jesus. And when it came to prayer, fasting, and giving, all these actions were a big  show, not done for God but for themselves.

When Jesus cursed the fig tree, he did it because it had the appearance of being fruitful, but on a closer look, it was all leaves and no harvest.

It was a hypocritical tree.

Like the commercialized worship practices at the temple, it gave a false impression. How easy for our lives to do the same. The fig tree stands as a picture of the choices some have already made and as a warning to choose differently.

The winds of Jesus’ teaching whispers through it telling us to guard our hearts, lives, and priorities from the false, the insincere, and the performance. This could be why Jesus answers the disciples with a statement about faith. His words hold power because they are true. And whether the item is a life, a heart, a commercialized temple, or a leafy fig tree, Jesus’ words will wither it because, like a refining fire, the truth will burn away anything fake.

The opposite of  they hypocritical quest for attention and show is faith in God. Having faith means trusting God to keep his word. Not doubting means to allow no default into hypocritical, insincere practices. The phrase if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer means working in partnership with God. He guides, leads, and speaks. We respond. Then he rewards.

When Jesus rides across a life as the King, sincerity and devotion are the natural response. By the power of the Holy Spirit, faithfulness takes root and produces an ongoing harvest of faithfulness.

Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2:11

This story of Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana has always interested me. Not because of what the story says, but more because of what is left unsaid. Each time I read it, I ask another question. My list has become quite long: How did Jesus know when the time was right to start doing miracles? How did the water turn to wine? Did Jesus pronounce a blessing over it, like the pastor at communion, or did he stir it? Maybe his shadow in the evening sunlight falling over the clear, deep pools of still water was enough to change it. Or like his mud paste used in healing the blind man, did he spit in it? Oh, goodness. If I was in the family hosting this party, trying to impress our friends and relatives, I would hope not.

No one knows how the water actually changed into wine. Neither does anyone seem to know the names of the bridal couple nor why Jesus responded to his mother the way he did.

The unspoken message in John 2 is about expectation. The wedding guests expected to drink their fill of wine at their host’s expense. Mary expected Jesus to heed her request to bring peace. Jesus expected to be able to wait longer until his glory became known. This clash of motives plays out in the humble home of a local village family. Money probably ran a little short for this middle class Galilean family, as it does for all of us from time to time. The guests kept on enjoying the feast, but the wine supply was starting to dwindle. Running out of wine at a Jewish wedding was the worst insult to both the host and the guests. The host would feel humiliation over his inability to provide adequately for the celebration. The guests would have felt disrespected. This outcome would have branded the wedding couple with a reputation they’d never live down. Lawsuits may even be brought against them.

Mary saw this situation brewing under the surface of the simple surroundings and the merrymaking. Something must be done, but what and by who? Seated across the banquet table from her was the only one she ever needed–her son, Jesus. I like to imagine that Mary probably witnessed Jesus settling disputes among his siblings, offering a solution, speaking comfort, making peace. She says to him, “They have no wine.”

Jesus puts her off with the statement, “My hour has not yet come.”

Mary seems to ignore him. In full confidence and faith, she turns to the servants and tells them, “Do whatever he tells you.”

If I was Jesus, I would have rolled my eyes at my presumptuous mother. But since he is perfect and I am not, he probably handled the situation much better. Jesus gives instructions to fill the stone jars with water, draw some out, and take it to the master of the party. Somewhere between the words that left his mouth and the liquid that touched the master’s mouth, the water changed into wine.

Jesus’ glory was revealed. In a common family living in an obscure town, glory shone. During a large, crowded celebration glory sneaked in. While saving a simple people from disaster, glory quietly spread in the form of kindness and understanding.

Like Mary’s life, the lives of this wedding couple, and the lives of the small town guests, our lives are filled with the simple, the common, the crowded, and sometimes, the disastrous. Jesus is present with the soothing word of comfort. He provides when our resources run out. He makes peace in situations that seem to have no happy ending. This is when his glory shines. He reveals himself in subtle, miraculous ways that we would miss if it wasn’t for his glory shining on them