matthew 24... anyone get that?

so there's not space to take this chapter verse by verse and explain it.  i guess the best thing to say is that we can't know the exact time but we can see signs.  some people try to figure out the time.  and some have even "predicted" the time and been wrong.

i guess most importantly, we should just stay faithful.  some times this can seem easier said then done.  especially when you read the things that will take place.  things like that, and worse are taking place every day for christians around the world.

are you able to love God and the world when it seems like the whole world is against God and hates you?

matthew 23... did keanu reeves write this chapter?

what a powerful chapter.  i've always found it amazing that Jesus says

vs2-3 ...The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.

amazing that Jesus slams them all the time... but it has nothing to do with what they taught.  maybe i'm paranoid, or a "worry" too much or i just think too much... but i've wondered what history would say about the church right now... what history will say about me... what Jesus would say if he were here right now.

no generation of the church has ever set out to go against Jesus.  and the pharisees thought they were living for God.  they were highly respected and gave themselves to God.  yet Jesus said that their converts are twice the sons of hell than they were to start with.

we can look back on the crusades, the puritians, our home churches... with all sorts of judgment.  what is the next generation going to say about us.  what are people around us saying now.  but most importantly, what is God saying now.  is he looking down on his church and saying...

vs37 {Oh Church, Church}, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

matthew 22... Jesus on taxes

they just keep comin'.  all of them wanting to trip him up.  in a way i'm glad they did.  cause we get some great answers as a result.  we get a small answer of what heaven will be like.  and we get 4 of the most amazing verses.

vs37-40 And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  This is the great and foremost commandment.  And the second is like [homo - the same] it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

we also get a really great video that all will be able to enjoy if youtube will ever upload it.

matthew 21... stinks for the tree

some might look at Jesus' issue with the fig tree as a bit of impatience.  i see it as an object lesson - and very consistent.  Jesus seems to point over and over again to the fact that God does not tolerate luke warm "followers" who have the "look" but don't have the fruit.  there is no place for trees that don't produce fruit.

matthew 20... jeffrey dahmer

i love the story of the workers and how everyone gets the same pay.  it is a little unsettling though.  it's cool because even though i'm a screw up, i get heaven just as much as paul.  but it's unsettling that jeffery dahmer gets heaven just as much as me.

Jeff confessed to me his great remorse for his crimes. He wished he could do something for the families of his victims to make it right, but there was nothing he could do. He turned to God because there was no one else to turn to, but he showed great courage in his daring to ask the question, ‘Is heaven for me too?’ I think many people are resentful of him for asking that question. But he dared to ask, and he dared to believe the answer.''

vs17-19 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priest and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

so did they actually listen to him or just pretend to be listening?  i wonder what i would have been like in that situation.  i guess i don’t always think the best under stress.  i can see how maybe they “forgot” these words.  or maybe they just didn’t really believe Jesus when he said it.

matthew 19... i need a medic

what do you say about chapter 19?  almost feels like matthew is in a boxing match and throwing us a few consecutive punches.

let’s start with divorse…  two very unpopular teachings… both then and now.

vs9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.

dang.  so you mean this is for life?  and this is the only way divorce is acceptable to God?  not a popular message – or even one that is taught very much.

vs10-12 The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry."

But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.

… there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."

oddly enough, i don’t really hear people asking others… “so, have you decided to be celibate for the Lord?”  i generally hear things like, “have you found a girl yet?” or “so when are you two getting married?”  why do we not teach that marriage (although a wonderful blessing) is hard?  why do we not teach people that an option is to be married to the Lord?  why do we think someone just hasn’t found “the one” if they are still single?

side note: when i read this verse a few years ago it struck me… vs6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. …man and woman become one flesh at marriage but we really become one flesh when we come together and make one flesh.  just a thought.

vs14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

ahh, the blessed little children.  i’m still working on being childish in the right ways.  it’s pretty cool having kids and looking at the things they do and think of all the ways that God wants me to become like a little child.

vs21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

was Jesus for real?  most sermons/lessons i’ve heard on this topic seems to say that he was being serious with the RYR but it’s only meant to be figurative to us today.  really?!?  it seems to fit us pretty well.  we are the richest people in the history of the world.  we have comforts that generations before us would have never thought were possible… and most of the world is only able to dream of.

i wonder, how many would turn away sad if when they came forward to give their life to the Lord we said, “great, now go sell all that you own and give it to the poor.”  i wonder how fast churches would grow with that strategy?  i wonder if I’ve done it?

vs29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

matthew 18... really!?

it's a cool story about how we need to forgive.  i mean, the world works better when we forgive people.  and i get that God has forgiven us more than someone can wrong us.  all is good until the last verse of the chapter.

vs35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.

seriously?

maybe he is, cause it's not the first time he's said it.  hmmm.

matthew 17... how did they know

so how did they know?  how did the "inner circle" (this is what peter, james and john are referred to as by a number of commentators) know that it was moses and elijah?  they didn't have polaroids that had been passed down.  i don't think they had paintings, where moses sat for a family portrait that's now hanging in the temple.  how did they know?  were they wearing those little "Hello, my name is" name tags?  it doesn't sound like they took the time to be polite.  "Hello, my name is Moses.  You are?"  some how they just knew.

is this a glimpse of what heaven will be like?  we struggle so much for community here on earth.  people get the snot beat out of them to join gangs for community.  some pay all sorts of money.  some go through all sorts of humiliating things to pledge a fraternity.  people do all these things just to be a part of a "community" where they belong.

is this a sign of what community will be like?  i will instantly recognize people i have never met... or even heard of... and know their names.  i will know christians in iran, brazil and canada better than i even know my earthly family.  if it is... WOW!  there's still a ton of work to do here, but i can't wait to get to heaven.

matthew 16... who ever said it was going to be easy?

man, those disciples sure could be dense at time (kinda like me).  completely missing the point and thinking that Jesus was getting on them about bread.  like he couldn't just make some more.

then through the fog there is this beautiful moment when peter seems to get it (with the assistance of the Lord).  and we have Jesus telling us how the church is going to be setup.  i think christians need to be reminded of this every day.  we don't have gates of defense.  we are on the offensive - storming the gates of hades.

little side note.  in the greek peter's name petras which means stone or pebble.  what Jesus says is your name is petras and on this petra i will build my church.  petra is a large stone or bolder.  Jesus was not building his church on peter but on something that was a large unmovable bolder.  what in this passage would he be referring to?

also, our english does a bad job of translating it but the greek reads, "... and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven."

although, that's not what sticks out to me as i read chapter 16.  see, i just found out that two of my friends... friends that have been married longer than i've been alive... friends that have been christians longer than i have (but not as long as i've been alive)... friends that i love... friends that i look up to in the faith are calling it quits.  they're not calling it quits on Jesus... just each other.  and as i understand it, it's the wife that is calling it quits and leaving her husband.  she says that she has no scriptural justification for leaving.  she just wants to.  i am more shocked at this marriage ending than i was when my own dad left my mom.  these people have worked in multiple churches, been missionaries, went to bible college after retiring from their first job, and living lives that scream dedication and obedience.  and now this.

how do you stand before Jesus and say, "i will die for you.  i just can't stay married for you."?  how do you look at those who have been martyred... who have had their eyes gouged out with hot picks... who were skinned alive...  who were beaten within an inch of their lives over and over again... who were raped... who were set on fire... who were thrown to the lions... all for their obedience to Jesus... how do you say to them that you just couldn't be married for one more day?

i don't understand.

i also don't understand myself.  not that this lessens the divorce, (because i'm still very much shocked and ticked) but how often am i disobedient?  how can i stand before Jesus and say, "i'm fine picking up my cross except when it comes to _______________."?

v24-27 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lost it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angles, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS."

matthew 15...the syrophoenician woman

wow, what a chapter.  i could spend time exploring traditions i have (and that christians have) that get in the way of following God.  that could be "fun".  or i could spend time looking at what Jesus is saying about the heart.  or maybe the feeding of the four thousand.  seriously, did you not already see this miracle done with even more people and you have to ask how it's done?  or even the significance of the 12 baskets left after the feeding of the 5 thousand and the 7 baskets left after the feeding of the 4 thousand.

but i'm not going to.  the story of the syrophoenician woman has always "intrigued" me.  i get that Jesus is jewish and the was working through the jews to bring salvation to all people.  so i get his focus on the jews.  but this isn't the first gentile to come to him asking for help.  what's with Jesus calling her a dog?  i've heard explanations like...

- it was like calling her a little puppy (nice and cute).

- it wasn't a bad term because she was a gentile and gentiles had pet dogs - and we all know how much we like our pets

- this was just Jesus being a jewish man and not respecting this syrophoenician woman.

all of those have sounded off to me for some reason or another.  for me, it seems more like a teaching moment for the disciples.  they are the ones that said to send her away.  and Jesus has always seemed to be there for anyone in need.  i think Jesus was saying what the disciples were thinking.  so in their minds they would know the outcome and be completely wrong.  and be thrown back on their heels.  they would be cheering about her being a dog.  but then be shocked with Jesus' response of her faith and the kindness he showed to her.  i think this is something the disciples needed to learn and think through.  after all, there were going to take leadership of this movement that was to be extended to the gentiles.  they would have to learn that we aren't dogs and that we too have faith, and that God loves us - even though we're gentiles.

matthew 14... girls ain't nothin' but trouble

herod shot off at the mouth, gave a stupid promise, and then had too much pride and peer pressure to say no.  and then john's dead.  and it's all the women's fault.  (obviously a joke.)

i have to wonder what it was like for Jesus.  in the midst of his ministry and his cousin is beheaded.  cousins that are close in age.  and not only all the emotions that would come with something like that... but i have to believe that this sent thoughts running through his head about his future.  what was that night like for Jesus?

that's makes vs 14 so amazing.  if i had of been Jesus i'm not sure i would have been thinking about anyone but myself.  but he steps off the boat, sees the crowd and has compassion on them.  wow.  absolutely amazing.  i think to me, right now, that is actually more amazing to me than the feeding of the 5000.  no matter what's going on, God has compassion for his creation.  for me.

Lord, continue to break my heart with the things that break your heart.  continue to work on me.  continue the work you started in me and give me your heart.  give me your compassion.  and help me to forget myself.

matthew 13... lucky number 13

i really wish the monk that separated matthew would have put less stuff per chapter.  this one is so full of so much stuff (as they all have been).

one question is answered though... why are all the "bad" people still around.  Jesus makes it clear that he doesn't want there to be any mistakes.  in the end it will be obvious... but now, it's not so obvious.  but for me it raises an interesting question of chronology.  a number of people who believe in the rapture say that christians are taken first.  then all the non-christians either get another chance or they just get to live in hell on earth for a little while.  the chronology of this parable seems to suggest that those against God are taken first, then those who have been obedient.  hmmmm.

out of all the parables in this chapter i cling to...

v44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

i remember that day.  i remember the joy i had when i discovered that treasure.  i didn't fully realize how much i had to sell (give up) to get it, but i knew i wanted it.  it's been so worth it.  even though i feel like day to day i'm finding more that i need to sell.  i wish others to could see the treasure's beauty and sell all they have to get it.  there really is no pearl quite like it.

matthew 12... practice what you preach

as with all of matthew so far, there is so much in the chapter.  there is so much going on and so much that jumps out at me that i could ramble about.  but i guess out of all of them i'll look at Jesus' statement that,

v50 "... whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister and mother."

it was just last chapter that he said you need to hate your family.  i feel like i can sometimes read those statements and separate Jesus from his family.  almost as though he didn't have one.  or he had one but they didn't matter to him because he was God.  but that does away with him being very much human.  and it does away with how important family was in that culture.  and it does away with the fact that Jesus told john to look out for his mom while he was on the cross.  Jesus did care about his family.  i wonder how hard it was to say something like that.  did he look them in the eye when he said it (sorta like peter and the rooster.)?  how bad did that sting mary?

he never said this life he's called us to is easy.  if anything, he guarantied it was going to be difficult.  and i can't think of anything more difficult than looking at your mom and saying she's not mom because she's not doing the will of God.

the other side of this is, this gives me a really cool and large family.  God, thanks for providing that.

matthew 11... so very real

thank you God for making your word so real.  i know i have had doubts in the past.  and some times those doubts seemed hard to share...  wondering what others would think.  here in chapter 11 we have john the plunger (now john the prisoner... who ushered in the way of Jesus) sending messengers  to make sure he didn't make a mistake.  and in the midst of his question Jesus says there is no one more blessed then john.  now i know he's not blessed because of his question, but it's nice to know that the question doesn't void the blessing.  thanks for listening and for allowing me to come to you with any question i have.  even when that question has been you in the past.

matthew 10... durn

saturday alison, her parents and myself took charlotte and ivy to the zoo in asheboro.  we passed a church building that we had passed many times before.  but this time maybe alison and i were just in a mood.  one of those moods to see the absurd and comment on it.  this church was called pleasant cross christian church.  i know nothing about this church.  it might be full of great people.  but alison and i couldn't help but laugh at the name.

"so Jesus, how was the cross?"

"you know, it really wasn't that bad.  not only was it not that bad, it was actually quite pleasant."

i couldn't help but think of that as i was reading this chapter.  the cross is not pleasant.  and Jesus doesn't try to make it sound that way.  i do have to ask though, how in the world does anyone read this chapter and somehow turn following Christ into something that is easy and costs you nothing?  i wish people would stop lying (come follow Jesus... he'll straighten up your life) and start telling the truth (come follow Jesus... he'll mess you life up).  don't get me wrong, i wouldn't live any other way.  but it sure isn't a walk in the park.

matthew 9... compassion

wow, what do you say about chapter 9?  i guess i can say so much about chapter nine.  it has so many of the stories i love.  feeling like there is so much i can say, maybe the best thing to say is the two "verses" that seem to be the key of the chapter.

v12-13 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.  But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

v36-38 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

would you pray that prayer?  and would you pray that you would embodies these verses?

matthew 8

What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?

it would have been something to see someone who performed instant miracles.  peter's mother-in-law got right up and started serving them.  what power.

matthew 7... one of the scariest chunks of the bible

this is a scary chapter.

- the same judgment we use will be used on us...

- the narrow and wide gate...

- false prophets...

dang.

but the scariest thing to me is

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?"

And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS."

it's not scary because it's arbitrary.  God doesn't work in the arbitrary.  these are people who are doing things for the Lord.  they are prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles... yet Jesus doesn't know them.  they practice lawlessness.

these few verses don't scare me and keep me up at night... but they do make me evaluate myself every now and then.  why am i doing what i'm doing?  is it just a list of things?  is it to earn points?  or is it because i'm truly in love with this amazing God and can't wait to do more to show him my love?

as i've known him more and more i love him more and more.  and my desire to serve him continues to increase.  i hope i know no one who "serves" God and has to hear these words from him.

matthew 6... i dare you to pray this prayer

this chapter is PACKED.  i want to write so much but i think maybe my words would just get in the way.  so i'm just going to copy some verses that stand out and put occasional comments.

v2-3 So when you give to the poor...

v5 When you pray...

v16 Whenever you fast...

v14-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

wow!  is my forgiveness from God dependent on my forgiveness of others?  surely not.  does Jesus know what they did to me?  i think he does.

v19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...

i store up ALL THE TIME.  i like stuff.

v24 No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and wealth

v31 Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear for clothing?"

i dare you to seriously pray this model prayer that Jesus laid out - and mean it.  it's not a prayer that many western christians pray.  would you seriously pray that only your needs are met day to day?  would you pray that God's forgiveness of you be based on your forgiveness of others?  would you not only pray it today but for this semester?

i believe there are christians who seriously pray this prayer.  i believe there are students here that do seriously try to live for Jesus.  i believe there are true disciples walking among us.  but... when i think of western christians... i tend to think that we pray more like this

Our Father who is in heaven,

Holy is Your name.

Your kingdom come for me

Your will be done (when it matches mine),

on earth as in heaven.

Give us all our needs and our wants,

don't make us wait.

And forgive us our sins,

as those who have sinned against us get what they deserve.

And don't lead us into temptation, pain or poverty,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For your kingdom is one of power, wealth, comfort and glory forever.

Amen.

would you pray the Lord's prayer for your life and not your own prayer?  i dare you.

guess i didn't do too good of a job shutting up this time :)

matthew 5... God bless america

talk about not holding back.  Jesus comes out of the gates swinging.

i wonder how this sermon would go over if he preached it now?  how many would be right there with him and how many would be saying (or thinking)...

• he can't really mean that being angry with someone is the same as killing them.  or saying "harsh" words with them is not just like, but actually is a dagger to the heart.  doesn't he know how much they hurt me?
• really, no offering to God if someone has a problem with us?
• seriously!  lust = adultery?
• the only reason for a divorce is marital unfaithfulness?  you've got to be off your rocker cause that's not how it's practiced today.
• no vow's
• no revenge!  not only no revenge but give to and love your enemies?
• pray for your enemies
• be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect?

this must all be figurative.  right?  God doesn't really expect this from us... does he?  i mean, Jesus didn't....... actually...... do these things..... hmmmm

wow, what if he does?  what if he embodied this to show us not only that it can be done, but how to do it?  what if i embodied it?  what if his people embodied this?  what if there were no stories of church splits but stories of churches loving everyone they came in contact with.  giving to all who are in need?  what if we were a city on a hill... a light of hope and promise to the people around us.  what if we were like salt and made people thirsty for living water?  what if?

i guess it all goes back to our blessings.  don't get me wrong, i believe that God has given this country a lot so we could be a blessing to the world.  but in all the talk about people being blessed i wonder if we're slightly off base?  to be blessed in this country is to fulfill the american dream.  surprisingly, that's not what Jesus defines as being blessed.

so i'm left asking the question... how blessed am i?  do i understand what it truly means to be blessed?  can i read the beattitudes and at the end say with all honesty that i am blessed?

Lord, i want your blessings.  as much as some of them go against what my flesh wants... 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

matthew 4... where does the Spirit lead you?

there is so much happening in chapter 4 but there is a verse that just jumps out at me.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  Matthew 4:1

i'm always a little unsettled when i read that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted.  but that's not the part that stands out to me.

when i decided to follow Jesus and started reading about his life i think i was missing something.  we (christians) have lived so long teaching about and believing in the trinity (which i do believe in - even if the word is nowhere in the bible) and discussing what that means about Jesus and his Godhood that i didn't think much about his humanity.  from what i had been taught i had created a Jesus that was much more fully God and just enough human to walk around with us.  i mean, how can you be 100% God and 100% man at the same time?  and with that understanding i never quite got the temptations.  doesn't scripture say that God can't be tempted?  why was the devil wasting his time? (that brings up a whole other discussion about what i thought and now think about the devil.)

but what if i had it backwards?  what if rather than being just human enough to walk around with us, he was a 100% red-blooded jewish man?  what if he went through puberty and had zits and bad breath?  what if i actually trusted what paul wrote in philippians 2 that Jesus emptied himself of some of his Godness?  and the author of hebrews when he writes that we have a high priest just like us who was tempted in every way but without sin?

now this might sound like i'm slow, but i know i'm not the only one who has had to deal with this.  i run into believers all the time who end up saying things like... "yeah, but that was Jesus... he was God."

but if he was fully human then what does that say about me when i go through temptations and sin?  but more importantly what does it say about Jesus in chapter 4?  he could have taken the easy way out.  he could have turned the stones to bread and passed them out, as caesar did, and showed the people that he was the king that could and would take care of their every need and want.  but that's not the kind of kingdom he wanted or the kind of king he was.  i can't say that i wouldn't have tried to take the easy way out.  but i LOVE Jesus for being willing to do it the hard way.

matthew 3

i've noticed something.  i'm trying to read through the gospels to get a fresh look at Jesus but i keep being drawn to the people around him.  in chapter 1 it was the ladies in his genealogy.  in chapter 2 it was the magi.  in chapter 3 it's john the plunger.  i guess you're known by the company you keep.  i think the reason i'm drawn to them is because of what they say about me, Jesus and my relationship with him.

anyway, three things just jump out at me in this chapter.... hmmm, 3 things in chapter 3 :)

* - when i read about john i think about how i am supposed to be one who is preparing the way.  one who is making the path straight.  then i think about how strange john was.  which when you think about it makes perfect sense.  it's not normal for God to step out of heaven like he did.  you have to be a little odd to take on this task.  but the question is, how odd do you have to be to be someone who prepares the way for Jesus?

* - that leads me to verse 8 - Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  repentance is more than just not doing the things you were doing that you shouldn't be doing.  repentance is doing the things you weren't doing.  how else do you produce fruit unless repentance is more about what you do rather than what you don't do?

* - that leads me to verse 15 - But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."  Then he permitted Him.  

i sometimes wonder if i make too much sense to the world around me.  i sometimes wonder if i shouldn't be more like someone who produces fruit in keeping with repentance that causes me to live a righteous life that doesn't seem to make a bit of sense to most people i come in contact with...

am an enough of an ordinary radical?

matthew 2... a different kind of king

how did they know?  have you ever thought about that?  it's a question i've always had.  these wise men were gentiles, not jews.  they don't mention anything about studying the scriptures... just the stars.  based on a star they pack up some gifts and go to find the king of the jews and worship him.  so very odd.  so little is recorded about them.  did they know who they were really going to worship?  did they keep up on current events and know what later happened to this king they went and worshipped?

although i ask these questions, i've recently wondered what a 1st century jewish man would have been thinking as he read this chapter.  what is God doing?  i mean, isn't the messiah... the king of blessing and promise... for the jews?  how can Jesus be the one if the first people who come to worship the king (as recorded by matthew) are gentiles?  what is God trying to tell me?  could i have missed it?  is his kingdom for jews AND gentiles?  is it for those close AND far away?

better yet... what was mary thinking when these guys showed up?  what was joseph thinking?  they both had visions about Jesus.  did they expect this?  what was it like having some men from the east show up with gifts and worship your child?  i would love to have seen their faces.

this chapter brings up a lot of questions for me.  but one thing is certain... this was a different kind of king... and a different kind of kingdom.

side note: anyone noticed how many prophecies have been fulfilled in just two chapters?

matthew 1

this first chapter of matthew {a gospel written to the jews specifically} is so full of great stuff.

Jesus the messiah... the promised, anointed one that they had looked for since....

"the son of david"... the promised king that would reign on the thrown forever, ruling God's people and building YHWH's temple (ii samuel 7:12-16, i chronicles 17:11-14)... that would be a king of blessing because he is....

"the son of abraham"... the promised blessing (genesis 12:1-3, galatians 3:16) for ALL NATIONS from so many years ago...

what a statement.  what a promise.  what a faithful God who keeps his word.

genealogies are some of the most boring things in the bible to me.  but this one is amazing.  let's just look at the women involved.  the fact that Jesus' genealogy has women is pretty remarkable for the time.  two of them (rahab and ruth) were not jews... rahab was a prostitute... the other two ladies (tamar and bathsheba) were adulteresses.

to a jewish man at the time this is so wrong... it's embarrassing!  but to God.... it's purely beautiful.  salvation isn't just for the jews... it isn't just for the men... it isn't just for the perfect who have it all together...

what a statement.  what a promise.  what a  God who's salvation, his promise, is for everyone.  he made us all and loves us all.  this is who and what Jesus was all about.

i hope to some day live a life that the same can be said about me.

and the experiment begins

what does it look like when a small community tries to get back to the basic and spends a semester in the gospels just trying to reconnect with Jesus?  trying to read about him with fresh eyes?  i'm not sure but i look forward to finding out.

i love my wife

i love my wife.  and i know that Jesus loves his bride.  i don't want to talk badly about anyone's wife - especially if they're married to Jesus.  with that said, many of us look around at this christian life we're living and we know that there has to be something more.  like we're missing something.  for some of us, this leads to talking bad about Jesus' wife (the church).  but i got to wondering... maybe there isn't something more.  maybe... just maybe... there is something less.

is it possible that a lot of stuff has been added over the years?  maybe even stuff that in and of itself isn't bad?

is it possible that worship isn't about the music?  is it possible that God doesn't worry about the music nearly as much as we do?

is it possible that in our desire to worship God we have gotten off track?

is it possible that, in our desire to improve, we have added just enough flavors and preservatives that we altered the receipt?  don't get me wrong... it's still edible (sometimes even good) and feeds people.  BUT, what would it taste like to get ahold of the original, stripped down, back to basics receipt?  how much better does it taste?  how much more does it satisfy?

is it possible that Jesus' yoke... his burden... really is light?

i think so.