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Jesus Revealed

Introduction

An old man sits alone on the barren hilltop of a desolate island as punishment for his crime.  His crime against the empire?  Telling people that the world has a Savior named Jesus who wants people to believe in his soul-saving work.  Well, we don’t know the precise charge leveled by the Roman government against the apostle John, but it was his preaching and work as a Christian leader which landed him on the island of Patmos.  Like others of his day, he was persecuted for his faith and pressured to give it up.  While the government couldn’t eradicate Christianity, it could conduct a legal and social war against it.

An example of government attitudes and actions toward Christianity is preserved in letters from a Roman governor named Pliny to the emperor some twenty-five plus years after John’s exile to Patmos.  Here are some excerpts as he describes how he dealt with people accused of being Christians.  “I therefore judged it so much more the necessary to extract the real truth, with the assistance of torture, from two female slaves, who were styled deaconesses: but I could discover nothing more than depraved and excessive superstition….I interrogated them whether they were Christians; if they confessed it I repeated the question twice again, adding the threat of capital punishment; if they still persevered, I ordered them to be executed.”

During his exile, the apostle John was likely the last of Jesus twelve disciples that was still alive.  Firsthand eyewitnesses of the days when Jesus walked and worked in Israel were now rare.  New generations would rely on secondhand recollections and a few writings by the original eyewitnesses.  Yet Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would work faith in the hearts of men and women long after he was gone, and this generation had people of various backgrounds gladly calling themselves Christians.  Like John, they would be harassed and urged to give up their faith in someone perceived by society as a long dead Jew.  Like the lonely apostle on the hillside, these new generations refused to abandon the faith or deny that Jesus was who he said he was, God in the flesh.  “If you have seen me”, Jesus said, “you have seen God the Father”.

When Jesus was on earth growing up as the lowly carpenter’s son, he didn’t appear to be God at all.  During his ministry his religious enemies considered him to be nothing more than a mortal man even though miracles were done at his command.  John did see Jesus perform amazing supernatural miracles but even then, his feet were dirty, hair unwashed, body sweating after a long hard day. Only for a moment did John see Jesus radiating light, shining brightly, talking to souls who lived thousands of years earlier.  From a human perspective one might say that supernatural forces were working through this man named Jesus, but it would be hard to picture anything more than that.  Even after Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to hundreds of people he did not fly through the air, glow with bright glory or surround himself with angelic figures.  He went out of his way to reinforce that the Son of God had taken humanity and joined himself to it permanently.

The apostle John told others what he saw, and he wrote about it as well in the gospel of John.  As he noted in his writing, “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”.  Sixty years after Jesus walked the earth John could sit alone on the island of Patmos and know that many people did believe after hearing what he said and reading what he wrote.  They all found that being a faithful Christian was difficult just as Jesus said it would be.  But there were believers all over the known world.  The word of God was working just the way Jesus said it would.

Yet John was about to receive more information that he could pass along to others.  He was given a series of visions that would become the Biblical book called Revelation.  We often associate it with wild stories that are difficult to understand and contain enigmatic predictions of the future.  A cynic would say it was the hallucinogenic dreams of an old man desperate to hold on to his religion.  The first is a superficial description while the view of the cynic is wishful thinking, projecting the cynic’s unbelief without delving into the contents.

The book is exactly what it claims to be in the opening sentence.  God gave Jesus the words and images which would reveal to his servants, his believers, what they would be facing in life.  But not just to the believers alive while John was on the island of Patmos.  The revelation was for all believers of all time.  It showed them much, including what would happen at the end of time and beyond it.  He was giving them the tools to fight the good fight of faith.

But when someone new to the faith, or just curious about the faith, asks what part of the Bible they should read first, we don’t tell them to start with Revelation.  They need to know the details about Jesus work prior to that book.  Revelation is filled with references to Old Testament terms and symbolism and you need an understanding of them as well to appreciate the message found in Revelation.  And the visions of Revelation don’t come with detailed explanations.  The visions are nearly all symbolic, representative of a truth, just as the parables of Jesus had a deeper meaning behind the characters and events in them.  The visions are so unique that even someone familiar with Bible history benefits from scholarly books that can help break down the descriptions found throughout the book of Revelation and provide insight on the origins of the symbolic meaning.  My personal favorite book for additional insight is the People’s Bible commentary on Revelation written by pastor Wayne Mueller.

In this writing I would like to focus on an aspect of the book of Revelation that I often miss and perhaps others do as well.  The book of Revelation shines a spotlight on Jesus, giving us pictures and details that we could only otherwise imagine.  As I review the phrases and imagery that are highlighted as Jesus stands in center stage, I realize my words are not the only perspective.  For example, the phrase ‘faster than a speeding bullet’ evokes thoughts of Superman for some, extreme speed for others, and something dangerous to be avoided in still others.  The purpose of sharing what I see reflected in the spotlight is to encourage others to also take a long look and appreciate it in their own fashion.

Just as we read about the words and actions of Jesus in the gospels describing his three-year ministry to understand his love and saving work, so we can read Revelation to understand his deity and his role in our lives today.  His love is the same both past and present.  But he no longer needs to walk humbly as our substitute.  He has a new role, and we gain new insights as we read the final book of the Bible.  The book does more than show us what we are going to face on our way to heaven.  It shows us who Jesus is and what he’s doing while we are on our way to meet him in heaven.

Of Kings and Prophets

Of Kings and Prophets

Introduction

Once upon a time there was a king.  Reading the Old Testament historical books can feel like the opening line of a fairy tale or old story.  Strangely named people going through miraculous events sounds odd compared to everyday life.  Most of us don’t have an instant relatable connection to someone with absolute power and great wealth like ancient kings.  Nor do we connect with ancient prophets that devoted their lives to passing along messages received in various ways from God.

But we do relate to people who face trials and hardships.  We know the desire for wealth and influence and how it affects us.  We know that God speaks to us in the Bible.  Maybe the differences between kings, prophets, and us aren’t as vast as it seems when first reading scripture.  We just need to ignore the clothing styles and stone walls and ponder what was really happening when prophets had conversations with kings.

Prophecy is a word that is often associated with future predictions or revelations of events that will never happen in the lifetime of the prophet.  The Old Testament prophets had their share of written messages about events hundreds of years in the future, especially as it concerned the coming messiah. But a reading of any of the prophetical books also reveals messages specific to the time and place of their utterance.  Quite often the foretelling of the future was subtly mixed in with a discussion of current issues.  Their primary audience was not readers in far off centuries but people who needed specific messages vital to their own lives at the time.

While prophets passed along God’s messages, kings ruled the land that God set aside for his people.  Yet, like us, the ruler’s expression of faith, or lack of it, impacted their personal and professional lives.  How much of Old Testament prophecy was directed to the kings?  How much was impacted by the conduct of the kings?  What personal interaction was there between prophet and king? 

This study looks for answers and for a better appreciation of how God reached out to his people as the ruling class sank further into unbelief and idolatry.  We want to pay close attention to those moments when the prophet walked into the palace to talk to the most powerful person in the city.  It was one person talking to another.  Their perspectives and attitudes didn’t always line up.  There was often a crisis at hand and decisions to be made.  There was no guarantee that either would be happy at the end of the conversation.

As we consider the conversations between prophets and kings, we also want to think about any personal relationships between them and how it affected the message and its delivery.  Such observations are not vital or necessary to faith but may help us better understand the interaction of any believer with earthly authority. 

Looking back may also trigger questions about our own lives.  How does God reach out to us today?  What timeless messages were spoken then that still apply to our modern lives?  What messages specific to kings and countrymen would God re-issue to us today?  If God were to send someone into our lives to remind us of his truth, would they need to tailor the message differently?  Would our relationship with someone else change the way we talk to them about Christ?  “Indeed, whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we would have hope.” Romans 15:4. May this review help us move forward with hope and a better understanding of the world around us.

Before we start, we must define the scope and definition of kings and prophets.  God has been speaking through human messengers since the beginning and God’s people have had several forms of authoritative leadership.  So where do we begin and end?

Regarding prophetic messages, prior to the flood Enoch warned the public of the day when the Lord would come with his angels to destroy the wicked.  Noah warned of the impending global flood.  Joseph was given dreams and interpretation to make known God’s will.  The patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were the acting authority as the Israelite tribes expanded and they also were the means of passing down the truth of God.  It’s during the days of Samuel that we read about groups of prophets and thereafter the historical record consistently had prophets who had dedicated their lives to God’s word both past and present. 

Regarding the kingship there was none for God’s people until the time of Samuel.  Even when God determined to make his presence in the world constantly and publicly known by creating the nation of Israel, he did not give it a king to rule.  He was to be their ruler.  He designated Moses as both leader and prophet and God’s messages to him and through him were unique as Israel got its formal start in nationhood.  Moses and subsequent judges were appointed as leaders, acting both militarily and spiritually on behalf of the people but no family line of succession was formed.  Only when the people insisted on a formal kingship did God give them what they asked for and the reign of kings began.  The span of anointed kings in Israel lasted roughly five hundred years and after that the land was led by governors or priests.

For the purpose of this study, we will start with the first of Israel’s kings, King Saul, and continue to the last of Israel’s prophets, Malachi, who ministered during a time when Israel was not permitted to have a recognized king.  Though the final recorded prophets had no king to address, they were part of the mechanism of Old Testament prophecy and the returning captives of their day had other specific leaders governing them.  There are only a small number of prophetic books that are difficult to trace to a specific time and ruler.  We’ll look at the purpose of those messages for the people of their day as well as their usefulness to us. 

Just as kings were responsible for the public welfare, many of us also serve in government jobs and need to determine how faith is properly applied to our work.  Like the prophets, we all are called to serve God first, as well as to serve the government officials.  The governments of our day are not always friendly to believers just as the past kings were often at odds with the prophets.  There should be much we can learn from those days before the life of Christ that we can use as we await his return.

Final Departures

Reynald noticed the hand movement and was happy to abandon his smooth talk in favor of swift violent action. He rushed toward her grabbing the forearm of her right hand which had pulled out the five-inch knife from its sheath and was raised to strike. A striking blow from his right hand across her head dropped her to her knees. Reynald pushed the fallen knife towards the water’s edge, pulled his own from behind his back and approached.

This collection of short stories highlights the final emotional and physical struggles of strong-willed people as they pass from this world to what lies beyond. Follow the last days and hours of conflict in these four various scenarios.

  1. One prehistoric man sets out on a sadistic hunt as one woman sets out in search of comfort.
  2. A native American father struggles with the reckless behavior of his daughter
  3. During the US Civil war, a woman finds new work and hope amidst old conflicts
  4. An imprisoned preacher draws the ire of the government agent assigned to keep the public safe.

Day of Joy/Day of Destruction

The Biblical apocalypse is a powerful event filled with terrifying horror and shouts of jubilant elation.  Which will you experience?  Why must it occur?  What did Jesus say about Judgment Day?  We explore the descriptive verses of various Biblical authors spanning centuries of history.

Available on Amazon.Com and other retailers.

Introduction

Surely, God created human beings with the genetic and emotional capacity for different personality types.  Some would have sunny dispositions, others would be more concerned with what could go wrong in any given situation.  Add sinful selfishness to the mix and now you have a range where people tend to distort reality to fit their grandiose plans or become certain their worst nightmares are inevitable.

So, there are many in this world for the whom ‘the glass is half empty’ and, like the fictional character of Eeyore, always have a dark rainy cloud following them around.  They may have a tendency towards reacting negatively before assessing a situation.

There are also those who suffer from depression, anger or paranoia.  Whether it’s a chemical imbalance in the brain, a warped personality trait or the result of continued abusive trauma, these people see darkness all around.  They see it in themselves, they see it in the headlines, they see it in the face of every person they meet.  It’s a hard life to live and often they know of no alternative to it.

It’s this negative range of the spectrum that I’ll call ‘the dark side’ using the concept so well known from the Star Wars movies.  They aren’t necessarily bent on evil as Darth Vader was, but the darker feelings of our soul tend to dominate them, and they see things through that dark mask they feel they must wear to live and breathe.  If you’ve known someone like that you too may feel that ‘there is still good in them’ but find it hard to draw out any positive words about their life or their future.

What do people who live with the dark side think of the Bible?  The bible is filled with messages of forgiveness and in the end the real ‘Dark Lord’ gets vanquished and locked up forever while those who are filled with faith, hope and love live happily ever after.  But if you’re the kind of person who finds it hard to trust others, has no hope for the future or any love for humanity, what value would you find from reading what used to be called ‘the good book’.

As it turns out, the bible’s message can have meaning for those on the dark side.  In fact, it may be the only lifeline they have in a future that seems meaningless from their point of view.  But the passages that inspire/rescue them may be different than the ones others enjoy because they ‘hear’ the word of God differently than most.

They do have on advantage when it comes to bible reading.  The passages that talk about personal and human sinfulness ring so true to them.  The mistakes made in scripture by both believers and unbelievers make total sense and people on the dark side can easily imagine the underlying causes behind those mistakes.  What should also be an advantage is the bible’s message that people can’t save themselves and are totally dependent on God for salvation.  It’s just a difficult message to comprehend when your mind tells you that no one is worth saving in the first place.

This collection of devotions is meant to appeal to those living on the dark side and inform/remind them that God’s view of life is the one that counts. Just as we all fall short of the glory of God we all, with our different personalities and weaknesses, are rescued from what the apostle Paul described as ‘this body of death’.  May God bless this effort.

The little things aren’t so little

What do Noah’s wife and the beggar named Lazarus from Jesus story about the rich man and the beggar have in common?  Before you strain too hard trying to read my mind let me tell you.  Both were saved by God, yet we don’t know that they ever did anything great in their lives.  We assume that Noah’s wife helped in some way with building the ark, but we don’t know what.  The only thing we know about Lazarus is that he lived for a time as a wretched beggar that people would ignore.  We don’t have any famous quotes from either of them during their life on earth.

Many times we feel that we haven’t done anything really big that would make God happy.  We feel our good deeds are too few and no one here on earth even notices them.  But remember what Jesus said in Luke 15:10 “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Repentance may not seem like a big deal to us, after all people are sorry for many reasons.  But when we are sorry because we hurt God and we want to turn away from sin we create some heavenly excitement.  Jesus could have said “there is rejoicing when you finally kick the habit, when you do more than say you’re sorry but actually live totally for me” but he didn’t.  A change of heart is a big deal.  The little things do matter.  Often you can’t get to the big things in life unless you do the simple things.

It may not seem like much when someone disrespects you and you don’t strike back because you want to act in Christian love instead of anger.  No one is going to stand up and applaud you and most won’t even realize how much you’re holding back.  It may not seem like much when you offer a little bit of help to someone in need and they reject you because it isn’t what they want or they think it won’t help.  Other people may actually think you’re trying to take advantage of them somehow.

Yet God sees every little thing you do for his sake and knows every ounce of effort you give.  Here’s how David put it when telling Solomon to live his life for God.  “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.  1 Chronicles 28:9. So don’t think God doesn’t see and appreciate every thought, every word or every action that you do because you believe in him and want to please him.

On a related note, there are times when we hear passages about rewards in heaven for serving Christ and we ask ourselves, “have I done anything worth a reward in heaven?”  If nothing comes to mind, then remember what Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10:42. “if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward”.  A reward for simply handing someone a cup of water.  A reward for a small act of kindness because it comes from a heart that wants to love others as God has loved you.  A seemingly small attempt to put faith into action.  You will certainly be rewarded for even the simple things.

So, you may not go down in history as great as Abraham, David, Paul, etc.  But you don’t need to.  There are countless ways to love God and love your neighbor.  Appreciate the change of heart God has worked in you and the simple things you do for him.  He appreciates every single one and will help you move forward doing those simple, praiseworthy and rewarding things that you do.  And when you do them, you will be a blessing to others as well.

 

Love is for those who struggle

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  1 Corinthians 13:6-7

People remember 1 Corinthians chapter 13 because it talks about love in a way that sounds noble, kind and positive.  But take another look at verse 7 as it talks about what love does.  Those are not words of warm feelings and smiles; those are words used when facing difficult moments in life.  These are words for people like you and me.

‘It protects’ because you or someone you love is under attack.  It might be physical abuse.  It might be the words of some bitter divisive person that wants to tear people down.  When you are in danger you want someone who loves you to rush in and shield you.

‘It trusts’ because when you look around the situation looks bad and you’re not sure things will work out.  An upcoming court date is an example.  You’re not sure if the lawyer will work on your behalf, not sure if a key witness will come forward.  You’re not sure what will happen if you tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  You want to trust that honesty will have its reward or that someone will love you just enough to give you a hand.

‘It always hopes’.  Hope is for people who have nothing at the moment.  When you’ve got money, friends or good times you don’t look too far in the future.  But when you’re facing a difficult situation you need hope.  When someone you care about is facing trouble you have hope for them because you love them and you work to make that hope a reality.

‘It always perseveres’.  If your struggling, if you tried again but it wasn’t good enough, you have to decide whether to persevere and keep fighting.  You have to love the goal your fighting for and love the people in your life enough to keep going.

So this famous chapter of scripture that often gets recited at weddings when people are thinking about romantic love isn’t just about love and marriage.  Love is what we need to get through life, especially the hard times in life.  When things are bad don’t you need someone who loves you?  When things are bad for someone you love, don’t you try that much harder to help?

Human love tends to fall short.  But now put Christ into the picture and see what these words can do.  Christ always protects his people and in Christ you can always work to protect your loved ones because you know he’s got your back.  Jesus always keeps his promises and your trust in him is never misplaced.  You can even trust that when you do what’s right he will help things work out for the best.  Christ has given you a hope that is certain, an inheritance in heaven that never ends, and with him as your Savior your future is always in good hands.  And Christ persevered through the humiliation and suffering only God would have the strength to endure.  He gives you his Spirit to help you persevere and keep fighting every step of the way as you carry your burdens as well.

As you think about the trouble in your life remember the love of Christ for you.  His constant self-sacrificing love inspires you to love the people around you even when things look bad.  Remember that he wants you to love yourself and others as you face those troubles.  Love is what you need to face the hard times honestly and boldly and love points you to Jesus for help along the way.  Then, when troubles come, you can always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere.

 

Tailgate Talk

Celebrating #4

In the midst of the 2015 season and the pursuit of excellence, fans were treated to a celebration of the player who Bart Starr once called “the greatest Packer ever”.  Brett Favre was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame, had his number retired and his name added to the wall of honor in Lambeau Field between July and November of 2015.

Of course, the celebration was just a matter of time.  Favre was 3 times the league MVP, a Super Bowl champion playing 16 seasons with the Packers and the man we relied on to take us to the top.  He threw for over 71,000 yards and 508 touchdowns winning 186 games.

But he may be best remembered for bringing a fan-like enthusiasm to every game, whether jumping up and down like a kid when celebrating a touchdown or playing the ‘gunslinger’ once too often and throwing one of his 336 interceptions trying to make a play against all hope.

The party started in July when 67,000 fans made a small donation to charity to sit in Lambeau Field for his induction into the Packer Hall of Fame.  Favre gave a short speech to the fans before heading inside for the evening ceremonies in front of a much smaller crowd.  But the fans in the stands stayed to watch it on the stadium scoreboard just to be a part of the event.

When thinking of his career with the Packers, these three things stand out for me.

Iron Man

He started 297 straight games back in the days when you could pick a quarterback up and slam him to the ground, touch his helmet or hit him below the knees without drawing a flag or a fine.  He had the ability to avoid the sack, not by eluding trouble like Fran Tarkington but by pulling out of the grasp of linemen or throwing them off.  But it seems like every year he had some injury to overcome.  Sprained and swollen ankles, concussions, even broken bones in his throwing hand.  The pain was so bad that at one point he was addicted to pain killers.  Yet he miraculously stepped on to the field every Sunday.  It wasn’t easy for him, but he willed himself to play through it.

Maturing before our eyes

In his first year with the Packers he quickly became the star quarterback we were searching for.  But he was just a young man from Mississippi.  He had a child out of wedlock and a high school sweetheart he had not married.  He had a love for the locker room and locker room pranks.  He had a great arm and he knew it, thinking he could walk on the field and fight through anything.  In other words, he had some growing up to do.

Though it didn’t make the sports page, we got to watch him mature professionally and personally while enjoying success with him year after year.  He married Deanna and started building a family while still staying close to his parents and siblings.  Over time he learned to avoid some of the party life and the late nights.  On the field he worked hard at learning from coach Holmgren and others, trying to develop either the discipline to follow the plan or the wisdom to throw the ball away rather than risk giving it away.  Such things were challenging for him even in later years but like everything else he fought through it with a will to win.

One thing probably did stay the same through the years, his love for practical jokes on his teammates.

At a higher level

It’s fun to watch those games in the 90s as he and the team were on their way to the top.  But I marvel at his final years because they show what an incredible talent he was.  He is the only quarterback over the age of forty to win a playoff game.

In his 16th season with the Packers he was surrounded by young players, but they went 13-3 and got to the NFC Championship game.  Then, after he changed his mind about retirement and insisted he was still just as good as ever, he went out and proved he could play in his late 30’s.  I was amazed that he could walk into camp with the Jets, and later with the Vikings, study the playbook for a few weeks and then take the field and start playing at a high level.  His arm was still strong.  He had the ability to walk up to the line for any team, survey the defense and know how to adjust, where to throw the ball.  It was only in his final year, after injury and age had taken its toll, that he could no longer take the field as one of the best and most dangerous quarterbacks in the league.

Raji’s Choice

How did Lombardi phrase it?  “The three most important things in your life should be God, family and the Green Bay Packers”.  A pro football player’s life revolves around his work and team, consuming time and energy as much as any ‘workaholic’ in another field.  In March 2016 B.J.Raji surprised most everyone when he announced that he was taking a hiatus from football, putting family above team and exploring new roles away from football.

It’s notable that in his press statement he used another Lombardi quote to explain that a person has to be totally committed to his craft to make life worthwhile.  Though only 30 years old, B.J. felt that he could no longer give that total commitment – something he had been giving since his high school days.

Part of the conflict was obvious.  Both his mother and his aunt were fighting difficult illnesses and stepping away would allow him time and energy for them.  But he also indicated that he was open to new opportunities.  Did he mean that wrestling opposing lineman and smashing running backs may not be as fulfilling as it once was?

So it seems that in several ways he was feeling there was more to life than football and now was the time for a bold move to embrace whatever that meant.  We have to admire him for wanting to care for loved ones and be true to himself.

It wasn’t just a shock because his agents were actively negotiating with the Packers and were ready to close the deal.  This is the same B.J. Raji who had been ready to hit the free agent market just a couple of years ago and score the big payday.  An injury brought his market value down and he re-signed for one year hoping to hit the market again.  Then another injury and another 1 year deal.  But now he was finally healthy and still at an age when he could draw attention from multiple teams.  Yet he walked away from millions of dollars.  Perhaps he lost the desire for the big payday or perhaps the last few years moved him to ask what life would be like without football.

Now the Packers would have to build a defensive front without Raji.  What kind of impact will this have?  Both Guion and Pennel are capable of playing nose tackle but then who plays defensive end?  There are a lot of good defensive linemen in this year’s draft – did their value suddenly increase on the Packers draft board now that B.J. was out for the foreseeable future?