John 18 is a great example of the contrast between Jesus meek and mild and that assertive, confident, tower of strength, Peter, whose name of course means rock.
During his nighttime arrest in the olive orchard, Jesus identifies himself as "I Am He" and for some reason the guards fall down. Maybe they slipped on some spilled olive oil. Jesus wants to go peaceably, but Brave Peter draws his sword and cuts off a guy's ear.
While Jesus is inside the high priest's house allowing himself to be grilled and slapped around by the Sanhedrin, Peter stares down the guard outside. Well to be honest the guard is just a slave girl. And maybe the stare has a "deer in the headlights" flavor to it. But when she asks him if he is a disciple of Jesus, he shoots right back with an answer: "I Am Not!" (It is a little known fact that afterwards behind his back the other disciples sometimes called Peter "The Great I Am Not".)
Inside the high priest's house Jesus shows that he would rather defend "truth" than himself. After an official clobbers Jesus, any decently manly prophet would have produced a bolt of lightning or at least a well-deserved prophetic curse. Alas, Jesus just questions the man's motives: "If I said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" Defend yourself, Jesus! You seem to be mistaken about just who is on trial here.
Brought before Pilate, Jesus is once again so preoccupied with "truth" that he manages to say just the wrong thing ("You are right in saying that I am a king") but won't back it up with a threat ("and for centuries Rome will be so subject to me that Romans will name their kids after my disciples").
Here is the difference between Jesus and Peter. One man knew who he was and what mattered. The other didn't. It's that simple.
ADDENDUM - a sister in Christ sent along the following comment, which I print in full. She is showing considerably more grace to Peter than I did. Happily for Peter, so did the Lord!
I think Peter is in training here. God needed to show Peter, who Peter was, before God could train Peter to become who God wanted him to become. A revelation of who Peter was, was necessary, before training could really begin. I think this is true of many of us. And from here, God took Peter to much higher levels of walking w/ God. And Peter was ready, because he knew where he could fail. And he wanted more of God. May this be true of us all; to want more of God, because we know who we are and how easily we can miss God.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
John 17: WWJP (What Would Jesus Pray?)
Do I really want to know Jesus?
My habitual skimming over of John 17 makes me wonder. In this extended prayer, my Teacher and Lord pours out his pure, inner heart for believers, “those whom you gave me.” As a godly mother stands in passionate authority in the gap between her child and the ravenous world, so Jesus gives himself for us in prayer, revealing much about God’s will for His Beloved.
1. Jesus asks God for authority over all people and for his own self-glorification (“glorify me”). What a bold prayer. It would seem selfish if I prayed so. But the “lifting up” Jesus seeks is on a Roman cross, and the authority to give eternal life – something he already possesses - will come at the cost of his own dignity, comfort, freedom and life. “Can you drink the cup I drink?”
2. Jesus asks God to protect us “so that they may be one as we are one.” What does this mean!? For starters: “I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them…they have obeyed my word.” I am one with Jesus and the Father when I accept and obey the words the Father gave Jesus to give to me. AND I AM ONE WITH ALL OTHER SAINTS WHO DO LIKEWISE. Lord it is hard enough to know if/when I obey your word; how can I see into the hearts of others? “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” Deep calls to deep, and the Spirit in me recognizes the Spirit in other believers – how good and pleasant it is. Separated from them by (some) creed and background and worship practice and language and politics and standards of living, still I see and hear Jesus in the word of their testimony and the humility and love in their deeds.
3. It has been my experience that unity is best experienced in trench warfare, not behind-the-lines haggling. When Christians gather to debate doctrine, they emphasize their differences. When they stand shoulder to shoulder against the foe – say, at a Billy Graham crusade or an abortion clinic – their very real need for each other is emphasized and their differences de-emphasized. Yes, we must walk in truth together. But meanwhile….Christian unity for me would be the Pope and Billy Graham bicycle-locked together in front of an abortion clinic.
4. In response to the prayer of Jesus, God will not take me “out of the world,” but he will protect me from the evil one. As I pray like Jesus prayed, I will not pray for my children to be removed from the world, but that their souls will be protected. I work in the Vermont Statehouse almost daily; yeah, I am “in the world.” I am learning how to not be of it.
5. I await God’s answer to the glorious prayer of vs. 24, which he has answered at least in part for Diane and many other saints: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” Now THAT is Oneness!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
John 16: killing people as a service to God
Jesus warns his disciples that "a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me."
But not because they don't know the scriptures. Moses tells Israel in Deuteronomy 13: if your brother, child, love of your life, or best friend suggests the worship of false gods, "Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death."
Like Sharia law today, Mosaic law punished lawbreaking in a theocracy. The worship of false gods was rebellious treason against the King of Glory. Even today in the U.S., treason is a capital crime. In first century Israel, worship of false gods is responsible for Israel's demise and the synagogue leaders are determined to set matters right.
Just one problem - Jesus IS God. His followers are obeying the One True God. The synagogue leaders are spiritually blind. It is possible to know and obey the scriptures in part but still be horribly wrong. That's why I love reading the gospels. If you bathe in the spirit, teachings and examples of Jesus, it is hard to go far wrong.
The law compelled obedience - or tried to, anyway. Grace compells no-one against their will but works and wills according to His good pleasure - the willing obedience of the saints. "The love of Christ compells us," Paul wrote. Where is stoning? It is excluded. And the persecuted saint must regard threats of same with the closing words of Chapter 16: "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." Through Him I can live in peace, insofar as it is possible, and walk in truth.
But not because they don't know the scriptures. Moses tells Israel in Deuteronomy 13: if your brother, child, love of your life, or best friend suggests the worship of false gods, "Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death."
Like Sharia law today, Mosaic law punished lawbreaking in a theocracy. The worship of false gods was rebellious treason against the King of Glory. Even today in the U.S., treason is a capital crime. In first century Israel, worship of false gods is responsible for Israel's demise and the synagogue leaders are determined to set matters right.
Just one problem - Jesus IS God. His followers are obeying the One True God. The synagogue leaders are spiritually blind. It is possible to know and obey the scriptures in part but still be horribly wrong. That's why I love reading the gospels. If you bathe in the spirit, teachings and examples of Jesus, it is hard to go far wrong.
The law compelled obedience - or tried to, anyway. Grace compells no-one against their will but works and wills according to His good pleasure - the willing obedience of the saints. "The love of Christ compells us," Paul wrote. Where is stoning? It is excluded. And the persecuted saint must regard threats of same with the closing words of Chapter 16: "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." Through Him I can live in peace, insofar as it is possible, and walk in truth.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
John 15: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Just for fun I have loosely set the words of 15:10-15 to the music of "What a Friend We Have In Jesus," written by Joseph Scriven to comfort his mother who lived an ocean away. See Wikipedia entry and my notes below for more history of the song.....The rhythm of my contrived wording isn't great, but that's not the point. He could call us servants, but no - you and I are friends of the God-Man. O magnum mysterium.
Verse One
If you all obey my teachings
you will remain in my love
just as I obey my Father
who has sent me from above
I have told you this so my joy
will be in you and complete
My command is love each other
just I have loved you each
Verse Two
Greater love has no one than he
lays his life down for his friends
you are my friends true and faithful
if you love as I command
I no longer call you servants
who know not their master's will
Now, I call you friends and brothers
Bound forever, peace be still
Some notes from Wikipedia -
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is a Christian hymn originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s.[1] The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn. The hymn also has many versions with different lyrics in multiple languages, such as the Japanese version "Itsukushimi Fukaki" (いつくしみ深き, lit. "Deep Affection"), or a version sung during World War I with the line "When this bloody war is over" in place of the original title.[2] The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal notes, "In spite of the fact that this hymn, with its tune, has been criticized as being too much on the order of the sentimental gospel type, its popularity remains strong, and the hymn retains a place in modern hymnals."
Personally I think that last line is more commentary on its author than on the song. Also, it should be noted that the American labor movement gave its own words to this then-universally popular tune:
Are you tired and heavy laden
Are you living in a shack
Are your wife and children starving
Get that boss right off your back!
Verse One
If you all obey my teachings
you will remain in my love
just as I obey my Father
who has sent me from above
I have told you this so my joy
will be in you and complete
My command is love each other
just I have loved you each
Verse Two
Greater love has no one than he
lays his life down for his friends
you are my friends true and faithful
if you love as I command
I no longer call you servants
who know not their master's will
Now, I call you friends and brothers
Bound forever, peace be still
Some notes from Wikipedia -
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is a Christian hymn originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s.[1] The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn. The hymn also has many versions with different lyrics in multiple languages, such as the Japanese version "Itsukushimi Fukaki" (いつくしみ深き, lit. "Deep Affection"), or a version sung during World War I with the line "When this bloody war is over" in place of the original title.[2] The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal notes, "In spite of the fact that this hymn, with its tune, has been criticized as being too much on the order of the sentimental gospel type, its popularity remains strong, and the hymn retains a place in modern hymnals."
Personally I think that last line is more commentary on its author than on the song. Also, it should be noted that the American labor movement gave its own words to this then-universally popular tune:
Are you tired and heavy laden
Are you living in a shack
Are your wife and children starving
Get that boss right off your back!
Monday, April 25, 2011
John 14: When in doubt, close eyes and open Bible
“So I am 16 years young and a brand new believer suffering my first crisis of faith. I am having trouble "believing in Jesus." So I grab my Living New Testament and shut my eyes and pray "Lord show me you are really there" and open the Bible and stick my finger on the page. And the verse that jumps off the page from underneath my finger is John 14:1: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me."
I laugh now. I wasn't laughing then. I was bubbling over with excitement and sharing my Revelation with the kids at youth group, most of whom looked at me with puzzled glances.
Years later there is still plenty of material for comfort in John 14. I am still a blind young man, yearning to see. Jesus shows me the mansion waiting for me. He reminds me that I will get there by Him: "I am the way, the truth and the life." He reminds me that although He is in heaven and I cannot see Him, yet He is with me because the Father "will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Through the Spirit I can see with the eye of faith Him who the world cannot, will not see.
And he promises this blind young man peace. First, peace with God, purchased with sweat, blood and tears in the garden and Golgotha. Second, peace with my fellow humans because I am relieved of the burden of selfish striving. I do not need to justify myself or be first (although I still do so anyway sometimes). What a relief to not be a slave to self, but to cast all my cares upon Him, because He loves me. Neither do I need to compell others to serve my will. Rather than try to control others, I give God control. It's much more peaceful that way.
I laugh now. I wasn't laughing then. I was bubbling over with excitement and sharing my Revelation with the kids at youth group, most of whom looked at me with puzzled glances.
Years later there is still plenty of material for comfort in John 14. I am still a blind young man, yearning to see. Jesus shows me the mansion waiting for me. He reminds me that I will get there by Him: "I am the way, the truth and the life." He reminds me that although He is in heaven and I cannot see Him, yet He is with me because the Father "will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Through the Spirit I can see with the eye of faith Him who the world cannot, will not see.
And he promises this blind young man peace. First, peace with God, purchased with sweat, blood and tears in the garden and Golgotha. Second, peace with my fellow humans because I am relieved of the burden of selfish striving. I do not need to justify myself or be first (although I still do so anyway sometimes). What a relief to not be a slave to self, but to cast all my cares upon Him, because He loves me. Neither do I need to compell others to serve my will. Rather than try to control others, I give God control. It's much more peaceful that way.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
John 13: What a crazy idea
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
But before he did that, a disciple wearing a beret and a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of Jesus wearing a headband stood up and said, "Lord, it's time to be forceful about your kingdom. Turn the mob against these running dog gentile overlords. John here likes to write - appoint him your Minister of Propaganda. The people will rise up and overthrow the hated oppressors! And to deal with those who don't, Peter here is good with a sword, make him the leader of your Revolutionary Army. You're always praying 'thy kingdom come,' now you need to make it happen."
A second disciple dressed in a fine linen suit and wearing an expansive sundial on his wrist said to Jesus, "that's right, Teacher, it's time to make your kingdom happen. But not by revolution. You need to seize control of the political system. This will take money - appoint Joseph of Arimathea your chief fundraiser. With money, you can held Nicodemus build a power base on the Sanhedrin and make friends with the Romans. Pretty soon you will have real power. You really will be the King of the Jews."
A third disciple told the first two, "that is so worldly. We are called to be separate. Why concern yourself with the rest of the world? As long as we are taught, healed and fed, who cares what happens to all those sinners?"
Jesus said nothing in response. He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
"Sentimental," snorted the revolutionary.
"Clueless," sniffed the politician.
"Not exactly seeker-friendly," whined the separated but self-focused saint.
Then Jesus said, "you call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
Listening closely, three other saints - Damian of Molokai, Amy of Dohnavur, and Theresa of Calcutta - reached for their towels.
But before he did that, a disciple wearing a beret and a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of Jesus wearing a headband stood up and said, "Lord, it's time to be forceful about your kingdom. Turn the mob against these running dog gentile overlords. John here likes to write - appoint him your Minister of Propaganda. The people will rise up and overthrow the hated oppressors! And to deal with those who don't, Peter here is good with a sword, make him the leader of your Revolutionary Army. You're always praying 'thy kingdom come,' now you need to make it happen."
A second disciple dressed in a fine linen suit and wearing an expansive sundial on his wrist said to Jesus, "that's right, Teacher, it's time to make your kingdom happen. But not by revolution. You need to seize control of the political system. This will take money - appoint Joseph of Arimathea your chief fundraiser. With money, you can held Nicodemus build a power base on the Sanhedrin and make friends with the Romans. Pretty soon you will have real power. You really will be the King of the Jews."
A third disciple told the first two, "that is so worldly. We are called to be separate. Why concern yourself with the rest of the world? As long as we are taught, healed and fed, who cares what happens to all those sinners?"
Jesus said nothing in response. He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
"Sentimental," snorted the revolutionary.
"Clueless," sniffed the politician.
"Not exactly seeker-friendly," whined the separated but self-focused saint.
Then Jesus said, "you call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
Listening closely, three other saints - Damian of Molokai, Amy of Dohnavur, and Theresa of Calcutta - reached for their towels.
Friday, April 22, 2011
John 12: Snapshots of the Passion
Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. In the emailed version of this Good Friday blog post for the One Year New Testament Blog, I include as an attachment some remarkable photos of a Passion sculpture sent to me by my father-in-law, Clarence Carlsen of Gansevoort, NY. Clarence found these photos on the Internet and passed them along to me. As an accomplished amateur photographer from his days in the Army of Occupation in peacetime Germany, he knows a good picture when he sees one. Thanks, Clarence, and Happy Easter to you and Helen Ann!
The photos provide visual impact for John 12:23-28 from http://audio-bible.com/niv/, in which the Lamb of God describes his values and passions:
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33
I think that the idea of giving up the power to compell in favor of sacrificial service is at the core of Jesus's will for Christians in family, work and government. It is an upside down, transformative way of looking at things, because we have been standing on our heads so long that it seems normal. As John Michael Talbot sings: Behold now the Kingdom, see with new eyes.
The photos provide visual impact for John 12:23-28 from http://audio-bible.com/niv/, in which the Lamb of God describes his values and passions:
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33
I think that the idea of giving up the power to compell in favor of sacrificial service is at the core of Jesus's will for Christians in family, work and government. It is an upside down, transformative way of looking at things, because we have been standing on our heads so long that it seems normal. As John Michael Talbot sings: Behold now the Kingdom, see with new eyes.
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