AMOS 5:6-7, 10-15

THE BACKGROUND

One of the commentaries that I read summarizes the background better than I can.  It reads like this:

” Amos preached in the Northern Kingdom (Israel) about 750 BC. Israel, also called “house of Joseph,” was enjoying a period of great prosperity, which diverted their attention from the growing menace of Assyrian power. Amos believed that unless Israel ceased her unrighteous, immoral ways, God would abandon them to Assyria. The people, however, relied on their special relationship with God and viewed their prosperity as a sign of God’s blessings. ‘Gate’ means the entrance to a city or village, where elders met to hold court and dispense justice.”

THE DETAIL

1. Verses 6 and 14 are at the heart of Amos’ plea to the people.  “Seek the Lord and live.”  The admonition in verse 6 is that if they don’t change their ways, 
   1. The Lord will destroy the northern kingdom of Israel. 
   2. Bethel was their main temple of worship; this will be devoured by fire. 
   3. Nobody will be able to stop this process, once it is under way.
2. Wormwood creates a bitter oil. Justice in the land has a bitter taste—their “justice” is not justice at all.  Righteous actions don’t stand a chance.  (v. 7)
3. The “they” in verse 10 are those who are acting unjustly.  They hate it when the elders dispense real justice at the gate; they hate hearing the truth. 
4. Verse 11a gives a glimpse at two of the injustices that the rich and powerful have done to the poor.
5. Next come the consequences of their bad behavior.  (vv. 11b-12)
6. Verse 13 is a little confusing.  Let’s paraphrase it this way—“If you are a smart and just person, this is a good time to keep your mouth shut!”
7. The remainder is a final plea from Amos for the people to love good actions and hate evil ones. He suggests that for those who heed his warning, will be a spared, and be a “remnant of Joseph (Israel)”.  (vv. 14-15)

THE TAKEAWAY

This was written nearly 3,000 years ago.  Yet, it could be applied to our time and our country.  We cut the taxes for the rich, and attempt to eliminate programs that feed and heal the poor.  Things haven’t changed much, have they?  Shall we expect God to get angry again, devour, and break out like fire?  What shall we do?  Shall we keep our mouths shut, for it is an evil time?  Or shall we speak up against greed and injustice. Perhaps if we do so, we will become God’s “remnant” in this time and place.
 

HEBREWS 4:12-16

THE BACKGROUND

This book was written to Jewish Christians, to explain the life of Jesus within the context of the Jewish faith.  Today, Jesus is called “our high priest”.  It is helpful to know what this is.  There was only one high priest at a time.  Once a year, he would offer a sacrifice to God for the sins of the people.

It is also good to know that one of a king’s duties was to sit on his throne and hear court cases. Kings acted sort of like a one-man supreme court.

THE DETAIL

1. But first, we are reminded that God’s word is as sharp as a two-edged sword.  There’s no escaping it; somebody’s gonna get cut! This sword divides soul from spirit. Talk about a fire and brimstone sermon—this one is intense!  Not only is there no place to hide, we are naked; totally exposed, sin and all. (vv. 12-13)
2. But here’s the good news—we have Jesus, our great high priest.  Since he’s already ascended to the Father, he’s better than your average high priest.  Because of this, let’s “hold fast to our confession [of our sins]”.  (v. 14)
3. This is the part I like.  We are reminded that Jesus lived among us, and knew temptation.  He understands.  He can sympathize with our temptation and weakness, even though he himself was sinless. (v. 15)
4. Now that Jesus is seated on a throne at his Father’s right hand, he will judge us.  But we may approach boldly because of what we just heard in the previous verses.  We will receive mercy and grace, because of what Jesus first did for us, dying on the cross for our sins.  (v. 16)

THE TAKEAWAY

It is good to remind ourselves that Judgement Day will come, and we will all need to give an accounting of our lives.  But we can take comfort in God’s loving grace, who gave His only son as a sacrifice for our sins.

MARK 10:17-31

THE BACKGROUND

In Jesus’ day, if someone was prosperous, it was an indication that they were blessed by God. Prosperity allowed the rich person more leisure time, so they could devote more time to spiritual studies and charitable giving.  (At least in theory.)  This fact will become important later on in today’s passage.

THE DETAIL

1. Jesus is on the road again.  As he walks along, a man runs up and kneels before him. It sounds like he is not only eager to talk to Jesus, but has great respect for him as well.  He calls Jesus “Good Teacher”, and asks what he needs to do go have eternal life.  (v. 17)
2. Jesus starts by challenging the “Good Teacher” label.  He says that only God is good.  Now, we know that Jesus was/is God, but right now in the story that’s a secret.  The common thought of the day was that God was the only perfectly good being; everybody else fell short.  (v. 18)
3. Then, Jesus listed some of the Ten Commandments.  “You know these, right?”, Jesus seems to say.  (v. 19)
4. The man says “Yeah, yeah, I’ve kept all of those since I was a kid.  (v. 20)
5. Then, Jesus lowers the boom.  “One more thing—sell everything, give the money to the poor, and follow me.”  (v. 21)
6. You know the rest. The man was rich.  This was too much for him to take.  He left shocked and broken-hearted.  (v. 22)
7. Jesus then turns to the disciples, and drives the point home.  It’s really hard for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God. He gives the example of a camel and the eye of a needle*, to make his point.  (vv. 23-26)
8. The disciples are astounded at this teaching.  They are of the thinking that this rich man was blessed by God, which was why he was rich in the first place.  If this rich man can’t make it, what chance do they stand?  (v. 26)
9. Here is the glimmer of hope—the Good News.  Jesus says for “mortals” (us humans) it is impossible, but not for God.  In other words, our salvation must come from God, not from our own actions.  (v. 27)

THE TAKEAWAY

Remember that the rich man asked “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus’ answer was true.  There is nothing that one can do to earn their way to heaven.  Jesus’ second point in this discussion is that he recognized the man’s wealth.  Jesus must have known that the man’s wealth had become more important to him than his faith.  This, I believe, is why he challenged him to sell everything, and follow him.  He was telling the man to reorder his priorities.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It is all too easy for our possessions to overtake our faith life.  If the chips were down, and we had to give it all up to follow Jesus, would we? If our answer is yes, maybe it’s a good time to reevaluate our giving, our service, and our commitment to the Lord? It’s a matter of priority.  Whatever our answer, we must still put our trust in God’s grace and our sins at the foot of the cross of Jesus.  We can find comfort in Hebrews 4:15-16.

* The Eye of a Needle

There are two separate understandings of what Jesus meant by this phrase.

1. Some bible scholars point to the fact that the city gate had two gates or doors.  One was large, so that wagons, camels, and mounted horsemen could travel through them. That was the main gate.  There was also a smaller gate for pedestrians.  It was easier to open for foot traffic. This was called the “eye of the needle”. It was, some scholars say, what Jesus was referring to in this story.  It is difficult for a camel to fit through such a small doorway.
2. Other theologians believe that Jesus was referring to an actual sewing needle.  It is much more difficult for a camel to pass through a sewing needle.  It is impossible.  (v. 27)  They believe that Jesus was using hyperbole (an exaggerated statement) to show how difficult it would be.

Jesus’ intent does not change, no matter which of these you choose.  But it’s a much stronger statement with the second.  I believe Jesus was exaggerating to make his point.

FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS

This Sunday, we celebrate and study the angels.  More specifically, we observe the role that Michael has played and will play in God’s realm. 

DANIEL 10:10-14;12:1-3

THE BACKGROUND

This is a book of hero stories written about a man of God named Daniel.  The setting is in Babylon, during exile.  Modern biblical scholars believe that the book was written around 160 BCE to be an inspiration to God’s people.  The people of Juda were being forced to abandon their faith and worship Greek Gods.  There are horrible and gory stories in the book of Maccabees, which tell of the torture that God’s people endured.  The book of Daniel was written to inspire them to hold fast to their faith.

In the first verses of chapter 10, Daniel had been mourning for three weeks.  He has a vision.  He sees a man that isn’t a man, but the archangel Gabriel.  He falls to the ground, trembling, and in a trance.

THE DETAIL

• Gabriel bids him to get up.  He has a message for him.  Daniel needs to stand up and listen.  (vv. 10-11)
• Gabriel explains that he heard his mourning three weeks ago, but he was preoccupied on “God-business”.  The important thing here is that Gabriel did hear Daniel’s mourning, but had other stuff to attend to.  (v. 12)
• Next, he explains what detained him.  He had business (“trouble”) with the prince of Persia.  Michael is called a “chief prince”.  The Hebrew word sarim is the title for Michael. It means either archangel or prince. Sarim Michael is the patron angel for Judah.  Gabriel gives him an assignment, so Gabriel could attend to Daniel’s mourning plea.  (v. 13)
• He also explains that he has come to show him the future through visions,[so that his faith may be strengthened]. (v. 14)
• Chapter 11, not in today’s reading, contains the vision that Gabriel provides Daniel. Its detailed description perfectly match the conflicts that occur in Palestine during the period following Alexander the Great, up to the time of the Maccabean revolt.  Because this description matches history so perfectly, it is believed that the author of the book of Daniel lived during that era.
• Chapter 12 is the happy ending for God’s people.  After the great conflict, Archangel Michael will come to deliver the living raise the dead.  Those who are wise and are faithful (have their names written in the book) will shine like stars!  (vv. 1-3)

THE TAKEAWAY

Through these passages we become familiar with the role of archangels Gabriel and Michael.  We see that they are God’s messengers and helpers. One verse, not in today’s reading, sums it up very well, when Gabriel tells Daniel “Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe.  Be strong and courageous!”   We should do the same.

REVELATION 12:1-12

THE BACKGROUND

The book of Revelation is a challenging book to read.  It mainly consists of the apocalyptic literary form.  It is loaded with imagery and symbolism.  Other books of the bible contain chapters of apocalyptic writing, but none so much as Revelation.  Some use this book like it was God’s great Ouija board for predicting the future. This approach has made millions for authors and some TV evangelists.  Other theologians view the book in its literary and historical setting.  They believe it was a familiar literary form, back in the day.  Much of the symbolism that meant so much to the early readers has been lost in antiquity. Furthermore, rather than a book to strike fear into the readers’ hearts, the book was intended to provide comfort and strength to those faith is being challenged.  The book is a series of visions that John had.  These visions are cyclical—they repeat themselves, to a certain extent.  We join John about halfway through his vision-book.  Keep in mind that our focus here is on the role of the archangel Michael.

In the first part of chapter 12, a woman (representing Mother Israel) gives birth to a son.  The devil, in the form of a dragon, is poised to destroy the baby as soon as it is born.  The baby is whisked away to God on His throne, and the woman goes into hiding.

THE DETAIL

• A war breaks out in heaven, where archangel Michael and his warriors battle the dragon-devil and his army.  (v. 7)
• The dragon-devil and his ilk are defeated.  They are expelled from heaven, and find their way to earth.  They will wreak their havoc there.  (vv. 8-9)
• Here is the good news.  We on earth have the power of God, as manifested in the Messiah.  The devil cannot harm us.  We are safe!  (vv. 10-12)

THE TAKEAWAY

The reason to read this passage this week is to see Archangel Michael’s role in defeating evil and being the champion of God’s people.  We are also reassured of salvation through the blood of the Lamb.

LUKE 10:17-20

THE BACKGROUND

This passage is the concluding portion of the story about the sending of the seventy.  About halfway through Jesus’ ministry, he commissions seventy disciples (including the 12 apostles) to spread out into the surrounding countryside.  Their job is to prepare the way for Jesus’ healing and teaching.  He instructs them to travel light, and gives them other advice for their task.  Our passage begins with the return of the 70 from their mission. 

THE DETAIL

• The disciples return reporting great success!  (v. 17)
• Jesus gives them a sort of heavenly attaboy.  (vv. 18-19)
• Next, Jesus, tells them not to “get the big head” over what they’ve done.  Instead, they should be excited that their names are written in a book in heaven.  (v. 20)

THE TAKEAWAY

In the other passages read today, Michael and the other angels are given the power and authority to do the work of the Lord.  In today’s reading, Jesus’ disciples (including you and me) receive this power and authority. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

My name appears on lists that are in several books or records.  I cannot think of another book which is more important to be on than this one in heaven, can you?

ISAIAH 50:4-9a

THE BACKGROUND

The year is ca. 550 BC.  The People of God are in exile in Babylon.  Isaiah writes to encourage God’s people to be strong in the face of trials.  A “Servant of Yahweh” appears in Isaiah’s writings.  Four “songs” are written. 

This servant is never identified by Isaiah.  Biblical scholars have debated hotly as to who this might be.  Several answers are possible.  But let’s look at the bible passage for today, and leave the “who” for later. Today’s passage is the third song. To understand the whole package, it is good if you’d read all four songs.

THE DETAIL

• God gave this unnamed Servant the gift of inspired teaching.  Each morning, God speaks to him, and he obeys God’s call.  (vv. 4-5)
• The Servant suffers for heeding God’s call. The Servant’s faith and commitment is strong.  He remains resolute.  (v. 6)
• The Servant finds strength in his faith.  The phrase “set my face like flint” reminds me of Indian arrowheads.  Have you ever held one?  They are hard, and they are sharp.  This is the hardness of the Servant’s strength!  “You wanna fight?  BRING IT ON! God is on my side!”  (vv. 7-9)

THE TAKEAWAY

Two basic interpretations are possible for this reading. Both are valid.  Choose which you prefer.

1. This is an Old Testament prophesy about Jesus the Messiah, prophesied by Isaiah over 600 years before Jesus’ birth.  All these Servant Songs certainly sound like they’re talking about Jesus.  Jesus demonstrated this strength in his faith-walk while here on earth.  We should do likewise.

2. God recognized the desperation of the people in exile, and sent them a word of encouragement.  This Servant could be anyone or everyone.  Jeremiah suffered in this way.  It is likely that many others in exile also suffered for their faith.  200 years before the birth of Jesus, the Jews were under intense pressure to conform to Greek customs and religious practices.  The atrocities are written down in the book of Maccabees.  These words would also be a comfort and source of strength to them. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Jesus personified these words when he walked this earth.  He is our role model.  Many, many others since Jesus have suffered for their faith.  Let us all set our face like flint, and know that it is the Lord God Yahweh who helps us when our faith is challenged.

JAMES 3:1-12

THE BACKGROUND

The book of James appears to be more of a collection of Christian wisdom than a letter from an individual.  Chapter Three focuses on one particular subject—the danger of loose lips and false teaching. If you look at verse one and verses eight and nine, the problem is clearly stated.

THE DETAIL

• Teachers of the Word are held to a higher standard than others.  (Now, I’m getting nervous!)  Teaching is one of the spiritual gifts listed by Paul several times in his writings.  Teachers were, and still are, a crucial part of God’s church on earth.  (v. 1)
• James admits that nobody’s perfect.  Everybody’s going to make mistakes.  Later, he goes beyond this statement, however.  (v. 2)
• James gives us several analogies which demonstrate how something  small cam control something much larger.  (vv. 3-7)
• In verse 8, James lets the cat out of the bag—he’s talking about our tongues.  What damage we can do with that little thing!  (v. 8)
• In verses 9 & 10, we get a hint of what he’s talking about.  It is believed that some of the religious leaders (teachers), were acting less Christ-like and more human-like, cursing people more than loving them. 
• James gives some contrasting images, to make us consider our actions.  His point is that if you are “in Christ”, you give up these evil ways, and walk in the way of Jesus; the way of love. There is no room for these old behaviors.  (vv. 10-12)

THE TAKEAWAY

I can tell you from personal experience that an unbridled tongue is a dangerous thing.  We have all said things that we regret.  Once said, they are impossible to fully retract.  It is critical for us to remember our “place”.  We are Christians.  We represent all our brothers and sisters.  We do this in what we do and in what we say. 

MARK 8:27-38

THE BACKGROUND

Today’s gospel is about Peter recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, and about what it means to follow Jesus.  This is a familiar story, because it appears in three gospels. If you like, check out Matthew 16 and Luke 9.  Compare the three, to see what each writer includes and omits.

THE DETAIL

• Jesus and his disciples have been travelling. They are now hitting the villages of Caesarea Philippi, to the north of the Sea of Galilee.  Along the way, he asks a simple question—“Who do people say that I am?”  (v. 27)
•  Their answer might seem strange to us.  Keep in mind that they did not have CNN or Fox News.  Everything was word of mouth.  No newspapers, headline news, or editorial pages.  You had to figure things out for yourself.  Herod himself wondered if Jesus might be a reincarnated John the Baptist. (Mark 6:14-16)  You may recall from the Old Testament that Elijah did not die, but was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.  People expected him to return as a precursor to the coming of the Messiah.  So, the disciples’ answers were not surprising to Jesus.  (v. 28)
• Then comes the clincher—“Who do YOU say that I am?” Only Peter has the nerve to answer. “You are the Messiah.”  (“The son of God” is omitted by Mark, as is the renaming of Simon to be Peter, the rock.)  (v. 29)
• He says “Don’t tell anybody!”  This is difficult, but necessary.  He has a lot of teaching ahead of him.  If everyone starts calling him the Messiah, they’re going to expect stuff he’s not ready to deliver.  (v. 30)
• Since Peter has declared Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus teaches them what the Messiah’s mission truly is.  The world expects the Messiah to be a warrior king who delivers them from the clutches of the Roman occupation.  Jesus is not interested in politics, but in our souls. (v. 31)
• Peter, bless his heart, doesn’t get it.  He’s thinking like a human; he’s thinking politics. He tells Jesus “Hey, man, don’t talk like that.  You’re the Messiah.  Don’t talk about suffering and dying.”  [My personal paraphrase.]  (v. 32)
• Jesus turns Peter’s rebuke back on Peter.  He calls Peter Satan!  I guess if he’s going to resist God the Father and Son’s mission, then he deserves the title.  Jesus tells Peter that he’s thinking like a human, and not like a disciple.  (v. 33)
• Jesus goes on to explain how to think like disciple. (This is where we come in.)  We need to be prepared to be like Jesus, willing to “take up our cross and follow him”.  We need to be so committed to following him that we are willing to die for him.  We need to be like the Suffering Servant of Isaiah.  (vv.  34-38)

THE TAKEAWAY

This is not easy, but it is what we are called to do. It is called the cost of discipleship. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Are you ready and willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus, regardless of the cost?

ISAIAH 35:4-7a

THE BACKGROUND

The Israelites, God’s chosen people, were living in slavery in Egypt.  Led by Moses, God delivered them from slavery; they wandered in the desert for 40 years, and finally reached the Promised Land.  They prospered there for many years.  They peaked out with the reign of King David and his son Solomon.  After that, things went downhill.  The kings of Judah, the descendants of David, allowed for the worship of other gods, mainly the Canaanite god named Baal.  They ignored the prophets who spoke for God.  Finally, God allowed the Babylonians to defeat Judah in war.  Most of the survivors were carted off to Babylon, where they lived for 60 years.  Many longed to return to their homeland, but returning seemed impossible. The Babylonians had an army; they had nothing.  A revolt was out of the question.  It would take a miracle for them to go back home. 

Isaiah brings a message of hope from God during these discouraging times.  Isaiah gives the people hope.  He told the people that God was going to do something miraculous.  They needed to wait for it.  Today’s reading is part of this prophecy from God through Isaiah.

In 538 B.C., Cyrus II of Persia defeats the Babylonians, and sends the people of Judah home.  God had used a pagan king to liberate his people from exile.  They were going home!

THE DETAIL

• This passage starts with a word of encouragement—“be strong, do not fear!”  God is coming to avenge your suffering.  Those Babylonians are going to pay!  “Recompense” is one of those big bible words meaning ”to pay for wrongdoing”.  The key phrase here is “He will come and save you.” (v. 4)
• Verses 5-6a tell of miraculous things that will happen.  The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and mute will speak.  Something impossible is about to happen.  This section mirrors part of today’s gospel lesson.
• The remainder of the passage states that the journey home will not be as difficult as the exodus from Egypt.  God is going to clear a path to lead them home, providing precious water for them on the desert journey.  (vv. 6b-7a)

THE TAKEAWAY

God still loves us and cares for us today.  He will lift us up from our despair and misery. He will come and save us. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Can you recall a time in your life when God provided you with the strength to escape an impossible situation?  It is good to recall these times, and thank Him for his saving love and care.
 

JAMES 2:1-10, 14-17

THE BACKGROUND

Martin Luther found the book of James troubling. The apostle Paul clearly and frequently states that our “salvation is a free gift.  It is not owing to works…” (Ephesians 2:8-9, my paraphrase)  James’ book of wisdom has a heavy emphasis on “works”. In today’s passage, he even goes so far as to say “Can faith save you?” (14b)  The difference between Paul and James is that James’ instruction was addressed to believers—people of faith.  They are already saved.  James is encouraging his Christian readers to show their faith in their actions.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  Let’s look at the detail.

THE DETAIL

• Imagine the situation where a TV celebrity unexpectedly walks into the vestibule of your church.  At the same time, a homeless person enters through another door. Most of us would be so busy swooning and fussing over that famous person; we’d ignore that shabby, smelly other person.  James reminds that Jesus has different priorities.  Consider the words from the Sermon on the Mount “blessed are the poor”. Jesus would fuss over the homeless person.  We should do likewise.  (vv. 1-10)
• Remember, James is writing to saved Christians.  He challenges them (and us) to show our faith in our actions.  Our actions should be a reflection of our faith.  If we say one thing and do another, we are not sincere.  If the faith you profess is not shown in your actions, your faith is not alive.  (vv. 14-17)

THE TAKEAWAY

James speaks of accountability in verse 10.  It is true that we will all answer to our failings on Judgement Day.  But it is also true that our failings (or sin) are forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross.  We should strive to live a life free of sin, but rest in the assurance that our failings are nailed on the cross.

This passage is not intended to be a condemnation, but a word of encouragement to become alive in our faith.  We do this by doing.  Last week, we read James 1:22-- “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers.”  The apostle Paul also encourages us to “bear fruit”.  Our motivation in “doing” is not to earn our salvation, but to show the genuineness of our faith to those around us. 
 

MARK 7:24-37

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus and his disciples are on the road again.  My father-in-law would claim that they drove a Honda, because “Jesus and his disciples were of one Accord.”  (One of his favorite jokes.)  But I believe that Jesus walked to Tyre from Capernaum, where he was teaching in chapter 6.  Tyre is located in modern day Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast.  At that time, it had a reputation for being a wicked city. Also, it was populated mainly by gentiles and not by Jews.  Why did Jesus go there?

THE DETAIL

• There is a hint here in verse 24 that Jesus might be trying to escape the crowds by going up to Tyre.  But it didn’t work.  He was healing people, and performing other miracles.  The word spread.  This was inescapable.  But maybe there was another reason for Jesus to travel to this region. 
• A Syrophoenician woman hears of Jesus’ presence. “Syrophoenician” simply means that she is from the area of Syria/Phoenicia on the Mediterranean coast. Her daughter is possessed by a demon, and she begs Jesus to exorcise the demon. (vv. 25-26) 
• What happens next is a little disturbing to most Christians.  Jesus “cops an attitude” with this gentile woman.  He tells her that “the children” (the Jews) should be fed first.  It is not fair to give this food to “the dogs”. You need to know that in Jesus’ day, dogs were not loved as they are today; they were trash-animals.  Jesus is basically calling this gentile woman a trash-animal!  (v. 27)
• The woman responds with a humble but clever answer. (v. 28)
• Essentially, Jesus says “you got me there!”, and heals the child, even though the child is not present.  (vv. 29-30)
• On his journey home, Jesus swings by the Decapolis.  The Decapolis is a group of ten cities, all of which have a gentile population.  A deaf man is brought to him who also has a speech impediment.  Jesus cures the man of both ailments.  (vv. 31-35)
• Jesus orders everyone to keep this miracle to themselves.  But how can you not share something like this with others?  The people tell everyone.  (v. 36)
• Next comes the link to today’s first lesson. The people are astounded at what he has done.  It seems to be a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy.  [“Maybe this guy is the longed-for Messiah.”]  (v. 37)

THE TAKEAWAY

This “don’t tell anybody” instruction happens frequently in the gospel of Mark.  We call it the Messianic Secret.  I believe that the reason Jesus said this was to delay what he know would become of him, once he is identified as the Messiah.  In addition to dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus also had many things to teach us.  He need time to relay this message to us, and tried (vainly) to buy some time by telling us to put a “lid on it”.  Now, of course, we need to remove this lid, and tell everyone!

Why would Jesus go to somewhere that is known to be a gentile area, if he considers them to be “dogs”?  Was it just to get away from the crowds, or did he go there knowing that he would show God’s love to non-Jews?  Calling the Gentile woman a “dog” doesn’t seem like the Jesus I know. Maybe (and this is just my opinion), Jesus was leading his disciples on, adopting the attitude he knew they would have. Then, he shows them the folly of this attitude, and heals the Gentile woman’s daughter.  He then follows this up by healing another person in another Gentile city. Just as James reminds us, actions speak louder than words.  Jesus’ actions tell us where his heart lies.  This is good news for us, since we are all Gentiles. 

DEUTERONOMY 4:1-2, 6-9

THE BACKGROUND

The setting for the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ long, final dissertation to Israel, before they enter the Promised Land.  The first three chapters are a detailed recounting of their years of wandering in the wilderness.  Beginning with chapter four, Moses gives detailed instructions to Israel.  Many of these instructions became part of the 613 “Laws of Moses”.  The book ends with Moses’ death in chapter 34.

THE DETAIL

• Moses begins by telling them what he’s going to tell them—some rules to live by. (v. 1)
• He then states that these rules are complete.  They shall not to add or subtract from them.  This verse shares a theme with today’s gospel lesson.  More on that later.  (v. 2)
• The next paragraph gives the reason for all these statutes and ordinances. These will set them apart from the surrounding nations.  The completeness and justice of Israel’s law will bring them respect from other nations. (vv. 4-8)
• The passage closes with a caution to follow these rules closely, and pass them on to their children.  (v. 9)

THE TAKEAWAY

The Laws of Moses shaped everyday life in Israel. The law was complete and just.  It provided order to the people of Israel, and it set them apart from the surrounding cultures.  You could tell that they served Yahweh simply by their actions.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Based solely upon our actions, can people recognize us as Christians?
 

JAMES 1:17-27

THE BACKGROUND

In recent weeks, we have studied Old Testament Wisdom. Many believe the Book of James to be a collection of Christian wisdom rather than a letter.  That is how we will approach this book.

THE DETAIL

• God is called “the Father of lights” in verse 17.  This is a reference to Genesis 1:14, where he created the “lights” we call the sun and moon.  This Father is generous with the gift of divine wisdom.  James is about to share this heavenly wisdom with us, so we can live our lives as good Christians.  We Christians have been given this gift so we may be like the first fruits of God’s creation. (vv. 17-18)
• If you have a temper, like me, these next verses hit the nail on the head. There is no room for being angry for the children of God.  James tenderly says that anger “does not produce God’s righteousness”.  I would say it much more bluntly than that!  (vv. 19-20)
• Furthermore, instead of wickedness and sordidness (Webster—“vile, filthy, wretched”.) we should be meek and welcome the word of God.  (v. 21)
• The next paragraph is where the rubber meets the road.  James encourages us to show our faith in our actions.  He uses the illustration of looking in a mirror to make his point.  He says that when we look in the mirror, our shortcomings are clear.  But as soon as we turn away from the mirror, we forget. This reminds me of some Sundays. In church, I am reminded of my shortcomings.  I receive forgiveness.  I am inspired to live according to Jesus’ teachings.  On the drive home, if I’m being tailgated or am cut off by another driver, all that inspiration evaporates in an instant.  James tells me “Don’t let that happen!”  No anger.  Be meek. Show the love of Jesus.  At this point, I should do a U-turn, and go back to church. (vv.  22-25)
• Verse 26 addresses the problems surrounding what comes from our mouths. James is a little harsh here, but the point is that our words are just as important as our actions. 
• “Religion”, or our faith in action, is best demonstrated in how we treat the disadvantaged around us.  James names the famously disadvantaged—orphans and widows.  More on this in Food for Thought.
   

THE TAKEAWAY

James gives us good direction on how to be recognizable as Christians.  These actions are not our salvation, but our response to Jesus’ dying on the cross. Faith in him is what saves us. Our thoughts, words, and actions, should be an expression of thankfulness for what God has first done for us. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

James uses widows and orphans as sort of “poster children” for those around us who are in need.  (This isn’t a complete list.)  Who around you needs God’s love?  Since we are followers of Jesus, it is our job to be his hands and feet in this place. Here’s a starter list.  Feel free to add to it.

• The hungry
• The poor, or those who cannot make ends meet
• The uninsured (especially health insurance)
• Those mourning the loss of a loved one
• Those suffering from illness

Who else needs God’s loving touch (which we can provide)?
 

MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

THE BACKGROUND

It would be an understatement to say that Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees did not get along.  They seem to constantly criticize him.  He, in turn, gives it right back to them.  Some theologians believe that Jesus’ family might have been from the sect of Pharisees.  He seems to be very familiar the ins and outs of the sect, as well as the pitfalls. Whatever it was, Jesus again turns a confrontation into a teaching moment. 

THE DETAIL

• The Pharisees criticized Jesus and his disciples for eating with unwashed hands. One of their rules involved ritual washing, which was a law that was in addition to the Laws of Moses.  (vv. 1-5)
• Jesus’ response focuses on the gap between their actions and what should be written on their hearts.  He says that they go through the motions of obeying commandments, but “their hearts are far from me”.  Their worship is vain!  (vv. 6-7)
• More to the point, the rules they are following are not God’s commandments, but are merely human traditions.  These were not part of the Law of Moses.  (v. 8)
•  When Jesus says “Listen to me, all of you, and understand”, it is time to stop what you’re doing and pay attention. (v. 14)
• Jesus says that it’s what comes out of a person that makes them unclean, not what goes in.  He gives us a starter list, but we all know that the complete list is a lot longer. (vv. 15, 21-23)

THE TAKEAWAY

This story begins as a discussion about Jesus’ disciples not following certain traditional rituals.  True to form, Jesus changes the subject slightly to a lesson about the source of evil.  The source of evil is not external, it is within all of us.  It is up to us to control what comes out of our mouths, rather than what and how things go into that mouth.  I don’t know about you, but washing fruit is a lot easier than controlling my tongue!  

JOSHUA 24:1-2, 14-18

THE BACKGROUND

Upon the death of Moses, leadership of the people of Israel was handed over to Joshua.  In the years to come, he would lead Israel to claim the Promised Land from the Canaanites, as well as serving as their prophet. 

In chapter eight, the people of Israel gather at Shechem, to proclaim their allegiance to Yahweh. Today’s reading occurs at the end of Joshua’s life.  He calls upon all the people of Israel to recommit themselves to the covenant they had made years ago at this place. 

THE DETAIL

• The first two verses tell us that Joshua called this meeting of all the people of Israel. 
• In the verses omitted from this reading (vv. 3-13), Joshua recounts the history of Israel, reminding them of everything that God has done for them.
• Verse 14 starts with “Now therefore…”.  It is Joshua’s way of saying “Look.  Because God did all this for you, you need to:
  1. Serve him in sincerity
  2. Put away all those other [false] gods”
• Verse 15 is Joshua’s stake in the ground.  He says that now is the time to decide who they will serve.  He’s gonna chose Yahweh.
• The happy ending is the last paragraph.  The people all vow to put away the Canaanite gods and serve the Lord.

THE TAKEAWAY

It is a good thing for all of us to do; to review God’s blessings, and resolve to serve Him better. Many churches provide opportunities for their members to recommit their lives to the Lord.  Some do this during the altar call, and others through a more formal rededication liturgy.  We can also do this individually.  Whichever way you chose, consider doing this. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I know many Christians who put God first in their lives.  But, I also know people, both Christian and non-believers, who have allowed other things to become their main focus.  There are those who are obsessed with managing their finances.  Some love shopping to the point that they overload their homes with seldom-used goods.  Others allow sports or other activities to totally occupy their thoughts and minds.  For many, it seems, there is no room left for God.  Joshua calls us all to step back and review our priorities.  Where does God appear in our list of priorities & daily activities?  Do we show this in our actions?

EPHESIANS 6:10-20

THE BACKGROUND

We have been studying the book of Ephesians since July 9th.  Today’s reading is the last passage we will read from this book.  Paul wants to close his letter with some sage advice on how to live one’s life as a Christian.  He leaves his readers with a clever analogy in order to make this point memorable.

THE DETAIL

• Paul is going to tell us how to be strong.  He reminds us that God is our source of power; we need to tap into this power. (v. 10)
• Paul tells us that the strength we need is like a suit of armor.  He lists the parts of armor that a Roman soldier would wear.  Then, for each piece of armor, he lists the Christian’s equivalent.  I will list the Christian armor below.  (v. 11)
• But first, he describes the enemy.  They aren’t opposing warriors, as a Roman soldier would face, they are “the wiles of the devil”, “cosmic powers of darkness” and “spiritual forces of evil”. (v. 12)  Let’s discuss these in The Takeaway.
• Our armor consists of:
  • Truth and righteousness (v. 14)
  • Proclaiming the gospel of peace (v. 15)
  • Faith (v. 16)
  • The word of God (v. 17)
• Above all, we must pray for each other, including our spiritual leaders.  (vv. 18-20)

THE TAKEAWAY

So, what exactly are “the wiles of the devil”, “cosmic powers of darkness” and “spiritual forces of evil”? I believe that the force of evil is very real and present in our daily lives.  The devil is too cunning to appear in red, with a forked tail and horns. I believe that evil presents itself in those around us, and in very subtle and surprising ways.  I have seen evil actions in friends, relatives, & acquaintances.  I’ve seen it in business, politics, and even in religious authorities.  Many have used God and the bible to win over our confidence. As a Christian, it is my responsibility to use the life-actions and words of Jesus as a benchmark, to test the words and actions of those around me.  If I see a few “red flags” pop up, and on goes my armor! 

When I think of arming myself for battle, I think of using

• A bulletproof vest
• A helmet
• A machine gun
• A hand grenade

Paul’s list looks nothing like this!  (Look again at verses 14-17.)Maybe that’s the point.  As Christians, our response requires us to set aside our natural human inclinations to fight, and respond in a more Christ-like way.  What would that be?  Review Jesus’ response to violence and hostility.  (i.e., “turn the other cheek)  Review Paul’s list of “armor” above.  This is how God expects his children to respond.  (I never said it would be easy!)

JOHN 6:56-69

THE BACKGROUND

For the past few weeks, we have been studying the sixth chapter of John; we have been exploring the meaning of the gift of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion.  A few times, there has been an overlap of verses from the week before.  Today’s reading begins with the last three verses of last week.  This helps us to remember where we left off.  This week, we will focus on the reactions of those who heard these words. 

As with the second reading, this will be last week for this subject.  Next week, we return to studying the gospel of Mark.

THE DETAIL

• Jesus tells us that we must “eat his flesh and drink his blood”.  If we do, we will abide in him, and will live forever.  We are also given the location of this discourse, Capernaum.  This is a lakeside village, not far from his hometown of Nazareth.  (vv. 56-59)
• His disciples have a hard time swallowing this teaching.  “Who can accept it” is sort of like “What am I supposed to do with this information?”  John wrote this many years later, so his readers were familiar with the Lord’s Supper. But at the time, Jesus’ disciples didn’t know about the Eucharist.  This might have sounded a little cannibalistic to them.  For sure, it was weird and unsettling.  Please note that “disciples” means all of Jesus’ followers; Jesus’ apostles are called “the twelve” here. (v. 60)
• Jesus then challenged them to think outside “the flesh”, and think in terms of spiritual matters.  No, Jesus is not talking about them consuming a chunk of his arm or leg.  He’s talking about a spiritual meal—consuming his teaching, his presence,  and his life. (vv. 61-63)
• Jesus is aware that many cannot stomach this lesson.  He knows that many will fall away, including the apostle who will betray him.  It is all part of his Father’s master plan. (vv. 64-65)
• Many leave. Jesus turns to the apostles, and asks if they will also leave him.  (vv. 66-67)
• Peter speaks for the twelve (or at least eleven of them).  “We’re staying.  You have the words of eternal life.”  (v. 68)
• Peter says “We have come to believe…”, which indicates that it has taken them time to come to this conclusion. (v. 69)
• Verses 70 & 71 are not included in today’s reading.  It mentions that Judas Iscariot will be the one of the twelve to betray Jesus.

THE TAKEAWAY

There are several reactions to Jesus’ difficult lesson.  Some left him at this point, while others recommitted their lives to following him. One remained silent, and betrayed him later. 

Jesus’ teachings are fairly simple, but they are not easy.  If you’re in doubt, just take a second look at today’s second reading. If you need more, read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).  These teachings often run the opposite direction from modern human wisdom.  Even today many see these teachings as foolish & irrelevant, and reject them.  Others claim Jesus, but live their lives according to few of his teachings. There are some who do their best to embrace all of them, knowing they will stumble along the way.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Where do you fall on this spectrum?  Jesus calls us to be his disciples in this time and place.  We all have a part to play.  We will all stumble and fall.  But we know that we are forgiven.  We must run the good race, knowing that the Holy Spirit is there to guide us.

PROVERBS 9:1-6

THE BACKGROUND

The book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom which was attributed to King Solomon.  The beginning verses of this book tell us the purpose of the book. These sayings were written for teaching “the simple, “to gain instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity…”  (Proverbs 1:3)  The word “simple” in this case means those who are not yet wise.

In the Old Testament times, wisdom was highly valued.  In the Proverbs, Wisdom becomes personified; Wisdom is a woman.  Let’s call her Lady Wisdom.  Proverbs 8:22 tells us that Wisdom was there even before God created the earth.  Perhaps wisdom is a facet of the personality of the Holy Spirit, and this is an Old Testament way of describing her.  In any case, Lady Wisdom teaches us how to be spiritually wise. 

Today’s reading is the first part of chapter nine.  In the latter part of this chapter, verses 13-18, Lady Wisdom’s actions are contrasted with her alter ego, Lady Folly.  If you have time, I encourage you to read those as well.

THE DETAIL

• Lady Wisdom has built a house, set a table, and prepared a feast.  (vv. 1-2)
• She sends out her servants to invite us simple people to a feast.  We will feast on her wine and bread.  This is the connection to today’s gospel lesson.  (vv. 3-5)
• Finally, she entreats us to not to live our lives immaturely, but to walk with insight or mature wisdom.

THE TAKEAWAY

The Holy Spirit is alive and well, working within us each day.  Let us pray for and work to increase our spiritual wisdom.  Let’s come to her banquet, and join the feast.
 

EPHESIANS 5:15-20

THE BACKGROUND

These are part of Paul’s concluding instructions to the church in Ephesus.  They are similar to last week’s verses.  We learn more ways to become better Christians.

THE DETAIL

• Verse 15 encourages us to be wise.  I guess we need to read more Proverbs, then!
• We need to make good use of our time, because “the days are evil”.  This hit me odd at first.  But wasting precious time is a sort of evil, isn’t it?  Our life on earth is a gift.  We should make good use of this precious gift of time.  (v. 16)
• We should not do foolish things, such as getting drunk.  This does not mean that drinking wine is forbidden.  After all, Jesus drank wine at the last supper.  It was the common beverage of the time.  What is meant here is overindulgence? Overindulgence in anything is not good; it is foolish behavior.  (vv. 17-18a)
• Instead, we should be filled with the Spirit, singing spiritual songs, and giving thanks to God. (vv. 18b-20)

THE TAKEAWAY 

Here’s that wisdom thing again!  Here again, we are told to “live our lives worthy of the calling to which we have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1) In this passage, God is calling us to be wise Christians, mindful of our actions. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

We Christians are not perfect.  Many non-Christians observe us doing unwise or ungodly things, and draw conclusions about the Christian life.  As ambassadors for Jesus, we need to be aware of this, and strive to show the love of Christ in all our actions.  
 

JOHN 6:51-58

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus has been puzzling some Jews who followed him across the Sea of Galilee.  He has been calling himself bread from heaven.  This confused them, and they complained.  In today’s reading, Jesus concludes this discourse. He also adds another log to the fire. They have a hard time swallowing all this bread talk.  In fact, even some of Jesus’ disciples find this teaching confusing or difficult. Let’s see what he says.

THE DETAIL

• Today’s beginning verse is actually the climax of a long discussion that Jesus has been having with some followers.  Not only does Jesus say that he is the living bread, but that we must eat of his flesh. Since we believers know the rest of the story, we know that he is talking about holy communion.  John wrote these words many years after they were spoken, so the initial readers would also have understood this.  But imagine being amongst those sitting around Jesus when he spoke these words. Quite frankly, this  sounds like something I would have said! (v. 52)
• Now look what Jesus does.  He says that we must not only eat his flesh, but drink his blood!  If I didn’t already know about what he said in that upper room at the Last Supper, I’d find these words very difficult.  (v. 53a)
• This is interesting. In the second half of verse 53, he says that if we don’t do these things, we have no life in us.  Those are harsh words.  Fortunately, he goes on to explain. 
• In verses 54-57, Jesus explains that by receiving his presence in the body and blood of holy communion, we:
  • Have eternal life (v. 54b)
  • Will be raised up on the last day (v. 54c)
  • Will have a deep fellowship in him (v. 56)
• When we eat his body and drink his blood, the life that flowed from the Father to the Son also flows to us.  (v. 57)
• Jesus concludes this discourse by stating that this bread is different than the manna that given to the Jews of the Exodus.  With this food, we will live forever.  (v. 58)

THE TAKEAWAY

To me, these words of Jesus underscore the importance of the rite of Holy Communion.  Some churches, like the one I go to, include this meal as part of every Sunday’s worship.  We believe that it is important for to recall and relive these words every week.  They are an important way to come into a deeper fellowship with Jesus.  They are part of how we receive eternal life, and are raised on the last day.  (vv. 54-56)  They are a means of receiving God’s freely-given grace and love.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Many churches nowadays deemphasize Holy Communion.  Considering Jesus’ words in this passage, is this a good thing?

EPILOGUE

In the verses following today’s passage, we learn that many didn’t understand, and turned away from following Jesus.  It is here that Peter says his famous words “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  (John 6: 68)  Let us feast on his words and receive him through the gift of Holy Communion.