Matthew 3:15  Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.

John was confused.  Why did his soon-to-be-famous cousin feel the need to be baptized?  John had a special connection with Jesus as far back as he could remember, even getting excited to learn that Jesus was in the womb next to him.  At some point he learned that it was his mission to announce the coming of the perfect Lamb of God.

John prepared the people by performing a type of Mikvah, a Jewish ritual of symbolically cleansing from sin.  They were to cast off (or repent of) the unclean things that soiled them, so that they would be ready to meet God’s one and only son, their own King of Kings.  Now he was here, standing before John, asking to be baptized.

Even though John was a confirmed Nazarite (no drinking, no haircuts, etc), he failed to see why Jesus shouldn’t be baptizing him, not the other way round. The scholars tell us that Jesus planned the event in order to kick off his ministry (dove comes down, God speaking).  They also say that this was a way for Jesus to identify with the human condition, feeling the burden of sin, yet sinless in himself.

Church leaders tell us that Jesus’ baptism was set as an example for us, that we might follow in the practice, as we do with Communion, or with healing (for our spirit-filled brethren).  From the beginning the church would struggle over reasons and modes, even splintering into cells formed on individual interpretation of scripture.

Read more »

The Bible says that we are “in the world, but not of the world.”  What does that mean?  Are we just “passing through” like the old gospel song proclaims?  Or should we get involved?  If so, just how involved should we get?

There is a growing fear with some in our country that many who have conservative values are fanning the flames of fanaticism.  Neal Gabler with the Los Angeles Times thinks that there is something terrifying happening in the nation (see Politics As Religion In America).  He writes:

Perhaps the single most profound change in our political culture over the last 30 years has been the transformation of conservatism from a political movement, with all the limitations, hedges and forbearances of politics, into a kind of fundamentalist religious movement, with the absolute certainty of religious belief.

Now, I really don’t care to write about politics, but, as a Christian, I have to ask myself, “What is my role as a citizen within the context of being a believer?”

Read more »

The heart is an amazing organ.  No bigger than your fist, it beats 100,000 times a day, pumping 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels — all in one person!  It’s the only muscle in your body that never gets tired.  While your brain tells your heart how much blood to pump in order to cover your activity, the heart supplies the brain with the oxygen-rich blood it needs to make decisions.

As a metaphor heart is used to designate the center of things, the seat of emotions or the measure of integrity.  In ancient times feelings were often assigned to the gut or bowels, perhaps because of the movement we feel going on inside of us.  Combined with the pace or intensity of the heartbeat, the feeling in the “pit of your stomach” was a way in which to describe the emotional state that you were in.

Intellect is the function of the brain that processes facts and sensory messages, weighs opinions and references life experiences (memories) in order to assign emotion or generate apathy.  This is also an amazing process when you consider the fact that images, sounds or stories can trigger tear ducts, cause fists to clench, make chests to feel warm, bring lumps in your throat, turn your legs to rubber or simply urge your mouth to turn up at each end.

What role does the spirit have in all of this?

Read more »

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Jesus told his disciples that they would be going through rough times. They would be tried and persecuted. Following him would cost them their lives. He also promised them a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would guide and teach them. The Spirit would take them through the persecution, and their amazing peace would draw many to Christ.

At any point in time, somewhere throughout the world, someone is experiencing the same severe treatment and facing the same death as the disciples. But the great majority of us Christians will face nothing more than personal rejection by friends and family for our faith. Yet we struggle with having real peace.

Read more »

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:31, 32

How many who declare themselves as followers of Christ really follow him? How well do I follow him? It is not enough to merely know about him; we must know him. Even in our daily lives, when we want to get to know someone, we must spend time with them, question them and allow them to enter into our space.

Whether we choose to accept it or not, we all have a tendency to follow someone. This is because we are influenced by their words and lives. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if the one being followed is an example of the truth. The Apostle Paul challenges us to imitate him because of his way of life in Christ. Jesus tells us to follow him so that we can learn about his Father and our Father.

A clear warning exists to not blindly follow someone who maintains a “truth” that is unverifiable or makes no sense. Depending on the character of the person, we may trust what they say about themselves. But we must weigh carefully what they say about heavenly matters. They may also interpret the Bible in a way that doesn’t quite track with common sense. Especially beware of new “revelations.”

Jesus’ teaching was clear and concise. It was the perfect guidebook for living this life. When we accept and follow this truth, then we are free to share what is in our hearts. He gave his life to get this message to us. We must devote ours to pass the message on.

For centuries the cross has gone forth as a symbol of the phenomenal appearance, death and resurrection of the very son of God, Jesus Christ.  A favorite form of torture and execution for the Romans, Jesus’ demise on this device thrust the icon of the two intersecting lines into history forever.  From the staff that precedes the Pope in procession to the jewel-studded piece around the rapper’s neck, the cross is a constant reminder of that single event, recognized worldwide.  For many it represents the possibility of change here and hope for the hereafter.

So why did he have to die?  The short answer is that he didn’t.  He told his disciples that, at a moment’s notice, he could have more than twelve legions of angels at his disposal (Matthew 26:53).  But then that would not accomplish what he set out to do.

Read more »

Everybody works for someone.  From the farm laborer to the corporate CEO, there is a reporting structure, a pecking order.  Even for those who are independently wealthy, the laws of the land have ultimate control.  Freedom must always be regarded within the context of the world around you.  How we handle obedience determines how we experience freedom.

Read more »

That he existed is of little dispute.  The most overwhelming evidence is found in the New Testament writings, a collection of eyewitness accounts and letters concerning him.  The fact that these documents were hand-copied over 5,000 times and disseminated throughout the Roman Empire so quickly is short of amazing.

Who he was, and is, is an entirely different matter.  Interpretation of those writings is open-ended and has been addressed by Biblical scholars and lay people for centuries.  Many rely on the Greek texts of the earliest known copies; others consider the teachings of the early church fathers, like Origen and Augustine.  Still others will simply accept the “truths” rendered by those with the right credentials, be they scholars, teachers or preachers, assured of the fact that God’s Holy Spirit has confirmed the truth in them.

Read more »