A little Bible Triva

 Imagine for a moment that the only account of Jesus’ death on the Cross was Mark’s Gospel. 

A Gospel that ends in a dramatically different way than the other three.  

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ²And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ ⁴When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. ⁶But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ ⁸So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.(Mk. 16)

What is different in Mark’s telling of Jesus’ death and resurrection?

they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Now if that were the only story you had of Jesus’ remarkable rising from death.  How easy would it be for you to hold onto the claim that Jesus really was alive?

What Mark does do is to offer some resurrection  appearances to the women and disciples that soften the original ending to Mark’s Story.  But it is thought that these were later additions — called the “longer ending of Mark.

So without anyone but the man, dressed in white, who told the women that Jesus was alive and would meet them in Galilee;  how can we be sure it is the truth?

The three women left terrified and silent.  They said nothing to anyone — as far as we know from Mark’s account.

It is an interesting conundrum.

Mark is the only Gospel that doesn’t have any information on Jesus’ birth.  And only a partial part of the resurrection event.

And yet, the Gospel of Mark, according to Biblical scholars, is the most “historical” account of Jesus’ ministry.  

Just thought you might be intrigued by some theological trivia.

"I Die Everyday!"

 In my last blog, I wrote about the process of adding manure to the soil to mix, with whats there, to create a new possibility for better growth.

Today I am thinking about Jesus’ dying on the Cross on Good Friday that led to a new, and gracious, life of God’s possibilities in our world.

In the New Testament we hear some muddiness about dying In John we read:  

²⁴Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ ²⁵Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ²⁷She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’(John 11)

In Romans the Apostle Paul writes: 

7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. ⁸If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.(Romans 14)

Then in 1 Corinthians he writes:

³¹I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Cor. 15)

 

So this is the wonder I have this morning: What do we, what did Paul “die” from?

Name the dying,

  

What does Paul die to everyday?

I am going to take a huge leap here.  

What I am thinking is not about proper exegesis.  It is my thoughts on this issue about Paul’s statement: ³¹I die every day!   And Jesus words ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. 

I will call this dyings “little bitty deaths.”   In Paul’s case he is talking about dying to habits that could possibly, or do, offend the ways of God/Jesus.

In many ways we do the same.

I will suggest that every time we feel guilt, or shame, or failure our psyche make a shift, a growth spirt, in our emotional make-up.

When we hurt, or are hurt, or feel isolation, or have physical pain, or feel emotionally  abandonment.  

                                        We die a bit.

Lets say we learn a bit, or change in some way, or grow-up in ways that otherwise we wouldn’t.

And I will suggest that as Christian — or any other God fearing people  — we find something inside of ourselves that causes us to pay attention to our human nature that bumps up against God’s will.  

       And we die to them

We die to those things that we would otherwise fine quite fine and acceptable to the human mind.  But are not to God.

Because of our desire to live as Jesus taught, and modeled; we willing give-up what comes so natural to our being.

We put away things like unkindness, or hatred, and revenge etc. 

And we choose to be forgiving, gentle, and caring to our neighbors — close and far away. 

7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. ⁸If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

A Parable About Manure -- Really?

 Have you ever given much thought to manure?  Why its used, What it does, how it works etc.?

Well as I read the parable about the fig tree in, Luke’s Gospel,  I began to wonder what was the importance of this small little story.

And so, my mind lead me on adventure of the smelly stuff.

So after reading just a small bit of information; I begin to realize the impact that such a parable would have on those who were listening; and why Jesus told them about the fig tree.

They were people who knew the land and how best to use it.  In most cases, except for fishing, people at that time in history worked the land for their livelihood.  

They knew the importance of taking good care of the earth in their charge. 

I google manure and this is what I found  this:

“Manure is both a fertilizer and a soil amendment (material added to improve soil). Manure slowly releases nutrients into the soil that plants can easily absorb. Manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients, which are important for plant health. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient that plants need and is responsible for rapid plant growth and the green color of plants.

Before manure can be used to fertilize plants, it must go through an aging process called composting. In this process, fresh manure sits for 3 to 12 months…..Applying manure to the soil and allowing it to work is a slow and gradual process.  There is now instant fix to quickly solve the problems.”

Did you catch the one word used twice?  “Slow — a gradual process.”

The gardener — Jesus — just ask for one more year to allow the manure to do it work.    

That is, let the process of good growth happen slowly so the improvements take a healthy hold on the production of the tree.  Then “next year” we’ll decide.

We humans all-to-often expect fast.  We want God to be fast.  To do what we pray for now.

In my experience, God doesn’t move at our speed. God knows it take time to make things right and good.

Like manure working in damaged soil.

6 Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” ⁸He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. ⁹If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’(Luke 13)

God's New Rule

It the beginning, of everything, when there was only darkness and void, God made light.

In the beginning God created everything that exist and called it “very good.”

Then God trusted all that He had created into the hands of His male and female images.  Trusting that they would take care of all creation in very good ways.

That didn't work out so well.

Several centuries later we are told in the first verse of Mark’s Gospel: 

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1)

Jesus was brought a new beginning, for the original design, of what and how creation was made as “very good.”

The “beginning” — what God created as “Very  good,” Begins with Jesus.

As Eugene Peterson put it: “The authorial intent is explicit:  the story of Jesus is not a new story but a continuation of the first story.” (P. 230 As Kingfisher Catch Fire) 

This profound idea had not, in thirty some years,  registered in my of mine.

Just this morning I was thinking about  the Old testament theme of a God who test his people through a long forty years in the wilderness trying to get them to trust him with their lives.

As you read the entire Old Testament you begin to realized that God had his hands full with those he freed from the cruel hand of the Egyptians. 

With Moses, as the chosen one, God, led those Israelites through the sea into the “promise land.”  And for forty years they challenge God at every turn.  They were never satisfied.  

His original plan for earth’s creations was warn out and battered to death.

Picture the dry bones story: 

11 Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” ¹²Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’ 

(Ezekiel 37). 

No life, no hope, no possibility, no imagination of God’s creative power.  Those unsatisfied Israelites were never happy.  Never willing to go along with God’s plan. 

And so God decided to change all the rules for living with this crazy-mixed-up human beings.

And He came down to earth and grew up in the boy Jesus.    

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1)

God came to start again with new rules — new kind of relationship. 

All He asked, from Jesus’ birth on, was that we believe the truth of who He was; and how He wanted us to live. No more scolding, punishing, warning.  

Just one thing mattered.

You can believe in me or not. 

Its Your life 

     It is Your choice.

Is There Anyplace In Life Where God Is Not?

 As I am thinking about my last few blogs on Jesus’ discussion, with his disciples, about who he really was. I was reminded about how important it was for me to install in the minds of the confirmands that all we do in our lives is based on our belief in Jesus’ teaching.

 

Some of you have heard me speak about this many time in sermons and in my writings.

I began with my second confirmation class, at time of our my individual meeting together; by asking each students to imagine being at their locker in the school hall.  And one of their friend talking to them about their faith asking:  “Do you really believe all of that stuff?”

Now granted that is a tough issue to be talking about in the school hallway; but the exercise put the whole truth of our faith right in the middle of their everyday living.  

It caused them to at least pass the question through their minds.  

In the Lutheran Church Confirmation of one's faith is a serious and important milestone.  It is time to confirm what they believe or not.  

It is not just a time to be done with “learning about God” — like a graduation so-to-speak.

So to me our faith in the God Jesus came to show us, model for us and teach us about; is a God who wants us to live every moment of our lives acting and thinking about how it is that God wants us to behave, think, feel and display His love, forgiveness and acceptance.

The decisions we make, the opinions we have, the priorities we have, the way we think and do things are all connected to our faith foundation.

One of the tools I used to create conversation about this issue was movies.  I asked the student to suggest movies the they enjoyed, or thought challenging.  Then all of them were to watch the movie before the next class meeting.

The young people found it a fun way to have faith discussions.  

In one class there was a young man who resisted my teaching method; and my opinion about faith being involved in every faction of our lives.  

He was quietly rebellious for several weeks.  But I kept tying to engage him.  One evening he came to me and said:  “Ok. I have a movie that I challenge you to find anything about faith.”

I took the challenge. 

Everyone watched the movie.  I watched it several time.

The the next week I presented him with four typed pages of examples. 

After that class discussion on the movie, John Q, that young man was much more engaged in class discussion.

If you haven’t seen John Q it would be a good one to put on you list.  

By the way I would never have watched that movie if it hadn’t been for that confirmation student.  Too tense for my enjoyment.  But is was full of Christian ethics, Love, forgiveness and mercy.  

Many of Jesus’ core values.

Separation of Church and State

 30 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. 31 He then began explaining things to them: "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive." 32 He said this simply and clearly so they couldn't miss it. (Mark 8)

The question about why Jesus didn’t want his disciples to say anything has long been a puzzle to me.  In many ways it just didn’t make sense.

He told Peter, James and John the same thing as they came down from the mountain after the Transfiguration.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’(Mt. 17)

After reading Peterson’s introductory words about this story I am thinking the secrecy was about the culture they lived and moved in.  

We may not think so, but Jesus and his follower were very much at odds with the political systems of the time.  The religious leaders, and their association with the Roman authorities, was very much a culture of political and religious power.  And Jesus was most certainly a threat to both.

“ Jesus’ response to the confession was a stern command that they were to keep this totally quiet.  It was as if he said, “ If you talk about this, you will only be misunderstood.  If people hear you use this word Christ, they will certainly jump to the wrong conclusions.  So shut up!  Don’t say anything to anybody.  Not one word.” (As Kingfishers Catch Fire p 226)

So here is where my mind to taking this conversation in my brain:  “separation of church and state.”

I grew up, and I am sure you did to, being coached not to talk about politics or religion.  And it is clear the majority of people today are adamant about leaving political matters out of the church.

However,  if we are true to the nature of our faith history; and how it was birth in the midst of a clearly political system.  Then how can we possibility keep politics out of the truth of Jesus The Christ; and what he taught, modeled behavior and manner of speaking?

All my life, even through seminary and many years of ministry, I have assumed the stance of not mixing Jesus teachings with government politics.

Yet, today in our nation “church” is very much front and center — and not so pleasantly — in government issues.  

Interesting.

Was It Good News That God Came As A Human being?

Peter gave the answer: "You are the Christ, the Messiah." 30 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. 31 He then began explaining things to them: "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive." 32 He said this simply and clearly so they couldn't miss it. 33 But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. "Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works." 34 Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. (Mark 8 The Message)

This morning I want to think about how Peter responded to Jesus telling them his future suffering at the hands of elders and high priests. 

31 He then began explaining things to them: "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive." 32 He said this simply and clearly so they couldn't miss it. ( Mark 8  The Message)

Peter’s response was part of the confusion I talked about yesterday.  If Jesus is God, then how could suffering be apart of the deal?

33 But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe,

 Jesus confronted Peter. "Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works." 

We are dealing here with some mental, emotional and religious discombobulation — total disorientation.

Peterson writes:

“There is of course, more to this, Jesus is not just human; he is also divine.  Not only very human but very God. But what we have to face first of all, and what the Gospel writers do face, is that the divinity does not overpower, does not diminish by so much as a fingernail, does not dilute by so much as a teardrop, the  humanity.  First of all — our four gospel writers are emphatic in their witness — we are told in no uncertain terms that God became flesh, the human flesh of Jesus, and lived among us.  We stated with the human.  This is the way God makes himself known to us…..

Can you think of any other way that God could have made it easier for us to know him?  To meet him?  To follow in his ways?  Jesus.

But for many, maybe most, it is far easier to believe in an invisible God than in a visible God. Jesus is the form in which the invisible God can be seen….

You would think this would be enthusiastically embraced good news, unqualified good news. But when it come right down to it, I would rather be like god than have God be like me…..”  (p. 228)

Now think about it.  

What is it that the human psyche enjoys more than anything else?  

To be in control.  

To have power.

                                   To be seen as special.

  Right?

We also want God to be in control and to do things our way. 

If God became human to live as we do, then we have no one who is more powerful than we are.

We have a God who will be killed by the power of the human ego.  He will hang in shame at the hands of those threaten by Him.

The disciples must have been totally bewildered at all Jesus was telling them.

You have to wonder.  Was it “good news” that God came in Jesus’ skin?