Easter Together, Day 17 - 'The Question of Divorce'

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

Mark 10:1 (see also Matt. 19:1)

We now shift from Luke’s gospel to Matthew and Mark to trace along Jesus' likely next place of ministry and teaching. For though scholars pose various theories regarding the last 3 months of Jesus ministry (days following the raising of Lazarus, and Jesus’ retreat to Ephraim), for our purposes we allow that Jesus left Ephraim after being a while there with his disciples, then went back into Galilee before sojourning south again to Jerusalem by way ‘between’ Samaria and Galilee (Luke 17:11). There he performed miracles and taught along His way (Luke 17:11-18: 14), then moved east 'beyond' or across the Jordan into the region of Perea once more before making his final trek through Jericho, Bethany, Jerusalem and the cross.

So here is Jesus now in ‘the region of Judea beyond the Jordan,’ in Perea - a place he had performed miracles before and the region of John the Baptists’ ministry.  It was also a common or likely area comprising the route many sojourners would take in making pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover – in order to avoid going through Samaria.

Once there, Matthew and Mark both record an interchange between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding the matter of divorce. 

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Mark 10: 2-9

The practice in our culture of divorce is not new.  Both before and since Jesus’ time husbands and wives have struggled. Here, Jesus is being queried by these Pharisees to test His thoughts on the law, and, once again He exposes their hearts to remind them of God’s plan. Remember, for the Pharisee, the law of Moses was everything. For Jesus the law was to be kept and honored, of course, but more important than the law itself was God who gave it - and the sacrifice of Himself (the one sent from God) who had come to complete it.   

The bottom line is that Jesus taught them that this law given by Moses was only done so due to the hardness of their hearts. In other words, God does not want divorce, for, when He puts persons together He makes them as ‘one flesh’ – never to be separated - period. In other words, what God does, man should not undo.

Once Jesus moves from this scene into a home (we don't know whose), the disciples ask further about this.  Likely they, or many of their friends, were as we are today. Perhaps they said, “Jesus, what about this?” "Look how well we are doing?" Are we not all guilty at times of wanting to justify ourselves? At this further questioning Jesus is quite clear  – “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (Vv. 11-12)

So there you have it.  Not an easy teaching then or now.  In our fallen culture divorce happens daily, and we each know examples of persons who have experienced everything from selfishness and sin to hurt and 'no fault' - as well as a myriad and range of examples in between.

So what is our takeaway?  Well, I think this provides an excellent example of why we need the cross.  Why it is that we cannot, and never will, measure to God’s standard. The Pharisees, who were so often guilty of trying to justify themselves based on their keeping of the law, were exposed by being told that even this law here was only due to he hardness of their hearts. And the disciples, when quizzing Christ further, were told that what was at stake was the sin of adultery – no matter what any paper said.  When you couple this with the teaching that adultery, by God’s standard, is not just an act but lust's very thought, you come away with but one thing – the need for Jesus.

As a pastor I deal with the heartache of divorce every day. In my ministry I encourage couples to seek counsel and to work out their difficulties, to forgive one another, and to work at restoring the one-flesh ideal set by God. When this is not possible, or when I am brought into scenarios after the fact, I encourage they make things right by starting where they are now and accepting God's forgiveness. I next encourage that they move from this forgiveness to holiness and living as He intends – either by living and loving as one-flesh in the marriage they are in now, or as the single adult they find themselves to be. 

 

The only sin that is unpardonable is the sin of unbelief.  God’s forgiveness of our failings is not meant as a license to sin - nor to sin again and again and again. Instead, it is our 'leg up' out of the mire and grip of Satan's hold. It is the joy of having our feet placed on new and solid ground, the Rock, which is Christ.  And from this precious and marvelous place we may bask in His forgiveness and glory, living our days for Him. 

Pastor Sam 

Easter Together, Day 18 - 'Persistent, Penitent Prayer'

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18: 9-14

Luke continues the second paragraph of chapter 18 with the words – 'He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt'.  We might imagine this occurred, then, near the same time as the parable before – Jesus’ encouragement unto persistence in prayer – but we cannot know for sure.  If in fact it did, though, this means Jesus also taught this on His way through Samaria and Galilee, His way south toward Jerusalem.  And, if so, it is certainly well placed - both as to subject (prayer) and the intention of Christ - that prayer not be persistent only, but birthed from a penitent heart. 

For the past nearly 10 years I have attended a Bible Study on Thursday mornings at our church, called ‘THURSDAYmen.’ This morning our lesson was taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans, who in chapter 4 teaches our righteousness is not gotten by works of the flesh, or the law, but by faith in the grace and mercy of our LORD.  Of course, as Christians we know this – at least in our heads.  But, though this be so, we may yet have moments where we feel ‘puffed up,’ even before God, and think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  In contrast, Paul writes, ‘for if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:2-3 To mean, in short, there will be no boasting before God based on works of the flesh, nor keeping of the law.  What then?  Simply this – belief, which in the case of the “Tax Collector’ from Jesus’ parable above, was expressed like this - 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ And about whom Jesus goes on to say, 'I tell you, this man went down to his house justified'.

I find it illuminating that Jesus’ teaching re: these two aspects of prayer are placed close together – whether topically only by Luke, or both topically and in timing by Christ as He made His way to cross. For, either way, they speak to us of two great truths. First, that Jesus wants to hear from us and bless us as we pray; and, second, that He insists our prayer come from a penitent, not proud, heart.

How often do you pray? When you do, how do you pray? Are your prayers a reminder to God of your steadfastness, or His? We forget that a persistent prayer can also be proud - but any proud prayer, whether offered persistently or not, is still annoying to God. By contrast, the prayer that is penitent - calling upon God while thanking Him for His mercy, is the prayer our Heavenly Father desires. And this is a correct (blessed and answered) prayer, indeed!

Pastor Sam 

Easter Together, Day 19 - 'The Importunate Prayer'

In writing this blog preparing for Easter, 2015, it has been my privilege to reacquaint myself with the life and work of A. T. Robertson, the notable Greek Scholar and New Testament professor at Southern Seminary in Louisville KY.  Born in 1863, Robertson remains a treasure for any student of God’s word.

One of his books I have used is, A HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS FOR STUDENTS OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST, Based on the Broadus Harmony in the Revised Version, the title of which sheds some light upon the influences of this scholar.  Robertson was a gifted teacher and preacher, but he was also blessed to marry into a family of equal gifts and notoriety.  His wife was Elsa Broadus, the daughter of John Broadus (famous Baptist Preacher) and sister of Eliza Broadus (great WMU leader of Kentucky), and this book, one based upon his father-in-laws great work, Harmony of the Gospels, was dedicated to her, no doubt, because of her influence on her generation to support the work of the gospel the world over.  Robertson greatly loved and admired his in-laws as their lives, work, and dedication to Christ mirrored his own and in the preface to his book he writes this…  ‘There was a time when men hung in wonder upon the words of Jesus, listening with awe and rapture as he spoke’ and no better illustration of this statement can be more clear than of the following parable Christ spoke to His disciples while traveling south along Samaria and Galilee on His way towards Jerusalem.

  

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ Luke 18: 1-5

Yes, it is not surprising to me that Jesus would teach concerning prayer. Jesus made continual use of prayer – praying daily to His Father, and teaching often to His disciples concerning the nature and import of this privilege.  ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ they once had asked Him, and Jesus did – in word and by everyday example. 

So here, on His way to Jerusalem and before those final days, there was one thing more to teach.  It was a word given for encouragement. A word taught by comparison and contrast using a parable – a story – of a widow who would not be silenced till she got what she asked for.  In short, Christ said – if this is true of this widow, how much more would their heavenly father hear, answer and bless a prayer from one of His elect. This parabolic example was not meant to teach the disciples that begging God was necessary, but that if persistence works in everyday life, it surely will be blessed in their prayer to God too – adding…

“Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.  (Vv. 6 – 8a)

I confess that persistence in prayer is a needed area of growth for me. Like many of my generation, I favor ‘quick fixes’, and ‘instant response.’ The discipline of continual prayer does not come easily.  So that I must be oft reminded of the admonition by the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians to ‘pray without ceasing’  (1 Thess. 5:17), and of the life of Christ, himself, described early on in the first gospel penned, saying… Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. (Mark 1:35)

So how about you? Would God consider you an importunate (meaning, persistent, especially to the point of annoyance or intrusion) person of prayer?  Of course God’s Word never teaches that He sees our prayers to Him as intrusive. The opposite is so.  God wants to hear from us, and tells us this over and over in His Word.  But… I would like to think – in my prayers to Him – He might consider me persistent. 

Let’s take these days before Easter 2015 and seek the face of God, lifting our petitions before Him – persistently. What is it that you want accomplished?  What mighty work for His Kingdom’s sake might you most desire to see?  Whatever it might be, pray for it now, and ‘keep praying' till you see it so for the glory of God.

Pastor Sam

Easter Together, Day 20, Vulture, Eagles and Me

And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures (eagles) will gather.” Luke 17: 37

As Jesus concludes his teaching on the nature, timing and signs surrounding the coming Kingdom of God, He is asked one question more. Having dealt with what and when, He is asked the question, “where.”  Where will these things take place?  If I am to see this happen, Lord, where will it be?

In response Jesus gives a maxim taken from nature, one all would have commonly observed. It is a word from Jesus meant to give assurance.  A word reassuring them that what is to come will not be missed, for, just as birds will gather around a carcass, instinctively, so too will they be gathered about Christ. 

Of course when we read this verse we may be confused, perhaps even 'turned off' because It represents to us a negative image.  One of death and of something that is not pretty, or pleasant.  The word vulture is a translation of the Greek word 'aetoi'  in many of our  modern translations (NIV, ESV), and this immediately conjures a negative image. However, some manuscripts and subsequent translations offer the Greek word, not as vultures, but as 'eagles', which may well change our feeling about the passage altogether.  Either way,though, the truth remains the same.  Just as in nature birds gather about a body, so will it be with Christ at His coming, His passion, and His glory yet to come. 

So what might the application be for us?  Well, I prefer to think of myself as an eagle (if you don’t mind) and, that said, I know this - that when Jesus comes again I will be with Him. Wherever that is, I will be there!  

Paul teaches in 1^st Thessalonians that even if my body lies in the grave, it will be caught up with Him in the air at His return.  And what did Jesus say to thief on the cross, and to you and me?  He said that because of our belief, our faith in Him and His work on Calvary and in victory over death, that if I were to die even today, that... “today, I would be with Him in paradise.”

And this is something to look forward to - whenever and wherever it may be!  

Pastor Sam

Easter Together, Day 22 - When Jesus Returns

I tell you in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Luke 17: 34-37

After Jesus had answered the Pharisees concerning the Kingdom of God, he then turned to His disciples and continued His teaching personally to them. To the Pharisees he basically had said, “If you want to know the Kingdom of God, get to know the King.”  (David Guzik Commentary of the Bible, Luke 17, http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/guz/view.cgi?book=lu&chapter=017 but to His disciples he said, ‘In your day, my Kingdom won’t come immediately.’ Was Jesus confused? Not hardly. He answered truthfully and correctly to both. The Kingdom of God is realized now for those of us in Christ – in this sense, for those who know the King.  But, for His disciples that day, those who already knew Him and were among His closest followers, he used this question by the Pharisees to prepare them for the days to come – the days when he would be gone (Vv. 24-25), followed by the days of His rejection and suffering (v. 26) and to tell them of the way it would be both before and upon His final return (Vv. 27-35).

As I read these verses this morning I reflected on several things that Jesus was teaching His disciples, and, as a result, me as well.  First, He said that His return would not be seen in the disciples day and time, though they would long for it (The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it, v. 22) – and it wasn’t.  Second, that Satan would know how to take advantage of that longing (And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there, v.23) – and he did, and still does (i.e. David Koresh and Jim Jones). Finally, that when Jesus does return, it will be seen by all (For as the lightning that flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. v. 24).  And this morning I reflected on this, that if Jesus said it then it will be as He has said – and that has brought me great comfort.

Like the disciples future response as was foretold by Christ, I find myself longing for Jesus’ return, as well.  Yet, still, though I know I am told to ‘watch’ and be ‘ready’, I fear much of my watching is misspent.  In the right frame of mind, God would have my  ‘watch,' not as one always looking to the sky in fear and dread, but as one who lives his life watchfully’ because I am anticipating the glory which is to come. As someone who anticipate His coming with joy rather than dread. As a person who keeps his house in order, with his work ready for review. In this way, life on earth is not despised, but treasured and invested toward the real prize yet to come. 

Yes, when Jesus does return, I want to be ready go with Him. And, thank God, by His grace, I will. Will you? 

Pastor Sam

Easter Together, Day 23, The Last Journey by way of Samaria and Galilee

“On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.” Luke 17:11

We do not know how long Jesus remained in Ephraim with his disciples, nor may we pinpoint with certainty when he left for His final journey to Jerusalem, Passover and the cross, but we can trace some of His way, those he encountered and what He taught and to whom.  

Remember, as the journey began he healed the ten lepers (cf., my post from Wed. March 11), then Luke continues by reporting his teachings on the Kingdom of God; first to the Pharisees, regarding its nature (Vv. 20-21) and next to His disciples regarding their readiness for what was yet to be – both at the cross and in the final (or last days) when He was to come again (Vv. 22ff). All of this period is known as the Kingdom of God on Earth.  We are citizens of this Kingdom now - and the world, whether realizing it or not, exists within it, too.  God’s time clock regarding this Kingdom has begun. He has sent the World His Son. Redemption’s price has been met, and we (Christ’s bride) wait for His (Christ – the Bridegroom’s) final return. 

First… listen to what Jesus says to the Pharisees.

‘And being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’ Luke 17:20-22

I suspect that the Pharisees thought Jesus was speaking in riddles – being intentionally unclear. However, Jesus was not being unclear. The ‘unobservable’ Kingdom (as far as the Pharisees were concerned) was so because of the hearts of these who were asking. Jesus answer was His indictment – and still they didn’t see it – even adding this… ‘Behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’ The ‘unobservable’ was so – not because it could not be seen but because of these hearts that were cold and closed. Hearts bent the way of these Pharisees will be hearts bent never to see the Kingdom of God. It’s not an “I can’,” its an “I won’t.”

In living our days it can be tempting – even for those of us who are in Christ – to become despondent and negative. This happens, I think, because we are looking at life through the wrong lens – as citizens, not of God’s Kingdom, but of the world. But what would happen if we really lived everyday as citizens of God’s Kingdom? Seeing God on His throne and our selves as His subjects. Realizing life in this way would be to practice the presence of Christ, not as victims but victors. By remembering we serve a Risen Savior and Lord, One who is coming again, who has paid for our redemption and sealed our eternity with Him in heaven – and, One who, even now, is “right here in our midst,” we can then say with Paul, “Christ is in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.”

Yes, we should never forget that the Kingdom of God has come. For those of us who know it, it is time we started to live it.

Amen? Amen!

Pastor Sam

Easter Together, Day 24 - 'To Ephraim and More'

Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. John 11:54

When Jesus left Bethany after raising Lazarus from the dead the time was likely only 60 - 90 days before the Feast of Passover AD29. In this year Passover fell on April 15. Of course scholars do not all agree on this date - as many have set it as late as AD 35 (with AD 33 and 34 the preferred - Sir Isaac Newton as example). But whatever the date, Christ was crucified in the spring (late March or early April) and Lazarus was raised the winter before (late December - January).

Beyond this, John tells us what we read above - that Jesus moves north to Ephraim, then skips in his next verse (paragraph in our translations) to narrative leading to Passover and Jesus' passion. As to the other gospels, they are silent about this period too, though each feature narrative regarding Jesus' 9th (or last) journey. To be specific, the gospel chapters dealing with this final journey are as follows - Matthew 19-26, Mark 10 and 14, Luke 17-22, and John 11 and 12. Beyond this, we piece together fragments that indicate his final route, and pick up events, stories and parables that give us final last glimpse of this 'teacher like no other'.

In reflecting upon the verse above this morning, I could not help but ask 'why.' Why did Jesus stop walking openly among his detractors? Plainly we can see that Christ was not afraid. Had this been so He would not have come back to Jerusalem to where they were later, and we know for a fact He did.

This makes me believe, first, that because the Jews wanted to kill Him – which He would later allow – it was just not yet His time. Simply put, Passover was the time meant for Christ's offering of Himself as a ransom for our sins. Secondly, I believe it might also lay in what was indicated by the last words from our verse 54… ‘and there he stayed with His disciples.’ For in those words much grace, teaching and love was yet to displayed and abound.

We should never forget that these disciples were disciples of Christ. To be a disciple means to follow – and the very best disciple will always be the one who spends quality time with their LORD. This is exactly what the disciples had opportunity to do. In this northward sojourn and the slow, final journey back, they sat at Christ feet and learned final lessons that might only be gotten this way.

As we reflect on these days before Easter, and as we ready ourselves to follow Him back to Jericho, Bethany, Jerusalem and the cross, may this be so of us. May we also take time to withdraw to ‘Ephraim’ – that place of just Christ and us – so that we might hear from Him once more. What does Christ say to us? What must we yet learn? Is it that He loves us? Is it that He expects more from us than an occasional glance and nod? Whatever it is, we will not know it till we follow Him there. For before Jerusalem comes Ephraim – and, as His disciples, we must be ready to go there too!

Pastor Sam