Meditate on it

Henry Ossawa Tanner, Jesus and Nicodemus, 1898 A few things convict me greatly in my faith. One is that Christians should know their Bibles well enough to articulate the context of favorite scripture passages. I think it does the Word of God a disservice to pull it apart into bite-sized quotes that can be slung around--sometimes rather carelessly--for this or that occasion. John 3:16 is such a passage. All of the 4-6th grade students in my Sunday School class could quote this verse from memory. I bet none, excepting my own daughter possibly, could provide the context and tell me that it was spoken in a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus. In fact, last time Nicodemus came up in our Sunday School, none were familiar with him at all. But, that's another post! So, this morning, I am settling into John 2 and the story of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Here are some notable pieces of commentary, along with my observations: He was a Pharisee, a member of the

The Temptation of Christ, J. Kirk Richards I'm lingering in the temptation stories of Christ again this morning.  How could Christ be tempted if he could not sin?  Was this a legitimate temptation if the choice was not a choice? My band of Biblical commentators  gravitate toward an exploration of the Greek word for tempt, peirazō .  Strong's defines it as "to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try."  Jamison, Fasset, and Brown go on to point out that this is the same word used in the temptation of Abraham.   Hmmm, that story always hit me a bit funny also, perhaps because it doesn't seem loving or fair to tempt a person to evil. Also, I think of Job's journey, another temptation story that isn't an easy one to reconcile. Here Satan claims that Job is faithful only because God has provided physical blessings and placed a hedge around him. Satan taunts, "put fort

Right now I am reading about the early ministry of Christ.  Some of the events seem episodic.  If I was a liberal critic, I would suggest they are folkish--following patterns.   But, I am a believer---in Christ, in the purity of the Scriptures as a source of doctrine and not of man's manipulations.  Though I do not always understand the source and intent of scripture, I press on to better understand my God through them. Perhaps part of the problem is that narrative events do not explain themselves, and I long for context and explanation.  I prefer the letters of the New Testament because of they are by nature an explanation, directed toward Christians to help them understand their God and their faith.   In the gospels, we are given bones and must construct the flesh. Christ's temptations in the wilderness cry out for flesh.  Why does his professional life begin by a baptism and this journey into the wilderness?  Why the detailed temptations and conversations wit

Prayer is difficult, especially in our rushed and ready culture.  We heedlessly bypass activities that necessitate patience, waiting, meditating, and introspection with good hopes that we will have time for such another day.  The screaming demands of each day drown out the whispers of reflection. Prayer, for me, is a form of decompression and processing. It forces me to stop and frame the events of my life and the thoughts of my heart with an eye to God's hand in things. What is His perspective on this situation?  How is He working through it?  What is the correct posture of my heart on this matter?  How can I intercede for others?  What attitudes and thoughts need cleansing, purging, or redirecting?  All this, and a counter-full of dishes awaits me...more glaring, immediate.   But, despite his brief window of ministry on earth, Christ prioritized prayer. He folded it into every significant event.  He blocked off this time even when the crowds pressed and authorities plotte

From my quiet time this morning---I thought this passage on humility by John Ruskin lovely and worth contemplating: "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility doubt of his own power, or hesitation of speaking his opinions; but a right understanding of the relation between what he can do and say, and the rest of the world’s sayings and doings. All great men act only know their business, but usually know that they know it; and are not only right in their main opinions, but they usually know that they are right in them, only they do not think much of themselves on that account. Arnolfo knows he can build a good dome at Florence; Albert Durer writes calmly to one who has found fault with his work, “It cannot be better done”; Sir Isaac Newton knows that he has worked out a problem or two that would have puzzled anybody else; only they do not expect their fellow-men, therefore, to fall down and worship them. They have a curious under

John the Baptist, Guido Reni, 1637 Some thoughts on John the Baptist: 1. John was unpretentious and cared not for the opinions of men he didn't respect.  He dressed simply, wildly, and for function. He preached his message in the wilderness not the cities.   He told the high and low alike to repent and bear fruit.   Admonishing both the common crowds and lofty Herod, he didn't soften his message to assuage his audience or save his skin. 2. John joins the long list of men and women who did noble work for God but did not receive their reward on earth.  "That a man so worthless should be permitted to cut short the labours and the life of so holy and useful a character, and that, too, in order to gratify the revenge of an abandoned adulteress, and to reward the vain exhibition of a giddy damsel, must, no doubt, at first appear strange." -James Foote Beware of judging our work on earth by the world's standards.  If we are different, if we are long s