1/5/11- John 1:9-11 He came to His Own

 ⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

(Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee- taken by the author)

Thoughts: Of course, Jesus is the true light that came to us.  The goodness and truth of Christ has affected the world- even those who do not believe.  A blind person is still affected by the sun's rising.  However, we willfully refuse to look at the light.  The creature did not recognize the Creator.  The painting did not recognize the artist.  The baby did not recognize the parent.  It is akin to ingratitude.  We  should be able to recognize the one who brought us life.  We are the stewards of creation who did not recognize the owner.  The innkeeper casts out the real owner of the town the inn is in.  Jesus gave the parable of the vineyard in which the son of the owner came back to his own property and those who were renting or taking care of the property killed him thinking they would then do as they please and even perhaps own it.  We are stewards of the earth who are called to recognize the owner. 

Prayer: Lord, let me recognize your presence and rightful claims.  Everything I see is yours.  Help me to receive you, seek you, and follow your will for me.

John Calvin Abridged: The evangelist was not intending to contrast the true light from the false, but was trying to distinguish Christ's light from all others.  Whatever is luminous in heaven or earth borrows its light (or power) from something else- except Christ.  In what sense does the light come to "everyone"?  Some say the writer intends this to be those on whom the Spirit falls.  Augustine uses the imagery of the only schoolteacher in town being called the teacher of everyone- even though not all attend the school.  I think that the other interpretation is better that the rays of Christ are diffused over all people.  There is no one who doesn't have some perception of the eternal light- and in that sense His light has reached them.  We need to clarify that this is the common light of nature and not saving faith that is equally offered to all.  No one by the light of reason and their own wisdom will be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

2/3/10 Matthew 12:22-37 Blasphemy of the Spirit

(Julius Schnorr- 1860 Germany Healing of the Blind-mute)

2/3- Matthew 12:22-37 (pp/ Mk 3:20-22; Lk 11:14-15)


22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then his house can be plundered. 30 "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy. But blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in them, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in them. 36 But I tell you that people will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."



Calvin abridged: The people were astonished of his healing of the deaf-mute as it was a visible display of the power of God. A diabolical venom must have seized the minds of the scribes who were not ashamed to slander such a remarkable work of God . The miracle led them to wonder about faith in Christ. The scribes have to admit the miracle occurred, but they obscure the praise of the miracle by turning it into a reproach. The work that was supernatural, was ascribed to the devil.



Thoughts: Jesus wanted the leaders to believe, but they would not even believe when they acknowledged a real miracle had occurred. Even today, when something good happens the media finds a way to make it look bad. I have seen the same thing when people do not want to acknowledge their rival’s success. Democrats refuse to acknowledge anything good from the Republicans and Republicans refuse to acknowledge anything good from the Democrats. But it is not just the inability to distinguish good from evil, or acknowledge anything good that is going on here. But there is a hardness of heart to not allow the Spirit to do his work. The blasphemy of the Spirit is the unforgivable sin- and it is basically a hardness of heart- not allowing the Spirit in.



Prayer: Lord, keep me from hardening my heart to you. Do not let my blindness and stubbornness cause me to forsake you. Instead come into my life, and give me a heart of flesh for my heart of stone.