5/31/10- Memorial Day- God and Country

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him. (Mark 12:13-17)

(Coin with Caesar's inscription)

John Calvin abridged: Jesus lays down a clear distinction between spiritual and civil government, in order to teach us that outward subjection does not prevent us from having a free conscience in the sight of God.  Christ refutes those who thought they would not be the people of God unless they were free from every yoke of human authority (cf. Rom. 13:7).  Christ indicated that there was no violation of God's authority for the Jews to obey the Romans.
He also appears to be concerned about their hypocrisy that they carelessly permitted the service of God to become corrupt and took away God's authority but were overly worried about a trivial matter.  Christ draws a distinction between the political (rendering to Caesar) and the spiritual (rendering to God).  The Lord wishes to be the only Lawgiver for the governing of souls, but the power of the sword, legislation, and the courts do not hinder the worship of God from remaining among us. 
    We might also say that this teaching implies that every person, according to their calling, ought to perform the duty they owe others.  So children should submit willingly to their parents; employees to their employers; that they ought to be courteous adn obliging toward each other.  Those who destroy political order are rebelling against God; so obedience to the government is always joined to the worship and fear of God; but if on the other hand the government claim any authority of God, we ought not to obey them any further than can be done without offending God.

Thoughts: Memorial Day is a great day to think about the role of God and country.  They should normally compliment and not contradict each other- though they do not necessarily have to merge together.  For most Christians, the goal is not a theocracy (as many suppose- overreacting), but a role in which the state allows freedom for other religions but recognizes the virtue and that the majority of the population practices the Christian faith. We do not want an anti-Christian stance, but neither do we necessarily want a theocracy (the idea of a state sponosred religion has deteriorated to almost meaninglessness in most of Europe).  Christians would love to be able to pray freely, speak freely, share their faith freely without feeling persecuted by others.  On the other hand, the great majority of Christians would condemn those who would threaten radical arms against our country (like the Hutaree group in Michigan who were arrested March 30 for a plot against police).  Most Christians believe that if we allow Christianity to have equal footing it will shine forth as the most meaningful, thoughtful, caring way of life.  Calvin rightly said there is a role for governement and we ought not rebel against it unless it is telling us to not worship God.  We should respect those in authority over us and not be so rebellious.  For, in most cases, to rebel against those over us means rebelling against God- just as those who do not honor their father and mother are breaking God's commandment.

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for the freedom we have- and for those who sacrificed that we might have it.  Bless the men and women in the armed forces in Afghanistan who would help us preserve our freedom. 

5/30/10- Mark 1:9-11 The Trinity of Love

MARK 1:9-11: 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

(Baptism of Christ Salvator Rosa)

John Calvin:  A loud verse was heard that his majesty might be more impressive.  The public appearance of Christ, to begin the office of Mediator was accompanied by this announcement, so that we too may know we are adopted and boldly call God Father. The title of "Son" belongs truly and naturally to Christ alone, but he was declared to be the Son of God in human flesh, so that we may also obtain this blessing of calling God Father.  So when God presents Christ as Mediator accompanied by the title "Son" he indicates that He is the Father of us all (Eph. 4:6)

Thoughts: On this Trinity Sunday, this verse is a great meditation.  For the three persons of the godhead were all present at once- the Father's voice, the Son in the water, and the Spirit descending like a dove.  The voice from heaven indicates the great love the Father has for the Son.  The Trinity is a threefold power of love mixed with truth.  I love my son.  But there are times when I do things to alienate my son, and my son does things to alienate himself from me.  But Jesus does nothing to alienate himself from God- He is sinless. The Father does nothing to alienate himself form the Son.  Jonathan Edwards spoke of the Holy Spirit as the eternal love that flows between the Father and the Son.  In a world that often does not believe in true love- God shows us in his very essence that He is love.  In a world that has a tendency toward alienation, isolation, separation- God shows us reconciliation, unity, and true love.  There have been human trinities- but they all fail.  There was the first Roman triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Pompeii (and Crassus who died) in which they ended up in war. There was the second triumvirate that ended up in civil war between Mark Antony and Augustus Caesar.  Or in more modern history there was Churchill, FDR, and Stalin- that ended up in the cold war that could have destroyed the whole earth.  But God's trinity is the trinity of love- and sets the ultimate example of love for us. 

5/29/10- Sabbath Breaking

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" 25 He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:23-27)

Where is the idea of Sabbath today?  It is but a memory to some, forgotten by most, and confined to about an hour or two a week by the devout in America.  Sabbath means rest- and we are a restless society that does not acknowledge the God of time.  We think that our time is our own, instead of thinking it is a gift of God.  There is a happy medium between the Sabbath of three generations ago when people wouldn't wash dishes or go to a movie on Sundays, and today when the Sabbath has been obliterated.  I believe that one of the real reasons for the decline of the Church in America today is this total disobedience of Sabbath.  We will not stop for God- or anyone else.  The Recession has not even made us rethink our ways about the Sabbath.  In the passage above Jesus loosens up the concept of Sabbath.  The Westminster Confession talks about allowing deeds of necessity (like eating grain) and mercy (like visiting and caring for others) on the Sabbath. 

Prayer: Help me, Lord, take the Sabbath seriously. Help me to acknowledge that my days on this earth are a gift from you, and to give back a day to you.  Help me to find my peace, my rest in you.

John Calvin abridged: The keeping of the Sabbath is a holy thing, but not as they imagined- so that they couldn't lift a finger without their conscience trembling.  It was hypocrisy that made them exact about trifling things, but spared themselves in gross superstitions. There was no precept that famishing people should rather die than satisfy their hunger. The only reason for keeping the Sabbath was that we may sanctify ourselves and worship God truly; and that free from worldly occupations- we would be more able to gather together in our assemblies. They blamed Christ for remaining silent and allowing his disciples to gather grain. 

See article in NY Times about University study on Sabbath breaking and happiness: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/sunday-shopping-linked-with-less-happiness/ Note the Same study found a significant rise in alcohol and drug abuse/

5/28/10 Sorrow and Joy

18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?" 19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. 21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If they do, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And people do not pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins." (Mark 2:18-22)

John Calvin abridged: Mark has both the pharisees and John's disciples speaking (whereas Luke has just the Pharisees and Matthew has just the disciples of John).  It appears that the Pharisees were trying to draw John's disciples to their way of thinking.  This example reminds us not to let wicked and cunning people cause divisions among us over nothing. It is Satan's delight for us to get distressed over a trifle.  We should especially beware lest the unity of faith and love be broken over outward ceremonies which are often given undue importance (Gal. 4:3; Coo. 2:8). Too often we are tempted to prefer the highest perfection of outward or worldly things. This is often followed by another evil arising out of pride- wanting to compel the whole world to copy our example.  If anything pleases us, we quickly want to make it a law that others may live according to our pleasure.
     Christ compares himself to a bridegroom.  He points out that prayers and fastings may relate to sadness.  Two lessons can be learned: 1) We have no right to murmur. 2) We need to rejoice- but recognize that joy does not last forever.  Christ compares his tender and weak disciples to old bottles and torn garments needing gentle care.  Everyone must not be forced to live in the same way, for there is diversity of character, and all things are not suitable for all.  Particularly, we ought to spare the weak that they may not be broken by violence or crushed by the weight of the burden.

Thoughts: Calvin thought the essence of this passage is that we should be sensitive and kind to each other.  Most would probably say the essence lies in how does new teaching mingle with old.  New wine should be put in new wineskins lest they burst.  That is the Holy Spirit needs to change us so we can receive God's teaching.  Another point is that religion is not all about being dour and sour- obeying rule upon rule.  There is a place to rejoice.  Jesus enjoyed a party- he ate and drank at Levi's house, for example.  God gives us joy in life- but we just shouldn't get drunk on the joy (or the wine).  But there is a time to rejoice and a time to weep (Eccles. 3). John's disciples focused on repentance, but there is more to life than repentance and escaping sin.   The Christian life is a mixture of both sorrow over sin and joy in the Lord (life in general is a mixture of sorrow and joy).  There was the sorrow of the cross and the joy of the resurrection for Jesus and his followers.

Prayer: Lord, in my weeping time, be near me. In my time of rejoicing, fill me with joy.  Let me not be afraid of the joys and sadness of life, but embrace them with you. 

5/27/10- Mark 2:13-17 Hanging around Sinners

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:13-17)

John Calvin abridged: We are reminded that the grace of Christ does not help us unless when we are conscious of our sins and groaning under their load, we come to Him with humility.  There is encouragement here that Christ will not reject sinners.  He calls those for whom he descended from his heavenly glory.  Yet, we must also be careful to repent.  For we are not pardoned in order to cherish our sins, but to live a devout and holy life.  He reconciles us to the Father with the condition that being redeemed by his blood we may present ourselves true sacrifices. 

(Ancient icon of Matthew)

Thoughts: It is perhaps, a lot more comfortable for Christians to seek fellowship with other like-minded Christians than to rub elbows with the "sinners."  But our Lord, whom we follow, gave us an example of pursuing sinners.  He was much less concerned with his reputation than with caring for those who were spiritually hurting.  Too often we are like the lifeguard who will not jump into the water to save someone.  We are like the salt (of the world) that gets stuck in the salt shaker.  Jesus jumped into this world with both feet.  He was fearless- and his love for God overcame his fear of others. 
     In this political primary season- candidates get criticized no matter what they say or do.  I do not envy the public servants of our day.  We gossip without restraint- and have not learned to control our blogs (as if God doesn't care about blogs- but only talk).  For the politicians who are really trying to help us all- remember Jesus- who was publically criticized so much.  But also remember Jesus really tried to please God first.  It is not the people whom we are called to please- it is the people whom we are called to help with God's grace and strength.

Prayer: Help me, as a sinner, Lord, to always welcome you to my house.  Help me as a follower, Lord, to follow you into the places where people need to be rescued.  But keep me from losing my integrity and faith as I go.

5/27/10- Mark 2:6-12 Jesus Forgives

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" (Mark 2:6-12)

John Calvin abridged: Christ appears to promise something different to the paralytic than what he had requested.  But Christ begins by removing the cause of the disease and reminding the paralytic of the way he should arrange his prayers.  Most do not consider God's chastisement upon them- they only want comfort.  But God doesn't just want to treat the symptoms but the cause. It is true that God alone has power to forgive sins- but Christ is God in the flesh.  Jesus also brings proof of his divinity in reading their thoughts (vs. 8).


Jesus came to help us.  He came to help us physically- and so the lame man walked.  But he also came to help us spiritually.  So Christ offers forgiveness.  In our day everything is about physical healing as if forgiveness and guilt have nothing to do with our physical bodies- or even if it does, it is not very important.   Yet in the end, our souls-not our bodies last forever.  I have a hot water heater that messes up every now and then.  I go down there and set the reset button and it gets going again.  Forgiveness is pushing the reset button. 

5/25/10 Mark 2:1-5 Carrying our Friends to Jesus

1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

John Calvin abridged: The glory of this miracle was very remarkable.  A man whose limbs were useless, lying on a bed, lowered by cords suddenly rises up in health, vigor, and agility.  The scribes were offended that Christ claimed to have the power and authority to forgive sins; while Christ intended to confirm that authority with a sign. "When Jesus saw their faith"- It is God alone, who knows faith. Their labor gave evidence of their faith. How much  benefit do people get from the faith of others?  Abraham's faith helped his posterity as his covenant was offered to him and his seed.  The grace of God is thus extended to believer's children's children even before they were born. The prayers for the salvation of unbelievers, and the indirect blessing of unbelievers can be given because of believers.  Yet, if the paralytic had no faith of his own, his sins would not have been forgiven. "Their" faith also includes the paralytic as well as those who carried him. 

Thoughts: Friends carry friends to Jesus.  If the friends had no faith, the paralytic would not have had the chance to walk or be forgiven.  Part of our duty is not just to be self-centered, but to look for those who need to be carried to Jesus, and pick up their cot and carry them. 

Prayer: Give me eyes to see and strength to do your work.  Help me to be a friend to the friendless and helpless and carry them to you, O Lord.  Help me to persevere in bringing others to you.