LIFE…

Though I had to dig through the archive a bit this article is worth reading. An allegory is a great way to present a possibly controversial topic. It allows those who are reading to approach the writing without their fists raised for a fight.

One of the lines that struck me:

“Every lover of water was grateful for the Authorized Well, and many continued to enjoy its waters. But true lovers of water were also grateful for every well from which water flowed.”

Read the article and think about it…

Have you ever heard “Well, I’m just not going to wear clothes anymore. They are nothing more than a result of sin!” or something to this effect? I believe that I am even guilty of making this sort of comment in jest. Well if you are looking for a good Biblical understanding read this article by John Piper.

Somewhat random… but worth reading.

Read through John 12. What do you find? When compared to the rest of the book a transition can be seen. Up till this point Christ would do something great then withdrawal from the crowd. Jesus would do a miracle as a sign of His divinity then turn to His disciples and say that His hour was not yet come. After feeding the 5000 in John 6 Jesus removed Himself from the people because they wanted to make Him King. His time was not come.

Chapter 12 comes on the heels of raising Lazarus from the dead. He attends a dinner with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. It is here that Mary anoints Jesus with the costly perfume. Though contested by Judas, Jesus accepts the act.

Crowds follow Jesus because of the miraculous raising of Lazarus. Jesus does something unexpected…

Jesus rides into Jerusalem to the cheers and cries of a crowd. This crowd was not a simple welcoming party for pilgrims coming to the Passover feast, but was a crowd welcoming their long awaited Messiah. No longer avoiding the crowds, Jesus rode in while shouts rose from the Crowd of “Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Palms, the typical sign of Jewish victory, waved and got laid in the path of the One riding into the city. In the crowd’s mind the Deliverer had come. The King that would rescue from Roman bondage had finally arrived. Prophecy was being fulfilled before their very eyes. Yet, in the midst of their expectation, they missed something.

Jesus was riding on a Donkey. The Military Conqueror would have been riding into the city on a White Steed fit for Battle, yet Jesus rode on one of the most humble of animals. The Messiah was coming riding on the symbol of peace and humility. Not as the Military Conqueror but the Prophesied Prince of Peace.

The Pharisees found themselves in an odd spot. Many were beginning to follow Jesus. The expectations were rising and the excitement was growing. Those who had been witness to the Lazarus episode continued to bear witness of it to any who would listen. Jesus’ following was increasing.

It spread even to the Gentile Proselytes who were in the Old City for the Passover. Caught up in the excitement they sought to find the one named Jesus. Philip and Andrew went to Jesus for them…Jesus spoke…

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Except a corn of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit… whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life… if anyone serves me he must follow me… Now is my Soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father keep me from this hour?’ But for this purpose have I come to this hour…”

“And I, when I am lifted up I will draw all people to myself”

How could this be? Jesus had just ridden in as a King in the minds of the people that now surrounded Him. He was supposed to be the One who reigned forever on the throne of David and freed the people from the Bondage of the Oppressor. Now He said He had to be lifted up signifying the crucifixion. The people were confused. They were distraught. They were not confused by what Jesus said, but were worried about the implications of His statement. They ask how it was possible for the eternal Messiah to die.

“The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

In essence Jesus was telling the people that although they didn’t understand, although what He was saying went against everything that the people had ever thought or been taught about the Messiah – trust Him. He was the one that was to come. He was the One for whom they were looking. He was the Messiah. He was the King.

The difference? This King is like No Other. This King did not come to live over His people, but to die for them. He came to give His life so that His people could find theirs. He was willing to be brought low so that His people could be lifted up.

He came to die… that was His purpose.

And in the midst of this Substitutionary Death, Jesus was glorified. “Jesus is not glorified despite, but through and in, the cross” (Andreas Kostenberger: John). The King receives glory, His name is lifted high.

The Hour had Come. The King like No Other received glory because He did what None Other Could do – He died for His people.

“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.”

~Acts 17:16~

“His spirit was provoked within him” is such an interesting phrase. Take the word “provoked” for instance. This is the same Greek word that is found in the 1 Corinthians 13 “Love” passage (1 Corinthians 13:5 -is not easily provoked). Here the word is ascribed the meaning of being enticed to anger. Thus, a person who has love is not easily provoked, enticed, aroused to burn with indignation. How exactly does this translate to the passage in Acts 17?

What was it that “provoked” Paul’s spirit? Was it some act that was perpetrated against his person? Was there some injustice that was unacceptable in Paul’s eyes? Far from it. The circumstance that provoked Paul’s spirit was the widespread idolatry of the city. Athens, as a philosophical, religious, pseudo-spiritual hub was wholly given over to idolatry. They were wise in their own minds and acted as a marketplace for beliefs. All was acceptable, all could be worshiped.

Paul, viewing the idolatry that racked the city, is enticed to anger. Though the meaning is the same as 1 Corinthians 13:5, the nature is different. This is not a self-centered anger that is a result of a wrong perpetrated against him, but an aroused indignation which flows from a love for God and loyalty to Christ. The people were lost in their sin and wisdom and needed to come to the knowledge of the only true God. Paul was angered by Idolatry.

Look around your own neighborhood, your own town, your own city… what do you see? The situation is not much different. No matter where your eyes look you can see idols.

An idol is anything to which a person ascribes ultimate worth. An idol is anything from which a person believes they receive worth. What ever the case may be, if this is not God it is idolatry.

Back to our city. People make idols out of friends, jobs, reputation, possessions, family, religion. How would a person respond if they were to lose one of the things listed?

Our cities are dying and going to hell. Culture and sub-cultures are driving the general populace into an eternity separated from God. Are our spirits provoked? Do we find ourselves incited to righteous anger against the idolatry of our cities? The result, as modeled by Paul, is not war against our neighbors but action motivated by love… for God and souls. God is worthy and deserves to receive praise and worship alone. Christ was “moved with compassion” by the sight of the crowd and their need for a shepherd. Proclaim the Word! Share Christ! He alone can free from the bondage of idolatry!

But I digress. This is a subject that I could write about for days. I will most likely return to this on a regular basis. May we be provoked.

For The City…

Well, my adventure in blogging has been somewhat of a failure up till this point. I have a tendency to start strong then fade as time goes on. This fade can generally be attributed to a sense of being overwhelmed in other areas of life which lead to none essential activities being cut. Typically, whether justifiable or not, the first area that goes is my extra-curricular writing.  This, however, does not mean that writing for me has ceased all together. Quite the contrary. I have still been writing for classes, personal journal along with my time spent in God’s Word, attempting poetry as a form of focusing on God, as well as Bible Studies for extension and other various responsibilities. Writing has been continuing… just simply not in the blogosphere.

Not only has writing continued, but reading has as well. I have found myself caught in the middle of various interesting studies. Thus far this semester I have attempted to study out the grounds for a Pre-Millennial Rapture of the Church, Images found in the Book of Revelation, the Metaphor of the Diaspora in relation to 1 Peter, the new movement in England called Radical Orthodoxy, Delving into Philosophy in hopes of challenging the way that I think, along with attempting to understand the impact that culture plays on worship, specifically music. The gears keep grinding… I am simply trying to keep from  getting caught in them.

Well… in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of school I have found myself drawn to God. I truly believe that if one posses the Truth (found only in Christ) one cannot help but be drawn towards the Creator, Organizer, Almighty God through study. It is only when one attempts to suppress the truth (Romans 1) and be their own god that one finds them self tossed about by the relativistic nature of the age. God, in all His glory, is the bedrock, the foundation from which all gets being and meaning.

Praise Him!