4-27-15- Age of Accountability

41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^f50But they did not understand what he was saying to them. (Luke 2)

Thoughts: There is not much in the canonical Bible about Jesus as a boy.  There are extra-canonical texts that add tremendous and unbelievable stories to the narrative of the life of Christ.  Traditionally, this has been seen as Jesus coming of age and recognizing his calling as a boy of twelve.  So around 10-14 years young people confirm their baptism vows or profess their faith for the first time. This has been called "the age of accountability."  This is the age that we are responsible and made aware of our own relationship to our God (instead of simply relying on our parents' faith).  It is important to recognize that there is a time when we recognize we should be in our Father's house.  It is important to recognize that the place of worship is our home- and a taste of our ultimate home in heaven.   

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to always want to come home to you- in your house of worship.  

12-15-14 God and the Helpless

Dec. 15, 2014

Scripture: And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:8-11).

Thoughts: It was not the high and mighty, the religious leaders or kings of this world, to whom the angels appeared.  It was to shepherds, to those who were not considered good, smart, powerful, or trustworthy.  They were nobodys in the social structure of the ancient East.  They were not even able to testify in court because their testimony was considered unreliable.  Yet they saw the angels and were entrusted with a twofold sign, namely, this child would be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  What does this twofold sign signify?  First, it signifies that the child wrapped in “swaddling clothes” (i.e., rags) would not only suffer cold and hunger as any other baby who has come into this world, but he would also suffer helplessness until his last day when it was said of him: “He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Matthew 27:42).  Second, the manger foreshadows the homelessness he would experience throughout his life to the point that one day he said: “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).  For those who know they are homeless and helpless in this world apart from God, the shepherds – even though they were not considered good, smart, powerful, or trustworthy – point us still to him who is our help and who leads us home.

Prayer: Lord, help us in our helplessness and homelessness in this world to rely on you by following your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Application: Do a kind deed in Jesus’ name for someone who is spiritually or materially helpless or homeless in this world.

12/30/13- The Priest Who Circumcised Jesus

21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.       22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”^b ), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons...27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, (Luke 2:)

Thoughts: Jesus was probably circumcised in Bethlehem and was dedicated as the firstborn in the Temple in Jerusalem.  These were both two very ancient and important rites for a young male firstborn.
     Colossians 1 says that Jesus was also the firstborn of all creation- having created all things; and that he also was the firstborn from the dead- leading the way for the rest of us from death into life by His resurrection and ascension. The word "firstborn" is used 97 times in the Bible.  But Exodus 13:2 tells us that because God spared the firstborn of Israel in Passover's final plague, the firstborn of Israel should be consecrated to God. Jesus as the firstborn (born of a virgin would definitely qualify- maybe the ultimate firstborn), would be consecrated to the Lord and to His kingdom.
     These rites were both dedication and purification rites. They remind each of us of our need to be dedicated to the Lord and to seek to have a pure, dedicated heart to God.
      Interestingly, there is no mention of the priest in either rite here (Simeon was not a priest).  It is not the priest who matters, but the God that makes the rite a reality who matters.  Still, what a privilege and joy it would have been to administer the dedication rites to the One who was dedicated to the Father for us.  What an honor to have administer the sacrament of circumcision with its symbol of purification to the pure hearted Son of God. The circumcision of Jesus was a symbol of His being a part of the chosen people; that he underwent the pain that they underwent; that uncleanness was rolled away and He was dedicated to God.
      The grace is that the priest probably didn't know what he was doing, but God used him anyway.  The grace is that though the priest may have actually come up short in having true faith, God used the priest anyway to accomplish his rite of purification.  Years ago there was the ancient heresy of Donatism that said that if the priest wasn't pure he couldn't do the purification rites.  But there is no pure priest.  Priests and ministers need forgiveness of sins too.  Only Christ is the Great High Priest who did not need purification nor baptism- but did such things as examples for us of obedience, humility, and grace. 

Prayer: Lord, I give myself to you, and ask that you would make me pure and holy.  I claim your grace and mercy.  

(Rembrandt's The Circumcision of baby Jesus)

12-28-13 Anna

³⁶ There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸ Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Thoughts: Anna was a prophetess.  There were many examples of a prophetess in the Bible:  Isaiah's wife, Deborah (who was also a judge), Philip's seven daughters.   Anna was a  widow for 84 years (according to the Greek- not the age as in NIV).  If so she was at least 105 in a day when the average person lived until they were 27 (no antibiotics, good food, sanitation).  She was of the tribe of Asher- not a tribe of the priests (Levi) or of the kings (Judah), but the everyday Jew.  Her uniqueness is found in her dedication and zeal. 
    She never left the Temple.  Perhaps she took to heart Psalm 84 "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."  Today, too many would rather be anywhere but in God's house.  It is part of our rebellious nature- running away from our true Father. 
     She was not distracted with other loves, and her focus was clear and true.  She worshiped all the time.  Being with God was her main desire. In heaven we will want to have a heart like hers.  All other distractions will prove secondary.  This does not mean that we should all seek to be a widow that stays in church all of the time.  But this was her calling.  She found purpose, love, grace there.  Many miss out on this today and just vegetate in front of a computer or TV.  It is almost like we cannot see the stars for all the street lights.  But we are designed to be together with others in God's house. 
     When someone takes God seriously, it shows in their demeanor and patience.  The discerning person would listen to what they had to say. Anna along with Simeon, received Christ into His court- His earthly home- His Father's house. 
      Anna also was not embarrassed of being made fun of.  Her focus was on God and also how to help her people.  She did not mind speaking of the child to everyone she met.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to have more focus on you.  Keep me from being distracted.  Help me to speak of you to all I see.  Let your love overflow from my heart. 

    

12-21-13 The keeper of the stable

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:4-7)

Thoughts:
I kept the stable for the innkeeper.  It was my duty to feed the animals while he kept the inn. I was the innkeeper's son and I was learning how to be a great businessman like my father.  He was always friendly and always went out of his way to help people.  He was full of hospitality.  I want to be just like him. 
    Bethlehem was packed with people.  The Romans had issued a rule that everyone had to go to the home of their ancestors.  Many people wanted to come to our little town because it was also the home of king David.  So if you wanted to claim any royal blood, this was the place to be for the census.
    Everything was so packed and everyone got here on time for the census.  Everyone except for this one couple.  They looked like they had been moving slow because she was so pregnant. They came straight for the inn and asked to see my father, the innkeeper.  I ran to get him.  He told them the bad news that there was no more room in this inn and there wasn't another inn in our small town.  The man begged for help.  He said his wife was pregnant and about to have a baby any minute.  My father, as I said was hospitable.  So he let them stay in our stable instead of in the street.
      Our stable, like most around Bethlehem, was a cave in the hills. It wasn't that clean- we weren't expecting guests there.  I did clean it out daily, but it wasn't meant for inspection and definitely not for a baby to be born there.  The man was desperate, and I led him to the stable.  Almost immediately the woman cried out in pain.  She was going to have her baby before he could even unload the donkey.  I tried to clean out the dirty hay and put some fresh hay down, but it still wasn't very clean.  I tried to start a small fire to get some warmth, but it wasn't much. The father wanted me to get the midwife- but by the time I found her in all this crowd I knew it would be too late.  But I still tried to find the mid-wife.
     When I came back an hour later- I still hadn't found the mid-wife, but there was no need- the mother had her baby.  I was so sad for them.  I went back and told my father and he sent me back with some cloth strips for the baby, water, and a little food.
      Everyday I would come visit the baby and the family.  Shepherds came to the inn looking for the new baby born.  I took them to the stable as my father was busy.  The shepherds told me that the baby was special- that they heard angels who said the baby was special- the Messiah.
     My father said he was not sure.  But I believe the shepherds.  Why not?  

Prayer: Help me Lord, to care for those who are in need.  Help me to believe.