October 31

Sending Out Apostles - Matthew 9:35-38, 10:1-42,11:1, 14:1-13; Mark 6:6-33; Luke 9:1-11; John 6:1

Jesus sends his apostles out two by two without Him. I wonder what they thought about that? They came to follow Him and now He sends them away. And I wonder what the people thought about all of these others doing miracles, too? It couldn't have been commonplace for so much news traveling around about these men healing people.

And for a time, Jesus is on His own. Was He preparing the apostles for the time when He wouldn't be with them in the flesh? Just trying to getaway Himself? Or was it so that more people would be healed? Was it all out of compassion for the crowds? I wonder what sorts of miracles the apostles did? And what did they think when the power that was in Jesus was now in them? Is this, there ability to do miracles, why they'd later argue over who was the greatest? They reported what the did to Jesus but that's all that is revealed. We can only wonder.

Lord knows.

October 30

Performing Miracles - Matthew 8:18-34, 9:18-34,13:53-58; Luke 9:57-62, 8:22-56; Mark 4:35-41; 5:1-43; 6:1-6

After the slow plodding and genealogies and lists of tribes and numbering of people and the enumeration of laws in the Old Testament, the story of Jesus is a whirlwind of activity. Miracle after miracle and so many are probably not even recorded. From time to time, there is a verse that says that Jesus healed the sick that were brought to Him and you wonder how long the line was.

One of the miracles that has always intrigued me is the woman who reaches out and touches the hem of Jesus' garment and is healed.

She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getter better she grew worse. Mark 5:26

Sorry, doctors. But there's so much you don't know. The language of your profession is poignant. Medicine is a practice and we are described as patients. Perhaps because we deal with your practice with all patience.

But Jesus is different. Why does he note this woman's touch when He's in a crowd and obviously so many other people are touching him. Why is her touch different? Is it her desire? Is it her belief that after seeking so many cures she has finally found someone who can actually heal her? It's incredible that after spending so much time and money she still reaches out to Jesus. I admire her for her determination. It was just whose garment she touched. It was also about her and a heart that was touched by Jesus.

Jesus feels the power go out of Him. Was He genuinely startled to the feel the power flow out of Him undirected by himself? Perhaps Jesus can't help himself in the face of real faith and desire to come in contact with Him. In such instances, the power just naturally flows out of Him.

I can't but wonder, too, about all of the people who wanted to be healed, who wanted to touch and be touched by Jesus, but were unable to fight the crowds or travel to see Him or perhaps even to find him as He traveled from town to town and from side to side of the lake. Is our opportunity to find and be touched by Jesus in life just a matter of being in the right place at the right time? Or is there something more at work.

Lord knows.

October 29

Teaching Through Parables - Matthew 13:10-52; Mark 4:10-34; Luke 8:9-18, 13:18-21

Jesus taught in stories. In fact, God's greatest teaching came in the form of His son who lived with us and became part of human history and story.

As a writer and creative director at a public relations and advertising firm, I appreciate the power of stories. In stories, we step outside of ourselves to see truths that might be to close to observe in our own lives. In stories, the emotion is engaged as well as the mind. In stories, we can paint a picture of things otherwise difficult to hold in the mind. And so, Jesus tries to explain the Kingdom of God by telling story of weeds and a mustard seed and a lighted lamp and yeast and hidden treasure.

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. Mark 4:33-34

Stories speak louder than statements. And so actions speak louder than words. Lord knows.

October 28

The Ministry Continues - Luke 11:37-54, 12:1-59, 13:1-17

Jesus really doesn't like hypocrisy (which appears to be an occupational hazard of religious leaders). We want to draw lines, pronounce judgements, have others live the way that we think is write and we're incapable of following the lines and judgements and way that we prescribe ourselves. And so we're hypocrites. We are better to point people to Jesus and let him lead then to stand between them and God. People aren't stupid and God doesn't hide himself from those who seek. Just point them to Jesus and let him sort out whether they need to wash their hands or if it's ok to heal on the Sabbath opt to worship with a guitar.

Lawyers get the shout out from Jesus in this reading, too.

"And to you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." Luke 11:46

Do we use our knowledge of God's word to do the same thing? Then we don't have knowledge of God's word, which isn't a book it's a person.

Lord knows.

October 27

The Ministry Continues - Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-50; Matthew 11:2-19; Luke 8:1-3; Matthew 12:22-50; Mark 3:20-35; Luke 11:14-23, 11:29-32, 11:24-28, 8:19-21, 11:33-36

Drawing of Mary Magdalene crafted by Leonardo DaVinci

After the slow going of the Old Testament, everything seems to be moving so fast. It's like we were slowly walking through the Bible and now we're hurtling headlong to it's inevitable conclusion. Jesus' righteousness is just unfathomable and threatening and outright offensive to the religious people of His day. Are they really trying? In this reading, a Pharisee invites Him to his house. And Jesus openly tells him that the woman of questionable character that the Pharisee is uncomfortable with has done the right thing while the Pharisee has failed to.

The role of women in Jesus' ministry is touched on in this reading, too. We have Jesus defending the sinful woman at the Pharisee's house and we also have a note on the women who are supporting Jesus financially. This seems like this would have been controversial in His day. Herod's got to love the fact his own household is involved.

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Luke 8:1-3

October 26

The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:1-48, 6:1-34, 7:1-29; Luke 6:20-49

So if God could pre-empt our favorite television show to say a few words, what would they be? If He could do a public service announcement, pen a rock opera, give a speech, write a letter, txt message 160 words from on high or preach a sermon, what would He say? He said it all in a word...the word. Sometimes the best form of communication isn't spoken. It's body language and just being there. God sent His son.

And most of His son's teaching, it seems, was delivered in small bites served up in poignant moments on the road, in a boat, along the way. You'd think God would have put together a slew of sermons, a series, a baker's dozen, at least. But all we have is this one and it's not even recorded in all four gospels. A sermon shorter than most delivered on Sundays. A meandering cavalcade of admonitions and advice, wisdom and warnings, poetry and promise, tips and wishes for our brightest future. Words on how to pray and how to live and how to stay married and how to be salt and light and life and how to ask, seek, knock and keep dust out of your eyes and how to take a punch and how to handle worry and what to consider a treasure. All of the stuff we really, really, really need. I am struck by how straightforward and honest it all is. And so were they, astonished by its authority.

If we were God is this what we would have said and how we would have said it? It's brevity, it's simplicity, its focus and subject are remarkable and surprising considering this is God's word to us.

Lord knows.

October 25

The Rise of Oposition - Matthew 9:9-17; Mark 2:13-22; Luke 5:27-28; John 5:1-3, 5:5-47; Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-19; Luke 6:1-19

It is the religious who oppose Jesus. Jesus is called into question because He does good on the Sabbath. Legalism. We think God wants us to obey rules when what He wants is us to draw close to Him. And we argue rules among followers instead of coming together as followers in praise of the ruler.

One of the verses I find poignant is in this reading:

"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

John 5:39-40

It's not about knowing scripture. It's about knowing Christ. Lord knows.

October 24

Beginning of the Great Galilean Ministry - Matthew 4:12-22; Mark 1:14-28; Luke 4:14-30, 5:1-11, 4:31-37; Matthew 8:14-17, 4:23-25, 8:1-4, 9:1-8; Mark 1:29-45, 2:1-12; Luke 4:38-44, 5:12-26

There's a whole lot of miracles going on. Personally, I do not think the age of miracles has ceased...just our ability to believe. Certainly God can and does whatever He wants when He wants. In this reading, Jesus explains to Nazareth why they will not see Him do what they've heard happened in Capernaum. They think they "know" Jesus but they're not open to knowing the real Jesus. As Jesus explains, "No prophet is accepted in his hometown. " [Luke 4:24] And then He gives the examples of Elijah and Elisha who went away to perform their miracles. We think we know Jesus and God and their abilities. And so do they go elsewhere in this world to perform their miracles?

Lord knows.

October 23

Jesus' Early Work in Judea, Samaria and Galilee - John 1:35-51, 2:1-25, 3:1-36, 4:1-54; Luke 3:19-20

Bruce Marchiano's powerful portrayal of Christ as the infectiously joyous savior.

I wonder why John is the only one to record this part of Jesus' life? Why did John think it so important and why did the others think that it wasn't? John includes this portion of Jesus life and leaves out so much that the other writers include.

Were the others embarrassed, as some of us now are, that the savior of the world's first recorded miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding feast at his mother's request? It does seem a bit frivolous on the surface. [And excessive! He made between 120 and 180 gallons of wine.] It was the last bit of wine and as the master of the banquet remarks to the bridegroom: "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and the the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink...." [John 2:10] This remark suggests two things that we might not appreciate from our 21st century abstinence-minded and somewhat puritanical cultural bent. First of all, the wine of Jesus' day was intoxicating. Some have argued that the wine consumed was simply grape juice. Yes, I know there's too much in scripture to suggest otherwise. As Psalm 104, verses 14 and 15, proclaim: "He [God] makes... wine that gladdens the heart of man...." Then there is a fact that Jesus has made his wine at a point in the party when they'd had enough to drink that traditionally their senses were dulled. I'm not suggesting they were drunken, but they had enough to drink that they were feeling the effects. And it is at this point that Jesus makes His wine.

I think Jesus was more fun and cooler than we can possibly imagine or allow ourselves to think. And, if my view of the Christ is flawed, God forgive me. Someone once said to me when I brought this up that "Yeah, He made wine and like to hang around the beach." There is also that Toby Keith song, If I Was Jesus. Here are the lyrics:

If I was Jesus, I'd have some real long hair.

A robe and some sandals is exactly what I'd wear.

I'd be the guy at the party turnin' water to wine.

Yeah, me and my disciples, we'd have a real good time.

Oh and I'd lay my life down for you,

And I show you who's the boss.

I'd forgive you and adore you

While I was hangin' on your cross.

If I was Jesus.

I'd have some friends that were poor.

I'd run around with the wrong crowd. Man, I'd never be bored.

Then I'd heal me a blind man. Get myself crucified

By politicians and preachers, who got somethin' to hide.

Oh and I'd lay my life down for you,

And I show you who's the boss.

I'd forgive you and adore you

While I was hangin' on your cross.

If I was Jesus.

If I was Jesus, I'd come back from the dead,

And I'd walk on some water just to mess with your head.

I know your dark little secrets. I'd look you right in the face

And I'd tell you I love you with amazing grace.

Oh and I'd lay my life down for you,

And I'd show you who's the boss.

I'd forgive you and adore you

While I was hangin' on your cross.

If I was Jesus.

If I was Jesus.

There was a reason some of the Jews thought Jesus and His disciples were drunkards and too fun-loving compared to the more sober John the Baptist in his camel hair clothes and locust-eating diet. [Matthew 11:18-19] Who are we?

I love Bruce Marchiano's interpretation of Christ as a laughing, joyous man of passion whose happiness was infectious in the movie, "The Gospel of Matthew." It's Jesus' happiness that so many critics have pointed out and what makes him the light of the world and what makes His eventual death far more emotionally tragic. As one reviewer has stated, "Jesus is portrayed by Bruce Marchiano as affectionate and joyful. As the actor himself has said, 'This is a Jesus who smiles, laughs and rolls up his sleeves to work and play with those he loves.' "

Here's a little sermon I found called, "The Party's at God's House." Cheers.

October 22

The Ministry of John the Baptist; Jesus Faces Temptations - Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:2-11; Luke 3:1-18, 3:21-23a; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; John 1:19-34

I like John. He draws people from the cities to the wild. He is free from the ties of things. And, he knows how to win friends and influence people. How is this for an opening line to a sermon?

"You brood of vipers!" John 3:7

He knows his place and remains humble although the world around him would raise him higher. John is a rock star content to be a warm-up act.

And he is more than John the Baptist. He is John the Don't-Just-Get-Wet-Get-Clean-Inside-and-Out. We get caught up in Baptism as the threshold of entering Christianity. But there is more than ceremony in John's admonition. More than baptism there is life. We must live our cleansing.

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"

"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.

Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"

He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely -- be content with your pay."

John 3:10-14

I find it interesting that the sins John directs them to turn from are all about wealth and one's view of money. All three of them are variations on this theme. What we own owns us.

Jesus alone and deprived in the desert is vulnerable and tempted as are we all. And I wonder are we all attended to by the angels at the end of our trials?

Lord knows.

October 21

Visit of the Magi and Flight into Egypt; From Infancy to Manhood - Matthew 2:1-23; Luke 2:39-52

Believe it or not, this is "The Original Christmas Gift" offered by the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog for $69.95 and is available for immediate shipping.

This chronological version of the Bible helps me out. I always wondered why Joseph offered the poor man's sacrifice of two doves or pigeons [Luke 2:22-24] when the Magi had brought such lavish gifts. According to this chronology, the gifts came later. I wonder what the family did with the gold, incense and myrrh? Was it used by the family in their travels from Bethlehem to Egypt to Galilee. Did Christ use it to support His widowed mother after Joseph died so that He could be about His ministry instead of supporting His family as the firstborn male cultural was bound to do? Did He give it away? Did His mother use it as she followed Him on His ministry? Was it used in the preparation for His burial or that of His father Joseph? Was it saved... somehow I think not. Anne Rice suggests in her book Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana that He used it for the dowery of the bride for whom He will also turn the water into wine. But the question remains -- what did Jesus or His family do with the riches the Magi brought. Most likely an inconsequential point. We know what we need to know. But we know so little about the youth of Christ.

Imagine the misery of the women in Bethlehem. The editor estimates 40 to 50 baby boys slaughtered by Herod. I'm certain God grieved. And while Herod tried to preserve his kingdom, he ultimately lost it and those 40 or 50 boys ended up the brothers of Christ in Heaven. Even at his birth, there is a sacrifice because of sin.

October 20

The Births of Jesus and John the Baptist - Luke 1:5-80; Matthew 1:18-25a; Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 1:25b; Luke 2:21-38

Love both of these miraculous birth stories together - John and Jesus. What a buzz of mystery there must have been in this extended family. I love the fact that God gave Mary a confidant in her extremely stressful and embarrassing condition. Mary has Elizabeth and stays with her for three months.

You always wonder about the gossip surrounding Mary's virgin conception of her son Jesus. Anne Rice - yes, of vampire novel fame - does a wonderful job painting the real life whispering around Jesus that must have plagued the family in her two books, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt and Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana. They are written from Jesus' point of view a potentially controversial way of approaching the story, but I recommend them both.

All of the people who recognize His birth: Joseph and Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah and the unborn John who leaps in His mother's womb; the Angels who proclaim His birth; the shepherds in the field; Simeon at the temple and Anna the prophetess. And then, in tomorrow's reading, Herod and the chief priests and teachers of the law whose opinion he calls for and then the Magi. Wow, what a wide and varied birth announcement list. Too big a group to have organized to have created this story.

And then there are the heart-wrenching words of Simeon, ironic and prophetic (prophesy seems often ironic):

"And a sword will pierce your own soul too." [Luke 2:35]

October 19

The Genealogies of Jesus - Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23b-38

The two genealogies of Jesus presented here are interesting. The lineage through Joseph is mostly for the Jews benefits since Jesus' father wasn't really Joseph. But, hey, the Jews trace lineage through the father so here it is. Interesting that Tamar is mentioned. Remember her from Genesis 38? And Uriah's wife is mentioned specifically, too.

The lineage through Mary is also included. These folks are actually blood relatives to the Christ (of course, nowadays, all Christians are Christ's blood relatives). I like the Mary genealogy the very poetic meter of it and the way it goes all the way back to "Seth the son of Adam the son of God." Even the kind of teasing, "He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,"

Of course, the genealogy through His true father would have been extremely short:

Jesus the son of God.