Hometown Surprise

S - "Jesus left and returned to his hometown with his followers. …The people were upset because of what he was doing. But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their relatives and their own family.” Jesus could not work any miracles there, except to heal a few sick people by placing his hands on them. He was surprised that the people did not have any faith." According to Mark 6:1, 3-6

O - This hometown heartbreak highlights a tragic misdirection religion perpetuates.  There is a critical difference between one's theology and one's actual faith.  The people of Jesus' hometown had a truckload of theology and no faith.  How is this so?  Religion's emphasis is on what is perceives to be informational accuracy and God's kingdom emphasis is on relational authenticity with the one sent by heaven. As it turns out, faith is not primarily a theological term but a relational one.  The original term means to have confidence in and to rely on. Specifically, to have confidence in and rely on Jesus of Nazareth; something Jesus' hometown would not do.  Surprise: accurate theology does not equate to faith. 

 

A - All the religions promote the idea that God's greatest gift to humans and the world is actually a book. Torah for Judaism, Quran for Islam, Bible for Christianity, the Vedas for Hinduism and the Tipitaka (also called the Pali Canon) for Buddhism, etc. However, heaven’s greatest gift is a person; Jesus of Nazareth. He is heaven's message to the world.  He clarifies the person and purposes of God. God has never made a Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim … humans have made all these.  He's making a family, dearly loved children, brothers and sisters together from every culture, nation and ethnicity. I am very grateful to have confidence in Jesus and to be relying on him; not a concept, principle or plan … Jesus himself; and to be doing so with brothers and sisters from all over the world.

 

P - Our Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus and for your dream for all the world - a family, not a religion, institution or organization. Am so grateful that you can be known not just known about.  You have loved us (the world) first, and most and refuse to change your mind.  Am so glad to be experiencing you and your love in confidence and reliance on Jesus.  

Amazed,

Steve

Clear Vision or Self-deception?

S - "Jesus told him, “For judgment I came into this world, so that the blind would see and those who see would become blind.” When the Religious Experts heard Jesus say this, they asked, “Are we blind?” Jesus answered, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty. But now that you claim to see, you will keep on being guilty.”" According to John 9:39-41 TJB

O - What was the basis used by the Religious Experts to conclude they possessed their sight? How did they affirm and validate their "seeing"; a seeing which leaves them guilty in the most tragic way? While the story does not go on to answer these questions directly, we can identify some of the claims, validations and causes for their self-deception and blindness.  They were experts in scripture, knowledgeable and well-trained.  They were the inheritors of an unbroken tradition from Moses and leaders in the dynamics which shaped the culture/religion of the day. How could they not be sighted? So profuse is their self-deceived and self-imposed blindness (which they considered to be clear sighted reality) they will go on to refuse and reject the Messiah, condemn and demand his death.  In truth, they rejected the one who fulfilled all of the markers and prophecies given by the scriptures they used to validate themselves. How blind and sad is that?  And yet, are these not the same claims and validations used by the spiritual and religious leaders of our day?  They all, regardless of religion, use these to claim sight, validation, vindication; the very thing which is blindness and unrelenting guilt, according to Jesus. He says: “Your eyes are the lamp for your body. When your eyes are good, you have all the light you need. But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. So be sure your light isn’t darkness. If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you." [Luke 11:34-36 TJB]  

 

A - Whoa!  I am a leader, one fairly well skilled and trained in scripture.  How am I assessing my "seeing" and what is the metric of such for validation in my life? How do I avoid the self-deception which inspired the tragic thinking and actions of the Religious Experts; and which ends in a self-imposed blind-guilt?  Just like the man born blind, safety and seeing will not come through my interface with the scriptures, religion or culture.  It is obtained exclusively by interface with the person of Jesus.  Ongoing interface with his person, presence and spirit gives sight; not the culture, religion or even the verses of one's best known passages of scripture. Light, not information, is required for us to be able to see.  "Once again Jesus spoke to the people saying, “I am the light of the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”" [John 8:12 TJB] Sight, light, freedom, life is in a person not a principle, religious practice or a scripture.  Seeing is from him and in him … and he is validation enough for all who follow.  

 

P - Lord,

I admit that without you darkness, self-deception and blindness will be my status; even if I hold scriptural insights or principles. You are life and light and I rely on you to enable my seeing, following, living and loving. 

You really are validation enough,

Steve

No Scripture Required

S - "And when he was raised from death, his followers remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words of Jesus." According to John 2:22 TJB

 

O - Those following Jesus and who were closest to him did not believe because of anything recorded in the Scriptures.  They'd even forgotten much of what he told them. They did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus because the Scriptures foretold it. The catalyst for their belief did not come from theological information or religious practice. It came, and it comes, from only one source: personal encounters with the resurrected Jesus. Religion wants people to believe in the Scripture so they will believe in Jesus. Heaven wants people to meet Jesus and then the Scriptures will have their intended place.      

 

A - The life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth highlight and emphasize the reality that God's Kingdom and all religions are diametrically opposed to each other.  The polarized differences are the differences between mere human culture and God's Kingdom. Religion uses Scriptures to come to conclusions it thinks are accurate.  It builds, creates a Savior, a Jesus in its own understanding.  These two are so intensely opposed to each other that the best religion of Jesus' day will insist on and insure his unjust trial and underserved execution. Ultimately, religion will use the words of Scripture and then refuse or change the meaning.  Jesus clearly and repeatedly warns his followers of this sad reality. He invites me and the world (7.7 billion) to follow himself not a principle, plan or concept. Faith in Jesus does not come from accurate theological conclusions but from the reliance and confidence one has in his person in ongoing relationship. Jesus is to be known not just known about. Once we meet him … resurrection is a foregone conclusion.  No Scriptures required.  

 

P - God of all and God of me,

Am so very grateful that your great love for us is fully expressed and confirmed in the person of Jesus and his invitation to know you not just know about you. Am glad to be following him and loving you back.

Steve  

Relational Ease

S - "Jesus was teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum when he said these things. Many of Jesus’ followers heard him and said, “This is too hard for anyone to understand.” … Then Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless it is given to them by the Father. That is why I have told these things to all of you.” As a result, many of his followers turned back and stopped following him." According to John 6:59-60, 65-66

 

O - Religion promotes the misconception that accurate information is the critical piece God requires.  The result is that one's understanding becomes the primary dynamic and determining factor in all things related to God.  Jesus consistently refutes this idea.  God's desire and God's kingdom is a relational reality not a theological one. Information isn't unimportant it is just not most important.  Relational authenticity always trumps informational accuracy (e.g. Jesus' consistent silencing of demons saying true things about him).  The beauty in this is that being near relationally is more important than understanding a truth, plan or concept.  Presence of and interface with a person triumphs over intellectual understanding (e.g. the sisters of Lazarus). This is true for all children and Jesus promises the world (7.7billion): "People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God. I promise you that you cannot get into God’s kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does."    

 

A - As a child I was encouraged to memorize Proverbs 3:5-6.  It says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Then, over the years, I was encouraged in and believed the lie of religion: to rely on my understanding of Scripture; the very thing the Scripture tells us to not do.  Heaven invites me and all to trust a person, to rely on and have confidence in him rather than in our understanding. Children rely on being near/with their parents not their understanding, resources, information or skill sets. They rely on another for direction, protection and provision. Jesus' solitary invitation remains and I am very keen on accepting and living it out loud -- "Follow me."  

 

P - Lord,

I will trust in you with all my heart, not in my current read of the Scriptures or in my understanding of concepts or principles. Am so very grateful to know you and your presence not just know about you.  You lead and I'll follow.

I do love you back,

Steve