Jesus' Touch (Post 3)

Our man Peter has become to be a true "disciple" of Jesus.  That means that he has left his occupation to be with the Rabbi 24 hours of every day - to walk with him, to listen to him, to "follow" him.  Today, think about Peter being with Jesus in the encounters we will read.  How would you have reacted?  What would you have thought?

Read Luke 8: 40 - 56

The contrasts between these two people are remarkable.  

     Person #1:  Jairus was his name - leader in the local Synagogue.  That meant a Jewish man who was welcomed everywhere in Capernaum.  That also meant he was in the upper echelon of the society of the town.  He had means.  Important person.

     Person #2:  woman - unnamed - unclean for 12 years.  Leviticus 15 informs us that a woman was considered "unclean" during her monthly flow of blood.  And there was ceremonial cleansing that she must go through to be considered "clean" again.  She could not be touched - nor could she touch - anyone during her time of "uncleanness".  That meant that this woman had not been able to go to Synagogue for TWELVE YEARS!  That meant that she had not been "touched" for TWELVE YEARS!  Shunned from society.  Marginalized.  Insignificant.

Two people - both desperate - both seeking out Jesus.  One seeks openly - well, he could.  He mattered.  The other was stealthily - secretive - well, she had to.  She was untouchable.  Peter was aware of both.  Peter watched Jesus handle both.  I wonder what was in his mind.

Some observations from these two encounters:

First, notice Peter's relationship with Jesus that is depicted by his response to Jesus' question, "Who touched me?"  His response is even a little 'snarky'!  It's as if he was saying, "Are you kidding me?  The better question would be who didn't touch you.  The crowd is pressing us all around.  Lots of people are touching you!"   I like the comfortableness that we see in Peter's response to Jesus.  Peter is "at home" with Him.  And he felt perfectly at ease to say what went through his mind.  There is no disrespect - just honesty.  Are you that open with Jesus when you pray?   Or do you feel that you cannot be yourself - that you have to put on some kind of persona that, in your mind, is more "spiritual"?  Peter could be himself with Jesus.  I want that kind of relationship with the Lord.  

Second, notice the courage of this woman.  She most likely had been shunned for all these many years.  It took incredible courage to push her way into this crowd.  Had someone spotted her - known her story - they could legally begin to shout, "Unclean!  Unclean!", pointing her out and adding another layer to her shame.  Courage - do you need a dose today?  What are you facing - perhaps that you have dealt with for years - where you need the courage to honestly take the situation to the Lord?  Reach out to Jesus - touch Him.  

Third, Jesus called Jairus' daughter "asleep" while the world called her "dead".  So he told the mourners to stop the weeping and wailing.  This is not a condemnation of grief - of tears over loss.  Even Jesus wept when he witnessed the sadness over the death of his friend, Lazarus.  This was something else.  Perhaps this was his way of telling us that there is no reason to "wail" when one is merely asleep.  We have to remember that when we face the death of beloved ones - ones who belong to God - ones who walked with Him.  Always remember the words of Paul that echo Jesus.  In 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 - 18:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in  Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.  (NIV)

Paul knew it ... Peter learned it at the bedside of this young girl ... do you know it?  There are tears over loss and sadness ... but there is weeping and wailing when there is no hope.  To which group do you belong?  

Peter is "Called" (Post 2)

Peter grew up in Bethsaida - a small fishing village on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee.  

He would have had a typical education for a Hebrew boy in Galilee.  That education consisted of early schooling at the Synagogue.  It usually lasted until about 10 - 12 years old and was centered on Torah - the Hebrew scriptures.  If a boy was particularly interested, and able, he would go on to the next level.  Still at Synagogue, he would listen to the rabbis discuss and debate Torah and the prophets - continuing to memorize scripture.  If a boy was not particularly interested or able, he would go home to learn the family business and take his place alongside his father and other family members to make a living for the family. After this second level of education, those boys who were passionate about Torah - who showed a gift for learning and understanding Torah - they would go out in search of a rabbi to "follow".   "Following" meant they boys would then walk with the chosen rabbi.  They would be with him 24/7 - going everywhere he went, listening to everything he said, doing what he did  - trying to "be" like the rabbi.  There was an interview process through which the rabbi would decide if that young man had the passion and the ability to be his disciple.  Only after that, if the rabbi deemed the young man worthy, would the chosen rabbi say, "Follow me".  Now, and only now, was the young man his "disciple".  After years of following the chosen rabbi - there would come a day when the rabbi would say to the disciple - "You are ready.  Now, go and make disciples."  

We don't know how much education Peter had.  All we know is that he is fishing - in the family business.  So, what does that tell you about him?  In the book of Acts, some people describe him as being "uneducated".  I wonder when Peter's training at the Synagogue stopped.  Was it after the first level?  Did he return to learn the family business at about 12 years old?  We don't know.  But he was fishing.

Read Mark 1: 14 - 18 and Luke 5: 1 - 11

As you observe these details, create the scenario in your mind.  

Now read John 1: 35 - 42

What do these details add to your knowledge of Peter, the man?  

Jesus saw something in Peter (and Andrew, James and John) - something that made them stand out to Him. I think they knew each other.  I think Peter had been listening to this local 'rabbi'.  I think there was some familiarity.  And I think Peter was honest enough to see himself, compared to Jesus, as a sinful man.  And Jesus says to him, "You - follow me".  That is discipleship language.  And Peter chooses to "follow".  

Do you remember Jesus' words to His disciples in John 15:16?  Jesus is preparing them for His death and departure, and he says,

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.

And Jesus comes to you as well.  He stepped into history and said,

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.

So the question comes to us as well.  Do we want to be a "disciple"?  Do we want to walk and live with the Rabbi Jesus, consumed with a passion to become like Him?  It is as pertinent a question for us as it was in the first century.  Peter "immediately" said "yes".  What do you say?  

Introduction to the Life and Teaching of Peter (Post 1)

Welcome to this study that will swirl around Peter, the apostle.  We know a little about him ... but we would love to know so much more!  His life seems to be marked by dichotomy:  there is courage and weakness; we see victory and failure; we observe great passion in juxtaposition against fear of what 'others' might think; there is promise and disappointment.  Sounds a bit like my life ... how about yours?

Our study will divide itself into two sections.  We will fist observe what we can about Peter as a man through the gospels and his interactions with Jesus.  We will go into the book of Acts and see him as a central person in the birth and development of the early Jerusalem church.

The second half of our study will be observing (and listening to) Peter as a pastor - as a shepherd.  We will do this through his letters, 1 and 2 Peter.  You learn quite a lot about a person when you are privy to their correspondence.  What a privilege to have Peter's heart preserved for us through these letters.

Today ... some introductory information ...

First, about the gospels.  Mark was the first one written down - estimated sometime between 60 - 70 CE. Most scholars believe that both Matthew and Luke took their basic structure from the gospel Mark had written down.  John came years - probably at the end of the first century.  We will use all three to gain as well rounded a picture as we possibly can.

Second, about fishing at the time.  In this period, fishing boomed around the Sea of Galilee.  Now it was possible to dry (pickle) fish; thus it could be delivered to regions farther away.  Until the middle of the 20th century CE, fishermen fished there the same way as in the time of the New Testament:  a net was spread between two boats, then pulled together so that the fish were trapped in the area enclosed by the net.

Third, about Peter's hometown, Bethsaida.  The name means "house of fishing" and the town was on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  The first-century historian Flavius Josephus was so impressed by the area that he wrote, 'One may call this place the ambition of nature,'  Josephus also reported a thriving fishing industry at this time, with 230 boats regularly working in the lake.

And lastly, about education.  Young boys in Jewish families were expected to go to the synagogue for some schooling.  We have no reason to think that Peter did not follow this pattern.  So as a boy, he would have first been taught by his parents, and then moved on to the synagogue for instruction by the Rabbi.  The traditional way was by word of mouth and repetition.  We will read that Peter was described as "uneducated" in Acts.  We don't know if he could write.  We do know that he used an amanuenis, which was a scribe or ghostwriter for his letters.  We also know that he had not gone further in the rabbinical teaching ... because he was about the family business ... he was a fisherman.

But first he was just a little boy!

Lord we pray that you will give us insight and wisdom as we study this wonderful and remarkable man.  Help us see his strengths ... and in that strength, find more of our own.  Help us see his weaknesses ... and in those weaknesses by aware of our own.  Help us listen to his wisdom gained from nearness to you and years of experience ... and be willing to make changes in our own lives if those words point out the need for change. Thank you for preserving his story for us.  Thank you for Peter.

Conclusion (Matthew - P 77)

We began our journey through the gospel of Matthew with the recognition that in this book, Jesus was portrayed as the King - King of his kingdom.  Matthew writes so much about the Kingdom of heaven. (Kingdom of God)  As disciples of Jesus, we are citizens of His kingdom ... subjects to King Jesus.

To conclude our journey, I want to share with you the lyrics to a song written by Jason Ingram and Robbie Seay.  To me they wrap up the message in this splendid gospel.  They speak the words that I could not form myself.  I offer them to God ... from me ... with thanksgiving that God has given some people the gift of words.  And I offer them to you ... perhaps you will choose to claim them as your own.

Kingdom and A King

My heart is beating faster in my chest

As I sing of where my loyalties will rest

To never wait on governments to move

As the broken and the poor cry out to You

For the Kingdom and the King

For His glory, we will sing

For the rescue of our souls

He has come

For the kingdom and the cross

Oh, the triumph and the loss

Love has broken through

And new redeemed

For the Kingdom and the King

Oh God may we be focused on the least

A people balancing the fasting and the feast

A call to give and to serve and to celebrate

For You are great, of my God, You are great

So I pledge to know

And love You above all

May we the hands

To free them we are called

For the Kingdom and the King

For His glory we will sing

For the rescue of our souls

He has come

For the Kingdom and the cross

Oh, the triumph and the loss

Love has broken through

And now redeemed

And our hope is not in this land

Oh, not in these laws

Not in these things

And rest, oh, knowing Your love

Has called us to move

Called us to sing, sing, sing

And the people will sing

They will sing, sing

Oh the people will sing

For the King, for the King

For the Kingdom and the King

For His glory we will sing

For the rescue of our souls

He has come

For the Kingdom and the cross

Oh, the triumph and the loss

Love has broken through

And now redeemed

For the Kingdom and the King

The King ... the King

The people will sing, sing, sing

For the Kingdom and the King.

So ... my friends ... sing ... and worship our King!

Thank you for journeying through Matthew with me.  May God give you eyes to see your King more clearly with each day.  May you learn what it means to be His subject more deeply with each passing day.  

Thy Kingdom come - Thy will be done

On earth (and in my heart) as it is in heaven.

Amen

Last Words (Matthew 28 - P 76)

We close our reading of Matthew today ...

Matthew 28: 16 - 20

Have you ever done the exercise of deciding, if you knew today were your last day on this earth, what exactly you would want the people you love to hear from you?  It is a sobering activity.  It requires you to decide what you really consider of utmost importance.  In these final verses from Matthew, we are privileged to 'listen in' on Jesus' last words to his disciples.  Some observations and some lessons as we close this study.

Observation #1:  Mary had told the disciples about Jesus' instructions to go to Galilee - and they went.  We are reminded one more time from the pen of Matthew that being a disciple means following Jesus' instructions.  Still does.  

Observation #2:  When they saw Jesus, they worshiped.  In verse 9, when the Marys saw Jesus, they worshiped.  It is the absolutely appropriate response to the presence of Jesus.  We are reminded one more time from the pen of Matthew that to be a disciple of Jesus is to worship him.  Still is.  

Lessons to learn from Jesus' final words:

Jesus makes some remarkable promises in these few words.  And while they were addressed to the immediate crowd gathered on that mountain, they have been preserved so that you and I can hear them and respond to them as well.  Jesus provides three things in these final words:

First, he addresses the issue of power and authority.  They are his.  The power plays and games of this world are only shams.  We can rest assured that all power and control is given to Jesus and rests firmly in his hands.  That does not explain away the horrific things that take place in our old world ... but it allows one to sleep at night.  It provides security and peace.  Real authority and power rests in hands that we can trust.  I need to know that!

Second, he leaves his followers with work to do.  We have a commission.  Jesus knows that work matters - it's important - and he provides a task for those who would walk after him.  We are to make disciples.  How you do that will depend on your particular gifts - on the way you are put together - on the opportunities that the Lord places in your path.  That's why formulas don't really work.  

One reason I know that Jesus expects us to be at work for him while he is away is because of the stories he told.  Remember the story of the talents? We studied it in Matthew 25: 14 - 30.  There was an expectation that the servants would be about doing the master's work.  Jesus told a similar story in Luke 19: 11 - 27.  Even with the different details, the main point is the same - the master expected work to be done in his absence.  Are you discipling your own children?  Are you discipling the people placed in your circles?  Make disciples, Jesus said.  It is our "work" - the harvest is in his hands.  

And third, he promises his very own presence.  He will not leave us.  His presence is a continual reality in the life of all believers.  In the presence of the Lord, the response is to worship.  If he is with us always, doesn't that mean that our entire lives are experiences of worship?  Worship is not an event.  It is not something we "go to".  It is our very lives.  I love Matt Redman's song: "The Heart of Worship".  The chorus from that wonderful song is:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship 

And it's all about You 

All about You, Jesus 

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it 

When it's all about You 

It's all about You Jesus 

Paul explains is well for us in Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

In the presence of God, one worships.  And what is worship?  It is the offering of myself - all of me - nothing held back - as a sacrifice to God.  

Jesus' final words?  1)  He assures us that power and authority are in his hands - so rest well, disciple.  2)  He assigns us a task - so be assured of your value and importance, disciple.  3)  And he promises that we will not walk alone - so breath deeply, disciple.  

May we be faithful to the one whose very name is Faithful and True.  

The Unimaginable (Matthew 28 - P 75)

Our reading today ...

Matthew 28: 1 - 15

Matthew gives us such an abbreviated account of this remarkable event.  We learn a little more from the other gospel writers ... but we still are left with a desire for so much more detail!  

As I write this morning, my heart is aching with a throb that you know as well.  The past few days have carried much pain ... and loss.  One of my daughters said 'good-bye' to a precious friend who died from cancer.  The sister of one of my dearest friends died yesterday.  And yet ... and yet ...

These few verses we read today give us a glimpse into the unimaginable truth of resurrection.  Death conquered - overcome - denied victory.

Allow me to make some observations from Matthew's account of this event.

First, notice it was Mary Magdalene and the 'other Mary' who were going to the tomb that morning.  It was these Marys who had walked the entire way with their Lord.  They stayed at the cross and did not run.  They sat by the tomb at the burial.  They were coming to the tomb on that Sunday morning.  And they were the first witnesses of Jesus - alive.  My name is not 'Mary' ... but I want to be in their company!  I want to be 'another Mary' - one who does not desert - one who walks faithfully all the way, even when I do not understand - one whose faith is stronger than anything this fallen world can hurl at me.  Join me, won't you?  Let's form a "Mary" coalition that covers the globe - the faithful ones!  

Second, look again at the description of their emotions in verse 8.  They were "afraid yet filled with joy".  Those two emotions can coexist in one heart at the very same moment.  Joy is from the God.  It is one of the remarkable gifts he gives his people.  Recall what Jesus told his disciples recorded in 

John 15:11

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Jesus followers are full of His joy.  And it is complete joy.  It does not depend on smooth circumstances.  It is from him - through him - and by him.  Our Marys were filled with joy.  But that astounding joy does not necessarily negate feelings of fear.  When we don't understand - when we don't know what is coming - when circumstances are beyond any personal control - when pain is hovering at our door - there can be fear.  I believe that is why the command, "Don't be afraid", is the most repeated command in all of scripture.  This old world is full of things that cause us to be afraid.  But in our "Mary Coalition", fear and joy can coexist.  

Third, we observe the pitiful attempt by the chief priests to cover up the truth.  The guards told them what had happened - and yet, even truth from eye witnesses would not turn their darkened hearts.  How many times have we seen that repeated in our own country - cover ups to hide the truth?  It seems to be humanity's way of handling what it does not like.  What tragedy - both then and now.

So what difference does this resurrection event make in our lives?  It makes all the difference!  Mary saw Jesus - alive.  He told her to go and tell his brothers to go to Galilee and they would see him also.  Jesus - alive.

Amy Grant sings a song titled, "Lay Down Your Burdens".  It is on her album, "Rock of Ages - Hymns of Faith".  I think that song speaks to the difference the resurrection makes for me - in my life - right now.  Listen ...

CHORUS

Lay down your burden I will carry you

I will carry you my child, my child

Lay down your burden I will carry you

I will carry you my child, my child

Cause I can walk on water ..

Calm a restless sea

I've done a thousand things you've never done

And I'm really watching

While you struggle on your way

Call on my name, Ill come

Repeat Chorus

I give vision to the blind

I can raise the dead

I've seen the darker side of hell

And I've returned

I've seen those sleepless night

And count every tear you cry

Some lessons hurt to learn

Repeat Chorus

Indeed, Jesus saw the "darker side of hell and returned".  

So the lesson for me ... for you ...

Call on His Name 

He will come!

The Body (Matthew 27 - P 74)

Our reading today ...

Matthew 27: 57 - 66

After crucifixion ...

          Roman law:  The law allowed the relatives of a criminal to claim the body for burial.  If it was not claimed, the body was simply left to rot until the scavenger dogs dealt with it.  Obviously, none of Jesus' relatives were in a position to step up and claim the body.

          Jewish law:  A criminal's body was not to be left hanging overnight.  It had to be buried on the day of the execution.  The law was based on Deuteronomy 21: 22 - 23:

If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight.  Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse.

To all those aware of these laws, there had to have been a fever pitch to deal with Jesus' body.

Who was this man, Joseph?  We learn from Matthew that he was rich.  We learn from Luke that he was a member of the Sanhedrin.  Wow.  That sets up all sorts of questions.  Where was he the night Jesus was railroaded through the mock trial?  Remember a quorum required that 23 of the 70 members of the Sanhedrin be present.  Could it be that the high priest only called the men he knew he could count on?  Perhaps Joseph was not even aware of what was going down that night.  We will not know this side of eternity.  We do know he was a disciple.  He did not support the Sanhedrin and their views and plans for Jesus.  And we see him step forward when he could.  I wonder what the "rest of his story" looked like?  

It seems that Pilate did not care - but Joseph risked the displeasure of the ruling governor by stepping forward.  I think we can assume that his position in the Sanhedrin was forfeited.  At the least, he would have triggered the hatred and rage of the ruling class in Judea.  There was an honorable man named Joseph at the beginning of Jesus' life on earth - his earthly father.  And there is an honorable man named Joseph at the close of Jesus' life on earth - a Jewish leader - a man of courage.  I have come to love the name "Joseph".

Look back at verse 62. "On the next day" - the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate.  What was the "next day"?  None other than Sabbath - and not just any Sabbath - the Sabbath of Passover.  These religious leaders were willing to break their own most sacred laws to get what they wanted.  Oh what a severe warning exists here for us!  James, the earthly brother of Jesus writes:

When tempted,no one should say, "God is tempting me."  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  (James 1: 13 - 15)

We see that truth played out in dramatic fashion by these Pharisees and priests.  Their own evil desire led them to violate everything they considered sacred, Godly, righteous.  That leads us to serious and sobering questions.  Do we see the same thing in our world?  Listen to men and/or women explain why they violate their marriage covenants and  have affairs.  Listen to men and/or women who are in prison for fraud.  What are you willing to violate to get what you want?   What is "sacred" to you?  Will you ever set aside your own "desires" to guard what is sacred?  Hard lessons - but critical lessons for people who call themselves "people of God".

And so Jesus' body is laid in a tomb.  It would have been carved out of the rock, a small cave, with ledges upon which the bodies were laid.  And we observe two groups watching ...

From verse 61 ... Mary Magdalene and another woman also named Mary.  The faithful.  The believers. The ones whose hearts and lives had been forever altered by their encounters with Jesus.  Unwilling to leave because of love.

From verse 66 ... the guards.  The unengaged.  The indifferent.  They were doing their job.  Hired by those determined to kill and destroy faith in Jesus.  What they did not know was that anyone who would try to put bonds on Jesus faced an impossible task.  It is no different today.

Has your heart been forever altered by your encounters with Jesus?  Or are you going through the motions of religion without the life of the Lord?

In our reading of the last two chapters of Matthew, we have "watched the lamb".  Now it is time to "watch the tomb".