Tag: Bible Characters

Today’s Word Is IDEA

Fri-Jun-12-2020
It’s Humor Day!

Frank and Beulah don’t get out much at their age, but one day Frank gets this idea that he is going to ride horses with his best friend, Ralphie. Beulah thinks this is a bad idea. “Frank, you haven’t ridden horses in decades! You’re going to get yourself hurt, and then you’ll be out of commission for weeks!”

Nevertheless, the next day Ralphie comes by to pick him up and off they go to ride horses. After two or three minutes of riding, Frank falls off! “Oh my gosh!” Ralphie exclaims. “Are you OK?”

“Sure, I’m fine,” replies Frank. “Just a little shaken up. I’m a little rusty, you know.”

“Let’s quit and go home,” Ralphie suggests. “Maybe Beulah was right. This was a bad idea.”

“No way,” insists Frank. “You know we did this a lot when we were younger, and we always got back on to show the horse who’s boss. I can do it. I know I can.”

So, Frank gets back on and rides some more. But wouldn’t you know it, he promptly falls off again! Ralphie is concerned, of course. “Frank, that’s enough. You’re going to really hurt yourself, just like Beulah said. She will never let you hear the end of this!”

“Now Ralphie,” Frank starts. “I know this is a little unusual, but I used to be so experienced at this. I am going to try one more time. I just know I can do it.”

Back on the horse, Frank holds on tighter this time. It looks like he might last longer than before, but no, off he goes again. “That’s enough, Frank,” Ralphie says firmly. “We’re going home!”

“Aw, come on, Ralphie,” Frank pleads. “Have some confidence in me. Just one more try. P-l-e-a-s-e.”

So Ralphie explains, “Look, Frank. I know I agreed to this, but we’re done. Besides, if you want to try one more time, I’m going to have to go back into K-Mart and get some more quarters!”

Some things are just bad ideas. Did you ever have one?

In Exodus 32, the Israelites, having escaped Egypt through the Red Sea, were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, waiting for Moses to return from an encounter with God on the mountain. While Moses was in the presence of God receiving the Ten Commandments, the people below were getting restless. Moses had taken so long that they were beginning to think he might not be coming back.

So, they appealed to Moses’ older brother Aaron to take control of the leadership. They knew they were supposed to have an encounter with God. They knew they were headed for the Promised Land. So, an idea emerged.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”  So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”  (Exodus 32:1-4)

Bad idea. Have you ever rushed into something because you couldn’t wait for God’s plan to play out? Theirs was a tragic mistake. And lo and behold … Moses showed up as they were dancing and celebrating the golden calf that was their new god.

And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” (Exodus 32:21-24)

If it weren’t so tragic, this could but one of the most humorous statements in the Bible! In verse 4, Aaron is “fashioning” a golden calf with a tool. But in verse 24, Aaron says, ”and I threw [the gold] into the fire, and out came this calf.” Really? That sounds like an eight-year-old trying to explain something to an adult who knows full well, that’s not what happened!

There is a phrase in this passage that describes what their impatience with God really was. Aaron said, “You know the people, that they are set on evil.” True. And obviously Aaron was not going to shoulder any of the blame. It was their fault! If you are a believer, you know that the truth will prevail. Bad ideas are just that … bad ideas. And there are consequences.

Don’t go for the bad idea. And don’t be afraid to tell someone else, “That’s a bad idea.” Be patient. God’s idea is best.

Have a blessed day,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is AWARE

Mon-Jun-1-2020

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:16,18,19)

There is a song that says, “God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.” I hope you believe that. Just like the Israelites facing the Red Sea, we often look forward and mistakenly think there is no way. We think about “former things,” about what worked and what didn’t work. We conclude that those things which worked will still work, and what didn’t work still won’t work. Not so with God.

Let us read this verse carefully, because “remembering” is an important biblical principle. Isaiah is not telling us to forget the past. The book of Deuteronomy repeats many times the need to remember God’s faithfulness in the past as we proceed forward in our faith journey into the future.

Think about how Isaiah phrases it. “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.” He is warning us against intentionally dredging up memories of failures. Because new challenges call for new approaches, and God constantly presents us with a new way forward. God knows that if we rely exclusively on  what worked or didn’t work before, we can easily lose focus on him. He wants us to trust him!

Isaiah is pointing out that if our thinking excludes God’s power to do new things, then we may turn back instead of moving forward. God wants you to make it. You are his beloved. There is a difference between being “aware” of the past and being “confined” by the past. And as we are aware of former things, so must we also be aware that God is greater than former things. He has new things.

On the other side of the Red Sea, there was going to be a kingdom purpose for the people of God to fulfill. Thus, the Red Sea had to relinquish passage to those called to the Promised Land. Beyond our obstacles are purposes and dreams. Not selfish ones. Big ones. Kingdom-sized and kingdom-focused.

God will move obstacles and part waters for those who pursue his preferred future. Moses believed in the promised future land. But when driven into a trap in pursuit of that dream, what would he do? An army behind him, a great sea  in front of him. Would Moses be aware of God … of his presence, his purposes, his power, his promises, his plan? Are you aware of all these things in your present moment? It’s the key phrase of this passage … “Will you not be aware …?”

So, Moses listened to God’s instruction to hold up his staff toward the obstacle, the Red Sea, thus declaring that what should not have worked … was going to work … crossing the sea without a boat or a bridge … because his thinking took God’s purpose and ability into account.

Stop looking at how things used to be, used to work. The past is behind you. The future is on the other side of that obstacle. What are you going to be most aware of … the past behind, the obstacle ahead, or God above? From your vantage point, the promise out there may not be visible. But from God’s vantage point, it is.

Now occasionally, God says to live with things as they are for now, but more than we are aware, he says to move on, trust him. And when he speaks for action, take your staff, and hold it up in defiance against the obstacle. Yes, that can be a risky, scary act of faith. But it is your signal that you are aware … aware of the past, aware of the dream, aware of the obstacles, and most of all … aware of God’s ability to do a “new thing.”

If God has a purpose in mind for you, you must not be limited by the way things have been working up until now. In your wilderness, God will make a road. In your desert, God can make a river.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark


Bible Study Tools Verse of the Day
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Today’s Word Is PREPARATION

Tue-May-26-2020

KEY THOUGHT: Sometimes we think we should be doing a bigger job, or a different job. Thus, we can get frustrated and impatient with what we are doing right now. We want to get on with “doing my dream” and this doesn’t seem to be it. But … you could very well be going through this job or this season to prepare you for something that God has in mind … something you don’t know about yet.

For instance, in the Old Testament, the prophet Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to the home of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel, even though it would be many years before this king would be put in place.

Samuel was presented with 7 different sons to choose from, but one by one the Lord whispered “no” as each was presented. Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him to me…” (1st Samuel 16:11)

The 8th son was named David, apparently not regarded by his family as kingly material or a candidate for greatness. But … you guessed it … Samuel had him summoned and he was the one … the future King David. When did he become King? … 15 years later! Meanwhile, he worked hard, was faithful to God, and patiently did what was before him.

Have you ever felt like you were doing something menial or without purpose, like tending the sheep? And there was no likelihood of a higher calling or purpose? Well, in David’s case, the tasks that make up shepherding were actually miniature versions of the skills needed to 1) defeat a giant named Goliath with a slingshot, 2) serve in the present king’s court, playing the harp, 3) battle enemies with his sense of confidence, and 4) care for a nation of people, like a shepherd cares for his sheep.

I had a discussion about this topic yesterday with my older daughter, who lives in California. We have both worked through the tension between seeing greater things and living in the present faithfully, trusting God for what we do not see.

My wife and I have also lived out this scenario, working in places where unfair things sometimes happened. We were constantly asking God for endurance and patience, questioning the reason for having to continue in something that seemed to have no purpose in the larger plan. We have both been released from jobs by bosses who seemed callous. And we have both continued in other situations for longer than seemed necessary.

Then there came times for all of us when God opened a new door. When that happened, we realized that the difficult time we had in a certain place was the vey thing necessary to give us the training, experience, and endurance to step into an opportunity we could never have had without those frustrating phases, lessons learned, and skills gained.

The season of life you are in right now, the job you are doing, the situation that seems like you are spinning your wheels … might very well be preparing you for something yet to come. Don’t despise where you are. Be faithful to your present situation. God has a plan. Give him time. Serve him well in small things … and wait … the best is yet to come.

Keep on keeping on,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is MARGIN

Wed-May-13-2020

“Margin is the remedy for people who’ve run out of time, energy, confidence, and courage.” – Tim Kimmel

When you type a document, you have “margins,” because you don’t want to push the text all the way to the edges of the paper. So why do we push ourselves to the edges of our limits? Dr. Richard Swenson wrote a great book entitled Margin to address this issue. One good excuse not to read it would be to say, “I don’t have any free time to read a book that would teach me the importance of free time!”

Here’s a biblical example of the principle … Exodus 18:13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.”

Was the work Moses was doing important? Absolutely! But we can’t do everything! The issue here is not just about resting and Sabbath, it is about overextending ourselves to the point where we live without breathing room. And why do we need some excess space? Because it is in that space that we interact freely with God.

Do you get your work done with time to spare? Do you take time to sit and relax? Do you have unfulfilled dreams waiting while you busy yourself with things that rob you of other things God wants you to enjoy? Do you ignore people because you have too much to do?

Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Our fast-paced world drives us toward overload. And often there are so many things available to us that we can’t resist saying “yes” to more than we can handle. Very often we need to say “no” to something good, so that we can say “yes” to something excellent. This helps to create the “margin” we need for spiritual, emotional, and physical health.

By the way … It sounds like I have this under control in my life … I don’t … It has been one of my greatest struggles … so this devotional thought is also a confession. I need better balance in my life. And I need God’s help with that every day.

Margin is the space between our load and our limits and is related to our reserves and resilience. It is a buffer, a leeway, a gap; the place we go to let God refresh us, to heal, to reflect, to recharge, to focus on the things that matter most. Creating margin for ourselves is a good thing.

Receive a breeze of freshness today,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is GIANTS

Mon-May-4-2020

My mom was afraid of spiders. She would tell my dad, “There’s an enormous spider in the bathroom!” He would take care of the problem, but he was aware that the word “enormous” really gave the spider more credit than it was due. That’s the key today – giving an obstacle more credit than it is due.

In the Old Testament we read of the Israelites escaping from Egypt and being led by Moses to a Promised Land from God. When they got to the border of the Promised Land, Moses sent out 12 spies to check out the prospects of taking the land over from its present occupants.

This should have been a formality, right? After all, God had brought them out of Egypt by miraculously parting a sea. He had provided miracles of food and water, even though they were stubborn and disobedient. But even with Moses leading them, and with an assurance that God is surely with them, you and I know what happened when those 12 spies, one from each of the 12 tribes, ventured into this new land to see who and what was there. They saw fruitfulness, spacious land, several towns of regular folks, but then there were those GIANTS!

When they returned to Moses and the people, after 40 days of exploration, they told of a land of “milk and honey and much fruit” (Numbers 13:27). However, 10 of the 12 spies advised against going in and completing the “mission.” The reason? … “There also we saw the Nephilim [giants] … and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33)

And who were the two spies who disagreed? … Joshua and Caleb. So, Caleb stood up and delivered what we would call the minority report. “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” (Number 13:30)

How could 12 spies take the same journey, see the same things, and report opposing conclusions? Surely Joshua and Caleb saw those giants! But obviously, they also saw something else – something bigger than those giants – because they didn’t just look out, they looked up! They saw the hand of God at work – leading them this far – and now farther.

Do you tend to report the obstacles? … or the opportunities? … Do you focus on the strength of the opposition? … or the power of the Spirit? Are you intimidated by big problems? … or confident of the problem solver?

We are not grasshoppers – we are God’s people. But those Israelites were allowed to make their choice. They spent 40 years in the desert until an entire generation was gone – all but Joshua and Caleb. Everything really comes down to faith, doesn’t it?

When you are facing something difficult (like today maybe?), remember that when God is part of the picture, the discussion sounds different, the thinking changes direction, and the results will confirm your faith.

Don’t give the big spiders – or the giants – more credit than they are due. Instead, see God and take courage.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is PERSISTENCE

Tue-Apr-21-2020

I believe the best quote about persistence that I ever heard came from legendary baseball player Babe Ruth, who once said, “It’s hard to beat a man who never gives up.”

Trainers, coaches, and developers of athletes can tell you that there is only one way to really find out how much of something you are capable of doing, and that is to do as much as you can, and then do one more. This is an act of the will in which one decides to ignore obstacles and keep going.

Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers pro football team, and many other successful people used this principle. Lombardi once said … “The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

Many people become great successes through persistence. Thomas Edison, inventor of over 1,000 patented items, including the phonograph, electric light, and movie camera, said it this way … “Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Have you seen the movie “Facing the Giants”? The high school football coach wanted to test one of his players on his persistence. He asked the young man if he could crawl on all fours to the 30-yard line? “Yes.” How about if I put this guy on your back, could you still do it? “Yes.” How about to the 50-yard line? “I think I can.”

So, the coach blind-folded him, had the other player sit on his back, and he started crawling. Other players cheered him on. “Keep going.” “You can do it.” “Just a little more to go.” The young man did not realize that he had gone well past the 50-yard line. By the time he got to the 5-yard line, they were telling him, “Just a few yards to go.” And he made it and collapsed. Boy, was he astonished when he removed the blindfold and discovered he went all 100 yards!

England needed to survive World War II, so Prime Minister Winston Churchill said this in a speech of encouragement … “Never give up! Never give up! Never give up!”

This principle has a role in the Christian life. The Apostle Paul was pretty persistent. He got beat up and thrown out of town once; they thought he was dead. But he laid there awhile, got up, and went right back into town. (Acts 14:19) He was a man on a mission! Here’s what he said about persistence: “… but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – (Philippians 3:13-14)

There are two advantages that we as Christians have as we practice persistence. One is the purpose we are seeking to achieve. It is a God mission we are on! And the second is that the Power of the Holy Spirit is at work in us. We do not have to rely on our strength alone. Sometimes we accomplish more than we could imagine because we know God puts his power at work in us.

The Apostle Paul once prayed for an infirmity or limitation to be taken away. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2nd Corinthians 12:8-9b)

Steven Curtis Chapman sang this song, based on that Scripture … “His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.”

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is FOCUS

Tue-Apr-14-2020

Today’s devotional is short since my laptop has only a small amount of battery power. We have been without electricity at our home for almost 24 hours. This is due to a series of tornadoes that struck Chattanooga last night and inflicted tremendous destruction. Thankfully, our home was not damaged. Please lift up prayers for those who have suffered from the devastation. And now, a brief word of encouragement.

“Obstacles are those frightful things we see when we take our eyes off our goal.” – Henry Ford

What we are focusing on definitely affects our progress and likelihood of success.

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” – Matthew 14:29-30

Yes, the wind and the storm are there. And it is okay to know that. Jesus wasn’t unaware of the storm; he just knew how to walk above it. Simon Peter learned a lesson that day … the difference between awareness and focus. This lesson applies to us as well … learning how to speak and to practice this principle … I am aware of the storm, but I am focused on Jesus.

You may be one of those folks who does it the other way around … aware of Jesus but focused on the storm. Maybe you never realized that’s what you’ve been doing.

Others of us may be well-grounded and focused, but still at certain times can get overwhelmed. So, we say to ourselves s-l-o-w-l-y …  I am aware of the storm, but I am focused on Jesus.

Trying to stay focused,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is DOUBT

Mon-Apr-13-2020

The Disciple Thomas is a hero, and referring to him as “Doubting Thomas” seems a bit harsh to me. I would rather call him the “gung-ho disciple.” In Jewish terminology, they would say that Thomas had chutzpah (pron “hootspa”), meaning audacity. And as such, he’s not in bad company. In the Old Testament, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and King David all had chutzpa! You could say bold, brash, and determined.

In John Chapter 11, when Lazarus died and Jesus was going to go to Bethany, the other disciples hesitated, reminding Jesus that the Jews were plotting to kill him, and it would be a dangerous place to go. But not Thomas, oh no, he was ready! So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16) If Jesus wants to go face the threat of death, then me, too. I’m in! … Now, that’s chutzpah.

And it was Thomas who spoke up at the Last Supper when Jesus said he was going away. Jesus said, “And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:4-5) Don’t you think all of them wanted to ask? Not even Peter spoke up. But when Thomas said “we” don’t know, none of the others denied it. And that’s when Jesus gave him that great answer, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (v.6)

Now we fast-forward to after the resurrection, when on that Sunday later in the day, Jesus came to the disciples in the upper room where they were secluded. For whatever reason, Thomas was not there, when suddenly Jesus appeared to them, showing them his wounds and saying, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

When they told Thomas they had seen the Lord, his chutzpah came out. But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25)

Let me encourage you, if you sometimes are experiencing doubts. It’s OK. Doubt comes in several forms, some helpful, some dangerous. I would say our goal is to eventually overcome all doubt, but it will come easy for some and hard for others, quickly for some and decades later for others. Can you be a believer and have doubts at the same time? Based on the disciples, I say yes.

Thomas wasn’t the only disciple struggling with doubt. Luke records one of Jesus’ appearances to the disciples like this, But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” (Luke 24:37-39) More than just Thomas were struggling to understand this unbelievable turn of events.

Furthermore, at the end of Matthew, Jesus met them a final time on the mountain. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. (Matthew 28:17) So, if you struggle with doubt, you are not alone. Some of the disciples did, too. Just keep on struggling through it. By the way, every single one of the disciples were witnesses and evangelists until the end. All were executed for their beliefs except John, who was exiled to an island.

Now, wrapping up with Thomas, what do you think? Did Jesus know that Thomas was not going to be there on his first appearance to the upper room? Of course, he did. So, why didn’t Jesus just wait until they were all there, including Thomas? I don’t know that answer, but I do know that Thomas ended up with a unique blessing. Jesus returned eight days later with a personal message. Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28)

The important question you must answer about your times of doubt is whether you want to keep it or let it go. Thomas was up front about saying he would let it go if he could see Jesus. Thomas had chutzpah, and he was not about to be labeled as “the disciple who was absent when Jesus appeared,” or “the only disciple who didn’t get to see the resurrected Lord, because he was off doing something else.” Thomas wanted the same privilege and experience as the rest, to see his risen Lord. And Jesus appeared especially for him.

And because of what Jesus did for Thomas, this disciple with chutzpah traveled to India, 2,500 miles away. Arriving in 52 AD, he fulfilled his calling to preach the Gospel in Eastern Asia. Many modern Christians who are descended from that area of India still call themselves “St. Thomas Christians” in his honor.

Doubt doesn’t have to hold you back. Sometimes doubt is the best incubator for faith! I can personally vouch for that.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is BETRAY

Wed-Apr-8-2020

This is about Judas. But it’s not just about Judas. It’s about what he represents. Betrayal is a harsh word that we wouldn’t want to use lightly or mistakenly label someone with. Betrayal is the last step of a process that probably had what seemed to be a noble beginning or at least a harmless purpose.

It starts with the idea that “I have a better way of doing things.” And that is a pride issue. In the case of Judas, this was complicated by the fact that he thought he had Jesus’ agenda figured out. This created a license in his mind to make judgment calls about what Jesus should be doing to fulfill his purpose.

Prior to the betrayal of Jesus, there is only one Gospel narrative that involves Judas. In the text below I am going to replace the words “300 denarii” with the value of today, which would be about $54,000.

John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for [$54,000.00] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Judas clearly thought Jesus had made a mistake in allowing this usage of the perfume. Judas had a better idea – give it to the poor. After all, doesn’t that reflect more of what Jesus is all about? And there’s the problem. Judas did not know what Jesus’ high purpose was. And John was right … Judas did not care about the poor … he cared about having a better idea … he cared about looking good in the eyes of others … he cared about himself.

A self-centered person can easily justify their words and deeds as acceptable, and then look at you like, “Don’t you get it?” I’m sure you know people like this. Their statements and actions often leave you baffled. How did you come to such a mistaken conclusion!?

Fast-forwarding to the final week that we call Holy Week, Judas has a better idea again. I can set up a confrontation and we will find out some things, and I can make a little money in the deal. Will the Pharisees really destroy him? And will Jesus really let that happen?

You know the rest of the story. Jesus calls him out at the Last Supper. After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21) It is Judas, and Jesus hands him some bread dipped in wine as a sign. Then after [Judas] had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (v. 27)

Obviously, this did not all work out as Judas expected. Was he thinking Jesus would rise up and defeat the enemy and take over? Who knows? But he took the betrayal money back and went and committed suicide.

Here’s my point for today. The heart of faithfulness and belief is to trust God to set the higher purposes and guide the course of our lives, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Our world is full of people who have ideas about how God could do things differently and better. The Israelites fleeing from Egypt couldn’t resist confronting Moses at moments when God didn’t seem to care. Moses certainly had some difficult exchanges with God, raising his own questions at times. But the difference between Moses and the people was that Moses obeyed because he trusted.

I hear this all the time … and you do, too … How could God let this happen? Why doesn’t God fix this and change that? I have also had such questions along the way. But … although I can’t identify the exact moment it happened, nevertheless, I changed. I began to trust the story God was shaping. I learned that if anything needs changing, it is me. I realized that what I don’t understand will make sense someday … if not in this life, then in heaven.

People ask why would Jesus be the only way to God? Doesn’t God love us enough to let us get to heaven in these other ways I’ve heard about? That is not faith. Faith says, “God knows why.” Faith says, “Let go and let God.” Faith says, “God’s Word is true.”

The road to betrayal starts with thinking, “I have a better idea than God does.” Don’t go down that road.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is BELIEVING

Mon-Apr-6-2020

The old phrase, “seeing is believing,” is only half the truth. Do you really have to see something first to believe it, or are you supposed to believe it first before you can see it? In the ministry of Jesus, it happened both ways. Sometimes “believing precedes seeing.”

For instance … And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:20-22) She believed first and as a result received her healing.

On the other hand, after Jesus had chosen his first disciples, he attended a wedding with his mother. It was there that he turned water to wine. “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11) They saw first and then believed.

Both of these scenarios happened many times in the ministry of Jesus. Sometimes people believed first and then the miracle came. And as a result of that, many others believed after they saw it.

The reason I raise this question at the beginning of Holy Week is because the day is coming on Easter Sunday when something difficult to believe, from the world’s standpoint, is about to happen … the resurrection of Jesus. It was well-known that Jesus foretold this. Not only did his followers know it, but so did the Pharisees and Temple guards. After Jesus was put in the tomb, the following discussion took place.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” (Matthew 27:62-64)

Jesus had begun his ministry at age 30, and up to that point in Jewish history, several resurrections had already happened that all Jews, especially the Pharisees, would know about. The prophet Elijah raised one. And the prophet Elisha raised one. Plus, there was the guy who, fortunately for him, had his dead body laid down in Elisha’s grave, and then came to life!

And now, here was Jesus, hundreds of years after the prophets, saying publicly, at least indirectly, that he was the Chosen One, and seemingly saying that his death was imminent, and even further, comparing himself to Jonah’s three days in the whale. (See Matthew 12 below.) He was explaining prophecies about the death and resurrection of the Messiah that were not being taught in the synagogues!

So, let’s go to one week before the annual Passover celebration in the third and final year of Jesus’ ministry, when a sad thing happened … Jesus’ good friend Lazarus got sick and died. Then Jesus told [the disciples] plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (John 11:14-15) So, Jesus and the disciples journeyed to Bethany, arriving four days after his burial. This was a personal loss to Jesus, as he often stayed in the home of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha.

When Jesus arrived, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21) And in verse 25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

I’m sure everyone there, including Martha, knew that Jesus had previously raised two from the dead, a widow’s son and an official’s daughter. But this was her brother. This was personal. That is the moment when we are tested greatly … when it is about “me.”

There are many times that my faith needs strengthening, and sometimes what I must do is relive this moment when Jesus looks Martha in the eye and says, “Do you believe this?” When I think of Jesus standing face-to-face in front of me, I pretty much start melting, and my eyes moisten. He is nothing but pure love. And whatever it is that I am having difficulty with, I can already begin to sense that he knows my struggle and that I am going to be alright.

I believe Jesus wanted Martha, when asked “Do you believe this?’, to immediately say “yes,” even though Lazarus was still dead. He wanted her to believe that there is a resurrection of faith and life about to happen.

What seems impossible to us is altogether possible for him. We don’t have to “see” in order to say, “I believe.”

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Matthew 12:38-41

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.