The Biblical Vision of Peace (Micah 4:1-5)

When the ‘First World War’ ended on November 11^th 1918, it was generally hoped that this was ‘the war to end all wars’. This was because of the horrific cost on all sides. However, hopes were soon dashed. Following times of conflict, peace is always uppermost in people’s minds. However, it doesn’t take long for peace to be taken for granted, and for ideas about certain conquests to quickly gain adherents. Is this because people, generation after generation, have not appreciated nor grasped God’s heart for peace?!

In the 8^th Century BCE, both Micah and Isaiah received words from God about future times when there would be peace. They both attributed this to the time that would follow the Assyrian conquest over Israel and the subsequent exile. When God’s people were able to return to their own land, surely there would be peace. Surely people so affected, and so well aware of God’s teaching, would take the need for peace seriously. Surely they would give new priority to their relationship with God!

The sad fact is that human history has hardly seen a time when violence and war ceased. But nonetheless, here we have both prophets, 2800 years ago, speaking identical words that hope for peace. They understood where God’s heart was at, so were not deterred from delivering what was really a timeless vision for peace. The question is: what do we do with it? In an age of global friction and conflict, how do Jesus-followers respond to such inspired vision???

It was sin that destroyed the first peace, and sin continues to destroy possibilities of peace. Disobedience brought a heavy load. God’s gift of paradise was soon further marred by Cain killing his brother Abel (Genesis 4). Person against person; nation against nation. But in the midst of all this, God is calling his people to embrace this vision of peace. “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3b & Isaiah 2:4b). Presented here is the end of all intent and training toward physical conflict. Here also we read about some very effective recycling. Weapons (“swords” and “spears”), that are no longer needed, are converted into farming implements (“ploughshares” and “pruning hooks”). “Ploughshares” cultivate the soil to allow for new crops, and “pruning hooks” cut back to promote the right sort of growth. So, hardware that previously destroyed, has been re-purposed towards the wise production of food. Such words are so relevant in a time where military expenditure increases to the detriment of the poor around the world. Even a military man like US President Eisenhower from around sixty years ago was willing to admit that, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed”.

Micah then continues to talk about nations being content to sit under their own vines and fig trees because no one is making them afraid (4:4). Of course “peace” is more than the absence of war, it is also the absence of fear. The Old Testament Hebrew word “shalom” refers to a person’s sense of total well-being, especially in their relationships with their neighbours, the rest of creation, and God. “Shalom” means to live in harmony with others and thus to experience a personal wholeness. In ancient Israel, a person could not really be said to be at peace (“shalom”) if any of their neighbours were being oppressed. The New Testament Greek word “eirene” also refers to well-being, harmony, health, and also to being out-of-danger, and gaining contentment and rest.

So many circumstances in life can upset the peace. People find themselves anxious for many reasons. Issues come up in families, workplaces, schools, even churches that cause disruption. Of course, it is conflict, whether it be personal or military, that is the greatest enemy to peace. And it is the propensity of human beings to find themselves within violent conflict that the prophets are primarily addressing. For violent conflict is the most public and far-reaching output of broken and sinful hearts. Now some might think that this vision of Micah (and Isaiah) is only possible in another world i.e. either in a divinely transformed ‘new earth’, or in heaven itself, not this world. Well maybe ultimately that is true. And because “the mouth of the Lord has spoken”, this peace will at some stage become a fulfilled reality.

But, if this is truly the way of God or the heart of God, then we would have to embrace this in the here and now. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray (the Lord’s prayer), he included this: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. The prophets here actually give us great incentive towards peacemaking, based on the positive expectations of what God will ultimately achieve. “The prophets’ use of their future vision … was designed to effect response and change in the present” (CJH Wright).

There are many things we can turn our minds to. What are the attitudes and actions that bring disharmony and destroy the possibility of peace??

·        Ego, pride, the desire for power, control & domination,

·        Jealousy, unrestrained competitiveness, greed,

·        Racism, intolerance, judgementalism, perfectionism (where others will never measure up or be acceptable),

·        Violence; physical, emotional & spiritual abuse; bullying;

·        Bitterness, unforgiveness;

·        Also, where we leave imposed poverty and inequity unchallenged.

 Okay, so where do we make a start on this??? How do we embrace this vision of peace?

(1) In prayer

We acknowledge that God is a God of peace, and desires peace on earth. Some may say that there are stories contrary to this in the Old Testament. But before we deny that God is first and foremost and holistically a God of peace, we would need to carefully look at those incidents and ask ourselves a series of questions, in terms of what and why. It became a very complex world the day sin entered. But I think we can simplify things a bit as we acknowledge that God wants all humankind to live in harmony – this is the vision of the ‘Garden of Eden’, restated by the prophets, epitomised by Jesus.

So we pray for peace on earth – goodwill to humanity. We pray that people would be reconciled with the people they are at war with, whether this be nation against nation, or person against person. And we pray that those people who seek to inflict terror on others will be caused to stop; praying that any action taken against such terror will be properly and carefully measured.  And we pray that such peace comes with justice, where people groups have the right to freely and equally pursue their wellbeing and goals. For the absence of conflict without justice is not peace. Like when Jesus threw the traders out of the temple because of their corrupt behaviour, sometimes confrontation, that has been prayerfully considered, is necessary.

The context of these verses, both in Micah and Isaiah, suggest that this peace will only become a reality, if nations are willing to submit to the Word that comes forth from God … which demands a change of heart (i.e. repentance). If there is no real change of heart, peace may be an illusion that won’t last long. So we pray for people to come to their senses, step aside from their selfish and pride-filled ways, and seek after the truth. Then there will be a greater understanding of right as against wrong. Peace will not have to be forced, but rather be embraced naturally. Parochial nationalistic or religious thinking will give way to the Kingdom of Jesus. Injustice itself will bow to Jesus. Revenge and war will no longer be the response of choice!

Prayer also reminds us that no matter how bad things appear, God is with us! This understanding in itself brings benefits: the settling of anxiety, calming of fear, gaining of insight and improvement in decision-making.

(2) In us

We ask ourselves … ‘how should we live in light of this’? We make a personal commitment to seek to live a life of peace ourselves! Following those verses where the weapons of war become the tools of peaceful vocation, Isaiah writes, “O house of Jacob [referring to God’s people, God’s household], come, let us walk in the light of the Lord” (2:5)! We know where God’s heart is. We know what God is like … we look at Jesus. So we are to walk in this light. Paul says, “So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). But this is easier said than done! We can so easily be provoked to act otherwise. Where do we go then??

We first need to experience the inner peace that comes from having peace with God. We need to have our personal demons dealt with. We need the forgiveness and the freedom that comes from knowing we have the gracious gift of salvation. This comes from accepting that what Jesus did on the cross applies to us and our sin. This comes from laying ourselves bare before the mercy of God and being restored. This comes from emerging as a new person in relationship with God and following the risen Jesus as our Lord. Paul nailed this idea in Romans when he wrote, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God” (5:1-2). It is because of this personal peace, which becomes more and more evident (or should), that we can live in peace with others. God’s peace is part of our experience of salvation. We can either resist this, or get with the program.

(3) In action

Now this matter of living in peace is not just about staying out of conflict – it is actually more proactive than that. Jesus called us to be peace-makers, not just lovers of peace, or theorists about peace, but peace-makers. We are thus prepared to go out of our way to create the sort of peace envisioned by God’s prophets. This is about restoring some of what has been lost.

Now I’m sure the first disciples were particularly concerned about this calling in their time. In John’s Gospel, Jesus promised not to leave them unequipped, and breathed on them with the Holy Spirit. This seems to be a forerunner to the mass arrival of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (covered in the Book of Acts). And in John (14:26-27), Jesus links the Holy Spirit with a special measure of Jesus’ own peace. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Who are the peace-makers??

·        Those who model peaceful living and neighbourly love – the community-minded, the generous, the calm;

·        Those who bring people together into harmonious relationships,

·        Those who stand up for and offer material support to the poor, vulnerable and oppressed,

·        Those who bring comfort, encouragement and new hope to the lonely, addicted and desperate,

·        Those who can forgive;

·        Those who guide people towards a relationship with God through Jesus.

 There is a natural benefit for peace-making: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). The act of peace-making identifies a person as one, not just made in the image of God, but living as one made in the image of God. Being a peace-maker simply requires us to wholly and utterly follow the ‘Prince of Peace’ – Jesus. Jesus was the living example of peace in his life, the initiator of the gift of peace from the cross, and is the abiding presence of peace through the Holy Spirit.

 Closing Prayer: (2 Thessalonians 3:16) “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.”

"Beautiful Worship" (Mark 14:1-11)

As Jesus sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on Jesus’ head (Mark 14:3).

We will look at this act, both in comparison to the other people mentioned in the text, and also in its own right. This, I believe, teaches us a lot about worship. This is an incident covered in all four Gospels. There are differences in the various accounts, as you would expect when the information comes from different witnesses (and has passed for decades through the oral tradition). But the central point is the same in each case. A woman makes a sacrificial act of worship towards Jesus, which others do not understand, or oppose outright, but Jesus highly commends.

We see clearly in Mark the contrast in approaches to Jesus. One woman did an extraordinary thing, a beautiful act of worship. Surrounding this are some very different responses and attitudes to this woman’s particular act. This passage asks me, ‘How much do I want to worship Jesus’? And, ‘Is there anything holding me back’?

The passage starts with the reminder that “the chief priests and the scribes” were looking for a way to arrest and kill Jesus. This was outright rejection. The passage we have read concludes with Judas deciding to betray Jesus (and help the “chief priests” with their plot). And in the middle were the detractors – those who couldn’t understand or couldn’t accept such a worshipful act, or perhaps couldn’t see themselves acting anything like this woman did. We’ll come back to this.

The woman herself, we suspect, was a woman whom Jesus had previously ministered to – Luke, in his version, calls this woman a “sinner” … which was probably code for a prostitute, while John, in his version, says she is Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Thus she was probably a woman who had encountered Jesus on an earlier occasion, been ministered to … and gratefulness had welled up in her (gratefulness that now spilled over). How do we show our gratefulness?

This woman entered the house where Jesus was, and while Jesus was eating at the table, broke open a bottle of very expensive perfume, and poured this lovingly over Jesus’ head. I like in John’s version the comment, that following the anointing of Jesus, “The house was filled with the fragrance of perfume” (John 12:3b).

The “alabaster jar” (v.3) was an elaborate vessel, with a long neck, made from expensive Egyptian marble. The contents were a fine fragrant imported perfume (probably made from the root of a rare plant found in India). The value is suggested to be at least three hundred denarii – equivalent to around a full year’s salary!! Thus you would expect that this perfume would normally  have been used quite sparingly!!

But on this day, a fresh bottle was broken open, and the whole contents were used in one go! None of the perfume was held back! Is this our response to Jesus? Or would we be more liable to measure this out a little? Would we be more likely to consider what was more convenient or conventional? We will refer later to the depth of what this woman was indicating by this act. But returning now to the detractors …

How did some of the other dinner guests react?? In terms of ‘waste’. A ‘waste’ in relation to how the worth of the perfume could have been used to help the poor. Or, were the poor more of an afterthought, or an excuse, and they really thought it was just a waste giving this much attention to Jesus. The woman’s action could have just been seen as strange, unusual or even irrational, and out of these people’s comfort zones. And certainly they were unable to see beyond the act itself to its deeper meaning.

Just jumping ahead to clarify something – Jesus' reply concerning “the poor” in verse 7 … “for you always have the poor with you”, has been often misused to suggest that this is sort of a fait accompli – that this is something we should just accept and not worry about. This is of course not what Jesus is saying at all. Jesus is saying that we can care for the poor anytime (and of course on the basis of Jesus’ general teaching we should care for the poor at all times). It’s just that right now, in this moment, Jesus can be served, while the moment exists. It’s not either/or, but both!! I reckon Jesus would wholly endorse Deuteronomy 15:11, which reads, “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land'.”

In John’s version of this story, Judas is named as the one who was most concerned about this ‘waste’. Mark leaves it to later to identify that Judas was displeased about the nature of this act of worship. Why would this have really been a problem for Judas? John (12:5f) tells us that it was Judas who said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor”? But then John comments, “He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it”. What was Judas’ problem?? He had a problem maybe with money, or selfish motives! Maybe, he was disappointed that Jesus was not attending to his agenda? Maybe his unresolved issues were keeping him on the fringe of things? Maybe Judas was unwilling to undergo the sort of personal transformation and growth that would’ve kept him on track? Maybe he hadn’t let himself get to know Jesus well enough?

[It could be that the other disciples were being more than accommodating with Judas, possibly knowing what was happening with the common purse, but still trying to keep Judas within their number.]

As an aside, we might wonder what other dinner guests thought … the ones who hadn’t said anything? How do we react to lavish outbursts of worship from others?

We are told that particular guests … the ‘detractors’ … “scolded” the woman!!! Fancy being scolded for such a beautiful act! How hurtful! How discouraging!! Here displayed was a ‘critical spirit’, which was almost abusive, and certainly unwelcoming. Fortunately Jesus was present to override this discouragement with warm words of support. Jesus confronted them about unnecessarily bringing trouble to this woman.

Let’s look more closely at this woman’s beautiful act of worship. How would you describe it??? Some might say ‘outrageous’ or ‘extravagant’, but meant hopefully in a good way. Radical! Elaborate and unbridled! Pure and uncomplicated! There was no hidden agenda. It was unmeasured – there was no weighing up. Spontaneous, and trusting!! Just like the children Jesus used as an example of natural recipients of God’s Kingdom (Mark 10:15). Repentant! There was a thoroughness, a wholeheartedness; such love and devotion! All the sort of descriptions that our worship should have.

Lest we think that the dripping wet Jesus didn’t appreciate what the woman did … Jesus called this act (verse 6b) … “a good service for me”. The Greek word translated here as “good” could also be translated ‘beautiful, useful, precious, desirable’, leading to the NIV translation – “She has done a beautiful thing to me”. This certainly rises way above mere duty. This woman did the best that she could with the best that she had! This woman did all that she could with all that she had!!

The most specific “service” she offered was anointing Jesus’ body before his death and burial. It was customary for the dead to be prepared like this for burial; just like the women were seeking to do later when they found Jesus’ body missing from his tomb. The exception would be someone crucified as a criminal – they would not normally be anointed for burial. This also resembled the traditional anointing of a ‘king’. So, what did this woman understand that others had not seen? That Jesus was to be the Saviour of the world! That Jesus was a Servant King! This was worship as testimony … testimony to the One being worshipped! This woman was acknowledging that what Jesus was about to endure was on her behalf; and she was announcing her commitment to him. [Maybe she didn’t fully know the implications or meaning of what she was doing, but humbly followed anyway, whatever intuition or leading she had.]

As part of his defense of the woman, Jesus said, “… you will not always have me” (v.7b). This was true … Jesus would be crucified within a week of this event. What does this mean for us do you think?? We shouldn’t take our opportunities of worship lightly or for granted.

Jesus said that the story of this beautiful act of worship would be “told in remembrance of her”. It would be remembered and noted well for its importance. But Mark’s Gospel doesn’t identify this woman by name! Perhaps it was the actual act that was most important – that it happened – and that it could have been any of us!

Jesus and Children (Mark 10:13-16)

Today we are going to look at how Jesus acted towards and taught about children.

1.     Importance of Children

There was something about Jesus that made parents want to bring their children to him. It was common for devout Jewish mothers to bring their children to a revered rabbi for a blessing. So at the very least, these people acknowledged that Jesus was an honourable teacher. But there was likely to be a bigger reason than this … something about Jesus’ openness to people, especially the powerless.

Imagine how these parents felt when the disciples blocked their path! Jesus had just taught his disciples about not being a “stumbling block” to others, and here they are being precisely that – a ‘barrier’ that gets in the way. We shall come back to this. The Gospels are very honest about the disciples … the fact that they often didn’t get it. But we should note that the purpose of this honesty about these disciples, is for the reader to look deep into themselves.

The disciples would have argued no doubt that Jesus was busy, and his time and energy were in great demand. However sometimes we have to assess priorities with good clarity. In days gone by, people used to say that children should be seen and not heard, and such like. Adults have first call on the air space. But the way in which Jesus speaks about children is surely contrary to this. All children are of the highest value (and they need to be heard). Whatever our agendas are as adults, we should take into account our high level of accountability for how well the children in our networks are nurtured.

Do we ever repress the excitement of children because this is too inconvenient? Can we be ‘kill-joys’? Can we miss potentially special moments? Can we paint very rigid (or even grim) views of God? It is very important that all children leave church gatherings with a keen sense that God loves them, and that God’s people love them too.

We can hark back here to the verse in the previous chapter (9:42). If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.

A “stumbling block” is a hindrance, a barrier, or a hurdle – that someone might trip over. In this context such a “stumbling block” is both unnecessary and inappropriate. Such “stumbling blocks” disrupt growth and obstruct faith. The context of this verse certainly allows us to see “little ones” as referring especially to children. So, how is it that the church, generally speaking, has at times been so inattentive to this? We know that evil people can go about quietly doing evil things, but how can it ever be justified to cover this over?!? Well, it can never be justified; and segments of the church have rightly taken some heat! Repentance is required!

But then the governments of all persuasions have to look at themselves as well. What “stumbling blocks” are still being erected between children and their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being? Right throughout the whole Bible, God’s people are taught and challenged to look after, with priority, the most vulnerable. A change of direction is required!

The ethical and spiritual health of a society can be assessed in terms of how well we treat the most vulnerable and powerless – the elderly, the unwell, the disadvantaged, AND THE CHILDREN. And we should look beyond our own borders to the children of the world – where continual cutbacks in foreign aid literally cost lives.

What other “stumbling blocks” may we put up that become barriers to children experiencing God’s love? Lack of forgiveness, lack of care, lack of patience, lack of tolerance, lack of understanding, lack of listening, lack of guidance, lack of boundary-setting; or an inability to control anger? A change of heart may be required!

For those who place “stumbling blocks” before “little ones”, there is a harsh judgement; one that would be worse than having a huge heavy stone hung around the neck on the way to being thrown into the sea. I think the treatment of children is being taken seriously here (in the Bible)!!

So of course, Jesus, rightly annoyed and offended, said to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them”. And there’s more! “… Do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs”. Children are the natural and rightful recipients of all God’s blessing. And within such children we can detect the image of God in which they were created. [Refer also Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-14]

Let us not get in their way, hold them back, or push them away. So the opposite to being a ‘hindrance’ or ‘barrier’, would be to welcome children, just as Jesus did here. Jesus wanted to hold and bless every one of them, for each was very valuable. With each new child, there is an opportunity of a better world!

2.     Welcoming Children

For this more on this we can also go back to 9:36-37. Then Jesus took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me”. Welcoming others, in this case, children, is the way in which we can welcome God into our lives. Or to put this another way, to lack in welcome, hinders God wholly welcoming us. This is because, if we look at the context, we can be too interested in our own desires, to be fully open to others. We need to have an attitude of servanthood, rather than an attitude of privilege. In the society to which Jesus spoke, this would have been a big stretch; for children were not held in high regard and were afforded no particular honour – culturally speaking, serving them would never bring any prestige … to welcome unknown children (rather than the rich and famous) would normally bring no honour. But Jesus has a different view … quite the opposite – to welcome and serve powerless children, actually welcomes the most powerful dynamic imaginable into your life.

So, what are some ways of being ‘welcoming’??

·        Children should be fully appreciated, shown warm acceptance and loving consideration, encouraged, given wise training and a place to belong. Their readiness to comply with the wishes of their parents is related to their perception of whether they are receiving unconditional love.

·        Children need to be listened to, in an attempt to discover their personalities and interests, rather than having things imposed on them. Children need to be afforded patience. It is in this way that any discipline that needs applying, will be done in the right way and in the best interests of the child.

·        Praying for our children.

3.     Children as Example

In verse 15, Jesus holds children up as an example of how we can be ready to enter the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is the realm in which people live according to God’s will and purposes. What is it about children that make them naturals for the Kingdom of God? What is it about children that we can emulate?? What characteristics or qualities do they reveal???

·        Innocence – pure, unspoiled; for adults who have made mistakes leading to feelings of guilt and shame, seeking and receiving forgiveness is the return path to innocence.

·        Spontaneity – excitement, enthusiasm; when I see a puddle of mud I step around it … I see muddy shoes and dirty carpet – kids see a mud puddle and sit in it … they see dams to build, rivers to cross and worms to play with! Adults can easily become tired, over-stretched or tied up in knots. Connected with this is …

·        Unclutteredness – being empty-handed, freedom; adults can be weighed down by possessions or the continual pursuit of things, generally carrying too much baggage. Adults often have to declutter their lives before it’s too late – deal with things that are holding them captive.

·        Dependence – having no feelings of self-sufficiency; adults tend to want to do their own thing, run their own race, make their own decisions, rely on their own abilities, be accountable to as few people as possible, try to limit responsibility … be independent. Children best reveal that we all remain interdependent – we have been created as social creatures who need each other and primarily need God. Connected with this is …

·        Simple trust – a natural response to the love and welcome of others, a seeking for love; unfortunately many adults have lost the ability to trust because life (i.e. people) has brought some hard knocks, they have felt let-down in relationships, or been used and abused. The discovery of a completely faithful God who suffers with the suffering is the pathway back to trust.

·        Openness to learn – inquisitive, receptive; rather than the adult who thinks they know it all. Knowing our need and ‘humility’ leads us to God.

When all the complexity of adolescence and adulthood impacts us, we may need to recapture some of the characteristics of a child (if we are to effectively respond to God’s invitation into His Kingdom).

So as Jesus took those children up into his arms that day and blessed them, he is also offering us a blessing as well. Jesus did more that day than even those parents asked of him. They wanted Jesus to just touch their children … give them a little high-five. Jesus took them up in his arms, each one of them, embraced them, and gave them his blessing. This is actually what he wants to do for all of us. But to receive this blessing, we sometimes need to return to being as uncluttered, trusting and receptive as children.

Easter Sunday message: "Resurrection Hope" (John 20)

For the original disciples of Jesus, all hope seemed lost when Jesus was crucified.

Many of them had staked their whole future in following Jesus.

They’d left everything else behind. Jesus was their friend; and following Jesus

seemed to be the most exciting and compelling thing they could possibly do.

And now Jesus had been executed by a foreign power on a brutal cross.

Jesus had told his disciples a number of times that this was bound to happen,

but it still didn’t make sense to any of them.

None of what they had experienced with Jesus made sense …

if it all ended on a cross, or so they thought. They were confused, disappointed,

discouraged, grief-stricken, defeated, maybe even depressed.

We ourselves can lose hope when life seems to turn against us.

Many people have lost hope – life has become too hard or lacks meaning.

There are times when we think we have failed, or times of desperation where

answers seem to allude us, or times when we just feel broken.

An evil injustice may have been done to us. Sickness and pain can get on top of us.

Broken relationships break hearts. Maybe we think that we are wasting our life.

It could seem that those big dreams we had … have been killed off.

The character of Fantine in the musical version of Les Miserables,

who was so badly treated by so many people, sings “I dreamed a dream in days

gone by … now life has killed the dream I dreamed”.

If this is not true for you, it easily could be for someone you know.

Those lacking hope need to experience something new –

something that reassures them, lifts them, offers them a new way forward.

This is what Easter Sunday is about. Hope is generally defined as,

“a desire with the expectation of fulfilment”.

When the disciples started following Jesus, their desire for meaning had gained

high expectations. Such expectations had been suddenly dashed, but now,

just a couple of days later, there was to be new reason behind their hope.

Life was to take a new trajectory, yet again.

The original disciples of Jesus were going to receive some very good news.

God had raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was alive … he is risen!

So, for them, the worst of situations had now turned into the best of situations.

For these first disciples, a deep sense of hopelessness turned into exciting new hope.

This was worth celebrating then, as it is worth celebrating now.

Some people need more convincing than others.

We have read about one of these – his name was Thomas.

Why wasn’t Thomas with the others when Jesus first appeared to them following

his resurrection? Maybe this reveals the depths of his despair at this point –

not feeling able to be with others or talk about it.

Perhaps Thomas shouldn’t have needed so much evidence, but he did!

He has been called ‘Doubting Thomas’, and maybe many of us would have been

like him if we were in his position. Had we seen Jesus die on a cross,

we may have wanted more proof as well.

So is this really Jesus? Let me see his wounds! Let me touch where his body was injured!

Maybe these are fair enquiries – Thomas didn’t want his hopes dashed again!

The Bible tells us that Thomas did get that opportunity, just a week later,

to see and to touch the One who was unmistakably Jesus.

Jesus did not castigate Thomas for being slow or dumb or anything like that;

rather Jesus just makes himself available to Thomas. Then,

with love and understanding, Jesus said to Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe”!!

Take a step of faith – you have seen enough!

Thomas indeed gained new faith and hope as doubt was dismissed. What did he say?

One of the moment famous responses in the Bible: “My Lord and my God”.

Those feelings of hopelessness and discouragement that Thomas had experienced …

surely they could now be overcome.

If Jesus could rise from the dead, then anything is possible.

The fact that Jesus had risen Jesus, meant everything to Thomas.

The Gospel of John is quick to apply this to the generations that will follow:

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

The blessing of the resurrected Jesus is for everybody! Or as Romans puts it,

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (10:13).

Like Thomas, when doubt gives way to belief, we can also say to Jesus,

“My Lord and my God”! A blessed people are we, when we believe in Jesus!

These first disciples had not only re-established their relationship with Jesus,

but now they had an exciting and challenging new phase in their lives.

They were being sent on mission. They were going to be peace-makers.

They were going to receive the Holy Spirit. They were going to live like Jesus lived.

They were going to work as a team. They were going to care for the poor,

comfort the sick, encourage the lonely, visit people in jail,

and stand up for the oppressed.

They were going to set a new standard for loving their neighbour.

They were going to share the Gospel and talk about the path to forgiveness.

Now that’s purpose! In all this there is great hope for making a difference.

Was the resurrection real? The first witnesses were clearly convinced!

That the first disciples risked their lives, often against severe opposition,

to share in the loving ministry of Jesus to the world, is a pretty good reason to

believe that they were on exactly the right track.

The significant growth of Jesus-followers, leading to the celebration of an

Easter festival over the centuries,

shows how important Jesus has been to so many millions of people.

Jesus will abide with his people and give them his very special personal peace.

Whereas we may have not felt very good about ourselves previously,

now Jesus will say, ‘You’re forgiven … you’re okay … you’re acceptable …

you’re valuable … you belong to me’!

We can and should open ourselves up to a relationship with this Jesus –

a relationship that will make all the difference.

In the end, it will be Jesus the person, who is our hope.

Not all of our worries will disappear straight away.

Many issues will still have to be worked through.

But the resurrection of Jesus does offer a whole new perspective,

a whole new way of thinking, a whole new bag of purpose –

we actually shouldn’t limit the possibilities of what a relationship with the

resurrected Jesus might mean for us. We may be able to start dreaming again.

God will do something good in us – it might just take us a while to recognise what it is.

I’ve met up with some pretty excited people this week, enjoying the prospect of

celebrating and worshipping God today. Not all of these people have everything

together by any means, but they do have hope and purpose.

Another one of these early disciples was Peter.

Peter had had his own moments of fear and failure – denying even knowing Jesus.

The Gospel of John goes on to tell about Peter’s recommissioning and the

reestablishment of his relationship with Jesus. Peter had learnt something through his

bad times, and now any lingering guilt for his past actions had been forgiven by Jesus.

Later, Peter would write these words:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through

the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).

Jesus is alive … hope lives on!

People continue to find forgiveness, restoration and new possibilities in life because of

what happened at Easter. I invite you to deeply consider all this again today.

Good Friday message: "Radical Forgiveness" (Luke 23)

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (v.34).

Forgiveness is what the cross is all about.

Humanity was given life and a beautiful environment in which to live, and both of these gifts – life and creation – have largely been abused. Yet God’s love is such that he desired that no one would be lost. When God observed the brokenness and frailty that often affects human beings, Jesus came into the world; and despite the heavy cost, he acted on our behalf. This redeeming love has always been God’s heart attitude. We read in the prophet Ezekiel (34:16a), “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak”.

God desires to establish relationships with all people. And, it is as people reconcile with God, that lives, communities and creation itself can be redeemed, transformed and set free.

This was not what most people expected. We recently read about how his disciples did not understand this way of acting. However Jesus would indeed confirm that he was Son of God through his Saviour role on a cross.

So we can bring our sin to this cross and find forgiveness there. Jesus takes upon himself our burden of guilt and deals with it. Jesus, despite the weight and pain of this, did so willingly. And soon we will also experience the full potential of all this as we are drawn into new life.

We see forgiveness play out in our bible text from Luke in two main ways: a radical forgiveness that even comes within the grasp of those who were responsible for torturing and crucifying Jesus; and also a radical forgiveness that sees a criminal under a death sentence reach “paradise”.

Some people might say that they are beyond forgiveness – what they have done is just too bad and could never be forgiven. Well, who was Jesus forgiving from the cross? Firstly, there were the Jews who conspired to destroy Jesus because he didn’t meet their expectations as a ‘messiah’. They preferred their own way of doing things to the way Jesus was directing them toward – they just couldn’t see things any other way than their own comfortable pursuits and their power over others, and they simply refused to change. Their leaders “sneered” at Jesus, and spoke to him like the ‘devil’ had earlier (in terms of diverting from God’s plan) – v.35b. Jesus could have saved himself, but he wouldn’t – he would give of himself to all humanity.

Who was Jesus forgiving? Secondly, there were the Romans, who were responsible for carrying out the crucifixion. For them … anything to keep the peace! They were happy to execute an innocent man just to silence the noise. Roman soldiers also mocked Jesus (v.36) and gambled over his clothing, perhaps wanting souvenirs to show their friends (v.34b). Then previously there was the crowd – they were given an alternative, but kept yelling out “Crucify him, crucify him” (23:21). Some of these may have called out “Hosanna” a week before (19:37-8), but quickly had changed their minds. No, if all these ones can be forgiven, then there is no limits to forgiveness; surely we can be forgiven.

I reckon even Judas, a friend turned betrayer, could have been forgiven, if he had stayed around long enough.

No doubt Jesus was laden with disappointment and frustration, at what was being said and done around him. But ultimately he only acted out of love. How huge is this! Treated so badly, yet so ready to love and forgive. Such understanding of the human condition and the negative cultural influences around us. Sometimes we simply succumb to sin despite our best intentions. Yet there is such understanding displayed here: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (v.34).

Where Jesus had earlier taught his disciples to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors, Jesus did precisely this.

In Cambodia, during Pol Pot’s four years in power through the 1970’s, approximately 2-3 million people died of starvation, overwork, or executions. Mass graves discovered in the 1980’s introduced the world to Cambodia’s horrors; eventually, the phrase “killing field” was coined to describe the immensity of Pol Pot’s genocide. One Khmer Rouge general under Pol Pot’s command, who was at the helm of this killing spree, has been redeemed through the cross of Jesus. It is hard to imagine a bigger sinner than this, being forgiven. He used to kill many people before he came to know the Lord Jesus as Saviour. Now, he has planted about 100 churches along the border of Cambodia and Thailand. God is using him powerfully to make disciples for His Kingdom.

Other people may say that they don’t need forgiveness. But who hasn’t hurt another person at least once … either physically or emotionally. Who hasn’t acted in a negative way causing a troubling outcome at least once. Who hasn’t ever looked into the eye of injustice and baulked rather than acted. As we have seen, some gambled over Jesus’ clothing, some so called “leaders” sneered at Jesus, but we also read that other people “stood by watching” (v.35a). They were watching, but what would be their conclusion? Was this just another Roman crucifixion, or was this something a whole lot more significant. There was a greater level of interest than normal in this event, with quite a variety of responses. Is there something here for me?

Who is it that has never slipped up with their tongue. Has there ever been a person who has not been selfish at least once? I think that anyone who claims no need for forgiveness, has not truly accepted the communal nature of life … they are too wrapped up in themselves. We might call them ‘proud’ … the Bible certainly does. Yet, nonetheless, here from the cross there is forgiveness for them too.

It is as we view the cross and open ourselves to our possible need for forgiveness, that we are humbled and actually realise that forgiveness is exactly what we need. There is a hole that only God can fill. And there is a burden, that only Jesus can lift; for we will never be able to fix it ourselves.

This leads us to the second way forgiveness plays out in this text. In the face of one of the criminals on a nearby cross joining in with the mockery toward Jesus, the other nearby “criminal” has come to see all this in a completely different way (v.40-42). There is an accounting to be made … there have been offences committed against God and other people – “Don’t you fear God?” – “We are [being] punished justly … getting what our deeds deserve”. Here is the necessary humility and openness required for forgiveness to kick in. Here is the beginning of confession and repentance. “This man [Jesus] has done nothing wrong” … not one comment thrown at him will stick, for he is guilty of nothing – he must be here for us!

He will “save us”, and this will happen via sacrifice on his part, and humility on ours. Jesus was here to offer this very man ‘mercy’.

What a sincere statement of faith we now read: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v.42). This man has come to see that this Jesus will conquer death and return to lead a kingdom. Through this man’s own agony, he reaches out to Jesus, knowing that he needs more than help, he needs forgiveness. He opens his heart, he believes, and speaks … “Jesus, remember me”. And, of course, this man was not going to be disappointed. Jesus grants this desire; and not just at any time in the future, but “today”! “Today, you will be with me in paradise” (v.43). Forgiveness takes immediate affect!! What a turnaround!

Two men met that day. Both were pain-ridden, gasping for breath and dying. But was One was dying as a gift to the other. A connection was made. A relationship began.

Ultimately forgiveness leads to an experience of “paradise”. Perhaps this is like the “paradise” of the ‘Garden of Eden’ where the inhabitants had intimate, natural, unspoiled relationships with God – until sin got in the way. Such ‘sin’ began with a desire to do things our own way. Paradise lost! But this “paradise” would also indicate the road we are on (as forgiven people) – an eternal road heading toward God’s beautiful presence and ultimate peace. This is a new reality to be experienced straight away, from the very moment we say, “Jesus remember me (when you come into your kingdom)”. ‘Jesus, accept me’; ‘Jesus receive me’.

Do you believe that you are really forgiven? The story is told of the office manager who kept every piece of paper that ever arrived on his desk. When another staff member suggested a bit of a clear-out, the manager reluctantly said that this would be alright as long as they photocopied everything first. Some people seek forgiveness, but having received it, don’t really think or act as if they have been forgiven. They remain limited and constrained by feelings of guilt, failure or shame. But what Jesus did on the cross is complete – Jesus said, “It is finished”! And we should sense this “paradise”, a place where we have been liberated, set free, and given another chance … free of past mistakes. This is like arriving at the footy before the players run out and seeing that the scoreboard says 0-0. If we continue to dwell on past sin, we compromise (and almost waste) what Jesus has done for us (in terms of where this should lead us). Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”.

The curtain in the temple has been torn apart, representing open access to God through Jesus. Here is forgiveness … receive … take this gift.

Would anyone like to experience such forgiveness today??