Jesus Leads

A more accurate translation of today's text would be "Peter chewed him out." The NRSV says he rebuked him, but the Greek word is very harsh and strong. To be the messiah, as Peter earlier confessed Jesus to be, means that Jesus has to go to Jerusalem not to lead a revolt, but to undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Peter wanted Jesus to go to Jerusalem and restore the Kingdom of David to make Judea and Galilee free from Roman rule and to rule as the King of all of Israel. What kind of leader what Jesus had been if he accomplished that task? That is. providing that the Roman legions didn't subdue his revolution and crucify him and all his followers. This very event happened when Jesus was about 8 when Judah the Galilean lead a revolt and Vargas, the Roman General stopped the revolt and crucified thousands of Galilean rebels. If Jesus had succeeded in such a revolution, there would not have been a Christian movement. His reign would have been limited to Israel alone; there would not have been a Resurrection. We would not be Christians today because there would not have been a Great Commission. His movement and actions would only be a part of Jewish history not world history. It is through the Great Commission that we understand that Jesus is mystically and spiritually present with us at all times. This affects the way we think of Church and how to run a church. There is a certain way of becoming a church by asking Jesus to lead us. There is a concept that Jesus and God are far away from us and that we must hold the Bible close and dear to us because that what was left us to connect with God. Because God is seen as being distant, leaders in the church become God's representatives for us, and finally the individual becomes important, so that lifestyles make the church. Such a church exists near us called Mars Hill, the name taken from the Book of Acts, where there is rock and roll music and the pastor preaches about meaningful life lessons. Church should be here where we are because Christ is present here with us We have to be spiritually aware of Christ's presence with us. Jesus Christ a leader for everyone.

What is in a name?

Matthew 16:13-20 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 16:14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 16:17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 16:20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

In today's Gospel reading we hear some names, John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah. People who encountered Jesus thought that he might be one of them. John the Baptist, Jesus' predecessor was beheaded. Perhaps people that that Jesus was John brought back to life or perhaps John wasn't beheaded at all. Elijah was a great prophet who was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. People thought that it was possible that Elijah had come back to earth from heaven. Other's said Jeremiah. Jeremiah didn't like the temple sacrifices and the rules that the priest enforced. Perhaps Jesus was Jeremiah back from the dead.

Peter says that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. No one had said that before. As we read the Gospels we know that it is understood who Jesus is. The Gospels have nice little titles such as, The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew. In the Gospel narratives Jesus' divinity is slowly revealed to us. Matthew shows the disciples making a confession of faith, "Truly this is the Son of God." In today's Gospel reading, Peter makes a confession of faith, without being told this ahead of time.

When I was a pastor of a three point ministry in North Dakota, two country churches and one city church, I taught a Bible Study on the book of Exodus. The church was Sigdal Lutheran Church in Pekin North Dakota. I pointed out to the class that there are two stories fused together in the crossing of the Red Sea. The first one is the one we know from the movies. It is the deep water story with the walls of water on each side. The other story is a the marsh story. They cross over the sea of reeds or a marsh. After the class was over, one member, Harlan, approached me in the parking lot. Parking lot questions are the serious questions. He asked me, "what is the purpose of Christianity?"

He asked this because he had heard something new and his faith was being challenged with this new knowledge. He asked me this question in the same spirit that Jesus asked the disciples,"who do you say that I am?" I knew I had to get the question right with four years of seminary and being ordained, I had no other choice. I said to Harlan, "Christianity is communion with Christ." He nodded and said, "good."

When Peter answered as he did, he was stating that Jesus has authority as the Messiah and the Son of the Living God. It was until more recent history that God's authority has been questioned. Luther challenged the authority of Rome, but knew that God was the true highest authority. All disciplines of study and profession could not be done without knowing that God is charge of the universe. God came first in, medicine, politics, law, economics, etc.

Jesus, the Son of the Living God leads us in all facets of life and living. He is a living sacrifice.

Get out of the Boat

Matthew 14: 22-33 Jesus walks on water is section title in most Bibles. In this story Jesus gives two commands: "Don't be afraid and Come." Jesus speaks about fear in other places the one the comes quickly to mind is "fear not but believe." To Jesus, the opposite of fear is not courage, but belief, or faith. Many times Jesus will say "oh you of little faith." When we come to realize who is really in power, that is, God. we will not fear the things of this world. but we will fear God, God who claims us as his own. Again, Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, but believe." In the world around us we are being sold to love fear, and to be afraid. Terrorism, the economy, Islam, Global Warming, are just a few examples of how we are being sold on fear. We even take pleasure in fear and other negative feelings which we can in turn project on something or someone else. There is around us the understanding that we can take joy in someone else misfortune. This mentality is marketed in the Entertainment Industry and we see it in video games and movies. We know some of these names who are icons of fear, Jason, Freddie, Micheal Meyers, etc. In Matthew 8 Jesus and his disciples are going from Galilee to the pagan side of the Sea of Galilee. Here in Matthew 14 they are making a similar trip. In Matthew 8 the disciples are afraid of the storm and Jesus who is sleeping awakes and calms the storm. They ask, "who is this man that the wind and the waves obey him?" In Matthew 14, the answer is given: "Truly you are the Son of God." Notice though in today's Gospel reading Jesus is not in the boat but walking outside of it. Being outside of the boat, Jesus opens the mechanisms of fear. The fear we feel does not come from outside us, but resides fully inside us. We do not have to be afraid. The fear works in us and we use it to make ourselves afraid. We don't have to do this and Jesus does not want us to be afraid. Jesus is our Lord and if we truly believe Jesus and believe in Jesus we will not be afraid and will be able to step out of the boat and come to Jesus. The world likes to see Jesus as a buddy only. We know better and we can and will daily step out of the boat.

Two Different Dinners

At camp this week we had a meal called Fish Squares. Traditional fish sticks contain more fish meat than these fish squares. There was more infused bread than there was fish it seemed. The adults at the camp complained more than the campers. In the Gospel reading today Matthew 14 we hear of how Jesus fed a lot of people with just a little fish. Isaiah asks an important question : Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? What kind of food does not satisfy, fish squares perhaps, or maybe the new Burger King sandwich, maybe it is a bigger boat? We want more and desire bigger and more grand possessions. We do not need possessions and stuff, yet it seems we identify ourselves with what we own. Our stuff determines our identity. When we went to Madagascar we had to give away at least half of our possessions. Giving away books hurt the most, I didn't care too much about the clothes. We did keep the piano and had it shipped to us. I thought that here was our chance to be more spiritual to live with less, shed the excess of our possessions. I believed I would be happier with less, but alas and alack, after a few years in Madagascar, we had accumulated more stuff, and we refilled our closets and shelves. I guess we were too conditioned to live with possessions not to live without them. In Matthew 14 we see two contrasted dinners. The first one at Herod's palace has the super rich and the poor servants present. Herod isn't a real king; Jesus is the real king as defined by Psalm 72: Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. 2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. 3May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. 4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. 5May he live* while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 7In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. 8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9May his foes* bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust. 10May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute,may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. 11May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. 12For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. 13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. 15Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him.May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long. 16May there be abundance of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains; may its fruit be like Lebanon;and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field. 17May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun.May all nations be blessed in him;* may they pronounce him happy. 18Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth.Amen and Amen. The King deserves to be king because he serves the needy, poor and sick. Jesus feeding the 5000 is the arrival of the Kingdom of God; it is with this event that it begins. Simple common cfood is provided and there is more than enough for everyone. Herod's banquet, rich and glorious has extravagant food and it ends in death--the death of John the Baptist. Jesus' meal,simple and common, ends in life.

Weeds and Healing

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Mustard plants are weeds; they are self-planting and left alone they will dominate a yard or field. The growing and spreading just happens and that is how we are to spiritually grow and spread. God implants the seed of spiritual life in us and it grows regardless of any preparations and planning done on our part. More than 40 passages in the Gospels tell of Jesus healing someone. Healing was a large part of his ministry. History Theologians tell us that the healing of Jesus' followers in the middle of the first century made Christianity popular. In Africa it is the healing done in Jesus name that brings many to belong to Christianity. Luke 5: One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.* 18Just then some men came, carrying a paralysed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus;* 19but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd* in front of Jesus. 20When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend,* your sins are forgiven you.’ 21Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, ‘Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ 22When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? 24But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the one who was paralysed—‘I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ 25Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’ Forgiveness is associated with healing Luke 6:He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. Healing is for everyone regardless of faith and understanding. Tyre and Sidon were pagan cities. After he healed them he began to preach Luke's version of the sermon on the mount. Matthew 8: 14 When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; 15he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. 16That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. 17This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.’ Matthew 4:Jesus* went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news* of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. Preaching is associated with healing. Matthew 10: These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”* 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,* cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town. Healing is done without receiving a payment. Matthew 7: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! We are encouraged to ask. Matthew 14: 34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, 36and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. Matthew 28: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ Jesus' authority applies only to our hearts as our culture understands it. Jesus' authority should apply to everyone at all times and places so that without question Jesus is the ruler of the universe. The Church is very good about baptizing. We do well with that part of the Great Commission, but we are not doing well at the teaching part. We do not do well with teaching all things as Jesus commanded us to do.