St. Paul Lutheran Church – Borchers

Verse for the week of May 13^th:

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

  (John 15:9)

Abide is not a word that many people use a lot.  When I hear this word, I think of the hymn ‘Abide with me,’ which comes from these words of Jesus.

If you look up the word abide, the dictionary says it means to continue, to endure, to dwell, and to last.  All of these words create the notion of staying with the person or object.  Jesus is calling for the disciples that he is instructing during this final discourse of his to stay or dwell in his love.

But what does it mean to stay in Jesus’ love?  How do we remain in his love?  What does it look like in daily life?

Jesus answers these questions in the next verse.  Right after he tells the disciples to ‘abide in my love’ he says ‘if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.’  Hence, Jesus says that to abide or remain in his love is to keep his commandments.

Now you may think–But which ones? Isn’t this legalism?  

In terms of which commandments, I think that when the disciples would have heard this saying they would have in their minds Jesus’ words from earlier that evening.  For earlier in the evening which is the night of the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that he is giving them a new commandment—that they love one another as I have loved you (see John 13).

I think that Jesus is calling his disciples to the task of loving one another.  That it is through loving one another that we keep his commandments and thus abide in his love.  Another way to think of this is to remember what Luther said about the 10 Commandments—he thought that the first three dealt with loving God and the other 7 dealt with loving neighbor and hence the totality of the 10 Commandments came down to love.  That when we seek to love God and neighbor, the observance of these commandments would come naturally for they flow out of loving others.

I think that the intention of Jesus’ words here are not meant to create a legalistic religion or path to righteousness, but rather they demonstrate that our faith in him which is about a relationship means more than simply knowing things about Jesus or even believing certain doctrines or dogmas.  Rather, by trusting in Jesus and seeking to be in relationship with him (abiding with him), this means that we seek to live out a life of faith and this life of faith calls us to be attentive to our neighbor.   For if we seek to be like Jesus, we will love others (hence fulfilling the commandments) just as he first loved us.  This is not a legalistic in the sense that we do things so as to merit Jesus’ love and gain worthiness, rather we do them because this is what was first demonstrated to us and ultimately manifested in Jesus’ act of dying on the cross. 

Hence, when we want to abide in Jesus’ love we look to the kind of love that Jesus first showed to us and then we seek to embody that love to others around us.  As we accomplish this, we abide in his love and are strengthened in our own faith and then propels us to love others even more—not to gain favor, but as a response to his marvelous and wonderful love first show to us.

Verse for the week of May 6^th:

Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

  (I John 4:8)

These words sound harsh, don’t they?  ‘Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love’.  And if you read the entire section, it goes on and becomes even more specific.  Verse 21 says, ‘The commandment we have from him is this:  those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.’

This is quite a challenge—we must love our brothers and sisters.  And the meaning of brothers and sisters is not just biological siblings, but it is all of our brothers and sister throughout the world.

Again, quite a challenge—for there are people who are very difficult to love.  It is much easier to take pot shots at and make fun of or put them down.  It can be much easier to be negative towards others rather than seek to love them (at least a little).

However, the words from I John are very clear and straightforward.  We, as people of faith, are called to care for and love those around us—even those whom we may not like.  We are called to love, because it is God who first loved us.

Think about it in this way; should we really be declaring that someone is unlovable to us even though they are loved by God?  God loves the whole world so much that he sent his Son to die in order to reconcile the world to himself.  If we are to be like God, then just as God loves us so we should love others.  God is able to be able to see the good in each person; can we also do the same?

It is not an easy thing to love one another, particularly if they have done something to us or are hostile in any way towards us; however God calls us to do this because he has done it for us and for the rest of humanity. 

This section on loving one another, reminds me of part of the Lord’s Prayer—where we pray ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’  The idea is that just as we have been forgiven by God, so we also should extend that forgiveness to others.  For should we withhold something that has first been given to us?

This is the same in loving others.  Because God first loved us, we should go and be able to be like Him in seeking to love others.  And if we can’t do this, what does that tell us about ourselves?  Are we willing to only receive, but not give as well?  Isn’t that selfish and very ungodly?

How do you show your love towards your neighbors?  How do you seek to demonstrate love for those whom you may not like?  How does God’s love go through you so that you can love others?

Verse for the week of April 29^th:

Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

  (John 10:11)

This image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one of the more familiar images within the Bible.  Jesus as the one, who oversees the flock to protects, cares for and guard the sheep is one that brings comfort and reassurance to many people.

As I thought about this image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd—particularly the one who lays down his life for the sheep; the popular book The Hunger Games came to my mind.  Recently, Michelle and I saw the movie plus I finished reading the book in the last week.  It is an interesting book and one that keeps your attention as the plot is developed.  I thought about the book because of the actions of the main character in the book—Katniss.  If you are unfamiliar with the books, it occurs in a post-apocalyptic United States where the country is divided into 12 territories along with a Capital.  At some point in the past there was a rebellion, which was squelched.  And in order to prevent another war and keep the peace, the Hunger Games was instituted.  The Hunger Games are a fight to the death amongst two ‘tributes’ from each of the 12 districts.  The ‘tributes’ were selected at random by a lottery where each youth from age 12-18 have their name entered into the drawing based upon several factors—two being the older you are the more times your name is entered as well as being able to trade another entry of your name in the drawing for food and other daily needs.

The drama at the beginning of the book comes about because Katniss’ younger sister Prim has her name entered into the drawing for the first time and Prim is sure that her name will be drawn.  Katniss tries to reassure her that her changes are not great and that she will be alright.

The day of the drawing comes and just about everyone from the area is gathered for this ‘Reaping’ (the name given to when they draw out the names of the tributes).  All the youth who are entered into the drawing are all lined up and the representative from the Capital is there to draw the name.  She reaches in and draws out a name.  She reads it and it is Prim.   Prim cries and Katniss shouts out.  And in an instance, Katniss calls out that she volunteers (which is just about unheard of).  She steps up and for all practical purposes gives her life for her sister.  She has become the one who voluntarily given herself for the sake of her sister.

In some ways she is emulating this passage in that she has become the good shepherd and gives herself up for another.  She seeks to protect and provide for her sister and in many ways models what Jesus is talking about in this passage.

While Katniss does this for her family and her sister that she loves, Jesus does this for all of the world.  He is the one who volunteers to go and become the sacrifice for all of the world—for we all are under judgment and in some ways our name has been drawn as one who is subject to death, yet Jesus (like Katniss) calls out and says that he will go in our place.  What love Jesus has for the world that he is willing to take our place and go and suffer for our benefit and thus becoming the Good Shepherd.

Verse for the week of April 8^th:

So they (the women) went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

  (Mark 16:8)

This is such a strange way to end the gospel story!  Don’t you think?  The women were filled with terror and amazement and they went and told no one.  Most experts believe that this is the true end of Mark’s gospel—that the verse we have after Mark 16:8 were added later.  In fact, the oldest manuscripts that we have do end at Mark 16:8.  The experts think that monks or other followers of Jesus later on did not think that this was a fitting ending and thus added a little extra—after all, how could the story end with the women leaving and telling no one.

But I think Mark is doing several things with this ending.  First, it really isn’t an ending—which is exactly the point.  The story of Jesus does not end, but continues on.  In fact, it continues on even to this day.

The other point that Mark is attempting with this ending is that it completes a theme throughout the entire gospel that Mark has written.  If you read Mark’s gospel completely at one time (it is the shortest and really doesn’t take that much time), you will see a pattern emerge.  Multiple places throughout the gospel (see Mark 8:29-30, Mark 1:43-45, Mark 3:12—to name a few), Jesus after healing a person or doing some other miracle instructs the people to tell no one about who he is.  He wants them to keep it a secret about his identity.  One scholar even calls this the messianic secret.  Yet, even though Jesus instructs the people to tell no one–guess what?  They do!  They go and tell others about this man that they have encountered—even though Jesus specifically told them not to.

And now at the time of the resurrection, when the women find the tomb empty and they are told to go and tell the disciples and Peter what they have seen and experienced—they go and tell no one.  Irony!

When the women experience the ultimate miracle and sign of Jesus’ victory of sin, death and the devil—they go and tell no one for they are afraid.

But what does this mean?  I think that it is in a strange way a commission for us.  It is the commission to go and tell.  We are not to be afraid—rather we are to go with boldness and announce—Alleluia, Jesus is Risen!  He is risen indeed, alleluia!!

That the message for us this and every Easter.  That the tomb is empty and we are to go and tell.  We are to announce what Jesus has done, so that all may experience Jesus’ love and grace and participate within Jesus’ victory so that we may know that this victory is also given to us.  That the grave with not hold us, but that we are given the promise of the resurrection and the gift of eternal life through Jesus and all that he has done for us.

Alleluia. Alleluia.  Amen.

Verse for the week of April 1^st:

And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  (Philippians 2:11)

This verse is a part of a larger saying that is probably familiar to most people.  Many experts/scholars believe that this is a very early hymn that either Paul wrote or was developed within a community or Paul picks it up and uses it here within his letter to the Christians in the church at Philippi.

The larger context of this verse focuses upon the name of Jesus that is above every name and that at this most holy name knees will bend in heaven and on earth and tongues confess Jesus as Lord.  Jesus’ name literally means ‘he saves.’

This is a case where the name of the person very much matches the individuals.  Think about the whole story.  The angel appears to Mary and tells her that she will conceive a son and she is to name him Jesus for he will save his people.  From the beginning, even the name given to this newborn tells the story.  Jesus lived his life and through his work—he fulfills his name.  For by the cross, Jesus humbles himself taking the form of a slave and being found in human form was obedient to the Father—even to the point of death (even death on a cross).  Through this action, Jesus saves all of humanity from their sins—thus fulfilling the meaning of his name.

Because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, his name has become holy and sacred.  And now this hymn that Paul includes within this letter proclaims that at this name—every knee should bend and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord.  God’s desire is that through Jesus all of humanity will be redeemed and reconciled to Himself.  This redemption would be manifested through people bending their knee at the name of Jesus—a sign of reverence and worship.  Along with bended knee, being redeemed would include having every tongue confess Jesus as Lord.

When you hear this verse, how does it speak to you?  How do you confess Jesus as Lord within your own life?  Both in words and deeds?  How do you seek to be a part of God’s work in proclaiming the message of the work of Jesus so that all may know that Jesus saves all of humanity from its sin?

May our prayers and actions seek to fulfill this verse, so that at some point—every knee would bend and every tongue would confess.

Verse for the week of February 19^th:

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

  (Mark 9:9)

This verse comes at the end of the episode of the transfiguration—where Jesus goes up on a mountain and is changed to a dazzling white and appears with Moses and Elijah.

Try to imagine if you were one of the three disciples that went up on the mountain with Jesus.  What would be your response if you saw this unbelievable event?  Would you have wanted to build a tent/dwelling like Peter?  Would you have wanted to make a memorial at the spot (like happens so often in our culture today with something happens—think about how people brought thing when Whitney Houston died or the people at Penn State that left memorials with everything that happened there in the past year)?

At the least, you would want to tell people what you saw.  And in our culture today, most people would have wanted to take a picture or video and post it on Facebook or on YouTube.  Most of us would have wanted to share the fact that we witness something strange and marvelous.

Yet, Jesus is very clear in his instructions to the disciples.  Tell no one.  At least not until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Why not tell people?  Why wait till that time when the Son of Man rises?  Why not now?

I think the simple answer is that it was not the right time.  This event of the transfiguration was a sign of glory; however, Jesus does not want the disciples to be focused upon this type of glory.  Jesus has a completely different understanding of what his glory should be.  Jesus comes in glory—not by being transfigured or changed into dazzling white, but his glory comes in its ultimate form when he gives his life on the cross.  Jesus’ sense of glory is very counter-cultural.  It is not as the world would understand it, but his glory comes as he fulfills his ultimate mission—redeeming the entire world to himself through his death and resurrection.

Thus, Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone until the Son of Man rises again—for it is only through the event of Jesus’ death and resurrection that we can understand properly this event of the transfiguration.

Verse for the week of January 29^th:

At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

  (Mark 1:28)

In our culture today you hear of things going viral.  What this means is that something just takes off and all of a sudden is everywhere.  We see this most with some things like YouTube videos.  What happens is that a video gets posted and then comes into the awareness of a group of people and then wham—it is everywhere.  Sometimes this happens when a video gets mentioned on the Today Show or by even more by some Tweating about it or posting something and sharing on Facebook.  It is amazing that a video can go from being seem by a couple of hundreds of people to millions of people in a span of a day or so.

While Jesus did not go viral (as things did not spread in any way as fast as they do now with Twitter/Facebook/Internet); this verse implies something similar.  The Gospel writer tells us that his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region.

As Jesus came and taught as one who had authority, as he came and healed people, as he came and cast out demon, as he came and did miracles—word began to spread about this new guy and all the things that he was doing.  As this word spread, more and more people wanted to find out about this person, Jesus, and see what all the talk was about.  I imagine that many people came out of curiosity and wanting to see for themselves.

After all, when everyone is talking about the newest YouTube video—aren’t you tempted to check it out and see what is so fascinating to everybody else?  Most of us don’t want to be left out; we want to be in the know. 

I think that a similar thing happened at the time of Jesus.  As Jesus did more and more miracles, people wanted to be around him and see what he was doing.  People wanted to see for themselves this person who seemed to be different from other Rabbis and people who came before him and were thought to be a promised one from God.

However, when you read the whole story—you find an interesting theme within the gospel.  At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry when he is doing miracles (healings, casting out demons, feeding 5000 people), people come and see what he is doing.  He is attracting large crowds.  People are following and wanting to come and hear him preach.  But then as the crowds are large, Jesus teaches people what it means to follow him (deny oneself, pick up a cross, the cost of discipleship) the crowds begin to get thinner and even turn against him (the crowd cheering for Barabbas to be released).   This continues until at the end, when Jesus is ultimately fulfilling his mission (reconciling the world to himself by dying on the cross) only a couple of women are left there.  Even the disciples scatter and stay at a distance for fear of being captured. 

Our culture normally defines success by numbers and at some points during Jesus’ ministry, the numbers were there—his fame began to spread.  However, Jesus’ true fame comes not by attracting crowds but by being true to his mission and calling even if most of the crowds did not understand.

Verse for the week of January 22^nd:

And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, repent, and believe in the good news.’

  (Mark 1:15)

When you read the Gospel of Mark, these words in this verse are the first words of Jesus that are recorded within this gospel.  It takes place right after the baptism and temptation in the wilderness.  Jesus came proclaiming the good news saying, ‘the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, repent and believe in the good news.’  Then he goes and calls his first disciples.

As I reflect upon these words of Jesus, one of the words that draws my attention is the word kingdom.  Most of the times when we hear the word kingdom, most people tend to think of a place.  Kingdom is often thought of as a place or location—a territory that a king rules over.  And this makes sense within this context for Jesus is saying that the place of God has come near.

However, the word that gets translated as kingdom really means something more than a place.  The word kingdom is an action noun—a noun that expresses action.  Think about words like baptism or sin—they refer to an action by someone.  These are more easily seen as action nouns as these words are also used as verbs.  But the word kingdom in English is not a word that is used as a verb (we do not have anything like ‘to kingdom’), this causes us to think of the word kingdom in a way that causes us to think of it as a place.  However, this is not the meaning of the original Greek word. 

A better word might be something like to rule or reign.  Thus Jesus is saying that the ‘rule or reign of God has come near.’  The word kingdom connotes the ideas of the activity of someone ruling.  Hence, Jesus is declaring that God’s rule is near—that God is working and seeking to bring his ruling to all people and that they should turn and seek to orient themselves to the reign of God. 

A significant part of Jesus’ message here is to call people to see the action of God and to orient oneself to these activities.  Jesus as the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us is here to call us and show us that God is at work and seeking to fulfill his ultimate desire (to reconcile the world to himself).  Jesus is saying that God is at work and his reign has come near—that it is here and present.  The question for us then may become:  ‘can we see this work or not’?

How do we see God’s work today?  How are we working towards the reality of God’s reign being seen in our world today?

Listen again to Jesus’ words: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, repent, and believe in the good news.’  Jesus is telling us not that God is establishing an earthly kingdom or place—but rather that God’s rule is here—orient yourself to this reign and believe this good news that God is active and at work here and now.