Good Afternoon. It’s later in the day than I normally do this writing, but it’s been one of those days.
Some scriptures are more difficult to apply to our daily lives than others. I will admit that I have no idea how to interpret the stories of the Israelite warriors and their thirst for vengeance. Certainly the prophets warned them time and again against vengeance, and yet there are times when the texts seem to indicate that they were either following God’s orders or that God blessed their actions. The truly venerated leaders from the Old Testament times (Abraham, Noah, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah) were not military leaders or warriors.
Today’s lesson from Acts has some interesting application to us. Humanity always look to credit some other human with greatness. In this reading Peter tries to tell the crowd of onlookers who witnessed an apparent healing miracle that it wasn’t performed by him or any other human. It was performed by God and to God must go all the praise and all the credit. And then Peter gives a brief summary of the Gospel of Jesus, and he couches it in the context of the Hebrew scriptures. The apostles generally preached a Gospel that reflected the prophetic relationship between God and His chosen people.
The Gospel for today is the story of John the Baptist endorsing Jesus. John also does it in terms that reflect the history of the relationship between God and the children of Israel. The reference to the Lamb of God (i.e., the lamb whom God provided) ties back to Isaiah 53, and John’s reference to the “Son of God” identifies Jesus as the Messiah of whom the prophets spoke and for whom Israel has long waited.
Don’t get me wrong. You can learn all about Jesus’ ministry and sacrifice in the words of any of the four Gospels – and that’s where you should probably start. Read the Gospels – all four of them. Know who Jesus was and is. If you’ve ever taken anyone else’s word for whom Jesus is, set it aside. It may have been correct. It may have been incorrect. But you should want to know for yourself. If you have faith in Jesus, if you love Jesus, at least take the time to read for yourself who scripture says he is. It will surprise you. Every time I read – and re-read – the scriptures I find something that I missed the last time. You will find the same thing, and if you’re reading it for the first time for yourself I guarantee you that you will find things that will alter your view of the stories that you have been told.
Read. Study. Pray. Worship and praise the Lord. Just like they did in that earliest church!
Prayer: Holy God, we give You thanks for the gift of Jesus’ life and sacrifice. We give You thanks for the gift of Holy Scripture that teaches us Your long relationship with humanity and the love that You have repeatedly shown. Send Your Holy Spirit to incite us that we may hunger to read Your message for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Judges 7:19-8:12; Acts 3:12-26; John 1:29-42; Psalm 119:97-120, and Psalms 81, 82.
Blessings.
Pastor Jim
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