"If anyone wills for himself to come after me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" -- Luke 9:23; (see also Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34)
Soooooo, most everyone knows this verse and most everyone doesn't take the "disown himself" too seriously. [Was I too harsh? Sorry. ]
In any case, any idea of the context of these words of Jesus? Well, in all three gospels Peter has just said the Jesus is the Messiah [Christ] sent by God. In Matthew and Mark, Peter is also reprimanded for telling Jesus that he should not suffer according to God's plan. Yep, Peter was pretty plain spoken and loyal, but sometimes a bit clueless.
Anyway, there really is a lot going on in this passage.
1. The matter of personal will or choice to come after Jesus
2. Jesus seems to think someone might want to follow him -- why?
3. Where is Jesus going that anyone would want to follow him ["come after me"] ?
4. Disown self -- what's with that? Do you own [???] your self so that then you can disown your self?
5. Take up his cross - not Jesus' cross -- hmmmmm, what was Jesus' cross? what is one's own cross?
6. How does one find out his own cross ? [hint: How did Jesus find his cross?]
7. Oh yeah, what's with the DAILY part - only in Luke btw ?
8. And -- is the "follow me" a DAILY thing too?
9. And where's all the clarity of HOW to do this -- ?? is it simply disown take-up and follow?
10. Where are the Mapquest directions?
What is going on at this point in Luke's story?
Luke has told the story of Jesus' origin, a very little bit about his early life, and about his ministry in Galilee. This story comes as he is about to leave Galilee and "set out resolutely" for Jerusalem [9:51]. The apostles have been chosen and Jesus has just begun to talk about the suffering he - the Messiah [Christ] - "must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Peter didn't like that idea at all. In Matthew's and Mark's versions, he tries to rebuke Jesus who, sternly rebukes Peter with "get behind me, Satan, you are not thinking anything like God thinks."
So Jesus has made it plain that in addition to all the wonderful things about following Jesus - forgiveness of sins, healing of ills, feeding the hungry - there is guaranteed and necessary suffering, rejection, death and resurrection.
Sometimes our eyes stop at the cross - suffering, rejection, abandonment and death - and do not look to the resurrection as being included in the meaning of "follow me!"
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday's Madness #1
So, no bailout, stock-market falls farthest, the White Sox win to play another do or die game, and the Steelers win in overtime.
What does any of that have to do with your life, or mine, here and now?
I'd like to quote one of my favorite bible passages here and offer some hope that we can get our priorities straightened out, but I think it would be misleading. The passage is 2Chronicles 7:12-16. Many might understand it to be a promise of blessing upon a nation (Israel) that repents and obeys God that can be applied to their own country.
And while I'm obviously not doing a detailed exegesis or theological analysis here, I'm pretty sure that's just plain wrong.
My suggestion would be that - here and now, in our day and age, in our lifetimes, this passage should be understood as a call for the repentance of the renewed, spiritual Israel that lives in the body which the Savior-Messiah-Lord-King, Jesus of Nazareth established and to which each and every believer belongs regardless of denomination and/or theology.
Paul tells us clearly of the problem of an unrepentant heart in his letter to Roman believers.
What does any of that have to do with your life, or mine, here and now?
I'd like to quote one of my favorite bible passages here and offer some hope that we can get our priorities straightened out, but I think it would be misleading. The passage is 2Chronicles 7:12-16. Many might understand it to be a promise of blessing upon a nation (Israel) that repents and obeys God that can be applied to their own country.
And while I'm obviously not doing a detailed exegesis or theological analysis here, I'm pretty sure that's just plain wrong.
My suggestion would be that - here and now, in our day and age, in our lifetimes, this passage should be understood as a call for the repentance of the renewed, spiritual Israel that lives in the body which the Savior-Messiah-Lord-King, Jesus of Nazareth established and to which each and every believer belongs regardless of denomination and/or theology.
Paul tells us clearly of the problem of an unrepentant heart in his letter to Roman believers.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
CHOOSE LIFE!!
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, ... ."
--- Deut.
30:19-20
"But if your heart turns away, and you will not listen and obey, ... I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.
"
--- Deut 30:17-18
PS: should anyone have a problem because this comes from a Roman Catholic perspective ... well, get over yourself, stand together and CHOOSE LIFE!! ... everyday ...
--- Deut.
30:
"
--- Deut 30:
PS: shoul
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