Surveys have shown that more than ever, people want authenticity in their religion, pastors, churches, and no doubt many other areas of life. No doubt this is in part due to the stories of pastors and other leaders that have been less than what people wanted them to be. Immorality, hypocrisy, greed, and a host of other sins and problems are behind this search for authenticity in the church.
Jesus saw this problem in this Sunday's Gospel reading. The Pharisees were demanding outward traditions, but they were lacking in the heart of the matter. In other words, they were hypocrites: people who put on a false appearance of virtue or religion. I like the story of the pastor who was walking around his neighborhood around the church where he served. He approached one neighbor at his door, introducing himself, and when the person learned he was a pastor, he began closing his door, saying, "I don't want anything to do with the church; they're just full of hypocrites!" And before he had closed the door, the pastor responded, "Well, there's always room for one more". I certainly want to be a good pastor. And I do try to be the pastor that God wants me to be. Yet God certainly knows that I'm a sinner! So I may as well tell all of you that same truth! I know that I have a sinful heart, and that I have fallen short of all that God demands in thoughts, words and actions. I also know that the Scriptures tell us that "all have sinned". So we are all in the same condition. But here's the Good News! God loves us even while we have sinned. His love is unconditional! And God has sent His son to be our Savior! Through Jesus' life, death and resurrection, all our sin has been forgiven! So we are all holy in God's sight! So you do have a perfect pastor. And I have a perfect congregation :) Blessings, Pastor Steve
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In today's Gospel reading, we hear people responding to Jesus, saying "this teaching is difficult" And they ask "who can accept it?" And they are complaining. And offended at Jesus, especially over his words that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. And so many turned away from Jesus and no longer believed in HIm or followed him,
I can appreciate the complaints of these people, because I have my own complaints, things that I don't understand and am confused about, and seem just too hard to accept. For example: Why doesn't Jesus explain things in a simpler way, so that all of us can understand it? Why isn't God visible to us, like He was to the people of the ancient times of the Bible? Why does God allow sin to ruin people's lives? Why does he allow people to be addicted to all kinds of bad stuff? Why doesn't God stop wars that kill so many innocent people? Why does God allow children to be exploited, and to starve to death? Why doesn't God heal all people, and not just those few who met Jesus when He walked the earth? Why is Jesus taking so long to end this world of suffering? (And I'm sure that you can add to that list of questions? I know I can!) And how does God answer these questions? If we look at today's Gospel reading, we hear Jesus' response: "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life....no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." In other words, we are not going to understand all that Jesus tells us by our own abilities. It will take the Holy Spirit to give us the faith and understanding. And even then, we may not understand everything; but we'll be able to trust in God and follow Him. As Peter said, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life." So you and I can join Peter, and others, who have nowhere else to go. For only in God's grace and mercy through His Son, Jesus, do we have eternal life! So go ahead, and join me in complaints and confusion and lack of understanding. Just trust in God As Proverbs 3:5-6 promises: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." That's the word I see in the Scripture readings for this Sunday, and that we will see at our outdoor service, with all of the beautiful campus around us here at Resurrection (six acres of green grass, beautiful trees, bushes, and flowers...and the people! at the service and in our community).
I'm also thinking of the life that each of us has. I am learning more than ever to appreciate each year, day, and breath of life! I'm writing this on the 40th Anniversary of marriage to my beautiful wife, Sandra. And I'm struggling to believe that it has been 40 years already!! I've also recently, more than ever, come to appreciate life, as I've had at least two serious events of SVT (a racing heart of over 200 bpm). Going to the ER and receiving the drug that "resets" my heart back to a normal bpm....it all impresses me with how I, and really each one of us, are a heartbeat away from ending life as we know it! So when this Sunday's Psalm reading asks, "Who among you takes pleasure in life and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?" I answer, "Yes!" And when Jesus tells us in John 6 that he is the "bread of life", it impresses on me the wonderful gift of God's grace and eternal life! Which means that our physical life on this earth is not all that is life. God wants us to have an eternal life with him! We've been reading through the Gospel of John for the past four weeks (including this upcoming Sunday); each of them looking at Jesus as the Bread of Life. This Sunday, more than ever, impresses on us the "flesh" of Jesus, and how we are to "eat" Him. In John 6:51, Jesus says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh". Many theologians will agree that the greatest miracle and mystery is the incarnation of Jesus Christ: the moment when He was conceived in the womb of Mary. Ponder this for a moment (or for all of life): the Son of God, who created the universe, entered His creation and became a part of it by becoming a man. He became our brother! And as a human, and as God, Jesus was able to live, suffer, die, and rise again for our eternal salvation! Meaning that you and I are given eternal life! Yes, life is awesome! And God has given it all to us! Thank you Lord for all of life!! God Bless, Pastor Steve In this Sunday's Gospel Reading, Jesus tells us who He is, three times: "I am the bread of life...I am the bread of life....I am the living bread" (John 6:35, 49, 51). And this is one of seven descriptions that Jesus gives, beginning with the words "I am...". (the bread of life; the light of the world; the gate for the sheep; the good shepherd; the resurrection and the life; the way, the truth and the life; the vine).
All of these statements of identity for Jesus are claims to be God. In John 8:58, Jesus says, "before Abraham was born, I am". In Exodus 3:14, God gives Moses His name: "I am who I am. This is what you re to say to the Iasraelites: I am has sent me to you." And so God's name is "I am" (which is Yahweh in Hebrew). So in this Gospel Reading for this Sunday, Jesus is claiming to be God, And God is the God who is the bread of life, the light of the world, the gate, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way, the truth and the life, the vine. If this is sounding complicated and hard to believe?,Then join those who complained in this Sunday's Gospel reading, when they said to Jesus, "Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, :I have come down from heaven?" (John 6:42) And these people are joining many others down through the centuries that have trouble believing that Jesus is God. And during all these same centuries, the Christian Church has written books and preached sermons, and debated on this topic, "Who is Jesus? Is He really God?" Perhaps C. S. Lewis sums it all up best, when he said Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or Lord. He certainly made several claims to be God. The question now is, do we believe Him? Or is He a liar or a lunatic (who believed he was God, but really wasn't)? I join those who believe Jesus is God. And that really is the response of the Christian Church: we believe Jesus is God, Savior, and Lord! This is what Jesus was pointing to in this Sunday's Gospel reading, "No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me...whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6:44,47) Faith is God's gift. And He gives to all who receive this gift. And that is our response and opportunity: to trust in God who has sent us His Son in Jesus as our Savior and Lord! Blessings, Pastor Steve |
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