The Ken Read Podcast

AM I A STONE (SONG OF THE WEEK)

AM I A STONE

(Poem from Christina Rossetti Good Friday 1866) Music by Ken E. Read. [Note: This is an art song, composed for a student's Senior Vocal Recital some years ago. I did this recording to help demonstrate the vocal. The lyrics are a powerful reflection on the author's lack of heartfelt repentance.)

Am I a stone and not a sheep,

That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy cross,

To number drop by drop 

Thy blood's slow loss

And yet not weep?

 

Not so those women loved

Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;

Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly;

Not so the thief was moved;

Not so the Sun and Moon

Which his their faces in the starless sky,

A horror of great darkness at broad noon--

I, only I.

 

Yet give not o'er,

But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock

Greater than Moses, turn and look once more,

And smite a rock.

0215 JESUS AS A TEEN

JESUS AS A TEENAGER

In this chapter, we get tiny glimpses of Jesus before he began his public ministry at the age of 30. We know from Matthew that he was moved to Egypt by his parents when he was under 3 years old, and that they then moved to Nazareth when Jesus was still young. Luke tells us in verse 40 that “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” So while he was young, Jesus was physically healthy, growing strong and tall. He was also growing in wisdom and grace (God’s favor).

Then we get this more extensive story of how he stayed behind in Jerusalem, asking and answering questions with the priests at the temple. And the leaders there were astonished at the wisdom and insight that young Jesus had at such a young age. But Jesus had not communicated with his parents about staying behind in the temple, so they chided their son to not do that again.

That’s where perhaps the greatest miracle in the Bible happened: A TEENAGER HONORED HIS PARENTS! Jesus after the age of twelve was a teenager who was living respectfully with his parents!

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Even as an adult, Jesus was known as the carpenter’s son. Other than that, we have very little information about those young adult years. In Jewish society, they did not categorize young people as “teens.” But they did have a term for adolescents, which referred to them as being in a period of breaking away. Then a son would typically live at home, and even after marriage, move his wife into the family compound, and they would start their family.

The young man’s father would be known at the city gates by this point. Then, at a date at which the father felt his son was ready (no automatic 18 or 21 or such), he would bring the young man to the city gates and publicly introduce his son, saying something along the lines of, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Sound familiar?) And the boy officially became a man. Often, that occasion fell around the time that the son was turning 30. The other city fathers would speak a blessing for the son, and he was at last considered to be an adult.

And that’s all we really know about those young adult years of Jesus and his preparation. But if I had the chance, I have a whole list of questions to which I’d like to know the answers.

For example, when Jesus worked as a carpenter with His daddy Joe, did He enjoy working with wood? Did He find peace in the predictable way the stubborn rough surface would give way under the plane’s persistent persuasion? Did He gain a certain manly satisfaction from choosing a stone, and then lifting, measuring and patiently chiseling away until it was a well-balanced, perfect millstone, suitable for profitable use for generations to come (or, possibly, hung around the neck of some unfortunate guy and cast into the sea, never to be heard from again)?

And now I’m wondering why Jesus did no carpentry work once He started His public speaking ministry? I mean, He was a servant to all. He washed feet. He healed people, fed them, cast out demons, met so many needs. Why not whip up a chair for a widow—or fix that hole in the roof after that guy was lowered down through it, now that I think of it? I guess I’m asking, are talent and calling always the same?

And I want to ask, what kind of businessman was Jesus? Did He take on jobs for Samaritans? or Gentiles, even? Did He do free work for widows and orphans? Was He tempted to overcharge, or to cut corners, or to have two different price sets, one for people He liked and one for wealthy strangers? What would it take for a soul to get a discount from the Master?

Did people say of His carpentry work, Jesus doeth all things well? Was He faster at work, or more meticulous, than the average carpenter?

And what did Jesus say when He hit His thumb with a hammer?

When it was time to start preaching, how did Jesus feel about stepping away from the carpentry business?

And while I’m at it, what was Jesus’ final order as a carpenter? Could He have been called on to craft the very cross on which He knew He was to be crucified? After all, it was Jesus who grew the tree in the first place. If so, was Jesus tempted to make it a little smoother than usual, maybe size it to fit the arch of His own back? When Jesus was done, did He say, “it is finished” and then put down His tools and walk away?

Just asking is all.

0216 JESUS AND FAMILY

JESUS AND FAMILY

We all know about Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in Bethlehem. And many people know that the family then relocated to Nazareth. It seems that Joseph has passed away by the time Jesus is grown. But as we will see in the next chapter, some things happened in Nazareth that caused both Jesus as well as Mary and her younger children to relocate to Capernaum. That’s what is now considered home base. And we read these words from Luke.

Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” 

And then a few verses later, he writes:

 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mother Mary and her younger boys have been hearing about all that Jesus has been doing since He left Nazareth. They hear about healing and miracles. But they also hear about the hours He  keeps, and about the way He gets under the skin of the religious leaders. Mary and her boys have a family meeting, and they conclude that their older brother has gone crazy, and that they need to talk some sense into His head.

Now she and the brothers decide to bring Jesus to the house, in order to—well, to be honest—in order to lock Him up for a spell and keep Him from getting Himself killed.

So, the family comes by the house in Capernaum where Jesus is teaching. The only problem is, there’s crowds all around—inside the house, in the doors, around every window, on the roof—hundreds of folks packed everywhere. Now, Jesus had always been a good boy, and always seemed wise, but this sure doesn't look like wisdom to a momma. 

So let’s imagine that Mary puts a sticky note to the ‘aluminum foil on top of a plate a brownies: “your momma and brothers are here to talk with you.” About ten minutes later, the note on an empty plate finds its way into the house. Jesus glances at the note, but doesn't stop His conversation.

The plate finds its way back through the crowd to Mary. Clearly, Jesus ain’t coming. 

Mary speaks: “Jesus, this is your mother, the blessed virgin, mother of God, highly favored in the Lord’s sight. Remember me? never mind that you never call or stop by to visit. Never mind that I have not received a card for Mother’s Day in the last two years. I know that You are busy. Too busy for Your poor old mother. Go ahead and drive a sword into Your mother’s heart. I was told this would happen. Don’t worry about me. I simply want to talk to You. Don’t You think that’s the least that You could do?”

inside the house, Jesus keeps on preachin. Some of those around Him kinda whisper, “Jesus, you’re momma n brothers are here.”

Jesus looks around at all of us. “Here’s my real family, right here. Those who do what my Father says are my true family members.”

wellsir, that did it for Mary. She heads on back. 

and away they go. The twelve a us is standin there in awkward silence. What did we just see here? did we just see Jesus dishonor His own momma? Is this the same Man who talked about how important children are? what are we to make a this? seems every time they turn around, Jesus turns the world upside down again. 

The disciples look at Pete, waiting for him to ask one of his famous Great Clarifying Questions. He shrugs and moves toward Jesus.

“Lord, what just happened there? we all thought we were starting to understand Your ministry. We thought You were turning the hearts of daddies to their children, and the hearts of children to their daddies. When You told us about mommas n toddlers the other day, it sure seemed like You thought families were the most important thing on earth. What am I not seeing here?”

the Lord answered Pete: “Pete, think about what you have seen the last several months: it ain’t never been about the money, or a career, or my reputation, or pleasing religious folks, or fame, or about living longer or better, or trying to be happy.

“it’s ALWAYS been about a kingdom that ain’t of this world. It’s about being willing to lose it all and die, in order to do this one greatest callin for my life. Nobody can make it into heaven if they love anybody more’n they love God.

“did you notice? my family doesn't get it. Not yit. They’re concerned with security and balance. There’s eternity for security and balance. Time is just to prepare for eternity. They’ll get it one day. But until they do, I can’t let nothin derail my Father’s business.

“family’s the most important thing in the world. But my kingdom ain’t of this world. Remember?”

0217 HIGH NOON IN NAZARETH

HIGH NOON AT NAZARETH

NAZARETH. Not much of a place to look at, up on that hill. No fort. No walls. No need, really, if you think about it. I mean, who’d want it? Not exactly the kind of place a king would want to build himself a palace.

But Nazareth was a great place for a Jewish boy to grow up. Jesus and His family lived there from the time He was a preschooler, and here He was turning thirty. Having His Homecoming at the synagogue—the same Jewish Synagogue where He’d grown up. The only church in town: First Nazarene Seventh Day Holiness Assembly (Northern Jezreel District of the Southern Galilean Conference, Kosher Preserved Convention). Pretty much the whole town was there, just like they were every Sabbath. They all knew young Jesus, Mary's son. Teachers, mentors, family, friends, peers, even the librarian—they were all there for the service.With a potluck to follow.

As I say, for a Jewish boy, the location couldn't be beat. On the south edge of town is an excavated cliff overlooking the Jezreel Valley. With its sharp dropoff, it provides a magnificent view.

Young Jesus’ Sabbath School teacher would often take the boys there to teach them Bible stories. From that very special spot, they could see pretty much the entire history of the saints of old unfold before them.

Off to the left is the Jordan River, and to the right’s the Mediterranean Sea. You can nearly see both bodies of water from here, the whole land is so compact and rich with the history of the saints and sinners of the ages.

Just off to the left, blocking the view of the river, Mount Tabor rises out of the plain, like a big—well—mound in the middle of a plain, I guess you’d say. That’s where Deborah rallied the troops of Israel and had great glory. Straight ahead in the valley is the battlefield where Saul and his boy Johnny were both killed. On the other side is Mount Gilboa, where God used Gideon to deliver Israel with only 300 brave men.

Nearby is where evil Jezebel went splat on the ground and got eaten by dogs. (The boys would always ask for that story, you can be sure.) Over to the right’s where Elijah had a showdown with ol’ Jezebel’s false prophets. They say stories like that make a boy grow bold. Stories like that make a man walk straight. Yes sir.

Where was I? Oh, right, this cliff! 

Jesus’ Homecoming Synagogue.

See, after a boy has been inducted into official manhood at the city gate, they have him preach to the hometown crowd. Everybody’s there, smiling and proud of their homey, as if they’d somehow made Him with their own hands. You know how it is. He’s so handsome and well-mannered (if a bit peculiar). Never did nobody no wrong.

Every eye is on Him. He reads from Isaiah. Says that it’s being fulfilled this very day!

Every Nazarene’s thinking, we’re gonna be famous at last! Then Jesus’ talk takes a turn they don’t like. He quotes two stories from the Bible on how God chose to bless Gentiles. The widow in Elijah's time, just up to the north. Naaman the leper, right over there at the Jordan River. The townsfolk scratch their heads, and whisper to one another, “What’s up here? Was Jesus saying that God’s going to choose Gentiles?”

I'll tell you, nothing will get a good Jew worked up quicker than talking about God loving people that ain’t His chosen ones. The after-synagogue crowd’s experiencing some serious low blood sugar, and talking about Gentiles sure isn’t helping things.

Suddenly, the whole town gets angrier than a pit bull seeing a postman.

They all are deciding He’s not our little boy-turned-prophet! He’s a terrible heretic, worthy of death! The men all grab Jesus and rush Him off to—you guessed it—The Cliff.

They surround Jesus, His back to the edge of the cliff. He gazes at those life-long members of First Nazarene Seventh Day Holiness Assembly: His mentors, His teachers, His family, His friends, His librarian. They all are looking at Him, and then past Him to that great Valley of History.

High noon in Nazareth.

Zoom your brain in on Jesus’ eyes, as He stands tall and faces His opponents.

Cut to one of the elders, shooting Him a steely glare. Cut to Mary, eyes darting back and forth. His old teacher flexes his fingers and cracks his knuckles all sinister-like.

Somewhere in the distance a mourning dove gives a coo, and it sounds like that flute noodle in those old Westerns. More silence. More closeups.

Nearby, a cricket lets one fly.

Then Jesus starts to walk, right out through the crowd.

Somehow, they can’t move to act on murdering this One who quotes stories they’d told Him themselves, even though they don't understand. Jesus slips through the crowd and leaves. Never to return.

Imagine being rejected by the lowest of the low. But that was Jesus. Kicked out of the least respected synagogue in all Israel. Nowhere to go from here but—down, actually.

Sure enough. Nazareth had been a great place to grow up. But it ain't a great place to die. The Prophet’s got to move on to Jerusalem for that. It’s right ahead, yonder about sixty miles, as the crow flies.

0218 THEY LEFT EVERYTHING

THEY LEFT EVERYTHING

In this chapter, we see the little phrase used of all five of the disciples who are called to follow Jesus: “and he left everything and followed.” It left me to reflect on just how much “everything” was for them to leave.

The four fishermen (Peter and Andrew, and also James and John), left everything. What did they leave?

Luke specifically mentions that James and John left their father. (I wonder how he felt about that?) There’s a lot implied by that choice: their livelihood, their family, their inheritance (which mostly would be the business), the boats and nets, their sole source of income, their home and bed and regular meals and stability and normalcy. Everything. Beyond that, they left their future plans: They renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom (except for Peter, who was already married.) Retirement. Since there was no guaranteed income, there would be no savings, and since there was no marriage, there would be no children to care for them as they age. In fact, they gave up old age! All but John gave up their lives to die as martyrs. They left. Everything.

But here’s what Jesus said: “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-31)

Luke also says that Levi who was known as Matthew left everything. He left his business. Tax collecting is a job where you pretty much set your own income, and therefore you live in comfort. He left all that to live as a nomad without the comforts of a home. Compare his choice with that of the rich young man who was given the same challenge and he walked away sad, for he had much money. Matthew also left his positive connections with the Roman government, which had bought him certain privileges. He ate well, had a bed and a house and all. A more subtle thing he left was his friends. Remember Matthew’s party for Jesus? He had tax collectors and other “sinners” as friends. Do you know the comfort it is to have friends who do not induce guilt, because their moral standards are low? Matthew was leaving everything. Everything. 

Jesus calls us all to consider it carefully when choosing Him. Count the cost. In chapter 14, he says,

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

On the other hand, those who paid this great price to follow Jesus were able to do great things. Jesus predicted it when he said to his disciples,

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

Let me summarize by comparing them to myself.

They left everything.

I have not left anything.

I don’t know anyone who has left everything.

They worked miracles.

I have never worked miracles.

I don’t know anyone who is working miracles.

Is there a pattern here?

0219 GOING VIRAL

GOING VIRAL

Yesterday we read again about the healing of the leper, also found in Matthew 8 and Mark 1. Luke describes the same healing, but provides a new small detail that is worth its own study. 

But let me start here, with this question: Would you rather be famous or be rich? If you had to choose one or the other, but not both, which would you choose? And no fair saying, “I don’t know. Try giving me both and I’ll tell you which one I don’t like!”

Too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing.

You know what the Bible says about having a lot of money? Two problems: 1) You can no longer have true friends, because everyone now knows you could bail them out any time you wanted. Ecclesiastes 5:11 says, “When prosperity increases, those who consume it increase. So its owner gains nothing, except to see his wealth before it is spent.” and 2) Jesus says it’s impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven with money! He said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” So, if you choose riches, you invite problems into your life, as well as all the positives.

But fame has its own set of problems. Being an ambitious young man who worked in music and academia, I longed for the Big Break that would make me famous. The upside of fame is that I would be respected by strangers. However, I had plenty of front row seats to see what a little fame does to a person, and I knew I would be especially susceptible to the bad side of it. I kept a running page in my spiritual journal that I titled, WHY FAME IS BAD FOR ME. Over the years, I had five reasons listed: 1) “Woe to you when all men speak well of you…” Fame is often the sign of an impure or unclear message. 2) The crowds often follow for the wrong reason, bringing grief to the leader, not joy. 3) “Love seeks not its own, is not puffed up…” “Consider others better than yourself…” Often godly character is not promoted by what it takes to become famous. 4) “Some think godliness is a means to financial gain, but…” Godliness should never become the means to an end, but rather purely and simply THE end goal. 5) “If anyone does not provide for his own family…children must believe…(to qualify as an elder)” The family often suffers under those whose ministry is so widespread that they are gone or drained.

Jesus had the challenge of FAME without MONEY. This is why I ask the question.

Here is what happened to Jesus at the end of the healing of that one leperous man in chapter 5: “And he charged him to tell no one,  . . . But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.”

And by chapter 6, we see more results: “...a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.”

Remember how Jesus and the others had no time to eat? And how his family concluded that Jesus had gone crazy? You can imagine what the daily pressure was for Jesus at this point in his life. And it all started because one guy whose life was changed couldn’t shut up about it. Goes to show, No good deed goes unpunished.

How did Jesus cope with the challenges of constant attention and requests for help? He was committed to a disciplined spiritual practice to stay balanced and Spirit-led. The end of Luke’s paragraph about how busy Jesus was, says, “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Elsewhere we know it was his regular practice to get up early before the sunrise to go alone and pray. Especially after feeding the multitudes, when they wanted to make him king by force, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go away, and he sent the crowds away, then he went up the mountain to be alone and pray. 

Too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. It took Jesus spiritual discipline and wisdom to overcome. May we follow in his steps.

0220 BEING RADICAL

BEING RADICAL

No one accused Johnny the Dipper of being “normal.” Words like “comfortable” or “careful” or “average” didn’t begin to apply to him. No, with Johnny, words like “risky” and “dangerous” and “radical” were better descriptors. He was living on the edge of society, deeply immersed in the ways of God, with one foot in the water and one in heaven.

So it was no surprise when Johnny got himself arrested. He had been warned not to speak out against Herod the governor of the region. I mean, Herod was only half-Jewish to begin with, and he certainly was not a regular synagogue attender. But I guess Johnny wasn’t “regular,” in the synagogue or anywhere else, either. In any case, he got hold of Herod’s little inappropriate relationship with his brother’s wife and simply wouldn’t let go.

If you had been living in Judea in the time of these events, would you have gone out to see John the Baptist? Or would he be an interesting conversation, wondering what that crazy guy was up to? Do you think you would have been baptized by him? Or are you the kind of person who listens and considers, but takes a long time to make a radical decision?

I often reflect on the Pilgrims and wonder if I would have been one of them, or if I would have stayed home. There were many hundreds of Puritans who believed as the Pilgrims did, and a few hundred who moved to Leiden, Holland to find religious freedom from the persecution they received in England. But only 102 actually set out on that first voyage in 1620. So, I wonder, would I have stayed in the Church of England and avoid fines and imprisonment, or would I have been more bold to be part of what they called the Radical Reformation? Then, would I have gone to Holland in search of religious freedom? Once there, would I have fit in with the secular culture there and lost my zeal? Would I have sent the Pilgrims on their way with promises to pray for them and send support financially? I think I know the answer. Because I think of other causes to which I give intellectual support or make an occasional post on social media about it. But if I truly believed as strongly as I say I do, I would be taking much more firm action.

The answer to all these hypothetical questions will help you know where you might have stood with regard to Johnny and Jesus. Would you and I have lived out there in the wilderness with Johnny after being baptized by him? Or maybe we would even be so bold as to travel with Jesus himself, moving about the countryside without a penny to my name. (Which is pretty simple to do, since the penny has not been invented yet.)

I ask all this because it provides a background for these groups encountering Johnny’s message. If you take the radical leap to be baptized, then you gain an entirely different worldview, which we might call “knowing God’s will.” Luke writes, “The crowds, including tax collectors, declared God just, having been baptized by John.” 

Back to baptism. Would you have been an early adopter, one of the radical host of wet heads? There is much at stake.

We don’t know God’s will by studying and thinking. We know God’s will by obeying, by taking the first step, by doing his will that has already been revealed to us. And it’s not just God’s will; it’s finding or rejecting God’s purpose for ourselves that counts.

On the other hand, talk is cheap. If we claim to know God’s will, but we aren’t on the radical edge of the “doers of the word,” then we actually have rejected God’s purpose for ourselves. 

Luke wrote that the “Pharisees and lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.”

So, what do you think? Will you follow the radical will of God and know God’s purpose for your life? Or will you keep sitting back, waiting for a push?

I think Johnny would say jump on in! The water’s fine!

0220B GROW TO KNOW (song of the week)

GROW TO KNOW

(This is a song I wrote years ago while praying for my children. It continues to say something from my heart, now also for my grandchildren.)

Well I'm on my knees again

Here to talk about my little friends

And the glow from this old nightlight lets me see how blessed I've been

They've got their mother's perfect eyes

And I can see they're angels barely in disguise

Sent from heaven to bless and change our earthly lives

And as I gaze upon their sleeping faces

Innocent like mine before the fall

I wish for them all

All the good life has to offer

For health and happiness

For fortune for success

But more than this I'll make a wish that's higher than them all

May they grow to know You Lord

May they hunger for Your Word

May they grow up like a child to trust in things they've yet to see

May they grow to know You're strong enough to keep them to the end

And may they grow You as their friend

Of all the jobs I've had in life responsibilities

Nothing's more important than this ministry to me

Please protect them from the evil one

Don't let them grow up too soon

And may they come to love You Lord even more than they could ever love me

May you grow to know the Lord

May you hunger for His Word

May you each become a beacon of the kingdom of His light

May you be strong enough to stand alone for truth unto the end

And may you grow to know

May you come to love the Lord

May you grow to know Him as your friend.

0221 BEING IN YOUR RIGHT MIND

BEING IN YOUR RIGHT MIND

Did you know that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child? It takes discipline to deliver them. Among the simple are also many young men, who have no sense. An arrow will pierce their liver if they do not free themselves of their folly. Apparently, also the hearts of demon-possessed men are in serious need of sobering.

Today we see the story of Legion, the Gadarene demoniac who is delivered by Jesus. We have covered much about the story before. But we didn’t yet pause to reflect on this one word that is such an important biblical concept. Here is how Luke describes it:

Luke 8:35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

The word is sophroneo in Greek, translated here as “in his right mind.” In other translations it is rendered, “In his right mind.” “Mentally healthy.” “Completely sane.” “Of a sound mind.” “Sensible.” “Sound-minded.” “Quite sane.” Get the idea? The man was in control of his mental health at last! He was healed of the demons, and it brought sanity to his brain. 

As I say, we all begin our lives not being quite sane. We must learn self control. We learn to be mature when we say no to ourselves. After all, self control is a fruit of the Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit works in us to bring us to perfect maturity and wholeness of mind.

This poor guy Legion had been out of control for years, and he received instant deliverance from Jesus casting out the demons within him. For most of us, our deliverance is less dramatic, but with the same result.

That word sophroneo is only used four other times in the New Testament, and each time it is translated differently in most versions. That’s because it is in contrast to different states of mind.

SELF CONTROL. Some of us experience what we might call “blackouts” from anger or substance abuse. They are moments when we are out of control. As I say, it seems to be especially common in young men. But the opposite of blacking out is to be self controlled or sober minded. In fact, it is the one single thing that young men need to focus on, as we will see in Paul’s letter to Titus. Older men, older women and younger women all are given a list of multiple things to work on. But for young men, there is just one: self control. Being sober minded. Titus 2:6: "Likewise, encourage the young men to be self-controlled."

SOBER JUDGMENT. I think it’s fair to say that we all struggle with humility. We tend to be selfish. We are born with self-centered hearts. But the Spirit instructs every one of us “not to think more highly than you ought, but to think of yourself with sober judgment.” (Romans 12:3)

OF SOBER MIND. We also tend to become distracted, as if this world and our time here would go on forever. As if God was not calling us to be on the alert for what the enemy is up to. As various translations say, we must be watchful. Fully conscious. Alert. Giving full attention. Remember how Peter and the others fell asleep there in the garden while Jesus was praying? Peter is the one who tells us, "The end of all things is at hand. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” (1 Peter 4:7)

OF SOUND MIND. The Lord leads us to be emotionally measured. In control. Our flesh leads us to be beside ourselves, out of our minds, to lose our mind. But for the sake of the cause of helping and serving others, we must be “of sound mind, . . . for you.” (2 Corinthians 5:13)

So, whatever state we may be coming from, whether it is youthful immaturity or self-centeredness or distracted worldliness or uncontrolled emotions, it is God’s will and the Spirit’s leading to bring us to be like Legion after his dramatic deliverance: fully clothed and in our right minds. 

Lord, teach us to be like you.

0222 JESUS AND SMARTIANS: A RANT

JESUS AND SMARTIANS: A RANT

Luke 9:51-56 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.

There is some important back story to understand in order to appreciate just how offensive this rejection of hospitality from a Samaritan village was. But in order to tell it, perhaps it is best to put this into the voice of the apostle John himself, so that you can hear it in first person. Ready. Here is Boomer John, best friends with Jesus.

We're so...sorry. But we must ask, what is it with Jesus and people from S'marya?

Don't He know that them S'martians ain't real Jews. Then He is hardest on them that are the best Jews. Ten lepers healed by Jesus. Only one returns to thank Him. Care to guess where he's from? 

S’marya.

He tells a story: holy men ignore an injured man, and a despicable S’martian stops to help him. Why make a S’martian the hero of the story? 

I don’t care who you are, “good” and “Samaritan” don’t belong in the same sentence. 

No sir.

What you are about to hear, some may find shocking. But what can I do? It’s what happened, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all.

So, Jesus and us is on our way to Jerusalem, The Big City. Going through S’marya, of course. Now, Samaria is that stretch of religious wasteland that stood between Gal'lee County and the Big City of Jerusalem.

And this village in Smarya has the audacity to refuse to offer Him and twelve of his best friends any hospitality! No food. No water. No housing. Just an order to get on through town and don’t stir up no dust on your way out.

We can’t believe it! Being tolerant of our S’martian enemies is one thing. Talking nice about them pagan inbred pig-eaters is another. But Jesus, He seems to think S’martians is actually what God meant when He said to love your neighbor as yourself. 

Okay. I can go there. But when they are the ones who declare themselves the enemy and shoot the first salvo over the bow of the boat, it’s time to call in the Big Guns and let them know a thing or two. 

Them S’martians are rejecting real Jews here. And not just a real Jew, but the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God Himself. 

The Bible says, vengeance is mine, says the Lord. Well, it’s time for God to show that vengeance is His, in my mind. Call down fire from heaven and let God Almighty let them have it with both barrels.

I guess sensitivity to Assyrian wickedness AND that of their cousins in Smarya Runs deep in the blood of a good Gal’lean. But it turns out, us common folk from Gal’lee County was not only ones the receiving end of some pretty unfair prejudices in our day. 

Being judged by them haughty Big City folks from Jerusalem did sting, and we knew that full well. But I was blind to my own sin of dishing out a pre-packaged judgment or two.

(song)

My momma sees a problem in S’marya. 

My daddy says they're all idolaters. 

The northern tribes got wiped out by Assyria.

So there ain't real Jews in S'marya Land no more

S’martians are the worst kind of Gentiles: 

Gentiles who pretend to be Jews!

No good Jew would step into that polluted land

S'martians just ain't good enough for me and you

Hey, Boomer Jim!

Whats that, Boomer John?

What's the difference between goat cheese and a S'martian?

The goat cheese don't smell as bad!

Hahaha!

Hahahaha!

How many S'martians does it take to change a light bub?

None! They all prefer to live in darkness!

Hahahaha!

Hahaha!

S’martians are the worst kind of Gentiles:

Gentiles who pretend to be Jews!

No good Jew would step into that polluted land

S'martians just ain't good enough for me and you

“Mammas don’t let your children grow up to be S’martians.”

S'martians just ain't good enough for me and you

Now remember, children

Look both ways before crossing the street,

and don't you never take no candy from a S'martian.

The way Jesus talks about S'martians, you would almost think that where 

or to whom one was born made no difference at all to Jesus.

What good’s it do to be born Jewish, if that’s the case? You know what I'm saying?

“Mammas don’t let your children grow up to be S’martians.”

S'martians just ain't good enough for me and you

S'martians just ain't good enough for me and 

Turns out, even vengeful prayers ain’t allowed in the Kingdom.

Sometimes I wonder, what good’s it do to be a son of thunder if you don’t get to send a lightning bolt now and then?