Evil is self-propagating...like the spreading of a contagion

"If God allows the monster to wage war on his people and conquer them, what must God's people do? They must allow themselves to be conquered as their Lord had done, so that like their Lord they may win a victory not of this world... [T]he church must submit without resistance to the conquering attack of the monster, since only in this way can the monster be halted in its track. Evil is self-propagating. Like the Hydra, the many-headed monster can grow another head when one has been cut off. When one man wrongs another, the other may retaliate, bear a grudge, or take his injury out on a third person. Whichever he does, there are now two evils where before there was one; and a chain reaction is started, like the spreading of a contagion. Only if the victim absorbs the wrong and so puts it out of currency, can it be prevented from going any further. And this is why the great ordeal is also the great victory."

Caird, G.B. The Revelation of Saint John. Black's New Testament Commentary. 1966, 169-170. 

Mercy, Couples, Grace from May 9 2010

2017 "Mercy is radical kindness. Mercy means offering or being offered aid in desperate straits. Mercy is not deserved. It involves absolving the unabsolvable, forgiving the unforgivable. Mercy brings us to the miracle of apology, given and accepted, to unashamed humility when we have erred or forgotten." Ann Lamott, Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy. Novelist.

Mercy — a word deceptive in its seeming softness, for beneath its surface radiance lurks a dark core: the very concept of mercy only exists because of and as a counterpoint to our capacity for cruelty. Mercy is the conscious choice to be kind when one can be cruel — without cruelty, there is no mercy. Brian Pickings.

2014  "True love is when two people's pathologies complement one another's." Alex Grey. Love is, by definition, crazy and irrational. And the best love works when our irrationalities complement one another and our flaws enamor one another. It may be our perfections that attract one another. But it's our imperfections that decide whether we (love each other) or not.

"Successful couples (all worthwhile friendships and relationships) accept and understand that some conflict is inevitable, that there will always be certain things they don't like about their partners or things they don't agree with, and that this is fine. You shouldn't need to feel the need to change somebody in order to love them. And you shouldn't let some disagreements get in the way of what is otherwise a happy and healthy relationship. 6healthy-relationship-habits. The truth is, trying to resolve a conflict can sometimes create more problems than it fixes. Some battles are simply not worth fighting. And sometimes the most optimal relationship strategy is one of 'live and let live.'"

The sad result of preaching, teaching and emphasizing obedience, obeying the Bible and the Law, and the fear of preaching Grace: "Over the last couple of years, we have really been struggling with the preaching in our church as it has been very law laden and moralistic. After listening, I feel condemned with no power to overcome my lack of ability to obey. Over the last several months, I have found myself very spiritually depressed, to the point where I had no desire to even attend church. Pastors are so concerned about somehow preaching "too much grace" (as if that is possible), because they wrongly believe that type of preaching leads to antinomianism or licentiousness. But, I can testify that the opposite is actually true. I believe preaching only the law and giving little to no gospel actually leads to lawless living. When mainly law is preached, it leads to the realization that I can't follow it, so I might as well quit trying. At least, that's what has happened to me."  

2013 The gospel renews and makes mission vibrant. But mission burdens and makes people tired.

One cannot know God without reference to oneself and one cannot know oneself without reference to God.  

"The design of the gospel is to bring us to brokenness not brokendownness; to release the aroma of grace not the stench of shame." 

N.T. Wright on a "normal" day and writing: There is teaching, grandchildren, chickens to feed and clean out, shopping, examining Ph D theses, and all the other fun of family and academic life. But, left to myself (as has happened all too rarely!), I get up very early (5ish), say my prayers, have breakfast, and ideally am at the desk by about 6.30 or 7. Then I can have a really good morning before a late lunch, perhaps a walk, then back to work mid-afternoon, with supper around 7.30, read something for an hour or two, prayers and bed by 10.30 or 11.

However even within this (highly idealized) scenario, sometimes the 'work' will consist of simply writing, as fast as I can; sometimes of reading, slowly and carefully, a major new commentary or monograph; sometimes of a mixture of the two plus combing through journals, reviews, online materials … of all of these I prefer the writing task, because of the sheer joy of words and language and the delight in finding a creative way of saying something. The week in my life which most nearly corresponds to the ideal was the week, in spring 2006, when I wrote Acts for Everyone. I began it on a Saturday, had most of the Sunday off, and finished it in the small hours of the following Sunday. I have no idea how many thousand words that was but all I had to do was to sit down at the desk and turn on the tap. It was exhilarating. 

2012 "The mystery has been revealed, and yet, the mystery continues. It is within our grasp, yet it surpasses our knowledge. We are able to know the truth, yet are called to continue to move toward a God who clothes himself in darkness. Our faith is not blind, yet our certainty is in things not seen." Arnie Gentile.

2010 Pragmatic evangelism is "doing" evangelism in a way that elevates success & method over anything else. Pragmatic evangelism only asks the question "what works?" not "who are we to be as evangelists?" The greatest obstacle to healthy evangelism is pragmatism: "doing evangelism" b4 we ever think who we are meant to be. J Mack Stills.

Where is the Salt?

What Prayer Is

Be Perfect in Showing Mercy (Matthew 18:21-35)

"When we are securely rooted in personal intimacy with Christ, it will be possible to remain flexible without being relativistic, convinced (absolute) without being rigid, willing to confront without being offensive, gentle and forgiving without being soft and true witnesses without being manipulative." Henri Nouwen.

Lectionary text [5/10/2020]: Psalm 31:1-16; John 14:1-14

Jesus as Teacher. Matthew incorporates almost all of Mark's Gospel, but in 5 places he inserts extensive blocks of teaching (5:1-7:27; 10:5-42; 13:1-52; 18:1-35; 23:1-25:46). The end of each of these 5 sections says, "When Jesus had finished [etelesen] these words..." This accentuates Jesus' role as authoritative teacher. At the conclusion of TSOM "the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes/teachers of the law" (Mt 7:28-29).

• Why were people not moved [disinterested, turned off] by the way the religious leaders taught the Bible?

• How does Matthew end his Gospel (Mt 28:18-20)? What is the mandate of the "great commission"? 

• How does this ground the life and mission of the church (Mt 7:24-25)? 
• Why is training necessary if we want to follow Jesus (Mt 13:52; 1 Tim 4:7; 2 Cor 7:1; 2 Pet 1:5-8)?

• Is there a system to discipleship? What is the goal of discipleship?

• Is the community of the church necessary for one to follow Jesus? Can one follow Jesus without being trained in the community of the church?  

Jesus' Hard Teaching:

• "Be perfect" (Mt 5:48). Christians don't make excuses: "I'm only human." "I'm still a sinner." "No one's perfect."

• "...unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:20).

• "...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Mt 28:20). No way around teaching obedience. Teaching must be exemplified.

• "...every teacher...who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven..brings out...new treasures as well as old" (Mt 13:52). Am I a one trick pony?

• "...love your enemies" (Mt 5:44). Seriously?

• "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them" (Mt 6:1). Why do we like to show off our righteousness?

• "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Mt 9:13; 12:7; Hos 6:6).

• "But you have neglected the more important [weightier] matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness" (Mt 23:23).

• "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private" (Mt 18:15, NASB). Why is this straight forward instruction hard to do?

• "...forgive...from your heart" (Mt 18:35).

Gospel and Christology [The Moral Vision of the NT, Richard Hays]:

• Taking Up the Cross [Crucified Messiah] (Mark)

• Training for the Kingdom of Heaven [Teacher] (Matthew)

• Liberation through the Power of the Spirit [The Spirit of the Lord is upon me] (Luke-Acts)

• Loving One Another [Man from heaven] (John and Epistles)

Some thoughts & reflections:

• The problem is NOT the problem.

• Obedience [keeping the Law] {being right} and disobedience [breaking the Law] {being wrong} are NOT "gospel categories," since EVERYONE disobeys [breaks the Law] {is wrong}. Thus...

• Pointing out that someone is sleeping around or not sleeping around is NOT what helps anyone to change or repent.

• Watching porn or not watching porn is NOT the change that should be sought.

• Being great(er) or having no ambition whatever is not the problem. [Hard working or lazy. Accomplished or underachieving.]

Avoid Controversy

Expose the Sin and Forgive (Matthew 18)

Lectionary [5/3/2020]: Ps 23; Jn 10:1-10.

1. Why are the disciples asking about who the greatest is (Mt 18:1; 16:21; 17:22)? What does this show about them?
2. Is being great a requirement for entering the kingdom of God (Mt 18:2-3)? What are kingdom people like (Mt 18:3-5)? What is required (Mt 18:3)? [child - paidion]
3. Who are the "little ones" [ton micron] (Mt 18:6a)? Why does Jesus use hyperbole--such drastic language toward those who cause others to stumble (Mt 18:6b-9; 1 Cor 12:12-20)?
4. What do disciples [we] incline to do with "little ones" (Mt 18:10a)? Why should we not (Mt 18:10b, 14)? How does Jesus illustrate this (Mt 18:12-13; Lk 15:4-7; Eze 34)? Is this pragmatic or prudent (Jn 11:50)?
5. 3 Steps for Conflict resolution. 
• What should you do when a fellow Christian sins [against you] (Mt 18:15a; Lev 19:17-18)? 
• Why? What is the ultimate objective (Mt 18:15b)? 
• What would this avoid? Why do we often NOT do so?
• What if the one who sins is a leader in the church (1 Tim 5:19-20)?
6. What is the role of the church (Mt 18:16-17; Dt 19:15)? 
• What does it mean to "treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector" (Mt 18:17)? 
• Why is church discipline important and necessary (Mt 18:18-20, 6, 1-5)? 
• On what basis does the church have such authority (Mt 18:18-20; 28:20)? 
• Is excommunication inconsistent with loving enemies and the golden rule (Mt 5:43-48; 7:12)?  
7. Why did Peter ask about the frequency of forgiving others (Mt 18:21)? Why did he chose "7 times" (Job 33:29-30; Amos 1:3; 2:6)? 
• How do we forgive others unlimitedly (Mt 18:22)? How much is 10,000 talents (Mt 18:24) and 100 denarii (Mt 18:28)? 
• Why do we not comprehend or grasp the greatness of God's forgiveness (Mt 18:23-31)? 
•  How serious is it to not forgive others (Mt 18:32-35)?
• What does an unforgiving heart show about the person?
• Does forgiveness involve restoring the relationship?

Reference:

1. Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: community, cross, new creation: a contemporary introduction to New Testament ethics. Part One, 3. The Gospel of Matthew: Training for the Kingdom of Heaven. 1996. HarperCollins Publishers, NY.
2. Hauerwas, Stanley. Matthew. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Brazos Press, Grand Rapids, MI, 2006. MATTHEW 18: The Church.

God Values the Little Ones (Mt 18:10-14)

God Values the Little Fella (Mt 18:10-14). Disciples Don't Despise Dispensable Disposable Deplorables, for Jesus the good shepherd is the model for his disciples [SWS 4/26/2020; Ps 116; Lk 24 lectionary texts. Song: The Overwhelming Never Ending Reckless Love of God Coming After Me].

• [1] These Little Ones (Mt 18:10a)
• [2] My Father in Heaven (Mt 18:10b)
• [3] 100 Sheep One Lost (Mt 18:12a)
• [4] Leave & Search [for the little one] (Mt 18:12b)
• [5] One Found 99 Never Strayed (Mt 18:13)
• [6] My Father in Heaven (Mt 18:14a)
• [7] These Little Ones (Mt 18:14b)

Notice the rhetorical structure in this chiasm (ring composition) composed of 7 inverted units:

• the beginning [1], middle [4] and end [7] focus on "the little ones" (Mt 18:10, 12, 14), while
• [2] and [6] are a pair of my/your "Father in heaven" (Mt 18:10, 14), and
• [3-5] are a parable on finding the one lost sheep (Mt 18:12-13) with
• [3] and [5] focusing on "the one and the many" while
• the climax in the very center [4] displays the willingness of the shepherd to risk leaving the 99 "on the hills" to go after the one that went away (Mt 18:12b).

Questions for Reflection:

1. Who are "these little ones" (Mt 18:10a)? Why might one little one wander away (Mt 18:12a; 16:24; Lk 14:26; 1 Jn 2:15-17)? Is the sheep misled or does it go astray? Is it the fault of the sheep or the shepherd?
• Might Peter denying Jesus, doubting Thomas, the 10 disciples who ran off in the garden, and the "Jerusalem street" (Lk 23:35, 48; 18:13) be among "the little ones" who strayed and went astray?
• What was Jesus "still doing" on the cross with "the little ones" (Lk 23:34)?
• Who did Jesus say is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18:2-5)? 
• What does the disciples' question about the greatest show about them (Mt 18:1)? 
• Was Jesus speaking of children in general or of this particular child (Mt 18:4)?
• What does the change from "child" (Mt 18:5) [paidion] to "little ones" (Mt 18:6; 10:42) [ton micron] tell us? 
2. Why does Jesus caution/warn his disciples to "not despise/look down on" [neglect, ignore] the little ones (Mt 18:10a) [to treat others with scorn or contempt]? Why? [See Q. 3.] 
• Does this challenge the leadership of the church in every age?
• Do people/organizations/"churches" tend to despise the dispensables /disregard the powerless /overlook the non-contributors? [Or declare an interest in them as a power play?]
• Do you desire/wish to be in what C.S. Lewis calls "The Inner Ring"? [What's the motivation?] Should you not rather be a "sound craftsman"?
3. What does it mean that "the little ones" (believers) have angels before "the face of my Father in heaven" (Mt 18:10b; Ac 12:15; 1 Cor 4:9; Heb 1:14; Ps 17:8; Rev 2:1, 8, 12; 3:1, 7, 14)?
4. What does Jesus exemplify in the center/climax of the chiasm [3,4,5] (Mt 18:12-13)?
• How does the world regard the weak, the powerless, the poor, the nameless?
• Why do people not want to bother with the one sheep who couldn't keep up?
• Can the lost, the one who wandered off, find their own way home?
• What is the shepherd willing to endure in order to look for the one who is lost/went astray (Lk 15:4, 8; Jn 10:11)? How does this strengthen and encourage the 99? 
• What is the tendency of [church] leaders with regard to 1/99? 
• How might we want our [church] leaders to act?
5. What does the shepherd rejoicing over finding the lost sheep teach us about repentance (Mt 18:13; Lk 15:5-6,9; 19:10; Jn 4:32)?
• Who is the celebration and rejoicing about (Lk 15:6, 9, 24, 27, cf. Lk 15:30)? 
• When the lost one is found were they blamed, rebuked, shamed and exposed as a "bad sheep," made to feel bad?
6. Despite the intention of the Father in heaven (Mt 18:14) and the shepherd (Mt 18:12), what could still happen? Is there the possibility of failure?
7. What was Jesus expecting of his disciples (Mt 25:40; Jn 20:21; 1 Pet 5:2)?

Reference: Bailey, Kenneth E. The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament. IVP. Downers Grove, IL 60515. 2014.

What is Important for Freedom

• attention
• awareness
• discipline
• effort
• an others-centric focused life

Journey Through the Wall/Pandemic

• Emotionally healthy spirituality requires that every follower of Jesus--at some point will--go through the pain of the wall--"the dark night of the soul."** Why?
• This is God's way of rewiring and "purging our affections and passions" [our unhealthy attachments and idolatries of the world--including his blessings] so that we might delight in his love and enter into a richer, fully communion with him. Is knowing this an encouragement to your walk with God?
• Failure to understand and surrender to God working in you at the Wall results in great long-term pain, ongoing immaturity and confusion, while receiving the gift of God in the Wall transforms our lives forever.
• Just as a physical wall stops us from moving ahead, God "stops us" in our spiritual journey through a spiritual wall in order to radically transform our character.
• Often, we are brought to the Wall by circumstances and crises beyond our control and beyond our ability to handle it. How long will this last?

• Is your faith "working"? Or do you feel stuck, helpless, hopeless?
• Do you wonder what God is trying to do to you?
• In your current season of life, what is the greatest obstacle that you face? If you're going through a Wall, briefly share one way it impacted you and your view and relationship with God.

What will going through an unbearable impossible Wall do for you?

1. A greater level of brokenness.
• How "offendable" are you?
• Are you able to never be/feel insulted (when you are being criticized and judged unfairly)?
• When offended do you react, act offensively or defensively or indifferently (Whatever)?
• "Blessed is he who expects nothing [reward, approval, "blessing," etc], for he shall enjoy everything [Covid-19, dying, death]." St. Francis of Assissi.
2. A greater level of holy unknowing (mystery).
• How comfortable are you with not being in control and not knowing what will happen?
• Can success be a terrible thing, while a terrible event can be a rich blessing?
• Do you "enjoy" mystery (Ps 18:11)? [The darkest time of night is right before the dawn.]
3. A deeper ability to wait on God (Isa 40:31).
• Can you wait seemingly forever with joy, contentment, faithfulness, praises and thanksgiving (Heb 11:13)?
4. A greater detachment.
• Do you ask yourself "Am I happy?" or "Am I free? (1 Cor 7:29-31)"
• How attached are you ("nailed to") behaviors, habits, things and people in an unhealthy way?
• Do you welcome God cutting off your attachments--even to his blessings upon your life [family, friends, church] (Lk 14:26)?
• Are you content to be "in Christ alone" [with your attachments cut off] (Lk 23:46)?

Conclusions:

1. Life is hard (Lk 9:23).
• Do you subconsciously think that if you believe in Jesus and trust God, your life won't be as difficult?
2. You are not that important. 
• God and Jesus is the "I AM" (Exo 3:14; John's Gospel). We are not.
• Jesus' priority was never himself but God's glory (Jn 11:4).
• Our lives are to be lived for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).
3. Your life is not about you.
• Why do we often make it about us? About how our feelings are hurt? About our happiness?
• Life is about loving God and others (Dt 6:5; Lev 19:18; Jn 13:34; 2 Cor 5:15).
4. You are not in control.
• Why do we live as though we have control over our own lives and over the lives of others?
• We live only because God allows us to (Ac 17:28). 
5. You are going to die.
• Why do we not like to speak of death that will come upon all human beings?
• Why do we fear death?
• Our lives are entirely in God's hands (Jn 11:9-10). 

**John of the Cross divides the dark night into two levels:

1. The first level ("the night of the sense") is the one all Christians encounter as we journey with Christ.
2. The second ("the night of the spirit") is for a very few. It is "violent and severe" as we "are dragged down and immersed again into a worse degree of affliction more severe and darker and more grievous ... the brighter and purer is the supernatural and divine light, the more it darkens the soul."

Reference: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero.

Cultural Misconception of Luke 15

Points of Cultural Misconception of the Parable of the Compassionate Father

1. The request:  The prodigal's request is an unthinkable breach of traditional culture. (He wants his father to die.)
2. His father's gift:  The father reprocesses anger into grace and thereby deeply violates the code of an Oriental patriarch.  (As is shown five times in the parable).
3. A hurried sale:  The prodigal triggers the anger of the community. (He must leave town quickly.) 
4. The kezaza ceremony:  A threat hanging over the prodigal as he leaves town. (He must not lose the money.) 
5. Expensive living:  Not riotous (KJ), nor loose (RSV), nor dissolute (NRSV),  nor wild (NIV).  (The Greek word asotos is literally  a + sozo, i.e. without saving. No hints of immorality) 
6. Search for employment:  The prodigal must find a paying job so he can repurchase the land. (The kezaza ceremony now threatens.) 
7. Inauthentic Repentance: He projects A self-serving plan: (Augustinian or Pelagian?  Complications with the lost sheep and coin.) 
8. Turning point:  The costly demonstration of unexpected love. (Grace not law.  Love is offered before the confession.) 
9. A father who behaves like a mother. (The father is defined by Hosea 11, not by Middle Eastern culture.)
10. Authentic Repentance: The Prodigal Revises His speech – he is not interrupted. (Like the lost sheep, he accepts to be found). 
11. Christology:  Incarnation and atonement meet. (This happens with the shepherd, the woman and the father.) 
12. The meaning of the banquet (a theological trialogue): 
• Father's comments:  Because - He was lost and is found .. dead and is alive (divine passives)
• Young boy:  .... Because, he (the Father) received him (the prodigal)  with peace. 
• Older son:  You killed for him the fattened calf. 
13. Older son's anger at grace. (for some grace is not only amazing – it is also infuriating!)
• His mentality:  (You get what you pay for, don't you?)
• His response:  (He breaks his relationship with his father - like the prodigal, only more so.) 
14. Father's response:  The Father once again reprocessed anger into grace.  At the same time the father  urges the older son dealing with the prodigal in the same way. 
15. Older son's final reaction:  An unfinished theological symphony (participation theater). 

Reference: Kenneth E. Bailey.

Resurrection in the Face of Death (John 11)

Life Amidst Death (John 11:1-44). 

• Do you truly believe in the resurrection in the face of death, such as from Covid-19?
• Is your faith in the resurrection theoretical or practical? Rooted in theology or reality?
• What do you do when there is the (probable, possible, potential, problematic) palpable panic from the pandemic?

"...whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:26)

• Do Christians who are familiar with John 11 think of this famous story positively as victory over death?
• When we consider those around dead Lazarus at Bethany, were they positive and victorious [or negative and wailing] after they heard Jesus' words of being the Resurrection and the Life (Jn 11:25)?

1. What is the implication of Mary and Martha's urgent message to Jesus (Jn 11:3)?
2. What does Jesus' response show us about his priority (Jn 11:4, 40)? What is your priority in the time of grave illness?
3. How is Jesus' love for Mary and Martha (Jn 11:5) expressed (Jn 11:6)? Is this how you would have responded to someone you love?
4. Why did the disciples caution Jesus about returning to Judea (Jn 11:7-8)? What does this show about their main concern? How about you? What does Jesus' answer teach us about our life and death (Jn 11:9-10)?
5. How did the disciples misunderstand Jesus (Jn 11:11-14)? Why was Jesus glad that Lazarus had died (Jn 11:15)? What was his primary concern? Your primary concern? What does Thomas' response show about him (Jn 11:16)?
6. What was Martha [and later Mary] implying by her statement upon seeing Jesus (Jn 11:21, 32)? What did Martha "know" (Jn 11:22-24)?
7. Do you experience life and that you will never die...when you are dying or your loved one is dying (Jn 11:26)? What did Jesus want Martha to believe (Jn 11:25-26)? Did she (Jn 11:27)?
8. Why was Jesus deeply moved/angry (Jn 11:33)? Why did he weep (Jn 11:35)? How did the Jews interpret it (Jn 11:36-37)? How were they both right and wrong?
9. What did Jesus want Martha [and us] to believe and see (Jn 11:40)? What is the disconnect between what she knew and believed (Jn 11:22, 24, 27, 39)? Will you have such a disconnect when death hits home?
10. Is there a "downside" to Lazarus being raised from the dead (Jn 11:13, 17, 44)?

Chiasm/Ring Composition/Inverted Parallelism (Mark 6:47-52)

• 1. Disciples & Jesus Separated (Mk 6:47)
  • 2. Wind Adverse (Mk 6:48a)
    • 3. Jesus Moves toward Them (Mk 6:48b)
      • 4. Disciples Afraid (Mk 6:49-50a)
    • 5. Jesus "I am" Fear Not (Mk 6:50b)
  • 6. Wind Cease (Mk 6:51)
• 7. Disciples & Jesus Still Separated (Mk 6:52)

This is a classic example of a well constructed ring composition template, chiasm or inverted parallelism.

• 7 semantic (relating to meaning in language or logic) units present a ideas which are then repeated backwards.
• 7 is the perfect biblical number, and this format is common to the OT and NT. 
• Ring composition often relates the center to the outside. The disciples are in focus in the beginning (1), the middle (4) and at the end (4). In the beginning (1) they are separated from Jesus. In the center (4) they see him and are afraid. At the end (7) they do not understand and are hard of heart.

What is God's message for us? Sun, 3/29/2020

These are my thoughts and reflections, primarily from the comments and questions after the sermon on Sunday (3/29/2020): Create Peace, not Fear or Anger (Mark 6:34-46).

• Nianzu asked, "What is God's message to us at this time of the coronavirus pandemic?" My spontaneous reply was that God's message to each person is different. What do you think God's message is to you?

• Defi said, "Feed your faith, not your fear." How true.

• Jim's reply to Michael's question about what Jacob needed to struggle with God and man was, "Though God saves us, we still need to struggle for we still have sin in us." (My paraphrase of Jim's answer.)

• Yohan's comment, which reminded me of his book Reclaiming our Political Roots, was sad yet true: "The heroes and first responders in times of crisis in the past used to be Christians, the Christian hospitals and the churches, but today it is the government."

• Whitney commented and and asked a question about how non-Christians might perceive a Christian's lack of fear as arrogance and bravado.

• Elena commented that Herod's banquet of unlimited high end booze and top notch food sounded better than Jesus' simple fish and loaves...

• Both Adrian and Chris commented how apt this text spoke relevantly to our current situation,

Thanks to all who participated and contributed to a lively exchange after the sermon.

The coronavirus makes death real and that is good, because death is real

Lewis preached in Oxford at the onset of World War II titled, "Learning in War-Time." Substitute "pandemic" or "coronavirus" in place of the word "war." Then the current Covid19 pandemic helps us re-focus, shatter hopes for finding ultimate fulfillment in this world, point us to the Divine reality, and lead us to peace in this life (Jn 14:27), knowing that our eternal Hope lies in the Lord.

Yet war [Covid19] does do something to death. It forces us to remember it. The only reason why the cancer at 60 or the paralysis at 75 do not bother us is that we forget them. War [Covid19] makes death real to us, and that would have been regarded as one of its blessings by most of the great Christians of the past. They thought it good for us to be always aware of our mortality. I am inclined to think they were right.

All the animal life in us, all schemes of happiness that centred in this world, were always doomed to a final frustration. In ordinary times only a wise man can realise it. Now the stupidest of us know. We see unmistakably the sort of universe in which we have all along been living, and must come to terms with it. If we had foolish un-Christian hopes about human culture, they are now shattered. If we thought we were building up a heaven on earth, if we looked for something that would turn the present world from a place of pilgrimage into a permanent city satisfying the soul of man, we are disillusioned, and not a moment too soon. But if we thought that for some souls, and at some times [like Covid19], the life of learning, humbly offered to God, was, in its own small way, one of the appointed approaches to the Divine reality and the Divine beauty which we hope to enjoy hereafter, we can think so still.¹

^{1 C.S. Lewis, "Learning in War-Time", The Weight of Glory and Other.}

Sit Quietly in a Room Alone

Best Rye for on Old Fashion

The Climax Center of Feeding the 5,000

Mark 6:34-46 is a chiasm/ ring composition/ inverted parallelism format that is in Psalm 23 and Luke 15 with the account very carefully recorded. A series of ideas/events are presented, come to a climax and then are repeated backwards. Usually the center of such a rhetorical ring composition is either the climax of the passage or at least a point of special emphasis. Here that center includes three units (Mk 6:38-41a).

1. Mk 6:34 - A Crowd, Gathered, good shepherd needed

2. Mk 6:35-36 - All Need To Ead (no food)

3. Mk 6:37 - You Feed Them (we can't)

4. Mk 6:38 - Five Loaves Two Fish

5. Mk 6:39-40 - Ps 23:2

6. Mk 6:41a - Five Loaves Two Fish

7. Mk 6:41b - You Feed Them (they can)

8. Mk 6:42-44 - All Eat All Filled (food left over)

9. Mk 6:45-46 - A Crowd, Dismissed, good shepherd takes charge  

Faith is a gift, not a virtue

The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23 to Mark 6)

Psalm 23	Mark 6:7-52
"The Lord is my shepherd"	Mk 6:34ff: Jesus had compassion of them
"He settles me down in green pastures"	Mk 6:39: He commanded them to recline in green pastures
"He leads me in paths of righteousness"	Mk 6:34: He taught them many things
"I walk through the valley of death"	Mk 6:24-29: John was killed
"I will fear no evil"	Mk 6:50: He told them, "Have no fear, I am!"
"…your staff comforts me"	Mk 6:8: "Take nothing…except a [shepherd's] staff"
"You prepare a table before me"	Mk 6:41: Jesus prepared a banquet of life
"…in the presence of my enemies"	Mk 6:21-28: Herod, an enemy, was "watching"
"You anoint my head with oil"	Mk 6:13: The disciples "anointed many with oil"
"I shall not want"; "my cup overflows"	Mk 6:42: They were "filled" with "12 baskets full of broken pieces"
He rests me "beside still waters"	Mk 6:51: "the wind ceased and they crossed over"

The classical account of the good shepherd from Psalm 23 to Mark 6:7-52

Ps 23:1-6	Jer, Ezek, Zach	Lk 15:4-7	Lk 15:8-10	Mk 6:7-52
God is the good shepherd	God is the good shepherd	Jesus is the good shepherd	Jesus is the good woman	Jesus is the good shepherd and the new Moses
Lost sheep (no flock)	Lost flock	Lost sheep & lost flock	Lost coin	Lost flock
Incarnation implied	Incarnation promised	Incarnation realized	Incarnation realized	Incarnation realized
Price paid: bring back	Price paid: search, save, bring back	Price paid: search, find, carry back	Price paid: light lamp, sweep, search, find	Gather, order, feed, lead flock, confront Herod
Repentance is return to God (shuv)	Repentance is return to land (shuv)	Repentance is return to God (metanoea)	Repentance is return to God (metanoea)	The "flock" accepts to be found
A meal for the psalmist	__	A celebration with friends	A celebration with friends	A meal for 5,000
A good host(ess?) and a meal	__	A good host and (offered food)	A good hostel and (offered food)	Jesus produces a meal
Opponent: death and enemies	Bad shepherd	Bad shepherd loses a sheep	Careless woman loses a coin	Herod: bad shepherd and murderer
Story ends in the house	Story ends in the land	Story ends in the house	Story ends in the house	At the end, people go home.

A Child's Education

Jesus' Response to the Murder of John the Baptist

Jesus Responds to a Horrific Murder (Mark 6:7-32) 

"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mk 6:31b).

v  How do you respond when a very good person you love is brutally beheaded by an evil person?

v  How did Jesus respond when his cousin John the Baptist was murdered by a drunken despot?

v  How did Jesus fulfill his role as a good shepherd when under enormous pressure to respond to a bad shepherd?

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve (6:7-13)

1.    By sending out the Twelve two by two (Mk 6:7), how many teaching/preaching voices would there be (Mk 6:6b)?

2.    What would Jesus' instructions teach them (Mk 6:8-9)? Who would they need on their mission?

3.    What did Jesus teach them about failure (Mk 6:10-11)? What does "shake the dust off your feet" teach them? If they are bent on success, are they in the right business?

4.    What was their primary proclamation (Mk 6:12)? What did they do (Mk 6:13)?

Herod and the Horrific Murder of John the Baptist (6:14-29)

1.    Why was John put in prison (Mk 6:17-18)? Why did Herod protect John and like to listen to him (Mk 6:20)?

2.    Who were Herod's dinner guests (Mk 6:21)? Notice that 3 classes of people were invited. What kind of people were they? Who do they represent?

3.    Why (Mk 6:19) and how did Herodias manipulate a banquet into a murder scene (Mk 6:22-25)? Why didn't/couldn't Herod back down from his drunken oath (Mk 6:26-28)?

4.    How was John regarded (Mk 11:32; Lk 3:15; 20:1-8)? Why did his disciples gather around him (Mk 6:30)? Why were so many people coming and going (Mk 6:31a)? What do you do when a relative of your leader is murdered?

5.   How did Jesus regard John the Baptist (Mt 11:11; Lk 7:28)? How did he respond to his murder (31b-32, 33-44)?

6.    Did John's brutal beheading (6:14-29) disrupt the mission of the Twelve (6:7-13, 30-31)? What can we learn here?

The outline and setting of the emergence of Jesus the good shepherd in Mk 6:7-52 are:

1. Jesus sends out the twelve (6:7-13)
2. Herod and John [and the ministry of Jesus] (6:14-20)
3. Herod the bad shepherd feeds the powerful [at a banquet of death] (6:21-29)
4. The twelve return to Jesus (6:30-32)
5. Jesus the good shepherd feeds his flock [at a banquet of life] (6:33-43)
6. Jesus, as shepherd, leads his disciples and creates "still water" for them (6:43-52)