after before

14 The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’” 16 From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace; 17 as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made God known. (John 1:14-18, CEB)

He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.

Jesus comes after John in birth order, but Jesus was here and existed before John as one who created everything.

Jesus has always been here, he just stepped down from being God to take on the form of a human to show us how to love.

Jesus has always been here and will always be here.

Love the creation made by Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Favored

6 Then he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 7 “Look! I’m coming soon. Favored is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I’m a servant just like you and your brothers and sisters, the prophets, and those who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:6-9, CEB)

Favored is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll.

Is that Revelation?

Is that the New Testament?

Is that the Bible, Hebrew Scripture and New Testament?

You see when this was written, the Bible was not a thing. It was not formed until hundreds of years later. So what prophecy are we needing to keep?

Favored is the one who keeps the prophecy in this scroll, so that may not even be Revelation, it could be a scroll the angel had.

When it comes down to it, I will error on the side of doing the greatest commandment according to Jesus, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might and love your neighbor as yourself.

Love. It covers a multitude of sins.

Be favored and love!

Loving People. Loving God.

Fulfilled

44 Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power.” 50 He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and blessed them. 51 As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. 53 And they were continuously in the temple praising God. (Luke 24:44-53, CEB)

Jesus here is appearing to the disciples after the 2 from the road to Emmaus have run back to Jerusalem.

He comes and explains to all of them that this is what was supposed to happen and what he had been telling them all along. And then he ascends into heaven. But even though Jesus is ascended, he is still with us.

Jesus is always with us.

God is always with us.

Even when we go through trials and tribulations and trouble is all around, God is always with us.

God’s will will be done. We can count on that.

Loving People. Loving God.

a sword will pierce

25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law. 28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,29 “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. 32 It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” 33 His father and mother were amazed by what was said about him. 34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “This boy is assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your innermost being too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. 37 She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25-38, CEB)

I always loved this passage where Joseph and Mary tale Jesus to the temple to do what needed to be done under the law and they are met with Simeon and Anna and are told things about Jesus they probably didn’t want to hear.

How would you have taken hearing your very soul would be pierced by a sword because your son was to be a sign to many generations about the love of God?

Most of us wouldn’t know what to say or do about this. We would probably take our child and run screaming from the place. Yet Mary and Joseph just listen and do not react.

We react to the littlest things and turn away and hide when things don’t go our way, yet Mary and Joseph seem to take all of this in stride, maybe because the angels visited them and they knew that Jesus was different and from God. Maybe they already knew everything they were hearing so it wasn’t as scary the second, or third, or how many ever times it was.

How can we be like Mary and Joseph and take what comes in stride? Know that we are always in God’s hand?

Loving People. Loving God.

as an angel…

15 The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring rod with which to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 Now the city was laid out as a square. Its length was the same as its width. He measured the city with the rod, and it was fifteen hundred miles. Its length and width and height were equal. 17 He also measured the thickness of its wall. It was two hundred sixteen feet thick, as a person—or rather, an angel—measures things. 18 The wall was built of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. 19 The city wall’s foundations were decorated with every kind of jewel. The first foundation was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third was chalcedony, and the fourth was emerald. 20 The fifth was sardonyx, the sixth was carnelian, the seventh was chrysolite, and the eighth was beryl. The ninth was topaz, the tenth was chrysoprase, the eleventh was jacinth, and the twelfth was amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was made from a single pearl. And the city’s main street was pure gold, as transparent as glass. 22 I didn’t see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. (Revelation 21:15-22, CEB)

As I read this passage this time, this verse stuck out to me, “It was two hundred sixteen feet thick, as a person—or rather, an angel—measures things.”

216 feet thick as an angel measures things.

What is the difference between how a person and an angel measure things?

Is there actually a difference in the way humans measure things?

I guess there can be, that is why they say measure twice and cut once.

But measuring with God’s gold measuring rod, there should be no mistakes.

Just love and the measurement won’t matter.

Loving People. Loving God.

All is done

5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring. 7 Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters. 8 But for the cowardly, the faithless, the vile, the murderers, those who commit sexual immorality, those who use drugs and cast spells, the idolaters and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues spoke with me. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 He took me in a Spirit-inspired trance to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 The city had God’s glory. Its brilliance was like a priceless jewel, like jasper that was as clear as crystal. 12 It had a great high wall with twelve gates. By the gates were twelve angels, and on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s sons. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The city wall had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles. (Revelation 21:5-14, CEB)

Oh to be in a place where there is no longer fighting and we all realize the peace we are living in. To see the fulfillment of the kingdom of God and to be a peace with everything.

We will live in the presence of God for all eternity and it will be a wonderful experience we can not fathom at this time.

Love everyone now and help them prepare for this wonderful time.

Loving People. Loving God.

If

23 Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. 26 The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. 27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. 29 I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. (John 14:23-29, CEB)

If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe.

If you loved me. Do we love Jesus?

We show we love Jesus by loving others and do we love others?

Jesus gives us peace and the Holy Spirit to be our companion. And Jesus’ peace is not like we think of peace. It is never ending or failing and it doesn’t go away ever.

We can be in the midst of chaos and be at peace because Jesus is always with us and for us.

So show the world you love Jesus by loving the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

Do we judge?

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town. 2 A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” 6 So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus. 7 Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 The Human One came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10, CEB)

I read this passage start singing:

Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he…

That song gets stuck in my head. But the thrust here is of how the people saw Zaccheus. They thought he was a cheat and a swindler because all tax collectors were.

But Jesus saw him and the effort Zaccheus went to see Jesus and Jesus said I love you and I need to spend time with you.

How do we judge others, by how we see them or how the world around us tells us to see them, or as Jesus sees them?

Loving People. Loving God.

Why?

Paul reached Derbe, and then Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy. He was the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. 2 The brothers and sisters in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take Timothy with him, so he circumcised him. This was because of the Jews who lived in those areas, for they all knew Timothy’s father was Greek. 4 As Paul and his companions traveled through the cities, they instructed Gentile believers to keep the regulations put in place by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and every day their numbers flourished. 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the regions of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit kept them from speaking the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they approached the province of Mysia, they tried to enter the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them. 8 Passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas instead. (Acts 16:1-8, CEB)

As I read this passage I wondered why did Paul circumcise Timothy. It says because of the Jews who lived in the area, knew Timothy’s father was Greek. So, what does that have to do with Timothy?

Can you think about the things you do to keep an outward appearance of being a disciple? I know there are things about my appearance I wonder how people will take. I have several piercings in my ears and now a couple on my face. And I am considering getting more. And I have several tattoos. Some of which are easily covered, but some are not. And should I cover these up? Is it my worry how my appearance will be accepted? Well yes and no. I am who God created me to be and I will attract some people to me based on that and some will not follow after me based on appearance.

I have the same concerns when I put on a collar for being a pastor. Some will see the collar and not talk to me and others will.

We can not control how others see us, so we need to do what we need to to make ourselves and God happy.

So love yourself as God loves you and love everyone else the same as that.

Loving People. Loving God.

Agree to disagree

36 Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all the brothers and sisters in every city where we preached the Lord’s word. Let’s see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. 38 Paul insisted that they shouldn’t take him along, since he had deserted them in Pamphylia and hadn’t continued with them in their work. 39 Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the Lord’s grace. 41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:36-41, CEB)

I have heard and used the phrase agree to disagree.

Sometimes, like in the passage above, this is an ok phrase to use. Paul and Barnabas disagree about bringing John Mark along. Barnabas wants to but Paul doesn’t. Now John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas earlier and Paul thinks this is a reason he shouldn’t come and Barnabas doesn’t. So it isn’t that John Mark is mistreating anyone, with the information we know, and John Mark isn’t oppressing anyone, so it is ok to agree to disagree.

But when someone is using religion or any means to hurt or harm someone or a group based on their differences this is not a place to agree to disagree, it is a place to push until justice is served.

We can disagree about dipping or drinking for communion. Real loaves or wafers, but who is welcome is not an agree to disagree.

We are called to love all without question.

Loving People. Loving God.