Simeon

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. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 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. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said, “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” His father and mother were amazed by what was said about him. 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 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your innermost being too.” 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. She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 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)

Simeon was a devout and righteous man who followed God.

He anticipated the fulfillment of scripture and the coming of the Messiah.

The Spirit revealed Simeon would not die until he had seen the Messiah.

Are you like Simeon?

Are you devout?

Are you righteous?

Are you looking for the coming kingdom of God?

Oh, to see Jesus, and know God is fulfilling all things for the kingdom to come.

Let us look for Jesus.

In the world.
In each other.

So that we might love like God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Is this supposed to impress?

The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring rod with which to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 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. He also measured the thickness of its wall. It was two hundred sixteen feet thick, as a person—or rather, an angel—measures things. The wall was built of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. 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. 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. 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. 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)

How do you feel about reading the description of the city of God?

And it is measured as a person, or rather, an angel measures things. Does this mean there is another way to measure things?

But the city is gold and covered in jewels. From my understanding of this, we will walk on gold and sit on jewels. The things we spend time and energy getting will be our seats and pavement in the Kingdom of God. They are construction materials at best.

We need to refocus our desires on God’s and love like we were commanded to.

Loving People. Loving God.

The second death

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.” 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. Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters. 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.” 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.” 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. The city had God’s glory. Its brilliance was like a priceless jewel, like jasper that was as clear as crystal. 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. There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. The city wall had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles. (Revelation 21:5-14, CEB)

This is the second death. Their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur…

The first death is the human one, and the second death is eternal separation from God. For those who do not follow what God has called us to do, 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.

Let’s look at that list:

Cowardly
Faithless
Vile
Murderers
Drug Users
Spell Casters
Idolaters
Liars

Ok, I am one who will suffer from the second death. I am a drug user; I take pills every day for medical conditions. I am a coward when it comes to some things, I am sometimes faithless, I also idolize things and put them before God from time to time. I am sure I have told a lie, although I strive to tell the truth in all times and places. I have killed bugs, so I am a murderer.

None of us will get by the list I have above. And I left off the sexual immorality committers. The word here means those who engage in sexual immorality, which is any gender and is distinguished from adultery. What does that mean? It is not adultery but any other sexual immorality. I would think it is rape, using people as property for your own pleasure and the like, but I would not say it is anything that is part of a loving consentual relationship of any gender.

So, who will befall the second death?

I fall back on Grace, and thank God that is not my call.

There is grace for that!

Loving People. Loving God.

παράκλητος

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. 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. “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. 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. “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. 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. I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. (John 14:23-29, CEB)

Jesus says, “The Companion” will be sent. The word in the original language is παράκλητος, paraclete. It is a term that applies to the Holy Spirit, which Jesus says after the term in our reading today, it is often translated as advocate, helper, or comforter. In the translation above, it is translated as companion. Louw & Nida gives a definition of helper, encourager, or mediator.

So the paraclete is not something you wear to play sports, or a bird you might have as a pet. It is a companion, a helper, an encourager, a mediator, an advocate.

Someone who stands in the gap and helps you on the journey and keeps you connected to the things that allow you to be who you were/are created to be.

We all have a παράκλητος, maybe it is time we all be a παράκλητος.

Stand in the gap for those who are losing rights.
Be an encourager for those who are being made less than human.
Be a companion to those who seem to be alone.
Help those who are being held down.
Advocate for the last, least, lost, and little.

This is what Jesus calls us to do by keeping his word.

Love all the world and be a παράκλητος.

Loving People. Loving God.

Who?

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town. A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus. Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham. The Human One came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10, CEB)

If Jesus were here today, who would he ask to go eat with?

As I typed that sentence, I thought of the current occupant of the White House. But then I also thought Zacchaeus sought out Jesus. Climbed a tree so he could see him. I can conjecture what the occupant of the White House would do, but I can not say for sure. But when Jesus would go to visit there, people would be upset, not those who think the current occupant is following Jesus, but those who are sure he is not.

We think we know the mind of God and that what we want is what God wants. That is a sure way to know that your god is not actually God, but your own creation. None of us gets what God wants all the time.

Be surprised, and do not let that surprise get in the way of God moving in the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

He did what?

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. The brothers and sisters in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 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. 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. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and every day their numbers flourished. 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. When they approached the province of Mysia, they tried to enter the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them. Passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas instead. (Acts 16:1-8, CEB)

“Paul wanted to take Timothy with him, so he circumcised him. “

Now, did Paul actually do that, or did someone else, and Paul had Timothy get circumcised?

“This was because of the Jews who lived in those areas, for they all knew Timothy’s father was Greek.” But is not Paul the one who told us there is no Jew or Greek and circumcision is not needed? Yes, he is, but that, my friends, is a different book of the Bible, and why interpreting the Bible is so much fun.

You see, there are at least four Pauls in the New Testament. There is Paul, who wrote some of the epistles attributed to him. There is the Paul who is not Paul, meaning other people wrote under the name Paul. There is the Paul that might be Paul, or might not, scholars can not agree, and there is the Paul in Acts, who is the Paul who traveled and wrote, but sometimes seems to do weird things that are not in the letters attributed to Paul. And we jumble all of these into our heads, and they come out as one person. That is what makes interpreting the Bible interesting.

So is circumcision needed? Did Paul have Timothy circumcised?

Grace says no it is not. But Paul still may have to make things easier, because people do not always follow what God has called us to do.

So love. So your friend does not have to get circumcised to make things easier.

Loving People. Loving God.

Disagree?

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.” Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. 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. Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the Lord’s grace. He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:36-41, CEB)

Here is a story where disciples of Christ disagree on something that does not take away from humanity, and they move forward.

Paul did not want to take Mark because he had deserted them. We do not know the details of this just Paul thinks Mark deserted them, and Barnabas does not speak against Paul. Barnabas does not see what happened as a reason to not bring Mark. So they decide Barnabas will take Mark and go one way, and Paul will go another.

We can move forward and not completely agree on everything. As long as our disagreement does not take away from someone’s humanity.

Loving People. Loving God.

Love!

A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28, CEB)

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

That easy.

That hard.

Just love.

Love God.

Love everyone.

When in doubt, love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Support

About that time, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, Agabus, stood up and, inspired by the Spirit, predicted that a severe famine would overtake the entire Roman world. (This occurred during Claudius’ rule.) The disciples decided they would send support to the brothers and sisters in Judea, with everyone contributing to this ministry according to each person’s abundance. They sent Barnabas and Saul to take this gift to the elders. (Acts 11:27-30, CEB)

There was a prediction of a severe famine, and in preparation for it, those who follow Christ decided to send support to help those who would be worst affected.

Can you imagine this today? Or in the United States? Where the elected officials are currently meeting to dismantle health care for the elderly and most vulnerable?

Most people only care for themselves. But those who follow Jesus know that we need to care for others, because we are all in this together.

Loving People. Loving God.

Christians

Now those who were scattered as a result of the trouble that occurred because of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They proclaimed the word only to Jews. Among them were some people from Cyprus and Cyrene. They entered Antioch and began to proclaim the good news about the Lord Jesus also to Gentiles. The Lord’s power was with them, and a large number came to believe and turned to the Lord. When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw evidence of God’s grace, he was overjoyed and encouraged everyone to remain fully committed to the Lord. Barnabas responded in this way because he was a good man, whom the Holy Spirit had endowed with exceptional faith. A considerable number of people were added to the Lord. Barnabas went to Tarsus in search of Saul. When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They were there for a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching large numbers of people. It was in Antioch where the disciples were first labeled “Christians.” (Acts 11:19-26, CEB)

In the beginning, those who followed Jesus were called Followers of the Way. It wasn’t until later that they came to be called Christians.

Sometimes in the world today, I hesitate to say I am a Christian, and lean more towards a follower of Jesus, or a Disciple of Christ.

We should focus our journey on doing what Christ called us to do. Love like he did.

Showing love will help bring the kingdom to fulfillment.

Christian.
Follower of the Way
Disciple of Christ.

Whatever we are called, we need to be about love. Love for all.

That is how the world will know who and whose we are.

Loving People. Loving God.