impossible

The Law is a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the real things themselves. It never can perfect the ones who are trying to draw near to God through the same sacrifices that are offered continually every year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered? If the people carrying out their religious duties had been completely cleansed once, no one would have been aware of sin anymore. Instead, these sacrifices are a reminder of sin every year, because it’s impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4, CEB)

Because it’s impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The law and sacrifices under the law will never appease for the sins we have done.

God, though, is possible to do anything, and what is impossible for us is possible for God

We are redeemed by God, not the blood of bulls and goats.

all are welcome

An angel from the Lord spoke to Philip, “At noon, take the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So he did. Meanwhile, an Ethiopian man was on his way home from Jerusalem, where he had come to worship. He was a eunuch and an official responsible for the entire treasury of Candace. (Candace is the title given to the Ethiopian queen.) He was reading the prophet Isaiah while sitting in his carriage. The Spirit told Philip, “Approach this carriage and stay with it.” Running up to the carriage, Philip heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you really understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “Without someone to guide me, how could I?” Then he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him. This was the passage of scripture he was reading: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent so he didn’t open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was taken away from him. Who can tell the story of his descendants because his life was taken from the earth? The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, about whom does the prophet say this? Is he talking about himself or someone else?” Starting with that passage, Philip proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. As they went down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look! Water! What would keep me from being baptized?” He ordered that the carriage halt. Both Philip and the eunuch went down to the water, where Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found himself in Azotus. He traveled through that area, preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-40, CEB)

The good news is for all people.

Here we read the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch. He probably chose to be a eunuch for his service in the court, and he was in charge of the treasury of the Ethiopian Queen, a person of prominence. He was reading the scripture from Isaiah. And Philip came alongside him and accompanied him on the journey and brought the scripture to life through the story of Jesus.

Then, when water was found, the eunich was baptized to show that they were included in the promises and claimed by God.

God’s Spirit works through the world to call and equip all to be beacons of God’s love. So welcome all and share the good news that all are welcome.

What are you looking for?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is really greater than me because he existed before me.’ Even I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it rested on him. Even I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit coming down and resting is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and testified that this one is God’s Son.” The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking along he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?” They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?” He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Christ ). He led him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). (John 1:29-42, CEB)

What are you looking for? Jesus asked the disciples of John who followed Jesus.

What would your answer be if Jesus asked you, “What are you looking for?”

And Jesus answered when they asked where he was staying, Come and see!

When we follow Jesus, our lives should change, and people will see this and might ask why things are different, or why we have a different outlook on life or the world. And when they ask, what will you say? I suggest you follow Jesus and say, Come and see.

What are you looking for?

Jesus invites us all to come and see.

What have you left?

One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, CEB)

We are all familiar with this story, it is in both Luke and Matthew, and it seems like an old story that has been told again and again.

Today, as I read this passage, I was struck by the last statement, “they left everything and followed Jesus.”

And it made me wonder, what have I left to follow Jesus?

I have moved 7 times to seminary and different calls to follow Jesus. I have given up friends and places I have loved. I have made my kids move away from friends and face new schools. I have moved away from family and friends.

But honestly, I would do it all again. I have been blessed over abundantly more than I have given up.

What have you given up to follow Jesus?

Promise of the Spirit

Theophilus, the first scroll I wrote concerned everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom. While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, “This is what you heard from me: John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:1-5, CEB)

This is a second edition written by Luke. Or the second part of the Gospel of Luke, which always made me wonder why the people who put the New Testament together put the Gospel of John between Luke and Acts. They are books meant to be read one after the other.

But here after Jesus rose from the tomb, and before he ascended, he told the apostles to wait in the city until the Holy Spirit came on them.

You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. You will receive the Spirit in your very lives and be anointed to go into the world and share God’s love.

You have been anointed and called as a child of God to go and share God’s love.

You have received the promise of the Spirit.

Go, and love.

What?

I’m amazed that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ to follow another gospel. It’s not really another gospel, but certain people are confusing you and they want to change the gospel of Christ. However, even if we ourselves or a heavenly angel should ever preach anything different from what we preached to you, they should be under a curse. I’m repeating what we’ve said before: if anyone preaches something different from what you received, they should be under a curse! Am I trying to win over human beings or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I wouldn’t be Christ’s slave. Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the gospel I preached isn’t human in origin. I didn’t receive it or learn it from a human. It came through a revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:6-12, CEB)

Normally, I agree with Paul. And this is the actual Paul, or at least most scholars accept Galatians as an authentic letter from Paul.

But I wonder about this statement, “if anyone preaches something different from what you received, they should be under a curse!”

What if we have new documents that show us what we were taught is no longer correct? God changes; consider Abraham and his negotiations with God over the number of righteous people found in the city. So to say that what was taught from the knowledge we had is the only thing we can teach from now on is not what God wants us to be or do.

Now, Paul goes on to say we are supposed to seek God’s approval and not teach a message that goes along with what people want, so we get people’s approval. But when I preach the gospel, it may not be what you learned before or what was preached before, but that does not mean it does not please God.

So please God, and speak truth even when it will not be accepted.

God calls you to stand strong. And speak truth in love.

servant

Jesus knew what they intended to do, so he went away from there. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all. But he ordered them not to spread the word about him, so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
Look, my Servant whom I chose,
        the one I love, in whom I find great pleasure.
I’ll put my Spirit upon him,
        and he’ll announce judgment to the Gentiles.
He won’t argue or shout,
        and nobody will hear his voice in the streets.
He won’t break a bent stalk,
        and he won’t snuff out a smoldering wick,
            until he makes justice win.
And the Gentiles will put their hope in his name. (Matthew 12:15-21, CEB)

Jesus was God’s servant.

Jesus came to show the world love.

Jesus came to be the link for us to God.

Jesus healed and included all people.

How can we be more like Jesus?

How can we love and help heal society?

How can you be a servant?

Great things

Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began to preach Christ to them. The crowds were united by what they heard Philip say and the signs they saw him perform, and they gave him their undivided attention. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. There was great rejoicing in that city. Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as “the power of God called Great.” He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time. After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished. (Acts 8:4-13, CEB)

The people saw great things.

Many people came to see the healings and to be healed.

Have you seen these kinds of things?

I see things every day that baffle me. I see things that make me wonder if God is there, with all the hate and injustice. And I wonder what makes people stay in faith.

What keeps you in your faith?

What keeps you connected to God?

So many times I wonder and question, and yet through the trials and uncertainty, I know that God is always there and always will be. The promises show me that. History has shown me God is always with me.

There is no sign that would change my mind, because love reigns and always will.

Hold tight to your faith and trust in the promises.

Baptism in water?

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. They heard them speaking in other languages and praising God. Peter asked, “These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. Surely no one can stop them from being baptized with water, can they?” He directed that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited Peter to stay for several days. (Acts 10:44-48, CEB)

As Lutherans, we say in our service of Baptism, “baptized you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” I have always wondered at this, as it seems like we are saying that the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened here. However, this reading shows us that the baptism of the Holy Spirit could be something that happens before water or any time the Spirit feels the whim to do it.

We are all born of water, and born of Spirit when God makes that happen.

Do not try to box God in, but go with the Spirit.

Baptized

At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John would baptize him. John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?” Jesus answered, “Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.” So John agreed to baptize Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.” (Matthew 3:13-17, CEB)

Jesus came to John at the Jordon to be baptized. John said that Jesus should be the one baptizing him, and yet, for the proper order of things, Jesus said you should baptize me.

And Jesus was baptized. He came up out of the water, and the heavens opened, and the Spirit came and rested on him as a dove. Then a voice said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”

Jesus was baptized. To be cleansed? To be initiated?

It is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.

We do not get it, and that’s ok.

We do not have to understand everything.

Follow God and know it is going to work out, even when we do not get it.