Where

One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?”  He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me:  Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?”  They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Luke 20:1-8, NRSV)

Jesus usually didn’t answer a question with an answer, but more likely with another question. You see Jesus wanted to know where people were coming from and what their intentions were.

The leaders in the temple came to Jesus and asked Him where the authority He did the things He did came from. So He, wanting to know why they wanted to know this, asked where the baptism of John came from. If they said man, then He knew they were working the system and wanted to keep themselves in power rather than follow God, and if they said Heaven it would mean they wanted what God wanted. Even though they thought that He would ask why they weren’t baptized, or why they didn’t believe.

So they do not answer or say they do not know. So He does not tell them. But would they have listened or believed Him any how.

Jesus’ authority comes from the Father. So believe Him and follow after Him.

What Would Jesus Do

Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. (Mark 11:15-18, NRSV)

Jesus enters the temple and sees the money changers and those selling animals for sacrifice for worship.

This was necessary because the temple had its own money and did not use Roman money. And people traveled long distances and did not bring the animals they needed for sacrifice and needed to get them somewhere. So these money changers and animal sellers were necessary for worship.

But they were taking money from the people rather than leading them to worship.

They were using the people to make money. We are not in the business of making money. We are in the business of connecting people with God.

So always remember that Jesus calls us to lead others to God and if that means the table needs to be turned, then the tables need to be turned.

Jesus presented

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2:21-40, NRSV)

Mary and Joseph followed the law and had Jesus circumcised on the 8th day and presented the sacrifice they had to.

He was designated as Holy to the Lord. And Simeon who was waiting to see the deliverance of Israel saw Him and proclaimed to Mary and Joseph the wonders of the Child.

And Anna told them that they would be pierced and in agony because of what this Child’s life would bring.

They did as they were supposed to under the law in presenting Jesus and were presented with a knowledge of their Son they probably wish they didn’t have, but was nothing they shouldn’t expect after the way they were introduced to the fact they would have a child.

He is the savior of the world!

called

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Then the LORD said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.” Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him.” As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Samuel 3:1-19, NRSV)

If it were as easy as the picture makes it seem to answer a call from God none of us miss it.

We might ignore it, or decline it, but as one who is called, it is not always this apparent.

Like Samuel sometimes it is not apparent what is happening and we feel like we are being called by or to something but it isn’t clear.

Ask your pastor or a friend who is a clergy/pastor/priest about their call story and I bet there will be details like Samuels.

God doesn’t give up on us, so know He is calling you also!

 

a gift

In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the LORD.” The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and remain there forever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.” Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only—may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:20-28, NRSV)

As soon as the child is weaned I will bring him so he may stay forever!

How many of you would give your child, the one you had been waiting on to the Lord?

Well here is the thing. We all need to do that.

And I don’t mean figuratively either. Because all of our children are a gift to us from God. They are given to us to raise them and lead them into a life that God has called them to.

We are their spiritual guides and need to return them to the one who gave them to us.

Children are a gift from God. So give them back to the one who gave them to you.

searching

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:41-52, NRSV)

Can you imagine being a 3 day journey without seeing your children?

Remember though that they were traveling with family in a big group, so He could have been with other family members, but can you imagine not seeing your kids for 3 days and not worrying before then?

And then when Mary and Joseph go back to look for Him, He wonders why they were looking for Him. They should have known where He was. I mean both of them had visitors or dreams. They were told by angels what was going on here and who He was. But to them He was their son, so they were wondering how He could have done this to them.

But we are the same aren’t we?

Are you searching for Jesus?

He is with His Father and your Father.

tented

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14, NRSV)

And the Word became flesh and lived among us.

He lived among us.

The actual word in the Greek here is σκηνόω which means to tent or encamp. Jesus camp and tented among us.

He resided with us.

He came to where we are and made His home with us.

Not in something opulent or extravagant, but just with us.

Jesus tented with you!