Luke 2:7 “…because there was no room for them in the inn.”
My friend Dave worshiped at a service last week on Christmas Day. The minister told a story of an occasion when he was at another church years ago which presented a Christmas play. The play director worked diligently with the students who were the actors and actresses, and they were well prepared the night of the performance. The script emphasized the fact that no one gave Joseph or Mary a place to stay when they were in Bethlehem. In the play Joseph and Mary went to three different inns trying to get a room. At the first two inns, though Joseph pleaded with the innkeepers since Mary was so far in her pregnancy, the students portraying the innkeepers were gruff in turning away Joseph and his pregnant wife. When they talked with the third innkeeper, Joseph and Mary pleaded for a room. There was a pause, and then the innkeeper said, “Yes! You can stay here!” The play director got frazzled because now that Joseph and Mary were in an inn, how were they going to get to the manager scene? The play hit some improvisation. Yet the play director put actors to work to somehow get them to the manger scene.
After the play, the minister went to the student who was the third innkeeper and asked him how come he changed his line in the play. The boy looked at him and said, “I could not say ‘no’ to Jesus.”
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Heaven Home
Starting in 2004, my grandma was in a nursing home for one year and ten months after a serious fall. I spent much time with her at the nursing home during her time there. Before leaving, I often would sing Grandma a song and other residents in the hall would often stop what they were doing and listen. Spending so much time there I got to know some other residents. There was a woman who was 103 years of age who was frequently in the hall. Though 103, she was quite mobile in her sitdown walker, and she would often talk to whoever was in the hall, but she rarely spoke to me. I did sometimes say “hi” as I passed her.
About a week before Christmas as I walked down the hall one evening, that woman approached me. Looking into my face she said, “I have to go home.” In a friendly manner I said something like, “You are home.” She said, “No, you do not understand. It is Christmas time. I have to be home for Christmas.” Just the way she said it brought sadness to my heart. I did tell her with assurance how many people at that nursing home cared for her and liked her, and that they felt like she was at home there. It was not the first time a resident had told me he or she needed to go home, including my grandma. Yet her sincerity made me sad, and I prayed for her.
Growing up in a city which changed much throughout my youth as it went through astronomical growth, I often felt like I missed out having a genuine “hometown.” And then when I was in college, my parents separated after twenty-one years of marriage, and then divorced about six years later. Though an adult, the “home” of my youth was gone, replaced with family problems galore, and this contributed to me giving more consideration of the topic of “home.” It was a subject I became concerned with. I am grateful to God that He led me to realize that He offers an eternal home. And I received.
Scripture reveals heaven. Jesus taught much about heaven. Numerous parables of Jesus start out with, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” Heaven is a key theme of what we now call “The Lord’s Prayer,” which was given by Jesus when He was teaching about prayer:
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Heaven is such a key theme in Scripture, I give points regarding the relationship of Jesus and heaven.
First, heaven is where Jesus came from: “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38 NIV).
Second, heaven is the root of the ministry of Jesus: “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-23 NIV).
Third, heaven is where Jesus returned to: “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:9-11 NIV).
Fourth, heaven is where Jesus reigns now: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).
Also, Jesus is with people on earth who believe in Him through the Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches that believers in Jesus are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”(I Corinthians 3:16 NIV). Being indwelled by the Holy Spirit is to be in a relationship with the Spirit of Christ. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV). I think this is why Jesus could promise He would be with His disciples “to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NIV) even though He knew He would soon be ascending into heaven. So we are not with Jesus in full since He is in heaven in full, yet there is a bond to Jesus being united with the Holy Spirit, the One who is working to sanctify His children.
The Scriptures above teach that believers in Jesus can be comforted wherever we happen to be on this planet, since the Holy Spirit is with us everywhere. And believers in Jesus have an eternal home awaiting us in heaven. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2 NIV).
I stated above about my concern with the issue of “home” in the wake of my parent’s separation and divorce. Jesus promises an eternal home to all who give their heart to Him. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3 NIV).
People who believe in Jesus have an eternal home thanks to the atoning sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the substitute for the consequence of sins which is spiritual death. If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life in heaven.
Hunter
About a week before Christmas as I walked down the hall one evening, that woman approached me. Looking into my face she said, “I have to go home.” In a friendly manner I said something like, “You are home.” She said, “No, you do not understand. It is Christmas time. I have to be home for Christmas.” Just the way she said it brought sadness to my heart. I did tell her with assurance how many people at that nursing home cared for her and liked her, and that they felt like she was at home there. It was not the first time a resident had told me he or she needed to go home, including my grandma. Yet her sincerity made me sad, and I prayed for her.
Growing up in a city which changed much throughout my youth as it went through astronomical growth, I often felt like I missed out having a genuine “hometown.” And then when I was in college, my parents separated after twenty-one years of marriage, and then divorced about six years later. Though an adult, the “home” of my youth was gone, replaced with family problems galore, and this contributed to me giving more consideration of the topic of “home.” It was a subject I became concerned with. I am grateful to God that He led me to realize that He offers an eternal home. And I received.
Scripture reveals heaven. Jesus taught much about heaven. Numerous parables of Jesus start out with, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” Heaven is a key theme of what we now call “The Lord’s Prayer,” which was given by Jesus when He was teaching about prayer:
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Heaven is such a key theme in Scripture, I give points regarding the relationship of Jesus and heaven.
First, heaven is where Jesus came from: “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38 NIV).
Second, heaven is the root of the ministry of Jesus: “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-23 NIV).
Third, heaven is where Jesus returned to: “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:9-11 NIV).
Fourth, heaven is where Jesus reigns now: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).
Also, Jesus is with people on earth who believe in Him through the Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches that believers in Jesus are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”(I Corinthians 3:16 NIV). Being indwelled by the Holy Spirit is to be in a relationship with the Spirit of Christ. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV). I think this is why Jesus could promise He would be with His disciples “to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NIV) even though He knew He would soon be ascending into heaven. So we are not with Jesus in full since He is in heaven in full, yet there is a bond to Jesus being united with the Holy Spirit, the One who is working to sanctify His children.
The Scriptures above teach that believers in Jesus can be comforted wherever we happen to be on this planet, since the Holy Spirit is with us everywhere. And believers in Jesus have an eternal home awaiting us in heaven. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2 NIV).
I stated above about my concern with the issue of “home” in the wake of my parent’s separation and divorce. Jesus promises an eternal home to all who give their heart to Him. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3 NIV).
People who believe in Jesus have an eternal home thanks to the atoning sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the substitute for the consequence of sins which is spiritual death. If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life in heaven.
Hunter
Friday, December 18, 2015
Psalm 122 - Christmas hope
Psalm 122 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel. There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those you love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity (NIV).
In studying Psalm 122 last week I realized this Psalm leads to a path of Christmas. How does God use a Psalm of David written around one thousand years before the birth of Jesus to offer Christmas hope?
First of all, the authorship of this Psalm is disputed because the Temple was not built in David’s lifetime, rather the first temple was built by Solomon who used the plans and resources his father David gave him. David explained the plans for the temple had come from God. “All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan” (I Chronicles 28:19 NIV). Yet God told David he was not to build the temple rather his son Solomon was to build it (I Chronicles 22:6-10).
However, only so many years into the 40 year reign of David, the first 7 years of which were from Hebron, and then the remaining 33 years of which were from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:4-5), David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem where it was placed in a tent (2 Samuel 6:17). Jerusalem became the place for the Feasts. Though odd the psalmist would be speaking of going to the “house” of the LORD before a temple was built, he still could be David.
Authorship aside, the message of Psalm 122 starts with mission to go to the house of the LORD with the purpose of praising the LORD, as is stated in verse four. Praising the LORD is done in a number of the Psalms. “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” (Psalm 103:1 NIV).
And then the psalmist speaks of Jerusalem being the place of “thrones for judgment,” which are “the thrones of the house of David.” Though the temple came after David, David did reside 33 years in Jerusalem, the city which was his seat of rule (2 Samuel 5:9-10).
How does David’s throne lead to a baby being born in a manger? From that passage of 2 Samuel 5:9-10, we learn Jerusalem began to be called the “City of David,” yet Bethlehem became known likewise as the city of David, or the town of David, since Bethlehem is where David was born. Thus starts a parallel where we can realize the fulfillment of promises God made in the time of David as He was preparing people for an everlasting covenant. David was born in Bethlehem; Jesus was born in Bethlehem. David was anointed king of Israel by God; Jesus, of the lineage of David, though born in a time when Israel no longer had a physical king, was the Anointed One, which in Hebrew is called Messiah, and which in Greek is called Christ. Some magi used the term king when they asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2 NIV). Israelites knew they were to worship only the one true God, since for starters this was in the Ten Commandments. Whether some magi realized Jesus was the one true God incarnate, I do not know. Yet what we know from Scripture is the baby Jesus born in a manger was indeed God. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23 NIV).
Finally, though David was anointed king of Israel by God (I Samuel 16:12-13), he did not take his throne until after much turmoil due to the sins of others, especially Saul, and due to some of his own sins. Likewise there was suffering by Jesus because of his love for sinful people, before He went back to his throne in heaven. Though Jesus was born the Messiah and lived a sinless life, He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets allowing Himself to be crucified on a cross as the atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins for people. Jesus was the substitute for the wages of sins, which is spiritual death, a mission of the Messiah which many Israelites overlooked. Yet then Jesus was resurrected! He now reigns in heaven. And Jesus will one day return from heaven to Jerusalem and judge from His throne! Then He will forever reign in heaven and on earth.
The conclusion of the Psalm speaks of praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Praise be to God we know from the prophet Isaiah that the Messiah, born in a manger of all places, is the Prince of Peace! “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV).
The baby Jesus born in a manger was the Messiah who later died for our iniquities. And when Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, comes again, He will rescue Jerusalem just as Zechariah the prophet foretold, and He will reign from His throne as the eternal King of Glory. And though in heaven now, Jesus the King of Glory who was God in the flesh, remains the loving Savior who is willing to be your Friend, no matter what your ethnic background, even right now. You simply need to believe in Jesus.
Hunter Irvine
In studying Psalm 122 last week I realized this Psalm leads to a path of Christmas. How does God use a Psalm of David written around one thousand years before the birth of Jesus to offer Christmas hope?
First of all, the authorship of this Psalm is disputed because the Temple was not built in David’s lifetime, rather the first temple was built by Solomon who used the plans and resources his father David gave him. David explained the plans for the temple had come from God. “All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan” (I Chronicles 28:19 NIV). Yet God told David he was not to build the temple rather his son Solomon was to build it (I Chronicles 22:6-10).
However, only so many years into the 40 year reign of David, the first 7 years of which were from Hebron, and then the remaining 33 years of which were from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:4-5), David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem where it was placed in a tent (2 Samuel 6:17). Jerusalem became the place for the Feasts. Though odd the psalmist would be speaking of going to the “house” of the LORD before a temple was built, he still could be David.
Authorship aside, the message of Psalm 122 starts with mission to go to the house of the LORD with the purpose of praising the LORD, as is stated in verse four. Praising the LORD is done in a number of the Psalms. “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” (Psalm 103:1 NIV).
And then the psalmist speaks of Jerusalem being the place of “thrones for judgment,” which are “the thrones of the house of David.” Though the temple came after David, David did reside 33 years in Jerusalem, the city which was his seat of rule (2 Samuel 5:9-10).
How does David’s throne lead to a baby being born in a manger? From that passage of 2 Samuel 5:9-10, we learn Jerusalem began to be called the “City of David,” yet Bethlehem became known likewise as the city of David, or the town of David, since Bethlehem is where David was born. Thus starts a parallel where we can realize the fulfillment of promises God made in the time of David as He was preparing people for an everlasting covenant. David was born in Bethlehem; Jesus was born in Bethlehem. David was anointed king of Israel by God; Jesus, of the lineage of David, though born in a time when Israel no longer had a physical king, was the Anointed One, which in Hebrew is called Messiah, and which in Greek is called Christ. Some magi used the term king when they asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2 NIV). Israelites knew they were to worship only the one true God, since for starters this was in the Ten Commandments. Whether some magi realized Jesus was the one true God incarnate, I do not know. Yet what we know from Scripture is the baby Jesus born in a manger was indeed God. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23 NIV).
Finally, though David was anointed king of Israel by God (I Samuel 16:12-13), he did not take his throne until after much turmoil due to the sins of others, especially Saul, and due to some of his own sins. Likewise there was suffering by Jesus because of his love for sinful people, before He went back to his throne in heaven. Though Jesus was born the Messiah and lived a sinless life, He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets allowing Himself to be crucified on a cross as the atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins for people. Jesus was the substitute for the wages of sins, which is spiritual death, a mission of the Messiah which many Israelites overlooked. Yet then Jesus was resurrected! He now reigns in heaven. And Jesus will one day return from heaven to Jerusalem and judge from His throne! Then He will forever reign in heaven and on earth.
The conclusion of the Psalm speaks of praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Praise be to God we know from the prophet Isaiah that the Messiah, born in a manger of all places, is the Prince of Peace! “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV).
The baby Jesus born in a manger was the Messiah who later died for our iniquities. And when Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, comes again, He will rescue Jerusalem just as Zechariah the prophet foretold, and He will reign from His throne as the eternal King of Glory. And though in heaven now, Jesus the King of Glory who was God in the flesh, remains the loving Savior who is willing to be your Friend, no matter what your ethnic background, even right now. You simply need to believe in Jesus.
Hunter Irvine
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Tears wiped away - Revelation 21:4
Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (NIV).
This week I had the blessing of comforting a boy who was hurting in his heart, a boy of whom I am like an uncle, and who I love. He is my best buddy. Hearing a child softly weep is the saddest sound I have ever heard.
Samoa was the one country outside of my own I traveled to in my youth. It was a privilege spending some time there with my family. Many Samoan men are strong gentleman, yet back in the 1970’s they would cry openly at funerals or other tragedies. That was considered a good act in their culture. Crying in the American culture, at least for men, has been for many years viewed as a sign of weakness. I have learned from ministry work however that what many people do is hold it in and then cry in private.
As someone who has committed himself to unique ministry work for years, in every ministry field I have ever entered there have been times when I have shed some tears. Whenever I have gone to do ministry work somewhere long term, I have learned of many people’s hurts, and sometimes I have been hurt even as I tried to do ministry work. The hope through all of the tragedy has been the love of Jesus which I and others have known.
If you go by a Biblical mode, crying is warranted whether done in public or private. The Bible makes it clear that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35 NIV). The sin of people, Adam, Eve, and all people, is the reason there is death and mourning and crying and pain. We followers of Jesus are called by God to allow Him to improve us so we will sin less and less, and love more and more. And when hurt due to the sins of others, we must rely on Jesus to forgive. After following Jesus for twenty-five years, I realize the best gifts I have given to people in their good times and their rough times have been telling people the Gospel, giving people brotherly hugs, shedding tears for their hurts, and praying for them, even if they did not know about the latter two.
My young friend gave me a calendar last February. The calendar has Proverbs 7:2 written on it, and a picture of mountains which look like the Appalachian mountains, which I am fond of. The darkest of clouds are in the forefront, yet there is a large hole in the clouds from which intense sunlight is beaming through. Jesus is the light who will break through the darkest cloud for the person who will open his or her heart to Him. He is the One who was resurrected from the dead, and Jesus is the One who has made it possible for you to have eternal life in heaven.
Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the penal substitution for the consequences of sins. Then Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and now He does reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven, One God, forever and ever. If you believe in Jesus, one day, He will wipe your tears, and my tears, away.
Hunter
This week I had the blessing of comforting a boy who was hurting in his heart, a boy of whom I am like an uncle, and who I love. He is my best buddy. Hearing a child softly weep is the saddest sound I have ever heard.
Samoa was the one country outside of my own I traveled to in my youth. It was a privilege spending some time there with my family. Many Samoan men are strong gentleman, yet back in the 1970’s they would cry openly at funerals or other tragedies. That was considered a good act in their culture. Crying in the American culture, at least for men, has been for many years viewed as a sign of weakness. I have learned from ministry work however that what many people do is hold it in and then cry in private.
As someone who has committed himself to unique ministry work for years, in every ministry field I have ever entered there have been times when I have shed some tears. Whenever I have gone to do ministry work somewhere long term, I have learned of many people’s hurts, and sometimes I have been hurt even as I tried to do ministry work. The hope through all of the tragedy has been the love of Jesus which I and others have known.
If you go by a Biblical mode, crying is warranted whether done in public or private. The Bible makes it clear that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35 NIV). The sin of people, Adam, Eve, and all people, is the reason there is death and mourning and crying and pain. We followers of Jesus are called by God to allow Him to improve us so we will sin less and less, and love more and more. And when hurt due to the sins of others, we must rely on Jesus to forgive. After following Jesus for twenty-five years, I realize the best gifts I have given to people in their good times and their rough times have been telling people the Gospel, giving people brotherly hugs, shedding tears for their hurts, and praying for them, even if they did not know about the latter two.
My young friend gave me a calendar last February. The calendar has Proverbs 7:2 written on it, and a picture of mountains which look like the Appalachian mountains, which I am fond of. The darkest of clouds are in the forefront, yet there is a large hole in the clouds from which intense sunlight is beaming through. Jesus is the light who will break through the darkest cloud for the person who will open his or her heart to Him. He is the One who was resurrected from the dead, and Jesus is the One who has made it possible for you to have eternal life in heaven.
Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the penal substitution for the consequences of sins. Then Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and now He does reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven, One God, forever and ever. If you believe in Jesus, one day, He will wipe your tears, and my tears, away.
Hunter
Monday, November 2, 2015
For a hungry heart - John 6:50-55
All humans experience hunger. Yet lingering hunger for any person who does not have enough to eat is a tragedy. Back during the early summer of 2005 I was unemployed after a tough period of time where I was spending much time my grandma who was in a nursing home. Being in such a poor financial situation I was drastically short on food. I normally have milk every morning for breakfast, yet I went several weeks without drinking milk. Seriously, I could feel something lacking in my body. No one else could probably tell, yet physically I was lacking. I do add the good ending to this story; at a genuine hour of need I was given a part-time temp job which turned out to be a great job which I successfully worked for over one year, and which enhanced my volunteer ministry work during that period.
To be honest, I do not know why God allows so much suffering for so many people, such as children who do not have enough to eat. And I do not know why even some sincere followers of Jesus do not have enough food. I do know food shortage started as a consequence of the disobedience to God of Adam and Eve and continues because of the sins of some people.
I talked in my previous writing of Jesus offering living water and of how Scripture reveals living water is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. An invitation to the hungry is also given by Jesus, an offer of living bread. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven….” (John 6:51 NIV). What is this living bread? Here in John 6, Jesus teaches “living bread” is a metaphor for Himself! And again it involves His true love for your heart.
When it comes to me visualizing drinking living water, the Holy Spirit, for me personally this seems rather natural. Yet with the subject of living bread, Jesus starts to talk about eating flesh and drinking blood.
“‘But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.’ Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘…I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink’” (John 6:50-55 NIV).
Just as living water was a spiritual metaphor, the living bread offered by Jesus, which is Himself, likewise is a spiritual reality (see John 6:63). Jesus was God incarnate, meaning God in the flesh (see Matthew 1:23). Yet He is still fully God.
My ‘Introduction to Theology’ class with Professor Matt Jones at Colorado Christian University was a super class because Professor Jones is a cool, caring, and gifted professor. One of the basic premises of “orthodox” theology in “Christology,” the theology of Jesus, is that He is fully God and also was fully human. With all due respect to my Roman Catholic and Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ who advocate transubstantiation and consubstantiation, Jesus was not speaking here on physical terms. He was speaking on spiritual terms. He was giving a metaphor to a spiritual feeding. There is a need to feed on Him in our hearts, the only One who can sustain a person eternally.
Heaven is a key focus for Jesus. His parables often start off, “The kingdom of heaven is like…..” In the “Lord’s Prayer,” which Jesus gave for us as a focus for our prayers, heaven is key in the first sentence. The manner of heaven is the sole model for the way things should be on earth. And as recorded in John 6, as a physical man on earth teaching at a synagogue in Capernaum (John 6:59), Jesus clearly teaches He came from heaven, and in a spiritual manner, He offers Himself to people. And that spiritual feeding is done by many Christians in corporate worship as we partake of the Lord’s Supper, receiving the bread and the fruit of the vine which symbolize the body and blood of Jesus.
And the Lord’s Supper is a reminder there was a physical aspect to the offering of Jesus. The One who offers living bread to all people, even today, is the One who made the sacrifice on the cross of His body and blood. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He physically and spiritually died; the physical body of God incarnate was lifeless as it was taken off of the cross. Yet that leaves one more huge question for me. Why would living bread from heaven die? Seems contradictory that the One who offers eternal life physically and spiritually died Himself. The fact is Jesus chose to die as the substitute for people who were going to spiritually die in hell because of our sins. Jesus’ death was the mercy we needed to be saved from spiritual death! Jesus, who was from heaven, died on a cross, and then was physically and spiritually resurrected three days later. Thanks to the mercy and grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, eternal life is available for you and me. It is offered to every single human being. Jesus said, “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:58 NIV). Amen.
Hunter Irvine
To be honest, I do not know why God allows so much suffering for so many people, such as children who do not have enough to eat. And I do not know why even some sincere followers of Jesus do not have enough food. I do know food shortage started as a consequence of the disobedience to God of Adam and Eve and continues because of the sins of some people.
I talked in my previous writing of Jesus offering living water and of how Scripture reveals living water is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. An invitation to the hungry is also given by Jesus, an offer of living bread. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven….” (John 6:51 NIV). What is this living bread? Here in John 6, Jesus teaches “living bread” is a metaphor for Himself! And again it involves His true love for your heart.
When it comes to me visualizing drinking living water, the Holy Spirit, for me personally this seems rather natural. Yet with the subject of living bread, Jesus starts to talk about eating flesh and drinking blood.
“‘But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.’ Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘…I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink’” (John 6:50-55 NIV).
Just as living water was a spiritual metaphor, the living bread offered by Jesus, which is Himself, likewise is a spiritual reality (see John 6:63). Jesus was God incarnate, meaning God in the flesh (see Matthew 1:23). Yet He is still fully God.
My ‘Introduction to Theology’ class with Professor Matt Jones at Colorado Christian University was a super class because Professor Jones is a cool, caring, and gifted professor. One of the basic premises of “orthodox” theology in “Christology,” the theology of Jesus, is that He is fully God and also was fully human. With all due respect to my Roman Catholic and Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ who advocate transubstantiation and consubstantiation, Jesus was not speaking here on physical terms. He was speaking on spiritual terms. He was giving a metaphor to a spiritual feeding. There is a need to feed on Him in our hearts, the only One who can sustain a person eternally.
Heaven is a key focus for Jesus. His parables often start off, “The kingdom of heaven is like…..” In the “Lord’s Prayer,” which Jesus gave for us as a focus for our prayers, heaven is key in the first sentence. The manner of heaven is the sole model for the way things should be on earth. And as recorded in John 6, as a physical man on earth teaching at a synagogue in Capernaum (John 6:59), Jesus clearly teaches He came from heaven, and in a spiritual manner, He offers Himself to people. And that spiritual feeding is done by many Christians in corporate worship as we partake of the Lord’s Supper, receiving the bread and the fruit of the vine which symbolize the body and blood of Jesus.
And the Lord’s Supper is a reminder there was a physical aspect to the offering of Jesus. The One who offers living bread to all people, even today, is the One who made the sacrifice on the cross of His body and blood. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He physically and spiritually died; the physical body of God incarnate was lifeless as it was taken off of the cross. Yet that leaves one more huge question for me. Why would living bread from heaven die? Seems contradictory that the One who offers eternal life physically and spiritually died Himself. The fact is Jesus chose to die as the substitute for people who were going to spiritually die in hell because of our sins. Jesus’ death was the mercy we needed to be saved from spiritual death! Jesus, who was from heaven, died on a cross, and then was physically and spiritually resurrected three days later. Thanks to the mercy and grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, eternal life is available for you and me. It is offered to every single human being. Jesus said, “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:58 NIV). Amen.
Hunter Irvine
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
For a thirsty heart - John 7:37-39
John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the Feast [of Tabernacles], Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified (NIV).
Can you recall a time when you were really thirsty? Can you recall a time when you needed to guzzle liquid? I remember such a time, and I wrote about that occasion years ago after hiking on the Appalachian Trail in 1990.
“Heat continued to be a factor as I hiked. Coming to a stream in the afternoon, I lifted my shirt right over my head. Dunking it in the stream, I then placed it over my torso. My whole body seemed to contract, and I made a noise of surprise. Letting water flow into my plastic water bottle, I then poured the quart of cold water onto my head. I put an iodine tablet into the water bottle after a second filling. I sat on the dirt ground and watched the tablet bubble on the bottom of the bottle, slowly dissolving…..After a period I figured to be about fifteen minutes (the minimum amount of time one was supposed to wait for a purification tablet to dissolve), I put the cap on the bottle. After shaking the bottle, I poured the entire quart of water down my throat in one consecutive drink.”
Today my pastor gave a wonderful sermon where he cited some Bible passages where Jesus offers to satisfy the thirst of a willing person. Now the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10-11 asked where Jesus was going to get the living water told of by Jesus. The first time I ever read this passage, my question was: What is this living water? The term as the Samaritan woman probably first understood it referred to water from a flowing source, not stagnant. A flowing spring, stream, or river was a source of living water. Judea is a desert climate. Water was of primary value. “The Jordan flows all year round, fed by snow from Mt. Hermon. But this is exceptional. Most streams flow in sudden spates, followed by months when their beds are dry. So, from earliest times, the towns and villages of Israel have relied on wells and springs for their water supply.” (1)
Flowing water is less likely to be contaminated with germs. Contaminated water was a huge problem 2000 years ago in Judea and may have contributed to the reason goat’s milk, wine, and juice was so prevalent in that culture then. “In Roman times when water was brought to the towns by aqueduct (as it was to Caesarea and Bethlehem) or by pipeline (as it was to Jerusalem), the water was still not fit to drink. For this reason other liquids made better drinks.” (2)
Living water was fresh. Yet Jesus was not talking about H2O. Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, using living water as a metaphor. All of us need God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for life. There is a need, a thirst, by the spiritual heart we all have inside our soul. God, who is love (I John 4:16), is who our hearts need.
I spoke to a youth group on Valentine’s Day of 2000. I said a key thing about love is you cannot see it, yet you can see the results of it. Jesus loves everyone, and He died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. Jesus was God; He could have prevented His own death. Instead He was obedient to the Father, being the atoning sacrificing for the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death. If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved from the consequence of sins, and you will have eternal life. You will be baptized by Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Then you can be sustained by the living water of Christ, which is available daily. And you can live by the Holy Spirit to do what Jesus commanded us all to do; to love God and to love people. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of true Love!
Hunter Irvine
(1) Pat Alexander, ed., Eerdmans’ Family Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), 5.
(2) Pat Alexander, ed., Eerdmans’ Family Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), 219.
Can you recall a time when you were really thirsty? Can you recall a time when you needed to guzzle liquid? I remember such a time, and I wrote about that occasion years ago after hiking on the Appalachian Trail in 1990.
“Heat continued to be a factor as I hiked. Coming to a stream in the afternoon, I lifted my shirt right over my head. Dunking it in the stream, I then placed it over my torso. My whole body seemed to contract, and I made a noise of surprise. Letting water flow into my plastic water bottle, I then poured the quart of cold water onto my head. I put an iodine tablet into the water bottle after a second filling. I sat on the dirt ground and watched the tablet bubble on the bottom of the bottle, slowly dissolving…..After a period I figured to be about fifteen minutes (the minimum amount of time one was supposed to wait for a purification tablet to dissolve), I put the cap on the bottle. After shaking the bottle, I poured the entire quart of water down my throat in one consecutive drink.”
Today my pastor gave a wonderful sermon where he cited some Bible passages where Jesus offers to satisfy the thirst of a willing person. Now the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10-11 asked where Jesus was going to get the living water told of by Jesus. The first time I ever read this passage, my question was: What is this living water? The term as the Samaritan woman probably first understood it referred to water from a flowing source, not stagnant. A flowing spring, stream, or river was a source of living water. Judea is a desert climate. Water was of primary value. “The Jordan flows all year round, fed by snow from Mt. Hermon. But this is exceptional. Most streams flow in sudden spates, followed by months when their beds are dry. So, from earliest times, the towns and villages of Israel have relied on wells and springs for their water supply.” (1)
Flowing water is less likely to be contaminated with germs. Contaminated water was a huge problem 2000 years ago in Judea and may have contributed to the reason goat’s milk, wine, and juice was so prevalent in that culture then. “In Roman times when water was brought to the towns by aqueduct (as it was to Caesarea and Bethlehem) or by pipeline (as it was to Jerusalem), the water was still not fit to drink. For this reason other liquids made better drinks.” (2)
Living water was fresh. Yet Jesus was not talking about H2O. Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, using living water as a metaphor. All of us need God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for life. There is a need, a thirst, by the spiritual heart we all have inside our soul. God, who is love (I John 4:16), is who our hearts need.
I spoke to a youth group on Valentine’s Day of 2000. I said a key thing about love is you cannot see it, yet you can see the results of it. Jesus loves everyone, and He died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. Jesus was God; He could have prevented His own death. Instead He was obedient to the Father, being the atoning sacrificing for the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death. If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved from the consequence of sins, and you will have eternal life. You will be baptized by Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Then you can be sustained by the living water of Christ, which is available daily. And you can live by the Holy Spirit to do what Jesus commanded us all to do; to love God and to love people. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of true Love!
Hunter Irvine
(1) Pat Alexander, ed., Eerdmans’ Family Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), 5.
(2) Pat Alexander, ed., Eerdmans’ Family Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), 219.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
How many years were the Jewish people in exile in Babylon?
There is frequent confusion about the length of time which Israelites were held captive in Babylon. The confusion is cleared up when we learn that the capturing of Jewish people by King Nebuchadnezzar took place in three waves! Thus Israelites were in exile from 70 to 50 years.
King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, captured Judah in 606 B.C. (probably just before 605 B.C.), which is discerned from Daniel 1:1 and Jeremiah 25:1. At that time some people from the royal family and from the “nobility” were forced to leave Judah and to enter exile in Babylon. That was the first wave, albeit a small captivity, of exiles.
The second wave of Jewish people forced to go to Babylon was in 597 B.C., which is learned from 2 Kings 24:12-14. That was the largest group brought to Babylon! Then in 586 B.C., after a siege in the wake of the King of Judea, Zedekiah, rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar, Jerusalem was destroyed, the Temple was burned, and a final group of Jewish people were brought as exiles to Babylon, which is told in 2 Kings 25:1-12.
So even though Jerusalem was not destroyed until 586 B.C., there had been Israelites taken captive to Babylon eleven years before and twenty years before, thus Jeremiah’s prophecy was right on.
It is my opinion the odds were zero the Jewish people would ever again be able to go home. Yet in 536 B.C., King Cyrus of Persia captured Babylon. (A number of modern scholars say it was 539 B.C., contradicting numerous scholars from the entire 20th century without solid evidence.) This is learned from Ezra 1:1-4. (You can also get details about this capture from Herodotus the historian from the 5th century. And Herodotus records how Babylon was a tough country not only to conquer, but to hold, since they even broke away at least once for a short period of time under Persian rule.) Then King Cyrus allowed the Jewish people to go home. I think it was a miracle.
Hunter Irvine
King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, captured Judah in 606 B.C. (probably just before 605 B.C.), which is discerned from Daniel 1:1 and Jeremiah 25:1. At that time some people from the royal family and from the “nobility” were forced to leave Judah and to enter exile in Babylon. That was the first wave, albeit a small captivity, of exiles.
The second wave of Jewish people forced to go to Babylon was in 597 B.C., which is learned from 2 Kings 24:12-14. That was the largest group brought to Babylon! Then in 586 B.C., after a siege in the wake of the King of Judea, Zedekiah, rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar, Jerusalem was destroyed, the Temple was burned, and a final group of Jewish people were brought as exiles to Babylon, which is told in 2 Kings 25:1-12.
So even though Jerusalem was not destroyed until 586 B.C., there had been Israelites taken captive to Babylon eleven years before and twenty years before, thus Jeremiah’s prophecy was right on.
It is my opinion the odds were zero the Jewish people would ever again be able to go home. Yet in 536 B.C., King Cyrus of Persia captured Babylon. (A number of modern scholars say it was 539 B.C., contradicting numerous scholars from the entire 20th century without solid evidence.) This is learned from Ezra 1:1-4. (You can also get details about this capture from Herodotus the historian from the 5th century. And Herodotus records how Babylon was a tough country not only to conquer, but to hold, since they even broke away at least once for a short period of time under Persian rule.) Then King Cyrus allowed the Jewish people to go home. I think it was a miracle.
Hunter Irvine
Monday, September 7, 2015
Foot Washing - John 13:1-17
In John 13:1-17, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet. Foot washing in Judea at that time was a common practice. Yet why was Peter so insistent at first that Jesus should never wash his feet? The answer is that though foot washing was a common practice in Judea, the practice involved the work being done by a servant. Thus the foot washing by Jesus was radical because Jesus was taking the position of a servant. Peter rightly identified Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God in Matthew 16:16. Peter realized Jesus was the Messiah who should have been served by everyone else. And Jesus exclaimed, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am” (John 13:13 NIV). Yet Jesus humbled Himself to a low position of servitude.
I advocate Jesus was not teaching we Christians are supposed to go around washing the feet of our fellow Christians consistently, and I do not think He was establishing a "church" ordinance. Rather when Jesus taught that disciples should wash one another’s feet, He gave a metaphor showing Christians are supposed to serve one another in a variety of ways and according to our gifts. I say this due to the context of the passage. For example, during this act Jesus tells Peter, "...Unless I wash you, you have no part with me" (John 13:8 NIV). I think this was a metaphor for Jesus cleansing people of sins, rather than Jesus setting a regulation that any apostle who did not get his feet washed that night was banished from discipleship. Also, there was the metaphor given by Jesus regarding Judas.
However the statement by Jesus, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet…” (John 13:14 NIV) could be taken literally since instead He could have said something to the effect of “now that I have served you, you should serve others.” So I understand and respect why some Christians advocate washing feet as an ordinance. For example, my Brethren and Mennonite brothers and sisters-in-Christ have carried out a rich foot washing commitment since the Reformation period. Also foot washing has been practice throughout Christian history. Today a number of Christians who do not consider it an ordinance within many denominations where it is not deemed an ordinance still carry out the washing of feet on occasion. They are even done in some youth groups meetings within various denominations.
I advocate Jesus was teaching we are supposed to express our true love in serving. John states, “…Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” (John 13:1 NIV). My interpretation here is that this statement is referring to the crucifixion of Jesus, of which a series of events begin at this point. As Jesus taught, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NIV). Still this foot washing act done there on the night of the betrayal of Christ was an act of love.
So followers of Jesus should be serving. I do not think our manner of service is key, rather the key is we serve. I have been worshiping in churches for twenty-five years, and I have seen many people serve in many ways, and I have likewise served in a variety of manners at a variety of times. Yet I think remembering this specific act of service by Jesus is a good thing.
For a season in 2013 to 2014, I taught Bible and History at a small Christian school in a rural area in Appalachia. I loved teaching, and I gave my all to be the best teacher I could be. One week when we reached this passage, I decided I wanted to offer a foot washing for my students, something I had never done before. I thought it would be a great "visual" lesson. I brought to class plastic jugs of distilled water and a towel, and I got a school trash can to act as the basin to catch the water I poured directly onto their feet. Normally I had students read the passages we learned about, but on that occasion I started class by reading the passage. I then gave a few comments, and then I announced to the class I was offering to wash any of their feet. They were excited. Of course it was voluntary. Some really wanted their feet washed, some did so but were hesitant, and some had no intention of taking their shoes off. As I started washing the feet of the first student, I realized something special was taking place. Washing the feet of all of the students who wanted to participate, one by one I felt the love of Jesus as I did the task. And after that class was over, I felt as though that lesson was my best “teaching” of the year; even after all of the eloquent and intelligent things I said for months. :)
Though I loved teaching at that school it was a tough season for me. Moving 1350 miles was hard on me. Being single and being in such a rural area, I sometimes felt lonely. And worse of all, being an outsider I sometimes felt like I could not be myself. Yet I had such fulfillment and emotion walking back to my dorm room after teaching that day. I even thought to myself, “How many teachers in all of America had the blessed opportunity to wash the feet of their students today.” I had served my students in a unique way. I normally felt fulfilled after teaching those students day by day, yet I think I only had fulfillment on par with that day three other times, all after I gave the sermons for the school chapel services. This sound corny, but I felt honored to be able to do a foot washing. I love those students, and I felt like God gave me that unique opportunity to express my love. Praise be to Jesus.
Hunter
I advocate Jesus was not teaching we Christians are supposed to go around washing the feet of our fellow Christians consistently, and I do not think He was establishing a "church" ordinance. Rather when Jesus taught that disciples should wash one another’s feet, He gave a metaphor showing Christians are supposed to serve one another in a variety of ways and according to our gifts. I say this due to the context of the passage. For example, during this act Jesus tells Peter, "...Unless I wash you, you have no part with me" (John 13:8 NIV). I think this was a metaphor for Jesus cleansing people of sins, rather than Jesus setting a regulation that any apostle who did not get his feet washed that night was banished from discipleship. Also, there was the metaphor given by Jesus regarding Judas.
However the statement by Jesus, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet…” (John 13:14 NIV) could be taken literally since instead He could have said something to the effect of “now that I have served you, you should serve others.” So I understand and respect why some Christians advocate washing feet as an ordinance. For example, my Brethren and Mennonite brothers and sisters-in-Christ have carried out a rich foot washing commitment since the Reformation period. Also foot washing has been practice throughout Christian history. Today a number of Christians who do not consider it an ordinance within many denominations where it is not deemed an ordinance still carry out the washing of feet on occasion. They are even done in some youth groups meetings within various denominations.
I advocate Jesus was teaching we are supposed to express our true love in serving. John states, “…Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” (John 13:1 NIV). My interpretation here is that this statement is referring to the crucifixion of Jesus, of which a series of events begin at this point. As Jesus taught, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NIV). Still this foot washing act done there on the night of the betrayal of Christ was an act of love.
So followers of Jesus should be serving. I do not think our manner of service is key, rather the key is we serve. I have been worshiping in churches for twenty-five years, and I have seen many people serve in many ways, and I have likewise served in a variety of manners at a variety of times. Yet I think remembering this specific act of service by Jesus is a good thing.
For a season in 2013 to 2014, I taught Bible and History at a small Christian school in a rural area in Appalachia. I loved teaching, and I gave my all to be the best teacher I could be. One week when we reached this passage, I decided I wanted to offer a foot washing for my students, something I had never done before. I thought it would be a great "visual" lesson. I brought to class plastic jugs of distilled water and a towel, and I got a school trash can to act as the basin to catch the water I poured directly onto their feet. Normally I had students read the passages we learned about, but on that occasion I started class by reading the passage. I then gave a few comments, and then I announced to the class I was offering to wash any of their feet. They were excited. Of course it was voluntary. Some really wanted their feet washed, some did so but were hesitant, and some had no intention of taking their shoes off. As I started washing the feet of the first student, I realized something special was taking place. Washing the feet of all of the students who wanted to participate, one by one I felt the love of Jesus as I did the task. And after that class was over, I felt as though that lesson was my best “teaching” of the year; even after all of the eloquent and intelligent things I said for months. :)
Though I loved teaching at that school it was a tough season for me. Moving 1350 miles was hard on me. Being single and being in such a rural area, I sometimes felt lonely. And worse of all, being an outsider I sometimes felt like I could not be myself. Yet I had such fulfillment and emotion walking back to my dorm room after teaching that day. I even thought to myself, “How many teachers in all of America had the blessed opportunity to wash the feet of their students today.” I had served my students in a unique way. I normally felt fulfilled after teaching those students day by day, yet I think I only had fulfillment on par with that day three other times, all after I gave the sermons for the school chapel services. This sound corny, but I felt honored to be able to do a foot washing. I love those students, and I felt like God gave me that unique opportunity to express my love. Praise be to Jesus.
Hunter
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Poured out for you - Matthew 26:28
Eating the Passover meal, lamb, with His twelve disciples, Jesus stated: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28 NIV). This is the most direct statement by Jesus of how He would make the atonement for sins. In speaking of pouring out blood, Jesus states it is His blood. He is using the wine as a symbol for His blood, yet less than 24 hours later, Jesus did shed His blood as He was nailed to a cross. The blood of Jesus was poured out on the day of the Passover. And Jesus even said disciples of Him are supposed to partake of the elements of bread and wine in a manner of remembrance of Him.
In my last piece I told of how Jesus stated the Son of Man would be the “ransom for many.” Yet in that statement, Jesus speaks of the Son of Man in the third person. Speaking in the third person, speaking in flowing discourses which have the main point tucked within, and speaking with metaphors, are all manners of an “oriental” style of speech and writing indicative of the culture of the “ancient near east.” Especially those who adhere to a Greek style of speech and writing poplar in Western culture can dispute Jesus was speaking of Himself. Yet after I wrote that piece I remembered this statement by Jesus which was a direct claim He would be the atonement for sins.
The purpose of pouring out His blood was for the forgiveness of sins. And He stated it at a Passover feast, a time when a lamb was slaughtered at twilight, and then the blood was brushed on the top and both sides of a door frame. Doing such was to be a lasting ordinance for Jewish people as is stated in Exodus 12:24. Jesus truly was the Passover Lamb for the whole world.
Further His pouring out of blood was the fulfillment of the atoning sacrifices made in the temple in Jerusalem which were supposed to be made consistently and which were supposed to be done every year on the Day of Atonement. On that occasion the high priest was to sprinkle blood on and in front of the “atonement cover” (Leviticus 16:15) of the Ark of the Covenant. Why all of this blood stuff? Blood gives life to the body, including bringing oxygen to the body. That is why a person needs a properly functioning heart to stay alive. The pouring out of the blood of the animals signified the death of the animal, a sacrifice. Yet what did the sacrifice accomplish? The forgiveness of sins. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The consequence of sin by people is death, physical and spiritual. The animal sacrifice represented this, but such physical death of animals could not be a permanent substitute for the spirits of people. Only God could provide the permanent sacrifice, and He did. Jesus, God the Son, was the substitutional atonement as He died, pouring out His blood, on the Cross.
So Jesus was direct in saying the reason His blood was poured out was for the forgiveness of sins. And Jesus shed His blood on the Cross. Thus Jesus directly stated what His disciples taught:
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood…” (Romans 3:23-25 NIV). Taking this verse in context, it does not mean you only have faith in the blood of Jesus, but that faith in Jesus is faith in Him who was the atonement for the world by his sacrificial atonement on the Cross where He shed His blood. I add Paul often uses the word God generally where more specifically you could say “God the Father.”
And as Jesus physically shed His blood, there was also a spiritual element to the sacrifice! “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14 NIV). Christ’s death on the cross was physical and spiritual.
Jesus stated the ransom by the Son of Man was for many, and that His blood was poured out for many. A number of folks in Christian history have interpreted this to mean that Jesus died for a select number of people, those predestined by Him to be saved. But that is a wrong interpretation. (Calvin was right on with his doctrine of penal substitution, saying Jesus took the punishment for sins, and I even go with Calvin regarding his doctrine for the Lord’s Supper that there is a spiritual feeding taking place in addition to the remembrance, a doctrine many of my “Calvinist” brothers and sisters do not even adhere to, yet Calvin’s doctrine of predestination conflicts with Scriptures overall.) Scripture teaches Jesus loves everyone, thus He died for everyone, that all may have an opportunity to be saved. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9 NIV), is a key verse, and John 3:16 is another. Then why was His blood only poured out for “many?” Jesus, being God the Son, knew that some people would reject Him and thus would not be saved. It is a person’s choice. So the doctrine of universalism which claims all people are saved by the atonement of Jesus is also shown to be wrong, since Jesus foreknew those saved would be “many” not all. Yet all have the opportunity. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10 NIV). If you believe in Jesus, you will be forgiven of your sins by God, the One who died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. If you believe in Jesus, you will have everlasting life with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in heaven!
+: Thank You Jesus for pouring out Your blood so we can be forgiven of our sins. Thank You!
Hunter
In my last piece I told of how Jesus stated the Son of Man would be the “ransom for many.” Yet in that statement, Jesus speaks of the Son of Man in the third person. Speaking in the third person, speaking in flowing discourses which have the main point tucked within, and speaking with metaphors, are all manners of an “oriental” style of speech and writing indicative of the culture of the “ancient near east.” Especially those who adhere to a Greek style of speech and writing poplar in Western culture can dispute Jesus was speaking of Himself. Yet after I wrote that piece I remembered this statement by Jesus which was a direct claim He would be the atonement for sins.
The purpose of pouring out His blood was for the forgiveness of sins. And He stated it at a Passover feast, a time when a lamb was slaughtered at twilight, and then the blood was brushed on the top and both sides of a door frame. Doing such was to be a lasting ordinance for Jewish people as is stated in Exodus 12:24. Jesus truly was the Passover Lamb for the whole world.
Further His pouring out of blood was the fulfillment of the atoning sacrifices made in the temple in Jerusalem which were supposed to be made consistently and which were supposed to be done every year on the Day of Atonement. On that occasion the high priest was to sprinkle blood on and in front of the “atonement cover” (Leviticus 16:15) of the Ark of the Covenant. Why all of this blood stuff? Blood gives life to the body, including bringing oxygen to the body. That is why a person needs a properly functioning heart to stay alive. The pouring out of the blood of the animals signified the death of the animal, a sacrifice. Yet what did the sacrifice accomplish? The forgiveness of sins. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The consequence of sin by people is death, physical and spiritual. The animal sacrifice represented this, but such physical death of animals could not be a permanent substitute for the spirits of people. Only God could provide the permanent sacrifice, and He did. Jesus, God the Son, was the substitutional atonement as He died, pouring out His blood, on the Cross.
So Jesus was direct in saying the reason His blood was poured out was for the forgiveness of sins. And Jesus shed His blood on the Cross. Thus Jesus directly stated what His disciples taught:
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood…” (Romans 3:23-25 NIV). Taking this verse in context, it does not mean you only have faith in the blood of Jesus, but that faith in Jesus is faith in Him who was the atonement for the world by his sacrificial atonement on the Cross where He shed His blood. I add Paul often uses the word God generally where more specifically you could say “God the Father.”
And as Jesus physically shed His blood, there was also a spiritual element to the sacrifice! “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14 NIV). Christ’s death on the cross was physical and spiritual.
Jesus stated the ransom by the Son of Man was for many, and that His blood was poured out for many. A number of folks in Christian history have interpreted this to mean that Jesus died for a select number of people, those predestined by Him to be saved. But that is a wrong interpretation. (Calvin was right on with his doctrine of penal substitution, saying Jesus took the punishment for sins, and I even go with Calvin regarding his doctrine for the Lord’s Supper that there is a spiritual feeding taking place in addition to the remembrance, a doctrine many of my “Calvinist” brothers and sisters do not even adhere to, yet Calvin’s doctrine of predestination conflicts with Scriptures overall.) Scripture teaches Jesus loves everyone, thus He died for everyone, that all may have an opportunity to be saved. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9 NIV), is a key verse, and John 3:16 is another. Then why was His blood only poured out for “many?” Jesus, being God the Son, knew that some people would reject Him and thus would not be saved. It is a person’s choice. So the doctrine of universalism which claims all people are saved by the atonement of Jesus is also shown to be wrong, since Jesus foreknew those saved would be “many” not all. Yet all have the opportunity. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10 NIV). If you believe in Jesus, you will be forgiven of your sins by God, the One who died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. If you believe in Jesus, you will have everlasting life with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in heaven!
+: Thank You Jesus for pouring out Your blood so we can be forgiven of our sins. Thank You!
Hunter
Thursday, August 13, 2015
The Ransom – Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45
Disciples of Jesus teach about the sacrificial atonement of Jesus in letters of the inspired Scriptures in books often referred to as Epistles. Yet did Jesus Himself teach He is the atonement? As God incarnate, I think the central mission of Christ needs to be proclaimed by the Messiah Himself. Truth is, Jesus did teach of Himself as the sacrificial atonement. And a key word He used in His direct teaching on the subject was ransom.
(Granted Jesus spoke of Himself as the ransom in the third person, which was fitting for the ancient near east culture, yet after I wrote this piece I thought of even a more direct occasion from Matthew 26:28. For that proclamation by Jesus, see my next blog piece, "Poured out for you." Yet ransom is key!)
“Kidnappers” are people who have captured a person or people, and sometimes their motive is to ask for money from family of the person they abducted along with a threat to harm the hostage if money is not given, whereas stating they will free the hostage if money is given. The money demanded is the ransom. (Sometimes there is some other ransom demand, such as a political demand.) Thus the purpose of the kidnappers in this evil act of abduction is to steal money by such a sinister scheme.
A movie was released in 1973 entitled Benji about a smart and cute dog named Benji who does not have a family. The movie was made on a limited budget, yet it became one of the biggest hits of the year. I saw the movie as a young boy and then again one year ago on DVD. Benji is befriended by two children and their nanny, but their father who is a medical doctor refuses to allow a dog to be brought into the family. But then the two children are kidnapped, brought to a deserted house, and held for ransom. Imagine the damaging trauma a kidnapping would actually bring to a child, (or anyone), which was not expressed in the movie, and you can guess who the star of the movie is by the title of the movie. Yet I thought the movie was a quality film. And it is a fictional yet prime example of the demand for ransom.
The question involved in a ransom scheme: “Why is a ransom needed? What if the ransom is not paid?” Such a scheme always involves a threat by the kidnappers that they will harm or kill the person they have abducted, usually within a time limit so the police do not have time to track them down. Modern philosophy on the subject is to not pay a ransom, since criminals may harm the person or persons abducted anyway so that no clues are left as to their identity. Also, agreeing to pay a ransom only encourages others to try such evil. Yet others advocate you should pay a ransom to save lives.
Though Benji was a fictional movie, evil demands for ransom have taken place in real life throughout history. And ransom was the word which Jesus used of His mission. Rather than people being abducted by sinister kidnappers, people are on the tract of spiritual death because of their own wrong doings. It all started with Adam and Eve being disobedient to God, which caused humanity to be separated from God. Once there was separation, people began to sin, sin defined as that which is apart from the will of God. And now there is a need for all people to be saved from spiritual death, the results of sin as stated in Romans 6:23. The only one who can save people from sins is God. And God provided the Lamb as a ransom.
Jesus gives a number of metaphors regarding His atoning work, such as in John 10:14-18, yet where was the direct teaching? The direct teaching by Jesus on the subject of His atonement is this: “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 NIV). Likewise, Mark quotes Jesus: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NIV). Jesus paid the ransom for sins for all people who accept His sacrifice by dying on the Cross as the substitute for sins.
So the ransom was Jesus dying on the cross. But who was the ransom paid to? Not Satan, as was a popular theological conviction in the west in the early medieval period. God is sovereign over Satan and owes him nothing. Rather the ransom was necessary payment to satisfy the justice before our Holy God. God is merciful, and God is just. The ransom of Jesus’ death on the cross carried out both mercy and justice by and before our Holy God.
Josh McDowell gives an illustration of how wrong doing results in consequences which must be dealt with in More Than A Carpenter. “For example, let’s say my daughter breaks a lamp in my home. I’m a loving and forgiving father, so I put her on my lap, and I hug her and I say, ‘Don’t cry, honey. Daddy loves you and forgives you.’ Now usually the person I tell that story to says, ‘Well, that’s what God ought to do.’ Then I ask the question, ‘Who pays for the lamp?’ The fact is, I do. There’s always a price in forgiveness.”(1)
When a person sins, God is grieved, and that person and often other people get hurt. God accounts for sin because He is just, wanting no one to get hurt. A child of God can always be grateful to Jesus that He paid the penalty which we could never pay, since the hurt we have inflicted upon ourselves and others has no less required payment than separation from our perfect God which results in spiritual death.
Why was Jesus’ death an acceptable ransom? Because Jesus is God. An angel from God told Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ --which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 2:22-23 NIV). Because Jesus was Immanuel, He could be the ransom required to save people. Jesus freed me from the bondage of sin so I have everlasting life. I could not have escaped sin on my own. I could not overpower sin. There was no hero animals or people who could save me. I was like a helpless child in the hands of a fatal need being unfulfilled which was going to bring my inevitable spiritual death in hell. Yet Jesus saved me. Jesus is one with the Father, and Jesus is God the Son. As I received Jesus into my heart by faith, I received the ransom He paid. Thus I have forgiveness, and thus I have been united with God. The same can be true for you, because though Jesus makes it clear that some are not saved by His ransom, all have the opportunity, as is expressed by the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:9.
And lastly, why did Jesus pay that ransom? Because Jesus loves everyone. If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be forgiven of your sins, because Jesus paid the price for sins. Jesus died in your place on the Cross. Believe in Jesus, and you will have everlasting life.
Hunter Irvine
[1] Josh McDowell, More Than A Carpenter (Wheaton: Living Books, 1977), 116.
(Granted Jesus spoke of Himself as the ransom in the third person, which was fitting for the ancient near east culture, yet after I wrote this piece I thought of even a more direct occasion from Matthew 26:28. For that proclamation by Jesus, see my next blog piece, "Poured out for you." Yet ransom is key!)
“Kidnappers” are people who have captured a person or people, and sometimes their motive is to ask for money from family of the person they abducted along with a threat to harm the hostage if money is not given, whereas stating they will free the hostage if money is given. The money demanded is the ransom. (Sometimes there is some other ransom demand, such as a political demand.) Thus the purpose of the kidnappers in this evil act of abduction is to steal money by such a sinister scheme.
A movie was released in 1973 entitled Benji about a smart and cute dog named Benji who does not have a family. The movie was made on a limited budget, yet it became one of the biggest hits of the year. I saw the movie as a young boy and then again one year ago on DVD. Benji is befriended by two children and their nanny, but their father who is a medical doctor refuses to allow a dog to be brought into the family. But then the two children are kidnapped, brought to a deserted house, and held for ransom. Imagine the damaging trauma a kidnapping would actually bring to a child, (or anyone), which was not expressed in the movie, and you can guess who the star of the movie is by the title of the movie. Yet I thought the movie was a quality film. And it is a fictional yet prime example of the demand for ransom.
The question involved in a ransom scheme: “Why is a ransom needed? What if the ransom is not paid?” Such a scheme always involves a threat by the kidnappers that they will harm or kill the person they have abducted, usually within a time limit so the police do not have time to track them down. Modern philosophy on the subject is to not pay a ransom, since criminals may harm the person or persons abducted anyway so that no clues are left as to their identity. Also, agreeing to pay a ransom only encourages others to try such evil. Yet others advocate you should pay a ransom to save lives.
Though Benji was a fictional movie, evil demands for ransom have taken place in real life throughout history. And ransom was the word which Jesus used of His mission. Rather than people being abducted by sinister kidnappers, people are on the tract of spiritual death because of their own wrong doings. It all started with Adam and Eve being disobedient to God, which caused humanity to be separated from God. Once there was separation, people began to sin, sin defined as that which is apart from the will of God. And now there is a need for all people to be saved from spiritual death, the results of sin as stated in Romans 6:23. The only one who can save people from sins is God. And God provided the Lamb as a ransom.
Jesus gives a number of metaphors regarding His atoning work, such as in John 10:14-18, yet where was the direct teaching? The direct teaching by Jesus on the subject of His atonement is this: “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 NIV). Likewise, Mark quotes Jesus: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NIV). Jesus paid the ransom for sins for all people who accept His sacrifice by dying on the Cross as the substitute for sins.
So the ransom was Jesus dying on the cross. But who was the ransom paid to? Not Satan, as was a popular theological conviction in the west in the early medieval period. God is sovereign over Satan and owes him nothing. Rather the ransom was necessary payment to satisfy the justice before our Holy God. God is merciful, and God is just. The ransom of Jesus’ death on the cross carried out both mercy and justice by and before our Holy God.
Josh McDowell gives an illustration of how wrong doing results in consequences which must be dealt with in More Than A Carpenter. “For example, let’s say my daughter breaks a lamp in my home. I’m a loving and forgiving father, so I put her on my lap, and I hug her and I say, ‘Don’t cry, honey. Daddy loves you and forgives you.’ Now usually the person I tell that story to says, ‘Well, that’s what God ought to do.’ Then I ask the question, ‘Who pays for the lamp?’ The fact is, I do. There’s always a price in forgiveness.”(1)
When a person sins, God is grieved, and that person and often other people get hurt. God accounts for sin because He is just, wanting no one to get hurt. A child of God can always be grateful to Jesus that He paid the penalty which we could never pay, since the hurt we have inflicted upon ourselves and others has no less required payment than separation from our perfect God which results in spiritual death.
Why was Jesus’ death an acceptable ransom? Because Jesus is God. An angel from God told Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ --which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 2:22-23 NIV). Because Jesus was Immanuel, He could be the ransom required to save people. Jesus freed me from the bondage of sin so I have everlasting life. I could not have escaped sin on my own. I could not overpower sin. There was no hero animals or people who could save me. I was like a helpless child in the hands of a fatal need being unfulfilled which was going to bring my inevitable spiritual death in hell. Yet Jesus saved me. Jesus is one with the Father, and Jesus is God the Son. As I received Jesus into my heart by faith, I received the ransom He paid. Thus I have forgiveness, and thus I have been united with God. The same can be true for you, because though Jesus makes it clear that some are not saved by His ransom, all have the opportunity, as is expressed by the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:9.
And lastly, why did Jesus pay that ransom? Because Jesus loves everyone. If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be forgiven of your sins, because Jesus paid the price for sins. Jesus died in your place on the Cross. Believe in Jesus, and you will have everlasting life.
Hunter Irvine
[1] Josh McDowell, More Than A Carpenter (Wheaton: Living Books, 1977), 116.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
The Day of Preparation - John 19:14 and John 19:31
John 19:14 "It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour" (NIV).
John 19:31 "Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down" (NIV).
The Passover took place at twilight on the fourteenth day of Abib as is stated in Exodus 12:6 and Deuteronomy 16:1. Now a new Jewish day began at sundown. Thus the Passover was to be sacrificed there at the beginning of a day, since if it is twilight, then the sun must be down "under" the horizon.
There are a huge number of current Bible scholars who advocate John is in conflict with the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, and Luke concerning what day Jesus celebrated the Passover, which I learned about in the course of my CCU studies. Matthew, Mark, and Luke clearly note Jesus celebrated the Passover on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, and Luke 22:7]. But John states the day Jesus was crucified was the "day of Preparation of Passover Week." Many scholars interpret this to mean that John states Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples a day early! Then many of those scholars say John was trying to make the metaphorical point that Jesus was the Passover lamb. But then the Passover lamb died before the Passover, because Jesus died before twilight! He died at three o'clock in the afternoon. There is a huge misinterpretation of John's witness.
This is a golden example that Scriptures of the "New Testament" must be taken in the context of Scriptures of the "Old Testament." From Exodus 12:16, we learn what the "day of Preparation" really is: "On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat--that is all you may do" (NIV). So we learn from Exodus 12:16 that in daylight hours following the night before when the Passover lambs were to be killed, blood was to be put on the doorposts, and the lambs roasted and eaten, there was to be a sacred assembly with only food preparation work allowed. Thus the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the "day of preparation" are the same day. This "preparation" is not in regards to preparing for the Passover meal.
I admit the issue is not totally settled because reconciling John 18:28 is tough. This verse states some Jewish people had yet to eat the Passover, but wanted to eat the Passover, at the time they took Jesus to Pilate. My only suggestion is that maybe these folks had been so preoccupied with the arrest and trial of Jesus that they failed to eat the Passover at twilight.
Thus I still say with confidence Jesus was crucified on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the day of Preparation, both of which were the first day of "Passover!" Eating the Passover meal at twilight, the start of the day, Jesus then died within 24 hours. He truly was the Lamb of God, as so identified by John the Baptist in John 1:29. Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the sins. "...For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (I Corinthians 5:7 NIV).
Hunter Irvine
John 19:31 "Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down" (NIV).
The Passover took place at twilight on the fourteenth day of Abib as is stated in Exodus 12:6 and Deuteronomy 16:1. Now a new Jewish day began at sundown. Thus the Passover was to be sacrificed there at the beginning of a day, since if it is twilight, then the sun must be down "under" the horizon.
There are a huge number of current Bible scholars who advocate John is in conflict with the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, and Luke concerning what day Jesus celebrated the Passover, which I learned about in the course of my CCU studies. Matthew, Mark, and Luke clearly note Jesus celebrated the Passover on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, and Luke 22:7]. But John states the day Jesus was crucified was the "day of Preparation of Passover Week." Many scholars interpret this to mean that John states Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples a day early! Then many of those scholars say John was trying to make the metaphorical point that Jesus was the Passover lamb. But then the Passover lamb died before the Passover, because Jesus died before twilight! He died at three o'clock in the afternoon. There is a huge misinterpretation of John's witness.
This is a golden example that Scriptures of the "New Testament" must be taken in the context of Scriptures of the "Old Testament." From Exodus 12:16, we learn what the "day of Preparation" really is: "On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat--that is all you may do" (NIV). So we learn from Exodus 12:16 that in daylight hours following the night before when the Passover lambs were to be killed, blood was to be put on the doorposts, and the lambs roasted and eaten, there was to be a sacred assembly with only food preparation work allowed. Thus the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the "day of preparation" are the same day. This "preparation" is not in regards to preparing for the Passover meal.
I admit the issue is not totally settled because reconciling John 18:28 is tough. This verse states some Jewish people had yet to eat the Passover, but wanted to eat the Passover, at the time they took Jesus to Pilate. My only suggestion is that maybe these folks had been so preoccupied with the arrest and trial of Jesus that they failed to eat the Passover at twilight.
Thus I still say with confidence Jesus was crucified on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the day of Preparation, both of which were the first day of "Passover!" Eating the Passover meal at twilight, the start of the day, Jesus then died within 24 hours. He truly was the Lamb of God, as so identified by John the Baptist in John 1:29. Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the sins. "...For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (I Corinthians 5:7 NIV).
Hunter Irvine
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Jesus furthered and fulfilled the Mosaic Law - Matthew 5:17
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17 NIV).
In the spring of 2000, I was the Youth Minister for a special youth group in a church in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and one Sunday I asked the students a question, a question which I had pondered as a young Christian, yet one which remained unanswered until I read about the topic in a book by John Stott. (1) "Would it be a sin if you ate lobster at the neighborhood seafood restaurant after church?" Right in the Bible it states in the Law given by God through Moses: “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you'" (Leviticus 11:9-12 NIV).
The purpose of this question was to get students thinking about the relationship of a Christian to what is often referred to as the Mosaic Law. Was it only for the Hebrews? The "Old Covenant," the Mosaic Covenant, the covenant made by God between Himself and the Hebrew people, with Moses as the mediator, only involved the Hebrew people, and no other humans. Thus if the Mosaic Law was only for the ethnic group of Hebrews, then are other Christians exempt also from the Ten Commandments? The answer comes from the teachings of Jesus.
First of all, Jesus did teach the Mosaic Law, as is recorded in places like Matthew 19:18-19. In fact, in what many term "The Sermon on the Mount," Jesus made the statement which is in the verse listed at the start of this piece: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17 NIV). And after making this statement, Jesus proceeded to further the Mosaic Law. For example: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell" (Matthew 5:21-22 NIV). What Jesus does in this teaching is get to the root of evils. I remember driving down the road once real close to the neighborhood seafood restaurant by our church, and I had the car radio on to a lesson of Chuck Swindoll. Pastor Chuck was talking about the Law, and his words bellowed out through the speakers of my little car, "The Law condemns! The Law puts you behind bars and throws away the key!" It was quite the graphic picture stated at a loud volume, yet he was correct.
And from the top of the "Sermon on the Mount," the teaching was for all people, not only the Hebrews, thus Gentiles and Jewish people were put under the Mosaic Law by Jesus when He spoke of His mission to fulfill the Law, and then when He furthered the Mosaic Law. Scripture reveals this in verses such as Romans 3:23, which states that all have sinned. Hebrews were not the only ones condemned by the Law and in need of a Savior, since all were incorporated under the Law when Jesus taught what is termed the Sermon on the Mount. All people have sinned, failing to obey God at some time. All people need a Savior. Thus we all were condemned, because Gentiles, just as much as Hebrews, were unable to perfectly obey the Law. Praise be to God, Jesus also fulfilled the Law for all people, thus making it possible for all people to be saved.
How did Jesus fulfill the Law? He died as the substitutional atonement for the forgiveness of sins. Much of the Mosaic Law involved animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was the Lamb of God, the One who made the eternal sacrifice for the sins of people! Jesus was the perfect atonement for the sins of all people. I John 2:2 states: "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (NIV). This verse truly explains that Jesus died for all people, since all people were in need of salvation. Now people have a choice to make. If you want Jesus to be your Savior, you can believe in Jesus right now, and you will be saved from the hell which Jesus taught about - see Acts 16:30-31!
I conclude by answering the original question. My conviction is that those students who were followers of Jesus could have gone and eaten lobster after church without sinning, because when Jesus fulfilled the Law, His fulfillment negated certain laws of the Mosaic Law for those who are in Christ. For example, the Hebrews needed to make animal sacrifices. Jesus making the sacrifice as the Lamb of God made it so that His disciples are no longer in need of animal sacrifice. Sacrificial laws have been fulfilled by Jesus!
Jesus fulfilling the Mosaic Law made it possible for there to be freedom from sin in Christ. As Dr. David Beckman, my mentor who was the president of Colorado Christian University, once taught in a sermon at Windsor Gardens Community church from his careful examination of Romans 7 through 8:17, people who have been saved by Jesus are no longer "under" the Law, rather they are "under" the Spirit. Yet followers of Jesus still have a command from Jesus to obey Him, the One who taught people to love God and to love people as was commanded in the Mosaic Law, and the One who still commands moral laws, since to break a moral law is always the opposite of loving God and loving people. In John 14:15, Jesus states: "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (NIV). And this included His teaching of moral laws in the Sermon on the Mount. Being disobedient to the moral commands, which Jesus furthered, is unloving! The result is grieving the Holy Spirit and hurt of oneself and maybe other people. Jesus is Holy. The Father is Holy. The Spirit of Christ is Holy. The teachings of Jesus reveal He is calling His children to be holy. Such is the journey a follower of Jesus begins by taking up his or her cross and following Jesus. Success can only come as a follower of Jesus relies on the Holy Spirit.
So moral laws are as much in effect as ever. Says John Stott, "The moral laws of Moses, however, have not been abrogated. On the contrary, they are still in force. Christ died that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, and the Holy Spirit writes God's law in our hearts (Rom. 8:3,4; Jer. 31:33, cf. 2 Cor. 3:6-8)." (2) Whereas certain laws such as what I would term sacrificial laws and civil laws, and which Dr. Stott calls "ceremonial rules" and "civil laws," are not applicable to followers of Jesus. So you Christians can go and chow down on crabs and shrimp tonight if you so desire. As for me, I might be having a bell pepper stuffed with a veggie burger :)
Hunter Irvine
(1) John Stott, Understanding the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972), 180-181.
(2) John Stott, Understanding the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972), 180.
In the spring of 2000, I was the Youth Minister for a special youth group in a church in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and one Sunday I asked the students a question, a question which I had pondered as a young Christian, yet one which remained unanswered until I read about the topic in a book by John Stott. (1) "Would it be a sin if you ate lobster at the neighborhood seafood restaurant after church?" Right in the Bible it states in the Law given by God through Moses: “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you'" (Leviticus 11:9-12 NIV).
The purpose of this question was to get students thinking about the relationship of a Christian to what is often referred to as the Mosaic Law. Was it only for the Hebrews? The "Old Covenant," the Mosaic Covenant, the covenant made by God between Himself and the Hebrew people, with Moses as the mediator, only involved the Hebrew people, and no other humans. Thus if the Mosaic Law was only for the ethnic group of Hebrews, then are other Christians exempt also from the Ten Commandments? The answer comes from the teachings of Jesus.
First of all, Jesus did teach the Mosaic Law, as is recorded in places like Matthew 19:18-19. In fact, in what many term "The Sermon on the Mount," Jesus made the statement which is in the verse listed at the start of this piece: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17 NIV). And after making this statement, Jesus proceeded to further the Mosaic Law. For example: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell" (Matthew 5:21-22 NIV). What Jesus does in this teaching is get to the root of evils. I remember driving down the road once real close to the neighborhood seafood restaurant by our church, and I had the car radio on to a lesson of Chuck Swindoll. Pastor Chuck was talking about the Law, and his words bellowed out through the speakers of my little car, "The Law condemns! The Law puts you behind bars and throws away the key!" It was quite the graphic picture stated at a loud volume, yet he was correct.
And from the top of the "Sermon on the Mount," the teaching was for all people, not only the Hebrews, thus Gentiles and Jewish people were put under the Mosaic Law by Jesus when He spoke of His mission to fulfill the Law, and then when He furthered the Mosaic Law. Scripture reveals this in verses such as Romans 3:23, which states that all have sinned. Hebrews were not the only ones condemned by the Law and in need of a Savior, since all were incorporated under the Law when Jesus taught what is termed the Sermon on the Mount. All people have sinned, failing to obey God at some time. All people need a Savior. Thus we all were condemned, because Gentiles, just as much as Hebrews, were unable to perfectly obey the Law. Praise be to God, Jesus also fulfilled the Law for all people, thus making it possible for all people to be saved.
How did Jesus fulfill the Law? He died as the substitutional atonement for the forgiveness of sins. Much of the Mosaic Law involved animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was the Lamb of God, the One who made the eternal sacrifice for the sins of people! Jesus was the perfect atonement for the sins of all people. I John 2:2 states: "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (NIV). This verse truly explains that Jesus died for all people, since all people were in need of salvation. Now people have a choice to make. If you want Jesus to be your Savior, you can believe in Jesus right now, and you will be saved from the hell which Jesus taught about - see Acts 16:30-31!
I conclude by answering the original question. My conviction is that those students who were followers of Jesus could have gone and eaten lobster after church without sinning, because when Jesus fulfilled the Law, His fulfillment negated certain laws of the Mosaic Law for those who are in Christ. For example, the Hebrews needed to make animal sacrifices. Jesus making the sacrifice as the Lamb of God made it so that His disciples are no longer in need of animal sacrifice. Sacrificial laws have been fulfilled by Jesus!
Jesus fulfilling the Mosaic Law made it possible for there to be freedom from sin in Christ. As Dr. David Beckman, my mentor who was the president of Colorado Christian University, once taught in a sermon at Windsor Gardens Community church from his careful examination of Romans 7 through 8:17, people who have been saved by Jesus are no longer "under" the Law, rather they are "under" the Spirit. Yet followers of Jesus still have a command from Jesus to obey Him, the One who taught people to love God and to love people as was commanded in the Mosaic Law, and the One who still commands moral laws, since to break a moral law is always the opposite of loving God and loving people. In John 14:15, Jesus states: "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (NIV). And this included His teaching of moral laws in the Sermon on the Mount. Being disobedient to the moral commands, which Jesus furthered, is unloving! The result is grieving the Holy Spirit and hurt of oneself and maybe other people. Jesus is Holy. The Father is Holy. The Spirit of Christ is Holy. The teachings of Jesus reveal He is calling His children to be holy. Such is the journey a follower of Jesus begins by taking up his or her cross and following Jesus. Success can only come as a follower of Jesus relies on the Holy Spirit.
So moral laws are as much in effect as ever. Says John Stott, "The moral laws of Moses, however, have not been abrogated. On the contrary, they are still in force. Christ died that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, and the Holy Spirit writes God's law in our hearts (Rom. 8:3,4; Jer. 31:33, cf. 2 Cor. 3:6-8)." (2) Whereas certain laws such as what I would term sacrificial laws and civil laws, and which Dr. Stott calls "ceremonial rules" and "civil laws," are not applicable to followers of Jesus. So you Christians can go and chow down on crabs and shrimp tonight if you so desire. As for me, I might be having a bell pepper stuffed with a veggie burger :)
Hunter Irvine
(1) John Stott, Understanding the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972), 180-181.
(2) John Stott, Understanding the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972), 180.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Jesus gave thanks - Matthew 14:19
Matthew 14:19 And [Jesus] directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people (NIV).
I did a Bible phrase search for "gave thanks," and who do you think was the primary person in the verses listed who gave thanks in the New Testament? It was Jesus. Involving the occasions of His miraculous feedings of the multitudes and His final Passover feast, the "last supper," before serving Jesus gave thanks. That got me. When Jesus started ministering, He kept revealing the kingdom of God to people, He did miraculous healing for people, and He died as the substitutional atonement for people. The ministry of Jesus resulted in a reason for people to be thankful to Him. Yet in the Bible Jesus is recorded giving thanks. A hermeneutical message is we are to do likewise.
I add when I did that little phrase search, two others who gave thanks in the New Testament came up: Anna who gave thanks to God when Jesus was brought by Joseph and Mary as an infant to be dedicated in the temple, and Paul before serving food in the midst of the trouble they were having at sea before being shipwrecked on an island in Acts 27.
Now the phrase search was limited and many surely gave thanks to God during the years of the New Testament who are not recorded in the Bible. Yet highlighted is the fact the Messiah gave thanks. Jesus modeled what is instructed often in the Psalms - "Give thanks."
Anytime is an appropriate time to give thanks to God, including before eating food, of which we have because God has created and provided. And followers of Jesus can always give thanks to Jesus that He gave Himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins to make the salvation of any person possible.
Anytime is an appropriate time to give thanks to God, including before eating food, of which we have because God has created and provided. And followers of Jesus can always give thanks to Jesus that He gave Himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins to make the salvation of any person possible.
Now I get to carry out an application of Scripture, and Scripture messages were always meant to be applied. I want to take this opportunity to say, "Thank You Jesus!"
For almost two years, I was on a wild ministry journey. Colorado is a place where I have loving friends and my home of sixteen years straight. Yet in 2013 I obeyed God and moved to teach Bible in a small school in Appalachia. I did not want to leave Colorado, yet I did it. Teaching at the school involved great ministry work, yet there were also serious challenges for an "outsider." Then just as I was adjusting to my new residence in eastern Kentucky, away I went to Ithaca, N.Y., the complete other end of the cultural spectrum in the United States. (And I do not mean to imply that one end of the spectrum is better or worse than the other end. They both have their positive and negatives in my biased opinion.) Having to shift gears completely, I then had the blessing of doing some college ministry work with a small yet loving and great group of Christians at Ithaca College called Awaken Fellowship. Yet Ithaca likewise had its challenges for an "outsider." And just as I was getting acclimated to Ithaca, I moved out shortly after the college school year ended at Ithaca College. I miss the students.
Then I did not know what God wanted me to do. I was a nomad for a month as I searched unsuccessfully for employment with everything I own in the world, literally, in my car, and I slept in some campgrounds. A blessing of being mobile was I had the opportunity to visit two places from my youth which I had not seen in over twenty years. That was a precious opportunity. Yet as the weeks went on, despair swelled, and sometimes I felt abandoned. I add there was one person in particular who sent me emails with loving encouragement, and that was Kristin from Awaken Fellowship at Ithaca College. I am grateful to God for sister Kristin, a young lady in whom I have seen Jesus more than in any other!
Then, after much distress, confusion, yet also prayer, God opened up a door I was not expecting to be opened: I got to come home to Colorado. After God sent me out of Colorado, which was so hard on me, I assumed it was a permanent move and that I would never be brought back. Returning to the Denver area, I have realized how much I have missed my dear friends here. I am thankful I was obedient and went on what turned out to be a two year ministry adventure, and likewise I am thankful I have been brought back to Colorado. I say, "Thank You Jesus."
Then, after much distress, confusion, yet also prayer, God opened up a door I was not expecting to be opened: I got to come home to Colorado. After God sent me out of Colorado, which was so hard on me, I assumed it was a permanent move and that I would never be brought back. Returning to the Denver area, I have realized how much I have missed my dear friends here. I am thankful I was obedient and went on what turned out to be a two year ministry adventure, and likewise I am thankful I have been brought back to Colorado. I say, "Thank You Jesus."
I give thanks to God who enabled me to do ministry work over the course of the past two years which I could not have accomplished in any way, shape, or form without His help. I was able to do good in the course of challenges in both Lost Creek and Ithaca thanks to God's help. I enjoyed teaching Bible in Lost Creek, and most importantly I love the students I taught! I was able to be a witness for Jesus there, even when I was having rough days. Then in Ithaca there were blessings, and I love the students of Awaken Fellowship! They are all dear to my heart! And I had some blessed ministry opportunities there. I give the glory to God.
During my terrible time during my nomad month, and during some rough times in Lost Creek and Ithaca, Jesus was there to carry me. Day after day God was there for me, thus I was able to persevere, even when I was having a rough time, and keep doing good. What resulted was not only perseverance, yet also much fruit at all steps of the ministry journey. Thus I say again, "Thank You Jesus."
Hunter
Saturday, June 20, 2015
The Overcomer - John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV).
In a town where I have never lived, sleeping in a tent in a campground, I have been looking for employment. A few days ago, I saw a restaurant which I have not stepped foot into since about 1993, a "fast food" restaurant of great quality in my opinion. It is a small chain restaurant which has 22 restaurants in Maryland, Virginia, and one in West Virginia. There use to be one by my house when I lived near Falls Church High School in Falls Church, Virginia, yet it was closed at some point in the early 1990's. Yet for one year before it closed, when I started working in Washington D.C. while still living in Falls Church, I ate there frequently after work. You might classify me as a pescetarian now, since I rarely eat meat, and when I do it is usually only fish. But back then I ate plenty of meat, and I thought their chicken was fantastic, and I liked how you could add your own toppings to burgers. I thought the quality of their food was top notch!
So I had to go in and check the place out. To my fortune no one was ordering food when I stepped in, and the manager and a number of the workers were at the counter ready to serve. Stating I had already eaten, I explained I was there to visit since it has been over 20 years since I enjoyed their restaurant in Falls Church, and that I admired the quality of their food. Ending up in a long conversation with the cool manager, she told me many things about the history of the restaurant, and we had a nice conversation.
Before I left as people were starting to come in the restaurant, the manager told me she started working for that company on August 8, 1989, at age 15. She started off making minimum wage, which at that time was $2.75 an hour. She has worked there ever since. She said originally she wanted to be a lawyer. But she has persevered with employment for that restaurant all of these years.
After talking with her, I was genuinely happy for her successful career. Yet as someone who is desperately looking for a job, I felt sad I have never had such job longevity or security. I really questioned why God has allowed me to experience such frequent job turmoil a number of times since I started following Jesus twenty-five years ago, and right now. I have earned four major work awards at four different places of employment, I have had oodles of work compliments, I have always been a hard worker, and I worked so hard in my studies to earn a ministry degree, my career calling. Yet I am homeless and unemployed.
Two people recently have referred me to John 16:33. It is a reminder that followers of Jesus have challenges in this world we would not have otherwise. However there is a peace Jesus offers which we would not have otherwise. I have had such job challenges, starting with the first youth pastor job I ever worked, that I would have become bitter or resentful, and never done any more vocational ministry work, if it were not for the peace which Jesus made and makes possible. Jesus offers forgiveness of our sins, the sins of which bring hurt to ourselves and other people. And He enables us to forgive others who have sinned and hurt us, and the result is a peace that passes understanding, even during job turmoil.
Since I did not turn to Jesus until I was 22, and since I was already into secular music, I was a bit "late" into the Christian music world. My first Christian concert I think was Steven Curtis Chapman at George Mason University's arena in the mid 1990's. My second Christian concert was likewise one I wanted to see. It was Big Tent Revival, an extremely talented band in my opinion. Near the end of the concert, Steve Wiggins explained the Gospel in one of the most clear manners of any Christian singer I have ever heard who told the Gospel, and I have been to a number of Christian concerts since. And in the midst of his talk, Steve said something which has played out ever since that memorable night for a baby Christian of about 27 years of age. He said if you have decided not to follow Jesus, life in this world is the closest you will ever come to heaven. And he said that if you have decided to follow Jesus, be consoled, because this is the closest you will ever come to hell. He was correct. For eternity in heaven there will be only goodness, because Jesus has overcome evil and death. Jesus is the great Overcomer!
I do not know why God allows so much suffering, including for people who are totally devoted to Him. To be honest, sometimes I feel like God does not offer the best to me, even though I have submitted my life to serving Him. Yet God is always working to give me the best, sanctifying me in the process. People may not give me the best, but God wants such for people. Yet this world is full of evil, and for those who are doing God's will, there will be suffering, maybe much suffering. Yet God completely cares for His children! And if I was not a follower of Jesus and did not have His guidance and encouragement all these years, I know I would be suffering in my heart, if not my circumstances.
And going back to the issue of heaven and hell, Scripture teaches all people have sinned, just as Romans 3:23 states, and all through the Bible it is shown or told of how we all need a Savior. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the penal substitution for the wages of sin, which is spiritual death in hell. If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved from hell, and you will have eternal life with Jesus in heaven, and even now. Now the choice is yours as to whether or not you will follow Jesus. Jesus loves everyone. Jesus loves you!
love,
Hunter
In a town where I have never lived, sleeping in a tent in a campground, I have been looking for employment. A few days ago, I saw a restaurant which I have not stepped foot into since about 1993, a "fast food" restaurant of great quality in my opinion. It is a small chain restaurant which has 22 restaurants in Maryland, Virginia, and one in West Virginia. There use to be one by my house when I lived near Falls Church High School in Falls Church, Virginia, yet it was closed at some point in the early 1990's. Yet for one year before it closed, when I started working in Washington D.C. while still living in Falls Church, I ate there frequently after work. You might classify me as a pescetarian now, since I rarely eat meat, and when I do it is usually only fish. But back then I ate plenty of meat, and I thought their chicken was fantastic, and I liked how you could add your own toppings to burgers. I thought the quality of their food was top notch!
So I had to go in and check the place out. To my fortune no one was ordering food when I stepped in, and the manager and a number of the workers were at the counter ready to serve. Stating I had already eaten, I explained I was there to visit since it has been over 20 years since I enjoyed their restaurant in Falls Church, and that I admired the quality of their food. Ending up in a long conversation with the cool manager, she told me many things about the history of the restaurant, and we had a nice conversation.
Before I left as people were starting to come in the restaurant, the manager told me she started working for that company on August 8, 1989, at age 15. She started off making minimum wage, which at that time was $2.75 an hour. She has worked there ever since. She said originally she wanted to be a lawyer. But she has persevered with employment for that restaurant all of these years.
After talking with her, I was genuinely happy for her successful career. Yet as someone who is desperately looking for a job, I felt sad I have never had such job longevity or security. I really questioned why God has allowed me to experience such frequent job turmoil a number of times since I started following Jesus twenty-five years ago, and right now. I have earned four major work awards at four different places of employment, I have had oodles of work compliments, I have always been a hard worker, and I worked so hard in my studies to earn a ministry degree, my career calling. Yet I am homeless and unemployed.
Two people recently have referred me to John 16:33. It is a reminder that followers of Jesus have challenges in this world we would not have otherwise. However there is a peace Jesus offers which we would not have otherwise. I have had such job challenges, starting with the first youth pastor job I ever worked, that I would have become bitter or resentful, and never done any more vocational ministry work, if it were not for the peace which Jesus made and makes possible. Jesus offers forgiveness of our sins, the sins of which bring hurt to ourselves and other people. And He enables us to forgive others who have sinned and hurt us, and the result is a peace that passes understanding, even during job turmoil.
Since I did not turn to Jesus until I was 22, and since I was already into secular music, I was a bit "late" into the Christian music world. My first Christian concert I think was Steven Curtis Chapman at George Mason University's arena in the mid 1990's. My second Christian concert was likewise one I wanted to see. It was Big Tent Revival, an extremely talented band in my opinion. Near the end of the concert, Steve Wiggins explained the Gospel in one of the most clear manners of any Christian singer I have ever heard who told the Gospel, and I have been to a number of Christian concerts since. And in the midst of his talk, Steve said something which has played out ever since that memorable night for a baby Christian of about 27 years of age. He said if you have decided not to follow Jesus, life in this world is the closest you will ever come to heaven. And he said that if you have decided to follow Jesus, be consoled, because this is the closest you will ever come to hell. He was correct. For eternity in heaven there will be only goodness, because Jesus has overcome evil and death. Jesus is the great Overcomer!
I do not know why God allows so much suffering, including for people who are totally devoted to Him. To be honest, sometimes I feel like God does not offer the best to me, even though I have submitted my life to serving Him. Yet God is always working to give me the best, sanctifying me in the process. People may not give me the best, but God wants such for people. Yet this world is full of evil, and for those who are doing God's will, there will be suffering, maybe much suffering. Yet God completely cares for His children! And if I was not a follower of Jesus and did not have His guidance and encouragement all these years, I know I would be suffering in my heart, if not my circumstances.
And going back to the issue of heaven and hell, Scripture teaches all people have sinned, just as Romans 3:23 states, and all through the Bible it is shown or told of how we all need a Savior. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the penal substitution for the wages of sin, which is spiritual death in hell. If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved from hell, and you will have eternal life with Jesus in heaven, and even now. Now the choice is yours as to whether or not you will follow Jesus. Jesus loves everyone. Jesus loves you!
love,
Hunter
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Last week I read sections of an old Bible Encyclopedia which gave specifics on life in the Middle East during Biblical times on topics such as food, farming, housing, and clothing. Reading Habakkuk 3:17-19 in the wake of reading that book, I realize Habakkuk was expressing total loss. Figs were a staple, and grapes often provided liquid since city water supplies were frequently dirty. Olives gave oil for lamps, and of course all needed food from the fields. Sheep gave wool which was made into a primary cloth, and cattle gave the blessed provision of milk. At that sad hour, the physical basic necessities of life were lost. Yet Habakkuk does not give up hope. In fact, he does something radical.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
“Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments” (NIV).
In December of 2012, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a second B.A. in Youth Ministry. Yet since that time, there has been unemployment, two huge moves, hardships, and more unemployment. I had an expectation that soon after graduation I would swiftly gain ministry employment, and then be in a position to date and become married, a longtime dream. But things have sometimes seemed worse than before I graduated. Yet I have had many blessings, such as a college ministry role this past school year with Awaken at Ithaca College. I love those students.
The other day, I had a problem which only added to my list of problems, and I emailed a few friends in my discouragement. A friend whom I met at a church in Virginia back in 1996 responded. Tim stated I should read Habakkuk 3:17-19. I did. Then a distant memory came to me: I remembered that Tim, whom I rarely see since we have not lived in the same state since 1997, told me I should read that passage over fifteen years ago when I was struggling with hardship at the time. Is that wild? Though I do not remember the occasion or the exact year, I remember the reading of that passage resulted in encouragement from God back then. And I was encouraged by God again this time reading the Scripture, and also in knowing I have a faithful friend who cares about my hardships still after all these years. I add I was also encouraged recently by Kristin, a student at Ithaca College, who gave a message on the same line as this passage at a retreat.
Likewise I know God cares about our hardships, though He allows His children to suffer just as there is suffering possible for all people. There have been times in prayer when I have asked God why He allows so much suffering. And many followers of Jesus throughout the past 2000 years experienced or experience unique hardships and suffering they did not experience before they were followers. Yet as this passage leads us to there is always joy from our Savior, because for the person who has opened his or her heart to Jesus, he or she has eternal salvation from God, thus she or he can have eternal joy, even in the present.
If you are not in a relationship with Jesus, may you know that He died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the sacrificial atonement, taking the penalty of sins which is physical and spiritual death. He did this because He loves all people. If you believe in Jesus, you will have everlasting life. You will still suffer in this world. Yet you will always have true Love.
Hunter Irvine
Habakkuk 3:17-19
“Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments” (NIV).
In December of 2012, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a second B.A. in Youth Ministry. Yet since that time, there has been unemployment, two huge moves, hardships, and more unemployment. I had an expectation that soon after graduation I would swiftly gain ministry employment, and then be in a position to date and become married, a longtime dream. But things have sometimes seemed worse than before I graduated. Yet I have had many blessings, such as a college ministry role this past school year with Awaken at Ithaca College. I love those students.
The other day, I had a problem which only added to my list of problems, and I emailed a few friends in my discouragement. A friend whom I met at a church in Virginia back in 1996 responded. Tim stated I should read Habakkuk 3:17-19. I did. Then a distant memory came to me: I remembered that Tim, whom I rarely see since we have not lived in the same state since 1997, told me I should read that passage over fifteen years ago when I was struggling with hardship at the time. Is that wild? Though I do not remember the occasion or the exact year, I remember the reading of that passage resulted in encouragement from God back then. And I was encouraged by God again this time reading the Scripture, and also in knowing I have a faithful friend who cares about my hardships still after all these years. I add I was also encouraged recently by Kristin, a student at Ithaca College, who gave a message on the same line as this passage at a retreat.
Likewise I know God cares about our hardships, though He allows His children to suffer just as there is suffering possible for all people. There have been times in prayer when I have asked God why He allows so much suffering. And many followers of Jesus throughout the past 2000 years experienced or experience unique hardships and suffering they did not experience before they were followers. Yet as this passage leads us to there is always joy from our Savior, because for the person who has opened his or her heart to Jesus, he or she has eternal salvation from God, thus she or he can have eternal joy, even in the present.
If you are not in a relationship with Jesus, may you know that He died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the sacrificial atonement, taking the penalty of sins which is physical and spiritual death. He did this because He loves all people. If you believe in Jesus, you will have everlasting life. You will still suffer in this world. Yet you will always have true Love.
Hunter Irvine
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Thank You Jesus!
It seems unreal 25 years have passed since I began following Jesus. 25 years ago today, on April 15, 1990, I was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. It was Easter Sunday. Since it was Easter, as I hiked alone through woods for hours and hours, I was thinking of Jesus. The Appalachian Trail led up Mt. Albert in North Carolina. On the top of that mountain was a firetower, which I went up. It was a beautiful day, and the view was great. Yet I was still thinking about Jesus. For the past eight months, I had been going to a caring church where I had learned some things about Jesus.
There on the firetower, I became convicted Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and I became convicted I needed Jesus, and I wanted Him. I believed in Jesus! I started to pray. I prayed with much enthusiasm. It was awesome. That is when I gave my heart to Jesus.
At first I did not realize all that had happened, but I began to realize God was with me. In a trail register outside of Catawba, Virginia, I gave a public “thank you” to God. I hiked with such joy for the rest of that day. I also started signing my postcards to friends saying “God bless you.” I had never said that before. And I became thankful I had been saved.
That was all just the beginning. Twenty-five years later, I have countless testimonies. I truly have been changed in my heart by God, bit by bit, all along. The love of Jesus in my heart has resulted in many blessings. There has been much suffering. Many times Jesus has had to carry me. Many Christian brothers and sisters have come and gone from my life. And I have seen enough church strife for a lifetime. Yet Jesus has always been with me, from average days where I need Him to live the single celibate life I have lived, to days such as when my grandma had to go to the emergency room on Christmas Eve, or the evening when she passed away as I was singing to her. I have needed Jesus. What Jesus has given me all along is joy and peace.
Praise be to God I have a passion for doing ministry work, and I especially enjoy writing and preaching. It has been a challenging journey. From mountain highs like when I spoke to 300 students at Denver Christian High School for a chapel service, to a time when I could do no more than pray and cry for a student in our youth group who had a brain tumor, there is always the need to rely on Jesus to do the work He has given us to do.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV).
I know Jesus was the substitutional atonement, dying on the cross for the sins of anyone, and I thank Him for dying for the forgiveness of my sins. And I thank Him for being faithful to me. After 25 years, my desire is that I may continue to be thankful daily that Jesus loves me. I love Jesus!
Hunter
There on the firetower, I became convicted Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and I became convicted I needed Jesus, and I wanted Him. I believed in Jesus! I started to pray. I prayed with much enthusiasm. It was awesome. That is when I gave my heart to Jesus.
At first I did not realize all that had happened, but I began to realize God was with me. In a trail register outside of Catawba, Virginia, I gave a public “thank you” to God. I hiked with such joy for the rest of that day. I also started signing my postcards to friends saying “God bless you.” I had never said that before. And I became thankful I had been saved.
That was all just the beginning. Twenty-five years later, I have countless testimonies. I truly have been changed in my heart by God, bit by bit, all along. The love of Jesus in my heart has resulted in many blessings. There has been much suffering. Many times Jesus has had to carry me. Many Christian brothers and sisters have come and gone from my life. And I have seen enough church strife for a lifetime. Yet Jesus has always been with me, from average days where I need Him to live the single celibate life I have lived, to days such as when my grandma had to go to the emergency room on Christmas Eve, or the evening when she passed away as I was singing to her. I have needed Jesus. What Jesus has given me all along is joy and peace.
Praise be to God I have a passion for doing ministry work, and I especially enjoy writing and preaching. It has been a challenging journey. From mountain highs like when I spoke to 300 students at Denver Christian High School for a chapel service, to a time when I could do no more than pray and cry for a student in our youth group who had a brain tumor, there is always the need to rely on Jesus to do the work He has given us to do.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV).
I know Jesus was the substitutional atonement, dying on the cross for the sins of anyone, and I thank Him for dying for the forgiveness of my sins. And I thank Him for being faithful to me. After 25 years, my desire is that I may continue to be thankful daily that Jesus loves me. I love Jesus!
Hunter
Friday, April 10, 2015
The Stone is Rolled Away
The Stone Is Rolled Away
Matthew 28:2-6
A sermon given for Awaken Fellowship at Ithaca College on April 10, 2015
by Hunter Irvine
Matthew 28:2-6
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay…” (NIV).
The message of this passage is that Jesus is risen from the dead! Yet how does this involve us today almost 2000 years later? I start by examining why Jewish people rolled stones in front of tombs.
Around the time of Christ, Jewish people practiced what is called “secondary burial.” After 20 B.C., dead bodies were put in tombs which were often carved within the limestone cliffs. A stone would be rolled over the entrance so wild animals would not get in there. The flesh would slowly decay off of the bones.
About one year later, someone would go back in the tomb and collect the bones. Most often the bones were collected and put in another room carved out in the foothills, often with many other bones. Yet for religious or wealthy families, the bones were put into an ossuary, also called a bone box. Ossuaries were made of limestone, which is a softer stone. The wealthier would be able to afford carvings in the ossuaries whereas other bone boxes where plain. A typical size was about two feet by one and a half feet.
http://members.bib-arch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=27&Issue=05&ArticleID=17
Archaeologists have dug up thousands of these bone boxes! They have been digging them up for years!
Why did they do “secondary burial?” For the sake of time, the short answer: Pharisees started saying bones needed to be preserved for resurrection. They were misinterpreting Ezekiel 37:1-14, making a double entendre of this vision, which is a bad Biblical interpretation practice. Granted there are some “types,” which come from concrete items or events which foreshadow an important future event in the Hebrew Scriptures, but a “type” never comes from a metaphor, which is what the vision from God to Ezekiel was.
God’s plan for resurrection had nothing to do with bones. God’s plan for resurrection had to do with the Messiah! Jesus was both physically and spiritually resurrected!!!
We know He was physically resurrected. Mary Magdalene hugged him! (John 20:17).
Yet He was also spiritually resurrected! John Stott: “His birth was natural, but his conception was supernatural. His death was natural, but his resurrection was supernatural.” [1]
John 20:3-8 “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed” (NIV).
When Lazarus was resurrected by Jesus, he came out of the tomb wearing his grave clothes. When Jesus was resurrected, His graveclothes were still lying in the tomb. Why did Jesus lose His clothes? John Stott explains: “What then should we have seen, had we been there [in the tomb]? We should suddenly have noticed that the body had disappeared….transmuted into something new and different and wonderful. It would have passed through the graveclothes, as it was later to pass through closed doors…”[2]
In fact, no one ever saw Jesus come out of the tomb. I think a careful reading of this passage suggests Jesus was already gone before the angel rolled away the stone!!!
So Jesus is alive, physically and spiritually!
And there is a personal message for us (the hermeneutical message): The message is that you can be spiritually resurrected in Christ! How? By believing in Jesus!!
“We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6 NIV).
The “him” is Jesus. He is the Lamb of God who was the sacrificial atonement for sins.
This is a classic story from the 1800’s by Dwight Moody: “A farmer was once found kneeling at a soldier’s grave near Nashville. Someone came to him and said, “Why do you pay so much attention to this grave? Was your son buried here?” “No,” he said. During the war my family were all sick, I knew not how to leave them. I was drafted. One of my neighbors came over and said: ‘I will go for you; I have no family.’ He went off. He was wounded at Chickamauga. He was carried to the hospital, and there died. And, sir, I have come a great many miles, that I might write over his grave these words, ‘He died for me.’”[3]
Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the atonement for the consequences of sins, which is spiritual death in hell. If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life with Him.
If you have never opened your heart to Jesus, you can do so right here and now. Jesus loves you.
Hunter
[1] John Stott, Basic Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1958), 46.
[2] John Stott, Basic Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1958), 53.
[3] D.L. Moody, Prevailing Prayer (Chicago: Moody Press, [no date, no copyright]), 58-59.
Matthew 28:2-6
A sermon given for Awaken Fellowship at Ithaca College on April 10, 2015
by Hunter Irvine
Matthew 28:2-6
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay…” (NIV).
The message of this passage is that Jesus is risen from the dead! Yet how does this involve us today almost 2000 years later? I start by examining why Jewish people rolled stones in front of tombs.
Around the time of Christ, Jewish people practiced what is called “secondary burial.” After 20 B.C., dead bodies were put in tombs which were often carved within the limestone cliffs. A stone would be rolled over the entrance so wild animals would not get in there. The flesh would slowly decay off of the bones.
About one year later, someone would go back in the tomb and collect the bones. Most often the bones were collected and put in another room carved out in the foothills, often with many other bones. Yet for religious or wealthy families, the bones were put into an ossuary, also called a bone box. Ossuaries were made of limestone, which is a softer stone. The wealthier would be able to afford carvings in the ossuaries whereas other bone boxes where plain. A typical size was about two feet by one and a half feet.
http://members.bib-arch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=27&Issue=05&ArticleID=17
Archaeologists have dug up thousands of these bone boxes! They have been digging them up for years!
Why did they do “secondary burial?” For the sake of time, the short answer: Pharisees started saying bones needed to be preserved for resurrection. They were misinterpreting Ezekiel 37:1-14, making a double entendre of this vision, which is a bad Biblical interpretation practice. Granted there are some “types,” which come from concrete items or events which foreshadow an important future event in the Hebrew Scriptures, but a “type” never comes from a metaphor, which is what the vision from God to Ezekiel was.
God’s plan for resurrection had nothing to do with bones. God’s plan for resurrection had to do with the Messiah! Jesus was both physically and spiritually resurrected!!!
We know He was physically resurrected. Mary Magdalene hugged him! (John 20:17).
Yet He was also spiritually resurrected! John Stott: “His birth was natural, but his conception was supernatural. His death was natural, but his resurrection was supernatural.” [1]
John 20:3-8 “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed” (NIV).
When Lazarus was resurrected by Jesus, he came out of the tomb wearing his grave clothes. When Jesus was resurrected, His graveclothes were still lying in the tomb. Why did Jesus lose His clothes? John Stott explains: “What then should we have seen, had we been there [in the tomb]? We should suddenly have noticed that the body had disappeared….transmuted into something new and different and wonderful. It would have passed through the graveclothes, as it was later to pass through closed doors…”[2]
In fact, no one ever saw Jesus come out of the tomb. I think a careful reading of this passage suggests Jesus was already gone before the angel rolled away the stone!!!
So Jesus is alive, physically and spiritually!
And there is a personal message for us (the hermeneutical message): The message is that you can be spiritually resurrected in Christ! How? By believing in Jesus!!
“We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6 NIV).
The “him” is Jesus. He is the Lamb of God who was the sacrificial atonement for sins.
This is a classic story from the 1800’s by Dwight Moody: “A farmer was once found kneeling at a soldier’s grave near Nashville. Someone came to him and said, “Why do you pay so much attention to this grave? Was your son buried here?” “No,” he said. During the war my family were all sick, I knew not how to leave them. I was drafted. One of my neighbors came over and said: ‘I will go for you; I have no family.’ He went off. He was wounded at Chickamauga. He was carried to the hospital, and there died. And, sir, I have come a great many miles, that I might write over his grave these words, ‘He died for me.’”[3]
Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the atonement for the consequences of sins, which is spiritual death in hell. If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life with Him.
If you have never opened your heart to Jesus, you can do so right here and now. Jesus loves you.
Hunter
[1] John Stott, Basic Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1958), 46.
[2] John Stott, Basic Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1958), 53.
[3] D.L. Moody, Prevailing Prayer (Chicago: Moody Press, [no date, no copyright]), 58-59.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Is Easter over?
On a Monday morning in the wake of Easter Sunday, and in the wake of completing a huge study on the twelve apostles, I post Acts 4:33 -
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all"(NIV).
The radical fact of Christianity is that being a witness to Jesus' resurrection continues to be a call for all true followers of Jesus. And the Holy Spirit enables.
+ I thank You Father that all of us who follow Jesus can know in our hearts, even during horrible times, that Jesus has been resurrected.
love, Hunter
And since Nicol, who is the sister of Todd Smith, was not in the Selah song in the video in the last post, here is the link to a classic song sung by Nicol which I have given before, but which is worth a repeat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39yKviTmchk
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all"(NIV).
The radical fact of Christianity is that being a witness to Jesus' resurrection continues to be a call for all true followers of Jesus. And the Holy Spirit enables.
+ I thank You Father that all of us who follow Jesus can know in our hearts, even during horrible times, that Jesus has been resurrected.
love, Hunter
And since Nicol, who is the sister of Todd Smith, was not in the Selah song in the video in the last post, here is the link to a classic song sung by Nicol which I have given before, but which is worth a repeat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39yKviTmchk
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