Good evening friends,
Today's reading finishes our story from John. Jesus has healed a man and now faces criticism because he healed on the Sabbath. Jesus faced almost constant conflict from the religious leaders of his time because he didn't fit their expectations. Jesus' words here have a lot to say to the church today. How often do we refuse a gift from God because a person or idea that comes in to the church doesn't fit our expectation? Other organizations or companies need to hear the same challenge. Organizations and people tend to lose track of our initial purpose, so when someone new comes along to call us back to that purpose we resist.
God, bless us with flexibility and faithfulness,
Sam
John 5:30-47
30“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true.33You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. 34Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.
37And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, 38and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. 39“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. 40Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.41I do not accept glory from human beings. 42But I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.44How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
Showing posts with label flexibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flexibility. Show all posts
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Thursday, April 29, 2010
defense in Jerusalem
Good morning all,
This morning we get a great example of Paul's ability to speak clearly and with integrity to different audiences. We saw yesterday that he was attacked by a large Jewish mob who wanted to kill him. He was rescued by being arrested by the Roman forces. Today Paul begins by addressing the Roman tribune in Greek. Paul's fluent Greek and comfort addressing this gentile official opens the tribune's ears to what Paul says, and shows that he is someone comfortable in Roman society. He also mentions his citizenship here, which has been important before and will be again as our story develops.
Paul then addresses the crowd to make his defense to them, and he does so in Hebrew. In Hebrew he points to his own credentials as an observant and serious Jew. His Hebrew language emphasizes the point he is trying to make: "I am one of you." Paul then begins to tell the story of how he moved from being an ardent persecutor of the church to a radical evangelist for Christ. Regardless of who he addresses Paul understands his audience and seeks to connect the gospel to their experience. While he is flexible and creative in his presentation he always sticks to the truth of God's love and calling even when this will be unpopular, as we'll see tomorrow.
May God give you courage and creativity in your day today,
Sam
Acts 21:37-22:5
37Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune replied, “Do you know Greek? 38Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.” 40When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence; and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
22:1”Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.” 2When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said:
3”I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, 5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
This morning we get a great example of Paul's ability to speak clearly and with integrity to different audiences. We saw yesterday that he was attacked by a large Jewish mob who wanted to kill him. He was rescued by being arrested by the Roman forces. Today Paul begins by addressing the Roman tribune in Greek. Paul's fluent Greek and comfort addressing this gentile official opens the tribune's ears to what Paul says, and shows that he is someone comfortable in Roman society. He also mentions his citizenship here, which has been important before and will be again as our story develops.
Paul then addresses the crowd to make his defense to them, and he does so in Hebrew. In Hebrew he points to his own credentials as an observant and serious Jew. His Hebrew language emphasizes the point he is trying to make: "I am one of you." Paul then begins to tell the story of how he moved from being an ardent persecutor of the church to a radical evangelist for Christ. Regardless of who he addresses Paul understands his audience and seeks to connect the gospel to their experience. While he is flexible and creative in his presentation he always sticks to the truth of God's love and calling even when this will be unpopular, as we'll see tomorrow.
May God give you courage and creativity in your day today,
Sam
Acts 21:37-22:5
37Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune replied, “Do you know Greek? 38Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.” 40When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence; and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
22:1”Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.” 2When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said:
3”I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, 5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
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