Just recently I heard someone say that people change for three reasons:
1. When they hurt enough that they have to change something.
2. When they learn enough that they want to change something.
3. When they receive enough that they are able to change something.
Why? Why does it have to be that way?
It is unfortunate that we humans find it so hard to break out of habits and patterns that keep us stuck where we are. It would be best if, when we hurt a little, we would change. It would be best if, when we learn a little, we would change. It would be best if, when we receive a little, we would change. Unfortunately that is not the way it is.
We are slow to change and often require lots of hurt before even attempting to change. John Maxwell says it this way: “People change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing.” Couldn’t we change a little quicker?
My encouragement to you would be to start today. Don’t wait for more pain. Don’t wait for more learning. Don’t wait until you think that you have enough to be able to change. Start the change now.
Pray for change. Pray some more for change. Pray for you to change. Pray for wisdom to change. Pray for the strength to change. Pray for the courage to change. Make a plan.
Don’t wait for more pain. Don’t wait for more learning. Don’t wait for more tools. Start today!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Resurrection is more than a story... Part 3 of 3
What was the resurrected Jesus like? Jesus’ resurrection body had “flesh and bones.” He was not a ghost. The disciples were able to recognize Him and to touch Him. He spoke with them.
But could they all have been having a group hallucination? No, because the disciples were not the only ones who saw and touched Jesus. Paul makes a long list of people who claimed to have seen the risen Christ personally, and notes that “most of them are still living” (1 Corinthians 15:6).
Moreover, there has to be some explanation for how the cowardly group of disciples was transformed into a group of leaders. Many of them went on to live sacrificial lives, and were killed for teaching that Jesus had been resurrected.
Jesus had risen, just as He told them He would. After a criminal does his time in jail and fully satisfies the sentence, the law no longer has a claim on the criminal, he walks out of jail free.
Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins. The sentence upon him was an infinite sentence because of the infinite nature of man’s sin. He must have satisfied the sentence fully because on Easter Sunday He walked out of prison free. The resurrection was God’s way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody could miss it. The sentence was fulfilled. The penalty was paid. ------- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011.
But could they all have been having a group hallucination? No, because the disciples were not the only ones who saw and touched Jesus. Paul makes a long list of people who claimed to have seen the risen Christ personally, and notes that “most of them are still living” (1 Corinthians 15:6).
Moreover, there has to be some explanation for how the cowardly group of disciples was transformed into a group of leaders. Many of them went on to live sacrificial lives, and were killed for teaching that Jesus had been resurrected.
Jesus had risen, just as He told them He would. After a criminal does his time in jail and fully satisfies the sentence, the law no longer has a claim on the criminal, he walks out of jail free.
Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins. The sentence upon him was an infinite sentence because of the infinite nature of man’s sin. He must have satisfied the sentence fully because on Easter Sunday He walked out of prison free. The resurrection was God’s way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody could miss it. The sentence was fulfilled. The penalty was paid. ------- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Resurrection is more than a story... Part 2 of 3
The resurrection was inconceivable for the first disciples. It was as impossible for them to believe, as it is for many of us today. Granted, their reasons would have been different from ours. The Greeks did not believe in resurrection. In the Greek worldview, the afterlife was liberation of the soul from the body. According to the Greek worldview the resurrection would never be part of life after death.
As for the Jews, some of them believed in a future general resurrection when the entire world would be renewed, but they had no concept of an individual rising from the dead. The people of Jesus’ day were not predisposed to believe in resurrection any more than we are.
Celsus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the second century A.D., was highly antagonistic to Christianity and wrote a number of works listing arguments against it. One of the arguments he believed most telling went like this: Christianity can’t be true, because the written accounts of the resurrection are based on the testimony of women—and we all know women are hysterical. Many of Celsus’ readers agreed; for them, the fact that the witnesses were women was a major problem. In ancient societies women were marginalized, and the testimony of women was never given legal credence.
Do you see what that means? If Mark and the Christians were making up these stories to get their movement off the ground, they would never have written women into the story as the first eyewitnesses to Jesus’ empty tomb. The only possible reason for the presence of women in these accounts is that they really were present and reported what they saw. The stone has been rolled away, the tomb is empty and an angel declares that Jesus is risen. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
As for the Jews, some of them believed in a future general resurrection when the entire world would be renewed, but they had no concept of an individual rising from the dead. The people of Jesus’ day were not predisposed to believe in resurrection any more than we are.
Celsus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the second century A.D., was highly antagonistic to Christianity and wrote a number of works listing arguments against it. One of the arguments he believed most telling went like this: Christianity can’t be true, because the written accounts of the resurrection are based on the testimony of women—and we all know women are hysterical. Many of Celsus’ readers agreed; for them, the fact that the witnesses were women was a major problem. In ancient societies women were marginalized, and the testimony of women was never given legal credence.
Do you see what that means? If Mark and the Christians were making up these stories to get their movement off the ground, they would never have written women into the story as the first eyewitnesses to Jesus’ empty tomb. The only possible reason for the presence of women in these accounts is that they really were present and reported what they saw. The stone has been rolled away, the tomb is empty and an angel declares that Jesus is risen. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
The Resurrection is more than a story...Part 1 of 3
In the decades before and after Jesus’ life and death, there were dozens of ‘messianic’ movements in Israel. In almost every case the ‘messianic leader’ was killed, in many cases by execution, and after the leader’s death each of these movements invariably collapsed. Everybody went home, and that was it. Of the dozens of move-ments, only one did not collapse after the death of the leader. Not only did the movement not collapse, it exploded—in the course of about 300 years it had spread through the entire Roman Empire.
Of all the messianic movements, what made the Christian faith different? What happened to cause explosive growth in Christianity after its founder’s death?
Jesus died in mid-afternoon and the Sabbath began at sunset. The Jewish law permitted no work on the Sabbath, which meant they could not bury the body of Jesus that night or the next day. So Joseph of Arimathea visits Pilate, hoping to be able to bury the body before the Sabbath begins. Joseph, though a Pharisee, shows enormous courage and independence of thought by asking for Jesus’ body. Mark reports:
“Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:44–47)
The way Mark reports the burial is significant: He is “certifying” that Jesus was really dead. Joseph of Arimathea is named here as an identified witness who actually had Jesus’ body wrapped up and sealed it in a tomb. A Roman centurion (who would be an expert) bore witness of Jesus’ death to Pilate (who would be the legal authority on the matter). Finally, two women are cited as eyewitnesses to the burial. So multiple experts and witnesses prove He was really dead. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
Of all the messianic movements, what made the Christian faith different? What happened to cause explosive growth in Christianity after its founder’s death?
Jesus died in mid-afternoon and the Sabbath began at sunset. The Jewish law permitted no work on the Sabbath, which meant they could not bury the body of Jesus that night or the next day. So Joseph of Arimathea visits Pilate, hoping to be able to bury the body before the Sabbath begins. Joseph, though a Pharisee, shows enormous courage and independence of thought by asking for Jesus’ body. Mark reports:
“Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:44–47)
The way Mark reports the burial is significant: He is “certifying” that Jesus was really dead. Joseph of Arimathea is named here as an identified witness who actually had Jesus’ body wrapped up and sealed it in a tomb. A Roman centurion (who would be an expert) bore witness of Jesus’ death to Pilate (who would be the legal authority on the matter). Finally, two women are cited as eyewitnesses to the burial. So multiple experts and witnesses prove He was really dead. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Easter is Two Weeks Away!
I hope that you have been praying and inviting people to join you for our Easter Gatherings. We will have two gatherings at 8:30 and 10:30. Plan to bring family, friends and co-workers with you. There are invitations available in the foyers for you to use. Take as many as you need, as many as you can use! The people in your circle are open at Easter to attending an Easter Celebration so …. Invite them!
Easter is unlike any other event in the year because Easter is the celebration of the One who is unlike any other!
Easter is the culmination of 1000’s of years of God’s toil to arrange for the homecoming of the human race. God was working, around the clock and around the calendar, to return people into a loving relationship with Him.
He sent prophets, kings, leaders and teachers to guide people towards a faith relationship with Him. His hard work accomplished very little. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ - Immanuel – God with us – to live on this earth. Jesus lived a sinless life – the only one to ever do so. Jesus, the only one to have lived an innocent life died a criminal’s death on the cross. Jesus was buried in a borrowed grave and three days later He rose from the dead. Death could not keep Him down. He appeared to the women, the disciples and then to a group of 500 people at one time.
The resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity different then every other philosophy or religion. Jesus is the only teacher, the only prophet, the only miracle worker, the only Rabbi … who ever rose from the dead! Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Scientology, Confucianism, Mormonism … you name it – the leader, the prophet, the founder, the seer, the teacher, the Rabbis – they are all dead.
In all of history, Jesus alone, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is alive today. His resurrection is unlike any other event in history. He is alive! He is alive forever more!
These facts make Easter the greatest day in the calendar. There is no other day that compares.
Pray for those who will be here and invite others to join you!
Easter is unlike any other event in the year because Easter is the celebration of the One who is unlike any other!
Easter is the culmination of 1000’s of years of God’s toil to arrange for the homecoming of the human race. God was working, around the clock and around the calendar, to return people into a loving relationship with Him.
He sent prophets, kings, leaders and teachers to guide people towards a faith relationship with Him. His hard work accomplished very little. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ - Immanuel – God with us – to live on this earth. Jesus lived a sinless life – the only one to ever do so. Jesus, the only one to have lived an innocent life died a criminal’s death on the cross. Jesus was buried in a borrowed grave and three days later He rose from the dead. Death could not keep Him down. He appeared to the women, the disciples and then to a group of 500 people at one time.
The resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity different then every other philosophy or religion. Jesus is the only teacher, the only prophet, the only miracle worker, the only Rabbi … who ever rose from the dead! Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Scientology, Confucianism, Mormonism … you name it – the leader, the prophet, the founder, the seer, the teacher, the Rabbis – they are all dead.
In all of history, Jesus alone, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is alive today. His resurrection is unlike any other event in history. He is alive! He is alive forever more!
These facts make Easter the greatest day in the calendar. There is no other day that compares.
Pray for those who will be here and invite others to join you!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
He is at work!
God is at work changing lives. At times His work is very obvious. There are other times when His work is not so obvious. There are seasons when the life changing work of God is easily seen. There are other seasons when that life changing work seems so hard to see. It can be so hard to see the work of God that people begin to believe that His work is not happening.
The Apostle Paul wrote about the life changing work of God to the believers in the city of Philippi. He was trying to encourage them. He wrote:
I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NLT) He was trying to encourage people, who were going through a season where the work of God wasn’t so apparent.
It is interesting that Paul writes these words of encouragement, to the followers in Philippi, while he is in chains for being a follower of Jesus. (Philippians 1:7, 13-14, 17) Paul is in chains – chains – did you catch that? CHAINS. Paul is under lock and key. Even while locked up - Paul writes about God, who began a good work, continuing to work in discouraging circumstances.
Paul is attempting to do is encourage discouraged believers. The words have a similar tune to the words of David in Psalm 23.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalms 23:4 NLT)
Are you going through a rough patch? A rough patch relationally? A rough patch financially? A rough patch in your health? A rough patch at work? Be encouraged! God is at work!
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
The Apostle Paul wrote about the life changing work of God to the believers in the city of Philippi. He was trying to encourage them. He wrote:
I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NLT) He was trying to encourage people, who were going through a season where the work of God wasn’t so apparent.
It is interesting that Paul writes these words of encouragement, to the followers in Philippi, while he is in chains for being a follower of Jesus. (Philippians 1:7, 13-14, 17) Paul is in chains – chains – did you catch that? CHAINS. Paul is under lock and key. Even while locked up - Paul writes about God, who began a good work, continuing to work in discouraging circumstances.
Paul is attempting to do is encourage discouraged believers. The words have a similar tune to the words of David in Psalm 23.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalms 23:4 NLT)
Are you going through a rough patch? A rough patch relationally? A rough patch financially? A rough patch in your health? A rough patch at work? Be encouraged! God is at work!
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Playing Dress-Up
Playing ‘Dress-up’
An activity that is common to almost every person growing up is pretending to be someone. Children ‘dress-up’ to be movie stars, athletes, musicians, doctors, nurses, policeman, firemen, soldiers, teachers, husband or wife. It would be hard to find someone who hasn’t ‘pretended’ to be someone that they admire.
The proliferation of the internet has taken pretending and has lifted ‘dress-up’ to a whole new level. People are now able to be almost anyone they want to be in a ‘virtual’ life. The news regularly reports on people who spend more time living out their ‘virtual’ life than they do their real life. In the virtual world I can be younger/older, taller/shorter, lighter/heavier, and richer or have more achievements. I can have the personality that I wish I really had. I can remove the ‘warts’ that are so apparent to people in the ‘real’ world. Whatever I would like to be – I can be – in the virtual world.
Down through the centuries - ‘Dress-up’ has been the activity of not only children but of adults too. Adults regularly ‘dress-up’ to impress people. ‘Dress-up’ happens literally. ‘Dress-up’ happens figuratively.
Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. (Proverbs 13:7 NLT)
People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they're deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
(Proverbs 26:24-25 NLT)
One of the clear teachings from Jesus and from the first days of the life of the church is that God really hates ‘Dress-up.’ He never approves of people pretending to be something of someone other than who they really are.
Jesus said it this way: On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.' (Matthew 7:22-23 NLT)
These are strong words to people who ‘Dress-up’ – people who ‘Dress-up’ as miracle workers no less!
Get Real!
An activity that is common to almost every person growing up is pretending to be someone. Children ‘dress-up’ to be movie stars, athletes, musicians, doctors, nurses, policeman, firemen, soldiers, teachers, husband or wife. It would be hard to find someone who hasn’t ‘pretended’ to be someone that they admire.
The proliferation of the internet has taken pretending and has lifted ‘dress-up’ to a whole new level. People are now able to be almost anyone they want to be in a ‘virtual’ life. The news regularly reports on people who spend more time living out their ‘virtual’ life than they do their real life. In the virtual world I can be younger/older, taller/shorter, lighter/heavier, and richer or have more achievements. I can have the personality that I wish I really had. I can remove the ‘warts’ that are so apparent to people in the ‘real’ world. Whatever I would like to be – I can be – in the virtual world.
Down through the centuries - ‘Dress-up’ has been the activity of not only children but of adults too. Adults regularly ‘dress-up’ to impress people. ‘Dress-up’ happens literally. ‘Dress-up’ happens figuratively.
Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. (Proverbs 13:7 NLT)
People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they're deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
(Proverbs 26:24-25 NLT)
One of the clear teachings from Jesus and from the first days of the life of the church is that God really hates ‘Dress-up.’ He never approves of people pretending to be something of someone other than who they really are.
Jesus said it this way: On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.' (Matthew 7:22-23 NLT)
These are strong words to people who ‘Dress-up’ – people who ‘Dress-up’ as miracle workers no less!
Get Real!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Living a Lifestyle the Draws
I read a quote recently that I’ve been mulling over. I want to believe that what the author of the quote has observed and stated about the church is not true. I just don’t want to think that things are really like he says. I want to think that there are external forces totally responsible for people rejecting Jesus and the church.
The teaching of evolution has to be the number one reason why people reject Jesus and don’t want to be involved with the church. The constant bombardment of media and information has to be the number one reason for peoples’ response. The options that people have today – from 750 TV channels, internet, shopping, endless sports and entertainment – that has to be the reason that people stay away from God. Could it be that it is something else?
"The greatest single cause of atheism today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, but deny Him by their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Brennan Manning
Could this be true? Could it be that the way I live or fail to live could stand in the way of people responding to Jesus and participating in a family of faith? Could it be that if I were to take how I live as seriously as Jesus told me to, it would have a far greater impact on those who have not crossed the line of faith?
Could it be that Jesus declared: “… let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16 NLT) because how His followers live does impact those who have yet come to faith?
When Jesus declared --- “… if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. "But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! (Matthew 5:19-20 NLT) --- was He actually talking not about what has often been referred to by the church as ‘legalism’ but instead He was talking about living a ‘lifestyle’ that has great appeal to those who have not come to faith?
Am I living a lifestyle that draws people toward faith or a lifestyle that gives people an excuse to not believe?
What about you?
The teaching of evolution has to be the number one reason why people reject Jesus and don’t want to be involved with the church. The constant bombardment of media and information has to be the number one reason for peoples’ response. The options that people have today – from 750 TV channels, internet, shopping, endless sports and entertainment – that has to be the reason that people stay away from God. Could it be that it is something else?
"The greatest single cause of atheism today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, but deny Him by their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Brennan Manning
Could this be true? Could it be that the way I live or fail to live could stand in the way of people responding to Jesus and participating in a family of faith? Could it be that if I were to take how I live as seriously as Jesus told me to, it would have a far greater impact on those who have not crossed the line of faith?
Could it be that Jesus declared: “… let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16 NLT) because how His followers live does impact those who have yet come to faith?
When Jesus declared --- “… if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. "But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! (Matthew 5:19-20 NLT) --- was He actually talking not about what has often been referred to by the church as ‘legalism’ but instead He was talking about living a ‘lifestyle’ that has great appeal to those who have not come to faith?
Am I living a lifestyle that draws people toward faith or a lifestyle that gives people an excuse to not believe?
What about you?
Friday, March 11, 2011
Easter is around the corner!
Easter is fast approaching. Easter is April 24th this year. Easter is one of the times of the year that people are most open to attending a worship service.
Pray
I want to encourage you to begin praying regularly for people in your circle of life. Pray for family members, neighbors, co-workers, friends, fellow commuters and those that you attend school with.
Pray that they will have a desire to know God and have a relationship with Him.
Pray that they will sense their need of forgiveness, peace, hope and new life.
Pray that they will accept an invitation to join you at a worship service on Easter.
Pray that their hearts will be open to the message of Jesus and the resurrection.
Invest
Look for ways that Jesus would have you invest in the lives of those that you are praying for. How should you love them? How can you serve them? In what ways can you invest into their life and further your friendship with them?
Once you’ve prayed and once you’ve invested – the next thing to do is invite.
Invite
In the next month determine who you are going to invite to join you and invite them. We will provide invitations the 2nd weekend in April. Use as many invitations as you need. Give them to people. Invite them. Plan to meet them here.
I have already been inviting people to join us. I have been telling them that I will remind them in a few weeks and that I really hope that they will attend. I invited a man who I talked with at breakfast today. I’m going to remind him as we get closer to Easter.
Pray. Invest in relationship. Invite.
I’m anticipating a wonderful day celebrating!
Matt
Pray
I want to encourage you to begin praying regularly for people in your circle of life. Pray for family members, neighbors, co-workers, friends, fellow commuters and those that you attend school with.
Pray that they will have a desire to know God and have a relationship with Him.
Pray that they will sense their need of forgiveness, peace, hope and new life.
Pray that they will accept an invitation to join you at a worship service on Easter.
Pray that their hearts will be open to the message of Jesus and the resurrection.
Invest
Look for ways that Jesus would have you invest in the lives of those that you are praying for. How should you love them? How can you serve them? In what ways can you invest into their life and further your friendship with them?
Once you’ve prayed and once you’ve invested – the next thing to do is invite.
Invite
In the next month determine who you are going to invite to join you and invite them. We will provide invitations the 2nd weekend in April. Use as many invitations as you need. Give them to people. Invite them. Plan to meet them here.
I have already been inviting people to join us. I have been telling them that I will remind them in a few weeks and that I really hope that they will attend. I invited a man who I talked with at breakfast today. I’m going to remind him as we get closer to Easter.
Pray. Invest in relationship. Invite.
I’m anticipating a wonderful day celebrating!
Matt
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Jesus Story ... Continued! - Repent
When John the Baptist was traveling the countryside he had one message that he continually spoke. He sounded like ‘a broken record.’ Whether he was talking to the common Jewish person, the religious leaders or King Herod he said the same thing over and over and over again: ‘Repent.’ ‘Turn from living a self-centered life.’
The start of Jesus’ ministry is described this way: From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, … The message has always been: Repent. Turn from living a self-centered life.
Josephus, the first-century Roman historian, wrote that there were times in Israel when Jewish rebellion against the Roman government became catastrophically intense. One of the consequences of this insurgence was that the Romans would crucify more than 500 Israelites a day. He wrote that there were so many crucifixions, that there was no more room for crosses along the roads around Jerusalem and that they ran out of crosses to crucify people on.
There is a passage in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy that declared that anyone who dies hanging on a tree is cursed. The Jewish people always took down the bodies before nightfall.
In order to deepen the punishment on the Jews for their revolt the Romans would leave bodies up on crosses for days, weeks and even months. The rotting bodies hung there in front of everyone as the birds picked at their flesh. The message sent to the people of Israel was very clear. This is one of the reasons why people were so anxious for someone to set them free from Roman tyranny.
Scholars say that when Jesus said: Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38 NIV) or, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24 NIV), he probably did so while he and his entourage traveled on one of the roads into Jerusalem. Jesus looked up at one of those hanging on the cross and spoke these stinging words.
Everybody who was traveling with Jesus knew what he meant: "Be ready to die."
He was using a life event, in all of the sounds, sights and smells to illustrate the same old message: Repent – Turn from living a self-centered life!
The message has never changed. Every part of life that could be described as ugly, broken, wrong, unjust and damaging is the result of self-centered living.
The message is: Repent – Turn from living a self-centered life!
The start of Jesus’ ministry is described this way: From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, … The message has always been: Repent. Turn from living a self-centered life.
Josephus, the first-century Roman historian, wrote that there were times in Israel when Jewish rebellion against the Roman government became catastrophically intense. One of the consequences of this insurgence was that the Romans would crucify more than 500 Israelites a day. He wrote that there were so many crucifixions, that there was no more room for crosses along the roads around Jerusalem and that they ran out of crosses to crucify people on.
There is a passage in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy that declared that anyone who dies hanging on a tree is cursed. The Jewish people always took down the bodies before nightfall.
In order to deepen the punishment on the Jews for their revolt the Romans would leave bodies up on crosses for days, weeks and even months. The rotting bodies hung there in front of everyone as the birds picked at their flesh. The message sent to the people of Israel was very clear. This is one of the reasons why people were so anxious for someone to set them free from Roman tyranny.
Scholars say that when Jesus said: Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38 NIV) or, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24 NIV), he probably did so while he and his entourage traveled on one of the roads into Jerusalem. Jesus looked up at one of those hanging on the cross and spoke these stinging words.
Everybody who was traveling with Jesus knew what he meant: "Be ready to die."
He was using a life event, in all of the sounds, sights and smells to illustrate the same old message: Repent – Turn from living a self-centered life!
The message has never changed. Every part of life that could be described as ugly, broken, wrong, unjust and damaging is the result of self-centered living.
The message is: Repent – Turn from living a self-centered life!
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