December 30/31, 2014
We made it! We’ve completed our trek through the Bible in 2014! Are you ready for a “Season of Prayer?” I will be continuing this “Bible Blog” in 2015, writing weekly, rather than daily, on prayer, and what the Scriptures teach us about this great gift and privilege.
Revelation 20-22
These final three chapters tell us, as Paul Harvey used to say, “The rest of the story.” Many preachers have quipped, “I’ve read the last chapters of the Bible, and I know who wins!” But the truth of the matter is this: The Christian life isn’t about winning and losing; it’s about worshipping the Lamb.
Even after a thousand years of Christ’s reign on earth, there will be, apparently, some who refuse to worship Him, who rebel and follow the enemy into self-worship. The devil and, all who refuse to worship the King of Kings, will be dispatched. Only then can the New Jerusalem, the new place of worship, the new palace of God’s presence, descend to earth! Only then, will God’s dwelling place reside with human beings without interference. Only then will pain and suffering and tears and sadness be dismissed. Only then will Jesus reign supreme. Only then will the redeemed realize the vast uncharted expanse of God’s grace and goodness. Only then will paradise (the Garden of Eden) be regained. Only then will we all be able to eat from the Tree of Life and worship without hindrance the One who died, rose and is coming again!
Take these things to heart, O troubled souls of the earth! Jesus says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:20)
Are we ready?
See you the first week in January with a Prayer Blog!
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Gary
Friday, January 2, 2015
December 28/29 Revelation 17-19
December 28/29, 2014
Our penultimate (next to last) reading!
Revelation 17-19
These three chapters take us from the depth of cultural depravity and its final destruction to heights of glory and the wedding supper of the Lamb!
Revelation 17 describes the woman who sits astride the beast. The woman is “Babylon the Great.” Since the days of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon has been the Bible’s universal symbol for sinful culture. It seems that here, Babylon is code for Rome, the “mother of...abominations.” Rome does not persecute the faithful without riding on the back of ultimate evil, the beast. Ironically, the beast “hates” the prostitute who sits on him, and will turn on her (17:16).
Revelation 18 is, perhaps, the saddest chapter in the Bible. “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” I remember reading an end-of-the-world, nuclear holocaust novel named, “Alas, Babylon,” which took its title from this chapter. Read chapter 18 with such destruction in mind, and Nevil Shute’s novel seems a distinct possibility. Everything that cries wealth and power in this world will one day be destroyed!
Revelation 19 shouts, “Hallelujah!” not just because sin and idolatry has been punished, but because the wedding of the Lamb has come and His bride (the Church!) has made herself ready! (19:7) But there are two “banquets depicted in Revelation 19; the second is the banquet of carrion enjoyed by the scavenger birds after the last battle.
On December 30, we conclude our year-long trek through Scripture!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Our penultimate (next to last) reading!
Revelation 17-19
These three chapters take us from the depth of cultural depravity and its final destruction to heights of glory and the wedding supper of the Lamb!
Revelation 17 describes the woman who sits astride the beast. The woman is “Babylon the Great.” Since the days of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon has been the Bible’s universal symbol for sinful culture. It seems that here, Babylon is code for Rome, the “mother of...abominations.” Rome does not persecute the faithful without riding on the back of ultimate evil, the beast. Ironically, the beast “hates” the prostitute who sits on him, and will turn on her (17:16).
Revelation 18 is, perhaps, the saddest chapter in the Bible. “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” I remember reading an end-of-the-world, nuclear holocaust novel named, “Alas, Babylon,” which took its title from this chapter. Read chapter 18 with such destruction in mind, and Nevil Shute’s novel seems a distinct possibility. Everything that cries wealth and power in this world will one day be destroyed!
Revelation 19 shouts, “Hallelujah!” not just because sin and idolatry has been punished, but because the wedding of the Lamb has come and His bride (the Church!) has made herself ready! (19:7) But there are two “banquets depicted in Revelation 19; the second is the banquet of carrion enjoyed by the scavenger birds after the last battle.
On December 30, we conclude our year-long trek through Scripture!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, December 27, 2014
December 26/27 Revelation 13-16
December 26/27, 2014
I hope you had a blessed Christmas. Don’t forget, it’s still just the Second and Third Days of Christmas! The final three readings from Revelation cover two days each. Therefore, this reading is for Friday and Saturday, December 26 and 27.
Revelation 13-16
Revelation 13 begins with the dragon standing on the shore of the sea. It’s almost as though he wills first one beast, and then another, into existence. The first comes out of the sea and has two devilish purposes: 1) to entice the whole world into worshipping the dragon, and 2) to exercise authority over all the earth, doing particular harm to the saints of God. The second beast comes out of the earth and has just one job: to force the world to worship the first beast. This is the chapter that gives us the puzzling “number of the beast:” 666. It’s fruitless to attempt to figure it out. Suffice it to say that as of Revelation 13, we have a trinity of evil: the dragon, the first beast and the second beast, which many see as the devil, the antichrist and the false prophet.
Revelation 14 shows us the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion. We hear a new song sung by the 144,000 redeemed before heaven’s throne. Three angels step forward with proclamations: 1) Worship God! 2) Babylon is fallen! And 3) do not worship the beast!
It is here that the Holy Spirit speaks a word of comfort: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest front her labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Rev. 14:13).
Revelation 14 ends with the harvesting of the earth. This is no “rapture,” no happy time, but that time when the “grapes of God’s wrath” will be trampled across the earth.
In Revelation 15, we pause for another great “Song of the Lamb;” this one is sung by “those who have been victorious over the beast.” This introduces the seven angels, who emerge from the heavenly temple with seven bowls of wrath!
Revelation 16 narrates those seven bowls of wrath and their hideous affects. As awful as these judgments are, the angel in charge says to God: “You are just in these judgments!” (Rev. 16:5) These bowls of wrath set up the final great battle where God overthrows evil!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
I hope you had a blessed Christmas. Don’t forget, it’s still just the Second and Third Days of Christmas! The final three readings from Revelation cover two days each. Therefore, this reading is for Friday and Saturday, December 26 and 27.
Revelation 13-16
Revelation 13 begins with the dragon standing on the shore of the sea. It’s almost as though he wills first one beast, and then another, into existence. The first comes out of the sea and has two devilish purposes: 1) to entice the whole world into worshipping the dragon, and 2) to exercise authority over all the earth, doing particular harm to the saints of God. The second beast comes out of the earth and has just one job: to force the world to worship the first beast. This is the chapter that gives us the puzzling “number of the beast:” 666. It’s fruitless to attempt to figure it out. Suffice it to say that as of Revelation 13, we have a trinity of evil: the dragon, the first beast and the second beast, which many see as the devil, the antichrist and the false prophet.
Revelation 14 shows us the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion. We hear a new song sung by the 144,000 redeemed before heaven’s throne. Three angels step forward with proclamations: 1) Worship God! 2) Babylon is fallen! And 3) do not worship the beast!
It is here that the Holy Spirit speaks a word of comfort: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest front her labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Rev. 14:13).
Revelation 14 ends with the harvesting of the earth. This is no “rapture,” no happy time, but that time when the “grapes of God’s wrath” will be trampled across the earth.
In Revelation 15, we pause for another great “Song of the Lamb;” this one is sung by “those who have been victorious over the beast.” This introduces the seven angels, who emerge from the heavenly temple with seven bowls of wrath!
Revelation 16 narrates those seven bowls of wrath and their hideous affects. As awful as these judgments are, the angel in charge says to God: “You are just in these judgments!” (Rev. 16:5) These bowls of wrath set up the final great battle where God overthrows evil!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
December 25 Revelation 10-12
December 25, 2014
The merriest and “blessedest” of Christmases to all! Happy birthday, Jesus! And happy birthday, David Motta, as well!
Revelation 10-12
Before the seventh trumpet sounds, John is given two visions:
The first (Revelation 10) is of an angel holding a little scroll. John is told to eat the scroll, and when he does, it tastes sweet, but turns sour in his stomach. This happened to Ezekiel (chapters 2-3) as well. In both cases, God was inviting his prophets to “digest” His words, and—difficult as they were—proclaim them to God’s people!
The second (Revelation 11:1-13) is the vision of the two witnesses. These two witnesses may symbolize all testifying believers in the last days, but the plainer way to read it is that they are two powerful witnesses in the spirit of Moses and Elijah, who die for their testimony, are raised from the dead and whisked away to heaven right before their enemies’ eyes!
When the seventh trumpet blows (Revelation 11:15), we pause for another brief visit to the great worship room of heaven and a peek at the ark of God’s covenant!
Revelation 12:1—13:1 is a fantastical allegorical vision. There is a woman, clothed with the sun and about to give birth, and a dragon waiting and determined to devour the woman’s offspring, who is clearly identified as Jesus, the Messiah. The story unfolds in three sections:
The woman gives birth, and flees to God’s hiding place, while the child is whisked away before the dragon can get him. (This is as close as Revelation gets to the “Christmas” story!)
There is war in heaven between Michael and his angels, on the one hand, and the dragon and his, on the other. The result? The dragon, now clearly identified as Satan, is banished from heaven to earth, where he wreaks havoc.
On earth, the dragon now turns his attention to “the woman who had given birth to the child.” This woman is not Mary any longer; so much as she is the Church! There is now a vast struggle between the dragon and the church. Revelation 12:11 is our prescription for how to fight against the dragon while he prowls the earth: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!”
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
The merriest and “blessedest” of Christmases to all! Happy birthday, Jesus! And happy birthday, David Motta, as well!
Revelation 10-12
Before the seventh trumpet sounds, John is given two visions:
The first (Revelation 10) is of an angel holding a little scroll. John is told to eat the scroll, and when he does, it tastes sweet, but turns sour in his stomach. This happened to Ezekiel (chapters 2-3) as well. In both cases, God was inviting his prophets to “digest” His words, and—difficult as they were—proclaim them to God’s people!
The second (Revelation 11:1-13) is the vision of the two witnesses. These two witnesses may symbolize all testifying believers in the last days, but the plainer way to read it is that they are two powerful witnesses in the spirit of Moses and Elijah, who die for their testimony, are raised from the dead and whisked away to heaven right before their enemies’ eyes!
When the seventh trumpet blows (Revelation 11:15), we pause for another brief visit to the great worship room of heaven and a peek at the ark of God’s covenant!
Revelation 12:1—13:1 is a fantastical allegorical vision. There is a woman, clothed with the sun and about to give birth, and a dragon waiting and determined to devour the woman’s offspring, who is clearly identified as Jesus, the Messiah. The story unfolds in three sections:
The woman gives birth, and flees to God’s hiding place, while the child is whisked away before the dragon can get him. (This is as close as Revelation gets to the “Christmas” story!)
There is war in heaven between Michael and his angels, on the one hand, and the dragon and his, on the other. The result? The dragon, now clearly identified as Satan, is banished from heaven to earth, where he wreaks havoc.
On earth, the dragon now turns his attention to “the woman who had given birth to the child.” This woman is not Mary any longer; so much as she is the Church! There is now a vast struggle between the dragon and the church. Revelation 12:11 is our prescription for how to fight against the dragon while he prowls the earth: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!”
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
December 24 Revelation 7-9
December 24, 2014
Revelation 7-9
We’ve have entered into three waves of judgments upon the earth pictured by...
The Lamb breaking seven seals (Rev. 6-8),
Seven angels blowing seven trumpets (Rev. 8-11), and
Seven angels pouring out seven bowls of God’s wrath (Rev. 16)
By chapter seven, six of the seven seals are broken and, though people of the world cry out in fear, they do not turn back to the Lord. In Revelation 7, John is given a vision of a restored Israel of 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe) and a redeemed innumerable multitude, clothed in white and worshipping the Lamb. These are those “who have come out of the Great Tribulation” and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb!
In chapter 8, the Lamb opens the seventh seal and there is half an hour of silence. We wait for the next shoe to drop! When it does, we hear thunder, we see lightening, and the seven trumpets begin to sound!
By the end of chapter 9, six of the seven trumpets have sounded, with trumpets 5 and 6, described in horrifying detail in Revelation 9, the most intense thus far. Still, after all this, they did not repent of their sin (Revelation 9:21).
Tomorrow is Christmas, and, strangely enough, we will read the most unusual of all the Christmas passages in the Bible!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Revelation 7-9
We’ve have entered into three waves of judgments upon the earth pictured by...
The Lamb breaking seven seals (Rev. 6-8),
Seven angels blowing seven trumpets (Rev. 8-11), and
Seven angels pouring out seven bowls of God’s wrath (Rev. 16)
By chapter seven, six of the seven seals are broken and, though people of the world cry out in fear, they do not turn back to the Lord. In Revelation 7, John is given a vision of a restored Israel of 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe) and a redeemed innumerable multitude, clothed in white and worshipping the Lamb. These are those “who have come out of the Great Tribulation” and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb!
In chapter 8, the Lamb opens the seventh seal and there is half an hour of silence. We wait for the next shoe to drop! When it does, we hear thunder, we see lightening, and the seven trumpets begin to sound!
By the end of chapter 9, six of the seven trumpets have sounded, with trumpets 5 and 6, described in horrifying detail in Revelation 9, the most intense thus far. Still, after all this, they did not repent of their sin (Revelation 9:21).
Tomorrow is Christmas, and, strangely enough, we will read the most unusual of all the Christmas passages in the Bible!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
December 23 Revelation 4-6
December 23, 2014
Revelation 4-6
Three critical things happen as we peer into the “throne room of heaven:’ 1) No one is found worthy to break the seals of the scroll of God’s immutable word, until 2) the Lamb is found worthy, and 3) opens the first seals of God’s judgments.
That’s what happens, strictly speaking, but what grabs my heart is the swell of praise and worship. When John is first escorted up to heaven, the four living creatures (like the Seraphim in Isaiah 6?) cry, “Holy, holy, holy!” This prompts the 24 elders (12 Hebrews tribes plus 12 disciples!) to sing God’s praise. After the Lamb that was slain steps forward to break the seals of the scroll, the four creatures and 24 elders sing a new song of praise to Lamb. Their song is echoed by the entire host of heaven, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain...!” And, finally, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth joins in praise of God and the Lamb, who reign forever. Can you hear the swell of praise? Four creatures → 24 elders → the four creatures and the 24 elders → all the hosts of heaven → every creature in the universe!
When the seals are opened in Revelation 6, the distress and tribulation they represent might make us forget the worship of Revelation 4 and 5, but it shouldn’t. Imagine that you are among the martyrs under the altar of God (Revelation 6:9-11), who have been waiting for God to show up and for justice to be done. For them, even chapter 6 is music to their hearts.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Revelation 4-6
Three critical things happen as we peer into the “throne room of heaven:’ 1) No one is found worthy to break the seals of the scroll of God’s immutable word, until 2) the Lamb is found worthy, and 3) opens the first seals of God’s judgments.
That’s what happens, strictly speaking, but what grabs my heart is the swell of praise and worship. When John is first escorted up to heaven, the four living creatures (like the Seraphim in Isaiah 6?) cry, “Holy, holy, holy!” This prompts the 24 elders (12 Hebrews tribes plus 12 disciples!) to sing God’s praise. After the Lamb that was slain steps forward to break the seals of the scroll, the four creatures and 24 elders sing a new song of praise to Lamb. Their song is echoed by the entire host of heaven, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain...!” And, finally, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth joins in praise of God and the Lamb, who reign forever. Can you hear the swell of praise? Four creatures → 24 elders → the four creatures and the 24 elders → all the hosts of heaven → every creature in the universe!
When the seals are opened in Revelation 6, the distress and tribulation they represent might make us forget the worship of Revelation 4 and 5, but it shouldn’t. Imagine that you are among the martyrs under the altar of God (Revelation 6:9-11), who have been waiting for God to show up and for justice to be done. For them, even chapter 6 is music to their hearts.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, December 22, 2014
December 22 Revelation 1-3
December 22, 2014
Revelation 1-3
These last ten days of 2014, as we read the Revelation to John... we might be tempted toward fear. What sort of fear, you ask? The fear of the tough stuff of judgment connected with the Second Coming! The tough stuff John saw in this vision! The tough stuff of tribulation!
Before we begin, think back to 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
The judgments and trials described in Revelation were not designed to cast Christians into a fearful state, but rather to encourage Christians who were already in a fearful state. The message of Revelation is simple: God is sovereign; Jesus is on the throne; the battle is won; persevere through praise!
In chapter one, John is surprised by a powerful and symbolic vision of Jesus. Have fun trying to figure out what everything means before you look it up in a commentary. Jesus speaks and identifies Himself for John; look at the Names with which He does this (vv. 17-18), then introduces John’s first task: “John, take down some dictation!”
In chapters two and three, Jesus dictates seven letters to seven special churches, not the only churches in the world at that time, just seven, which held a particularly high place in John’s heart. They were, perhaps, seven churches he had helped grow and where he had held oversight. Some say that Jesus' description of these seven churches forms an outline of church history, with Ephesus as a picture of the earliest church, and Laodicea as a picture of the church today. This is possible. Regardless, Jesus’ words to these churches are applicable to any church of any age or place.
It’s fun and easy to graph out these letters, for Jesus uses the same general format for each one. By doing this, you can see, for example, which two of the churches do not receive corrective words and which five are called to some sort of repentance! Read each one with your church in mind. Where does the shoe fit? Wear it!
Tomorrow, we visit God’s throne room in heaven!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Revelation 1-3
These last ten days of 2014, as we read the Revelation to John... we might be tempted toward fear. What sort of fear, you ask? The fear of the tough stuff of judgment connected with the Second Coming! The tough stuff John saw in this vision! The tough stuff of tribulation!
Before we begin, think back to 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
The judgments and trials described in Revelation were not designed to cast Christians into a fearful state, but rather to encourage Christians who were already in a fearful state. The message of Revelation is simple: God is sovereign; Jesus is on the throne; the battle is won; persevere through praise!
In chapter one, John is surprised by a powerful and symbolic vision of Jesus. Have fun trying to figure out what everything means before you look it up in a commentary. Jesus speaks and identifies Himself for John; look at the Names with which He does this (vv. 17-18), then introduces John’s first task: “John, take down some dictation!”
In chapters two and three, Jesus dictates seven letters to seven special churches, not the only churches in the world at that time, just seven, which held a particularly high place in John’s heart. They were, perhaps, seven churches he had helped grow and where he had held oversight. Some say that Jesus' description of these seven churches forms an outline of church history, with Ephesus as a picture of the earliest church, and Laodicea as a picture of the church today. This is possible. Regardless, Jesus’ words to these churches are applicable to any church of any age or place.
It’s fun and easy to graph out these letters, for Jesus uses the same general format for each one. By doing this, you can see, for example, which two of the churches do not receive corrective words and which five are called to some sort of repentance! Read each one with your church in mind. Where does the shoe fit? Wear it!
Tomorrow, we visit God’s throne room in heaven!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, December 20, 2014
December 20/21 Jude
December 20/21, 2014
Jude
Who was Jude? Jude is short for Judas. There was a disciple named Judas, other than the one who betrayed Jesus (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). And Jesus had a half-brother named Judas (See Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). Most identify this letter with Jude, the brother of Jesus. At the beginning, he identifies himself as “a brother of James,” Jesus most famous brother, who was the leader of the Jerusalem church.
Jude wants to write about salvation (v. 3), but instead finds it necessary to write about a false teaching, probably the same false teaching John described in his letters. This brand of Gnosticism “exchanges the grace of God for a license for immorality and the denial of Christ as sovereign Lord” (v. 4). Jude has nothing nice to say about these heretics, but encourages his readers to persevere, to build themselves up in the most holy faith, and to pray in the Holy Spirit (v. 20).
The final two verses of this short letter form one of the most beautiful doxologies and benedictions in the Bible!
On Monday we begin the “home stretch,” the final book of the Bible: the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Jude
Who was Jude? Jude is short for Judas. There was a disciple named Judas, other than the one who betrayed Jesus (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). And Jesus had a half-brother named Judas (See Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). Most identify this letter with Jude, the brother of Jesus. At the beginning, he identifies himself as “a brother of James,” Jesus most famous brother, who was the leader of the Jerusalem church.
Jude wants to write about salvation (v. 3), but instead finds it necessary to write about a false teaching, probably the same false teaching John described in his letters. This brand of Gnosticism “exchanges the grace of God for a license for immorality and the denial of Christ as sovereign Lord” (v. 4). Jude has nothing nice to say about these heretics, but encourages his readers to persevere, to build themselves up in the most holy faith, and to pray in the Holy Spirit (v. 20).
The final two verses of this short letter form one of the most beautiful doxologies and benedictions in the Bible!
On Monday we begin the “home stretch,” the final book of the Bible: the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Friday, December 19, 2014
December 19 3 John
December 19, 2014
3 John
3 John, once again, was written about the same time as 1 and 2 John. This time, rather than warning a “chosen lady” not to welcome false teachers, John writes to commend a friend named Gaius, for “walking in the truth” (v. 3) and for offering hospitality to true teachers, namely John’s emissaries.
Not every church leader in Asia Minor has welcomed those John sent. He mentions Diotrephes, a particularly dictatorial church leader, who not only refused John’s people, but excommunicated anyone who did welcome them. Ouch!
Today, I will end with John’s opening wish for his reader: “Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
3 John
3 John, once again, was written about the same time as 1 and 2 John. This time, rather than warning a “chosen lady” not to welcome false teachers, John writes to commend a friend named Gaius, for “walking in the truth” (v. 3) and for offering hospitality to true teachers, namely John’s emissaries.
Not every church leader in Asia Minor has welcomed those John sent. He mentions Diotrephes, a particularly dictatorial church leader, who not only refused John’s people, but excommunicated anyone who did welcome them. Ouch!
Today, I will end with John’s opening wish for his reader: “Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, December 18, 2014
December 18 2 John
December 18, 2014
2 John
Though 2 John is much shorter than 1 John, it was written with many of the same concerns. Read it carefully and make your best guess: what this letter written to an actual specific Christian woman, or is the “Chosen Lady” a figurative designation for the church? Both are possible.
I lean toward the former, because John’s main concern (vv. 7-11) is about offering traditional hospitality to the false teachers, whose heresy is described in 1 John. He seems to be warning this chosen lady not to “welcome” these false teachers, that to do so is to share in their “wicked work” (v. 11).
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
2 John
Though 2 John is much shorter than 1 John, it was written with many of the same concerns. Read it carefully and make your best guess: what this letter written to an actual specific Christian woman, or is the “Chosen Lady” a figurative designation for the church? Both are possible.
I lean toward the former, because John’s main concern (vv. 7-11) is about offering traditional hospitality to the false teachers, whose heresy is described in 1 John. He seems to be warning this chosen lady not to “welcome” these false teachers, that to do so is to share in their “wicked work” (v. 11).
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
December 17 1 John
December 17, 2014
1 John
The author of 4 of the last 5 books of the Bible is John, the disciple of Jesus, and the son of Zebedee. John probably wrote his letters later life (he did live longer than the other disciples) and his concerns reflect a certain twisted teaching that had begun to creep into the church. It’s called “Gnosticism,” after the Greek word for “knowledge,” and was marked by these beliefs: Spirit is good, but the body is evil. Salvation is escape from the body, achieved not by faith in Christ, but by special “knowledge.” This special knowledge denied the humanity of Jesus. God would be evil, they said, if he had become a human being.
There were two strange brands of this false teaching: one taught that since the body is evil, it should be treated harshly and denied everything good, the other taught the opposite. If the body is evil, it doesn’t matter what you do with it; sin away!
If you understand this much about Gnosticism, it will help you navigate through John’s first letter. From the beginning, you can literally feel the weight of John’s arguments. Jesus, God’s Son, was a real, touchable, visible, audible human being (1:1-4)! We are neither to claim sinlessness nor grow satisfied in our sin (1:8f; 2:15-17). We are to believe that Jesus is both the Messiah of God (2:22-23; 4:15) and fully human (4:2-3). We are to live out the love that we have received (4:19-21).
Over all of this, I like to feel the weight of John’s repeated words. In defiance of “Gnostic knowledge,” John says “by this we know,” or “we know,” at least 13 times! John summarizes his reasons for writing in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
1 John
The author of 4 of the last 5 books of the Bible is John, the disciple of Jesus, and the son of Zebedee. John probably wrote his letters later life (he did live longer than the other disciples) and his concerns reflect a certain twisted teaching that had begun to creep into the church. It’s called “Gnosticism,” after the Greek word for “knowledge,” and was marked by these beliefs: Spirit is good, but the body is evil. Salvation is escape from the body, achieved not by faith in Christ, but by special “knowledge.” This special knowledge denied the humanity of Jesus. God would be evil, they said, if he had become a human being.
There were two strange brands of this false teaching: one taught that since the body is evil, it should be treated harshly and denied everything good, the other taught the opposite. If the body is evil, it doesn’t matter what you do with it; sin away!
If you understand this much about Gnosticism, it will help you navigate through John’s first letter. From the beginning, you can literally feel the weight of John’s arguments. Jesus, God’s Son, was a real, touchable, visible, audible human being (1:1-4)! We are neither to claim sinlessness nor grow satisfied in our sin (1:8f; 2:15-17). We are to believe that Jesus is both the Messiah of God (2:22-23; 4:15) and fully human (4:2-3). We are to live out the love that we have received (4:19-21).
Over all of this, I like to feel the weight of John’s repeated words. In defiance of “Gnostic knowledge,” John says “by this we know,” or “we know,” at least 13 times! John summarizes his reasons for writing in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
December 16 2 Peter
December 16, 2014
2 Peter “book-ends” well with 1 Peter.
If we imagine that in Peter’s two letters, he is attempting to fulfill the Lord’s re-commissioning in John 21:17 to “Feed Christ’s sheep,” then we can see how well he did. In his first letter he sought to help Christians deal with persecution from outside the church. In his second letter, he teaches them how to deal with false teachers and evildoers that have crept into the church.
If one were to outline this letter, it would follow the chapter divisions: In chapter one, Peter seeks to encourage Christian growth. I love the emphasis Peter places on the scriptures (1:19-20) and his (Peter’s) place as an eyewitness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:16-18). In chapter two, he deals with false teachers and their destructive heresies directly. This particular heresy, once again, seems to be some brand of licentiousness, that Christian are free to sin. In chapter three, Peter encourages us to be watchful for the coming of the Lord. He deals deftly with those who castigated Christians even then about the “delay” in Christ’s coming. His answer is summed up in v. 8: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Our job is to remain watchful!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
2 Peter “book-ends” well with 1 Peter.
If we imagine that in Peter’s two letters, he is attempting to fulfill the Lord’s re-commissioning in John 21:17 to “Feed Christ’s sheep,” then we can see how well he did. In his first letter he sought to help Christians deal with persecution from outside the church. In his second letter, he teaches them how to deal with false teachers and evildoers that have crept into the church.
If one were to outline this letter, it would follow the chapter divisions: In chapter one, Peter seeks to encourage Christian growth. I love the emphasis Peter places on the scriptures (1:19-20) and his (Peter’s) place as an eyewitness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:16-18). In chapter two, he deals with false teachers and their destructive heresies directly. This particular heresy, once again, seems to be some brand of licentiousness, that Christian are free to sin. In chapter three, Peter encourages us to be watchful for the coming of the Lord. He deals deftly with those who castigated Christians even then about the “delay” in Christ’s coming. His answer is summed up in v. 8: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Our job is to remain watchful!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, December 15, 2014
December 15 1 Peter
December 15, 2014
1 Peter is a letter of God’s grace in the midst of suffering.
As you read it, try to see the how Peter differentiates between suffering for good and suffering for ill. Sometimes our sinful behavior sets us up for suffering; at other times, we suffer for “righteousness sake,” as Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:10-12. When Peter encourages slaves to “bear up” under unjust suffering, he reminds us of Jesus’ suffering, and how we should walk “in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Later, he says that if we should suffer for doing what is right, we “are blessed” (1 Peter 3:14). And finally, Peter teaches not to “be surprised” at the painful trials we suffer, as though something strange were happening to us. Rather, we should rejoice at the privilege of sharing the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:12-13). At the beginning, Peter tells us why these trials come! It is so that our faith may be “proved genuine” (1 Peter 1:7)!
But, to say that Peter’s letter is only about suffering would be wrong. In this letter, you can read about grace, the new birth, the call to holiness, and the place of the church. We learn about submission to authorities and the marriage relationship, the second coming and the gifts of the Spirit. Peter’s letter is glorious in power and encouragement!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
1 Peter is a letter of God’s grace in the midst of suffering.
As you read it, try to see the how Peter differentiates between suffering for good and suffering for ill. Sometimes our sinful behavior sets us up for suffering; at other times, we suffer for “righteousness sake,” as Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:10-12. When Peter encourages slaves to “bear up” under unjust suffering, he reminds us of Jesus’ suffering, and how we should walk “in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Later, he says that if we should suffer for doing what is right, we “are blessed” (1 Peter 3:14). And finally, Peter teaches not to “be surprised” at the painful trials we suffer, as though something strange were happening to us. Rather, we should rejoice at the privilege of sharing the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:12-13). At the beginning, Peter tells us why these trials come! It is so that our faith may be “proved genuine” (1 Peter 1:7)!
But, to say that Peter’s letter is only about suffering would be wrong. In this letter, you can read about grace, the new birth, the call to holiness, and the place of the church. We learn about submission to authorities and the marriage relationship, the second coming and the gifts of the Spirit. Peter’s letter is glorious in power and encouragement!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, December 13, 2014
December 11, 2014 Hebrews 8-10
December 11, 2014
Jesus work is more effective than that of the Old Testament priests!!
I know I wrote this blog, but somehow, I didn’t save it, typed over it, and lost it. What I said in this blog was pretty simple: Hebrews 8-10 describes the limited nature of the atoning work of the Old Testament priests in first the tabernacle (the movable tent in the wilderness), then the temple (the building in Jerusalem). Priests offered animal sacrifices every day for the people, and for themselves, as well. Imagine all the blood! Jesus, on the other hand, was the perfect priest. He offered a once-for-all sacrifice of himself, shedding his own blood for the sins of the whole world!
You tell me which is better.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Jesus work is more effective than that of the Old Testament priests!!
I know I wrote this blog, but somehow, I didn’t save it, typed over it, and lost it. What I said in this blog was pretty simple: Hebrews 8-10 describes the limited nature of the atoning work of the Old Testament priests in first the tabernacle (the movable tent in the wilderness), then the temple (the building in Jerusalem). Priests offered animal sacrifices every day for the people, and for themselves, as well. Imagine all the blood! Jesus, on the other hand, was the perfect priest. He offered a once-for-all sacrifice of himself, shedding his own blood for the sins of the whole world!
You tell me which is better.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
December 13/14 JAMES
December 13/14
James is my favorite book of the Bible!
It wasn’t Luther’s favorite; he called it a “right strawy epistle.” By this he meant that it lacked the clear message of justification by grace through faith that we find in Paul’s letters. This may be so, but I tell you this: I have found MUCH grace and faith and growth in this letter. It’s not theological in the sense of Paul’s letters; it’s hortatory! (“Hortatory” means “full of exhortation and encouragement”) It’s good coaching!
Though I was never—for good reason—on a competitive sports team, and though I never experienced an effective coach in that setting, I was privileged to have choir and drama directors, who filled that need for coaching in my life. James is like a wise coach or an effective director. He knows how to challenge, how to rebuke, how to encourage and how to make the Christian just want to grow and do better.
After the world’s shortest greeting (not really), he digs in. “Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2) And he doesn’t let up. He keeps pouring on the exhortation and encouragement until the last verse; “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20). You see it? After a letter full of high-caliber coaching on topics ranging from temper to tongue, and from wisdom to works, he challenges us to coach others out of their sin and into the truth!
And by Christ’s love and grace, we can do it! Go James!!!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
James is my favorite book of the Bible!
It wasn’t Luther’s favorite; he called it a “right strawy epistle.” By this he meant that it lacked the clear message of justification by grace through faith that we find in Paul’s letters. This may be so, but I tell you this: I have found MUCH grace and faith and growth in this letter. It’s not theological in the sense of Paul’s letters; it’s hortatory! (“Hortatory” means “full of exhortation and encouragement”) It’s good coaching!
Though I was never—for good reason—on a competitive sports team, and though I never experienced an effective coach in that setting, I was privileged to have choir and drama directors, who filled that need for coaching in my life. James is like a wise coach or an effective director. He knows how to challenge, how to rebuke, how to encourage and how to make the Christian just want to grow and do better.
After the world’s shortest greeting (not really), he digs in. “Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2) And he doesn’t let up. He keeps pouring on the exhortation and encouragement until the last verse; “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20). You see it? After a letter full of high-caliber coaching on topics ranging from temper to tongue, and from wisdom to works, he challenges us to coach others out of their sin and into the truth!
And by Christ’s love and grace, we can do it! Go James!!!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, December 11, 2014
December 11 Hebrews 8-10
December 11, 2014
Hebrews 8-10 Jesus serves a better covenant!
The Old Covenant served its purpose.
Through the tabernacle (the tent where priests offered sacrifices in the presence of the Lord), and later the temple (the building that took the place of the tabernacle), God’s people received a picture of sin and the atonement required to cover it. But there were problems with this. These atonements, these animal sacrifices, had to be offered repeatedly, for people kept sinning. And what’s more, the priest themselves were sinners, and were required to make offerings for their own repeated sins as well.
The writer of Hebrews quotes a passage of hope from the Old Testament: The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel. (Hebrews 8:8 quoting Jeremiah 31:31) This New Covenant will be different from the old and will make possible a real change in people!
In Hebrews 9 and 10, we get the details of the new covenant. It includes a new temple (the temple of Jesus body), a more effective sacrifice (the blood of Jesus), a perfect priest (Jesus himself), and a real change in the people whose sins are being paid for, “cleansing our consciences from acts that lead to death!” (Hebrews 9:14). Where the Old Testament priests offered sacrifices every day, Jesus offered an effective sacrifice for sins once for all. Because of this, we need not sin any more (Hebrews 10:26); we need not be among those “who shrink back and are destroyed.” (Hebrews 10:39)
Praise the Lord of the New Covenant!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Hebrews 8-10 Jesus serves a better covenant!
The Old Covenant served its purpose.
Through the tabernacle (the tent where priests offered sacrifices in the presence of the Lord), and later the temple (the building that took the place of the tabernacle), God’s people received a picture of sin and the atonement required to cover it. But there were problems with this. These atonements, these animal sacrifices, had to be offered repeatedly, for people kept sinning. And what’s more, the priest themselves were sinners, and were required to make offerings for their own repeated sins as well.
The writer of Hebrews quotes a passage of hope from the Old Testament: The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel. (Hebrews 8:8 quoting Jeremiah 31:31) This New Covenant will be different from the old and will make possible a real change in people!
In Hebrews 9 and 10, we get the details of the new covenant. It includes a new temple (the temple of Jesus body), a more effective sacrifice (the blood of Jesus), a perfect priest (Jesus himself), and a real change in the people whose sins are being paid for, “cleansing our consciences from acts that lead to death!” (Hebrews 9:14). Where the Old Testament priests offered sacrifices every day, Jesus offered an effective sacrifice for sins once for all. Because of this, we need not sin any more (Hebrews 10:26); we need not be among those “who shrink back and are destroyed.” (Hebrews 10:39)
Praise the Lord of the New Covenant!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
December 10, 2014 Hebrews 5-7
December 10, 2014
Hebrews 5-7 Jesus is Better than High Priests!
Toward the end of Hebrews 4, the author states, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” (4:14)
Then, in today’s chapters, he takes time to explain how Jesus is the High Priest of a different order than the priests of the Old Testament Law; that Jesus both precedes and supersedes the priests descended from Aaron. Jesus, he says, was “designated a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” He mentions this in Hebrews 5 and explains this in depth in Hebrews 7. His explanation is based on Genesis 14:17-20 and Psalm 110.
Who was this shadowy figure? Was this Jesus in a pre-incarnate form? Was he just a real priest/king who foreshadowed Jesus? Melchizedek’s name means “King of Righteousness.” He was King of a town named “Salem’ (the future Jerusalem?); Salem means “peace.” He was king, but also “a high priest of God.” He spoke for God, and, without complaint, allowed Abraham to tithe to him, as God’s representative. Now, see what the writer of Hebrews has to say about him.
In Hebrews 5:11—6:12, the writer goes off on a bit of a tangent concerning his readers’ need for deeper teaching and his desire that they “show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.” (6:11) May God grant us the grace and strength to do just that!
Tomorrow, we read that Jesus serves a better covenant that that which the Old Testament priests served.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Hebrews 5-7 Jesus is Better than High Priests!
Toward the end of Hebrews 4, the author states, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” (4:14)
Then, in today’s chapters, he takes time to explain how Jesus is the High Priest of a different order than the priests of the Old Testament Law; that Jesus both precedes and supersedes the priests descended from Aaron. Jesus, he says, was “designated a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” He mentions this in Hebrews 5 and explains this in depth in Hebrews 7. His explanation is based on Genesis 14:17-20 and Psalm 110.
Who was this shadowy figure? Was this Jesus in a pre-incarnate form? Was he just a real priest/king who foreshadowed Jesus? Melchizedek’s name means “King of Righteousness.” He was King of a town named “Salem’ (the future Jerusalem?); Salem means “peace.” He was king, but also “a high priest of God.” He spoke for God, and, without complaint, allowed Abraham to tithe to him, as God’s representative. Now, see what the writer of Hebrews has to say about him.
In Hebrews 5:11—6:12, the writer goes off on a bit of a tangent concerning his readers’ need for deeper teaching and his desire that they “show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.” (6:11) May God grant us the grace and strength to do just that!
Tomorrow, we read that Jesus serves a better covenant that that which the Old Testament priests served.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
DECEMBER 9 HEBREWS 3-4
December 9, 2014
Hebrews 3-4 Jesus is Better than Moses!
Moses, even more than Abraham, was greatest, most revered man in Hebrew history. Abraham was the “father” of the Jews; Moses was their savior, their liberator, their law-giver, their leader. It would be almost natural for them to sink the Messiah to some lower plane, some lesser stature, in the face of Moses’ greatness.
The author states it plainly: “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses” (3:3). As the owner of a house is greater than the faithful servant, so Jesus is greater than Moses. The author finds support for this Psalm 95, which warned—years after Moses disappeared from the scene—that hardened hearts would not enter the Lord’s “rest.” This “rest” cannot refer to the Promised Land to which Moses led them. It must refer to a “spiritual rest,” accessible only by faith in the Messiah, Jesus. Neither Moses nor Joshua provided permanent “rest” (4:8), only Jesus makes that possible.
NOTE: In these first four chapters of Hebrews, we find subtle support for the divine inspiration of Scripture. Look at the Old Testament quotes contained in Hebrews 1-4. The Old Testament scriptures were written by human beings, prophets, teachers, historians, and the like. Yet notice who it is that the author of Hebrews cites when he quotes the Old Testament. In chapter one, he cites “God the Father” as the speaker of David’s psalms. In chapter 2, he cites God the Son, “Jesus,” as the speaker of David’s and Isaiah’s words. In chapter 3, he cites God the “Holy Spirit” as the speaker of the psalmist’s words! The Old Testament is the Word of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Tomorrow, we read that Jesus is better than the priests of Israel!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Hebrews 3-4 Jesus is Better than Moses!
Moses, even more than Abraham, was greatest, most revered man in Hebrew history. Abraham was the “father” of the Jews; Moses was their savior, their liberator, their law-giver, their leader. It would be almost natural for them to sink the Messiah to some lower plane, some lesser stature, in the face of Moses’ greatness.
The author states it plainly: “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses” (3:3). As the owner of a house is greater than the faithful servant, so Jesus is greater than Moses. The author finds support for this Psalm 95, which warned—years after Moses disappeared from the scene—that hardened hearts would not enter the Lord’s “rest.” This “rest” cannot refer to the Promised Land to which Moses led them. It must refer to a “spiritual rest,” accessible only by faith in the Messiah, Jesus. Neither Moses nor Joshua provided permanent “rest” (4:8), only Jesus makes that possible.
NOTE: In these first four chapters of Hebrews, we find subtle support for the divine inspiration of Scripture. Look at the Old Testament quotes contained in Hebrews 1-4. The Old Testament scriptures were written by human beings, prophets, teachers, historians, and the like. Yet notice who it is that the author of Hebrews cites when he quotes the Old Testament. In chapter one, he cites “God the Father” as the speaker of David’s psalms. In chapter 2, he cites God the Son, “Jesus,” as the speaker of David’s and Isaiah’s words. In chapter 3, he cites God the “Holy Spirit” as the speaker of the psalmist’s words! The Old Testament is the Word of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Tomorrow, we read that Jesus is better than the priests of Israel!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, December 8, 2014
DECEMBER 8 HEBREWS 1-2
December 8, 2014
Hebrews 1-2
Hebrews is a fascinating and complicated letter. It was addressed primarily to Jewish Christians, who would be very conversant with the Old Testament, but were also being tempting to revert to Judaism or, at least, to Judaize the gospel. It was necessary for the author (Was he Barnabas? Was he Apollos?) to convince them of the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
Not too long ago, we did a sermon series on the book of Hebrews entitled, “Jesus Is Better...”
The first two chapters say: “Jesus is better than the angels!” Several heresies of the early church made angels out to be something more than divine messengers. The writer gets right to work, extolling the glories of Christ in the very first verses, then systematically, from the scriptures themselves, just how Jesus is better.
Jesus is the Son of God, angels are created servants! Jesus became the Son of Man in order to save humanity; angels are “ministering spirits,” sent by God to serve those who are being saved (1:14)! In telling us that “Jesus is better than angels,” the writer is not putting angels down, but rather, lifting Jesus up!
Tomorrow we discover that Jesus is better than Moses and the law!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Hebrews 1-2
Hebrews is a fascinating and complicated letter. It was addressed primarily to Jewish Christians, who would be very conversant with the Old Testament, but were also being tempting to revert to Judaism or, at least, to Judaize the gospel. It was necessary for the author (Was he Barnabas? Was he Apollos?) to convince them of the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
Not too long ago, we did a sermon series on the book of Hebrews entitled, “Jesus Is Better...”
The first two chapters say: “Jesus is better than the angels!” Several heresies of the early church made angels out to be something more than divine messengers. The writer gets right to work, extolling the glories of Christ in the very first verses, then systematically, from the scriptures themselves, just how Jesus is better.
Jesus is the Son of God, angels are created servants! Jesus became the Son of Man in order to save humanity; angels are “ministering spirits,” sent by God to serve those who are being saved (1:14)! In telling us that “Jesus is better than angels,” the writer is not putting angels down, but rather, lifting Jesus up!
Tomorrow we discover that Jesus is better than Moses and the law!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, December 6, 2014
December 6/7, 2014 Philemon
December 6/7, 2014
Philemon
Of all Paul’s letters, the letter to Philemon is nearest and dearest to my heart.
About thirty-five years ago, I began work on a musical based on Philemon. I entitled it, “Onesimus: A Slave in Search of a Master,” and first performed it with youth and adults from Grace United Methodist church in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Six or so years later, after finishing seminary, we produced it again with a cast of predominantly clergy-types and their spouses. This production we had the privilege of presenting at Annual Conference around 1988. The last time we did “Onesimus” was as a dinner theater production at Niedringhaus United Methodist Church in Granite City, Illinois. By this time, the musical had gone through a couple of re-writes, with added songs, and our sons and one (future) daughter-in-law were both old enough to be in the cast.
Why do I love the story behind Philemon so much? Why did I think it worthy of the stage?
Just imagine. A runaway slave, having escaped his master in Asia Minor, finds his way to Rome, where he meets the Apostle Paul, hears the gospel and accepts Christ as his Savior. Somehow, Paul discovers that Onesimus is a “runaway,” and what’s more, a runaway from a master that Paul himself had also led to faith in Christ! Paul takes the dangerous step of sending Onesimus back to his master, Philemon. Most slave owners would put a runaway to death, or punish him severely. What would Philemon do? Paul wrote the letter that bears his name to re-introduce the runaway slave to his master, in the hopes that Philemon would receive him back as a brother, rather than a slave.
Read Philemon. How do you think the story ends?
Monday, we begin the book of Hebrews!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Philemon
Of all Paul’s letters, the letter to Philemon is nearest and dearest to my heart.
About thirty-five years ago, I began work on a musical based on Philemon. I entitled it, “Onesimus: A Slave in Search of a Master,” and first performed it with youth and adults from Grace United Methodist church in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Six or so years later, after finishing seminary, we produced it again with a cast of predominantly clergy-types and their spouses. This production we had the privilege of presenting at Annual Conference around 1988. The last time we did “Onesimus” was as a dinner theater production at Niedringhaus United Methodist Church in Granite City, Illinois. By this time, the musical had gone through a couple of re-writes, with added songs, and our sons and one (future) daughter-in-law were both old enough to be in the cast.
Why do I love the story behind Philemon so much? Why did I think it worthy of the stage?
Just imagine. A runaway slave, having escaped his master in Asia Minor, finds his way to Rome, where he meets the Apostle Paul, hears the gospel and accepts Christ as his Savior. Somehow, Paul discovers that Onesimus is a “runaway,” and what’s more, a runaway from a master that Paul himself had also led to faith in Christ! Paul takes the dangerous step of sending Onesimus back to his master, Philemon. Most slave owners would put a runaway to death, or punish him severely. What would Philemon do? Paul wrote the letter that bears his name to re-introduce the runaway slave to his master, in the hopes that Philemon would receive him back as a brother, rather than a slave.
Read Philemon. How do you think the story ends?
Monday, we begin the book of Hebrews!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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