Entries by Kathy Zech
A Cosmically Bad Trade
Have you ever made a bad trade? Generally when making a trade you want to come out feeling like you got the better end of the deal. You trade something of lesser value for something you feel has greater value. The Milwaukee Bucks just traded away the franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo (and Bobby Portis) to the Miami Heat for four players and five future draft picks. Both the Bucks and the Heat feel like they got the better end of the trade. Time will tell if this was a good trade or a bad trade for the Bucks.
Rescue for the Wretched
“How could he do that? He’s supposed to be a Christian!” Have you ever felt that way about someone? Someone you know, someone you respect as a brother or sister in Christ does something sinful, shockingly sinful. We are left wondering, “How can this be?”
Now…to All Nations!
There is something quite significant about Jesus’ instructions in our text this morning. His command to disciple all nations is entirely a new thing! If we look at the prophets of old, we notice something they all have in common. They were sent to just one nation, Israel. Not to “all nations.”
From Dehydrated to Overflowing!
On the last and most important day of the festival. (v. 37) Thus begins our text. The “festival” referred to was the Feast of Ingathering, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. On the Jewish calendar, this was the final of the three great festivals that required every male to be in Jerusalem. This festival celebrated the fruit harvest and was also a remembrance of the way the Lord took care of the Israelites when they wandered in the desert those 40 years before entering the Promised Land. It was the most joyous of all the festivals. It lasted a full week. It was a “biggie”!
Waiting for the Glory
Central to the Christian faith is the idea of “glory.” The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Chirst mean glory for all who trust in him. Most, if not all, Christians would agree on that. But just when does the glorious life begin? There are some who believe that the Christian life here-and-now will become “glorious” and virtually problem-free. Maybe you have heard of the “health and wealth” gospel. Those who believe this believe that Christians will be healthy and rich in this life! “Name-it-and-claim-it” theology says if you see something and want it, pray for it and God will give it to you. Martin Luther called such people “theologians of glory.”
Now You Know! Now, Repent!
Paul had come to the Greek city of Athens to do mission work. Athens was a major city of its time. It was a center of politics and arts and philosophy…and religion. As Paul walked around the city, he observed that it was a very religious place. He would have seen the Parthenon temple set high on the Acropolis. There was the temple of Athena Nike. In the marketplace of Athens there were the Temple of Hephaestus, the Temple of Ares, the Temple of Apollo Patroos, and a temple for the mother goddess. Some archaeologists believe at the time of Paul there may have been as many as 40 major temples to Roman deities in Athens. In addition to the major temples, there were shrines and tens of thousands of statues for the gods. One second-century geographer, Pausanias, described Athens as having more religious images than all other Greek cities combined. It was to this city that Paul came preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18)
Everything You Need for Your Journey Home
A couple weeks ago Sue and I flew to Wichita to see kids and grandkids. As we were preparing to board the plane in Milwaukee, I obsessively checked that I had everything I needed. Phone, money clip, carry-on bag, glasses. Yup, had it all. So we board the plane and are making our way down the center aisle to our seats. I tapped my jacket pocket. Uh-oh! Can’t feel my reading glasses! They’re gone. At some point, in that short distance from the gate to the plane they fell out. And I really need my glasses to function! Fortunately, the problem was easily remedied. A trip to Walgreens in Wichita and I had new readers. Why do I tell you this very boring story? To make the point: it’s not fun to travel and discover that you don’t have everything you need.
Only One Gate…for Sheep and Shepherds
There is a very important backstory to our text. In John 9, Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind. It was a wonderful, gracious miracle of healing! Who wouldn’t be thrilled about that? The religious leadership! You see, the day on which Jesus performed this miracle was a Sabbath Day. No work was to be done on the Sabbath. And the leadership had a graceless and merciless interpretation of this. They were incensed that Jesus would do such “work” on a Sabbath! They interrogate the man Jesus healed. When the man would not say a bad word about Jesus, but instead continued to give praise and glory to Jesus, the leaders threw the man out. They “excommunicated” the man, if you will. These leaders hated Jesus and they hated any “sheep” who followed Jesus.
