5/18/13

From Gary... A lesson from a whirligig



It was very late in the afternoon, almost evening when Lizzie and I finally arrived on the street where I live.  Even though I was tired, I still felt in a "fun mood", so I experimented in taking a still picture of a moving object and then my first video with this camera.  The results speak for themselves.  I have a lot to learn about taking pictures and videos!!!  However, when I looked at the picture with new eyes, I realized that it was "not so bad" after all, because it showed something of what life is really like.  To understand what I mean, first view the picture and then the video, THEN read the passage below...

Mark, Chapter 14

 27  Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’   28  However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” 


  29  But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.” 



  30  Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 



  31  But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing. 

  32  They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.”   33 He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.  34 He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.” 



  35  He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” 



  37  He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour?   38  Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 



  39  Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.  40 Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him.  41 He came the third time, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.   42  Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.” 



  43  Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.  44 Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.”  45 When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him.  46 They laid their hands on him, and seized him.  47 But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 

  48  Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me?   49  I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” 



  50  They all left him, and fled. 



The apostles had spent three years with Jesus; supposedly learning from him during that time.  They were slow learners.  Jesus told them what would happen long before it did and as usual, they didn't get it.  Peter would not listen (also as usual) and it wasn't until much later that he realized the truth - after the rooster crowed.  Now, you probably are thinking that this just does not relate, but it does.  You see, sometimes life just goes by too fast for us to get a clear picture of what is going on (like the photo).  Often, it isn't until we "play things over in our mind" (like the video) that we see things clearly.  OK, so you are probably saying "so what" right about now.  Well, if we think about the Scriptures on a daily basis over a long period of time, they become so much a part of us that everything in our life is filtered by them.  And that is the point- Scripture puts things in focus- gives us direction and guidance when we need it most!!!  I had no idea Who knew that I could learn something from a whirligig???

From Jim McGuiggan... Christ or the Church? The One Or the Many?


Christ or the Church? The One Or the Many?

In a society where individualism is seen as the real meaning of "freedom" and where individualism is seen to be the ideal toward which humanity should be moving—in a society like that, it's difficult not to read every verse of scripture as if it were written with the individual in mind.
And since so many texts use the second person singular this is used to bolster the notion that the primary unit in scripture is the individual. After all, it does use "singular" language.
Then there's the truth that relationship with God in Christ must be "personal". You can't relate to Christ in the place of someone else; you have to make your own move toward him, you have to have a personal commitment to him. Since this is obviously true, personal salvation is construed as individual salvation.
Of course, this insistence on individuality results in a radical fragmentation of society. We begin to think we are free-standing individual units and we only tolerate situations where we must act corporately. We certainly don't encourage corporateness and much less do we think it's an unavoidable reality.
There are many illustrations in society where individuals join clubs or societies and are willing to play by the rules of that society or club. But it's a matter of perfect individual freedom. They don't have to be part of the club. If they don't like it they can leave and even start their own movement. The individual remains the primary unit in Western society.
The Bible everywhere acknowledges the existence of the individual, but it never sees the individual as the primary unit. And just to sharpen the point: the Bible also thinks of the individual as part of the larger community and never free-standing.
As Paul will present that truth he will use the root metaphor of "the body". He teaches us that no one mistakes a foot for an ear or a hand for an eye—these are specific, individual "members" (parts), distinct one from another. Distinct from one another but not independent of one another. A body is not one member (part), he says, but many.
It isn't only true that there has to be a body to have many parts, it's also true that there have to be many parts if there is to be a body (1 Corinthians 12:19).
A thumb or foot has no independent existence—there must be a body. Nor can a foot be called a body—there must be many parts. (We can only call a severed foot "a foot" because we retain "body" language when we speak of it.)
This complete inter-dependence is a crucial element in Paul's theology.
Division was a central problem at Corinth.
However the division arises, it's incompatible with the truth that there's only one, indivisible Christ (1 Corinthians 1:13). If these people are "of Christ" or "in Christ" then their dividing was (if it were possible) tearing Christ into pieces. Since God's business in Christ is the reconciling of the world, this behavior would be in flat opposition to the purpose and work of the almighty God.
The roots of the division
There was more than one root, but they were all sinful. Elitism was rampant.
We see this when it came to eating meats sacrificed to idols. The division, in fact, only showed itself in the meat issue. The reason for the division was the tension between the "strong" knowers and the "weak" ignorant. The strong felt superior, were insisting on the freedom their knowing brought them, but were threatening the weak (as well as despising them). See 1 Corinthians 8-10.
The elite who felt superior because they "knew" some truths, didn't really know the God who had come in Jesus Christ to them when they were ignorant and remain ignorant (see 10:14 and the discussion that follows).
At the Lord's Supper there was division (1 Corinthians 11:18-19). It had theological ramifications, of course, but the tension was between the "haves" and the "have nots" (11:22). The prosperous were obviously blessed by God (how else could they have what they had?) and the poor, well, God hadn't seen fit to give them such blessings. The "haves" were not only humiliating the poor, they were despising them (11:22). More elitism. See 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.
In the Supper we're reminded that Christ entrusted himself to the disciples (11:23-26) and those who are privileged to eat with him participate in the body of Christ (10:16-17) and are parts of that body (of Christ—12:27). In despising the parts of Christ's body, they were despising Christ (11:27, and compare, "Inasmuch as you did unto these my brothers, you did it unto me.")
Divisive tensions showed in congregational settings and functions (12:1-31). Chapter 14 shows that arguments about the "best" and most important gifts are going on. Some are wanting to dominate the proceedings at gatherings. Here in chapter 12 some think so much of their gift that they feel they can do without the rest of the gifts. Some are jealous that they don't have this gift rather than the one they have. Some think they might as well not be part of Christ is they don't have what they want. In all this, individualism was rampant. There was little or no conception of unity and oneness.
The cure for this (if there was to be a cure) was for them to see and feel their inter-dependence which was due to their identification with Jesus Christ.
For Paul, being baptized into the one body (12:13) is the same as being baptized into Christ (1:13).
He insists that they (their bodies) are parts of Jesus Christ (6:15, 17).
He expressly calls them "the body of Christ (12:27)
He takes the human body as an analogy (12:12) for Christ, not the church. That is, he says, as a (human) body has many parts but is one that's how it is with Christ. We might have expected him to say that's how it is with the church. Had he said that, it would have been true, of course. But that's not what he said.
He doesn't want them to know they're parts of a body of people (however true that is), he wants them to know that they are parts of Christ himself. It is this identification with Christ—that they are his body—that should/could destroy the basis for tension and division.
In persecuting the Christians Paul discovered he was actually persecuting Christ himself (Acts 9:4-5).
It's their identification with Christ, as his body, which is the truth that underlies this whole section. Paul insists that there can be no body of Christ unless there are many parts of it (12:19). If we had only an eye, not only would we not have hands, feet and the like; not only would we not have a complete body, we'd have no body at all.
Without the many there is no One!
But Paul insists that the One there is, the One that is made up of many parts, is Christ! Not the church (which is true)—but Christ. "...so also is Christ." (12:12). Christ himself is "the many".
There is no Christ (as Paul presents him here) without the many. So to parade our own gifts, to despise the gifts and place of others, to dominate and strut and by it spread the notion that the individual is supreme—to do that is to deny the Christ who is many. It is to work for the destruction of the Christ. It is to become anti-Christ.
So in all his appeals for unity, Paul never says they ought to be united because they are one community called together by Christ (though that's true), he always claims they are Christ in community. He always claims they are Christ's present self-manifestation. He always claims, "You are parts of Christ."

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... They Beheld His Majesty


                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                    They Beheld His Majesty (9:1-9)

INTRODUCTION

1. In His discussion on discipleship, Jesus makes a remarkable claim...
   a. He will one day come in the glory of His father with the holy
      angels - Mk 8:38
   b. A reference to His coming in on the Day of Judgment - cf. 
      Mt 16:27; 25:31-32

2. To support His claim, Jesus makes another remarkable statement:
   "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will
   not taste death till..."
   a. "they see the kingdom of God present with power." - Mk 9:1
   b. "they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." - Mt 16:28
   c. "they see the kingdom of God." - Lk 9:27

3. To what does Jesus refer?  Several interpretations have been given...
   a. Jesus' transfiguration on the mount
   b. Jesus' resurrection and ascension
   c. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and beginning of the
      church
   d. The destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 A.D.
   e. The second coming of Christ

4. Note that the gospel writers connect these sayings with an event
   about to occur...
   a. Matthew and Mark record "and after six days..." - Mk 17:1; Mk 9:2
   b. Luke writes "about eight days" ("the Jewish equivalent of 'about a
      week later'") - Lk 9:28
   c. Luke adds "after these sayings", clearly tying the event to what
      had just been said

[That event was the transfiguration of Christ on the mountain, which
served as a striking preview and guarantee of His future coming in glory
(cf. 2Pe 1:16-18).  What happened on the mount?  Simply put, "They
Beheld His Majesty".  Note first of all..]

I. THEY BEHELD THE MAJESTY OF HIS PERSON

   A. EVIDENCED BY HIS TRANSFIGURATION...
      1. He was transfigured - Mk 9:2
         a. Grk., metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o}
         b. Meaning to change, transfigure, transform
      2. This change affected His face and clothing
         a. His face shone like the sun - Mt 17:2 (Luke says the
            appearance of His face was altered - Lk 9:29)
         b. His clothes became as white as the light - Mt 17:2
            1) Shining, exceedingly white, like snow, more than any
               launderer can whiten them - Mk 9:3
            2) White and glistening - Lk 9:29
      3. Peter later wrote that what he saw was His "majesty" (2Pe 1:16); 
         the effulgence of His glory possibly representing His
         deity as the Son of God - cf. He 1:1-3

   B. EVIDENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF MOSES AND ELIJAH...
      1. They were talking with Jesus - Mk 9:4
         a. They also appeared in glory - Lk 9:31a
         b. Discussing with Jesus about His coming death in Jerusalem
            - Lk 9:31b
         c. Peter, James, and John had been sleeping, but awoke to see
            Jesus in His glory, and talking with Moses and Elijah - Lk 9:32
         d. Moses and Elijah then began to depart - Lk 9:33
      2. That Moses and Elijah would appear with Jesus was not lost on
         Peter - Mk 9:5-6
         a. Moses and Elijah were the epitome of the Law and the
            Prophets
         b. Peter wanted to build three tabernacles, one each for Jesus,
            Moses and Elijah
      3. Jesus had evidently been elevated to the same level as Moses
         and Elijah in Peter's mind!

[But Peter was soon to learn that Jesus was greater than Moses and
Elijah, especially in regards to His authority.  Therefore as we
continue we note that...]

II. THEY BEHELD THE MAJESTY OF HIS COMING KINGDOM

   A. EVIDENCED BY THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN...
      1. While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed
         them - Mk 9:7
      2. Peter, James, and John, fearfully entered the cloud - Lk 9:34
      3. A voice came out of the cloud:  "This is My beloved Son. Hear
         Him!" - Mk 9:7
         a. This terrified the disciples - Mt 17:6
         b. Jesus then sought to comfort them - Mt 17:7
      4. The command, "Hear Him!" implies...
         a. That God would now speak through His Son, not the Law
            (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) - cf. He 1:1-2
         b. That the rule and reign of God would be exercised through
            His Son, as He would be given all authority in heaven and
            earth - cf. Mt 28:18
      5. Of course, this rule and reign (i.e., Christ's kingdom) would
         begin after Christ suffered (i.e., His death) and entered into
         glory (i.e., His ascension) - cf. Lk 24:26
         a. Which explains why He told them to tell no one the vision
            until after His resurrection - Mk 9:9
         b. What they witnessed was a foretaste, a foreshadowing of His
            coming glory and rule in His kingdom!

   B. EVIDENCED BY THE ABSENCE OF MOSES AND ELIJAH...
      1. After hearing the voice, and lifting up their eyes, only Jesus
         was present - Mk  9:8
      2. Perhaps symbolizing what the voice clearly declared:  that
         Jesus was the one they were to hear, not Moses and Elijah who
         likely represented the Law and the Prophets

CONCLUSION

1. Truly "They Beheld His Majesty"...
   a. They beheld the majesty of His person
      1) Transfigured before them
      2) Exalted even above Moses and Elijah
   b. They beheld the majesty of His coming kingdom
      1) Acknowledged from heaven as God's beloved Son
      2) The One whom all should heed, for all authority would be given
         to Him

2. What is the significance of this event...?
   a. I take it to be the fulfillment Jesus' promise in 
      Mk 9:1; Mt 16:28; Lk 9:27
      1) That some would see the kingdom of God "present" with power
      2) That some would see the Son of Man "coming" in His kingdom
      3) That some would see the kingdom of God (i.e., His rule or
         reign)
   b. As such, what they saw was a foretaste of His kingdom or rule...
      1) Just a foretaste, which is why they were to keep silent for a
         time - Mk 9:9
      2) To be fully exercised after His death and resurrection - cf. 
         Ep 1:20-23; 1Pe 3:22
      3) Which includes that day in which He will judge the world! - cf.
         Ac 17:30-31

3. All the events at the mount contributed to giving Jesus honor and
   glory from the Father - 2Pe 1:17
   a. The glorious transfiguration of Christ
   b. The presence (and subsequent absence) of Moses and Elijah
   c. The voice from heaven, acknowledging Christ as God's Son

4. What does God desire of us today...?
   a. Not tabernacles or temples erected in the memory of His Son
   b. But for us to simply obey what God said at the mount:  "Hear Him!"

If we desire to add to the honor and glory that Jesus so richly
deserves, and to one day behold His majesty in heaven, then be careful
to heed what He himself said regarding His authority:

   "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go
   therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
   in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
   teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
   and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
                                                     - Mt 28:18-20



Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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