Prayer Practice
Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then
spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay
attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this
text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a
clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His
Word.
Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading.
Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith,
and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.
DAILY READING
DEVOTION / REFLECTION
By What Authority?
by Tom Richards
In today’s reading we find Jesus in yet another confrontation with
the Jewish leaders. It is Tuesday of Holy Week (see Mark 11) and Jesus has
just entered Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) and created a scene by cleansing the
Temple (Monday). Now these leaders ask Jesus, “Tell us by what authority
you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this
authority?” These questions were likely (at least in part) in reference to
his cleansing of the Temple.
Jesus answers them with a question of his own and goes on to tell
a story that we know as “The Parable of the Tenants”. In this parable it
is pretty clear that Jesus is talking about himself. In verse 17 he
quotes Psalm 118:22 “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” He
goes on to say “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but
he on whom it falls will be crushed.” These words really got my
attention. What can they mean?
My Study Bible notes state the following: “As a pot dashed against a stone is broken, and as one lying beneath a falling stone is crushed, so those who reject Jesus the Messiah will be doomed.” How do Jesus’ words fit in a culture where so many people believe there are multiple paths to eternal life? How do Jesus’ words fit in a culture where so many people relegate Jesus to being a great teacher, but nothing more?
C.S. Lewis
shares some thoughts on this in his book “Mere Christianity” when he states his
disdain for folks who say Jesus is a really great moral teacher but they deny that he is God. Lewis asserts that a simple man who voiced the words Jesus did would either be crazy
or a devil. He is challenging the reader to decide, either He is the
Son of God, a mad man, or something even worse (to read the actual words of C.S. Lewis go to page
55-56). In Matthew 16:15 Jesus poses an all important question to Peter, and us:
Prayer: Dear Father, help me to gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus really is. Help me to grasp the sacrifice that he made for me and for all mankind. And help me to answer Jesus' question in Matthew like Peter did, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Amen
2 comments:
Tom:
Your reference to C.S Lewis' comments in Mere Christianity are spot on. Jesus is a good teacher? Really?? The one who raised the dead, was before Abraham, knows the thoughts of those confronting him, claims to know the Father as His Son, walks on the water and calms the storm!!! the Holy Spirit has to bring faith to such a person who believes Jesus to be no more than a good teacher.
This idea of accepting others "opinions" of one's freedom to choose their own concept of morality leading to the thought that there are therefore many pathways to God is itself an absolutism and statement of faith. Christians are accused of thinking they have the "truth" and are put on the defense. Tim Keller in his book, "The Reason for God" equips the reader to challenge the core arguments against Christianity. All of these religious beliefs cannot be true since they all differ in outcomes. Jesus is either who he says He is or he is a complete loon (Leweis).
Thank you for today's message. It is thoughtful and on point.
Robin Lorms
Robin, I have never responded to anyone using the blog format, so hopefully this works. I would like to thank you for the feedback and the encouragement that you continue to offer. It really helps to know that someone (besides me!) is getting something out of these articles. I completely agree with your comments above. I have read "The Reason for God" and Keller does a great job of addressing some of the challenges we encounter in today's world. I can't help but think that sometimes modern Christianity makes such an effort to portray Jesus as our friend that we fail to communicate that he is Lord, that he is God! Today's culture is not very accepting of absolute truth, and yet that is what Jesus offers. Interesting times... Thanks again for taking time to share your thoughts. They are very helpful. T.R.
Post a Comment