Weighty Matters...

FOR THE Fourth Sunday of Lent we read again from the Gospel According to Saint John. In this reading we hear a catch phrase condensation of the gospel message. Jesus portrays the stark difference between condemnation and God’s loving salvation.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.  (John 3:14-21)

 

 

The Insanity of Obedience: Walking with Jesus in Tough Places By Nik Ripken with Barry Stricker

 

 

Heavy Lifting?

As told by the writer of this gospel, Jesus moved his conversation with Nicodemus from declarations concerning himself, to focusing the man’s attention on the work being done. Referring to an important past event in the travel of Israel from its bondage in Egypt, Jesus pointed to the consistent love of God. He reminded that God had been working constantly toward redeeming his people. In this, Nicodemus was reminded that a serpent had been “lifted up” on a pole in the desert by Moses. In John’s literary fashion then, the image carried multiple meanings down to us.

 You see, for the Jews the bronze serpent represented the poisonous snakes that had afflicted the people who were escaping through the desert during the Exodus. These snakes were present as they were fleeing from Egypt. For us, we can understand their confusion. Many of them asked, “Is God with us or not?” We can comprehend that we humans sometimes do trade one terrible situation for yet another. However, the story of the serpent staff recalled for Nicodemus that anyone who had followed God’s instructions religiously during that escape, who kept their eyes on the bronze serpent mounted on a pole… was transported safely past a most horrid danger. Nicodemus was himself proof that for Israel the trip was worth it.

 

The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer - eBook By Andrew David Naselli

 

 
 We are reminded by history, however, that even this graceful act was sinfully perverted. The purpose of the bronze statue was eventually distorted so that worship of the snake began. The heresy became so severe for the people that the symbol became a false idol… a snare that was held up before the Israelites. They even began to burn incense to the bronze snake, offered under the name “Nehushtan”. The practice became so prevalent for the ancients that the prophet Hezekiah dealt with that heresy in his work of faith reformation. He had to smash the standard (see 2 Kings 18:4).

 Much like we ourselves in modern day, we find that our faith ancestors were thus misled. Rather than worship God who had delivered them, the Hebrews sinfully worshiped the object. We thus ask, "How many in our modern churches also ignore God so to worship heirlooms." Nonetheless, lest we condemn them without looking at ourselves, please note that we today see that a similar image ironically appears before us. We see it in the logo of the modern physician. The physician’s symbol known as the “Caduceus”  is the symbol translated from the Greek  word“κηρύκειον” (kērukeion). It means “herald's staff". Differing only in snake appearance in that the physician’s staff sports two serpents, the insignia announced the arrival of a false Greek god. Thus by this scripture we Christians are taught not to worship a beloved physician, nor a clergy person... as a false god.

 

Abolishing Abortion: How You Can Play a Part in Ending the Greatest Evil of Our Day By Rev. Frank Pavone

 

 
 The example set by the prophet demonstrated that we are only to worship God who sends the physician or clergy to us. Any healer who assists us on earth are those persons ministering in the midst of the penalty levied upon the whole of sinful humanity. Sin results in our present finitude according to scriptural Law. Therefore it is that the Law of Moses drives us to seek salvation, and God... as the Great Physician... offers relief. Through scripture rightly taught we learn of God’s love revealed as the Father works in healing us eternally. . .  through Jesus Christ, his Beloved Son.

 In the dialog of this gospel lesson, therefore, Jesus established that the finite bronze snake was replaced. God would lift up his planned salvation on a pole! This perfect gift cannot be perverted. God gave up his only begotten Son upon the wooden cross. As Nicodemus was told, Jesus Christ was the one being “lifted up” to die on a Roman standard… the cross of Golgotha.

 Immediate questions should form in any unbelieving mind. “Why would God do such a thing for the disobedient? Why would God be so gracious to any human being who was judged as sinful since the very beginning of life?”

 The answer was told plainly by our Lord. Jesus revealed the Truth to Nicodemus in a concise and memorable message of divine, perfect love, God chose to offer up his only Son, Jesus Christ. Our Lord indeed died for the world… for us and our salvation! In a wondrous reversal of earthly ways, God took away the horrid evil snake and his perfect Son was offered up. He was the One lifted on the cross in suffering, shame and tragedy. Jesus therefore revealed himself to be the singular Blessed One who forever heals our illnesses. The only proper response for us now is faith in his perfect actions made on our behalf.
 In dramatic fashion then, John established that Jesus reversed the deadly effects of poisonous evil. Gone was the powerful bite of the serpent who had tempted humans since the Garden of Eden. Upon the cross, Jesus became cursed and killed instead. In blessed exchange, we who believe in his graceful act are saved from the finality of death.

Therefore guiding our thoughts in scripture, John held up that God loves us. Just as Light sheds light and the fire of the Holy Spirit burns eternally, so it is that God loves us eternally. There is no in-between! God has done this most certainly and we are called to respond to the revelation. 

 
What Do We Now Hold Up?

 In short, we are not to worship anyone or anything except God, whether representing before us a human physician, clergy, principality or power. We are not to wear a bejeweled-cross pendant or earrings emptied of sacrificial meaning... worn just for decorative purposes. We are to worship God alone.

 We are to wear and carry the cross solely in remembrance of Jesus’ work. For you see, through the penalty of the cross Jesus Christ died in our place. By doing so he purchased eternal life for those who would believe in him. 
 Therefore know that we are sinners all. We need to read the stark imagery of darkness and light in this gospel. Note from our author that there is no grey area available. We cannot casually believe. We cannot observe milk-snake religious practices by just limiting ourselves to Christmas and Easter. We either walk wholly trapped in our sinful, dark unbelief or become secure in the Light.

 

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 Be not deceived! For we must know that this salvation is not our doing. Faith in Christ is not a work of our own. The Holy Spirit brings the witness of scripture before us. Who shall you serve? The serpent? A mere human physician? Some sinfully short-sighted clergy? Or shall you serve your true Savior Jesus Christ, the Word of God... the crucified and Risen One?
 To those who would ignore these words and thus cast my questioning aside without answering… I say to you that not to decide is still a decision. Take heed, and consider God’s offered love during this season of Lent.

Be Repentant!

FOR THE Third Sunday of Lent we read a lesson from the Gospel According to Saint John. Within this text for the day, we find that during his earthly ministry Jesus confronted high financial powers of this world who distorted human faith expression. These persons changed the right worship of God into religions of worldly profit.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.

  And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for thy house will consume me.”

 The Jews then said to him, “What sign have you to show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”

 But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

                                                                                                       (John 2:13-23)

Backgrounds of Early Christianity, Third Edition By Everett Ferguson

Paying High Maintenance?

Written from the cusp of time around the end of the first century, we read this text from John. Conflict had erupted for decades between the traditions within the faith of Israel and the beliefs of Christians. The setting he therefore wrote about concerned the distortion of Israel’s sacrificial theology. Our blessed writer told of Jesus assisting at the wedding at Cana. Afterward he related that our Lord went to Jerusalem temple for the annual observance of the Passover. Upon Jesus’ arrival, as told by this disciple, he assailed the money changers that were doing daily business within the “Court of the Gentiles”.

 Discussion has since occurred among biblical authorities over the timing of this particular Passover visit. Some say that Jesus went to observe the holy observance several times at the temple and the event is recorded here as happening very early in the young rabbi’s ministry. However, a similar event is witnessed as occurring just before the crucifixion… as we read of such in the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke (see Mark 11:15-19, Matthew 21:12-17, and Luke 19:45-48). Thus having a differing time sequence, some scholars contend what we read here represents two separate observances that Jesus attended. Conversely, others say that the event is the same, singular confrontation that was simply placed in a differing sequential order by a creative writer. As a pastor studying the Johannine literary styling which is noted as rich in dramatic tension and filled with double meanings, I humbly contend a bit for a latter thought. However, in the late first century the writer was challenged by dispersed Pharisees... and subsequently here the Christian community emphasized Jesus' Hebraic fidelity. Thus they portrayed him as following a habit of annual attendance to the Passover observances. 

 

John, the Maverick Gospel, Third Edition By Robert Kysar

 

 

 
 Notwithstanding this allegiance dilemma, the emphasis rests in the second paragraph in the writer’s relating of the contentious scene. There John revealed the words of our Lord as boldly chastising, “…you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” By doing so, the author of John highlighted that Jesus consistently stoked the fire in the cauldron of economic combat. Consequently, according to John’s gospel, by claiming God as "my Father"... Jesus heightened the tensions between himself and the temple powers.

 Chastisement was properly earned by the temple powers, in that for a hefty price... the hucksters working the temple courtyard tables could change Roman money for acceptable Israelite coinage. Using the latter coinage, a contributor could support the temple upkeep. Also, a sinful petitioner could buy a “sacrificially-approved” grain, bird or animal offering, depending on the severity of the sin confessed. In any case, the coinage trade and offering purchase was likely tilted heavily toward the trader’s purse, and thus did not favor the dusty foreign traveler. Hence it was considered by Jesus as a unholy practice.
 We find in John and also the other gospel witnesses that our Lord Jesus was thus described as whipping a gauntlet slap to the face of the moneyed class. This had been foretold by the writings of the prophets…

“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

                                                                                                 (Malachi 3:2b-5)

 Jesus challenged the temple authorities by berating their economic practices. They had turned a proper religious sacrificial act into financial exploitation. Upon being questioned concerning his authority to do the courtyard cleansing, Jesus said that if they destroyed the temple he would raise it up in three days. By saying this, he spawned much conversation… but received little understanding.
 As revealed by the writer of this gospel, we read that even the disciples did not comprehend at that time what Jesus meant. Our Lord was talking about the temple of his body. The author related at the end of our reading that they did not understand the symbolism until after the Resurrection had already occurred.

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 In answer to Jesus’ challenge to temple authorities about established practice, we find historically that the money changers soon set their tables back up. Yes, they only left the courtyard temporarily. After the dust settled they continued the practice.
 As counterpoint to my position that this is the same incident found at another time in the synoptic gospel writings, historicity lays ground for the argument that the lashing of the moneylenders may have occurred more than once. In either case, it was soon business as usual for many years after Jesus drove them out.
  "Why did John include this account? The crucifixion, you see, was thought by the authorities as sufficient cure for the troublemaker. However, what had become clearly decisive for the Christian community of John is that the death and Resurrection of Jesus erased the necessity for any animal sacrifice. The practice was thus negated completely by Jesus, He did this by offering himself as the eternal Lamb of God sacrificed once and for all for our salvation. For Israelites who did not believe in him, however, the sacrificial system continued until the destruction of the temple by the Roman army some thirty years later. Then because of the destruction and desecration of the altar the practice finally ended there.

 

We Will Not Be Silenced: Responding with Courage to Our Culture's Assault on Christianity By Erwin W. Lutzer

 

 

What Right Sacrifice?

What does the narrative of this story teach we Christians living today? Moving forward to the time of biblical telling by John toward the end of the first century, I query whether the gospel could have been a warning held high. Was this a warning for the early Church concerning the adoption of certain emerging sacrificial practices? Did distorted, demonic spirits of the dispossessed temple cult emerge in the infant Christian Church living in the scattered areas of the Roman Empire? Was this historical tendency finding its way into cultic practices of Roman Catholicism. I contend that John indeed warned the one apostolic catholic Church of this during the late-first century.
 Remember that within the first two chapters of the gospel, through the words and deeds of Jesus revealed, John warned all concerning the dangers present in the rising of heresy. Here we must note that early Orthodox and Roman church oversight structures were later modeled after the hierarchical structures of such as the Roman Empire government and the temple political structures. Thus the Church became target for dangerous sacrificial economic patterns. All of this occurred though the psalmist had clearly pointed out…

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on thy altar.

                                                                                          (Psalm 51:17-19)

 In conclusion, we of the Church today must also be keenly aware of dangers present in governance patterns which distort the message of faith. These dangers may tempt and improperly profit the powerful at the heights of the hierarchy. As we travel across historic empires, we see great cathedrals that rivaled the structural greatness of the Jerusalem temple. We need thus ask ourselves, “By what sense of sacrifice do they stand? Do they willingly witness to God’s greatness.., or do they reflect a perversion of the faithful heart? Often, a distortion of faith expression too easily occurs as a Christian denomination works to proclaim God’s gracious gifts. Each structure must therefore be tested continually before the power of the Holy Spirit. We need work toward "end times" testing these demonic spirits using the Word in both Law and Gospel… in order that we keep first things first.

 

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 You see, scripture reveals that because we are sinful before our Creator, and thus tend to corrupt all things. We must hold tightly to Truth. We are indeed saved only by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. This faith knowledge was freely given to the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this respect then, since our debts were paid once and for all by Jesus Christ crucified, and the knowledge of the Resurrection was given freely for all by the power of the Spirit, we find it no longer necessary to pay financial penance. We need build no pyramids, no tower of Babel, nor huge temples with great priesthoods clothed in sacrificial attendance. These structures and attending social ministries do not allow us to climb our way to heaven. If we choose to do these wonderful things, let us be called to do so not out of glorifying or justifying ourselves.., but only out of our thanksgiving to God.

 

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 In ministry then, knowing that God demands no complex towers or priestly hierarchy but instead calls us to first come forward with contrite hearts, we are called thus to let incense rise from the yearnings deep within our sorrowful hearts. We must be ready to urge one another to cut through the bull and burnt offerings… and give to the poor and needful while not letting our one grabby hand know what the other is doing. We are properly admonished by the lightning sound of that cracking lash of the Lord’s whip found in the Gospel of John. Let us pray that the modern Church responds to our Lord’s sharp command freely, and leaves behind ornate empty temples of selfish imaginations.

 

May the Lord guide you to repentance and thanksgiving during these days of Lent.