Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast ... saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
~ John 12:20-21 (NKJV)
This incident, described only in the Gospel of John, is a largely overlooked treasure. I've never heard it mentioned in a children's Bible story or lesson, in a sermon, or in discussion. Perhaps, because most Christians are Gentile rather than Jewish, we think it unremarkable that non-Jews would be interested in Jesus. Indeed, Jesus' response seems to diminish their request.
But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified."
~ John 12:23 (NKJV)
As Jesus says more to His disciples (verses 24-26), they surely experienced another familiar "we have no idea what He's talking about" moment. What happened next was decidedly uncommon, as Jesus turns and speaks directly to God.
"Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."
~ John 12:28 (NKJV)
Is the voice of God heard so often that it seems uneventful?
Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him."
~ John 12:29 (NKJV)
When we do hear from God, do we try to explain it away? When we encounter seemingly random passages of Scripture, do we pass on by to something easier to apprehend?
"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
~ John 12:31-32 (NKJV)
The Greeks didn't pass on by, and they received far more than they hoped for. They asked to glimpse the Man greeted by shouts of "Hosanna!" and "King of Israel!" They were given the treat of hearing the voice of God. They were informed that Jesus' hour meant changes for the whole world. And they received the good news that Jesus intended to include "all peoples" in His kingdom.
He will likewise give us more than we request if we will but ask, seek, knock.
Father, You are so very good to allow us to hear Your voice, whether audibly, in the whispers of Your Spirit, or through Your precious Word. Thank You for opening to us the treasures You have hidden in Scripture. Thank You for making us partakers in Your kingdom.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Beware the Ordinary
Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
"Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey's colt."
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
~ John 12:14-16 (NKJV)
A crowd gathered for the high holy days of Passover certainly contained people wearing their best cloaks. Yet they willingly laid them across the road to be tread upon by a donkey. Their shouts of "King of Israel" surely fell upon the ears of Roman soldiers. After six centuries of waiting for another son of David to sit upon Israel's throne, their expectations of Jesus surely matched their bold actions.
Did any of them actually think of King David? He likewise threw off his king's cloak, dressed himself in the attire of the ministers, and praised "with all his might" as Jerusalem welcomed the Ark of the Covenant—the presence of Most High King entering His city.
Did the Palm Sunday crowd understand that they welcomed not only royalty but divinity?
If His disciples didn't understand the significance of their actions (as John's Gospel says), perhaps walking with the Son of God had become ordinary to them.
I daresay that each of us reaches the point where walking with Jesus becomes a little too ordinary. Perhaps it is inevitable that such times occur upon the approaches to a personal Calvary. When we again face the altar, where something else must die, we cannot help but offer sacrifice, and then worship anew our Lord who is God and King.
You are holy, Lord, enthroned in the praises of Your people. Renew our love and recognition for You daily. Please invite our worship. Please give us strength of joy in sacrifice.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
"Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey's colt."
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
~ John 12:14-16 (NKJV)
A crowd gathered for the high holy days of Passover certainly contained people wearing their best cloaks. Yet they willingly laid them across the road to be tread upon by a donkey. Their shouts of "King of Israel" surely fell upon the ears of Roman soldiers. After six centuries of waiting for another son of David to sit upon Israel's throne, their expectations of Jesus surely matched their bold actions.
Did any of them actually think of King David? He likewise threw off his king's cloak, dressed himself in the attire of the ministers, and praised "with all his might" as Jerusalem welcomed the Ark of the Covenant—the presence of Most High King entering His city.
Did the Palm Sunday crowd understand that they welcomed not only royalty but divinity?
If His disciples didn't understand the significance of their actions (as John's Gospel says), perhaps walking with the Son of God had become ordinary to them.
I daresay that each of us reaches the point where walking with Jesus becomes a little too ordinary. Perhaps it is inevitable that such times occur upon the approaches to a personal Calvary. When we again face the altar, where something else must die, we cannot help but offer sacrifice, and then worship anew our Lord who is God and King.
You are holy, Lord, enthroned in the praises of Your people. Renew our love and recognition for You daily. Please invite our worship. Please give us strength of joy in sacrifice.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Killing the Inconvenient People
Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
~ John 11:53 (NKJV)
There were a handful of occasions when Jesus outraged people, and they spontaneously rose up in the effort to kill Him (second degree murder). Then the day arrived when Jesus became so inconvenient for the Pharisees and Jewish leaders that they plotted His death (first degree murder).
Murder is always a matter of degrees.
Jesus explained that lust is adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28). Likewise, hatred is the seeds of murder in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22).
Murder always begins with hatred of a person found to be inconvenient.
There are those people who perpetually annoy us. The arrogant know-it-alls and the repeated screw-ups and the awkward social-inepts. The one-step-aheads, who stand between us and an ambition.
And then there are the people who really are out to get us.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
~ 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
At what point to do we look at another individual and decide that our lives would be better if they were dead? We may not think in those terms. Perhaps we dream of either (s)he or me quitting a job so that our paths will no longer cross. Or we hear they're absent due to sickness and wonder how long a break we'll get. Or the day comes when they're no longer in church, and in our relief to see them gone, we have no sorrow over what becomes of them.
We wish only that they might become dead to us.
Such are the seeds of hatred, bearing fruit in curt speech, a cold shoulder, or an inward smile at misfortune.
Each of which chips away at a person's well being, a tiny dagger of murder.
"... I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you... If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them."
~ Luke 6:27-32 (NKJV)
Lord Jesus, thank You for the example of love and grace You gave us. Please enable us to see people as You do, and to be Your ministers of love to every neighbor, even the inconvenient and hateful ones. We do it only by Your power in us.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 11:53 (NKJV)
There were a handful of occasions when Jesus outraged people, and they spontaneously rose up in the effort to kill Him (second degree murder). Then the day arrived when Jesus became so inconvenient for the Pharisees and Jewish leaders that they plotted His death (first degree murder).
Murder is always a matter of degrees.
Jesus explained that lust is adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28). Likewise, hatred is the seeds of murder in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22).
Murder always begins with hatred of a person found to be inconvenient.
There are those people who perpetually annoy us. The arrogant know-it-alls and the repeated screw-ups and the awkward social-inepts. The one-step-aheads, who stand between us and an ambition.
And then there are the people who really are out to get us.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
~ 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
At what point to do we look at another individual and decide that our lives would be better if they were dead? We may not think in those terms. Perhaps we dream of either (s)he or me quitting a job so that our paths will no longer cross. Or we hear they're absent due to sickness and wonder how long a break we'll get. Or the day comes when they're no longer in church, and in our relief to see them gone, we have no sorrow over what becomes of them.
We wish only that they might become dead to us.
Such are the seeds of hatred, bearing fruit in curt speech, a cold shoulder, or an inward smile at misfortune.
Each of which chips away at a person's well being, a tiny dagger of murder.
"... I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you... If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them."
~ Luke 6:27-32 (NKJV)
Lord Jesus, thank You for the example of love and grace You gave us. Please enable us to see people as You do, and to be Your ministers of love to every neighbor, even the inconvenient and hateful ones. We do it only by Your power in us.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Absolute Zero
We had this conversation in our Michigan home yesterday morning, as the kids woke up after forsaking their bedrooms to sleep by the wood stove.
"It's 9 degrees out."
"Yuck."
"It'll get warmer. They forecast a high of 19."
"That's double!"
I'm not sure if my little one was thinking that's double cold, but the remark did get me thinking about how relative temperature is.
While the Fahrenheit scale is based on zero degrees being the coldest temperature Mr. Fahrenheit measured outdoors (with 100 being the warmest), and the Celsius scale is based on water freezing at zero and boiling at 100, both scales measure only what is familiar to human experience.
Scientists say "absolute zero" (the absence of all heat) is - 459.67° F. I don't know (and didn't find) what the hottest scientific temperature might be, but I'm guessing that it's also something I won't ever experience.
Recent cold has seemed downright intolerable. But if I consider absolute zero—the complete absence of any heat—zero Fahrenheit seems quite sufficient.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
I'm inclined to think of God's grace the same way. We have good days that feel like high 70's with a gentle breeze and the sun shining pleasantly upon us, and we consider His grace sufficient. Then we get those zero degree days when circumstances seem downright intolerable.
But our conception of "zero" is relative. Think for a moment of what "absolute zero" grace would be. What would life be like with the absence of all God in our lives—the forecast for those who reject Him? Such a thought enables us to quickly recalculate our perspective and immediately see how abundant the His grace is on even the bad days.
I don't yet have experience with how high the Lord's grace goes, but I understand it goes something like this:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
~ 1 Corinthians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
"It's 9 degrees out."
"Yuck."
"It'll get warmer. They forecast a high of 19."
"That's double!"
I'm not sure if my little one was thinking that's double cold, but the remark did get me thinking about how relative temperature is.
While the Fahrenheit scale is based on zero degrees being the coldest temperature Mr. Fahrenheit measured outdoors (with 100 being the warmest), and the Celsius scale is based on water freezing at zero and boiling at 100, both scales measure only what is familiar to human experience.
Scientists say "absolute zero" (the absence of all heat) is - 459.67° F. I don't know (and didn't find) what the hottest scientific temperature might be, but I'm guessing that it's also something I won't ever experience.
Recent cold has seemed downright intolerable. But if I consider absolute zero—the complete absence of any heat—zero Fahrenheit seems quite sufficient.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
I'm inclined to think of God's grace the same way. We have good days that feel like high 70's with a gentle breeze and the sun shining pleasantly upon us, and we consider His grace sufficient. Then we get those zero degree days when circumstances seem downright intolerable.
But our conception of "zero" is relative. Think for a moment of what "absolute zero" grace would be. What would life be like with the absence of all God in our lives—the forecast for those who reject Him? Such a thought enables us to quickly recalculate our perspective and immediately see how abundant the His grace is on even the bad days.
I don't yet have experience with how high the Lord's grace goes, but I understand it goes something like this:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
~ 1 Corinthians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Can the Holy Spirit and a Demon Live Together?
Now this [Caiaphas] did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied ...
~ John 11:51 (NKJV)
A recent comment asked, "Can born again Christians be possessed by demons/evil spirits?"
The above verse shows the Holy Spirit using a person who resists Him. Caiaphas did prophesy, but he was also an evil man who sent Jesus to Pilate for crucifixion.
To answer the above question, an important distinction should be made about whether the Holy Spirit or demonic spirit fills or inhabits a person, or is "with" or "upon" a person.
King Saul is a striking Old Testament example of having the Holy Spirit and then an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14). But it appears that the evil spirit did not dominate Saul until the Holy Spirit left him, and it nowhere says that the Holy Spirit was ever within him. The Old Testament tells of several instances when the Holy Spirit was upon a person or with a person, but only once says the Holy Spirit was actually within a person (Exodus 31:2-3).
In New Testament times, after Jesus died for sins, those who put faith in Him—who are "born again" of the Holy Spirit—become the temple within which the Holy Spirit resides. It is unthinkable that the Holy Spirit would share residence and live together with a demonic spirit. When Jesus was accused of driving out demons by the power of the devil, He pointed out the absurdity of Evil working against itself to cooperate with Good. Rather, the evil spirit, or "strong man," is driven out before being plundered of its human spoil:
"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house."
~ Matthew 12:28-29 (NKJV)
We know from numerous Bible passages that even after the Holy Spirit inhabits us, evil spirits still try to access us.
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me ...
~ 2 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)
[Other references to the devil's presence include 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11; Ephesians 4:26-27; James 4:7).]
There is no reason to fear the devil or his minions residing in the same person as the Holy Spirit. But they can still wreak plenty of trouble if they get a foot in the door. The Bible teaches us how to become strong in the Holy Spirit so that doesn't happen when demons come knocking.
Lord Jesus, our adversary the devil is strong. But you are good and wise and almighty. You have already defeated him. Please remind us of our spiritual armor. Please alert us to our enemy's schemes even as we ask You to thwart them. Please let us fear no one but God.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 11:51 (NKJV)
A recent comment asked, "Can born again Christians be possessed by demons/evil spirits?"
The above verse shows the Holy Spirit using a person who resists Him. Caiaphas did prophesy, but he was also an evil man who sent Jesus to Pilate for crucifixion.
To answer the above question, an important distinction should be made about whether the Holy Spirit or demonic spirit fills or inhabits a person, or is "with" or "upon" a person.
King Saul is a striking Old Testament example of having the Holy Spirit and then an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14). But it appears that the evil spirit did not dominate Saul until the Holy Spirit left him, and it nowhere says that the Holy Spirit was ever within him. The Old Testament tells of several instances when the Holy Spirit was upon a person or with a person, but only once says the Holy Spirit was actually within a person (Exodus 31:2-3).
In New Testament times, after Jesus died for sins, those who put faith in Him—who are "born again" of the Holy Spirit—become the temple within which the Holy Spirit resides. It is unthinkable that the Holy Spirit would share residence and live together with a demonic spirit. When Jesus was accused of driving out demons by the power of the devil, He pointed out the absurdity of Evil working against itself to cooperate with Good. Rather, the evil spirit, or "strong man," is driven out before being plundered of its human spoil:
"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house."
~ Matthew 12:28-29 (NKJV)
We know from numerous Bible passages that even after the Holy Spirit inhabits us, evil spirits still try to access us.
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me ...
~ 2 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)
[Other references to the devil's presence include 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11; Ephesians 4:26-27; James 4:7).]
There is no reason to fear the devil or his minions residing in the same person as the Holy Spirit. But they can still wreak plenty of trouble if they get a foot in the door. The Bible teaches us how to become strong in the Holy Spirit so that doesn't happen when demons come knocking.
Lord Jesus, our adversary the devil is strong. But you are good and wise and almighty. You have already defeated him. Please remind us of our spiritual armor. Please alert us to our enemy's schemes even as we ask You to thwart them. Please let us fear no one but God.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Never Mind, Lord
Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
~ John 11:39 (NKJV)
I don't know about you, but I have the audacity to invite God to step in and bring life to a situation, and then hesitate and draw back when things get messy. I have the tendency to decide the situation isn't worth this much trouble and say, "Never mind, Lord."
If God numbers the hair on our head and watches over every sparrow (Luke 12:6-7), then what situation is too small for Him? On the other hand, how far gone is a situation before God won't repair it?
And the Lord said ... "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you ..."
~ Genesis 18:13-14 (NKJV)
Lazarus was only dead four days. When Jesus was crucified and resurrected, "many" people who had been in their graves for certainly longer were also raised (Matthew 27:51-53). And a day lies in the future when all the dry bones of all the saints in all the earth will be raised alive (Ezekiel 37:1-10).
The fact that things get messy or we must wait for God's appointed time or is no reason to say, "Never mind, Lord." We need only believe, and then wait for the impossible.
Jesus said to [Martha], "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
~ John 11:40 (NKJV)
Our Creator, thank You for taking delight to bring life, light, and love wherever You are invited. Please help us in our unbelief and our impatience. Please increase our faith and longsuffering.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 11:39 (NKJV)
I don't know about you, but I have the audacity to invite God to step in and bring life to a situation, and then hesitate and draw back when things get messy. I have the tendency to decide the situation isn't worth this much trouble and say, "Never mind, Lord."
If God numbers the hair on our head and watches over every sparrow (Luke 12:6-7), then what situation is too small for Him? On the other hand, how far gone is a situation before God won't repair it?
And the Lord said ... "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you ..."
~ Genesis 18:13-14 (NKJV)
Lazarus was only dead four days. When Jesus was crucified and resurrected, "many" people who had been in their graves for certainly longer were also raised (Matthew 27:51-53). And a day lies in the future when all the dry bones of all the saints in all the earth will be raised alive (Ezekiel 37:1-10).
The fact that things get messy or we must wait for God's appointed time or is no reason to say, "Never mind, Lord." We need only believe, and then wait for the impossible.
Jesus said to [Martha], "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
~ John 11:40 (NKJV)
Our Creator, thank You for taking delight to bring life, light, and love wherever You are invited. Please help us in our unbelief and our impatience. Please increase our faith and longsuffering.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Friday, January 13, 2012
This Woman
"Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."
~ Matthew 26:13 (NKJV)
When Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair, and then breaks a flask of expensive perfume and anoints His head, she is "sharply criticized" (or "condemned") by not only Judas the greedy thief (John 12:4-6), but by other disciples as well (Mark 14:4-5).
Curiously, this prominent event—prophesied by Jesus to be proclaimed through all the world as part of the Gospel—is omitted by Luke's Gospel. Luke, on the other hand, is the only one to include the parallel incident of a "sinful woman" also using her hair to wipe Jesus' feet and anoint them with costly perfume, after she washes them with her tears—the profuse tears of a gratefully redeemed sinner who "loves much" (Luke 7:36-50).
Furthermore, Luke's Gospel is the only Gospel some people hear. The Jesus film, based solely on Luke, has been translated into various languages and presented throughout the world as a succinct method of dramatically presenting Jesus to people who have never heard of Him.
I am inclined to believe that Jesus' prophecy about Mary of Bethany is not inaccurate, and that her story is also told through Luke, though she is identified only as the sinful woman. Luke obviously knew about Mary, since he alone describes the incident when Martha complains to Jesus about Mary. Perhaps in his evident esteem for Mary, Luke chooses to include this previous scene from Mary's life, but purposely omits her name out of sensitivity for her shameful past.
Regardless, both scenes rank among the most beloved Gospel stories. In each story, this woman disregards the scorn of onlookers to humble herself beyond all reason (see "That Mary" post) and extravagantly pours out love and gratitude upon Jesus.
And so Jesus exalted her—just as He promises to do for each of His disciples who seeks not the favor of others, but the favor of God.
"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
~ Matthew 23:11-12 (NKJV)
Father, we have no words or works sufficient to adequately express the great price You have paid to purchase us. Please enable to do so with great love in our hearts. Please prompt us to seek Your favor alone, trusting You to give us favor with others as pleases You.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ Matthew 26:13 (NKJV)
When Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair, and then breaks a flask of expensive perfume and anoints His head, she is "sharply criticized" (or "condemned") by not only Judas the greedy thief (John 12:4-6), but by other disciples as well (Mark 14:4-5).
Curiously, this prominent event—prophesied by Jesus to be proclaimed through all the world as part of the Gospel—is omitted by Luke's Gospel. Luke, on the other hand, is the only one to include the parallel incident of a "sinful woman" also using her hair to wipe Jesus' feet and anoint them with costly perfume, after she washes them with her tears—the profuse tears of a gratefully redeemed sinner who "loves much" (Luke 7:36-50).
Furthermore, Luke's Gospel is the only Gospel some people hear. The Jesus film, based solely on Luke, has been translated into various languages and presented throughout the world as a succinct method of dramatically presenting Jesus to people who have never heard of Him.
I am inclined to believe that Jesus' prophecy about Mary of Bethany is not inaccurate, and that her story is also told through Luke, though she is identified only as the sinful woman. Luke obviously knew about Mary, since he alone describes the incident when Martha complains to Jesus about Mary. Perhaps in his evident esteem for Mary, Luke chooses to include this previous scene from Mary's life, but purposely omits her name out of sensitivity for her shameful past.
Regardless, both scenes rank among the most beloved Gospel stories. In each story, this woman disregards the scorn of onlookers to humble herself beyond all reason (see "That Mary" post) and extravagantly pours out love and gratitude upon Jesus.
And so Jesus exalted her—just as He promises to do for each of His disciples who seeks not the favor of others, but the favor of God.
"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
~ Matthew 23:11-12 (NKJV)
Father, we have no words or works sufficient to adequately express the great price You have paid to purchase us. Please enable to do so with great love in our hearts. Please prompt us to seek Your favor alone, trusting You to give us favor with others as pleases You.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
That Mary
It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
~ John 11:2 (NKJV)
The New Testament mentions a half dozen women named Mary (Hebrew "Miriam"):
• Mary of Bethany, the above sister of Lazarus and Martha;
• Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16);
• Mary Magdalene, "out of whom [Jesus] had cast seven demons" (Mark 16:9—and Scripture says nothing of her being immoral), who was among the women who followed Jesus and provided for Him and His disciples (Luke 8:1-3), and also among the women present at the crucifixion, who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body;
• Mary, mother of James "the Less" and Joses, and wife of Clopas (his Hebrew name is Alphaeus, Mark 3:18), who is apparently the sister of Jesus' mother (John 19:25), and was also present at the crucifixion, burial, and empty tomb of Jesus;
• Mary the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12) and also relative of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), who opened her home for Christians to gather;
• Mary of Rome, "who worked very hard" (Romans 16:6).
Mary of Bethany not only anoints Jesus the week of His passion, but also appears to be the sinful woman described by Luke, who boldly enters the home of Simon the Pharisee and washes Jesus feet with her tears. Only these two incidents mention a woman wiping Jesus feet with her hair.
Such an act is far more extraordinary than intentionally breaking a bottle of expensive oil—the extravagant gift typically highlighted in sermons about the incident. Yet any woman, especially in ancient Jewish culture, would give a gift of any price more readily than she would use her hair as Mary did.
But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her ...
~ 1 Corinthians 11:15 (NKJV)
First of all, every chaste woman of Jesus' time would keep her hair bound and covered. The mere act of exposing her long hair among a group of men would be scandalous. Second, men (who wished to remain ritually clean) generally avoided physical contact with women (who might be "unclean"—Leviticus 15:18-19), and women certainly wouldn't initiate physical contact. To this day, Bedouin culture does not permit public displays of affection between husbands and wives, but only between brothers and sisters (Song 8:1) or other family members (Genesis 29:10-11).
Yet the most compelling reason a woman wouldn't use her precious and protected hair to wipe feet is the extreme filth involved. Walking the roads shared by livestock resulted in feet as dirty as a stinky diaper. Foot washing was reserved to lowest servant. The rag used as foot wipe would be defiled as much as any modern day disposable wipe used for a baby's bum. The woman who would think to use her hair as one, even for the Lord Himself, would be most unique, and unlikely to be imitated.
Yet there is a still more compelling reason to believe these two incidents describe the same woman, based on comparison of various Scriptures and, (believe it or not), a contemporary movie.
More on that Mary for Friday's post.
Lord Jesus, please make our hearts eager to do whatever pleases You, believing it is never too much for even You.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 11:2 (NKJV)
The New Testament mentions a half dozen women named Mary (Hebrew "Miriam"):
• Mary of Bethany, the above sister of Lazarus and Martha;
• Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16);
• Mary Magdalene, "out of whom [Jesus] had cast seven demons" (Mark 16:9—and Scripture says nothing of her being immoral), who was among the women who followed Jesus and provided for Him and His disciples (Luke 8:1-3), and also among the women present at the crucifixion, who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body;
• Mary, mother of James "the Less" and Joses, and wife of Clopas (his Hebrew name is Alphaeus, Mark 3:18), who is apparently the sister of Jesus' mother (John 19:25), and was also present at the crucifixion, burial, and empty tomb of Jesus;
• Mary the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12) and also relative of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), who opened her home for Christians to gather;
• Mary of Rome, "who worked very hard" (Romans 16:6).
Mary of Bethany not only anoints Jesus the week of His passion, but also appears to be the sinful woman described by Luke, who boldly enters the home of Simon the Pharisee and washes Jesus feet with her tears. Only these two incidents mention a woman wiping Jesus feet with her hair.
Such an act is far more extraordinary than intentionally breaking a bottle of expensive oil—the extravagant gift typically highlighted in sermons about the incident. Yet any woman, especially in ancient Jewish culture, would give a gift of any price more readily than she would use her hair as Mary did.
But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her ...
~ 1 Corinthians 11:15 (NKJV)
First of all, every chaste woman of Jesus' time would keep her hair bound and covered. The mere act of exposing her long hair among a group of men would be scandalous. Second, men (who wished to remain ritually clean) generally avoided physical contact with women (who might be "unclean"—Leviticus 15:18-19), and women certainly wouldn't initiate physical contact. To this day, Bedouin culture does not permit public displays of affection between husbands and wives, but only between brothers and sisters (Song 8:1) or other family members (Genesis 29:10-11).
Yet the most compelling reason a woman wouldn't use her precious and protected hair to wipe feet is the extreme filth involved. Walking the roads shared by livestock resulted in feet as dirty as a stinky diaper. Foot washing was reserved to lowest servant. The rag used as foot wipe would be defiled as much as any modern day disposable wipe used for a baby's bum. The woman who would think to use her hair as one, even for the Lord Himself, would be most unique, and unlikely to be imitated.
Yet there is a still more compelling reason to believe these two incidents describe the same woman, based on comparison of various Scriptures and, (believe it or not), a contemporary movie.
More on that Mary for Friday's post.
Lord Jesus, please make our hearts eager to do whatever pleases You, believing it is never too much for even You.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Peace Treaty with Death
Jesus said to [Martha], "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
~ John 11:25-26 (NKJV)
Christians hear early on and often that Jesus gives us eternal life. To believe in Jesus—to put faith in Him and His Word—is to have assurance that even if the body dies, the born-again soul is filled with spiritual life and "shall never die." That greatest enemy, Death, is compelled to make a peace treaty with us and relinquish its power over us.
In making peace with Death, we discover that there is also a peace treaty to be made with each smaller, daily death:
Then [Jesus] said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."
~ Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV)
To follow Jesus means we really must die daily. And then, each and every time we die to Self and lay down all our selfish, self-centered, self-gratifying, self-exalting desires, more spiritual life is to be had.
Whatever matter lies before us at this moment, with which we struggle to die to Self-will, we can rely on the same promise Jesus makes of resurrection and life to be found through death. You and I are assured that in every loss of this world, we find new and better life from His world.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your example of surrender. Please help us! Give us eyes to see where You ask us to die, hearts of faith to believe that You promise new life, and souls of courage to slay desires of this world. By the power of Your Spirit, help us overcome our human weakness.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 11:25-26 (NKJV)
Christians hear early on and often that Jesus gives us eternal life. To believe in Jesus—to put faith in Him and His Word—is to have assurance that even if the body dies, the born-again soul is filled with spiritual life and "shall never die." That greatest enemy, Death, is compelled to make a peace treaty with us and relinquish its power over us.
In making peace with Death, we discover that there is also a peace treaty to be made with each smaller, daily death:
Then [Jesus] said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."
~ Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV)
To follow Jesus means we really must die daily. And then, each and every time we die to Self and lay down all our selfish, self-centered, self-gratifying, self-exalting desires, more spiritual life is to be had.
Whatever matter lies before us at this moment, with which we struggle to die to Self-will, we can rely on the same promise Jesus makes of resurrection and life to be found through death. You and I are assured that in every loss of this world, we find new and better life from His world.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your example of surrender. Please help us! Give us eyes to see where You ask us to die, hearts of faith to believe that You promise new life, and souls of courage to slay desires of this world. By the power of Your Spirit, help us overcome our human weakness.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Stranger Danger
“Whoever be our people here, God’s people or the devil’s, death will gather our souls to them.”
~ Thomas Boston
Since hearing that all animals but sheep have some form of natural defense (whether fight, flight, or might), I've tried to find either another utterly defenseless animal, or some defense possessed by sheep.
Sheep are arguably the most stupid of all animals, unable to survive without a shepherd's care. I suspect that the Creator made them so for the sole purpose of comparison to humans in our oblivious, careless, follow-the-flock-over-the-cliff nature.
I finally stumbled upon what appears to be the sole defense sheep have: they understand stranger danger.
"And the sheep follow [their shepherd], for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
~ John 10:4-5 (NKJV)
Caution of strangers is the first defense against their influence or impact. But once they're around long enough, they're no longer strangers, and that defense is lost.
The more time spent with the Good Shepherd—the more recognizable His voice—the greater the inclination to follow Him instead of strangers, and the greater our security.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
~ John 10:27-28 (NKJV)
Lord, You know well how stupid and careless we can be when wrapped up in our interests. Please call us to listen for Your voice, and draw our attention to Your interests. Please help us make choices which keep the enemy unfamiliar. Please keep us alert to his stranger danger.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ Thomas Boston
Since hearing that all animals but sheep have some form of natural defense (whether fight, flight, or might), I've tried to find either another utterly defenseless animal, or some defense possessed by sheep.
Sheep are arguably the most stupid of all animals, unable to survive without a shepherd's care. I suspect that the Creator made them so for the sole purpose of comparison to humans in our oblivious, careless, follow-the-flock-over-the-cliff nature.
I finally stumbled upon what appears to be the sole defense sheep have: they understand stranger danger.
"And the sheep follow [their shepherd], for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
~ John 10:4-5 (NKJV)
Caution of strangers is the first defense against their influence or impact. But once they're around long enough, they're no longer strangers, and that defense is lost.
The more time spent with the Good Shepherd—the more recognizable His voice—the greater the inclination to follow Him instead of strangers, and the greater our security.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
~ John 10:27-28 (NKJV)
Lord, You know well how stupid and careless we can be when wrapped up in our interests. Please call us to listen for Your voice, and draw our attention to Your interests. Please help us make choices which keep the enemy unfamiliar. Please keep us alert to his stranger danger.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Demystifying God
"Watching a child acquire language, I realize, again, that naming things demystifies them."
~ Mary Casey
Naming a thing is, indeed, the first step to demystifying it.
(John 9:8) Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind ... (10) said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" (11) He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus ..."
Might the next step be to seek it out and examine the mystery firsthand?
(12) Then they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know."
One might next ask questions of someone knowledgeable ...
(13) They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees ...
But those who only acquire knowledge don't necessarily know a thing—or a person. To be sure, understanding begins with knowing a name and the truth behind the name. But pride may go on to think that possession of such knowledge grants a form of ownership which also allows definitions on our own terms.
God is easily both the most familiar name and most misdefined Person.
(16) Some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath... ( 24) We know that this Man is a sinner."
Whatever our knowledge base (or lack thereof), a personal encounter with the divine compels one to acknowledge His Person.
(30)The man answered and said to them, "... (33) If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
And once we name Jesus the Son of God, can we do anything but worship?
Jesus ... said to [the blind man], "Do you believe in the Son of God?" He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.
~ John 9:35-38 (NKJV)
In our worship, we both demystify God and comprehend our inability to demystify glorious God.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ Mary Casey
Naming a thing is, indeed, the first step to demystifying it.
(John 9:8) Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind ... (10) said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" (11) He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus ..."
Might the next step be to seek it out and examine the mystery firsthand?
(12) Then they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know."
One might next ask questions of someone knowledgeable ...
(13) They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees ...
But those who only acquire knowledge don't necessarily know a thing—or a person. To be sure, understanding begins with knowing a name and the truth behind the name. But pride may go on to think that possession of such knowledge grants a form of ownership which also allows definitions on our own terms.
God is easily both the most familiar name and most misdefined Person.
(16) Some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath... ( 24) We know that this Man is a sinner."
Whatever our knowledge base (or lack thereof), a personal encounter with the divine compels one to acknowledge His Person.
(30)The man answered and said to them, "... (33) If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
And once we name Jesus the Son of God, can we do anything but worship?
Jesus ... said to [the blind man], "Do you believe in the Son of God?" He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.
~ John 9:35-38 (NKJV)
In our worship, we both demystify God and comprehend our inability to demystify glorious God.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Before
"Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? ... Who do You make Yourself out to be ... have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
~ John 8:53,57-58 (NKJV)
When life brings great change, we can usually point back to a moment when everything turned. If we see the change as good, we treasure the defining moment. If we see the change as tragic, we may wish to return to the time Before and replay how we might have lived out whatever proved greater than ourselves.
There is no going back to Before, no replays of that greater-than-ourselves thing which might define our present moment.
But there is One Who is both "greater than" and before life's defining moments. He orchestrates such moments for His purposes, which are always good. He is here with us in the present moment, and in every defining moment which yet awaits us.
Our Father and Lord, please fill us with Your precious Spirit. Permit us to see Your hand when we look behind, ahead, and at the present path upon which our feet stand, so that we might walk closely at Your side.
Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 8:53,57-58 (NKJV)
When life brings great change, we can usually point back to a moment when everything turned. If we see the change as good, we treasure the defining moment. If we see the change as tragic, we may wish to return to the time Before and replay how we might have lived out whatever proved greater than ourselves.
There is no going back to Before, no replays of that greater-than-ourselves thing which might define our present moment.
But there is One Who is both "greater than" and before life's defining moments. He orchestrates such moments for His purposes, which are always good. He is here with us in the present moment, and in every defining moment which yet awaits us.
Our Father and Lord, please fill us with Your precious Spirit. Permit us to see Your hand when we look behind, ahead, and at the present path upon which our feet stand, so that we might walk closely at Your side.
Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Step One in Any Struggle
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
~ John 8:30-32 (NKJV)
To believe in Jesus, stay in His Word, and follow Him as His disciple is to know the truth.
Truth is freedom—from sin, from death in its every form, and from every other lie that would hold us captive to fear, pride, and lust.
Whatever today's struggle, seeing it in full truth, through the eyes of God, is the first step to overcoming it.
Father in Heaven, we are not worthy of the least of all the mercies and all the truth You have shown Your servants. Please, this day, set us free from whatever lie holds us captive by showing us afresh the truth to defeat it, and enable us to glorify You in the process.
Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 8:30-32 (NKJV)
To believe in Jesus, stay in His Word, and follow Him as His disciple is to know the truth.
Truth is freedom—from sin, from death in its every form, and from every other lie that would hold us captive to fear, pride, and lust.
Whatever today's struggle, seeing it in full truth, through the eyes of God, is the first step to overcoming it.
Father in Heaven, we are not worthy of the least of all the mercies and all the truth You have shown Your servants. Please, this day, set us free from whatever lie holds us captive by showing us afresh the truth to defeat it, and enable us to glorify You in the process.
Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)