I am preaching this upcoming Sunday morning and while preparing I came across this section in Isaiah that really convicted me. The prophets have a way of making me challenge the way I approach anything and everything I do as a believer. Isaiah 58 accomplished this for me this week. Isaiah 58:6-7: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Context shows that this deals with a form of worship (fasting) towards God. And while the people of God in this particular place and time kept fasting they have obviously lost sight of what God wants to see out of His people...taking care of those who are being or who are easily taken advantage of, which is something God has always desired His people to be aware of and do something about (Deut. 15).
Now if we pay close attention there are some lines in here that are familiar to us. Jesus echoes the latter part of verse 6 in His inauguration speech in Luke 4..."The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, TO SET THE OPPRESSED FREE, (caps by me) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Jesus then reflects these words in all He does and says. Jesus again echoes Isaiah 58 in Matthew 25:31-46 which is Jesus' clearest teaching on end time (eschaton) judgment.
How should this impact followers of Jesus when there is so much injustice and apathy towards the downtrodden in our own cities and towns? "Am I in the habit of blaming poverty on laziness, immorality, and addiction rather than on greed, exploitation, and indifference?" (Guy Vanderpool, The Christian as Revolutionary, Leaven 2002).
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Announcement of Sonship
Our Sunday morning youth class here at 43rd is about to begin a study through the gospel of Mark. The unique way Mark begins his (along with Peter, possibly) story concerning Jesus is remarkable. No birth narratives of John the Baptizer or Jesus, no "In the beginning", simply "the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah." Mark then moves into a desription of John's appearance and diet and a short version of his mission and message...and then we get to the part I want to write about today. Baptism.
Baptism is a beautiful and life altering act and experience. Baptism is a beautiful and life altering act and experience. I wrote it twice on purpose...no reduncancy problems here. The way in which Jesus' baptism is described is quite beautiful. The heavens were being torn open as he assended out of the water (foreshadow to resurrection and resurrection life? Paul though so in Romans 6), the Spirit descending on him like a dove at his baptism (Isaiah 11 and 42 language), and the announcement of Sonship from above, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (2 Samuel 7, Psalm 2, Isaiah 42 language). Jesus' baptism is a beautiful event with powerful experiences taking place, and life changing announcements being made.
Should it not be the same today? Baptism is a dangerous act. It is an announcement and act that is in complete rebellion to the ways of this world. It is an announcement and act of complete dependency towards God. It is an announcement and act of honesty that I (we) are messed up humans who cannot be fixed on our own. Jesus needed no baptism, he needed no grace, in fact he is grace, but what is remarakable to me is his baptism shows us what baptism is all about.
Announcement of sonship/daughtership...In our baptism did we hear the announcement of sonship and daughtership? The heavens were torn open, the Spirit came down, and the announcement that this is my son, this is my daughter whom I love and whom I am well pleased was made. Jesus' baptism has helped my understanding of baptism as a whole. It is a beautiful event filled with life changing/resurrected life announcements.
Baptism is a beautiful and life altering act and experience. Baptism is a beautiful and life altering act and experience. I wrote it twice on purpose...no reduncancy problems here. The way in which Jesus' baptism is described is quite beautiful. The heavens were being torn open as he assended out of the water (foreshadow to resurrection and resurrection life? Paul though so in Romans 6), the Spirit descending on him like a dove at his baptism (Isaiah 11 and 42 language), and the announcement of Sonship from above, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (2 Samuel 7, Psalm 2, Isaiah 42 language). Jesus' baptism is a beautiful event with powerful experiences taking place, and life changing announcements being made.
Should it not be the same today? Baptism is a dangerous act. It is an announcement and act that is in complete rebellion to the ways of this world. It is an announcement and act of complete dependency towards God. It is an announcement and act of honesty that I (we) are messed up humans who cannot be fixed on our own. Jesus needed no baptism, he needed no grace, in fact he is grace, but what is remarakable to me is his baptism shows us what baptism is all about.
Announcement of sonship/daughtership...In our baptism did we hear the announcement of sonship and daughtership? The heavens were torn open, the Spirit came down, and the announcement that this is my son, this is my daughter whom I love and whom I am well pleased was made. Jesus' baptism has helped my understanding of baptism as a whole. It is a beautiful event filled with life changing/resurrected life announcements.
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