Month: March 2021

John 12.42-43 & Romans 10.9-10

How much do the opinions of others influence the decisions we make? When choosing the perfume we wear, the colour of coat or the logo on our trainers it probably will not have life-long consequences. However, the opinions of others may be more influential than we could be prepared to admit. When going to an interview or social event most of us think of the impression we will make on others. When telling a story or joke we will weigh up in our minds what we expect the reaction to be. Getting it wrong can have greater consequences than we imagined. Ask Gerald Ratner. (Look it up, if you don’t remember it.)

One of the things that most people fear, at some time, is being rejected by those who we want to approve of us. To whom do we owe our greatest allegiance and what price are we prepared to pay to keep it? There is plenty of psychological evidence that most of us will agree with what we know to be a falsehood rather than risk disapproval from the majority powerful group. (e.g. Asch conformity 1951)

Not all the Jewish leaders during the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion were spiritually blind. They like the crowd were a divided group. ^{John 12.42} Some recognized the signs Jesus performed with the clincher being the raising of Lazarus from the dead. However, the grip the Pharisees had over the Chief Priest and the Sanhedrin prevented them from saying what they believed in their hearts. Fear of being excluded from their current high status group and even being unable to attend their synagogue prevented them from confessing their faith.  We do not know if these same Jewish leaders following Pentecost were amongst those who did in the end decide to follow Jesus but at that moment they chose to deny their inner convictions. The opinion of other Jewish leaders mattered more to them than their relationship with God.

This overwhelming desire to fit in remains a major reason why many are not prepared to make a commitment to follow Christ. What family think, their social group think, their colleagues at work think, even the potential action of authorities in their country can all prevent a person from confessing what they know in their heart to be true. There has never been a time when being a Christian does not carry some form of risk.

How many people have sacrificed eternity for the sake of approval now.  I am very slow and reluctant to criticize those who have because I have not walked in their shoes. Paul however through the suffering and persecution he experienced did earn the right to say, ‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ ^{Romans 10.9}

How much as a church do we support those who live with constant pressure to reject faith in Jesus?

Are we prepared to be publicly honest that Jesus is our Lord?

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus ♫ The Story & The Song

John 12.20-22

It happens at all really big events. Crowds start to gather during the days ahead. People have been looking forward to this for a long time. Strangers greet each other and pick up on the gossip. What is different this year? How far have you come? Some in jokes get passed around. People start to get pointed out. Some love to boast about who they know and what they have seen. Arguments break out and people take sides.

This Passover was getting particularly heated. For once Galileans were the new story and you could tell them because their accent was definitely northern and not like people from Judah and Jerusalem. It all centred around Jesus and he had really stirred up trouble by first raising a man from Bethany from the dead and then he rode into Jerusalem as bold as brass, on a donkey with crowds of people waving branches and calling him King of Israel. ^{John 12.13} The Passover crowd was always an international crowd and those who came from further away countries spoke Greek. The Romans might be the current Empire but it was the Greeks before them and their influence was still widespread. No wonder then that some Greeks wanted to find out more and meet Jesus. ^{John 12.20} They worked out that Philip was one of Jesus closest followers and approached him for an introduction. Philip had been a close friend of Andrew (Peter’s brother) from childhood so they both asked Jesus if he would meet up with the interested Greeks.

Jesus response was to go into some depth about his impending crucifixion (more about this tomorrow) and that it was the nature of his death that would attract people. However, Jesus made clear that he will draw all people to himself. ^{John 12.32} Andrew and Philip were intermediaries between the seeking Greeks and Jesus. I wonder how many of us have had that privilege? The “Greeks” are all people whatever background or circumstances who want to know Jesus. Is it not true that such seekers do not exist, there are many who would love to be introduced to Jesus and understand who he is. I was thinking back over my lifetime to name to myself the people to whom I have been an Andrew or Philip. In the end it is Jesus who draws people to himself but we can be one of those who they speak to on the way.

Are we aware of the opportunities to invite people to engage with Jesus?

Do people know we already know him?

Do we expect God to use us in this way?

Do we ask God for the chance to introduce people to Jesus?

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Lyrics)

^{John 12.10-11}

It is difficult to keep a miracle a secret let alone a raising from the dead when the body ought to have been stinking. The crowd who witnessed Lazarus clothed in wrapped burial cloths walking from his own grave were hardly likely not to mention it to anybody. Crowds were packing the streets of Jerusalem with people from all over the empire as well as those born in Israel. There was a groundswell of amazement, fascination and belief in Jesus. The Chief Priests were more than worried they were terrified that the crowd’s interest in Jesus might be interpreted as a religious insurrection and their own lives would be in danger if the Roman authorities decided on a clampdown. Their own hearts were hardened against Jesus as they saw him as a threat, one who undermined their laws rather than fulfilled the law of Moses. They acted as many in authority have and still do act when they feel threatened, they decided to do away with the evidence. ‘So, the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.’ ^{John 12.10,11}

Unlike Jesus, many in authority substitute unsupported assertion for evidence. This feels particularly relevant in the aftermath of the USA presidential election but it is far from limited to the political arena. Jesus had repeatedly given the chief priests and Jewish authorities signs as to his identity and his purpose. Their response was to threaten, punish and destroy evidence. Professor Lennox along with many modern apologists (defenders of Christianity) argue that many scientists who oppose Christianity do so because their world view stops them objectively considering the evidence. Their hearts are hardened and so they dismiss reasonable possibility as being possible. We see this in some non-believing theologians who argue that prophecy that foretells the future is impossible, so if a prophecy has come true as in Daniel’s prophecies, then the prophecy was written after the events not before even when there is excellent evidence that dates the prophecy prior to the events. Their world view prevents them from objectively considering the evidence.

What then should the modern church do? We should equip ourselves with the reasonable evidence and make it known. This can be done formally in terms of books, videos, films and talks. It can also be done at a more personal level where Christians in natural conversation are able to give sound reasons for their faith.

As a church do we equip our fellowship with a clear grasp of the evidence that supports such beliefs as the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Have we thought through how we would justify our faith to anybody who asks?

Turn your eyes – Lauren Daigle

^{John 12.4-8}

John 12 starts the week that includes much of Jesus’ most significant teaching, his trial, death and resurrection. Jesus is resolutely and knowingly setting his face to be obedient to his Father’s will. It was a week that tested the love, loyalty and faith of his closest followers. This was a week where only one thing dominated his mind, the mission he left glory for, to bring glory to the Father. ^{John 12.28} Throughout the week opposition intensified. Opposition took various forms, all of them continue in a variety of ways today. Each of them, betray the true heart of the perpetrator. Understanding these various forms of opposition increases our capacity to discern them and respond appropriately.

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ closest disciples with the considerable responsibility of looking after the money asks Jesus a seemingly well intentioned and honourable question. In doing so he also criticized Mary for her humble loving devotion and worship of Jesus. He didn’t mean what he said, he didn’t really think the money should be spent on the poor. He tried to use his position of trust for his own gain, with the intention stealing part of the money for his own use. Any gift to the poor from Jesus and his disciples would have gone through his hands. Jesus understood Mary’s anointing was part of his own preparation for his sacrificial death, divinely inspired. It was part of God’s most momentous act in the history of humankind. He also understood Judas’ motivation and answered him from Deuteronomy 15 which emphasizes the continual presence of the poor but also explains that is a reason to be continually generous not just engage in one off gestures.

⁷ If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards them. ⁸ Rather, be open-handed and freely lend them whatever they need. ⁹ Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought: ‘The seventh year, the year for cancelling debts, is near,’ so that you do not show ill will towards the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. ¹⁰ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed towards your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. ^{Deuteronomy 15.7-11}

What we can learn from this is that opposition to God’s purposes can come from people who are in a position of trust and expressed in words that have superficial credibility. How can we be discerning when this happens? We can apply the same approach that Jesus did, use a well-rounded knowledge of scripture to keep our understanding in balance.

What checks and balances do we as a church have to ensure our church life glories our Lord?

I the Lord of sea and sky

John 12.1-7

1          The setting

The setting was six days before the Passover.  It was a Saturday and Jesus was visiting Lazarus at his home in a village just outside Jerusalem called Bethany.  It was a busy meal time.  The disciples were there including John who was an eye witness.  The men were sat down reclined around the table waiting for their meal.  Martha was busy preparing the meal with Jesus as the guest of honour.  Martha came in and served the meal.

Into this scene Mary, Martha’s sister, entered the room carrying a jar.  The jar was a large jar of extremely expensive perfume known as nard.  To everyones’ surprise she then poured the whole content over Jesus’ feet and then even more shockingly wiped his feet with her hair.

2          Nard a symbol of a bride’s love

Nard is also known as Spikenard and it is made from the root of the spikenard plant that grows in the Himalayan Mountains.  It is made into an ointment and in those times it represented the gold standard for quality much like a Tiffany diamond might now.

This was outrageous extravagance.  Nard had a very distinctive scent that would cling to the body for a long time.  John 12:3 says, ‘the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.’  It is a lovely personal memory of John’s as he recalls the event.

Amongst other things nard is the perfume of deep love.  The Hebrew for nard is also the word translated as perfume in the love poetry of the Song of Songs.  There is a strong synergy in this passage with Song of Songs 1:12 where a bride speaks of her husband and king seated at his table. ‘While the king was at his table my perfume spread its fragrance.’  Nard was the most exotic fragrance and identified an exclusive and special love.

Where did a relatively humble woman like Mary get such a valuable perfume?  The truth is we do not know.  It has been speculated that it was her dowry or an inheritance.

3          Nard a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice

This seemingly over the top gift has come to symbolize several things.  First and foremost, Jesus understood what nobody else in the room had imagined, even Mary.  ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.’  (John 12:7.)  Jesus was fully aware of his imminent death and took this as part of his funeral arrangements.

4          Nard a symbol of untethered humble love

I want us to somehow grasp the complex emotional context of the event.  Mary’s gift was her demonstration that she was prepared to give everything in her worship of Jesus.  Nothing would stand in the way of her love for him including convention and appearances.

Convention expected that the anointing of oil or perfume would be on the head.  Mary turned that on its head and in great humility gave her most precious possession to anoint Jesus’ feet.  Such humility, such devotion.  Mary is a great biblical example for worship.  One can worship inspired by awe.  Mary worshipped, inspired by love but she sought no special place.  She was content to wipe his feet with her hair.

It would have been against Jewish convention for a woman to appear in the presence of men with her hair untied, but in Mary’s case love was stronger than convention.  Does our sense of convention hold us back from fully expressing our love and worship of Jesus?

Just a few days later Jesus turned Mary’s foot washing back on his disciples, who had witnessed Mary’s act, by washing their feet prior to the last supper.  Jesus ignored convention and set the supreme example of humility, service, obedience and above all of love for God the Father and love for the world.

This is unashamed love.

It is easy to look at Jesus’ enacting of washing the feet of his disciples as one of the great human demonstrations of humility through physical representation without fully taking into account who Jesus is.  He is the Word of God in John 1:1, ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.’  Here he is washing his disciples’ feet.

5          Generous love faces resentment

In Luke we get another picture of Mary’s devotion when Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is at Jesus feet listening to his teaching. ^{Luke 10.38-42} This is not an account whose purpose is to show that a life of contemplation trumps practical action.  That would be a false juxtaposition.  It is just that it is not wise to fill one’s life with action to such an extent that one has no time to learn from him.  Mary shows her love in that she wants to absorb the words of Jesus.  This is a vital lesson for all disciples whatever our responsibility.  Love says we should make time to listen and learn.  That is part of worship and in itself requires discipline.  Luke’s account is often portrayed as a false dichotomy.

6          Worship and emotions go together

The account of Mary and the jar of nard emphasizes the importance of our emotions in discipleship.  Discipleship and faith are not simply matters of the intellect they are about personal commitment and love.

What encourages our love of Jesus?

How do we gain the right balance between worship and service?

Does anything stand in the way of our worshipping God?

Your Presence – Planetshakers