Category: Monday Thursday

I have always been a watch type of guy. 

Through the years I have had some pretty nice ones come my way.

There was one time a very nice opportunity where a Mont Blac watch could be purchased for a very good price.  Black face, stainless bracelet with the Mont Blac logo on the 12 space.

I bought it but then after about six months the watch began to show wear.  The crown fell out.  This is NOT what excellent watches do.

At that moment I feared the worst – Had I been sold a Fugazi?  It became apparent why this “luxury” watch was being sold for such a good price.

It was not a real Mont Blanc.  It was counterfeit, a copy. 

Just because it has a logo and a name does not make it real.

Jesus proclaimed to be Lord.  How do we know he was really God?

John 5:37 Jesus said, “And the Father Himself, who sent me, has testified of me.”

What does this statement even mean? How did the Father testify about Jesus? 

What the statement meant was, unlike my Mont Blanc watch, Jesus was not fake.  The Father testified to the authenticity of Jesus.  He was the real deal. 

How did the Father testify about Jesus? Recall when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist? “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was the only thing with which the Father had been well please since Creation.

Further, John 14:10 those miracles Jesus performed were evidence that the Father testified the authenticity of Jesus.

There was nothing fake about Jesus.  He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Jesus.

S.D.G.

There is a movie “Night of the Living Dead.”

It is a 1968 film about 7 people trapped in a PA farmhouse.  While there, the 7 had to battle zombies, dead bodies that came back to life. 

I can’t recommend the film because I have not seen it. I only know the story from doing a quick search.

I do however know the title and I like it.  The title (and the title alone) describes the work of Christ.  What do I mean by that?

At one point in Jesus’ life here there were a LOT of people attracted to what he was doing.  One guy said, “I want to follow you, but first let me go bury my father.”  Jesus said, “Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead.”

What an unusual line right?  Why would Jesus say this and keep the man from burying his father? 

Two things here:

1. Jesus was emphasizing that following him should not be put off.  The guy was making excuses.  He most likely did have a father to bury. In this instance he was using it as an excuse and Jesus was calling him out. 
2. He called him out by saying, “Let the dead, bury the dead.”  Let the living dead bury the physically dead.  Again, unusual statement right?

Those who are not in Christ are “dead in their trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2) They are living.  They have a body that in one sense is alive and is breathing. They have pores that will sweat.  They have hair and nails that grow.

BUT in another sense, they are dead.  They are spiritually dead. 

Jesus was saying, let the spiritually dead, bury the physically dead.

That phrase, “Living Dead” is accurate.  The only way to life is in Christ. Your only hope is to follow the one that will bring life to both your body and your spirit.

S.D.G.

Top Gun was a summer movie hit when I was much younger.  This movie recently had a reboot, possibly, like a part 2.

It is a movie where the best military pilots come to train for special missions.  These were the best of the best pilots.  Obviously, there was a lot of attitude, bragging and bravado.

These pilots were arrogant and looked down on anyone that wasn’t them. They were very exclusive.

The main character, whose name was Maverick, was pushing too hard.  He felt 10 foot tall and bullet proof, which is to say, no one could take him down.  He was doing very dangerous stuff.

There was a line in the film that stood out.  Another character, whose name was Iceman, said to Maverick:

“It is not your flying (that is dangerous), it is your attitude.  The enemy is dangerous, but right now you are worse.  Dangerous and foolish.”

Because of Mavericks arrogance he was not alert enough to understand how much a danger he was.   

The religious leaders of the day were the Mavericks.  They were arrogant, haughty and looked down on those who were not like them. 

They had such arrogance they felt like they needed no grace, mercy or forgiveness from God.  They were the top guns of the religious world.

In Luke 5 Jesus directs these words to the religious top guns of the day: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but (only) those who are sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””

Was Jesus affirming that the religious leaders did not need a dr.?  Was he saying they are okay, and Jesus is only there for the little people?

Absolutely not.  The meaning here is that Jesus has come for those who KNOW THEY NEED A SAVIOR.  Those who know are ill.  Those who are humble enough to admit they need a dr, Jesus will cure.

The religious leaders absolutely needed Jesus, (Like Maverick) they were not alert enough to understand.  THEY WERE DANGEROUS & FOOLISH.

All of us, are ill and need the Great Physician, Jesus.

S.D.G.

While traveling I often see those trucks that are transporting cars.  You may have seen these trailers where the cars are stacked 2 high.

Sometimes the cars are brand new.  They still have some of the protective plastic on sides or top of the car.

There are moments where the cars are wrecked.  The truck will be transporting 5 or 8 wrecked vehicles.

What can be noticed about these cars is they still resemble a car.  Even though they are damaged in some fashion they have windows, doors, engines and seats.  One can still make out that this is a car.

One of the pieces of theology is how the sin of Adam affected humanity.  This unfolds in many directions in Scripture.

The first notable unfolding is comparing the creation of Adam, who was made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This changes after the sin in the Garden and Adam and Eve are removed from the presence of God. 

When Adam and Eve had a child, this child was made in the image of Adam (Genesis 5:3).  This is a notable change.

Much like the cars which are wrecked still resemble, in various ways, the image of a vehicle, man, though fallen in Adam, resembles the image and likeness of God. Yet, we are damaged and wrecked.

In this state we are called unrighteous. It is in this state of unrighteousness that we can “suppress the truth.” Because, what can be known about God is plain.” However, fallen man suppresses this truth.

What Christ came to do is reverse the curse of sin through Adam.  From the presence of God, Jesus comes to make restoration possible.

This theme will return for our Monday edition. 

S.D.G.

References: Genesis 1:27; 5:3, Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15

As a youth I can recall visiting some caves in Western Kentucky.  They were called Mammoth Caves and it was quite an experience. 

One of the things that stood out was on a couple hour guided tour, about half-way through the guide had stopped the group and, like the previous stops, was pointing here and there and giving facts about whatever the here and there was.

Then the guide prepared us.  He instructed us that in a few minutes the lights were going to be shut off for a few moments so we could experience how dark it was in the cave.  There was plenty warning so people did not freak out when the lights went off.

Then the lights went out.  It was the blackest of darkness I had ever experienced.  I raised my hand up to my face and I could not even see it. If it weren’t attached to my arm, I would not even known it was there.

2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Scripture also tells us, that God is light and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.  But not in our hearts.  The darkness in us surpasses the darkness in that cave.

For those who are in Christ, this is how you came to faith.  The darkness in your heart was overcome by the light of Jesus.  Literally like night and day.

It is a gift when God said, “Let there be light,” and sure enough the light of Christ filled us.

We understood our need of him.  We wanted him.  More than anything we wanted Christ because he was light and he is the light and the life of mankind.

For those outside of Christ it is my desire that these words cause the light to appear in your darkness.  There is absolutely nothing brighter, more life giving than the light of Jesus.

S.D.G.   

In the days of Jesus and before, those who were of the noble class had many luxuries.  Things have not changed, even today, those who have money experience a different life than those who have less money.

Those who were wealthy, this included kings and queens, had servants who would carry their sandals (shoes).  It was a job saved for the lowest servant.  This was the lowest job one could have.

In Matthew 3 you have John the Baptizer preaching in the desert.  He was preparing people for the arrival of Jesus.  He was spreading the news about the Messiah and this was a part of his message:

“There is coming one after me who is mightier than I.  I am not even worthy to carry his sandals.” Mt 3:11

John was essentially saying that Jesus was truly great. No one greater. That Jesus was so great, I am not good enough to carry his sandals.  The lowest entry level job of a slave.

John had a high regard for Jesus. Placed a high value upon him. 

Through life and through time humanity has placed a high value on some people.  We want their autographs or maybe we spend hours in a line to buy tickets to see them in a show.

For the believer, as you grow in your faith, Jesus becomes more precious to you.  Please do not take this to the extreme, it is more than ok for us to enjoy the talents of talented people and see their performances.

But an amazing thing happens to the believer as they grow in their faith – the things of the world begin to take less importance.  We truly begin to agree with John – I can’t carry your sandals Jesus, I am not even worthy of that.

But yet, there He is, this Jesus, our elder brother. Loving us and saving us.

What is your view of Jesus?  SDG