Monday, January 07, 2013 The Festival in Jerusalem

WELCOME TWITTER: Welcome to those linking to this BLOG from my Twitter account, @amk28791. This BLOG includes all my meditations on the New Testament and the Book of Psalms, as well as my current meditations on the book The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ.

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Monday, January 07, 2013           The Festival in Jerusalem 

Page 153-155         John 7:11-36

When Jesus was confronted about his teachings, he replied “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me” (John 7:16). Jesus said the religious leaders wanted to arrest him, but couldn’t “because his time had not yet come” (John 7:30). Does this mean that Jesus was robotic, saying and doing only that for which he had been programmed? Actually, I see Jesus’ appearance at the Festival as a sign of his humanity. He didn’t have to be there, he didn’t need to be stirring up the religious leaders. But he couldn’t resist an opportunity to try and help the people grasp the reality of God’s love for humankind.

I knew a man who was helping Jews from the former Soviet Union immigrate to the USA. I asked him about the challenges in helping the immigrants assimilate into their new country. He said they had been fed many lies and misinformation about life in the US, not the least of which was that the Americans suffered from lack of food as much as the Russians. He said one trip to the supermarket dispelled that notion.

Much of the controversy that surrounded Jesus was based on misinformation about the nature of God, His relationship to the world, His purpose for humankind and His vision of community. Many people, especially the religious leaders, would not accept Jesus as the Messiah because Jesus did not fit into their expectations of the Messiah, and because Jesus’ vision of God, the world, the nature of humanity, and their neighbors was so different than their preconceived notions.

A Christian is a person who has become aware that the world has told them a pack of lies about God, the world, themselves and their neighbors. A Christian learns that God, in Christ Jesus, is telling them the truth.

What is your understanding of the nature of God? What is your understanding of the world? What is your understanding of your place in the world? Who are your neighbors?

And you know this how?

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are available by email. Contact me at Amkrom812@gmail.com to be added to the email list.

This BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Tuesday, January 08, 2013          The Final Day of the Festival       

Page 155      John 7: 37-53