Nicholas was born to wealthy parents in 280AD in what is known modern day Turkey. He lost his parents when he a boy but not before they had instilled in him the teachings of Jesus. Nicholas grew and devoted his life to following Jesus. When he was older the town he was living in needed a bishop, Nicholas was elected. But he was no Church official tucked away in an office. He used to beg for food and money to give to the poor. He would don a disguise and go out and give gifts to poor children. He gave away everything that he had. For his troubles Nicholas was imprisoned by the Emperor Diocletian and at the age of 34 he died.
Though it was short Nicholas' life story has spread around the world. Sadly people have done strange things to it. Years later someone gave him a red suit, a team of reindeer and had him climbing down chimneys. Years later someone else pictured him sculling Coca Cola. Somehow the story of Nicholas became St Nicholas which became Santa Claus.
It is sad that the original story has been lost. Though Nicholas was first he put himself last. Though he was a bishop it didn't stop him from being a servant. Why is that? Nicholas knew that this is what Jesus was...
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many
Nicholas was following Jesus' example. Jesus did not come to be pampered but to pay the price; to give his life for us. And he calls us to do the same...
Mark 10:42, 43 You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them. Not so with you. Instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
Jesus doesn't ask to be anything he wasn't. Just as he served us he calls us to serve one another.
William Booth the founder of the Salvation Army sent a one word telegram to encourage fellow Sallies in their work. That one word was "Others".
Just as Jesus served us let us serve others.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Making the unclean clean Mark 1:40-2:17
Ben Southall is one lucky man. He's been chosen to receive the world's best job - working on the Great Barrier Reef. His job description includes feeding the fish, collecting the mail and cleaning the pool all from the tough surrounds of the numerous islands of the reef. Tough gig eh?
Jesus too had a job description. He says...
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners" 2:17
It'd be tempting to think that Jesus' job description was for people like...Damir Dokic...Matty Johns...Marcus Einfeld or the two Ascham girls caught cyberbullying. That it was for sickos like these Jesus came to make well. However Jesus' interactions with three people show that he came to make all of us well.
To the leper Jesus says "I am willing be clean" 1:41
To the paralytic Jesus declares "Son your sins are forgiven..." 2:5
To Levi the despised tax collector Jesus says "Follow me..." 2:14
So what is Jesus' job description? Was to enable us to be spiritually in tune? To help us in our journey? No. It was to make the unclean clean. All your sins - past, present and future - forgiven and forgotten by putting your faith and trust in Jesus.
And this is very good news. If you type "forgiveness" into google you receive 13 million hits. Amazon.com has over 181, 000 books on the subject. It seems that the world is crying out to be made clean. The good news is that in Jesus the unclean can be made clean.
So if you are a follower of Jesus your sins have been forgiven and forgotten. Remember that always. And be willing to share this good news. Remember Levi who invited other sinners over to his place to have dinner with Jesus. This was in an era before Twitter and SMS and email and blogs like this...it was just word of mouth. He simply got talking about who Jesus was and what he had done. And that was to make the unclean clean.
Jesus too had a job description. He says...
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners" 2:17
It'd be tempting to think that Jesus' job description was for people like...Damir Dokic...Matty Johns...Marcus Einfeld or the two Ascham girls caught cyberbullying. That it was for sickos like these Jesus came to make well. However Jesus' interactions with three people show that he came to make all of us well.
To the leper Jesus says "I am willing be clean" 1:41
To the paralytic Jesus declares "Son your sins are forgiven..." 2:5
To Levi the despised tax collector Jesus says "Follow me..." 2:14
So what is Jesus' job description? Was to enable us to be spiritually in tune? To help us in our journey? No. It was to make the unclean clean. All your sins - past, present and future - forgiven and forgotten by putting your faith and trust in Jesus.
And this is very good news. If you type "forgiveness" into google you receive 13 million hits. Amazon.com has over 181, 000 books on the subject. It seems that the world is crying out to be made clean. The good news is that in Jesus the unclean can be made clean.
So if you are a follower of Jesus your sins have been forgiven and forgotten. Remember that always. And be willing to share this good news. Remember Levi who invited other sinners over to his place to have dinner with Jesus. This was in an era before Twitter and SMS and email and blogs like this...it was just word of mouth. He simply got talking about who Jesus was and what he had done. And that was to make the unclean clean.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Who do you say I am? Mark 1:1-39
Who do you say...Paris Hilton is? How about Shane Warne? Nelson Mandela? Madonna? Who do you say they are; what words would you use to describe them?
With your words still ringing in your ears...have you actually met any of these people? Do you really know them? If not how is that you believe that you know them that you have a handle on who they are? My guess is that you've made a judgment call based on what they've done.
The same applies to Jesus. Everyone seems to have an opinion of who he is. We've never physically met the man but everyone believes they know who he is...largely based on what he has done.
So who do you think Jesus is?
Well let's answer that question according to those who were there, who knew him personally.
Jesus' cousin John declared...
"After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1:7, 8
God declares...
"And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:11
Even the demons have a view of who Jesus is...
"Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" Mark 1:23, 24
So the Baptist, God and the demons declare that Jesus is God's Spirit Giver, the Son the Holy One of God.
Surprisingly, not one of these said that Jesus was just a prophet. God didn't say that Jesus was spiritually in tune and he could help you to be spiritually in tune. And the demons didn't say that Jesus was just a good guy either.
So how did your answer to the question "Who do you think Jesus is?" match up with theirs? If it was askew then Jesus has some good news for you. He says...
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15
Today's the day to stop thinking Jesus is some new age guru or a mere prophet. He's God's Son Saviour and Spirit Giver. Believe and follow the real Jesus and he'll welcome you into his kingdom.
With your words still ringing in your ears...have you actually met any of these people? Do you really know them? If not how is that you believe that you know them that you have a handle on who they are? My guess is that you've made a judgment call based on what they've done.
The same applies to Jesus. Everyone seems to have an opinion of who he is. We've never physically met the man but everyone believes they know who he is...largely based on what he has done.
So who do you think Jesus is?
Well let's answer that question according to those who were there, who knew him personally.
Jesus' cousin John declared...
"After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1:7, 8
God declares...
"And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:11
Even the demons have a view of who Jesus is...
"Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" Mark 1:23, 24
So the Baptist, God and the demons declare that Jesus is God's Spirit Giver, the Son the Holy One of God.
Surprisingly, not one of these said that Jesus was just a prophet. God didn't say that Jesus was spiritually in tune and he could help you to be spiritually in tune. And the demons didn't say that Jesus was just a good guy either.
So how did your answer to the question "Who do you think Jesus is?" match up with theirs? If it was askew then Jesus has some good news for you. He says...
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15
Today's the day to stop thinking Jesus is some new age guru or a mere prophet. He's God's Son Saviour and Spirit Giver. Believe and follow the real Jesus and he'll welcome you into his kingdom.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
God, Gambling and Good Friday
What is the right thing to do on Good Friday? Is it wrong or okay to gamble or shop or just relax? When Tabcorp announced that it was going to open on Good Friday there was outrage from both within and outside the Church.
But did you know that on the very first Good Friday there was gambling?
Mark 15:24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get
I'm not sure if these guys knew that they were setting a precedent but there you go.
Now apart from the soldiers there was another man having a bet that day. A thief with one last roll of the dice bet all he had on Jesus...
Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the hrist? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
This thief recognises who he is - a sinner getting what he deserves. He also sees that Jesus is not getting what he deserves. He healed the sick fed the hungry befriended the lonely. I guess it was something he said. The thief also recognises that Jesus is a king and so asks him for entry into his kingdom.
So what are his chances? Could a thief walk into heaven? If you were a betting person what do you think his odds are? Well according to Jesus, this thief is right on the money...
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Jesus promises this thief entry into heaven because he recognised who he was - a king who was taking the punishment for what others deserve. In return this thief received new life even with his last roll of the dice.
So what should we do on Good Friday? Is it right to gamble or shop or just relax? The most important thing to do is to reflect on what the thief did. He put his faith and trust in Jesus. May we do the same.
But did you know that on the very first Good Friday there was gambling?
Mark 15:24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get
I'm not sure if these guys knew that they were setting a precedent but there you go.
Now apart from the soldiers there was another man having a bet that day. A thief with one last roll of the dice bet all he had on Jesus...
Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the hrist? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
This thief recognises who he is - a sinner getting what he deserves. He also sees that Jesus is not getting what he deserves. He healed the sick fed the hungry befriended the lonely. I guess it was something he said. The thief also recognises that Jesus is a king and so asks him for entry into his kingdom.
So what are his chances? Could a thief walk into heaven? If you were a betting person what do you think his odds are? Well according to Jesus, this thief is right on the money...
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Jesus promises this thief entry into heaven because he recognised who he was - a king who was taking the punishment for what others deserve. In return this thief received new life even with his last roll of the dice.
So what should we do on Good Friday? Is it right to gamble or shop or just relax? The most important thing to do is to reflect on what the thief did. He put his faith and trust in Jesus. May we do the same.
Friday, April 10, 2009
the saviour and his sermon matthew 7:13-29
You’d have to say that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount ends on a downer. There’s talk of destruction v13, fire v19, evildoers v23, storms v25 and houses falling with a great crash v27.
Why doesn’t it end all chirpy?
You realise that Jesus hasn’t been delivering a series of ethical titbits on how to live a good moral life but is calling for absolute trust in him. This in turn, means absolute allegiance in living his kingdom values.
And so it's time to choose - which road are you on v13, 14? The road to life or the road to destruction?
Which tree is going to bear fruit v15-20? One of self righteousness or right living for God?
Which house are you going to build v24-29? Is your foundation on Jesus' words or on things that moth and rust destroy or where thieves break in and steal?
It's time to choose...it's time to see Jesus' kingdom come.
Why doesn’t it end all chirpy?
You realise that Jesus hasn’t been delivering a series of ethical titbits on how to live a good moral life but is calling for absolute trust in him. This in turn, means absolute allegiance in living his kingdom values.
And so it's time to choose - which road are you on v13, 14? The road to life or the road to destruction?
Which tree is going to bear fruit v15-20? One of self righteousness or right living for God?
Which house are you going to build v24-29? Is your foundation on Jesus' words or on things that moth and rust destroy or where thieves break in and steal?
It's time to choose...it's time to see Jesus' kingdom come.
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