Category: Shadows (Page 23 of 26)

The letter by James, written between A.D. 50 and A.D. 60, is one of the writings of the Bible that gives us a unique perspective on how to apply a filter to the communications we hear in our daily living. James was the son of Mary and Joseph and, therefore, a half-brother to Jesus and brother to Joseph, Simon, Judas, and their sisters (Matthew 13:55). In the Gospels, James is mentioned only a few times, but at that time he misunderstood Jesus’ ministry and was not a believer (John 7:2-5). James became one of the earliest witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). This experience changed his perspective on Jesus for the rest of his earthly life. James remained in Jerusalem and formed a group of believers who prayed in the upper room (Acts 1:14). From that time forward, James’ status within the Jerusalem church only grew larger.

James was still in Jerusalem when the recently converted Saul arrived to meet with him and Peter (Galatians 1:19). Several years later, when Peter escapes from prison, he reports to James about the miraculous manner of the escape (Acts 12:17). When the Jerusalem Council¹ The Jerusalem council set the protocol for how to address certain cultural differences between Jews and Gentiles who had both accepted Christianity and were having fellowship with one another. https://bibleask.org/what-was-the-jerusalem-council/ convenes, James is the apparent chairman (Acts 15:13, 19). He is also an elder of the church, called a “pillar” in Galatians 2:9. Later, James again presides over a meeting in Jerusalem, this time after Paul’s third missionary journey. It is believed that James was martyred about A.D. 62, although there is no biblical record of his death.

James simply described himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). His letter deals more with Christian ethics than theology. Its theme is about the visibility and the external evidence of one’s faith. James gives us testimony to the overwhelming power that came from being a witness of Jesus’ resurrection, turning him from a skeptic to a leader in the church. James’ speech at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:14-21 reveals his reliance on Scripture, his desire for peace within the church, his emphasis of grace over the law, and his care for the Gentile community. He never used his position as Jesus’ half-brother as a basis for authority. Rather, James portrayed himself as a “servant” of Jesus, nothing more than just a gracious leader.

James became aware of problems resulting from hypocritical, two-faced relationships, because he was indirectly involved in a conflict between two apostles, Paul, and Peter (Galatians 2:11-16). Peter had been showing partiality in fellowship when “certain men came from James” (Galatians 2:12). These verses show that Peter was as subject to human weakness as the rest of us. In this instance he “would eat with the Gentiles; but when they (Jewish believers sent from James) came, he withdrew and separated himself (from eating with the gentiles), fearing those who were of the circumcision.” Peter was showing each group what they wanted to see.

(James 1:5-11)²NIV New International Version Translations – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wildflower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.”

Here, James is talking about a common problem still active in our society. He called it being a double minded person, someone who speaks as in (Psalms 12:2) – “Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.” This is a person not sincere and upright in their requests, who stands up for one thing, but means another, with ulterior motives at the root of their message. We see this every day in modern politics, through our news media and embedded in sales and marketing programs. James even brings this same issue up again a second time in his letter:

(James 4:8) – “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

The Greek word translated “double minded” is dipsuchos, from dis, meaning “twice,” and psuche, meaning “mind.” James uses it to describe someone who is divided in their interests and/or loyalties, wavering, uncertain, two-faced, half-hearted. Double mindedness is a theme throughout his letter. James is really getting to the root of societal issues, the need to know the truth, stick with one story and to tell the truth! Communication, says James, always needs to be in tune with the will of God.

The first area of double mindedness James addressed concerned how we pray (James 1:5-8). James describes one who is dubious and indecisive in prayer as “a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Doubt and irresoluteness in communication with God short-circuit our relationship with Him. Are motives self-centered or God-centered? James adds, be careful what you pray for.

(James 4:3) – “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

John says, however, ask correctly, live correctly and you shall receive:

(1 John 3:22) – “and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.”

Double minded faith (James 2:14-26) is not the wavering in one’s belief in God. Rather, double minded faith is believing in God without performing the actions, or the “deeds,” that reflect that belief. James wanted his readers to know that faith means more than just belief in God. Every Christian should be aware that “faith without deeds is useless” (James 2:20). James challenges us to show tangible evidence of our beliefs: “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” (James 2:18).

Belief is not enough, he says. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19). It is much easier to tremble at the thought of God’s existence than it is to fear to disobey God. A classic example is ancient Israel. The Israelite’s quaked with fear before God’s awesome presence when God gave them the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:18-19). But, when they could no longer see the evidence of God’s nearness to them, they fabricated a golden calf (Exodus 32) while they should have been trembling at the explicit instructions God had just revealed to them.

James even went on to show the double mindedness of embracing one point of the Ten Commandments while breaking another point of these laws, love. Notice that the breaking of one point of the law is the same as breaking the “whole law” (James 2:10-11). Many today claim to be righteous but James would say, “show me your righteousness by your actions!”

We cannot always control what we hear, but we can control how we filter and what we hold in our hearts and minds. Each day Satan, the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), relentlessly inspires a multitude of improper thoughts and beliefs brought on by our non-selective hearing. We must “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The outcome must be not to just know righteous behavior but to act righteous. The world will bombard with “unwholesome” communication (Ephesians 4:29) from coworkers, fellow students, and acquaintances. Movies and magazines transmit values, morals and behavior far removed from those God expects of His followers. Social Media and conventional media all make the claim of truth through the selective lens of bias and sometimes outright deception. Politicians will talk a good story while corruption reigns in their hearts.

Nevertheless, our challenge today is to assimilate God’s words and ideals and make them a part of us, keeping what is right in our minds and hearts. “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded,” counsels the writer of the epistle (James 4:8). We must pray without doubting, read God’s Word with great care, fellowship without bias, have faith while consistently keeping God’s law, and speak edifying words that inspire friends and brethren to honor God. There is no room in the heart of a Christian for hatred toward anyone, no one, not one single person says Jesus. With single minded attention to God’s will as shown in His Word, we can draw near to God and, in turn, He will draw near to us.

Contemplations

• Where do you see the double mindedness in society today?
  • Ideas to Explore: Use the big three, community, businesses and government. Add church and family to your discussions. Has society today become accepting of double mindedness? If so, where?
• What harm does it do?
  • Ideas to Explore: What happens when you are misled? Do we mislead our children and in turn, teach them double mindedness? If the truth is not told, what are the harms?
• Do people have a responsibility to sort out what they hear and see what is true?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are you a person that has their favorite sources for facts? Do you take responsibility to check out what you hear? Since everything on the Internet is not true, how do you go about being a responsible person and fact checking? If someone’s ideas are fact-checked by a group, do you do further research to see what that group’s biases might be?
• Can a person be a Christian and hate someone?
  • Ideas to Explore: Our churches are filled with people who also hate – What does hate do to the faith walk of a Christian? What are the sources for that hatred,? Biases, media, family, etc.?
• How do you sort out and test for truth those things you hear in the world?
  • Ideas to Explore: What methods have you found to be reliable tests for facts? History, common sense, advice of respected counsel, the Bible, someone’s past record, God’s commandments?
• Can you describe the actions of a person who is showing righteousness, faith through “deeds?”
  • Ideas to Explore: What tells you someone is righteous? What are your expectations in a relationship with someone? Is there a difference between a righteous deed and just a good deed?
• When some other person shows they harbor hatred in their heart, what type of warning signs might that point to?
  • Ideas to Explore: Hatred, bigotry, are formed and harbored in many people – what are the sources? How do you help someone purge their heart of hate? Have you found things to do to help yourself love your enemies? Do we perpetuate hatred by our tolerance?

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  The Jerusalem council set the protocol for how to address certain cultural differences between Jews and Gentiles who had both accepted Christianity and were having fellowship with one another. https://bibleask.org/what-was-the-jerusalem-council/
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  NIV New International Version Translations

When looking at our world today, it is easy to find things to complain about. The foundation of our complaints should have,  at its roots, several considerations:

• Before our world even existed, evil also existed.
• After our world ends, evil will still exist.
• The difference after the return of Christ to our world is that good and evil will not exist together (e.g. heaven and hell)

Creation formed our world and within it, both good and evil exist so says the Bible. The question is what would we want to change in our temporal world with the time granted to us? This question is further complicated by the fact that we are living in the world now, trying to discern our purpose, our destiny. It is analogous to changing a flat tire on a moving car. Everyone is working hard  just keeping up, trying not to get run over. Is there a command from our God to change the world we are in and make it a better place while hoping for an eternal, perfect place?

The term “binary” means a division into two groups or classes that are considered diametrically opposite of each other.  Binary surely describes our world, part is good and part is evil. God claims the good part for Himself. The other world, the evil part, remains a mystery to us because all we have as reference is what we can see around us. As far as any eternal reference goes, that remains a bit murky.

God asks us to choose, to choose Him over all else. It does not matter if you believe in life after death or not. If there is nothing beyond death, the personal history of humanity will be limited to its accomplishments in the world we are living in today. But what if the Bible is right and there is an eternal side to life, something beyond death that has no end, the “Kingdom of God?”  Clearly, that is the position of the Bible we profess to believe. To help us sort this out, we go to the wisdom book, Proverbs, and see what it has to say that might help us decide what world we want to be part of and God’s expectations for our world now and the eternal world yet to come.

(Proverbs 6:16-19) ¹NIV New International Version Translations– “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

God hates Haughty Eyes

The eyes are the windows into one’s soul. Haughty means “blatantly and disdainfully proud;  having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior.” When a person’s eyes are filled with a haughty look, there is a high probability that the heart is filled with haughtiness or pride. Humility should be our pursuit, especially in our world now.  Scriptures remind us of that. Then again, you may choose to live forever in a world that has complete distain for you, is better than you, belittles you and is disgusted by your very existence.

God hates a Lying Tongue

One of the ten commandments is not to bear false witness. You will find no lying in God’s world. He has told the Truth from the being of Creation. He is a God of Truth! Wouldn’t you prefer this kind of world anyway? Can you imagine an eternal existence where everything, yes, everything you hear, you cannot trust. If you see glimmers of this today in our world, it just means that some of that pre-existing evil has permeated parts of our world.

God hates Hands that Shed Innocent Blood

Innocent blood is a term used for murder. It does not include the taking of life in defense of one’s own life, their family’s safety, or their country’s freedom. God hates murder. Once again it is listed in the ten commandments. The reference to the “innocent” are for the helpless, our children, and especially for those who are not yet born. There is no way anyone can support the practice of abortion through Scriptures. It is a choice for this world that must be made now in favor of life. God loves His innocent children. Can you imagine what our world would be like if a certain unmarried and pregnant teenager in Nazareth chose to abort her baby two thousand years ago? You and I would have no hope at all, no Savior born in Bethlehem.

Drugs and the trafficking impact the innocent and point to another area in our world today that surely needs our attention. Can you imagine an eternal existence of everyone, high on drugs? Numb to the pain and suffering, unaware of anything that may be present. Just remember the world you pick is a choice and the choice is made best when you are paying full attention and sober!

God Hates a Heart that Devises Wicked Plans

There are plenty of hearts that are always thinking of evil and are quick to do evil things. This is true even for the best of us. But there are those whose plans involve far more than just one person wanting to sin without being caught. These are those who devise wicked plans either in business or in the government. These plans harm thousands, possibly millions of people. They do not consider the impact of their plans because they are consumed either by the acquisition of wealth or power. God hates these people because of the harm it causes to others. We can see this in action when some people design their own tests for “righteousness.” They assume an authority to define righteousness itself. Pressure is then applied to comply using shaming, fear, even terror.  There should be only one test for a “wicked plan,” to test the plan against the Laws of our God. An eternal existence with such people should bring shivers down the spines of any God-fearing person. God and God alone defines right and wrong. God’s kingdom will have no fear or intimidation! God gives us free will to choose Him, and  in that choosing, we are saved.

God Hates Feet that Run Rapidly to Evil

This is about people where there is no restraint, they see evil, they want a piece of the action. When a society turns from God , there is a growing stupidity and spiritual deadness that causes people to become insensitive to the warnings of Scripture. This is called “running to evil.”  It is bad enough in our world now but can you imagine what spending eternity would be like with everyone around you having evil dominant in their thinking. Everyone would be deaf to all other voices except the ones that are urging them to do what they want. God hates this because it reveals that a person’s conscience is dead to Him and dead to the warnings of both the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

God Hates A False Witness Who Utters Lies

This seems to be a second time that lying is mentioned by God. This second time though it is mentioned in the context of someone who is a false witness.  The false witness could be someone who speaks lies in a courtroom where the role of perjury comes into play. This would mean a perversion of justice and we all know that our God loves justice and righteousness. It can also mean a false prophet or someone who lies about religious matters. This is especially dangerous because it can cause people to put their faith in a god who is not God at all. It was that lie, that deceit, when believed that was the impetus that led to the fall of all of humanity into sin and rebellion against God. Does such a place where deceit reins supreme sound like a place you would like to be forever?

God Hates One who Spreads Strife Among Brothers

The final item in God’s list of seven is a person who just loves causing problems. This would be a person who is spreading strife among the brethren. This person is one who either learns of strife and joins in or is causing it. That person is not content with just the knowledge about it. They become the ultimate evangelist for strife among the brethren. They want to see as many people upset and involved in this strife as possible. God does not say, “Blessed are the strife-makers.” He says just the opposite. It is the peacemakers who will be called the sons of God. God chose to make peace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Therefore it really should be no shock to us that God also hates those who spread strife rather than spread peace among their brothers and sisters. When thinking about a nice eternal resting place, is peace or strife your goal?

Choosing God

God’s list may seem like a short list but it is very sobering. Now that we have established what God’s world and the other world will look like, there are a few more things to consider.  The specific date as to when our blended world will come to an end is not known to humankind. The Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the LORD will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” Another sobering question is raised by Peter in the very next verses:  in 2 Peter 3:11-12. “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” Here comes that binary question again,  Are you prepared to meet God every day and night when you wake up and go to bed?  Have you chosen your eternal world yet? Our world today is meant for preparation. Each individual must try to be the very best person in the sight of God every day, all day. Your choice is to prepare yourself for one of the two  kingdoms; which kingdom will you be prepared to enter? 

Yes, there will be a final separation of the “sheep.” Revelation 19:11, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Good planning  and preparation can get you on the winning team forever! Each of us is required to choose. There is no middle ground. Remember, it is binary! The time to choose, however, is while we are in this world, in this lifetime. Once you are standing there looking at the “white horse,” it is too late to make a choice.

(Revelations 22:12) – “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

(Matthew 8:11-12) – “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Contemplations

• How convinced are you of eternal life?
  • Ideas to Explore: What is the source of your beliefs? Do your beliefs modify your behavior here during your earthly lifetime? 
• How is God telling you to help Him?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are there opportunities for service that seem to just appear? People close to you may be in need. Can being too busy distract from noticing how to help others?
• Where are the areas in our world, our society today that can use your help to make a difference for God?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you know your talents, your gifts? How can you help the children, the innocent? Are there ways to help combat the pervasive use of drugs and alcohol in society today? 
• Have you thought about eternity?
  • Ideas to Explore: What are your beliefs about the sources of evil? Are you indifferent and in what areas? Is playing it safe, not getting involved Biblical? Where are your fears?
• Do you support leaders who favor abortion?
  • Ideas to Explore: Have you really come to terms with the issues of rights of women over rights of the innocent? Can you support leaders who are indifferent on the issue of abortion? Have you taken the time to understand the formation of a child in a womb? Will the rights to kill a child be extended to the termination of the elderly and infirmed?

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  NIV New International Version Translations

The Crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection are at the core of the Christian faith. But is it just blind faith that binds us together or is there logical evidence supporting the resurrection of Christ? Scientific study is often summarized by two concepts, observations, and repeatability. Let us walk through God’s Shadows and see what evidence He has left for us to find.

Jesus’ Crucifixion Took Place in a Public Place

Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, which means “place of the skull,” because so many had died there. Executions were typically held outside city walls. Hundreds of people would attend and attest to His death as witnesses:

• Chief priests, scribes, and elders (Matthew 27:41)
• A Centurion and Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:54)
• Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21)
• Two criminals were crucified with Jesus (Luke 23:33)
• Crowds of bystanders (Matthew 27:37); Luke 23:48); John 19:20)
• Many women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Joseph and wife of Clopas, and Salome the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Matthew 27:56); Mark 15:40); John 19:26),
• Jesus’ mother (John 19:26)
• The “disciple Jesus loved” — probably John (John 19:26)
• Acquaintances of Jesus (Luke 23:49)
• Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57)
• Nicodemus (John 19:39)

Therefore, no one should have doubts about whether Jesus died or how He was put to death.

The Removal of Jesus’ Body

Witnesses reported the following:

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” – (Luke 23:44-45)

“And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – (Mark 15:34)

It was now late on a Friday, almost sundown, and the Sabbath was about to begin. Jesus was already dead, but the two robbers alongside him were still alive. According to the Law:

“If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.” – (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

Friday afternoon was called “Preparation” because people would prepare meals and complete any other tasks that could not wait until after the Sabbath. At sunset, a double, or “great,” Sabbath would have begun (John 19:31). It was the first day of the seven-day Festival of Unleavened Bread, the first day of which was always a Sabbath. (Leviticus 23:5-6).

The Jewish leaders asked Pilate to hasten the death of Jesus and the two robbers alongside him by having their legs broken. That would make it impossible for them to use their legs to raise their bodies and continue breathing. The Roman soldiers came and broke the legs of the two robbers. However, Jesus appeared to be already dead, and they did not break his legs. This fulfills (Psalm 34:20): “he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”

To remove any doubt that Jesus is dead, a Roman soldier jabbed a spear into His side, piercing a region of His heart. “…. bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” – (John 19:34) This fulfills another scripture:

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” – (Zechariah 12:10)

One of the Roman soldiers there, a Centurion, had witnessed other crucifixions before. In all probability, he was the ranking soldier in charge of the execution. Why was this one different for him? Jesus did not look like an ordinary criminal, never begging once for His life. Jesus spoke only words of love from the cross. And then there was the strange darkness covering the land. Whatever it was, something stirred in this professional soldier’s soul as he looked at Jesus’ lifeless body and said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” – (Mark 15:38)

The Burial of Jesus

“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.” – (Matthew 27:57) Joseph did not support the court’s judgment of Jesus. (Luke 23:50; Mark 15:43; John 19:38) Joseph asks Pilate for Jesus’ body. The army officer in charge confirms that Jesus is dead and Pilate grants Joseph’s request.

Joseph buys clean, fine linen and takes Jesus’ body down from the cross. He wraps Jesus in linen in preparation for burial. Nicodemus helps with the preparation (John 19:39). He brings about a hundred Roman pounds (72 pounds, or 33 kg) of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. Jesus’ body is wrapped in bandages containing these spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
Joseph owns an unused tomb carved in a rock nearby, and Jesus’ body is laid in it. Then a large stone is rolled in front of the tomb. This is all quickly done before the Sabbath begins. Once they were certain everything was done correctly, Joseph “departed” (Matthew 27:60; Mark 15:46). Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James may have been helping with the preparation of Jesus’ body. “Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” This was to further treat Jesus’ body after the Sabbath.” (Luke 23:56)

The Insurance That No One Tampers with Jesus’ Body

The next day, the Sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees go to Pilate and say:

“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that the deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” – (Matthew 27:63-65).

When the chief priests and Pharisees asked for security, they used the Greek word “sphragidzo.” This word described a legal seal that was placed on documents, letters, possessions, or, in this case, a tomb. Its purpose was to authenticate that the sealed item had been thoroughly inspected before sealing and that all the contents were in order. If the seal remained unbroken, it guaranteed that the contents inside were safe and sound. In this case, the word sphragidzo is used to signify the sealing of the tomb.

Before sealing the tomb, the authorities were first required to inspect the inside of the tomb to see that the body of Jesus was in its place. After guaranteeing that the corpse was where it was supposed to be, they would roll the stone back in place and then sealed it with the official seal of the governor of Rome. Most probability, it was a string that was stretched across the stone at the entrance of the tomb, which was then sealed on both sides by Pilate’s legal authorities.

The Empty Tomb

Early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and other women brought spices to the tomb to treat Jesus’ body. “and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” – (Mark 16:3) Matthew in 28:2 records, “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” The women find Jesus’ burial cloths neatly folded inside, hardly the act of hurrying grave robbers. The angel(s) said Jesus had risen from the dead.

Jesus, the Resurrected Christ is Seen by Many

The first eyewitnesses are women, further proof that the Gospels are accurate historical records. Women were second-class citizens in Biblical times and their testimony was not even allowed in court. The Bible, however, says the risen Christ first appeared to Mary Magdalene and other holy women. Even the apostles did not believe Mary when she told them the tomb was empty. Jesus, who always had special respect for these women, honored them as the first eyewitnesses to His resurrection. The male Gospel writers had no choice but to report this embarrassing act of God’s favor because that was how it happened.

Here are the Bible’s Recorded Encounters with the Risen Christ:

• Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9); John 20:1, 14–18
• Women returning from the tomb (Matthew 28:8–10)
• Peter (John 20:3–9; 1 Cor 15:5)
• Disciples on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12); Luke 24:13–31)
• Apostles, Thomas is absent (John 20:19–24; (Luke 24:36–43)
• Apostles, Thomas present (John 20:26–28)
• Seven by Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–14)
• 500 believers at one time (1 Cor 15:6)
• James (1 Cor 15:7)
• Eleven (Acts 1:3–4)
• Apostles at his ascension (Acts 1:9)
• Stephen (Acts 7:56)
• Paul (Acts 9:1-6)
• Paul in the temple (Acts 22:18–21)
• John on Patmos (Rev 1:9–20)

New-Found Courage In Jesus’ Disciples

After the crucifixion, Jesus’ apostles hid behind locked doors, terrified they would also be crucified. But something changed in them, transforming them from cowards to bold preachers. Humans rarely change that much without some major event that has of great influence on their beliefs. That influence was seeing their Master, bodily rise from the dead. Christ appeared to them in the locked room, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and Mount of Olives. An important but often overlooked fact was that when people saw the resurrected Christ, they were able to also see evidence of His death—the crucifixion most witnessed themselves. As with the story of the apostle Thomas (Doubting Thomas) in (John 20:26–29, the wounds on Jesus’ hands and His side were plain for all to see.

After seeing Jesus alive, Peter and the others left the locked room and preached about the risen Christ, unafraid of what would happen to them. They quit hiding because they knew the truth. They finally understood that Jesus is God incarnate, who saves people from sin.

Changing Lives Through the Gospel’s Story

Changed lives are yet another proof of the resurrection. James, the brother of Jesus, was openly skeptical that Jesus was the Messiah. Later, James became a courageous leader of the Jerusalem church, even being stoned to death for his faith. Why? The Bible says that the risen Christ appeared to him. What a shock to see your brother, alive again, after you knew He was dead. James and the apostles were effective missionaries because people could tell these men had touched and seen the risen Christ. With such zealous eyewitnesses, the early church exploded in growth, spreading west from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. For 2,000 years, encounters with the resurrected Jesus have changed lives. It still goes on today.

A large crowd of more than 500 eyewitnesses saw the risen Jesus Christ all at the same time. The Apostle Paul records this event in 1 Corinthians 15:6. He states that most of these men and women were still alive when he wrote this letter, about 55 A.D. Today, most would say it would be impossible for a large crowd of people to have had the same hallucination at once. Smaller groups also saw the risen Christ, such as the apostles, and Cleopas and his companion. They all saw the same thing, and in the case of the apostles, they touched Jesus and watched him eat food.

The Conversion of the Apostle Paul

The conversion of Paul records the most drastically changed life in the Bible. As Saul of Tarsus, he was an aggressive persecutor of the early Christian church. After the risen Christ appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road, Paul became Christianity’s most determined missionary. He endured five floggings, three beatings, three shipwrecks, a stoning, poverty, and years of ridicule.

(2 Corinthians 6:3-10) – We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Finally, the Roman emperor Nero had Paul beheaded because Paul refused to deny his faith in Jesus. What could make a person willingly accept, even welcome, such hardships? Only knowing for sure that the resurrected Christ is real!

People are willing to Die for Jesus

Countless people have died for their faith in Jesus, all certain that the resurrection of Christ is a historical fact. Tradition says ten of the original apostles died as martyrs for Christ, as did the Apostle Paul. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of early Christians, died in the Roman arena and were imprisoned for their faith. Through the centuries, thousands more have died for Jesus because they believed the resurrection was true. Even today, people suffer persecution because they have faith that Christ rose from the dead. An isolated group may give up their lives for a cult leader, but Christian martyrs have died in many lands, for nearly 2,000 years, believing Jesus conquered death to give them eternal life.

What is Your Faith Based On?

We all fall short of both humanity’s and God’s laws and deserve judgment. God, the Father, became incarnate and sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, both the creator and the eternal Son of God, lived a sinless life here on earth. But it would be His love for us that would cause Him to die a violent death, a crucifixion, for our sins. Jesus took the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead. We now have a choice to believe and trust in this story. Through that faith in Jesus, we can receive Him as our Savior and be saved from judgment, spending eternity with God in His Kingdom.

Contemplations

• The human being is the only form of life that will give its life up for a cause. The rest of creation functions off of instincts. What causes might be so impactful that you would surrender your life?
  • Ideas to Explore: What makes a cause worth dying for? How strong does a person’s belief in a cause have to be to die for it? 
• There are a few decisions that every Christian needs to make to be secure in their faith. Where do you stand on the following list?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is there a God? Did He come to our world incarnate as Jesus? Was Easter real? Is Christ alive today? Where are your doubts that the history of our Creator is truthfully documented in the Bible as “God’s Word?”
• History provides much of the evidence of our faith. Why is the attack on history so dangerous?
  • Ideas to Explore: When history is removed, what replaces it? How is history proven? Can humankind succeed by only looking at the future? What would the risks be to ignore history?
• Why is the resurrection so hard for so many to understand?
  • Ideas to Explore: God’s new kingdom is different than this world. What differences can you think of? Where do you see the mysteries yet to be discovered? Why is the concept of eternity so hard to fathom for humanity?
• Can humanity survive without a hopeful future?
  • Ideas to Explore: There are many “isms” that can be implemented in society. Which ones bring the most hope? Can humanity be hopeful without freedom of religion? Why are religion and the right to free expression so closely related to each other?
• Why do you think the world hates the idea that Christ is alive today?
  • Ideas to Explore: Fear of ultimate judgement. Jealousy. Conflicts over power. The lack of control over someone who has turned their life over to an eternal God. Proof of the evil that exists in this world.

Easter is coming April 4th. To the Christian community, it is a day celebrated with the full hope of life after death, a resurrection into God’s Kingdom and a future eternal world without evil. Jesus did not kill Himself, however. He died because His life conflicted with the world around Him. His death, a horrid crucifixion, was brought about by conflicts between God and the gods of this world. There were conflicts between God whom Jesus called His Father, the God of the Law, and how it was being defined by the self=proclaimed guardians of the laws, the Jewish religious leaders along with the political gods of the time, the Romans. To understand the death of Jesus, we need to understand His life and to understand His life, it is important to know who Jesus lived for, God His Father and the people He came to help, the sick and the poor. Yes, Jesus came for sinners, to forgive all sins but that was to be by exposing the necessity of repentance. Jesus did not come to give the evil people of the world a free pass to eternity. It would be a person’s faith in Him and a changed life that would lead to the eternal hope Easter represents.

(John 14:6-11)¹NIV New International Version Translations – Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.’”

Jesus was the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation and spoke to the world with full authority. His claim, however, was never about His own power, but the power He held through His Father.

(John 5:30) – “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

Jesus was crucified because the earthly gods were evil. Wicked men conspired against Him, falsely accused Him, and then murdered Him. The leaders of Israel were envious of His following (Matthew 27:18). They were afraid that Jesus would gather a large a following which could cause the Roman authorities to crack down on the Jewish nation, resulting in the loss of even more of their authority (John 11:48). The Jewish leaders, the keepers of religious law, hated the fact that Jesus called out their sins publicly (Matthew 23). And, finally, He was accused of blasphemy when He claimed to be the Son of God (Luke 22:66–71).

The Jewish authorities lacked the power to execute someone. Rather than stoning, hanging, drowning, or some other brutal method, Jesus’ execution had to be carried out by the Romans. Crucifixion was the Roman method of execution to make an example of someone and to deter others from committing the same offense. It was normal to post the charges against the condemned on the cross. Pontius Pilate, Jesus’ judge, posted the charge “King of the Jews” on Jesus’ cross (Matthew 27:37).

The ministry of Jesus is found in our Gospels. It was to teach people God’s Truth about a real Kingdom, an eternal Kingdom, that will bring peace and hope of everlasting joy. When we look closely at who Jesus spent time with it was the tax collectors, the sick and the poor. His time with the powerful, the wealthy was spent drawing their attention to the hypocrisy of their lives. Rich did not get richer. The Gospel’s message is that to accept the miracle of Easter is to first accept being bound to the Cross.

What does it mean to be bound to the Cross?

• Jesus is the promised Savior of the world.
• Jesus will be returning for you.
• Jesus paid the full penalty for your sins as a perfect, spotless sacrifice.
• Jesus defeated the power of sin and death and purchased, for you who believe in Him, eternal life.
• The world the hates the truth and hate you if you expose their lies and hypocrisy.
• The gods of the world, power and wealth, place your well-being at risk because of your faith in Jesus.
• The world loves sin, and they love to define sin on their own terms, not God’s terms. The world’s definitions are filled with deceit that can trap you.
• God will not show favoritism. He will judge according to your obedience to Him not your obedience to the world.
• A claim of Christianity is not enough, you must be different than this world.

The costs of being a Christian on Easter can be summarized as follows:

• The denial of our own interests and needs is what we must do to our human nature every day of our lives.
• It is impossible to show love to any living being if you have no time for that person. The life of a Christian must reflect God’s love. It takes your time, talent, treasure and testimony.
• If we really wish to celebrate Easter, we need to be willing to detach from this world and move into His world.

(Luke 9: 61-62) – “Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family. Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’”

(Matthew 6:24) – “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money., it is impossible to be a slave of two masters.”

To celebrate Easter means to ask Jesus to be the center of your life, to have Him walk with you all day, every day. Celebrating Easter means that your joy comes from His strength and His promise, not only on this Easter day but every day of your life. Christ’s death on the cross  was for us and His resurrection from the cross was before us! “Follow Me” says the living Lord, “I know the Way.”

Contemplations

• What have the costs, the hardships been for you as a Christian?
  • Ideas to Explore: Today, hardships are few, maybe some inconveniences, in some circles, a good social move – Is that the cost to you? What about the parts of the world that show hardships, even death? Are you willing to stand by Jesus even in death? 
• To you, what does it mean to Follow Jesus?
  • Ideas to Explore: How is your life, your family’s life, your co-worker’s lives, your neighbor’s lives, your community’s lives, your country’s lives better because you are a Christian who is celebrating Easter? How are you really different?
• How much pain would you be willing to take on to be/stay a visible Christian?
  • Ideas to Explore:  Who do you know who has suffered but demonstrated joy in the process? Will you share your personal testimony to others? Are you sharing your talents? Is generosity an attribute that your friends would include when describing who you are?
• How much of Easter in your life is tradition-base?
  • Ideas to Explore: What are your memories of Easter? Is Easter a time for baskets, chocolate rabbits, jelly beans, dinner at mom’s? Do you go to church/worship on Easter? Do you go to church/worship on every other Sunday?
• What do you do to keep from succumbing to the world’s deceptions?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you have an accountability partner? Do you regularly pray? Do you spend time with the Bible?

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Plenty of people believe in God. Not enough, unfortunately, follow God. Contained in the POETRY section of Lostpine’s website is an inscription found in the Lübeck Cathedral in Germany. In 1173 Henry the Lion founded this cathedral to serve the Diocese of Lübeck. The Romanesque cathedral was completed around 1230, but between 1266 and 1335 it was converted into a Gothic-style building with side-aisles raised to the same height as the main aisle. Today, the city of Lübeck is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. Inside the cathedral is an inscription:

Ye call Me Master and obey Me not,
Ye call Me Light and see Me not,
Ye call Me Way and walk not,
Ye call Me Life and desire Me not,
Ye call Me wise and follow Me not,
Ye call Me fair and love Me not,
Ye call Me rich and ask Me not,
Ye call Me eternal and seek Me not,
Ye call Me gracious and trust Me not,
Ye call Me noble and serve Me not,
Ye call Me mighty and honor Me not,
Ye call Me just and fear Me not,
If I condemn you, blame Me not.

A simple poem but thought-provoking words.  The poem makes one wonder how could Germany, a country apparently filled with such a rich history of Christian faith, be responsible for two horrid world wars? How do seemingly godly people go so astray? Could such a thing happen again? Is such a thing happening again?

Much of our world is busy teaching, “Seek first man’s kingdom and the stuff of this world.” Jesus’ words are the antithesis of these, and it is one reason why we see a growing hatred for Christianity. The utopia that our world seeks to develop is earthly and man-made. Christians, instead, look to Jesus where they find a more perfect and lasting kingdom.  Since the time of the incarnation of our God back into our world, our world is no longer the same. All have a choice! For those who place their faith in Jesus, the “perfect and lasting kingdom” is already here but, unfortunately, it exists in our imperfect world. Only faith separates the two worlds from each other. The Bible is quick to point out that leadership, those given responsibility for our journey together through our co-mingled world, will be held accountable to God. Ezekiel tells us:

(Ezekiel 34:1-8) ¹NIV New International Version Translations – “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, ….’”

Ezekiel’s verses are directed at leaders of his time, any leaders with authority over people’s lives. The sheep in their care are clearly the people. The prophet is promising the removal of the false shepherds in preparation to the raising up of a Good Shepherd. Ezekiel is pointing out that the sheep were scattered, and carried captive, and became a prey to others, even though many of the leaders were of God’s own appointing. The persons with responsibility over the people did not do their duty; the “shepherds” fed themselves and did not feed or protect God’s flock.

In the case of Israel, this was further exacerbated because the people of Israel failed to observe the terms of God’s conditional promises to them. Israel exhibited again and again its refusal to obey God. As a result, they did not enter the peace, prosperity, and eternal possession of the land God had promised them. God had withheld His blessings, ultimately separating Himself from them by casting them out of the land He had promised. God punished the Israelites for their disobedience by deferring the fulfillment of His promises. This deferment did not make God unfaithful to the people because His promises to them were conditional, based on their obedience to His Laws. Jeremiah also used a similar statement!

(Jeremiah 23:1-4) – “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture! declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: ‘Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,’ declares the Lord. ‘I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,’ declares the Lord.”

To fully understand Jeremiah’s words, it first helps to determine who the shepherds of today might be. When we think of those in a shepherding role, pastors of churches as well as the governing bodies of our churches, elders and deacons come to mind. However, it goes further in that every husband is a shepherd to his wife and parents are shepherds to their children. Teachers are shepherds to their students. An employer is a shepherd their employees. An older child is a shepherd to younger brothers and sisters. Anyone who in anyway leads anyone is a shepherd who is responsible for the care of another. You sort of get the idea; the claim of godly leadership is conditional on the success of the journey and the responsibility of leading people runs deeper than just politics. Jeremiah says it is not just the leaders but everyone who is a shepherd is being held accountable.

We should understand that God is the ultimate good shepherd Jeremiah speaks of and that Jesus, because He is the incarnate God, is our ultimate head shepherd here on earth. (John 10:11 – 11) – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Yes, Jesus laid down His life for us and we are forgiven. But to claim that forgiveness, requires a few things of us.

(Mark 16:14) – “Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”

Jesus was not the type to rebuke His disciples over something small. In the next verse, (Mark 16:15), we get the commandment to go out into the world and share the Gospel, the Great Commission! Look closely, however, at verse 14. We rarely remember the verse preceding the Great Commission. Jesus’s rebuke is for two things, “their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe the witnesses.” This is good news for all Christians. It clearly shows that the responsibility for each of us is NOT whether someone believes us or lacks faith in the style or quality of our testimonies. Our duty is to be faithful to Jesus Christ and to share what our lives were like before and after we became part of Jesus’s family.  We are today’s witnesses and that my friends is the good news! For the others, those who do not believe, God has a plan. I like Jesus’s plan much better.

Contemplations

• What is your sphere of influence? Who do you lead with your ideas?
  • Ideas to Explore: Who are the people that would listen to your opinions and alter their actions? What is the basis for where you get your opinions, and have you overlaid them with Scripture? Are you the type of person that is easily influenced by others or the media in your opinions? Have you thought about how God would grade your advice and counsel?
• Are you a fan of history and do you search to find trends today that we have historical evidence on?
  • Ideas to Explore: Attitudes on drugs. Sexuality and our children. Educational standards. To your list of ideas and beliefs, how do you think God feels about them?
• How have evil people taken over a Christian country before?
  • Ideas to Explore: Loss of 1st Amendment rights. Censorship. Control of the press. Removal of a citizen’s ability to protect themselves from the government itself. Control of financial institutions. Marshal law. Over regulation of daily living. Have you ever done research to see what history teaches us about how a country like Germany and how they lost their Christian focus?
• When regulatory changes for any reason (environmental, COVID, safety, etc.) impact one specific group of “sheep,” any group really, causing hardships, what is the responsibility of the other groups? Is this what Ezekiel and Jeremiah were talking about?
  • Ideas to Explore:
    • The group proposing/making the change?
    • The government, federal/state/local?
    • The community in which the impacted “sheep” live?
    • The Church?
    • The parties benefiting from the change.
    • The impacted parties, the “sheep?”
• When people in power profit from their positions at the expense of the “sheep,” is that right, wrong?  What should the people do under those circumstances? Is this what Ezekiel and Jeremiah were talking about?
  • Ideas to Explore: What ethical standards should apply in government and business, God’s or the worlds? Does someone’s past history of “working the system” impact your opinion of them? When people promise they have changed, how do you personally validate their change?

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The year 2021¹It is now 2025, and censorship on a global basis is only getting worse. So is the world’s godlessness! is off with loads of controversies already. One huge one is the growing censorship of any dissent concerning the policies coming from a new, more liberal administration now in power. The Apostle Paul states:

(Romans 1:18-22)²NIV New International Version Translations – “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

The apostle explains that the Wrath of God is brought forth because of the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth. This tragic aspect of our world today is caused by the attitude held by those in power and the subsequent actions that follow their directives. Notice the order, godlessness, and then wickedness. Godlessness is not necessarily atheism, the belief that God does not exist. Godlessness is acting as though He does not exist. Our world today, including much of the Christian world, does not necessarily deny that there is a God, but it seems that they never take any account of Him. Why do people disregard God and expect no consequences? Paul says it is because the truth is suppressed. It is important to note here that while the truth described here includes God’s Truth, Paul is talking about all truth. What has taken the place of truth in our lives is the justification of what is ungodly and unrighteous.

• By ignoring what God has already revealed to us, the design and order of the universe.
• Implying that humankind’s intelligence is the same or greater than our Creator.
• Not being thankful, being ungrateful to God.

There are also consequences of not glorifying God. Modern humans have their own idols such as secular humanism (worshipping self), covetousness (worshipping money), worshiping creation (worshipping the environment) to name just a few. When humankind ceases to be thankful to God and regards created things over Him, God gets angry! Ignoring His Laws is another good way to get on the wrong side of God. God is pleased when we love and care for each other, when we are faithful stewards of His gifts to us, including the very world and people who live in it.

Truth from God is breaking out all around us, but we are busy covering it up, hiding it, suppressing it, keeping it from being prominent and dominant in our thinking. Worse yet, some are perverting the truth for self-interest. The reason life has turned tragic in so many cases is because the world is deprived of the truth that is necessary for life and liberty, and freedom, and most importantly, godliness. Censorship of the truth that exposes the existence of a God of eternal power and majesty and the consequence of unrighteous behavior places all humanity at risk.

How has God made truth plain? The Scriptures clearly say that God has revealed Himself to man. Truth is not a vague, invisible, or even a difficult thing to comprehend; it is clearly seen. God himself has ensured that to be true. How? God can be seen in that which is made, through His creation. From the creation of the world, it was visible, and He has been present always and everywhere in our history. No one is left out. All can see this revelation of God if they want to do so. This argument from creation’s design and order has never been rebutted. This is known to us because God is in our history, in the good history, and in what some may call the bad history. To censor history destroys its value as a moral compass for humanity.

Yet with all this discourse, there is one other overwhelming rational reason why censorship should not be tolerated. It is called the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. It states:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The ancient Greeks pioneered free speech as a democratic principle. The ancient Greek word “parrhesia” means “free speech,” or “to speak candidly.” The term first appeared in Greek literature around the end of the fifth century BC. During the classical period, parrhesia became a fundamental part of the democracy of Athens. Leaders, philosophers, playwrights, and everyday Athenians were free to openly discuss politics and religion and to criticize the government in some settings.

The First Amendment of our Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech. Freedom of speech gives every American the right to express themselves without having to worry about government interference. Most of the world does not have this right. It is the most basic component of freedom of expression. It is explicitly linked with the freedom of religion for a reason. Censorship, among other things, often attempts to mute the righteous. Included in the First Amendment is also freedom of the press. This freedom is like freedom of speech in that it allows people to express themselves through publication. There are certain limits to freedom of the press. False or defamatory statements, called libel, are not protected under the First Amendment. Libel is a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt or the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures.

The danger with libel is who sets the standards for harm. It should never be a secret group of fact-checkers who determine the merits of anyone’s statement based on their own bias. We can, with full protection of law, worship our God, orally and in writing. Every Christian should be reminded that Christ was sentenced to death as a blasphemer. It was nothing more than a select group of fact-checkers that passed judgment on God Himself and had Him crucified.

The founders of the United States believed that mankind has certain “inalienable rights” including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Under that umbrella of liberty falls freedom of speech. Thomas Jefferson spoke of these rights as having been endowed to man by his Creator; he called the right to liberty “inherent” and postulated that governments are instituted to allow man (the governed) to secure those rights and to pursue his rights freely. The liberty and consent of the governed were, in Jefferson’s mind, imperative for governments to be efficient and beneficial.

The witness of censorship today is coming because of a divided populous. When one group of people exposes the unrighteous actions of others, division occurs. Power corrupts and absolute power (and wealth) corrupts absolutely. Despite the unfairness of the actions we see today, Godly people are being called to stand firm. World history has shown us that the loss of free speech and freedom of religion are precursors to losing all other freedoms. There is a reason why our founding fathers made it the “First Amendment.” Like Christ, the First Amendment is the cornerstone of the eternal universe.

(Ephesians 2:19-22) – “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Our ultimate freedom is found in belonging to Christ (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Sin brings bondage (Romans 7:14), but the one who belongs to Christ is spiritually free (Romans 8:2). Speaking the truth in love is a biblical mandate (Ephesians 4:15). Therefore, any government law that guarantees citizens the right to speak the truth aligns with godly principles. By the same token, any law that suppresses a person’s right to speak truth is working against God’s command. Freedom of speech does not guarantee that truth is told, but it does permit truth to be told.

Contemplations

• Why do people tolerate censorship on social media?
  • Ideas to Explore: It depends on which side’s opinions are being censored. Social Media is too convenient to give up. It is too much work to check multiple sources of information. Are the media and the Internet trustworthy platforms?
• How do you personally get to know the leaders of our country?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are you politically active? Always do what your family does. Spend time doing research? You like to personally meet people and see what they are about.
• Where do you think that the control of information has gone too far?
  • Ideas to Explore: Shutting down social media accounts. Demanding camps reprogram the beliefs of those who disagree with one agenda or another. Spying on people via phones and emails. Shuttering media companies that have an alternative message?
• Is privacy—the control of your information at risk these days?
  • Ideas to Explore: Use of free email services and who can read what you write. Google, etc., tracks searches to develop profiles on you. Tracking your every movement by location data in your cell phone. Do you worry about what information is being collected on you and the conclusions that some unknown group is drawing?
• What should we do when pressed to act ungodly?
  • Ideas to Explore: The government forces people to support causes or regulations that conflict with their faith. Banning products or companies that believe differently. How does a person reconcile their oath to their country against their oath to God?

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  It is now 2025, and censorship on a global basis is only getting worse. So is the world’s godlessness!
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Wisdom and knowledge are of temporal value if we do not know God. Every day challenges require choices. The prophet Micah tells us in verse 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.” A simple statement, God has given us what we need to know and now the responsibility is up to each person to discover that knowledge and decide is it the Truth? A clear theme in the Bible is that discernment, knowing what to do next in each set of circumstances, requires a clear understanding of God’s Truth. To find this discernment takes a combination of three things:

1. A belief in and an understanding of God’s Word and His commands.
2. The faith that God, His Son, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are real.
3. An ability to observe the knowledge documented in our Bible at work in our world using Common Sense.

(Jeremiah 9:23-24)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”

Because all things logical and scientific begin with the concept of observation, to become wise and to know God, requires us to know the difference between observing and just looking. Much of life is spent looking, without the intent of our minds ever using what we see again. But when we observe, our minds extract a greater meaning out of what we see and convert it into what we might call our beliefs.

The conversion process requires skills. A few tips on being a good observer might look like this:

1. Alertness – Quick to notice and process information, mental fitness. Life requires that we pay attention.
2. Being Present – Secondhand information is always be colored by the bias of someone else’s eyes and beliefs. To observe requires personal engagement.
3. To filter – Our world is filled with distractions, misrepresentations, even downright lies. To be a good filter, one must be willing to search for Truth.
4. Double Checking – In our times of biased media, social and otherwise, there is the added responsibility to double and triple check everything. Even the interpretation of God’s Word can be perverted.
5. God’s Truth – The ability of knowing good and bad, relevant, and irrelevant. Most have an intrinsic knowledge of right and wrong, but few really use that knowledge as a comparative tool.
6. Common Sense – The use of knowledge and the observation of the world to decide what to do requires reason combined with revelation (the Holy Spirit). God placed a great Counselor in our world to help and guide us.

When an observation is either flawed because we did not follow good practices or avoided because of laziness, we make mistakes, use poor judgment, and our conclusions can be wrong. Here are some examples that show how our world has drawn erroneous conclusions:

• Christians are asked to be obedient in faith to Christ and the Cross in a world that surrounds them with idols, demons, fetishes, and superstition. How have so many people for so many generations managed to remain loyal to their faith in our world with so many distractions? Our world even calls out to reprogram its faithful people. Is it really the faithful who are wrong and dangerous? How did that conclusion ever develop?
• History gives us an undisputed view of the witness of Christ’s presence through the stories of the martyrs who chose death rather than to give the leaders of this world their oath. Where does such spiritual power come? Are martyrs mad? Are they fools? Are only the power-driven oppressors of the world correct?
• We have a presence in our world of a love for the abandoned, despised, unborn, and betrayed human beings. Missionaries, prison ministries, shelters, food banks, all open their hearts to those in need. What drives this generosity and compassion? The survival of the fittest, our world’s motto it seems, surely is not the source of charity. Is government charged with providing charity or should it come from our own hearts?
• Finally, observations show an enslaved creation, a general sadness as we live in a godless world. There is war, slavery of every kind and diminishing human rights all pointing to the plight of our world today. What can free the earth of this destructive behavior? Governments seek to control the delivery of happiness but how is it that humankind can ever find the real prize, joy? Is not the prize eternal joy?

King David of the Old Testament writes:

(Psalm 19:1-30) – The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

It is up to us to learn how to be better observers. Nature is just one of the ways in which God has revealed Himself to humanity. King David observes that God is EVERYWHERE! What exactly does nature, the universe around us, tell us about God? Can we find evidence of God’s existence from looking at the world in which we live? This would be called “Natural Theology.” The Truth is that only God Himself could give us knowledge of His own being. The Bible makes it clear that God’s revelation of Himself in nature is not sufficient knowledge for sinful humanity to ever know Him. Nature only provides basic truths to humanity but falls far short of giving any absolute truth. Nature tells us that there is a God who is majestic and powerful but nothing more. It is the Bible alone that tells human beings how to see God not only in nature, but everywhere else.

For me personally, the idea of nature unveiling God takes me back to Jimmie R’s home in Ohio. I was just a young teenager and Jimmie and I had decided to camp out in his back yard. He lived just down the street from me, and we were good friends. I still can walk you to the exact place where we camped out that night. With simple cardboard to insulate us from the cold ground, Jimmie and I laid down to spend the night. There were no lights, so the very significance of the universe was open before my eyes that evening. It would be that very moment, that very place, that I would understand my “insignificance” to the universe around me. I think it was that very moment of humility that I recognized a God existed. For that moment in my life, I am eternally grateful.

Faith is required to understand Scriptures. The Bible’s many stories, laws and commandments must be overlaid onto life, our personal experiences and then validated by our own observations. Here is where the responsibility of unbiased observations comes together with God’s Word to form our conclusions and then actions. God says He showed us the Truth! Are we acting like we found it?

The process of observation and faithfulness must always be rational and consistent. When our personal observations do not align with the Bible or the faith we claim, then it is time to do some more observing. Our world is busy telling God what sin is. God has already told the world what sin is. Our world is demeaning life, worshiping wealth, idolizing power, prioritizing self-interests, and removing personal freedoms. God has already told us to follow Him. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.”

Common Sense says that any person who claims Christ as a personal savior should not be a professional thief or murderer. Common Sense says a person who claims Christ as their personal savior should not even condone thievery or murder of any kind. God says there must not be any inconsistency between Himself, one’s observations, and their Faith. That is called Common Sense. God’s Truth does not have inconsistencies.

Contemplations

• Is it really OK to vote for someone who supports abortion?
  • Ideas to Explore:  What do you think God’s position would be on the termination of a life in the womb? When does life exist and what does our Bible say about it?
• Can humankind really tell God what is sinful?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where does humankind attempt to tell the world what is right and what is wrong? Is there any way people can justify behavior contrary to God’s directive? How do we determine what is sinful?
• What are the ways we  unknowingly support ungodly behavior?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do we pick leaders who make us feel good, say the right things or do we align ourselves with leaders that direct our behavior toward God? Are we happy with the leaders we support? If not, why? What are the ungodly actions that through common sense, we have determined and validated?
• How good are you at seeing the true motives of people around us?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do we pay attention and see the motives of those around us? Are their actions consistent with God’s Word? Would Jesus approve of our support?
• Are you willing to set yourself apart from the world and support Christ?
  • Ideas to Explore: Faith is only faith when under the challenges of the world. Can you stand against the world and set yourself aside from those who just want to be part of the norm? What motivates you – Success in this world or the idea of eternal joy with God?

Note: You may also be interested in a companion study on Common Sense and its dependency on being a good observer. You can find it by clicking Here.

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  NIV New International Version Translations

Most of us have been educated by “tradition.” That is, we have adopted what Christianity has ascribed to many of the writings in the Bible. The letter called 1 John (first John) is commonly believed to be written by the Apostle John, one of Jesus’ chosen twelve, the son of Zebedee, and “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Unfortunately, the text of 1 John (first John) or that of the other two letters so numbered do not bear John’s name or any other name. They are anonymous. This first letter was probably written in Ephesus between 95 and 110 AD. The writer advises Christians on how to discern true teachers: by their ethics, their proclamation of Jesus in the flesh, and by their love. This letter makes a bold statement about hate.

(1 John 4:20)¹NIV New International Version Translations – Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

The subject of hatred and its impact on the human heart are well supported in Scripture. Hate made its first appearance in Genesis 4:8 – “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” Abel was victim to one of the most common causes of hatred: envy. Today, envy over social status, wealth, resources, and other advantages continues to pit people against one another. Why is it important for us to look at the topic of hatred? We have just witnessed political hatred at its worst, and it does not look like it will get better any time soon. Our study verse clearly says that if we hate, we are nothing but liars and cannot love God. It was our God who established the “first principles” such as law, government, education, politics, and economics, all to be discovered by “common sense.” Because hatred seeks to censure and stop all free discussion, a prerequisite to “common sense, hatred is dangerous.

While envy is just one of the many causes of hatred, most oftentimes, hatred is fueled by fear based upon ignorance. As people who claim their salvation in Christ, there is an expectation that we will do all we can to discern God’s Truth and not become prejudiced individuals who twist, distort, misinterpret, or even ignore facts that conflict with our predetermined opinions. Fortunately, we find clarity right in 1 John again, right before the writer tells us about hatred:

(1 John 4:1) – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

How then, in a world filled with information, media, and biased and false news, does one discern truth? I have written on this before, but it is worth repeating. David Barton is a New York Times best-selling author. In his writings, he states that the world is quite creative in its deception and perversion of facts. These same perversions are being applied to our Bible too. Barton lists seven strategies that are being used to reprogram us against ourselves.

• Historical Negativism – An accurate presentation of history depends on the telling of the good with the bad, an honest, balanced presentation of events, people, or periods. Our history is not all bad! (2 Timothy 3:16) – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
• Relativism – This asserts that in history, religion, culture, and law are not absolute. Values are to be determined individually, and personal standards trump traditional ones, thus allowing subjectivity and feelings to prevail over objectivity. This attitude would claim that our Constitution is old and out of date and the Bible has no relevance to society today. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
• Anti-nationalism -This is the constant undermining of patriotism or the love of one’s country. Remember, we are the only country on earth that people risk their lives to get into. People are free to leave yet few ever do! The fact that people love God is a good thing, not a bad thing.
• Rejection of American Exceptionalism – This rejects the idea that America is blessed and enjoys unprecedented stability, prosperity, and liberty because of unique ideas such as God-given inalienable rights, individualism, limited government, and an educated, virtuous citizenry. I am still waiting to find a history book somewhere better than America!
• Modernism is the malpractice of examining past events and people as if they occurred and lived today rather than in the past. Modernists destroy monuments, deface historical sites, and protest everything good. Lose the past, and you will lose your purpose and direction! Lose the Bible and you will lose an eternity with God.
• Minimalism – The unreasonable insistence on oversimplification, on reducing all things to political rhetoric and one-line slogans, forgetting the complexities of history. Open and honest dialogue requires time for “both” sides to discuss their concerns after they first understand each other’s! Hate censors the truth.
• Rigid Secularism – The constant misrepresentation of the influences of religion in American History. Our history has recognized that all must have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Faith, the belief in a Creator, exists in every culture on earth. Who planted that belief in the hearts of men? World history tells us over and over that America is unique—believe it or not, what you believe in is totally up to you. Let us not lose that right to choose!

Discernment takes work. You can never believe one person, one channel, or one source. Proverbs tells us:

(Proverbs 26:24-26) – “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts, they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”

The “assembly” was the Temple, the place of leadership during Solomon’s time. It is insightful to see that charm and false statements are nothing new and that the way to discern is to look and not listen. It is easy to deceive with words. History has proven it. However, observation then needs to become the foundation of a discerning life. Is your world better or worse? Is your life safer, or are you more afraid for your family? Can you freely worship your God, share your faith, and raise your children as you wish? And are you leading a hope-filled life? Today, all of us live in a world that has accepted the concept of science. It has improved our lives immensely. What does it take to be proven by science? It must be observable and repeatable! Now apply these same principles to life itself. God is there, just waiting for you to see Him.

Hatred today is spawned from anxiety and a lack of hope. Anxiety is driven by the anticipation of terror; hope, however, can only come from God. God asks us to choose the things we do wisely and the leaders we pick based on our observations of their deeds, not their words. God’s instructions are not confusing.

(Galatians 5:19-21) – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

(Hebrews 12:14-15) – “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Contemplations

• Where do you get information from?
  • Ideas to Explore: How reliable is the Internet? When searching a topic for information, is there a bias in the results? Can the significance of events be altered by selective editing of a simple news story? Do you try to always get information from multiple sources on both sides of an issue? Do people use sources that agree with their own bias?
• Who do you hate?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is there hatred in your heart? How did it get there, by your observation or by the observations of others? Do you censure information just by remembering and discussing what agrees with your own opinion? What is the impact of parents on the hatred and biases of children?
• What do you think God’s Truth is?
  • Ideas to Explore: What basic tenets do you think God will never relinquish? How do you learn God’s Truth? What is your responsibility when you see God’s Truth being abused? Can humankind decide what God’s Truth should be?
• How is hate between two people or two countries broken down and replaced by love?
  • Ideas to Explore: God is clear: we must love our enemies. How does that work? Can we patiently listen to someone who does not agree with our point of view? Can two people agree to disagree and still respect each other? What does such respect look like?
• Has social media made it easier or harder for people to respect each other?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it a requirement or a demand that people agree with? Are posts poison, or are posts opening the minds of both others and your own to all sides of issues? How is humor hurtful or damaging? 

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  NIV New International Version Translations

“Happiness depends on ourselves” says Aristotle, calling happiness as a central purpose of human life and a goal in itself. Aristotle was convinced that a genuinely happy life required the fulfillment of a broad range of conditions, including physical as well as mental well-being. He would argue that virtue is achieved by maintaining the Mean, which is the balance between two excesses.  We can find further evidence of the importance of happiness because it would be enshrined in the United States Declaration of Independence where it is stated, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” are every persons rights. It is common to think of happiness as being dependent upon an experience or other external stimulus. When circumstances are positive, happiness results. When circumstances change, happiness disappears. We can be happy for many reasons. Society is most happy when the consequences for wrongdoings are overlooked and undeserved receive abundant generosity. The thief is happy not to be caught and the hungry person is happy to be given food and warm shelter. Happiness, therefore, can serve everyone and has very little to do with God Himself. Happiness is uniquely human and temporary as is humanity itself. 

There are several different Hebrew and Greek root words that can be translated as “happy,” “joy,” “rejoice,” and “glad.” In fact, the Hebrew esher can be translated as “happiness” or “blessedness.” This word is used in passages like Deuteronomy 33:29 where Moses tells the Israelites, “Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”¹NIV New International Version Translations It is also used in Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,”.

Similarly, the Greek text,  makarios can be translated as “blessed” or “happy.” This is the Greek word used in the beatitudes. It is used in Luke 1:45 when Elizabeth tells Mary, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” and in Luke 12 , Jesus’ parable about being ready: “The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” (Luke 12:42–44).

It is easy to conclude that happiness is a good thing to have in your life. Happiness is worth pursuing and worth keeping. Happiness is associated with a circumstantially driven, fleeting, and somewhat shallow set of emotions. It is different from joy but attempting to make a clear and hard distinction between happiness and joy should not the point in life. Yes, joyful people express happiness. However, our pursuit should be in search of true and lasting joy, and that cannot be achieved without a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As a quick example, Psalm 32 talks about the man whose sin is forgiven as being blessed (or happy). Psalm 84:12 says, “Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” Referring to believers. First Peter 1:8 says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,” Our joy is dependent upon the truth of Jesus Christ and His presence in our lives is a source of joy and that truth is certainly something worth pursuing.

Let us recap. Happiness is a reaction to something great. Joy is the product of someone great. Let us never forget that difference, or fail to pursue both happiness and joy as fully as we can on this earth. Merriam Webster defines happiness as “a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” Whereas joy is specifically stated, even in the dictionary, as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; the expression or exhibition of such emotion.”  Joy is rooted in who God is. Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”, Our God is fair, compassionate, and all-knowing. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Job possessed the wisdom to know God’s character, and a strong faith to hold onto what he knew to get him through difficult times.

Trials of any kind aren’t joyful themselves. However, all trials eventually end and they end more quickly when we understand who God is, and how He works for all things for good. We also understand who God is much better through Jesus Christ. The Apostle James tries to tell us that “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4). He then goes on to write about wisdom, and tells us to ask God for it when we are lacking. Wisdom allows us to wade through trials of many kinds, and find our God.  Wisdom may even help us avoid a few trials too.

Are you ready now to try to answer a really hard question, “What does joy look like to you?” Stop for a minute and think about that question. Can you describe joy? For me, I was drawn to the testimony of a man named Pat. He was a neighbor, a family man, a small business owner, a Christian. We had worked together on a small business venture where I got to know him as a person of faith. He was never shy about sharing his love for Jesus and his dependency on Him for hope. Then things suddenly changed. Pat was diagnosed with a terminal disease. There were many stays in the hospital and eventually all treatments proved futile. My memory of my last visit with Pat and his hug goodbye was full of the hope he had in the resurrection. His joy was so great that my hope was strengthened by his very presence. Yes, Pat died leaving a wonderful wife and children. They did not find much happiness in his passing. However, Pat’s strong faith and his testimony provided the strength for all who knew him to set their sadness aside. Everyone that Pat had encountered on his journey with death were changed for the better by his joy and love for God. Your answer may be different. Joy is always personal and deep.

Joy appears several hundred times in the English Bible.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians telling them to  “Rejoice always, pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  It will be remembering who God is and what He has done for us in the past, refocusing our thoughts to align with His truth, and choosing to be grateful and praise God , even in tough times, that ignites the Spirit of God living in every believer. Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Our Savior Jesus defeated death so we can live in happiness and in joy.

Did Aristotle get happiness right? Is it really balancing two excesses? It seems to me that our Bible tells us that the root of happiness is really joy. Furthermore, joy is not a balance between two things but a full commitment to one person. Jesus did not come to help us get along, or teach us to take care of the poor, or to restore “social justice.”  Jesus did not come to make us happy. God had already sent many before with the kind of advice we need to hear, and there was no point in His personally coming down merely to repeat what had already been said. No, Jesus came for a different reason. Jesus came to show us the very nature of God and to remove your sin and guilt in life. Jesus came to point your journey toward the path of Truth. As the Apostle John wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4). Yes, Jesus came to bring you Joy!  There can be no real joy without hope and no real hope without Jesus. 

Contemplations

• What makes you happy?
  • Ideas to Explore: Of the items to consider for your list, can people really control them themselves? Of the items chosen that make us happy, how lasting are they? Do any of the items on your list make someone else unhappy? Were any of them based on negative things like getting away with something? Does controlling the behavior of others bring you happiness?
• Would the list of what makes someone happy be different whether they were Christian or not?
  • Ideas to Explore: Should there be a difference, if not, why? Is happiness really universal among nations, peoples, religions? What are the commonalities among things that make people happy? Is there a minimum to what it takes to be happy? What are the non-material things on a happiness list? Did the Bill of Rights get the list right?
• What were the most joyful experiences you have ever had?
  • Ideas to Explore: Why did you call them Joyful instead of just happy moments? Were these life changing? In any of these joyful moments, were you drawn closer to God? Why? Are they still joyful in your memory?
• What are the risks of just pursuing happiness and not joy?
  • Ideas to Explore: Can we find lasting happiness without God? Why is it that Jesus can bring  joy to this world? What are the elements of your faith that make you happy versus bring you joy?
• Can you be joyful without being happy?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where have you seen examples of people without physical happiness but seemingly joyful? Is the pursuit of happiness really a human right or is it the pursuit of God that is our right? What should our response be when we encounter conditions where people cannot pursue their happiness? How can joy be passed on to others?

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  NIV New International Version Translations

The Bible records two instances of Jesus cleansing the Temple of money changers and of those selling sacrificial animals. Jesus’ first encounter with money changers was at the beginning of His three-year ministry.

John 2:14–16¹NIV New International Version Translations – “In the Temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the Temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’”

Can you imagine that! Jesus making a whip of cords and driving them out. The second time He confronted the money changers was the week before His trial and crucifixion. Seeing that the money changers had come back, He again drove them out, saying:

Matthew 21:13 – “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

These two stories are in direct contrast to the peaceful Nazarian who came to our world to take upon His back the sins of the world. Jesus became violent, He had enough! Is there something to learn from these two experiences? Is it possible to create an outline of offences that so angered the Son of God, that a physical response was necessary?

Money changing was common in the Roman Kingdom, where there was a proliferation of currency systems and standards. In Palestine, as in Egypt, each district had its own royal bank. When visitors entered the Temple, they would be carrying foreign coins. Most coins at that time would have had the images of their foreign emperor on them. This would be a direct violation of God’s law against graven images within the Temple. To enter or provide offerings of either money or live animals, an exchange had to be made. Jewish law also required a Temple tax of a half-shekel (Exodus 30:11–16). Therefore, money changers, as they were called, were necessary for the operation of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

The money changers would use stalls inside the Court of the Gentiles in the Royal Stoa, an area considered separate from the holy area. Rather than providing the money-changing service as a business in another part of town, they exploited the religious zeal of the visitors coming to Jerusalem and did their business on Temple grounds. Each money changer determined their exchange rate and easily took advantage of the poor and the foreigners visiting Jerusalem for Passover. Some sold sacrificial animals, overcharging people who did not bring their own. Others oversaw examining the animals to be sacrificed, and it was a simple matter to declare an animal “unapproved” and force the worshiper to buy another animal, at an inflated price, from the Temple vendors. Such goings-on, exploiting the poor and the foreigners. It not only angered Jesus but was also strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law.

Exodus 22:21 – “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

Leviticus 19:34 – “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

To add further to Jesus’s anger, the Temple priests were in on the action. Ancient historian Josephus calls Annas the high priest “a great hoarder up of money.” The sons of Annas were able to use their father’s Temple position as high priest to set up their own bazaars in the Court of the Gentiles for the purpose of money changing and the purchase of sacrificial animals. This was a lucrative “family business.” Furthermore, as the vast numbers of Jews streamed to the area of old Cannan and the city of Jerusalem “out of every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5), taking with them considerable sums of money in foreign currencies, the foreign currency was often handed over to the Temple authorities for safe deposit in the Temple itself. Thus Jerusalem’s Temple became a sort of central bank and exchange mart, and the Temple vaults served as “safe deposits” in which every type of coin was represented. This, of course, was, again, in direct violation of God’s laws, since the entire reason for the exchange was to keep the graven images out, but the priests were making money storing them in the Temple.

To add further to this issue, during the high holidays, such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, certain priests took advantage of their status by setting up stalls in the holy area, inside the sacred square precinct. When we try to understand Jesus, we can see that it was the combination of their greed—the fact that they brought in the foreign coins and that they carried out these activities in a sacred area—that angered Him. This background can help us better understand why Jesus drove out these money changers and why the priests, especially those of the high house of Annas, were so opposed to His teachings. The hatred of the priests of Jesus had much to do with His threat against their money-making schemes.

What these two stories tell us is that even Jesus had His limits to corruption from within. Priests were to be better than that. Their ethical standards were to be set high and they were to treat all people with honesty, fairness and respect. When He saw the flagrant violations, He was moved to act. This is not a call for us to just become violent when we see greed and corruption. It permeates our society, and we would spend all our time filled with anger and rage. It does, however, tell us that we are not to tolerate these things in our own lives. The demands of our government and our corporations must also include demands to follow the law and be ethical and fair with all people. What this lesson does not tell us is that violence is OK because Jesus was violent. On the contrary, this lesson says that Jesus has our back, your back. He will not tolerate the destruction of His Temple. Woe to the money changers of the world!

Contemplations

• The Temple was not the government, but it was acting as such in Jerusalem. Jesus was responding in anger to the breaking of God’s laws.
  • Ideas to Explore: Is God’s law still relevant in society? Is our government bound by God’s law? To what degree must society tolerate greed and corruption? Is there anything where violence is permissible? Exactly what is God’s law today?
• Is there such a thing in God’s eyes as “righteous anger?”
  • Ideas to Explore: How do you justify violence in the case of the money changers and Jesus? What was the difference between the corruption in the Temple and corruption anywhere else in society?
• When you hear similar stories to this story, what parts of society today does it remind you of?
  • Ideas to Explore: Nepotism in both business and government, unfair rules and regulations. Think about local codes, inspections, and permitting.
• While violence is not acceptable in our society, or it should not be, what mechanisms are still available that we can take advantage of?
  • Ideas to Explore: Choosing who we purchase our goods and services from. Making sure we research our political candidates and know their backgrounds. Use the references our trusted friends give us as a guide. 
• Being informed helps keep from becoming angry. How do we do that in a world of censorship?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where will you get your information knowing that both media and social media are biased? How will you fairly learn both sides of an issue? Should the Church be more involved in helping identify issues affecting our society?
• When do you consider “enough is enough?”
  • Ideas to Explore: What makes you angry? What are your limits? How will you make sure you remain a Godly person when angered?

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  NIV New International Version Translations