This World Below

Certain lyrics from Silent Night have often been misunderstood: people have heard “round young virgin” and “run young virgin.”  In the Christmas classic Olive, the Other Reindeer, there is a character named “Round John Virgin.”  It would seem the beautiful carol Silent Night has caused some confusion about the virgin birth of Jesus.

The virgin birth is a foundational, non-negotiable belief and is a part of all Christian creeds.  It is certainly a mystery and considered a scientific impossibility.  Yet in a poll conducted by Pew Research in 2013, 73% of American adults believe Jesus was born of a virgin, including 1/3 of Americans with no specific religious affiliation.  97% of evangelicals believed, but only 70% of mainline Protestants.  According to Pew Research, in 2017 the percentages for evangelicals and mainline Protestants dropped just a bit,  but there was a decline among the religiously unaffiliated with only 17% believing.  Interestingly, according to the Pew data, only 83% of Catholics believed.

The Prophecy – Isaiah 7:10-17

Then the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”  But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”  Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?   Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.  For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken. The Lord will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house such days as have never come since the day that Ephraim separated from Judah, the king of Assyria.” 

The year is approximately 734BC and Ahaz is king over Judah.  Judah’s northern brethren (Ephraim) have been attacking Judah with Syrian allies.  Jerusalem was making a sort of last stand and had allied itself with the Assyrians in Nineveh, rather than trusting God.  Ahaz was not a good guy.  2 Chronicles 28:19 tells us that Ahaz was wicked, even sacrificing some of his own children. Ahaz was worried that Jerusalem would be overrun, but Isaiah told him it would not happen, even stating that Ephraim would cease to exist in 65 years.

So if Ahaz was such a bad guy, why was God showing mercy via Isaiah’s prophecy? God made promise to David about his kingdom and Israel was conspiring to usurp the Davidic kingdom.  God keeps His promises. Therefore, He told Ahaz to ask for a sign.  Ahaz did not utter a noble proclamation here even though he was quoting Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16).  Ahaz was trying to justify a decision already made about the alliance with Assyria.  Also, if Ahaz had faith he would not have needed a sign. He was actually offending God, which was ultimately a test of God, anyway: Would Ahaz’ continued sinfulness keep God from acting?

But God did give a sign through the prophet.  Charles Spurgeon called this one of the most difficult passages in the Bible.  The Hebrew word for virgin is almah, and it is used seven times in the Old Testament.  It can mean virgin or maiden.  The Greek Septuagint (the early Greek translation of the Old Testament) was created by seventy Hebrew Scholars in the first century when Hebrew was very much a spoken language.  They translated the word “virgin,” which is parthenos in Greek.  However, it still could have carried the meaning “maiden.”  It could have both meanings because, like many Old Testament prophecies, there could have been an immediate and a future fulfillment. 

We don’t know what the immediate fulfillment was.  Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, had already been born. Isaiah had another son after this, Maher, but his wife was not a virgin or young maiden.  Perhaps a young princess married and gave birth as a sign that the dynasty would continue.   Ahaz and his contemporaries would have recognized the immediate fulfillment when they heard this prophecy.  The prophecy states that the boy would know right from wrong.  There are debates about the “age of accountability,” but within twelve years the northern coalition was defeated, certainly enough time for a boy to grow to know right from wrong.  However, there was still much devastation wreaked on Judah as it was caught between Assyria and Egypt.  Eating curds and honey may have been all the food they had as the land was ravaged (v. 21-22).

The long-term fulfilment is, of course, the birth of Jesus, which we’ll discuss below from the passage in Matthew.  This was not a new prophecy.  As early Genesis 3:15, God tells us there will enmity between the serpent and the woman, between your seed and her seed.  There is no reference to Adam or a man, which carries implications of a virgin birth, but certainly presages God’s action to redeem people.  Additionally, we find a confusing verse in Jeremiah 31:22: How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man.” This can be literally translated as “a woman encompasses a man.”  Many scholars believe this refers to the Incarnation when a woman, Mary, enclosed in her womb, “the mighty one” or “warrior” which is the translation of the word “man.”

The Announcement – Luke 1:26-38

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. “For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 

Gabriel an archangel and seemingly the primary messenger God uses, appeared to Mary, a virgin. Joseph was descended from David, but so was Mary, as we see in Luke’s genealogy in chapter 3.  Mary was betrothed to Joseph, which was much more binding than a modern engagement.  It was a legal contract between families that essentially considered the man and woman to already be joined, although not yet formally married.

Gabriel referred to Mary as “O favored one.” This is not literally the “full of grace” reference we see in the King James but means “encompassed with favor.”  Mary was greatly troubled – ya think?  Angels always seem to say “Fear not!” when they appear so they must be pretty imposing figures.  But there was more to this – it’s an unusual greeting and indicates something else is coming.

Mary was, if nothing else, a very practical girl.  She was troubled but also puzzled.  She basically asked Gabriel, “Who are you and what do you want?”  The angel repeated that she is favored, that she has found favor. He went on to give her the completely unexpected and seemingly impossible news:  You will conceive in your womb.

This is critical as it points to Jesus’ humanity.  But His name, which means “Jehovah is Savior” points to His divinity.  He will be great (seems like an understatement), Son of the Most High (again, pointing to His divinity), and will occupy David’s throne (He is royalty, in fact, He is the King of Kings).  He will rule forever and there will be no end to his kingdom.  That’s a lot to take in.  The pregnancy alone is significant news, but Gabriel told her so much more. 

In all of that glory, Mary heard, “You’re gonna get pregnant.”  Here’s our practical girl.  She asked not a question of doubt, but of faith.  She accepted what Gabriel said, but asked about the how.  The answer is overwhelming.  The Holy Spirit will cause her to become pregnant – the power of the Most High.  Therefore, he will be holy, set apart, without sin.  He will be the Son of God.

Then Gabriel provided news about Elizabeth and a simple statement – nothing is impossible with God.  Do you believe that?  Mary did.  Do I believe that?  Good question.  If a virgin can bear a baby, if men can be raised from the dead, if my sorry sinful self can be saved, then NOTHING is impossible. But we don’t always have faith Mary did.

I absolutely love Mary’s response: “Okay, I am the Lord’s servant. Whatever you say, Lord.”  What a lesson for us!  You’re in the Word, in prayer, you receive clear impressions from God.  Maybe it’s “Go to Africa,” or maybe it’s “talk to your co-worker,” or maybe it’s “start tithing.”  How do you respond?  With excuses?  To God? Really?  Now there is something here we can’t overlook – Mary had an angel standing in front of her.  You think, “of course I would have great faith, if an angel were standing before me.”  I get it, but you can have encounters with God minus angelic visitations.  And you know what?  Two of those three examples are already spelled out in the Bible (talk to you co-worker and start tithing, in case you’re taking notes).  I would venture to say that 90% of God’s will for you is in His Word.  You want Gabriel?  You’re stuck with me and this blog right now.  I’m not shiny or imposing like Gabriel, but I can tell you, as Gabriel would: His Word is true.  Heed and obey it.

The Christian author, Madeline L’Engle wrote a beautiful little poem about Mary’s faith:

This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild.

Had Mary been filled with reason

There’d have been no room for the child.

Back to the virgin birth … Luke was a physician and probably should be the most skeptical of the gospel writers about this, but he accepted it in faith and wrote about it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  It is the annunciation of the prophecy of Isaiah which was to be fulfilled soon.  And so ….

The Fulfillment – Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. 

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way…” This is a signal that something is different from the normal births indicated by the genealogy in the preceding verses.  Matthew wrote “with child from the Holy Spirit,” which is exactly what Luke wrote.  Joseph was a good man; he was willing to disassociate from Mary, but not see her punished/stoned as she would have deserved had she been unfaithful and broken the contract of betrothal.  But an angel came to him in a dream and assured him conception was from the Holy Spirit.  This baby was coming to ”save His people from their sins.”

The next two verses are key to our belief in the virgin birth. Matthew, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, quotes Isaiah’s prophecy and says this is the fulfillment of it.  So, we can question what the verse in Isaiah means if we want to, but here is God, through Matthew, telling us Jesus’ birth is its fulfillment.  You either accept the entire Word or you don’t.  Jesus will be born of a virgin.  The beauty of this verse is that it very simply ties the old covenant to the new.  The law is fulfilled in the coming of the King.  The prophecy was fulfilled and validated.  In fact, Paul wrote in Galatians 4:4, “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” The virgin birth was accepted as fact in the early church and should be accepted by believers now.

And, once again, we encounter obedience.  Joseph obeyed; it’s that simple yet it’s that hard.  Matthew records no push back from Joseph.  He took his wife, he did not consummate the marriage, and he named the boy Jesus.  I have no doubt Joseph was a wonderful father because he was obedient to God.

So why the virgin birth?

• To fulfill prophecy.
• To point Out the uniqueness of Jesus – only begotten; one and only; no one else like him.
• To substantiate Jesus’ divinity – Psalm 5:15 tells us, “Behold, I was brought for in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”  While each of us makes the choice to sin, it is an inherited predisposition.  The virgin birth, brought about by the Holy Spirit, makes null the argument that Jesus was just a man.  God could have brought divinity into the world in another way, but the virgin birth validates Jesus’ divinity and speaks to the new and unusual second birth that believers experience. Read the words of Paul Colossians 1:15-20:  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.  For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross through Him, I say, whether things on earth or in heaven.
• To substantiate Jesus’ humanity – Perhaps God could  have produced a sinless human without the virgin birth, but the birth through a woman, a sinner, to one who knew no sin and became her Savior makes Jesus  human.  He was the perfect sacrifice, fully God and fully identifying with us as a man.  Could any of us come up with such a phenomenal plan? 

To call yourself a Christian and not believe in the virgin birth is disingenuous.  You are calling Mary promiscuous and Jesus a liar.  There are a couple of important points at play here that we must consider: Mary is not co-redemptrix with Jesus, nor is she a perpetual virgin.  We should never worship Mary.  The main person in the story of the virgin birth is Jesus, not Mary, however, all believers should exhibit the faith and obedience of Mary and Joseph.

What does it mean?  Jesus is who he says He is – Son of God/Son of Man.  If we believe that, we can believe everything about Him.  Jesus lived supernaturally by performing miracles, He was raised from the dead supernaturally, and He ascended into Heaven supernaturally.  Why would we not think He was born supernaturally?  The virgin birth sounds impossible, but so does every miracle in the Scriptures.  The virgin birth is foundational to Christian believe because it goes to the heart of the gospel, that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to pay the price for our sin that we cannot pay.  The Incarnation, the birth of Jesus to a lowly virgin in a stable, is part of the purest and sweetest love story in existence.  And the wonderful thing is that a believer is part of that love story and a non-believer can be.  Like Mary and Joseph, it requires an exercise of faith.

I haven’t blogged since June.  I am ashamed.  I could blame the pressures of work, family (two new grandbabies!) and “stuff,” and the fact that the blog site disappeared for a while, which I still can’t explain, but I also know I could have made time to write.  I’ve missed it as have my immense number of followers (at last count I was approaching double digits).  For better or worse I’m back.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be blogging based on a sermon series I created several years ago that examines some of the theological issues we encounter at Christmas:

• The Virgin Birth
• The Incarnation of Christ
• The Glory of God
• The Self-Emptying of Christ (Kenosis)

Please join me in this journey to and beyond Christmas as we consider the wonder of God’s love and His amazing gift to us.

Last night I received a call from an old friend.  Michele and I first met this couple nearly thirty years ago when he and I served together in the Coast Guard.  We see these friends nearly every year when they come to Florida to escape the Midwest winters. Seeing the name pop up on my phone in June told me it probably wasn’t good news; we usually share info throughout the  year on Facebook or texts.

It wasn’t good news.  Another friend, whom we’d both lost touch with, had died.  Michele visited with him and his wife 8-10 years ago when they passed through Florida.  Then they dropped off the radar for all of us with only occasional news about their lives.  We had heard he was suffering from tremendous back pain and then heard they had divorced.  As life moved on with kids, grandkids, work and church we thought less and less about them.

Then the call came.  The person who shared the news with our friends was someone else we knew from a lifetime ago.  He said our friend, whom I’ll call Joe, was a “lost soul;” lost mentally, lost physically and lost spiritually.  Joe struggled with pain and medication.  Apparently, some of the issues were harsh enough to lead to the divorce.  His death appears to have come from a fall off a ladder, which could have been an accident or induced by something like a heart attack.

At one time we were very close to Joe and his family.  We went to church together.  Their kids were often at our house and ours at theirs.  We did a lot of things together, even traveled together.  It’s not an unusual story to lose touch with those you were once close to, whether from school, college, work, the military, church, kids’ soccer teams, etc., but it still hurts when the phone call comes.

I don’t think Joe was truly “lost” spiritually, but rather struggled with life as so many of us do, but I cannot know for sure.  I feel a measure of guilt – I could have tried harder to stay in touch.  If I had, would he have called when he encountered some of the problems?  Maybe … probably not.  But it bothers me to know that I won’t talk to him again; that we won’t share sea stories or hear what his kids are up to; that I won’t be able to pray for him.  I’ll certainly pray for his family as they struggle with his death.

Joe had a servant’s heart.  He would do anything to help anyone.  I once mentioned something about a steering issue I had encountered in our car.  The next Saturday he was in my driveway with his tools taking apart the steering column and fixing the problem.  He was like that; he could be counted on.  He was a hard and dedicated worker.  To give him a task was to consider it done.

It is beyond coincidence that, last week, I received an email that Joe and a few other people were following my old Instagram account.  The account had been hacked and abandoned and I started a new one over a year ago, however I was touched that he had reached out.  I found Joe on Instagram and sent a request to follow him.  That request will remain unanswered.

I’m not sure what the point of all this is.  Perhaps to say that I miss him … missed him for years without realizing it. Perhaps it’s simply to get my feelings out.  But if you’re reading this pause a moment and think of someone you were once close to; someone you perhaps laughed with, cried with, or simply ate lunch with every day.  Reach out to him or her.  Catch up.  Ask them how they’re doing physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.  Pray for them.  I’ve thought of several folks I’ll be reaching out to.  It might be awkward.  It might be nothing more than a short conversation.  But it beats the alternative.

Most are familiar with the plot of Saving Private Ryan.  A small cadre of soldiers, led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) is sent to the front lines in France in the Second World War to find Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) whose three brothers were killed in combat.  The War Department wants Ryan saved so the family does not lose all its sons.  Ryan is somewhere on the front, essentially lost in a sea of green fatigues.

Just prior to the scenes in the video clip, Captain Miller is fatally wounded.  As he lays dying he tells Ryan, “Earn this!”  Earn what these men have done for you.  Earn the sacrifice that has been made for you.

I love the title of the film.  I could insert my name – Saving Jon  Kendrick – because I am lost and need saving.  We are each James Ryan in that we need saving and someone has died for us and we wonder if we’re worthy of that.  Apparently, Ryan lived to be a good man, but even if he didn’t, Captain Miller died for him.

We will never be worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, his dying in our place.  Fortunately, Jesus didn’t come to save worthy people: he came to save lost people who could never earn the gift of grace he offers.  This Memorial Day certainly remember and give thanks for the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the defense of earthly freedom.  But give ultimate honor to the One who sacrificed His life for your eternal freedom. 

This can be your story.  Claim the grace that God offers.  Accept the sacrifice of a loving Savior.  Insert your name…

On Easter Sunday, bombs exploded in Sri Lanka killing, at last count, 359 people including at least 45 children.  The bombs were set off in churches and hotels, obviously targeting Christians and tourists.  In France, a church was set on fire in the village of Eyguieres in the early morning; fortunately no one was killed or injured.  In Nigeria, a car bomb exploded near a church in Kaduna killing at least 28 people, part of an ongoing persecution of Christians in that country that has taken at least 380 lives in 2019.  The Washington Post published an opinion piece by John L. Allen, Jr in its April 23rd edition that states: “On major Christian feast days, somewhere in the world, some number of Christians are likely to be killed for no reason other than that they chose to attend religious services.  Because Christmas and Easter are the holiest days on the Christian calendar, churches tend to be especially full, presenting ripe targets for anti-Christian hatred.”  Mr. Allen, editor of the Roman Catholic-oriented news website Crux, goes on to detail various attacks on Christians around the world and not only on holidays: “… it is certain that at any hour of the day, a Christian somewhere is being martyred.”  He ends his thoughts with a call for systematic education in religious tolerance worldwide, as well as aggressive security measures at Christian sites on holy days.  “Until such a mobilization occurs, Christians will continue to be forced to celebrate Christmas and Easter in the grim and certain knowledge that some of their fellow celebrants around the world will not live to see the next day.”

Christian persecution is as old as Christianity.  Many believers over the centuries did not live to see the next day after they gathered to worship.  We seem to find a new level of outrage when these events occur on Easter, considered to be the holiest day on the Christian calendar.  Believers gathered to celebrate the Resurrection only to be attacked and killed.  I hate that my brothers and sisters in Christ are being murdered for their beliefs.  I don’t want anyone to suffer for the practice of faith.  I want the people responsible to be caught and punished.  God is a God of righteousness and He demands justice.   It is wrong that they were murdered for their faith.

Yet we sometimes forget that believers were promised persecution by Jesus Himself.  On the night He was betrayed, Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great’ for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)  Our Sri Lankan and Nigerian brothers and sisters are experiencing that reward in heaven now.  As Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  Yet it is wrong that they were murdered for their faith.

I have baptized people on Easter Sunday who considered it a great honor to follow Christ in baptism on such A special day.  I imagine that worshipping the risen Savior on Easter one moment and then opening your eyes in His presence the next would be beyond incredible.  Once they have tasted the glories of heaven, we would not wish for our brothers and sisters to return to our fallen world. Yet it is wrong that they were murdered for their faith.

Those who persecute others for their religious beliefs are operating  under the belief that their religion is correct and others are therefore wrong and must be eliminated.  In fact, Christians have killed others, including other Christians, in the name of their faith.  Many people are obviously ignoring the modern mantras that “all religions are the same” and “all paths lead to God” when they are murdering people on a different path.  We delude ourselves if we think mankind can achieve universal peace on its own.  There is only one source of true peace and we can experience that peace, but we will not experience it universally until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, returns.

I recently cleaned out my desk and found some slides in a drawer.  They have been sitting in a pile on the side of my desk for a few days.  As I was writing, I picked them up to have a look while my brain continued to percolate on these words.  They are images captured many years ago when I visited Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro where stands the massive statue Cristo Redentor, or Christ the Redeemer.  I don’t believe in coincidences so let us consider Christ the Redeemer.  Murdered on Good Friday in part because He was a threat to the religious practices of the Jews.  Murdered on “Passover Eve,” just before one of the holiest day in the Jewish calendar (as the Preacher wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “There is no new thing under the sun.”).  Murdered as a part of an eternal plan to redeem men and women from the penalty of sin, which is death.  Murdered willingly, which sounds so odd.  Murdered, yet resurrected on Easter Sunday to grant the promises of abundant life and eternal life to those who believe.  The Redeemer’s arms are open to receive those who believe, even persecutors who are drawn to His grace.

Grieve for the murder of believers.  Grieve and pray for families that are grieving.  Understand that you will suffer for your beliefs; it is not new and it should not be surprising.  Share the gospel, especially in the face of persecution.  We should fight terrorism and murder, certainly, but we should fight to share the truth with a lost world because true terror is eternal separation from the love of God.

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached out and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place, for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and he will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way? Matthew 26:51-54

And they laid hands on Hm and seized Him.  But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Mark 14:46-47

And when those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.  Luke 22:49-51

Simon Peter therefore having a sword, drew it, and stuck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.  Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”  John 18:10-11

Wait a minute, Kendrick!  What are you doing?  This is Good Friday.  The arrest in the middle of the night; the trials before Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod; the beatings; the cries of the mob; Pilate’s wife; the road to Calvary; THE CRUCIFIXION; the two thieves; the centurion; the veil; the words of Jesus; HIS DEATH; the spear; the burial.  It’s a crazy, full day with so much going on and so much meaning and your writing about a slave who had his ear cut off?

It was early Friday morning as Judas led the priests and temple guards to arrest Jesus in the garden.  The Messiah had just spent hours in agonized prayer knowing what was coming.  It was to be a horrible day, yet a day that believers venerate and celebrate as the day God offered His mercy to the world.  And early on this day, a disciple cut off a slave’s ear.

We see the story above from all four gospels.  The temple guards, who worked for the Chief Priest, came to arrest Jesus.  Perhaps Malchus was present to report on events to the Chief Priest.  Peter, as he often did, acted impetuously, drew his sword, and cut off Malchus’ ear.  I know Jesus chastised Peter, but I kind of admire Peter for what he did.  None of the disciples fully understood what was happening and what it would mean, so Peter was as prepared as he could be.  However, we know that Jesus would have much preferred Peter stay awake and pray with Him than defend Him with a sword.  I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but that sounds like some good advice for us as we encounter people hostile to the gospel: pray, offer compassion and help, and put away the weapons.

Healing Malchus was the last miracle Jesus performed before His death, and He was just hours away from that death.  After the agony in Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas, and knowing fully what the day would bring, He stopped to heal one of the men sent to arrest Him.  Was it a natural response for the Messiah to heal?  He did not heal all those he encountered that needed healing.  Was it to show His authority to those who had come to seize Him?  They had just been knocked off their feet when He simply said, “I am.”  Was it a lesson for the disciples, particularly Peter who seemed to always act rashly?  Was it a lesson for us that His mission was to provide healing, ultimately from sin and death?

It could have been any and all of those things.  I like to think that the healing changed Malchus; that he became a believer and shared the good news with others.  But I don’t know that; I only know that Jesus healed Him on His way to His death.  It’s very similar to the lesson we learned from Jesus washing the feet of Judas:  we are called to serve others without distinction or discrimination.

Perhaps, as a servant of the high priest, Malchus was present at Jesus’ trial.  Perhaps he followed Jesus throughout Good Friday so he could report back to the high priest.  Perhaps he was on Calvary and, with his restored ear, heard the agonized cry, “My God!  My God!  Why have you forsaken me?” and the final statement of a mission completed, “It is finished.”  Good Friday ends.  The body of our Lord is hurriedly buried.  The Passover Sabbath begins for Jewish families.  Darkness descends on Jesus’ followers who are fearful and dejected.  With them, we remain silent and mourn the death of the true and perfect Messiah.  But we know what they do not … Sunday’s comin!

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”  John 13:1-11

I really didn’t want to write about Judas again; he is certainly not the hero of Holy Week.  But I can’t get past the fact that Jesus washed  Judas’ feet at the Last Supper.  I’m sure people smarter than me realized this when they considered this passage, but it “hit me upside the head” a few years ago that Jesus washed Judas’ feet.  I had never put the chronology together that Judas was dismissed from the supper after the foot-washing.  I did some googling about the topic and found quite a few people who had not noticed this detail and were amazed when they realized what Jesus did. 

I am astounded that Jesus would wash the feet of Judas.  I certainly wouldn’t have, but then, I’m not Jesus (Duh!).  Foot washing conveyed an important lesson to the disciples and us and echoed Jesus teaching:  The first shall be last Matthew 20:16).  Other verses discuss this, but it is perhaps stated most clearly in Mark 10:45:  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.  In washing the feet of Judas, Jesus showed us that we do not have the option of choosing whom to serve and not serve.  The Second Great Commandment to love your neighbor does not come with clauses and exceptions.  “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” makes it even clearer.

But the cleansing that Jesus offers is more than physical cleanliness, and it is more than a lesson on servanthood.  The cleansing He offers is a cleansing from the sin that consumes us.  This cleansing comes through His sacrificial death by which he paid the penalty for my sin.  This cleansing is available to all, but we must accept the mercy and grace that God offers.  And we must make that mercy and grace known so that everyone has an opportunity to gain the cleansing.

How did Jesus feel as He washed Judas’ feet?  I cannot pretend to speak for Jesus or know His thoughts, but He was fully man and I can imagine what I would feel, what I have, in fact, felt in similar situations.  I am sure His heart hurt when He sent Judas on his way and saw him walk out the door.

Judas has left the building … with clean feet … and a filthy heart.

Jesus has left the building … having stooped to wash feet …. and with a heavy heart as He walked to Gethsemane and on to Calvary.

The one of the twelve,  named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, “What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?” And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver.  And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.  Matthew 26:14-16

The gospels are not entirely clear on when some events occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, but two events could have easily taken place late Tuesday or on Wednesday: preparation for the Passover and Judas’ conversation with the chief priests. The latter has been historically accepted as having occurred on Wednesday. Our focus is on the actions of Judas which give the day the name “Spy Wednesday.”

You might assume the word spy is derived from a Greek or Latin word that has a deep, insightful, theological meaning for the events of Wednesday, however, the word spy is simply the word spy.  On this day and the next,  Judas was involved in intrigue, betrayal and spying, or acting as a “mole” among the disciples, hence the name “Spy Wednesday.”

Why?  It is the constant question for Judas.  Why did you betray this Man you followed for three years?  How could you do such a thing to someone so close to you, who had shown you such love?  The easy answer is found in Luke’s account: And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. (Luke 22:3)  John also tells us that Satan entered Judas (John 13:27).  Satan unsuccessfully tempted Jesus and we know he was waiting to renew his attack at an opportune time (Luke 4:13).  He apparently used Peter when Jesus confronted Peter with the words, “Get behind me, Satan.”  So does this absolve Judas of moral responsibility for his actions?  Is this the old Flip Wilson line “the devil made me do it?”

Yes and no.  Satan is active and at work in this world and he can use men and women to accomplish his ends, just as he used Judas.  I have heard excuses for Judas over the years:  he was trying to force Jesus’ hand into declaring Himself the Messiah; he thought he had a better understanding of the political scene than Jesus did and this would prompt Jesus to act because things just weren’t moving fast enough for Judas’ liking.  The musical Jesus Christ Superstar reinforced these ideas.

It is possible that Judas had good intentions in pursuing the betrayal of Jesus.  However, there is an old saying that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.  There is another old saying that applies here, “Actions speak louder than words.”  Fact: Judas betrayed Jesus.  Whether prompted by Satan or not, Judas committed an act of betrayal and his intentions are overwhelmed by his actions.

I have also read about “poor Judas.”  Someone had to betray Jesus, so Judas was the one – it is unfair.  Matthew 27:3-4 is cited – Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!”  And, of course, Judas committed suicide after throwing the money on the ground.  Judas was sorry.

Two Greek words are in play here:  metamelomai and metanoia.  The first is typically translated “regret” or “remorse” and is the word used to describe Judas in Matthew 27:3.  The second is typically translated “repentance.”  (Verses that contain metanoia include Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 15:7, Luke 24:47 and 2 Corinthians 7:9, among others). Metanoia begins with sorrow which leads to repentance, or a change of mind and life.  Judas simply expressed regret that things didn’t work out; he did not express repentance.

I ask the question “why” of Judas, too.  I cannot fathom that I would do such a thing to Jesus.  We deem betrayal to be one of the lowest forms of human interaction.  Trust, typically built up over time and through shared experience, is thrown out the window.  Betrayal hurts and hurts badly.  Yet I read verses like Psalm 51:3-4: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You  judge. Sin is action taken against God.  We don’t like to think that way, but it’s the truth.  I betray Jesus every time I sin, and I reinforce the need for Him to die on the cross every time I sin.  Yes, Judas committed a despicable act.  So do I. So do we all.  My good intentions are irrelevant.  My actions are not.

Would Jesus have forgiven Judas?  He forgave Peter who denied Him.  He forgives me every day for the sinful things I do.  But Judas did not repent.  He allowed Satan to enter his heart, not Jesus, despite being so close to Him.  If nothing else, that should be a sobering thought for us.  Who among us pays lip service to following Jesus, shows up for church every Sunday, perhaps even tithes, goes on mission trips, and serves on committees, but has never committed to a relationship with Jesus?

I do feel sorrow for Judas as I do for anyone who turns his or her back on Jesus.  He forfeited eternity for thirty pieces of silver and, more significantly, to do things his way.

And on the next day, when they had departed from Bethany, He became hungry.  And seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  And He answered and said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.  Mark 11:12-14

When evening came, they would go out of the city. As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Mark 11:19-26

When we think of the miracles of Jesus, we usually think of healings, raising the dead and casting out demons.  But the next-to-last miracle Jesus performed was none of these,  but rather a miracle of judgment and destruction – the cursing of the fig tree.  People have struggled with this action for years: why would Jesus curse a living thing, a tree, that simply wasn’t providing fruit.  It seems completely out of character for Him.  Was he “hangry?”

I love fig trees.  We had one at the house where I grew up.  I could climb it and be on the roof in two seconds.  Every summer it yielded the most succulent figs.  My dad and I would pick them and eat some straight from the tree and my mom would make fig preserves with most of them.  Delicious!  I’ve tried growing a fig tree as an adult and I picked one fig one year.  I guess I have that in common with Jesus  – I cursed the fig tree – but I cursed it after it was dead – dadgum fig tree (more of a shrub or treelet)!

 The fig tree was “in leaf.”  This signaled that it should be bearing fruit.  It was too early in the season for fig trees to typically bear fruit, but this one held promise as an “early bloomer.”   Jesus’ expectation was that there would be figs on it.  He was likely hungry and simply wanted to eat a couple of figs from a roadside tree.  But when He inspected the tree he found no figs, and then He proclaimed that it would never produce fruit again, effectively a death sentence.  To curse meant to pronounce judgement; Jesus did not cuss at the fig tree.

We learn in the second set of verses that the fig tree had withered from the roots up overnight.  The disciples commented on it and Jesus made it an object lesson on faith and the power of prayer.  It is indeed a powerful lesson and points out how weak our faith and prayer lives typically are.  But I think there is more going on here.

The fig tree made a show of having fruit by being in leaf.  This is much like the Jews at this point in time:  they made a great show of following the Law and Prophets but were not bearing fruit.  The fig tree is often associated with the nation of Israel (e.g., Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:10, Nahum 3:12).  Figs symbolized the fruit of spiritual fulfillment.  When this fruit is not produced judgment may ensue.  Jeremiah 8:13 speaks of the judgement to be meted out on Israel: ‘I will surely snatch them away,’ declares the Lord; “There will be no grapes on the vine and no figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will wither; and what I have given them will pass away.”

Jesus had just been hailed as a king on Sunday.  Passover, a celebration of God’s deliverance, was being celebrated.  The time was ripe for Israel to accept the Messiah.  Yet they did not and God knew they would not.  So Jesus executed one act of judgement in cleansing the temple of its corruptness and then performed His only miracle of judgment in cursing the fig tree.  Good Jewish boys like the disciples would have understood the significance of the fig tree and of Jesus’ action in pronouncing judgment.

Jeremiah writes in 17:7-10: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is in the Lord.  For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.  The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it.  I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give each man according to his ways, according to the result of his deeds.  If we trust God we are like trees planted by streams with strong roots that can withstand the suffering that comes.  But Jeremiah then reminds us that our hearts are deceitful and, when God searches our hearts, He will give to each according to his ways and the result of his deeds. 

The act of cursing the fig tree is rich in meaning for believers.  First, Jesus promises that we can have the faith and prayer life to accomplish amazing things.  Second, we recognize the fulfillment of prophecy and the role of Jesus as Messiah and Savior.  Third, we must bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) as we serve or run the risk of withering and dying (judgment).

If you have a chance this week, try to find a fig at the grocery store.  As you bite into it and enjoy the sweetness, taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8) and remind yourself that it is up to you to show the sweetness of God’s love to the world.

And they came to Jerusalem.  And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple.  And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a robber’s den.”  And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of  Him, for all the multitude was astonished at His teaching. Mark 11:15-18

People have different views of Jesus: Savior and Redeemer, Revolutionary, Radical Change Agent, Preacher of Peace and Tolerance, Self-Help Guru, Promiser of Prosperity, and on and on.  These verses from Mark display a Jesus a lot of people like: Angry Jesus.

Twice Jesus cleansed the temple of money-changers and price gougers.  The first time, recorded in John 2, He even wove together a small whip to physically attack them to drive them out.  This “Angry Jesus” appeals to people, perhaps because of the strong emotion he displayed, or perhaps because we see Him in an underdog role taking on the establishment.   Too often, though, Christians cite Jesus’ actions in cleansing the temple as justification for righteous anger. How often do we see Jesus like this compared to the number of times we see Him calm in the face of antagonism or adversity? 

Dutiful Jews were required to make sacrifices at the temple at various times, particularly during Passover.  Since many pilgrims came to Jerusalem for the holiday, it was more convenient for them to purchase sacrificial animals at the temple rather than bring them or try to find them elsewhere in Jerusalem and the surrounding villages.  Of course, this led to higher prices being charged and the high priest would have certainly taken a cut from the profits.  In addition, a temple tax had to be paid by the devout and this could only be paid in Tyrian shekels, which contained a higher percentage of silver than most other coinage of the time.  So worshippers would have to exchange their Roman and other coins for the shekels, and always at an exorbitant rate, which also included the High Priest’s cut.

In cleansing the temple of these greedy enterprises Jesus cited two Old Testament verses:

Isaiah 56:7 – Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.

Jeremiah 7:11 – “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight?  Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the Lord.

It was highly offensive to Jesus that the temple had been turned into a money-making enterprise that was taking advantage of those doing their best to follow the Law.  The temple was God’s dwelling place on earth.  Archaeologists have discovered a Greek inscription from the Court of the Gentiles (the outermost part of the temple) that dates from 20 BC that warns non-Jews not to proceed past that point on fear of death.  Jews could go no further than the Court of the Men and the Court of the Women.  Priests could enter the Court of the Priests/Temple Court to perform their ritual duties.  Finally, the Holy of Holies where dwelt the presence of God was entered only once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest.  This was, indeed, holy ground.

Certainly Jesus’ actions were righteous.  It is fascinating to me that He cleansed the temple just days before His death.  Think about what happened at the temple on Good Friday – the veil separating the Temple Court from the Holy of Holies was torn in two, symbolizing that men could now have direct access to God because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  The day before, Jesus foretold that the temple would be destroyed and would not be rebuilt until people again said, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:37-39).  Jesus was asserting the authority that was being proclaimed as He entered Jerusalem on Sunday.  The temple was His house and He was reclaiming it days before His death would make it unnecessary.

What can we learn from  Jesus’ actions?  I think the lesson is much more important than “sometimes it’s okay to exercise righteous anger.”  First, we must recognize Jesus’ lordship and authority – He is God and He was not just making a statement. He was exercising His authority in cleaning up His house.  The second lesson for me is to consider what I need to clean up in my life.  Too often, believers can do things that seem good or start good, but turn into self-serving actions.  We can do things in the name of faith that become hypocritical in nature – think Pharisee.  And sometimes God cleans our houses and it’s not pleasant.

Believers are now the temple of God on earth (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).  How clean is your temple?