Bartimaeus Baptist Temple

Does it seem to you like the world is falling apart around us? Throughout history, Christians have thought that they must surely be living in the end times. We have always lived in a fallen world, and it will be that way until Jesus comes back to reclaim it. We hardly have anything to complain about here in the U.S., though there is much cause for concern. Around the world, Christians are suffering and dying for the cause of Christ.

I have often contemplated how I might do in such circumstances. I don’t know anyone who truly believes who thinks they would fold under pressure, but does one ever really know until it happens? I find comfort in the knowledge that I belong to Him, and He would never leave me without hope. My hope is not in my own strength, but in His. I pray that we will never have to find out, but we may.

Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24-27. If we are to be His disciples, we must take up the cross. We have reduced the cross to a pretty symbol, but to His hearers, the imagery would have been vivid and bloody. They saw crucifixions regularly and knew what He was saying. When he said “follow me,” He invited them, and us, to die. For many who heard Him that day, it would be literal. All but one of his closest followers was martyred. But we are all called to die to ourselves, to our flesh, to our sinful desires, to anything that draws us away from following Him.

Salvation is a free gift (Eph 2:8-10.)  The thief on the cross who believed at the last moment is hanging out in Heaven with the likes of the apostle Paul.  None of us can earn it.  None of us deserve it.  Yet when we accept it, we are making a choice that changes our lives.  Jesus has called us all to a life of sacrifice.  We don’t live for ourselves anymore.  We live for Him.  We die to ourselves that we might have life eternally. This is what it means to follow Him.

See you Sunday!

Love y’all.

I want to talk about god’s mercy this week, and so it seems appropriate that I ask for your mercy too. I started my new job on the 23rd, and immediately things started to back up. Please know that I love you all, and I pray for you always. Pray that God sends more hands to the work, and watch for those opportunities to spread the Good News.

What comes to mind when you hear the word, mercy? Doubtless many of us who have been in church for years will think of God’s mercy toward us, or maybe Jesus’ words from Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Depending on the version of the Bible you read, you may find the word used in several different ways. The King James often uses it where newer translations use “lovingkindness, faithful love, or loyal love.  So we’re going to focus on the meaning most precious to us as children of God.

God offers us mercy. That is, we are spared the punishment we all deserve. Mercy doesn’t mean much to us until we come to the place where we realize we need it. Sometimes even after we have been there, we get caught up in the life of the church and we forget we still need it. We learn all the right things to do, and if we think we’re checking off the to-dos at least most of the time we think we’re doing alright. I don’t say that we need always be in fear of judgement. God tells us there’s no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, but when we forget how much mercy we have been shown, we lose the capacity to truly show it to others. We can only appreciate the mercy of God when we understand how much we need it. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and let’s explore God’s word together.  See you there!

The big surprise last week was Cathy. She wasn’t supposed to be back yet, so we were delighted when she came through the door. We had an extended time of prayer to begin the service. It is always good to be sensitive to the leading of the holy Spirit and be willing to move with Him in a different direction than we might have planned.

Our study of John continues with Chapter 20, verses 19-23. This is the first time that Jesus appears to the majority of the disciples after His resurrection. A few saw him earlier, and we know that John believed as soon as he saw the empty graved clothes arranged as if the body had still been in them in the tomb. However, most of them could not quite bring themselves to believe it had really happened, even though He had told them it would. Even after he appeared among them, they thought they were seeing a ghost. In their defense, He did appear in the room with them where all the doors and windows were shut.

The first thing He said to them was, “Peace be with you.” It was a common greeting of that time, but coming from Jesus, it had a much greater significance than a mere hello. He said it again after finally convincing them that it was really Him, then personally imparted the Holy Spirit to them and gave them their commission. Remember how He said to them after the Passover meal, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27) He had just been speaking of the Holy Spirit when He said this.

Verse 23 may leave us with questions. Only God can forgive sins. Is He, in the person of Jesus, giving that power to the disciples? Did it pass from then to their disciples and so on through history? Though there does seem to be some indication that one having spiritual authority may have some say over consequences and we have all been instructed that we must forgive, no man has that kind of power over another’s soul.

There are differing views about what Jesus is saying here, but there are some things we can know for certain. If no one tells the unbeliever the truth, how can they find forgiveness? Their sins have been retained. If we present the truth, we have the authority to explain what it means. If you believe, your sins are forgiven. If you do not, your sins are not forgiven, and you face judgment.

We invite you to join us in our resurrection Day celebration and fellowship. It will be a bit untraditional, as we have lots of leftover food from our cookout. So, if you’ve had enough of ham, come have a hamburger! We will meet at our usual time, have a shortened service, then adjourn to the back to share a meal.

Our study of John returns to where we left off a couple of weeks ago with chapter 20, verses 1-10. All of the gospel writers share details of this defining event of our faith and history, but there intent is to supply us with information that should lead us to believe, not necessarily to provide a detailed chronology of everything that happened on that day. Many people have attempted to reconstruct the order of events, but there is room for debate as to exactly what happened when.

We may disagree on fine points, but we who believe all agree on this: Jesus came out of that tomb! John, in his usual fashion, lets us in on some specifics that strengthen the other accounts. He mentions the empty grave clothes, and the head cloth folded and separate from the wrapping. From the text One might picture the cloth neatly folded up as we might fold a napkin, but an alternative description of the scene suggests the cloth still folded as if the head were in it. John previously wrote of the 75lbs of spices wrapped with the body in the grave clothes. What Peter and John likely saw in that tomb was the grave clothes and head cloth lying in the shape of a body, but no body. If Jesus had struggled out of the wrapping or if He had been stripped by a grave robber, the wrappings and head cloth would have been in a pile on the floor. Thus, John saw and believed (v. 8.) Jesus would later walk through a wall, so this is not unreasonable. It also suggests the moving of the stone by the angel was for the benefit of those who would see it, not for Jesus. He could have passed through the stone as easily as he would later pass through the wall.

The living Jesus was first seen by the women who came to tend to the body. By the end of the day everyone but Thomas had seen Him. Over the next forty days, he would meet with them on several occasions, and at some point was seen by over 500 people at once. The 11 men who were cowering in fear after his arrest became bold proclaimers of the risen Lord, willing to die for Him as He had died for them.

We celebrate an empty cross and an empty grave. His death paid for our sins, and his life is life in us. We are now presented with a choice. Will we embrace that life, or will we reject it? If we give our lives to Him, we will receive His life in return. It lasts forever!

Our big event is just two weeks away! When we first started talking about it, March 16 seemed like a long way off, but it’s right around the corner. This is a great opportunity to let the community around us know that we are here for then, inviting all who will come into the fellowship of God’s people. We are blessed to have help with the execution of the event, but it will not fully accomplish its purpose without you, the members of our body, being there to meet our neighbors and share the love of Jesus. Sharing a meal together is a time-honored gesture of peace and friendship. So, have some meat and meet new friends.

This Sunday, we’ll be in John 19:1-16. Jesus has been brought before Pilate, and the crowd is demanding that He be crucified. Palate’s behavior is in terns cautious and contemptuous. He taunts the chief priests with their powerlessness by parading the battered Jesus before them as their king, yet tries to release Him, knowing that they have no real case against Him. Yet it is the issue of His kingship that the religious leaders use to convince Pilate to crucify Jesus, saying, ““If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself to be a king opposes Caesar.” (v. 12)

Pilate chooses convenience over conviction. He serves himself above all. He has already shown his contempt for the truth, and now he will crucify Him. But the greater judgment is for those who should have known better. Jesus said, “…he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (v. 11) Again he taunts them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (v. 15)

The chief Priests were without excuse. They had heard Him teach. They knew the scriptures. He was the one, but they rejected Him. We, too, are without excuse. All creation is a testament to Him. His words have been preserved for us. We each must choose. Will we serv the King of kings and the Lord of lords, or give our lives to some lesser king. As much as we might not like being ruled, we will be. Choose the One who died so that you could be part of His royal family. There is really only one other. He is a would-be usurper. He will promise you everything, and take your very soul. Who is your king?