Jeff Grisham

Crucifixion was a horrible method of execution. Invented by the Persians, and later perfected by the Romans, it was designed to be slow, painful, and humiliating. This horrific method of execution was carried out in full view of the public along main roads. It was meant to serve as a deterrent for those who thought of rebelling against the government.

The condemned would be attached to the cross with nails driven through the wrists and the feet. Once that was done, the cross would be raised into place. In a very short time in this position, the condemned would be unable to breathe unless he pushed against the nail in the feet and pulled against the nails in the wrists. Crucifixion took the human will to survive and the human desire to avoid pain and pitted them against one another. Victims of this execution could last multiple days before finally succumbing to death.

Crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals. It was not spoken of in polite society because of its hideous nature. Just the thought of it was terrifying.

As we read the crucifixion narratives in the Gospels, we notice a lot of fear around this event. However, it’s not from whom we would expect it.

There was a lot of fear among the Jewish leaders. This had been going on for quite some time. As the ministry of Jesus gained momentum and as Jesus gained popularity, the ruling class of the Jews were increasingly afraid. John tells us that they were afraid of losing their status.

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:45-48)

They were also afraid of the Jewish people who had believed in Jesus. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (Luke 22:3-6)

There was a lot of fear in Pilate. The Jewish officials brought Jesus to Pilate. Once the Roman governor had questioned Jesus, he could see that there was no reason for his execution. Luke tells us that to avoid having to deal with this issue Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. Herod sent him back to Pilate who continually tried to release him. The Jewish leaders demanded Jesus be crucified, and Pilate gave in to their wishes.

The one in all of this that was not ruled by fear was Jesus, the one facing this horrible death. In the passion narratives we see the disciples scatter, and Peter deny any association with Jesus. We see the Jewish leadership call a late-night trial and attempt to come up with witnesses to justify their desires to get rid of Jesus. We see Pilate attempt to get someone else to deal with the situation, try and persuade the people to call for the release of Jesus, and finally wash his hands to attempt to avoid putting this innocent man to death. Then we see Jesus refusing to answer the false charges, yet confidently responding to his identity as King. Amazing isn’t it. The one we think should be the most terrified is actually the only one who isn’t. Why?

To say that Jesus had no fear or dread of the cross would be to deny his full humanity. But we see that fear conquered in the Garden just prior to his arrest. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 22:40-43)

There are a lot of things that cause us fear. Perhaps it is the fear of what the future may hold for us or for our children. Maybe it is the fear of how people will react as we share our faith. It could be that taking a risk for the kingdom of God in some way causes us fear. After all, what if we try and fail?

In these moments of fear, maybe we should look again at Jesus in the Garden and spend some time with him there. It is in the Garden that he communicates with the Father. It is there that he commits to live out his purpose. It is there that he is given strength and comfort to face what is coming.

It is in the Garden, in spending time in God’s presence that we are reminded of our identity as his beloved children and heirs. It is in the Garden, in the presence of God, that we are reminded of our purpose and of the one who is with us in carrying out that purpose. It is in the Garden, in the presence of God that we received strength, comfort, and encouragement to continue. It is in the Garden where we are reminded that because of what Jesus faced for us, we have nothing more to fear.

Fall is a beautiful season of the year. For some, it is their absolute favorite season. Just the mention of it brings to mind thoughts of cool, crisp air, and images of brilliantly colored foliage. We think of hayrides, harvest festivals, and pumpkin patches. We conjure images of ourselves sitting by an outdoor fire pit, drinking a cup of coffee, enjoying the beauty, and listening to all the sounds of nature by which we are surrounded.

What appears to be missing from this picturesque ideal of fall is the time spent cleaning up the beautiful foliage after it falls to the ground. Somehow that never seems to be in the picture of the ideal fall day, unless it involves joyous children playing in freshly raked piles of leaves.

I spent the major portion of yesterday cleaning up this beautiful mess; not in nice cool, crisp autumn air, but in warm windy and extremely dusty conditions. The laughter of children playing in the leaves was replaced by the noise of a leaf blower. There were times when I wondered why in the world I was doing this. Is this even worth the effort as leaves were continuing to fall as I was dealing with the ones on the ground?

After mulching leaves with the mower, blowing, then raking and carting leaves off to the back side of our place, I stopped to admire my work. What I saw was that there wasn’t a whole lot of difference between my yard and the yard of my next-door neighbor who has been in Texas for the last two weeks. I wondered, “What’s the point?”

This illustrates how we feel from time to time as Christians. We have an idea of what life in Christ should look like. We work to clean up our lives. We give attention and effort toward being different people. We stop and wipe our faces and look to see what progress we are making, but it doesn’t seem like we have made much headway.

Maybe it is our struggle with a particular persistent sin. We think we have that area of our lives cleaned up, but we get caught up in the temptation and find ourselves continuing to struggle. Maybe it is just with the issues of life that we face. We think, “If we could just get through this (whatever ‘this’ is) then things will be fine.” We get past that particular situation and then get hit with something else. It all seems too much. We wonder, “What’s the point?”

We need to know that we are not the only ones who have had this struggle. Others have had it. Others may be dealing with it right now. Paul speaks of this condition in his letter to the church in Rome.

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So, I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:15-24)

Did we hear it? I know what I ought to do, but I don’t. I know what I shouldn’t do, but I do it anyway. We try and try and try but end up exhausted and wondering if we’ve made much progress. We have all had those seasons in life when we may wonder if there is any point in continuing to follow Jesus.

In these times we need to remember the rest of what Paul writes in this section of Romans. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 7:25-8:4)

“There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What beautiful and comforting words! It doesn’t mean that we give in to sin and make no effort to clean up our lives; to give up trying or stop following Jesus. It does mean that because of what God has done in Christ Jesus our Lord, we don’t do this alone. On our own, we could never be clean enough, but forgiveness and cleansing are available. God is with us in the middle of this mess through the Holy Spirit who lives within us. That is the good news of the gospel. That’s the point. God wants to be with us and wants us to be with him. He wants this badly enough to make a way for it to happen, and to help us along the way. While we may feel that our feeble attempts are futile, or when we are disappointed in our progress, we need to be reminded that Jesus does not expect immediate perfection, but continued progress in being more and more like him.

For all of us who from time to time feel that our efforts are futile, my prayer is that we remember what God wants for us. I pray that when we are tempted to give up, throw in the towel (or the rake), and quit, we remember these words of Paul that close out Romans 8:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

I believe that deep down; each of us has within us a desire to leave this place better than we found it.  We want to make a difference; we want to be remembered for the impact that we made.  It begins when we’re little and people will ask us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” 

There are very few, if any who would say, “I would like to toil in anonymity.” Or, “I want to be a faceless, nameless cog in the machinery of life.”  We want to be doctors, scientists, teachers, firefighters, policemen, or the president of the United States (and with the field that we currently see, that seems more and more possible).  We want to make a difference.  I believe with everything in me that if we are people who truly want to make the world a better place, if we really want to make a difference, then we there is no place better for us to be than in the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God is what makes a difference.

Yet, here’s what often happens:  we have these dreams and visions and plans for our lives.  We are going to do something great, but one day we look around and something has changed; life has happened and the plans we had seem to be a distant memory.  Must to our dismay, we seem to be ordinary and unimpressive.  That would be incredibly discouraging if it weren’t for this. 

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:31-33)

In these two very small parables, Jesus talks about one big thing and two seemingly insignificant things.  The big thing is the Kingdom of Heaven, the redemptive work of God in the world. It is what changes the world and makes it a better place.  He then said that ordinary, small, seemingly insignificant things like mustard seed and leaven accomplish this idea, this process of heaven coming to earth.  God can do, and in fact does, some amazing and extraordinary things through some of the most ordinary people and practices. 

When we look at scripture we see, what we sometimes think of as Spiritual Giants.  We see people like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Hannah, David, Solomon, and Daniel; and we think that there is no way we can do the things in the Kingdom of God like they did.  We look at the Apostles and all they were able to accomplish, seriously wonder if we can accomplish nearly what they did.  But, when we start really looking at these Great Heroes of the Bible, and really examine their lives, it amazes us to discover that these were ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill, people who have the same failings, the same propensity to sin as we do.  Yet, God accomplished great Kingdom Work with people who are absolutely ordinary. 

Then there are practices that we see as unimportant.  Gathering with the church is one.  Being joined in fellowship and service with other members of God’s kingdom can produce some great things. It is in our worship together that we encounter God who saved us. It is the fellowship of the Spirit that has been given to us. It is where we sit at the table with Jesus, our host. It is a transformative event. The church is the vehicle through which God has chosen to communicate his message of redemption to a lost and dying world. 

Prayer is another seemingly small practice, but we are told over and over in Scripture what can be accomplished through it. We may see it as ordinary, as unimpressive, but we forget that God is the God of the mustard seed and leaven.  He is able to do great things with our ordinary.

We look for the next big spiritual high, or sometimes just more recognition for ourselves, and neglect the ordinary things like studying God’s word.  Can anything good come from this seemingly unnoticed, unimpressive act?  The answer is “yes” when we let that word get inside us and we begin to live out those commands and ideas.  The answer is “yes” when the word becomes flesh in our lives.

Think about this. A manger, a cross, and a tomb; something small and insignificant, something ugly that polite society would shun, and a place where people would rather not be; but God did something amazing with them.  We are ordinary everyday people who struggle with so many things, and sin is the chief among them.  But, God can do amazing things if we will surrender our will and our lives to him.

The challenge for all of us is to not neglect the ordinary, the unimpressive, the marginalized people and practices.  God can do amazing with our ordinary.  Paul to the Ephesians wrote, “to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power of at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ”   

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2-4)

Habakkuk asks God questions very similar to ones we have. How long are you going to wait? Are you content with what is happening? How can you just sit idly by while violence, injustice, pain, and suffering continue? I can imagine this question being raised to God from the people in Israel this past week.

This question is one that has been asked over and over and will continue to be asked. Doesn’t he hear the cry of the child that is being abused? Doesn’t he hear as we pray for things to be made right? Is he paying attention as we continually pour out our prayers for help amid trouble? Does he even care?

God wasted no time in responding, but his response made no sense to Habakkuk, and let’s face it, it wouldn’t make any sense to us either. God was sending the Babylonians. After Habakkuk responds in confusion to what God is going to do, God responds with the heart of this prophetic message to us from Habakkuk today.

And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie.  If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.  (Habakkuk 2:2-4)

The heart of the message of Habakkuk is what it means to live by faith. Habakkuk reminds us that living by faith is continuing to trust and to follow; continuing to walk in the steps of Jesus even when those steps go in a direction that we would rather they didn’t. Living by faith is realizing that His are the only steps that will lead us where we need to go – home to the Father.

Yet we are tempted to take other paths. Maybe we would like to give in to and participate in the hatred and enmity that is so pervasive. It is tempting to join in and engage in the name calling, the belittling, and the dehumanization of others that is so prevalent in our current context. It is so easy to do, and if as Habakkuk has suggested God is not really paying attention and seems to be okay with the violence, injustice, and evil they why not?

Living by faith is hard because it calls on us to think past, to see past what is right in front of our eyes. It calls on us to look for God and his purposes and how we can be part of them, whatever the situation may be. This takes time. That doesn’t just mean age, although it does take maturity. It takes dedicated time spent with God. It takes time spent looking at Scripture and being reminded of who God is and what he is doing. It takes spending time in prayer, bringing our concerns to him, asking for him to give us eyes to see the things going on around us the way he does. It takes spending time remembering God has done in our lives.

This allows us to react to and interact with the world around us, with the people around us in a way that is very different from most. It moves us away from panic and knee-jerk reactions that often lead us in the wrong direction. It will look strange to many, but it brings us a sense of peace and calm as we live knowing the One who is sovereign over all. It doesn’t mean that we understand everything that is going on. It doesn’t mean that the hurt and confusion disappear. But it does allow us to move forward because we know the One who has made great and precious promises and the One who is always faithful in delivering on those promises.

Living by faith is continuing to move forward when it doesn’t seem possible or even worth the effort. We hear this in Habakkuk’s prayer from chapter 3. In that prayer he recounts the great deeds of God. As we read it we hear of God’s work in creation, his rescue of his people from Egypt, his leadership during the wilderness wandering, and his defending Israel in the conquest of Canaan. Listen to how Habakkuk ends that prayer.

I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:16-19)

Each of us has been where Habakkuk was. Each of us has experienced trouble, disappointments and real sorrows that have come our way. We may have wondered or even questioned out loud whether or not it was worth carrying on. Living by faith is adapting this prayer of Habakkuk to our lives as we find ourselves in his shoes.

The crowds were waiting when he arrived at the shore. They had all been hoping he would return. Jesus had not much more than stepped off the boat when a man came running up to him. Jesus could see the panic in this man’s eyes. He could hear the fear and a hint of hopelessness in his voice as he told Jesus that his only daughter, his precious twelve-year old little girl was at death’s door. Jairus had heard of Jesus. He had not just heard of Jesus, as the ruler of the synagogue responsible for Sabbath services, he had actually seen and heard Jesus. He may not have been completely sure of what to make of this new rabbi, but he knew that this Nazarene was his only hope. He was relieved when Jesus agreed to go with him.

The crowds were pressing in on them. It was difficult to move quickly. Jairus may have been shouting as he tried to make a path, “Pardon me! Excuse me! We need to get through! Don’t you understand, she doesn’t have much time left!” Then, as quickly as they had started, Jesus stopped and looked around. He scanned the crowd and asked, “Who touched me?” One of his disciples asked the question that Jairus must have been thinking. Who touched you? Are you kidding me!?!? They had been bumping in to people every step of the way. What do you mean who touched you? The question didn’t even seem to register with Jesus. He was aware of her presence, even if she was unnoticed by everyone else. He just kept looking around. It appeared that he wasn’t going to take another step until he received an answer to his question. After what seemed like an eternity, she made her way to Jesus. He could see the fear and the panic in her eyes. What would the crowd think? What would Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, think? She had delayed Jesus from going to heal this man’s daughter. She was fearful of what Jesus might say to her, after all she had been unclean and now because she had touched him, so was he. All she could do was fall at his feet and tell the whole story. She had been bleeding for twelve long years. She had desperately searched for a cure. She wanted to be a part of the community. She longed to be able to go again to the synagogue. She had lived with this for so long, searched so long, spent all that she had, seen everyone she could to help. Jesus was her only hope. She knew that if she just touched his clothes she could be healed. She was right! It had happened! But what now? What would he say? Jesus looks at her and says, “Daughter, your faith has saved you (made you well ESV); go in peace.”

We can imagine the amazement in that crowd. There were people there that knew this lady. They had probably had her on the prayer list for a long, long time. Now, they don’t just hear about her health improving, they witness her complete healing. Her belief that Jesus was where healing can be found paid off!

Not everyone, however, would be so excited. Even after witnessing this miracle, Jairus still has a daughter that is about to die. Strike that. He had a daughter. Someone came while Jesus was addressing the woman that he had just healed to tell Jairus the bad news. “Don’t trouble the teacher in any more; your daughter is dead.” What?! Why!? If he had not stopped to find out who touched him…. if he had just gone on to the house instead of wasting time… the woman would have still been healed. He could have gone back and found her later, or not. She still would have been ok and Jairus’s daughter would still be alive. He can feel the resentment start to build; first for the woman, then for Jesus. The woman had been suffering with this for 12 years, surely another day would not have been that much to ask. Jesus would be accessible later for her. Jesus could have pressed on to the most important thing. Surely, death is more important than just an illness. Surely the life of a young 12-year old daughter has more potential than that of this grown woman. Why didn’t Jesus come when he asked? Now, Jairus hears the voice of Jesus, “Do not fear; only believe and she will be saved (be well).”

The remaining steps to the house were ones full of varied emotions. She’s gone! News like that doesn’t come to a father unless they were certain. But this strange rabbi that seemed to notice a single touch from an anonymous lady in the middle of a huge crowd of people simply said, “just believe” and all will be made right. Jairus had just witnessed a miracle of healing, but this isn’t just a disease. This is death. Could there be any hope? We shouldn’t have waited. We shouldn’t even have thought that something could be done. Our hopes were raised, just to have them dashed again. He may not have wanted to go into that room where his daughter lay dead. But he had to go. This little bit of hope was all he had left. As the six of them stood around the apparent lifeless body of his only child, he may have prayed. “God, I want to believe. I want to believe that you are real. I want to believe that you are the giver of life and that you are working through this man, Jesus of Nazareth.” He sobs as he watches Jesus take her hand. He hopes with all he has as he hears him say, “Child, arise.” She does! She’s back! Jesus tells them to keep this quiet, but how; how could they; how can we be silent in the face of this miracle.

The focus of this narrative is on two very different people. One that has been marginalized by an illness. According to the Law of Moses a woman in this state would be unclean. Her clothing would be unclean. Any furniture on which she would sit would be unclean. She was to keep her distance from everyone so as not to contaminate them. The other is one who is integral to the life of the Jewish community there. He was the synagogue ruler. He was one responsible for making sure everything was in its place. He was responsible for synagogue worship going smoothly and correctly. She was powerless and helpless. He was one who had some authority and prominence.

Both of them are brought together and their stories intertwine because they recognized that Jesus was their only hope. She had tried everything. She had seen physicians. She had spent everything she had…. used all her own resources…but could not take care of her issue. He, even though he had some authority, some semblance of control in certain areas, realized that when it came to life and death, he was powerless to change the outcome.

We realize that intellectually, don’t we. We know there are some things that are within our control and others that are not. Understanding the difference is incredibly important in navigating life and remaining sane while doing it. We try to exert our influence over events. We try and manage things as best we can. We want some sort of control so that we can have security. We, like these two people – this unnamed woman and Jairus – need to realize that our only hope, the only way to healing and a future, is Jesus. He is the only one with the power to save us from sin and death. That’s the language that he uses by the way. He says to that woman falling at his feet, “Your faith has saved you.” Most of our English translations say that her faith “made her well” but the word in the original language is one of salvation, not just healing. To Jairus he says, “only believe and she will be saved.”

Our resources, our influence, our own abilities are incapable of saving us. Only Jesus saves.

So, knowing this, why are we often reluctant to run to him? I think the answer is found by looking at these two very different people. The woman seemingly wants to go unnoticed. She knows she has a problem. She knows she can’t deal with it on her own; she’s already tried and failed. She knows Jesus is the only chance she has, but it appears that she doesn’t want to have to admit her need openly and publicly. Maybe she is afraid of how he will react. Maybe she is nervous and scared that he will reject her if he realizes just how unclean she is. Maybe we are embarrassed by what we have done. Maybe we are afraid of how others will look at us, react to us, deal with us, exclude us, try to distance themselves from us. Maybe we have been convinced that Jesus wouldn’t want anything to do with anyone with a past like ours. Surely, the Holy One, God in the flesh would want to be as far away from our filthiness as he can get. What we learn is that Jesus is very aware of our condition. He is very aware of how we have become defiled, and unclean. We can be certain that he knows all about us and loves us anyway. He didn’t shun us; he welcomed us. He didn’t remain distant; the became one of us and walked among us. He didn’t abandon us; he died for us.

It impresses me that Jairus presses on toward his home with Jesus after the news of his daughter’s death. It is one thing to run to Jesus for healing, but can he do anything about this, now? Others knew that she was gone. Was he really going to go ahead with this? People laughed when Jesus said, “she is just sleeping.” What would they think if Jairus continued to follow Jesus’s instructions? There’s no doubt that he had heard the stories of God’s prophets raising people from the dead in the Old Testament. Could that happen again? Did he really believe that he would ever see such a thing?

Do we believe that Jesus can deal with our issues? Are we afraid that he may let us down? Are we concerned that what we ask seems impossible for him to do? Jesus does not disappoint. We find that in each of these cases, their trust in Jesus was rewarded, despite what others might think. They acted on what they knew to be true.

Timing is another element in these miracle narratives. After waiting 12 long years, this woman takes a chance. She realizes that if she just touches his garment she can be healed. Maybe she assumes that as Jesus is making his way to heal Jairus’s daughter he doesn’t have time to slow down. She desperately wants the healing but is he too busy. Comparatively speaking her problem seems minor as compared to what Jairus needs. She has waited twelve years; surely, she could wait a little longer. But who knows when she will have this opportunity again? She learns that Jesus is not too busy to deal with her needs. I wonder if we sometimes have that view of Jesus. There are issues in our lives, our relationships, our families, but we may think that Jesus has bigger and more important things with which to deal. These issues have been going on for a while; surely, they can keep a little longer. We see that Jesus is just as concerned with her issue as he is with Jairus’s daughter. I don’t think we will ever find Jesus too busy to care about what we go through. It is amazing to me to find that what is important to us, what is bothering and troubling us, is also important to Jesus. He is not unapproachable. He is not cold or distant. He is not unfeeling. He loves his creation. He wants so much for us. Does he care when we are stressed about work? Does he care when we are stressed about school? About our future? About our children? About our relationships? Does he care when we have tried everything and failed? Does it hurt him, is he moved, as he watches us struggle as we try and navigate life here in a broken and fallen world? Absolutely he cares. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly. His entire ministry – his life which he freely gave demonstrate his great care for us.

But, like Jairus we may wonder why he sometimes delays in his response. We can commiserate. We’ve had those moments. We have asked. We have begged. Why didn’t Jesus come when we ask? We aren’t the only ones who have asked that question. Mary and Martha in John 11, “I you had only been here, our brother would not have died!” If you had only been here, Jesus, we wouldn’t have experienced that loss; our spouse would still be here; we wouldn’t have had to go through that awful experience; the business would have survived; we wouldn’t have had to suffer with that illness. What Jairus learned, what we still struggle to learn, what some of us have experienced is that we can be certain that his timing is always right. It may not look that way to us, but we can trust him to do the right thing at the right time.

This narrative from Luke 8:40-56 is found in a larger context beginning with Jesus calming the storm. We see that in every storm, every situation in which we find ourselves, Jesus is able to rescue. He saved the disciples in the boat that night. He cast out legions of demons from the man from the Gerasenes. He healed this woman who had suffered for 12 years from a terrible affliction. And not even death can defeat him. He has faced it. He has overcome it. We can share in this victory. We can be certain that he can bring life from death. We can share in this victory through faith in him.

Faith leads us to action. Faith leads us to fall at his feet and confess our uncleanness and beg for healing. He is our only hope. He is not too busy. Our issue is not too big. Our past is not so ugly that he cannot forgive and heal and give us hope and a future.

The first two chapters of Genesis have drawn a lot of attention throughout the years. There are wide-ranging views concerning these opening chapters of the Biblical narrative. They are seen by some as competing narratives, competing stories of the creation of the world that may have originated from different sources. Others view them as complimentary narratives in which chapter two serves as an expanded explanation of certain aspects of chapter one. However, a careful reading of the two chapters make that difficult. For example, chapter one has vegetation created on day three, but in chapter two it appears that man was created prior to vegetation being present (Genesis 2:5-7), so we wonder how we can reconcile these two passages.

What if we are asking questions of Scripture that it wasn’t meant to answer? The first two chapters of Genesis aren’t written to explain exactly how this world came into being. They are written to identify who is responsible for creating it. They also speak loudly to the identity of our Creator as we will see him throughout the Bible.

In Genesis chapter one we see the awesome power of God. He speaks and things come into being (Genesis 1:3, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 28). All we see of God, or I guess all we hear of God is his voice, and with that voice, things come into being. He is powerful. He is transcendent.

Genesis two gives us a very different picture of this same Creator. Here we see God form man of the dust of the earth and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). We read of God planting a garden in Eden and put the man there (Genesis 2:8, 15). Then we see God take one of the ribs of the man, close his flesh, and make woman (Genesis 2:21-22). Each of these are actions that God took. In each one of these encounters, we can see God working with his hands, close to his creation.

Now, when we put these two chapters together, we get a picture of the God who created the heavens and the earth and the seas and all that are in them. He is a God that is powerful, transcendent, and far above what we could ever hope to be. And he is a God that wants to be near to his creation. What we find in these two chapters sets the stage for the major theme of Scripture: God with us.

It is interesting that the Bible begins and ends with this image. We’ve seen it in the first two chapters of Genesis. Then we look at the other end of the Book and find it yet again. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,and God himself will be with them as their God.He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

This is what God has wanted from the beginning. Yet, humanity rejected him and decided to go our own way. But God didn’t give up. He continues to want to be with us and for us to be with him. He went to great lengths to accomplish this. He worked through incredibly flawed people and called them to partner with him. He worked and loved and pursued. He rescued and redeemed and disciplined. Then he made the most incredible move. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3,14) It is here that we see the transcendent God, the Creator come near so that we could be saved.

This is the message revealed to us in Scripture. It is the message of God who is transcendent, righteous, and holy also wants to be near to us. He wants that badly enough to send Jesus. It is the message of forgiveness, reconciliation and belonging. It is the message of hope that we carry to the world around us. Thank God for his mercy and grace.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:1-6)

Matthew chapter two gives us the tale of two kings. In the first part of that chapter, we are introduced to Herod the Great. Herod served as king of Judea under the rule of the Roman Empire. To solidify his position, he married a woman from the family of the previous Judean rulers who had been quite popular. The marriage didn’t last as Herod had her executed because she was more popular than he was. He also had three of his own sons imprisoned and executed.

He was, it appears, very paranoid about losing his power and was willing to go to great lengths to keep it. We see that on full display in Matthew chapter 2. As the magi come and inquire about the one who was born “The King of the Jews,” Herod begins to seek a way in which to prevent this new king from ruling. He planned to use the visitors from the east to find the location of this new king so he could put a stop to this. When that plan failed, he ordered the execution of all male children in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger.

Matthew also introduces us to a completely different kind of king. This king was born to two very ordinary, poor Jewish people, a teenage girl and her betrothed husband. This king arrived without a lot of fanfare, was born in a room with the animals and had a manger for his first bed.

The contrast between these two kings could not be starker. The types of lives they inspire could also not be more different. The choice that we have is which of these two will serve as the model for our lives.

The Herod model is one of holding on to our own authority and power by all means necessary. It is one that fits nicely into our need for control. It is one that will use religion, and/or religious people to accomplish our own ends. And it is one that leaves a lot of damage in its wake.

The Jesus model is quite different. To follow him means giving up our control and putting our lives under his authority. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

It is a life of humility and looking out for the good of others, all others, even our enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers,what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

It is a life that calls for us to be completely different from the world around us. It is a life that calls for us to look at things in an entirely different way. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”(Matthew 4:12)

It is the only life that offers real hope. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39)

The choice seems pretty clear. We can remain on the throne and continue to seek our own power and control. That way didn’t end well for Herod, and it won’t for us either. Or, we can humble ourselves and put our lives under the control of Jesus, allow him to lead and to change us, to be truly human the way God intended and have real hope. Which will we choose?

It had been a long night. He and his partners had worked and worked, but still came up empty. Now the arduous task of cleaning began. They couldn’t even do that in peace because a crowd had gathered along the shore to hear some traveling preacher. If that wasn’t bad enough, this preacher just stepped into boat and asked him to push out just a little from the land. The crowd pressed right up against the water to hear what this man had to say about God and his Kingdom, and with good reason. The message of this New Kingdom was different than anything they had ever heard.

When he was finished speaking, Jesus asked Peter to put out into the deep, throw the nets, and try his luck again. What was he thinking? He may have been an excellent teacher, but he seemed to know little or nothing about fishing. Peter answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” The catch was incredible.

“And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,” (Luke 5:6-9)

The catch, recorded in chapter five of his gospel, is Luke’s account of Jesus calling his first disciples. This group of men – Peter, Andrew, James, and John – who would be joined by others were ordinary fishermen whose lives would never be the same after that day on the sea. They began a journey that they could have scarcely imagined prior to that day. They would spend the next few years following Jesus everywhere. After his death and resurrection, they would continue for the rest of their days carrying the message of the Kingdom that had caught ahold of them. What was it that they witnessed that day that made such a difference?

They caught a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. No doubt, that while they were washing their nets nearby, they heard Jesus speak about this Kingdom (Luke 4:43). They probably heard the good news of a Kingdom in which not only the elite of society enjoyed privileges, but where everyone, even common, blue-collar fishermen were welcomed and could participate. They were introduced to a Kingdom in which those who were part looked out for the best interests of others and not just themselves. It was news of a Kingdom that was unlike any they had ever known, and one that brought true freedom.

They caught a glimpse of a very different kind of King. They heard of a King who was willing to give gifts to his people; a King who wanted the good for his people instead of just things from them. The good news of a King who could be trusted to seek the best for his subjects, and really cared about their futures and their wellbeing. They met a King with true authority, authority like they had never seen. They met a King who would teach them, defend them, protect them, challenge and correct them, feed them, and even lay down his own life for them.

Once it became apparent that Jesus was no ordinary teacher, but a different kind of King who was calling people to a different kind of life in a different kind of Kingdom, it is no wonder they left everything and followed him.

It seems too good to be true. Could there really be a King who is more concerned with enriching our lives than his own? Could there really be a King who welcomes all people and not just the elite? Could we really be a part of a Kingdom where self-sacrificial love and seeking the good for others is the order of the day? Could there really be a Kingdom where we can be free from the bondage and guilt of sin, and be truly human as we were designed?

This is what Jesus came to bring. This is what he is offering. Once we catch sight of this, we can no longer ignore who he is. We can’t pretend that he has nothing to say about how we live or how we respond to the world around us. We can’t just pretend that he doesn’t matter or that he doesn’t care. Once we see him for who he is, that vision captures us, and everything else becomes secondary to what he calls us to do. May God help us to be continually captured by Jesus, and to share the good news that will capture the hearts of others around us.