This week's Bible study with Rev. Paul J. Bern will be Ephesians chapter three

Inviting the Holy Spirit Into Our Hearts

[Ephesians chapter three]

Last week as we concluded chapter two of the Book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul had just concluded his comments regarding the status of everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his commandments. All are “fellow citizens and members of God's household”. In 21^st century terms, we have all been legally adopted into the Family of God, having become permanent members. As we study chapter three today, we find as we would expect, which is Paul taking up where he left off, beginning in verse one of chapter 3.

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles: Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3, verses 1-6, NIV)

The apostle Paul's reference to being a prisoner is historically very accurate, since he was appealing a court decision against him that ultimately resulted in his execution (see the book of Acts, chapters 23-28). When he refers to his “revelation”, he is writing of his conversion experience on the road to Damascus as it is recounted in the book of Acts, chapter nine. After Paul's conversion he immediately began preaching and teaching about the salvation of Christ. At first he preached mainly to a Jewish audience since that was Paul's heritage, only to find himself soundly rejected and even vilified by his peers. After putting up with this, probably for longer than he should have, Paul decides to write off his Jewish peers and former friends and begins preaching to non-Jews, or Gentiles, instead (see Acts chapter 18, verses 5-6). Prior to this, having anything to do with Gentiles is beyond the scope of Paul's experience, and this tradition continues within the Jewish nation to this day. I would compare Paul's ministry in his lifetime with that of a Rabbi showing up in the studio audience of a televangelist on Christian TV. But that is the very essence of the “Mystery of Christ” that Paul writes about, “through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus”. “Sharers in the promise” means that the free salvation of Jesus Christ is available to everyone on an equal basis. I will mention a little more about the Biblical concept of equality in just a minute. Bearing that in mind, let's continue now beginning at verse 7.

“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.” (Ephesians 3, verses 7-13, NIV)

Paul's reference to being “less than the least of all God's people” reflects his life before being chosen by the Holy Spirit to preach to the Gentiles. This was a time prior to Paul's conversion when he was still known by his original name 'Saul', a time when he actively and zealously persecuted the early Church. The Bible even recounts Saul's direct participation in the stoning death of Stephen as it is told in Acts chapter 7, verses 54-60, concluding in chapter 8, verses 1-3. He provides to the church the definition of his ministry as he sees it, which is “to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”. Remember that back in Paul's time the whole idea of a Jew preaching the Gospel to a non-Jewish audience was very radical stuff and completely out of the ordinary. This was something that just wasn't done back in those days, it was virtually unheard of. But Paul taught correctly that the “riches of Christ” are available to anyone who wants it, and all without cost or preset conditions. This sacred concept of unconditional equality, first taught by the leadership and perfect example of Christ, is present throughout the four gospels, the book of Acts and most of Paul's writings, among others. Paul sums it up by writing, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Only through Jesus can anyone even dare to approach God, but the good news is that through Jesus we most certainly can. And if we can all do this through Christ, how much more is there that we can do? The answer is that the sky is the limit (provided we do not sin), just as Paul wrote in another one of his letters to the church that we will study later, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me”. And now let's conclude today's lesson beginning at verse 14.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his entire family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3, verses 14-21, NIV)

What a magnificent piece of prose these final seven verses of chapter three are! Paul was clearly a well educated man, and a better writer than he gave himself credit for. I have always wondered if this was the original ending of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, only to add chapters 4-6 on second thought before sending off his letter which later became a part of the New Testament as we know it today. I'm no Bible scholar, having never attended any seminaries (Jesus is my teacher!), so I can't say for sure. This may be one bit of church history that has been lost to the ages. Dear old Paul summarizes his thoughts with, “… I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge...”. This is what happens when any person allows themselves to walk in the Holy Spirit, possessing the internal dwelling of that same Spirit in their hearts, souls and minds. We find ourselves running right into the unfathomable love of Christ, a love that is beyond human comprehension. Jesus once said, “No eye has seen, and no ear has heard, of the wonderful things God has in store for those who love him”. This is exactly what the apostle Paul was referring to when he wrote those words, in spite of the fact that he had never heard them himself. That's the Holy Spirit at work. He does the same for me whenever I ask – provided my intentions are good – and He is more than willing to do the same for you. If you have never asked that of Jesus before, why not pause right now and ask him for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Go ahead, you'll be glad you did. And if nothing happens right away, do not be concerned. I waited 16 years for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which takes one's walk with Christ to a whole new level. But the first step is to invite the Holy Spirit of Jesus to enter your heart, and to live there from now on. You can be sure of that prayer being answered first. You know, Jesus is returning soon. The time to begin getting ready for His return is right now. Go ahead and ask him into your heart today. You'll be glad you did!

MARKED FOR HELL - THE MOST IMPORTANT VIDEO YOU WILL EVER SEE

Clearing up the mystery surrounding the real resurrection of Christ

Misunderstanding Jesus’ Crucifixion: a Kernel of Truth

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

Over the centuries as Christianity has gradually been bent towards the interests of organized religion (or Religion Inc. as I call it), the story of Jesus’ final fateful week in Jerusalem was reshaped to minimize his overturning of the money tables at the Temple at Jerusalem, which was actually a challenge to the merging of religious and political power. It was this very event that took place the day after He arrived that set the stage for his arrest and crucifixion. Palm Sunday, which 'Religion Incorporated' celebrates as the entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, is described in slightly different ways in various Biblical translations. In the King James as well as the Catholic versions of the Bible, it states in the Gospel of Luke chapter 19 (verses 28-40) that people broke branches off the palm trees that lined the road, laying them across the road as Jesus passed by on a donkey. But in the New International and New Living translations, the Bible says people removed their coats and laid them across the road before the Lord. (If the Catholic or KJV Bibles are to be taken literally, they sure must have killed a lot of palm trees that day!) Moreover, our modern calendar gets the date for Jesus' resurrection all wrong. Remember that Jesus walked the earth as a Jewish man, and since the Jewish Sabbath extends from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, by the western calendar he would have had to enter Jerusalem on a Friday. The real Good Friday, which in historical context actually took place on a Wednesday by our modern calendar, takes us through His mock trial and his death of horror on a Roman Cross. “Easter” is the Christians’ triumphant celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Except, of course, that Jesus didn't rise from the dead on Easter Sunday. The only translations of the Bible that use the word 'Easter' are the King James and Catholic Bibles. Jesus rose on the morning of the traditional Jewish Sabbath, which would be a Saturday morning by today's Western calendar. Since he was in the grave for three days and nights, and he rose on a Saturday, that's how we know that Jesus was actually crucified on a Wednesday. So-called “Good Friday” is merely a man-made institution, nothing more!

That incident which is the missing piece to the week’s climactic events is Jesus’ overturning of the money tables at the temple in Jerusalem. Tradition says that the incident was a ceremonial cleansing of the Temple of its commercial enterprises because those in charge of it had turned a house of worship into a commercial enterprise, just like the modern-day “prosperity gospel” and those “ministers” who demand 10% of everyone's income because the Old Testament says so. Jesus disrupted the commercial operation by upsetting the tables where the temple lackeys sold the required animals for sacrifice. Actually it was far more intense than that. The tables and chairs that he overturned weren't from Wal Mart. These were hand made objects of solid wood and so they weighed a good bit. Those solid wooden tables likely weighed in excess of a hundred pounds, maybe even more. Even the chairs would have weighed as much as 40-50 pounds, so Jesus was nowhere near being some wimpy little guy who talked a lot and said nice things like 'Religion Inc.' portrays him. He was picking up those tables and chairs and throwing them around like match sticks, and I have no doubt whatsoever that he personally removed the money changers as well, not just the furniture. However, let's put an emphasis on understanding this historical incident in context. First, let's examine the Temple itself.

For nearly half a century, including the time of Jesus’ birth, Herod the Great had ruled Palestine as an ambitious king appointed by Rome’s Caesar. Herod was of mixed racial background and claimed some Jewish blood. He wanted to be known as King of the Jews, but acceptance by the Jews was difficult to attain. Herod the Great also was a builder. Under his reign, he built civic buildings and ports, but his greatest building project was the rebuilding, expansion and refurbishing of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. It was known as Herod’s temple, or is sometimes referenced as the Third Temple. Because of that history, the reign of Herod and the operation of the temple were linked and locked. It was the near inseparable joining of government and religion. To offend one was to offend both. Herod the Great died in 4 CE, when Jesus was still a child. During the years of Jesus’ teaching ministry, Herod’s son, Herod Antipas, was the ruler. The joining of kingdom and temple continued.

Jesus grew up and taught in a rural area 70 miles north of Jerusalem. His faith was shaped, not by Jerusalem and the temple, but by weekly gatherings of the community elders as they read the Torah (Jewish law of Moses) and discussed its meaning and interpretation. Jesus and his followers had limited contact with Jerusalem’s social, political and religious leaders, mostly through the enforcers of Herod’s Roman rule who also represented the Jerusalem Temple. These enforcers made regular trips into the rural north to collect tithes and taxes. To understand Jesus, one must realize the depth of his contempt for both the rule of Herod and the Sanhedrin, the religious rulers of the Temple. To further understand Jesus and the last week of his life, the student needs to realize that the Old Testament contains not one religious tradition, but two. One is called the “great tradition”, the other is called the “small (or lesser) tradition”. The “great tradition” is the definition of society laid down by those who rule, and enforced by their collaborators. The “great tradition” is centered in cities in which the controlling institutions are located. For Jesus, that place was Jerusalem. On the other hand, the “small tradition” is a critiquing and competing interpretation of Christianity. It almost always arises with devout believers who have escaped the burden of the “great tradition” and its demands for conformity.

Northern Palestine, 70 miles removed from Jerusalem, was a hotbed for the “small tradition”. The leaders of the “small tradition” found heroes in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Micah, Daniel, Joel and other Old Testament prophets. Almost every one of the Old Testament prophets was a critic of those who controlled the Temple in Jerusalem. John the Baptist was the first and only “small tradition” prophet in the New Testament. His harsh criticism of his rulers led to his death. Jesus took up the mantle. As modern New Testament scholars have reconstructed the context in which Jesus lived and taught, they have realized that Jesus was far, far more than simply a religious figure. He was a severe critic of those who controlled the Temple, those who controlled the Roman Empire, and those who controlled the economic systems that starved and robbed the poor and that left orphans and widows to fend for themselves. To Jesus, these issues were all tied together. Jesus was a largely unknown and harmless critic as long as he remained in his northern rural setting. He was clearly an apocalyptic preacher. He advocated the overthrow and replacement of a corrupt system. He bluntly told the people's oppressors their days were numbered. But He achieved the overthrow by sacrificing himself on the cross, hung between two thieves. One solitary life changed the history and direction of humankind forever.

Jesus took his apocalyptic message throughout what is modern Israel today, and ultimately to its capital, Jerusalem. However, to call His arrival a “triumphal entry” (as the Bible is translated) is, I think, a rather superficial explanation. Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey as mockery of the ruler’s horse. It was an ancient form of street theater that Jesus and his followers used to make their point, and with great effect. The “great tradition” that was accepted by Jerusalem’s ruling elite was being publicly debunked by the main Figure of the “small tradition”. But the real starting point of Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem came when he visited the Temple, not so much his triumphal entry into the city. In no sense had he come to worship and make sacrifice. On the contrary, He came to disrupt and to make pronouncements about the judgment of God on all the religious leaders of that day. Jesus did not go to the Temple to bless it. He came to the Temple to announce the destruction of an entire paradigm. Those who operated the Temple had no power to silence Jesus and put him to death. Those powers were held by the Roman rulers. The charges that were leveled against him can be summed up as insurrection or even outright sedition. There were three specific charges: encouraging non-payment of taxes, threatening to destroy property (the Temple), and claiming to be a king. It was the Temple incident in Luke chapter 19 that took Jesus from being an irritating but harmless country rebel from the rural north to a nuisance in the very city that controlled the “great tradition”. Rome’s rulers killed Him on a cross, only to see him risen from the grave on the morning of the third day after his crucifixion, conquering death itself.

The theological meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ remains forever indisputable. God came to earth in the form of a man because it was the only way our status as God's creations could continue. Jesus Christ was none other than the Son of God. This is the very starting point for all Christian beliefs and values. As the Bible tells us in the Old Testament (mainly in Exodus, plus other places too numerous to mention), the only way that sin against God can be forgiven is by the shedding of blood. From the time of Abraham up until the time of Christ, this was the “great tradition”. But, Jesus changed all that when he sacrificed himself, which only had to be done once for everyone. Moreover, after resting in his grave for three days and nights, Jesus rose again and was seen by hundreds, maybe even thousands of people in the forty days after his resurrection that the Bible documents in all four gospels. In so doing, he gained everlasting life without end, as do all who place their unrestrained, unconditional faith in Him. Thanks to the supreme sacrifice of Christ, we all possess immortality!But there is still more. Jesus was, at the end of the day, not just a Savior, as if that weren't enough (don't worry, it is!). Jesus was also a revolutionary, a nonconformist who thought well outside the box nearly 2,000 years before the term was ever coined, as well as being a social and political critic who stood against oppression and inequality in all its forms. So, if anyone finds themselves going through the same old, tired ritual of Sunday morning church – regardless of faith or denomination – just because it's the “right” thing to do, Jesus has the remedy for that – complete faith and trust in himself as the Son of God, both trumping and transcending traditional religious teaching.

How do we correctly apply this today in the 21^st century? Jesus most definitely does stand up for the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, the prisoner, the sick and infirm, the widow and the orphan. He stands for the most vulnerable and defenseless people at the bottom of the pecking order of so-called 'society'. He stands against those who wage war and who casually murder millions for profit in the process, he stands against those who incarcerate people for profit, and he stands especially against those in the top 1% who hoard the retirement savings of the masses while out-sourcing the jobs and careers of their children. Jesus opposes those who labor to chip away at people's retirement pensions and liquidate our savings, and against the legalized looters who have established fortresses for themselves on Wall Street and in the halls of power in Washington, DC. He stands with “the 99%”, and his Spirit is with those who dare to “occupy” as I do. But most of all, Jesus stands with those who endure persecution for the sake of their faith. Sure, he's the Son of God who is seated at his Father's right hand, never forget that and never stop believing no matter what. But he was and is the advocate of the working class, the poor, the hungry, the homeless and the lost. Like an attorney who shows up in court on our behalf at the last minute, winning what would have been a losing legal fight, Jesus is our advocate, and the world can't touch him or any of his followers (like ourselves). Jesus 'occupies' the hearts and minds of everyone, so let's all take this to heart and endeavor to follow His example. Have compassion and empathy. Practice being a good listener, being gentle and Christlike. Don't judge people who you may view as too different, or as being unwanted, untrustworthy or undesirable. Embrace other people, cultures, races and nations, knowing that the same God who made you in His image and likeness made them too. Practice tolerance, kindness, and being merciful even if you don't think the other person deserves it. That's how I endeavor to celebrate Resurrection Day and the other 364 days of the year. Because, when we embrace God we embrace all that he has made.

This week's Bible study will move on to Ephesians chapter two

Being Saved By Grace

[Ephesians chapter two]

When we left off last week at the end of chapter one, the apostle Paul is imploring the church at Ephesus to take their faith to a higher level by recognizing the supreme authority of Christ Jesus. As he begins what later became chapter two of this epistle, Paul spells out what maintaining this 1-on-1 relationship with Jesus does for us and how it derives its power. This bears close reading because there is a lot of important information here that anyone, Christian or not, can utilize to their benefit.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit that is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2, verses 1-5, NIV)

The “ruler of the kingdom of the air” is another name for Satan, who is complete evil personified and the father of all lies, the Prince of Darkness. Before we come to faith in Christ, which is always followed by obedience to His commandments, we were all like that to one degree or another. The Bible reminds us that everyone has a sinful nature, and without Jesus Christ we are in complete submission to that which separates us from God. We can only submit to one or the other, but never to both, which is a Spiritual impossibility for those whose faith and steadfast belief is genuine. Those who behave to the contrary know who they are, and I warn them all that the time for making a decision is getting very short in light of His impending Second Coming. Yet the limitless and unfathomable love, mercy and goodness of Almighty God reached out and snatched each of us back from the brink of eternal destruction. “It is by grace you have been saved”, Paul wrote, and then he elaborates beginning at verse 6.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms of Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians chapter 2, verses 6-10, NIV)

It is precisely at this point in Ephesians that the apostle Paul puts forth one of the most important definitions in the entire Bible, that of the nature of the Grace of God. Grace is a “gift from God” – nothing more and nothing less. Faith in Christ – not just himself as a historical figure and a great teacher, but as the Son of God – is the source of Grace as Paul defines it. It does not come through our works no matter what or how much we say and do. By doing this as he did, God took away all the bragging rights of humankind about how much good stuff we did during our lives, and reserves it for Himself, as well he should since He is God. Do you give to your church, or to a favorite charity? Did you ever become a foster parent or adoptive parent and take in an orphaned kid? How about some even more serious giving than that, such as being an organ donor or saving someone's life? If the answer to any of these questions is a yes, and especially if you have done some seemingly small things like buying a Christmas toy for a needy kid, all that is very good indeed. There's only one problem: Good works in and of themselves will not get us saved from the impending wrath of God. It most definitely will not save us for eternity. Only an absolute and unshakable faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ can insure our spending eternity with Jesus in Paradise. Otherwise, how could any of us be “God's workmanship”? Let's take up where we left off now, beginning at verse 11.

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who were Gentiles by birth and are called 'uncircumcised' by those who call themselves 'the circumcision' (that done in the body by the hands of men) – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenant of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandment and its regulations. His purpose was to create one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and to those of you who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians chapter 2, verses 11-18, NIV)

Circumcision, which is an ancient rite dating back to the days of Moses, is a synonym for religiosity (among other things), “having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof” as Jesus once said. So now we can see that Paul's warning to those who are so excessively heavenly that they can do no earthly good is as blunt and direct as one can get. We've all met or known these kinds of people, so there is no need for any explanation. The bottom line here is that being a religious person in and of itself will not guarantee you a place in God's kingdom which is to come, and which is very likely sooner than most people think. “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” It is by the blood of Christ which he shed on the cross for each of us that we will spend an eternity with Him, and by no other means! In so doing, Jesus abolished the Old Law or Old Testament and replaced it with the New Law, that of the singular and supreme sacrifice on the cross at Golgotha by none other than the Son of God himself. It is a gift of God “so that no one can boast”. So instead of being proud of ourselves, which would be very nonspiritual, we can dedicate all praise, glory and honor to Jesus exclusively, because “through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Bearing that in mind, let's now conclude our study starting at verse 19.

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

In the same way that immigrants become naturalized citizens after a preset period of time living in their new land, all Christians become fellow citizens in the kingdom of God. And in the same way that adopted children take their adoptive parents last name and so become permanent family members, it is much the same with all God's children who have become members of His household, a household that will stand for eternity beyond the scope of space and time as we currently understand them. The entire Family of God, the complete household of Christ, with God as the Patriarch, “is joined together and rises to become a holy temple to the Lord.” In the same way, we are all also being carefully and lovingly constructed to fulfill our ultimate purpose in life, which is to not just please God, but to become a powerful asset to Him. Everyone has this capability, not in and of ourselves, but only with the Holy Spirit living within us. For those who are reading this and who have not yet asked Jesus into their heart, now is a very good time. Simply ask Jesus to come and dwell inside of you, turning yourself into a worthy place for Jesus to live. Become a part of His family today. Only by asking Jesus into our hearts – and then learning to yield ourselves to him – can we truly be saved from the awful wrath that is soon to come. Ask him today and you'll be glad you did. Just tell Him the door is open, and that he can come on in anytime, and he will.

On Matters of Faith (part two) [John chapter 9] by Rev. Paul J. Bern

Greed Prospers While Good People Starve

Somewhere Along the Way, Organized Religion and Jesus Got Separated

How Christianity Lost Jesus

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

It is one of the conundrums of religious history: How did Christianity – a religion based on the teachings of a pacifist who said 'love your enemy' and who defended the poor, the outcast, and the most vulnerable – become so twisted into nearly its opposite? Why did dominant Christian institutions, such as the Vatican for example, amass obscene wealth and immense power? How could US presidents – the likes of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who claim to be devout followers of Jesus, unleash the fearsome might of modern American military technologies and firepower to slaughter people in faraway lands who were likely innocent? This latest commentary of mine traces this Christian mystery to the chronology of when the books of the New Testament were committed to writing.

We call Chapters 5, 6 and 7 of Matthew's gospel the 'Sermon on the Mount'. It is without question one of Jesus' finest public teachings. While the Gospels are filled with the stories that Jesus told and about what he did, the Sermon on the Mount is different because it's a summary of his teachings, Spiritual advice or short sayings. Under the critical analysis of our best Bible scholars, the Sermon on the Mount stands as authentic Jesus material. I have concluded that if people want to follow Jesus, they need to do three things; accept Christ as your Savior, turn away from your sins, and read and digest the Sermon on the Mount (but don't stop there!). Near the end of chapter five, one of the greatest challenges of Jesus is laid down.

“You have heard the saying ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth;’ but I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other side. And if someone sues you and takes your coat, let him have your cloak as well. You have also heard it said ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy;' but I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Nothing was more basic to the society in which Jesus lived and taught than the declaration “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” The saying is a clear expression of the understanding of sin as a debt to be paid. Break one of God’s rules and God will repay you. In the prevailing understanding of Judaism in Jesus’ day, sin was a debt that must be paid. Jews traveled long distances to Jerusalem to make blood sacrifices to pay God the price of their sins against him. Yet Jesus argued against the prevailing system. Jesus did not believe that punishment cured the problem of sin. Instead, he taught passionately that the antidotes for sin were repentance, unconditional love and acts of kindness. And he gave the ultimate example of exactly that by being crucified on a cross and dying for all our sins, from our biggest and most egregious right on down to the little accidental ones. Jesus paid for it all.

It has been my observation that in the 21st century the vast majority of Christians have embraced “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” once again. Not only have Christians embraced what Jesus forbade, the western world has adopted the Biblical standard that “a debt must be paid” and applied it to our finances. This is what capitalism has done to our souls and our society. Everything revolves around money, interest and usury, and Christ has been left behind by the majority of people, most of whom are professing Christians. Yet in Exodus chapter 22, verses 25-27 it says, “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear him, for I am compassionate.” Penalties are imposed to fit the crime, and an offender must “pay his/her debt to society” like a debtor to a moneylender. In the process of acquiring our economic sophistication and all the trappings of comfort, Christians have become what Jesus despised and rejected. It's a lot easier to say, “Pay what you owe!”, than it is to forgive and move on. It's easier to worry about ourselves than it is others.

How did this happen? Look no further than modern main stream Christianity, and the interpretation of the New Testament in particular. The man who became the apostle Paul had a supernatural experience with Jesus (a few years after His death and resurrection) as Paul traveled on the road to Damascus. Paul’s experience with Jesus took place decades before any of the parables, teachings and stories about Jesus were put in written form. They existed only as oral traditions at that time. Moreover, Paul was Jewish by birth, training and conviction. He was steeped in the tradition of sin as being debt that had to be repaid with the shedding of blood, like the Old Testament verse I quoted above. The problem with the modern application of this tradition is that Jesus’ death on the cross was the lump sum payment for the transgressions of all. The debt has already been paid in full. There is a passage in the ninth chapter of the Book of Hebrews that explains it perfectly, and I quote: “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to cover the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9, verses 24-28, NIV) The Biblical concept of Jesus’ crucifixion as the payment of the debt of all of humankind’s sins is the central focal point of Christian belief, whether in Catholicism or Protestantism. Throughout the history of Christianity, there have been many ardent followers who have advocated a return to these basic teachings of Jesus, but without all the trappings of denominational theology. Unfortunately, there are those who insist on doing this with a conservative political bias, despite the fact that the Bible is noticeably anti-capitalist.

Human beings have a long history of behaving badly. They lie; they cheat; they steal; and when pressed, they kill one another with abandon. They actually believe they can fight and kill with honor and dignity, but that's really just a myth. There is no evidence that the practice of “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” ever produced an honorable result, made people more whole with lives that are more satisfying, or produced a society that is equitable for all. The blood that Jesus shed 2,000 years ago has already paid the price for all of it. It's way past time for humankind to put our weapons of war down. Better yet, let's recycle all the scrap from those weapons of war into housing for the homeless, widows and orphans all over the world. The good news is that Jesus is still looking for those kinds of followers, the ones who want to go on a different kind of a journey. Jesus is actively seeking “sermon on the mount” folks to get the world ready for His return. He is seeking men who, when their coats are taken from them, will give up their sport coats as well. And, he seeks those who will help “beat our swords into plowshares, and our spears into pruning hooks”. Will you help get the world ready for the return of the Prince of Peace?

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This week's Bible study will finish up the rest of Ephesians chapter one

Opening the Eyes of Our Hearts

[Ephesians chapter 1, verses 15-23]

Today we will finish up the first chapter in the book of Ephesians. Last week we learned that all true Christians whose belief in Jesus Christ is absolute and irrevocable – provided we make a genuine effort to avoid sinning, as well as remaining uncompromised by our environment, our surroundings, or the friends we keep – will be saved from eternal destruction and unending punishment. Not even our families are exempt from these Christian values as Jesus once said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14, verses 26-27, NIV). For many people, this is an understandably hard teaching to wrap our brains around. Under no circumstances does this mean we should disown our parents or our children or walk out on our spouses, but our service to Christ does takes top priority over everything else, beginning with ourselves. Only those who practice these things will be marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit which guarantees our eternal inheritance with Christ. The apostle Paul continues this topic in his letter to the church at Ephesus as he reassures them that they all have this Spiritual seal, as do we, beginning in verse 15.

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him even better.” (Ephesians 1, verses 15-17, NIV)

We can be sure that this sacrifice of praise continues until the day of His return by today's true and authentic Church. If any one of us becomes unsure of their salvation in Christ, or if anyone finds themselves questioning their belief due to feelings of guilt or remorse because of their past, or because of financial devastation, or a family break-up, rest assured that there are Christians everywhere making constant intercessory prayers for all who believe, and that includes you. Whether you perceive it or not, you are being prayed for, so take heart in that. Better still, begin praying for others and not just people you know. When we see someone suffering from mental illness or someone in a wheelchair, when we see or hear an ambulance or a fire truck go by with sirens blaring, when you encounter a homeless person (especially a veteran), children from single-parent homes, orphans, widows and the poor, pray for them first before praying for yourself so that everyone's needs can be met with the eternal grace and peace of Christ Jesus. Find out what you can do to help them and then do so. Emulate the example of the apostle Paul in this regard when he wrote, “... I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers...”. We should by all possible means be doing the same thing! So if any of us has a need, pray for the needs of others first as Paul did (and as I try to do as well), so that your own needs can similarly be met. To borrow a cliche, 'what goes around comes around', and prayer (as well as the way we treat others) does exactly that. This is one of the few man-made truisms that applies to the church and the secular world at the same time. Bearing that in mind, let's continue and finish chapter one.

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1, verses 18-23, NIV)

Open the eyes of our hearts and enlighten us, dear Lord Jesus! I wrote briefly about intercessory prayer above, and here is a very good example put forth by Paul the apostle. We are all called to, “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe”. You can now see that in the kingdom of God, which will be headed on Earth by Jesus himself upon his impending return, is the inheritance of everyone who believes and who worships Jesus as the Son of God in Spirit and in truth. Incomparable glory and power will be ours as well, not in our current lives and not in these bodies, but in the eternal life that is to come for all those who genuinely believe. If God can “work his mighty strength” by raising Jesus from the dead into eternal life, He can and will most definitely do the same for ourselves. This is exactly why eternal life will be the reward for those who live Godly lives and who put their faith in Jesus above all else. The supreme sacrifice made by Jesus when He was crucified and died, and then raised from the dead and saved from hell by God the Father, and has risen to eternal life sitting at the right hand of God, He alone shall rule the universe without end – not just the earth but everything that surrounds it! Jesus is therefore “the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” So, don't we all want to live lives that are dedicated to our service to Christ first and second to each other? Most definitely, and with ourselves being last so that our prayers may retain the proper perspective and be in proper order. So long as we all make sure that we put Jesus first above all else, we are well on our way to the eternal fullness and Spiritual wealth that is only found in Christ Jesus. Let's all keep this in mind as we go through our daily lives, because that's how we will know for sure that we are on the right track.

Maintaining One's Objectivity While Surrounded By Insanity

Empathy and Compassion As the Antidote to Chaos

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

Mass shootings here at home, combined with rumors of wars between Russia, China and the US in every combination you can think of, not to mention the Middle East, are making most of us think the entire world is coming unglued. In my humble opinion, those who think so are absolutely right. We are exactly at the point in history that Jesus spoke about in Matthew chapter 24, verse six when our Lord and Savior said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come”. Some say this means world war three is inevitable just because Jesus made that statement the way He did. After all, the word “must” is right in the middle of it. But I would like to interject here that God also created humankind will a free will – meaning, we can change our world for the better if we do our due diligence in seeing this huge task through to its completion, and if we are collectively determined enough to succeed. Where to start from, you may ask? One place could be to sharpen our instincts for empathy and compassion towards others. What has gone so terribly wrong with our country (not just the US, but globally)? Why are we becoming more aggressive, violent, self-interested and egocentric as a society? The problem goes far deeper than just blaming the escalating rhetoric of political pundits (such as Donald Trump's current presidential bid) and talk show hosts, or of vilifying the so-called “gun culture” (which is part of the Constitution of the United States). Guns are part of American culture, and have been since its inception. But at the end of the day, all this amounts to is fear-mongering. I think the world is a dangerous place, and so for myself, acquiring the means to defend myself is just part of life. But if anyone disagrees, stay with me here because I'm going somewhere with this.

It is the very nature of human beings that make us so susceptible to the rising plague of hate and mistrust, even to the point of paranoia, and of the unfocused rage and violence that is spreading across the land. The American character was forged, in large part, on a skewed idea about who we are as a people that was spawned hundreds of years ago in the Protestant Reformation. From the very moment John Winthrop and his flock of Puritans landed on American shores in 1620, we came to believe that we are God's chosen people, when in fact the Bible states clearly and repeatedly that it is the nation of Israel that is God's chosen people. For Scripture that backs this up irrefutably, please see Deuteronomy chapter 34, verses 1-4 (“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land – from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the valley of Jericho, the city of palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, 'This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I will give it to your descendants'”; and Joshua chapter one, verses 2-5, which says, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them – to the Israelites. I will give you every place that you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert in Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittite country – to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” For the most detailed explanation found in the Bible, see Joshua chapters 13-20, which describes in great detail the root causes of the Arab-Israeli conflict that simmers to this day.

To put it bluntly, the ideology that God has a unique covenant with America that makes us special among the peoples of the world is a load of bull. It's called “replacement theology”, and it's a false teaching that mostly exists in certain denominations that I will decline to mention. I pray that these people will come to the maximum level of knowledge of the truth through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, without which they cannot be saved. There are still others who self-identify as Christians who have become the fiercest supporters of the erroneous belief that the naked pursuit of individual self-interest – the pursuit of profit based on greed, a.k.a. capitalism – is the defining feature of human nature (known colloquially as the “prosperity gospel”). We have by extension become believers in so-called “American exceptional-ism," the mistaken belief that our political ideology(s) and our capitalist economic system and way of life are somehow superior to all others (mainly because it's allegedly made the United States the richest country in the world). This mountain of political hubris was the basis for the Cold War from the late 1940's to the late 1980's. Untold trillions of American tax dollars were wasted on a Cold War effort that was probably never necessary in the first place! Yet, in our social lives, we are the strongest supporters of “social Darwinism”, that life is a combative struggle in which only the strongest survive. These highly regarded core “beliefs” are antithetical to a mature and empathetic sensibility, an antidote to compassion, and they are mean-spirited, malicious and selfish to say the least.

It's no wonder, then, that when President Obama spoke of “empathy” during his first year in office, mentioning that it is the guiding philosophical principle in his life, he was pummeled and excoriated in the main-stream press as being weak, and “unfit” to be the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on Earth. The question that is bothering me here is: What is there about the interrelated concepts of empathy and compassion that conjures up so much derision? Why does this seem to frighten or offend so many people? Perhaps it's because having empathy and compassion requires giving up the pretense of being special and anointed, as being “God's chosen people”, which is tantamount to being usurpers of God's holy covenant as stated in the above passages of Scripture. It means being mindful of other points of view, which requires the maintenance of an open mind, not to mention tolerance of those who are different from ourselves. It also means abandoning the stupid idea that narcissistic self-interest is the only thing that matters. And, most important, it means being sympathetic to the plight of others who are less fortunate and being sensitive to their needs. That's what Jesus meant when he said, “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brethren, that you do for me”.

New discoveries in human evolutionary development that encompass mankind's anthropology as well as advances in psychiatry and psychology are challenging our long held shibboleths about human nature. We are learning that human beings are biologically predisposed – not for aggression, violence, self-interest and pleasure-seeking utilitarian behavior, but rather for friendship and sociability, even intimacy – and that empathy and compassion are the emotional and cognitive means by which we express these drives. To empathize is to experience the condition of others as if it was our own. It is to recognize their vulnerabilities and their struggles to flourish and to become something more than what they are. To express compassion with others requires that we first acknowledge our own vulnerabilities and to confront our own feelings of insecurity. It is because we realize that life is fraught with challenges, that we are all imperfect, fragile and vulnerable, that life is precious and worthy of being treated with respect, that we are then able to reach out and, through our empathetic regard, express our solidarity with our fellow beings. Empathy is how we celebrate each others existence. To empathize is to civilize, and to have and practice compassion is what sums up the two greatest commandments of Christ (“Love the Lord your God with all your strength, with all your might, with all your heart and with all your spirit. And the second command is like the first: Love your neighbor as yourself”).

Empathy is the real 'invisible hand' of history. It is the social glue that has allowed our species to express solidarity with each other over ever broader domains. The advent of the internet in the last 25 years, and more recently social media, has increased this phenomenon exponentially. Empathy has evolved over history. In forager-hunter societies, empathy rarely went beyond tribal blood ties. In the great agricultural age, empathy extended past blood ties to socialization ties based on religious or racial identification. Jews began to empathize with fellow Jews as if in an extended family, Christians began empathizing with fellow Christians, Muslims with Muslims, and so on. In the Industrial Age, with the emergence of the modern nation-state, empathy extended once again, this time to people of like-minded national identities. Americans began to empathize with Americans, Germans with Germans, Japanese with Japanese. Today empathy is beginning to stretch beyond national boundaries to include the whole of humanity. We are coming to see the biosphere as our indivisible community, and our fellow human beings and creatures as our extended evolutionary family.

This doesn't mean that our national loyalties, religious beliefs and blood affiliations are not important to us any more. But when they become a litmus test for defining the human sojourn, all other beliefs become the “alien other”. For a long time, we Americans have been obsessed with "creating a more perfect union." Maybe it is time to put equal or greater weight on creating a more empathetic and compassionate society. The hard economic times that have been ongoing since the economic implosion of 2008 up to the present serve to add even more emphasis to this timeless truth. We have the stark choice of either upholding each other for the mutual benefit of all, or facing mutually assured self-destruction. It's all up to us.

Nuclear War-What It Would Look Like

For this week's Bible study we'll start the Book of Ephesians

Having the Mark of the Spirit

[Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1-14]

This week we begin our study of the next consecutive book in the New Testament, the book of Ephesians. This book, like the book of Colossians we just finished, was written by the apostle Paul, the twelfth apostle. Among the highlights in this book are Paul's explanation of his ministry to the Gentiles despite his own Jewish ancestry and religious education, and his still-controversial comments at the end regarding the relationship between husbands and wives and the Church. Bearing that in mind, let's begin at verse one, where Paul gave them a most eloquent and Christ-like greeting.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” (Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1-10, NIV)

The first thing I want to point out here is that the timeless prose in which this is written is clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit, not just because Paul was a gifted writer, even though he was well-educated during a period in history when most people were illiterate. He is completely focused on Jesus Christ, correctly asserting that those who are saved by His blood were saved since long before recorded time began. We are adopted as sons and daughters of God, which is a reiteration of a point of fact Paul made in his letter to the Roman church, which we studied previously. Jesus has also freely given us his grace, which is defined as unmerited favor from God, like a birthday present. One modern example of grace would be if a traffic cop pulls you over because he or she caught you speeding, and then lets you off with a warning for whatever reason. God's grace is very similar, but it's also far more serious – you're being let off the hook for offenses that will send a nonbeliever straight to hell. And, just in case anyone is unsure, there really is such a place as hell. Jesus shed his blood and died on Calvary to save us all from eternal condemnation. That's why faith in Christ, alongside belief put into action, is absolutely essential for salvation and a shot at eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior.

Paul closes this portion of his message to Ephesus with a prophecy, which the Bible defines as a proclamation of the Word of God or a fulfillment of His will. And Paul states that God's will is “to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” Without a doubt Paul is referring to the end times, which are the last days on Earth before the return of Christ for his church. The true Church will be taken up and away from the earth when the often-prophesied antichrist comes to power and initiates his world government. The antichrist will rule on earth for three and a half years prior to the return of Jesus Christ who, along with his true believers and followers who do his will, will defeat the combined armies of the antichrist at the battle of Armageddon at His return. But, let me save any additional comments on the End Times for another time so I don't stray off topic. For now, let's move along with our study beginning at verse 11.

“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity to the purpose of his will, in order that we, who are the first hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession – to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians chapter 1, verses 11-14, NIV)

Everybody who hears the Gospel of Christ, and all who read their Bibles and these words and all the rest, all are included with Christ in his Father's plan for salvation for all of us. Remember what Jesus taught us, “Never will I leave you, and never will I forsake you”. You are adopted into the eternal family of God as a son or a daughter, and you remain that way for all eternity since there is no passage of time in heaven like there is here on Earth. But there is much more to this than the act of adoption. We are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit which is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, and this mark is located on our forehead. We can't physically see it but it most definitely is there. I would compare “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” to a down payment on a house. Jesus wants to come in and live there with you forever, just like a marriage. So he leaves us his Holy Spirit as a security deposit until he returns for the redemption of our souls, and to abide with us forever.

What I find most interesting is that this same language and terminology that Paul is using when he wrote that we are all “marked with a seal” is also used in the book of Revelation chapter seven to describe the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel who will be marked with the seal of the Living God. On the other hand, after the antichrist comes to power, he forces everyone to receive his mark, or seal, in order to be able to work, to buy and to sell. Without the mark of the beast, as Revelation calls it, no one will be able to buy food or anything else for that matter. No fuel for your vehicle, no way to make rent or mortgage payments, and no way to obtain employment will be just a few of the hallmarks of the antichrist's reign for those who refuse to worship him and to take his mark. The mark of the beast is the polar opposite of the mark of the Holy Spirit in the spiritual realm. 

 

My point here is that the apostle Paul used a quote from what later became the book of Revelation, which was not written until long after Paul's death by execution in Rome. How did Paul know what it would say in that part of Revelation if it had not yet been written? By the discernment of the Holy Spirit! It's the only possible explanation! And that, my dear readers, is how we know for sure that the Bible is the inspired written Word of God. Here is your proof in black and white, although there are numerous other similar examples. But this one fits in best with this week's study, and I hope you all find this to be at least as encouraging as I do, if not more. Let's close on that note and reflect on it for a minute. Be encouraged in the Lord, as He taught and as it is written, “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”

THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND

On Matters of Faith (part two)

On Matters of Faith

[John chapter nine part two]

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

Last week when we left off at verse 23, I was comparing the Pharisee's shabby treatment of the blind man who had been healed by Jesus to that of many aspiring Christians who have been driven away from mainstream churches. I then took an entire paragraph to comment on how this horribly negative attitude toward the less fortunate continues to permeate American society today. The Pharisees even tried to get his own parents to testify against their son, but to no avail. Once they realized they weren't going to get what they wanted from the formerly blind man's parents, they brought the blind man who Jesus healed back before the council at the Temple and the chief priests, presumably from his holding cell. That's where we'll take up where we left off last week, beginning at verse 24.

“A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. 'Give glory to God', they said. 'We know this man is a sinner'. He replied, 'Whether he is a sinner or not I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!' Then they asked him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?' He answered, 'I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?' Then they hurled insults at him and said, 'You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from'. The man answered, 'Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the Godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.' To this they replied, 'You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!' And they threw him out.” John chapter 9, verses 24-34, NIV)

“A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. 'Give glory to God', they said. 'We know this man is a sinner'.” What were the Pharisees talking about here? On the surface it may seem to be the Pharisees talking among themselves about the formerly blind man who was standing before them. But, I think it's much more likely the Pharisees were talking to the man born blind about Jesus, the man who healed him, and in a pretty disrespectful way, presumably as a snub to the blind man who had been healed. Churches and their various denominations are still doing the same thing today. One denomination preaches and rails against another, and even individual churches within a community do the same. Churches that behave this way towards one another invariably have pastors who have never learned that it's always bad business practice to bad-mouth your competition. As it is with businesses, so it is with houses of worship as well as other charities. Trashing those who think differently than oneself inevitably comes around and bites you in the backside, sooner or later. The childhood game of 'my religion's better than yours' is never played in genuine churches who follow exclusively the sacred teachings of our Lord Christ Jesus! If any of you have experienced such behavior in your current church, go find a better one! Seriously, get out of there ASAP.

So then the formerly blind man says in response, “'Whether he is a sinner or not I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!'” 'He', of course, is Jesus of Nazareth, the man who had healed the formerly blind man. The Pharisees were accusing the blind man of collaborating with Jesus by allowing himself to be healed on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were putting Jesus on trial in absentia by accusing him of breaking the Sabbath, one of the Ten Commandments, by performing a work of healing on the man who stood before them. “I was blind but now I see. What's wrong with that?”, is the formerly blind man's response to the Pharisees line of questioning in a modern context. Another way to put this could be, “If Jesus sinned by healing me, then why did he do such a perfect job?” Clearly there is a contradiction in all this that the formerly blind man could readily see, but which completely escaped the “educated” Pharisees who were interrogating him. The reason simply was their refusal to believe what was standing right before them – a miracle of Almighty God, done at the hands of his only Son, Jesus the Christ, the anointed one!

Then the Pharisees continued their interrogation: “'What did he do to you. How did he open your eyes?' He answered, 'I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?' Then they hurled insults at him and said, 'You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from'.” How did Jesus do what he did? This takes us back to verse 17 from last week, when the formerly blind man responded, “He is a prophet”, as he was referring to Christ during his initial line of questioning before the high priests. Even after the man's parents verified that he had been born blind, the Pharisees still did not believe any of them. “As for this fellow (Jesus), we don't even know where he comes from”, retorted the Pharisees to the blind man who had been healed. They placed their faith in Moses, who they had not seen, but they adamantly refused to believe in Christ or his miracle which they were seeing right before their eyes. When the Pharisees said, “As for this fellow, we don't know where he comes from”, they were prophesying against themselves without realizing it. If we go back six chapters in John's gospel, Jesus taught Nicodemus about this very same topic when he said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”. (John 3:8) Jesus was referring to his earlier statement in that same chapter when he taught Nicodemus, “No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born again of the water and the Spirit”. (John 3:5) So we can say for sure that you must be born again to be able to inherit eternal life, like a mandatory first step, such as charging up your phone when the battery goes dead prior to using it again. So since the Pharisees failed to perceive, or maybe didn't want to see, that the blind man's healing had come from God, they were not born again either, meaning they will not inherit eternal life when they die. Eternal death will be their only companion forever.

John's gospel continues at verse 30: “The man answered, 'Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners.....” In modern terms the man was saying, “I am a walking, talking miracle of God and yet you still refuse to believe? You Pharisees, who depict yourselves as being so well educated and so Godly, can't even see what is in plain sight?” As you can see from the original text, the formerly blind man is astonished and incredulous at the Pharisees refusal to believe despite the fact that the proof they needed was standing in front of them. The man who had been born blind then says, “Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.' To this they replied, 'You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!' And they threw him out.” The Pharisees were exhibiting arrogance and conceit in their most extreme, having contempt for the handiwork of the Lord. People who hate other people do basically the same thing. It's as if they're saying, “How dare you refuse to be more like me!” If such people would stop and think for a minute about what they are really saying when they say stuff like that, a lot fewer people would be engaging in such behavior. It's time for all of us to collectively grow up already! With that in mind, let's finish up John chapter nine, “On Matters of Faith”, beginning at verse 35.

“Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' 'Who is he, sir,' the man asked. 'Tell me so that I may believe in him.' Jesus said, 'You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking to you.' Then the man said, 'Lord, I believe', and he worshiped him. Jesus said, 'For judgment have I come into this world, so that the blind will see, and so that those who see may become blind.' Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, 'What? Are we blind too?' Jesus said, 'If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains'.” (John chapter 9, verses 35-41)

In these closing verses, Jesus goes and seeks the man out after finding out he had been ejected from the Temple at Jerusalem. It could have been to tell him what Jesus told the crowd of people he taught at the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are you when you are persecuted for my name's sake, for great is your reward in the kingdom of heaven. For in the same way their ancestors treated the prophets who came before you.” However, in this case Jesus must have seen that this wasn't necessary because the formerly blind man's faith was so strong. Instead, Jesus came right out and asked the man if he believed in “the Son of Man”. When the man who had been born blind asked for the identity of such a person, Jesus identifies himself as being that person, but in a very low-key manner that I find refreshing. Notice that there was no announcer saying, “May we have a drum roll, please?” just before Jesus' answer, or anything like that. Jesus could have sought fame and fortune as the Son of God, but he rejected them instead, something that some members of humankind still needs to learn. “' Then the man said, 'Lord, I believe', and he worshiped him. Jesus said, 'For judgment have I come into this world, so that the blind will see, and so that those who see may become blind.'” So then one of the Pharisees who was within earshot of Jesus says to him, “So you think we're blind too?” Translated into modern English, Jesus told that Pharisee he had just snitched on himself! The main lesson learned here is that Jesus still heals today just like always. But a secondary, and perhaps equally as important lesson is that the more that religious people claim to be able to see and communicate with God (both figuratively and literally), the farther away they actually become. On the other hand, those who worship in Spirit and in truth from afar will be drawn closer by that same Spirit. Sometimes the answers we seek are hidden within the deep knowledge of God. Other times they are hidden in plain sight. The reason God never makes it easy for us is so he can make us stronger. And, stronger people make better workers for His kingdom.