Jason's Blog

Last night we spent some time discussing John 10.  The good shepherd is one of the great images that early Christians grabbed on to when they considered Jesus.  We can see it in their early art in the tombs, on dishes, and in their lamps.  The book Picturing the Bible (from which I’ve gathered these samples) is a fantastic resource to explore early Christian artistic expression.

1.  Jesus knows his sheep

2.  Jesus is with his sheep.

3.  Jesus willingly gives himself for His sheep.

Let me close this post with a quotation from Philip Thompson in his fine study of the Good Shepherd in the journal Interpretation (April 1997):

“The first article of the Barmen Declaration states, ‘Jesus Christ, as he is attested to us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God whom we have to hear, and whom we have to trust and obey in life and in death.” Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd works still to subvert our isolation, worthlessness, and despair, our pride and complacency, all of which grow out of the power of death. In so doing, he opens for us a space to know the victory of the resurrection; space to be led in the green pastures, beside the still waters, and to dwell in the blessedness of the Lord’s House.” 

There was a nice piece posted on the history of Christmas trees (at Christianhistory.net).  The highlights are:

1.  The idea of a Christmas tree is really old, but some like the early second century Christian leader Tertullian were fierce opponents.

2.  Many would attribute the Christmas tree with Martin Luther but the evidence for this connection is slight at best.

3.  The popularity of the tradition took off with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

4.  Lights on a tree and gift giving replaced some less family friendly traditions.

The last sentence of the article is worth repeated here:  ”As many of us make trees and gifts the center of our own Christmas practice, we would do well to remember that they are ultimately symbols of the One who gave himself to unite heaven and earth, and who brings all barren things to flower.“

I do hope that you and your family can enjoy the Christmas season in all its fullness.

It is the Christmas season.  With the snow that we had today, it it hard to miss that December 25th is just around the corner. . . Now all we have to do it wait, but waiting is never easy. 

“A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.  The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him” (Isaiah 11:1-2). Henri Nouwen makes this great observation about this verse:  ”Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable.  God who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness. . . Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God’s saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacles, power plays, and big events are the ways of the world.  Our temptation is to be distracted by them and made blind to the ’shoot that shall sprout from the stump.’ When I have no eyes for the small signs of God’s presence–the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends– I will always remain tempted to despair”  (Seeds of Hope: A Henri Nouwen Reader, Second Edition (Image Books, 1997): 156-157.  

Another place where we can see the glory of God is in the actions of Jesus.  In John 9, he anoints a man who had been blind from birth.  Jesus stopped, spit on the ground, made a mud paste and told the man to go and wash.  When he did as Jesus asked, his eyes were filled with light.  He could see for the first time.   The disciples of Jesus saw this man as a problem that needed to be solved.  ”Who sinned?  This man or his parents that he was born blind?  Jesus said, “Just wait.  The light has come into the world.  I will show you the greater purpose of his blindness.” 

Have you seen God’s glory?  Has God taken your weakness and turned it completely inside out? Perhaps this Christmas season the Lord will bring comfort and transformation to your life. It may come from the most unlikely of sources. 

I think we all know that we have our fair share of idols in America today.  The real question is how shall we live in a world filled with idolatry.  As I suggested in class, Paul’ words to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 8-10 are quite helpful:

1.  Idols are nothing in and of themselves.  They have no power accept what we give them.

2.  The consciences of the weak in faith may be challenged by the presence of idols.  We should be sensitive to each other.

3.  “Everything may be permissible” but not everything is beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23).

4.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.  Eat anything sold in the market without raising questions of conscience for the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it (1 Corinthians 10:25-26).

Idolatry can only be met with discernment not rules.  White washing houses walls won’t remove the stain of idolatry.  Every thought must be captive to Christ and His kingdom and rule must extend into corner of our lives.

 

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