Pastor Caroline - Be At Peace

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHY JESUS?

 WHY JESUS?

There’s no question that the most important person in the Christmas story is Jesus Himself. But the question remains why Jesus? Why did the creator of the cosmos, an all powerful deity, elect to come to earth as a human? Why did He choose to endure the indignities and problems of childhood and the subsequent teenage years in order to grow to manhood and then be a sacrifice for us? Many people of other religions, and even some in Christianity, say that God would not demean Himself in such a way, and therefore, disbelieve much of what the Bible says about Christ.

So why should we accept the story that Christ came to earth as a child and was born to a virgin in such humble circumstances as the Bible relates it to us? Why Jesus and why the story of His birth as it is told? Why should the creator of all, and the most powerful being of all, subject himself to such indignity and humility? It is this disbelief that causes many to disavow Christ’s divinity on the basis that God would not do such a thing and would not create a child - “His only begotten son” (1 John 4:9). Of course, not believing that God could or would not do such a thing puts human limits on an omnipotent and limitless God.

But the question still remains - why Christ? There are a number of reasons why God might come to earth as He did in human form. 

Firstly, it could be because of man’s priority in God’s creation. The question of man’s importance is asked in Hebrews 2:

“What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Hebrews 2:6) 

It is then stated:

“You have made him a little lower that the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
(Hebrews 2:7-8)

And in addition to mankind as a whole

Jesus [as well]…was made a little lower than the angels…
(Hebrews 2:9)

Secondly, it could have been to help unify God with man. Since the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) it makes sense…

…that He, by the grace of God, 

might taste death for everyone and [make] 

their salvation perfect through [His] sufferings.

(Hebrews 2:9-10) 

In order to accomplish this, He had to be human Himself.

Thirdly, to free us from captivity.

…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, 

that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death 

were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

(Hebrews 2:14-15)

Fourthly, to simply relate to us. Since we all sin and are tempted into sin everyday, He came to relate to us in our environment so that it could be said:

For in that he Himself has suffered, being tempted, 

He is able to aid those who are tempted.

(Hebrews 2:18) 

He was 

…in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

(Hebrews 4:15)

Fifthly, and perhaps most importantly, so that we can relate to Him. He can know everything about us but the opposite is certainly not true. How does a finite being come to really understand anything about an infinite deity? He is remote; far removed from our circumstances and understanding. And this is the case still with most religions in which the god worshipped is aloof and distant, striking fear into those who seek to worship him.  Hence, the sacrifices that occur in order to appease and assuage such a god. 

But the true God is different, even though one of His names, Elohim, means creator, powerful, and transcendent. God is also called “the Lord God" referring to a more personal, and intimate deity. So how could we relate to an all-powerful, transcendent creator unless He was willing to relate to us on our level as a human as well? 

By seeing Him as He grew alongside us, we should have been able to fully relate to His message and purpose. The fact that most still do not illustrates the stubbornness and self-reliance we still retain within ourselves. It also may explain to a large extent the present situation of the world and why more may eventually be lost than what we expect.

And those may be lost just because they do not believe or understand. The Bible refers to this in the following scriptures:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(1 Corinthians 1:18)

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God,

it pleased God through the foolishness of the message to save those who believe.

(1 Corinthians 1:21)

“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; 

for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”

(John 12:47)

So why Jesus? He is the manifestation of an all powerful deity in a human form so that we could understand and relate to the loving, personal side of God. A God who only wants love and respect from us in return.

At Christmas, we should stop thinking so much of the presents we receive and give to each other and think more of the gifts of peace, joy, and hope brought to us by that fateful star (“I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16) that led the wise men to the house where Jesus lay so long ago. 

It is something we all should think about. 

 

Pastor Caroline - Jesus is The Light - The Last Sunday of Advent

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 35

Dr. Barclay said that he'd see you next week. He meant in two weeks time on January 3.

Merry Christmas and he'll see you in the new year.

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHY HEROD?

 

WHY HEROD?

In order to see the good in some people, it is often necessary to see the evil in others. Such is the case with Herod who reigned at the time of Jesus’ birth. Herod was the King of Judea, a puppet king under the rule of Rome. He was not a native Jew but an Arab who had converted to Judaism. Both himself and his father had developed ties with the Roman Emperors and because of these ties, Herod, in time, succeeded in being appointed the King of Judea. He was a proud man who loved to display his own prowess by erecting large fortresses and palaces as well as the rebuilt Jewish Temple, all of which the people apparently paid for by heavy taxation. At same time, however, Herod was insecure and, to a degree, mentally unstable. He eventually became so insecure regarding his power and position that he ended up murdering his wife and five other members of her family.

Such was the man who reigned at the time of Jesus’ birth. But there also was some  question regarding his intellect and insight as well. After all, his advisors had to be aware of the prophecies regarding the Messiah. Was he just not informed? After the shepherds heard the news and visited the manger “…they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (Luke 2:17-18).

Herod must have had spies and informants throughout his territory. Did they not hear of this news and report back to the King? Or were they too afraid to do so? Perhaps Herod just would not listen. After all, what could shepherds know?

It appears that Jesus must have lived under Herod’s rule and close to his location for almost two years before the wise men came and sought out Herod’s court. It was only then that Herod “…gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, [and] inquired of them where the Christ was to be born” (Matthew 2:4). After he was informed, Herod secretly called the wise men and “…determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me…” (Matthew 2:7-8). 

The question remains as to why Herod did not send personnel to tail the wise men and to report to him directly as to Christ’s location. Did he still not believe what he had been told or was he too arrogant to accept advice? In any case, it was only after the wise men did not return that he became desperate and angry and “…set forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under…” (Matthew 2:16). 

Herod really only reacted when he felt that his own position and power were truly threatened and then in a way that caused destruction and chaos. In a way we’re all a bit like Herod. In fact, we really all fall into one of the three categories represented by the players in the Christmas story. Some are like the shepherds, who respond in a basic and humble way to the Good News when they receive it and apparently believe without question what has been told to them.

Other are like the wise men, who ponder what they have heard and look for supporting evidence in science before they may react. However, when they see the facts will go to wherever they are directed to seek out the truth, and will respond to that truth when it is found.

Unfortunately, many are also like Herod and are so interested in believing in themselves and responding to their own impulses that they do not see what really lies before them. They refute the evidence and deny the obvious because it does not comply with their preconceived concept of reality. They may not listen to advice and may only react with anger and hostility when (and if) they react at all. Denial can be a great preserver of individual control but only up to that point at which it is no longer possible to maintain.

Are you like those who see a miracle and just know that it’s true and then go forth seeking in faith? Or are you like one who hears the news but waits for more evidence before reacting and heading out for wherever, no matter how far that journey may take you? 

Or do you belong to that group of people who are basically insecure and so set in their ways that they will continue to deny the evidence, missing what is right in front of them, and reacting with anger and hostility when forced to confront the facts?

We all to some extent belong to one of these three groups and perhaps at times a combination of all. Considering all this should give each of us something to think about.

Pastor Caroline - Peace - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 34

Dr, Barclay with Something to Think About - WHY THE MAGI?

 

WHY THE MAGI?

If it seemed unusual that the first announcement of Christ’s birth would be by angels to a group of shepherds, does it not seem even more unusual that the message was also relayed to people who were not only far removed from Judea, but not even Jewish? The shepherds at least were Jewish, and thus probably knew to some degree the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah, and, of course, also they were in Judea. So, why were the Magi told?

The shepherds were people who were sorely in need of some good news. They were poor outcasts. As we saw last week, they were the lowest of society: unkempt, unwashed, uneducated, unwanted. The Magi, however, were the complete opposite compared to the keepers of sheep. They were intellectual, educated, and probably pillars of their community. They were accepted by society. In fact, they were so accepted by society that they are often referred to as kings (even though there is no evidence to support this in the Bible). But as stated earlier, they were not Jewish and they were not in Judea. 

So again, why the Magi? How did it come to be that “…wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, ‘For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’” (Matthew  2:1-2) 

God apparently deemed these men* important enough to be part of that historical event. And they apparently understood how significant Christ’s birth was, electing to travel about 1000 miles from the East, only following a star. How did they know the star was for Him? And did no one else see the heavenly object? Did they know of the Jewish prophecies from the time of the Jewish captivity years previous, or was this star specifically designed for their eyes only? It would take a lot of insight or spiritual guidance to recognize what this heavenly phenomena meant and to initiate such a journey.

So again why the Magi? Why were these non-Jewish men, who resided far from Judea chosen to be a part of this event? What was their significance?

Let us recall what God said through Paul in Romans 1:16. That the “…gospel of Christ…[would be] the salvation of God for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” In 1 John 2:2 it states that Jesus “…Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Is this what the non-Jewish, non-Judea residing Magi represent - the fulfilment of the promise that salvation is for everyone? Was that the true purpose of their brief** appearance in the Bible to show us that Jesus was to be the “…good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10)?

From the Jewish shepherds in Judea who were poor, unwelcome, uneducated, and despised to the wise, educated, prosperous, worldly, and respected Magi of the East, the good news went out. Those who were responsive to the message from the angels found Christ. Those who were receptive to what they had observed in the sky, accepted what they had previously been told, and risked the journey required, following that remarkable star also found Christ.

The same applies to us today. If we are willing to listen to what the Bible tells us and to see what is all around us then we, like the others, will find Jesus. We really only need to pay attention because…  

…since the creation of the world 

His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, 

even His eternal power and Godhead… 

(Romans 1:20) 

The Magi understood from the star that something of a divine nature had taken place. Their belief and acceptance should give us all something to think about.

*We don’t really know how many Magi travelled to see Christ, as there is nothing in the Bible that says there where only three. The Bible only states that there were three gifts, it doesn’t say how many people.

** And their appearance was brief. After the manager story in Matthew, these particular wise men are not referred to again in the Bible. However, they have not disappeared from history. It is believed that the bones of the Magi can be found in a reliquary behind the high alter in Cologne Cathedral in Cologne Germany - a church which was in part built to house these relics.

Pastor Caroline - Joy - Third Sunday of Advent

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 33

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHY THE SHEPHERDS?

 WHY THE SHEPHERDS?

A little over 2000 years ago, an event took place that would change the course of human history forever. A child, born to humble parents, under humble circumstances, and in humble surroundings, gave no indication at the time of how He would later come to change the world. In fact, at first people at did not understand Jesus at all.

Although many must have known the prophecies concerning the Messiah, no one apparently expected such an arrival. The circumstances of the prophecy proclaimed by Jacob: 

“The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, 

Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, 

Until Shiloh (Messiah) comes; 

And to Him shall be the obedience of the people,”

(Genesis 49:10)

had been fulfilled when Rome removed the sceptre (symbol of Jewish authority) at the time of the Roman occupation of Judea. It is said that the Jewish leaders tore their clothes and applied ashes to their bodies when this happened because the Messiah had not apparently come.

However, the announcement did not come as one might have expected for such an important person. Instead it came first to a small group of shepherds in a field at night. 

But why the shepherds? 

Shepherds were considered to be the lowest of Jewish society; unkempt, often unwashed, uneducated, poor, and unwanted. They were considered by many to be the dregs of humanity. This was not only the case in Judah; the Egyptians also despised shepherds “for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians” (Genesis 46:34). But it was to them that the first announcement came. 

Perhaps it was, in the first place, because they were Jewish. Paul would later say in Romans:

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 

for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, 

for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

(Romans 1:16)

Perhaps it was just because of their status that the announcement first came to these people. Jesus, as we know, would later go on to say:

Blessed are the poor in spirit…

Blessed are the meek…

Blessed are the pure in heart…

But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear 

(Matthew 5:3,5,8 & Matthew 13:16)

Such people are often more willing to see and to hear and so accept and understand than others who have plenty. Perhaps that also explains why the Gospel is frequently more accepted in areas which have little compared to those places which have an abundance. Remember, it was a poor Jesus who went into the synagogue in Nazareth and spoke from the book of the prophet Isaiah: 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me 

To preach the gospel to the poor… 

(Luke 4:18) 

[thus] to the poor the gospel is preached

(Luke 7:22, KJV)

 

Although the shepherds were poor and had a number of unwelcoming characteristics, they were apparently not unaware of the prophecies concerning the Messiah. They were frightened when the angel appeared (as anyone would be if an unknown being suddenly appeared before them) .Therefore, it was not unexpected that the angel would say: “Do not be afraid” (Luke 2:10). And miraculously, they weren’t. They went right away to Bethlehem to see for themselves what had been told to them. There was then apparently no fear in them for they said:

Let us now go to Bethlehem 

and see this thing that has come to pass, 

which the Lord has made known to us 

(Luke 2:15)

A group of men who were poor and rejected by society but yet willing to hear and follow   with eagerness that which they had been told by the angelic host.

 

And they came with haste 

and found Mary and Joseph, 

and the Babe lying in a manger. 

(Luke 2:16)

If it were only so today that we would all come in haste to Christ when we hear the gospel and the good news concerning His coming.

It really is something to think about.

 

 

Pastor Caroline - Love - Second Sunday of Advent

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 32

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE CLOUD

 

 THE CLOUD

The Bible is comprised of 66 books, written over a period of about 1500 years. But similar to a treatise written by a single author, it contains themes which extend throughout all its pages. One such, which extends from Genesis through to Revelation, is that of ‘the cloud’. 

After the flood, when the rain had stopped, Noah and his family left the ark and made a sacrifice to the Lord. In turn, God made a covenant with Noah and as a token of this said:

“I set My rainbow in the cloud, 

and it shall be for the sign of the covenant 

between Me and the earth.”

(Genesis 9:13)

And since then, God has often been associated with a cloud.

In Exodus, when the Hebrews were leaving Egypt, it is said that: 

…the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way…

(Exodus 13:21) 

Later on it says that:

…the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

(Exodus 16:10)

When Moses later went up to the mount to meet with God…

…a thick cloud covered the mount.

(Exodus 24:15, KJV) 

The Lord said to Moses:

“Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud 

that the people may hear…

and believe you forever.” 

(Exodus 19:9) 

Later on, when Moses entered the tabernacle…

…the pillar of cloud descended 

and stood at the door of the tabernacle, 

and the Lord talked with Moses.

(Exodus 33:9) 

Still later on,

…Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle…

because the cloud rested above it, 

and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 

(Exodus 40:35)

In Kings, the Bible states that:

…when the priests came out of the holy place, 

that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 

so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; 

for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

(1 Kings 8:10-11)

And that:

“The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.” 

(1 Kings 8:12)

Job, speaking of the majesty of God, said:

He covers the face of His throne, 

And spreads His cloud over it.

(Job 26:9)

And it is not only in the Old Testament that we hear of God being in the cloud. At the time of Jesus’ transfiguration, Mark relates that:

…a cloud came and overshadowed them; 

and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 

‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

(Mark 9:7)

When Luke talks about the coming of the Son of Man, he states:

Then they will see the Son of Man 

coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

(Luke 21:27) 

Now when He had spoken these things, 

while they watched, He was taken up, 

and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

(Acts 1:9)

And it ends in Revelation with this:

…behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud 

sat One like the Son of Man…

and in His hand a sharp sickle… 

…So He who sat on the cloud 

thrust in His sickle on the earth, 

and the earth was reaped.

(Revelation 14:14&16)

And so God is associated with a cloud from the book of Genesis right through to the book of Revelation. It shows in another way how the Bible is unified from beginning to end, even though it is composed of many books written over a long period of time. 

And it is in such context that we should think about it.

 

Pastor Caroline - Hope - First Sunday of Advent

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 31

Dr. Barclay wth Something to Think About - BLIND

 BLIND

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 

And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, 

this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, 

but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; 

the night is coming when no one can work.”

(John 9:1-4)

Just before this event took place, Jesus had already been having difficulties with the Jewish leaders because of His actions and beliefs. Now He went against the belief that most, if not all, handicaps came about as a result of some indiscretion, either on the part of the individual or their parents. Furthermore, He went on to heal the man of his blindness, much to the chagrin of the Jewish leaders.

Their response to this event was not to examine what had happened in a careful manner but to say that: “this Man is a sinner” (John 9:24) referring to Jesus. The blind man replied: “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

It is a tragedy for anyone to be handicapped in a way that prevents that person from fulfilling their true potential. And that handicap could be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual in nature. How often do we still tend to find some fault with the person or the parents or with the system when such happens? It could be something that was taken during pregnancy, or something that was done, or a virus, or a medication; and although those may undoubtedly play a part, perhaps more that we realize, it may be as Jesus said: “that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3).

Perhaps this shows why handicapped people such as Helen Keller, born deaf and blind, are eventually able to live such a miraculous life. Nicholas Vujicic, born without limbs, has become a world renowned evangelist and motivational speaker. Some people may even have chosen, before they were born, to have a handicap. Drs. Lundahl and Widdison, in their book, The Eternal Journey, report that there had been those who had such near-death experiences. During the time that they were on the other side, they met their children, still yet to be born, who chose to be born with some handicap.* Is that why Jesus said to the Jewish leaders that the man was blind so “that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3)?

But the real blindness seemed to be not in the man born that way but in those leaders who refused to accept the reality of what they had witnessed. The blind man himself did not understand all that had happened, but he accepted the fact that his life had changed. He said: “…you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!” (John 9:30) He went on to say: “…if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears him” (John 9:31).

But the Pharisees haughty replied: “You were completely born in sins, and [are] teaching us?”(John 9:34) As a result “they cast him [the blind man] out”(John 9:34); in effect excommunicating him. Jesus replied to the Pharisees: 

“For judgement I have come into this world, 

that those who do not see may see, 

and those who see may be made blind.” 

Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, 

and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [not aware of the law], 

you would have no sin; but now you say ‘We see (know the law).’ 

Therefore your sin remains”(John 9:41)

It has been said: “As much of heaven is visible as we have eyes to see.”**

It has also been said that: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.”*** 

Likewise, it has been said that: “You will never be able to make some understand or accept something if you are too stubborn or unwilling to learn or notice.” ***

In some ways we are all Pharisees because of what we fail to notice and do not try to understand. 

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power 

and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

(Romans 1:20)

To some extent, blindness affects us all, and it is something we should all seriously think about. 

*From The Eternal Journey Chapter 3 by Craig R Lundahl, Ph.D., chairman emeritus Dept of Social Sciences and professor emeritus Western New Mexico University; and Harold Widdison, professor of medical sociology Northern Arizona University

** Quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson American poet (1803-1882)

***FromThe FreeDictionary by Farlex