February 17

GENESIS 50

“Oh bury me not on the lone prairie. . .
I've always wished to be laid when I died
In a little churchyard on the green hillside
By my father's grave, there let me be,
O bury me not on the lone prairie."

That is one of the most famous cowboy ballads dating from the 1800’s, stolen from sailors—O bury me not in the deep, deep sea. . . The cowboy version has been recorded by the likes of Moe Bandy, Johnny Cash, Burl Ives, Tex Ritter, and Roy Rogers. We could almost apply it to Jacob. Joseph, as well, desired to have his bones transferred to Machpelah to be buried in the cave with Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, Isaac and Leah,
If you look for it, there is quite a bit to be seen of the glory of God at a funeral. Funerals ought to do three things. They should honor the life lived. They should cause one to reflect upon his own life to see if he is prepared for his own inevitable death. They should comfort those who remain. Through the proper lenses the glory of God can be seen in each of those purposes. When Jacob’s sons buried him, what do you think they said when they honored him? Do you think they spoke of how he cheated Esau? Do you suppose they reveled in his deception of Isaac? Do you think they related the stories of how he tried to gain Laban’s goods. Did they speak of his response to Shechem when Shechem raped Dinah? Of what did they speak? I’d be willing to bet that they spoke of how he wrestled with God. I am sure that they related the stories of the five different times that God spoke to Jacob/Israel. Do you suppose they dwelt upon how the LORD changed his name? The immense grace of God can be seen at a funeral of a person like Jacob.
As they reflected upon their own lives, what came to mind? Did Reuben think of how he felt remorse for shaming his father for going to bed with Bilhah, Rachel’s maid? (Rachel was Joseph’s mother.) Did Simeon & Levi reflect on their murder of the men of Shechem? Did they all reflect on their early treatment of Joseph, particularly selling him into slavery? You bet they did. They were sure that now that their father was dead that Joseph would now bring about his revenge. The hour of reckoning was now here. But once again we see the glory of the God in Joseph. What was Joseph’s reply?
“Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21“Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Now that is glory! Only the LORD can change a person so that they can forgive like that. Not only that but he comforted them. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

PSALM 48
Some time ago I was sitting on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. My son and I had spent several days trodding through the streets of Jerusalem. At one point we had walked around the exterior walls of the present old city. We walked about her, counted her bulwarks and towers, considered her palaces. We sang this Psalm as we walked. To be honest, it was pretty ugly. I’ve seen plenty of other cities that are prettier. After three millennia of destruction and rebuilding over and over again, it is just ugly. To top it off, it was Ramadan, and the celebrants were leaving trash everywhere. Of course this is now, and in Asaph’s day, it might have been beautiful. It is said that centuries after Asaph, when the expansion begun by Herod the Great was finished, that if one had not seen the temple in Jerusalem, one had never seen a beautiful building.
What made the city beautiful? Unless the foliage is different now than then (which it probably is), then it wasn’t the foliage that made it beautiful. Was it the wonderful architecture? Well, in Asaph’s day, it might have been. But I think it is clear from the passage that what made this little city beautiful was not its architecture or foliage, but it was the presence of the Almighty God. It was God in her palaces that made her beautiful. His beauty made her beautiful. I see a parallel in that for us. It is His presence in us that makes us beautiful. As ugly as I am, and I am not just talking about physical appearance, He makes me beautiful (or maybe I should say handsome)! Corporately He takes His people, the church and makes them beautiful. He removes the spots and wrinkles and makes us glow. That beauty makes us desirable to some who do not know Him yet. They are drawn to His beauty and become one of us. His presence makes all the difference. It is all about His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

JOB 16-17
“Daddy, if I were being chased by the Mafia, would you help me?” Now there is a strange question to come out of the blue. Beth had a dream the night before last. In her dream, the Mafia was chasing her. And NOBODY would help her except Jesse. The police wouldn’t help; nobody, whom she asked for help, would help. Later that day she jokingly asked me that question. Of course I would help.

11God has delivered me to the ungodly, And turned me over to the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, but He has shattered me; He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for His target, 13His archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground. –NKJV

Had God really delivered Job to the ungodly? The Contemporary English Version translates the last part of 13 as: “and without showing mercy, he slashed my stomach open, spilling out my insides.” Job is accusing God of being as merciless as if he were being drawn and quartered! Is that true of God? Indeed God had delivered Job to Satan. God gave Satan permission to do whatever he wanted with Job, except take his life. Satan took God up on the offer. How does this reflect upon the glory of God? I mean, even I, being evil, protect my children, wouldn’t God?
Sometimes God has greater plans in mind than our momentary protection. What we learn from Job is that although the pain, which he was experiencing, was excruciating, God is in control, and ultimately a few minutes in the presence of the Almighty is indeed worth days, months, weeks, yes, even years of pain. God wants the world to know that. But how can the world learn unless people like Job are willing? Sometimes God lets the spiritual Mafia take us, so we can learn how wonderful He is. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

MATTHEW 28
Do you remember when Ronald Reagan was shot? Remember in the confusion as to the succession of the chain of command, Alexander Haig made the comment, "I'm in charge here!" As a career military officer, he was only doing what came natural (even if he wasn't legally in charge). Well, Jesus was dead (or so the disciples thought). Jesus had rebuked Peter for using his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane. The disciples were in great confusion. They were doing what came natural for someone whose leader had been killed and who had rebuked them for resisting before he was killed. They were hiding. No one was in charge. Life couldn't have been any bleaker at the moment. In the midst of that emotional and spiritual darkness, Jesus steps back in.
He was alive! The disciples couldn't believe it! BUT He had told them several times this would happen! But they still could not believe it. He had told them before the crucifixion that when he was raised that He would meet them at the mountain in Galilee. Did they go? No, they didn't believe. The angels and Jesus both appear to the women at the tomb. They tell them to tell the disciples that He is alive and to go to the mountain in Galilee. The women told them. Did they go? No, they didn't believe. You know how it is, men never listen to women, especially when the women are right. We find out in the other gospels that Jesus finally appears to them a couple of times in the upper room in Jerusalem and tells them to go to Galilee. Finally they go. But there is still doubt.
He meets them in Galilee. There is still doubt. But they worship Him. Why? Because His glory is inescapable. As they see Him in His glory, it is so overpowering that they throw themselves prostate before Him. How can the One they saw die be alive and in such mighty health? But He is! What would He say in this moment? Would it be an explanation of His glory? No that is obvious. It is what is most important to His heart. What does He say? He says what their confusion told them they could not believe. He says, "I'm in charge here!--All authority has been given unto Me!" How can a dead guy have any authority? But He is not dead! He is risen! He has all authority, even over death!
In the bleakness of our blackest hours when we are most confused, Jesus stands before us saying, "I'm in charge here--All authority has been given unto Me!" It is hard to believe but none-the-less true. The problem is that His glory is hidden from us. There is blindness on our eyes. In those moments we need desperately to speak His glory and to have His glory spoken to us.
What does the One who has all authority tell them? Make Disciples! His glory is enhanced when we make disciples. What are disciples? Disciples are followers, learners of Jesus. Disciples are people who are focused on the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John