3/18/2019 7 comments (at the bottom of this reflection.)
Today's question:
"Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?
From John 7:
19 ‘Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?’ 20 The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?’ 21 Jesus answered them, ‘I performed one work, and all of you are astonished.
19 ‘Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?’ 20 The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?’ 21 Jesus answered them, ‘I performed one work, and all of you are astonished.
Reflection from Laura Miller
Jesus did not want to travel to Judea, because the Jews there wanted to kill him. When his brothers left for the Jewish Feast of Shelters, Jesus told them it was not yet the right time for him to come. “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I tell it evil things it does.” About half way through the feast Jesus arrives and goes to the Temple and begins to teach. Many Jews were amazed at his teaching since he had never studied in school. How in the world did he know so much? Jesus answered, “The things I teach are not my own, but they come from Him who sent me. If people choose to do what God wants, they will know my teaching comes from God and not from me. Those who teach their own ideas are trying to get honor for themselves. But those who try to bring honor to the one who sent him speak the truth, and there is nothing false in them.”
This passage reminds me of the Pharisees or hypocrites who pick and choose which laws they want to follow. They respect Moses, yet they don’t follow the laws he gave them. They talk behind Jesus’ back about wanting to kill him, yet they answer him, “A demon has come into you. We are not trying to kill you.” The people don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and so they are all over the board with what they think, who they listen to, and what rules they follow. When they witness a miracle they are believers for about 10 minutes and then they want more.
Laws, rules, decrees, Books of Discipline…. Interpreted differently, followed differently, and created by man. Now don’t get me wrong, they are important for a society to have guidelines as to what is accepted. However, I can’t help but think about the decision that came out of United Methodist Church Special Session to General Conference a few weeks ago. More man made rules. “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20. “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12. Shouldn’t all other rules align?
I wonder if Jesus is asking the same question of The Church today as he did at the Jewish Feast of Shelters. It is a pivotal time in the Methodist Church. I pray that we go and make disciples of Jesus Christ so that all of God’s children can live in God’s love and not be excluded by man-made laws.
This passage reminds me of the Pharisees or hypocrites who pick and choose which laws they want to follow. They respect Moses, yet they don’t follow the laws he gave them. They talk behind Jesus’ back about wanting to kill him, yet they answer him, “A demon has come into you. We are not trying to kill you.” The people don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and so they are all over the board with what they think, who they listen to, and what rules they follow. When they witness a miracle they are believers for about 10 minutes and then they want more.
Laws, rules, decrees, Books of Discipline…. Interpreted differently, followed differently, and created by man. Now don’t get me wrong, they are important for a society to have guidelines as to what is accepted. However, I can’t help but think about the decision that came out of United Methodist Church Special Session to General Conference a few weeks ago. More man made rules. “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20. “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12. Shouldn’t all other rules align?
I wonder if Jesus is asking the same question of The Church today as he did at the Jewish Feast of Shelters. It is a pivotal time in the Methodist Church. I pray that we go and make disciples of Jesus Christ so that all of God’s children can live in God’s love and not be excluded by man-made laws.
Comments
Anne Hardy
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 10:54 am
Very powerful Laura.
Thank you
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 10:54 am
Very powerful Laura.
Thank you
Walt Dibbern
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 11:10 am
I am so glad to have received this the very next day after our all-church discussion about the meaning of the Gen Conference outcome. You have opened your heart and trusted in your brothers and sisters to hear your pain and support you in love.
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 11:10 am
I am so glad to have received this the very next day after our all-church discussion about the meaning of the Gen Conference outcome. You have opened your heart and trusted in your brothers and sisters to hear your pain and support you in love.
Barb Kreski
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 9:30 am
Well said.
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 9:30 am
Well said.
Jill Jacob
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 1:14 pm
May all our hearts be open to love each other as Jesus has taught us.
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 1:14 pm
May all our hearts be open to love each other as Jesus has taught us.
Anne Cowin
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Hi To All,
I appreciate Laura’s insight into linking the passage where Jesus compares the laws of God to those of man. I agree with Laura and have thought a lot about the United Methodist ruling since yesterday’s meeting. These are my reflections. To begin, as I understand the Bible, all humankind is in need of salvation, not just “straight” people. Romans 3:23 says that all (that means everyone) have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Similarly, James 2:10 says that whoever keeps the whole law, yet stumbles in one point, is guilty of all, that is that anyone is guilty, not just “straight” people. Obviously, we, all of humankind, are sinners. Sinners are in need of salvation so our loving God made a way for all of us to receive eternal life, not just the “straight” people. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world (that means everyone) that He gave his only son that whosoever (that means anyone) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Likewise, Romans 10:9 says that If you (that means anyone) confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you (meaning anyone) will be saved. Next, let us consider spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 12 addresses this topic. I Corinthians 12: 4 states that there are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit. Some may have the gift of prophecy, others teaching, preaching, healing, hospitality, etc. Verse 12 states that just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. Verse 18 states that But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body as He chose. This means that God lovingly made each of us, in His image and for His glory, to make up the body of Christ, equipping each with different spiritual gifts and making each of us unique. Verse 20 says that there are many parts yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” But God has so composed the body that there may be no discord in the body but that the members may have the same care for one another. Without welcoming all sinners into our church community, and relying on each one’s God-appointed spiritual gifts, how can we make up the body of Christ? How can we begin to witness to a visitor, perhaps just beginning their faith journey, if we aren’t welcoming of them or welcoming of all visitors and all those called into the clergy? What would Jesus do if He were here? Let me just mention a few less than upright characters that come to my mind whom he interacted with. There was Zachius, a corrupt tax collector, who climbed a tree to see Jesus better in a crowd. With the crowd watching, Jesus told Zachius he was going to visit him at his house and break bread with him. Then there was the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him when He came into his kingdom. Jesus extended salvation to this guilty man and promised him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Pharisee didn’t want to become unclean and others passersby didn’t have the time and they all lacked the compassion to extend a helping hand to the needy. All but the Good Samaritan that is. Finally, there was that woman at the well. Jesus spoke with her when no one else would have. She had quite a reputation but yet she knew enough about the Scriptures that after a short while, she recognized him as the Christ. It was her actions by going and telling leaders in Samaria about Jesus that the Gospel message was taken to that part of the world. I grew up in this church but as an adult, I was attending elsewhere for a while. I left that other church that I was active in and contributing to when I became more aware that, as a group, they were less welcoming and accepting of divorced people. Yet, when I returned to our church, I felt welcomed and valued here. I stayed and brought my short-comings and my spiritual gifts. I will not continue on as a member of this or any congregation if exclusionary, unwelcoming, and hateful practices are adopted against any of God’s most valued creation. This brings me to my next point, that of the Great Commission. Jesus charges us to go into all the world (that means everywhere) and preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations (that means everyone). What if God equipped and called a missionary to service but she was turned away from a United Methodist seminary because of her sexual orientation and she felt too discouraged to pursue another route? The fields are ripe for the harvest but the workers are few. Isn’t the United Methodist Church reducing the number of workers for His kingdom because of man’s laws? Let’s take the logs out of our own eyes, demonstrate compassion for others, and make a difference in the world. We were the least, the last, and the lost until someone reached out in love and told us about the Good News of God’s love for us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
In His service,
Anne Cowin
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Hi To All,
I appreciate Laura’s insight into linking the passage where Jesus compares the laws of God to those of man. I agree with Laura and have thought a lot about the United Methodist ruling since yesterday’s meeting. These are my reflections. To begin, as I understand the Bible, all humankind is in need of salvation, not just “straight” people. Romans 3:23 says that all (that means everyone) have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Similarly, James 2:10 says that whoever keeps the whole law, yet stumbles in one point, is guilty of all, that is that anyone is guilty, not just “straight” people. Obviously, we, all of humankind, are sinners. Sinners are in need of salvation so our loving God made a way for all of us to receive eternal life, not just the “straight” people. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world (that means everyone) that He gave his only son that whosoever (that means anyone) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Likewise, Romans 10:9 says that If you (that means anyone) confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you (meaning anyone) will be saved. Next, let us consider spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 12 addresses this topic. I Corinthians 12: 4 states that there are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit. Some may have the gift of prophecy, others teaching, preaching, healing, hospitality, etc. Verse 12 states that just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. Verse 18 states that But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body as He chose. This means that God lovingly made each of us, in His image and for His glory, to make up the body of Christ, equipping each with different spiritual gifts and making each of us unique. Verse 20 says that there are many parts yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” But God has so composed the body that there may be no discord in the body but that the members may have the same care for one another. Without welcoming all sinners into our church community, and relying on each one’s God-appointed spiritual gifts, how can we make up the body of Christ? How can we begin to witness to a visitor, perhaps just beginning their faith journey, if we aren’t welcoming of them or welcoming of all visitors and all those called into the clergy? What would Jesus do if He were here? Let me just mention a few less than upright characters that come to my mind whom he interacted with. There was Zachius, a corrupt tax collector, who climbed a tree to see Jesus better in a crowd. With the crowd watching, Jesus told Zachius he was going to visit him at his house and break bread with him. Then there was the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him when He came into his kingdom. Jesus extended salvation to this guilty man and promised him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Pharisee didn’t want to become unclean and others passersby didn’t have the time and they all lacked the compassion to extend a helping hand to the needy. All but the Good Samaritan that is. Finally, there was that woman at the well. Jesus spoke with her when no one else would have. She had quite a reputation but yet she knew enough about the Scriptures that after a short while, she recognized him as the Christ. It was her actions by going and telling leaders in Samaria about Jesus that the Gospel message was taken to that part of the world. I grew up in this church but as an adult, I was attending elsewhere for a while. I left that other church that I was active in and contributing to when I became more aware that, as a group, they were less welcoming and accepting of divorced people. Yet, when I returned to our church, I felt welcomed and valued here. I stayed and brought my short-comings and my spiritual gifts. I will not continue on as a member of this or any congregation if exclusionary, unwelcoming, and hateful practices are adopted against any of God’s most valued creation. This brings me to my next point, that of the Great Commission. Jesus charges us to go into all the world (that means everywhere) and preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations (that means everyone). What if God equipped and called a missionary to service but she was turned away from a United Methodist seminary because of her sexual orientation and she felt too discouraged to pursue another route? The fields are ripe for the harvest but the workers are few. Isn’t the United Methodist Church reducing the number of workers for His kingdom because of man’s laws? Let’s take the logs out of our own eyes, demonstrate compassion for others, and make a difference in the world. We were the least, the last, and the lost until someone reached out in love and told us about the Good News of God’s love for us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
In His service,
Anne Cowin
Pastor Irene Taylor
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 7:31 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful reflection! Powerful
Mon, Mar 18, 2019 at 7:31 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful reflection! Powerful
MaryLouise Shakespeare/Muench
Tue, Mar 19, 2019 at 11:54 am
Well said - well stated - good message - great to read and share. Thank you.
Tue, Mar 19, 2019 at 11:54 am
Well said - well stated - good message - great to read and share. Thank you.
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About Today's Author
Laura Miller has been a member of the 1st UMC of Des Plaines her entire life. She is married and has 2 adult children. Missions and helping others is a passion of hers. She also serves on the church Communications team to help spread the “Good News.” When she isn’t working or volunteering she is planning her next vacation.
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