A Beautiful Dying

For The Citizen column “From the Minister’s Study” Oct. 31, 2024

The fall colours have been riveting. People have been posting and raving about the trees’ flaming reds and burnished golds on social media and in everyday conversations. Whether it is something to do with the exceptionally dry conditions or other factors, our area woodlots have outdone themselves this year.

The colours are sensational even in normal daylight. But there is something special that happens depending on the angle of the sun. As I drive to work, and head up the hill going west of Auburn, the morning sun catches the leaves of the maple trees in such a way that they’re not just colourful, they absolutely glow, they radiate, they are ablaze with rich shades from the lower end of the spectrum. Like Moses’ attention being caught by a bush in the wilderness that was alight yet not consumed, these trees draw one’s attention in a way that is arresting. In front of the historic Gaol at Goderich I see a man with his camera taking a photo of the treed vista across the mouth of the Maitland River. Such views almost force us to stop and gaze in admiration.

Most of the year, tree leaves are green due to the presence of chlorophyll, which uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water from the environment into oxygen and sugars through the marvelous process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll absorbs more the red and blue ends of the spectrum, so the light reflected is mainly green. But cooler temperatures and decreased daylight in autumn lead to the breakdown of chlorophyll; the tree begins storing the nutrients in the twig, trunk, and roots, withdrawing reserves from the leaf, and compounds such as carotenoids (yellow, orange, brown) and anthocyanins (red) become prominent. This process is called leaf “senescence”; gradually, the leaf is dying, and eventually discarded from deciduous trees - hence, ‘fall’.

Often we think of death as a rather ugly thing – the decomposition of roadkill smeared on the highway comes to mind. We don’t like to contemplate the eventual breakdown of our own human bodies. But is it not significant that, in the case of the sensational fall colours, dying (of the leaves) can actually be something beautiful?

Probably the most cherished emblem of the Christian faith is the cross. Nicky Gumbel (founder of Alpha) once compared wearing a cross necklace to sporting a gallows around one’s neck! The very idea is garish, morbid. But in the case of Christianity, a symbol of the most painful possible death (by design) has been transformed into something beautiful because of the One who died there.

The beautiful autumn leaves draw our attention to the trees. The perfect innocent sinless Son of God draws our attention to the tree on which He hung – a tree which becomes a portal to eternal forgiven life with God.

Not long after Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, the apostles began proclaiming the events and healing many people in Jerusalem. The authorities promptly called them to account. In his defence, Peter uses an unexpected turn of phrase. “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30f)

We might have expected Peter to say Jesus was hung ‘on a cross’ (the usual painful Roman weapon of torture and eventual execution - sometimes lasting days). But Peter specifically says “on a tree”. Perhaps he was reminding his Jewish inquisitors of a passage in their beloved Pentateuch, “...Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” (Deuteronomy 21:22f) They had handed an innocent man over to the Roman officials on a trumped-up charge of sedition to be sentenced to death unjustly; they themselves, not Jesus, were the guilty ones. Unwittingly they had fulfilled what Isaiah had centuries before prophesied about the coming Messiah: “By oppression and judgment he was taken away…though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah predicted this coming innocent Messiah figure would bear the curse that in fact others deserved: “...He poured out his life unto death…For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:8f,12)

A beautiful dying – to bring life to others.

This is not an insignificant point; it is the heart of the Good News. When the church at Galatia was being influenced by false teachers and tempted to fall back into legalism and works-righteousness, the Apostle Paul pointed to this very same passage and wording to highlight the substitutionary nature of Christ’s sufficient atoning work for us sinners: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13) Paul is saying redemption - being ‘bought back’ - is accomplished by what Jesus did at the cross on our behalf, in the stead of us the truly guilty party – not by any works of righteousness we might try to boast about. Jesus’ redemption is “so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:14) - a truly beautiful gift, to be reconnected with God Himself!

So, the next time you find yourself arrested by the beauty of an autumnal maple in full blast of glorious shades – remember the glorious Innocent One who hung on a tree in order that you might believe in Him and, through repentance and forgiveness as a free gift, come to experience the wonder of new undying life in company forever with your Creator / Redeemer!

From CONFUSION to a NEW CREATION

 (for The North Huron Citizen clergy column)

It was a real delight for me this past week (as I sat in the Audio-Visual booth at the back of the sanctuary) to watch a hundred children enthusiastically jump up and down and pump their arms as they sang along to the songs that were part of the assembly at Vacation Bible Camp hosted jointly by Huron Chapel and Blyth Christian Reformed Church. Their voices echoed loudly off the ceiling while their faces radiated youthful energy. But what was the main message that could have been prompting such “joie de vivre”?

Such enthusiasm is in stark contrast to the mental health issues, self-harm, and depression that plague many young people today. Post-modernism has eroded acceptance of traditional worldviews that formed the basis for meaning and purpose in life. “Truth” for many has become relative, subjective – whatever you make it. There is widespread suspicion of, if not outright mistrust of, authority. Multiple media sources and social media influencers vie for our attention, each promoting their own slant on what’s supposedly real. It seems even education systems and government can become captive to particular ideologies. How is a young person supposed to know who can be trusted, or what’s “really real”? The moral failure of once-trusted spiritual leaders, and abuse such as that which occurred in the residential school system, compound the issue. Absent a trustworthy system of values, is there nothing more about life than to “live for the moment”, immerse oneself in the latest virtual reality video game, or experiment with psychedelics that alter our conscious to create vivid realities in our own mind?

This year’s Vacation Bible Camp attempted to present children with the narrative that has historically undergirded the cultural, scientific, and economic development of our society, namely the Bible. Each of the five days featured stages in the narrative that encapsulates Judeo-Christian values, and gives meaning and purpose to life as our country understood it through our initial century. The basic story of Scripture was summed up in 7 C’s: Creation; Corruption and Catastrophe; Confusion; Christ and Cross; and Consummation. Together these 7 C’s address the four basic questions any significant worldview must answer with some degree of satisfaction: Origin - Where did we come from? Destiny - Where are we going? Morality - What’s right and wrong? And, Meaning - Why are we here?

The first day focused on Creation. We examined how it all began, how God created the universe, and so many different forms of animal and insect life. Each day featured a different creature, such as a frog, or butterfly, or gorilla, or parrot, or dolphin - each designed by its Creator with very different form and abilities. The memory verse was Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

The second day focused on Corruption and Catastrophe. We learned about Adam and Eve’s yielding to temptation and eating forbidden fruit; Cain’s murder of Abel; and increasing wickedness among people, which culminated in God’s flooding the earth and saving just a few people in Noah’s Ark, along with pairs of animals, to make a fresh start. As Psalm 14(3) sums it up, “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”

The third day looked at Confusion. After the Flood, people joined together at Babel in an attempt to build a tower that would reach to the heavens. Just as the serpent in the garden hinted that “You will be like God” – that we don’t need to obey God’s directions, instead we can make up our own ‘truth’ as we go along – the tower became a symbol of human arrogance and pride, that we ourselves are almighty and can dispense with divine guidance and accountability. In a way, each person becomes their own god – but as soon as we dispense with God’s law, ‘might makes right’ and individuals begin to exploit and take advantage of those they view as weaker or vulnerable. Conflict, mistrust, and hatred ensue. At Babel, God confused people’s languages so they scattered out over the earth into different people-groups and nations.

The fourth day, we learned about Christ and the Cross. The colours associated with this day were white and red. White because Jesus was born of a virgin, born as God in-the-flesh, totally sinless and innocent, able to perform supernatural miracles and teach God’s truth about the importance of loving God and loving others as we love ourselves. To become truly human is not to bow to subjective relativism and suppose we can “become our own god”, but instead choose to deny ourselves and receive Jesus as Lord, directing and informing our actions, so God’s Spirit can perform a “metamorphosis” (like caterpillar to butterfly) and cause us to genuinely love our neighbour, thus getting beyond ourself, transcending the confining walls of selfishness and prejudice. We need the Cross (with the colour red reminding us of Jesus’ blood) to forgive our past sins – not on the basis of good works we may have done, but on the basis the infinitely precious and pure life of God’s own Son offered up in our place. This day the children’s memory verse was, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

The final (fifth) day focused on Consummation. We looked at the picture the last book in the Bible (Revelation) paints of the future God has prepared for those who love Him. It’s not about playing harps or streets of gold (as some have comically caricatured it) but about being forever in the presence of Jesus, being privileged to admire and worship and get to know God in His infinite love and goodness and beauty – while having meaningful activities to pursue, free from the former sin-nature that plagues us in our current life. A place without sickness or pain or death. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

These 7 C’s become coathooks for a worldview that does not leave one sinking in a moral quagmire of relativism and subjectivity, but a worldview that instead provides helpful answers to life’s biggest questions, and prompts a very real sense of meaning and purpose and hope for the future… To realize God has made it possible through Jesus for us to become His own dear children forever causes us to want to jump and sing joyfully!

A Mother's Persistence Pays Off

 For The Citizen newspaper, column “From the Minister’s Study” -- May 10 2024 Issue

Three ladies were bragging about their grown sons. The first said, “You should have seen what my boy did for me on my birthday! He threw a big party at a fancy restaurant -- he even hired a big band to come and play.” The second lady said, “That's nice, but listen to what my son did. Last winter he gave me an all-expense-paid cruise to the Greek islands -- all first class.” The third lady said, “That's nothing! For the last three years my son has been paying a psychiatrist $150 an hour two times a week -- and the whole time he talks about nothing but me!”

Our parents leave us legacies. I don't mean monetary inheritances, but real lasting impact on our lives -- hopefully more positive than such effects that require counselling. But our mothers do matter, they can have a profound effect on us.

A London editor submitted to Winston Churchill for his approval a list of all those who had been Churchill's teachers. Churchill returned the list with this comment: “You have omitted the greatest of my teachers -- my mother.”

As Mother’s Day approaches, we can learn from the faithful, persistent example of a mother whom Jesus met when travelling far from home (see Matthew 15:21-28). Despite difficult circumstances and testing, her faith and feistiness prevailed.

Jesus had left Galilee and gone further north near the coast of the Mediterranean. A Canaanite woman came and cried out to Him, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” We're not told the exact manifestations; perhaps there were seizures, nightmares, overwhelming depression, multiple personalities, or self-destructiveness. Some young people today are tormented by negative habits such as cutting, eating disorders, crystal meth, or other addictions. If a parent does try to intervene, sometimes they're simply rebuffed and can only stand by and watch as their own child gets dragged down a destructive path.

But the woman in our story doesn't just appeal for help for her daughter. She appeals, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!...Lord, help me!" Her daughter's condition is affecting her greatly; it's probably taking a toll on the whole family. But parents may identify with and be affected severely by their children's problems. Perhaps the mother's not getting much sleep at night because she hears her daughter crying out in nightmares. Perhaps she's driven to her wits' end because the girl simply won't eat and is withering away to skin and bones. Maybe she herself is battling depression because she knows the personalities being expressed in her daughter's frame aren't the person the girl used to be. She too is tormented.

Being a mom or dad, our kids affect us. We're often 'tuned in' in a special way to their condition. Caring parents identify with their kids and are impacted by what they're going through.

The Canaanite woman doesn't just ask once and leave it at that. She's persistent. The disciples came to Jesus and urged Him to send her away “for she keeps crying out after us.” Mothering takes persistence. There's a special endurance moms must have to keep making meals, washing dishes, doing the laundry, tidying the house, day after day after day (in addition to whatever they may be involved with outside the home). It can become very wearing.

In one story by Stuart McLean, Dave's wife Morley describes to him what her life as a mother is like: “My life is a train... I'm a train dragging everybody from one place to another, to school and to dance class, and to 'now it's time to get up' and 'now it's time to go to bed'. I'm a train full of people who complain when you try to get them into a bed and fight you when you try to get them out of one. That's my job. And I'm not only the train, I'm the porter and the conductor and the cook and the engineer and the maintenance man. And I print the tickets and I stack the luggage and I clean the dishes, and if they still had cabooses, I'd be the caboose... The train starts at a town called 'first day of school'...and it goes to a village called 'Halloween' and then through the township of 'class project' and down the spur line called, 'your sister is visiting'. And do you know what's at the end of the track? Do you know where my train is heading?... To the last stop on the line, Christmas dinner... And when we finally get through that week between Christmas and New Year, do you know what they do with the train? They back it up during the night when I'm asleep so they can run it through all the stations again!”

Mothering requires persistence -- keeping that locomotive moving. The Canaanite woman showed such persistence in appealing to the Lord.

Being a caregiver of any kind means you don't give up even when troubles and testing drive you to your knees. At first Jesus does not respond to this non-Israelite. Finally the woman comes and kneels right in front of Him, calling out, “Lord, help me!” Kneeling shows how desperate she is, but also that she's honouring Him while humbling herself. Sometimes parenting is just that hard, you are driven either to despair or to worship, one or the other.

Jesus responds, but doesn't grant the request right away. He says, “It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.” Conscious of being sent primarily to minister among the Jews, Jesus is testing her: first by not answering a word to her, now by this expression. Some people might have gotten offended, thrown up their hands and gone off in a huff upon hearing Jesus say this. But this mother's 'dogged' persistence won't be shaken off. She demonstrates her full range of intelligence and submission by using His own word-picture to nudge the limits of His immediate mission. She says, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Her faith in God's overflowing lovingkindness and deep mercy depicts a 'grace mentality': there's more than enough for every need; God's plentiful riches are available to everyone, He will bless all those who by faith in Jesus are willing to receive. She's trusting as Jesus did that “all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

Hearing this, Jesus holds back no longer. Even though this woman isn't Jewish, she has a firm grasp of God's Kingdom plan; as promised to Abraham, “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3) Jesus is satisfied she grasps God’s goodness through trusting. He answers, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed.

From Grief to Greeting: Golly!

For column "From the Minister's Study", The Citizen, April 5, 2024

     It was a dumb idea, going to look at the tomb. The men disciples had probably told the women it was pointless. After all, Pilate had ordered the chief priests and Pharisees to take a guard and make the tomb as secure as possible. They’d even put a seal on the stone besides posting an armed guard. What point was there in going to look at the tomb? The deed had been done, the miracle-working Christ had been killed. It was a stupid idea. But something inside the women’s hearts tugged them toward the tomb. The heart has reasons the mind knows nothing about. Perhaps it was their faith pulling them there – He who had been right about so many things could not be wrong about this. And God has a way of taking what seems stupid to the wise and turning it into His crowning glory, exceeding the capacities of His creatures.

     Matthew’s account of the events which unfolded early that morning presents us with 5 “G’s” as hooks on which to hang the story. First, grief: “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” (Matthew 28:1) When someone dies, to those who have been most closely attached to them, the things associated with them become extra special. I recall one family that made their deceased teenage son’s room into a sort of “shrine”. People are drawn to cemeteries to place flowers at the grave of family members. We see crosses at the roadside where there’s been a fatal traffic accident. Grief draws us like a magnet to the place of burial, to the photos, the personal articles we associate with those we’ve loved.

     As the women were drawn to the tomb, are there things you’re grieving? Relationships or harsh realities that didn’t turn out the way you expected? Loss of health or wealth, some dashed hope? Maybe you can relate a bit to how disheartened the two Mary’s must have felt. But they didn’t see how this could be the conclusion of the plot for the miracle-working, truth-teaching, hypocrisy-confronting Rabbi from Galilee. And so maybe even in your present grief, God has another chapter coming.

     Besides grief, there are guards. V4 mentions the guards that had been posted by the religious leaders. They would be armed to prevent robbery or interference of any kind, and they had sealed the stone on the tomb to lock in the body.

     If grief is about loss, “guards” are about limitations. Something’s locked you out. You’re hitting a brick wall. What’s holding you back? Finances, perhaps – always too much “month” and not enough “money”? Is it limited physical ability – your age is slowly creeping up on you and affecting how much you can do? Is it lack of time – never enough hours in the day to accomplish what you’d like to do? Or limitations of a different sort – maybe someone in your past has fed some negative thoughts into your head that always rise up to jinx you, that become an invisible wall stopping you from taking that next step. Somebody’s said, “You’re not bright enough” or pretty enough or strong enough; “You’ll never amount to anything.” In our subconscious, those curses from the past have powerful force to hold us back, to block us from becoming who God designed us to be. What forces are “guarding” you negatively, blocking your way, intimidating you?

     But God’s ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). No matter what our griefs and guards, our losses and limitations, the Almighty God has some surprises in store for those who come to Him. Call this the golly factor! Now the word “golly” is not in Matthew’s text, but that would be our reaction if we witnessed verses 2-3: “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.” GOLLY! “The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.” (28:4)

     An angel is a messenger of God, one sent at His command to enact His will. God’s power is linked to His promise, His stated purpose. When God shows up, when He steps into the middle of our most despairing circumstances, sparks will fly! Stand back! Jesus had pointedly predicted to His disciples on at least three occasions that He’d be crucified, dead, and then rise from the dead, but it didn’t seem to register with them. The angel Gabriel had reminded Jesus’ mother before His birth, “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) In Matthew 19(26) Jesus had looked at His disciples and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” At Gethsemane, wrestling with the agonizing decision about going to the cross with its ultimate pain and shame, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for You.” And the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3(21) that our Lord Jesus “by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Never underestimate God’s power – faith allows for a “golly” factor! Don’t dismiss God out of the equation of your life circumstances. All things are possible with Him – resurrection morning is proof of that!

     Grief - guards - golly - the 4th G is greeting. The empty tomb is one thing – the apostle John seemed convinced even just by the way the graveclothes were laid out with the body seemingly vaporized from between them – but Christian faith is not based on the lack of something. “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” (28:8-9)

     Somewhere, back centuries ago, at the very first of all these Easter celebrations, historically / definitely / spatially and in-time, somebody met a risen Jesus bodily present. They could clasp His feet. They had come expecting a place – to look at a tomb – but instead they encountered a Person. He greeted them; and so He meets us today, one-on-one, challenging us as He did Martha outside her brother’s tomb – “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25f)

     For any other religious system, take away its founder and the system still stands more or less, as a body of teaching, a system of principles. But Christianity is different: without its founder, it just doesn’t work, it makes no sense. You can never reduce Christian faith to a mere bunch of rules to live by: at its core is the God-Man who seeks relationship with you, greeting you, inviting you to follow Him and know Him and take up His cross and live with Him eternally! Will you grasp that – Him – clasp His nail-pierced feet?

     The last “G” here is go. What did the angel tell the women in verses 6-7? “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’” And what did Jesus tell the women when He met them? “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (28:10)

     Go... The Good News about Jesus is not something stationary that we can polish like a silver trophy and keep on a shelf, to look at once in a while and feel good. “That’s what I believe; isn’t it exquisite?!” No, the Easter message is dynamic, portable, meant to be taken on the road wherever you go and to whomever you meet: “He has risen! He’s alive! You can meet Him, too! History will never be the same again.” And my story will never be the same again – because knowing Him transforms all my griefs and limitations. His power shakes and shapes me, His forgiveness and mercy receive and redeem me, His love heals and holds me. Because He lives, life for me will be from now on forever different, guided and guarded by His divine hand.

     So – what are you waiting for? You’ve got truly Good News to share! Let’s “go quickly” and tell others this amazing fact.

Donkey Smarts

 (column "From the Minister's Study" in The North Huron Citizen, January 26 2024 edition)

     Are you smarter than your average donkey?

     Recently my wife and I spent a week on the small island of Bonaire, part of the Netherlands Antilles, just off the northern shore of South America. (WestJet now offers flight direct from Toronto.) Bonaire is a former Dutch colony known for its excellent diving, flamingoes, windsurfing – and donkeys... Hundreds of wild donkeys that roam around and are quite used to tourists stopping and offering them something to eat. The Spaniards that infiltrated the Caribbean islands back in the 1500s started bringing them over as beasts of burden, but after about 1920 they were no longer needed for industry and were released to the wild, where they have persisted and propagated since. So we bought bags and bags of carrots, chopped them up, and took them with us wherever we traveled because often we had opportunity to stop and feed these amiable, light-gray, oversized-eared creatures. We also visited the Donkey Sanctuary where over 800 are cared for and protected by volunteers.

     Donkeys pop up sometimes in Bible stories, being the “tractors” and “automotives” of ancient times. One notable instance features the donkey belonging to Balaam, a diviner of international reputation. (One of his non-Biblical prophecies is preserved in an Aramaic text from Deir Alla in the Jordan Valley dating to about 700 B.C.) When Moses guided the Israelite ex-slaves from Egypt, they paused just east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho before entering the Promised Land. The king of Moab was very alarmed by this huge number of fugitive immigrants and summoned Balaam to come and put a curse on the Israelites, so they might be weakened and defeated.

     Yet God was very angry that Balaam was going to assist Balak, for God had told Balaam the people were blessed, and not to be cursed. (Numbers 22:12) So Balaam started encountering opposition when he saddled his donkey and headed towards Moab. The angel of the Lord stood in the road; the donkey saw the angel with his sword and turned aside into a field, which garnered a beating from Balaam. Again the angel stood at a narrow place in the path, with walls on each side; the donkey saw the angel and pressed to one side, crushing Balaam’s foot – so he beat her again. When it happened a third time, at a place where it was impossible to turn aside, the donkey gave up and simply lay down right there in the road. Balaam was angry and beat her with his staff.

     Something supernatural happens at this point in the story. God opened the donkey’s mouth and she spoke to Balaam, asking what she had done that deserved three beatings! An interchange followed in which the donkey made the point that she had been his faithful donkey and had not been in the habit of acting that way. Balaam had to concede this was so. Then God opened Balaam’s eyes so he could see the angel standing in the road with drawn sword. Balaam fell facedown; the angel rebuked him for his reckless path, and by contrast pointed out the donkey’s innocence in protecting her master on three separate occasions.

     The incident is recalled in the New Testament when the Apostle Peter cautions believers in Jesus against false teachers. Peter describes these infiltrators as following corrupt fleshly desires, despising authority, arrogant, slanderous, blaspheming, like “brute beasts”, carousing in pleasure, with eyes full of adultery, “experts” in greed. (2Peter 2)

     Peter observes, “They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey— a beast without speech— who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.”

     The donkey knew enough to stick to the road and protect her master: that was her purpose, from which she refused to deviate. Yet Balaam turned aside from God’s admonishment not to curse His people, whom He chose to bless. Greed probably factored into Balaam’s decision, because King Balak had promised, “I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say.” (Num.22:17)

     Likewise, the false teachers attempting to corrupt the early church were greedy, despising authority, pleasure-seeking, following the corrupt desire of the sinful nature. They had been drawn off-track by their short-term desires.

     Peter notes, “They promise [people] freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity – for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.”

     Donkeys are draft animals – the reason they were on Bonaire in the first place was to draw heavy loads, carry heavy burdens, like slaves. Now they roam free. But what cords pull us? Are we drawn by depravity, like the false teachers? Do we feel the pull of greed, of substances or habits that bring pleasure to the flesh in the short term but drag us down eventually? We may suppose we’re “free” – but as Peter emphasizes, we are slaves to whatever has mastered us.

     When we behave arrogantly, when we run others down (‘slander’), treat God’s name like dirt (‘blaspheme’), entertain adulterous thoughts, crave for ‘more’ (greed) – we are being pulled along by destructive desires as surely as donkeys once were made to labour in the pits of Bonaire. How can we be set free?

     The prophet Zechariah foretold a messianic figure, a King for Zion that would come “righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey...” (in contrast to war-horses) This King would “proclaim peace to the nations” (including non-Jews). And, “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.” (Zechariah 9:11)

     Jesus is that King who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Because of His blood, we can be freed from sin’s enslavement and find forgiveness for those desires that once had mastery over us. Then we will be able to stick to the path and have vision for the Lord’s leading, more like the faithful donkey than like fickle Balaam.

Joy in the Saviour Sent to the Brokenhearted

For The Citizen newspaper, December 15, 2023

     This coming Sunday marks the third in the part of the church year called “Advent”, the weeks leading up to Christmas – while also anticipating Jesus’ eventual return. Advent is about a Saviour coming - someone who can help us in our distress. The wonderful thing about Christ's incarnation is that He as Messiah has been injected into our human situation precisely at our point of need.

     If you watch the news or even just talk to people you bump into, you start to realize there's a world of hurt around us. A friend posts on social media about a dear parent having passed away. A fresh round of COVID and seasonal influenza is making many sick, including those more vulnerable in nursing homes. You don't have to go far to find people with problems: just have an open sensitive heart and listen.

     The Bible doesn't primarily address the issue of a theoretical world in the sky by-and-by; it addresses the real world we live in, broken, messed-up, and hurting as it is. God knows about our hurts, our predicament, and cares enough to get involved. We can see this reflected in one of the traditional Advent readings, Isaiah 61.

     Verses 1-7 contain words that reflect common global burdens: poor, brokenhearted, captive, prisoners, mourn, grieve, ashes, despair, ruined cities, shame, disgrace. Change the technology a little bit and you might say the kind of world the prophet spoke to 7 centuries before Christ – nearly 3000 years ago – was the same world we live in today. People were carrying on as sinful people do, causing hurt intentionally and unintentionally; evil, sickness, and death were as destructive then as now.

     Isaiah's not being melodramatic or exaggerating how bad things are. His book is very true to the situation after Assyria then Babylon invaded Israel and Judah: cities were burned, people had been killed or deported – the term 'devastated for generations' would be quite accurate. Yet, God in His sovereignty through the Holy Spirit is at work. It's not just going to get left that way. Yahweh is a saving God – that's the essence of Jesus' name – and His ultimate deliverance is cause for hope and joy.

     The word "Christ" is a title in Greek translating the Hebrew word "Messiah" or "Anointed One". Anointing with oil was the traditional way prophets, priests, and kings were consecrated to their role in the Old Testament. Here in Isaiah 61 the speaker is anointed though with more than oil, and for more than one task; "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to...” [and then follows quite a list, what Messiah's for]. (v.1) But note the anointing – with God's Spirit rather than oil. This came true at Jesus' baptism; John the Baptist testified, "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him." (Jn. 1:32)

     Jesus applied this Isaiah 61 passage to Himself more than once; He identified Himself as the One the prophet foretold. For example, at the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4(18f), He read it aloud, rolled up the scroll, and remarked, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Later when John the Baptist in prison sent messengers inquiring, "Are you the one who was to come?" Jesus answered that they should report back to John what they saw: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." (Mt 11:5) A direct echo of Isaiah's prophecy.

     In Luke's account, Jesus' public ministry begins with this Isaiah 61 passage being read at Nazareth. In Matthew's gospel, it's the Beatitudes instead; but even there in Mt. 5(3f,6,11) you can see the same sort of effect: "Blesses (or, happy) are the poor in spirit...Blessed are those who mourn...Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." The world is a tough place, and Messiah has come to make a difference in our mess. Knowing Jesus provides comfort and assurance no matter what heartbreak you may be facing.

     The prophet says Christ will 'proclaim freedom for the captives': speaking to the Jews who believed Him, Jesus likened sin to a type of slavery and said that if they hold to His teaching, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (Jn. 8:32,36) Maybe there's some addiction or craving or tendency trying to trap you, it's taking control of your life: Christ has power to set you free from what would reduce you to the gutter.

     Isaiah proclaims "release from darkness for the prisoners..." (v.1) A sinful or carnal outlook on life is a dark mindset, focused on deceptive idols. Paul says Jesus called him to be an apostle "...to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'" (Ac. 26:18)

     The Isaiah 61 passage continues, "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour..." Paul wrote to the Corinthians in view of what Jesus had accomplished, "I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation." (2Cor 6:2) Have you opted to take God up on His favourable offer rather than His approaching wrath? Jesus has done you a huge favour by paying your way.

     It says Messiah will 'comfort all who mourn.' (v2) Knowing Jesus, Paul could write that ‘the God of all comfort’ "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." This happens as "through Christ our comfort overflows" (2Cor.1:4f).

     And it says Messiah will "provide for those who grieve" by bestowing beauty, "the oil of gladness instead of mourning..."  (v3) Jesus' death and resurrection offer real hope and consolation for those who grieve. Jesus told His followers, "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy... Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." (Jn.16:20,22) When we truly encounter the Resurrected One, death no longer is the last word.

     Looking back at Isaiah 61, we can see that Jesus has checked off the list – each of the Messianic predictions in Isaiah 61 has its fulfilment in the New Testament as a result of His coming.

     So, where does that leave believers - just sitting around soaking up heavenly joy-juice, oblivious to this world of hurt that surrounds us? Would we have even had a Messiah if Jesus had just stuck around heaven soaking in the eternal loving fellowship of the Father and the Holy Spirit? No – His joy spilled forth, it wanted to be shared.

     Isaiah says those bestowed with the oil of gladness "will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendour." (v3) We're to broadcast God's goodness, display His glory to others. Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (Jn.15:8) Don't be closet-Christians – others won't get to see God-in-you that way. Paul prayed His converts would be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God." (Php 1:11) What opportunities do those around have to see the fruitfulness of your spirituality – or is that hidden away in a 'Sunday morning only' compartment?

     A reporter once asked Mother Teresa where God was when a baby died in a back alley in Calcutta. She replied that God was right there suffering along with the baby; then added [I'm paraphrasing], "What's more to the point, where were you?"

     We receive joy, we are comforted so that we in turn may comfort others with the same comfort we've been blessed with through faith in Christ. Share the joy of knowing Him whatever way you can!

What Makes for Peace?

 For The Citizen, November 10, 2023

     As Remembrance Day approaches, we may be especially conscious in 2023 of the various conflicts raging on the globe. Not only is the Russia-Ukraine conflict dragging on as a sort of ‘proxy war’, but since October 7 we have seen the Israel-Gaza turmoil escalate. There is also the risk of a broader conflict developing should some of Israel’s neighbours become drawn into the fray, making it a regional war, with backing by superpowers that are far away but have vested interests.

     War and peace... Is there some secret that would tip the scales towards the latter? At Remembrance Day we honour those who fought in the World Wars and other conflicts, many giving up their lives to protect our country and its allies from enemies. I had a deep impression made upon me by my mother who grieved the death of her fighter pilot brother, killed returning from a mission into Germany in January 1945. I grew up frequently hearing stories of my father who as a “D-Day Dodger” fought as part of the Canadian Army up through Sicily and Italy from 1943 til war’s end, concluding with liberation of the Netherlands. He was wont to observe, “War is hell!” Thankfully we his family were spared from the more gruesome experiences he must have endured.

     The epistle-writer James asks, “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” (Jas.4:1) What indeed? It’s been said if we can define the problem, we’re already halfway towards the solution. From whence spring our conflicts?

     The inspired writer continues, “Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (Jas. 4:1-3) The exterior battle arises from our warring desires within. Ukraine has rich resources and is Europe’s bread-basket, so becomes a desirable target for expansionist Russian appetites. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is hotly contested by both Jews and Muslims, being a sacred site for both religions. We want what the other fellow has, so we’re tempted to grab it for ourselves when others’ backs are turned – and we’ve left God out of the picture, we haven’t asked Him for our needs.

     A little earlier James describes additional factors giving rise to conflict: jealousy and selfishness. “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (Jas. 3:14–16) Such ancient wisdom as the Tenth Commandment warns against coveting what belongs to our neighbour. Selfishness puts my desires ahead of my neighbour’s, leading me to suppose I have some ‘right’ or justification to help myself to what properly belongs to them. Such thinking or philosophy (‘wisdom’) James points out is downright demonic. Yet our consumer culture caters to selfish desire.

     By contrast, James espouses a different kind of attitude or ‘wisdom’, an approach that is heavenly not earthly. “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (Jas. 3:17-18) Purity avoids mixed or hidden motives. To be considerate means I take the other person’s interests into account. When I submit, I subject my own claims or ‘rights’ to another’s, to be harnessed for their benefit rather than my own advancement. Mercy exercises forgiveness where one has been wronged in the past, refusing to exact revenge, having pity upon the destitute and disadvantaged. When I am impartial, I do not show preference for those who are more closely tied to me, those towards whom I might otherwise be inclined to show bias for personal reasons.

     “The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (Jas. 3:18 NASV) Do we really want to sow peace? What does that seed look like? Jesus said peacemakers are ‘blessed’ for they will be called ‘sons of God’ (Mt. 5:9). So we somehow reflect God’s nature when we sow peace. Jesus urged His followers, “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” (Mk.9:50) Making an effort to be at peace with others has a salting / flavouring / preserving effect. And Jesus instructed those He was sending out, “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’” So it would seem peace ought to be a priority for those who would convey Christ’s Good News.

     But there is a cost to peace. Christians understand that peace with God is a costly gift bought by Jesus for us at the cross: forgiveness doesn’t come cheap, somebody has got to pay! So towards His last earthly hours Jesus could say to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” And, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 14:27; 16:33)

     Peace has a cost, it may require sacrifice for it to happen. My grandson Aiden (14) in Neerlandia, Alberta wrote a short piece for Remembrance Day recalling how ordinary citizens sowed peace in the face of a persecuting and murderous Nazi regime in WWII... “One of the most inspiring things that happened during the Second World War was how an abundance of people rose up and hid the Jews. The punishment for this was not only their deaths, but the deaths of those they hid. I honestly just assumed that they would hide them for a day maybe, and then the Jews would go, but in reality, they could be hidden for a very long time. It wasn’t just a matter of keeping them hidden though; they had to keep the Jews fed, clothed and healthy. Not only did they have to be afraid of the Nazis, but they lived in constant fear of everyone including their neighbors, friends and family. But their efforts were not in vain; because of these courageous people, countless lives were saved.

     “There were many people who hid the Jews in their homes, as I just described, such as Corrie Ten Boom; but there were also courageous people who helped Jews in different ways, such as Oskar Schindler. Oskar was a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jews by hiring them to work in his factories. He and his wife did many things to make sure that the Jews were kept safe, which included...providing the Jews with food and medical care.”

     My grandson concludes, “In all of these great stories there were courageous people who were willing to take a stand against evil, and fight, even at the cost of their lives. Could we be more like them? Could we take a stand against the wrong that's always there? Even just little acts of kindness can make a person's day.”

     Sowing peace-seed by gestures of consideration, submissiveness, mercy, and impartiality... Such little acts planted could bear significant fruit in a conflict-fraught world!