Day 5 Monday Feb 22 2010

Day 5 Mon February 22, 2010
I hope you had a good Sunday and a great beginning to the week. As I said in my sermon yesterday, we are all sent out to advance Jesus’ ways. We head out with our unique gifts and abilities. We head out into different directions and interact with different people this week, but our mission is the same—advance Jesus’ ways by the way we live our life. Our witness is just as important as this radical character we read about in today’s text. So, lets read on. . . .. ..

TODAYS TEXT—Luke 3:1-38
3In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler* of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler* of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler* of Abilene, 2during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’
10 And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ 11In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ 12Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ 13He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ 14Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,* 16John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19But Herod the ruler,* who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved;* with you I am well pleased.’*
The Ancestors of Jesus
23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli, 24son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, 25son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, 26son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, 27son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,* son of Neri, 28son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, 29son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, 30son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, 31son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, 32son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala,* son of Nahshon, 33son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni,* son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, 34son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, 35son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, 36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, 37son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, 38son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
John- I’m not sure I would have liked him. I have to be honest about that. John appears to have had one of those fiery, “in your face” types of personalities. He was fired up about the message he wanted to get across and he wasn’t afraid to offend people along the way. After all, calling people “a brood of vipers” isn’t actually a statement of generosity, hospitality, or warmth. It’s language to get people’s attention! Well, John would have grabbed my attention but. . . I think he would have made my blood boil.

I think I would hear John and be angered by his finger pointing and fiery words but then. .. . . . . . I think (or at least) his message would have started to sink in. As I get older, as I raise my children, and as I serve in ministry, I realize that John had it right. John simply said to look at our lives and what we have but make sure you look outward at the needs of others. John reminds us that if we see someone in need and we can help with that need, then we should act. Seeing need and using what we have to ensure that our neighbor is cared for (even as we already are cared for)

John has us prepare for Jesus by focusing on how we can be a community that cares for each other.

What kind of world would we have if we actually modeled John’s wisdom? It would be a world of radical generosity, compassion, and care. That’s what Jesus brings and models in the chapters to come. Can we model that in 2010?




JESUS’ “FRIENDS” ADDED TODAY
*Those without “coats” & those without “food”—Luke will show us time and time again Jesus’ concern for the poor and need. Faithful discipleship for Luke will be shown in how we care for the poor and how we include them in our “community and daily concern”

*Those who share their food and coats---Luke reminds us that Jesus’ friends are those who see the needs around them and are moved to action. They understand that true community is in ensuring all are cared for. Note also that Luke is the author of Acts, which includes many summary statements about how the community cared for each other. (see Acts 2:42-47)

*those who practice honesty and integrity in daily business/work. We should really lift up how spiritual it is to simply practice those daily disciplines of honesty and integrity. Doing what you say. Treating others with respect. Not cheating others. In the words of Mastercard- “Priceless”. Don’t ever forget how important these practices are!


PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS (APPS) or Questions
As a Lenten discipline, perhaps go through your closet and see what can be shared with others. At our church , our good friend Dave Davis, has helped organize a men’s clothing drive. Men of Good Shepherd- look through those closets and see if you can share.

What other ways can you share when you have more than enough?

Is it hard to share? Why or why not?
Is it hard to see the needs of neighbors in your community?

How can we, as people of faith, model what John spoke about? Feel free to share any insights with me at pastordave@goserve.net



Prayer- Jesus, bless us as we begin this first full week of Lent. Walk with us on the journey through Luke. Help us to open our eyes to needs around us Nudge us to share from the abundance you have provided so that we can care for our neighbor and grow as a community. amen