Tag: christian life

“Follow Me” (John 21:19b-24)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
By Unknown Artist

Then he [Jesus] said to him [Peter], “Follow me!”

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved [John] was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. (New International Version)

To actually follow Jesus around during his earthly ministry on this planet was amazing; yet singular, for just a few years of time. But to be called to follow Jesus in a post-resurrection world is, obviously, going to look different. It’s not the same.

It seems to me that the command from Jesus to “follow me” in such a world would take anyone a bit of time to wrap their head around. After all, Jesus had risen from death, and was about to ascend to heaven. How do you follow someone who is here, but not here?

Maybe Peter needed some space to try and make sense of it all by deflecting the command onto what’s going to happen with his fellow disciple John, who was hanging around following the two of them.

Jesus, undeterred by Peter trying to get Jesus on another subject, kept his focus on Peter. Again, Christ reiterated the command to Peter: “You follow me.”

It’s far too easy to look at others and wonder about their following, and to be overly concerned about somebody else’s Christian discipleship. If we are honest, oftentimes by doing that approach, we don’t have to deal with our own relationship with Jesus, and what he is saying specifically to me.

The beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry involved the command to “follow me.” And here, at the end of that phase of his ministry, he came back to the disciples, and to Peter, saying the very same thing: “Follow me.”

Even though so much had changed from the first time the disciples were called to follow Jesus, the basic nature of Christian discipleship had not really changed at all. In fact, even today, it still hasn’t much changed. The call still remains from the Lord Jesus to “follow me.”

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25, NIV)

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV)

“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:25-27, NIV)

Unlike Christ’s earthly ministry, in this post-resurrection world, the call of discipleship and apprenticeship to Jesus, goes out into all the world. It’s for everyone, and not just a select few persons to follow Jesus physically as their rabbi and teacher.

Yet, what is similar, concerning the call to follow Christ, is that we can still today get sidetracked by rumors about other followers. Believers can become enamored with what is happening, or going to happen, with particular Christians and about whether Jesus is going to return today or tomorrow.

But our singular focus, as Christians, as people who embrace the name of Christ, is to follow Jesus. “Follow me” is just as relevant now as it was two millennia ago.

What is important for each of us is to actually focus on our own part in following Jesus. The Good Shepherd is perfectly capable of properly sorting the sheep and the goats. That’s not our job.

We have quite enough on our spiritual plate in dealing with our own Christian discipleship, without sticking our nose in another’s Christian walk with Jesus. There is a fine line between holding another accountable, and just plain old being a no-good spiritual busybody.

So, when it comes to Christian discipleship and following Jesus, we are to mind our own business. Butt out of other people’s walk of faith, and concentrate on your own special calling from God.

We are not to compare our discipleship with others, namely because we each have our place and particular set of spiritual gifts to edify the community. And if we will put our focus on our own specific call to follow, then the Body of Christ is healthy and works together in unity, harmony, and love. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

If we concentrate on Jesus, we will be fine. If we choose, however, to be a spiritual busybody, or the self-appointed spiritual police, then we are going to have Judge Jesus to contend with in a way you probably won’t like.

So, what is you calling? How will you relate to Jesus? Will you take up the command from Jesus to “follow me?”

Merciful Lord, give me the courage to take up my cross and follow you, even if it means sacrificing my own comfort and desires. Help me to be obedient to your commandments, to live a life of love, and to serve others with humility.

Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness and your endless grace. Help me to follow you with all my heart and to live out your teachings in my daily life. Amen.

Christmas Day (John 1:1-14)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Art by Lourry Legarde

The Word was first,
    the Word present to God,
    God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
    in readiness for God from day one.

Everything was created through him;
    nothing—not one thing!—
    came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
    and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
    the darkness couldn’t put it out.

There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.

The Life-Light was the real thing:
    Every person entering Life
    he brings into Light.
He was in the world,
    the world was there through him,
    and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people,
    but they didn’t want him.
But whoever did want him,
    who believed he was who he claimed
    and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
    their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
    not blood-begotten,
    not flesh-begotten,
    not sex-begotten.

The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish. (The Message)

Art by Linnaea Mallette

Joy to the world! Merry Christmas to you, my friend. On this day, and for the next twelve days, we remember and celebrate the nativity of Christ, and the mystery of his incarnation.

We acknowledge with Christians, both past and present, all around the world, in proclaiming together:

“Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” (Luke 2:14, CEB)

We relate to the shepherds, out in their fields, caring for the flocks of sheep at night, who were terrified, yet went and offered their worship to the newborn king, listening to the angelic message:

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11, NKJV)

We identify with Mary, the mother of Jesus, who pondered the meaning of the nativity in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

This Christmas season extends from December 25 through January 5. Celebrating throughout these days helps us enter into the profound meaning and mystery of Christ’s incarnation – rather than just observing one day.

Today’s Gospel lesson moves us to do just that, to acknowledge and affirm the identity of Jesus Christ as fully human, and at the same time, all the time, fully divine.

Christ was both born into this world, and pre-existed from the very beginning. Indeed, Jesus has always existed, without any sort of preconditions to his eternal being. He is a person, a persona of God. In other words, Jesus is God.

The Lord Jesus is the pre-existent light-bearer who is designated to come as the light-giver, whose light is unquenchable and never goes out. He is the Light of the world.

John is a witness to that light. And although this light should have been expected, there were (and are) many who reject the Light, who is the Word for the world.

Yet, any sort of rejection cannot possibly hinder the light’s ability to illumine the hearts of many people.

This Word, this Light, this pre-existing Christ, has actually enfleshed himself, becoming present with us in this world. And this is precisely what the faithful are celebrating this day, and in this season. God has come among us!

The giving of the Son, this person of God, this incredible light and life, is a grace well beyond the divine giving of the Law – because the Law has been incarnated in the person of Jesus the Christ.

There is much to ponder, and much to celebrate, on this day, and for the upcoming days of this season.

We were all physically born of the flesh. We may all also become spiritually born of God through the Word of God, Jesus, the Savior whom we acknowledge and adore today and every day.

“The Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, through his transcendent love, became what we are, so that he might bring us to what he is himself.”

St. Irenaeus

By means of the incarnation, in Christ, and through the Spirit, we have the chance, the ability, made possible by God’s grace, to participate in the divine nature; and in the divine dance of unhindered and unending unity, harmony, peace, and love which continually exists within the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit.

This is a spiritual reality worth a robust celebration today – and all the days which God gives us on this earth. To God be the glory.

God, you spoke, and your Word became flesh, breathing a new song of joy and praise into the world. Grant that we may bear the good news of your salvation, proclaiming your promise of peace to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Nativity of the Lord (Luke 2:1-20)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Nativity, by He Qi, 1998

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 

All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them. (New Revised Standard Version)

The Birth of Jesus Christ, by Woonbo Kim Ki-chang, 1953

Overwhelmed. That’s the word I imagine the characters in this story had, for various reasons.

To have spiritual or emotional overwhelm is to feel overpowered by several circumstances at once. It’s experiencing a lot of emotions all at the same time.

The sense of overwhelm can come from many different things, including complicated grief, relational distance, and too many responsibilities. Depending upon why we are overwhelmed, it will likely either leave us stuck and chronically tired, or free and forever rejoicing.

A good sense of overwhelm is awe and wonder. A bad sense of overwhelm is despondency and dejection.

Mary probably experienced the full range of overwhelm. An angel showed up and announced to her that she would give birth to a son and name him Jesus, meaning that God will save the people. He will fulfill the promise of being the Son of the ancient King David who has a permanent reign.

In other words, Mary would give birth to the Messiah. That sounds like the very definition of overwhelm, in both its good and bad sense.

Despite the temporal worldly power of the Roman Empire, Mary’s child would have a kingdom without end. And in spite of the Romans, God’s will and purpose would prevail.

And yet, Mary and Joseph were still subject to Roman authority. That meant they needed to be registered, along with everyone else in the Empire, so that the government knew about their tax base, and who was going to pay it.

The decree from Ceasar meant that, even though Mary was quite pregnant, she and Joseph would have to travel to Bethlehem, the family’s ancestral town, in order to be properly registered.

Jesus would not be born in the city of overwhelming power and control in Jerusalem. Rather, Bethlehem, a small non-descript town south of the city, is the place for an overwhelming birth experience to happen.

It’s appropriate that from the beginning, the life and ministry of Jesus would be more about the smaller and less powerful place and people.

And so, the new king, from the line of David, is born in the most humble of circumstances. It is fitting that the humblest of persons were the first to receive the birth news.

Shepherds were literally out on the margins of society. Their typical reputation was not good. They stink. They drink too much. They’re on the lower rung of cultural power.

Yet, a huge angelic delegation was sent from heaven to shepherds to announce the birth. It was an overwhelming experience, no matter how you view it.

Seeing Shepherds, by Daniel Bonnell

Angels showed up, and the shepherds were nearly paralyzed with fear. But their terror turned on a dime to awe, wonder, and joy.

What’s more, the good news shared with the lowliest of persons, is for everyone. All the overwhelm and awe is contained in a savior who has been born, Christ the Lord.

Overwhelming feelings were a regular experience of people in the Gospel of Luke who encountered angels – fear being the initial response. But it’s then followed by an assurance that God is extending grace to them, not judgment. No one need be afraid, because God is with them.

It’s not a new message; but it is a message that is newly focused in this savior of a baby. He is Immanuel, God with us. The presence of God is here, because the attention and love of God are here.

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
    What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. (Psalm 118:5-7, NRSV)

The real genuine authentic power of the universe is here – not found within political empires or governments, nor with the wealthy and influential – but discovered in the arrival of the actual savior, who holds all power and authority, and wields it according to proper justice and righteousness.

All along, God is the true deliverer who backs up the needy and oppressed. It is demonstrated in the angelic proclamations of good news about this Savior, the Christ, the One anointed and chosen by God, the son of David, the deliverer from ancient enemies.

The angel’s proclamation erupts with the sudden appearance of a multitude of God’s heavenly messengers praising God, declaring God’s glory, favor, and blessing of peace on the earth. The emphasis is upon God’s grace rather than human action.

In response to the announcement they received, the shepherds went to see if what they had heard was true, and indeed, it all was. When they saw the sign for themselves, they could not keep silent about all they had heard and seen.

The shepherds praised God, out of an overwhelming sense of amazement that the Lord had paid attention to them.

Praise is still the reaction in the life of the person touched by all that they have seen and heard.

Creator God, by your greatness you became small; by your power you became powerless; and by your limitlessness you became limited. Through the birth of your son, we can live in the divine light that shines on a world transformed by the limitless power of your love. Amen. Praise the Lord!

Fourth Sunday of Advent – Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-55)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Mary and Elizabeth, by Lauren Wright Pittman

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
    Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
    and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (New Revised Standard Version)

Mary had a visitation by an angel, informing her that she would give birth to the Son of God. She immediately hurried to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was pregnant with the forerunner to the Son of God.

In the two women’s encounter, the baby within Mary is portrayed as of greater significance than the one within Elizabeth. And that was not because of the adults, but because of the babies themselves.

Something amazing and spectacular was about to occur in history. It would be so cataclysmic that these two babies, especially the one within Mary, would change the world in profound ways.

There was nothing particularly special about either Mary or Elizabeth – which is probably why they were perfect for the jobs of raising the Messiah and the Prophet.

The lowly non-descript persons are usually favored by God, even though the world knows nothing about them. After all, the kingdom of God knows nothing of billionaires and those in high places, even though the world knows nearly everything about them.

Throughout the history of the world, women have often been overlooked and underrated. Even in today’s Western world, even though it’s better than it was, women are still viewed not as qualified like men are. But that’s a topic for another time.

The Visitation, by Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996)

The most obvious observation from today’s Gospel story is that we wouldn’t have babies born without women. There were two in utero babies that had responses, because of two women.

Inside of Elizabeth’s womb, John leaped at the voice of Mary carrying his new cousin. Indeed, even before birth, John was filled with the Holy Spirit and began pointing to Jesus. (Luke 1:15)

John, although getting his prophetic leap from the Spirit, also got some significant prophetic oomph from his mother. Elizabeth spoke the prophetic word about Mary, who is “the mother of my Lord.”

Good people bestow blessing on others. And that is what Elizabeth did for Mary. This then, enabled Mary to express her own inspired blessing to God. To bless and be blessed means, on the practical level, that spiritual eyes are opened to see what is truly there.

Mary is a blessed person, not only because she is the Lord’s mother, but more fundamentally because she is faithful, and trusted in the promise of God to her.

To be blessed is to have God’s stamp of approval on your life. It has little to do with wealth or abundant resources. But it does have a lot to do with living a life of godly virtue and values.

So, again, it only makes sense that God used Mary and Elizabeth, two women who embodied being poor in spirit (humble) as the divine conduits for blessing the world.

Both Mary and Elizabeth believed. Elizabeth believed the words of the angel to her husband Zechariah. And Mary believed the angel’s direct words to her when she heard them. Without hesitation or any ambiguity.

Faith accepts what it cannot see; and when faith does see with actual eyes, it can see what is underneath the physical appearance.

Let’s also make sure to observe that this sort of faith, this particular way of seeing, has its consequences. Elizabeth and Mary both knew quite well that one of them was an unmarried pregnant woman.

They understood the social judgments to come, along with the shaming, and perhaps even the ostracism that would likely occur – even though all of this is divine through and through.

But grace can always use the eyes of faith to see beyond social status and convention in order to do what is right, just, and good. Mercy can always see what is truly honorable.

Elizabeth was perfectly comfortable extending hospitality to a person for whom others were likely to whisper, judge, and reject. Which is why I like Elizabeth. Every generation needs more women like her.

The welcome and love of Elizabeth is of the same sort that Jesus would show to prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners. Like Elizabeth, Jesus could see beyond any societal shame to what was divinely happening in front of him.

Mary magnified the Lord with immortal words infused from the blessing bestowed upon her by Elizabeth. To bless another person is to open them to the possibilities of God’s actions in them and through them to the world.

That is the real gift that keeps on giving. And it is the most appropriate and valuable gift that we can give to another this season.

O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption in the coming of the Savior. Make our hearts leap with joy, and fill our mouths with songs of praise, so that we may announce glad tidings of peace, and welcome Christ in our midst. Open our souls to receive the One who came to love your flock. Amen.