Joseph of Arimethea: The Secret Disciple (Wide Angle)

Posted on February 10, 2022 by salooper57

It is difficult enough to move on after each of the earlier posts in this series, but it is even more difficult to move on after such an inadequate treatment of the crucifixion of Jesus. Saying that we have gazed at the death of Christ because we read a few posts or listened to a sermon is like saying that we have seen the Rockies because we flew from Detroit to Las Vegas. The death of Christ is a mountain of revelation, and we have hardly traced its outline. But if we’re to see the outworking of what happened at Calvary, we must move on.

But we also must take the cross with us. We saw in last week’s post that the cross was like a sword plunged into the earth, but now we find that it is also like a key carried in our pocket. It unlocks the rest of revelation. It opens the door for us to understand the fall, the Law, the Covenants, and the kingdom. In fact, we can’t even understand ourselves apart from the cross.

But we cannot understand the cross apart from the empty tomb. Take away the resurrection (something antagonists to Christ have tried to do since the very beginning) and the cross is a meaningless tragedy.

And that is exactly what his disciples thought on the day it happened. It was an unmitigated disaster. Their hopes had been dashed; their confidence shattered. And now they faced the very real possibility that the powers that executed Jesus would come after them. Don’t forget that when the authorities interrogated and tortured Jesus, they tried to find out all they could about his disciples (John 18:19).

After the execution, the disciples went into hiding, as John put it, for “fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). Violence, injustice and threat of persecution drove them into the shadows. But that same violence, injustice and threat of persecution brought another of Jesus’ disciples out of the shadows and into the light.

His name was Joseph, and he was from the town of Arimethea. Matthew 27:57 informs us that he was rich. I think it is safe to assume that he was also influential. For one thing, he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the national ruling body of Israel. For another, he was able to walk into the governor’s office, be granted a meeting on the spot, and have his request fulfilled within minutes. This was an important man.

John’s gospel tells us that Joseph had been so afraid of what his colleagues would say that he kept his relationship with Jesus hidden. How interesting that the very circumstances that sent Jesus’ known disciples into hiding brought this hidden disciple out into the public eye.

Joseph was a member of the judicial council that condemned Jesus to death. If I understand the evidence correctly, certain members of the council never received word that an emergency nighttime session had been called. One of those members was Joseph. Now, by taking a stand for Jesus, he was bringing on himself the wrath of his colleagues. His action was political suicide.

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Passover and Exodus (Video Embedded)

Posted on February 8, 2022 by salooper57

On Sunday, I was only able to post a link to the church’s website for this Biblical Theology class on Exodus12-15. The video for the class is embedded below.

Viewing time: 54 minutes (approximate)
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Example, Savior, Shepherd: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Posted on February 7, 2022 by salooper57
Viewing Time: 26 minutes (approx.)
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Passover and Exodus (Biblical Theology Class #5 )

Posted on February 6, 2022 by salooper57

As Christians look at the death of Christ on the cross and his subsequent resurrection as the event that sealed their redemption, first century Jews looked at Passover and the subsequent Exodus as the event that sealed their redemption.

A knowledge of Passover and the Exodus are necessary to a clear understanding of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. The theology of Exodus runs throughout!

Follow the link below to enjoy this class, taught January 30, 2022. We look at the Passover and Exodus in their historical setting, then at how they were understood by God’s people in the Old Testament, and later by Jesus and his apostles in the New.

Passover and Exodus (Biblical Theology Class #5)

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The Key to Ending the Culture Wars

Posted on February 5, 2022 by salooper57

Ukraine teeters on the brink of war. A hundred thousand Russian troops surround her borders. The U.S. views this as an act of aggression. The Russians deny hostile intent and complain that their national security is being threatened.

Whether war will be averted or not, no one knows. It is entirely possible that it will have already begun by the time this article is published. What we can know is that this conflict has roots that reach back into the history of Ukraine and into the annals of East-West relationships.

Ukraine is and has been a divided nation. Each of its major regions has a unique history and a character shaped by long interaction with neighbors. There are language differences between east and west. In fact, while most Ukrainians can understand and speak Russian, most cannot speak Ukrainian. Such a conflict, rooted in differences in language, history, and values, might well be called a “culture war.”

Culture wars are fought on distinct fronts. In Ukraine, those fronts have been EU and NATO membership, relations with Russia, and conscription into the military. The culture wars here are fought on different fronts, frequently along the borders of sexuality. Issues of gender, same sex relationships and, above all, abortion, have seen heavy fighting.

The culture wars will not be won in curtained voting booths or paneled courtrooms.

Some Christians apparently believe that the outcome of one or other of these battles is what matters most. When, in 2016, I told a good friend that I was not going to vote for Donald Trump, he was shocked. Did I want that “baby-killer” – Hilary Clinton – to win? When I explained that I would not be voting for Mrs. Clinton either, he seemed to think that I had gone AWOL.

There have always been culture wars, and culture wars have always stemmed from conflicting beliefs about what people are and how they relate to the world around them. This was the case, as Steven D. Smith pointed out in Pagans and Christians in the City, in the culture wars of ancient Rome.

Peter Leithart, commenting on Smith’s work, writes that “the real fight isn’t between religion and secularism, but between two different kinds of religion.” He goes on to draw comparisons between ancient Rome and contemporary America, pointing out that pre-Christian Rome’s belief system led to views about sexuality with which early Christian converts could not agree. This gave rise to ongoing conflicts and misunderstandings.

Such battles have been, and will continue to be, fought along these fronts, but they won’t be won there. The key to ending the culture wars lies in engaging the belief systems behind them. Many culture warriors – on both sides of the front – are incapable of articulating these underlying beliefs.

This means that the best way for a Christian to end the battle on the abortion front is not to vote but to evangelize—to spread the good news about the God who made and redeemed us. Unless people experience a change of thinking on some basic issues – whether there is a God and what he is like, who humans are and what they were made for – mindsets will not change. A Supreme Court ruling may cause abortion to go underground but it will not make it go away.

This does not mean that voting is unimportant. Voting is both a great privilege and a serious responsibility. We should vote wisely, carefully, and conscientiously. What we should not do is vote naïvely, with the assumption that casting a ballot is the only thing we can do.

The culture wars will not be won in curtained voting booths or paneled courtrooms, but in people’s minds and hearts. Knowing and being able to explain what we believe in intelligent, persuasive, and respectful conversations is key.

(First published by Gannet.)

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Wide Angle: The Cross Divides

Posted on February 2, 2022 by salooper57

(Reading time: Approximately 7 minutes)

Have you ever noticed that as soon as Jesus’s Cross was dropped into place it began dividing people? St. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 1. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God… Christ crucified [is] a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, but the power of God and the wisdom of God to those whom he has called (1 Cor. 1:18ff).

See how it works. Here are soldiers. They took this duty because they enjoyed the perks: it was easy work once the cross was up, plus they were allowed to divide up the victim’s possessions among themselves. Jesus didn’t have much, just the five articles of clothing that every Jewish man wore: the inner tunic, the outer robe, the belt or sash, the sandals, and the turban. The four soldiers took one piece of clothing each, but the beautiful, seamless robe was still left. To cut it up into four pieces would have been to ruin it, so here they were, at the foot of the cross, gambling for it. From their perspective, Jesus was a means to financial gain. Jesus is still that to many people, as the TV preachers continually remind us.

But the cross divides people. On the other side of the cross was a Roman centurion, these soldiers’ superior. He was a hard-bitten man who had fought tough battles and seen many men die. But he had never seen anyone die like this. Jesus once predicted, “If I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32), and here we have the first example of the magnetism of the cross. The Centurion was being drawn. While his soldiers were gambling and mocking, he was rapt with wonder, and praised God: “Surely this was a righteous man” (verse 47). Mark tells us that he went even further: “This man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

Also standing below the cross are Jewish religious leaders. Of all people on earth, they should have recognized their messiah and welcomed him. They should have sworn allegiance to him. Instead, they swore at him, and mocked him. Verse 35: “…the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one.’” There are still those who have no place for a dying Savior, people who understand only power, pragmatism, manipulation.

Divided from these rulers was another ruler, and the crucified Christ separated them. His name was Joseph (vs. 50). He was a member of the ruling counsel, just like the men who stood below the cross and sneered. But the cross had sundered them. They saw a helpless man. He saw the mighty love of God.

On either side of Jesus, verse 33, was a criminal. The one hurled insults at him. He despised this good man who suffered for nothing. In his eyes Jesus was a weakling, someone to scoff at. “At least,” the criminal might have thought, “I have done something worth dying for. At least I have been a man.” But he saw nothing in Jesus that he wanted.

But the criminal on the other side of Jesus had been watching him. He heard him say, “Father, forgive them.” He saw him bless instead of curse. He saw something in Jesus that transcended the moment, something so powerful that he blurted out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”They both saw the same Jesus: bloody, beaten almost beyond recognition, affixed to a cross. But the one man saw a loser while the other saw a king.

The cross divides people. God has plunged it into the earth, like Excaliber in the stone, and no power can remove it. From the moment it was driven into the ground, it began splitting the earth, dividing people. Some who look on the crucified Christ see nothing they want, nothing that draws them, nothing to love. Others are drawn to the cross and to Christ and to life.

What can we say to this? If you have been putting off the moment of decision, have not yet chose to believe on Jesus and give your life to follow him, know this: Sooner or later, you will have to take your stand on one side of the cross or the other. On the side with those who say, “There’s nothing here I want” or with those who, like Thomas, say “My Lord and my God.” The earth is splitting under your feet, and you must stand on one side or the other. If in your heart you know the side on which to stand, do it today. Don’t wait. Bow to Christ, offer him your life and your heart. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” says St. Paul, “and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). He took your place as truly as he took Barabbas’. Because of him, a new future, a better future, is being offered to you. Don’t let it pass you by.

If you already belong to Jesus, understand this: the cross is proof positive that God is in control. While it’s true that corrupt leaders and Roman soldiers put Jesus “to death by nailing him to the cross,” it is also true, as St. Peter said, that he “was handed over to [them] by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge” (Acts 2:23ff.) Do you see what that means? God took the most wicked deed ever done by humans and turned it into the greatest good. Nothing can stop our God. Nothing. He will bring good.

Simon from Cyrene is a marvelous example. He may have said to himself, “Why me?” He may have said to God, “What have I done to deserve this?” He may have hated the Romans for the way they treated him. And yet it is likely that God used the worst thing that ever happened to him to bring he and his family to faith and to life. Even when you don’t understand, even when God seems to be far off, even when bad things happen, don’t stop trusting him. Our God reigns. He will bring good. Nothing can stop him.

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One Woman’s Journey to Faith

Posted on January 31, 2022 by salooper57
Viewing Time: 15:36

I am excited to share Jenny Wickey’s story with you. She told our church family about the journey she has been on from her atheist upbringing to faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a great story that you will want to share with your friends and family.

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Biblical Theology Class 4: The LORD versus the Gods of Egypt (Exodus 3-11)

Posted on January 30, 2022 by salooper57
Viewing Time: 52:00

In this class, we look at one of the highest peaks of biblical revelation: When God the Creator reveals his name. What follows – the War on the Egyptian Front – shows the LORD to be the great God, without rival. We will then fast forward to the New Testament and see what all this has to do with Jesus.

This is theologically monumental. This is fascinating. Please join us.

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Pulling the Idols from Their Pedestals

Posted on January 29, 2022 by salooper57

At a friend’s urging, I once read a dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic era in which the civilized world, or, more precisely, the things about the world that made it civilized, had disappeared. History, philosophy, technology, and the knowledge bases on which they were founded, had all been destroyed.

In this uncivilized world, a religious culture had taken hold. The memory of ancient powers like technology and science had given rise to rituals of worship. Cults had sprung up around these gods, cults with their own symbolism, sacred writings, and priesthoods.

I must say that I slogged through the novel. Dystopian stories hold little appeal for me, and I quickly forgot about this one. I cannot recall its title or its author. Yet it came to mind recently when something I read made me think what great idolators we civilized people are.

Were a militarized electromagnetic pulse to take out earth’s digital libraries and if traditional military operations did the same to all public and private book collections, our descendants might be worshiping their own pantheon of gods. Which ones? The ones people worship today.

In the contemporary pantheon of gods, the deity known as Education is highly esteemed. People attribute great power to Education. John Dewey, Education’s high priest in the first half of the 20th century, claimed that “…education is not preparation for life but is life itself.” Franklin Roosevelt believed that Education’s function was to safeguard another of our great gods, which is frequently invoked today: Democracy.

Education is not alone in the pantheon of the gods. Alongside it, standing tall, is mighty Technology. The far-seeing Jacques Ellul said, “Modern technology has become … the defining force of a new social order.” To technology is attributed the power to “heal” the disabled, save the world from resource depletion, and avert environmental disaster.

Pride of place in today’s pantheon of deities goes to the great god Science. Like Zeus of old, Science is a prolific god that has begotten many children. Anyone who doubts Science’s place in the idolatry of the era, needs only listen to our public officials and celebrities. They are constantly preaching, “Follow the science!” “Trust the science.”

Coming from the Christian faith, this sounds familiar. Jesus repeatedly told people, “Follow me.” He told his disciples, “Trust in me.” Today we are told to follow and trust Science.

It is surprising how often the words, “Science will save us” appear in print. Science will save us from COVID and from climate change. The World Economic Forum even titled an interview with Nobel-winning physicist Brian Schmidt, “How Science Will Save the World.” I suspect these writers don’t realize they are using religious language.

Another deity, whose power is feared by all, is the great god “Economy.” It is invoked by national leaders across the globe. It is a ruthless god and must be placated, else it will destroy the lives of millions and bring down nations. Offerings are presented to the Economy daily. Wall Streeters kneel before it. Fed Chairmen sacrifice billions to propitiate it.

Why is it that the Economy and all these gods collapse when humans stop feeding and protecting them? If they are dependent on humans, it can only mean that they are not real gods at all. Humans made them; they were not made for them. They exist to serve humanity, not be served by it.

Only when these idols have been removed from their pedestals can we appreciate how truly wonderful they are. Once science, education, and technology are relieved of the divine responsibility of saving the world, they can be valued for what they are: glorious expressions of humanity’s God-given intelligence and marvelous tools that can improve human life on earth.

For people who are used to thinking of religion and science as competitors, what I’m about to say might be surprising: I think God delights in science, and in all human expressions of genius that benefit humanity. He is happy for us to delight in them too. He just doesn’t want us worshiping them, for that degrades us and keeps us from the true object of our hope.

(First published by Gannett.)

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Wide Angle: The Place of the Skull

Posted on January 26, 2022 by salooper57

(For the background to this post, please read Mark 15 and click back to this post.)

Sometime later, probably around eight in the morning, Jesus and two other prisoners were marched through the narrow streets of the city out to the place of execution. Coming into town was a North African Jew from Cyrene named Simon. It had been his dream for years, as it was the dream of every Jew living outside Israel, to visit the Holy City for Passover. He and his family had probably spent the night outside the city, because of the huge crowds. The next morning, on his way into town, he met a procession of Roman soldiers and criminals carrying their crosses, along with mourners and gawkers, on their way to a crucifixion.

I can imagine him trying to keep his young children from seeing it. But that proved impossible when, right in front of them, one of the criminals fainted from loss of blood. Suddenly the butt of a Roman soldier’s spear tapped Simon on the chest (this would be verse 21). “Carry it for him,” the soldier barked, and Simon could do nothing but obey.

Think of how he must have felt. All his life he had wanted to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He had finally achieved his dream, and now here he was carrying some criminal’s cross for these despised Romans. He would have cursed his luck. He would have said to himself, “Why me?”

That is all Luke has to say about Simon, but it is not the end of the story. In Mark’s gospel we learn that Simon had two sons, Rufus and Alexander. Now why would Mark, writing his gospel for the church at Rome some twenty-five or thirty years later, even mention the names of Simon’s sons? I can think of one reason: because people in the Roman church knew them.

There is more. From Paul’s letter to the Romans, we learn that at the time Mark wrote his gospel there was a prominent man in the church at Rome named Rufus. In fact, Paul calls him chosen in the Lord and says that Rufus’ mother “has been a mother to me” (Romans 16:13).

Here is what might have happened. On that terrible day, Simon saw something in the Nazarene that he could not ignore. He was, perhaps, only a few feet away when they nailed him to the cross; heard him say, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing”; saw the sun grow dark and the earth shake, and heard a grizzled Roman soldier say, “Surely this is the son of God.” Perhaps this Simon became a follower of Jesus, as well as his wife and his sons, Alexander and Rufus. William Cowper was right: “God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.”

They reached the place the Jews called Golgotha, and the Romans, Calvary. It was known as “the place of the skull,” though we don’t know why. Some people think that the place was a skull-shaped hill, hence songs like, “I believe in a hill called mount Calvary” or, “On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross.” But Scripture nowhere says that Calvary was a hill. One scholar suggested that it got its name because the Romans left the skulls of their victims there as a warning to others. But that is highly unlikely. Such a place would be ceremonially unclean, and Jews would not go there, particularly on a holy day, as was the case when Jesus was executed.

When they reached the place, Jesus and the other two prisoners were forced to the ground by the soldiers who guarded them. They were quickly and efficiently nailed to their respective crosses, which were then hoisted and dropped into place. It was part of the religious leader’s strategy to have Jesus executed alongside notorious criminals. In the court of public opinion, they wanted to convict him of guilt by association. But in so doing, they unwittingly fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah: “He was numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

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