Secret Places

Attribution: Alpha Stock Images - http://alphastockimages.com/; Original Author: Nick Youngson - link to - http://www.nyphotographic.com/; 

Original Image: https://www.picpedia.org/handwriting/a/authentic.html

I've been challenged lately to think about authenticity. 

We know that when we trust Christ, part of the Gospel is that we get a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Yet we also continue to live with our flesh still stained by sin, the world around us trying to press us into its mold, and Satan bringing direct attacks. The process of sanctification changes us to increasingly reflect the new heart, but we stumble and fall along the way. We are told clearly how to walk in the victory of faith when we recognize the battle before us: 

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NET)

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. (1 John 5:4 ESV)

And yet there are those battles we don't realize we are fighting. The reality of not living up to who we are in Christ is real every day. It's clearly inauthentic to deny the struggles. Those hidden faults, those mixed motives - things that would break our heart if we realized them - things that do break others' hearts at times. 

What does it mean to be genuine, authentic, pure, without guile? None of us does it perfectly; we all have hidden sins and mixed motives that make it hard at times to discern what is happening in our "secret places" - which is why David cried out: 

But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (Psalm 19:12-13 NIV)

I'm so grateful God hasn't left us without guidance about these sins. Recently in our evening devotional this passage jumped out at me in a new way:

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:10-11 ESV)

Suddenly I realized something about the how of transformation - transformation from the inside out. As I seek Him with all my heart, HE keeps me from straying - even from things that are deep within me, things I don't realize I need to confess. Hiding His Word is not just memorizing scripture, but taking it in, making it part of me. Jesus described it as the word "abiding" in us -  making its home in our hearts. As I am increasingly filled with Him and have less space for me, filled with His Word, I find myself changed in ways I didn't realize were within me. Sometimes He allows pressing circumstances to reveal something ugly within me; other times He convicts me of something I've never considered; and there are also those times He changes me by giving me new desires, new "cravings" ... when something that had appeal, that attracted me unhealthily, no longer does, and then I realize that the root of the old desire was sinful all along. I'm convinced that there are even times He changes something without me even being aware - just making me more like Him, as He has promised. I become more authentically the way He created me to be, the way the new heart is aligned toward Him.

So I'm learning that in order to be authentic, I have to be open to being changed in ways I might not realize need to be changed. There are genuine struggles at unconscious levels. At the same time, it's also inauthentic to act as if there are only struggles. As I walk through the trials of life, God constantly reminds me of who I am in Him - Blessed, Chosen, Adopted, Accepted, Redeemed, Forgiven (Ephesians 1). Never forgotten (Isaiah 49:15-16). Seen by my Creator (Genesis 16:13). Never forsaken (Hebrews 13:5). 

The most beautiful thing to me about inviting Him into all of my secret places by seeking Him and making His Word at home in my heart is that I know I will never be cast out. He has already been cast out for me. But He does invite me to join Him there:

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. (Hebrews 13:12-13)

To me, this is the heart of authenticity: Seeking Him, letting Him change me, and being honest with others in the process. I don't have to let fear of man keep me from pursuing this depth of intimacy with God. When I understand His grace, I can resist the temptation to protect myself by locking my heart down, and instead identify with Him, knowing I am already fully known, fully loved, fully accepted, and ultimately will be fully changed. 

Grasping grace, I can embrace true authenticity: The good, the bad, and the ugly.

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #12: Who is Worthy?

 

 (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11)

Following the Sermon, Jesus returns to His "home base" in Capernaum. The disciples are with Him, learning about His approach to ministry. As we walk with Jesus on these encounters, we will see along with them that indeed, as Isaiah said, His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Who is Worthy? Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-17

In Capernaum, Jesus is approached about healing the servant of a centurion - a Roman officer. Remember, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation. They were allowed a measure of religious freedom, but they did not have ultimate autonomy over their own land. It's not surprising, then, that the centurion initially feels the need to send an "advance team" of Jewish elders to appeal on his behalf. These elders add their own commentary to the request - "He is worthy" - explaining that this particular centurion "loves our nation" and had funded the building of the synagogue in Capernaum. 

Based on the parallel passage in Matthew, the centurion must have been close by, because he makes his own request - but when Jesus agrees to go, the centurion directly contradicts the appeal of the Jewish elders. "I am not worthy," he says, "for You to come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed."  Jesus is so moved by the man's faith and acknowledgment of Jesus' authority that He calls it out as surpassing the faith He had seen among the people of Israel. 

This centurion reflects the heart of Jesus Himself in caring about his servant. He regarded this servant highly (in contrast to much of the standard attitude toward servants in that time); he observed the man's deep pain and suffering (the Greek word indicates the servant was "tortured" by his condition); and he wanted to do something about it. As we have seen, Jesus' active compassion not only felt the needs around Him, but intervened to make a difference. The centurion wanted to do the same. So he turned to the One whose reputation was starting to precede him - he asked Jesus to intervene.

We have no way to know how much he knew of Jesus' claims. We see no worship (the word translated "Lord" is also used as a general term of honor or respect). We just know two things clearly: 

• The centurion had a need, and was drawn to Jesus to meet that need. 
• The centurion realized that he was "not worthy" of Jesus' presence in his home.

"He is worthy." 

"I am not worthy." 

Let's not miss the power of these contrasting phrases. A man, wealthy for his time, and in need of help from Jesus, focuses not on his own credentials but on the power of Jesus. The Jewish leaders are only doing what we all do from time to time, making a recommendation of someone they know to someone who doesn't know the person. And yet the man, in a position of honor within his culture, humbly rejects the accolades given to him. He had faith that Jesus could heal, to be sure, but much more deeply he discerned something about who Jesus was - something that so many of the Jewish leaders missed, despite all the prophecies and preparations for the Messiah. The centurion understood on a deep level the authority that Jesus held within Himself - and Jesus recognized the faith that required. 

In this case, His word alone heals the centurion's servant, and then we see in Luke's Gospel that He continues His ministry next by raising from the dead the son of a widow - another case of touching the "unclean" and bringing about transformation. 

The truth is, none of us are worthy of a "visit" from Jesus. We are sin-stained, all of us, and He is perfectly pure and holy. Every parent who has tried to scrub a stain out of a white shirt dirtied by a child who couldn't stay clean for five minutes has experienced the idea of the pure being stained by the impure. And yet here we see Jesus walking around on the earth, encountering unworthy humans - and entering into their struggles and challenges in ways that make a difference. He is not stained by us, but His touch does make us clean - from the inside out. 

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2) 

Jesus does not place value on "worthy" in a human sense - building big sanctuaries, being on a certain political side, having certain religious practices. Instead, He looks for humble hearts drawn to Him, regardless of how much or how little they know of who He is. He reveals Himself more and more to those with eyes to see and hearts to discern. 

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)

The heart of God is shown in the unexpected encounters of Jesus. A Roman centurion. The dead son of a widowed mother in an out-of-the-way location. God's heart for the vulnerable, the weak, the outcast, the poor, is shown in the way Jesus chose to spend His time. As Adrian Rodgers once said, "The cross didn't change God's heart; it revealed it." Jesus' actions show where God's priorities lie. 

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)

Jesus' example is incarnational living. He could have just saved us from a distance - spoken a word, demonstrated miraculous signs in the heavens. Yet He didn't. God's plan from the beginning was to give us Himself in flesh and blood - and through His perfect sacrifice, purify us forever. To clean us from the inside out, to transform us in such a way that we become "salt" in the lives of others, with a purifying and preserving effect and making them thirsty for Jesus. 

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4)

This story deepens my fellowship with Jesus as I identify with the "unworthy" centurion, and realize that I am now cleansed to the point that I am actually a temple of the Holy Spirit. I am in awe that His touch has had such a transformational effect in my life. 

While I must practice wisdom, and be in community with believers who can help "wash my feet" (John 13:10), I do not have to fear. I do not have to determine who is "worthy" of an encounter with Jesus. I just have to live out His commandments to love Him and others, bringing truth, grace, and love into every encounter.

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #11: Glimpses of the Kingdom

  (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10)

Having just called the Twelve, Jesus immediately helps them learn to start walking in the new reality of why He called them - to be with Him, to send them out, and to give them authority (Mark 3:14-15). Before giving them specific assignments, though, Jesus does what any good teacher would do: He lays out the expectations. Specifically, He begins by breaking down their ideas of what it would mean to follow the Messiah - and gives them glimpses of the Kingdom He is asking them to promote.  

Glimpses of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:1-7:29; Luke 6:17-49)

Because this blog series focuses on learning to walk as Jesus walked, we won't be looking at every verse of the "Sermon on the Mount/Plain" or the controversies of interpreting a few of them. We won't take up the debate on whether Matthew & Luke present two separate sermons or two versions of one sermon. Instead, we will focus on what is clear: Jesus immediately moves from calling His disciples to teaching them, and in doing so gives them a vision of their calling that would have been quite countercultural to Jewish understandings of the Messiah at the time. In the Sermon, Jesus provides glimpses of the kingdom – glimpses of what life can be like if we truly embrace kingdom living now. The best summary of these glimpses of the Kingdom is found in the Beatitudes.

(Matthew 5:1-12 NIV) - Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

From start to finish, the Beatitudes are in stark contrast to our natural reaction to a given reality. The Beatitudes turn me on my head and shake me around, so that I find that what seems “upside down” is really “upside right”. In a word, they transform my mind. There's no doubt it would have been the same for the Twelve. 

Jesus didn’t call them so they could overthrow Rome - probably an especially surprising truth for Simon the Zealot who would have trained for that specific opportunity. Jesus didn't call them so that they could withdraw from the world, as the Essenes of their day did. Instead, He called them to be part of the prayer He teaches in this very sermon: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

As we learn to walk with Jesus, in order to truly live these words we have to first understand that the typical Western Christian's thinking about being “blessed” is all messed up. Think about it – when you hear someone says “God has blessed me” what are they usually referring to? Not always of course, but in the West that phrase often references material prosperity, or circumstances that have gone the way the person wanted them to go. We have an erroneous idea that challenging circumstances are tests we have to pass in order to get to the blessing. Before we can effectively be part of bringing a glimpse of His kingdom to earth, we have to learn what blessedness really means.

The word makarios literally means “a sense of God’s approval”. It’s a contentment that comes from doing what is right in His sight and is rooted in right relationship with Him. A.T. Robertson defines it as "happiness identified with pure character" that pictures the "ideal of a world-wide sympathy and of a happiness realized in ministry." The word is used in the opposite sense of “need” to describe a state of sufficiency and fullness. A literal rendering of Psalm 23:1 reads, “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” This is a perfect definition of a state of blessedness. When we are "blessed" we are fully satisfied. Jesus’ words teach me that this blessedness, this satisfaction, comes when I chose holiness over sin, His way over mine, His presence over popularity; when I live congruently with the new creature He’s made me, then I experience true blessedness.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor and theologian who ardently opposed Hitler and the overwhelming majority of churches that gave into Hitler’s schemes. Over time, Bonhoeffer came to see the Sermon as a call to a lifestyle of radical discipleship for all Christians. In his insightful book, The Cost of Discipleship, he expounds on the Sermon in great detail. 

Bonhoeffer observes that while the crowds were present, it was His disciples to whom the message was directed. These disciples followed Jesus (like us!) but lived among the people (also like us!) to preach His call to discipleship. Bonhoeffer sees that the very call to follow Jesus led these men into a status of being poor, afflicted, and hungry – a place they might not have been if they had stayed in their businesses and minded their own business. Ultimately, Bonhoeffer sees the Beatitudes as encouragement for those whose call to discipleship has led them to a place of struggle.

Yes, Jesus calls the disciples blessed in the presence of the crowd. This becomes a call to all who follow Jesus to live out what He makes us by His promise. For His path to satisfaction and joy has never been a path to more of this temporary, fading existence. Instead His promised depth of satisfaction and joy is directly linked to us bringing a glimpse of His kingdom to this broken, needy world. 

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2) 

Freedom for the oppressed. Meeting the tangible needs of people.  Trading in legalism and accusations for spending ourselves on behalf of others’ needs. Repairing things at a societal level. Enjoying the presence of the Lord. This is true satisfaction and joy. This is true blessedness. The life He gives is blessed in ways I could never imagine in my preconceived ideas of happiness. 

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)

His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not my thoughts, His priorities are not my priorities - and yet when I read these words, I see things as the way they are supposed to be. Living in a fallen world, I too often learn to accept as normal things which are simply "not supposed to be that way." God graciously lets us have a peek at His ways in this extended Sermon, and it is both challenging and incredibly beautiful.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be part of His kingdom in heaven coming down to earth – bringing “up there”, down here. Not in its fullness, and not in a worldly political way, but in a very real, tangible, practical way that expresses our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. To either spiritualize or legalize the Sermon misses the point. What Jesus wants us to do is live it.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4)

What we need in the church is an expanded understanding of all it means to be Christlike. Too often we've limited Christlikeness to moral actions and failed to explore His deeper emotions and motivations. Scripture records Jesus as feeling compassion, sadness, anger, joy. He sought the prayers of others. We see Him resting and eating and walking through the fields. As we behold Him, Paul tells us, we are transformed more into His image.  Keeping our eyes on Jesus, studying what is revealed in the Gospels about who He was in all His humanity and deity, will help us to know all that it means to be fully human - and we'll be changed in the process. If we're believers, we should be on a journey toward Christlikeness. Seeking to be authentic in that process of transformation means we let others walk that journey with us.

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #10: The Call

 

  (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9)

As Jesus' ministry grows, we have seen Him go small - reaching the one woman laying on her sickbed, the one man possessed by a demon. We've seen Him get deeply personal, choosing four fishermen and asking them to follow Him as their leader. We've seen Him reach beyond cultural prejudices to call a tax collector. We've seen groups start to follow Him, looking for miracles and watching Him at work. Now, we see Him once again doing something unexpected: He spends the night alone with His Father, then chooses twelve men from among the crowd. These will become His apostles, the "sent-out ones". But first, they would have to understand the call.

Calling the Twelve: (Matthew 10:1-5; Mark 3:14-19; Luke 6:12-20a)

In Luke's Gospel, the order of things is always important, as he sought out to present things in chronological order. It is not surprising then that he alone records that the call was precipitated by Jesus praying all night. We might find this unusual, since Jesus is fully God, but it shows the dependence on the Father that He demonstrated every day of His walk on earth. He is fully God, but He showed us how to live as fully human in relationship to God. As we will see, this time of prayer also models the call He is going to give these twelve men.

He chooses twelve, a number His Jewish followers would immediately understand. There were twelve tribes, each with a leadership structure. He is publicly calling out these men to be leaders. He will spend the rest of His time on earth teaching them what that means and then send the Holy Spirit after He leaves to empower them to fulfill this call. But for now, He lays out the basics for Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, Matthew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas,  James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, and Simon the Zealot. 

Mark 3:14 records the elements of this call: 

• To be with Him
• To send them out
• To have authority to cast out demons. (Matthew also adds that they were given authority to heal sickness.)

"To be with Him." The first thing they would have to learn would be the most critical - and in many ways the hardest. To take a group of men, many of whom were used to working at hard physical labor, at least one of whom was a "Zealot" (a Jewish sect trained for revolution), and ask them to learn to "be with Him" - that certainly turned their understanding of the Messiah upside down. And yet, in another sense it was completely in line with the idea of discipleship. Disciples in first century Judaism spent a lot of time with their leader, and learned to model him in every respect. The call, then, is a call to discipleship - and a call to prioritize Jesus above all service for Him and authority from Him. 

We are still learning this lesson today. When God stirs our hearts to desire to serve and minister to others, it is easy to start with the "go". We might seek Him for the "where" and "who", but ministry too often becomes an end in itself. When we use God-given gifts in His authority, we often find more satisfaction in the outcome than in Him. We must consistently learn (and relearn) how to be with Jesus and let Him send us out, giving us the gifts and authority we need to do what He asks us to do - and to be with Him in the process, so that whatever the outcome we have drawn closer to Him and ultimately become more like Him.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4)

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

The life He gives is based on relationship - relationship with Him and relationship with others. Any assignments He sends us to complete must flow from this context of relationship.

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me?

God wants us to prioritize His presence. He wants us to be with Him. As a (fairly) newlywed, I can now more fully understand the picture of Christ and the church that marriage offers. My husband and I love doing things for each other, but even more than that we just love being with each other. To fill a day with tasks and not connect with each other, then point to the marked-off to-do list, is not sufficient. Similarly, all we do in Jesus' name should flow from sitting at Jesus' feet.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image?

Jesus modeled what it looks like to be with God first. He spent all night in prayer before calling the Twelve. Everything He did flowed from relationship to the Father.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others?

If my focus is on being with Jesus, then I will naturally grow in fellowship with God. And since loving God and loving others are two sides of the same coin, I will also grow in love for others. I will learn to see with His eyes, hear with His ears, and feel with His heart - not seeing ministry as an end in itself, but as one part of a lifetime pursuit of being with my Jesus. 

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #9: Something Greater

                                               

  (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8)

In our last post we saw that Jesus showed Himself to be, at heart, compassionate. As we know from our own experiences, people who are merciful and compassionate draw others to them. They gain a reputation based on their character. Jesus is no different. As Jesus continues His ministry, we see more and more people coming to Him with their needs. We also begin to see the religious leaders feeling threatened by Jesus' presence. Why? Not because of good works (they knew their own Law prescribed such actions), but because from the beginning He made it clear that the religious boxes first century Judaism had placed around the Law were insufficient. Something greater had arrived - and He brought not a challenge to the Law, but a perfect fulfillment of it in ways that kicked down the sides of those boxes and let in the light of Love.

Something Greater (Matthew 9:14-17; 12:1-14; Mark 2:18-3:6; Luke 5:33-6:11)

In these passages, Jesus deals with two aspects of the law that the religious leaders knew very well - fasting and the Sabbath. First, in response to a question from John's disciples about why His disciples do not fast, He gives three pictures to help them understand:

• There is no fasting while the bridegroom is present - that happens when he is taken away. 
• A garment is patched not with unshrunk new cloth - otherwise it would tear. 
• New wine must be poured into new wineskins - otherwise the old ones would burst. 

Much has been written about this passage, and my purpose here is not to delve into all the details of these pictures. Rather, what we see in Jesus' response is part of the larger message of this section of the Synoptic Gospels: Something new is going on. 

Around the same time, Jesus and His disciples are walking through a field on the Sabbath and the disciples begin to eat grain. This prompts an accusation from the Pharisees - they point this out to Jesus and the obvious sense of the passage is that they want to see Him correct them for disobeying their view of the "law". Instead, Jesus challenges them with a story from the life of David - a story of David eating bread that was supposed to be for priests. He reminds them that the priests break the Sabbath in the temple and are innocent. He tells them that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath - and then on another Sabbath, He goes to the synagogue to teach and heals a man with a withered hand. This time the Pharisees' and scribes' accusations remained unspoken but Jesus addresses them directly - asking if it is lawful to do good or harm on the Sabbath, to save or destroy life. Of course, nobody could respond. It was obvious that the One who created the Sabbath was living out the core of its meaning - not a new meaning, but one reflected even by the prophets (see Isaiah 58, for example). We see the heart of Jesus in Mark 3:5 as He perceives their attitudes: He is both angry and grieved. Grieved at their hardness of heart. Angry at the unnecessary burdens they have placed on those who would pursue God. 

In the midst of these Sabbath exchanges, Jesus says something that I believe is key to understanding all of these controversies: "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here." (Matthew 12;6). Greater than the temple? That was hard for first century Jews to fathom. After the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC, the scattered Israelites longed for their homeland and their temple. Under the authority of Cyrus, a group returned to Jerusalem, ultimately rebuilding the city and the temple. By the first century, King Herod undertook a building project to overhaul and refurbish it. The center of religious life for Jews, the temple was the heart of their worship. 

Yet Jesus says something greater has arrived. Greater than the temple. Greater than Jonah or Solomon, as we will see in a future study. As the author of Hebrews points out, greater than Moses or the angels. Jesus Himself is greater than all of this. And He doesn't reject the Law, or expressions such as fasting and the Sabbath. As we will see, He guides us to the law of love for God and others that is at the heart of it all.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law, but not in the ways people expected. His way of law-keeping prioritizes the glory of God and the good of others. He might not always move and act in ways I expect, but I will be able to see God's heart and others' needs more as I walk with Him.

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

God is grieved and angry when people misuse His Word in ways that move us away from love and toward "rules for the sake of rules." He wants us to have what is "greater", not the lesser ritualistic obedience but the deeper heart change He works through the New Covenant.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image?
Walk in a manner sensitive to His Spirit. Look for where the fruit of the Spirit is at work and join Him in that work. Don't let the expectations of others conform me into something that does not allow His deeper work to penetrate hearts.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

When I am walking with Him, I will be pointing people to Something Greater. This gets me out of the way and allows Him to do what only He can do - and ultimately, that deepens my relationship with Him and with others.

As He Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #8: The Heart of Jesus

                                          

  (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7)

As I write this blog post, the world around me swarms with chaos. Yet another school shooting. Painful revelations of abuse, even within churches. Another polarizing election. Shortages that leave people fearful that basic needs won't be met. As with every generation of Christians in every place and every era, it is tempting to say, "Take us now, Lord. We just want heaven." And yet here we are, living in the world. Like the people Daniel prophesied about in Daniel 11:32, we should bring the "but" into our context - "but the people who know their God." We are simply asked to bring glimpses of His kingdom into our here and now. What does that look like? Walking with Jesus, we find the heart of the answer: Compassion. 

The Heart of Jesus: (Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 8:2-4; Matthew 9:1-13; Mark 1:35-45; Mark 2:1-17; Luke 4:42-44; Luke 5:12-32)

Jesus came with a message He was compelled to share. Matthew tells us He proclaimed "the Gospel of the kingdom." We previously looked at what that message entailed. The Gospel writers do not simply follow Jesus around recording his messages, however. Instead, what we see are vignettes that show us why that message was so compelling - miracles and attitudes that authenticate His words. 

These passages show Jesus healing a leper, healing a paralytic and forgiving his sins, and calling a tax collector to join His fishermen. Mark 1:41 captures the heart of Jesus in one verse: "Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I am willing; be cleansed.'" Jesus didn't act just to show His authority (though it did) or reveal more about His identity (thought is also did). Instead, Mark records that He was "moved with compassion."

Compassion. This word is the most common emotion attributed to Jesus (seven times in the Gospels). The Greek word for five of these is splanchnizomai and in basic English terms it means "to feel it in your gut." Simply put, He personally connected with individuals and their pain - and in every situation, He took action. The same word is used for the attitude of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 and the father of the prodigal in Luke 15. Clearly, Jesus holds compassion up as a commendable virtue that should motivate those who walk in His steps. 

And yet so often, this virtue seems lacking. Sociologists speak of "compassion fatigue" when people face crisis after crisis and lose the ability to feel things so deeply every time. We've all experienced this; just last night I had to put away the bad news and let myself do some light reading just so I could go to sleep. We are human, and we have our limits. But as we continue to walk with Jesus, we find instruction on how to become the kind of person who can be "moved with compassion" in situtations where we are able to take action as Jesus did. 

Matthew 9 records Matthew's call. Immediately we see Jesus gathered with other "tax collectors and sinners." Challenged by the Pharisees asking His disciples why, Jesus responds: 

It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  (Matthew 9:12-13)

"Go and learn." Jesus instructs them to learn what it means that He desires "compassion" (a different word, meaning "mercy", quoting Hosea 6:6). We too must learn what it means that God desires mercy. Mercy is translated "compassion" in some versions because it means showing "kindness or good will" to those who are in need, "joined with a desire to help them" (Strong's Concordance). Why must we learn what this mean? Because God's desire for mercy means He calls sinners, not the righteous, to repentance. He doesn't need a sacrifice - He IS the sacrifice. What He wants are hearts that see hurts and seek to bring His heart into the world so sinners can be transformed. Hearts like these are only possible by His transformation - as we are given new hearts that are continually made into His image, we will learn the ministry of mercy - and as we are able to make a difference in a specific situation, we will find ourselves moved with compassion, feeling it in our gut.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

Jesus' heart was characterized by compassion. He saw people, really saw them, and was moved to take actions that made a difference in their lives.

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

God sees all of my needs and those around me. He alone never gets "compassion fatigue." He places us in situations where He wants me to see with His eyes, hear with His ears, and feel with His heart of compassion.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image?
Learning mercy is a process that flows from my relationship with Him. As I keep my eyes on Him and learn to walk as He walked, I will increasingly be focused on people, on relationships, on seeing as He sees and feeling what He feels. This requires intentionality, setting aside timelines and distractions at times. It requires a willingness to be part of the answer to my prayers for others at times. It requires time in the Word and in His presence to be sensitive to His Spirit. It requires silencing the voice of the world so I can better hear the voice of my shepherd. But as I grow in this, I will find that I'm learning mercy, and that active compassion in specific situations becomes my new default.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

None of us can do this alone. The needs are too vast, the challenges are too great. We need the body, with our different experiences and abilities to step into situations. When we are in need we make those needs known; when others are in need we seek to step into that need as He guides us. This dependence on Him and interdependence on each other will deepen fellowship and guide us all to be compassionate Christians - people who, whatever happens, can be the "But the people who know their God..." in every situation.

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #7: Ministry in Capernaum

 

(This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6)

After leaving His hometown, Jesus continues His ministry by going down to Capernaum. This town was a trading village and, being on the Sea of Galilee, attracted many fishermen as well as supporting industries. Jesus spent more time in Capernaum and the nearby region than in any other area, but we will see on this first recorded visit that His actions align with the Greek meaning of the city's name: "Village of Comfort." 

Jesus Visits Capernaum (Luke 4:31-41; Matthew 8:14-17)

Luke's account gives us a chronological account of Jesus' time in Capernaum. Entering the village, He begins to teach on the Sabbath. People recognize the authority of His teaching. He casts a demon out of a man without harming the man, and reports spread throughout the area - an easy task in a trading port. Yet just as His fame begins to increase, Jesus does the opposite of what human nature would suggest. Instead of finding a place for a large crowd, Jesus goes small and gets personal - He enters the home of Simon (Peter) and heals his mother-in-law. 

The woman immediately begins to serve those present, including Simon, Andrew, James and John. Apparently this miracle is shared as well, for we then see people coming to Him for healing and for casting out demons, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah as Matthew's version below tells us. Jesus is comforting many in the "village of comfort." His ministry is growing and His fame is spreading. And then He goes small and gets personal again.

Jesus calls four disciples (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11; see also Mark 1:16-45)

Two calls are mentioned in the Gospels - one by the side of the sea and another in the boat out on the Sea of Galilee. Rather than see this as different calls, it seems the Gospel writers view them as part of the same call. This should not be surprising; most of us who walk with Him can relate different stages of developing a relationship with Him and hearing His call over our lives. What seems most significant to me is that Jesus called them at all! He could have ministered alone, completing the work without the distractions that fallen humanity brings. He could have avoided the inevitable conflicts that would come with a diverse group of people from various walks of life. But He doesn't. Instead, He begins to build His church's foundation with four unlikely, rough, burly men who knew how to do one thing well: Fish. 

He also calls them together. These two sets of brothers, these four men, are called together. From the beginning, Jesus meant for His church to be built by people who rely on each other - whose differences become essential, despite all the challenges that brings. At the same time His call is deeply personal. He calls not in a generic, distant sense but in a personal, intimate one. We see this most obviously in the call to become "fishers of men" - calling them where they were, asking them to do something they knew how to do, in a different context. We see it also in a less obvious way. Jewish fishermen knew the size of the crew required to catch the hopefully half-ton of fish the boat held: Five. Four to row, and one to steer, supervise the catch, and watch for inclement weather. Based on Jesus' command to "Follow Me", these four fishermen would have known immediately that He would be the one commanding the boat. 

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

His identity and character were revealed in the practical things He did for people (healing Peters' mother-in-law, casting out demons, healing others). He had a message - "repent and believe" - but never expected that message to be heard without corresponding actions. He entered the "village of comfort" to bring the comfort only He can provide.

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 
He has authority over demons, including when and what they say. And yet He is intimately personal - at every stage, in every way, I can expect Him to speak and lead me in ways that sometimes only I will understand. I can expect the voice of my shepherd to be personal and, ultimately, comforting.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image?
Gospel proclamation must be partnered with Gospel actions. Jesus cared for people's spiritual needs without ignoring the physical (such as when the demon did not harm the man when Jesus cast him out). 

Additionally, just as He is personal with me, I should be personal with others. He didn't call with a formula - He didn't minister with a formula - and neither should I.

Finally, but perhaps most significantly to me, He saw the one. As His ministry grew, He intentionally chose at times to go small and focus on an individual or very small group of people. Years ago, God took me through a season where I had to learn lessons from obscurity. I've noticed that many people who have the deepest walks with the Lord have learned similar lessons. I'm learning again through this passage to keep my eyes open for the one.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

He called us to walk with Him together. The apostles were from different backgrounds, sects of Judaism, social classes. But they followed Him as a group, not separately. Their differences would become essential to the mission of the church as time went on. Whatever He calls me to do, I should look for those He is partnering with me. He doesn't intend me to serve in isolation. He has someone to come alongside - even if it is just one, it will be sufficient for what He calls me to do in His strength and not my own.

Foot locker faith

2 Peter 1:3-4 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Look at these two boxes. Which one of them is more like your faith?

Faith can be like a beautiful, ornate box that we put up on the shelf, look at every now and then and find comfort that it's there, occasionally dust it off, but never really open it to see what's inside. 

Or, Faith can be like a rough looking, beaten up foot locker that is filled with all kinds of beautiful treasures, that when we open it fills our home with beauty and fragrance and faith and hope and love and joy and peace and so much more, like Pandora's box but in a good way. Here's the thing - - foot lockers belong to soldiers. When our faith is something we fight for, and fight with, when we embrace the struggles that come with not getting all of our questions answered, when we walk with Jesus through the darkest places of our life and trust him to lead us through because we simply cannot even see to put one foot in front of the other, when we trust him to guard our heart because we can't even guard our own hearts successfully because they lie to us, our faith may look on the outside like this beaten up foot locker. It's not always going to be pretty, and it's not always going to be comforting to look at. But when we open it up, it fills us beyond imagination. 

I think that's some of what Peter is getting at in these verses. We have no clue really all that is wrapped up in what we have when we are in Christ. He's urging us to find out. If your faith has been like the pretty box, I encourage you to take it off the shelf and let it get beaten up, and open it up and just find out what you're missing.

A Lament on Sabbath

Lament has been defined as "a cry to one who is there". It is an act of faith, because it's a complaint to someone we really believe can help. Holy Saturday is a perfect picture of grief. In between the loss of the one we love, and the joy of the resurrection, lies the stillness, the darkness of grief. I wrote these words to try to capture some of what the women may have been feeling on that Saturday, their Sabbath.

A Lament on Sabbath

It's over.

How can it be over?

He was doing so much good,

This miracle man,

The one who healed me.

It's over.

How can it be over?

He was completely innocent,

This holy man,

The one who set me free.

It's over.

How can it be over?

He was so young,

This God-man,

This son of mine.

It's over.

How can it be over?

Our Messiah, dead?

This can't be real.

And yet, we were there.

We saw the body taken down.

We saw the stone rolled over the tomb.

Why God?

Why did you forsake him?

What about the promises,

The freedom Messiah was to bring?

To end like this, in a dark tomb.

We'll do what we can,

To care for his body, to show him love.

Let's gather the spices,

And go to the tomb.

We'll need help with that stone.

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #6 - Jesus in Galilee

  (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5)

As we proceed on the timeline of Jesus' life, the period between Jesus' baptism and His public ministry included not only His temptation, but another significant event: The arrest of his cousin John the Baptist. John himself knew that Jesus' public presence would mean the end of his own ministry - "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 NASB95). Our journey with Jesus through the Synoptic Gospels begins with Jesus' response, one many of us can relate to in times of family tragedy - He went home.

Jesus in Galilee and Nazareth

(12) Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; (13) and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. (14) [This was] to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: (15) "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES-- (16) "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED." (17) From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:12-17 NASB95)

(14) Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, (15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15 NASB95)

(19) But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, (20) Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison. (Luke 3:19-20 NASB95)

(14) And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. (15) And He [began] teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. (16) And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. (17) And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, (18) "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, (19) TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." (20) And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (22) And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?" (23) And He said to them, "No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'" (24) And He said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. (25) "But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; (26) and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, [in the land] of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. (27) "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." (28) And all [the people] in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; (29) and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. (30) But passing through their midst, He went His way. (Luke 4:14-30 NASB95) 

Jesus' public ministry began in the region of Galilee. Two cities are mentioned - Capernaum, a coastal town, and Nazareth, his hometown about 60 miles inland. Nazareth's reputation definitely preceded it - the apostle Nathanael captured the sentiment well when he asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:45-46). Nazareth was a small, poor town, not thought much of even within the Jewish community. Capernaum, by contrast, was a well-known and prosperous trading port - and the home of five of the men Jesus would ultimately call to be apostles. 

Piecing together the timeline from these passages and stories in John not covered in this Synoptic study, we see that Jesus initially traveled back and forth between these towns, and word spread about His message and ministry. While it is important to note this, our focus will be on the passages in the Synoptic gospels listed above. 

Jesus came first with a message - "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel" (Mark 1:15). Mark likes to boil things down to the basics, so it is possible that Jesus' message was more detailed, but Mark includes the most significant "need-to-knows": 

• "The time is fulfilled" - What "time"? The word here is kairos, a Greek word meaning season or period of time as opposed to an exact time. If I ask you "what time is it?", you might say, "10:30". But if I say, "It's time" you would rightly want to know, "Time for what?" Just as there is a "time" for each season of the year, or each season of life, there was also a "time" that had arrived, or been fulfilled. What time would that be? Jesus tells us Himself in the next phrase.
• "The kingdom of God is at hand" - God's kingdom - His rule and authority - is now "at hand". The phrase can also be translated, "has been brought near." The time that had arrived was the time for the kingdom of God to be brought near - for God to be present and in authority. 
• "Repent" - The next phrase seems surprising in light of an announcement of God's authority and presence. To Jews living under Roman rule, a logical command from someone claiming the kingdom of God was present might have been, "Take up your swords and let's go show those Romans there's a new sheriff in town." Instead, the first command to humans that we see recorded from Jesus' lips is simply, "Repent." What is repentance, and why is it so important that Jesus made this His first command to people? "Repentance" was a well-known concept in Judaism. Israel's historians, poets, and prophets had all referred to repentance in the Old Testament writings. At its core, repentance is a turning from sin combined with a turning toward God. Have you ever walked out of your house, felt the air too cold or the weather too dangerous, and then turned around and went back inside? Spiritually speaking, that is what repentance is. In asking them to respond to the news of the kingdom of God by repenting, Jesus is asking them to "turn around" and begin living in a way that is consistent with life in God's presence.
• "Believe in the Gospel" - Finally, Jesus' first message asked them to put their faith, their trust, their confidence in something called "the Gospel". While we do see this fleshed out more fully in the Epistles as believing in Jesus' atoning death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, at this point Jesus hasn't died. So, what is the "good news" (the meaning of Gospel) which He wants them to believe? In his powerful book, God is the Gospel, John Piper puts it this way:

Those last words define one foundational part of the good news that Isaiah foretells. “Your God reigns.” God’s sovereign rule is essential to the gospel. Isaiah foresaw the day when God’s sovereign rule over all things would break into this world in a more open way and bring great blessing to the people of God. So when the promised Messiah came into the world, this is the primary way he spoke the gospel. “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14). In other words, the reign of God has broken into this world to set things right for the sake of his people; therefore repent and believe this good news. In fact, if you do, you are part of his people. In a world so full of brokenness and sin, there simply can be no good news if God does not break in with kingly authority. If God does not come with sovereign rights as King of the universe, there will be only hopelessness in this world. (God is the Gospel, p. 27, emphasis mine).

Jesus next speaks in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:14-30 above). He had healed a centurion's son who was in Capernaum with just a word while in Cana (John 4:43-54) and this became part of the curiosity that people had around Him. "What do you think He will do next? Will that happen here?" they may very well have asked. With Nazareth being His hometown, there may have even been a sense of expecting special favor - after all, He's the "hometown boy" everyone is talking about. We might expect Jesus to walk into Nazareth with words of encouragement, telling them that something very good had indeed come out of Nazareth, and they should hold their heads up high as the hometown of the Messiah. As you can imagine, we would be quite wrong. 

Jesus instead directly challenges them with a reading from Isaiah (which would have been selected for Him) and a direct claim to be the fulfillment of the passage. Their unbelief is palpable; every small town-raised man or woman can hear the derision in the question, "Is this not Joseph's son"? (And there was probably sarcasm as well, as some present would have remembered Mary's scandalous pregnancy while engaged to righteous Joseph.) Rather than believe, they mocked. Jesus doesn't back down. He goes deeper into the text by way of two examples: The widow to whom God sent Elijah, and a leper named Naaman who was healed. In both cases, He pointedly calls out their status as non-Israelites; the widow was "of Sidon" and Naaman was "the Syrian." The reaction of the people was swift and shockingly threatening: They wanted to throw Him off the cliff!

Why did Jesus start His ministry with such a confrontational message? There are many theories, but to me the simplest is to connect this story with His overall message simplified by Mark: The message of Good News that God has reached into our world with His presence and His authority is not restricted to one group of people. This truth is made more explicit by Matthew's inclusion of Jesus settling in Capernaum after this episode as a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-7 - a promise that goes on to include the prophecy Jesus had already fulfilled, as a "child born to us". The Servant who brings the Gospel and sets people free also brings Light to the Gentiles - to all nations, not just Israel, and for all people, not just Nazarenes. Jesus' kingdom is for all who will repent and believe.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

First, let's not lose sight of the fact that Jesus withdrew when John was arrested. He didn't take it lightly, with platitudes about suffering. He cared enough to be concerned and to "go home", as we noted above. 

Second, Jesus wasn't focused on gaining a following before speaking uncomfortable truths. While we can be sure His message was full of love (because God is love) He didn't shrink back from proclaiming what Scripture makes abundantly clear. 

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

God has always had a heart for the Gentiles (the non-Jewish nations), as His promise to Isaiah makes clear. Jesus' message wasn't a new one; it simply revealed what the Jewish Scriptures had been saying all along.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

If I truly want to be conformed to His image, I have to be focused on His priority: the Gospel, specifically the Gospel for all nations. This amazing message of His kingdom and authority is not just for Jews or Nazarenes or Americans - it is for everyone. 

Secondly, I have to be bold where truth is clear, not focusing on pleasing people but on pleasing God. Now, I'm not talking about opinions or areas of genuine differences that are still within the limits of Scripture. And I'm certainly not talking about using the Bible as a club to beat people with. Jesus didn't do any of that. He didn't weigh in on the political issues of the day except when He used them to turn people toward eternal truths. And He always spoke truth in love, because He is love.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

Relationships matter. Invest in them and let God build them. Again I am drawn to Jesus going home when John was arrested. While some see this solely as an incident that indicated the time had arrived to begin His public ministry, I see it as more. Jesus cared about His cousin and family at a difficult time. He went home. 

At the same time, His experience in His hometown teaches me that fellowship requires unity and takes two sides, not just one. Those who were angry at Him didn't desire fellowship. Sometimes we fight for unity and fellowship and still have to acknowledge that the other person doesn't have the same desire. That's ok. Keep loving, and follow Paul's admonition to be at peace "at much as it depends on you" (Romans 12:18).