Monthly Archives: December 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on December 27, 2015
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It Was A Three-Day-Tour — Rev. David J. Schreffler

Image result for pictures of Jesus in the temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 27, 2015
Sunday

“Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.” Luke 2:41 – 52

“Joseph and Mary search for Jesus for “three days.” When an early Christian heard the phrase “for three days,” one of their first associations would have been to think “resurrection.” Jesus had been raised from the dead after “three days.” Virtually every first century Christian would have made this association automatically. This would indicate that the story should be understood and seen in light of the resurrection.

“In the resurrection, the new family of God supersedes one’s earthly family. In the resurrection, Jesus’ conversation and dialog “in the midst” of the teachers in the Temple is a portrayal of life in the new world of God wherein the hallowed place of tradition–the Temple–is transformed into a place where Jesus is now in the center. From that position, he is in dialog with the tradition, yet with new and astonishing understanding, so much so that the teachers of the tradition look upon him with respect and astonishment. In these opening chapters of Luke, Joseph and Mary are portrayed as especially devout and righteous. They observe the rituals and devotional practices of their people. They have just had Jesus circumcised (2:21) following which they are said to have acted “according to the law” three times. With this accent on the family’s religious devotion, Luke is saying that Jesus’ family life was oriented toward the purposes of God, and that the Jewish boy Jesus grew up in a thoroughly Jewish world.” (Progressive Involvement webpage, December 26, 2012, Christmas 1: Luke 2: 41-52, by John Petty)

Joseph and Mary are searching for Jesus for three days. When Jesus is crucified, he lay in the tomb three days, when his followers come to search for him. Oh they are not initially searching for him, but once they find the tomb empty, the search is on. His parents find Jesus in the Temple where, he tells them, he should be – this is where they should have expected to find him – this is where the search should have begun.

In his early life, Jesus is telling his family that their search for him should begin in G-d’s house. Today, we believe the same. The search initially begins in G-d’s house, but once found, we learn that Jesus is, in fact, everywhere. We are taught to find him in the presence of believers, in the word, in the sacrament, in the Holy Spirit that blows throughout this world. Jesus is found in the face of suffering, in the homes of the oppressed, in the struggle of poverty, in the cries of the despairing. And, we hope, Jesus is found in the worship centers around the world. We still go to church expecting to meet Jesus – but we do not leave Jesus there. Jesus cannot be shut up in a church, or a box of theological principles, or in our minds.

My friends, there are many people in this world who feel like the parents of Jesus, searching and searching everywhere to find him. They are afraid to go to church to find him, because they think they will find all kinds of other things, and people, but they will not find Jesus. It should not take people three days, three years, or three decades to find Jesus – we should all expect to see Jesus, well, everywhere. When you and I are the hands and feet of Christ, we bear the image of Christ to others – and, hopefully, help others to find Jesus.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on December 26, 2015
Tags: St. Stephen   

St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr — Rev. David J. Schreffler

St. Stephen                                                            December 26, 2015

“Stephen replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Acts 7:1a, 51 – 58

“Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for the statement “Christ bids us come and die.” It’s not a particularly uplifting-Joel-Osteen understanding of the Gospel. Up With People likely would not adopt this as their mission statement. Still, it stares us in the face. Bonhoeffer is speaking of dying to self as well as the knowledge that where God calls the believer to stand might be a dangerous place. His own life would reflect this reality. Yet, he dies not for his faith but because of his participation in a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Many still disagree on whether or not he was a martyr. Perhaps he was a hero, but a martyr?

Is Stephen a hero or martyr? He is killed because of what he professed. He is not a violent man and poses no real obvious threat to the powers that be. He simply states something that they do not want to hear: their own culpability in systems of violence. Yet he cajoles them. Is he looking for trouble? He almost appears to be grandstanding. Is Stephen really a martyr? Do we know a martyr when we see one?”             (Stephen the Martyr May 15, 2011, Do we know a martyr when we see one?, by Tripp Hudgins, The Hardest Question)

Prosperity Theologians like Joel Olsteen do not know what to do with realist theologians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Prosperity theology will tell you that if you have enough faith, if your faith is strong enough, then riches and blessings will fill your life. Here is what “Wikipedia” says about: Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, or the gospel of success)[A] is a Christian religious doctrine that financial blessing is the will of God for Christians, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to Christian ministries will increase one’s material wealth. Based on non-traditional interpretations of the Bible, often with emphasis on the Book of Malachi, the doctrine views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver his promises of security and prosperity. Confessing these promises to be true is perceived as an act of faith, which God will honor.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, however, was a man filled with faith. He lived, and he died, living a life of suffering for Christ. So, would his life be considered “not successful” according to a prosperity theologian? I think I know, but I would like to hear Joel Olsteen address this question.

Pastor Dave