December 16, 2016 – 8 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or
Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:25-30

No, no, no, no…..we do not have butterfly Christmas ornaments on the Christmas tree. Christmas is not about butterflies, it is about elves, reindeer, gold, myrrh, the baby Jesus and snow – never have I watched a Christmas show about the time the butterflies saved Christmas.

John says, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” John has the right perspective in his relationship with Jesus Christ – Jesus must be bigger than he. There are many today who, I believe, try to assert themselves as being bigger than Jesus Christ. John Lennon once stated that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus Christ. The gospel of John states that John came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe in him. This light, is the true light, that enlightens everyone, and allows us to have a clearer understanding of our relationship with G-d. Jesus must increase in our lives and become bigger and more important in our everyday experience while everything should decrease in importance. For many individuals, this is a message that falls flat at their feet because they are unwilling to be in the right relationship with Jesus – believing that they are bigger than life itself. In this Advent season, let us remember our true place in relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave

December 15, 2016 – 9 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or
Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.” Mark 8:27-30

“Who do people say I am?” Is it Jesus asking the disciples who people say he is, or is it this Santa asking who people say he is? Is this a mixture of Santa and the “Joker” from “Batman”? Is this a mixture of Santa, Frank Sinatra, and Maxwell Smart? I can’t tell, but if this is the guy that is watching the children to see if they have been good or bad, I think most of the children would be scared to death. “Who do people say you are?” You are creepy, that is “who and what” people say you are.

In our lesson above Peter has a break-through. Jesus has been frustrated with his disciples and their lack of understanding (see 8:17 – 18). All along they appear to be confused and confounded by what they experience with Jesus. But, finally, when Jesus asks the question “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds with these words: “You are the Messiah”. Will this understanding hold up over time? Will the disciples truly understand everything that Jesus will tell them and teach them? It appears, even at the end of the Gospel of Mark, that the disciples are in doubt and experience a lack of understanding. But, as we will see in the book of Acts, they eventually “get it”. But for now, Peter’s declaration foreshadows the upcoming Transfiguration where they will truly experience the glory of G-d manifest in the person of Jesus Christ. We may not know who this “Joker” is hanging on our tree, but the disciples know who Jesus is – and it leads them on a fateful journey.

Pastor Dave