Tag Archives: Matthew

Jesus is the Messiah

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on January 13, 2016
Tags: Matthew,   

We are Verbs – Just Like The Great “I Am” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

                                       January 13, 2016

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7, 12

Although reading is a sedentary act, the actual work of reading is an action – you are doing something when you are reading. In the above verses from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is continuing to teach in his Sermon on the Mount. And much of what Jesus is talking about is action – what we should be doing as a part of determining G-d’s will and intent for our lives. “Ask”, “Seek”, and “Knock” are things we are doing when we read the bible. As we read the lines of scriptures, we are seeking some understanding from the lessons Jesus is teaching his disciples and the crowds who are gathering around him. And as we seek some understanding, we will usually ask questions about what we have read. And in the process of asking the questions, we continue to seek, either through additional reading, or recommendations of other resources that may shed some light on the questions we are asking. The seeking then becomes the knocking as we find the doors of understanding are opened to us through the help of the Holy Spirit. You see, all of this action is not done in a vacuum – throughout the asking, seeking and knocking, the Holy Spirit is fully in the word as we read it, and as we pray and meditate upon it.

It is the Holy Spirit then who drives us (and also guides us) to living in ways that are impacted by what we read. And what we will find that is so prevalent in the teachings of Jesus is how to live in relationship with G-d and with each other. This is where the “Golden Rule” comes into play – verse 12 which reads, in part “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.” Notice the verse does not read “Expect others to do to you what you want them to do.” Too many people think the Golden Rule is about how others should treat them. The emphasis on the rule is “Do” – it is action. Which, in essence, is what you are doing by immersing yourself in G-d’s word – you are doing a necessary action that informs your “doing to others” – not learning what you expect others to do for you. G-d’s name is “I Am” – a verb – G-d was, is and is active today. Be a verb today, and “go” and “do”.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on January 6, 2016
Tags: Epiphany, , Matthew   

The Epiphany — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

January 6, 2016

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi appear at the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph near the beginning of his life, but not at the manger — they come to his home sometime before he turns one year old most likely. So, here at the beginning of our New Year, and the beginning of our efforts to read the bible this year, we have something remarkable – Persian astrologers seeking meaning from a celestial event.

Everyone is at the beginning of a quest – Mary and Joseph will flee with Jesus to Egypt – Herod will begin the quest to kill every male child under the age of two – and the Magi begin the quest for understanding. And you and me, well we are at the beginning of this quest to read the bible every day, or at least more often than we did last year. And among all of the feelings that a New Year brings, hope, opportunity, change, is one that often is forgotten – fear. No one likes change, and a New Year can be a moment where we put a heavy emphasis on change. And that, along with other feelings, can promote an intense feeling of fear.

The festival and the season of Epiphany begins with people on quests, yes, but also people filled with fear – a lot of fear. The Magi leave avoiding Herod, because they are afraid. Why? Most likely they have heard about the ruthlessness of Herod, and they were warned to avoid him. Herod orders children to be killed because he is afraid. Why? Because he has heard there has been born in his territory one who is to become a king – and he does not need a rival. And Mary and Joseph will flee because they are afraid. Why? Because G-d has warned them, and because Herod has a reputation.

Like the New Year has the potential for a heavy emphasis on change, the presence of the Magi represent a specific kind of change – G-d is changing everything through the presence of Jesus – the Messiah. And, with Persians, and Jews, and Shepherds involved in this miraculous birth, it also represents the very real reach of G-d – that no one is outside of G-d’s Grace and plan of salvation.

Pastor Dave