Solomon or Jesus

2015 - Solomon

Good News from an Unlikely Source

Read Luke 1 for background to this post.

The Bible’s Good News booklets (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) begin obscurely in a strange character, John the Baptist. It’s not immediately clear how this is good news for us. After Luke introduces his topic, he launches into the story of John’s birth. So how does this relate to good news?

While it’s not readily apparent to modern readers why Luke starts here, it’s not difficult to understand if we know just three simple pieces of information:

1) At Israel’s conception in Genesis 12:1-3, God promises their ancestors Abraham and Sarah that his descendants will become a great nation that will be a blessing to the whole world—All the families on earth will be blessed through you. That’s Israel’s purpose. The Bible’s essential message is that the world’s hope is found in the blessing Israel will give the nations.

2) The second bit of helpful information is to see that John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, represent Israel at its best. Luke says about this old couple, [They] were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. That didn’t mean they were perfect, but in this human world they were as good as you get. They encapsulated what God wanted to see in the people of Israel.

3) But Luke also wants us to see that Israel, pictured through this couple, couldn't produce the blessing for the world. Luke says, They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. 

It had been nearly 2000 years since Abraham’s and Sarah’s similar story. They were infertile and it took God’s intervention to produce a promised child in their old age. Now again he intervened in Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s infertility. For after all these centuries the world was in just as sad a shape as ever. It was as if the promised nation Israel was barren—not able to give birth to the promise. Indeed, after all this time, the great European world power, Rome, occupied the land of Israel. Rome proclaimed itself as the good news for the world.

One year Zechariah was chosen to perform the annual priestly duty of burning incense in the most holy place of the temple, representing Israel’s prayers. The prayers at this annual event were for God to send the great promised Messiah who would save Israel—fulfilling the promise to Abraham. In the middle of this priestly task he had an incredible vision of an angel telling him he and Elizabeth would have a son who would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. 

Even with that incredible experience he couldn’t believe such an impossibility, and was rendered speechless. When he ventured back outside to the waiting crowd, he couldn’t pronounce the priestly blessing! This pictured Israel’s incapability of blessing the world.

Now we are another 2000 years down the road. Look at our world. We look to political leaders for hope—but is there really hope? I have witnessed enough American elections to see the futility in expecting much hope. If it’s not corruption in our own government, it’s in the hopelessness of foreign affairs, poverty, violence, disease, climate change.

The good news booklets from the Bible speak of a different kind of hope that transcends world affairs as they stand today. Once upon a time, that hope took the world by a storm, but over time the church turned and twisted the message into an entity that copied the political establishment. It began to serve itself instead of the world and ignored the kinds of problems it was best positioned to address: poverty, hopelessness, injustice, prejudice, discrimination, inequity. No wonder why the church lost its influence in the western world. But the message of good news transcends church bureaucracy and corruption.

Today the church needs to shed itself of ineffectual, 'barren' self talk, self-righteousness, judgment, bureaucracy, corruption, and return to the simple Good News. For there aren’t many in our western hemisphere who see good news in the church. 

Especially all those people who have become disaffected from the church over the years—don’t give up on Jesus. He far transcends your experience of ‘church’. He far transcends the church. Go back and read these first century Good News tracts, and see what inspired a worldwide movement. 

Good News

Everyone likes good news! Good news gives us hope, and hope keeps us going, even in dark days. Good news ranges from something as insignificant as someone bringing a hot toddy when you’re working outside on a freezing cold day, to the phone call that says, “We’re having a baby!”

Luke wrote a booklet that came to be known as The Gospel of Luke. The word Gospel comes from the old English meaning Good News. Why did Luke and others write these good news booklets? They were inspired by the teachings of Jesus, and then most profoundly affected by his death and resurrection.

After a generation of listening to the gripping stories from eyewitnesses, the old ones began to die off. They felt an urgency to write down their testimony. Luke was a younger companion of the great Apostle Paul. After Paul was imprisoned in Rome, Luke wrote down the words he had often heard and which he had carefully researched for himself. He began this way:

Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught (Luke 1:1–4; New Living Translation).

Was Luke just regurgitating a line of propaganda? He claims not. He wants to present the facts, not just preferred beliefs. If there were already lots of accounts, why did he think he had to repeat what was already written? I can only conclude that he wanted to get out only what was true, rather than hearsay or fanciful tales. He wasn’t content to just repeat stories—apparently even if they came right from the great Apostle Paul told. He carefully investigated everything. He wanted to write a trustworthy account that people could rely on.

Who was Theophilus? We don’t know. Since Luke’s second volume ends with Paul imprisoned in Rome, we can guess that perhaps Theophilus was a Roman interested in the teachings these new Christians were buzzing about.

But the reality of it today is that we are invited to identify with “Theophilus”—to seek the truth behind the buzz. 

A Worthy Leader

Here we go…election season! 18 months before the election and candidates are declaring. What a dismal thought, listening to all those ads bashing the opponent!

What are we looking for in a leader? People have looked for the savior/leader for as long as history. But no matter who we find—or who just takes over, leaders disappoint and fail us. Even the best leaders only last for a generation at most. 

The Old Testament story is really about that hopeless pursuit of finding the leader who will bring lasting peace and prosperity. The reigns of David and Solomon highlight the reality that even the best, most powerful kings, representing the pinnacle of Israel’s history, failed them. In fact, we find the seeds of Israel’s eventual downfall in the reigns of these two kings. 

Yet the Israelites had a profound, deeply held conviction that they would make a difference in the world, and they looked for that Messiah who would usher in the golden age. When Jesus came on the scene, there was a palpable energy throughout Jewish society, expectant that the time was near and something dramatic was about to happen.

But Jesus announced a different kind of kingdom—one that wasn’t like the kingdoms of our world. No grand Solomon kingdom that competed with all the others. No Roman boot marching through the world. And no American manifest destiny wiping out native inhabitants and dominating the world, invoking the name of their Christian god in the process. Our elections won’t make any discernible difference in the big picture because the big picture is not about our power, authority, or dominance. 

Jesus inaugurated a different kind of kingdom that gives the world a unique opportunity. His kingdom operates from the bottom up, beginning with the hearts and minds of individuals who take on a different attitude: one of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

It’s a messy process. Christians so regularly act out in an opposite manner that it seems impossible that Christ’s kingdom will ever prevail. But he promises it will. And I can’t find any other hopeful solution to our world problems. I’ll stick with Jesus and his message.

WISE MEN: A JOURNEY OF FAITH

Misconceptions abound about the magi who visited Jesus. The old Christmas carol begins, We three kings of Orient are. But already in the first line it makes three errors. We don’t know how many made the trip to Bethlehem; only that they brought three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

And, they were not kings. This misconception comes from the early church teacher, Tertullian, who said, "The East considers magi almost as kings." Finally, they did not come from as far away as the "Orient"--the Far East. In the Bible "The East" could have been Arabia, Media, Persia (Iran), or Mesopotamia (Iraq).

The term often translated as wise men is magoi, which has come into English as magi. The ancient Greek historian Heródotus described magi as "a priestly caste among sixth century Medes." They were knowledgeable about the mysteries of various religions. Magi were specialists in medicine, astronomy, and other related fields. Some also practiced astrology, divination, and magic. By the time of the Prophet Daniel in the sixth century B.C., there was a special caste of astrologers and astronomers were referred to as "Chaldeans".

During the following centuries, magi roamed far from Persia to offer their skills and knowledge to receptive nations. By the time of Jesus they were common throughout the Mediterranean world. According to Philo of Alexandria, there were two kinds of magi. He praised the first group for their extensive research into the facts of nature, calling it "true magic." He viewed the second group as "venomous creatures" who preyed upon the people with charms and incantations.

The Jewish Bible helped our magi discern the approximate time and place of the birth of this King of the East. The first source came from the prophecy of Balaam: "I see him, but not now: I behold him, but not near: a Star will come out of Jacob, a Scepter will rise out of Israel." We don’t know for sure what the magi saw in the night sky—but whatever it was, they were convinced it referred to this and other ancient prophecies.

The second source of information available to the magi from the Hebrew Bible dealt with the prophecy of "seventy weeks", Daniel 9:24-27. As a young man, Daniel was deported to Babylon where he was instructed in the ways and wisdom of the Chaldeans. Yet Daniel was faithful to his God, who gave him a unique ability to interpret dreams. The magi were impressed because one of their many functions was to interpret dreams.

Daniel held a prominent position among the wise men of his day, so they likely studied his writings through the centuries. If so, they would have known about Daniel 9:24, Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. For the magi, this portion of Daniel's prophecy provided a timetable for the Messiah's arrival.

Still, there was no specific mention of where in Judah the king was to be born. When they arrived in Judah, they naturally went to Jerusalem, the capital. Certainly there they would find the newborn king. In Jerusalem the magi discovered another source of information. Again, it came from the Hebrew Bible, this time from the prophet Micah. 

King Herod felt threatened to hear about a possible rival king. He quickly summoned the chief priests and scribes, demanding to know where this king was to be born. They told him of the prophecy from Micah 5:2, But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Herod relayed this information to the magi.

There is an astonishing contrast between the magi and the chief priests in Herod's court. Why didn’t the presence of foreigners asking about a Jewish king capture the attention of the religious leaders? How could they be satisfied watching the magi leave Jerusalem for Bethlehem without going to check it out? They were too caught up in their own religious power and positions to pay more attention. Only the paranoid king Herod took them seriously. 

These noble magi represent the first Gentile worship of the Jewish King. The familiar saying, "Wise Men Still Seek Him," is still relevant. So, are you wise? 

The Simple Christmas Story

The Santa story transformed from a dim memory of the real St. Nicholas who brought gifts to the poor into a fun-filled imaginative fairy tale Santa who flies around in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, bringing gifts to everyone.

The Jesus story has also transformed from reality into a nostalgic warm nativity scene. Here’s the original story, told by Luke:

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Despite artist renderings, no donkey appears in the story. Mary, in her last trimester, likely had to walk.

Setting aside Sunday school dramas, Mary and Joseph didn’t go knocking on doors only to be turned away time after time until someone finally gave them a place in the barn. The old King James Version 'There was no room for them in the inn' gave us moderns a picture of full motels and polite refusals from homeowners who had no room to spare for strangers. But it was based on a mistranslation—the word for “inn” was generic for any place a guest or traveler would use.

They went to Bethlehem because Joseph came from there. We can safely assume they stayed with relatives there. Mideast hospitality was so strong it’s hard to imagine anyone would have refused them. In simple first century homes families slept together in one room. Some houses had guest rooms for all the guests. If they were crowded, people would just move over and it would be more crowded.

The problem Mary apparently encountered was lack of space for her to have a baby, so…they used the manger for an infant bed. But they didn’t send them out to the “stable” or “barn”. Common 1^st century homes had space inside for their few animals. The animal area on a lower level, with family quarters on a raised level above—all under one roof. This kept the animals from intruding on the family’s space, and it kept the animals safe from predators at night. So Mary wrapped up her new born and placed him in the manger.

Luke describes humble beginnings for Jesus. For someone purported to be the Son of God, the long promised Messiah, a King, no less—what an unlikely, humble, beginning. What do you suppose Luke is trying to say to us by this?

Is He Real?

One of my good friends just doesn’t believe all this “Bible” stuff. We have great conversations about science, history, and faith, how they intersect—or don’t. As usual, coffee time conversations meander about, and one time we got talking about Christmas and Santa Claus. He wondered if my belief in Jesus might be something mythical like kids believing in Santa.

I shared with him good non-biased historical evidence that Jesus was a real person. And, actually, Santa was too: St. Nicholas of the 4^th century went around secretly bringing gifts to the poor. In the last 200 years the real person morphed into a mythical tradition of Santa and his reindeer coming from the North Pole to bring gifts at Christmas time.

With his quick wit, my friend challenged me: don’t Christians do something similar with Jesus—making him into a figure that little resembles the original. He had a point! The Jesus I see portrayed in churches often resembles more the kind of Jesus people want him to be to support their view of the world, rather than the one who really was.

But we do have some primary writings that speak the truth of his life and death. One writer in particular focused on separating fact from fiction. Luke starts his manuscript with these words:

Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. –Luke 1:1-4, New Living Translation.

Many past scholars discounted Luke as an accurate historian. One of them, Sir William Ramsay, changed his mind after excavating and examining the ruins of places in Luke’s history and concluded that Luke was “a historian of the first rank.” He couldn't find mistakes, even in the details.

If you’ve never read Luke, or if it’s been a long time, pick up a Bible and take a look at his Gospel. He did his best to present an accurate picture of who Jesus was, why he came, and what it could mean for us.

A Promise (6)

You will go out in joy

      and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

      will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

      will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

      and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the LORD’s renown,

      for an everlasting sign,

      that will endure forever.

Isaiah 55 ends with a promise. In our broken world it seems foolish to think of long ago promises for peace. Are we any closer today than 2500 years ago? Optimistically I look for evidence that, yes, we’ve made some progress—so many advances in health and diplomacy. But when I turn around I see so many dark signs: vast areas of the world still limit women and girls to second class status, sometimes with awful rituals—and these attitudes spill over into our own region. War and violence threaten around the world. Prison systems unjustly tear apart the souls of men and women.

But we’ve just celebrated American Thanksgiving. While it’s foolish to ignore the many injustices and negative influences—because we have to keep working to remove them, it is better to focus on and practice a positive forward looking trajectory of life. That’s why I value my faith in God and why the Bible’s message inspires me toward hope rather than despair. It motivates me to live in joy and peace, and to see the side of creation that explodes with life and beauty. He has given us an everlasting sign when Jesus was born, that will endure forever.

An Invitation (5)

As the rain and the snow

        come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

        without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

        so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

        It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

        and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I remember once, back in my teen years, complaining loudly about yet another ridiculously chilly, dreary, drizzly Pacific Northwest day in June, when I thought it was well past time for warm, sunny, summer weather. My Mom, wise soul at 50 years of age, reminded me that we wouldn’t have our beautiful green landscapes and blooming flowers without regular doses of clouds and rain. While her words didn't allay my displeasure about the long drawn out northwest spring, they continued to resonate with me in the nearly 50 years since.

Isaiah reflected on that same cycle of rain falling, plants flourishing, and somehow returning back to the sky to rain again at a future time. It's how God’s word works in human history. Even though his ways and thoughts are far too complicated for my little mind, as he applies them to our lives they bring about his ultimate purpose.

Like the weather, opposing forces—draughts, late spring freezes—thwart the life giving properties of God’s word. But in the end, his ways and purposes will win the day. He will bring a final, concluding peace one day. How or when I can’t imagine, but he began the process in ancient times, Isaiah saw it working as Israel returned to the homeland, and he predicted that one day Messiah would come to introduce the peaceable kingdom. Though he came some 2000 years ago, still we are waiting in a world often dark and stormy. But if we open our eyes and look, we can discern little flowerets blooming, trees budding.

Be still and know that I am God –Psalm 46:10

An Invitation (4)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

        neither are your ways my ways,

        declares the LORD.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

        so are my ways higher than your ways

        and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Yes, and this is a problem! Our world’s many religious expressions and conflicts reflect an arrogant human aptitude at creating God in our own image. I went through a difficult inner struggle with God related to my inability to lead a particular church into a vibrant self-supporting ministry to its community. Surely he would want this little church to prosper! Instead we had to close its doors. Where was God when we needed him? It shook my faith’s foundations—carrying on a theme from my childhood: why did my Dad have to die in 1960? Why was President Kennedy assassinated in 1963? Why was Martin Luther King killed in 1968?

I suffered on a small scale what ancient Israel suffered on a large scale. If God intended this little nation as a center piece to redeem the world from enslavement to evil and violence, why, in God’s name(!) did he allow them to be overrun by the violent Babylonian despot, exiled for two whole generations, while his favored city Jerusalem lay in ruin?

The answer begins in these short verses from Isaiah 55. God’s purposes and his ways are far beyond us. In the end, I had to accept that life’s meaning and God’s purposes are much grander than I can grasp. Faith, for me, is not so much trying to believe impossible things as accepting puzzling things beyond my understanding.

God is in his heaven and all is not well with the world. But he came down identifying with our suffering, breaking the underlying brokenness, promising that in his time justice and mercy will reign in his peaceable kingdom.