Tag: Isaiah

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From fame to furious

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.” Luke‬ ‭4:22-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This curious scene out of Luke is an interesting story about US – our human nature and how consistently enduring and predictable it can be. This little side-bit is full of information about who WE are. Jesus goes home, and goes to his local synagogue. Nazareth may have been small and considered the “armpit” of Jerusalem, but there were a good number of very devout religious men there – enough to qualify for a synagogue.

Jesus goes to the front of the gathering, confidently unrolls the scroll and finds his text – in Isaiah! I’m sure whispers and eye-raised glances bounced around the room at that point. That day was “Isaiah” day, reading from the longest and most complicated Old Testament prophet book in the history of Judaism. There are no coincidences! And, he thinks he’s going to comment and give a Jewish sermon on it? Yeah right.

Luke, in his punchy wit writes, “He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.” Then Jesus gives his homily…“The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Whoa.

Questions fill the room, sucking centuries of religious pretense right out of the room! In those stunning moments they began to comment, “Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips.” Then seconds later, someone just had to connect the dots of who and where this young buck came from. So then they mumble into the now religious-free air, “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Then Jesus being the truth-teller, breaks their murmurs mid-thought and hijacks their conclusions saying, do you really want to know why I’ve done no miracles here? Of course it’s a lack of faith, but more than that, you guys won’t let ANYONE grow and mature as God intends and expects. You guys got STUCK and you want everyone around you to lower to your level back to AD 00 or BC 700!

Jesus masterfully does a commentary on two other very famous Old Testament spokespersons: Elijah and Elisha. “Ever wonder why these guys did miracles with foreigners and not Israel?” – Jesus hints. He tells them, there were a lot of needy widows in Israel and their were a lot of sick, skin diseased men in Israel. Why didn’t the prophets do any miracles among their own – the Jews?

Can you feel the tension building in this quiet little synagogue in the small, dusty city of Nazareth? Big pause here as they followed their stale, self-righteousness breadcrumbs to a finger-pointing conclusion.

I knew that Naaman wasn’t Jewish, but I had no idea the Sidon widow wasn’t either. Did you? OUCH!

Obviously, they got the point, the civil and religious leaders in old Israel sucked all the faith out the country, and right out of the people they were leading! One moment they were all having a nice pleasant day in the tabernacle, the next moment they’re foaming at the mouth with arrogant-anger, grabbing pitch forks and torches – “When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.” I think once Jesus was safely out of town, he stopped at the city border and dusted off his sandals, signifying he wouldn’t be returning home again.

PRAYER:

Dad,
Wow, I love it when Jesus interprets and does a great commentary on the Old Testament, pointing out things I never knew or ever saw! This really challenges my own beliefs and faith as well as in leading others. Am I sucking faith out of the air with others in my community? I want to believe and not put any restraints or restrictions on a move of your Spirit. In fact, I want to be for more faith, not less! Help me in my own lack of faith and help our leaders in their faith as well.

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Oh death, really, where is your sting?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Isaiah 38:10-20

“But what could I say? For he himself sent this sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years because of this anguish I have felt. Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live! Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭38:15-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What do you do when you KNOW you’re going to die? Not think, but know. Isaiah told Hezekiah, get your stuff together because you ARE going to die! Then, God changed his mind… and added 15 years to his life! “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria.” Hezekiah wrote these words of realty and humility AFTER he got better. But, it really shook him up. Isaiah loved his king and was heartbroken when Hezekiah finally did pass.

We had a pastor friend just die of Covid last week. I’m still processing the loss, the grief and sadness for his wife, three children and the church he pastored. I reflected on the five stages of grief and found someone who added four stages of hope after grieving. So denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are the grief stages. But waiting, wailing, weaving and worshipping are the hope stages.

Death, with it’s finality and processes, is hard to experience. Yet, it is also so clarifying, so pure in its ability to face the ultimate letting go. What really matters on your death bed? I’ve been with several who were dying and have been with some upon their departure. In a good, honorable, prepared for eternity death – there is only love. There is only a desire to be surrounded by those you love and those who have loved you well. It’s not just family, it’s also very close friends.

Being with the dying and upon death is as intimate as being in the birthing experience with a mom. It is holy. Time and all earthly, temporary things lose focus, and the pure moments of love are all that exists. There is no time. There is no worry. There is really no fear. It is as though the universe pauses all natural senses and you become part of a calm, quiet void – a transition. It’s so palpable, so real. You almost feel envious and a desire to be pulled along with them as they make their journey, leaving the body and releasing soul and spirit to go on, go over. For the believer it is miraculous and truly a journey of light.

There is NOTHING to fear at that moment! Fear and death and it’s grip on us, lose their hold. There is no sting, no pain, no worry. The living, fear because of loss or the undone or the unknown. But those who are prepared to die, do not fear any of those things.

Hezekiah was there at the edge and God brought him back for another round of life. But he was different because of the experience. He was humbled and more grateful. He saw his place, his station, his purpose in life and lived more in his last 15 years than he had done previous.