The Kingdom is at the end of a narrow road, and sometimes you will need to pass people to get there; and passing people on that narrow road is tricky. It takes a sly foot to pass on that road. It takes cleverness. You may even see some people crawling along that road when they could just as easily walk, and they may even tell you that the only way to get to the Kingdom is to crawl. Ignore them. Your feet are healthy; use them.
The Kingdom of God does not have two entrances. In the old days a home would have two entrances - one for the guests and one for the servants. But the Kingdom of God has only one entrance, and it is a servant's entrance.
The door to the Kingdom is not easy to open; oftentimes it is nearly jammed shut. You will need to press your shoulder against it with some force to get it to open. Other times it is bolted to and you will have to pick the lock. Did you know that you would perhaps have to break in to the Kingdom of God? It's true. You will find men and women forcing their way in, and you may even attempt to follow them in when they breach the door, but you will not be able to. The door of the Kingdom does not admit a flood of violent people all at once. It admits one violent man, one violent woman, at a time.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
At Table With Jesus
Two people traveling to Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus are met by another traveler, a man. He is Jesus, but they are kept from recognizing him by God. He walks with them and they talk of the things that have happened in Jerusalem - how Jesus has preached and performed miracles, and how he has been handed over to death by the chief priests and elders. And also how his body was found missing from the tomb in which it lay. The travelers are amazed by this, but Jesus (whom they do not recognize) says, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" and he goes on to describe to them how all of the prophets from Moses foretold of this very event, including the resurrection.
They arrive in Emmaus and Jesus makes to continue, but the two travelers ask him to stay, which he does. As they are at table for their meal, Jesus blesses and breaks the bread and gives it to them. Immediately their eyes are opened and they recognize him, and just as quickly he is gone.
This is the way it is with Jesus - we do not see him for who he is until we break bread with him. The travelers walked with Jesus and he conversed with them and revealed much to them - they say afterwards, "Didn't our hearts burn within us while he spoke?" - but revelation doesn't occur until there is relationship. This is why Paul said that "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Knowledge can take us to the very edge of revelation, but until we sit at table with Jesus and break bread with him, we come away puffier but no wiser. Until we find intimacy with Jesus we don't see him for who he really is.
When Jesus during his ministry asks his disciples who people say he is, they tell him, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jesus asks them who they say he is, and right away Simon Peter pipes up and says the most important thing he may ever say.
This is the point where any one of us goes from following Jesus to loving him: when we see him for who he really is. And in order to see him we have to be willing to sit at his table and let him break the bread and bless us. Then we can confess that we really do know this man called Jesus.
They arrive in Emmaus and Jesus makes to continue, but the two travelers ask him to stay, which he does. As they are at table for their meal, Jesus blesses and breaks the bread and gives it to them. Immediately their eyes are opened and they recognize him, and just as quickly he is gone.
This is the way it is with Jesus - we do not see him for who he is until we break bread with him. The travelers walked with Jesus and he conversed with them and revealed much to them - they say afterwards, "Didn't our hearts burn within us while he spoke?" - but revelation doesn't occur until there is relationship. This is why Paul said that "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Knowledge can take us to the very edge of revelation, but until we sit at table with Jesus and break bread with him, we come away puffier but no wiser. Until we find intimacy with Jesus we don't see him for who he really is.
When Jesus during his ministry asks his disciples who people say he is, they tell him, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jesus asks them who they say he is, and right away Simon Peter pipes up and says the most important thing he may ever say.
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.""Blessed are you Simon bar-Jonah," replies Jesus, "for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." Jesus reveals to us what Peter realized only a moment earlier: that he really does know Jesus because he has given himself to the relationship. And in this relationship the Father is just as close and significant - and knowable! - as the son. Peter's love for God, his intimacy with the great I Am, reveals the biggest truth of his life to him. Flesh and blood does not reveal such great truth.
This is the point where any one of us goes from following Jesus to loving him: when we see him for who he really is. And in order to see him we have to be willing to sit at his table and let him break the bread and bless us. Then we can confess that we really do know this man called Jesus.
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