Growing Faith

The Markan pericope found in 4.35-41 can be viewed as a story about the issue of faith. Probably that's the way it should be seen given that the disciples lack of faith is what Jesus focussed immediately upon after he stilled the waters and winds. But what is this lack of faith about?

The disciples had seen Jesus do some mighty miracles and so they had faith in him to do such things. But their faith was being tested in a new arena, the arena in which some of them earned their living fishing, in the area of what is called "nature". Their fear took the form of chiding the sleeping Jesus with failing to show any care towards the danger of their perishing by drowning. They failed to understand that if Jesus was with them then nothing ultimately bad could befall them. The boat may even founder but they would be "saved" because he was their salvation.

I choose to believe that as these disciples experienced Jesus as Lord of wind, water and storm, their faith in him also expanded. I also believe that as we walk with him on our journey, our faith will be expanded as we go through the various stations of life with their ever-increasing difficulties. Every trial is an opportunity for greater growth in God.

Resurrection Stories of Faith?

Many believe that the resurrection accounts are merely "stories of faith". These phrase could simply mean that the gospel writers guided by the Spirit (2Tim 3:16) selected from the extant tradition elements that suited their particular purpose for writing. Furthermore, that the stories they present, view events from the perspective of faith (rather than simply recounting a historical record alone). These evangelists are believers and speak in terms of belief.

However, the above phrase may have a meaning that is unacceptable to me at least. While I accept that differences are found among the accounts of the resurrection appearances, I don't accept that these differences mean that we can treat these versions as reducible to the whims and fancies of human writers. The scriptures are completely trustworthy in what they intend which is to make us "wise unto salvation" (2 Tim 3.15).

One feature that NT Wright presented http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/aprilweb-only/114-42.0.html as earning special attention re the Resurrection accounts is the absence of scripture verses. (I've never noticed this feature before!) Up until the resurrection stage in the unfolding of the story of Jesus, OT scriptures are directly quoted or alluded to throughout the records. But, once we get to the resurrection accounts, nothing.

And why might that be? St Paul did not have any trouble citing OT parallels for the resurrection but the gospel writers are silent. One possible reason is that the gospel writers are drawing on an old, oral tradition that has no explanation for the resurrection. It is beyond the experience of the Jewish disciples.

Of course, the Jews knew about people being raised from the dead but Jesus' resurrection is not mere resuscitation. He is not an animated corpse who will die again in due course. Although, He is a real living person, He is a person whom the disciples recognise but not always easily. He also passes through locked doors as well and can come and go to heaven.

Wright therefore concluded that what we get in the gospels is the resurrection unedited and without gloss. Sure, minor differences occur among the evangelists but the core the story is the same: Jesus dies, is buried in an unused sepulchre which is guarded by Roman decree but on the third day Jesus' body is nowhere to be found. He then begins to appear to individuals and to groups who are in the main slow to believe that this is Jesus their Master.

All these accounts are more than individual stories of faith; they are versions emerging from a community of faith, which is convinced that it has seen the Risen Lord.

Christ GodForsaken?

All my life I have heard how Jesus was the Godforsaken One. And again, recently, a leader in a service said, that God the Father "turned His face away from the Son on the cross". But is that true? Was there some split in the Trinity that resulted in one Member turning away from another because of our sin?

The best treatment I have read on this matter is found at http://answers.org/theology/forsaken.html.

One of the excellent points made by this author is that these words are the opening words of the Messianic Psalm 22. When so quoted, the terms of the whole of the psalm is being evoked. These words are the cry of the dying Messiah whose agony is fulfilling the terms of the psalm. Even His accusers are part of that fulfilment when they wag their heads and mock him, "He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if He desires him" (Ps 22:6-8; Matt 27:43).

Note too the reaction of the onlookers to his quoting of these verses from Ps 22. "This man is calling Elijah" who mock Jesus as if he is calling on Elijah. (Eli and Elijah may sound similar coming from the lips of a crucified man.) Importantly, they don't conclude that Jesus is admitting he is Godforsaken. And then Jesus dies.

What happens then is that the Temple's curtain is torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shakes, rocks are split and saints are raised to life!! All these are signs of redemptive judgment on the old order and patently confirm Jesus as the Messianic King of a New Order.

WHEN I SURVEY

At Belgrave Heights Convention on Good Friday, I was standing depressed in the morning service when the congregation sang, "When I survey the wondrous Cross" to a haunting melody. This band of evangelical Christians sang this hymn with such feeling and gusto that, caught up by the Spirit, I raised my hands.

Now the raising of hands is relatively rare at this place and being a staid Anglican, I don't raise my hands often either but on this occasion I felt compelled. The tears pattered on my cheeks and my body shook; then I felt released. I have felt this type of release before but not for some time.

The teaching given was excellent. I was challenged by it and probably enjoyed that more because of the healing work that had been done in my heart and soul. God had met me in this situation and relieved me from a pain that had been dogging me for some time. All glory to Him.

Hills of Psalm 121

I was at a college graduation recently expecting it to be the normal thing although happy for the students I knew and their joy at finally reaching their goal of finishing their courses. However, as often happens, the Lord arrested my attention with his Word. One of the speakers given the task to bring greetings from an American University, talked about Psalm 121 and what a blessing this psalm had been to him.

He indicated that the question in verse 1, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from where does my help come?" is best understood as a reflection of the pagan worship that took place on the "high places" as in Jeremiah (3.23, "Surely the [idolatrous] commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel" http://www.ridgewaymethodist.org.uk/pdf/Psalm121Sermon.pdf).

Other commentators also believe it could relate to Jerusalem or Mt Zion in which case the psalmist is saying as he travels to the holy Mount, as I lift up mine eyes to the hills I remember that beyond these hills is the power of the Lord God the creator.

Both interpretations, however, act as warnings to remind up to keep our eyes on the fact that it is the Lord, the God of Israel, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has made everything, heaven and earth. Both interpretations warn us of the present danger of substituting idols for the living God; of trusting in a variety of created things to support us when things are tough when in effect only the One "from whom, through whom and to whom are all things", can possibly do that.

Who Among Us Welcomes Change?

I for one don't! And I'm sure if i had been in the temple when Jesus drove the money-changers out of the temple in Jn 2, I imagine I might have resisted strongly the change that his actions presaged. For he was not just upset about the money transactions; his zeal related to his understanding that he had come to bring in a new order of things, a dominant theme throughout the gospel of John.


We grasp this notion when we listen carefully to the discussion
about the temple and his body after his actions above. We see that
this temple in Jerusalem is no longer to be the place of sacrifice but his body is to be the final sacrifice ushering in true worship (Jn 4) through his resurrection.