Newsletter: Travel to Eternity

Travel to Eternity

We just had a wonderful celebration of the Feast of Pentecost – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. It is a milestone in the history of the Church -when the Comforter came upon them. Once more there was proof that all of God's promises in Jesus are “yes and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). It is great to look back into the history of the community of the saints and be reminded of what God did for them: 6000 years ago, 4000 years ago, 2000 years ago, etc. How He always carried His Church though the stormy waves of worldly oppression.

The Twelve: St. Peter

St. Peter

Meaning of his name: At his birth he got the name Shimon, which literally means “the one who was heard.” To some extend it is a reflection on the suffering of matriarch Leah who said “[God has] heard...” when she conceived and bore the second boy (Genesis 29:33). The apostle was named after the forefather – one of the sons of Jacob (which begs a question, maybe Andrew was the first and Simon – the second).

There is a famous passage (Matthew 16:18) that people identify as a moment when the apostle was renamed. (Close but no cigar). Actually, he was called Simon Peter prior to his confession, and after. But Jesus changed Simon's name – when the LORD called him as a disciple (John 1:41-42). Peter is a Greek word for “Rock” or a “jewel.”

Life story: The New Testament has many stories about St. Peter. I am not going to talk about his denial of Jesus, or cutting of an ear of the High priest servant, or multiple times in the prison, or conflict with St. Paul. We will pick a few of the most known ones to paint a picture of the apostle.

Genesis: Abraham and Isaac

Abraham and Isaac

Text: Genesis 17 – 25

Outline:

A. 17-18, Announcement of his birth.

B. 20-21, Birth of Isaac and an immediate attack.

C. 22, Certainty of God's promise.

D. 23-24, Delegation Abraham sends to find a wife for Isaac.

E. 25, End of Abraham's life.

Comments: The story of Isaac begins even before his birth. The LORD comes twice to Abraham (Genesis 17 and 18), telling him that he will have the son of the covenant (Genesis 21:12). Note that news about birth of Isaac is given in the context of Abraham's circumcision. Circumcision for Abraham, as the sacrament of the Holy Baptism for us, marks a new beginning. In Abraham's new beginning there is a son (being fruitful), and building of covenant relationship with the neighbors (glorification, Genesis 21:22-33).

Gospel of Mark: Last Week of Jesus before the Cross

Last Days: from the Table to the Cross

Txt: Mark 14 – 15

Outline:

A. 14:1-11, Jesus is anointed for death and burial – two unexpected confessions

  B. 14:12-25, Passover Feast with the Disciples

    C. 14:26-31, Foretelling of Peter's denial

      D. 14:32-42, Prayer in Gethsemane

        E. 14:43-52, Arrest of Jesus

      D'. 14:53-65, Council

    C'. 14:66-72, Peter denied Jesus

  B'. 15:1-32, Passover Feast with Pilate, soldiers and robbers

A'. 15:33-47, Death and Burial of Jesus – two unlikely confessions

Comments: Like the last time we have a huge chunk of the Gospel to deal with – therefore, only basic thoughts...

The Twelve: St. Andrew

St. Andrew

Meaning of the name: Let me begin with a quote from Origen of Alexandria – Church father of III century AD: a name is a designation that sums up and describes the particular character of the one named (ACCS NT, II:41).

Andrew means manly, brave. He had to be brave to switch allegiance from John the Baptizer to the One John was pointing to. He had to be brave to invite his brother. Also, his name is Greek, unlike Simon. This is an indicator that Jesus' mission has a worldwide direction from the very beginning.

Life Story: He was born in Bethsaida, Galilee (John 1:44). When Jesus called him, he lived in the same house with Simon' (Peter) family [note that Simon mentioned first] (Mark 1:29). According to the Gospel of John, he actually was called the first. Then he invited Simon, and then the rest of the disciples joined the band (John 1:37-42).

Gospel of Mark: Triumphant Entry

Triumphant Entry

txt: Mark 11 – 13

Outline:

A. 11:1-11, Triumphant Entry to Jerusalem

  B. 11:12-26, Fig tree imagery

  B'. 11:27 – 12:44, Jesus in the Temple

A'. 13, Foretelling of destruction of Jerusalem

Comments:

A. Triumphant Entry. While there can many things be said about the Palm Sunday, I'll mention only two/ First, Jesus enters for the Eastern side of Jerusalem, goes to the center and ends up in the Temple area. It is important to note, for this path is a return from the World to the Garden. When Adam is banished from the Garden, he goes eastward to cultivate the Land (Genesis 3:24). Then Cain kills the brother in the Land, and as a punishment he goes even farther East to the World (Genesis 4:16). The Second Adam – Jesus – reverses the trajectory, He brings people back to the presence of God, to the Garden-like Temple.

Second, the fact that Jesus us coming on a donkey does not make His a lesser king. The difference between a donkey and a horse is a military associations or lack of thereof. King on a horse is a king of force, king of [military] might (1 Kings 10:26, the second problem of Solomon). While the kingdom of God should've been spread by the Word and relationships, without military pressure (Deuteronomy 17:16 vs. 17:28-20). Jesus, entering a city on a donkey, shows Himself as a ruler (Judges 12:13-14). Yet, His rule is based on His own sacrifice (Mark 10:45).

B. Fig tree imagery. Next day – Monday of the Holy Week.

a. 11:12-14, Fig Tree is cursed b. 11:15-19, Cleansing of the Temple a'. 11:20-26, Fig Tree cursing explained

The fig tree should be a fruitful tree. The point was a season, but the fact Jesus and disciples went to the Temple – expecting fruits, and finding none...

B'. Jesus in the Temple.

a. 11:27-33, Authority of Jesus b. 12:1-12, Parable of the Tenants c. 12:13-34, Big three attack Jesus

a'. 12:35-37, Who is Christ b'. 12:38-40, Beware of scribes c'. 12:41-44, Widow's offering

When the Temple is cleansed the Messiah can come in. Teaching them – the rulers and the leaders that they are NOT the owners of the sacred place but the tenants. He confronts them with the ugly truth of their hearts – they are ready to kill the HEIR. I guess, He hoped (hopelessly) that they will be shocked by His knowledge and by the depravity that consumed them. Instead of repentance they were seeking to arrest Him (Mark 12:12).

Then the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes colluded together (even though they kinda hated each other – enemy of my enemy IS my friend, right?) and attacked Jesus from three different angles: (1) submission to the foreign ruler (Caesar) – Jesus distinguished the vertical and horizontal relationship of the rule. (2) Convoluted question about the marital status after the resurrection (even though the Sadducees didn't believe that there will be one) – Jesus catches them in their hypocrisy, having a chance to proclaim the God of LIFE nit death (Mark 12:26-27). (3) The scribes could not come up with anything smart – they just a question from the 1 grade Law book – tell us the great commandments. I can even see Jesus' face with a smile almost saying: “Seriously?”

And the He puzzles them: How a great king who passed into glory by now (David) call Messiah the LORD, and we are still waiting for Him – they were never thinking this deep about the Scripture. Therefore, Jesus got no answer.

A'. Foretelling of destruction of Jerusalem.

Jesus foretells the destruction Signs of the close of the Age Abomination of Desolation Coming of the Son of Man Lesson of the Fig Tree No one knows the Day or the Hour

This is a complicated topic. And I'll share my notes as a suggestive thoughts. First, Jesus starts by talking about the Temple building/complex. Second, the Abomination of Desolation is an important concept in this prophecy (foretelling). Third, unpredictable nature of the events.

Suggestions: First, we know that by 70 AD Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. Therefore, He must be talking about the events that were fulfilled while some of the hearers still lived. We can LEARN from these losses, but the fulfillment already happened many-many years ago.

Second, abomination of desolation could not be done by Gentiles. In the past history it was always done by Jews, to be precise – priests (1 Sam. 4, and Ezekiel 8-11). They acted in a such a way that would drive the presence of God OUT of the sanctuary.

Third, at the end of the day – NO ONE knows the exact date or an hour – so, any predictions on our part and attempts to speed up the Armageddon to prepare for “the Third Temple” are futile.

Genesis: Abraham and Lot

Genesis: Abraham and Lot

text: Genesis 13 – 19

Outline:

Trip to Canaan, 12

Lot separates from Abraham, 13

Special military operation to free Lot, 14

LORD's Covenant with Abraham, 15 – 17

Doom of Sodom and Gomarah, 18 – 19

Comments: Most often we are talking about father Abraham as the one who went to Canaan. But he was accompanied by his wife Sarai, nephew Lot with his wife and daughters. Along with this, they had quite a number of servants (think about 318 men well trained for a night special military operation). We can think of about a 1000 people or so who went initially together with Abram to the land. Therefore, apart from challenges of relationship with the outsider – people of Canaan, Egyptians etc. – there is an inner dynamic in the camp. That's what we are going to concentrate on.