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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-07-05, Page 21THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018. PAGE 21. From the Minister's Study Develop further in your role as a disciple By Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector Trinity and St. John's Anglican Churches Loving and Gracious Lord: Open our eyes to see you, our ears to hear you, our hearts to know you and our minds to understand you. The scripture reading Mark 3: 20-35 is a really interesting one. It's full of name-calling, accusations of literally being in league with the devil and an apparent disowning of family members! This was not one of Jesus' better days! Mark's gospel tells of a time when Jesus has come home, after a longish journey, having been round the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum, with stops in villages along the way. He's been choosing disciples, preaching and teaching, exorcising demons, forgiving some people of their sins and healing others. And his reputation has grown to the point where people follow him everywhere, he has so many demands on his time that he doesn't even have time to eat, so demanding was the crowd that had gathered at his doorstep. And he's being harassed too! It must have been quite a commotion, because even Jesus' family comes out of the house and gets involved. Jesus is in conflict with the religious authorities, this is getting pretty serious. In fact, so serious that Jesus' family try to grab hold of him and restrain him. It was being said that he was "out of his mind". Wow, Mark's not pulling any punches, no politically correct language here: like he's just mis-guided, or unique or different. Nope, Mark flat-out says they thought Jesus was crazy. Very different and so contrary to the traditional way of living, his behaviour so "abnormal" for that culture. And his family was trying to get him under control! Jesus was thought to be crazy; out of his mind (what with all the many healings, and you know, the commanding of demons and evil spirits to come out of people). He'd been seen eating with sinners, hanging out with the less than the socially acceptable – the unclean and forgiving their sins to boot! He'd countered the Jewish laws about the Sabbath – he actually told the synagogue leaders that the Sabbath was made for people not people for the Sabbath! Imagine the nerve! Jesus challenged their thinking and their laws, the very essence of what they did and why and how they did it. He was turning their world upside down! All this in just the first three chapters of Mark! What Jesus was doing was strange, unusual, different, never done before, beyond the pale. He literally lived and worked on the "wrong side of the tracks", and welcomed and encouraged "those people" to come to him, definitely living and encouraging others to live to the beat of a different drum, his drum. Word of this upstart and his ways had come to the knowledge of the religious authorities, so they felt it necessary to come down from Jerusalem and put a stop to this fellow. The religious authorities were so threatened by Jesus' words and deeds that as far as they were concerned, there was only one explanation – "He's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons, that's where he gets his powers." (Mk 3: 22 nit) Why possessed by Satan? Because they couldn't possibly believe Jesus had the power of God. Why not? Because he wasn't doing things their way! And they were the teachers, the authorities on God and how to do things the way God wanted things done, and to whom and with whom. They knew what was the right way; and their way was God's way. Jesus was not adhering to the traditions, to the way it was always done, he was doing things differently, his teachings were different and it was as if he was flaunting it in their faces. This new way was disrupting the status quo. They were so concerned for maintaining the traditions and their place in it, maintaining the propriety of society, they couldn't see that the Spirit of God was in their midst. Not only couldn't they see the Spirit working in Jesus, they actually spoke against it, calling it Satan. BRUSSELS That is the blasphemy that Mark says Jesus is decrying, the denying of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' works, and in this story, in Jesus himself. Is this really unforgiveable as the writer of Mark so blatantly states? For those living in the time right after Jesus' death, who are desperately hanging onto a new way of living in the Spirit of Christ, being persecuted for following Jesus the Christ, to blaspheme against Christ's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, I can see how this would have been the line in the sand and thought to be unforgiveable, a way to eternal damnation. But, I have to admit, I'm not so sure. To forgive – this is the very nature of God, of Christ. To declare someone completely irredeemable, well, that's not our job. Our job is to forgive as Jesus forgives us, and that's best done with the Spirit of Christ guiding us. Because some things are really, really hard to forgive. It is God's job to judge who is and who isn't irredeemable, and I don't think anyone is irredeemable, unless they truly choose to be. And maybe that is the issue here, the scribes, the religious authorities and many others chose not to see what was happening right before their eyes; refused to believe that the power Jesus had to do these things could only come from God. And that was blaspheming God in Jesus. So for the religious authorities who refused to see or acknowledge God's Spirit in Jesus, the only explanation could be the power of Beelzebub – Satan – the prince of darkness. Jesus quickly counters that United Church Join us July 8 at 9:30 am Worship leadership by pastors from Huron/Perth Meet us at our Hospitality Booth at "The Barn" every Friday from 2 to 6 pm Everyone Welcome MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS We will be closed for the month of July Reopening for worship on August 5th Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-6687 HURON CHAPEL PRESENTS pAuLsPOw RFUL PROG SIVE EVERY SUNDAY IN AUBURN @ 10am PLAN Life is full of choices and every choice you make will either take you in the progressive, life-giving direction God has planned for you or rob you of the opportunity to know the full life God intends for you to live. This Sunday: "The Choice To See Life Differently" huronchapel.com argument, saying the power of evil cannot be used against it own self, it would just kill itself. Even Satan wouldn't do that to himself. In fact it was Jesus who had bound up Satan—remember the story of the 40 days in the desert? Jesus overcame Satan's powers. Interesting that when he exorcised the demons that controlled people, the demons themselves recognized who Jesus was – yet the religious authorities couldn't see it! But still, for the argument to be made, Jesus must have been spouting off some pretty shocking viewpoints. Jesus over and over again presented a radical view of living that was contrary to the ways of the letter of the law-abiding Jewish society of the day, where adhering to the law was more important than caring about the people. When people's core values and beliefs are challenged, and they feel threatened, well—it can get pretty uncomfortable and pretty heated! Jesus was creating quite a scene, much to the distress of his family! It seems the kingdom of God just doesn't always fit society's definitions or categories. Let's face it, Jesus was a social misfit. I have absolutely no doubt that his family was convinced that they were doing the right thing by restraining him and maybe even questioned his sanity too. But at this point in the story, his family just didn't get it either, just didn't understand where Jesus was coming Continued on page 25 The Regional Ministry of Hope Everyone Welcome! Trinity Anglican Church St. John's Anglican Church BLYTH BRUSSELS 9:15 am Closed for the month of July MINISTRY OFFICE 519-357-4883 Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope tJ COME WORSHIP WITH US! You're Invited to come worsh p with us Sunday, July 8 at 10:30 a.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. Summer evening service 6:00 pm at various homes For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Jou re cinvited Jo Join `us 1n Worship A \ SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service 10:00 am 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 All are invited to join us for the Community Outdoor Service at the Blyth Lions Park at 10 am on Sunday, July 8th. Please bring lawn chairs. Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service at 11:00 am Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited @tcc.on.ca Accessible Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches OFFICE: 519-523-4224