Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

Did you know Gospel of Mark does not have proper ending? Women came to Jesus’ tomb, the body was gone, but an angel met them there and instructed them to go tell his disciples that he had risen. Then the last words of Mark’s gospel are: they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (Mk. 16:8) – Christian...

But just before reaching the end, there is this amazing crescendo! – Jesus goes to the grave of a dead man and calls him back to life – this is one of those points where John’s story differs from the Synoptic gospels • Matthew, Mark and Luke say nothing about Lazarus’ resurrection • in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus’ ministry comes to an end ◦ but in John’s gospel, it is only Jesus’ public ministry...

 Let’s review important terms Jesus has used – first, there is the living water • he offered it to the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4:10) • he also offered it to everyone in the temple (Jn. 7:37-38) – next, Jesus said, I am the bread of life (Jn. 6:35) – more recently he said, I am the light of the world • and he promised to those who followed him the light of life (Jn. 8:12) Notice how these same themes...

Intro: It is not easy to follow the thread of John chapter 7 So I will begin with a quick synopsis of what is here: – in Galilee, Jesus’ brothers told him he should “make an appearance” in Judea • if he wanted public recognition, he should show himself to the world ◦ apparently they assumed that he wanted a measure of fame • this was not friendly advice, For not even his brothers believed in him ◦...

This is the only miracle Jesus performed that is reported in all four gospels In Matthew, Mark, and John this miracle is immediately followed by another–when Jesus walked on water – Mark adds an intriguing footnote to that event regarding the disciples: And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened (Mk. 6:51-52) • he indicates that so...

Last week a friend asked why we read passages from two gospels each week We are tracking comparisons and contrasts between John and Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) – John wrote long after the Synoptics had been in circulation • he was at a different stage of spiritual insight than when he walked with Jesus • so what he provides is like a spiritual commentary on the other gospels ◦ he p...

Last Sunday, several people thanked me for asking Jake to speak What I noticed afterward, was not what I learned, but what I felt – a fresh awareness of how present God is to us • two specific moments stand out when Jake explained: ◦ “it’s not about leaving our physical world or our bodies, but the veil is lifted” and ◦ “the Psalms teach us how to talk to our nephesh [soul]”

Much of Jesus’ teaching remained a mystery for his disciples – during the time they were with him, they did not understand him • but after his resurrection, it all began to come together ◦ what the Scriptures said about Jesus and what he taught them (Lk. 24:44-45) ◦ and it all came pretty quickly (cf. Acts 2:16-21, 25-28, 34-35, etc.) • John wrote in two time-frames: ◦ first, within the period of...

There is no way to learn without getting on a bike and trying – that’s because our brains have to adapt to a new experience, that of balancing while on a bike • new connections have to made between brain cells ◦ these connections have to be integrated in different areas of the brain • balancing on a bike cannot be learned in a class or from a book or instructor ◦ to ask, “Please tell me how to do...

Start of the series of comparing John to the other gospels

 Once again I ask myself, how will I approach this familiar story? It won’t hurt if we start right here and now, in our own world – soon we’ll visit Mary and Joseph • but we’re 2000 years and a world away from them • why do we even bother with a story so old and distant? ◦ it is because we know this story was written for us – and that raises another question – Why did Luke tell the story of Jesus?...

First, I want to point out some interesting features of this story What I mean, is the way Luke puts it together – for example, Mary asks a question that divides Gabriel’s message in two • the first part in verses 30-33, he tells her what was going to happen • the second part in verses 34-37, he tells her how it will happen – both messages began with what would happen to her – “YOU” • then he expl...

Chuck walks us through quite prayer time

I did not know until recently that Christmas invitation cards are big business There are invitations to visit the home of a family member or friend, – invitations to Christmas dinners, office parties, fund-raisers, and so on • some of us get so many invitations this time of year, ◦ we have to decide which ones to decline • others of us may wish we had that problem – right now, I have three Christm...

But there will be no more room for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious by the way of the sea on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light;

I have been reading Resilience by Rick Hanson I don’t like it – the same way I don’t like taking medicine when sick – he said all the same things in a previous book I read • but I’m someone who needs to be reminded to do the work • so it’s okay that I’m going over these things again – “resilience” is the ability to recover quickly, to bounce back from negative emotions • one chapter in his book is...

Most everyone wants to know the future It holds a fascination for us that is hard to escape – fortune telling is an ancient practice that continues today • people still turn to psychics, horoscopes, palm reading, fortune cookies • for Evangelical Christians, the fascination centers on biblical prophecy ◦ people have come up with all sorts of calculations to pinpoint specific events – Jesus made re...

In chapter 5, A man begged Jesus to heal his daughter, In chapter 6 Jesus is teaching in the countryside, In chapter 7, the Pharisees called out the disciples for a purity violation, In chapter 8 Jesus fed another large crowd