Monthly Archive for May, 2010

Jesus had a sad heart that night, as he shared what he knew would be his last meal with his closest friends.  Soon he would be betrayed by one of them, turned over to the authorities, falsely accused, convicted, tortured and executed.  Knowing that he would not be present at any more gatherings like this, he asked these men for one simple favor… “In the future when you eat bread and drink wine together, remember me.”

Is it possible that followers of Jesus would actually forget Jesus?  If so, for what other reasons would they gather?  Maybe to discuss their Bible knowledge, show off their prayer techniques, engage in religious programs, debate the latest theological book, etc. 

The center of true spirituality is not an institution, an organization, a person with a vision, or religion of any kind.  It’s God Himself, who became a man, came to Earth, died, and rose again as an act of love for His creation.  My purpose is simply to honor Him by reflecting that love.  Everything else can be tossed on the garbage heap.  And that’s something I need to remember.

The Bible gives this account of Jesus selecting His disciples: “These are the names of the twelve he chose: Simon (he renamed him Peter)…”  Why did Jesus rename Simon? 

“Peter” comes from the word “petra”, which means “rock.”  But at that time, Simon was anything but a rock.  A rock is stable, solid, unmoving.  While Jesus was on Earth, Simon was spineless, impulsive and timid.  Only after the resurrection did Simon display more rock-like qualities.

Jesus saw in Simon something that no one else could see.  Jesus saw the greatness that Simon would someday exhibit.  In order to stress that point to everyone – and most importantly to Simon himself – Jesus gave the timid one a new name: Peter.   In effect, Jesus was saying “I see you as the rock of a man you will be.”

When I evaluate my own life, I see questions, doubts, and one who struggles to live the life of faith.  Yet Jesus sees me as a true follower of His.  Though the record may show that I’m impatient, Jesus sees me as the forbearing person I will become.  Though my harsher qualities are apparent today, He sees me as the gentle soul toward which I am growing.  Though I see myself as one who wavers,  Jesus sees me as rock solid.

Jesus has already changed my name, and that’s encouraging.

Someone recently posed a question as part of a research project: “What, if anything, bothers you about the Bible?,” he asked.  My reply: “Verses.”

OK, I understand that it’s helpful to organize a huge book in such a way that certain passages can be found easily.  But I think we humans, with our natural love for formulas and equations, have taken it too far.  Somehow chapter and verse references have become as sacred as the words themselves.  Of course they’ve been a staple of sermons, books, debates and such for decades.  And now they show up on everything from t-shirts to high profile athletic face paint.  Is that a good thing?

Here’s something that Bible scholars and teachers know: Taken by itself, there’s a chapter / verse combination to support just about any position a person can conceive.  Some of those positions – even the spiritual sounding ones – are unbiblical.  More importantly, they’re often diametrically opposed to the nature of the God who wrote the very book.  Nevertheless we’re expected to accept whatever can be backed up with a reference.

The Christian journey is all about a relationship with God.  And yet it’s seemingly OK to take something God said completely out of the context in which He said it, isolate that statement from everything else He said, and use it as the basis for life’s deepest convictions.  Sorry… I wouldn’t treat even a casual acquaintance like that, so it certainly doesn’t work for the most important relationship in of all.

Instead of chapter and verse, I want to know the One who made those statements. I want to become so intimate with Him that I understand His intent, His nuances… indeed His heart.  Sure, I’ll keep my Bible with the verse references in it.  (I have no choice.)  But for the most part I’ll ignore them, and treat the Word of God like a living, breathing Friend.