from my perspective

            Imagine the scene of Jesus teaching in a crowded room. (Mark 2:1-12 People packed every door and window to hear His words. The Scribes (lawyers) and Pharisees (devout Rabbis) were in the crowd. Jesus sees all this and much more.

           Into this packed scene came four men carrying a paralytic on a mat. They see the way through the door is not open to them. So, they open the roof and lower the mat down before Jesus. Jesus sees their faithful hearts. Hearts that believe Jesus has the power to release the paralytic from his affliction and suffering. Jesus sees the burdens the paralytic is carrying and releases him from his sins. The scribes hear the words that only God can utter and ‘question in their hearts.” Jesus sees the spirit that rules their hearts. A spirit focused on the written Law of God and not on the Son of God.

Now, read Mark 2:8–12

⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

      Forgiving sins and miraculously healing are work of God. Neither the restoration of the heart from sin or the restoration of nerves and muscles to health can be seen by human eyes. So often, human demand proof and what the no eye has seen or ear has heard “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

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            The wise men are thought to be Persian priests who practiced astrology and interpreted special signs. The book of Daniel describes wise men as magicians and enchanters as well. (Dan. 5.11) It is significant that gentile wise men would travel to honor a future King of Judah. Although the number of wise men is not known tradition has assigned at least three in relation to the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

            Gold is the gift for Kings. Frankincense is a precious spice used as incense by priests for worship. Myrrh is precious spice used in adoring the body at death. (see John 19:39) The gifts are appropriately given to the Son of God. 

            In this scene we see God’s anointing of His Son, not only for the children of Israel but for the world.  The wisest of men, wealthy and powerful, come to the manger to worship, the King of Kings, the perfect priest and the Savior of God who would give up His life so that the world might have life.         

“because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

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A note on Paul’s letter to the Philippians 3…

            Confidence is sometimes misinterpreted as arrogance. Adversaries of the Gospel have come flaunting their authority and insisting newly converted Christians must adhere to the laws of Judaism in order to be included as the chosen children of God in the covenant of God.

            Therefore, the Apostle Paul lists his Jewish credentials; not to boast but to reveal that his lineage and authority. From his birth he was a God-fearing, Law-observing Jew and he belonged to the most aristocratic Jewish tribe. Now he states, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)

The Apostle Peter quoting Isaiah 40 held this perspective: “… you have been born again [in Christ], not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23–25)

            There are many similar examples in history, not the least of which is St. Francis of Assisi and Martin Luther, who as the sons of the wealthy men were destined to inherit wealth and status and gave it all up for the sake of following Christ with heart, mind and soul. By their example, we are encouraged to look at our lives through an eternal perspective rather than a worldly perspective.  

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            Maybe at heart we are all Pharisees: self-righteous and proud; believing God owes us and not realizing God owns us. Many hear Jesus’ parable and are offended, “that’s not fair” they join in with the workers who have labored all day. They think the “landowner” is unfair.

            Psalm 145:8 declares, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” God is gracious not fair. Fair is getting what a person deserves and the workers may not deserve anything more than what was agreed upon. Grace is getting more than a person deserves which is what the landowner does for those who were hired later. God merciful. Mercy is overlooking a person’s shortcomings and granting wages anyway. God is abounding in steadfast love. Love is generous, patient, and kind to the undeserving. (1 Cor. 13) The landowner (God) can hire and pay wages as he sees fit. The workers are at his mercy. Even the offer of work is an act of grace. The workers seem oblivious to this fact of life and judge the landowner based on a scale of wages for time worked. A scale they have no right to impose on the landowner. The landowner graciously grants wages to those came to work regardless of time worked.

            Jesus’ point in the parable is that God out of His generosity and grace, opens the door to the kingdom of heaven, where there is meaningful work, to those who He seeks out in the marketplace. His wages are a full measure of peace found in His forgiveness, (Matthew 6:6) hope for the future (Romans 5:2) and eternal like, abundant life. (John 10:10)

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“Suffering and temptation are sure to happen” Jesus says, but our Heavenly Father will not leave the sufferers orphaned or abandoned. God acts in the midst of suffering by taking on the suffering of the afflicted. By His Grace, all who believe Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient are given relief, everlasting life and the power to resist sin. When our work in this life is completed Our Lord opens the gates of Heaven where there will be no more sin or suffering.

            In John’s Gospel, chapter three Jesus teaches, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”… “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:3–6, NRSV)

            God acts in Holy Baptism by instilling faith into the heart of the candidate. Baptism is not an event but the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit throughout life. The Holy Spirit works through God’s people to nurture the baptized in prayer, witness and teaching. God’s people nurture the baptized to be faithful; to believe, trust and rely on Jesus Christ; to reject the voices of evil that lead away from God and God’s salvation.

            Christ’s church teaches and nurturing the faith of the children so that when they reach an age where they can express their faith, we pray they will affirm the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives once again and commit to living out their faith by turning to God in Jesus every day; seeking forgiveness so that they may love their neighbor as Christ loves them. Like baptism, “living in Christ’s love” is more than a feeling; it is actively loving the neighbor for Jesus’ sake by what is said and done.

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