Close your eyes and picture a harp-shaped lake surrounded by small mountains and some low plain-like places.  The downward sloping hills are dotted with villages; on the northern shore of the lake there are several bustling ports with fishing markets.  The climate is generally pleasant thanks to its geographical location 680 feet below sea level, but every once in a while winds rush down through gorges in between the mountains and stir up the water of the lake giving cause for concern.  Some of the hills are covered with almond, fig and olive trees; others vineyards and gardens.  Several villages are industrial producing millstones, olive oil and pottery.  Two of the larger towns (Bethsaida which means House of Fish and Tarichaea which means The Place of Salt Fish) are known for their salt-fishing businesses.  This was a way to preserve fish being delivered to Jerusalem in a time when refrigerated tractor-trailer trucks did not exist.  One city features a large synagogue and has a Roman guard stationed there.  Another village is noted for seven effervescent springs that reportedly have healing abilities.  This is the Galilee region in the days of Jesus; not the usual backwater area it has formerly been painted as.  Instead, thanks to the convergence of several well-traveled Roman highways, Galilee was rather cosmopolitan and those who lived there ran the gamut of the social strata.  At the center of the region was the beautiful Lake Gennesaret, although it was better known as “The Sea” or The Sea of Galilee.  Galilee was not only the home of Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, Nathanael (a.k.a. Bartholomew) and Philip; it was the place where Jesus began His earthly ministry.  Does it sound like a place you’d want to live?  It should!

            As was custom in those days itinerant teachers traveled from village to village and town to town speaking and teaching in synagogues and public places.  Jesus was, in many ways, no different than these beloved figures when He began His ministry along the Sea of Galilee and John uses the terms teacher (didaskalos) and rabbi interchangeably to identify Jesus’ ministry (Jn. 1:38, 49; 3:2; 4:31; 6:25; 9:2; 11:8; 20:16).   Rabbis typically invited a number of people to become their full-time disciples (mathetes meaning learner or student).  They lived, studied and devoted all their time to the master and he in turn provided support for his students and imparted everything he knew into their lives.  The goal of discipleship was two-fold.  The student would master all that his teacher knew and in doing so he would become like him in piety (Lk. 6:40).  What amazed most of the populace that encountered Jesus’ teaching was that He had not studied previously with another Rabbi (Jn. 7:15).  It is apparent from the wording in several of the Gospels that the aforementioned disciples were familiar with Jesus before He spoke the invitation to “Follow Me” (Mt. 4:19; 9:9; Mk. 1:17; Jn. 1:39, 43).  It may seem incredulous to us that these men would respond so quickly.  Philip was so excited about his teacher he went and invited his skeptical friend Nathaneal who responds to Jesus’ accurate assessment of his personality with faith.  Yes, there was something about Jesus that drew an immediate response from these weathered fishermen and their friends.  Although they may not have known what it really meant to be “The Messiah”, they knew their lives would never be the same once they met Him.

            Six of these disciples left their family fishing businesses and one left a lucrative but despised career as a tax collector to begin a journey with Jesus.  They walked with Him, ate with Him, watched Him in a variety of situations, and listened intently to His words.  You can read about them here: Mt. 4:18-22; Mk. 1:16-20; 3:13-19; Lk.5:1-11; 6:12-19; Jn 1:35-51.  I have often wondered what aspect of their first encounter with Jesus caused them to leave the pleasant shores of the lake, the security of their family businesses, accumulated wealth or whatever walk of life they occupied (such as Simon who is identified as a Zealot in Lk. 6:15).  Whatever it was they knew it was what they wanted and they went.  However, the pages of the Gospels reveal that most of the time they did not understand Him.  It’s easy to point fingers and wonder how that could be, but the truth be told, we’re not much different than they were when we begin our walk with Him.  We hear His call and follow Him but it’s only after some time that we really begin to understand Him.  The disciples’ story with all its ups and downs is also our story.

            Where are you on the journey?  Have you just begun?  Have you been walking with Him for a while now?  Have you invited someone to come with you?  Can you bear witness to the things Jesus has done in your life (Jn. 21: 24-25)?  Wherever you are on the journey, you are in good company!  As the disciples journeyed toward Jerusalem with Jesus, He was preparing them to know Him better and to understand the Truth about The Messiah’s role and purpose more deeply.  Jesus will do the same for you as well.  He's inviting you to travel with Him today (Jn. 8:12; 10:27-28; 12:26).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

             One time while visiting Cape May, Jeff and I saw a print in a gallery that we just had to have.  It was a photograph of a lighthouse off the coast of France, well known for the stormy waves that crash upon it each day.  A photographer in a helicopter had captured one of those waves as it smashed around the base of the lighthouse.  What was even more compelling and eye-catching about this photo was that the lighthouse keeper had stepped outside the door and was blithely looking skyward to see what the noise was all about.  One glance at this picture and you want to yell at the curious man, "Watch out!!  Get back inside!!"

            How many times over the years have you been gripped by headlines proclaiming disaster after disaster.  Back in 2011 when this edition of Ready for the Road Ahead was first printed, the headlines were focused on riots in Cairo Egypt that had raged on for 14 days.  Headlines back then also proclaimed clashes in Cambodia, more protesting in Turkey, and ships being raided by pirates in India.  Today the world is engaged in dealing with the COVID 19 virus which has inspired hoarding-like shopping, closure of all sorts of public places and the cancellation of numerous businesses, schools and other public events, not to mention the stress it is causing in the healthcare system and the financial world.  It seems that the world is a fearful place to live without a shelter to keep us safe in the storm.  One glance at the headlines and your mind wants to yell, "Watch out!!  Stay inside!!" 

            No one understood better about how chaotic life could be than the ancient Israelite.  Due to its key location on the path of several major trade routes linking 3 continents, Israel was constantly subjected to attacks and turnovers.   Not only was their little sliver in the Fertile Crescent valuable for trade, other nations such as Assyria and Egypt, were on a mission to prove that their gods were far more powerful than Yahweh the God of Israel.  They viewed their military victories as a reason to proclaim that Yahweh was weak and undependable.  As threats for another invasion surfaced it was enough to cause any faithful Israelite to yell, "Watch out!!  Don't go outside!!"

            This month Jewish people have celebrated the festival of Purim whose story is found in the book of Esther.   The Israelites had been conquered by Persia and some people, like Esther, were now in exile.  Times were unstable and uncertain.  The strange thing about the book of Esther is that God's name is never mentioned.  It appears that God is not involved in the story at all.  Actually, God is very cleverly disguised within the story, and to the faithful there is no doubt that He is the source of Esther's courage and the reason the Jews prevailed.  Sometimes the chaos of the world feels the same way.  No matter what continent, no matter what nation or state, strife and turmoil seem to say that God is not involved in our world at all.  Times are unstable and uncertain.  However, the psalmist encourages us in Psalm 46 that even when mountains shake and the waters roar, God is in the midst of His people acting as an anchor and a source of hope which will see us through the storm safely (Heb. 6:13-20).   We may not see it; we may not sense it, but we know God is at work in our story and in our world even though every fiber of our being wants to say, “Watch out!!  Don’t go outside!!”

            The Sea of Galilee is often depicted as an idyllic body of water surrounded by pleasant hills.  However, it is not always that peaceful.  Cutting into those rolling hills are gorges called "scarps" and when the wind blows down through the scarps on to the Sea of Galilee it stirs up the water and sailing becomes treacherous.  Such a storm is recorded in Luke 8:22-25.  This storm was so fierce that even the disciples who were seasoned fishermen feared they were about to die and they called out to Jesus for help.  Whether it is a massive wave off the coast of France, a disturbing headline about our chaotic world or a storm upon the Sea of Galilee, there is only one thing to do when a storm of that intensity comes your way.  Esther turned to God through fasting and prayer.  The disciples turned to Jesus.  Rather than succumbing to panic or hiding when life seems out of control, our best recourse is to follow in the footsteps of the psalmist and place our trust in the Lord (Ps. 121) for that is where our help comes from.
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

             In the early 1980's, a popular Christian musician by the name of Steve Taylor, wrote a scathing musical commentary called "Whatever Happened to Sin?", which hit the Christian radio airwaves and immediately became a hit.  Taylor's satirical song attacked branches of Christianity which had turned away from God's Word as their standard for truth and embraced the reasoning of the world in order to accept behavior completely opposite of God's will.  Although Taylor's song was popular, not many paid attention to its point.  But who really wants to be confronted with sin?  It’s hard work to avoid it and when you use the Bible as a guideline to define it, it tends to separate you dramatically from popular culture.  It's a sticky, prickly issue no matter what way you look at it.  And even if you ignore it, sin will eventually get the better of you.

            The Bible is very clear on the effect of sin.  It has irrevocably separated us from God.  Sin in its simplest form is rebellion against God.  It is falling short of God's standards; missing the mark.  Although we were created to be in community with God, sin has corrupted human nature so that humankind is hostile to God.  Sin causes us to be held captive to our baser emotions and desires, constantly fighting with and being unwilling to submit to God's ways, and therefore it has not only corrupted individuals, but society at large as well (Romans 7:21-25).

            The Bible teaches that sin entered the human experience at a very early stage.  Adam and Eve broke from God's standard when they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:6).  After that fateful decision, sin became an issue that every person must deal with throughout their lifetime.  Each one of us faces decisions on a daily basis that either puts God in authority over us, or puts us over and above God. 

            In spite of the sin which became part and parcel to humankind after Adam and Eve, God still desired to reconcile His fallen world to Himself which meant the sin issue had to be dealt with.  The first remedy was through the sacrificial system.  The Old Testament sacrifices were a constant reminder of the penalty for sin, and the Book of Leviticus drives that point home with verse after verse describing what the Israelite must do to maintain a relationship with God.   Why is God so hot and bothered by sin?  His holiness demands perfection and purity.  Anything other than perfect or 100% pure cannot withstand His holiness (Leviticus 19:2).  The only acceptable substitute was the innocent blood of a sacrificial animal (Leviticus 17:11) which temporarily allowed the one offering the sacrifice to have communion with God. 

            Why blood?  The Bible does appear to be interested in the subject!  Of the 406 times it is spoken of, the majority lie in the Old Testament; but blood is also mentioned 97 times in the New Testament.  Blood is called “the seed of life” for obvious reasons.  Without blood, you cannot live.  Because of its connection to the payment for sin it is also equated with judgment.   Imagine yourself as an ancient Israelite who has come to the Tabernacle with a sacrifice.  You place your hands on the animal's head and the priest offers a prayer for the transfer of your sin to this innocent animal.  As you watch its life slip away, you recognize the severity of your predicament.  If this animal had not taken your place, you would be held accountable for your sin and your life would be ebbing away instead.

            It must have seemed hopeless, that endless cycle of sin and sacrifice.  But it was not.  The Book of Hebrews tells us that God has replaced the temporary blood of animal sacrifice with the blood of His Only Begotten Son (Hebrews 9:11-14).  The blood of Christ is an eternal solution to the problem of sin.  The season of Lent is a reminder of the depth of Christ's sacrifice and what it signifies to us.  We are no longer bound to the obligation of the Law- that is the requirement to continually offer sacrifices to cover sin and obtain communion with God.  We do not need to substitute the blood of an animal for our sin.  Christ has put away the need for perpetual sacrifices through His blood (Romans 5:6-10) permanently and has reconciled us to God (Romans 8:1-4).  While Pop Culture tries to eliminate sin by redefining what it is, Christ has done more.  He has removed the debt of sin by paying for it with His own blood.
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Purim will be celebrated in many Jewish congregations this week.  It is a noisy and festive holiday that involves young and old.  The Book of Esther will be read aloud and the people will cheer when the names of Esther, Mordecai and King Ahaseurus are read and “blot out the name” of Israel’s enemy Haman by booing, shaking noise makers and stomping their feet when his name is heard.   Esther's story begins with Queen Vashti's fall from grace.  Persia was known for its opulent and excessive wealth.  The royal city of Susa was often host to endless banquets and celebrations.  Many times the entertainment at these affairs was "R" rated (to put it mildly!).  Vashti's refusal to take part in this debauchery seems understandable, but an inebriated king is not one to be crossed.  With the encouragement of his officials, King Ahasuerus, who was known to be a fickle and self-centered ruler, deposes Vashti.  It seems unfair, but Vashti's departure is a prelude to a bigger story.

            Since Vashti has been removed it is decided that a "Miss Persia" contest should be held. The winner gets an all expense paid year at the Palace Spa and the prestige of being the next Mrs. Ahasuerus.  Whether they want to enter or not, all the young maidens in Persia are rounded up, put through a beauty regime and paraded before the king.  At the urging of her uncle who is a court official, a beautiful young Jewish girl, named Hadassah (Esther is her Persian name) takes part in the contest, wins Ahasuerus’ attention, and is chosen to be the next queen.  While this may seem out of character for a devout young woman like Esther, it appears that the turn of events is being orchestrated by Someone much larger than the humans who take center stage in the story.

            The plot thickens as Esther's uncle, Mordecai, thwarts an assassination attempt on the king, and a man named Haman is promoted to a high position in the king's court.  Haman has a deep-seated hatred for Mordecai.  Earlier in Israel's history Haman and Mordecai's ancestors had bad blood between them (Ex. 17:8-16; Dt. 25:17-19; 1 Sam. 15:8).   Haman still considers the Jews to be his enemy and he uses his rise to power as a means to take revenge on Mordecai and his people.  He casts lots (purim) to determine a date to exterminate the Jews, and that is how this festival gets its name.  If you want to know the rest of the story, read Esther!

            The Book of Esther raised some eyebrows when it was included in the Scriptures.  Its message was clearly in line with all the other sacred writings, but it had one, obvious omission, the name of God!  Although God's name is never spoken or written, God is clearly at work across its pages and in some cases He is also hidden within the text through the use of “aliases” and word puzzles (Est. 4:14; 5:8).  Observant reading reveals His hand is guiding the events within each chapter.  And His Covenant promises are still intact as the Jews come out victorious in the end.  It would be easy to read through this book and think that it has nothing to do with us here in the 21st century, but we would be wrong!  At a critical point in the story, Mordecai challenges Esther (Est. 4:14) saying she will not be spared just because she lives in the palace.  "If you do not step forward to help," Mordecai warns, "Help will come from another place."  That little phrase, "another place" reminds Esther of God's sovereignty.  God has placed Esther where she can make a difference.  The same is true about us. 

            Have events in your life seemed to spin out of control?  Does it seem like God is removed from your situation?  The Apostle Paul, like Esther, could have felt the same.  Locked in prison and separated from his beloved Philippian church, Paul learned that some people had begun to spread the Gospel, not for God's glory, but to spite Paul.  Paul, however, could see God's hand at work in the situation.  First and foremost, the Gospel was being shared, and for Paul, that was the most important thing (Phil. 1:12-18).  Although we do not face a life or death situation as Esther did, sometimes we have trouble seeing God at work in our lives.  Perhaps, in those times, we would do better by changing our perspective just like Joseph learned to change his after years of struggles brought on by the hands of others (Gen. 45:4-8).  Maybe there is an opportunity God has placed in your path where you can make a difference.  Like Esther, Paul or Joseph, you will need courage to take hold of that opportunity and to recognize God has brought you there "for such a time as this".

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre