Ann H LeFevre
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introducing the son of God (the book of mark)

8/28/2015

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            My home was always a hub of activity.  It hadn’t always been that way, but after Uncle Barnabas had embraced The Way of Jesus, there was a constant flow of disciples and visitors.  My mother adored her brother and took everything he said as God’s very own words.  At least that was the way it seemed to me at first.  But slowly and surely I began to realize there was definitely something different about this new “religion” they had embraced and it intrigued me.  One day a man named Peter showed up at our door.  He was animated, passionate and convicting.  He told stories about Jesus just as my mother and uncle did, but from his own first-hand experience.  When he spoke, his words seemed to be filled with life and I wanted to hear more.  But then he was arrested by Herod- just after James was put to death.  And while we were gathering to celebrate Unleavened Bread, those who fully believed this “Way” prayed for Peter’s safety and release.  You can imagine the surprise and disbelief when Rhoda, our servant girl, excitedly claimed that Peter was at the door.  But oh the reunion when we realized she was telling the truth (Acts 12:1-17)!  That night, as Peter shared the story about his release, I too believed in Jesus.   And now, since Peter has joined Our Lord and left this earth, I must write to you about Him.  I imagine that with those thoughts in mind, Mark began to write his gospel, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…”  (Mk. 1:1).

            Matthew may be the first gospel we encounter when we open the New Testament, but it was not the first gospel written.  That honor goes to the Book of Mark which scholars generally agree on as being written around 65 A.D., forty years after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  While the above paragraph may have some literary license, it is based upon fact.  We do know from Scripture that Mark’s mother was named Mary (Acts 12:12) and that Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first mission trip (Acts 12:25) probably acting as secretary.  We also know that when Paul’s entourage arrived at Perga and Paul determined to head inland, Mark abandoned the trip and went home (Acts 13:13).  There is no explanation given as to why he did this, but it came back to haunt him when a second missionary trip was in the works.  Barnabas proposed they give Mark a second chance.  Paul was adamant that he not come.  In the end, the two leaders parted ways (Acts 15:37-40).  Barnabas went in one direction and brought Mark along, while Paul picked up a new partner (Silas) and went in another.  Mark disappears from the story after that, but eventually shows up again in a way only God could have planned.  Read Col. 4:10; Phile. 1:24; and 2 Tim. 4:11 to find out!

            The significance of Mark’s gospel is hard for us to grasp in a technological society that virtually has an exhaustive amount of information at our fingertips.  But what if you only had one piece of note paper to last you the entire month?  What things would you write on it? What would be important to you?  At some point during the early days of the church it became necessary to document what scholars call the “Christ Event”.  When the church began, people who had heard Jesus teach, the disciples who’d witnessed His death and resurrection, and those who’d been healed by Jesus were able to repeat their eye-witness accounts to the growing amount of believers.  But as persecution arose, many of those “first generation” believers were martyred.  In order to preserve those first-hand accounts, the gospels came to be.  Mark being the first to bring these oral accounts to the written word had excellent resources in Peter and Paul.  And Mark gets right to the heart of the matter- just WHO is Jesus and why should we believe in Him?

            Mark’s introduction reveals his intentions.  Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) and He is the Son of God.  Every word penned after that offers proof of the validity of these statements.  As the Messiah, Jesus fulfills Scripture (Mk. 15:22-28) as do the events of His life (Mk. 1:2-11; 11:1-10).  As the Son of God, Jesus exhibits all the attributes of God (Mk. 2:1-2; 4:35-41; 5:21-43) and has a unique relationship to the Heavenly Father (Mk. 1:10-11; 8:27-29).  While the bulk of Mark’s Gospels contains stories and lessons on discipleship and what it means to follow Jesus, Mark’s primary goal is to emphasize why the cost of discipleship is worth it: Jesus IS the Messiah, the Son of God.  Have you considered this as you travel the road of faith?  Do you know WHO you are following and why?  The final verses of Mark leave you with this thought.  Will you boldly proclaim Him as His disciple, or will you be afraid (Mk. 16:1-8*)?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
Week of
8/30/2015


*Many translations include vv. 9-20 in brackets.  No one knows for certain if these passages were in Mark’s original.  They only appear in one of the oldest Bible texts we have.  They don’t disagree with the other Gospels, but it should be noted that they MAY HAVE been added later to soften the fact that v. 8 leaves us with the image of some very cowardly behavior by the disciples.

            

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Introducing the Messiah (the book of Matthew)

8/21/2015

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The air is filled with anticipation. Excited conversations fill the arena. Children squirm impatiently in their seats. Adults glance at their watches to check the time. Suddenly the lights begin to dim and the chatter softens and disappears. The air becomes clothed in darkness until a single spotlight shines on the curtains at the back of the stage. To the delight of the crowd, a hand reaches through them and the Ringmaster steps through the curtains. The crowd responds with applause. "Ladies and Gentlemen and children of all ages," he calls out as he proceeds to introduce the famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. After the amenities have been dispensed the eager audience is rewarded with all the thrills and surprises of "the Greatest Show on Earth".

We’ve all had to introduce someone to another person we know at some point in our lives. While our introductions may not be as spectacular as the one in the circus, they are just as important. Much like the Master of Ceremonies who introduces a key-note speaker by listing their credentials, or the Ringmaster who extols the daring feats of the acts you are about to see in the circus, the Book of Matthew serves as an introduction to the one whom the prophets have been promising would come, the Messiah. Matthew does this by quoting the Old Testament 50 times and alluding to it 70 more times as he presents Jesus, first through His genealogy (Mt. 1:1-17), and then through the events of His life, death, and resurrection as well as the things He taught and did. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart divide the book in this way: Prologue (1:1-2:23); Introduction (3:1-4:11); Proclamation (4:12-7:29); Power and Mission (8:1-10:42); Questioning and Opposition (11:1-13:52); Opposition Continues (13:53-18:35) and Confession (16:13-20); Jerusalem Receives and Rejects Her King (19:1-25:46); and Jesus, the Messianic King, is Tried, Crucified and Raised from the Dead (26:1-28:20).

Matthew does not present Jesus’ story in a strictly chronological fashion as we are prone to do when we retell events nowadays, rather he groups the important information about Jesus topically. As you read through Matthew’s account you will find such literary highlights as The Sermon on the Mount which emphasizes that ethics go beyond the Law and into the heart (Mt. 5-7), Jesus’ use of parables in His teachings (Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23, 24-30, 31-32, 33-35, 36-43, 44, 45-46, 47-52; 18:23-35; 20:1-15; 21:28-31, 33-41, 42-45; 22:1-14; 25:1-13, 14-30), frequent references to the Kingdom of Heaven and what it means to be a citizen/disciple in that kingdom (Mt. 7:14 in association with Lev. 19:18; Mt. 16:24-27), the Olivet Discourse where Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure and return (Mt. 24), and the decisive moment where the disciples confess their belief that Jesus is the Messiah (Mt. 16:13-20).

One of the most striking features of Matthew’s Gospel is his frequent use of the formula, "this was to fulfill that which was spoken through the prophet…" signifying that every event in Jesus’ life happens according to God’s specific will- even the Cross. The evidence of Scriptural fulfillment throughout Jesus’ life is quite impressive (Mt. 1:22-23/Is. 7:14; Mt. 2:5-6/Mic. 5:2; Mt. 2:15/Hos. 1:1; Mt. 2:17-18/Jer. 31:15; Mt. 2:23/Is. 11:1; Mt. 3:3/Is. 40:3; Mt. 4:14-16/Is. 9:1-2; Mt. 8:17/Is. 53:4; Mt. 11:10/Mal. 3:1; Mt. 12:17-21/Is. 42:1-4; Mt. 13:14-15/Is. 6:9-10; Mt. 13:35/Ps. 78:2-3; Mt. 15:7-9/Is. 29:13; Mt. 21:4-5/Is. 62:11 and Zech. 11:12-13; Mt. 27:9-10). This aspect of His life and ministry stands as a testimony to the certainty that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Jesus also quoted Scripture in reference to Himself (for example: Mt. 4:1-11; 5:21-43; 11:20-24; 15:1-9; 19:1-22; 24:25-30; 26:30-31; 27:45-50) as His own proof concerning this Divine mission and role. A final literary piece of icing on the cake is Matthew’s inclusio, a literary device which serves as a set of bookends surrounding the bulk of what is written about a person, topic, or event. In Matthew’s Gospel the inclusio is found in Mt. 1:23 and Mt. 28:20. Both verses contain a statement about God’s presence. Matthew is saying in an artistic and poetic way, "The Messiah has come. He is God with us. And here are all the things that prove it."

Many years ago a friend shared his unique story of faith with me and I have never forgotten it. As a Jewish man he considered the "Christian Bible" to be riddled with fairy tales and false information about God. He was certain it was skewed. But someone challenged him about his perception of the Bible, and the New Testament saying, "How do you know this is true? Have you ever read the New Testament?  You should read through the book of Matthew and then tell me what you think." So to prove this person wrong he began to read Matthew. It turned out to be a powerful introduction to the promised Messiah and his life was never the same after that. You and I have been sent on a mission to introduce people to the Messiah (Mt. 28:19-20). Whether we direct them to read the Bible or share our own encounter with Jesus, we are the ones who are in charge of the introduction, so let’s take our inspiration from Matthew and get to it!

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

Week of 8/23/2015

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Malachi: living expectantly

8/14/2015

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Politics has always been a heated topic in the United States. This year there is a plethora of candidates and presidential hopefuls in one particular party. Last week those candidates had their chance to speak their piece in a televised debate and while I hadn’t intended to watch it, Jeff was interested to see how it turned out. So I ended up listening to it by default. While it appears the "experts" say there was no clear "winner", I on the other hand had a different opinion about who did well and who did not. At one point I said to Jeff, "If I hear one more candidate declare, "I’m the only one on this platform who… (fill in the blank)", I’m going to scream!" I wanted to quote Dragnet and say, "Just the facts sir! Just the facts", in response to all the self aggrandizement by the candidates who were compelled to repeat that phrase over and over again!

Political candidates are expected to address the issues of the day and offer a clear cut path which will resolve the immediate situation or be the basis of a once and for all solution in the future. Whether or not they follow through on those promised actions and beliefs seems to be a secondary aspect of what they have to say. As long as they’ve said it, they lay claim to it. This was not the case with the prophets of ancient Biblical times. There were strict guidelines to every aspect of prophecy starting with the character of the prophet all the way to the result of the words he spoke (or she spoke in a few cases: Miriam- Ex. 15:20, Deborah- Jud.4:4, Huldah- 2 Ki. 22:14). The prophets who truly spoke God’s words were to be listened to (Dt. 18:14-22, 34:10) because it was evident that the Lord’s Spirit was at work in that person for a special service to Israel (Num. 11:25-30).

The predominant opposition that any prophet battled was the test of whether or not their words were actually true. Many of them spoke of both judgment and blessing in times when false prophets were pronouncing only "good news". This caused the people to reject the Lord’s prophets. Knowing the fickleness of human nature, these false prophets were quite popular because their messages offered the people a false sense of security and the promise of an easy life. In order to prove a prophet’s authenticity, the Lord often gave them discernment concerning things that would happen in a relatively close time frame and things that would happen much later. When a prophet’s words came true, it should have given the people the wherewithal to sit up and take notice. Sadly, history bears out that they did not. (Of course we are never like that!)

Malachi is the last prophet to speak out for the Lord in the Old Testament. There is really nothing known about the man whose name means "My Messenger" and most scholars date his ministry somewhere between 465 and 430 B. C. That might be frustrating to us in this day and age where every minute detail in our information is exposed, but I believe this is to direct us to "hear" Malachi’s message which is more important than the messenger who brought it. Perhaps the greatest shock to us is that 400 years passed between Malachi’s final prophesy (Mal. 4:4-6) and its New Testament fulfillment (Mt. 3:1-12, 11:1-15; Lk. 1:12-17). That is a LONG WAIT for a culture that is geared to instant gratification! How did those successive generations deal with the years Malachi’s prophecy seemed to go unfulfilled? They lived with a certain expectation that at some point in time, God would fulfill it. And some were blessed to recognize it when it did (Lk. 2:22-32).

Malachi’s hope-filled promises (Mal. 3:1 with 4:4-6) and the time that passed between them and their fulfillment should be reassuring to us that similar promises made by Jesus are most certainly to come true (Jn. 14:1-3, 18; Ac. 1:6-11). How much time will pass between the Lord’s promise to return and its fulfillment which was described by Paul in 1 Cor. 15:52 and 1 Thes. 4:14-17? No one knows, although many like to predict it! Scripture tells us that the Lord’s return will be a complete surprise (Mt. 24:36-44; 1 Thes. 5:2-3). How will we live in the meantime (1 Cor. 9:24-27)? Will we give up hope or will we live each day with the expectation that His return is just about to happen (Mt. 25:13-30; 2 Pet. 3:8-13)? God’s Word tells us over and over again to be alert and be prepared (Mt. 25:1-13; Lk. 12:40, 21:36; Rom. 13:11-14; 1 Thes. 5:6; 1 Tim. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:13; 1 Jn. 4:1). But I confess that sometimes this lengthy wait makes me lazy. I forget God’s timing is not the same as mine. Malachi challenges me to renew my sense of expectation because unlike the politicians who are vying for the White House, when the Lord makes a promise, He intends to keep it (Is. 55:8-11; 1 Thes. 5:24).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
Week of 8/9/2015 

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The lord remembers

8/7/2015

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 A few weeks ago my husband got it in his mind that we should track down a mechanic that used to work on our car. Jeff thought he might remember where he was working now. Not only that he’d also done work on our car from his home, and we thought we might be able to find that too. Relying on my memory as far as street names go is not always successful, but in general if I’ve driven to a place once or twice, I can often recall how to get there. Such was the case with his house, which we did manage to find but it was empty. We were not so successful in finding the shop (which only Jeff had been to). So all in all our memory only served to be partially useful. But the experience underscored to me how significant remembering is no matter how useful it turns out to be.

Zechariah’s ministry began towards the end of Haggai’s in the year 520 B. C. The son of a priest and descendant of one of the original group of Jews who returned from the exile (Neh. 12:4, 16; Zech. 1:1) Zechariah was both a man of the spoken word and visions. His message agreed with Haggai’s. It was time to complete the Temple whose reconstruction had been initially met with enthusiasm, but after 18 years had only its foundation to show for all the effort while the Israelite homes surrounding it were complete and functional. Haggai, now in his golden years was a powerful speaker and motivator. His young contemporary possessed the same qualities and they made a great team, much like the Dynamic Duo of cartoon fame Batman and Robin.

The book contains four messages, the second being the most fascinating as it is comprised of eight visions. The first message is a call to repentance (1:1-6). The second, with its eight visions can be divided as follows: 1:7-17 (horsemen among myrtle); 1:18-21 (four horns and craftsmen); 2:1-13 (a man with a measuring rod); 3:1-10 (the cleansing of the high priest Joshua); 4:1-14 (the golden lampstand); 5:1-4 (the flying scroll); 5:5-11 (the woman in the ephah); and 6:1-8 with 6:9-15 (four chariots of divine judgment and the symbolic crowning of Joshua). The third message appears in 7:1-8:23 and covers the topics of fasting and the far future. The final message (9:1-14:21) is delivered after the Temple has been rebuilt and is divided into two prophecies. The first prophecy addresses the overthrow of worldly kingdoms and Israel’s deliverance (9:1-10:12), and two shepherds (11:1-17). The second prophecy concerns Israel’s victory over worldly kingdoms (12:1-13:6) and the final victory of the Messiah-King (13:7-14:21).

While much can be said about the continued themes of repentance and a call to obedience that Zechariah speaks forth like Isaiah, Daniel and all the other prophets have done before him, what struck me at this time is the significance of Zechariah’s name and the certain outcome of his prophecies. His name means, "The Lord Remembers" and it bears on all aspects of Israel’s history (and all history for that matter). The Lord remembers the promises He has made in the past (Gen. 3:15; 12:1-3; 49:8-10; Ex. 12:1-14; 2 Sam. 7:1-17; Is. 53; Ezk. 37:1-14; Mic. 5:2-5 and more!).  He is fulfilling some of those promises in the "post-exilic" period ( Ezr. 3).  And if this is so, then He will remember and fulfill the things that have yet to be (Zech. 12). The people are also exhorted to remember. They are to remember God’s commands and to obey them; not just through outward ritual, but with a proper inward attitude as well (Zech. 7). They are to remember their commitment to rebuild God’s House and they are to remember that as God has fulfilled both promises of blessing and chastisement before, so He will fulfill them again (Hag.1:8; Zech. 1:16). And as icing on the prophetic cake (so to speak!), each vision serves to remind the people in a pictorial way the sum total of all the things God will remember or has remembered.  Therefore it is imperative that the people do their own part in remembering (Zech. 1:3-6).

I am a person who loves to remember. My house is full of pictures, scrapbooks, and cherished mementos. My husband often teases me by saying that no matter what you pick up in my house there is a story behind it which I am happy to tell!  But Zechariah’s "remembering" is not like that.  It is more like our attempt to recall the directions to the mechanic's house but with much better results (Zech. 14). Zechariah encourages me to remember that God remembers! Although I am focused on directions, He is concerned with the destiny of His people.  And while the world seems to be on the brink of disaster these days with an even more ominous outcome, God will not forget His people (Rom. 11:1-27) and He will not forget me (Mt. 7:7-11; Jn. 10:11, 14-15; 1 Cor. 15:50-58).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
Week of 8/9/2015

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    Faith & Seeing

    Ready for the Road Ahead began as a bulletin insert in 2010 and has since grown into a weekly on-line Bible lesson.  I love to teach and have taught in both church and school settings.  I hope these articles will both encourage and equip you as you follow Christ.

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