Every now and then my research on topics presented in Ready for the Road Ahead will lead me down an interesting path.  This week would be a good case in point as I was on a quest to find a modern day equivalent to the word “apostle”.   My thought was that a company who hires a spokesperson in essence is using that person as an apostle.  This led to some reading on “Six Things to Consider When Hiring a Spokesperson”, “Seven Characteristics of a Good Spokesperson”, “The Top 20 TV Spokespersons”, “The Most Recognizable TV Actors in Commercials” and “The Top 20 Spokesperson Disasters” in articles written by people in the advertising industry.  As usual the advice and the examples ran up and down the spectrum!  I’m sure you could name off a few examples of celebrity spokespersons- both positive and negative.  The bottom line is this: if you’re a company looking for someone to sing your praises, you’d better choose wisely.  Your sales depend on it!
            The word apostle means “one who is sent”.  We often think that only the first twelve disciples were referred to as apostles.  But in Hebrews 3:1-4 Christ is also called an apostle.  Here it refers to the fact that God the Father gave Jesus the message of reconciliation and sent Him to the world to proclaim it (Jn. 1:17; 3:16-17; Gal. 4:4).  Just like Moses who acted as a mediator when God delivered Israel from slavery (Gen. 3:10-14; 5:1-2, etc.), God’s Son did the same when He delivered people from the bondage of sin (2 Cor. 1:9-10; Heb. 3:2-3; 8:1-6; 7:22-28).  Christ was faithful to His calling.  He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins so that we could be reconciled to God the Father.  He fulfilled His priestly duties and now receives glory and honor from God above.
By New Testament times, the word apostle came to mean an envoy, one sent on a mission as the personal representative of the one sending him.  The word was used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) for messengers who were sent by God and who spoke with His authority.  In the New Testament the word can be both a title and a description.  Jesus appointed His disciples to be His messengers (Mk. 6: 7-13; Lk. 10:1-24, 47-48; Ac. 1:8).  Although Scripture passages mostly apply this word to Jesus’ twelve original disciples, Paul (1 Cor. 15:9) and other New Testament missionaries (Eph. 4: 11-12) were also called “apostles” (Barnabas- Ac.14:14; Andronicus and Junias- Rom. 16:7).  These believers understood Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” (Mt. 28:18-20) as well as to be His witnesses (Acts 1:6-8).  As representatives of Jesus they took His message of reconciliation with His authority to the far reaches of the Roman Empire (ex. 1 Thes. 1:1-8).
While Hebrews 3:1-4 ascribes the role and title of apostle to Jesus, it names Him as High Priest too.  One might think these two roles are separate and distinctive, but other passages (previously mentioned here) indicate that the High Priest acted as a mediator between God and Israel through the means of the sacrificial system (Dt. 33:8-10).  The High Priest’s duties were most visible during the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16; 23:26-32; Num. 29:7-11).  On that day the High Priest was responsible to represent the people before God in the Holy of Holies and then relaying God’s acceptance and His “covering” of their sin to the people.  In that way the High Priest had a role as messenger.  He brought the message of God’s forgiveness to the people much like the apostles of the New Testament brought the message of God’s grace to those who heard the Gospel.
            There is no longer a need for a High Priest as Jesus fulfilled that role completely (Heb. 4:14-16; 5:1-10; 7:1-8:13; 9:1-7, 11-14, 24-26; 10:10-14).  But there is still a need for apostles.  “Are there apostles today?” you ask?  Of course!  Every believer represents Jesus.  We may not travel to a foreign country as a missionary does, but each one of us carries the message of reconciliation to the world we live in (2 Cor. 5:18-20).  Like the 12 apostles before us, Jesus has commissioned us to carry this message wherever we go.  Where has God sent you to be His representative?  Is it at your job, in your school, in your home?  Wherever you may be, as Christ’s disciple, you are also His “sent one” (Col. 4:5-6; 2 Tim. 2:24-26, 4:1-2; Heb. 13:7; 1 Pet. 3:15).  There is a world out there that is hungry for some Good News and you’re the one who has it!  You do not need to be a Bible scholar or skillful in debate techniques to do this.  Being an apostle simply means being willing to testify to what Jesus has done in your life.  Being a witness is giving an account for what you have seen Him do.  You’ve been “hired” as a spokesperson; it’s time to share the message!
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.                                                                                                     
Week of 10/2/2016

            The year was 1994, the date, July 5th.  It was hot and the atmosphere around Giants Stadium was filled with excitement.  Game 44 of the World Cup was about to be played between Mexico and Bulgaria and nationalism was on display everywhere.  Fans of all nationalities wandered around a roped off area of the parking lot enjoying food and pre-game festivities.  My son Christopher and I were walking about sporting our USA and World Cup T-shirts taking it all in.  If you’ve never been to an international soccer game it may be hard to imagine the colors, sounds and exuberance of the fans but it is a sight to behold.  It’s similar to some of the dedication one can see in the NFL, but kicked up about 50 degrees!  And then there are the flags.  Before the game they are proudly paraded around the stadium; during the game they are waved across the sea of humanity like clouds blowing across the sky on a sunny day.  Those flags are an important show of not only team loyalty but pride for the country which the team represents.
            I’m not sure when family crests became as important as they were in medieval times.  Each family, nation or realm had its own army and these crests were emblazoned with the family colors and coat of arms.  As armies marched across the land they carried banners and flags proudly bearing these logos.  Family mottos were also included and these served as inspiration to soldiers and servants alike.  Tracing one’s genealogy has made family crests popular again and garden flags have become a modern version of what the ancient banners used to do.  Whether you are a medieval soldier marching into battle on behalf of your king or a fan of the local football team, banners display who you esteem and where your loyalties lie.
            Banners were in use during Biblical times as well.  In Exodus 17, after a significant victory over the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8-15), Moses builds and altar to worship the Lord and names it “Yahweh Nissi” (The Lord is My Banner).  It is important to understand the context of this name in relation to the passage.  According to the NIV Archaeological Study Bible, the Amalekites remain an obscure people group because their only record of existence is in the Bible.  They were noted as descendants of Esau (Gen. 36:12) and called “the first among nations” by the seer Balaam (Nu. 24:20) because of the vast expanse of their geographical range (The Valley of Jezreel to the Arabah of Arabia) and most likely were nomadic.  During Gideon’s day they raided Israelite villages (Jdg. 6:33) and Saul’s act of sparing an Amalekite king led to his downfall (1 Sam. 15:8-9).  Their harsh treatment of Israel aroused God’s judgment on them and He vowed that “the memory of Amalekites would be blotted out from under heaven” (Ex. 17:14).  Without any other record of their existence except the Biblical account it appears God did exactly what He said He would do!
            Some have a hard time reconciling the modern perception of war with the wars of the Old Testament.  In the grander scheme of Biblical history war, and God’s involvement in it, served as both an instrument of judgment upon nations who stood against Israel (Dt. 7:1,2,16; 20:16-17) and as a form of discipline upon the nation when they strayed from Him (Is. 63:10; Jer. 21:1-10; Amos 3:14-15; Hab. 1:5-12).   One scholar noted, “The wars of survival and expansion illustrate another aspect of God’s involvement in Israel’s wars.  God promised to do battle for His people, but only when Israel was faithful to Him (Ex. 14:14; Dt. 1:30; 3:22; Neh. 4:20).”  When victorious the psalms proclaimed the reason for the victory (Ps. 118:10-14; Ps. 124:1-3).  One can easily see then how Moses would recognize that the victory over the Amalekites was due to God’s hand in the manner and he illustrated this by naming the altar after the One who went before them into battle, just as banner of heraldry was carried in front of a medieval army.
            There are many times in the New Testament where the walk of faith is likened to a battle.  Paul often uses images of warfare to encourage believers to be as disciplined as a soldier who is preparing for battle (Eph. 6:10-20; 2 Tim. 2:3-4).  But unlike the wars which rage between nations and men, the believer fights a battle of a spiritual nature (Rom. 7:23-25; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:11).  On more than one occasion Paul exhorted Timothy to “fight the good fight” (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12) and confessed that he had done the same (2 Tim. 4:7).  And while it may seem to be an overwhelming task, the believer has a Banner that has gone before him/her and came through the fray victorious (1 Cor. 15:50-58; 1 Jn. 5:4)!  What battles do you face today?  How has the Lord become your banner?  In what ways do you display a banner of faith to inspire and encourage others who face similar battles?  Turn the outcome over to the Lord in prayer this week.  Remember, the battle is the Lord’s (1 Sam. 17:47) and it is by His Spirit and through His Son that you will be victorious (Zech. 4:6).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.  
Week of 9/25/2016

            Tekel’s curled and aged fingers hovered over the chiseled weights.  His eyes furtively glanced at the unsuspecting customer.  Jaddai the merchant had promised him a tenth of the sale so the heavier the weight, the more the customer would pay and the more spoils for Tekel!  He placed the faulty measure on the scale and curtly demanded the price.  The customer, desperate to buy supplies for his family, handed over the goods he had brought to trade and sadly shuffled away with his exchange.  Tekel grinned with pride.  He’d done it again!  But that night as he reclined at his comfortable table, something gripped his heart and by morning when Jaddai came with another pay-off, he found Tekel still grasping at his cloak but no longer in this world.   Did that Holy and Righteous One that Jeremiah was always talking about actually hold Tekel accountable for his business dealings?  Would He do the same to Jaddai?  The thought was a sobering one.
            The significance of the Righteous Branch of Jeremiah 23:5-6 concerns the differences between the leadership of King Zedekiah and King Messiah.  Zedekiah, Judah’s last king, who reigned at the end of Jeremiah’s ministry, was an ineffective, oppressive, idolatrous and unrighteous king.  During his reign Jeremiah and other prophets like him condemned the entire nation (both leaders and common folk) for their illegal and illicit business practices, unrepentant hearts and immoral behavior.  In contrast to this depraved human condition stands The Branch.  Where Zedekiah was unjust and foolish, The Branch is wise and acts justly (Jer. 23:5).  Where Zedekiah’s leadership is marked by unrighteousness, The Branch bears the name “Yahweh Tsidekenu” (Yah-way Tidz-kay-knew) meaning “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:6).  And where Zedekiah’s reign would ultimately end in disgrace (2 Ki. 25:1-7; Jer. 52:1-9), The Righteous Branch would reign forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13; Is. 11:1-10; Jer. 33:14-18).
            Two unique pictures are combined in this passage to depict the Righteous Branch.  The first comes out of nature.  The netzor (branch) was a sprout or shoot which grew out of a trunk or up from the ground on a tree or bush that appeared to be dead.  Whether it was trimmed or chopped, the plant showed no sign of life or promise that it would return.  Yet at the next growing season a lovely green sprout is produced showing promise that the plant would revive and thrive again.  Isaiah 53:2 speaks of this imagery too, proclaiming that the Lord’s Servant would grow up like a tender shoot out of dry land.
            The second image comes from the world of business.  Weights and measures were extremely important in the ancient world where business was conducted by bartering rather than the exchange of currency.  Unethical practices (such as the one our fictional Tekel conducted) were explicitly forbidden (Lev. 19:35-36; Mic. 6:9-12).  The Lord was concerned that everyone get their fair share (Prov. 20:10) but as is common in human nature the art of cheating had reached an all-time high during Zedekiah’s reign.  Unlike Israel’s kings who fell short of the Lord’s measurements, The Branch is a faithful and accurate leader, both in His personal character, and in His ability to govern the people (v.5).
            The New Testament writers recognized that Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecy of the Jeremiah 23:5-6.  They noted His lineage came through David (Mt. 1:1-17; Lk. 3:23-38; Heb. 7:14), so He had the legal claim to David’s throne.  And while it appeared that Jesus’ death on the cross had cut Him off with no sign of life, His Resurrection proved otherwise (Mt. 28:1-7).  Like the netzor, Jesus sprang to life.
            Zedekiah was a king filled with many flaws, but Jesus fully embodied Yahweh Tsidekenu.  Where the people, both great and small, had altered and deceived with their weights and measures Jesus the Branch judges fairly and righteously (Jn. 8:16).  Zedekiah oppressed the poor and preyed upon the innocent.  Jesus as “The Lord Our Righteousness” lifts up the lowly and meek, champions the poor, innocent and abused and collects the scattered (Is. 61:1-3; Mt. 9:35-36; 11:28-29; 15:29-31; Mk. 6:34; Lk. 4:16-21; 7:21-23).
            There are many institutions in society today where we feel we are not represented, heard or even cared about.  We understand from experience that they are as sin-ridden and flawed as the king in Jeremiah’s day.  That is why it is imperative that we go to the Righteous Branch to plead our cause first (Mt. 7: 7-10; 11: 28-29; Lk. 11:9-13).  He will oversee any justice we deserve, or give us grace to hold up under the pressure of an unrighteous situation (Lk. 18:1-8).  Truthfully speaking we do not really have the power to fix anything in our lives although the ads we see on TV each day may give us that impression.  This lawyer will solve that problem.  This procedure will repair whatever’s wrong with you.  But those things never fix what hurts on the inside.  And they never balance out the injustice we see all around us.  Only the Righteous Branch can put things right (Jer. 33:14-18) and only He can save us (Acts 4:8-12).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.                                                                                              
Week of 9/18/2016

            Many photographers love to play with reflection shots.  You’ve seen them I’m sure- the ones where you have to take a second look to figure out if the subject is real or if it’s not.  Reflections can really play tricks on your eyes and in some cases a reflection has caused someone or something to make a critical mistake.  Take our feathered friends for example.  If you have a window that reflects the trees and skies, you’ve probably had a bird or two mistake it for the real thing.  (Did you know that just by putting a little yellow highlighter on your window you can help the birds to “see” the reflection is not real?  You’ll need to do that about every 3 months, but according to my friends at the wildlife rescue center it works!).
            On a different note (but I promise to tie the two together at the end!), my friends below the equator are eagerly waiting for the warmer days of Spring and Summer, while I am dreading the cold of winter.  Our desires (or dread) will be rewarded shortly but imagine what it must have been like to be an ancient Israelite who knew of Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 4:5-6) but knew that Malachi’s ministry had taken place 400 years earlier.  Over the course of those four centuries your land has been governed by a succession of appointed leaders from super powers such as Greece and Persia.  Now you are under the authority of the Romans who, in order to keep the empire peaceful, rule with an iron fist.  Do you think you would lose hope?  It appears that some had, but many had not, for when John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, he immediately draws a crowd and the people recognize him as a prophet.
            The essence of the role of a Biblical prophet is not to predict the future, but to speak forth the Word of God.  John’s message was in line with the great prophets of the Scriptures.  The prophet served as the contemporary voice of God to his generation.  As the voice of God, the prophet pointed out religious and social sins and called for repentance.  The first chapter of the Gospel of John is not only a poetic masterpiece; it is also a dissertation on the individual roles of Jesus and John the Baptist.  It is interesting to note that all four Gospels make mention of John the Baptist which emphasizes the connection the writers saw between Malachi’s prophecy and John the Baptist’s ministry.  In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist is called a witness to the Light, but not the True Light.  That role belongs to Jesus and His title as the True Light not only signifies His authenticity, it underscores His eternal nature as well.
            John the Baptist’s message is a continuation of the great prophets before him.  Like them, he was called to his ministry by God (Is. 1:1-2; Jer. 1:1; Lk. 3:2; Jn. 1:6).   Like some of them, he preached in the Judean wilderness (Mt. 3:5; Mk. 1:5; Lk. 3:3).  He had the same wardrobe and the same diet (2 Ki. 1:8; Zech. 13:4; Mt. 3:4; Mk. 1:6) and resembled Elijah in appearance.  Like his predecessors he warned his audience that judgment was on its way.  It was time to repent and turn back to God (1 Ki. 18:21; Mk. 1:4; Lk. 3:3).  The people also responded to John the Baptist as they had to Elijah (1 Ki. 18:38; Lk. 3:10).  However there was confusion as to his actual identity (Lk. 3:15) and role in prophecy.  Was he the forerunner of Malachi or the Messiah Himself?  Inquiring minds wanted to know.  It is with these questions in mind that John (the disciple) writes in his Gospel that although John the Baptist was sent by God, he was only sent to “bear witness of the light” (Jn. 1:7-8).  John the Baptist recognized that he was more like a reflection than the real thing (as we might say).  He told the people who were waiting for the Messiah and had come to him thinking John to be the fulfillment of that promise that he was not The One and pointed them to Jesus (Jn. 1:19-34).
            There is an amazing result when we listen to the witness of John the disciple and John the Baptist and accept that Jesus is the True Light.  When we are enlightened by the True Light, its everlasting nature brings us into a familial relationship with God the Father.  We are now His children, born not of a physical birth but a spiritual one and His light becomes a part of us (Jn. 1:12-13).  You may have been fooled by a reflection or two in your life, or you may be anticipating something special; these things fade away when compared to the True Light Who’s Spirit takes up residence in us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior (Ac. 2:3; 2 Tim. 1:14).  We no longer have to wait for Him as the ancient believers did- He lives in us (Gal. 2:20)!  Living in the light of the True Light has many benefits and most importantly in the relationships we have with one another and God (1 Jn. 1:5-7).  Are you basking in the True Light or are you chasing after a reflection?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div. 
Week of 9/11/2016

          When I was a little girl, my mother often sang a special song to me.  She loved the voice of Andy Williams and I remember a particular album (remember those!?) which she played a lot.  There was one particular song which had a line that said, “First born, the child in my arms is my first born”.  She would hug me and sing that line and I really did feel special because I knew I was her first born child.  In Colossians 1:13-23, Jesus is called “the first born of all creation” (v.15).  The Greek word in this passage which translates as “firt-born”, prototokos,  only appears six times in the New Testament, therefore, like my mother’s special song, this word has a special meaning. 
            In the New Testament it first appears in Luke to designate Jesus’ birth order within His family.  He was the firstborn of Mary, being that she had not had any children prior to His birth (Lk. 2:7). However, in the Colossians passage it is quite evident that prototokos is not referring to Christ’s physical birth because no mention is made of Mary or any other of His genealogical facts.  Rather, in the Colossians passage the meaning of first born is closely linked with the words which directly follow it “of creation” as well as the descriptive phrase which precedes it, “the image of the invisible God”.  The connection of these two phrases indicates to me that there is something in the person of Christ that not only equates Him with God the Father, but also in the activity of God Himself, that is, Creation.  This thought is continued further in verse 16 with the words “by Him all things were created” and “all things have been created by Him and for Him”.
            The idea of being the “image of God” begins in Genesis when man is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:25).  But Christ is the image of the “invisible” God (Col. 1:15).  Where man bears some of the characteristics of God (he has emotions and will; he too is able to create), Christ is more than that.  He is not created, as man is, He is the Creator.  In the broader context of the passage, Christ also takes part in activities solely preserved for God. He is a deliverer (Col. 1:13).  He forgives (vs.14).  He is the head of the church (vs.18).  He reconciles (vs.20-22).  Prototokos, with its attachment “of creation” then becomes a mini confession of Christ’s position in the God head, equating Him with God in the activity of Creation and identifying Him as the Divine (Col. 1:19; 2:9).  In verses 3 through 24, the title prototokos designates Christ as the Mediator of Creation and the Mediator of Mankind also.  The believer is then challenged through the words of Paul to acknowledge Christ for Who He is (vs.17-19 etc.) and what He has done on our behalf (vs.13, 20 etc.) and to remain steadfast in faith (vs.23).  For if we truly understand these truths according to Paul, we understand the “hope of the Gospel” (v.23).
            Within the framework of the book of Colossians, Col. 1:15 stands as a key verse in establishing the absolute supremacy and all-sufficiency of Christ.  The book also deals with the issue of what Christian living looks like.  Paul encourages the Colossians to consider that following Christ is not a matter-of –fact adherence to a set of rules and regulations but a result of the relationship the believer now shares with Christ.  Every believer has the potential to truly resemble his/her Creator (Col. 3:10) by putting off the old self nature and putting on the new (Col. 3:12-17) and as this process happens, the community of believers is affected as well (Col. 3:18-4:6). 
            Prototokos then is a word rich in meaning and implication.  But it can easily be skimmed over as a pretty saying about Jesus.  In the context of Colossians the person who does so misses the point, that Christ as first born of all Creation should reign supreme in the believer’s life for He is God, all-powerful, all-knowing and all-sufficient.  However, there are many things that fight for and sometimes even gain supremacy in our lives.  Things such as jobs, children, family issues, plans for the future, health, entertainment and the list goes on, can push their way past Christ and take precedence over Him.  Paul offers the Colossians (who struggled with the same issues) several important ways to stay strong in the faith.  The first is to set our minds on the things above (Col. 3:1); second: put to death what belongs to the earthly nature (Col. 3:5); third, let the peace of Christ rule in one’s heart (Col. 3:15); fourth: do all things in the name of Jesus (3:17); and lastly devote oneself to prayer (4:2).  How well are you doing with Paul’s checklist?  I encourage you to take whatever is demanding first place in your life right now and set it aside for one or more of Paul’s admonitions.  When you do, you will be amazed at how quickly everything else falls into place.   Put the First-Born of All Creation where He belongs in your life- First.
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.  
Week of 9/4/2016