Jun 27 2013
Jesus and the Sad-you-sees
Matthew 22:23-33
The Sadducees were the Jewish materialists of Jesus’ day. They rejected belief in life-after-death, resurrection, angels and other spirit beings (Acts 23:8). As far as they were concerned this was the only life there was and you needed to make the most of it. Knowing Jesus was the latest inform preacher drawing all the crowds they decided to challenge him in public with their latest argument which went like this: ‘Belief in resurrection contradicts Moses’ law which requires a man to marry the widow of his deceased brother. If a woman married two or more men, who would she belong to at the resurrection?’ This was obviously a challenging argument in those days, the Pharisees (who believed in resurrection) claimed the woman would belong to her first husband. But this was not very convincing, and I can see the Sadducees winking at each other in confidence while Jesus’ disciples looked at up at him in horror and dismay.
Materialists today often ask similar questions. A favourite goes like this: ‘If science can explain it, how can Christians say God did it?’ More
Jul 11 2013
The Eyes of Faith
“Do you have any gold crosses?” asked Janet. “Let me see” mumbled the shopkeeper as he peered down into his showcase through spectacles, “Hmm … would you like a plain one, or one with a little man on it?” Janet looked up horrified, “Little man? How could he call Jesus a little man?”
People who have faith in Jesus see him quite differently from those who don’t. They see him as God’s provision for humanity’s healing, wholeness, and salvation, while others see him as just another religious man.
On one occasion a woman who had suffered from continual bleeding for 12 years pushed her way through a crowd to get to Jesus (Mark 5:25-34). She thought “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Like Janet she did not see Jesus as a little man, she saw him as God’s provision for world salvation. And as she reached out and touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak with eyes of faith, God saw her in the crowd and responded with healing power. More