Michael's Corner

     For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade.  In the procession came trumpeters, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments.  The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him.  Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses.  A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: All glory is fleeting.

- Gen. George S. Patton

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.  ~ Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 27 has long been a favorite Passage of mine.  I can remember when I first “found” it in 1978.  The language intrigued me.  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (:6) and “Open rebuke is better than hidden love” (:5).  These principles were profound!  I still find them so.

Friendship, true friendship, comes with a high calling and price.  When Jesus called us friends (John 15:15), He did so laying down His life for us.  Our friendship taxes us.  We are called to sharpen one another, sometimes wounding each other.  The world often operates from the standpoint of flattery, of supporting the other no matter what he does.  Christian friends care more for each other.  Our main goal is that we be in Heaven together.  Sometimes that means our iron needs a little sharpening!

“Oh Jesus, He gave her water, you know my Jesus gave her water…”  Thus begins the spiritual taken from John 4.  In the past two posts we considered several object lessons contained within this Passage.  It has rightly been used as a model for teaching.  Let us cite just three more.

True worshippers must worship in spirit and in Truth, Jesus told the woman (:23-24).  She was caught up in the traditions of her Samaritan forefathers (see :20, etc.)  Jesus pointed out to her, though, that what is important is to have the Truth and obey it from the heart.  Neither is sufficient alone.  Should one have the Truth but his worship not involve his spirit (that is, to sincerely mean it and feel it from the heart), then his worship is unacceptable.  Likewise, no matter how sincerely or enthusiastically offered, if one does not have the Truth, his worship is equally unacceptable.

Jesus subsequently taught his disciples the very important lesson of recognizing the
harvest that is available in the world.  The Samaritan woman went into the city and persuaded her fellow townspeople to come out to hear Jesus.  Given the common dress of the day, they likely resembled a ripened field of wheat ready for harvest as they marched out to meet Him.  Regardless, the lesson is clear.  We may not always recognize the potential harvest but it is there if we are willing, like Jesus, to reach out to any with
whom we come in contact.

Jesus remained in Samaria for a couple more days.  The Samaritans initially came to Him because of what the woman told them.  They listened to His teaching, however, and
proclaimed: Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world (Verse 42).  The “living water” depends upon one’s personal belief in Jesus and His Word.  We must teach others to turn to Him when they thirst and He will give them that “living, lasting water.”

“Oh Jesus, He gave her water, you know my Jesus gave her water…”  Thus begins the spiritual taken from John 4.  In part 1 we considered several object lessons contained within this Passage.  There are many; and, It has rightly been used as a model for teaching.  Let us cite a couple more.

Jesus was also willing to freely give the Samaritan woman this gift.  He told the woman, “If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (Verse 10).

While Jesus’ gift is freely given to whomever asks (Verse 10); it is, nevertheless, given without compromise.  Many believe Jesus’ gift of eternal life will be given regardless of their religious position.  However, note that the Samaritan woman raised her “religious differences” with Jesus – pitting the Samaritan religion against Jesus’ own Jewish position (see Verses 12 and 20).  Jesus was uncompromising with the Truth.  “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews” (Verse 22, NKJV).  There is only one Truth; one Faith (John 14:6; Ephesians 4:5).  Whether or not the popular sentiment is to embrace “all religions,” we are to realize there is just one way.

It is a fairly common response for someone to raise some particular “hard doctrine” or
“controversial issue.”  We, in turn, are expected to compromise, to have “tolerance,” or to accept their practice.  However, Jesus was uncompromising with respect to this.  The woman had a problem – she had had several husbands – so she told Jesus “I have no husband” (Verse 17).  Jesus dealt with her problem honestly and directly.  He did not try to make an excuse or rationalization to allow her to be with the man she was with currently.  He was straightforward with her (see Verses 17-18).  She could not stay in her current situation and be right with the Lord.  She could not have “the water that was not from the well” if she simply remained in her current sinful situation.  We want to share Jesus’ gift with as many as will receive it, but we must be as uncompromising as He was.

(to be continued)

“Oh Jesus, He gave her water, you know my Jesus gave her water…”  Thus begins a spiritual taken from John 4 (you may find this song by Acappella on this site).

Of course this Passage tells the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.  There are many object lessons contained within the Passage and it has rightly been used as a model for teaching others.  Let us cite a couple of those.

First, Jesus was tired!  We don’t often picture Him in this way, but being human, He was tired, likely hot, and thirsty.  Verse 6 tells us that Jesus sat down in the heat of the day (noon) being “wearied from His journey.”  Still He had time and energy for this woman!

What’s more, he had time for a Samaritan woman!  We can clearly see from the woman’s exclamation that normally the Jews had no dealings with them (Verse 9).  To the Jew the Samaritans were “unclean” so they had nothing to do with them.  What they had was rank prejudice and there is no place for that among God’s people.  Who is unclean to us?  Look at who some of the converts in Corinth were – fornicators, transvestites, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, extortionists, etc.  Paul did not uphold their sin but he certainly was willing to reach out to those who were ready to change.  We cannot win the few who will repent (who really want to change) by shunning them all.

Too, Jesus “gave her water and it was not from the well” like the song says.  Jesus has the “living water” and this is the answer the world needs.  “Such were some of you,” Paul said to those Christians in Corinth, “but you are washed!”  What a refreshing thought that is to someone who has been unclean.

(to be continued)

…taxes and allergies!  Both came as surely as the seasons change last week.

As for the taxes, the forms are filled out and entrusted in the hands of that other branch of government who delivers in rain, snow…  It is always great relief to me to place it in their hands!  (Obviously, this is not a time I particularly look forward to each year)

Nor, of course, do I look forward to my seasonal allergies.  I seem to be fortunate each year to make it through the long winter without a problem – no colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.  For me, it’s the allergies once everything begins to bloom and everyone wants to be outside enjoying the beautiful weather!  This year it came suddenly, unexpectedly, and with dreaded reality.  I walked outside on a beautiful day last week and stopped to breathe in the beauty of the Spring day, mindlessly sifting through my mail that had come that morning.  I then proceeded to get in the car and head toward Montclair, sneezing my head off literally the whole way!  (Well, literally sneezing the whole way, I still have my head)

Truly, some few things in life are certain.  What is most certain is the return of Jesus some day.  On that day we will rise to meet Him in the air.  There we will stand before Him in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10).  The Christian does not need to fear this day.  For the Christian, it is a day to anticipate with great excitement – we are going to Heaven to see our Father in all His majesty!  It will be something of inexplicable wonder to behold!  If you are not a Christian, it is a day of pure dread.  Yet, it need not be.  Our God is a consuming fire, but He is a loving and forgiving God.  We may come to Him and be forgiven by Him, ready for that day – and, that is equally certain!

PS Death isn’t certain; some of us will still be alive to see Jesus coming in all His glory on that day! (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Regarded as one of the most “holy days” of the year by millions around the world, they
call it Easter. Attendant ceremonies have been observed during the past week, ranging from the simple to the elaborate, culminating in observances today commemorating the resurrection of Jesus.

Easter is not a “holy day” enjoined in Scripture. Nor is, for that matter, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc. That certainly does not mean God would have us forget Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on that Sunday when they put palm branches in His path to honor Him; nor the following Friday when they screamed for Him to be nailed to the cross.  Nor would God have us ignore all of the events of that Thursday leading up to His crucifixion – the washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, His betrayal, arrest, etc. Likewise, God would have us never
forget the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on that second Sunday, the third
day after His crucifixion.  No, God would have us to properly remember it today,
and every Sunday.

Jesus has told us specifically how He wishes to be remembered, leaving for us the exact “ceremonies” to do so. Each Sunday we meet to worship Him; we submit prayers to the Father through Him; we sing songs in His honor; we make contributions to His cause; and, specifically, we commemorate His resurrected body and His blood in the Lord’s supper He instituted.

Many call today Easter; we call it simply the Lord’s Day. Many will meet for special services which they do once per year; we meet for worship every Sunday.

In many respects, Saturday is a day of waiting by those who celebrate it.  Meditation, together with prayer and fasting, often accompany the solemn Vigil held Saturday evening in anticipation of Easter morning’s resurrection and all its jubilance.

We remember Saturday as a sad day for the disciples.  They waited; they doubted.  Their Lord had told them on different occasions He would rise the third day, but they just couldn’t believe it.  His enemies, on the other hand, worried.  They demanded extra guards to prevent the disciples robbing the tomb of its body (the idea being they could later claim a resurrection).  The women mourned and anxiously awaited the earliest opportunity (Sunday morning, 6 AM) to complete the annointing of His body.  One wonders how many individuals really were anticipating His resurrection.

It does us good to remember how one’s faith can be tested.  Sometimes, regardless of events and circumstances, we just need to remember what Jesus said!

Good Friday is celebrated by many religious groups to especially remember the events of the crucifixion of Christ.  Various rites signify the events.  Some observe a day of fasting or other acts of solemnity, black clothing, etc.; the day, again, focuses on the death of Jesus.  Many venerate the cross, and there is special attention given to prayer, eulogy, and such like, with little to no singing or joyous worship.

Christians indeed remember the events of this Friday.  Our Lord gave His life for us on this day.  The events surrounding His death were horrible.  Not only was He brutally mistreated, He was miserably disrespected.  Knowing what was about to happen brought Him extreme agony the night before to the extent that He prayed to forego it.  Yet, we also admire Him for the resolve to go through with it, having the ability to call ten thousand angels had He wanted.  There is no greater love than for one to lay down his life for his friends – and, He has called us friends.  We love Him because He first loved us and did this for us.  Surely we want to remember the events of this day!

Maundy is from the Old French mandé (“something commanded”), from Latin mandatum (“commandment,” which reflects the words of Christ: Mandātum novum dō vōbīs (“A new commandment I give unto you”).  It is a reference, of course, to the statement made by Christ near the end of what is called “the last supper” (John 13:34).  Various practices commemorate the events of the Thursday evening before the crucifixion.  Some practice washing the feet of poor people; while others celebrate a special “Mass of the Lord’s Supper,” remembering the last supper and institution of the Lord’s Supper which took place that evening.

We likewise remember this day.  It began with the Lord sending His disciples to make provision to observe the Passover and first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  He entered the upper room and began to teach them by example many lessons we need to learn.  He taught them humility by washing their feet.  He taught them remembrance of His death when He instituted the Lord’s Supper.  He taught them restraint in the presence of a traitor; gentleness in the ear of their boastings; reserve in the announcement of their desertion; bravery in the face of foreboding danger.  Most of all, however, He taught them love – real love, the love that makes the supreme sacrifice for one’s friends.  It is good for us to remember this day; not because it is a “Holy Day” which God has given us commandment to remember, but for the lessons our Lord taught us in it.