Yeshua (Jesus) knew that the disciples and the generations to come after them would face times of intense persecution.  We know that His followers were indeed willing to die for their faith in Him.  Yet the numbers grew. 

Jesus encouraged His disciples by saying “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?” Perhaps He had in mind the pigeons and turtledoves that the poor brought for offerings in the Temple.  Archaeologists have uncovered numerous dovecotes from the second Temple period which pointed to a large pigeon and dove industry.  The Jewish people raised the birds primarily for food, a poor man’s meat.  But also, they used them as a peace offering in the Temple. 

No one regarded these birds as valuable.  Not like offering a lamb or goat.  Yet Jesus said of these lowly offerings, “Not one of them (sparrows) is forgotten before God.” (Luke 12:6) “Not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”  (Matt.10:29)

“Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matt 6:26)  

The bird comparison does not guarantee invulnerability.  He did not say that the sparrow will not fall to the ground or that believers will not face tragedy and sorrow.  If God allows the birds to fall to the ground, He may also allow us the same. 

However, His words should bring comfort to us.  That God is mindful of us and the daily challenges we face, be it health, relationships, death.  

How we all wish we could have heard Him speak these words of comfort!  However, Jame’s letter to the Believers tells them not to be surprised that these things will come upon them. “Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. “

Therefore, be assured that although we might feel like  sparrow or dove or that we can never live up  to what He expects of us……… He knows us and still loves us.    In fact, He told his disciples, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

We can be assured that everything is under His control.   Even those of us who are losing our hair!!

Every professional person, when interviewing for a job must have a resume with references, academic achievements and credentials as well as experience in their particular field of endeavor.  So, does Jesus have a resume and why would He need one? 

Although He never came right out and said He was the promised Messiah, He went about doing the things that the Messiah was required to do.  He performed miracles, healings and well as His teachings.  He said, “I and the Father are One.”  A wild claim that didn’t endear Him to many of the theologians of His day. 

Although He was only a poor carpenter’s son from Galilee He spoke with authority and people were amazed at His teaching! 

Jesus, however, did have a resume.  His resume was a God given authority. 

He said “the Father who sent me has testified of me.  The works that my father has given me to accomplish the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me (John 5:36-38) He told the scribes. “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, yet it is these that testify of me.” (John 5:39)

It was for this reason that the disciples of John the Baptizer came to Jesus asking, “Are you the expected one or shall we look for another.”  Jesus responded by saying.  “Go and report to John what you see and hear, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the good news preached to them.”  (Matt.11:4-5).  For John, the words were clear.  Jesus was referring to the prophecy of Isaiah 61 to validate His claim. 

The Messianic Resume inscribed in the Hebrew Scriptures… the Torah, the prophets and the Sacred Writings was the same text that Jesus used to teach the Emmaus Road disciples the truth about himself.

The cross and resurrection prove that Jesus had indeed, defeated the forces of sin and death. 

A New Age was beginning and will culminate in His return and all the forces of evil will be defeated and there will be peace on earth and good will for all men. 

                                        His Resume is from God Himself!  

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Cleopas and his companion were on their way back home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Suddenly a stranger walked with them.  They told Him about the death of Jesus and the rumors of His resurrection from the dead.  Had he not heard these things?  They invited this stranger to eat with them.  It was the hospitable  thing to do. 

As they were eating, this stranger took the bread and blessed it.  Luke (25:31) says their eyes were opened.  His words suddenly became” alive and burned within them!”  They had a spiritual awakening.  Then…. suddenly He was gone. They knew this was Jesus, who had been crucified and yet He was alive!

Although the sun had set, the two men were determined to return to Jerusalem to tell Peter and the other disciples. Jesus indeed has risen and had supped with them!! 

The two men did not reach the city until after dark. The disciples and others were gathered in a “safe” house.  The doors were shut for fear of the authorities.  Perhaps they too could be convicted as being part of the conspiracy to cause rebellion. Isn’t that how they framed Jesus? He was declared to be a King?  The Romans were always fearful of rebellion of these Jews. This Jesus was called King of the Jews. The followers could cause trouble. 

The two men pounded on the door.  “Let us in……We have seen the risen Lord.  He is alive!!  Mark tells us that they were talking about these things, when the Lord miraculously appears and spoke to them. However, Thomas was not there. 

When the disciples told Thomas about the Lord’s appearing, Thomas doubted their words……” Unless I can see for myself, I can’t believe.”  Surely it was only His spirit that they had seen and not the real Messiah himself.  Dead men don’t rise, do they? 

In the book of John we are told Jesus appeared another time and Thomas was there.  The Lord told Thomas to touch His hands and His feet.  “See its’s really me!” Thomas, falling down before Him, made one the of the most profound statements of faith in all of Scripture. “My Lord and My God.! Thomas needed to see and touch. Seeing is believing that is true, However, the Master said to us.

                  “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. “

Two of the Master’s disciples were on their way to Emmaus from Jerusalem.  Their village was several miles away.  They were slowly walking back home after witnessing the tragedy of the Lord’s crucifixion.  They were confused and discouraged, depressed and fearful.  Their beloved Rabbi was crucified.   He was dead and gone.  He told them that He was the one sent by God.  He was the Messiah.  He was to bring peace to the world to those that believed in Him. 

                        Now all of that had ended at the cross. 

They had heard reports that some women had found the tomb empty and had told Peter. But women aren’t to be believed.  They are full of tales and stories. 

The men argued.  They argued over the details of what the Master had said.  They were trying to piece together all He had told them.   The Romans were still in control.  It seemed that nothing had changed.  Yes, Yeshua, Jesus, had performed miracles.  They had seen that with their own eyes.  But now He was gone.  There was nothing left for them to believe in. 

  Suddenly another man was walking with them.  (Luke 24:13- 31) They did not recognize Him. He was incognito.    He even had supper with them before He finally revealed Himself. 

Jesus was able to return in  different forms.  Mary Magladlene didn’t recognize Him either.  She thought He was the gardener.  The disciples, fishing on the lake, mistook Him as a stranger on the shore, and even as they ate with Him, they did not dare ask Him who He was.

Jesus was able to transcend time and space but also could change His appearance.  How will He appear when He returns?

As Paul says, “For we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part but then I shall know, even as I am known.”  (1 Cor. 13:12)

                        We all will know Him……We shall see Him in His glory.

                                    He will know us……Are you ready?

After God sent the final plague to the Egyptians, the Pharoah allowed thousands of Hebrews to leave Egypt.  Moses was their leader, and he spoke with authority.  They knew little about what the future held for them.  But first, they must cross the wilderness to reach the land God had promised them.

Now you and I are sometimes wandering in the wilderness.   What lies ahead?

At times we see only a dry, hot desert in front and an enemy behind.  Yet we have the promises of God.  He will provide “our manna from Heaven, “our water from the rock!”  We have our needs met but we are still wanderers.  Where are we going? Where is our Moses?

Jesus has become our Moses.  He is leading the way.  It’s dark and we are fearful.  We can’t see what lies ahead. But He knows.  He will provide.  Not always in the ways we expect. 

Jesus didn’t say our life as Christians would be easy.  In fact, it is usually the opposite. If God is there for us, then why do we have these struggles in life?
We expect our wilderness wanderings will vanish into the Promised Land. 

                          But look back. See where you have been.

                          Now, look ahead.  Did He fail you before? 

It’s the wilderness that has defined who we are.  It’s the wilderness that brings us into greater fellowship with our Messiah. It’s those wilderness wanderings that have made the greatest impact in our lives.  We look for our “Moses. “

                                        He has been there all along. 

As most of Christendom teaches that this is Easter Sunday, it might worth our while to think about the preceding hours leading up to Jesus’s death and final resurrection. 

Since all things were known by Him, He knew his days on this earth would be only 33 years.  The concept of His death must have always been on the back of His mind.

Those last hours when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane must have been dreadful, knowing that death on the cross awaited Him within the next few hours.  He wrestled with God.

                                   Others also wrestled with God

Remember the story of Jacob and the night he wrestled with God, or an angel (Gen 12) Jacob cried. “I have seen the face of God.”   God wanted to prove him worthy to be the father of the children of Israel.  He proved worthy, for he defeated the angel, although left with a reminder by receiving his bad hip.  Not only did Jacob acquire a bad hip but a new name.  Now he was to be called Israel, “One in whom God rules.”

Are we ready to confess who we really are?  Inside.  Not the person we appear to be.  This involves some introspection on our part.  Are we the dedicated Christian that we pretend?  How do we feel knowing that we are not really in control of our life?  Do we still wrestle with our old “man” the real me?

Sometimes we struggle to find God or even know Him.  He is distant and aloof and doesn’t seem to care about my life or my problems. 

We wrestle with our feelings of being forsaken.  We are not receiving answers to prayers.  We feel deserted.  We feel alone in our struggles of wrestling with God for some meaning in problems that  we face each day. 

If you are wrestling with God; If you ask but do not receive, then abide with Him during your struggles.

Wrestling with faith provided Jesus with the strength to endure the cross.  

Wrestling with God provides us with endurance for the race!  It transforms us to be a person after God’s own heart!

We sit smugly in our church pews, in our Bible studies or even in our homes.  We never think or imagine that we would face death threats, persecution or afraid of answering the knock on our doors.  We feel safe and secure.  This is America and our faith in Jesus is easy.   In fact……….too easy.

What if we were Believers, living in Iran, Syria, Pakistan.  Being a Christian there would mean living in fear of losing your life.

Would you and I be able to remain faithful?  Would we be afraid of being discovered? 

Facing persecution is not in our thoughts.  We might think about what we will wear on Sunday or where to lunch after worship. Thinking about our team winning the big game.   

I have been reading stories of Christians living in Iran.  It is dangerous for Believers.   There are very few church buildings in the capital of Tehran.  In addition, the government constantly watches the people in those churches, limits attendance and controls what is preached.  Iranian Believers are also subject to periodic arrests and constant questioning.  Thus, promoting the development of small house churches. 

Believers who gather must always be fearful.  They close their shutters on the windows.  They walk carefully and are aware of being followed. They sing songs in a whisper. 

However, the more persecution, the greater is the faith.  Under persecution more converts are attracted to Jesus and His teachings. 

House churches are a viable and Biblical solution for us as well as those living under the threat of persecution. 

We pay enormous sums for the upkeep of these large buildings.  Preachers, secretaries, maintenance, etc.  The list goes on.  Does this mean that Christianity is growing?  I fear not!

A house church model primarily requires a group of willing Believers with capable leadership and sound teaching. 

People who do not or will not attend a church with a name above the door will more likely attend a small intimate gathering.  They listen to sound bible teaching but can ask questions and grow in the Faith.  The teacher/preacher might have a real job in the outside world where he can be of service in his discipleship as well as being a leader in a small house church. 

During the second and third centuries, Believers faced increasing persecution but gathered in homes for worship.  The Christian faith continued to grow.

 What was beneficial for Believers in the first few centuries might be valuable for Believers in the 21^st century. 

Are you and I willing to be ridiculed, chastised, rejected because of holding fast to the teachings as we read in Scripture and not some church theology? Would you be willing to face the same persecution as those living in Iraq? 

Is your faith just showing up on Sunday and leaving quickly to get on with what you rather be doing? Are you a faithful disciple of the Jewish Jesus?

                                      Can you be a 1^st Century Christian?

Can’t draw a straight line?  No color sense?  Can’t feel the vibes in your creative spark? 

You loved drawing as a kid but since adulthood, nothing seems to be happening in any way that is creative.  You love museums and seeing a Van Gough or even a Picasso, but God simply left you out with the gift of painting.

                                           But what else? 

When reading the Hebrew Scriptures, the newly liberated slaves were told to make a tent for God where He would communicate with the priests.  He gave certain men the ability to make this dwelling a perfect place for them to be in tune with God. (See Exodus 35-40)

Artists and craftsmen today have a creative spark in them.  They have their way of seeing things that influence the outcome of their work.

All of us were gifted with a creative spark inside.  It might not be drawing or painting, but, like artisans of old, we each are blessed with our own  dispositions, and God’s creative energy. 

Perhaps your way of doing something is that creative spark within you.  It could be cooking, painting, writing. 

But God’s creative energy within you might be something else entirely.

You are gifted with the ability to make friends, to right a wrong, to get involved with others.  You and I are to be representatives of that creative spark which can be seen by others.  We are to use our gift of creativity to make our world a better place. Our own little sphere of influence.

It might be your ability of encouragement; to sit silently with the grieving friend; babysitting for a young Mother; making cookies for an elderly friend; visiting a sick friend.  You might not call that creativity, but you are being creative by using your ability as a Christian to find ways that God can use you! 

In your daily prayer, ask God to present you with an opportunity to use your creative spark. 

Give it a try.  Each creative endeavor will be a blessing.  It will build and grow.  Each creative effort will be in keeping you as a disciple. 

                         Use your creative spark! It’s God’s gift to you.

                       How do you and I want to be remembered? 
This is not a question that we often stop to consider in the hustle of daily life.  Yet it’s the thread that weaves together the story of who we are, etched in the hearts of others. 

                                                What will they say?

I hope to be remembered as someone with the courage to be authentic, the boldness to live with a faith that can be demonstrated, and the strength to choose the freedom to be courageous despite what I see happening around me.

 Social media bombards us with polished versions of success, happiness, and beauty……… tempting us to measure our worth against what we see on TV or tempting us to conform to pressures of a corrupt society. 

Being authentic isn’t always easy, especially when we feel like we’re not quite good enough. Are we putting on another persona instead of who we really are, inside?  Do you and I have a faith that makes us better people, or do  we play let’s pretend?

Faith doesn’t come with guarantees of success here and now.   Are we surprised when tragedy hits us despite our firm commitment to being a Christian?  Do we find that the door we expected to open is locked?  What we thought God wanted of us, just isn’t working out?

Faith is about stepping into the unknown.  It’s about trust….. believing that you will land on your feet no matter what happened.  It means that you and I are not always rewarded for being faithful.  That is, in this life.

Often, we are disappointed in someone.  He/She was thought to be our best friend.  We expect someone to be a certain way, act a certain way, or love and support us the way we need. When they don’t we lose faith in that person. 

Expecting people to be someone they are not is  like expecting them to carry the entire ocean when they ‘re only capable of holding a thimbleful of water! 

Perhaps they feel the same about me!  I haven’t lived up to their expectations of me!  They felt disappointed in me and what I am capable of doing.

However, this doesn’t mean that you and I cannot strive to be the best person we can be.  We want to be remembered as someone who gives of themselves; who shares willingly; who makes commitments and keeps promises; who is a true disciple of our Lord. 

                                  How will you be remembered?

One cannot turn on the TV or radio or podcasts without hearing the problems in society, and the social issues that we are witnessing.

Black or white or all colors in between, at some point God in His wisdom is Creator of us.  Our understanding of the first five chapters of Genesis makes us one people under authority of a Divine entity we call God. 

Without understanding the creation account in Genesis, we are missing the big picture. 

How many of us really believe that Genesis 1-5 isn’t just a cute kids’ story?  Or perhaps an analogy of some sort?  The Creation story itself really doesn’t address social issues of the day, or does it?  Is God our Creator or does He use millions of years of death and decay to bring forth man in His image. Why should we care?

Our world faces enormous problems of violence, war, domestic crimes, economic collapse and natural disasters.  The family structure itself is under attack.  We are witnessing a general decline in Christian values worldwide. Our own country, which was founded on Christian principles, is rapidly losing its Christian base.  We are becoming a pagan nation. How can this be?

If we lose sight of man as a special creation, based on God’s grand design, then we are no more than those of the animal world.  We are not required to be a civilized society.  We do not answer for our behavior.  Sin has no consequences.

The social issues we face are symptomatic of an underlying root cause.  The loss of biblical authority stemming from attacks on the Creation account.  If those first chapters of Genesis aren’t true, how can you believe the rest of the Bible?

Our values make sense in the light of God’s word written in Genesis.  That we, you and I, are created in God’s image. 

The sanctity of life, of marriage, human freedom, laws about justice….. all have their origins in the historical understanding of Genesis.

The understanding of Adam’s and Eve’s sin of defying God, gives rise to the remainder of scripture!  Man’s fall and decline.  Our inability to save ourselves.

Man’s failure has always been to define ourselves…….omitting our Divine origins.

      Without our understanding of man’s first sin, why do we need a Savior?