Jesus the Scandalon

 
Jesus the Scandalon

In the advent season (coming toward) we can clearly see that the coming of Christ is a great mystery, but also a great scandal or as the Greek puts it "Scandalon". Not that Jesus is scandalous in the way we think of scandal today, but the Greek gives it the idea more of a stumbling stone which is what Scandalon means. I have thought today of three ways that Jesus is the scandalon of God and on your way to God you must stumble over Him (Jesus). For He said it Himself, "I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but through me."

1. Jesus lineage is a scandalon
Matthew 1:1-17
Tamar: pretended to be a prostitute in Gen 38
Rahab: was a prostitute that helped the Israelites conquer Canaan
Ruth: was an outsider (non-Jewish) which would create a stumbling stone to Jews
Bathsheba: committed adultery with David. Her second son Solomon was Jesus ancestor
Mary: unwed mother makes Jesus illegitimate in the eyes of the people around him

2. Jesus birth is a scandalon
Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph was very close to divorcing Mary for unfaithfulness because they were betrothed (virtually married) and she was found to be pregnant which of course does not happen without another man. "It takes two to tango".
Illustration: the nativity story movie: Mary is found to be pregnant and the devastation that it would cause in those days. This movie gives a very good picture of what it would have been like for Joseph and Mary.

3. Jesus work is a scandalon
Romans 9:33
Mark 13:57
Matthew 11:4-6
The presence of Jesus may result either in faith or in the complete missing of faith. People love talking about God but when you bring up Jesus they suddenly don't want to talk because he makes people wrong "I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through me"
Matthew 13:53-58
Luke 4:28-30

Conclusion: I received a fraudulent email the other day of someone saying I won one million euros and that all I needed to do was to give them my bank account numbers and address and other pertinent information and they would transfer the money directly to my account. I am sure you have never received this junk before! Now it would be crazy to pursue this email, but it is altogether sane and right to pursue the crazy Scandalon that is our Lord Jesus because he is anything but a fraud or liar or lunatic but rather He is Lord and God! So this Christmas season do what the shepherds and the wise men did come and worship Jesus! Give your Christmas gifts this year in the name of Jesus and sing Christmas carols that honor Him. two easy ways to worship Jesus on Christmas!

Referenced: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (one Volume) Gerhard Kittel Gerhard Friedrich pg 1036-1038

Youth miniStarZ

If you are in youth ministry or have ever looked up to a youth pastor then this video is for you. It is Hilarious! Please have a look and comment on your favorite experience with a youth pastor. You could even comment on the most spiritually significant thing that your youth pastor handed down to you. As a current youth pastor I love to hear of stories of how youth pastors have shaped peoples lives.

A Student's Unspoken Plea

This is a cool video about how to share with hurting people. It is a plea of a student to share the Love of Christ with them. People are hurting and crying out for you to share with them and to touch a life with the Love, authenticity, and compassion of our savior. Can you be so bold as to love? Can you be so brave as to be caring? Will you?

JULIAN SMITH - Techno Jeep (Original)

This is one of the most incredibly creative things I have seen in a long time. This guy also has some other really creative stuff on You Tube. I have not seen all His stuff but it looks all clean a funny and creative. So enjoy. I think We should always look for ways to use our creativity for the Lord! So always be looking around you and thinking how can I use my abilities to serve and glorify Christ. I am reminded of a great verse Col. 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men." and I Cor. 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER you do, do it all for the glory of God. Oh Lord use our gifting, use our work and our creativity to Honor and Glorify you!

As for Me and My House | Joni and Friends

As for Me and My House | Joni and Friends

This is a story about one of my favorite worship leaders Brian Doerkson. His Music was Overwhelmingly Powerful in our family's life when Ana our first daughter was born with Down Syndrome and many other complications in 2006. I then found out a little later when He came to do a concert for our church that he had disabled children with Fragile X syndrome. He has been to those deep depths. This is a very moving story about him and his trust in the Lord. I hope you enjoy and please share your comments. I love hearing what people are thinking about these issues!

Teddy Bear Pooping

Funny what My daughter tries to do with her toys! I love being a dad! They are both kids learning so much right now and I get to be a part of everything that they go through. Lord I pray I am leading them to you above all else.

Poop At A Wedding?

I try to not be in the habit of leaving church services or meetings early, but with two small kids my habits have changed (2 and 4 years old) is anybody with me? So I have not many times left a church service and I am not the type of person to be embarrassed easily, but I happened to be at a wedding this past weekend which is like a double whammy if you leave early. So right before the bride walked in my two year old was in my arms and was quiet as a church mouse, which made me wonder what was coming. She all of a sudden started to shout Ah! Ah! really loudly. To you and to me this means nothing, but my daughter is learning German as she grows up in a bilingual house, and to her (and any German speaker) that word means Poopy! I know the bride pretty well and I know she speaks and understands a good level of German (Her Grandmother is German). So instead of letting the Bride walk down the aisle hearing my daughter yell Ah Ah! Ah Ah! and pointing at her I decided to remove her and not too soon. I walked out the door and the bride was ready right in front of the door to walk down the aisle. So to not ruin her day, or make her laugh hysterically as she walks down the aisle, I decided on the lesser of two evils. Ruining a wedding, or walking out before it starts (no brainer right?). I am not embarrassed easily, but I would have been horrified if my two year old would have ruined someone's beautiful moment. So yes that was pretty embarrassing, but it could have been worse, and yes I walked out of a church service too (sort of). So I sympathize with those who walk out of church services now, but just make sure before you walk out of a church service that it is a matter of horrifying embarrassment before you leave. Or a matter of calling a bride poop at her wedding!