Later….when Peter had a chance to talk to the other disciples

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Ok. I guess it’s time that I said something.

We all know what happened, and we know what’s happened since. It would be easy for me to say that if the Messiah is risen from the dead, then nothing that happened before matters any more. But that would be wrong, and it would be there, coming between all of us in the future.

So it’s time to tell you that I’m a coward. I’m a big talker and everyone has probably had an earful of me a long time ago. I have no idea why Jesus chose me as the leader of this group, because most of you are smarter than me. I don’t understand half of what Jesus is saying, even now.

Got Everything?

2 Peter 1:3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.

In case you haven’t noticed, the “Verses” category at this blog simply points out a scripture that I believe is meaningful and important. It may be a passage, or as we have today, just part of a single verse.

Sometimes the simplicity of the message scripture is obscured in all the opinionating and shouting that goes on among Bible students.

So here’s one for you: God has already given us everything we need for living a godly life.

Two Words On Red Plaster: Thoughts On the “Vatican Splendors” Exhibit

I am traveling all day and may not have web access for a while. So be patient with moderation. Thanks.

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to tour the Vatican Splendors collection at Cleveland’s Western Reserve Historical Society. The traveling exhibit contains selections from the Vatican’s collection of art and artifacts. Much of the exhibit concentrates on the papacy itself, with items associated with significant popes of the past and present. Other artifacts are more archaeological in nature, including items from the purported burial site of the apostle Peter.

The exhibit is excellent and I recommend it anyone interested in cultural and religious history. Do not be surprised that aspects of the exhibit are, as anyone would expect, presented in such a way as to support the various claims of the Roman Catholic church to antiquity and, therefore, authority. But aside from a few excesses of description- such as the apostles wearing mitres and Jesus elevating the cup to say “This is my blood”- the exhibit had little that any non-Roman Catholic Christian would disagree with on purely historical grounds.

Give Me Your Jesuses

Lots of comment on the banner. I found that pic and it has three rows, but here’s a deal. WordPress.com lets you upload and edit your own banners, so if anyone wants to make me a multiple-Jesus banner similar to the one above I’ll strongly consider using it. Pictures must be respectful, but cultural icons are fine.

The point is….well…if you don’t get the point you just need to stay around a bit more.

Jesus says Cross the Line

One of my readers sent me two very interesting links. The first is on the phenomenon of “subcultural segregation,” especially of the politically like-minded, and the second is on a similar topic, but more applied to the overall quality of civic life in our culture.

Let me translate some of these ideas out a bit: For a Jesus follower, spending all our time in various club-like enclaves with people who are just like ourselves is simply not an option. We must cross the cultural and subcultural barriers that are around us, and we must make intentional, missional efforts to do what Jesus did in going to/relating to Samaritans, Gentiles, women, lepers, Romans, sinners and people from various circles on the cultural map.

The Southern Stairs of the Temple

Klyne Snodgrass at Prime Time Jesus writes about one very specific remaining site where we know Jesus walked….and some of the implications of that fact in the New Testament.

Verses: I Corinthians 8:11

I Corinthians 8:11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. (ESV)

Who are we? We are the persons for whom Jesus died.

How do I view another Christian? As one thing: The person for whom Jesus died.

What measures all my actions towards another Christian? This is a person for whom Christ died.

What determines the definition of love as I will express it for brothers and sisters? This is the person for whom Jesus died.

What goes BEFORE anything our denominations have to say about one another? This is a person for whom Jesus Christ died.

Why do I have a place at the Lord’s Table? Because I am a person for whom Jesus died.

What is the foundation of every invitation from God and from his people? This is a person for whom Christ died.

Who am I? I am the person for whom Jesus died.

Who is God? He is Jesus Christ who died for me.

What is the Gospel? God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, by dying for you and for me. Believe this Good News and be found and loved by this God, along with all others for whom he died.

What comforts me in life and in death? That God loves me/the world so much, that Jesus died for me/the world.

Pray at the Pump: A Meditation on Jesus and Economic Discipleship

Several days ago, I posted an invitation to discuss Jesus and Gas Prices on this blog. It’s a topic that, to a large extent, will reveal how much we really can engage our imagination with the concept of Jesus shaped discipleship.

For example, one evangelical has taken his particular view of rising gas prices and started a movement called “Pray at the Pump.” Somehow, the rise of gas prices is a sign of the end times and praying at the pump for God to lower prices will apparently prove that he’s in charge.

Of course, one wonders if it ever occurred to anyone that the inconvenience to the American lifestyle of mobility and affluence isn’t really something that God would respond to as an act of mercy. Most Americans are inconvenienced by gas prices because of the value they place on mobility and the decisions they’ve made about the kind of life they want to live, decisions made with the assumption of cheap gas in the background.

Discuss amongst yourselves

Free Booklet on the Historical Study of Jesus

The Gospel Coalition has a free booklet by Craig Blomberg called Jesus of Nazareth: How Historians Can Know Him and Why It Matters.

It’s available as a pdf or printer friendly. This is an original resource designed for use with students who need basics in a short, readable form. Less than 30 pages. An outstanding resource.