Sealed With a Kiss

The story is as interesting as it is appalling. Betrayed by a friend you’ve known for years. You simply cannot turn away from all the grisly details. Who could imagine a show of affection would result in death? Some have said his destiny was “Sealed with a kiss”! With an ordinary greeting, a smile, and a kiss on the cheek, one man would die from such a simple gesture. What a horrifying turn of events. What started out as a peaceful evening, sharing a meal with friends, would turn into a “death sentence”! Two thousand years have passed and it still baffles wise men.

The setting is late in the evening in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is with his disciples, praying in a secluded garden. Jesus goes off by himself to pray alone. Jesus knows that this is the night history has been waiting for. Jesus is arrested and brought to the authorities; tried on false charges; quietly in the middle of the night and under the influence of the prince of darkness (Satan himself); and without any evidence. Although it looked as though Satan was getting the upper hand, everything was proceeding according to God’s plan. Every Roman and Jewish legality was ignored for expediency. Those who played a role in this tragedy weren’t aware that prophecy had to be fulfilled. Even though the events of the day were horrible, they had to happen. No death – no resurrection!

Even today, the kiss of death is still part of the mystery. The moment Judas kissed Jesus, his fate was sealed: Judas’ fate--not Jesus’! Jesus’ fate was already prophesied. Judas could have lived another 75 years, but betraying the Son of God was just too much. Mark 14:45 “And Judas leaned in to kiss Jesus…” It appears to be a fate worse than death!

The Theory of Relaxticity

The Theory of Relaxticity, although quite complex, can be explained in a straightforward algorithm using Boolean Logic, and Himalayan folklore: “A self—inflated mind will remain inflated until deflation occurs.”

Do some people have an over-inflated opinion of their mental acuity? Hmm!! Some people are brilliant beyond measure, but lack “common sense”. From the most preeminent astrophysicist to the MENSA rat-packers, the use of common sense when applying the Bible to a worldview is non-existent. And that makes perfect sense in a world going ‘ga-ga’ over UFO’s and DNA.

“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

Is Christianity against rational thinking? Christians clearly do believe in using their minds to weigh the evidence and make wise choices. No amount of knowledge can replace or bypass Christ’s work on the cross. If so, Christ would be accessible to only the intellectually gifted and the well-educated, and not to ordinary people and children. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2 that the way to receive salvation is so simple that anyone who wants it can understand and receive it. Skill and wisdom do not get a person into God’s kingdom—simple faith does. Salvation is totally from God through Jesus’ death. We need only accept what Jesus has already done for us.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the best thing this crazy world has ever seen. God, having a unique sense of humor, saw that the common people would preach His Gospel to the cognoscenti, the rich and the powerful.

Following or Leading?

Leading—following; it’s not a matter of either/or, it’s a matter of action or inaction. Different situations call for different strategies. In the book of Luke, there is a story where the friends of a paralyzed man try and bring him to Jesus for healing, but the crowds prevent them. Desperate, they concocted a plan to remove part of the roof and lower their friend on a mat, right into the middle of the crowd, directly in front of Jesus. Their plan succeeded!

Jesus so admired their faith, He forgave the paralyzed man’s sins! The religious leaders in the crowd protested loudly, Jesus challenged them. “Which is easier; to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” Luke 5:23 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and while everyone was watching, Jesus told the paralyzed man to pick up his mat and go home! The man stood up, completely healed and picked up his mat and headed home, praising God. That settled the matter for everyone, if He could do one—He could do the other! Action speaks louder than words. After the miracle someone said aloud, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Indeed!

Crossing theThin Grey Line

Everyone has heard the story of Job and his patience dealing with hardship. Reading the Book of Job, one can outline Job’s position and his arguments. Probing questions dealing with weighty matters, or so he thought. When the poor man had exhausted himself seeking answers; God answered him personally.

“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?” Job‘s foundation? Who controls the sea and its tides? Who regulates light and dark? Where are the hail, snow, and lightning stored? Who controls nature and all the animals? Who keeps the planets and stars in alignment?

Job only had one answer for the Lord. “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Job 42

Job admitted he had been foolish. Are you using what you cannot understand as an excuse for your lack of trust? Just admit to God that you don’t have enough faith to trust him. True faith begins with humility. Would the message of the Book of Job change if God had not restored Job to his former blessings? No! God is still sovereign. Jesus said that anyone who gives up something for the kingdom of God will be repaid. (Luke 18:29-30) Our restoration may or may not be the same kind as Job’s, which was both spiritual and material. Our complete restoration may not be in this life—but it will happen.

Around the planet Saturn, there is a thin gray line circling the entire planet. Do you know who put it there? Do you know who keeps it there? You know people that have passed that line, but there are two who will pass it again. On their way back to earth! You can read about them in Revelation 11.

In Pursuit of Happiness

Our present world (the United States) is traveling at the speed of light towards self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction, and self-aggrandizement. In short order, the pursuit of happiness at all costs. Hollywood paints a glowing picture of happiness as having everything you want, servants at your beckon call, Rolls-Royce’s in every garage, recreational drugs on the table, and sitting idly by the pool while life comes to you for your approval while waving a golden idol—Oscar. They are not all to blame; they had the same salesman as Eve did in the Garden.

The Bible is clear about the pursuit of happiness. Matthew devotes chapter after chapter about the subject. The Sermon on the Mount contrasts the values of the kingdom [eternal] against the values of the world [temporary]. The beatitudes tell us how to be blessed or happy. The beatitudes don’t promise laughter, pleasure, or earthly riches. Happiness means finding hope and joy, regardless of outside circumstances. Happiness is like a journey to God that must be through Jesus. Learning about God and to live for God doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey. The Christian’s life is mapped out from the beginning. There will be times when we fall flat on our faces, we all do. That’s because we’re all fighting our sinful hearts, that want things ‘our’ own way, plus we’re fighting Satan who keeps us from God. Your life must be through and with Jesus. For no one comes to the Father but through Him. On the journey to God, Jesus says, “I will never leave or forsake you” Hebrews 3:5. On your travels remember “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” Philippians 4:14.

In the final analysis, it doesn’t matter if you’re a college clown dropout, a circus clown, a rodeo clown, or a puffed-up US senator; we have to discover the truth for ourselves. Remember; ‘truth’ has no agenda.

Finding the deepest form of happiness means; following Jesus. Happiness is not a destination, it’s a journey.

Keeping Your Nose Clean

When Jesus healed someone, it was news. Word of what happened spread quickly and if He lingered, they would bring those who needed healing to Him in droves. He never disappointed. During His ministry, He healed over a period of three years, from the Galilean region to Philistia, both male and female and children, both Jew and Gentiles and from all levels of society. No challenge was too big, no plea was rejected, and no one was charged a single coin.

Of all the recorded healings, one in particular stands out as rather unusual. The Gospel of John records the event, what happened after the healing and the advice Jesus gave the healed man.

A man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years was in Jerusalem by a pool of water called Bethesda. A large number of disabled lie near the pool. When the water in the pool is stirred up, people strive to get in the water to be healed. This man had tried, but never got into the pool when the water was stirred. Jesus came to Jerusalem and went to that very pool and encountered the man. Jesus asked the man a peculiar question. Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?”! The man explained his circumstances. The question to the reader is: How badly did the man wish to be healed? Did he have a genuine desire to be well? And how many people in church sit idly by Sunday after Sunday right next to the living waters and refuse to do anything about it, they refuse to obey?. Remember, Jesus did say, “Get in the water”.

“Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” (John 5:8) Jesus found the man again in the Temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14) It appears what Jesus was saying indicated that the man’s former illness was indeed of sin and Jesus warns him “lest a worst thing happen” meant God could lodge much worse pain. This further showed Jesus knows the future. This was a great miracle. But the man needed an even greater miracle then a physical healing—he needed to have his sins forgiven, he needed to seek God’s forgiveness to be spiritually healed.

Did the man keep his nose clean? Who knows—we do know that he ran straight to the Jewish authorities and told them who healed him on the Sabbath! Was it an oversight or carelessness? You decide.