Monthly Archive for December, 2009

Page 4 of 6

When God tore a hole in the heavens

Published on December 14, 2009 in New Testament. 6 Comments

“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down . . .”  Isaiah 64:1.

And when he came out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.”  Mark 1:10. 

It has been a particularly tough Fall in the Valley.  I have shepherded so many people facing death, cancer, depression, or the many other battles of living in a fallen world.

I am reminded over and over again, that I can’t solve my own problems, much less offer something to these people in my church who are hurting.  Life can be a mess and we are helpless.

Which is to say, I am really savoring the season when we remember that since we have flesh and blood, Christ shared our humanity so that he might destroy him who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14-16). 

Or consider how Mark puts it.  To get his point, you need to notice the correspondence between Mark 1:10 and Isaiah 64:1.  In one of the greatest intercessory prayers ever, Isaiah pleaded with God, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down . . .”

In the introduction of the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus is baptized, Mark echoes this language in Mark 1:10, “And when he came out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.”

Mark points out that the arrival of Jesus we have the answer to Isaiah’s prayer 700 years previous.  Christmas is when God split the heavens in half and the Lord, in the power of the Spirit, stepped through the hole in the sky. 

See also this post on Mark’s “Christmas story.” 

Mark’s Gospel “immediately” challenges readers to open the Christmas gift

Published on December 13, 2009 in Christmas and Preaching. 1 Comment

Last Sunday, we considered Mark’s Christmas story.  Mark wants to make sure you don’t forget to unwrap the present on Christmas morning.

Christmas programs tend to focus on the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  In Matthew, we find angels, Herod, and the enigmatic Magi.  If you’re a fan of Peanuts, then you know that Linus chose to quote Luke.  “And, the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.”

But, we find no nativity scene in Mark.  Instead, Mark moves immediately to the wilderness and John the Baptist.

“Immediately”, sometimes translated “straight-way,” or “at once,” by the way is one of Mark’s favorite words.  Forty two of 59 this word (immediately/ straight-way / at once, Grk: euthus) appears in the New Testament are in the Gospel of Mark (see this Pyro post).

So why Mark does make such a quick dash to the desert?

Mark’s theological agenda cannot be fully developed in a blog post.  However, part of Mark’s purpose was to immediately confront readers with the need to respond to the Lord Jesus Christ.  We only have to read to Mark 1:4 before we hear the challenge of the Gospel from John the Baptist, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.”

Mark’s immediate call for readers to respond to the Christmas story is one we need to hear.  Of course, we also treasure the other Gospel accounts.  But, I wonder sometimes in our culture if people don’t spend a lot of time sentimentally reflecting on the Christmas story, apart from repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).

It isn’t enough to wrap the nativity scene in a package and put it under the Christmas tree.  The Gospel must be unwrapped.  And, this is done by recognizing that we are in the wilderness apart from Christ.  He came out into the wilderness with us, that he might win our salvation.  We must turn in repentance to him for forgiveness of sins.   Do so immediately.

Should Christians always forgive?

Published on December 12, 2009 in Forgiveness. 1 Comment

Of course, the title of this post is not a new question here at “A Brick in the Valley.”  But, Timmie Brister has raised it on his blog.  You might stop by there and read his insights which are well worth considering.  (Click here).

One thing is for sure, the question, “Should Christians always forgive?” seldom fails to generate a lively discussion.

An Interview with Cisco Cotto about Unpacking Forgiveness

Published on December 12, 2009 in Forgiveness. 0 Comments

Cisco Cotto of WYLL AM 1160 (Chicago’s Christian Talk Radio!) recently interviewed me about my book, Unpacking Forgiveness.  You can listen to the interview at noon C.S.T. on Sunday (December 13) or online.

The podcast will be available at a later date. 

Let Challies help you with your Christmas shopping

Published on December 12, 2009 in Recommended Reading. 0 Comments

It’s not too late to order a few books for Christmas presents.  Tim Challies has published his top nine books for 2009.  It is a really good list.  I wholeheartedly agree with his choice for book of the year.  It is one I have given away more than once and recommended a number of times.

Click here to see the list.

How people from Wisconsin decide whether or not to eat something

Published on December 12, 2009 in Stupid Stuff. 2 Comments

With “the strategy of bingo and and the excitement of Chess,” Tom McMahon diagrams how people in Wisconsin (and Iowa and parts of Illinois for that matter) decide whether or not to eat something.

Click here.

Today only sale at Crossway

Published on December 11, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Crossway is offering a 35% off sale which includes free shipping if your order is over $30.

Theoretically, this would include Unpacking Forgiveness . . .

Remember, the ESV Study Bible makes a tremendous Christmas present.

It’s today only.  If you snooze, you loose.

Click here. (Or, go to www.crossway.org )

Top 10 Awful Truths About Book Publishing

Published on December 11, 2009 in Recommended Links. 2 Comments

Thinking about writing a book?  Here is how the industry is changing.

HT: Challies

C.S. Lewis on “Shadow-Lands” and the beginning of the great holiday

Published on December 11, 2009 in C.S. Lewis and eschatology. 0 Comments

C.S. Lewis:

When Aslan said you could never go back to Narnia, he meant the Narnia you were thinking of.  But that was not the real Narnia.  That had a beginning and an end.  It was only a shadow or a copy of the real Narnia: just as our own world, England and all, is only a shadow or copy of something in Aslan’s real world.  You need not mourn over Narnia, Lucy.  All of the old Narnia that mattered, all the dear creatures, have been drawn into the real Narnia through the Door.  And of course it is different; as different as a real thing is from a shadow or as waking life is from a dream ….Your father and mother and all of you are – - as you used to call it in the Shadow-Lands – - dead.  The term is over: the holidays have begun.  The dream is ended: this is the morning (The Last Battle, 170).

I’m looking forward to it!  Revelation 21:3-5, Revelation 22:1-5.

Bruner: “Better to go limping into heaven than leaping into hell”

Published on December 10, 2009 in Quotes. 0 Comments

Matthew 5:27-30:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."

Frederick Dale Bruner:

The central meaning of Jesus’ advice is to take decisive, drastic action against that habit, thing, or person, that though pleasurable and perhaps seemingly necessary, is in fact ruining life . . . Better to go limping into heaven than leaping into hell."