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Series Intro: Hearts Toward Heaven

August 3, 2021 by Jennifer Hong 2 Comments

This month, we’ll delve into what the Bible tells us about eternity with God as we set our Hearts Toward Heaven.

“Will we see Pepper in heaven?” my kids asked after our family dog passed away. It is one of so many questions they have about heaven.

“How old will I be in heaven?”
“Are there rabbits in heaven?”
“Who will we see there?”
“Can I go fishing in heaven?”
“If nothing dies, what will we eat? Can I still have steak?”
And, my 8-year-old’s genuine concern: “I’m so afraid that I’m going to be bored in heaven if it just goes on, and on, and on.”

There is a lot that I don’t know about what eternity with God is like, but I am confident that it isn’t boring. When my first child’s questions about heaven began, I felt like I didn’t have a lot I could tell him, or, at least, I didn’t have many answers to his specific questions. I also realized that my ideas about heaven were a mixture of images drawn from culture, arts, literature, hymns, and the Bible, and it took some thought to begin to tease them apart.

For the Bible Tells Me So…

This month, Scripture will be our guide as we set our hearts towards heaven.

Unfortunately, it is usually seasons of grief or pain that draw my heart’s attention toward longing for heaven. When all seems well here, my heart is content to attend to the daily life of my family, friends, and community. But in seasons when the very real heartache of sin, sickness, or suffering become the primary substance of my days, I become particularly grateful for the fact that the Bible tells us this earth is not our eternal home.

Rather, we were made for unending worship,
gathered as one body of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Our eternal home is the place of everlasting peace,
without tears or sickness,
where death has been defeated
and we sing “Salvation belongs to our God.”
It is a resurrected life, a victorious life,
in which the dwelling place of God is with man, forever.

Join us this month in setting the eyes of our hearts toward heaven, starting with this beautiful Hymn of Heaven by Phil Wickham, which draws heavily on Biblical images of heaven.

Through Jesus Christ and God the Father

July 22, 2021 by Jennifer Hong Leave a Comment

This month, we focus in on the greetings with which Paul begins his letters. As he identifies himself in relation to God, we see how Paul understands God. We continue asking, “Who are you, Lord?” today as we look at Paul’s greeting in his letter to the Galatians.

“Mommy said so,” is a phrase that immediately takes me back to my childhood home, where my siblings and I frequently argued our cases by invoking parental authority. When my mother began taking graduate classes one afternoon a week, I was left in charge. I loved being in charge. I came up with new games, made the best fried hot dogs, and tried to ensure my siblings would consider me “the fun one.” But when tensions rose between us, I was quick to assert the authority bestowed on me by our mother.

Paul, an apostle called by God

Just as my feeble authority in my home originated outside of myself, Paul begins his letter to the Galatians by identifying the Source of his authority:

“Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1)

After this brief introduction, Paul jumps right into criticism of the Galatian church with no mincing of words:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6).

Galatians, deserting the faith

Paul fervently calls the Galatians to return to the Gospel as they had heard and received it from him. The Galatians’ faith had been weakened by Judaizers who asserted that Christian Believers should be following mosaic law. Under the influence of false prophets, the Galatians’ confidence in Paul had also suffered. Thus, his opening words attest to his God-given authority, and the first two chapters describe the early years of Paul’s conversion and ministry, preaching the Gospel as revealed to him directly through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Epistle to the Galatians

When we read the letter to the Galatians as a whole, we see that Paul shows the Galatians that the entirety of our spiritual life, just like his calling as an apostle, is “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.”

“yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:15-16)

Our justification is not from men nor through man, but through the resurrection of Christ. Neither the Galatians’ attempts to keep the mosaic law nor our own grasping at righteousness in legalism are the source of our righteousness or the means by which we are saved.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

God The Father, Who raised Christ from the dead

Let’s return again to verse one. The last words of Paul’s short introductory verse include this description of God the Father: “… who raised him from the dead.”

I think of all the ways Paul could have described the Father: Creator, Redeemer, Most Holy God, King of Kings… I won’t postulate why Paul chooses this specific descriptive phrase for God the Father in his introduction, but I do notice the effect the words have on my understanding of God as we ask, “Who are you, Lord?”

When I read of Paul’s apostleship “through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” my mind is drawn to the God or miracles, Who resurrects, Who breathes life into what was dead. He is the Father who raised Christ, attesting to His sonship. He is the God who took a Jewish pharisee who was spiritually dead in enslavement to the law and brought about his rebirth on the road to Damascus.

Paul knows our Father as the God of resurrection. In the sacrament of baptism, we are buried with Christ and then rise with new life (Romans 6:3-5). And this new life is entirely of God.

Neither Paul’s apostleship, nor our salvation, nor the spiritual life of our rebirth are “from men [or] through man,” the result of our own works or resulting from the efforts of others. Rather, we live entirely “through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” Let us not follow the Galatians into legalism, nor fall into the trap at the tower of Babel, chasing the glory of our own efforts, but may we instead yield to the life born in us through Christ.

Bond-Servants of Christ Jesus

July 20, 2021 by Cheli Sigler 1 Comment

When I was in high school, it was uncommon and somewhat controversial for men to have pierced ears. I still remember the night a middle-aged man stood before my high school youth group and explained that he pierced his ear for Jesus. Calling us to live lives wholly submitted to the Lord, his earring was a reminder that he was a doulos, “bond-servant” of Jesus. Today, we will delve into the meaning of doulos, what it meant for Paul, and what it tells us about Jesus.

Throughout the #WhoAreYouLord series, we are studying Paul’s greetings in his letters to the churches to better understand who Jesus is. Today’s greeting is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:1, NASB)

Doulos in the Old Testament

Derived from the root word deō, meaning “tie” or “be in bonds,” doulos is translated as “bond-servant.” It describes a situation where the slave/servant yields their will completely to another. The slave’s will is tied to the master’s. Regarding slaves, God commanded the Israelites to free their slaves after six years of service. However, a slave could choose bond-service. God says,

But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever. (Exodus 21:5-6)

It is important to note that becoming a bondservant was voluntary, public, and a life-long commitment. Signaling servant status, the pierced ear was the mark of a doulos. It was a mark of complete obedience to the will of the master. It was not a fashion statement.

Doulos as Demonstrated in Paul’s Life

The slave to master relationship detailed in the Old Testament became a metaphor for whole-hearted obedience to God’s will in the New Testament. Certainly Jesus called men and women to servanthood: “‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me’” (Luke 9:23). Paul was chief among those who answered this call.

From the outset of Paul’s conversion experience, he knew that following Jesus was costly. Regardless, Paul committed himself to be a bond-servant of Jesus. With full understanding of doulos and its Old Testament context, Paul’s knowledge of and experiences with Jesus led him to be a slave of Christ.

Truly, Paul gave all he had to serve Jesus. Paul writes, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). No matter what and in response to God’s grace, living life fully subservient to Jesus and His will was Paul’s purpose.

Doulos as Modeled by Jesus

Not only did Jesus call people to surrender their will to God, but He demonstrated how. Jesus shows us how to be a doulos:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8, NASB)

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords humbled himself in complete service to His Father’s will. Losing position or power was not Christ’s concern. Rather, Jesus forsake everything to fulfill God’s will. Jesus is the ultimate doulos.

#PreachingToMyself

In light of Christ’s love for me and His willing sacrifice, am I willing as Paul did to set aside pride and position to serve God’s will and His alone? What am I holding onto that I need to yield to God? What keeps me from being wholly devoted to God and being a doulos for Him?

Will you join in me in asking these questions?

Jesus forsake everything to fulfill God’s will. Jesus is the ultimate bond-servant. #WhoAreYouLord

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Paul, a Prisoner of the Lord (Greetings to Philemon)

July 15, 2021 by Sabrina Gogerty Leave a Comment

All this month on the blog we’ll be studying the greetings in Paul’s letters to get an idea of what he thought and who he understood Jesus to be. In today’s post, we will look at Paul’s greetings to Philemon.

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are all considered the Prison Epistles because they were written during Paul’s imprisonment and subsequent house arrest in Rome. In them, we see Paul label himself an apostle and a servant of Christ Jesus, until, finally, in Philemon, he associates as a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God …. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:1a,3)

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus …. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:1a,2)

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother … Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” (Colossians 1:1,2b)

“Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother … Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philemon 1:1a,3)

In her introductory post, Jamie walks us through Paul’s backstory and conversion. “Once he understood that Jesus is the Messiah, the pieces of God’s redemptive plan, his character of mercy and the gift of grace clicked into place. From that point on Paul’s identity was not in anything he achieved but in knowing Jesus Christ.”

Paul to Philemon

Philemon is a short book in the Bible that gives us insight into both Paul and the slave-master relationship. Philemon himself is praised for his “love and faith … toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,” “the sharing of [his] faith,” and refreshing “the hearts of the saints,” which brought Paul “much joy and comfort” (v. 5-6). Paul writes to Philemon on behalf of the man’s runaway slave, Onesimus. Not only does Paul want Philemon to send Onesimus back to him to serve him during his “imprisonment for the gospel,” but he also asks for him to take the man’s new standing in Christ into account (v. 13). Once, he was just a slave, but now, under Paul’s tutelage, he has become slave and “beloved brother” (v.16).

In studying just his address to Philemon, we read not only the customary “grace to you and peace” greeting. We also see Philemon called out as Paul’s “beloved fellow worker” (v. 1). Apphia (perhaps Philemon’s wife) and Archippus (perhaps his son) are both mentioned as Believers serving for the sake of the gospel. Attention is also brought to the church meeting in Philemon’s house (praise God!).

Bound because of Jesus

Let’s camp on the phrase “prisoner for Christ Jesus” for a little while, shall we?

This word, desmios, simply means “bound, in bonds, a captive, a prisoner” (Strong’s). It is the same word Paul uses in verse nine when he says to Philemon, “Yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you–I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus.” In Ephesians chapter three, he refers to himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (v. 1) and in chapter four “a prisoner for the Lord” (v. 1). We may rightly ask here, “So, what’s the difference?”

ToTheEndsOfTheEarthMovie.com *Paul and Silas continued to pray and sing praises to God.* November 2, 2018. *Paul and Silas in Prison.* https://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/bt-paul-prison/

Beginning with the latter, what we learn in the Book of Acts is that Paul’s imprisonment is directly caused by his allegiance to Christ. His proclamation of the Good News led to his confinement. This truth that Paul was living out while in chains was meant to compel the church in Ephesus to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). His status as a prisoner of Rome wasn’t something he lorded over the Ephesian church in a “Look at me! I am so righteous!” sort of way. No, we know Paul thought himself “the very least of all the saints” (Ephesians 3:7); rather, it was intended to compel these saints to press deeper into their calling in Christ Jesus.

Bound to Jesus

As mentioned before, Paul’s previous salutations lead with an authorative claim to his apostleship or the profession of his servanthood to the Messiah. Paul’s purpose in this Epistle is to appeal to Philemon to give his consent for Onesimus (whose name means “useful”) to be sent back to Paul to serve him on Philemon’s behalf. It seems Onesimus had become indespensible to and beloved by Paul, indeed, his “very heart” (v. 12). So, “Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus,” makes his plea to Philemon (v. 1).

“To be a prisoner simply is no comfort nor honour; but such as Paul was, for the faith and preaching of the gospel, this was true glory, and proper to move Philemon upon the request made to him by such a one. A petition from one suffering for Christ and his gospel would surely be tenderly regarded by a believer and minister of Christ, especially when strengthened too with the concurrence of Timothy ….” –Matthew Henry

Simply put, Paul’s argument was: “Obey me not because I can command you but because I have been without freedom, just as my beloved Onesimus has.” And isn’t that so very similar to Jesus’ plea to us? God has painted His majesty in the stars, He has asserted His authority through the Ten Commandments, and He has shown His mercy through Passover. He demonstrated His grace and individual care through His unmerited favor on Abraham and his descendants. But He exhibited the utmost humility when He was born of a virgin one holy night. When He walked among the poor and the powerful, the sick and the self-righteous, the devoted and the deserters.

But He exhibited the utmost humility when He was born of a virgin one holy night. When He walked among the poor and the powerful, the sick and the self-righteous, the devoted and the deserters. #whoareyouLord

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Jesus, too, is calling us to obey Him. Not only because He can calm the wind and the waves, turn water into wine, heal the lame, and raise the dead to life. He is calling us to obey because He performed the ultimate act of obedience when He submitted to the Father’s will and gave up His life for us on the cross. We are forever indebted to Him for the new life His blood has purchased for us, and, though He does not ask us to repay Him because it is freely given, we would do well to ask ourselves the question, “How does King Jesus’ submission change how I approach my obedience?” Share your thoughts here in the comments or in our Facebook community.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” (Philemon 1:25)

NOTE: The Book of Philemon addresses the master-slave relationship between a Believer and a recent convert. As much as we long for Paul to cry out against the institution of slavery and label it as evil, he does not. For further reading on this topic, this article might be helpful: “Why doesn’t the Bible condemn slavery? (Ephesians 6:5-9).”

Who Are You, Lord? Series Intro

July 6, 2021 by Jaime Hilton 1 Comment

Possibly one of the most miraculous things about God is that He works through people. While He is more than capable of handling everything, He delights in our participation and allows imperfect people to do the work that needs to be done. Even the Bible, the revelation of His character and purpose to us is a gift inspired by the Holy Spirit but written, preserved, and translated by humans! I call it miraculous because people are so very messy. We have no shortage of faults and failings. It’s humbling and awesome to read the stories in Scripture, to see His hand guiding, and to know He is still working through us today.

Saul, Saul…

One such example is found in the book of Acts when God chose a certain man to take the gospel to the Gentiles. The man he chose was Saul, or in Greek, Paul. This man’s identity was thoroughly grounded in being Jewish, so much so that he took part in persecuting the early church. He purposefully sought out people who believed and followed Jesus of Nazareth so he could violently punish and imprison them for blasphemy (Acts 8:3). In his letter to the Philippians, he describes himself as being, “…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (3:5-6). In other words, though raised in an important Roman city, among Hellenized (Greek-speaking) Jews, Paul was an observant Jew who spoke Aramaic and studied the Law under the best teachers in Jerusalem.

Yet despite this impressive and comfortable identity, Paul goes on in his letter to say, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8).

How did Saul, zealous persecutor of Christians, come to know Christ Jesus as Lord?

Why Are You Persecuting Me?

In Acts 9:1-9 we read the story of Saul’s encounter with the risen Jesus.

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

I can’t help but imagine what those three days without sight may have been like. Did he recall the prophet Jonah, swallowed and saved in the belly of a fish so he could take God’s message of redemption to the Ninevites? Maybe. Paul was a very good student who loved the Law. I imagine him going over every word he’d memorized from the Torah, but in his blindness seeing it with the fresh eyes of the Spirit.

The Lord sent Ananias, a disciple, to heal him, sharing that Saul of Tarsus would bring the gospel to the Gentiles (v. 15). The story continues with Paul regaining his sight, being baptized, “and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God’” (v. 19-20).

Who Are You, Lord?

Paul had a strong foundational understanding of God thanks to his upbringing in Hebrew culture. He knew who God was. Once he understood that Jesus is the Messiah, the pieces of God’s redemptive plan, his character of mercy and the gift of grace clicked into place. From that point on Paul’s identity was not in anything he achieved but in knowing Jesus Christ.

All this month on the blog we’ll be studying the greetings in Paul’s letters to get an idea of what he thought and who he understood Jesus to be.

“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things” (Ephesians 3:7-9)

I hope you’ll join us!

Series Recap: Where Jesus Walked

June 29, 2021 by Cheli Sigler Leave a Comment

Throughout the month of June the Do Not Depart contributors led readers on a virtual tour of the Holy Land. At each stop we highlighted the places where Jesus walked, talked, and loved. If you missed a post, each heading in this recap provides links to each post in the series.

Bethlehem: The Entrance of the Savior

Kicking off the series, Ali Shaw, took us to Bethlehem. Translated as “House of Bread,” it is no coincidence that God chose this humble town as the place where Jesus, “the Bread of Life,” would enter the world. Ali writes, “Just as God provided manna for the Israelites who wandered in the desert for 40 years, He provides spiritual sustenance for Believers today.Jesus Christ is the true, everlasting Manna from Heaven. He is the eternal provision for our souls… of whom if we “eat” we will never hunger again.”

Jericho: Walking by Faith

Next we traveled to Jericho with Jaime Hilton. She writes, “Sitting in a deep valley between Jerusalem and the Jordan River (just across from where Jesus was baptized), Jericho serves as a gateway to the Promised Land, a place where faith is abundant, and promises are fulfilled.” Jaime highlights the faith of Zaccheus, Bartimaeus, and Rahab; all citizens of Jericho. Certainly no example is more important than Jesus, who by faith, walked through Jericho before giving His life for the salvation of the world.

Cana of Galilee: Steps to Transformation

Journeying on, our next stop was Cana of Galilee led by new contributor (make sure you welcome her!), Sabrina Gogerty. She asserts that Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana shows Jesus’ care in big and small moments alike. Sabrina writes, “Be it water turned into wine, a heart of stone turned to a heart of flesh, the resurrection of Lazarus, or the resurrection of our Savior Himself, Jesus is in the business of making all things new.”

Bethany: The Way of Sacrifice

From Cana we ventured to Bethany with Cheli Sigler. Important to Jesus, Bethany was home to treasured friends. One of these friends, Mary, anoints Jesus with oil. With attention to Mary’s sacrificial gift, Cheli challenges herself and us with the following: “Do I only serve Jesus in socially approved ways? Am I willing to risk my reputation for Christ? What am I holding onto that I need to completely give to Jesus? How do I really feel about dying to self and following Jesus? Am I following Jesus in the way of sacrifice?”

The Jordan River

Moving on from Bethany, our tour continued at the Jordan River with Jennifer Hong. Pointing out the significance of this river throughout Bible history, she writes, “God had demonstrated His faithfulness to the Jews at this very site, establishing the Jordan River as a boundary and a transition into new life.” With this in mind, Jennifer focuses on new life reflected in baptism. She reflects, “In our baptism, we are called to repentance as the Jews were on the banks of the Jordan. In baptism, we become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. We begin to live within God’s timing, by His provision, victorious only through obedience and by His hand.”

Jerusalem: Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah?

Next we ventured to Jerusalem led by new contributor (be sure to welcome her!), Kristee Ravan. With Jerusalem as a backdrop, we learn about Hanukkah and Jesus’ connection to this Jewish holiday. Without room here for all of the details, be sure to read the post. Kristee explains that Jesus declared His divine identity during Hanukkah, “At the Feast of Dedication, celebrated to commemorate the defeat of the one who claimed to be “the manifest god,” Jesus openly declared that He is the true Manifest God. He is that eternal light of the world, burning brightly.”

Where Jesus Walked: The Sea of Galilee

Lastly, we visited the Sea of Galilee guided by guest contributor, Aleigh Porter. Galileans, Jesus and many of His disciples crisscrossed the lake while preaching and minstering to surrounding communities. Aleigh recounts the story of the storm-tossed disciples who witnessed Jesus’ mastery of wind and waves. Ultimately, Aleigh concludes, “Our job is to trust him – he is prepared, charting the course, and navigating our boat through the rough waters of life.”

Visit all the stops in our #WhereJesusWalked series from our series recap.

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Thank You for Joining Us!

As our virtual tour of #WhereJesusWalked ends, we thank you for joining us. Our goal was to illumine places Jesus visited while on the earth. Gospel history is not built on pixie dust and fairytales, but on events rooted in reality— real places, real people, and real time.

…but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31

Kent, Charles Foster. “Palestine in the time of Jesus, 4 B.C. – 30 A.D.: including the period of Herod, 40 – 4 B.C.” [S.l.: s.n, 1912] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2009579463/>. (Yellow highlights added by blog author.)

Where Jesus Walked: Sea of Galilee

June 24, 2021 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Join us today in welcoming guest contributor, Aleigh Porter. Aleigh loves teaching people, whether it be as an oncology nurse or a messenger of God’s word. The daughter of a minister and teacher, she has amazing examples to follow as she lives out her ministry. Aleigh encourages women to trust God in their journey, even when life goes off-script. She is a contributing writer for Hello Mornings Bible studies and a speaker at various women’s events in local churches. Her unofficial ministry involves being the best aunt to five energetic teenagers and owner to her dog Max. A Texas girl all the way, she loves football, her family, and her faith.

Growing up, my sister and I spent much time sailing with our father. His hobby became a favorite of ours as well yet today, I cannot sail a boat by myself. Although it sounds strange, the truth is that I never had to do the sailing. While I spent much time on the water, I never had to navigate it on my own. My dad always took care of the preparation and charting and navigation as we journeyed from one place to the next. My sister and I helped with whatever tasks he assigned along the way, but the primary responsibility was not ours. I never worried about anything while he was in the boat because I knew who was in control, and we always made it to our destination safely.

Today, I love being on the water as much as ever and believe this is why the stories of Jesus and the Sea of Galilee are some of my favorites in Scripture. It is not a surprise that the one who called himself Living Water spent much of his ministry around this element. Scripture shows us that bodies of water are integral in the journey and ministry of God’s people.

Scripture shows us that bodies of water, like the Sea of Galilee, are integral in the journey and ministry of God’s people. #WhereJesusWalked

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Thriving Community

The Sea of Galilee is a fresh-water lake that is primarily fed by the Jordan River. This river is of significance to the Israelites, as they crossed over it to enter the Promised Land (Joshua 3:17). The city of Capernaum at the north end of the Sea was also an important location, as many travelers crossed the Jordan near that site, and it became a major point of commerce. Although called a sea, the fresh water of Galilee provided drinking water for the region and supported a thriving fishing industry. The semi-tropical climate and natural springs in the region led people to believe that the area promoted healing and became a popular place for those struggling with infirmities. All these factors worked together to create a perfect area for to Jesus to establish his ministry.

Mission-minded Ministry

About 18 miles from his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus came to the region of Galilee early in his ministry. This location is noted in the prophecies of Isaiah “In the future, he will honor Galilee of the nations, by way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:1b-2). Here Jesus called his first disciples, proclaiming them to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). He spent time teaching the multitudes around him, including the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). When they brought him the sick, he spent time healing them from leprosy, demons, and many other diseases (Matthew 8-9). Ultimately, he even filled their stomachs when they did not have enough food for themselves (Matthew 14:13ff). All the while, he taught them the things the Father entrusted to him. He never wavered in his mission.

Faith-building Opportunity

Through this entire journey the disciples walked with him, but their faith often fell short. The Sea of Galilee has a unique topography as it is in a valley surrounded by mountains, which allows strong storms to develop quickly. The men knew this – they were fishermen, after all – and this was their home territory. No doubt they knew every inch of the sea – it was essential to their survival.

Yet one night, a storm developed that scared the disciples like no other. Everything they knew about the sea was rendered worthless as the chaos swirled around them, and they panicked. The disciples ran to Jesus (who was sleeping) asking him to save them from the overwhelming storm. In this moment, Jesus could have hugged them and calmed their fears and coddled them. Instead, he chastised them saying, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matthew 8:28). The disciples knew they were on a sea prone to storms yet allowed fear to overcome them because they got distracted from the most important factor – they had JESUS in their boat.

Faithful Living

Isn’t that what we often do as well? We know the world we live in brings storms and chaos and fear, but we allow those things to overwhelm us in the moment and cry out to our Savior asking for help. We forget that we have Jesus in our boat. We lose sight of the fact that he is always in control, even if it feels like he is sleeping. Jesus is right beside us in the boat and is fully aware of the storm, but sometimes he allows it to blow around us. Our job is to trust him – he is prepared, charting the course, and navigating our boat through the rough waters of life. We must complete our tasks along the way knowing that he will guide us to the proper destination. What better Captain could we have?

Jesus is our Captain. Our job is to trust him – he is prepared, charting the course, and navigating our boat through the rough waters of life. #WhereJesusWalked

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Jerusalem: Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah?

June 22, 2021 by Kristee Ravan Leave a Comment

Jerusalem, the City of David, home to many of the stories about Jesus–staying behind to instruct the teachers, while his parents worried about Him, clearing the temple, His triumphant entry, celebrating Hanukkah.

Wait, what? Jesus celebrated Hanukkah?

Since Hanukkah isn’t mentioned in Exodus as one of the feasts the Israelites were to keep, it’s easy to not realize that Jesus actually celebrated it. It’s mentioned in John 10:22-23, “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.” The meaning of the Hebrew word, Hanukkah, is “dedication.”

History of Hanukkah

Because Hanukkah’s origins happened in the Intertestamental time, its creation as a Jewish festival isn’t mentioned in the Bible. After Alexander the Great’s kingdom was divided among his generals, a new king came to rule over the region that included Judea. His regnal name was Antiochus IV, but he was also called Epiphanes, which means “the manifest god.” (Keep that detail in mind. We’ll be back for it in a bit.)

Antiochus had one goal that he was very passionate about: a unified kingdom. He felt the separate cultures of the people he ruled kept them apart. He decided to force them to adopt the Greek culture. His plans were struggling in Judea, however. The Jewish people did not want to give up their own practices for Greek ones.

Antiochus believed that the Jewish religion was the cause of their hesitancy to act like good Greek citizens, so he abolished the practice of Judaism. Jews who kept the Sabbath, owned scriptures, or circumcised their babies were executed. He also put ritual prostitutes in the Temple.

After Antiochus marched on Jerusalem in 167 BC and sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the altar, the Jews had had enough. Many joined Mattathias and his sons in their rebellion against the king. Three years later, Mattathias’s son, Judah Maccabee, and the other rebels defeated Antiochus and began to restore and rededicate the temple.

The Menorah, which is mentioned in Exodus (25:31-40) when Moses is prescribing the articles needed for the tabernacle, wasn’t burning anymore. The flame on this seven-branched lamp was supposed to never go out–a symbol of God’s undying and eternal nature. Worse, the Greeks had defiled almost all of the sacred oil used to light it.

One small vial–enough for a day–was all that remained. It would take eight more days to prepare more consecrated oil. Rather than wait to light the Menorah again, the rebels decided to light it immediately. Miraculously, it burned for the entire eight days! And that is why Hannukah is celebrated–to remember God kept His promises, saved His people, and worked a great miracle.

When Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah

The verses mentioning Jesus as the Feast of Dedication are brief and likely there to explain why he was in the colonnade of Solomon–because it was winter: cold and rainy for Jerusalem. But it was while He was there for that festival that the Jews surrounded him and demanded to know “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24)

Since they had been celebrating Hanukkah and remembering how God delivered them from Antiochus IV, maybe they were hoping Jesus would declare himself and start a rebellion against Rome.

Jesus answered, “I and the Father are one.” The Jews had a strong reaction to that; they picked up stones to kill Him. Jesus escapes, but the people of his time missed an amazing connection by rejecting His divinity.

At the Feast of Dedication, celebrated to commemorate the defeat of the one who claimed to be “the manifest god,” Jesus openly declared that He is the true Manifest God. He is that eternal light of the world, burning brightly.

At the Feast of Dedication, celebrated to commemorate the defeat of the one who claimed to be “the manifest god,” Jesus openly declared that He is the true Manifest God. #WhereJesusWalked

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The Jews may have rejected Jesus because he wasn’t the kind of Messiah they were looking for–a warrior who would restore the earthly kingdom of Israel. They trusted in their own knowledge and vision for the Messiah. They thought they knew better.

How often do we do that? How often do we rely on our own independence and wisdom instead of seeking Him?

Where can you trust Him more?

The Jordan River

June 17, 2021 by Jennifer Hong 3 Comments

This month, we tour the Holy Land where Jesus walked. Today, we’ll look at the Jordan River, both in Jesus’s day and in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, our introduction to the Jordan River comes by way of John the Baptist. As Jesus’s three years of ministry were just about to commence, John had been preaching and baptizing in the wilderness of Judea, clothed in camels’ hair and sustained by locusts and honey. His message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (John 3:2).

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (John 3:11).

Jesus traveled down from Galilee down to Judea, where he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (John 3:16-17).

What might you have seen, smelled, felt, or heard, if you were there in the crowd witnessing Christ’s baptism?

The Lumo Project. John the Baptist in the wilderness and the baptism of Jesus.
https://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/john-baptist/

The Jordan River

I haven’t seen the Jordan River myself. But my husband has.

He tells me that there is little rainfall in the arid area around Jerusalem, but the Jordan River carries water from the higher elevations down into the valley. Vegetation lines the banks of the river, murky with the silt carried from upstream. From Scripture and early Church tradition, we understand that Jesus was baptized at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, north of the Dead Sea and east of the city of Jericho.

Lying on the Eastern border of Israel and the Western border of Jordan and Syria, the Jordan flows south from its sources in the Hula Valley into the Sea of Galilee. From the Sea of Galilee, it continues south into lower elevations, carrying silt into the Dead Sea.

The Jordan River in Jewish History: Entering the Promised Land

While my first introduction to the Jordan River as a young Christian was the story of Christ’s Baptism, and my limited understanding of the river comes from research and second-hand descriptions, the Jews with Jesus and John knew this river well and recognized it as a long-established setting of new beginnings in their history with God.

Before John stood on the river banks, declaring the coming Kingdom of God and calling for repentance….
Before Jesus was submerged in the murky waters….
Before the Spirit of God descending upon Christ as a dove….
Before God proclaimed of Jesus, “This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased….”

Long before any of the Jews present on that miraculous day had begun their own trek into the wilderness, God had demonstrated His faithfulness to the Jews at this very site, establishing the Jordan River as a boundary and a transition into new life.

Joshua chapter 3 tells of the Israelites, led by Joshua, entering the Promised Land by crossing the Jordan before continuing West to Jericho. In a miraculous event reminiscent of the crossing of the Red Sea a generation before, the Lord held back the waters of the Jordan as His people passed on dry ground:

“Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan…. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap. …Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.” (Joshua 3:11,13,17)

In this way, the Israelites entered the Promised Land and began the conquest of the land the Lord was giving over to them. Six hundred years later, the Jordan River was also the setting at which Elijah was taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2:8-11), and it was the Jordan River where God cleansed and healed the Syrian commander Naaman of leprosy.

The Jordan River, Christ’s Baptism, and Our Baptism

The Jordan River is the setting of John’s call to repentance and the declaration of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Jordan River is the boundary into the Promised Land, entered by Israel in God’s timing and by His provision, conquered in obedience and by His hand.

And the Jordan River is the water in which our Savior was immersed, where the Father, Son, and Spirit were manifest together (Matthew 3:16-17).

In our baptism, we are called to repentance as the Jews were on the banks of the Jordan. In baptism, we become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. We begin to live within God’s timing, by His provision, victorious only through obedience and by His hand.

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

Where were you baptized? Has your understanding of baptism changed or grown since that time? Share with us in the comments. I’ll add my story, too.

Bethany: The Way of Sacrifice

June 15, 2021 by Cheli Sigler Leave a Comment

Thank you for joining the Do Not Depart contributors for a virtual tour of #WhereJesusWalked. We have visited Bethlehem, Jericho, and Cana of Galilee thus far. We continue our tour in Bethany. Described as a hamlet by some and a small suburb by others, Bethany was a frequent stop for Jesus.

Just outside of the city of Jerusalem, Bethany sits on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives. The two-mile journey to Jerusalem was an uphill jaunt. The proximity to Jerusalem made Bethany a perfect place to escape curious crowds, but more importantly, it was the home of Jesus’ close friends: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

Between Jesus’ triumphal entry and supper in the Upper Room with the disciples, Jesus spent time in Bethany with His friends at Simon the Leper’s house. Here in a common home with common people, an uncommon disciple demonstrates that following Jesus is the way of sacrifice.

Barrier Breaker

The candles were lit, the food served, and the guests were enjoying a meal with Jesus. Without introduction and without excuse, Mary (John 12:3) enters the room where Jesus was. Interrupting the dinner and against all cultural barriers, she anoints Jesus with expensive oil.

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. Matthew 26:6-7

Giving up propriety and risking humiliation, Mary’s action shakes up the room. Cries of disgust erupt across the room while Jesus honors her heart and motivation. Mary sacrificed any regard for social standing to exalt Jesus.

Afterall, Jesus showed her the way by withstanding rejection, scorn, and derision of men. Even now, He invites sinners into a relationship with Him by faith and by grace ushers them into the presence of God. Jesus’ sacrifice breaches any barriers, making God approachable for all who call on His name.

Selfless Servant

Mary could have kept the oil for a future occasion. Instead, knowing the surpassing greatness of Jesus, she used the oil to serve Him. A less humble heart would have reserved the oil, but Mary gave it all away.

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. John 12:3

In a posture of humility, Mary bows before Jesus. Even more, she uncovered her hair and used it to cover Jesus’ feet in oil. Mary’s position before Jesus proves her understanding that following Jesus required service and sacrifice.

Afterall, Jesus’ life on earth was marked by sacrifice. Beginning with His incarnation:

…who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:6-7

Soon after His annointing by Mary of Bethany, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet to show them “the full extent of his love” (John 13:1). Selfless servanthood is the way of Jesus, the way of sacrifice.

In Bethany at a common home with common people, an uncommon disciple demonstrates that following Jesus is the way of sacrifice. #WhereJesusWalked

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Devoted Disciple

Although some in the room decried the wasting of such costly fragrance, Jesus saw it as pure devotion and worship. Like the widow who gave all she had (Luke 21:1-4), Mary of Bethany gave every drop of this precious possession in an act of worship.

“Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Matthew 26:10-12

Mary knew Jesus was going to die, and she honored His sacrifice by preparing His body in an act of worship. Mary loved Jesus with her whole heart. She risked her reputation, she lowered her position, and she poured out all her possession to worship and adore Jesus. I think the apostle Paul would agree that Mary’s adoration of Jesus is an example of true worship.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

The way of Jesus is the way of sacrifice. Jesus warned His disciples that following Him would be costly. Philippians 2: 8 describes Jesus as “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Today Jesus calls us to sacrificial obedience. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Reflection

The account of Mary of Bethany challenges me to reflect on the following. Do I only serve Jesus in socially approved ways? Am I willing to risk my reputation for Christ? What am I holding onto that I need to completely give to Jesus? How do I really feel about dying to self and following Jesus? Am I following Jesus in the way of sacrifice?

The answers to these questions are imperfect. I “fall short” too often. Yet, I am confident that the Holy Spirit’s persistent work will yield more understanding and better following as I continue in my Christian life.

How are you challenged by Mary of Bethany’s example? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Join us as we visit Bethany as part of our #WhereJesusWalked series.

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