Dear Faith Family,
In every generation throughout history, there are those whose conviction and (sometimes) vocation is to speak of God to the community, to show us who God is and how we can know God. While carrying a variety of titles throughout the centuries--from priest to Pharisee, pastor to scribe, elder to counselor, professor to prophet, etc.--the influence of these revealers upon lives and understanding of faith is no less significant today as it was in the first century. Perhaps the pervasiveness and potential impact of their influence are why Jesus was regularly direct (and as his ministry drew to a close, rather harsh!) with those in this group during his day.
Imagine being someone genuinely seeking God, whose understanding and access to God are controlled by these communally responsible and respectable persons. Now, imagine listening to Jesus depose those same persons: "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven [life with God] in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in." (Matt. 24:13).
How would you respond to Jesus' grief-filled condemnation? What emotions and questions would run through you?
What you'd feel, do, and think might vary depending on your experience with these persons--how they treated you, what sort of respect they carried in your upbringing, how much you'd bought into their way, etc. But regardless, you'd probably wonder where you are to go from here. With the foundation of faith influencers shaken, who are you to look to know God? How are you to gain access to Him?
The straightforward answer to your questions, the answer those in earshot of the deposing would learn over the coming days and weeks, and the answer those walking in their footsteps throughout the following millennia have learned is: Jesus, crucified and alive.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son...He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of God's nature...After making purification for sins the Son sat down at the right hand of the Majesty of high.
(Heb. 1:1-3)
When we wonder who God is and how we can know him, we break the bread and drink the wine (or juice!) in remembrance of God's love and His opening for us the way into life with Him. The answer really is that straightforward and clear, no matter what else has been spoken to us. When we see who Jesus is--the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of God's nature--God speaks to us of Himself. And what better foundation for faith is there?
Not all those whose conviction and/or vocation is to speak of God to others miss Jesus. Some see Jesus clearly. Like Nicodemus, for example, who came to recognize in Jesus' life God's self-revelation (see Jn. 3, & 19). Or some of the "devout men from every nation under heaven" who came to see Jesus dying and alive again as the way to God (see Acts 2). And when, like them, our eyes clearly see God in Jesus, we too can speak of God to others.
No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going.
Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar.
Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room so those entering can find their way too.
(Lk. 11:33-36)
May we be persons who enter the kingdom of heaven ourselves and shine a light so others can find their way in too.
Love you, faith family! God bless.