Reading The Bible Through – From a Pastor's Point of View

What is in a Name?

I must admit that I miss writing in my personal blog space. However, I will try to do better in the future. Today, Wednesday, February 22, 2023, marks the beginning of Lent. My goal this year is to read and write reflections on the Gospels. Hopefully, I can maintain a faith practice of sharing thoughts regarding the sacred text.

The central concern of the text lives in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. “Joseph called him Jesus” (Matt. 1:25b CEB). The author clarifies that Joseph publicly acknowledged him as his son by naming the child. Though we know that Joseph was his adopted father, according to ancient Hebrew tradition, the father naming a child affirms the legitimacy of the family connection. Since Joseph’s familial line carries the great King David, Jesus can genuinely claim he is from the House of David.

To be affirmed in the ancient culture, Joseph had to name Jesus to fulfill scripture (see Isaiah 9:6-7). His Davidic ties placed Jesus into the very heart of Jewish culture. As a Hebrew, he could rightfully claim his place as the Messiah. The identity of the Son proved crucial to telling the Gospel narrative.

The End of the Journey

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of our journey through the Bible. As we finish with the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John invites us to a ringside seat regarding the end of times. The action is surreal as we face false gods, fallen angels, and the lengths to which dramatic forces will go to hold fast to the world. These demonic beings underestimate the power of God. While chaos battles ferociously for the hearts and minds of divine creation, heavenly hosts respond in righteous anger and match each blow from the enemy with a strength that is far superior to anything that dares to challenge sacred superiority. In the end, God reigns supreme, and creation rediscovers the Divine’s initial intent.
Many know what it’s like to feel like we are in the middle of the apocalypse. We wonder how we will ever recover from where we are; our situation sometimes brings us to our knees, and we feel like we have been kicked right in the stomach. Life feels like it is falling out from under our very feet, and we cry out in the middle of what looks to be the end of the world, our world. The fires of hell overwhelm us to the point that we cannot breathe. We gasp, unsure if we’re taking our last breath.
Hear the good news, God wins! Our protector will always shield us from our foes. We must hold on to our faith during these rough times and rejoice that we know who holds the ending of our story. In Genesis, we discovered this amazing God, who wanted to have a relationship with us, loved us into creation. Over time we were introduced to God’s love and God’s wrath. Through every type of situation known, the one constant remained that heavenly arms reached out to us and continue to do so to this day. Revelation reminds us that our faith leads us to the ultimate victor.
For those of you who participated in the reading for the year, thank you for sharing sacred moments with me as we went on an incredible journey together. May you all go out into the world and share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and through your love, you may change the world one heart at a time. Peace be to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ reading is the beginning of faith. The real action occurs with how you respond to God’s calling on your life. Share the good news with everything you are, and in so doing, the world will know you are a Christ-follower. Amen.

Doubts in the Middle of Storms

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24A gale arose on the lake, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25And they went and woke him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ 26And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27They were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?’ (Matt. 8:23-27 NRSV).

Several issues surround this fantastic story of Jesus. One point I question is his ability to sleep in the middle of a storm that was so powerful that water washed over the boat. I think it is safe to say that Jesus was a very heavy sleeper. As this story unfolds, the disciples plead with Jesus to do something. Jesus’ response was one of amazement that the disciples still didn’t get it. They did not understand that Jesus was the Son of God. The disciples’ response to this miracle is evidence that they had no idea that they were in the presence of the Son of God.

The disciples had witnessed many other miracles before this miracle. Why did they still question Jesus? Why didn’t they simply believe? They met the living God face to face but still doubted. What amazes me is that, despite witnessing this miracle, there would be doubt and actual denial.

I am, sad to say that I am a lot like the disciples. I have experienced the presence of God in my life. I have witnessed his works as I move towards ordination. I have seen him heal my soul and me, who once was spiritually blind, now see. Why do I still continue to doubt?

Although Jesus questioned the faith of the disciples, there is a positive about what the disciples did. They acknowledged and went to the one who could calm the storm. The story does not say, though it implies, that the disciples had no idea how Jesus would help. The only thing they knew was that he was their source of comfort. They knew that he was the one to run to for answers. They, in their doubts, had no idea what Jesus would do or say to help get them out of a bad situation. They simply went to the right place.

This story reflects the fact that storms are racing all around us in our lives. We are flooded with financial issues, day to day worries, and crisis that occur. We only need to turn to that calm presence that is in the boat, so to speak, with us. The God who calms the sea restores and refreshes our souls. He is with us. We must turn to him and ask for His help.

Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897