Stuff Michael Meeks is doing

Up late, shower, off to NCC, spoke.
Out to see Tim & Julie, Adrian & Georgina & Stephanie - played with their battery powered hovercraft on the largish pond in their garden. Home early to get H. to bed.
Gordon sermon A House of Prayer on Luke 19:28-48
- The message of Palm Sunday about God's concern not for the immediate circumstances, as how we deal with them: That true peace comes only from cleaning our hearts.
- God does care about our circumstances: Isaiah 63: In all their distress, he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them. But the circumstances are not the real problem; our sinful reaction to them is. As difficult as our background, pressures etc. are, none of it is as tough as how we respond in a way that is pleasing to God.
- The outward circumstances of Jesus' disciples were horrific - subjugation to a foreign occupying army, and were all getting worse. The Romans whose literature we admire, whose laws we have inherited, whose art and architeture was amazing. The Romans were percieved as thugs whose brutality knew no limit; and as embodying a culture that was decadent, idolatorous and pernicious. The Jews of Jesus' day at a cross-roads: what to do about it ?
- In the minds of many - the obvious path was political; a King / General that would ride into the city and deliver it. The alternative view, that that Jesus was presenting: Israel & every single one of us must change our loyalty to Christ, but also recognise that his kingdom is not of this world - and offers a a different, inner peace that passes all understanding.
- What is our greatest and most urgent problem ? the job you just lost ? the doctor's diagnosis so discouraging ? rejection by your parents ? - or something inward ?
- Israel's sufferings were grevious; severe and would soon become horrendous. In just 40 years, the city would be destroyed, plundered then levelled. 100k Jews would be taken captive and reduced to servitude. 1million would be put to death. Forseeing this, Jesus wept as he approached it.
- More mundanely - the economic situation was oppressive, reducing many to destitution and servitude; adding the taxes up, comes to 30-40% of the average citizen, in terms of the nominal (minimum) tax to pay [ mostly subsistence famers ]. The taxation was not to fund local libraries, hospitals and public welfare, but to fund the armies of the oppressing power, to enrich Rome, to help our enemies.
- The authorities would franchise taxation - privatising it; they would sell the right to raise taxes to the higest bidder. The real tax well in excess of 30-40%.
- Pontious Pilate - Philo claims was inflexible and relentless; he had the power over life and death in all Israel. Pilate had 5 cohorts of calvary and a ~limitness number of soldiers from Syria. His ability to use them is well documented. Pilate plundered the temple, had the priestly robes in his authority - they would be lent out by him. He plundered the temple to use the money to make a 25 mile aquaduct for Jerusalem. The citizenry were outraged & demonstrated in 10s of thousands; he ordered his soldiers to go into the crowd with concealed weapons; and then at a signal slaughter them.
- Pilate insisted in bringing in Roman military standards to Jerusalem - done by night. The Jews followed him, begging him to respect their customs, and remove these images violating the 2nd commandments. When they were threatened they simultanously lay down exposing their necks so they could be killed: we would rather die than submit to your idolatory. Pilate eventually relented.
- It's not difficult to believe that Christians are marginalised in today's culture. But what is the solution ? we are indeed called to be leaven in our society - but is that the real problem ? If we only knew what would bring you peace - to each heart.
- The background of Hannukah, Passover and riding on a colt; 1st Passover:
  - Why were all these people going there ? why was Jesus going there. Nearly passover - one of the 3 ceremonies when everyone had to go to Jerusalem, 500k inhabitents -> 3 million at Passover.
  - The real message of passover - mostly lost, People assumed Egypt => Rome, just a liberation theology tract; favouring the oppressed. What better parallel ?
  - The Romans viewed the celebration of passover very suspiciously, and created a massive fortress right outside & above the temple.
  - The real lesson of passover is not about liberation - but the 10th plague, when the Angel of destruction went over Egypt and without regard to status and wiped out every 1st born Ex. 12:29 From the first born of the Pharoh, who sat on the throne, to the first-born of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the first-born of the live-stock as well.
  - Why did the Israelites survive ? - not because they deserved any different fate to it's neighbours, but only because God saw the blood and did not permit the destroyer to enter. It is only the blood that allows God to protect us from the wrath of God.
  - Passover points not to political liberation, but to our need of a redemption that we do not deserve.
- Hannukah - not a lot in scripture about it, Jesus once celebrated it.
  - Another political liberation ? 200 years ago the Greeks were oppressing the Jews - Antiocus Epiphanies - 'an epiphany - an appearance of Zeus'. Tried to eradicate the Jewish customs: he banned circumcision, outlawed the Sabbath: lazy to take 1 day off in 7; replaced it with a monthly celebration of his birthday - with the required eating of pig flesh.
  - What did God do about all this ? apparently used the guerilla warfware of Judas Macabeeus to liberate Jerusalem. Judas cleansed the temple where Antiocus had been into the holy of holies and sacrificed a pig. Then his brother entered the city on a donkey - and liberated it. This is why they welcomed him in the same way: 'liberate the city !'
  - The OT background, shows that individuals wanted to lay claim to a city, they would normally ride in on a pack-animal. David vs. Adnoija - thwarted him by making Solomon ride in on David's own mule; not a stallion (a usuper?), but a peaceful thing - the rightful owner; cf. Zechariah 9. A pilgrimage festival - everyone walks into Jerusalem; even the lame - if at all possible, people who had ridden all the way would dismount and walk, or even crawl rather than ride. One who on that day rode: because he was the rightful king of Israel.
  - And they layed down their cloaks - the shirts of their backs: everything belongs to you. Jesus goes - like a bee-line, and cleanses the temple: the shocker - what does he cleanse it of ? not like Judas of Greek idols. Jesus cleanses it not of Roman idols or insignia, but the symbols of Israel's self-righteousness. My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.
- Jeremiah's Den of robbers - people thinking that by going through the motions, God would be fine.
  - The Jews of Jeremiah's time had bought into the gospel of 'cheap grace' with a vengance: You can continue in your life of sin, as long as you go through some religious motions:
  - 'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"-safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD. - Jeremiah 7.
  - Jesus rebuked their false security.
- Our real problem - the tyrany of sin; I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin ... but if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed John 8:34-36
- People feel at peace often from ignorance of the danger they are in. Their biggest problem is they're offending a holy God, their most severe spiritual need is, that they do not know thier spiritual need.
- Park Street Church should be called Sinners Anonymous - if you don't think you need a new King in the throne of your heart - you've come to the wrong place.
- The sin you most hate has to be in your own heart; otherwise it's your own self-serving bias and self delusion. eg. merit based pay: a recepie for serious discontent: 86% of workers think they do better work than the average co-worker; only 1% admit their work is below average. The corner office it's worse: 90% of business managers report they're better than the average manager. [ more on the 98 SATS questions ], We can say with the Psalmist Who can discern his errors, oh forgive my hidden faults.
- Jesus wept and said, if you only you had known what would bring you peace. What is it ? the peace of Christ, that is first and foremost peace with God. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Christ's blood brings reconcilliation with God; welcome him in, and he starts the rennovation from the inside out.
- Peace I leave with you - my peace I give you; I do not give as the world gives - Jesus making his way to the cross, rejected by his own, betrayed by his friend, beaten the finally killed. Jesus is the model of peace: that's the peaceful life, that he has for you and me. Because Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.

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In case it's not painfully obvious: the reflections reflected here are my own; mine, all mine ! and don't reflect the views of Collabora, SUSE, Novell, The Document Foundation, Spaghetti Hurlers (International), or anyone else. It's also important to realise that I'm not in on the Swedish Conspiracy. Occasionally people ask for formal photos for conferences or fun.

Stuff Michael Meeks is doing

2004-05-30: Sunday