Peter, Do You Love Me?

Have you ever had a conflict with someone or felt ashamed because you sinned against them? What is it like the first time you see them again? This is now Peter’s third time seeing Jesus after the resurrection, but also after his three denials.

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The True Source of Righteousness

When I was in high school, I found a key to the school elevator on the floor one afternoon. I should have returned it, but I didn’t. However, I was careful about when I used it and for what purpose lest someone stop me and ask who it was that gave me permission. Just before the parable of the wicked tenants, some scribes and chief priests approach Jesus with a similar question.

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Examples

If everything in the Bible was rendered into a movie in a literal way, it would not be rated PG! Remember that the stories written in the Bible are both examples of WHAT to do as well as examples of WHAT NOT to do. The stories in the Bible weren’t written down for the people who experienced them. They were written for you…for us…for our instruction.

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The Approaching Disaster

Joel 2:1 is, as one commentator says, “the ancient equivalent of the modern air raid siren.” In the verses that follow we see the coming army of “a great and powerful people” (v. 2). And we see the people of Israel fleeing for safety (v. 3). As we read these verse today, I can’t help but think of what is going on in Ukraine.

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Making You to Shine

We cannot truly understand Jesus without understanding his crucifixion. The glory of Jesus that was revealed on the mount of transfiguration only fully makes sense in light of his death, resurrection, and ascension. Through these mighty events, Jesus saves us and he begins to transform us.

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Sent and Sending

The word “mission” comes from the Latin word mittere which means “to send.” We see the word “sent” or “send” in most of our readings today. For example, in the Gospel of John (20:21) Jesus says “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Just like Jesus, we are sent into the world with a mission.

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Members of the Body

Biblical Church membership is different from the worldly idea of membership.
The worldly view says: “I pay my dues which entitles me to benefits.” The biblical view says: “I am in indispensable part of God’s mission team in this place.” William Temple, a former Abp. of Canterbury, once said “The church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.” At Good Samaritan, our vision is: Loving our neighbors and helping them to find God, love, God, and share God. None of us can fulfill this on our own. We need you, and you need us.

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Behold, My Servant

At the end of “the Beauty and the Beast” the spell is broken and the true nature of the beast is revealed. You might call this a manifestation, a sign that shows something clearly. The season of Epiphany is all about manifestations that reveal the true nature of Jesus as both fully God and fully man. As the old hymn says “God in man made manifest.” Today we see such a manifestation just after Jesus is baptized in the Jordan river.

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God has Been There

Imagine what it might have been like for Mary to answer the door and see Magi with their whole entourage! Strange men from far away bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. What became of these gifts, we don’t know, the Bible doesn’t tell us. They may have been a part of God’s provision for the Holy Family during what happens next.

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