Can't Stay Away

"Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

 - John 12

In the last year of Jesus' life, before He suddenly lost favor and began the final trek to the Cross, a group of Greeks sought Him out. The Greeks were probably considered quite learned, quite logical, rational men of note. They would want proof. They would want to see for themselves.

They had heard about this Man of magic, or of wisdom, or of vision. They followed the news of His comings and goings, and by-and-by it became convenient for them to find Him in Jerusalem.

They approached the Disciples.

"Sir, we would see Jesus."

And so became the first people in history, to mouth and have recorded, the words of true seekers throughout the ages.

"Let me see Him."

The longing, the urgency: If I could just see Him.

Yes, when people see the Church, they should see the Body of Christ. They should see the Lord Himself. But we all know that's all kind of figurative. I want to see HIM. "I really want to see you Lord but it takes so long!"

In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was God, and the Word was with, or toward God. Creation itself longs to be put back together. The Son of God, among Men, is the created Being that leads that reunion of all, with our creator. The Word of God, Christ, moves toward God, in language that evokes lovers running towards others from a great distance, not mindful of snares and potholes along the way. They cannot stay apart. Even the most learned among us, the most skeptical, when having the chance to see the Prince of Peace, cannot stay away.

Sir, we would see Jesus.

When the Left is Right, we Say So

He will look with favor on the prayer of the homeless; he will not despise their plea.

 - Psalm 102:17

Today, the Political Left (which does not seem terribly convicted that the Word of God is true, and essential to life), likes to use Scripture in the face of believers. Like Satan, when tempting Christ, they are always saying "Isn't it written . . . ", but only to shame God's people.

This passage from the Psalms is a good one. If God looks with favor on the homeless, then what's the Christian Right's problem? Why are they always cutting federal support for housing programs?

Why do we care how the homeless get their help, as long as they get help?

God does direct us to care for the homeless. In the Old Testament, it is right up their with sexual morality. So we do have to care for the homeless. Shame on us if we don't

But it does not have to be through taxes and government programs. That is not what the Lord meant. We are supposed to personally and directly help the homeless.

But we are supposed to help them.

The Three Young Men

"For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any other nation,and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins."

 - Song of the Three Young Men

Israel, for a brief period of a couple of generations, shone like no other kingdom in earth's history. What was it like to have been an Israeli citizen, during the reign of David, or of Solomon?

The impact was so great, as to have become the stuff of legend. Hundreds of generations later, the world still recalls the golden age of Israel.

But it goes out as a warning to all great nations that followed, especially those that presumed to be God's people: You can lose it all.

In the time of Daniel, and the "Three Young Men," Israel had dwindled down to near extinction. A handful of the faithful are scattered throughout the ancient world, being carried forward by their faith alone, under the protection of the occasional worldly leader in whom they found favor.

The lesson is worth reflecting upon, by every generation.

We too may be called upon to stand firm, against impossible odds.