January 20, 2019 - Blended
Grace mercy, and peace be yours in abundance Texas the gospel.
Why good morning again?
I got a picture for you this morning. I'll ask you first off how many are familiar with these? Where are they? Growth chart right and put them up in our kids brooms and we can measure their throat and I got to tell you those mean something very different to my friends who are 6 feet tall then they do to me.
I remember years in junior high. I was falling behind on the growth chart since I was frustrated. Because I was measuring myself with outward expectations over which I had absolutely no control. That wasn't much fun. As a grown man, of course, I've come to accept my vertical challenges. You have no choice and I even see there are some benefits too many there are few but growing taller when not growing taller when one hopes to I've learned is not for the faint of heart. I do believe it helps me to better understand what life is like when hopes and expectations are not mess. And we go through all these things as human beings and we can go through when we Face a shortfall. everyday We all know that feeling. So am I really talking about here?
Let's Make a Deal from the physical through the spirit and the frustrations we encounter when we know he's been baptized and like I said last week, you know, when the spirit descended Upon Jesus and then that spoken over us in our baptism as the spirit Comes To Us by God. Are you my you are my beloved? You are my beloved Son. With whom I am busy.
and then part 2 we have a front row seat. From which we see our own impatience. gossip our own and Tiny our lack of loyalty our lack of growth spiritually And a friend or spouse or a client or a customer to be upset with us with reasonable cause because we aren't even pleased with ourselves.
And how on Earth and God say you are my beloved when it's time. He sees our Behavior or lack thereof.
Because in these moments we're looking for outward markers that measure our grow. That's why we attracted to rituals and theology that teaches a Works rightness righteousness. You no work hard and you'll be alright sermons that tell you what to do with. moralisms on how to behave
we're more comfortable with the Bible as a rule.
Rather than a lie. the league Because deep down inside, you know, we think that God judges Just like we do.
markers to measure our growth
describe so much of how the Jewish faith function prior to Jesus. It was about rituals. It was about and sacrifices and circumcision and fascism of repentance and doing all the right things about that. I got a convention. Robert's Rules of Order kind of God
That's why there were barrels like this one. Each holding for 20 to 30 gallon of water outside the phone where the wedding at Cana.
Because it was for a ritual washing. It's connected with feast. And then Jesus comes on the sea.
And Rachel is thrown out the window. and something else replaces and old measurements are gone and something new appears something inside something intoxicating.
in fact a hundred 2280 gallons worth enough wine to have that entire guest list intoxicated birthdays.
That's the first miracle of Jesus. And why does it take place at a wedding? The context is America. It's a marriage feast. It is the beginning of a new relationship.
And God of the universe is saying something to humanity. through this first miracle see in Judaism Israel is referred to as the bride of Christ and in the end of the Messiah to come and got himself and to prove this point. It's interesting to me that the forefathers of the Ancients connected this miracle in gallon in Canaan Galilee.
My heart yearns for Jerusalem. I will not stop paying for her and tell her righteousness are salvation blazes like a bunny. gift line the Nations will see you and you will not be forsaken or Desmond. You'll be the city of God's Delight. and the Bride of our God and he will claim you as his own and God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. The context of Jesus first miracle is a wedding because the context is about relationship. not ritual the water that was used for ritual washing 122.
turned into wine Fringe ointment of a new Feast a marriage Feast celebration of a relationship intoxicating Cuz it's based on love. not ritual
Does he I love this painting? Is the wedding at Cana by Italian Paolo veronese? A few years ago. Can I be able to go to 300 people huddled around what is a painting about this 5 it's behind bronze. And there is a railing in the people in background as rather underwhelming. but if you take a look and you spin around 183 on the back wall opposite Mona Lisa I'll be about 30 people saying. Gazing at a painting that is 7 by 10. So 21 ft by 30 ft weighing over.
wedding Cana and as you walk closer to you are amazed as well as their and when you look at it, there's some things that the artist of course he put it into Italian times. Italian people the idea of a celebration. He's got mad Queen Anne Francis the first of France. He's got the scene of Austria.
Christ I am right by your mother talk more about that later, but he's he's saying this is the sacred. I miss the profane. Is is what's going on here and you'll see that ritual is obviously thrown out. in light of Celebration
Providence Place
it's relation. not ritual and I experienced people who think the guy is mean or without Mercy because something bad happened in their lives or some other difficult circumstance. And then sometimes experience exactly the opposite of that, you know people who think Johnny's food and Breakers based on something good.
When you got to get Klonopin to either kind of thinking your faith life simply becomes a yo-yo. Because he see the problem with such thinking. It's not what scripture teaches. It's kind of like natural reveals knowledge we call it and if it's natural revealed knowledge have a Bugatti is we will have nothing but religion the ritual. And when something goes wrong, you'll try more ritual and you'll try more long and you'll try more legalism and you're worried when others don't live up to your judgment cuz you think the same way you are.
And when things go, well, you'll be like a hamster on a wheel you'll be going for the next big thing trying to convince yourself that God is merciful.
Natural revealed now that reveals. And then we have revealed. Scriptures what they say and what are theology confirms the bad things happen because the world is broken. It's off track. And revealing his Darkness.
The reality is we are all burden because of this Brokenness in one way or another it just presents differently in our lives. different burdens to carry question is you carry those burdens to Jesus. Or do you run from him when it's dark? And the Darkness is pressing in on you.
What is relationship about?
To do it on your own. What's a trust the one who says cast all your burdens on me for I care for you? That's relationship, right? The More We Trust in the more we cast The More We Grow
San Francisco busy dotting the I's and crossing their keys when it comes to religion scripture not as a source of comfort and strength to help us in our broken but in this that they use it as an instrument. To have knowledge have the correct answers the correct interpretation and this becomes the point of their engagement scripture. right Behavior what to do
And for them being in a right relationship is doing the right Behavior, which simply repels others who see right through it.
Is more often. You can tell when someone can't accept themselves, right? When I struggle with honesty in relationships being authentic. People for whom religion is more law than gospel. cuz they're just scare
oftentimes holier-than-thou one moment. being rude to the store clerk the next yelling at someone or suing someone or misunderstanding. Someone are seeking no further understanding of someone or measuring their kids or their parents up against each other. Just creating Havoc wherever they go.
These folks are in the community. These folks are in the church. And sometimes these folks. Is Us you and me
and our Behavior can be motivated more by Rich. Then my love.
What the light comes to bring?
But being in relationship with Jesus. enables us to accept our Brokenness as Christ accepts us and by but we might know Redemption.
B15 To be in relationship with him. That enables us to Bear one another's burdens. to encourage one another And experience the joy of Heart Change. This man looks on the outward appearance. But the Lord looks on the heart. At the heart is constantly changing if it's growing you see in line grow means chain.
If you're not changing. I guarantee you're going to throw me. I can drink a lot of thing. And still not grow. But most assuredly rose means things. Don't stay the same. the chi
if God is about relationship matters of the heart and not ritual Behavior. when we find comfort in the fact that he promises that he takes hearts of stone. And change them into hearts of Flesh. Because they grow in love. That's why I'm going to spend month of February looking at what it means to be Buddhist in.
Cousin relationship the heart is set to expand. And when the hearts of stone become hearts of Flesh, we grow in together and we become the body of frying. honor we can receive it up here at the altar. communion sacrament of the altar body and blood of Christ Living in you growing in you because the line is done. And entered into the world and lives out storing a wedding as painting. Celebrating love between a bride and bridegroom who I am.
with love assuring it's about a marriage. And in this marriage Feast the grill looks upon his bride. God look upon his people. No longer all of Israel, but now the church. You and me. And declares amazing things.
Including proof that the group is his life for the bride. That she may live. Celebrate love like a marriage Feast. That is Without End.
See more things about this painting. The artists of the time we're really the political activist as well. If you look more closely at this. You discover price the center and it's set up like think of 7 years previous Vinci's the Last Supper. In fact, he paints Jesus in the same clothing. the blue and the rest Is in the Last Supper The DaVinci? And if you look above Jesus head. You'll see their Carver's of the meet the the lamb. And you'll see the Carver has a knife in his hand directly above Jesus head. It's the spelling of body and bloods that use references to the Last Supper that you may feast and celebrate Eternal gifts of God for people in a marriage.
intoxicants
and he's even painted in because of Revolt reform Reformation in Germany. Germans were painted little people for drunk.
He's called on the floor the Inquisition causing the floor in the transcript because they believe he's already pushing Reformation ideas in Little League by this meeting will absolutely it and bring it in relationship. That's what it's all about. By the power of God's spirit who enlightens us who works in grow apple not by right not by being right, but not by Rich Jewel up by relationship. As we wrap up sometimes you know that couples who live together a long time to get another you see it sometimes around you say the true people and individuals growing in relationship. and one of the markers of look-alike love joy peace, patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self-control.
when we find ourselves not in love joy peace patience goodness
Wikipedia left a little frustrated It's not perfect marriage. That were in. But often times we learn tomorrow. We grow the most. from our mistakes so we might find ourselves not growing in those gifts of the Spirit is like a dashboard in her car, right? It's lighting up to being indicator. Bring it to the attention something. friendships spouses relationship God's word can do that too. Relationship with God through Jesus revealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit You Are Not Alone. This is God's doing in you it is the power of the universe who comes to us with intoxicating love. to be in relationship into any wedding feast things without me Like a Stone the darkness cannot overcome.
Invite you to rise with me for prayer.