Salvogesis

Romans 5:3,4 “...but let us also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” We have been suffering through the pandemic for quite a while now; but today is a sign of hope. [i]   We are meeting inside again for a church service. Praise the Lord. It seems a little strange. It has been a little while. It reminds me of the story of Noah and the flood a little bit. [ii]  It reminds me of Genesis Chapter 8 – especially the part where Noah and his family send out the birds.   Noah and his family had been in their social bubble, secluded from others for a long time. The earth was covered by a flood. To me this is reminiscent of the many people who have been secluded from others in many ways and some more than others – some completely or almost completely – as the whole earth has been flooded with this pandemic.   Genesis Chapter 8 especially resonated with me this week in the context of chur...

Matthew 18: …the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”    2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.    The scene is like this: Jesus’ followers, his congregation, his friends, like you guys here; like us; they ask Jesus which one of them is doing the best? Who is the star? Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?    Jesus then looks for a child in the congregation and has her stand with the disciples who are asking the question (the word is gender neutral but there is an argument to be made that the child is a girl)[i] and Jesus tells his disciples – she is the greatest…or one like her....

Today we read about the feeding of the 5000 by Jesus and his disciples. This is a very significant story. The writers of all four of the Gospels included it in their biography of Jesus’ and their record of his ministry. It is actually the only miracle that all four of them noted. The authors John and Matthew were both present when this event occurred, and Luke’s version of this incident is recorded after some significant research. And John Mark was certainly part of the inner circle of Jesus’ followers afterwards and so he undoubtedly heard about this incident quite a bit - as he himself may or may not have been there as well.   John and Matthew were both there when this happened. John has a little bit different of a memory of this event than Matthew but no more of a difference of a recollection than Susan and I have over some of the events of our life and ministry.   This story struck me anew this week for a couple of reasons. One, I was surprised to learn this week that I ha...