Road Sick

Paul continues to talk the Galatians from the brink.  The Judaizers have duped them into believing the apostle's Gospel was wrong.  

These false teachers convinced them that Jesus may have saved them, but the ball's now in their court to stay saved.  And that's done through obedient rule-keeping.  

Once he received the horrible news of their situation when he was back in Antioch, he fires off this sledgehammer of a letter.  There's nothing subtle here.  The situation is too dire, too desperate, too disastrous.

Starting in Galatians 4:6, Paul flips open the scrapbook and reminds them of what happened during his two visits to Galatia.  These are the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Derbe and Iconium in what is modern day Turkey.  

Acts 13:13-14:23 tells us that Paul and Barnabas stopped twice in each city of the region.  One thing that Luke doesn't describe in Acts is the apostle's physical condition.  According to the apostle's letter to the Galatians, it wasn't pretty.

"You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the Gospel to you at first" (v13).  Scholars have invested years and spilled oceans of ink speculating on Paul's illness.  

Was it malaria?  Was it an eye infection?  Is this the same thorn in the flesh he pleaded with God to remove in 2 Corinthians 12:7?  

In many ways, it really doesn't matter.  If it did, the Holy Spirit would have made sure to let us know specifically in the Bible.  

When it comes to what's in Scripture, we're on a "need to know" basis.  If God needs us to know, He'll make sure we do.

Paul reminds the Galatians that this illness was the whole reason he stopped there in the first place.  The ESV calls it a "bodily ailment."  

The literal translation of the Greek is "weakness of the flesh."  The original text uses the word ασθενεια/astheneia, or "not" (α-/a-) strong (-σθενεια/-stheneia).  

At first glance, we might think that the apostle may have just been wiped out from being on the road.  But the following verses let us know that this weakness was much more than that.  

Paul's condition placed a heavy burden on the Galatians (v14).  And it must have been some sort of infection or illness impacting his eyes.  Why else would these new believers have been willing to offer him their own eyes (v15)?  

He was sick.  He was hurting.  He was "road sick."  There are few things worse than feeling badly while traveling.  Ugh.  

And let's face it, we're talking about the first century here.  It's not exactly like Paul could swing by the local "doc in the box.”  

The apostle was clearly hurting.  But despite his "bodily ailment," that didn't stop him from telling them about Jesus.  

As a matter of fact, it doesn't take much to see the sovereign hand of God at work here.  Paul says that it was precisely because he was sick that he shared the Gospel with the Galatians.  

The Lord is in complete control of our lives.  He will most certainly accomplish His purposes (Eph 1:11).  He'll use things in our fallen world to get things done.  That includes sickness and disease.  

It appears that Paul and his crew had no plans of stopping in Galatia.  Apparently the Lord had something else in mind.  

As a result of this unscheduled stop, the apostle decided to make the most of the opportunity and tell them about the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth (Eph 5:16).

This verse absolutely humbles me.  Too often I use the hangnail issues of living in 21st century America stop me from sharing Jesus with others.  I'm too tired.  I've got a headache.  

The Apostle Paul was so consumed with compassion for a lost and dying world that he didn't let a little thing like being flat on his back stop him from sharing the Good News.

Let's not breeze right past his statement, "I preached the Gospel."  This letter is all about the importance of the Gospel.  The Good News.  The GREATEST News!  

And what is that news?  God has personally made the ultimate rescue mission to save us.  Something we could never do for ourselves in a million years.  

As Jesus, He not only came to fulfill all of the prophecies and promises of the Messiah, but to perfectly obey the law that we could never obey.  

Christ has thrown the door of salvation open wide, not just for Jews but people everywhere!  We don't save ourselves.  That's impossible.  

Face facts.  "By works of the law no one will be justified" (Gal 2:16).  Law no.  Jesus YES!  "A person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ" (Gal 2:16).  That's the Gospel that the apostle proclaimed in the Galatian church network.

Paul also confirms the fact that he visited the churches in Galatia not once but twice.  He describes how his physical issues caused him to stop there "at first" (v13).  The Greek grammar let's us know that he is talking about the first of two stays in Galatia.  

In other words, it was only because he was sick that he stopped there that first time.  Dr. Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas hit those same towns again on their way home.

The apostle must not have been a pretty sight on this first visit to Galatia.  His sickness took a toll on his hosts.  "My condition was a trial to you" (v14), literally "my trial in the flesh.”  

Paul admits that instead of being a blessing, he was a pain in the rear.  It's clear that the Galatians went to great effort and expense to care for the sick missionary.

Despite that, his hosts didn't see this as any great burden.  It would have been understandable to look down on their Galatian noses at this dude.  

But they didn't.  Paul says that they "received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus" (v14).  

The term "angel" is the Greek αγγελος/angelos, which can mean a divine being but also a messenger or envoy.  They clearly saw this sick man as having been sent on a divine assignment by God.  

The small phrase "as Christ Jesus" is also very telling.  This perfectly describes an apostle.  

In the first century, an apostle was a designated representative of another who had full legal rights and authority.  When someone's apostle is there, it's just like the one who sent him is there.  

There's a story in Ancient Greece of an apostle who was able to divorce his boss' wife while her husband was away.  That’s the kind of authority they were given.  No word what happened when the boss returned home to find out he was now an ex-husband.

God had chosen Paul as an apostle (Gal 1:1; Acts 9:15-16).  He knew it.  And so did the Galatians.  They saw it as a privilege to care for God's apostle.  This is exactly what Jesus told His disciples (Mt 25:35-40).

If Paul hadn't gotten sick on the road, he would have never stopped in Galatia.  It appears that he and Barney would have blown right through to take the Gospel somewhere else.  

But God had other plans.  Sometimes He opens doors so we can tell others about Jesus and we don't even realize it (Acts 14:27).  He certainly moves in mysterious ways.  

We just need to always be ready to tell others about Jesus.  No matter place.  No matter the time.  We must keep our eyes open to those divine appointments He has for us.  Even when we're "road sick.”

©2012

Jay Jennings

Clouds on the Horizon

A Sucker for a Sunrise

I’m a sucker for a beautiful sunrise. It’s one of the many reasons I love going on a cruise. Early in the morning on board one of those mega-ships, most folks are still sleeping in and sleeping it off. It’s a great time to grab a cup o’ Joe and spend a little time with Jesus.

My wife and I recently enjoyed cruise to the eastern Caribbean. Our first morning on the boat, the sunrise was spectacular. It certainly didn’t start off that way. There were lots of clouds on the horizon before dawn. But those same clouds soon became a canvas for the Creator.

How often does that happen in our lives? God takes the stuff we think is obscuring our view of Him to paint a new spectacular self-portrait!

Messiah’s Not Supposed to Die

Something similar happens in Mark 9:30-32. It’s a short but very important passage where Jesus tells His team about His upcoming betrayal, murder, and resurrection for a second time.

The boys didn’t respond too well the first time around (Mk 8:31-34). When He did, Peter tells Christ that He’s got it all wrong. The Messiah’s not supposed to die. He’s supposed to dominate!

When it was all said and done, Jesus calls the leader of His disciples the devil. Not exactly the kind of reference you’re hoping for from the Son of God. The boys clearly can’t get past the betrayal and murder part. He may be telling them about rising from the dead, but they’re just not hearing it.

Are We There Yet?

Now He’s telling them a second time. They’re currently on their way back from a trip to the mountains near Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon in northern Palestine. Mark drops a pin on the map for us. “Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee” (v30).

The author selects an interesting word to describe their journey (Gr. παραπορευμαι/paraporeumai). It means to travel through some particular place. Wherever you are is not your final destination. Your trip is far from over. No, kids, we’re not there yet.

Just Passing Through

Just like our cruise ship sailed through the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands, Jesus and His disciples are passing through Galilee on this particular trip. They’re not stopping this time around. It’s not their final destination.

This is especially interesting when you lay this story in the larger narrative of Jesus’ life. Looking at both Matthew and Luke’s Gospels, it becomes very clear that Christ has set His sights on Calvary and the cross.

As a matter of fact, Dr. Luke describes how Jesus has “set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51 ESV). Our Savior may slow down a few times on their way to the big city, but they’re not stopping. Places to go. People to see.

Back in the ‘Hood

Despite being back in the Galilean ‘hood, “Jesus didn’t want anyone to know He was there” (v30). He’s not swinging by to visit family. There’s no meet-up with buddies for a quick beer.

At first I wondered if it would be hard for the Lord to pass through Galilee without stopping. I mean, this is home. He grew up in Nazareth. His mom probably still lives there as well as His brothers and sisters.

Avoiding Nazareth

Then again, the last time He was home, it didn’t go well. The folks in Nazareth weren’t buying what He was selling (Mk 6:1-6). If anything, Jesus was blown away by their unbelief.

And then there’s the time His own family came to take Him back home because they thought He had lost His marbles with all this Messiah talk (Mk 3:21). So maybe stopping by the old hometown isn’t at the top of His to-do list.

Have you ever made a quick trip through a familiar place and not told anybody you were in town? Maybe you didn’t have time. Maybe you don’t need the drama. Is this the case for Christ as He’s passing through Galilee? Could be.

Keeping It on the Down Low

There is a very specific reason Jesus wants to keep His trip through Galilee on the down low. “For He wanted to spend more time with His disciples and teach them” (v31). In other words, He needs to get them alone and get their undivided attention.

Because this is home turf for our Savior and the majority of the Twelve, they know all nooks and crannies. They’re familiar with the places to hide and NOT get noticed.

Setting the Stage

What’s the topic of His teaching? “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of His enemies. He will be killed, but three days later He will rise from the dead” (v31).

As we mentioned before, this is the second time the Lord is setting the stage for His team of what’s about to go down. The first time ended, um, rather awkwardly to say the least.

His Messianic Nickname

Once again, Jesus uses His favorite messianic nickname when talking about His betrayal, murder, and resurrection. The Son of Man. It comes a wild vision of the heavenly throne room God gives Daniel.

Danny Boy describes how he catches a glimpse of “Someone like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven” to receive eternal authority over the universe from God the Father (Dan 7:13-14).

Jesus’ use of this particular title serves a couple of purposes. One, He clearly sees Himself as not just Messiah but fully God. Two, by picking this little used messianic term, He’s likely to draw a lot less attention from the Roman occupiers as well as the folks at the Hebrew home office.

The Wheels Are Turning

The Lord teaches His team that He is “going to be betrayed into the hands of His enemies” (v31). The grammar here strongly suggests that the plot to take Him down has already begun. The verb παραδιδωμι/paradidomi is in what’s called the futuristic present tense. The wheels are already turning.

Mark has already tipped us off to that fact. In you’ve been following along in the second Gospel, you may remember the time at the Capernaum synagogue when Jewish authorities wanted to see if Jesus would break their religious rules and heal somebody on what was supposed to be His day off (Mk 3:1-2).

Bitter Enemies with a Common Foe

Our Savior couldn’t believe they could be so hard-hearted that their regulations took precedent over helping someone. He looked them right in the eye and healed a man with an atrophied hand (Mk 3:3-5).

As a result, the Pharisees and the Herodians, two of Israel’s most bitter political enemies had a common foe. None other than the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth. They began to conspire how and when they could take Him down once and for all.

A Messy Murder

This plot is no secret to Jesus. And He wants His disciples to know what’s right around the corner. What’s He’s NOT telling them yet is how one of the Twelve will be the one to deliver Him over. This will be an inside job.

The Son of God explains to them how His enemies “will kill Him” (v31). In doing so, He makes it clear that His murder will be messy. VERY messy. He uses a Greek verb (Gr. αποκτεινω/apokteino) that describes an incredibly violent death.

In the Greco-Roman world of the First-Century, there is no more violent form of death than crucifixion. The Romans use it as an extremely slow and torturous form of public execution on any threat to their power.

Jesus’ Most Radical Prediction

Jesus then makes what will be the most radical prediction regarding His Passion. “And when He is killed, after three days He will rise” (v31). I’m sure there were other rebels against Rome who had a pretty good idea they’d end up on a cross at some point. Our Savior is the first person to say He would rise again!

The Lord won’t simply pass out and regain consciousness. It will be brutal and bloody. He. Will. Die. But He won’t stay dead. Three days later, He’ll stroll boldly out of the cemetery!!

Andy Stanley likes to say that anytime someone can predict not only His own death but His own resurrection, we should go with whatever He says. That’s somebody you can trust. Everything else seems minor at that point, doesn’t it?

An Inside Source

But the original Dirty Dozen can’t get past the betrayal and murder prediction, much less wrap their brains around all this talk of rising from the dead. How do we know? Mark adds a little inside commentary about their reaction. “They didn’t understand what 

He was saying, and they were afraid to ask Him” (v32).

The author knows this because he has an inside source. Most of the earliest followers of Jesus believed that none other than Peter is the one giving Mark his first person account of the life of Christ.

Jesus’ prediction is certainly hard for the boys to swallow. His talk of betrayal and murder are like dark storm clouds. The cloud cover of the crucifixion totally obscures the glory that’s about to shine.

The Dark Shadow of Circumstances

How many times have our current circumstances overshadowed any hope for what’s ahead? Maybe your supervisor has just broke the news that you’ve been downsized. The doctor delivers the diagnosis you never wanted to hear. Your spouse announces your marriage is over.

In times like these, it’s easy to think a nasty storm is a certainly and any thought of a sunrise is crazy talk. But Jesus has a patented way of not wasting anything in our lives. Disappointment. Pain. Tears. They all become paint on His palette.

Our Good and His Glory

The Apostle Paul puts it like this. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Rom 8:28). 

Read that again. Slowly. He uses absolutely EVERYTHING. For our good. For His glory.

I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve almost given up on a sunrise because of heavy cloud cover, only to have the sun use it to create something totally breathtaking. That’s what’s happening here in Mark’s Gospel.

The Ultimate Son Rise

The disciples can’t see beyond Christ’s insistence on being handed over to His enemies to be killed. But it’s only against that terrible tragedy that Jesus will display His glory on Resurrection Sunday.

Right now, the Twelve can’t see any of that. The clouds are too thick. But just wait until the ultimate Son rise.

©2018

Jay Jennings

Winter Is Coming

“Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers” (2Tim 4:20-21).

Game of Thrones

All cards on the table. I’ve never watched or read “Game of Thrones.” But since the medieval franchise is unavoidable, I couldn’t help but think of one of the show’s famous lines when reading the end of Paul’s last letter to Timothy.

Winter is coming.

A quick Google search tells me this line is from the very first episode of GoT. It’s the motto of the House of Stark. It has everything to do with warning of coming danger. It has little to do with the weather forecast.

Paul the Prisoner

As we flip over from HBO to the New Testament, we find Paul in prison (2Tim 1:8, 16; 2:9). Sitting in the dark dungeon of Rome’s Mamertine Prison, he fully realizes his execution date is right around the corner (2Tim 4:6-7).

Lots of people a whole lot smarter than me think the apostle is writing to Timothy during the fall of 67 AD. For the man Jesus used to compose a huge chunk of what we call the New Testament, these are some of his very last words of his very last letter.

Paul picks up his pen this final time for a pair of purposes. First of all, he’s passing the torch of ministry to the young pastor in Ephesus (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Second, he pleads his spiritual son to hurry and see him one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). Why?

Winter is coming.

An Update on the Old Crew

As the apostle signs off in these final sentences, he lets Tim know what some of the old crew is up to. “Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who as ill, at Miletus” (v20). They were all members of Paul’s travel team back in the day. Timothy will certainly appreciate the latest on his friends.

Tim and Erastus are boys. They knew each other well. They’ve been on the road as a dynamic duo for Jesus. During his three-year stay in Ephesus on his second tour, Paul taps these two members of his team for a trip to Europe. “And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while” (Acts 19:22).

Sharing the Load

What a great reminder that God doesn’t expect us to be a one-man band when serving our Savior. Paul trusted the Lord to work through guys like Tim and Erastus. The whole deal didn’t hang on his apostolic shoulders.

How about you? Do you share the responsibilities of the mission with others? Or do you have the mistaken belief that nobody but you has what it takes to share the Gospel and love folks like you? If so, get over yourself. Ministry is a team sport.

Rich Corinthian History

In this last letter to Timothy, the apostle gives Erastus last known location as Corinth. Ah yes, Corinth. It’s the infamous port city just south of Athens on the southern tip of what we know today as Greece. I’m not sure about leather, but there is a rich Corinthian history in Scripture.

Paul hit Corinth on that same second expedition (Acts 18:1). It’s where he met the power couple of Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:2). Jesus uses these three to reach many Corinthians with His message of grace (Acts 18:8) and plant an important church there.

Off the Rails

But after the apostle eases on down the road, the church in Corinth goes off the rails. Paul ends up writing them several letters to try and get them back on track. Two of them, what we’ve labeled 1st and 2nd Corinthians, give us a glimpse inside one very jacked up congregation.

So what does Corinth have to do with Erastus? So glad you asked. Near the end of his letter to believers in Rome, the apostle tells us that the Big E holds a job in city government. “Erastus, the city treasurer” sends his best to the Roman followers of Jesus (Rom 16:33).

This would explain why he “remained at Corinth” (20). Because Erastus lived and worked there. The word the ESV translates as “remained” (Gr. μενω/meno) means to abide, stay, live, dwell, or permanently endure. Clearly Corinth is his home.

Perfectly Positioned by God

Paul’s description of Erastus situation is a subtle reminder that we don’t have to leave our jobs in order to follow Jesus. Becoming a disciple doesn’t mean an automatic call to become a pastor. That’s the apostle’s point when he tells believers in Corinth to stay just where they are (1Cor 7:20).

Before we start filling out our seminary application, we’d probably better slow our roll. There’s a pretty good chance God has positioned you perfectly in the marketplace to shine His light and spread His salt. Being missional means being a missionary right where you are.

Just as Erastus remained in Corinth, our default should be to remain right where we are. If you’re in a job that requires you to compromise your faith in Christ, that’s a different story. More often than not, we need to hold our spot and let the Holy Spirit open our eyes to the opportunities where we already are.

A Disciple on the Disabled List

Next Paul mentions one member of his team who’s on the disabled list. “I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus” (v20). There are few things worse than getting sick when traveling. If that’s happened to you, let’s just say the T Man feels your pain.

Trophimus is a good buddy of Tychicus. He’s the guy who Paul sends to Ephesus, probably delivering this very letter Tim is reading (2Tim 4:12). Dr. Luke describes these two as “the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus” (Acts 20:4). This means he is from somewhere in Asia Minor, better known today as Turkey.

Trophimus from Ephesus

Later in Acts, the good doctor gets a little more specific about this guy’s hometown when he calls him “Trophimus the Ephesian” (Acts 21:29). Did you know he’s the reason Paul’s Jewish opposition flies off the handle in Jerusalem. They freak out when they think the apostle broke the rules by bringing this Gentile into a Jews only part of the temple.

This results in a huge riot at the temple that lands Paul in Roman custody for a grand total of five years (Acts 21:30-34). During his incarceration, he uses this time to write letters to churches in Ephesus, Colossae, Philippi, as well as his buddy Philemon.

Too Sick to Travel

While we don’t know the exact diagnosis of Trophimus’ sickness, the apostle makes it clear that he’s too sick to travel. Paul uses a Greek verb translated as “ill” (Gr. ασθενεω/astheneo) means to be weak, be sick, incapacitated, unable, or feeble. It literally means “no strength” or “not strong.”

That being the case, the apostle has to leave him in Miletus. This is a small seaport on the west coast of Asia Minor, just about 63 miles south of Ephesus. On his way back to Jerusalem on his third tour, Paul made a quick stop in Miletus for an emotional meeting with the elders of the Ephesian church (Acts 20:17-38).

Visiting the Sick

Trophimus may well have been traveling with Paul just prior to his arrest. Many signs point to that going down in Troas, which is just up the coast. That’s where the apostle left his coat, his Bible, and other important papers at Carpus’ house (2Tim 4:13).

If Trophimus is sick in Miletus, he would be close enough for Timothy to reach out to him from Ephesus. Pastor Tim could love on his old friend just as Jesus tells the Twelve. Remember, when we take the time to visit the sick, we’re also worshiping our Savior (Mt 25:36).

Paul’s Power to Heal

Whatever was going on, Trophimus wasn’t strong enough to leave town. So Paul left him behind. But wait just a New York minute. Didn’t God give the apostle the power to heal? For Pete’s sake, he raised Eutychus from the dead after he fell asleep and fell out a window during Paul’s midnight message in Troas (Acts 20:7-12).

Folks even used pieces of clothing that Paul touched to cure what ailed them (Acts 19:12). After the big shipwreck on Malta, he healed the father of a local powerbroker as well as many other residents (Acts 28:8-9).

Disease in Our Broken World

But there were clearly limits on his supernatural healing abilities. Epaphroditus nearly died when he visited Paul in prison (Phil 2:25-30). Don’t forget how he tells Timothy to take a few sips of merlot for his intestinal issues (1Tim 5:23). And Paul couldn’t heal himself when he had health problems (Gal 4:13-15; 2Cor 12:7-10).

What’s the takeaway? People get sick. We need to remember that we live in a fallen and broken world (and we’re the ones who broke it!). Sickness, disease, and disability are a very sad reality.

Good Men in Poor Health

While the Holy Spirit gives the power to heal (1Cor 12:9), it’s God’s call on when and where He allows it to be used. The great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon boldly stated, “It is the will of God that some good men should be in poor health.”

Should we ask the Great Physician to heal those who are sick? You betcha! Regularly. Confidently. But He won’t heal everyone on this side of eternity. Many of us won’t experience the ultimate cure until we ditch this earth suit for one of those spectacular resurrection bodies!

A Plea So Nice Paul Makes It Twice

After important updates on a couple of team members, Paul makes one final plea. “Do your best to come before winter” (v21). This is the SECOND time the apostle begs Tim to come see him before it’s too late. Just a few verses before, he writes, “Do your best to come to me soon” (2Tim 4:9). Let’s just say the man from Tarsus is anything but unclear.

Winter is coming.

The apostle pleads with Tim to “do your best” (v21) and get to Rome immediately. He uses the verb σπουδαζω/spoudazo, which describes making haste, being eager, exerting yourself, doing something in a hurry, and giving it everything you’ve got. It emphasizes the zeal to get something done right now.

Beat Feet!

Paul’s not being passive aggressive and saying, “Hey dude, if you have the time.” He’s not making a suggestion or dropping a hint. Not even close. His cards are on the table. Not once. But twice.

The root of σπουδαζω/spoudazo ισ actually the Greek term for “foot” (Gr. πους/pous). In other words, Paul is telling the young preacher to move your feet! Hurry! Don’t walk…RUN!! From the apostle’s perspective, Tim can’t get to Rome fast enough. Why?

Winter is coming.

Winter Travel Advisory

Instead of issuing some veiled warning like Lord Stark in “Game of Thrones,” the apostle is simply looking at the calendar as well as his impending execution. He desperately wants to see Timothy before he dies and before nasty winter weather makes travel on the Mediterranean almost impossible.

Winter is coming.

Paul knows sailing that time of year can be hazardous to your health. He no doubt has vivid memories of that nasty shipwreck on Malta a few years back during a winter voyage (Acts 28:9-44). While he REALLY wants to see Tim, the apostle doesn’t want his protege taking ridiculous chances in the process.

Winter is coming.

Don’t Drag Your Feet

With the mercury dropping, Paul has already asked Timothy to swing Troas on grab the coat he left with Carpus (2Tim 13). As if sitting in the cold, damp dungeon of the Mamertine Prison wasn’t bad enough, winter temps in Rome are only in the mid forties.

Winter is coming.

But the most urgent fact is the apostle knows his date with the executioner is right around the corner. If Tim drags his feet, he won’t make it in time. History is a bit fuzzy on the exact date of Paul’s death. It’s sometime between the time he sent this letter in the autumn of 67 AD and spring of 68 AD. He no doubt died before Nero committed suicide in June 68.

Winter is coming.

When the Door Is Cracked and Closing

There are some opportunities that come with a very tight limitations. The door is cracked open ever so slightly…and it may well be closing. That’s what Timothy is looking at. It’s what we often face. Many times, I need to move and I need to move now. The clock is ticking.

Winter is coming.

Here’s the painful truth, no decision IS a decision. Sure, sometimes we need to wait. Sometimes we have to wait. But we need to realize there are also critical moments when we’ve gotta go and we’ve gotta go NOW! We can’t be victims of paralysis by analysis. There are times when the clock is ticking. Don’t. Miss. Your. Chance.

Winter is coming.

Tim’s Friends Say “Hey”

After telling Tim to beat feet before it’s too late, he quickly passes along a “hello” from a few more friends. “Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers” (v21). Where really not sure who they are or why they get a random mention near the end of the letter. They’re clearly in Rome and close to both Paul and Tim.

Eubulus’ name is Greek and means the wise decision or smart choice. To speculate any further would be stupid (see what I did there?). It’s the only time we find his name in Scripture. Same for Pudens, Linus, and Claudia.

These last three folks all have Latin (i.e. Roman) names. There’s a little evidence that Pudens might be some sort of power player in politics, possibly a senator or the son of one. Some folks believe he was also a buddy of Peter who also baptized him. There’s a belief he was also executed by Nero about the same time as Paul.

Two Men and a Lady

There’s no indication that this particular Linus carried a blanket, sucked his thumb, and knew Charlie Brown. The early church leaders Irenaeus and Eusebius both mention him as an important follower of Jesus. He apparently was a big dog (possibly the first bishop/overseer) among Roman believers.

Claudia is the only lady in Paul’s last list. Some scholars seem to think she and our boy Pudens eventually become husband and wife. If so, there reason Paul does not link There are a few shreds of evidence suggesting she was born a Briton and into some level of privilege.

Whatever the case, these folks put their lives on the line for Paul and the cause of Christ at a time when it was deadly to do so. A follower of Jesus was an enemy of the state. While American culture is clearly no longer Christian, calling what we face as persecution is just a bit of a stretch.

The Long Range Forecast

Our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world can certainly identify with Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and the others. For them, winter is already here.

You can be sure that Paul never watched “Game of Thrones.” But there’s little doubt he would agree with the fictitious Lord Stark. Winter is coming. Timothy needed to hurry. Death was around the corner. However, the apostle also knew the long range forecast.

Winter may be coming. But you can take this to the bank. Jesus IS coming back.

©2017 Jay Jennings

Spiritual Road Construction

I hate road construction. Take the Fortify Project on the Beltline in Raleigh. The DOT's thrown a massive monkey wrench into my commute to and from work. And because of it, I totally avoid that section of highway.

But lets face it. Road construction and maintenance is necessary. In the end, all of the hard work on the highway is going to make it a lot easier for me to get where I’m going.

Did you know that the Bible talks about road construction? 

Back in the ancient Middle East, before kings and emperors hit the road, they would send out construction crews ahead of them to get the road ready. 

Their job was to fill all the potholes, straighten out the curves, and freshly pave the highways. Maybe even build a road where there was no road before.

That’s why the prophet Isaiah talked about the arrival of God’s Son and like he worked for the DOT. 

Isaiah 40:3-5 reads, "Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys and level the hills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and the people will see it together.” (Is 40:3-5 NLT).

Isaiah was encouraging folks to do everything possible to get ready for a personal appearance by God and the first arrival of Jesus.  

It’s VERY similar what we do in First Impressions here at Hope Community Church. We just turn it upside down. 

God sends people to His church every weekend. And they come in all flavors. Believers. Unbelievers. Disciples. Seekers. Doubters. He gives those of us serving there the privilege of filling in the valleys and leveling the hills. Straightening out the curves and smoothing off the rough spots.  

How do we do that? We take away all the distractions and all the stuff that gets in the way of folks meeting Jesus. 

Bill Hybels says church should be "a safe place to hear a dangerous message.” The Gospel is dangerous. A relationship with Christ rocks your world and turns your life upside down.  

We needed a safe place on our first visit here at Hope back in 2009. My wife Debbie and I were already followers of Jesus. But the day we pulled into the church parking lot, we were beat up and bruised. 

Over the past 15-plus years, we had been part of three consecutive church plants that closed. We basically washed up on the shore like survivors of a shipwreck.  

That’s just when Jesus used the folks of First Impressions to come to our rescue. God used them to welcome us from the moment we got out of the car. We didn’t realize how burned out we were until the FI team rolled out the red carpet for us as first time guests. 

It became obvious that Hope was a VERY safe place. They filled in the valleys. Leveled the hills. Straightened out the curves. Smoothed off the rough spots. God has put us in position to play big part in making it safe for everyone who walks through our doors.

Let's do absolutely everything to remove all distractions. There’s too much at stake. Let’s do the hard work of spiritual road construction. Once we do everything we can to remove stuff that gets in the way, folks have a better chance of hearing the Good News and meeting Jesus. 

That’s why we smile. We provide a place to park. We open doors. We answer questions. Maybe even give them a hug. We tell people that they matter to God. We tell them we’re really glad they’re here.  

That’s what it looks like to fill in the valleys. To level the hills. To straighten out the curves. To smooth out the rough spots. Who's ready for a little spiritual road construction.

Joe & Mary's Christmas Vacation

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Lk 2:4-7).

Holiday Travel

I really hate traveling over the holidays. The roads are jammed. So much of your life is out of your control. You’re sleeping in a strange bed (if you can even find one). It seems that if anything can go wrong, it will. 

The amazing thing is that God can and does do miraculous things in the middle of the mess. 

You Think YOU Have Travel Problems?

Just ask Joe and Mary. Smack dab in the train wreck of a trip, God shows up in a big way. Despite a ridiculous government order, despite a 70-mile trip through mountains with a pregnant teenage fiancee, despite “no vacancy” signs everywhere they turn, despite feeding trough for a basinett, God shows up. 

So you think you’re the first one to with travel problems over the holidays? This is the story of Joe and Mary’s Christmas vacation.

The Boondocks of Palestine

We pick up the story 2,000 years ago in the boondocks of Palestine. Welcome to Nazareth. It’s really no more than a bump in the road in the Galilee region of Israel. The population is maybe 500 (if you count every chicken and goat). 

We’re talking about the boondocks. Nazareth may not be the end of the world, but you can see it from there. It’s a convenient punchline for the rest the country (Jn 1:46). Want a modern day equivalent? Try Appalachia. 

Ready to Hit the Road

At the end the dirt road, somebody is busy. Very busy. It’s Joe the carpenter and he’s loading up the family donkey. Looks like he’s about to hit the road. He says he’s headed to Bethlehem for the big census. 

Oh yeah, the census. Because some Roman dictator wants a head count for taxes, every person living in the empire has head for their hometown. 

Bethlehem Bound

For Joe, that’s Bethlehem, a suburb of Jerusalem. It’s 70 miles away. Growing up, he’s always been proud to be a descendant of the great King David. And it was in Bethlehem that God originally sent the prophet Samuel to find Saul’s royal replacement (1Sam 16:1). 

Joe also knows that the Scripture says that one day the little town of Bethlehem will be the birthplace of Messiah (Mic 5:2-5). But that’s not really important right now. He needs to finishing packing. He needed to be on the road an hour ago.

Small Town Scandal

Roads are going to packed. Finding a place to sleep is going to be a bear. If that’s not enough, he’s not traveling alone. His fiancee Mary is going with him. His pregnant teenage fiancee. In the ancient Jewish world, she is his “betrothed” (v5). 

This first century betrothal was as legally and religiously binding as marriage. At this point, Joe and Mary would need a divorce in order to end their relationship. And that idea certainly crossed the carpenter’s mind when she told him that she was pregnant. You see, you it’s quite the small town scandal when your “betrothed” is “with child.” 

A Visit from Gabriel

For heaven’s sake, Joe and Mary had never even slept together (Mt 1:18). This Galilean laborer is having a hard time wrapping his blue collar brain around what his fiancee has told him. It’s not his child. It’s God’s. 

She says that the legendary angel Gabriel dropped by to tell her personally (Lk 1:26-38). While Joe was trying to figure out what to do, an angel dropped in on one of his dreams with some very important information. And you thought Christopher Nolan came up with the idea of “Inception.” Yeah, right. 

Divorce No, Adoption Yes

The carpenter was strongly considering doing what he needed to do to end their relationship when God sent a messenger to talk him out of it. 

“‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will be a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins’…When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus” (Mt 1:20-21, 24-25). 

Divorce was no longer an option. He was going to be the adoptive dad of the Savior of the world. 

Traffic Is Terrible

Joe and Mary load up and hit the road. Despite the fact that she’s in the third trimester, they take the longer and safer road through the Jordan Valley. They can’t take a chance on the much more mountainous and dangerous route through Samaria. 

Traffic is terrible. Huge crowds heading to their various homes choke the roads. But Joe remembers what the angel told him the dream. He remembers what Gabriel told Mary. He’s not going to let a few problems stand in the way of what God is about to do. 

Hitting the Big City

Eventually they hit the metro Jerusalem area. There’s the temple. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Herod the Great may be a self-absorbed jerk but he’s sure done an incredible job of restoring the house of God. 

Finding a Room

The carpenter and his very pregnant fiancee make their way to the other side of city to the town of Bethlehem. It’s late and it’s been a very long trip. 

Finding a room is priority one. Remember, Joe doesn’t have a cell phone and there’s not exactly a Motel 6 leaving the light on for them. 

Beggars Can't Be Choosers

There’s only a handful of boarding houses for travelers here and there. And with the Roman census, even finding a rollaway is going to be next to impossible. 

Just as he fears, there’s just nothing available. Zip. Zilch. The Big Fat Zero. One motel manager tells the young tired couple they are more than welcome to find a place out back if they like. 

There’s a small cave where the livestock bed down at night. Well, beggars can’t be choosers. Especially pregnant beggars.

Going into Labor

They settle in somewhere between the cattle and the sheep. And not a moment too soon. “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth” (v6). This teenage Jewish girl goes into labor. 

Bible scholars say she could have been as young as thirteen. Imagine how scary would have been for her. Miles away from home. Traveling with a man she probably didn’t know all that well. Going into heavy labor in some cave used as a barn. 

God's Descending One-Way Love

But somehow she remembered the amazing words of Gabriel. He called her the “favored one” (Lk 1:28). She had “found favor with God” (Lk 1:30). Both terms actually describe being on the receiving end of God’s grace, His descending one-way love! He's handpicked this humble chick from the sticks to be the mother of His Son.

It's a Boy!

Suddenly, the cry of a newborn baby in the barn/cave. “And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (v7). 

It’s her first child. She and Joe will go on to have other children (Mt 12:46). Jesus’ mother and kid brothers may have doubted who He said He was at first but eventually place their trust in Him as their Savior. 

Let’s face it, that may be the greatest proof of His divinity. I’m not sure what I would have to do to get my brothers to believe I was God. But I guess rising from the dead is probably right up there. 

A Feed Trough for a Bassinet

As if this crazy story isn’t crazy enough, Joe and Mary end up using a feed trough as a bassinet. Maybe that’s not so whacky after all. In about 30 years, Jesus will tell folks that He’s actually the kind of food sent straight from heaven (Jn 6:35). But that’s another story for another time. 

We take one last look at the scene behind the motel. The Son of God squirms in a manger. A young couple looks in wonder at what Yahweh has dropped in their lap. They’re pretty sure their lives will never be the same. 

Just the Beginning

While they have no idea of the suffering their Son will face, they also can’t even begin to fathom the blessing He will bring. It’s been a crazy trip. But the journey is really just beginning. 

And you thought the Griswold’s had a wild “Christmas Vacation.” Please.

©2017
Jay Jennings