Wednesday, August 21, 2024

#168 Religious Leaders Plot to Kill Jesus (John 11:45-57) - Life of Christ = Week 34 - Wednesday

Religious Leaders Plot to Kill Jesus
John 11:45-57

Intro Questions

The Sanhedrin’s Plot against Jesus

John 11:45–54

45Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what He did believed in Him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do since this man does many signs? 48If we let Him continue in this way, everybody will believe in Him! Then the Romans will come and remove both our place and our nation.”

49One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.” 51He did not say this on his own; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. 53So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. 54Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim†. And He stayed there with the disciples.

Jn 11:55–56Now the Jewish Passover was near, and before the Passover many went up to Jerusalem from the country† to purify themselves. 56They were looking for Jesus, and asking one another as they stood in the temple complex: “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will He?”

57The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it so they could arrest Him.

Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (p. 183). Holman Bible Publishers.



Text Graphic
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?

  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

OPEN:
  • When have you challenged company policy? What happened?

DIG:
  • What responses does the Lazarus miracle produce? Why? 
  • What are the chief concerns of the leaders? How do they misunderstand the role of the Messiah? How does Caiaphas propose to solve "the Jesus problem"? How does Caiaphas' murderous threat unwittingly convey prophetic truth about Jesus' death (John 3:16)? 
  • How does Jesus respond to this new situation?


REFLECT:
  • What would you have done if you had been on the Sanhedrin? Would politics or truth win out with you? 
  • In what ways are you most likely to misunderstand who Jesus is? 
  • How have you tried to keep Jesus in line with your religious traditions?




THE WICKEDNESS AGAINST JESUS (11:45–53)

    A.      The problem (11:45–48)

      1.      The council (11:45–47): The Pharisees call a meeting to discuss the attention Jesus is receiving because of his miracles.

      2.      The concern (11:48): They are afraid this will bring the wrath of the Romans down upon them.

    B.      The prophecy (11:49–52): The high priest Caiaphas says: “Why should the whole nation be destroyed? Let this one man die for the people.”

    C.      The plot (11:53): From that day on, they plot to kill Jesus!


THE WITHDRAWAL BY JESUS (11:54): He and his disciples leave Judea briefly and retire to a village called Ephraim.


THE WATCH FOR JESUS (11:55–57): Many people at the Passover feast wonder if Jesus will attend.


=============
The Jewish leaders knew that if they didn’t stop Jesus, the Romans would discipline them. Rome gave partial freedom to the Jews as long as they were quiet and obedient. Jesus’ miracles often caused a disturbance. The leaders feared that Rome’s displeasure would bring additional hardship to their nation.

=============
Hard Hearts

Even when confronted point-blank with the power of Jesus’ deity, some refused to believe. These eyewitnesses not only rejected Jesus; they also plotted his murder. They were so hardened that they preferred to reject God’s Son rather than admit that they were wrong. When we judge others, we automatically consider ourselves to be better. Beware of pride. If allowed to grow, it can lead to enormous sin.

=============
 Passover was a holiday designed to celebrate Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and to remind the people what God had done. Many Jews came to Jerusalem to celebrate this holy day.

=============

Quiet Time

Lazarus’s return to life became the last straw for the religious leaders who were bent on killing Jesus. So Jesus stopped his public ministry and took his disciples away from Jerusalem to Ephraim, a town several miles to the north. Jesus needed time to talk to his disciples and teach them many things before he died. He wanted to get away from the conflict in Jerusalem so the disciples could rest and concentrate on his words for them. At times all of us need to get away from the busyness of our daily routines, resting and listening to God. Set aside a certain time each day when you can quietly listen and talk to God.

=============


The Jewish Sanhedrin

Jesus’ raising of Lazarus near Jerusalem caused such a sensation among the people that Jesus’ enemies decided it was time for official action. They called a meeting of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court in the land. This group, consisting of 70 members plus the Jewish high priest, exercised authority over the religious life of the Jewish people. The Romans were the ultimate authority in Palestine, but they generally let the Jews take care of their own religious matters.

From the time of this meeting of the Sanhedrin, Jesus was a marked man. His enemies were determined to arrest Him and to orchestrate His execution. They knew they would have to make a civil case against Him and get Him convicted by the Roman officials. Rome refused to allow groups such as the Sanhedrin in their subject provinces to pronounce and carry out the death penalty
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Tuesday, August 20, 2024

#167 Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead (John 11:38-44) - Life of Christ = Week 34 - Tuesday

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
John 11:38-44

38Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39a“Remove the stone,” Jesus said.

39bMartha, the dead man’s sister, told Him, “Lord, he already stinks. It’s been four days.”

40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

41So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You heard Me. 42I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent Me.” 43After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.”[1]


[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 167–168). Holman Bible Publishers.


Text Graphic
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?

  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

OPEN:


DIG:


REFLECT:








Outline

THE WONDROUS WORK BY JESUS (11:1–44): Many believe this event is the greatest of all Jesus’ miracles!

    A.      The sickness of Lazarus (11:1–3)

    B.      The summary concerning Lazarus (11:4–16): Jesus uses this sad event to overview the purpose for his earthly ministry.

    C.      The sorrow over Lazarus (11:17–37)

    D.      The summons to Lazarus (11:38–44)

      1.      The preparation by Jesus (11:38–40)

         a.      The Savior’s request (11:38–39a): He tells some men to remove the stone covering the cave where Lazarus is buried.

         b.      The sister’s reluctance (11:39b): Martha is hesitant, telling Jesus her brother’s body had been in there four days already!

         c.      The Savior’s reminder (11:40): “Didn’t I tell you that you will see God’s glory if you believe?”

      2.      The prayer of Jesus (11:41–42): He thanks his Father for what is about to happen!

      3.      The power from Jesus (11:43–44)

         a.      The order (11:43): “Lazarus, come out!”

         b.      The obedience (11:44): Lazarus comes out!


============
Tombs at this time were usually caves carved in the limestone rock of a hillside. A tomb was often large enough for people to walk inside. Several bodies would be placed in one tomb. After burial, a large stone would be rolled across the entrance to the tomb.

============


Tragedies into Triumphs

Lazarus came back to life, but he would die again physically. Yet, because he believed in Jesus, he would be raised again to eternal life. We know this because Jesus Christ came back to life. All Christians, including those living when Christ returns, will live with Christ forever. Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. God will turn our tragedies to triumphs, our poverty to riches, our pain to glory, and our defeat to victory. All believers throughout history will stand reunited in God’s very presence, safe and secure. Comfort and reassure each other with this great hope.


============

The Raising of Lazarus and the Resurrection of Jesus

It is natural to seek some link between the raising of Lazarus and the resurrection of Jesus. But it is important to recognize the distinct differences between the two. Lazarus was resuscitated, or restored to life, only to experience death a second time as human frailty returned him to the grave. Jesus was resurrected, brought back from the dead to die no more, thus becoming “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). Lazarus was only a sign of the resurrection, but Jesus was the reality itself. Lazarus was released from the tomb with the help of others. Jesus needed no such human help (John 20:1). Lazarus appeared bound in graveclothes, but Jesus left these behind (John 20:6–7). Lazarus was restored to his family, while Jesus ascended to His Father (John 20:17).

============

The details surrounding death may vary, but the reality is universal. Scenes like Lazarus’s funeral in Bethany are repeated many times around the world each day. A grieving family gathers at a graveside. Friends agonize over what to say. Their helpless silence, downcast eyes, and shuffling feet provide more distraction than comfort. When death is unexpected, the whys hang in the air like choking smog.

Drawn by grief and duty, people came from Jerusalem and the surrounding area to pay their last respects to a citizen of Bethany. Jesus’ friend Lazarus was dead. His brief sickness proved stronger than any available medicine. Jesus had been sent for, but had failed to arrive in time. Death didn’t wait. Following the wisdom of hot countries, the body was soon wrapped and buried. Four days later, Jesus arrived.

Lazarus’s sisters Mary and Martha reacted in shock. Grief-stricken, they struggled to understand why Jesus had delayed in coming. We have no idea how Lazarus reacted to his own death. In fact, we don’t have a record of a single word he said. We do know that he listened to Jesus. Even when the curtain of death was between them, Lazarus responded to Jesus’ voice. He came hobbling out of his cave-tomb, still wrapped in the grave clothes. Jesus raised him from the dead!

When all is said and done, only what God accomplished through us will really matter. We will take little credit. Jesus worked in and around Lazarus just as he does with us. We have Christ’s invitation to participate in his work, but we must not forget that he will do much more than we will know. Meanwhile, we delight in what Christ does with the little we have to offer him.
Lazarus’s resurrection poses an important question: When you die, do you fully expect that your next conscious experience will be hearing the voice of Jesus call you by name?

Strengths and accomplishments
      •      Regularly hosted Jesus in his home
      •      Raised from the dead by Jesus after four days in the grave
Lessons from his life
      •      Once we have given God ownership of our lives, we can’t predict what he will do with them
      •      Jesus’ circle of relationships went beyond the 12 disciples
      •      Jesus declared that the events surrounding Lazarus’s sickness and death would glorify God
Vital statistics
      •      Where: Bethany
      •      Relatives: Sisters: Mary and Martha
Key verse
“But when Jesus heard about it he said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this’ ” (John 11:4).
Lazarus’s role as an “active spectator” is recorded in John 11:1–12:11.





https://youtu.be/Oa4SMKvO5o4?list=PLFcO2Quu62KLWLVlxkB0OuOWSLiTAxz4n






 Jesus Comforts Mary and Martha
John 11:17-37

Intro Questions

Text Graphic
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?

  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
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Monday, August 19, 2024

#166 Jesus Comforts Mary and Martha (John 11:17-37) - Life of Christ = Week 34 - Monday

Jesus Comforts Mary and Martha
John 11:17-37

Intro Questions

The Resurrection and the Life

17When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away). 19Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 20As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house.

21Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”

23“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

24Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die†ever. Do you believe this?”

27“Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

28Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

29As soon as she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him. 30Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. 31The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there.

32When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!”

33When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. 34a“Where have you put him?” He asked.

34b“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”

35Jesus wept.

36So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

38Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39a“Remove the stone,” Jesus said.[1]


[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 166–167). Holman Bible Publishers.


Text Graphic
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?

  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
#IAm:InHisOwnWords




OPEN:
  • If you could raise one person from the dead, who would it be? Why?

DIG:
  • How long had Lazarus been dead by the time Jesus arrived? How would you feel if you were Martha or Mary and you heard that Jesus had finally come?
  • What do you learn about Martha from the way she talks with Jesus in verses 21-27? How does Jesus stretch her faith by his claim in verse 25? How does this relate to his claim in 10:9? 
  • What does Martha's statement (John 11:27) sound like to you: (a) Stab in the dark? (b) Hope against hope? (c) Intellectual assent? (d) Active commitment? Why do you think so? 
  • How is Mary's greeting (John 11:32) like and unlike Martha's? Since Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus (11:11), how do you account for his weeping (John 11:33-35)? 
  • What lies behind the comments of the mourners in verses 36-37? 
  • How does Martha's objection in verse 39 contrast with her confidence in verse 22?

REFLECT:
  • When have you been faced with a tough situation that ended up stretching your faith? What would have been different for you if that struggle had simply been avoided? 
  • Have you ever attended a funeral where there was no sense of eternal life, as in verses 25-26? How did you go away from that experience? What difference does this hope make for you? 
  • How does Jesus' response to Lazarus' death and Mary's weeping (John 11:35) help you to trust him more? 
  • On a scale of 1 (none) to 10 (completely), how confident are you that you will live eternally? What evidence is there supporting your level of confidence? How would you live your life differently if you were more confident? 
  • What are some "old grave clothes" that still must be shed for you to feel truly free in Christ?







Other Resources:
Faith In Jesus - John 11
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Friday, August 16, 2024

#165 Lazarus Becomes Ill and Dies (John 11:1-16) - Life of Christ = Week 33 - Friday

Lazarus Becomes Ill and Dies
John 11:1-16

Intro Questions

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

John 11:1–16

1Now a man was sick, Lazarus, from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick. 3So the sisters sent a message to Him: “Lord, the one You love is sick.”

4When Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness will not end in death, but is for the glory of God†, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5(Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.) 6So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7Then after that, He said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”

8“Rabbi,” the disciples told Him, “just now the Jews tried to stone You, and You’re going there again?”

9“Aren’t there twelve hours in a day?” Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10If anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.” 11He said this, and then He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on My way to wake him up.”

12Then the disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.”

13Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought He was speaking about natural sleep. 14So Jesus then told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. 15I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there, so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.”

16Then Thomas (called “Twin”) said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go so that we may die with Him.”[1]


[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 165–166). Holman Bible Publishers.


Text Graphic
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?

  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

OPEN:
  • Describe the sickest you have ever been.

DIG:
  • How would you describe Jesus' relationship with this family (John 11:1-5)? Why does Jesus deliberately delay (John 11:6)? 
  • Given his disciples' objection (John 11:8), what do you think Jesus means by his parable (John 11:9-10)? 
  • Why is Jesus returning to Lazarus at this time (John 11:11-15)? What do the disciples fear instead (John 11:8.16)?

REFLECT:
Have you ever felt like God was not listening when you prayed? How did you deal with this? How does the way in which Jesus postponed his response to the sisters' request help you in understanding your own prayer life? 
Have you, like Thomas (John 11:16), ever felt Jesus was calling you to do something very risky? What happened?




https://youtu.be/Oa4SMKvO5o4?list=PLFcO2Quu62KLWLVlxkB0OuOWSLiTAxz4n










“Kingdom Living”

“So then He told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.’” (John 11:14-15a)

A young woman is bitter because her mother is terminally ill; a young man is resentful to God because his girlfriend ended the relationship; a husband no longer believes in God because his wife died from cancer.

All three are tying their beliefs in God to His performance in their lives. How small a person’s God is who hinges his belief on how his Lord performs to his will. This is like winning the lottery, squandering the money, and blaming the Lottery Commission when it’s gone.

This is how we treat God when we become embittered due to the hand dealt us in life. God has blessed us all with the breath of life, provided the path for eternal life with Him through faith and Lordship, and equipped us to experience His presence and power through the work of the Holy Spirit. Why then do we expect God to fulfill our every desire and whim?

In the story of Lazarus, you not only see God’s ability to perform miracles, but you also see how important God’s work is in the lives of people. In Luke 16:31, Jesus says convincing an unbeliever there is a God involves more than just proving there is a God: “He (Jesus) said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

All three individuals (from the first paragraph) know the Gospel story that Jesus died and was raised from the dead, yet they still reject or doubt Christ. Believing in and following Christ ultimately comes down to faith.

Faith comes from the belief that the object of your faith is of greater worth than those things you hold dear. When Pilot confronted Jesus’ faith with the possibility of dying, Jesus responded in John 18:36, “‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.’” Jesus’ life and faith were sustained by a faith that says God’s kingdom and purpose far surpass the temporal things of this world.

All three of the previously mentioned people discount God because they ultimately value their kingdom on this earth more than their eternal kingdom. The life of each Christian is secure in Christ for eternity. Do not trade God’s work in you today by not living life in God’s hands. Allow God to use His life to touch not only your life, but the lives of others.

2 Corinthians 4:2b “On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”

 

 

“Giving Your Life”

“Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him (Jesus).’" -John 11:16

Jesus was returning to a place near Jerusalem to tend to his dear friend, Lazarus, regardless of the consequences to himself. Lazarus was deathly ill, and going back to help him meant unavoidable trouble for Jesus.

His disciples protested, “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” (John 11:8).

Jesus and his disciples knew this move would be dangerous; yet Thomas resolutely announced they should not only go, but also die with him, if necessary (see 11:16).

Now, that is placing both feet into the fire!

Do you think Thomas would have expressed such boldness if he did not know the person of Jesus? Knowing he was going with Jesus put things into perspective for Thomas. Knowing who Jesus was likely provided the peace needed to make the decision to put his own life on the line.

Most people wouldn’t risk their lives for someone they didn’t know or for an unworthy cause.

Your faith in Christ, as well as your boldness to live for him, will flow out of your relationship with him.

The more you know Jesus, the more you will be willing to walk with, sacrifice for, align your priorities, and order every part of your life around your living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ calling on your life is not unlike his calling on the disciples to go back and help Lazarus. We are all called to face a potentially hostile world to serve others in the name of Christ.

Jesus made the call of discipleship clear: Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

To deny self and take up one’s cross means to put your life on the line—your social status, comfort, earthly ambitions, possessions, personal resources, careers, etc., for something much bigger than yourself. It means placing both feet in the fire! Are you ready to “die with Jesus?”

If you don’t know Jesus, you likely won’t be ready to die with him. But if you know him and know he is with you, you can walk faithfully and serve boldly with him and for him.

What are you doing to nurture your relationship with Jesus? How are you ordering your life around Jesus and the gospel today? Are your priorities and desires reflective of Christ’s desires for you?

Walk with Jesus, know Jesus, and maybe you too will answer as Thomas did, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8).

 


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Tuesday, August 06, 2024

#152 Religious Leaders Surround Jesus at the Temple John 10:22-42 - Life of Christ = Week 31 - Tuesday

Religious Leaders Surround Jesus at the Temple

John 10:22-42

Intro Questions

Text Graphic
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?

  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.



OPEN:
  • What is the big annual "feast day" for your family? Who usually comes? What is served? What is the big pastime? 
  • What family traditions are you going to preserve for your children?

DIG:
  • Given the meaning of the Feast of Hanukkah (when Jews remember their deliverance during the Maccabean revolt, 168-165 В.С.), what feelings about Rome's authority might, surface among the crowds? How would Roman authorities prepare for this feast? What might be the real intent of the Pharisees' question in John 10:24? 
  • How do the leaders interpret Jesus' claim to be one with God? How does Jesus sidetrack them (John 10:34; Psalm 82:6)? 
  • What could account for the difference in reception Jesus received across the Jordan (John 10:40-42)?

REFLECT:
  • What has convinced you that Jesus is the Messiah? What "old ways" of looking at Jesus must you overcome by faith? 
  • What difference does it make that Jesus is God and not just a man? Would the promise of John 10:28 mean much otherwise?











Other Resources:
Jesus is The Good Shepherd - John 10 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/lessons/john/10/

===================

One Step At A Time

            A century ago, the record industry was in a sales slump. The records that were being sold were symphonic and operatic works, as well as popular show tunes—songs that New York audiences would love. Yet many people were not interested in having New York culture as their only option. And the upstart radio stations were broadcasting popular local musicians. So, the recording executives began to produce platters of popular music: country music, blues, jazz, ethnic offerings and folk music. This exposed the businessmen to types of music they’d never heard and did not really appreciate.
            Very quickly, the companies recorded great numbers of Southern country string bands and willingly sold the records although the Northern execs didn’t understand the appeal of the music. One New York official, Ralph Peer of OKeh Records, described a 1923 recording by “Fiddlin’” John Carson as “pluperfectly awful.” That “awful” record of “Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane” was the label’s first country hit. In 1927, at Bristol, Tennessee, Peer recorded the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers in the same session, launching country music. Peer formed his own company and spent the next 30 years recording and marketing artists in country, blues, jazz and early rock and roll. If he didn’t appreciate the music, he at least appreciated the profits! And music became the background to daily life.
            “Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:37-38 NIV).
            Jesus was perpetually baffled that people could listen to His teachings and not understand His relationship to the Father. Even more amazing, they could see a miracle take place directly in front of them yet not realize that His words were backed up by supernatural power. In this case, the opponents admitted that He worked miracles, yet they were willing to kill Him because He violated their sense of propriety.  Some were willing to accept the miracles—the healings, the feedings, the raising from the dead—as evidence that Jesus had power. And since He had power, His teachings were of interest, too. So although they didn’t quite accept the idea that Jesus truly is the Son of God, they were willing to accept His words and benefit from them.
            Today, some have little interest in determining Jesus’ identity. However, they’re willing to listen to His words and benefit from the astonishing wisdom He displays. In fact, the teachings of the Lord fill our world even for those who do not acknowledge Him. Our laws reflect a desire for peace and mercy and equal treatment that traces directly back to the commands of Jesus. The words of Jesus Christ have become the background to our lives, the unthinking attitudes that determine right and wrong. Many who wish to see fairness operating everywhere don’t realize that they are reflecting the good teachings of Jesus. They might not appreciate the theology, but they appreciate the benefits that shape their lives! And maybe one day, a step at a time, they’ll know the whole truth and it will set them free.

 

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