Jude: Urgent and Important

Urgent and Important

Jude 1

In the 1960s, Charles Hummel published a little booklet called Tyranny of the Urgent, and it quickly became a business classic. In it, Hummel argues that there is a regular tension between things that are urgent and things that are important—and far too often, the urgent wins.
In today’s study, we’ll look at the book of Jude, written by Jesus’ younger brother. He encourages us to look at what happens when what is important and what is urgent combine in our Christian life:

Jesus’ Brother Wants Us To Consider

* The Urgent ~ Jude 1:1-4

• 1/2 servant/brother called/loved/kept
• 3 URGENT to CONTEND
• 4 attack on grace; deny Jesus’ lordship

* The Admonition ~ Jude 1:5-7

• 5 Israel was rescued, some destroyed
• 6 angels rejected authority, punished
• 7 Sodom/Gomorrah punished

* The Abusers ~ Jude 1:8-13

• 8 claiming that an angel gave license to sin will be punished
• 9 archangel Michael was careful to not overstep his authority
• 10/11 examples of people who abuse positions of authority for their own desires
• 12/13 unfruitful blowhards, ranting all the way to outer darkness

* The Judgment ~ Jude 1:14-16

• 14/15 rest assured, ALL will be judged; ungodlyX4: acts done without considering God’s perspective
• 16 follow their own desires

* The Challenge ~ Jude 1:17-23

• 17/18 Church was WARNED: following selfish desires will be a problem
• 19 DIVISION; “natural instincts”=decisions by feelings, not by the Spirit
• 20 build yourselves in Spirit thru prayer
• 21 stay in God’s love
• 22/23 treat those who don’t yet have confidence in their faith with MERCY

* The Doxology ~ Jude 1:24-25

• 24 ultimately, we don’t protect ourselves; Jesus does that
• 25 note: God saves us through Christ; we make Jesus Lord, we’re good to go FOREVER

Even though we face “light and momentary troubles” (2 Cor.4:17), consider Who enables us to faultlessly and joyfully Come Home!

SAVED! 4 For… God’s Glory

For… God’s Glory

2 Cor. 4:6-7, 15-18

Last week, we ended with the idea that there is no such thing as darkness, only the absence of light; that there is no such thing as evil, only the absence of God, Today, we’ll work a bit more closely with that idea… all to God’s glory.

For Christians to Grow in Glory, We Need To Know

* Why Is It Given? ~ 2Cor.4:6-7

• 6 ref: Creation; let there be light IN US; We come to know God’s glory, are illuminated in our knowledge by looking at Christ. This process is STARTED by God (bara), so as we look at Jesus, we’ll see the Father
• 7 this knowledge is a TREASURE – high value indeed – that is encased IN US, not generated by us. God, God, God

* What Is It For? ~ 2Cor.4:15-18

• 15 “all this”=v8-14 {Paul’s example of suffering for Christ}; as people recognize God’s grace, they give thanks – and as they give thanks TO God, the glory of God becomes known to even more people; e.g. I can brag about my lovely wife to other people all day long, and while that might get back to her eventually and provide *some* benefit… it’s not nearly as effective as telling HER, directly, how lovely she is to me! God doesn’t want us to make known glory ABOUT Him to others near as much as He wants us to live IN GLORY WITH HIM
• 16 “lose heart”=don’t grow faint; to enable the encouragement, he points out the process of RENEWAL: “renewed day by day”
• 17 we DO have troubles… but compare them with Eternity. What’s 80 years of suffering compared with FOREVER GLORY? Suffering IS real… but it doesn’t weigh on us as much as GLORY, if we Glory IN CHRIST
• 18 Therefore: we choose to dwell/live in our future glory NOW; if we keep looking at causes for concern, we’ll worry; if we fix our eyes on Jesus, what happens?

=> lyrics to Steve Taylor’s “Finish Line”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb.12:1-2)

SAVED! 3: From…? Satan’s Schemes

From: Satan’s Schemes

Eph.6:10-17

I made a reference last week to the Road Runner cartoons, and referenced Wile E Coyote, the antagonist. Did you know that the Coyote had RULES, set out by Chuck Smith, the director of those cartoons? In his book Chuck Amuck: The Life & Times of an Animated Cartoonist, Chuck Jones list 11 rules that explained the Coyote’s behavior. I won’t list all of them, but one certainly stood out to me: “The Coyote could stop anytime — if he wasn’t a fanatic.” The devil, referred to as Ol’ Scratch, has this in common with Wile E… he makes great plans to gain his goal… and they always fail.

Ol’ Scratch’s Schemes Fall Short, So

* Stand and Struggle Against Them ~ Eph.6:10-12

• 10 Use God’s Power (not your own)
• 11 “stand”=position against schemes
  • Isa 14:12-15 – kick God off His throne (Worship Self)
  • Num 21:8-0; 2 Ki 18:4 – focus on God’s gifts instead of God
  Himself (Worship Stuff)
• 12 people in sin are shock troops, not true enemies; spiritual forces are REAL (Daniel 10:12-13)

* Suit Up For Safety ~ Eph.6:13-17

• 13 evil WILL COME; “stand your ground”=resist; “stand”=continue position
• 14 “stand”=ACTIVELY Defend: TRUTH (John 4:24; 8:32)
  RIGHTEOUSNESS (Prov.21:3; Isa.32:17)
• 15 GOSPEL FOOTING (1 John 4:9-10)
• 16 FAITH (Heb.11:1; Eph.2:8–9)
• 17 SALVATION (Tit.3:4-7; John 3:17-18); Offense: WORD of GOD (Heb.4:12; 1Jo.2:14)

=> illustration: no darkness, only not-light; no coldness, only not-heat
(clarification: I do not include this illustration as a true event; I’m using the concepts of cold being not-heat, and darkness being not-light. I think this is a parable or a fable, and I certainly don’t think Einstein had anything to do with it.)

Don’t be fooled: we ARE in a war: a long, drawn-out, protracted conflict between real spiritual forces. There is Light, and there is Not-Light; there is Truth, and there is Not-Truth. There is God… and there is Not-god. Make sure you’re on the winning side, and stand firm!

SAVED! 2: For… Restoration

For… Restoration

Amos 9:13-15; 1Pet.5:8-11

I’ve mentioned about my fascination with restoration videos. There’s a process: 1) show how bad the item is damaged; 2) take it apart, piece by piece; 3) clean off the dirt; 4) remove the rust; 5) sand it smooth; 6) repair any damage; 7) primer individual parts; 8) repaint (and thin no more); 9) reassembly; 10) show off the restoration (in comparison to the old state)
All this to show two things: how nice the piece originally was, and to show the care of the one doing the restoring!

SAVED! For Restoration…

* In God’s Will ~ Amos 9:13-15

• 13 His intent to bless: you’ll be playing catch-up! (plow the fields RIGHT as they’re being harvested; sow the fields RIGHT as the new wine is being made from the current crop) – all intended to show that God has a POSITIVE PLAN for His People – But before this can happen, there are STEPS to Restoration that need to be taken:
  • Returned after FAITHLESSNESS ~ Jeremiah 3:22: “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” “Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God.”
  • Recalled after CONFESSION ~ Jeremiah 30:17: But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
  • Restored after REPENTANCE ~ Isaiah 57:18: I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him,
• 14 God will bring back so rebuilding can happen; fruitfulness for the future
• 15 God’s people are intended to put down roots and grow – we’re grafted into this promise

* In Response To Trials ~ 1 Pet.5:8-11

• 8 Our Responsibilities: Awareness of Attempted Attack
• 9 Refuse to Give Ground
• 10 Realize Suffering is a part of the process:
  • Released from WRATH ~ Hosea 14:4: “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.”
  • Reclamation after FORGIVENESS ~ Micah 7:19: You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
  • Restoration of JOY ~ Psalms 51:12: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

11 Thanks be to God that HE is the Beginner, Sustainer, and Completer of OUR restoration process

SAVED! 1: From…? S.E.L.F.

S.E.L.F.

Ephesians 4:22-24

One of my favorite films to come out in the past few years is called “Looper”. It’s a movie that features the implications of time travel, and I won’t get into the plot here… but there is a quote, regarding how people view time, that I think is really worth considering.
“Time travel has not yet been invented. But thirty years from now, it will have been.” That’s a beautifully written explanation of how to process an event which WILL take place in the future as a completed event.
So why the grammar lesson? Because we LIVE in that state, when we realize we are “saved” – we have been brought to a state of no longer needing rescue or salvation. For the next four weeks, we’ll be looking at what are we saved FROM… and what are we saved FOR.
We Are Saved FROM…

* S.E.L.F ~ Ephesians 4:22-24

• 22 “put off old self” God doesn’t automatically FIX us – but He DOES start us on the right way to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to change us
• 23 be made new (passive/surrender); attitude of minds (active /repentance-think differently)
• 24 “put on the new self” this is an active choice to be different than our old ways; “take time to be holy” not just a hymn, but a very workable strategy for dealing with S.E.L.F.

* S.elf ~ Rom.6.6-7; Col.3:9-12
We are saved from control by the old man

• For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin– because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Rom 6.6-7)
• Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col 3.9-12)

* E.vil ~ Isa.54:17;  2Thes.3:3;  2Tim.4:18
We are eternally protected from Evil (cf Psalm 91)

• No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)
• But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
• The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)

* L.aw ~ John 1:17; Rom.5:20; 6:12-14
We are no longer measured by rules; we are under grace

• For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
• The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, (Rom. 5:20)
• Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Rom 6:12-14)

* F.lesh ~ Gal.5:16-18; 5:24-26; 2Pet.3:17-18
We are set free from rot; control your flesh, don’t submit to it

• So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
• Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:24-26)
• Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (II Peter 3:17-18)

To once again remind us; we are SAVED: we are in a state where our future salvation is an already-done-deal; Jesus paid the cost of all of us, so we HAVE BEEN (past tense) saved. The Holy Spirit is also transforming us to be more and more like the Son, so we ARE BEING (present tense) saved. Jesus Himself said that He would prepare a place for us to join Him, so we WILL BE (present tense) with Him in Eternity.

Since all that is true… what have you got to be tense about now?

 

Easter 2024: Preaching Repeated Praise

Preaching Repeated Praise

Acts 10:34-48

When I was in college, a professor once told me: if something is repeated, pay attention – it’s probably important. When I was in college, a professor once told me: if something is repeated, pay attention – it’s probably important. When I was in college, a professor once told me: if something is repeated, pay attention – it’s probably important.

Because of Easter, God

* Reaffirms History’s Promise ~ Acts 10:34-38

• 34/35 Every nation: SHORT setup from 1-23
• 36 message to ISRAEL Lord of ALL – not just all of Israel, but all of ALL (Israel had lost sight of that truth)
• 37/38 Historic basis – Peter making sure his Gentile group understood what had just happened

* Resurrects His People ~ Acts 10:39-43

• 39/40 truth of Resurrection
• 41 Why not seen by all people? Reasonably, they’d probably try to kill Him again! Prudence
• 42 Preach the Appointed: Jesus is the Righteous Judge
• 43 Judged AS NEEDING FORGIVENESS – which the JUDGE has made available to ALL who believe Him

* Recognizes Holy Praise ~ Acts 10:44-48

• 44 Holy Spirit came – GOD’s choice, not the people’s choice; God showed up!
• 45 The Jewish believers were STUNNED that God would choose Gentiles to receive the HS
• 46 “speaking in tongues” – actual languages, as per Isaiah 28:11-12; just as HS had enabled the disciples to speak to foreigners (at Pentecost), now HS enabled foreigners to speak to disciples! They *recognized* what HS was doing
• 47 They realize the implication: Gentiles are FULLY EQUIVALENT in Christ to Jewish believers
• 48 Peter made sure they were established in the Christian faith:

Isaiah 25:6-8: On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine– the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

Easter 2024: Preparing For Palms

Preparing For Palms

Lev.23:4-8, 40; Mark 11:1-11

Part of the challenge of preparing a Palm Sunday sermon is that it’s an historic event; it doesn’t obviously lend itself to discussions of doctrine. But when we peer through the waving palms, we can see some pretty amazing plans coming to pass…

Palm Sunday Helps Us See

* The Premise of the Feast ~ Lev.23:4-8,40

• 4 Feast list:
  • *Passover* – remember the Lord’s deliverance (new year) Pilgrimage
  • Firstfruits – remember the Lord’s provision (start of harvest)
  • Weeks – remember the Lord’s Law (wheat harvest 50 days later) Pilgrimage
  • Trumpets – 7mo/1da – remember the Lord’s works
  • Day of Atonement – 7mo/10day – remember the Lord’s forgiveness
  • Booths – remember the Lord’s fellowship (end of fruit harvest) Pilgrimage
• 5/7 Passover – Lamb chosen; 4 days in home; sacrificed 5th
  [touchback to this for Jesus’ parallels]
• 40 Booths (notice palms)

* People Prepared for Fulfillment ~ Mark 11:1-6

• 1/2 finding the tied colt:
  1) owner taking care of property;
  2) keeping it for their own use
• 3 3) not anticipating claim of other;
  4) not thinking his property could serve Prince of Peace
• 4/6 things lightly valued (Not fully grown; not fancy warhorse) may be intended by God for honorable service

* God’s Promises Fulfilled ~ Mark 11:7-11

• 7 (Zech 9:9) Who has arrived? your KING
• 8 Who is with the King? Passover Pilgrims; Bethany Buddies
• 9/10 (Ps.118:25-26) What do they say? Hosanna: an Aramaic expression that literally means, “help, I pray,” or “save, I pray.” By Jesus’ time it had become a strictly liturgical formula of praise, however, and was used as an exclamation of praise to God
• 11 when we compare the Triumphal Entry accounts from Matthew and from Luke, we see that Jesus wasn’t just glancing around here: he was looking with “reproof, correction, admonition” (Lightfoot; Mark, Chapter 11)

Jesus KNEW what had to be done: he had to show the nation what kind of Messiah he TRULY was; and he knew they weren’t going to take it well. The same crowd who yelled “Hosanna – the Coming King” would shout “Crucify Him” one week later. Have we moments in our lives when we’d rather hold on to our preconceived notions of what we *think* God is going to do, than to pay attention to what is actually happening around us? How will we lift our voices in response?

#Easter2024, Preparing For Palms, preparation, Palm Sunday, palms, feast, feast days, Jewish festivals, Passover, fulfillment, prepared for fulfillment, promises, promises kept, promises fulfilled, hosanna, kingship, kingdom, messiah, king

Beyond the Flannelgraph 8: The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

I am noticing that I’m becoming more and more like my father every day. He had TERRIBLE hearing, and mine isn’t getting any better. He would complain about his hearing aids, because they worked TOO well – he said he could hear Kleenex RUSTLE in the box, and leaves THUD to the ground. Learning to listen well is a valuable skill, and sometimes takes a bit of encouragement…

LO! Listen to

* What the Word SAYS ~ Luke 10:25-28

• 25 “Behold/Lo”=particle is used to enliven a Hebrew narrative style, by marking the change of a scene, or emphasize some detail or idea, and is not always translated;
• two emphases: MUST and DO
• 26/28 Scripture DOES have the answer

* What the Word MEANS ~ Luke 10:29-32

• 29 how do we RESPOND to Scripture’s commands?
• 30/32 Jesus parable illustrates actions of “correctly religious” people – like the expert with whom He is talking at that moment
• Actions are shown; attitudes are assumed

* What the Lord WANTS ~ Luke 10:33-37

• 33 “But a Samaritan” – stark contrast in religious belief, but Sam actually carries out right PRACTICE (Micah 6:8)
• 34/35 Sam TOUCHED the victim; he USED HIS KNOWLEDGE to help; he USED HIS RESOURCES to care
• 36/37 Jesus challenged the expert in the Law to be *less focused* on the Law, and more focused on right practice

Jesus challenge in Luke is reinforced by our Old Testament reading this morning, from Deuteronomy 30:

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Moses reminder to God’s people is that the Lord’s Word isn’t too difficult or distant for them to carry out: it’s to be in their heart and mouth so that they won’t ever lose connection with it. Jesus’ “go and do likewise” is for us as well: God *expects* us to walk in obedient fellowship with Him, so that HIS mercy will be seen in OUR mercy.

Beyond the Flannelgraph 7: Sermon on the Mount

Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:1-11; Micah 6:6-8

GPS – recalculating – the original destination hasn’t moved… but our path towards it has become… OFF. Less than direct. Not optimal. COMPLETELY WRONG. So… the GPS system tells you “Recalculating” because “Taking your bone-headed mistakes in direction into account to get you where you ACTUALLY want to go” doesn’t fit well on a tiny screen…

Jesus Redirects His People With

* Blessed Beattitudes ~ Matthew 5:1-11

• This is the state of bliss gained when one is blessed…
• the most repeated word in all of these is “blessed” So what does THAT mean? From ancient Greek, the idea comes across that at specific times, specific gods paid direct attention to specific individuals. (sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes REALLY bad); Jesus, steeped in Jewish culture, would have had a different view – the LORD Yahweh pays attention to ALL of His people; and He wants them to pay attention to HIM right back (Isa 1:13; 29:13; Ez 33:31-32)
• THEREFORE, I think a good understanding of the word “blessing” is this: “God NOTICING you noticing Him. He’s happy with you being happy IN Him.” Blessing isn’t EARNING something; rather, it’s putting oneself in the right place, in the right head-space, to be ready willing and able to receive FROM God that which He most longs to give: increased connection with Himself

* Apprehending Attitudes ~ Matthew 5:3,5,8

• Poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart – holding these attitudes helps grasp the meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven, the earth, and the sight of God Himself.

* Reactive Actions ~ Matthew 5:4,6,7,9

• Mourning, hunger/thirst for righteousness, merciful, peacemakers – all these are responses to outward situations:
• mourning is a response to situations of sorrow;
• hunger/thirst for righteousness a response to unrighteousness;
• merciful a response to oppression/inappropriate uses of power;
• peacemakers a response to conflict

* Persecuted Positions ~ Matthew 5:10-11

• In general, those who are persecuted for righteousness will receive the kingdom of heaven, just as those who are poor in spirit (pretty tough to be happy happy joy joy when being persecuted, so the connection isn’t a surprise)
• Specifically, when we are persecuted because of Jesus, we’re being treated like He was – that means that those doing the persecuting are seeing enough of Jesus IN US TO TRIGGER THEM – so REJOICE!

* Covenant Costs ~ Micah 6:6-8

• 6 Micah addresses those in Israel who are comfortable, and helps them process the KIND of offerings they should be giving to the LORD. Does God want perfect sacrifices?
• 7 Does God want extravagant sacrifices and grandiose guestures to prove one’s devotion
• 8 NO. God wants INTERNALLY DRIVEN actions which reflect HIS heart for humanity

Not just “acts” of justice, but acting justly. Not just emotional recognition of merciful choice, but personal dedication to being people who extend mercy to those who need it. Not just to display modest behavior, but to make the ongoing choice to walk with God, lifting up the name of the Lord instead of advancing our own interests.

 

Beyond the Flannelgraph 8: Jesus Feeds The 5,000

Jesus Feeds The 5,000

Mark 6:31-44

1972 saw the invention of a world-changing product: Popeil Pocket Fisherman! And that’s not all – The handheld folding rod and reel comes preloaded with fishing line and includes a hook, swivel, weight, bobber, practice casting plug and 1 bonus lure.

What Does Jesus Provide?

* Rest In His Presence ~ Mark 6:31-33

• context: Jesus had sent the disciples on their 2×2 mission; while out, John the Baptist was killed, which brought them back to Jesus.
• They’re all in mourning, so the thought to be alone makes sense here… but the crowds don’t know/care about John’s death

* Compassion For Our Needs ~ Mark 6:34-36

• Jesus compassion is told in OT; He teaches ‘til late; disciples point out the hour; probably hungry
• (I’ve always thought this was funny – to send the crowd to the surrounding villages… the crowd IS the surrounding villages!)

* Challenge To Care ~ Mark 6:37-38

• Jesus charges disciples to care for their need; think about this: Jesus had sent them out with NO FOOD, expecting that God would provide (and He must have) –
• I think this is a reminder to the disciples that God DOES provide for His people THROUGH His people! “How much do you have” is a telling question; “what can you give back to God to work with” might be another way to view Jesus’ question

* Direction For Blessing ~ Mark 6:39-41

• detail: Jesus has the disciples sit them down into groups: He knows what’s about to happen (although I doubt the disciples did)

* Satisfaction In God’s Promises ~ Mark 6:42-44

• This was IMPORTANT to the early church; the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels (plus two other accounts of feeding 4000) – we understand this to be one of the Messianic sign miracles
• feeding the multitude with bread (as God did during Moses’ time) Isaiah 35:5-6 hold a Messianic expectation of healing: sight for the blind; hearing for the deaf; leaping for the lame; and songs of joy for the mute;
• Lev. 14 (ENTIRE CHAPTER) has laws for verifying the healing and cleansing of a leper (which had NEVER HAPPENED IN ISRAEL’S HISTORY UNTIL JESUS

Before he was killed, John the Baptist was in despair (due to his circumstances); he asks the question: “Are you the Promised One?” Jesus’ answer was a riff on Isaiah’s expectation: “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

Christ told the disciples to “go tell John” what they had seen Him do:
• When are YOU going?
• Whom are YOU telling?
• What have YOU seen Jesus do?