Rev 1:1-20
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
7 Stars and 7 Lampstands audio (4MB)
Today we begin a series on the book of Revelation. You may be aware that this is not an easy book to follow so let me give you a short introduction. The first thing to understand is that this is not a work of history, though it is firmly rooted in the history of the Church since Jesus Christ. It’s not wisdom literature like the psalms or proverbs. It is a letter, but not like any of the other letters you may be familiar with. It’s what’s called Apocalyptic. If you’d lived in the first century when John was writing this you’d understand exactly what that meant, but since you don’t, let me try to explain. Apocalyptic writing uses strange, often fantastic, imagery to describe what might happen in the future. The closest thing we have to it today would be science fiction/fantasy literature. But even that doesn’t really explain it because what we find here isn’t a linear story. It uses picture language, but the picture is moving. Someone has described it as mobile metaphor. Sometimes it’s like we’re looking at the same scene from multiple vantage points - the same characters and events pop up but the picture is different each time.
But let’s look at how the letter begins. He writes: “This is the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.” This is a message from God via Jesus Christ who sends an angel to John so he can pass the message on to us. And it’s a revelation. That is, it’s the unveiling of something that was previously hidden.
Matt 5:1-12
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Blessings of God’s Kingdom audio (2MB)
I wonder did you see or hear all the discussion on Australia day about what it means to be Australian. We have a quite a few people here who didn’t grow up in Australia. I wonder what they think it is that makes up the Australian Character? You might like to ask them later over lunch. It’s interesting to think about what makes Australians different from those who grew up in other places - Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa. But we’re not going to do that today. We’re going to think about what makes us different as members of the Kingdom of Heaven. Here in Matthew 5 Jesus outlines the sorts of characteristics that are to be found among those who are members of God’s Kingdom.
But first notice the setting. At the end of ch 4 we have a picture of large crowds coming out to hear Jesus and to be healed by him. He’s surrounded by these people. Ministry opportunities everywhere. But then in ch 5, Matthew tells us that when he saw the large crowds he withdrew to the top of a mountain and his disciples came to him. That begs the question, doesn’t it, why does Jesus leave centre stage and withdraw with just his disciples? Why give up the opportunity presented by this huge crowd and limit himself to a few disciples? Well, the answer is that he isn’t on about the centre stage. He’s come to prepare a people to live in God’s kingdom. He knows that this small group of disciples are capable of changing the world if they get their lives on track.
So Jesus withdraws, just far enough away that only those who really want to hear what he has to say will follow. Matthew points out that he goes up a mountain because he wants us to recall Moses going up Mt Sinai to receive the law. The law taught the people of Israel how to live and now Jesus is teaching his disciples how to live.
Jesus Christ Superstar
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- Written by: Heather Cetrangelo
Matthew 4:12-25
Jesus Christ is a Superstar.
By chapter 4, Matthew has finished telling us all the background, about who Jesus is, where he was born ..
Now Jesus is a grown up. He’s left his home in Nazareth, and it’s time to launch his big mission to save the world … and Matthew puts him on centre stage, with his name in big Broadway lights …
As if to say, ‘Come and see the show. Jesus Christ Superstar. The greatest show in the world!’
And then he adds rock music, flashing lights and glitter falling from the ceiling. Have a look, you’ll see it all in chapter 4 (v15-16) …
“The people sitting in darkness have seen a great light” and, more accurately than your translation there .. “the ones who sit in the land and darkness of death, on them a light has risen.”
The land of death … is the world we live in.
… Matthew paints a picture of this dark place where the crowds gather in, and then he adds big lights, spotlight on Jesus. Everyone who he touches gets healed, and he travels from town to town and his fame grows.
Jesus Christ is a Superstar. You could almost make a musical out of it.
John 1:29-42
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Behold the Lamb of God audio (2MB)
I like John the Baptist. He’s such a contrast to the dominant model of the celebrity today. I assume you’ve noticed how important the cult of the celebrity is today. When celebrities speak it’s all about them. It’s just assumed that everyone is interested in what they’re interested in. Whether it’s some prince getting married or a princess having children or Oprah at the Opera house we’re all expected to watch with bated breath for what they’ll do or say next.
John the Baptist was certainly a celebrity. Matthew tells us about him. He appears in the wilderness telling people to repent. He wears “clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” This is code: John appears dressed like Elijah. His message is like that of the Old Testament prophets - a call to the nation to turn back to God. He’s clearly a celebrity.
The Journey of the Wise Ones
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- Written by: Heather Cetrangelo
It’s a curious story.
About a king who isn’t really a king, and another king, who really is.
And a star and some gold, frankincense and myrrh.
What is myrrh anyway?
Jesus has already been born, in Bethlehem, during the reign of King Herod, who was typically, not a very nice king.
Enter stage left, some strange visitors from the East. Not any of God’s chosen people. Not Jews.
Not people who worshipped YHWH or studied his scriptures.
Wise people … advisors to kings from the east. These people were more ‘spiritual than religious’.
Their specialty was reading the stars and interpreting dreams. And though we don’t know much about them, we can’t help but suspect that whatever they’re into is not all that kosher.
Following a star doesn’t sound very Jewish. Seems a bit dodgy. Why would Matthew even mention such things, to a Jewish audience?
Surely he could have left that bit out of the gospel … and for that matter, the weird visitors from the East.
One can only assume, that such details were included …. because they actually happened.
Is 62 - Christmas Day 2010
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
A Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord audio (2MB)
I have a problem with Christmas. Not with the idea of celebrating Jesus’ birth of course. Nor with the idea of giving gifts to our loved ones. That’s good because it helps us remember that God gave us the greatest gift of all. It’s not even the temptation to eat more than I really need, though that is a problem.
No, I have a problem with presents. More particularly I have a problem deciding which present to open first. Should I choose the most interesting shape? Or should I choose the one with the glossy wrapping? Or should it be the one with the plain brown paper wrapping?
Of course you can see the problem can’t you? The quality of the wrapping may have no relationship to what’s inside. Without looking inside it’s almost impossible to see whether the package is worth opening.
That’s the mistake that so many people make when it comes to Christianity. The package doesn’t look particularly exciting so they never look at what’s inside.
Christmas Eve (Training for Godliness)
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- Written by: Heather Cetrangelo
I’ll never forget, something my high school principal once said to me:
“Success in life is 5% ability and 95% blood, sweat and tears.”
I guess I’ve always believed that with hard work and dedication we can achieve almost anything we put our minds to. My motto in life has always been, ‘forget what’s reasonable or practical … with blood, sweat and tears, we’ll make it happen’ …
It strikes me that that 5% ‘ability’ that is needed to succeed, might only be 5%, but it matters a lot. Without ability, all the hard work in the world won’t be enough.
Take, for example, my performance in mathematics. I don’t know if you know what it’s like to work really really hard at school, just to achieve a pass grade … well, that was me in maths. In maths, all the hard work in the world, was never going to get me a high distinction … because I just didn’t have the ability … it’s like that part of the brain that grasps mathematical concepts, just isn’t in me. I could work really hard at it, but I will never be successful at it because I don’t have that 5% factor: ability.
But you know … that 5% ability factor that my school principal was talking about … it doesn’t just apply to study does it? It applies to life.
