Jesus is the ultimate party crasher. The gospels tell of three funerals he crashed and totally disrupted. There was Lazarus’ funeral, the daughter of Jairus’ and a young man of Nain’s funeral. Jesus and death don’t belong together. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus and despair are not compatible; he crashes through and transforms it into joy and victory. All that applies personally to us, both in this present state of life, and the life of the world to come. Paul said that we are raised with Christ and are already seated in the heavenlies. He has transformed our physical death into a portal giving us access to complete life forever in his in-person presence. Jesus is the One Life that Transforms our lives.

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The Funeral Crasher

People can appear to live in free and unfettered liberty, doing whatever they choose whenever and however, while in a deep spiritual bondage. Real freedom is to do not as you feel you want, but as you ought. For the Christian, doing the will of God becomes the greatest pleasure and freedom. Human freedom was hijacked by Satan in the Garden of Eden. The classic event of bondage in the gospels is where a man is under the domination of Satan and in a bizarre behavioral state where his humanity is severely distorted. Jesus confronts the demons in him and sets him free to be an active witness to his community of the power of Jesus to liberate.

Set Free

For so many, life itself feels purposeless, futile, and empty.  Not everyone can even answer the question “What do you want most in life?”  The Christian wants everything that God has put into life.  Jesus said that He came to give life, and to give it abundantly… to the fullest. Yet so many are disillusioned with life and disappointed with their outcomes. Jesus claimed to be the portal into the best life. This is a life that has forgiveness and acceptance at the base and then goes into purpose, joy, meaning, and solid relationships. Because of who Jesus is and what He has done, all of this and more is available to all who come to Him.

Live the Abundant Life

Feelings of insecurity are quite common and most likely everyone encounters at least a fleeting feeling like that every day. Others live with insecurity as a way of life. It ranges from food insecurity, social anxiety, financial insecurity and concerns over physical safety. These experiences are part of what it is to live in a sin-fractured world. The Good Shepherd addresses the insecurities of his flock and brings is answers. His assuring voice beings a reassuring message of a committed love relationship. He holds his sheep securely so that there is no force that is able to snatch them (meaning us) out of his hand. He then asks us to follow the path of safety where he leads us. He give us counsel and comfort.

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One Life Forever

At the core of the Christian faith are the companion features the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If either of them is missing, there is no meaning in life and no purpose of our existence. That’s why we go flat out and wide open for Easter. Its not just the decorations, dressing our kids in their best, hiding the eggs and goodies, and having a grand family dinner. It is lifting our hearts in unrestrained joy. “Death is defeated, the King is Alive!” Nothing can top Easter and nothing can stop Easter. Its life-giving, life-changing power is as great in 2022 as it was way back then.

Surprising Love in a Garden

There was a couple that had such a godly household. Zechariah and Elizabeth, contemporaries of Jesus, had a well-run home and they were faithful to each other, to God and to the community. But they were unable to have children. The unfulfilled desire for children did not prevent them from living a full life and fulfilling the plan God had for them. There may have been an empty space in their hearts they were praying about, but there was no “God-gap.” God had a plan for them that took its proper time in unfolding. Their prayers about having a child were heard and God promised them a son who became one of the most important men of his time, John the Baptist, the promised forerunner and way-preparer for the Messiah. He was to call sinners to repentance and open their hearts to Jesus the Savior.

A Home With Everything But...

One day a lawyer asked Jesus a question in order to trap Him and make Him look bad. The lawyer, who was an expert in religious laws of the Jews, asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” (Matt. 22:36) God did give the Israelites a great variety of laws including moral, ceremonial, and civil laws. In fact, the Jews had 613 laws that they proclaimed as important.

First and Greatest Commandment

Jesus celebrated “First Fruits” in the most appropriate manner by rising from the dead on that day. Easter represents the whole point of Christianity as Christ rose from the dead, so shall we. He is our, “First Fruits” proof of God’s promise to bring us back from the dead, “So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable” (1 Cor. 15:42).

Overcoming with Shouts of Hosanna

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. In addition to Jesus, Mark features three main groups of people: the disciples, the crowds, and the religious leaders of the time whom all misunderstood Jesus. It is believed that the writer of the Gospel of Mark was a close associate of Peter the apostle, and he may have based much of his Gospel on Peter’s preaching as well as his personal eyewitness of the events of the time.

His Story from Mark: The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus

In Mark Chapter 2, Jesus outrages His critics called the Pharisees by calling Matthew the tax collector to follow Him. Furthermore, Jesus then eats with Matthew and other equally “defiled” people according to the Pharisees. This story invites us to reflect on whether we are more like the “defiled” people of this story, or like those who criticized Jesus. Thankfully we will read about Jesus who brings healing and forgiveness to all, even well-known sinners and smug hypocrites. In Chapter Two of Mark, we learn of Jesus’ authority over sickness, sin, and critics.

His Story from Mark: The Calling of Matthew

The Pharisees were that Jewish sect or part which laid utmost stress on the strictest outward observances of the law, including the traditions of man. In fact, many Pharisees and Scribes held traditional law over and above God’s law. Jesus exposes their self-righteousness as arrant hypocrites. The Pharisees and Scribes expected the disciples and Jesus to follow their ritual practices. Jesus quotes Isaiah to rebuke their hypocrisy and then gives them a concrete example of their false piety. He describes how they fail to follow the fourth commandment, “to honor your father and mother” so they can follow man-made observances.

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What Defiles Is from the Heart

Jesus asks a very important question in Mark Chapter 3, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” He answers the question by pointing out that people who do the will of God are His, “brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). This weekend we will take a close look at the crowds that follow Jesus and what they say about Him. Included in these crowds are His physical mother and half brothers.

Who Is Jesus' Brother and Sister and Mother?

As far as we know, the first parable spoken by Jesus is the one about the sower. The parable is typical of the Palestine region where the grain is sown by hand. Jesus calls for close attention to the meaning of this parable, for it reveals a “secret” of the Kingdom of God. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. The lesson or mystery Jesus reveals is for His followers – not for those who do not believe. The exposition for this parable is revealed by Jesus in Chapter 4 of Mark.

The Key to Parables

In the reading for this week, Jesus comes upon a man who has many unclean spirits within him. When asked his name, he said, “My name is Legion.” This man called Legion treats Jesus with more respect and honor than the Jewish people who live in the nearby country. From this historical account of Jesus casting out many demons from this man, we learn that Jesus has power over demons; yet, the people who saw the miracle wanted Jesus to leave and they wanted nothing to do with Him. The people begged Jesus to leave, while the healed man begged Jesus to go with him.

The Demon Named Legion

John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod Antipas. According to the New Testament, Herod Antipas was ruler of Galilee under the Roman Empire. He had imprisoned John because he had publicly reproved Herod for divorcing his first wife and unlawfully taking his sister-in-law as his second wife. Her name was Herodias. She had a grudge against John for speaking against the marriage.

King Herod the Murderer

The transfiguration was an event where Jesus showed the light of His heavenly divinity. Jesus was metamorphosized before three of the disciples to display His divine glory and to prepareHis disciples for His death and resurrection. At this historical event, two Old Testament figuresappeared, Moses and Elijah, to verify who Jesus was and what was to happen to Him.The glory of Jesus reminds us that He freely chose death and resurrection for our sakes. Thisshould make us all the more want to listen to Him.

The Transfiguration

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is the place He openly accepted messianic titles and at the same time fulfilled many Old Testament messianic prophecies. The disciples and the crowds expected Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom. The express purpose of Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem was to usher in God’s plan of salvation for mankind. Jesus entered Jerusalem in humility to fulfill the plan of salvation by laying down His life for sinners.

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Rather than being an external regimented, dry list of rules, Jesus describes the commandments as being centered on loving God and our neighbor. We are told that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our being; that is, with all our heart, soul, and mind. This Jesus calls the most important commandment. Then Jesus shares what is the second most important commandment, which is to love our neighbors as ourselves. These two commandments Jesus sees and explains as the heart of the Old Testament, revealed by the law and the prophets.

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The Great Commandment

Beginning with Chapter 14 of Mark we learn about how desperate the Jewish leaders were to find a way to execute Jesus quickly and quietly before He gained full support for His mission. Yet, God is at work even in these events using the opposition of His enemies for the fulfillment of His plan of salvation for mankind. The Lord is likewise at work in the events of our lives today bringing about good even amid suffering. We must trust that He has a plan for all that happens in our lives.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Easter is not merely a one-day celebration, it is a fifty-day season from the Day of the Resurrection of our Lord to the Day of Pentecost. During the Easter Season, we have a tradition to greet one another with a special Easter greeting and response, “Alleluia Christ is Risen!” “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

He Has Risen

We begin a post-Easter new series, based on the Old Testament book of Jonah. This is one of the most compelling and well-known stories in the Bible. It is full of drama, action, human interest, and practical lessons for Christians and for the Church today as it teaches us to remain true to our calling and mission. When we drift away from it, God may intervene dramatically to get us back on track.

You Can Run but You Cannot Hide

When You Can't Get Any Lower

The people of Nineveh hardly seem like prospects for responding to God’s Word because they were not Jewish, yet they did turn from their sin, fasted, and put on sackcloth. Upon seeing their turn from evil, God relented from sending disaster. We thank God that His Word bore the fruit of repentance in Nineveh and in our lives.

When God Relents

In Chapter Four, Jonah came to realize that God was going to spare Nineveh from destruction. Several days had elapsed since Jonah had begun preaching that Nineveh would be overturned if they did not repent. When Nineveh repented, Jonah became very angry. His anger is mentioned several times by God. In contrast, God is “slow to anger and abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression of sin” (Ex. 34:6-7).

When You Are Angry Enough to Want to Die

We begin a new series this weekend called, “Paul’s Word to Timothy.” Timothy was, in every way, Paul’s spiritual son. Young but gifted, Timothy had been assigned to lead the church at Ephesus. The congregation that gathered in Ephesus needed order in worship as well as doctrinal correction. It was also plagued with false teachers. This letter from Paul guided and counseled young Timothy in his duties.

Untrustworthy People

Paul offers a summary of prayer in the life of the worshipping community. Prayer is strongly encouraged for all people, emphasizing especially prayer for those who exercise authority over us. Along with emphasis on prayer, Paul gives proper qualifications for service within the Christian church and spiritual leadership.

Trustworthy Testimony

God daily and richly provides us with all that we need. Paul teaches to reject God’s good gifts or to receive them without thanksgiving is a sin against God’s graciousness. Paul prepares his listeners to contend against false teachers and silly myths. Paul shares that the reading of Scripture is the key to combat falsehoods and disinformation.

Trustworthy Sayings

Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday. We confess and believe in our God who is three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. On this Sunday, as on all Sundays, we confess the great mystery of the Holy Trinity. We will also take a close look at Paul’s instructions for the Church of Ephesus.

Trustworthy Instructions

God is passionate about relationships. That’s why He created us, that we might know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. God is all about relationships because God IS relationship within Himself in the triune mystery of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In a dream, Jacob saw a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. God Himself stood at the top, in heaven, and made divine promises to Jacob. This encounter with God transformed Jacob’s life. When we gather to worship God with his Word and Sacraments, God offers us a literal encounter with Him. He deeply desires relationship with each of us. Come, expecting to meet God through Jesus Christ and encounter the greatest love ever.

SHINE: 12 Points of Light

Send sunlight through a prism and you suddenly have a lovely display of color. All those colors are in the light, and then separate into many colors. God’s love is like that.  The single light of his grace and love manifests in big range of special gifts and benefits. Just like Jacob’s favor was shown in a multi-colored coat, God’s favor for each of us is shown in a rainbow of joyful blessings. It was shown in Joseph’s life and God is eager to display all of it in our lives.

SHINE: Joseph: Light of Many Colors

People speak to each other, using words. Words are containers of meaning.  Words mean things. Words are powerful. Words have the power to destroy or give life. We all use words in various ways. Jesus had a lot to say about that in the Sermon on the Mount. He warned about empty, stray, random meaningless words. He warned about words of aggression, deceit, and false swearing. He really wants Christians to “clean up” their language. Only He can do that and He will through the power of his word of forgiveness and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

Seeing Words: Perception of Words

Jesus had a lot to say about love. More than that, he acted in perfect love, especially when we consider his willingness to go to the cross for us. Those actions give us the perfect model to emulate. The words of Jesus give the perfect path of love for us to follow. For us to do that, we need to see others the way Jesus did. Sometimes we can’t see beyond our own feelings and end up in the way of retaliation for perceived insults and offenses. Sometimes we are tempted to invest our love only on those who love us. According to Jesus, that’s the opposite of his way, explained in the Sermon on the Mount.

Farsightedness of Love

During the COVID-19 Pandemic we are tempted to be anxious about a lot of things, including our financial security. Strongly connected are issues about our economy, our employment and how we can maintain the basics of our lives. Jesus addresses those issues in the Sermon on the Mount. In fact, the issue of finances is the top topic in the recorded sayings of Jesus. Why? Because these are issues of value. Finances become one of the chief areas where God tests and develops our faith.

Blurry Vision: Illusion of Money

Doors are meant to do two things: to open and provide access, and to close and prevent it. Jesus addresses the Church at Philadelphia as the One who has the Key of David and can open and shut. He is the only one who can provide access. He is the key to the door to heaven. Through Him we have access to the perfect joys of heaven itself. He is the Way, He is the Key, He is the Door. There’s another side to this. Unbelief and unforgiven sin put up a barrier that prevents us from coming to God’s presence. Those who persist in this cannot enter heaven. Sin prevents us from entry into God’s eternal blessings. Yet this free gift is available for everyone. Faith, not works, opens the door.

Philadelphia: Open Door Policy

About 2 generations ago you’d pull into a gas station and be greeted by an attendant who, among other things, would ask, "Check yer oil?" If you ended up being low they'd whip out a quart and top you off. Sounds a little quaint but brings to mind a crucial Christian issue. Jesus told a parable about 5 young ladies who should have checked their oil and regretted it later. It’s not about engine oil, but lamp oil. Finding one’s way in the dark required a lamp, and a lamp required oil.  When the lamp runs out of oil, you are in the dark. Jesus uses oil as an analogy for faith.  Have you checked your level lately?

Parable of the Ten Virgins

People are not the only ones who go to church. The devil likes to come too. We can actually invite the devil to come to our church when we come with a critical spirit, bitterness, resentment, cherished and unconfessed sin, jealousy, pride, inattention, distraction. You can probably think of things to add to the list. But just as Jesus exercised his authority to kick the devil out, he comes to church to deliver us from satanic oppression and influence. Through his Word, his Holy Supper and the declaration of forgiveness of sins he comes to free us from anything evil we carry along with us. Jesus carried it all to the cross and left it there. Now, resurrected and ruling over even demonic forces his deepest desire it to liberate us.

The Day the Devil Got Kicked out of Church

Where does God dwell? Even the heavens cannot contain Him. Yet in the Bible the temple was referred to as the House of God, His Dwelling Place. He is always present everywhere, yet He promises to meet with us in special ways and He tells us He is accessible in His Word and Sacraments. He is not confined to our physical worship spaces, yet He promises to meet us there as we gather in them. Jesus claimed the Jerusalem temple as the House of the Lord and at the same time identified his own body as the true temple of God, the definitive dwelling place of God. When we encounter Jesus we encounter Almighty God.

Whose House is This?

Our purpose at Ablaze is to love God, love others, follow Jesus and to tell others. If you are looking for a church home in the Tulsa area we’d love to have you join us for worship on Saturdays at 6:30 PM or Sundays an 10:30 AM. We are located just north of 51st street on Lynn Lane in Broken Arrow. For more information, please check out our website at ablazechurch.org

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