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Illustration
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Illustrations
1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a
An old folk song tells the story of a bloody battle between valley people and mountain folk. In the song, the mountain folk are the guardians of a fantastic treasure, which they keep hidden beneath a special stone. The valley folk are jealous of the treasure, and in the course of the song decide that they will go up the mountain and take the treasure by force. The valley people massacre the mountain folk; standing on the bloody mountain, they lift the treasure stone to see the treasure beneath. The treasure beneath is not gold or rubies; it is one simple inscription. "Peace on Earth."
Leah T.
1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a
Visiting Israel was one of the highlights of my pastoral ministry. The excitement of Jerusalem, the sacredness of Golgatha and the empty tomb, the site of the birthplace of the Savior and the hillsides of Nazareth. The Olive Grove where Jesus with sweat of blood praying and agonizing over his holy decision of the cross. Walking the stations of the cross and listening to the tour guide describe in detail what happened at each spot. Riding the bus throughout the countryside was amazing.
One of the places that we visited was the Dead Sea. It has been observed over the years that it is the only place on the planet where there is no outlet and where it receives, but gives nothing. William Taylor decades ago wrote, "Such a lake is a perfect illustration of a church all whose efforts terminate upon itself. Around it there will be desolation, and in it there will be no life."
God save us from being Dead Sea Churches!
Derl K.
Galatians 2:15-21
Verna along with her mother was shopping at local specialty shops in a revitalized downtown area of their town. The women were looking in a frame shop, wanting a custom frame. When Verna gave her name for the order, the shop owner stopped and searched her face. He asked if she ever taught at the local high school. When she said she did the man's eyes filled with tears. He told her his name and said she was the only teacher who gave him a grade higher than a "D." "You were the only one who didn't see me as a failure," he explained.
Verna thought back more than twenty years to her teaching days. She recalled how she felt unsuited for the job. "I had seen myself as unable to connect with the students and was haunted by incidents in which I thought I had treated students badly." Those years teaching she considered her "dark days."
Years later in a frame shop Verna realized that God works through even our most flawed efforts. The outcome does not depend solely on us or how well or badly we perform but on God's power at work in our lives and in the world.
The apostle Paul reminded his readers that we are saved by God's grace and not by following the letter of the law. People continue to struggle with this notion today, we do not earn our salvation but rather it is given to us as a free gift. Once we give our lives to Jesus, then as Paul states, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." All of our thoughts and actions will be in accordance with Christ's.
Tim S.
Galatians 2:15-21
One of my all-time favorite movie scenes is in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. After Aslan (representing Christ) is killed at the Stone Table (representing the code of law of their "Deep Magic"), the Stone Table cracks and Aslan is brought back to life.
What a wonderful picture of Christ and the law! By dying on the cross, he fulfilled the law of Moses and its requirement for sacrifice. He also destroyed the law of sin and death that had a chokehold on humanity. When we come to Christ and accept that he died for our sins and follow him as our Master, the law of sin and death will also crack in our lives, bringing life out of death. What "deeper magic" is there than that?
Craig K.
Galatians 2:15-21
In the year 1510, Martin Luther made a pilgrimage to Rome. It was his desire to fulfill the expected requirements that would deliver a soul from purgatory. As his parents were still living, he devoted his actions to Grandpa Heine. One of the expected stations was to climb Pilate's stairs on hands and knees; while kissing each step, a penitent is to recite the Pater Noster. When Luther reached the top step he was disillusioned as to the purpose, meaning, and effectiveness of this exercise. Rising to his feet he asked himself, "Who knows whether it is so?" This was one of several experiences that began to formulate Luther's concept that we are not saved by works, but are justified by faith alone.
In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul continues to outline his theological position that we are no longer under the Law but are justified by faith alone. This was the challenge he placed before Peter who desired the Gentiles to follow Jewish customs. This is why Paul wrote regarding Peter's action, "So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." This is why Paul could write regarding himself. "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
Ron L.
Luke 7:36--8:3
Persepolis is an autobiographical graphic novel about Marjane Satrapi, a woman who grew up in Iran and now lives in France. Told in pictures through the eyes of a child, Persepolis tells the story of Iran's recent history from the perspective of one of its oppressed daughters. Several of Satrapi's anecdotes talk about Iranian regimes' insistence on women wearing headscarves, and later long jackets and trousers. Satrapi's mother is insulted for wearing too short a headscarf; police arrest women for wearing clothing that is not conservative enough for their taste. Women are not allowed to walk with men who are not their fathers, brothers, or husbands, and are persecuted if caught wearing makeup. In private, Iranians dress and act like regular, vivacious people; but in public, they appear as one obedient black mass of headscarves and trousers. Men who make the effort to respect and befriend women seem rare indeed in Satrapi's account of the strict Iranian regimes.
Leah T.
1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a
An old folk song tells the story of a bloody battle between valley people and mountain folk. In the song, the mountain folk are the guardians of a fantastic treasure, which they keep hidden beneath a special stone. The valley folk are jealous of the treasure, and in the course of the song decide that they will go up the mountain and take the treasure by force. The valley people massacre the mountain folk; standing on the bloody mountain, they lift the treasure stone to see the treasure beneath. The treasure beneath is not gold or rubies; it is one simple inscription. "Peace on Earth."
Leah T.
1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a
Visiting Israel was one of the highlights of my pastoral ministry. The excitement of Jerusalem, the sacredness of Golgatha and the empty tomb, the site of the birthplace of the Savior and the hillsides of Nazareth. The Olive Grove where Jesus with sweat of blood praying and agonizing over his holy decision of the cross. Walking the stations of the cross and listening to the tour guide describe in detail what happened at each spot. Riding the bus throughout the countryside was amazing.
One of the places that we visited was the Dead Sea. It has been observed over the years that it is the only place on the planet where there is no outlet and where it receives, but gives nothing. William Taylor decades ago wrote, "Such a lake is a perfect illustration of a church all whose efforts terminate upon itself. Around it there will be desolation, and in it there will be no life."
God save us from being Dead Sea Churches!
Derl K.
Galatians 2:15-21
Verna along with her mother was shopping at local specialty shops in a revitalized downtown area of their town. The women were looking in a frame shop, wanting a custom frame. When Verna gave her name for the order, the shop owner stopped and searched her face. He asked if she ever taught at the local high school. When she said she did the man's eyes filled with tears. He told her his name and said she was the only teacher who gave him a grade higher than a "D." "You were the only one who didn't see me as a failure," he explained.
Verna thought back more than twenty years to her teaching days. She recalled how she felt unsuited for the job. "I had seen myself as unable to connect with the students and was haunted by incidents in which I thought I had treated students badly." Those years teaching she considered her "dark days."
Years later in a frame shop Verna realized that God works through even our most flawed efforts. The outcome does not depend solely on us or how well or badly we perform but on God's power at work in our lives and in the world.
The apostle Paul reminded his readers that we are saved by God's grace and not by following the letter of the law. People continue to struggle with this notion today, we do not earn our salvation but rather it is given to us as a free gift. Once we give our lives to Jesus, then as Paul states, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." All of our thoughts and actions will be in accordance with Christ's.
Tim S.
Galatians 2:15-21
One of my all-time favorite movie scenes is in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. After Aslan (representing Christ) is killed at the Stone Table (representing the code of law of their "Deep Magic"), the Stone Table cracks and Aslan is brought back to life.
What a wonderful picture of Christ and the law! By dying on the cross, he fulfilled the law of Moses and its requirement for sacrifice. He also destroyed the law of sin and death that had a chokehold on humanity. When we come to Christ and accept that he died for our sins and follow him as our Master, the law of sin and death will also crack in our lives, bringing life out of death. What "deeper magic" is there than that?
Craig K.
Galatians 2:15-21
In the year 1510, Martin Luther made a pilgrimage to Rome. It was his desire to fulfill the expected requirements that would deliver a soul from purgatory. As his parents were still living, he devoted his actions to Grandpa Heine. One of the expected stations was to climb Pilate's stairs on hands and knees; while kissing each step, a penitent is to recite the Pater Noster. When Luther reached the top step he was disillusioned as to the purpose, meaning, and effectiveness of this exercise. Rising to his feet he asked himself, "Who knows whether it is so?" This was one of several experiences that began to formulate Luther's concept that we are not saved by works, but are justified by faith alone.
In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul continues to outline his theological position that we are no longer under the Law but are justified by faith alone. This was the challenge he placed before Peter who desired the Gentiles to follow Jewish customs. This is why Paul wrote regarding Peter's action, "So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." This is why Paul could write regarding himself. "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
Ron L.
Luke 7:36--8:3
Persepolis is an autobiographical graphic novel about Marjane Satrapi, a woman who grew up in Iran and now lives in France. Told in pictures through the eyes of a child, Persepolis tells the story of Iran's recent history from the perspective of one of its oppressed daughters. Several of Satrapi's anecdotes talk about Iranian regimes' insistence on women wearing headscarves, and later long jackets and trousers. Satrapi's mother is insulted for wearing too short a headscarf; police arrest women for wearing clothing that is not conservative enough for their taste. Women are not allowed to walk with men who are not their fathers, brothers, or husbands, and are persecuted if caught wearing makeup. In private, Iranians dress and act like regular, vivacious people; but in public, they appear as one obedient black mass of headscarves and trousers. Men who make the effort to respect and befriend women seem rare indeed in Satrapi's account of the strict Iranian regimes.
Leah T.
