The Triumphal Entry: The Story Behind The Story

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is one of the most memorable accounts of Easter week.  He enters the city riding a colt -to the cheers and delight of the massive crowds.  People are waving palm branches and throwing their coats on the ground.  It is a moment filled with awe and expectation. Curiously, it is only Luke who records that Jesus wept as he entered the city.

We can see the faces, imagine the crowd, and hear the shouts: ‘Hosannah, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’  

But have you ever thought, ‘What is really going on?’  ‘What is the story behind the story?’  It turns out that what Jesus is doing has been done before!

Alexander the Great’s death in 323BC brought chaos to the Greek Empire.  He didn’t leave a successor and the Empire eventually split into four territories.  One faction was the Seleucid Dynasty which ruled most of the Middle East.  The Seleucids propagated the Hellenization of their territories -to the dismay and disgust of the Jewish people.

The Seleucids Dynasty filled Israel with altars to the Greek gods and levied taxes to support their worship.  They banned the Torah and even placed an idol of Zeus in the Jewish Temple.

Finally the Jewish people wouldn’t take it anymore.  A priest by the name of Mattathias led a revolt in 167 BC.  He died while fighting the Seleucids and his son Judah took up the cause.  Judah Maccabee use guerilla warfare tactics to eventually overthrow the Seleucids from Israel.  The festival of Hanukkah -(the Festival of Lights) originates from this time period.  You can read more about this account in the book of 1 Maccabees. 

With victory assured Judah did two things in rapid succession. First he entered the city of Jerusalem -to the cheers and praises of its inhabitants.  Once in the city he went immediately to the Temple and cleared out all the idols.

Flash forward 190 years.  The Greek-leaning Seleucid Dynasty is long gone.  The Maccabean rule lasted until the Roman General Pompey captured Jerusalem in 67BC.  Once again Israel finds itself under occupation.

When a Roman General -fresh from victory in battle- would enter a capital city, he followed a specific plan.  The plan called for the general to wear garments signifying his deity.  He would ride either a chariot or a war-horse and was followed by those captured in battle.  The general would immediately proceed to the temple and offer a sacrifice.  This victory procession -spelled out in Roman Law- is called a ‘Triumph!’

Pause for a moment and think of Jesus entering Jerusalem in preparation for his final Passover Meal.  He knows the history and the culture of his people.  He undoubtedly knows that less than 200 years earlier Judah Maccabees followed this same plan (entry into Jerusalem and clearing out the Temple).  He undoubtedly knows that the Romans had a similar triumphal entry and that -more than likely- Pilate himself had just days before entered Jerusalem in his own modified Triumph!

Now comes Jesus.  He uses the history and culture of his day and replaces it with his own twist.  He doesn’t ride on a war horse like Judah Maccabees or the Roman Generals; he rides a colt.  He doesn’t carry a sword, but rather speaks the Word of God.    He doesn’t wear the garments of a victorious general, but rather of a humble worker.  He doesn’t come to offer political freedom, but rather spiritual freedom.  He doesn’t come to free Israel from the oppression of other nations; rather he comes to liberate all people from the oppression of sin!

The story behind the story shows us that when we dig into God’s Word we are continually rewarded with deep and profound Truths.  Jesus replaces and fulfills the cultural expectations of his time and uses them to show how God is doing something new!  During this Holy Week, why don’t you read through the accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry and send in your comments...

The Ease of Judging Others and First Impressions

Britain's Got Talent 2012 competition is not something that I usually follow.  This recent clip features two high school-age students who sing to the delight of not only the audience, but also the judges.

Watch the entire 7 minute clip here and be amazed....

What does this clip say about the ease of judging others and our first impressions of people?  Would we view the young man any differently if he didn't have such a great ability?  In light of this clip, how should we view others?

Send in your comments...!

Christians Should Drink Starbucks not Boycott Them...

With a blog called Coffee Shop Pastor, what else did you expect?

Over the past 30 years or so Christians have boycotted DisneyWorld, Pepsi, Proctor and Gamble, Ford and Levi Strauss Co.  When a Pastor or Christian organization calls for a boycott, people rally, emails fly, posters are painted and local pastors are urged to stand with those calling for the boycott.

As a local evangelical pastor, I've long felt that boycotts tend to serve those who are advocating for them, rather than the greater cause that they are ostensibly against!  Boycotts 'rally the troops', boycotts bring in more donations, and in my opinion, boycotts ultimately end up only increasing the profile of the person or group who initiated this action!

But what of the morality of the boycott?  Should Christians use their economic power to affect change?  What are the unintended consequences of these actions?  Russell Moore, Dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary makes a strong case that Christians should not only avoid boycotting, but that the actual use of them undercuts the Christian witness and message.

Maybe instead of refusing to patronize Starbucks, Christians should do more business, have studies, get their small groups to meet at their local coffee shops!  Let Starbucks see Christians and experience the salt and light of the Gospel!

Read Dr. Moore's thoughts here and send in your thoughts and comments...

What is 'the great tribulation' of Revelations Chapter 7?

In Revelation 7.14 John sees a great multitude of people praising God.  They are standing before the Throne and they are wearing white robes.  John doesn’t know their identity so an Elder tells John that they have come ‘out of the great tribulation.’  

Does ‘the great tribulation’ refer to a specific period or event, or is it a general term?  Theologians differ as to the meaning of this phrase.  Some see it as a specific -7 year period of time that precedes the coming of Christ.  Others see it as a general term that refers to the opposition that God’s followers face while on earth.

My opinion is that the great 'tribulation’ in 7.14 is a general term.  This same word is found in 1.9, in 2.9 and 10, and again in 2.22.  Each time the word is used in Revelations it refers generically to the sufferings that God’s people endure.  The word ‘tribulation’ doesn’t appear again in the book of Revelations.

God is pouring his wrath upon the world.  His wrath is seen in the Seals, the Trumpets and the Bowls.  During this time the forces of this world are rising up and opposing God and his people.  I believe that the phrase ‘great tribulation’ of 7.14 is referring to this period of time prior to Christ’s final return.

What about your thoughts on this phrase and its meaning?

Does Religion Need God?

A great question and one in which the answer just may be, ‘it depends..!’  Gary Gutting, professor of Philosophy at The University of Norte Dame takes on this profound question in a March 22nd, 2012 OpEd Piece for the New York Times.   You can read the article here.  

Gutting weaves together such diverse ideas as the ontological existence for God, the problem of evil and our belief in the afterlife.

The question ‘Does Religion Need God’ is an age-old one.  Theologians have long debated the importance of Orthodoxy (right beliefs) and Orthopraxy (right actions).  No less an eminent figure than Immanuel Kant published his Deontological Ethical Principal of duty-based ethics.

Maybe the initial question ‘Does Religion Need God?’ should be rephrased, ‘Can we be good without God?‘   God doesn’t need Religion but a Religion without God only replaces the Divine Will with Human Will -turning our intelligence into a manageable deity. 

What are your thoughts to the NewYork Times article and to the question, 'Does Religion Need God?'

The NFL, Johnny Cash and Jesus

On March 21, 2012 the National Football League distributed some of the harshest penalties in its history.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell blasted the New Orleans Saints organization, Head Coach Sean Payton and former Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams for both propagating a system of paying out bounties for knocking out opponents and for also repeated lying to the NFL about this illegal plan.  This ruling darkens the Saints 2009 Super Bowl win and casts a pall upon the entire Saints organization.

In making this ruling Commissioner Goodell affirms the direction that Jesus taught in Matthew 23.25-26.  In this passage Jesus blasts the Pharisees for their lack of personal integrity.  Jesus clearly teaches that the what goes on in the heart is as important as your actions.  The Saints won the Super Bowl, but according to the NFL they did so while violating the rules.  Johnny Cash, a man well acquainted with breaking the law, wrote in his song 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' that 'What is done in the dark will be brought to the light.'  Jesus and Johnny -meet the Saints and the NFL.

Who makes up the 144,000 found in Revelation 7?

Let's be honest -interpreting Revelations is difficult! We routinely meet an array of images and sounds that stretch our minds to their furthest limits. In Revelations Chapter 7 and verse 4 we meet the 144,000. Who are these people and what does it mean to us today?

There are two main views regarding the identity of the 144,000.

The first view is that the 144,000 represent Jewish people who follow Christ.  Within this view there are some take the 144,000 as symbolically representing the entirety of the Nation of Israel. Others claim that this number literally refers to the specific amount of Israelites who will follow Christ: 144,000.

Biblical evidence for this view is that in the Bible the term 'Israel' always refers to the Jewish Nation, and the phrase 'every tribe' is very specific language -pointing towards real Jewish People.

The second view is that the 144,000 represents The Church.  Proponents of this view show how the numbers given in this section (7.4-8) '12x12x1000' are symbolic -representing 'completeness.' They also show how the list of 12 Tribes found in Chapter 7 are unlike any list of the 12 Tribes found in the Bible. Historically they note how 10 Tribes were lost in the Assyrian invasion of 732BC and the remaining Tribes were dispersed with the fall of Jerusalem in 70A.D.

What does it matter to us?
Jehovah's Witnesses view Revelation Chapter 7 as stating that there will only be 144,000 people who are saved for heaven. This provides the impetus for their door to door evangelism. They need to do a lot of good actions to be claimed in the relatively small group of 144,000!

My opinion is that the 144,000 refer to believers of every stripe and not just Jewish believers. The thrust of the New Testament is that God is pulling together a new people not bound by ethnic or geographic identity, but by our common allegiance to Jesus the Christ. In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he states, 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.' The list of the 12 Tribes found in Revelation 7 is constructed to show their symbolic importance much like the reasoning behind Jesus choosing 12 disciples.  For those who love to dig into the details, Chapter 7's list omits the Tribe of Dan and includes the Tribe of Levi.  Also 10 of the Tribes disappeared with the Assyrian invasion of 732BC while the remaining two tribes were dispersed with the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD.

Certainly this is a contentious passage and one that has been debated for the past 2000 years. What is your opinion on this issue, and why do you hold your view?

Man in Full

I found myself sitting at the Dentist's office this week reading a month-old issue of Sports Illustrated.  Chris Ballard wrote a compelling story about a high school wrestling coach named Mike Powell.  Powell was a successful wrestler in High School and on the Collegiate level.  An injury forced him from competing in the Olympics, so he decided to start coaching.  But Powell wanted to do more than coach, he wanted to have a deep influence on the lives of the broken young men on his team.

Powell not only built a winning team he also inspired his students to be men, by modeling for them love, compassion and competition.  At the height of his young career, Powell became sick and nearly died.  The article highlights Powell's struggle to come to grips with his mortality and with his masculinity.

Tears came to my eyes more than once while reading this article.  The article shows a clear depiction of a 'Man in Full'.  Read the article and notice the parallels to Christian discipleship.

Can the Church Learn from Apple?

Can the Church learn from Apple? Consumers know that Apple makes high quality products, evokes deep customer loyalty and promotes a strong brand image.

Apple continues to see increases in market share for its phones and ipad divisions. In January of 2012, Apple released its official 4Q earnings, stating that the company has $97.6 Billion in cash on hand.

So what can the Church learn from Apple? On Monday, March 12, 2012, London's English Standard Newspaper interviewed Sir Jonathan Ive, Apple's Senior Vice President of Industrial Design. Ive is asked about Apple's philosophy of product development and his views on what makes a successful product. The Evening Standard's Science and Technology Editor asks Ive for his thoughts on Apple's competitors and why they don't measure up to Apple's standards. The answers that Ive provides are thoughtful and wise, calculated and full of insight into Apple's culture.

Reading this interview through the lens of a pastor, I think that Apple has a lot to teach the Church.


Here are a few thoughts.

1. Think systems... It is easy to segment Church life into different categories, all acting independent of each other.  Apple's philosophy is to think systematically from the initial idea, to design and prototype to the finished product.  I wonder how the Church could be more effective, if it thought in terms of systems vs independent silos.

2. Look for creative ideas to address simple issues...  Creativity breeds confidence in your congregation and inspires others to think in non-traditional ways.  Unity arises when an idea germinates into a specific plan.

3. Find people who are willing to be wrong...  Seek out those who don't mind challenging the status quo and those who are willing to go out on a limb.  Making mistakes means that you are trying to solve a problem and the willingness to be wrong indicates a healthy Church.

4. Knowing when to pull the plug and when to see the problem as an opportunity...   This is a difficult one for Churches as programs easily become institutionalized and the, 'that's the way we've always done it' mentality takes root.  Wisdom is needed to discern when a problem exceeds the effort given, and when a problem is an opportunity for growth.

Read the interview and comment on what you think the Church can learn from Apple...  I would love to hear your thoughts....

Sunday Left-Overs Revelation 6 March 11 2012

Today we meet the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.  As Jesus opens the scroll and its first Four Seals, John sees Four Horsemen riding across the pages of History.  The Four Horsemen represent the Lust for more/Conquest, War, Famine/Economic hardship, and finally Death.  They show the effects of our sin; as the cycle of the the Four Horsemen has continued from the first bite of the apple -till today.

It is easy to identify how the Four Horsemen have galloped across empires and civilizations.  It is easy to see their pernicious actions in countries and institutions.  The challenge for us is to look inward and see how the Four Horsemen are at work in our lives, in our actions, in our hearts.  The Book of James, Chapter 1, verse 15 tells us that sin always leads to death.  This is true on a physical level (just look at the news for the latest sports/celebrity hero who died due to drugs or alcohol abuse).  But the reality is that there are many ways to die: physically sure, but there is emotional death, relational death, and even spiritual death.

The good news is found with the Sixth Seal, as God promises to return and to upend the world.  This is the 'Day of the Lord' that is prophesied in the Old Testament and that Jesus himself spoke about.  When Jesus returns he will banish death and there will be no more pain or suffering.... Only praise and worship of the Lamb who is Worthy!

As you study Chapter 6, what question or comments do you have?  Leave them in the comment section and let's continue our Journey together through Revelations!

What is the Gospel? Book Review -The King Jesus Gospel, by Scot McKnight

'What is the Gospel?'  At first this seems like an odd question as the term 'Gospel' is used so frequently among Christians.  To the question, 'What is the Gospel?' some would reply that the Gospel is the 'Good News that Jesus saves us from our sins.'  Others would claim that the Gospel is that we are now 'justified by faith,'  Scot McKnight, author of The King Jesus Gospel, contends that the Gospel fully involves Jesus saving us from our sins and justifying us by faith -and (here's the change) so much more!

McKnight shows the weakness of just seeing the Gospel solely as, 'Jesus saving us from our sins.'  While this is of course true, it leaves out the historical role of Jesus as Israel's Messiah.  This view, taken to an extreme, can relegate Salvation -to just personal sin management.  He also shows how those who see the Gospel as, 'being justified by faith' miss the emphasis of Jesus' teaching about how He is fulfilling the Old Testament prophesies.

McKnight provides his answer to the question, 'What is the Gospel?'  His answer is, 'The Gospel is the Story of Israel completing itself in the Story of Jesus.'  This means that Jesus is the fulfillment of the the Old Testament prophesies concerning the coming Messiah.  Jesus' life, his death, burial and resurrection all show that He is the Promised One.  Jesus truly brings salvation; but He also brings liberation from sin, reconciliation to humanity, and healing for those who are broken.

How about you?  When you think of the term 'Gospel' what comes to your mind, and why?

Revelation 6 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Even the casual reader of the Bible knows something about The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. For some unknown reason the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have ridden into our cultural consciousness. From the legendary linemen of Knute Rockne’s 1924 Norte Dame Football Team, to the professional wrestlers of 1980’s; we all seem to know the Four Horsemen.

But who are they and what are their origin?  We first meet the Four Horsemen in the Old Testament book of Zechariah, specifically chapters One and Six.  In Zechariah they are metaphorically sent out to find ‘peace and rest’ around the earth, while in Revelation they are shown to be forces of God operating throughout history.  

The first rider, who sits on a white horse while wearing a crown, is the most troublesome of the bunch.  Because Jesus is described as riding a white horse in Revelation 19, many have assumed that the first Horseman is actually Jesus.  Scholars credit 15th century woodcarver, Albrecht Durer, as being the first to realize that it couldn’t be Jesus.  Not only are there too many dissimilarities to Revelation 19, but Jesus is in heaven opening the scrolls, not riding on a horse throughout the earth!

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse represent Conquest, War, Famine and Death.  These forces have always been at work; in civilizations and nations, and in families and individuals.  They appear on the scene because one of the four living creatures calls them forth.  They are not to be viewed as God unleashing destruction upon the earth.  Rather they are to be seen as the natural results of humanity’s sin nature.

How about you?  When you think about the Four Horsemen, what are your thoughts and comments?

Sunday Left-Overs Revelation 5 March 4, 2012

Albrecht Durer, the famed 16th century German engraver carved this view of Revelation Chapter 5. The images of Revelation captured Durer and drove him to artistic feats of beauty and creativity.  Durer's masterpieces show his reverence for God's Word.

Revelation Chapter 5 continues the Throne Room vision that Jesus offered to John in Chapter 4. In Chapter 4 the focus is on God who sits on the throne. In Chapter 5 the focus is on Jesus, who is described as the 'Lamb that was slain.'  In rather unusual fashion, Jesus is described as a Lion and a Lamb.  He is also described as having seven Horns and seven Eyes.  If we were to try and picture this image, we just may be repulsed!  The key is to understand the symbolism of the horns and eyes.  The term 'horn' in the Bible always refers to 'power' and the multiple eyes refers to 'wisdom.'  So, for the Lamb that is Jesus, the seven Horns means that Jesus is all-powerful and the seven Eyes means that Jesus is all-knowing!

Where is the Holy Spirit in Revelations?  The Spirit is present in Revelations, but we do need to do some work to find Him.  The Spirit appears in the very beginning in Chapter 1, verse 4 and at the end of Revelations in Chapter 22, verse 17.  The Spirit actively communicates with the local churches of Chapters 2 and 3, and does so again in Chapter 14.  And we find all three members of the Trinity in Revelation Chapter 22, specifically verses 16-18.

After reading through Revelation Chapter 4 and 5, what images stand out to you, and why?