You may be wondering about my sermon title “23 and ???” but if you watch very many commercials you should know that this is about DNA! Our DNA is, according to the dictionary, “the fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable.” It is a mix of 23 chromosomes and it is what well, makes you, you! It is why some people have blue eyes while others have brown. It is what causes birds to have two wings and giraffes have long necks.
Today, lots of people, Trudy and I included, are doing more research into our family history. So far, we have not had our DNA analyzed, although it would be fun! My family is interesting and Trudy has actually done more work on my family tree than I have. I do know that my great-grandfather fought in the Civil War and that one of my grandfathers (6 generations removed) fought in the Revolutionary war—on both sides! On my dad’s side, there is a castle in England that is part of our family history and one of my grandfather’s was knighted after returning from the Crusades! But how do we determine our spiritual DNA or is there such a thing? God made a covenant with Abraham and Sarah that contained 4 points: I will make you a great nation, I will bless your name, all who bless you I will bless, and those whom cruse you I will curse. (Genesis 12:1-3) Notice that Abraham did not ask for this, God just offered it to him. Today, our spiritual DNA can be traced back to Abraham. Today, because of Jesus, we too, are now “Children of God” and we have Abraham’s DNA to prove it! Amen. Some wise person once said there are three things that are important in real estate: location, location, location! In our scripture reading for today, location is just as important! Mark’s Gospel is what I like to call the “Readers Digest Condensed Version” of the Gospel story. In this very fast moving story, we read about three very important things that happen in the life of Jesus: his baptism, his temptations, and the beginning of his ministry.
Baptism comes first, so here is my question—if John the Baptist was baptizing for the “remission of sins,” why did Jesus (who was without sin) feel the need to be baptized? The answer is simple—Jesus set an example that we are to follow. In his closing words in Matthew’s Gospel (28:19-20) Jesus leaves us with instructions to do three things: go make disciples, baptize them and teach them! Why then was Jesus tempted? Each day we are tempted, not by God but by Satan, just as Jesus was. Once again. Jesus gives us the perfect example as to how we are to handle temptations. Jesus relied on the scriptures and so should we. How many times each week do you spend time in God’s Word? Finally, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, proclaiming the “good news.” Read the words Jesus says as he begins his ministry: “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near…” That kingdom is still just as near today as it was the first day Jesus spoke those words. How close to that kingdom are you? Amen. In our scripture reading for today, the story of Elijah and Elisha comes to an end. Elijah is best known for his conflicts with the monarch of the Northern Kingdom, Ahab and his Phoenician born, Baal-worshipping wife Jezebel. Ahab erected a temple and an altar to Baal in his capital Samaria and made an asherah (a tree-like post symbolizing a fertility goddess), that places him at odds with Yahweh and Elijah. Elijah burst onto the scene announcing a drought against Ahab.
This finally comes to a head as Elijah positions himself against 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the ashera. Elijah sets up a “contest” to settle the question “who is God?” Two bullocks are prepared for sacrifice. Both sides are to lay it on wood on their altar but they are not to set the fire. Both are to call on their “god” to set the fire. The prophets of Baal go first and they pray and pray and pray while Elijah chides them! As the evening nears, their sacrifice remains untouched by fire. Elijah builds his altar of 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. He surrounds the altar with a ditch, lays the sacrifice on the wood and pours water over it until even the ditch is filled. He calls on Yahweh to let all the people know that He is the God of Israel and Elijah is his prophet. Fire immediately not only consumes the waterlogged sacrifice but the wood, the stones, the dust and the water that was in the ditch! Faced with such a demonstration, the people declare Yahweh to be God and Elijah slaughters the losing prophets! Elisha becomes friends with Elijah and stays by his side continually. As Elijah is prepared to be taken by God, Elisha never leaves his side. Elijah asks what he can do for Elisha and Elisha makes a rather odd request—a double portion of Elijah’s spirit! He did not ask for wealth but he asks for a double portion of the spirit that Elijah had! He did receive this and Elisha follows through will the unfulfilled commissions that Elijah was given on Mt. Horeb. I wonder what would happen today if was asked the same of God? |
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This blog consists of reflections written by the minister each week for the Sunday bulletin. We hope that you enjoy the musings! Archives
January 2020
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