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| Chateau Saint-Marie, France-trekearth |
Matthew, Luke: Timing is everything
An interesting concept was discussed in this recent online sermon.
Isaiah 33-35 July 27
Matthew 11: 1-7
New American Standard Bible
11 When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and [b]preach in their cities. 2 Now when John, [c]while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the [d]Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the [e]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he [f]who does not [g]take offense at Me.”
Luke 7: 20-23
New American Standard Bible
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” 21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Footnotes: Luke 7:22 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
In his commentary, from Matthew, Jon Courson opines:
'Look around guys' said Jesus. And look it up. See that Isaiah prophesied the very things you are seeing: the blind receiving their sight, the lame walking, lepers being cleansed, the deaf hearing, and the dead rising. Look around, look it up, and tell John that the prophecies are being fulfilled and the kingdom is being seen-although in a different way than was perhaps expected.' (78).
So John was rebuked here. (78).
R.T. France writes that Jesus is clearly alluding to Isaiah 29-35, here. (192).
From Luke:
'...it was as if Jesus' message to John was: 'You've been hearing about the about the things that are happening, and yet you're only concerned about what is not happening" And the same is true of us.' (334).
Pastor Courson noted (paraphrased) in the Isaiah sermon that John was citing verses in regard to captives being freed from prison, and yet here John the Baptist was in prison, and about to be executed for displeasing King Herod.
However, from the sermon, the captives being set free aspect of Scripture was not being dealt with in the context of John being in prison. But other aspects of Scripture were being honoured by the Messiah, Jesus Christ in his gospel ministry, in submission to God the Father and with God, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus' sayings:
Mark:
6 And blessed is he [f]who does not [g]take offense at Me.
Luke:
23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Are relevant to me as well. Pastor Courson is correct in stating...'and yet you're only concerned about what is not happening" And the same is true of is,' (334).
A theological key here is that 'timing is everything'. In this story from two sources, it was not God's, divine time to free John the Baptist from prison, rather it was time for John to be a martyr.
But it was God's divine time to provide other healings, miracles and demonstrations of the Kingdom of God. This is relevant in light of the problem of evil and actual unmet human ontological (human existence and being) needs. It is a better theological approach to state that unmet needs are not being met by God, due to God's timing, as opposed to, in error the rather intellectual lazy approach to categorise all unmet needs as simply 'felt needs'.
There is a difference between being blind and needing sight, an ontological unmet need; as opposed to owning a red Toyota and 'needing' (desiring) a red Ferrari.
France states: 'It took spiritual discernment not to be 'put off' by Jesus...' (193).
In light of problems of evil and suffering, being 'put off' by Jesus Christ and by God is a very reasonable possibility. Spiritual discernment needs to work in conjunction with prayer and biblical study, which are the two most important factors in order to work through disappointment with God.
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
FRANCE, R.T. (1985)(2001) Matthew, IVP/Eerdmans, Grand Rapids.
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| Warwick Castle: 1995 |
Discrimination: unreasonable & reasonable
Discrimination Wikipedia
Quote:
'In human social affairs, discrimination is treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing is perceived to belong to rather than on individual merit.'
Philosophically, I can reason that unreasonable discrimination is wrong.
There is no reasonable need for the 'White National Football Players Association', because the colour of the athlete is irrelevant in the context of playing in the National Football League and protecting a player's rights. The individual merit of all players, in context, is the same, regardless of colour.
The 'White National Football Players Association' would be an example of unreasonable discrimination.
When I decided to attempt to join the Evangelical Philosophy Society and the Evangelical Theological Society, a notable requirement was that I had to agree with brief evangelical doctrinal statements with each society. I also had to have earned at least a Master's degree in each discipline as per application.
If I could not meet either one of those two noted criteria, I would be denied membership. I would not merit membership into either society.
In regard to these two societies, this would be reasonable discrimination. It is fine to discriminate as in to recognize relevant distinction in context.
If one cools down and puts rationality above socially-charged, cultural, reaction, a person will find cases of reasonable and unreasonable discrimination extant. Some discrimination exists to protect the integrity of organizations within the Western democratic political system, just as, at times, forbidding unreasonable discrimination also protects the integrity of organizations within the Western political system.
